Economic Times : ET Bureau : 8 Sep, 2010, 01 :
NEW DELHI: The Delhi government and city’s civic agencies, including MCD and DDA, are stonewalling attempts of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to probe allegations of corruption in the organisation of Commonwealth Games.
Information provided by CVC under Right to Information (RTI) Act on complaints of corruption in various works reveals that the commission has been waiting for investigation and factual reports from CPWD, DDA, MCD, CBI and even Delhi government for over six months.
Complaints on alleged irregularities in purchase of air-conditioners for DDA flats and construction of indoor badminton stadium are pending because CVC is awaiting vigilance report from DDA over the past eight months since January.
Similarly, Delhi government has still not provided a factual report in complaints of irregularities in construction of bus queue shelters since June and procurement of “secure communication network” since May.
Cases like upgradation of street-lighting, which had been under CBI lens, are being investigated by CBI since February and CVC has still not received any report.
The worst delay in providing any factual information to CVC has been on part of CPWD which was forwarded a complaint of alleged irregularities in tenders for LED display boards at National Stadium (Mathura Road). The case has been pending before the chief vigilance officer of the agency since January 7 this year.
Apart from these cases, there are 16 corruption cases which are being investigated by commission’s Chief Technical Examiners Organisation.
Of these one has been referred to CBI and in another contract has already been terminated. The information provided by CVC on an RTI application filed by activist Subhash Chandra Agrawal reveals that of the remaining 14 cases, half of the cases are pending because MCD, PWD, DDA and CPWD have not provided the commission requisite information. These seven cases account for infrastructure projects worth Rs 1,226.32 crore.
These infrastructure projects involving major investments include covering of Sunehri Nullah and Kushak Nullah for parking facilities (Rs 303.95 crore), upgradation of Dr SPM swimming pool (Rs 229.73 crore), street-lighting on PWD roads (Rs 154.94 crore), upgradation of Major Dhyan Chand stadium (Rs 147.82 crore). While MCD has not provided factual reports to CVC in three cases, CPWD has to give in two cases.
Corruption complaints related to banners and signages for vehicle graphics for national sector of Queen’s baton relay, purchase of medical equipment for Games and selection of allegedly tainted officials for CWG organisation have been forwarded for further investigation to Delhi government.
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