Pushed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh against the backdrop of widespread breach of obligations and accountability, the government is set to clear an institutional mechanism to monitor Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) projects in the country.
The mechanism, which has been worked out by the Planning Commission, is high on the agenda of the meeting of the Union Cabinet scheduled for Thursday.
Confirming this, sources in the government said, it was Prime Minister’s determined insistence that has led the Planning Commission to prepare the proposal to create an institutional mechanism to monitor PPP projects and now “the matter has been put on the agenda of the Union Cabinet for its consideration”.
Of around 200 PPP projects in operation all over India in various infrastructure sectors, there has been just one official instance, where the concessionaire (the private participant) has been charged with falling short of the standards set in the agreement with the government.
However, anecdotal evidence suggests many such cases.
As per the proposal, all such ministries, departments and authorities implementing PPP projects will have to earmark designated officials for overseeing and monitoring the contract performance.
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CBI to file closure report in 2 cases
Pramod Kumar
New Delhi, July 11
The Central Bureau of Investigation is likely to file closure reports in two cases related to the Commonwealth Games 2010. These cases include — agency’s probe related to irregularities committed in awarding Barapulla elevated road project contract (worth `400 crores) and the bail-out package (`766 crores) given to a private developer for the construction of Games Village.
Sources in the agency said, “The CBI, which had registered a case in the month of April 2011 to probe irregularities in the contract related to Barapulla project, has now come to the conclusion that the allegation could not be substantiated during its investigation.”
The Barapulla elevated corridor was constructed for the Commonwealth Games-2010.
“The agency has also not found anything substantial against officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) of the Delhi government in awarding this contract to a private company. The CBI is now planning to file a closure report in this case,” sources said.
The CBI has already decided to file a closure report in the case of alleged fraud and criminal conspiracy against the then chief executive officer (CEO) of Prasar Bharti B.S. Lalli in awarding broadcast rights contract (worth `246 crores) of the Commonwealth Games to a UK-based company.