BJP Leader Vijay Goel was appointed as Minister of State Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Statistics and Programme Implementation five months ago. Now the Minister wants to make the best of his position by building an expensive office with the taxpayer’s money. The worst part of this new project is a Government staff canteen in Sardar Patel Bhawan in New Delhi will be torn down to accommodate Goel’s lavish needs. This canteen was refurbished just last year at a cost of Rs. 52 lakhs.
Reports reveal that the Government will sign over nearly Rs. 1.09 crores to turn the only staff canteen in the building into a ministerial chamber for Goel. However, the final cost is likely to be more than Rs. 1.09 crores.
A senior official from the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) which is undertaking the project said, “Most of the work already completed was done on the advice of the Minister’s personal staff. The Minister has suggested some more modifications and alterations according to Vaastu. To comply with the latest suggestions, we may need some more money for which we will send estimates soon.”
CPWD released a note dated January 12, 2018 reads, “The toughened glass round table with single stainless steel frame is to be required instead of existing conference table; existing conference table, conference chair and Minister’s chair has to be replaced; existing window roller blinds should be replaced and existing window films should be removed in Minister’s room; existing corridor doors should be replaced or modified as per new wooden door.”
Sources at the CPWD have said that the department sanctioned Rs. 71 lakhs for civil, electrical and furnishing work. They further added, “The Minister’s office needs LED TV, Internet and telephone facilities for which we have sought sanction for another Rs. 39 lakh.”
Goel was questioned about his lavish needs to which the Minister denied knowing anything about the canteen or cost of his office. He was quoted saying, “When I was given charge of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), I asked officials to make available an office for me from the existing rooms. It’s not my decision to construct a new office. I am not aware whether there was a canteen there earlier. I am also not aware about the cost of the construction of my office. It’s the job of the CPWD. The new office is going to be ready in the next few days.”
The five storey building hosts a number of Government offices including the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG.) The DARPG drafted an Official Memorandum against shifting the canteen for Goel’s office.
