Irregularities in Global Investors Summit purchases:Accused officials gave clean chit in their own probe; Lokayukta detects discrepancies

Large-scale irregularities have surfaced in the city’s beautification works carried out during the Global Investors Summit (GIS). The Municipal Corporation spent about ₹1.73 crore to install fountains at 19 locations, but the purchase of motors, PVC pipes, nozzles, and LED lights was shown at 2 to 4 times higher than market rates. In several places, payments were made without the installation of materials. A complaint was filed with the Lokayukta in July 2025. After this, Superintending Engineer Udit Garg and In-charge Executive Engineer R.K. Trivedi submitted a report giving a clean chit, despite the allegations being against them. The Lokayukta rejected the report and sought a fresh one. When no reply came within the deadline, the Municipal Commissioner formed a three-member committee, but objections were raised to it as well. Finally, the Urban Administration Commissioner constituted a new committee and restarted the investigation. Initial findings revealed that a 7.5 HP motor was purchased for ₹45,000 and a 10 HP motor for ₹58,000, while UADD SOR rates are significantly lower. Municipal Commissioner Sanskriti Jain said conclusions can be drawn only after the new committee submits its report. Meanwhile, the motor installed at the fountain site had its HP capacity scratched off, though marked ‘Single Phase’ and ‘14 Stage.’ Experts say such a motor cannot be 10 HP, despite records showing it as 10 HP. 4 Irregularities in the complaint Irregularity-1: Submersible Motor Irregularity-2: PVC Pipe Irregularity-3: Fountain Nozzle Irregularity-4: LED Light ‘A 35 HP motor is sufficient for a fountain’ R.B. Rai, Former Superintending Engineer, PHE, says, Fountains installed at intersections throw water up to a height of 3 to 5 meters. For the operation of such fountains, a motor of typically 3 to a maximum of 5 HP is sufficient. In most cities, motors of this capacity are used, which are commonly called ‘Jalpari’ (water nymph).