ACC waits for ministry report on graft at RNPP project purchase
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) chairman Iqbal Mahmood has said the commission is keeping an eye on the alleged corruption in purchasing furniture and other household items at Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP).
The commission will take necessary steps once it receives the probe report of the housing and public works ministry, he said.
Iqbal Mahmood said this while talking to newsmen in front of the ACC office in the capital on Tuesday afternoon.
“We’re waiting for the report. Since the ministry is working on it, we will ask for the report and analyse it. We’ll definitely take legal steps if we find ingredients there,” the ACC chairman said.
He also said the ACC is aware of the media report regarding the alleged corruption.
“I’ve seen the media report. It was about pillows, kettle. Look, the ACC follows a procedure. We can’t jump on anything immediately after getting a report. We need to analyse that, understand and keep an eye around,” Iqbal Mahmood said.
He said two committees of the ministry have been working on it. After observing that, he said, he has given certain orders to the officials in this connection.
“Observing everything I’ve ordered (the officials) to wait until getting the probe report (of the ministry). It doesn’t look good if everyone works on the same thing. We’ll take effective action watching their (the ministry’s) report.”
The ACC chairman also said, “Let’s wait for the conclusion drawn by the ministry because the report (of the newspaper) might not be true. It’s not that all the reports (of newspaper) are true.”
Responding to a question as to why the ACC is adopting a different approach this time though in the past it had investigated alongside other departments, Iqbal Mahmood said, “We’re working on some nationally important projects. You must think before taking a leap in that situation. This is a national issue. The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project is underway for a long time but its implementation has just begun. This is a matter of pride and a very important (project) for us. So just wait.”
Recently a national daily published a report on corruption in purchasing furniture and other household products for the officials and employees of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.
The housing and public works ministry has formed two investigation committees -- one is led by an additional secretary and the other by an additional chief engineer of the public works department.
The ministry directed not to pay any kind of bill to anyone until it gets the probe reports.