Dasu project: senate panel orders NTDC to recover Rs1.2bn from bidder

ISLAMABAD: The National Transmission & Despatch Company (NTDC) has allegedly committed Rs1.2 billion corruption in the Dasu 765 kV transmission line project by inflating the bid to benefit a specific entity, it emerged.

The revelation surfaced during a meeting of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Economic Affairs.

The project, which involves the transmission line from Dasu to the Islamabad grid station, had a bid of Rs35 billion.

As the Senate panel grilled the NTDC officials over the bidding process and transparency NTDC officials confessed that the bid price was unlawfully inflated by Rs1.2 billion to benefit M/s Sinohydro Corporation Limited, a foreign company.

The officials confirmed to the committee that the price increase was made illegally to benefit the entity, which was not qualified to undertake the project.

Committee Chairman Senator Saifullah Abro emphasised the importance of transparency in hiring consultants, raising concerns about discrepancies in NTDC’s hiring practices.

Also read: World Bank approves $1 billion for Dasu Hydropower Project

He sought to share bidding data sheets and tender documents with the committee. The committee also asked the NTDC to provide a list of key experts on the project.

While scrutinizing the project, Senator Abro raised concerns about accountability and called for strict action against those involved.

The committee was further informed that the lowest bidder had submitted Rs35 billion at the time of bid opening.

However, it was discovered that earlier the tax amount was not included in the bid.

The evaluation followed the tender documents, but Rs1.2 billion was added when the contract was signed.

The committee unanimously decided to write a letter to the federal minister for energy (Power Division) regarding the issue.

The committee also asked the NTDC to take action against the officials involved and recover the amount from the company declared qualified for the project.

The committee sought the names of officials involved in awarding the contract for the project.

The committee also sought from the NTDC the number of firms that participated in the bidding along with a copy of the letter of acceptance.

Senator Saifullah Abro told HUM News that the committee has directed the authorities to recover Rs1.2 billion from the company.

He said that a letter would be written to the minister of power and energy regarding the issue, and a similar letter would also be sent to the prime minister.

The committee also decided to involve the Federal Investigation Agency and the National Accountability Bureau to probe the alleged corruption.

Senator Kamran Murtaza said that the committee’s role was to inform the prime minister, and it would be up to him to decide which authority should carry out the investigation.

The Economic Affairs Division secretary assured the committee that its instructions would be followed. He requested that the issue first be brought to the notice of the minister of power and energy before a final decision is made. The committee chairman confirmed that the committee would write to the Ministry of Power and Energy, seeking to recover Rs1.2 billion and take appropriate action against the responsible official