Parliament's PAC panel examines CAG report on Rs 166 crore abandoned defence buildings, contract lapses in presence of CDS
New Delhi, July 10
The Parliament's Public Accounts Committee Sub-Committee on Defence on Friday held a meeting at Parliament House Annexe to examine defence-related reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General, with Chief of Defence Staff General Raja Subramani and other officials attending the proceedings.
BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi is the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Sub-Committee on Defence, which is examining defence-related reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
The meeting was convened to discuss issues highlighted in CAG reports concerning the Ministry of Defence, including internal controls and quality assurance in the execution of Military Engineer Services (MES) contracts, as well as the abandonment of buildings due to substandard construction and delays in fixing responsibility.
The agenda included a briefing by audit officials, followed by oral evidence from representatives of the Ministry of Defence on the subjects of "Internal control and quality assurance in execution of MES contracts" based on Chapter-II of C&AG Report No. 1 of 2026, and "Abandonment of buildings constructed costing Rs. 166.16 crore due to substandard construction and delay in fixing of responsibility" based on Para 3.3 of C&AG Report No. 28 of 2025.
The meeting comes days after the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence held discussions on the transformation of Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).
The Defence Committee, chaired by BJP MP Radha Mohan Singh, met on July 8 at Parliament House Annexe in New Delhi to discuss the subject of "Review of Self-reliance and Modernisation of Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) - Old DPSU".
During the meeting, representatives of the Ministry of Defence and DPSUs briefed the committee on issues related to the modernisation and self-reliance efforts of defence public sector entities.
Earlier, on June 24, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence heard oral evidence from senior defence and Army officials on the "Role of Indian Army in ensuring defence of the Country".
CDS Gen NS Raja Subramani and Army Chief Designate Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth were among the senior officials present during the meeting.
Officials briefed the committee on measures being undertaken for technology adoption in line with modern requirements and initiatives aimed at promoting innovation.
Sources said the officials also highlighted the preparedness of the Indian armed forces in securing the country's borders across diverse geographical regions and the specific operational requirements involved.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I’m glad the CDS is personally attending these meetings—shows seriousness. But honestly, how many such reports have we seen gathering dust? The real test is whether these discussions lead to concrete action. Substandard MES contracts and abandoned buildings reflect a systemic failure in quality control. Hope this sub-committee pushes for real reforms.
Abandoned buildings costing Rs 166 crore? That’s criminal negligence! Our soldiers deserve better facilities. But I also wonder—why does it take a CAG report for action? The Ministry of Defence should have its own robust internal checks. At least CDS Raja Subramani’s presence shows top-level engagement. Let’s hope this isn’t just a photo op. 🤞
Interesting to see the PAC sub-committee examining defence contracts so closely. The focus on MES contracts and quality assurance is overdue. But I’m a bit skeptical—Parliamentary committees often lack enforcement power. The CDS and MoD officials giving evidence is good, but we need a timeline for corrective measures. Also, self-reliance in DPSUs discussed on July 8—good to see modernization on the agenda too.
Finally, some parliamentary oversight on defence spending! Rs 166 crore is no small amount—those abandoned buildings could have housed soldiers or stored critical equipment. The fact that responsibility hasn’t been fixed yet is alarming. CDS being present is a positive step, but I hope the PAC doesn’t let this become another ‘examined and forgotten’ case. Also, good to see the committee also discussing DPSU modernization—we need both accountability and innovation.
R We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.