By Malik Faisal Munir / DNA
ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources, chaired by Senator Shahadat Awan, on Wednesday reviewed compliance reports on the audit paras of WAPDA and expressed serious concerns over decades-long pending legal cases, land disputes worth trillions of rupees, and the closure of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project.
The meeting was attended by Senators Quratul Ain Marri, Faisal Salem Rahman, Dr. Humayun Mohmand , Saeed Ahmed Hashmi, and Saadia Abbasi, while Chairman WAPDA Lieutenant General (Retd) Muhammad Saeed, Secretary Ministry of Water Resources, and senior officials of relevant departments were also present.
Senator Shahadat Awan, while opening the proceedings, highlighted that some of the WAPDA cases have been pending for 21 years, and the authority has not paid attention to these cases for the last sixteen years. He further pointed out that WAPDA is occupying land worth **Rs. 10 billion**, while **cases worth more than Rs. 298.48 billion are pending in courts**, primarily related to Mangla Dam lands.
The Chairman Committee also raised alarm over the **illegal contract of Nai Gaj Dam worth Rs. 30 billion**, which remains under investigation by NAB. “WAPDA Chairman should call an immediate meeting on all these audit cases. A report on the progress of all these cases should be presented to the committee,” Senator Awan directed, stressing the need for swift resolution.
Members of the Committee echoed similar concerns. Senator Faisal Rahman remarked that **“It seems that WAPDA’s legal team is not working,”** questioning the lack of progress on long standing disputes.
In response, WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen (Retd) Muhammad Saeed informed the Committee, **“I have been in office for only ten days, yet I have already convened three meetings to address these issues. WAPDA has many cases for which there is no record, but we are trying to reduce the backlog.”** He admitted that **WAPDA’s records are not digitized**, but assured that digitization efforts were underway.
Defending the organization, he clarified: **“It is not like WAPDA is occupying the property. Compensation had already been paid to Mangla Dam victims, and now they are pursuing cases in court.”**
On the issue of NAB references, WAPDA officials confirmed that **six cases are currently under NAB’s purview, including two of Kachhi Canal and two of Nai Gaj Dam**. The Secretary Ministry of Water Resources added that **“These are NAB cases against individuals, not WAPDA,”** distancing the ministry from direct responsibility.
The Chairman Committee, however, insisted on accountability and summoned **FIA and NAB to the next meeting**, directing WAPDA and the Ministry of Water Resources to present complete details of all cases. **“If any government agency has taken responsibility, then it is our job to enquire,”** Senator Awan emphasized.
Turning to the **Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project**, members voiced concern over its closure following the collapse of the head-rise tunnel. Officials briefed that the project had earlier faced a tail-rise tunnel collapse, which was repaired, allowing operations for nine months before the new breakdown.
Senator Shahadat Awan, however, deferred a detailed briefing, stating, **“The Prime Minister has already formed a committee to inquire into the project. We should wait for the inquiry report before further discussion.”** Accordingly, the Committee postponed the briefing until the inquiry is completed.
The Standing Committee recommended that WAPDA’s legal team immediately coordinate with the Auditor General and the Ministry of Law to resolve audit-related cases from **2015-16**, while urging that all criminal and PAC-related cases be reported in detail in the next sitting.
