Irregularities observed in CWG-related works

An inspection by the Central Vigilance Commission has found serious discrepancies like award of works at higher rates to bidders, poor quality of construction and grant of work to ineligible agencies in different Commonwealth Games-related construction works being carried out by various departments in Delhi.

According to an assessment report, prepared by the CVC's Chief Technical Examination Wing, large-scale procedural violations, including corruption, have been noticed in a total of 14 projects.

Five of them are being done by Public Works Department (PWD), two each by Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and one by RITES, a Government of India Enterprise, the report said.

The CTE Wing has made the assessment of construction projects following complaint of alleged corruption in them.

"We have found corruption and other procedural irregularities in many Games-related construction projects. After thorough examination, we have written a letter to all concerned agencies to submit a detailed report," a senior CVC official said.

The figure of corruption could be to the tune of Rs 20 crore, the official, who did not wish to be identified, said.

The CVC has asked Chief Vigilance Officers to re-examine all the tenders and procurement process related to the projects.

According to the report, "Almost all the organizations executing works for Commonwealth Games have considered inadmissible factors to jack-up the reasonable price to justify award of work at quoted rates citing urgent or emergent circumstances. Despite higher rates, poor site management and delays and quality compromises have been observed."

Pointing out deviation in works done by PWD, the Commission said, "Over-all justification amount was highly inflated by various methods in order to mislead higher authorities to facilitate award of tender at very high rates.

"An additional Rs 3.68 crore (approximate calculation) was wrongly added in the justification for transportation charges while the same were covered in over heads charges adopted in justification. Moreover, no transportation charges were actually incurred as labour camps were situated at the project site itself," it said.

The PWD has carried out works including construction of flyover at Naraina T-Point, Ring Road, elevated road over Barapulla Nallah and upgradation of street lighting at various zones.

Meanwhile, a day after the Central Vigilance Commission pointed out the abovementioned discrepancies, the Congress said the findings are "serious" and the party does not support corruption directly or indirectly.

"If there are charges of corruption, it is serious. We do not support corruption directly or indirectly," party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters on Thursday.