Govt bodies find slippages in CWG-related projects

Both Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) have in their reports have found deficiencies and slippages in various Commonwealth Games-related projects.

"The Chief Technical Examiner's Unit of the Central Vigilance Commission, as its routine work, had undertaken intensive examination of works related to Commonwealth Games.

"The Commission in its inquiry found that works were awarded at higher rates and the quality of the works was also not up to the mark," Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Prithviraj Chavan told Lok Sabha today in a written reply to a question.

"Further, ineligible agencies were also awarded the works. The Commission has advised the organisations concerned to take corrective steps in the works inspected," he said.

"The Comptroller and Auditor General of India conducted review of preparedness for XIX Commonwealth Games 2010 in order to gain an understanding of the progress of projects and preparedness of different agencies for organising the games and to identify significant risks that needed to be addressed.

"It was observed that there had been slippages in the time schedules of some of the construction work and deficiencies had also been observed in some of the works," the Minister said.

He said the Ministries concerned, the Delhi government and the organising Committee were directed to complete all pending works expeditiously through time-bound action plans and carry out a quality audit of the completed facilities.

"The concerned Ministries were also directed to conduct thorough investigations into all the complaints that have been received of procedural and other irregularities. Those found guilty should face severe and exemplary punishment," Chavan said.

In reply to another question on providing protection to whistleblowers for exposing corruption, he said "the government is ready with the Public Interest Disclosure Protection to Persons Making the Disclosures Bill, 2010, for introduction in Parliament..."

The Bill provides adequate protection to the persons reporting corruption or willful misuse of power or discretion which causes demonstrable loss to the government or commission of a criminal offence by a public servant, he said.