A leading English Daily interviews Minister MS GillComptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) assessment report on the preparations for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, published in TOI on Thursday, has raised genuine deadline fears and also put a question mark over the financial management of the Games by the organizing committee (OC).
Sports minister MS Gill, who has been actively involved with CWG work since April, 2008 spoke exclusively to TOI on progress of work and the road ahead. Excerpts:..
The CAG report says that 13 of 19 stadiums face the risk of missing the deadline. This could cause huge embarrassment to the country...
As you know, I took charge as sports minister last year in April. There were a lot of delays, work had not started on several projects and various things needed to be tied up. But let’s not talk of the past... the fights, the blame game. The decision to hold the Games was taken by the NDA government and was duly endorsed by the UPA government. We are going to ensure that work is completed on time. That’s what I’m fighting for.
But won’t the delays give a bad image to the country?
I can promise you that we will be ready. An important step taken last year was getting the co-ordination committee of the Games in place. There are too many agencies, too many projects, too many different voices. Thankfully, we are on the same track now and working at full speed. I have been having regular meetings with Delhi chief minister Sheila Dixit and OC’s chairman Suresh Kalmadi.
In fact, Sheila and I are holding hands and marching forward. We are two sides of the same coin. And I can tell you, Sheila is working harder than me; she’s the face of the Games.
The SPM Aquatic Centre has been listed as a high-risk project due to delays...
I have got the latest report and it will be ready in time. No project will be further delayed. But yes, there’s plenty to finish, a lot of hard work ahead.
The design for several projects has not yet been frozen. How do you expect the work to begin and get completed in time?
The CAG report is of June, 2009. We completed all formalities in July.
What about outsourcing of work for HDTV production, international broadcasting centre etc.?
We have had meetings with the information and broadcasting ministry. Two parties have already been identified and it will be tied up soon. Anyways, the electrical cable work will begin only after the civil work is over.
The OC has reportedly asked for more money for stadium work. Is it justified?
It has been studied by a finance committee headed by a special secretary from the finance ministry. It will then be approved by the Cabinet. OC will not be short of money but every penny will be accounted for. They have to justify it as it is public money.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has asked for 5 per cent share in the revenue expected from sponsorship. CAG has questioned it. Your take.
If CAG has raised an objection, we must consider it.
Don’t you think that some federations have put the ministry in a fix by planning mega events months ahead of the Games. Doesn’t it put pressure on you?
It does. If we have to stage the Commonwealth shooting competition in February, 2010 or World Cup hockey in March, 2010 it eats into building time. The federations were surely aware that work had started late on all projects. In fact, some work also got delayed due to unlimited demands by federations on technical specifications.
Are you happy with the fact that unlike the 1982 Asian Games, the conduct of the Games will be in the hands of OC — in effect, the IOA?
Well, that’s the structure that was put in place 5 years ago. They have a lot of responsibilities. My call is that we ensure that the work of all sub-committees of OC is scrutinized. We are in constant dialogue with them.
Do you see the CWG making money?
Our job is to finish the work on time. How money can be made from infrastructure is in the future. As we say in India, it’s like ‘ladki ki shaadi’. Our job is not over till the bride leaves for her in-laws home.
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