Mumbai: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has found several irregularities in the infrastructure works carried out ahead of the third Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG), held in Pune in 2008.
Rules were openly flouted in the award of contracts for constructions and procurement of equipment; certain firms, including B G Shirke Construction Technology Ltd, were favoured unduly, the CAG says. However, the report, tabled on the last day of the winter session of Maharashtra legislature yesterday, has not directly indicted organising committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi. Addressing a press conference here today, Principal Accountant General Mala Sinha said the report was restricted to infrastructural development ahead of the games.
"Various committees were set up and role of an individual cannot be highlighted. This is a failure as far as overall supervision is concerned," she said. The report says that apex committee and review committee set up for CYG failed to oversee the arrangements closely. The apex committee never met; review committee met only thrice. Organising committee was in charge of the conduct of the games. Apex committee, which never met, was headed by the Chief Minister. It was responsible for obtaining funds from the Centre.
Undue favour was shown to B G Shirke Construction Technology Private Limited in award of contracts worth Rs 32.65 crore without tendering, and excess payment of Rs 45.79 lakh was made to it for installation of passenger elevators due to application of incorrect rates, CAG says. PTI