The Times of India 03.09.2010
CWG-related projects: NDMC transparency lasts a day
NEW DELHI: In a move that raises more doubts over expenditure for Games-related projects, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has blocked access to the list of consultants hired by it in the last five years and money paid to them.
The list, hosted on the civic agency's website under the link 'consultants/NGOs engaged for CWG 2010 projects', showed that more than Rs 200 crore was being spent on consultancy.
However, in a remarkable show of alacrity, the civic agency removed the link from its website on Thursday morning as soon as the matter was reported in the media, including in this newspaper. A copy of the list that was put up is with Times City.
The disclosures were made following directions from the Central Information Commission (CIC) - which had also asked Delhi government and MCD to put up these details by the end of September.
"The blocking of access to the list raises suspicion. It shows that they have something to hide or there is error on their part," said RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal. He said that huge amount of money from the public exchequer has been spent by government agencies to organize the show and there needs to be transparency on all expenditures. Karan Singh Tanwar, member of NDMC and the MLA from Delhi Cantonment, alleged that the move was to hide corruption. "Most of these consultants have been chosen by the civic agency at random and not selected through a competitive process," alleged Tanwar.
NDMC, in a letter written to TOI, said, "NDMC is specifically undertaking the construction of Shivaji stadium, Talkatora stadium, streetscaping work near the Games venues and park and ride facility at Safdarjung airport, for CWG 2010. In these projects, the total value of work awarded to the consultants is Rs 6.8 crore." The letter added that most of the consultants/NGOs appointed by NDMC include projects from 2005-10, most of which have no direct relationship with the Games.
On being asked why such projects had made it to a list clearly marked CWG in the first place, NDMC spokesperson Anand Tiwary had a different explanation. "The mistake that happened was that the total cost of projects got listed as the money consultants will get. We are rectifying it."
According to the list, NDMC hired a little known agency called Design Action Group for designing work of park and ride and holding facilities at Safdarjung airport (CWG 2010) - just three months before the Games start and at a staggering fee of Rs 30 crore. The consulting agency has been hired for this project for a period of one year whereas Games finish on October 14. There are three other consultants hired for 10 projects only six months before the Games.
The value of work allotted to the Engineers India Limited for redevelopment of Connaught Place redevelopment project is an astounding Rs 48 crore. The renovation plan has received criticism from all quarters and it is still far from completion. The list displayed on NDMC website showed that EIL was hired for this project in May 2008 and payment of Rs 14 crore (approx) has already been done.
