The arguments offered by the Shipping Ministry against the government move to constitute an Appraisal Committee to scrutinise the major PPP projects are not tenable.

First, mega projects involve astronomical outlays.

Second, the terms and conditions of the public-private partnership on project construction, maintenance and operations are complex phenomena and the government needs to be doubly assured that those agreements are not hijacked either by the consultants, project providers or private participants.

There have been several case studies in the UK of major PP projects costing the government and the people heavily and private interests reaping unduly high returns.

The PMO needs, therefore, to give a green signal to the proposal of the Finance Ministry and the Planning Commission for an Appraisal Committee.

S. Subramanyan

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