This refers to Aditi Phadnis’ report “Cabinet to soon clear oversight system for monitoring PPPs” (July 10) and A K Bhattacharya’s column “A matter of contract” (New Delhi Diary, July 11). There is an urgent need for not only a quick Cabinet decision but its swift implementation by the Centre, states, ministers, the Planning Commission and civil servants, especially since astronomical amounts are earmarked for infrastructure projects under the 12th Plan. Public-private partnership (PPP) projects work well if they are conceived properly, implemented rigorously and supervised effectively. A European study of 300 mega projects in 30 countries forewarns us that any let-up in the implementation process can cost a nation dearly. It also observes that “the physical and economic scale of today’s mega projects is such that nations may be affected in both medium and long term by the failure of mega projects”. Thus, the course of action the United Progressive Alliance government is considering is the need of the hour. However, it should be ensured that PPPs are not used by the private sector to rip public assets and drain state revenues either by design or by clever interpretations of contracts.
S Subramanyan Navi Mumbai
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