The role of the Urban Development Ministry, responsible for creating infrastructure for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, has come under the scanner of the PAC which has flagged some serious issues regarding delay in getting environmental clearance and “undue favour” to a private company in awarding contracts.
While responding to a query by Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee on the “inordinate delay” in approaching the Environment Ministry for getting clearance, the Urban Development Ministry said the delay was beyond the control of DDA as several agencies, such as the Organising Committee, Yamuna Standing Committee, Central Water Commission, Uttar Pradesh Government and Central Pollution Control Board were involved and had to be approached in the process.
The Urban Development Ministry supervised and monitored the work of the CPWD in construction of nine stadia of the Sports Authority of India and the Big Bore Shooting Range at Kaderpur.