PM orders probe into alleged irregularities in Games organisation

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today directed the concerned Ministries to conduct thorough investigations into all the complaints of procedural and other irregularities in the organisation of the XIX Commonwealth Games, which Delhi is slated to host from October 3-14.

Intervening directly in the controversies that had erupted in the run-up to the Games, Dr Singh told a high-level meeting convened by him to review the preparations for the mega event that all those found guilty should face severe and exemplary puishment.

The meeting was held against the background of the several allegations made in various quarters in recent days about corruption in the organisation of the Games, particularly with regard to payments made to certain foreign companies, and also controversies surrounding the delay in completion of many Games-related projects.

The alleged scams had figured prominently in recent days in both Houses of Parliament and had occupied a lot of space in the media as the Opposition and many others sought the resignation of Mr Suresh Kalmadi, Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Games.

Today's meeting was attended by, among others, Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister M S Gill, Delhi Lt. Governor Tejendra Khanna, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Mr T K A Nair, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar and Mr Kalmadi.

The Prime Minister was briefed by the Ministry of Sports, the Ministry of Urban Development, the Government of Delhi and the Organising Committee on the progress of Commonwealth Games preparatory works assigned to them.

He observed that there had been slippages in the time schedules of some of the construction works and deficiencies had also been observed in some of the works. He said that, in the run up to the Games, it was important to gain public confidence by instilling order and carrying out effective supervision of the preparation works.

Dr Singh directed the Ministries concerned, the Delhi Government and the Organizing Committee to complete all pending works expeditiously through time-bound action plans and carry out a quality audit of the completed facilities. All the facilities must meet international standards, he stressed.

He directed the Group of Ministers (GoM) set up for the Games, headed by Mr Reddy, to meet immediately and frequently thereafter.

An official press release said the Group was empowered to take all decisions necessary for the smooth conduct of the Games. The GoM will refer any matter that may require further consideration to the Finance Minister for a final decision, it said.

According to it, the Cabinet Secretary was directed to liaise closely with the GoM to ensure effective coordination among all the concerned authorities.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chairing the meeting on Commonwealth Games, in New Delhi on August 14, 2010. Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. M.S. Gill, the Union Minister for Urban Development, Jaipal Reddy, the Lt. Governor of Delhi, Tejinder Khanna and the Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit are also seen.

In a significant move, the meeting decided that the Committee of Secretaries headed by the Cabinet Secretary would continue to review implementation and it would have the status of an Empowered Committee. It will have jurisdiction over matters relating to the Organising Committee and a Secretary-level officer of the Cabinet Secretariat will liaise with the Organising Committee on a daily basis, the release said.

The Prime Minister directed the Organizing Committee to take appropriate steps urgently to conclude all pending preparations.

The Senior Management Committee of the Organising Committee would meet daily and be chaired by the CEO in the absence of the Chairman or Vice-Chairman, Organising Committee. Additional senior and experienced officers from the Government of India would be deputed as required, the release said.

The Cabinet will be briefed on the state of preparations on a weekly basis, it said.

"The public has a right to know the facts and the Group of Ministers will ensure that timely and authentic information on the state of preparations and in particular on the remaining tasks at hand is released to the public. The promotional campaign of the various events should be stepped up to generate enthusiasm among sports lovers in the largest sporting event the country has held in many years," it said.

The Prime Minister has decided to visit selected venues of the Commonwealth Games in the last week of August.

Dr Singh said that the eyes of the world were on the country as it conducted this prestigious event.

"The Commonwealth Games was an occasion not only to celebrate sporting excellence but also the spirit of kinship and camaraderie among the Commonwealth fraternity. India will have an opportunity to present its culture, its achievements, its warm hospitality and its organizational capabilities to the world," he said.

Dr Singh emphasised that it was very important that as a country, the people should work together to give its honoured guests a warm welcome and a memorable experience of all that the nation had to offer.

"Our athletes and sportsmen are training hard and need the full support and encouragement of their fellow Indians," he said.

He urged all concerned to work single-mindedly so that the Games could be held in a manner the nation could be justifiably proud of.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the ongoing preparations supervised directly by the Group of Ministers would enable the Games to be conducted smoothly and in a befitting manner, the release added.

NNN