IT Department pulls CPWD up for its failure in completion of infra projects
The Central Public Works Department (CPWD), which is the premier governmental construction agency of the country, has been pulled up by the Income Tax Department
for its failure in seeing through more than 75 infrastructure projects costing over Rs.350 crore, which it was entrusted. The IT-department informed the CPWD in no uncertain terms that the inexplicable delay in the completion of its infrastructure projects is causing a jolt in its functionality, thereby resulting in considerable cost escalations. The Union Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath had on several previous occasions lashed out at the department for its irresponsible manner in handling infrastructure projects that needed to be completed in a timely manner.
Cause of IT department’s discontent:
This discontent was openly expressed by the Director General of Income Tax (Logistic), in a letter to the Director General of CPWD. It was stated that the CPWD had failed to create a sufficient fund pool for carrying out its responsibilities. It was also alleged that even in cases were funds were available for carrying out its activities, it was wrongfully diverted for other purposes, thereby causing projects for which the funds were intended, to be indefinitely delayed. There are many projects which were sanctioned as early as 2009, while there are others for which funds were already released in the demand of grants.
Work on many of these projects have not been completed in a time-bound manner inspite of having the requisite funds. There are also cases of projects that have been left in the lurch inspite of having the funds necessary for their completion. An instance of such a misappropriation of funds can be cited in the case of the construction of the proposed office building at G Block Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai. The project is still in the limbo inspite of funds of over Rs. 241 crore been allotted towards it, in the last four years, since 2010-11. It is a pitiable state of affairs as far as the CPWD’s functioning is concerned, considering that all these projects have received the administrative go ahead as well as the necessary sanctioning of funds by the respective authorities in charge.
Projects for which CPWD has goofed up:
As a result of this fiasco, the image of the department has taken a beating, resulting in a widening gap between the available and the projected infrastructure requirement. Some of the major infrastructure projects for which the CPWD has goofed up in its responsibilities are those dealing with sundry works like the renovation and upgradation works for residential quarters, road repair works, works relating to fitting services and also work to do with construction of boundary walls. Besides these, there are many other projects, even though of lesser significance, which have been pending since long, and have not been addressed suitably.
Rationale of CPWD:
On its part, the CPWD has justified its inability in completion of many projects due to paucity of funds released for their purpose. It is of the opinion that as many as 50 projects can be completed immediately, if funds to the tune of Rs. 7.5 crore is released. Another 19 projects can similarly be completed if Rs. 44 crore is allocated for them. Similarly, the Navi Mumbai project, another long pending one, can be completed if Rs. 8.36 crore is released by the government.
In such a scenario were glitches have been pointed out on either side of the table, a suitable resolution to the deadlock should be reached with discussions between all concerned parties, with effective monitoring of proceedings, so that these long-pending projects are given their due.
