A CBI probe recommended by the Yogi Adityanath government into irregularities in Gomti Riverfront project executed during the previous Samajwadi Party regime has been vindicated by Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).
In a stinging indictment of the previous SP regime, the auditor said, “The matter merits examination from vigilance angle for departmental action and criminal prosecution.” The CAG report on general and social sector for the year ending March 31, 2017, was tabled in both Houses of the state legislature on Thursday.
The CAG in its report also stated that officials did not produce 26 records requisitioned by audit and replies were also not furnished for over two dozen audit memos relating to the riverfront project.
The CAG said that audit observations pointed towards only a limited test check and the government was required to review all contracts related to the project.
Soon after taking over as Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath in March 2017 had recommended a CBI probe into the Gomti Riverfront project.
The audit report said the riverfront project was approved in March, 2015 with a cost of Rs 656.58 crore with the objective of developing a world class space on Gomti river in Lucknow for promoting tourism and facilitating water supply to Lucknow. Later, the project cost was revised to Rs 1,513.12 crore and March 2017 was set as deadline to complete it. A total of Rs 1,447.84 crores were spent on the project.
During examination of papers, it surfaced that contracts worth Rs 662 crore were illegally awarded by officials without publishing tender notices in newspapers.
The audit report said that officials diluted tender conditions for construction of diaphragm wall, with the sole intention of awarding the contract valued at Rs 513.73 crore to an ineligible bidder in a non-competitive manner.
The CAG also found several irregularities in selecting companies for construction of intercepting truck drain contract and rubber dam.
The project consisted of riverbed, channelisation of river to maintain water flow by construction of diaphragm wall on both sides of the river, construction of intercepting truck drain (underground pipeline) to carry sewage to sewage treatment plant, construction of inflatable rubber dam and beautification of the riverside.