Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Burari Sanjeev Jha on Monday levelled corruption allegations against the Public Works Department (PWD) secretary saying that development projects were stuck and certain private companies were being favoured while issuing tenders.
French company
Mr. Jha alleged that a foot over-bridge project in Jahangirpuri was stuck by PWD secretary Ashwani Kumar for over a year to favour a French company.
“The foot over-bridge opposite the Jahangirpuri hospital was supposed to have been completed by now. The tender for this project was floated last year, but the work was stuck because of corrupt practices in the PWD,” Mr. Jha alleged.
Quality assurance unit
He said that an investigation was carried out by his team against Mr. Kumar where it was allegedly revealed that Mr. Kumar had come up with a fixed formula under which no official under his department proceed with any project without taking money in return. “The government had earlier appointed a quality assurance unit (QAU) in the PWD, which was responsible for undertaking quality checks of the projects initiated by the department and provide an update of work to the Delhi government. This was being done to ensure proper work. However, when Mr. Kumar took over, he did away with this unit. Despite several reminders by the government to bring this unit back, nothing was done,” Mr. Jha said.
Letter to CM
He also said that apart from this project, several other projects across the city were stuck.
Mr. Jha said that he has written to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and has requested him to take strict action against the “corrupt” official.
Mr. Jha also alleged that the PWD secretary has also stopped the government’s initiative to install CCTV cameras across the Capital for the safety of women, to provide benefits to two private companies.
Mr. Kumar, however, denied the allegations calling it baseless.
