CWG goods to be given on case-to-case basis: Ministry

Instead,it is asking the various government departments to place their demand for a free transfer.

For fear of getting embroiled in a fresh controversy,the Sports Ministry has decided not to sell the equipment brought for Commonwealth Games. Instead,it is asking the various government departments to place their demand for a free transfer.

A draft Cabinet proposal has been circulated to the departments asking them to place their requisition for the high-end electrical goods,electronic gadgets,computers,wooden furniture,fridges,32-burner stoves,air-conditioners,crockery,cutlery and furnishings.

The list of articles and equipment on offer has been annexed to the Cabinet proposal, said a government official.

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This mode is being adopted to lessen the outstanding on the CWG Organising Committee as these transfers would be on cost-to-cost basis rather than a sale at a depreciated rate. The inter-government transfer at face value would help redeem the borrowings to a great extent,said the official.

He did not specify the value of the equipment and fixtures on offer. The OC had borrowed Rs 1,669.42 crore for the entire games of which it has returned to the government Rs 432 crore earned through advertisement and ticket sales.

The official said the auction route was disbanded as the distress sale coupled with one-year depreciation would have fetched a lower value. But the biggest concern,he said,was that an auction restricted to large buyers could have led to collusive bidding at throwaway prices.

This could have been subsequently challenged as restrictive trade practice. Nobody wants to attract further controversy, he added.

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So far,the official said,sports kits worth Rs 10,000 each and a few equipment,including LED TVs,have been handed over to the Sports Federation of India which has passed them on to its various centres.

The OC had first decided to opt for the auction route to dispose of its assets to get the best price. But the first auction,that of kitchen equipment,failed to evoke much interest as they were very bulky compared to regular kitchen spaces.