CWG cost rise had PMO, Cabinet nod: BJP
Continuing its attack on the PMO and the Union Cabinet over financial irregularities in the Commonwealth Games (CWG), the main Opposition BJP on Wednesday alleged that both the PMO and Cabinet approved cost escalation for Games projects five times between 2007 and 2009. The party said escalated Games projects cost
shot the expenditure up from `1,000 crores to over `2,400 crores. The party has been demanding a joint parliamentary committee probe into the CWG scam and will be raising the issue during the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament.
The BJP claimed that all major proposals were first processed by the concerned ministries, then by the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC), then the PMO before approved by the Cabinet.
“The Cabinet approved `1,000 crores budget in its meeting on March 15, 2007. The revised cost estimate passed by the Cabinet stood at `2,460 crores on March 5, 2009,” party chief Nitin Gadkari said in a statement quoting from Cabinet notes.
He claimed the documents mention the role of the PMO, Cabinet, Group of Ministers, EFC and the ministries concerned.
“The Commonwealth Games were allotted to Delhi on November 11, 2003, but detailed estimates were considered and approved by the Cabinet on March 15, 2007,” he said.
Mr Gadkari last month had alleged that the Union Cabinet did not try to verify the reasons behind the escalating costs. He had also put the blame on the PMO for cost escalation.
Citing various examples of cost escalation, the BJP chief claimed that while the original tender conditions were for specific items, the escalation was granted for the composite work. “Every CWG file has the Prime Minister’s signature on it. How can the government release such a huge amount of money for the Games, without a thorough enquiry on where the amount is being spent?” asked Mr Gadkari.
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