Electrical and Mechanical
2.21
Expenditure incurred by the Electrical and Mechanical Office during 1976-77 amounted to $18,756,394 compared with $16,585,824 in the previous year. Furthermore, expenditure arising from the Office's responsibilities under the Defence Costs Agreement amounted to $2,569,704 excluding personal emoluments and works carried out by the Department of the Environment on a reimbursable basis. The rise in expenditure was mainly attributable to increased vehicle and plant maintenance costs during the year. Expenditure would have been even higher, had there not been delay in the deliveries of incinerator stores coupled with a rise in the calorific value of refuse which reduced the consumption of fuel oil in the incinerators.
Waterworks
2.22
Expenditure incurred during the year by the Waterworks Office on the operation and maintenance of the water supply system amounted to $107,842,330 as compared with $107,334,344 in 1975-76. This increase in expenditure was mainly due to the repair work required as a result of the rainstorm in August, 1976. However, overall expenditure was well below that provided for, due to the reduction in the desalter use factor from 30% to 16% because of the favourable water storage situation in 1976-77, which resulted in substantial savings in fuel cost and associated operation costs.
Heads 67-71 Public Works Non-Recurrent
2.23 The value of contracts awarded in 1976-77 at $1,315,606,000 showed a substantial increase of $649,581,000 over the $666,025,000 awarded in 1975-76. However, actual expenditure on projects under the five Heads (Headquarters, Buildings, Engineering, New Towns and Public Housing (other than Housing Authority) and Waterworks) only amounted to $1,128,042,985 during the year, representing a decrease of $18,746,283 or 1.63% as compared with the previous financial year's figure of $1,146,789,268. The main reasons for this decrease were as follows:-
(a) Tenders being 20%, 30% below estimates prepared according to materials and labour index indicators and reductions in final account settlements,
(b) Under-expenditure on land and property resumptions due to owners being unwilling to accept Government offers in the rising market conditions,
(c) Delays in land clearances and acquisitions,
(d) Slippage of works, due partly to contractors failing to meet their programmes and partly by Offices, other departments and Mass Transit Railway Corporation,
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