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Corruption, cost escalation in Delhi govt CWG projects: BJP

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Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Jan 21 2013 | 12:54 AM IST

 Alleging "massive corruption" in all infrastructure projects linked to the Commonwealth Games 2010, BJP today said Delhi Government has been spending huge sum of money "mindlessly" to speed up work on them as the mega event approaches.

Alleging that the government was responsible for "inordinate delays" in implementation of various key projects, senior party leader V K Malhotra said huge cost escalation of work was only benefitting the builders.

"Massive corruption is taking place in all the projects being implemented by the Delhi Government. Now the Government is ready to spend any amount of money to ensure national prestige," Malhotra told reporters.

Asked whether he has any substantial proof to back his allegation, he said the Comptroller and Auditor General in its report has already found financial irregularities in implementation of various projects. "Cost of the projects has increased three-four times. Who is responsible for it? Is it not corruption?"

The government is now increasing cost of most of the projects which will only benefit the builders and contractors," Malhotra, who is also Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly, said. Malhotra, who is a senior vice-president of Indian Olympics Association (IOA), said the city will face huge embarrassment during the event because of the "pathetic traffic and law and order situation".

Slamming the government for "not carrying out development works" in unauthorised colonies, he said the "pathetic condition" of the slums and these colonies will be "exposed" to the outside world. The BJP leader also feared that builders and contractors may compromise on quality of infrastructure to meet the deadline.

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Not satisfied with the preparation for the event, Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) President Michael Fennel had in September sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention to put things in order.

Later, a CGF delegation that included Fennel too, expressed satisfaction over progress of work.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit maintains that her government will complete all the work well in time although it was little "nervous" about the preparations.

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First Published: Dec 02 2009 | 5:43 PM IST

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