Title - Grievance panel sees “conspiracy” in project delay

The Public Grievance Commission chairperson may refer the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation

Public Grievance Commission chairperson and former Chief Secretary P.K. Tripathi has stirred the hornet’s nest by observing in a case of delay of a rail over-bridge and rail under-bridge project in Bijwasan in South Delhi that there might be “some conspiracy or vested interests working against the interest of the government and public revenue” and that the Commission will “weigh the option of referring this whole matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation”.

Mr. Tripathi was acting on a complaint filed by Bijwasan MLA Satprakash Rana before the Commission in 2011 in which he had stated that work on the flyover and the underpass at Bijwasan village was began in December 2009 and February 2010 respectively. He had further stated that: “As a result of this, the people of the village are facing great hardship for the past two years as they have to take a detour of 8-9 km along with their cattle to go to the other side of the railway line”.

Taking strong exception to the delay in the project, Mr. Tripathi said: “The Commission is anguished at the callous attitude of various departments and officers in this matter, which forces it to believe the existence of some conspiracy or vested interests working against the interest of the public. The Commissioner is being forced by the circumstances to weigh the option of referring this whole matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for finding the truth of such conspiracy or vested interests, if there may be any.”

Mr. Rana had also noted that he had urged the Northern Railway authorities to provide an alternative railway crossing to the villagers till the construction of the flyover and underpass were completed.

The PGC convened 13 meetings in the matter, and in July this year even urged the Chief Secretary to expedite the approval to the Cabinet note, which, as per representatives of the Urban Development Department, sought the approval of the Delhi Cabinet for the revised cost of 15 rail under bridges (RUBs)/ rail over bridges (ROBs) for their construction by the South and North Delhi Municipal Corporations, and had moved out of the Department.

Later a formal report, dated August 23, submitted by the Joint Director (Planning) in the Urban Development Department had confirmed that the Cabinet note had been lying with the Delhi Chief Minister for her approval to be placed before the Cabinet.

Meanwhile, Delhi Lokayukta Manmohan Sarin, who is also conducting an inquiry in the matter against Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on a complaint by Mr. Rana, has taken cognisance of the PGC’s comments which were placed before him.

A report was also filed before the Lokayukta by Joint Director (Planning) in the Urban Development Department, which stated that from 2006-07 to 2011-12 a total amount of Rs.240 crore had been released to the MCD by the Delhi Government for construction of RUBs/ROBs. It also claimed that the Department has released the funds in totality and not project-wise.

For its part, the Department (Planning Branch) had pointed out that earlier a Cabinet note to get the approval of the Council of Ministers for the revised cost based on enhancement was prepared. Further, there was question of the Railways sharing 50 per cent of the enhanced cost.

Mr. Rana then also placed on record a copy of the order passed by the Chairman of PGC. Thereafter, Justice Sarin demanded that the original record in the case be produced together with Ms. Dikshit’s response in the matter. He listed the matter on September 20.