Defensive OC sticks to stand

The CWG Organising Committee (OC) again defended its bidding and hiring of overlays, to be used during the Games, saying there was no over-pricing and misappropriation of funds in the process.

The CWG Organising Committee (OC) again defended its bidding and hiring of overlays, to be used during the Games, saying there was no over-pricing and misappropriation of funds in the process.

HT Image

After being questioned over hiring treadmills for Rs 9.4 lakh each, air-conditioners for Rs 1.2 lakh and purchasing toilet rolls for Rs 3,750, the OC on Wednesday denied the allegations and clarified that everything it had hired or purchased was according to available market rates.

Lalit Bhanot, secretary-general of the OC, said after the Centre had asked the OC to purchase and not hire fitness equipment, the OC had shelved the hiring plan.

“Instead, we are procuring them so that the equipments become a part of our legacy and are used by our athletes,” he said during a press conference.

A K Saxena, joint director, overlays, during his presentation, showed the overlay equipment the OC had been trying to hire. “The ACs, which are being shown on TV are not the ones we are hiring,” said Saxena.

Saxena also clarified that all purchases and hiring was done after getting due clearance from a structured financial committee, comprising senior government officials. “Everything has to be ratified by them,” he said.

We have not paid SMAM: OC

On the Railways threatening to withdraw sponsorship as the OC had paid SMAM, Bhanot said the question did not arise as the OC was yet to pay SMAM.

“As of now, we have not paid anything to the company and any allegations are false,” he said. “Moreover, for government or PSU companies, according to the contract, the OC is not obliged to pay SMAM.”

Mahindroo’s letter embarrassment

The OC, on Wednesday, found itself in another mess, a day before its executive committee is slated to meet to discuss financial irregularities.

An email by Dr Sanjay Mohindroo, OC's former deputy director general, technical, revealed he had asked Ashish Patel, the owner of AM Car and Van Ltd, to inflate taxi hire rates.

However, the OC refused to get dragged into it saying the matter was being probed by a three-member panel. “We will know about it tomorrow,” said Bhanot.