The issue of leakage of a CAG report on alleged irregularites in construction of Signature bridge before its tabling in Delhi Assembly today rocked the House with BJP terming it as an "insult" to the legislators.
"How was the CAG report leaked. This is not acceptable. The government owes an explanation," Leader of Opposition V K Malhotra said raising the issue.
The content of Comptroller and Auditor General Report was already published in the media though it was tabled in the assembly today.
Coming down hard on the government, senior BJP MLA Jagdish Mukhi termed it as "an insult of the House and the legislators."
In the report, the CAG rapped Delhi Government for use of pre-fabricated steel frames imported from China for construction of the bridge across the Yamuna in East Delhi which is modelled on the famed London Bridge and is likely to be completed by the end of 2014.
Though Urban Development Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely repeatedly denied any government role in leakage of the report, unrelenting BJP MLAs resorted to sloganeering prompting Speaker Yoganand Shastri to adjourn the House.
After the House resumed proceedings, the BJP members again tried to disrupt the proceedings and also raised the issue of water scarcity. When the agitating members trooped into the well of the House, the Speaker ordered their removal.
The CAG observed that procurement of steel frames from China was in violation of contractual norms and said the Delhi Government agency implementing the project does not have any mechanism to check quality of material and fabrication work being done in China.
The CAG has also slammed Delhi Government for escalation of the cost of the project by Rs 672 crore against the initial estimate.
A number of BJP MLAs also questioned safety of the Signature Bridge
The government in March 2006 had estimated a total cost of Rs 459 crore for construction of the bridge which went up to Rs 1,131 crore when the project was finalised in February 2010.
The Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) is executing the Rs 1,131-crore project which is expected to be completed by middle of 2014.
The bridge will link NH-1 on the western bank of Yamuna with Wazirabad on eastern bank of the river.
