SWABI: As structural fissures appear in the Bada Dam in the Gadoon Amazai region of Topi tehsil here, irrigation minister Aqibullah Khan has ordered a fact-finding inquiry into the matter.

The dam, meant to irrigate 24,000 kanals of land and provide drinking water to residents, was built during the PTI government at the cost of Rs2.5 billion, according to Topi tehsil mayor Raheem Jadoon.

“The PTI leaders insist Rs5 billion was spent on the dam, but the irrigation department puts the cost at Rs2.5 billion. Now, it’s the responsibility of the ruling party, especially the irrigation minister, to reveal the real cost,” he told Dawn.

The mayor said officials of the communication and works department, who approved the project in 2023, should be questioned about the substandard construction.

He said the officials and politicians, who took “commissions” during the project’s approval and execution, should be punished.

Aqibullah, DG insist there’s no threat to reservoir

“It’s a dam and not a small project. If it bursts, the Gadoon Industrial Estate, Gandaf, Bada villages and other areas will be badly affected,” he said.

The mayor said the irrigation minister, who belonged to Swabi, should visit the dam’s site to take action on the matter. Officials of the irrigation department reportedly visited the site and said the cracks would be “repaired” soon.

Residents and opposition leaders criticised the PTI government over the issue and blamed it on “corrupt practices.”

They insisted that a government body, which shared pictures of the cracks along with a detailed report on social media, was pressured by authorities into removing them.

The residents as well as political leaders visited the dam and caught structural cracks on camera. They demanded an inquiry to ascertain the cause of the damage and fix responsibility.

Former provincial general secretary of the Awami National Party Salim Khan demanded the immediate arrest of the relevant officials for action.

Meanwhile, the irrigation ministerordered an inquiry into the issue and wrote a letter about it to the irrigation secretary.

The letter, a copy of which is available to Dawn, read that cracks had developed in the spillway structure of Bada dam, raising serious concerns regarding the quality of construction by the director general (small dams) at the irrigation department.

“This situation poses a potential threat to the safety and integrity of the Dam and warrants immediate attention to identify the cause and those accountable for this faulty execution. The irrigation minister has desired that a fact-finding inquiry be conducted within three days to determine the responsible individuals or contractors involved in the substandard work. A detailed report along with recommendations for necessary action must be submitted for further necessary proceedings,” it said.

The minister noted that a team of experts had reached the dam’s site and those found negligent of their duties would be subjected to strict legal action.

In a joint video message, he and director-general (irrigation) Akhtar Rashid said there was no threat to the dam. They said the department had dispatched teams for repairs, with the project consultant being told to “move forward for the required work.”

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2025