JD(U) alleges corruption in CWG projects, demands audit

The Janata Dal (United) today charged the Government with spending 12 times the original budget for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, large scale financial irregularities in the projects associated with it and demanded immediate audit of the expenses incurred so far by an independent agency.

JD(U) president Sharad Yadav told mediapersons here that initial budget for the Games was Rs 1,100 crore which has now been estimated to go up to Rs 13,000 crore and the amount excludes the renovations being carried out in and around Delhi from the budget of the Delhi Government.

Pointing out that even Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has expressed her ''nervousness'' over the Games preparations, Mr Yadav said taxpayers' money was being used in haste without any accountability.

''Who will take the moral responsibility for such a shoddy display of ineptness and complete lack of transparency?'' the JD(U) leader wondered.

''It is indeed shocking that in spite of being severely lambasted for the delays and financial bungling, both the Centre and the state government have failed to fix responsibility and take strict action against the erring officials.'' The CAG in its reports has come down heavily on the failure of the Games-related projects to meet deadlines and the way finances are being managed, but it has been found that the builders and contractors increased the cost of construction by three to four times, he pointed out.

''The scale of corruption in allotting projects to builders is massive and if the CAG inquires into the matter further we are sure to find a number of financial irregularities,'' he observed.

The critical observations made by the CAG and the Commonwealth Games Federation drew prompt reactions from the government by way of infusing more money for the projects, he said and added that the builders and contractors have benefited the most from these delays in venue completion.