Will ask for performance audit of 24x7 water supply project: MP

City MP and former Union Minister Manish Tewari has stated that he would write to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to conduct a performance audit with regard to the 24X7 water supply pilot project at Manimajra, which was an “abysmal failure”.

Given that the project was funded through the Smart City Misson and Rs 75 crore had been allegedly squandered on the project, which was a “criminal waste” of public money, Tewari said accountability of officers concerned must be fixed and heads must roll since the Municipal Corporation had now decided to abandon the World Bank-funded project.

Tewari was addressing the gathering after inaugurating CCTV cameras installed in Sector 29 and Kaimbwala, funded under the MP Local Area Development Scheme. The cameras will help strengthen law and order in the respective areas.

He said residents of Sector 29 (Ward No. 10) and Kaimbwala (Ward No. 1) had been demanding CCTV cameras due to the rising incidents of crime. Considering their concerns, he allocated funds to facilitate CCTV installation in their areas.

Addressing mediapersons, Tewari emphasised his belief in the politics of development. He stated that he had been allocating funds for various development works across different localities.

Taking a dig at the Municipal Corporation, he remarked that it was unfortunate that the financial condition had reached a nadir over the past decade. An institution that once managed its expenses from the interest earned on fixed deposits was now reduced to distributing sweets over receiving a handout of Rs 125 crore, he added. The MP demanded a white paper on the finances of the Municipal Corporation from 2014 to 2025.

City Congress president HS Lucky, Ward No. 1 councillor Jaswinder Kaur, former city Youth Congress president Chandramukhi Sharma, ex Mayors Ravinder Pal Singh Pali and Surinder Singh, Block Congress president Goldy and party leaders Kuldeep Singh Kaimbwala, Dr Jagpal Singh Jagga, Rajdeep Sidhu and Rupinder Singh Rupi were present on the occasion.