The Vigilance Directorate on Friday recommended a detailed probe by a “special agency” into alleged irregularities in the construction of 2,405 classrooms for Delhi government schools, which it claimed involved a scam of Rs 1,300 crore.
Delhi government’s Vigilance Directorate has submitted a report to the Chief Secretary recommending a probe into “serious irregularities and corruption” in the construction of 2405 classrooms in 193 schools.
In a report sent to the Delhi government’s Vigilance Directorate on February 17, 2020, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) highlighted irregularities in the construction of 2,405 classrooms in Delhi government schools by the Public Works Department (PWD). The CVC had sought comments from the Vigilance Directorate of the Delhi government in this regard.
The Vigilance Directorate has recommended “fixing responsibility” of the concerned officials of the Education Department and PWD, who were involved in a “scam” of around Rs 1,300 crore.
Back in April 2015, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal directed the construction of additional classrooms in Delhi government schools. The Public Works Department was entrusted with the work of constructing 2405 class rooms in 193 schools. A survey was conducted to ascertain the requirement of classrooms and based on the survey, a total requirement of 7180 Equivalent Class Rooms (ECR) in 194 schools was estimated, which is almost three times the requirement of 2405 classrooms.
The Vigilance Department in its report highlighted the role of private individuals Babbar and Babbar Associates, who not only attended an important meeting in the chamber of the then PWD minister without being appointed as consultants, but also influenced the latter’s minister- Tender changes made in works contracts in the name of “enriched specifications” resulting in additional financial impact of Rs 205.45 crore. Further, several procedural lapses and violation of rules and manuals were found to tamper with the tender process.
The Vigilance Directorate in its report said that extra-constitutional agencies were running the administration and prescribing terms and conditions to the officers and the entire administration, both at the policy level as well as at the execution level, carrying out such instructions of private individuals. Was
“Apart from being a serious threat to the security aspects, such an approach would lead to administrative chaos and anarchy,” the report said.
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