COP- 11 works Demand for a thorough Audit and Enquiry

The 11th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP 11) was recently held in Hyderabad. The Government of AP spent a lot of money on the preparations for this international meeting. Different departments were involved in the works undertaken for the conference. Some of us who have been working on RTI for a while were concerned with the quality of the works being undertaken and decided to use RTI to find out details of works and the amounts spent. Some of us from United Forum for RTI Campaign (UFRTI) and Its Time to Make a Difference (ITMD) got together and took up the work of filing RTI applications with various departments. We also called for volunteers who are interested in taking this forward. A Facebook group was created for the purpose. We filed RTI applications with 22 different departments (both central and state). We received information from a few of them. In the attached pages, we are disclosing some of the information we received from various departments. There were many allegations with regards to the amounts spent on various works. We could see lot of misuse of funds and diversion of funds. Hence we demand the government to conduct a full-fledged enquiry and audit of the works taken up for COP-11. The following are our major demands Government should immediately release a white paper on the works and expenditure of COP-11 Every department involved in COP-11 works should put the details of works and funds on their website in the interest of transparency and accountability as per the RTI act. Government should immediately constitute an independent enquiry committee to look into the funds spent and works taken up for COP-11 and take punitive action on those found guilty.

Finance Department A total of 273.49 crore rupees was released for COP related works with GHMC getting 125 crores and police getting 69.13 crores. A total of 12 departments received these amounts. The amount given to police included amounts to the intelligence branch and the city police. 1.25 crores were given to illumination of heritage buildings. 5 crore rupees were given to tourism for promotion

Note about I & PR: Budget released to I & PR was for advertisements in print & electronic media, outdoor publicity etc. It was actually surprising to see bill boards welcoming delegates for COP-11 as far as in Warangal and interiors of Warangal. One does not understand why such bill boards were necessary in districts when the event had nothing to do with the districts. Is that a way of making easy money? GHMC (Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation) The department which was allotted the highest budget and spent the greatest amount of funds during COP-11 is GHMC. But there was very little transparency in the way these funds were utilized. When we sought information regarding the works taken up by GHMC through RTI act, the response was poor. The

only reason for such a poor reason must be that funds were either diverted or misused. If GHMC has nothing to hide and if the funds were properly utilized, why are they shying away from making a full disclosure about the funds spent on their website? Why are they not responding to RTI queries concerning works taken up with hundreds of crores? GHMC Claims 88 works were taken up by Urban Forestry and Horticulture wing of GHMC during COP11. But in reality, they have done more than 170+ works. Why is GHMC not revealing the details of other works? They have done works like recarpeting roads, repairs, formation of footpath, drain works, painting, lane marking, and repairs to fountains and erection of signage, but the information is not made public till date. When we sought information through RTI act, they were evasive for most of the questions asked. Their answers included 1. Copies enclosed (But copies missing with the RTI reply, i.e they did not enclose any copy) 2. Information not available in this office. Since this office is not the concerned for maintaining the Information. GHMC has taken up cycle track work by chopping trees in the stretch from Hitex Metal Charminar to Hitex entrance, but till date the work is not complete.That stretch is now uglier than before. And GHMC has taken no action on the contractors and engineers who are involved in this project. Most of the divider beautification works were funded by Corporates under their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), but many of them are still pending. They collected funds from companies but failed to complete the works. GHMC has taken up plantation of saplings in the name of beautification and greenery in Ayappa Colony and surroundings of Madhapur, but some of them were removed after the event and the rest of them are dying. Most saplings planted in cyberabad for COP-11 face a similar fate. Why is GHMC shying away from putting every bit of information on the website? HMDA (Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority) An amount of 15 crore rupees was released by government out of which 2.57 crores is paid so far. Multiple works were given to same contractors. The quality of the most of the works is sub standard. One Mr V Krishnam Raju was given eight works. We find it strange that most works taken up by HMDA are far away from the COP venue and to do with different parks in the city. We fail to understand why such works have to be taken under the garb of COP. Some of the works taken up include Digging of borewells Painting of footover bridges and others Putting up dustbins in parks

Putting up granite benches in parks

We wonder if this is just a way of rewarding contractors. We would like to ask the Government Was there a real need for all these works? How were these works finalized? Did the delegates visit these parks? Will the government show the same sincerity in maintenance of these parks in future even when there is no event like COP?

