Irregularities in the bidding and violation of agreements have irked Japan, the financier of the Tk 3.6 billion Master Plan Project on Solid Waste Management in Dhaka, leading to uncertainty in its implementation, reports BDNEWS. Visiting high-powered advisory team of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Saturday expressed their dissatisfaction over the dismal progress in execution of four priority projects under the Clean Dhaka Master Plan, DCC sources told the news agency. Officials of JICA's local office and Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) also voiced their dismay at the progress in implementation of the scheme. JICA Study Team for preparation of the master plan, JBIC, Economic Relations Division (ERD) of the Finance Ministry and LGRD and Cooperatives Ministry sought explanations from the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) for alleged violation of the Public Procurement Regulations (PPR) in appointing consultant for the project, DCC sources said. "I know there are some problems with the consultant selection process for the Tk 470 million Landfills Improvement Project in DCC," Akiko Bhushimata, deputy resident representative of JICA in Dhaka, told the news agency. "JICA Study Team has already raised the issue with DCC," she said. Sources said the JBIC also called the DCC officials concerned at its Dhaka office and sought explanations from them on the irregularities in the bidding for appointment of an international consultant. Earlier in December, the DCC invited tender from experienced international firms seeking consultancy services for analysing environmental impact and detailed design of the construction of Landfills Improvement Project. Signing of the contract was supposed to be done by February this year for completion of the project by June 2007. A total of nine proposals from countries, including India, US, UK, Germany and Pakistan, were submitted to the Project Director of the Solid Waste Management in Dhaka City. But the DCC rejected all the proposals and tried to award the contract to Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) by violating the PPR. Following DCC's decision, JICA talked to the professors of BUET and found that they have no experience in this field, JICA Study Team members said.
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