Tenure of Games officials extended, audit report in 90 days (Roundup)

NEW DELHI - The government Monday extended the tenure of officials associated with the just-concluded Commonwealth Games, even as the country’s top auditor said a report on its accounts and financial activities will be presented in three months.

“This is a decision taken by the government,” Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy, chairman of the group of ministers appointed for overseeing the conduct of the Games, told reporters when asked about the extension of the tenure of the Games’ Organising Committee officials.

He said the period of extension will be decided by the sports ministry.

“The group of ministers has completed its task. The Games have been an exceptional success. We have recorded our satisfaction,” Reddy said, after a meeting of the high-power ministerial panel.

The announcement on the extension came soon after it was announced that an official, confidential audit of the accounts and financial activities of the Commonwealth Games will be completed within 90 days and presented to parliament immediately thereafter.

“For us to be of some practical utility, we have decided that if audit has to be of some consequence, we will complete it in three months’ time,” India’s Comptroller and Auditor General of India Vinod Rai told a press conference here.

“Huge amounts of money have been spent. It is going to be a gigantic task. The entire activity will involve at least 20 different institutions,” Rai said, explaining the process his office will follow to ascertain how prudently the funds were used.

“It is not an exercise like we do for other activities. If we do it over say six-eight months, the entire purpose will be lost. We have decided — and launched a programme — to use the IT platform and ensure results are available at the earliest possible time.”

Rai’s comments came against the backdrop of the government announcing a committee to look at the organisation and conduct of the Games in view of the complaints received earlier of irregularities in giving contracts and the delays in execution.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday set up the high-level committee headed by former comptroller and auditor general V.K. Shunglu to look into all matters relating to the conduct and organisation of the Games.

The prime minister had also directed the ministries concerned to conduct thorough investigations into all the complaints that have been received of procedural and other irregularities and said that those found guilty should face severe and exemplary punishment.

Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi had also come under fire from opposition parties and some international delegates in the run-up to the 12-day event, held here from Oct 3-14, over allegations of delays and cost over-runs.

Earlier, the Congress party, which heads the ruling federal coalition, took strong exception to the spat between Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Kalmadi, saying all concerned must observe restraint on such matters.

“We would like everybody to be restrained so that that the statutory body can discharge its responsibility,” Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters here, referring to the special audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has called the Dikshit-Kalmadi war of words a ploy to divert attention, has demanded a joint parliamentary probe into what it called was “widespread corruption” in the conduct of the Games.

“The Shunglu committee should thoroughly look into the work done by the Prime Minister’s Office, Delhi government and the Organising Committee in the Games,” said BJP spokesperson Tarun Vijay.