HMDA favours Krishna Engineers & Fabricators.Same work allocated thrice to the contractor for different amounts -- MS railing for cental median from mosque to first flyover for varying amounts. Also for MS grill on top of planter walls at Hitech city. Similar is the case with works sanctioned to Director of Urban Forestry. And also for double pole structure at Lumbini Park by contractor T Kishan Floral clock repairs -- Rs.48000 Dustbins along walkway at KBR Park -- Rs.1.02 lakh same contractor (contech engineers) asked to provide granite benches at KBR Park Necklace road pole paintings -- Rs.12 lakh Why borewells at NTR Park and Sanjeevaiah Park? Light fixture around NTR smadhi for 2.4 lakh? Artificial grass for 7.4 lakh at lumbini park by a contractor Same person laid pipeline and did repairs for sound box at laserium.

DGP Office The office of the DGP has refused to provide information saying the questions asked were not specific which is nothing but a blatant lie. The police department spent around 70 crore rupees and they are refusing to be accountable and transparent. Biodiversity Board Biodiversity Board paid 390 lakhs to APIIC for construction of Pylon. Biodiversity Board paid nearly 40 lakhs to HMWSSB towards new water connection and monthly water bill charges supplied at pylon. Biodiversity Board paid 1 lakhs to Lyric medium enterprises for a film on Biodiversity "We &The Biodiversity". Unfortunately none of the citizens of AP know about it. Biodiversity Board has spend 36 lakhs of rupees under miscellaneous. Who knows where this money has gone. What are these miscellaneous expenses to the tune of 36 lakh rupees? 5 Crores has been allocated to Biodiversity Board by Govt. Of AP and they have spent nearly 4crore 7 lakhs of rupees.

A side event organised by KMK Event Mgmt Ltd on 14.10.12 itself cost Rs.3 lakh? Gandhiji posters on biodiversity -- Rs.67810 New water connection to HMWSSB at biodiversity park -- 37.85 lakh APIIC says COP-11 meetings with biodiversity board chairman but he says they are not on him. Departments passing on the buck to each other.

APIIC

The State Government allotted 15 acres of land in APIIC layout, Gachibowli to EFS&T department for Pylon, Biodiversity Museum & Park. About 300 to 400 rare and endangered plant species were procured for getting planted by VVIPs during Conference in this proposed Biodiversity Park. For construction of the Pylon, AP State Bio Diversity Board allotted 270 Lakh through APIIC. The Contract was awarded to M/S S&S Green Projects Pvt Ltd and Associated Hyderabad. Recently in the month of February, they had to do repairs to pylon due to the poor quality of the work. For Construction of wall around the Bio Diversity Park APIIC estimated 131 lakhs and the contract was awarded to Sri.P.Venkata Reddy. Till date the work is not completed. Work seems favourably entrusted to one P Venkat Reddy -- single qualified bidder due to e procurement and second time assigned to the existing contractor at tendered rates due to urgency. Balance work also to existing contractor at tendered rates at a meeting of chief secretary on 6/9/12 For Construction of Podium, Platform & Steps, providing CC pavers and site leveling at Bio Diversity Park, APIIC estimated 69 lakhs and the contract was awarded to Sri.P.Venkata Reddy. Till date the work is not completed. In the name of Balance Development Works which includes landscaping, providing electrification and lighting arrangements, an amount of 306 lakhs were earmarked and the contract was awarded to existing contractor Sri.P.Venkata Reddy at tendered rates in the name of URGENCY. Overall the works taken up by APIIC yet to be completed. The actual purpose of the Museum and a Bio-diversity Park for planting rare and endangered plant species in Commemoration of COP-11 is a distant dream. Details of the park Name: Bio-Diversity Park cum Museum Area : 15 Acres Survey no: 83/1 (Plot Numbers : 20,21,34 and 35) Chief Ministers Office (CMO) On 16th Jan 2012, CM sent a request to Minister of State Environment and forest for financial assistance of around 1000 crores. It was mentioned that since GOI has helped DELHI GOVT during CWG by providing financial help to improve city, GOI should provide financial assistance to Govt of AP. An annexure is added with details of funds needed for each dept: GHMC - 851 crores Home (police) - 100 crores I & PR - 25 crores Forest dept - 20 crores Tourism and Transport Dept - 20 crores Culture - 5 crores Medical health - 4.5 crore AP NGC (national green corps) - 2.5 crores Total - 1028 crores

