The BJP on Monday alleged a scam in the tendering process for upgrading sewage treatment plants operated by the Delhi Jal Board and demanded that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tender his resignation immediately.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia claimed the Delhi Jal Board invited bids for the upgradation of five sewage treatment plants (STPs) in the city and for the upgradation and augmentation of another five to increase their capacity.
While the estimated cost of the projects was around Rs 1,500 crore, they were awarded to the contractors at an increased rate of Rs 1,938 crore, Bhatia claimed.
“Bids were invited, and tenders were awarded only after cartelisation to ensure that no honest contractor gets the project… This is worrisome, Arvind Kejriwal; you have committed one more scam,” the BJP spokesperson charged.
“Look at Arvind Kejriwal’s mechanism. The L1 (lowest) bid was at Rs 392 crore, but the contract was awarded at an increased cost of Rs 408 crore. Prima facie, this is a scam worth Rs 450–500 crore in awarding contracts, he added.
“If there is anyone who is synonymous with corruption and an expert in loot, it’s one and only ‘kattar beimaan’ (outright dishonest) Arvind Kejriwal… If at all there is even a little shame left, Arvind Kejriwal should immediately resign as Delhi Chief Minister and let the law take its course, Bhatia said. Raising the issue, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva has written to central probe agencies and Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena, seeking an investigation into alleged irregularities in the tendering process for upgrading the sewage treatment plants run by the DJB.
