CAG flags irregularities at Science City Aquatics Gallery, contractor penalised ₹7 cr, just ₹1 lakh recovered

Crores of rupees have been spent, yet maintenance remains a far cry at the Aquatics Gallery at Science City in Ahmedabad. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has revealed that several tanks built for different species of fish and aquatic animals are lying empty. Meanwhile, a penalty of ₹7 crore was imposed on the contractor for poor maintenance, but there has been no recovery yet.

The CAG report mentions the Aquatics Gallery, which attracts a large number of visitors who come to see species of exotic fish, octopus, and other aquatic creatures. A total of 68 water tanks were constructed for these species at a cost of ₹257 crore, the report states.

When the gallery was inaugurated in 2021, a contract was signed for the contractor to maintain the tanks for 60 months. The contractor was also responsible for replacing fish or aquatic animals that died.

However, inspections revealed that the number of fish and aquatic animals in the tanks was below the prescribed level. Some tanks were completely empty, while others had insufficient water. Several species, including stonefish, moon jellyfish, and spotted jellyfish, had died, but were not replaced.

Due to poor maintenance, a penalty of ₹7 crore was imposed on the contractor. However, instead of recovering the full amount, the Gujarat Council of Science City decided to recover only ₹1 lakh, raising serious concerns about accountability and oversight.