Financial crunch? CWG asks Army to work for free
New Delhi: The Commonwealth Games Organising Committee seems to be running out of money. On August 5 the Organising Committee asked the Indian armed forces to provide all services for the October3-14 Games in New Delhi free of cost.
CNN-IBN has accessed the letter written by Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy to Defence Minister AK Antony asking for the armed forces to work "free of cost".
A bill of more than Rs 11 crore (Rs 11,29,82,709) had been raised for organisational infrastructure and the use of Army officers and jawans on Commonwealth Games duty."Yes, We want the armed forces to work free of cost for Commonwealth Games," Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi told CNN-IBN. Kalmadi added that the Organising Committee was thankful to the armed forces for their help.
"We have asked for support from Army and Army has been good enough to give us lot of support, for opening ceremony, give us personal support and we are very happy with it. The GoM led by Jaipal Reddyhas requested Defence Minister that Army should do it free of charge so there are agreed to do something free of charge, something they are charging," said Kalmadi.
Defence Ministry told CNN-IBN that the matter had been resolved. Defence Ministry said that the Organising Committee would be paying allowances to the defence personnel but infrastructure would be provided for free.
The Organising Committee wanted to use the NCC complex for lodging artistes who would come to perform in the opening and closing ceremony of the Games. The Organising Committee demanded the NCC complex "free of cost" for two and a half months.
"We wanted the armed forces to work free of cost in some areas for Commonwealth Games," said Urban Development Minister and Chairman of the Group of Ministers for the Games Jaipal Reddy.
But the armed forces wanted the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee to pay allowances to its personnel: Rs 20,000 per month for officers, Rs 14,000 per month for JCOs and Rs 10,000 per month for others. The Organising Committee had initially agreed to pay all charges and armed forces support was agreed upon on June 15, 2010 after discussions with Organising Committee Joint Director General Lt Gen (Retd) SPS Dhillon.
Defence Ministry sources have told CNN-IBN that no charges are being paid for venues being used by Organising Committee. But the Organising Committee will pay have to pay for any up gradation work they wish to carry out. The sources also say that Organising Committee has promised to pay allowances to defence personnel.
The total expenditure for accommodation and renovation has come to over Rs 10 crore (Rs 10,07,64,709) out of which the Organising Committee would pay only for renovation.
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