The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has said there were serious irregularities in awarding the construction contract of the residential complex at the Commonwealth Games Village in PPP mode to Emaar MGF Constructions Pvt. Ltd.
According to the CAG report, presented in parliament Friday, Emaar MGF also illegally constructed 17 additional dwelling units in the basement meant for parking at the residential complex. DDA allowed several financial concessions to Emaar MGF, including revision of milestones and delayed/non-levy of liquidated damages, said the report
It also said there was a series of misrepresentations and accommodations at various stages that resulted in Emaar MGF Constructions Pvt. Ltd, emerging as an eligible (and successful) bidder through the consortium route.
It also stated that key issues related to the selection of site for Commonwealth Games Village (CWG) were not properly addressed.
The CWG Village, near the Akshardham Temple, had three major components - a residential complex for housing the athletes and officials, practice areas for athletes, and temporary structures (overlays) for the international zone, village operations and other areas
Besides this, the report states, there was no evidence of compliance with the mitigation/ abatement measures on the river Yamuna as stipulated by the Ministry of Environment and Forests while according conditional environmental clearance. DDA essentially attempted to abdicate responsibility for this issue.
The report added that the Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee (CBRI) was appointed by DDA as the third party independent quality inspection agency for the residential complex only after most of the foundation work was executed. It pointed out serious lapses in construction work through thirteen reports between June 2008 and October 2010.
DDA also purchased four 1,250 KVA-each generating sets with excessive and undue redundancy, which are now lying idle, the report said.