Anti-corruption panel points out glaring errors in projects
Anti-corruption panel points out glaring errors in projects
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A view of the under-construction Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, the main
venue for the Commonwealth Games. FILE PIC
The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has pointed out a glaring scam in projects related to the mega sporting event that are being undertaken by various contractors. According to the initial probe by the central corruption watchdog, there has been a scam to the tune of at least Rs 20 crore.
The inquiry, which is being carried out by Chief Technical Examination Wing of the CVC, has named the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Public Works Department (PWD), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and RITES for being involved in corruption.
The cases cited against them range from bidding higher prices for the projects and poor quality of the construction work to awarding contracts to ineligible agencies. "According to the CVC, these agencies have escalated the price of the work on flimsy grounds. In some cases they have demanded more money citing delays in the project etc," said a highly-placed official, requesting anonymity.u00a0
Recently, the commission also collected samples from the construction sites and found glaring faults in civil and engineering aspects.
PWD has emerged as the biggest defaulter with five out of the 14 projects. NDMC, CPWD, DDA and MCD have been held responsible for two projects each. RITES, which is responsible for one project, too, could not escape from the inquiry for its works on the rugby ground at Jamia Millia Islamia University.
The CVC has decided to re-examine all the tenders and procurement related works assigned to all the agencies and sub-contracts. In some cases the agencies have escalated prices by citing factors like transportation cost for labourers but the workers for the entire span of the works were camping at the sites.
| The Other Side |
| The agencies who got the rap from CVC for shoddy work said that they don't have any information about it, as no official communication has reached them from the panel. |
Rs 990 cr to 2600 cr Cost escalation in the budget for five major venues
I reviewed the situation with Cabinet Secretary on Wednesday and I am satisfied that all necessary preparations will be in place by the deadline fixed. - Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister
Construction of venues, etc is not my business at all. I am responsible only for the Rs 1,600 cr which is given to the Organising Committee. Nothing is said about that. It's all about construction. I don't do any constructions. - Suresh Kalmadi, Chairman, CWG Organising Committee
These are India's Games not Mani Shankar's or Kalmadi's. This is not the time for criticism or counter-criticism. Only 60 days are left and now we all should work towards successful hosting of the Games. - Rajeev Shukla, MP, Congress
| Some of the works carried out by different agencies |
| Public Works Department (PWD) |
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