CAG says DMRC should record meeting details
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has said that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) should record the minutes of its various meetings. While applauding the parcitipative discussion approach in decision-making, the CAG has said the records of the meeting would be required for future reference.
In an audit report on performance of the DMRC with respect to its Phase-I projects, in 2006-07, which was prepared in 2008, and tabled in the Delhi Assembly early this week, the CAG has said, “The company needs to record the minutes of such discussions (participative discussions) for future reference and guidance to maintain continuity and to secure proper accountability.” The CAG, however, noted that the decisions taken through participative discussions took less time than proceeding through the file notings method. The CAG went on to add that the innovative practices adopted by the company needed to be adequately documented.
However, the CAG also pointed out that under the unique administrative model evolved by the Government of India, the company has not been put under direct control of any administrative ministry. “This model presents ambiguity relating to the issues of...coordination and control by the executive government and proper forum for legislative accountability,” said the report. The report has also pointed out that in at least four contracts, the norms for testing of material were relaxed. One such projects pertained to fabrication and supply of girders on Noida City Centre-Dwarka Sector-9. For this project, ultrasonic testing of steel plates was to be done by independent agency as per Quality Assurance Plan and one sample per lot was to be tested. However, while initially this was being done, the norm was relaxed to testing of one sample for the entire quantity received at the site. This was done when the project was running behind schedule and the company decided to accept the manufacturer’s certificate on quality of steel plates. At least three other such cases were detected by the CAG.
The CAG has also raised doubts over “30-year design life” of the rolling stock saying that noise levels were beyond the permissible limits and there were premature wear and cracking in the wheel and floor of the rolling stock.
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