FAISALABAD: A five-member inquiry committee has detected embezzlement in the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) and recommended either the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) or the Anti-Corruption Establishment probe into the matter.

The director general (DG) of the Faisalabad Development Authority formed a committee, headed by board of governors member Yasir Anwar, following a complaint on Citizen Portal on Feb 4 last the land of Wasa disposal center measuring 97 acres and six kanals in Achkera was under the illegal possession of some private people with the connivance of Wasa officials.

The report reads that the land and the treated water of the Wasa disposal station were auctioned yearly till 2017. However, the agency did not receive the lease amount of the last auctioned year where as the land was in the possession of illegal occupants.

The report reads the top management did not show their interest to conclude the proceeding of the committee and even no officer in his statement cleared the history of the illegal occupation of such land.

The committee cites several contradictions in the statements of occupants, incumbent, and former Wasa officials. Some of the occupants said they got the possession on the verbal orders of former MD Faqir Hussain. The committee noted the former MD could not satisfy them as his statement showed that the proceeding of leasing of the land was irregular/illegal as only one bidder attended the auction proceeding.

Probe report recommends NAB, ACE action

The report mentions the statements of Admin Director Shoaib Rasheed and West Deputy Director (O&M) Farhan Akram as unsatisfactory.

Farhan used official machinery to dismantle wastewater channels supplying water illegally to the land after BOG members objected to the practice.

On Jan 29 last, the area patwari submitted a report with the court that the land was in the possession of Wasa, however, the operation of retrieving the land was carried out on Feb 11. Also, outstanding amounts were not recovered from defaulters in 2017 and 2018. The committee recommended the recovery of the lease amount of 2017 be initiated and the Wasa MD, revenue director, and others be penalized.

The land has been cultivated by occupants from 2018 to January 2021 illegally with the connivance of Wasa officers, therefore the amount of “Tawan” for the period may be recovered from the illegal occupants.

The report implicates Director Ghulam Shabbir for controlling the fuel consumed by the Wasa machinery. He was on the bottom of the seniority list but he was promoted to director against the rules and regulations.

The committee said Adnan Gul, former deputy director (O&M), issued fuel worth millions for the machinery which was in operation at the land. Despite knowing about illegal activities, he took no necessary action. He was also promoted as a director recently by Wasa MD Jabbar Anwer ignoring seniority rules.

The probe notes PML-N government functionaries supported such corrupt officials.

Umer Iftikhar, director of revenue (domestic), also knew these illegalities but he never pointed them out.

The people named in the report are still working at their positions.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2021