‘NDMC taking action on Games graft’
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) chairman, Parimal Rai, on Friday said that the civic body had already started taking penal action against employees allegedly involved in irregularities related to Commonwealth Games. He, however, maintained that, as far as the perception about awarding of contracts with respect to renovation
of stadia was concerned, it was a matter of interpretation. Mr Rai admitted that the Shivaji Stadium could not be completed on time due to various reasons. The CBI has registered three cases with regards to renovation of Shivaji Stadium and Talkatora Stadium, alleging that contracts for the two projects were awarded at exorbitant rates. It also carried out searches at nearly 20 places on Thursday in this regard.
Talking to reporters after presenting the annual budget of the NDMC, Mr Rai said that the CBI has not intimated the civic body about the cases registered and the action taken. “We have come to know from the media. It appears that the issues were the same on which we had started major penalty proceedings on the advice of the Central Vigilance Commission against some of our officers two months ago. One executive engineer was suspended,” said Mr Rai.
However, when quizzed about allegations that the contracts for renovation were awarded at exorbitant rates, Mr Rai said that these issues were matters of details. “What were the shortcomings or irregularities...it will have to be ascertained,” he said.
Mr Rai conceded that NDMC failed to ready the Shivaji Stadium in time for Games but attributed the delay to various reasons including court cases.
He also defended the redevelopment project of Connaught Place, which entailed laying of utility ducts in the middle circle and had to be stopped just before Games to be resumed later.
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