Dasu hydropower project audit reveals 11bn rupees corruption

PESHAWAR - A special audit report for 2023 has uncovered major financial irregularities worth over 11bn rupees in the Dasu Hydropower Project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 

The report, submitted to the authorities concerned, reveals irregular payments, fake land classifications, and missing project funds.

According to the special audit report 2023, compensations of 868mn rupees were paid to families who were not included in the project's original resettlement plan. The audit also found that land classifications were altered against the approved PC-I document, causing further irregularities of 5.8bn rupees.

The report noted that 6,183 kanals of barren land were reclassified as cultivable and residential, which led to inflated compensation claims. It further mentioned that 556mn rupees were paid in excess for constructed properties located within the project area.

In another instance, 223mn rupees were distributed under tree compensation, which auditors described as "unjustified". Additionally, funds amounting to 654mn rupees given to the Land Acquisition and Assessment Unit were not traceable in official records.

The audit also highlighted that land acquisition funds were kept in a current account instead of a designated one, causing a financial loss of 1.49bn rupees. Furthermore, in violation of the approved PC-I, 430mn rupees were paid as incentives to unauthorized personnel.