New Delhi: The Central Vigilance Commission
is examining all construction work related to Commonwealth
Games being undertaken by civic agencies following complaints
of alleged large-scale corruption.
The anti-corruption watchdog has also decided to
formulate vigilance guidelines to check Public-Private
Partnership (PPP) projects.
"Apart from expeditiously attending to complaints
relating to the Games, the Commission, through its Chief
Technical Examiner`s Wing, is keeping a close watch on all the
contracts and works undertaken for the Commonwealth Games,"
Chief Vigilance Commissioner Pratyush Sinha said.
The decision comes following complaints alleging
discrepancies in the work being undertaken by civic agencies
like Municipal Corporation of Delhi, New Delhi Municipal
Council, Delhi Development Authority and Central Public Works
Department among others.
"Since PPP scheme is at a nascent stage and involves
numerous complexities, the Commission has constituted a
committee to formulate a strategy for vigilance response.
Vigilance guidelines for PPP projects would be finalised
soon", said Sinha.
The CVC said the Commission is facing a shortage of
senior officers. "There is shortage of Deputy Secretaries or
Directors who are at the cutting edge of the Commission`s
work. All examination in the Commission is initiated and
conducted by them and as a result, the existing staff is
overburdened," he said.
"The Commission does not normally face any difficulty
except delays. The Commission has placed special emphasis on
capacity-building of vigilance administration to train the
staff in investigation," Sinha said.
According to official data, the strength of probity
watchdog is about 290 and faces a shortage of about 25 senior
officials.
Asked about steps being taken by it to check corruption,
the official said, "The Central Vigilance Commission is only a
recommendatory body which advises suitable disciplinary action
against government officials.”
"It is for the administrative authority to impose the
punishment effectively and promptly.... What is of concern,
from an impressionistic view, is that deviations are noticed
in the case of higher level officials and occur in some
organisation," the CVC said.
PTI
