17-yr delay in ICT construction project, points out CAG report

Mumbai: A recent Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, outlining alleged procedural discrepancies between 2020 and 2025 at the Institute of Chemical Technology, has highlighted a delay of over 17 years in establishing a Department of Atomic Energy-ICT Centre due to changing plans and refund of interest blocking funds totalling Rs 46 crore. The CAG report also pointed out irregularities in purchases, non-appointment of statutory committees, fee regulation for postgraduate courses, and alleged procedural lapses in re-appointment of the vice-chancellor.On the construction of the DAE-ICT centre, ICT authorities said the delay in construction of the building was due to lack of permission from BMC. They added that the institute is in the process of obtaining it.The CAG report also highlighted alleged irregularities in construction work at the ICT-Jalna campus, related to land allotment, marking, remarking of land, among other things. But the institute claimed that the irregularities have been addressed and construction has started following proper procedure. The CAG report also pointed to purchases made at the Matunga campus allegedly without inviting tenders. Institute authorities, however, claimed the special purchase permission was authorised under the vice-chancellor's emergency powers given the necessity of the laboratory and structural condition of the old building. The report also highlighted overcrowding in hostels, to which the institute claimed that the two-seater hostel rooms had to be converted into three-seaters until the new facility was developed as the institute witnessed a significant increase in girl students. tnn
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