Sheladia Associates, Inc.

A $28 million program in Dhaka for flood protection works, drainage and sanitation works, and the relocation of squatters now settled in project areas. Included assistance to the Project Management Office (PMO) in planning, implementing, and evaluation activities, with the overall objective of achieving the physical, financial, and scheduling targets established under the project. Works included the following:

• Rehabilitation of 21 major open drainage channels (78 km): dredging and reprofiling to restore the channels to their design capacity and include lining where needed
• Rehabilitation and construction of 51 km of piped drainage facilities to relieve drainage congestion in the built-up areas of the city
• Construction of the first stage of the Goran Chatbari Pump Station with a capacity of 22 m³/s to provide about one third of the ultimate design capacity (Pumping capacity provided by this first stage will significantly reduce the accumulated rainfall runoff within the drainage area during the monsoon season and will have a very favorable impact upon the higher lands within the influence of the pump station)
• Provision of pumping facilities along the eastern boundary of the project for evacuation of internal rainfall during periods of high river stage combined with heavy rainfall
• Construction of gate control structures on each of the major drainage channels
• Completion of urgent drainage works started under crash program after the heavy pre-monsoon rains of 1991, including manually resectioning existing covered and open drains in the more densely populated parts of the city, together with a program of construction of small capacity new drains
• Development and implementation of a rigorous O&M program for the drainage works.
• Assistance to the Project Management Office (PMO) to control, supervise, monitor, and evaluate the work of the detailed design and construction supervision consultants. Consultant supported and advised PMO in planning, implementing, and evaluation activities, in particular geotechnical and financial/accounting services as follows:
• Advise and assist the designers in the preparation of designs and quantity cost estimates for the embankment rehabilitation works
• In conjunction with a Construction Engineer, determine and establish the earthworks testing procedures, and maintain the testing and earthworks quality control program
• Assist in training, Government employees, local consultants and contractors staff in any new earthworks design and construction procedures introduced through the Project
• Review existing Government financial and physical monitoring and reporting procedures and design a set of simplified accounting, budgetary control and management information systems for the project
• In consultation with a Municipal Financial Advisor, monitor the introduction of cost recovery mechanisms and determine progress in improvements related to revenue generation and financial management
• In conjunction with counterparts, provide necessary project financial interface
• Facilitate production and audit of required project accounts, records, and other reports
• Monitor implementation of financial aspects of the action plan, particularly cost recovery measures
• Conduct on-the-job training for financial and accounting personnel
• Provide advisory support and assistance to the Project Finance Manager.