The CAG report has pointed several irregularities in the general functioning of the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board and lack of transparency in award of contracts by it.
While the DUSIB did not form the Urban Shelter Consultative Committee and Basti Vikas Samitis, the audit report said the Board did not initiate any new housing scheme for relocation of residents of jhuggi jhonpri bastis. The report also rapped the Board for bad upkeep of the night shelters, apart from finding irregularities in “awarding management of permanent night shelters”. “Service Level Agreements did not specify the nature of services to be provided and monthly charges payable were fixed without fixing the number of caretakers to be deployed. The DUSIB awarded work of erection and operation of 62 night shelters in porta cabins to an NGO, without calling open tenders, and paid Rs.1.86 crore,” the report said.
Depending on the physical survey of 117 out of 175 night shelters to assess the quality of facilities being provided there, the report said: “Functional condition of night shelters was not up to mark. Blankets were in unhygienic condition; sanitation condition in all 58 shelters was also unhygienic and lighting arrangement was not made in many night shelters. Temporary night shelters were functioning in fabric tents not suitable for winter season.”
Commenting on the state of affairs in the JJ clusters, the report highlighted that only 158 out of 685 JJ bastis had piped water facility serving 250 to 300 persons against the standard of 150 persons. “The roads and drainages were dilapidated although Rs.49.08 crore was spent on them.”
