Thomas named new PAC chief
NEW DELHI: Former food minister KV Thomas Wednesday was formally elected as the head of the public accounts committee — the parliamentary watchdog on government’s expenses and financial policies. But a delicate balancing act awaits Thomas as his panel will have to deal with several policies and expenses of his own government, the second UPA.
Among the key issues pending before the panel is the “allocation of coal blocks and augmentation of coal production”.
The coal block allocation, nicknamed Coalgate by the Opposition has already resulted into loss of several days of the previous Lok Sabha as an adamant Opposition was gunning for the UPA government over alleged corruption in allocating the coal blocks. The CBI is also undertaking an extensive probe into the issue.
Another controversial issue, the KG Basin explorations, may also come up before the panel, said an opposition leader.
The panel also has the “implementation of public private partnership — Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi” and “Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission” under its review.
Both were big ticket projects implemented during the UPA regime but not without its fair share of controversy.
During the UPA regime, the public accounts committee saw unprecedented tussle between the ruling side and the Opposition over the 2G spectrum scandal.
PAC chairman Murali Manohar Joshi led the panel which blamed finance minister P Chidambaram and telecom minister A Raja, among others fir the 2G scam and endorsed the loss of the exchequer at ₹1.76 lakh crore.
The PAC, constituted every year, consists of not more than 22 members — 15 members elected by Lok Sabha and not more than seven members from Rajya Sabha.