Vijay Kumar Malhotra, Leader of the Opposition in Delhi Assembly, criticised the Sheila Dikshit government on Monday over the finding of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India report tabled in the Assembly on the last day of the budget session.

There could not be a more damning indictment of the Delhi government than the CAG report for the year ending March 31, 2009. The report belies the governments assertions of clean and transparent administration on all fronts. The CAG has reported maladministration and financial impropriety in practically all departments, Malhotra said.

The leader also lashed out at the government for paying a large amount of money to Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transport System (DMITS) for transport studies. In its report, the CAG stated most of these studies were carried out without verifying the feasibility of the project.

In just 10 test cases taken up by the CAG, it was found that DMITS was paid Rs 174.13 crore for various studies, Malhotra said.

Malhotra also took on the government over purchase of low-floor buses and losses the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) is facing. CAG has also reported that Kolkata and Benguluru, despite low bus fares, have earned profit. In Delhi, despite increasing the bus fares, the DTC ran into losses, Malhotra said. The DTC recorded loss of Rs 1697.69 crore during 2008-2009.

The BJP also supported the agitation by the students of the Delhi Technological University (DTU). We had opposed the Bill in the Assembly. By converting the engineering college into DTU, the government has undermined the importance of the institute. The chief minister also misled the House by saying students and government had reached an amicable solution on the issue, Malhotra added.