Retired IAS officer Davidhar submits inquiry report into 'Smart City' irregularities
- On June 25, 2015, with the financial support of the central government, 100 cities were selected across the country and the 'Sirmiku Nagar' project was launched to provide basic facilities there.
- Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Thanjavur, Salem, Vellore, Tirupur, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Trichy and Erode cities were selected.
- In these cities, the central government allocated Rs. 5,390 crores to implement various projects of Rs. 490 crores. Of this, Rs 3,969 crore was released. Still, 1,421 crore rupees are to be received. The state government allocated 5,500 crore rupees to the cities at the rate of 500 crore rupees each.
- Of this, Rs 4,000 crore was released. Still, Rs 1,500 crore should be given. 10,651 crore rupees have been sanctioned for implementation of 644 projects in the selected 11 cities. Out of this, 257 projects were completed at a cost of Rs 2,328 crore.
- Next, 339 projects worth Rs 7,947.50 crore are in progress. For the remaining works, 'tender' and project report are under preparation. The MLAs raised a question in the Assembly regarding the floating of Chennai city during last year's rains.
- The Chief Minister replied, 'The reason for this is not doing the creative work properly. "We are going to set up an inquiry committee to inquire into the operation of the project," he said.
- Subsequently, in March, a one-man inquiry committee headed by retired IAS officer Davidar was constituted.
- The committee conducted inquiries from various parties. Davidar presented the 200-page report prepared on the basis of it to Chief Minister Stalin at the Chief Secretariat yesterday. The Chief Secretary was present.
- Rajasthan is under Congress rule led by Chief Minister Ashok Khelat. Assembly elections will be held there at the end of next year. In view of that, the Congress party has started the election work in that state.
- In this situation, the government led by Chief Minister Ashok Khelat has announced free internet service for 3 years with smart phones to 1.35 crore household heads enrolled in the Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme. Bidding for the Rs 12,000 crore project has been going on since Wednesday.
