NA panel points out irregularities in PC affairs

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Reform has pointed out negligence and irresponsibility of Planning Commission in various development projects. According to a report of National Assembly Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Reform, the committee observed negligence and irresponsibility on the part of the Planning Commission of Pakistan which failed to properly examine the cost estimates of Rathoa Haryam Bridge, Mirpur, AJK, and approved its PC-1 on the basis of cost estimates of year 2002, which ultimately led to cost overrun.
Another negligence mentioned in the report was about the factor of Mangla Dam pounding and critical portion of the bridge, ie, Zone-III was not considered by the consultant. Designer did not consider the cable stayed bridge for Zone-III during the redesigning of the bridge if roller compacted concrete (RCC) was not feasible. Geotechnical investigation of Zone-III was not carried out for two years when it was available for construction activities.
The report said the committee recommended that composition of technical committee be provided and asked about the authorities who changed the design of Rathoa Haryam Bridge. It further recommended fixing responsibility for inefficiency and negligence on the part of consultant technical committee/project authorities/contractor of the project.
The committee also noted that consultant (M/s NESPAK) issued a certificate of default to M/s KKP illegally, which subsequently led to the termination of contracts of M/s KKP and the same were awarded to another firm at much higher cost which caused a loss of about Rs 4 billion to the national exchequer and M/s NESPAK is equally responsible for this national loss. Negligence on the part of M/s NESPAK is required to be probed for fixing the responsibility.
According to the report, the committee asked the Ministry of Water and Power to take action against the concerned officers who terminated the contracts of M/s KKP and caused loss of about Rs 4 billion to the national exchequer. The committee also directed that findings regarding irregularities in Mangla Dam Raising Project be made a part of reference of the case already submitted to National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The report further revealed that there is poor monitoring and valuation of Planning Commission of the project. A third party revalidation of Neelum-Jhelum Hydro Power Project was suggested to assess how the cost of the project inflated to Rs 414 billion, which is still expected to increase further by the end of the project. It is also directed that work on Neelum-Jhelum Transmission Line be completed within scheduled time line, well ahead of the completion of Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project.
It was also noted with concern that there are a number of complaints about the ill-management of the Colan Coal Hydro Power Project and recommended that honest and efficient officers be appointed in the project management and locals of the area given special preference in lower grade jobs of the project. The committee also recommended the Gwadar Development Authority to suspend immediately the NOCs of those housing societies which are violating Gwadar City Master Plan and inform the public in this regard through media.