Govt promises action; Kalmadi sticks to clarification

Union Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy was in damage-control mode over the Central Vigilance Commission’s report on wide-scale corruption in the projects. “The CVC has come out with preliminary remarks on the alleged irregularities in the construction of Commonwealth venues. I assure you that all concerned will be punished. We will seriously look into it,” Reddy said at the inauguration of the weightlifting auditorium at the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium .

The Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi,who was forced to address an hour-long press conference to rebut charges of financial bunglings on Saturday,was issuing clarifications yet again. The Indian Olympic Association chief insisted that the UK-based firm at the centre of a corruption row that has hit the OC was recommended by the Indian High Commission despite a denial issued by it earlier.

The Indian High Commission had denied recommending A M Films,the little-known UK-based firm which allegedly received lakhs of pounds for providing its “services” during the Queen’s Baton Relay in London.

Kalmadi refuted the claim and asserted that the High Commission’s protocol official Raju Sebastian made the recommendation and even produced letters indicative of OC’s communication with the High Commission. However,Sebastian has been dubbed in reports as “too junior an official to make any recommendation on behalf of the High Commission”.

“The Organising Committee would like to clarify that we had written to Vikrant Ratan,the first secretary (Protocol) of the Indian High Commission,to provide us the list of agencies for transportation,accommodation and other services and their approved rates. In response,Raju Sebastian of the Protocol Division of the Indian High Commission,giving reference to our mail to the First Secretary Vikrant Ratan,informed that the approved vendors for transport are AM Car and Van and the Chauffeur Company,” he stated.

Meanwhile,speaking at the inauguration,Sports Minister M S Gill rejected criticism about the the venues. Gill said the media has been wrongly criticising the preparations of the Games despite the fact that CPWD engineers and concerned officials are working round the clock to complete the work.

“There are no serious flaws in the design of any of the stadiums. No faults in any of the roofs. The fact remains these stadiums have no faults and leakages anywhere. Don’t underplay the magnitude of the big occasion. This is a legacy,live it,” Gill said inaugurating the auditorium.

“All responsible officers of the Public Works Department will be present at the venues all the time till the start of the Games. For next two months they will check for deficiencies again. They will revisit the infrastructure. So there is no question of being unprepared,” Gill said though puddles of water and leaks were seen inside the new venue.