The cost included construction of the house and a camp office for the CM
A report submitted by the Delhi government states the amount of expenditure towards the construction of the residence of Delhi CM, Arvind Kejriwal.
The Vigilance Directorate of Delhi government submitted a “factual report” to the Lieutenant governor according to which a total of ₹52.71 crores was splurged for the renovation of the official residence of CM Arvind Kejriwal, said the official sources on Thursday.
Referring to the records of Public Works Department (PWD), ₹33.49 crores have been spent on the construction of his house and ₹19.22 crore for a camp office. After crashing in all its efforts to ruin CM Kejriwal’s image for the last nine years, it is infelicitous that BJP has now decided to target the residence of CM Kejriwal, said the Aam Admi Party in a statement.
The report has nothing that indicates any crime being committed. For the first time an official residence was created for a chief minister which includes a domicile of the Chief Minister, an auditorium, an office secretariat and a quarters for staffs, added the statement.
The then Minister of PWD had suggested arrangements for additional accommodation in March 2020 which included a dining room with capacity of 24, a drawing room and two meeting rooms. He also recommended a remodel of the already existing structure with the addition of an upper storey, stated the reports.
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The reports added that, built in 1942-43, the current structure was an old one therefore the PWD had proposed the demolition of the structure. Highlighting a PWD note, the reports said that the bungalow at 6, Flag Staff Road is believed to have been constructed in 1942-43 and is a load bearing construction. It’s not advised to modify the current structure or to add another floor considering the fact that the building is quite ancient and has load bearing walls.
By barricading off the current residence to segregate it, subsequent construction can be initiated on the land recommended the PWD. The report claimed that the current bungalow can be razed and CM along with his family may relocate to the novel residence once the work is complete.
Nevertheless, a new house was built there one the advice of PWD experts considering the old one which was built in 1942 had already outlasted its usefulness by 1997. The PWD had contented that neither modifying the ground floor or adding another fooor was advised as older guiding had ‘load-bearing walls’.
However the PWD was unable to present the paperwork on the destruction of buildings in proximity to 6, Flagstaff road- official residence of the CM. In response to the accusation of oddities by BJP in the renovation of the Chief Minister’s official house exposed by media LG V K Saxena sought Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to compile all pertinent documents and provide a factual report in April.
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The report which was handed over to the LG on Mat 12 and was signed by Special Secretary (Vigilance) YVVJ Rajasekhar, came mere hours after the Supreme Court granted the AAP governanc, in Delhi, the administrative responsibility over service-associated issues. The PWD initially predicted that the budget of construction would go up to 15-20 crore rupees, according to the report. The first tender for 8.61 crore was sent out on October 20, 2020, and it made no mention of building a new structure.
The report asserted that the range of the work was subsequently broadened concerning both the built-up and plinth area. Using numerous additions and modification plans. With respect to the research, the enhanced parameters ik every component including a modular kitchen, a pantry, a closet, and a laundry, made the additional cost necessary.
Likewise it made note of the fact was carried out in defiance of a 2020 order from the finance department that restricted spending to only emergencies during the Covid-19 Epidemic.
