Maken directs officials to sort out payment issue

NEW DELHI - New sports minister Ajay Maken Thursday said he has given instructions that the issue of unpaid bills of Australian companies for their work during the Commonwealth Games should be sorted out within 10 days.

“I have directed secretary sports to speak to the government nominees in the Organising Committee to thoroughly verify legitimate payments and I have given them 10 days time to sort out the issue,” Maken told reporters immediately after taking charge of his new portfolio.

“It has been three months since the CWG happened. If we delay it more, then there will be more problem. I want to solve this issue within this timeframe. This is my first directive after taking charge as the sports minister,” said Maken who took over from M.S. Gill, who has been shifted to Statistics and Programme Implementation in the Cabinet reshuffle Wednesday.

Australia Thursday raised the issue of millions of dollars owed to its firms by the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee with visiting External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, who assured that he would take it up with the sports ministry.