NEW DELHI, 25 February (H.S.) : The CAG report has exposed

corruption in many departments during the Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi. PWD has highlighted clear irregularities in the

construction of additional classrooms in all the schools of Delhi Government.

The Vigilance Directorate of Delhi Government has specifically underlined the

role of private individuals in its report. CAG

report reveals why DTC losses surged by Rs 35,000 crore in 6 years also. According

to sources, this report will also table very soon.

According to sources, the

Directorate of Vigilance (DOV) of the Delhi government finalized its report and

submitted it to the Chief Secretary in the case of “serious irregularities and

corruption” committed by the Arvind Kejriwal government in the construction of

2405 classrooms in 193 schools.

Clear irregularities have

been highlighted by PWD in the construction of additional classrooms in various

schools of Delhi Government. CVC had sent the report to DOV seeking comments on

the matter in February 2020. The DOV report says, prepared after seeking

responses from the education department and PWD, prima facie points to a major

scam and recommends a “detailed investigation by a special agency”. The

vigilance department has also recommended “fixing the responsibility of the

concerned officials of the Education Department and PWD” who were involved in

the scam of around Rs 1300 crore. It has also recommended sending its findings

to the CVC for consideration along with the replies of the PWD and the

Education Department.

Sources said, CVC received

a complaint on July 25, 2019, about irregularities and cost overruns in the

construction of classrooms. The construction cost increased by 90% in the name

of “higher specifications” without inviting tenders. Delhi government approved

cost increase of Rs 500 crore without tender. Gross violation of GFR, CPWD

Works Manual and poor quality of construction and incomplete work.

Sources further said, Delhi Transport Corporation’s (DTC)

cumulative losses increased from Rs 25,300 crore in 2015-16 to almost Rs 60,750

crore in 2021-22. The shrinking DTC fleet, with break-down buses becoming a

daily inconvenience for commuters, became a political issue, as both the BJP

and Congress constantly flayed AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal’s 2015 promise to

increase the fleet by 10,000 buses.

In 2007, the Delhi High Court had asked that DTC to

maintain a fleet of 11,000 buses. But, five years hence, the Delhi cabinet set

the target at 5,500 buses. The CAG report is believed to have highlighted that

by March-end 2022, DTC had a fleet of 3,937 buses, with 1,770 of them being

overage. The low-floor buses were over 10 years old and were scheduled to be

phased out by the end of next month, the report said.

Hindusthan Samachar / Meenakshi Bhattacharya