New Delhi: Despite all the allegations of corruption and delay in meeting deadlines on construction projects, Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy has assured India will host the best Commonwealth Games so far.
Speaking in Lok Sabha, he said: "I don't say that corruption has not taken place. No one can say that. All irregularities will be inquired into exhaustively," said Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy in a spirited intervention during a debate on the games in Lok Sabha.
He said some people took the position that a country like India, which has a lot of poverty, should not have hosted the Commonwealth Games. "Though I beg to differ from them, I respect their ideological position. But with only a month left, this should not be raised".
He debunked claims of leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav that Rs one lakh corr has been used for the games, saying, "We are living in some system. Such claims are made with absolute abandon. By no stretch of imagination can it be held as true. It does not speak well of our maturity."
Reddy said a total of Rs 28,054 crore have been spent on the games out of which Rs 16,560 crore was given to the Delhi Government for upgrading the capital infrastructure and building of various stadia.
Meanwhile, CNN-IBN has accessed documents given by Kalmadi aide T S Darbari to the Enforcement Directorate in which he has denied any role of him in the Queen's Baton Relay contract. Darbari has claimed that the document was signed by Jeychandran, Sanjay Mahendru and Sudhir Verma, according to sources. Mahendru is also being questioned by ED officials while Verma may be called for questioning soon. The Organising Committee of the Games has sacked Darbari over financial irregularities.
The UPA government was cornered by the Opposition on Monday in Parliament over corruption allegations in preparation for the Commonwealth Games 2010. The BJP started the debate by highlighting CNN-IBN's report which was telecast on July 28 on the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) showing irregularities in the infrastructure of Games venues and demanded investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Azad also said a joint parliamentary committee should also look into the allegations of large-scale corruption in the preparation for the Games.
"There was no coordination among various departments. We would like to know how many meetings were conducted by the committees for the Commonwealth Games. The Government of India and specially the Sports Ministry Should answer as the Government is responsible for this. Did the high level committee not know what was going on? The Games stadiums are not ready, Flats are not ready. What kind of big fat wedding is this?" said Azad.
"Some of the best players are not willing to come to Delhi because of these corruption charges. Baraat aane wali hai par na mandap tayyar hai aur na dulhan (The wedding is about to be solemnised but neither the decorations have been completed not is the bridegroom ready," Azad commented sarcastically.
"Almost 85-90 per cent of the money has been spent only on stadiums. What about the rest of the players. A bill board should be placed outside the Commonwealth Games village that has been built on the river bed warning athletes of the risks of malaria and dengue. If you look at the TV stings then you'll know that not even 50 per cent of the work is complete. There should be CBI probe and joint parliamentary probe should be set up. Keeping in mind the corruption by the Government, all I can say is that the Government is all cattle and no class," said the BJP MP quoting extensively from the report while demanding answers from Sports Minister MS Gill.
Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav, too, flayed the Government over the Games. "We had expected our country's image to improve after the Commonwealth Games. But at the rate we are going it looks like it's going to be an embarrassment for the entire country," said Yadav. However, Congress MP Manish Tewari hit back at the previous BJP-led National Democratic Alliance saying all decision related to Commonwealth Games were taken during its tenure.
"The truth has been lost in all these arguments. All the fundamental decisions related to the Commonwealth Games were taken by the NDA government. The proposal for the Games was sent by them, the decision to have Games in Delhi was taken by the NDA. The NDA government had taken a guarantee that if there was a loss, the government would bear it and if there is a profit it will be shared with the federations. The UPA Government is bearing the brunt of decisions taken by the NDA government," said Tewari.
The CVC reports, quoted by the BJP, says that all projects undertaken by the MCD have 25 per cent extra overhead charges, which means the contractor has taken 25 per cent more profit that he should have. Even though work was not on schedule, fake reports were furnished. Now the unfinished projects will cost much more than estimated. These projects include construction and renovation of roads, walls and footpaths.
According to the reports work at Shivaji Stadium is not even 50 per cent complete. PWD went a step further, even before the tenders were passed, higher authorities were misled and given inflated prices for project work. A sum of Rs 25.84 crore was added for labourers doing night shifts which were never done. It is not just the money that has been wasted. Quality of projects too has been compromised. RITES which is responsible for one of the venues bought concrete slabs of lower quality than what was prescribed. Even the concrete mixture used was below standard.
According to the report prices for all Games related work were increased citing urgent circumstances. But despite that the quality ha been compromised and still it is far from over.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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