On 3rd April 2012, CM sent a request to PMO to allot 1028 crores through MoEF. On 11th Aug 2012, CM sent a request to Montek Singh Ahluwalia to approve 250 crores to GHMC and 114 crores for police dept. This letter doesnt talk about 1028 crore requested from PMO. This letter requested Dy Chairman of Planning Commission to allot 364 (250+114) crores from Discretionary fund as a special case

National Green Corps & Department of YATC NGC (National Green Corps) is one of the major departments who played a key role during the COP11. Though the money spend by them is not huge, their spending lacks transparency. We were shocked to see the way they spent funds for COP-11 works. Govt. released Rs2,07,75,000/- to NGC for COP11 Activities. Out of which NGC Spent Rs 1,86,31,096/on activities like training volunteers, printing resource material etc and Spent Rs 11,59,000/- on stipend to Volunteers. NGC Spent Rs 10 lakh for some 2D Material for exhibiting to the COP-11 participants. We are not sure of the objective of this one. What happened to them and where are they now? NGC Spent Rs 16 lakh for designing and Printing of PrakrithiMitra Magazine to keep the COP11 participants updated about the daily news and events. We are not sure how many of them are printed and distributed. What we noticed during CoP-11 is many of them have been left unused or undistributed. NGC Spent Rs 1.5 lakh for a TV and Monitor. Where are the assets now? Did they follow the transparent process of bidding? NGC Spent Rs 15.5 lakh on Blazers. We got to know that they even bought Aprons. Their purchase and distribution lacks transparency? NGC Spent Rs 10.16 lakh for Training on MUN Methodology. What kind of training was given to participants that requires such money? NGC Spent lakhs of rupees for Food in CoP11 for 200 odd volunteers. We know that most volunteers did not get food on time. Most of the media friends knew and have written about the non-timely/ no distribution of food to volunteers. A comparison between the amount spent and number of volunteers will give us a better picture of this spending. Two bills have been submitted for MUN Prizes in CoP11.

Youth Advancement Tourism and Culture Department and APTDC : The APTDC has taken up 80, 51,920 worth of works only at the State Art Gallery (Chitramayee) at Madhapur in the name of Renovation & Repair, Lift Repairs, Central A/C, Landscaping etc. No one knows the quality and quantity of these works till now. In the name of promotion ,YAT &C spent 2, 10, 71,289. Out of this nearly 1 crore has been spent on promotional material. APTDC in the name of COP-11 has spent money for repairs to BOATS to the tune of 30 lakh. Here they mentioned the name of the boat. But in the end, they also mentioned another category Repairs of Boats with an expenditure of 17 lakhs. Almost 30 lakhs have been spent on them.

They have billed huge expenditure for repair of vehicles with the COP-11 funds. APTDC has purchased Bata Shoes, with these funds. For whom did they purchase and how are they distributed? In the name of GUIDE charges, they showed an expenditure of 4 lakh rupees. Who did these Guides guide? They paid remuneration of Rs 1,52, 000. Who did they remunerate? They mentioned Volunteers bills with an expenditure of 12,54, 000. Who did they pay these bills and for what purpose? For the same boat Premavathi they have spent in two categories a) Repairs to premavathi Boat 6, 03, 000 b) Over hauling of Simpson engines of premavathi & mechanized boat.

Roads & Buildings Out of an allocated budget of 21.2 crore rupees, 11.85 crore rupees them are improvements to existing roads. Every road work talks existing roads. Most roads are back to their old shape making expenditure. Was there a study/survey conducted on what kinds of roads? were spent on 8 road works. All of of widening and improvements to this entire expenditure a wasteful improvements are needed for these

Works done by R&B is only carpeting on existing road rather than taking up fresh work. They have not even built any safety measures with the funds.

This was a group effort and was possible only because of a group of committed volunteers which included Mahender Reddy, Ali Hussaini, Kumar Shastri,Yogendra, Saiprasad, Lalitha, Bharath, Umesh Varma among others.

Rakesh Reddy Dubbudu RTI Activist United Forum for RTI Campaign 9885419012

Y P Ramakrishna RTI Activist ITMD 9052311911

Annexures Allocation of budget from the finance department