DDA's supervisory role over Games Village mess under investigation

Following reports of gross mismanagement in the works related to the recently concluded Commonwealth Games, union urban development minister Jaipal Reddy has asked his ministry to consider stringent action against Delhi Development Authority (DDA) officials who failed to properly monitor the works undertaken by the firm Emaar-MGF at the Games Village.

According to unnamed government sources quoted by Newsline, the axe may fall on the DDA top brass for the Games Village mess. Even as the ministry officials are yet to take firm view on the line of action, they could look at financial penalty as well as disciplinary proceedings, including suspension, for ''dereliction of duty'', the Newsline report says.

According to sources, Reddy had told ministry officials that since his conscience was clear, he would not allow DDA officials responsible for supervision of the project go ''scot-free''.

Reddy's diktat comes against the backdrop of the growing clamour against the Urban Development Ministry, which has direct jurisdiction over the DDA.
The action also comes on a day when the DDA was asked by the ministry to confiscate the Rs183-crore bank guarantee deposited by Emaar-MGF and also initiate legal proceedings against the Dubai-based private developer. The ministry conveyed this to DDA vice-chairman Ashok Kumar Nigam through under secretary P T James Kutty, in a letter issued today (no.3388/DDR/2007/ DDVI).

The action follows an inspection of the Village on 15October, a day after the event closed, with executive engineer Amar Singh pointing to 13 ''defects'' in the works. This was communicated to the Emaar-MGF on 16October in a letter (no. F.9 (27) AE (P)/CGD.1/ DDA/2007-08/736), a copy of which Newsline claims is in its possession.

DDA's fault list

• Adverse slope of the basement floor- at certain places, particularly near the lift rooms, no flooring has been done as evident after clearance of debris.
• Heavy leakage of groundwater in all 73 lift pits, no water treatment done
• Deficient water proofing of terrace- seepage in many apartments, terrace slope not proper. Bathroom floors at many places also do not have proper slope.
• Balconies, balcony doors and glasses were not provided in certain apartments till last week.
• Uncovered shafts causing rainwater to flow into the basement
• Non-functional ACs in many apartments as only single phase power connection was available. AC drain pipes choked in many places.
• Incomplete landscaping with no arrangements for water