CAG unearthed ₹30,000-cr scam in Noida: Adityanath
LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit of the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (Noida) has uncovered ~30,000 crore scam over 10 years.
Adityanath did not specify the 10-year period, but it is learnt that the CAG audit covered the period between 2005 to 2018.
“We got the CAG audit of the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority conducted for a period of 10 years. The audit has revealed a scam of ~30,000 crore,” said Adityanath while intervening in a debate on the 2020-2021 Budget in the state assembly here.
He said a similar situation prevailed in Greater Noida. “This is not my money. This is the money of 23 crore [230 million] people of Uttar Pradesh and the people of the state should become the rightful claimants of this amount. This is our commitment to the development of infrastructure in the state,” he said.
Adityanath said there were irregularities in the implementation of the government schemes when the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party ruled the state. He did not elaborate.
The UP government established the authority in 1976 to acquire agricultural land to set up industries.
The authority functions as an autonomous body and is mandated to take quick decisions to fast track industrial and infrastructure projects. Since 1976, the authority’s board has taken all its important policy decisions. Adityanath said the government is also planning to probe power purchase agreements (PPAS) signed during the SP’S rule.
“Action is being taken and many people will get exposed if an inquiry is conducted into the PPAS signed during the SP government’s tenure.”
Asked to comment SP spokesman Rajendra Chadhary said he was not aware of the CAG’S observations. Chaudhary said the CAG, however, in recent reports has pointed out towards irregularities during the tenure of Yogi government as well and so the chief minister should have spoken about the action taken against those involved in these irregularities.
BSP leader Lalji Verma said the CAG reports were tabled in the legislature whenever submitted. He said the Public Accounts Committee was responsible to look into the CAG reports. Verma said the CAG in recent reports has made observations about irregularities during the tenure of BJP government too. Yogi should, therefore, speak about the action taken against the officers responsible for carrying out irregularities, said Verma.