New Delhi: Palika Bazar, the underground air-conditioned market in Delhi’s Connaught Place completed its 40 years of operation last year. The market, apparently the country’s only air-conditioned underground shopping plaza, hosts close to 400 shops selling all items from clothes to beauty products to electronic products.

The underground marketing complex is kept cool by a powerful central conditioning system equipped with multiple chillers. However, one of the chillers – Chiller Number 2 – has been in the eye of storm ever since its installation in 2010 by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).

The Chiller Number 2, installed at a cost of more than Rs 1 crore, has barely functioned since its installation. According to reports of NDMC’s Building Maintenance electrical department, this Chiller has been operational for just 10 days in a month on average ever since its installation. What’s more shocking is the fact that vendor is being paid full amount, despite the defunct chiller in place for 10 years now, officials with inside information revealed.

Now, questions are being raised over the role of officials who gave go-ahead for purchase of chillers and when found below par, why no corrective measures were taken. Was there any scam in its procurement? Was anyone from the civic body hand-in-gloves with chiller suppliers?

The issue of non-performance of Chiller 2 has been brought up several times in various Council meetings of NDMC but no avail.

In fact, BJP MP and NDMC member Meenakshi Lekhi raised the matter to the NDMC chairman, highlighting the dreary and laid-back approach of officials and also about Council’s inability to take cognizance of the matter.

In a letter dated Decemeber 19, 2019, Meenakshi Lekhi wrote, “In earlier council meeting, Chief Engineer (Elect 1) was directed to place on record a report on performance of chiller but it hasn’t been done so nor the matter was included in NDMC meeting agenda”.

Apparently after Lekhi’s letter, Chief Engineer (Elect 1) submitted report, which clearly mentions that the chiller in question was not upto the mark.

Rather, a report was prepared by Chief Engineer (Elect – II), which engaged the services of third party for ‘giving a clean chit’ to the defective equipment and its vendor. In her letter dated July 29, 2020, Meenakshi Lekhi also demanded abolition of the unsanctioned post of Chief Engineer (Elect – III).

For clean and transparent administration of the NDMC, the BJP MP also suggested rotation of officials, who held sensitive post for more than 3 years.