The parliamentary body also asked Desa authorities to initiate punitive actions against the persons responsible for providing the incentive bonus, suppressing the actual situation in the organisation.

"The situation (in Desa) has not improved. But the officials have been provided with incentive bonus of Tk 10 crore in 10 years until 2001 through different irregularities,'' Pac Chairman Harun Al Rashid told reporters emerging from the meeting to discuss a performance audit report on Desa's activities, held at the Sangsad Bhaban.

In the face of severe criticism from the lawmakers, Desa Chairman Tawhidul Islam expressed his helplessness in taking actions against the meter readers, who are allegedly making cores of taka through gross irregularities. "I have surrendered...I have nothing to do...my hands are tied," sources quoted him as saying.

The House body asked Desa authorities to transfer the meter readers frequently. "No meter reader should be allowed to stay at a station for over three years. But they are staying at the same station for 20 to 30 years and indulging in corruption," the committee chairman said echoing the views of its members.

The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its audit report put forth different kinds of irregularities and financial corruption in the activities of Desa.

It detected irregularities in the process of providing incentive bonus. Desa has failed to achieve the targets of slashing systems losses, collection of revenue and updating its ledgers. But its officials provided wrong information to have the incentive bonus, the audit report said siting specific instances.

The finance ministry allowed introduction of incentive bonus in fiscal 1991-92. Until 2000-01, Desa authorities gave incentive bonus amounting to Tk 10.05 crore.

The parliamentary body members blasted Desa authorities for continued irregularities.

"You (Desa officials) are speaking of development for the last 10 years. What have you achieved?" committee member and Awami League lawmaker Shawkat Ali questioned.

In its report, the CAG office also projected irregularities in the billing system, tampering with meters and failure to reduce systems losses.

It mentioned that Desa officials have not issued bills for years. Satmasjid office of Desa in Dhanmondi has not prepared bills against 165 subscribers for one year, 420 subscribers for 1 to 3 years, 150 for 3 to 5 years, 128 for 5 to 7 years and 150 subscribers for seven years.

The report also said meter readers themselves prepared bills though they were not entitled to do so. The billing section is supposed to issue bills on the basis of meter book submitted by meter readers.

The CAG office pointed out that introduction of electronic meter system to reduce systems loss has become a futile exercise due to irregularities. A total of 20,000 electronic meters costing Tk 50 crore were installed in fiscal 2000-01 but it failed to reduce systems losses.

The price of each electronic meter was Tk 30,000 but it was given to subscribers who use below 500 unit of electricity. The main objectives of introduction of electronic meters could not be achieved as those were given to subscribers who use less units of electricity with little possibility of their tampering with meters, the report said.

"The electronic meters have been misused due to pressure of the employees' union," it added.