Sheila Dikshit says she had no role in finalising DJB contracts

NEW DELHI: Under attack after CBI initiated probe into alleged irregularities in award of contract by Delhi Jal Board, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who is the chairperson of the body, today denied any wrongdoing and asserted that laid down norms were followed in deciding bids.

She said the terms and conditions of tenders were formulated by "technocrats and officers" of DJB and as chairperson she has no role in it.

"The Chief Minister's office as well as the Chairman, DJB has nothing to do with the finalisation of terms and conditions of tenders, bid documents, bidding and other related processes. At the Board level, only major decisions are taken including granting administrative approval and expenditure sanctions beyond the powers of the CEO of the DJB," Dikshit said.

The CBI has registered three separate Preliminary Enquiries with regards to public-private partnership project with a European firm for supplying uninterrupted water supply to Nangloi, Malviya Nagar and Mehrauli areas.

"The investigating agency has only raised certain posers and asked DJB to submit its answers. It is a routine exercise being adopted by the CBI before taking any matter for investigation," the CM said.

Following the CBI inquiry, the BJP yesterday demanded questioning of Dikshit by the probe agency as she is its chairperson. The DJB has already rejected the allegations of wrongdoing.

CBI has alleged that tender conditions for uninterrupted water supply to these areas were "tailor-made" to suit one of the bidders, prompting the agency to start separate enquiry for each of these areas.

The investigating agency has also registered another enquiry related to alleged irregularities in the quality testing of water supply meters purchased from an infrastructure major private company.

"The bid documents were prepared by the DJB as per the model documents approved by the Planning Commission. The BJP is in the habit of smelling scam in any project whatever it may be," Dikshit said.