Projects executed without tenders, administrative approval; panel flags lapses in BBMP works worth Rs 3,049 crore

Under the section ‘Lake Development Works and Smart City Projects and Ward Level Works’, the Commission looked into 528 projects and found lapses to the tune of Rs 1,300.08 crore. Among the 528 projects, 305 were carried out without administrative approval, 137 were implemented without floating tenders, and a mismatch was found in tender documents for 344 projects, according to documents accessed by The Indian Express.

Spot inspection of these projects showed that 15 projects under the head were certified to be completed, even though the project was incomplete. The number of projects which were not implemented in the areas where they were supposed to be was 25. An audit of these projects revealed that bills were not cleared according to seniority in 268 projects.

The Commission has highlighted lapses of Rs 810.12 crore under the head ‘Storm Water Drain projects and Map Approval, Occupancy Certificate (OC) issued by Urban Planning Department of Central Zone’. Inspection of project files, spot inspections, and reviews of accounts for 103 projects were conducted under this section. The review found lapses in project files for all works reviewed, variations in 38 projects during spot inspections, and discrepancies in accounts for 81 projects.

Among the highlights were the implementation of 43 projects without administrative approval, 24 projects implemented without a tender process, and variations in tender documents for 74 projects.

Similarly, under the section ‘Investigative report on Road Development projects and permission to install OFC cables’, 115 projects were reviewed. The cost of projects in which the Commission highlighted lapses was Rs 875.38 crore under the ‘Solid Waste Management Projects’ section, Justice Das has found lapses in projects worth Rs 63.77 crore.

The report said most of the lapses were found in works carried out in four zones of BBMP. “It cannot be ruled out that officials and contractors connived. Therefore, the Commission recommends filing civil and criminal cases against officials, engineers, audit staff, project planners, contractors and others involved in illegalities during the implementation of the project,” the Commission said.

Action should be initiated even if the officials are retired from service, it added.

The report was submitted to the state government on August 30. Though the report was expected to be taken up for discussion during the last Cabinet meeting held on September 4, the government deferred discussion on the same to the next meeting scheduled for September 11.

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