The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has acquitted Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) Managing Director Taksim A Khan of his alleged involvement with a loss worth Tk500 crore to government exchequer in Padma (Jashaldia) Water Treatment Plant Project (Phase 1).
However, the ACC recommended Local Government Division, Ministry of LGRD & Cooperatives to take action against him saying that it has nothing to take action in this regard.
The matter of his acquittal is posted on ACC website on November 30 signed by the commission's Secretary Abu Md Mustafa Kamal.
Also a higher official of the commission confirmed about this to the Dhaka Tribune on Sunday wishing anonymity.
The commission started its inquiry against the Wasa boss in May this month after receiving allegations on December of last year.
The allegations say Wasa selected a Chinese company, CAMC Engineering Company Ltd, for the project without inviting an open tender and signed an agreement with them on November 5, 2013 – 13 months prior to the project’s approval by the cabinet.
It is alleged that Taksim awarded the work order to the Chinese company without following due procedure of tender and vetting, costing the state exchequer around Tk350 crore.
Moreover, Wasa will have to count Tk150 crore more for importing pipes, allegedly substandard, to be used in the project long before acquiring land.