CWG probe: CVC asks agencies to submit reports by month-end

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), probing alleged financial irregularities in construction and procurement works related to the Commonwealth Games (CWG), has directed all agencies concerned to submit their reports by the month-end.

Official sources said a reminder has recently been issued to Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Public Works Department (PWD) in this regard.

The move came after Central Vigilance Commissioner P J Thomas objected to the "lackadaisical approach" and continuous delay by agencies in submitting replies to the queries raised by the anti-corruption watchdog, they said.

"We have issued reminders to all the agencies and directed them to submit replies. They have been told to give point-wise answers to our queries by the end of October," a senior CVC official said.

He said, based on their replies, the CVC will give its findings or final report to a committee formed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh headed by former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India V K Shungloo.

"All the Chief Vigilance Officers (CVOs) in the concerned organisations have been asked specifically to pursue the matter," the officer said.

An analysis by Chief Technical Examination Wing of CVC has found alleged financial and administrative irregularities in 16 construction and procurement projects.

Six of them are being done by PWD, three by MCD, two each by CPWD, DDA, NDMC and one by RITES, a Government of India Enterprise, the CVC report said.

According to the report, "Almost all the organisations executing works for Commonwealth Games have considered inadmissible factors to jack-up the reasonable price to justify award of work at quoted rates citing urgent or emergent circumstances."

The CVC has written a letter of complaint to CBI asking for a probe into alleged criminal conspiracy by unknown MCD officials in granting work for upgradation of street lighting in the national capital.

Meanwhile, the agency has also asked the CWG Organising Committee and the Sports Ministry to keep a sample of each items of the equipment and props hired from foreign suppliers for the Games venues ready for its inspection.