KOHAT: The local government department has launched an inquiry into alleged corruption by the tehsil municipal administration officials in award of contracts in 2017-18.

The probe has been initiated on the recommendations of the National Accountability Bureau.

The NAB had received an application regarding the alleged corruption in the TMA, after which, the bureau had asked the local government department to probe the matter.

The NAB report said the TMA officials had used authority beyond means and caused a loss of Rs27 million to the government kitty by awarding contracts to the same contractor, who earlier had delayed work on three projects worth Rs70 million by one year, leading to cancellation of the contracts.

The NAB said that a contract had been awarded at a revised rate of Rs37 million for construction of a plaza without formal approval of the local government department.

An official confided to Dawn that the local government department had constituted a committee headed by chief planning officer Shah Nawaz to probe Rs30 million taken as commission in award of Rs70 million projects.

He said a payment of Rs8 million was made to a consultant, also a brother of the contractor, despite the fact that he had got registered his company with a new name after it was declared fraudulent by NAB.

The official said the contractor delayed start of work on three projects regarding construction of two plazas and a marriage hall by one year, which led to cancellation of the contract, but the TMA officials failed to collect Rs15 million fine from the contractor as per the rules for failing to initiate work stipulated in the contract.

He said the TMA officials re-awarded the three contracts to the same contractor at revised rate of Rs97 million, and took Rs20 million as bribe for issuance of work order of the contract.

This correspondent tried to contact the tehsil municipal officer on his mobile phone for comments, but there was no reply.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2021