Audit traces Rs2.3 billion embezzlement in Wapda

ISLAMABAD - A total of Rs 2.36 billion embezzlement, irregularities and thefts were conducted in the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) in 2005-06, reveals the Audit Report 2005-06 that was presented to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in a meeting here on Friday.



The audit report about WAPDA was presented in PAC meeting, Chaired by Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Friday. The PAC Chairman expressed his concern over the financial embezzlements and irregularities in WAPDA and sought detailed report, to be submitted within a month in the next PAC meeting.



According to the audit report, as many as 6437 electric poles, worth Rs 39.685 millions were stolen in various pole plants. Regional Store Manager in Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) pointed out the shortage of the poles. When an enquiry committee was constituted for probing the missing poles incidents, 11 officers were found guilty for the shortage of poles.



PAC Chairman Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan expressed his displeasure and said that many poles were stolen because of the weakness in the system of Pakistan Electric Power Company. The PAC Chairman constituted a sub-committee under Yasin Rehamn for probing the incident. Chaudhry Nisar said that the WAPDA officers are responsible of the stolen poles. He directed the officials to provide a detailed report to the Auditor General within two weeks.



In the meeting it was told that Saadi Cemnet under Industrial Tariff B-4 applied for reeducation of load from 25.5 MW to 18 MW without providing test report of load in Operation Division Haripur, PESCO. The Chairman WAPDA reduced from 25 MW to 18 MW without submission of the test report.



Chaudhry Nisar said that the matter would not be resolved without holding big fish accountable and that was the reason WAPDA chairman did it without test report. He directed the WAPDA officials to submit its detailed report within a month.



The PAC meeting was told that National Stock Report (WAPDA) reveled that 3-phase 4-phase energy meters and meter boxes, worth RS 191.033 millions, along with other electrical materials of Rs 255.349 millions were lying in stores since many years.



Most of the items of electrical equipments had not been utilized for the last 9 years, causing loss of around Rs 446.382 millions to the companies.



The PAC Chairman said that very costly electrical equipments have been rusted and there should be a policy to utilize these equipments. He said that the report about policy should be submitted within a month. The nation is in great distress and we should work hard with responsibility and honesty, he said.



Riaz Hussain Pirzada said that the consumers demand electrical equipments at times and make efforts to get them, but they are usually not provided. He said that system should be established to provide equipments to the consumers.



According to the audit report, WAPDA has to bear the loss of Rs 1244 millions on account of additional cost of Chashma Hydro Power Project. Similarly, the government faced loss of Rs 174.509 millions due to improper implementation of Nara and Jamrao Canal under LBOD Stage-I Project.