Letters: CAG for PPP audits

This refers to the debate “Should CAG audit PPP projects?” (December 20). It’s an open secret that Jaipal Reddy was ousted from the petroleum ministry because he did not succumb to Reliance Industries’ pressure to increase the price of KG basin gas. Lack of cooperation on Reliance’s part during the audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) was a clear-cut indictment of its malafide intentions. CAG should audit public-private-partnership projects but, as rightly mentioned, the laws of regulation should be made in consultation with industry. However, conditions should not be so hostile that those should serve as a deterrent for investments. India, for sure, does not want to become another Maldives — whose reputation as a global investment destination has declined after the GMR case.

 

Besides, those who are arguing that CAG is overburdened should consider that there is no administration or judicial arm of the government that is not overburdened.

Deepak Sharma, Panchkula

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