CVC may inspect Commonwealth Games venues, OC

Official sources said the Commission has formed a team of technical examiners who would soon visit stadia, Games Village and other construction projects carried out by different agencies in the national capital.

They said the blue-print for the visit to the venues will be decided soon."It is going to be a random visit. Based on the inspection done by our Chief Technical Examination wing, we have written to the concerned departments in want of their replies on the objections.

"Most of the departments have still not reverted with proper answers. If need arises, we may visit some of the Games Venues and Organising Committee office," a CVC official said requesting anonymity.

"The teams would go and inspect the projects and collect relevant papers in this regard," the official said.

The CVC has found alleged financial discrepancies in tender floated by different government departments like Ministry of Sports, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Public Works Department (PWD) and Delhi Development Authority (DDA) among others.

Besides, serious lapses were noticed in the tenders and award of contracts given to various companies by the Organising Committee.

"We have already sent reminders to the concerned departments and are awaiting their response. It seems that some of them are not very keen on answering our doubts," the official said.

The anti-corruption watch dog has asked its Chief Vigilance Officers (CVOs) posted with relevant ministries or departments to coordinate and help them in speeding up the probe.

They said the discrepancies like payment to non-existent parties, wilful delay in execution of contracts, over-inflated price and bunglings in purchase of equipment through tendering have been noticed.

In reply to an RTI application filed by PTI, the CVC has given details of 22 projects executed by different government agencies where financial and administrative discrepancies have been detected.

Out of the total projects, six were carried out by the Sports ministry, four by Delhi Development Authority, three by Organising Committee and two each by Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Central Public Works Department of the Delhi Government.
One work each relating to Department of Commerce, Indian Meteorological Department and New Delhi Municipal Council is also being probed, the RTI reply said.
The matter regarding alleged manipulation of tenders by Indian Meteorological Department and its senior officers is under investigation by the CVC, it said.