Dredgers pose �problem of plenty� for BIWTA

Procurement of 20 more dredgers approved even as the BIWTA runs short of manpower to run its existing fleet of 18 dredgers

The government has approved the procurement of 20 more dredgers for the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) even as the organisation faces a shortage of manpower to run its  existing fleet of 18 dredgers. The new dredgers will cost Tk 2,153 crore.  Three of them will be added to the BIWTA fleet by December, taking the total number of dredgers to 21.BIWTA sources said this will add to the problem of plenty, as several dredgers already remain idle due to lack of operators. Moreover, the machineries of many dredgers have gone out of order because of being kept idle for a long time.
The sources added about 520 additional personnel would be needed if 20 new dredgers are procured. BIWTA has sent several proposals to the shipping ministry to create 361 new posts to tide over the shortage of manpower. The latest proposal was sent on September 20, but the ministry is yet to take any action, sources said.
The organisation had appointed 182 people to operate seven dredgers that were procured in 1975 by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Though the number of dredgers has increased in the intervening years, there has been no increase in the number of staffers to operate the new ones.
“A total of 26 people are needed to operate a dredger in two shifts. So, our dredgers remain underutilised due to shortage of manpower,” MA Matin, BIWTA’s chief engineer (dredging), told The Independent.
Matin said there is shortage of people in different posts, including mechanical assistants, diesel mechanic, masters (first and second class), drivers (first and second class), lever man, and greaser and quarter masters. He also said BIWTA has proposed to create 361 new posts against the approved 126 posts.
“The authorities concerned must create the posts immediately to ensure smooth dredging work. We could go for more dredging with more manpower. Now, we are implementing 53 river route projects under the capital dredging project—a priority project of the Prime Minister—with our meagre manpower,” he added.
In fact, the shortage of trained manpower also extends to BIWTA’s fleet of tugboats, excavators, and other ships. Many of them are mostly lying unused at present and it would be financially unwise to procure any more without ensuring manpower to operate them, sources said.
On January 16, 2012, the then finance minister, AMA Muhith, had written to the planning ministry, asking for a report on the procurement of dredgers and dredging activities in the government sector. “Government-owned dredgers remain idle for most of the time, as those are never utilised properly. The dredgers are used only for some maintenance work and during dredging emergencies,” he had added.
The procurement of 20 new dredgers was approved in an ECNEC meeting on August 12 and the government plans to extend BIWTA’s fleet to 41 by 2019.
In addition to BIWTA’s 18 dredgers, the water development board has 40 and the private sector operates 25 at present.

Dredgers pose �problem of plenty� for BIWTA

Procurement of 20 more dredgers approved even as the BIWTA runs short of manpower to run its existing fleet of 18 dredgers

The government has approved the procurement of 20 more dredgers for the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) even as the organisation faces a shortage of manpower to run its existing fleet of 18 dredgers. The new dredgers will cost Tk 2,153 crore. Three of them will be added to the BIWTA fleet by December, taking the total number of dredgers to 21.BIWTA sources said this will add to the problem of plenty, as several dredgers already remain idle due to lack of operators. Moreover, the machineries of many dredgers have gone out of order because of being kept idle for a long time. The sources added about 520 additional personnel would be needed if 20 new dredgers are procured. BIWTA has sent several proposals to the shipping ministry to create 361 new posts to tide over the shortage of manpower. The latest proposal was sent on September 20, but the ministry is yet to take any action, sources said. The organisation had appointed 182 people to operate seven dredgers that were procured in 1975 by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Though the number of dredgers has increased in the intervening years, there has been no increase in the number of staffers to operate the new ones. A total of 26 people are needed to operate a dredger in two shifts. So, our dredgers remain underutilised due to shortage of manpower, MA Matin, BIWTAs chief engineer (dredging), told The Independent. Matin said there is shortage of people in different posts, including mechanical assistants, diesel mechanic, masters (first and second class), drivers (first and second class), lever man, and greaser and quarter masters. He also said BIWTA has proposed to create 361 new posts against the approved 126 posts. The authorities concerned must create the posts immediately to ensure smooth dredging work. We could go for more dredging with more manpower. Now, we are implementing 53 river route projects under the capital dredging projecta priority project of the Prime Ministerwith our meagre manpower, he added. In fact, the shortage of trained manpower also extends to BIWTAs fleet of tugboats, excavators, and other ships. Many of them are mostly lying unused at present and it would be financially unwise to procure any more without ensuring manpower to operate them, sources said. On January 16, 2012, the then finance minister, AMA Muhith, had written to the planning ministry, asking for a report on the procurement of dredgers and dredging activities in the government sector. Government-owned dredgers remain idle for most of the time, as those are never utilised properly. The dredgers are used only for some maintenance work and during dredging emergencies, he had added. The procurement of 20 new dredgers was approved in an ECNEC meeting on August 12 and the government plans to extend BIWTAs fleet to 41 by 2019. In addition to BIWTAs 18 dredgers, the water development board has 40 and the private sector operates 25 at present.