The parliamentary standing committee on energy ministry that fomented nationwide hue and cry pointing out risky and low-quality gas pipe installation under an over-priced project kept mum.

"Titas has taken all preparations to pay the contractors, accused of bungling installation of two pipelines, their bills," a source said.

On February 29, General Manager (Planning) of Titas Mahbubur Rahman was assigned to assess whether the contractors will be given their bills.

The Titas Board of Directors suggested measures against him for poor monitoring of the job at a meeting on February 26 and the Titas authorities asked the Petrobangla to withdraw him from Titas hours ahead of a board meeting yesterday.

The board at the February meeting categorically asked the Titas management to withdraw Mahbub from the supervision of the pipelines and transfer him to another position.

The Titas Board also suggested administrative steps against Kamal Uddin Ahmed, deputy general manager (transmission).

After getting the bill payment assignment, Mahbub along with Director (Operations) Md Aminur Rahman and General Manager (Finance) In-charge Ashrafuzzaman Miah has already given nod to the bill payment.

The investigation committee of Petrobangla found construction of the 210 km pipelines under the Bangabandhu Bridge Approach Road Project highly overpriced, sub-standard and risky.

The Daily Star reported corruption at all levels of the pipeline project -- from project designs to contract awarding -- in January. It pointed out that local contractors and Titas high officials were siphoning off Tk 30 crore with the blessings of high political quarters.

The Board of Directors of Titas held a meeting with Energy Secretary Khandker Shahidul Islam on February 26 that held lax monitoring one of the key reasons for the scam.