The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) which found a number of works for the coming Commonwealth Games to be of poor quality has clarified that the report of the Chief Technical Examiner's Organisation (CTEO) of the CVC was the first step, and does not, in any way, assume the form of a final CVC report as sought to be projected in different quarters.
The Commission has advised the organisations to take corrective steps in the works inspected. They have been advised systemic improvement, adherence to CVC guidelines on transparency in tenders and procurement and fixing of responsibility against officers identified for lapses.
In a clarification, the CVC said that CTEO reports are followed by agency reply, CTEO counter and agency's further reply. It said the CTEO, in a routine manner, inspects the works of different organisations, when they have been tendered out and are in progress. In 2009, the CTEO had inspected 129 number of works in 71organisations including DMRC, NTPC, MCD, NHAI, ONGC, Railways, Delhi PWD, SAIL, NHPC, and AAI.
In 2010 so far, the CTEO has inspected 57 works in 42 organisations including the DMRC, the NTPC, the NPCIL, the MCD, the DJB, the SJVNL, and the DFCCIL.
The reports of the CTEO are sent to different organisations for remedial action, system improvement and to identify officials responsible, where a vigilance angle is suspected.
Organisations respond to CTEO reports, and some aspects are closed and in some cases advice is given for disciplinary action against officers, when they are found responsible.
However, the CVC said the CTEO, during inspection of CWG works came across a number of deficiencies, including award of works at higher rates, poor site management, delays and quality compromises.
Records fabricated
The CTEO found that test records had been fabricated to show high strength and a dozen samples failed to meet 28-day strength test.
“The quality of anti-corrosive treatment on reinforcement steel was found to be poor. The treatment layer was coming out even with a mild rubbing with hands. Concrete was produced by using ordinary concrete mixture in place of the prescribed Ready Mix Concrete. Almost all the agencies have taken up the work of streetscaping, especially kerb stone and footpath tiles, without ascertaining the need for such up-gradation. The main purpose of aesthetics could not be achieved due to poor quality control, lack of supervision,'' the CTEO said.
“Ineligible agencies were awarded the work. One Joint Venture (JV) firm was qualified based on a particular name and composition of the joint venture, whereas bids submitted by the JV with different composition were accepted. Work finally had to be terminated which resulted in time and cost overrun,'' it said.
