CAG had warned that delays could compromise transparency

It appears that allegations of financial irregularities in various Commonwealth Games projects are not without a basis. In its report “Preparedness for CWG 2010”, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had suspected of such anomalies last year itself.

The report had raised concern over delays in various Games projects. It had also warned the authorities concerned that such delays would mean risking transparency and accountability. In the context of one project, the report clearly stated, “ We are concerned that the bunching of procurement and other decisions within the shortened timeframes… carries with it the risk of compromised transparency and accountability.” It now appears that the agencies concerned did not pay attention to such warnings. The report was compiled in July, 2009 and whose copies were sent to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the chief minister and the lieutenant governor of Delhi, as well as Organising Committee (OC) chairman Suresh Kalmadi. The purpose was to apprise them of delays, bottlenecks and failures in various Games projects well in advance so that proper steps could be taken for course correction. “ We have prepared this report with the avowed intention of providing an aid to the executives and organisers in monitoring progress and making mid- course corrections,” the report said.

Like any big event, the bid document for CWG- 2010 envisaged a four- phased approach. However, those four phases remained only on paper, the report pointed out. Even the two key planning documents, the General Organisation Plan and Games Master Schedule, should have been ready by May 2004.

These were finalised for Commonwealth Games Federation’s approval only in August 2007 and November 2008, respectively. Similarly, the test event strategy, for which the original timeframe was October 2008, had not been finalised till the conclusion of audit.

The report strongly suggested, “ We encourage the OC to recognise that the delayed preparation of the planning documents risks impacting timely, safe and effective execution.” The report also cautioned about traffic problems in the city because of delinking of some flyover projects from the CWG by the PWD. The report says that six out of 35 flyover and bridge projects being implemented by the PWD for the Games had not commenced as of May 2009. Of these, the report had flagged three projects (elevated east- west corridor, BSZ Marg flyover and Shastri Park tunnel) as critical for the Games. In response to the draft report, the PWD had indicated that all six projects had been delinked from the CWG. “ While we recognise that delinking was a practical choice, we note that this decision will have adverse traffic management implications... ” The CWG- 2010 is to be revenue neutral. However, the CWG report raised doubt over this.

The report mentioned that of the projected revenue of Rs.1,780 crore, only Rs.214 crore had been firmed up so far. “ Despite the claim of the OC, we are unable to derive assurance that the organisation of the Games would be revenue neutral in cash terms,” the report says.