Govt forms panel of bureaucrats to oversee CWG preparations

Racing against time, the government formed a committee of senior bureaucrats to oversee the work at the Commonwealth Games venues virtually stripping Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi of his powers.

Each member of the government panel has been assigned particular stadiums to ensure that the work is completed in time for the Games, which are just 45 days away.

Officers of the rank of joint and additional secretaries have been taken in the panel, which will report to the cabinet secretary.

A concerned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had to step in after allegations of corruption and delay in construction delays hit the Games.

Last week, Singh called a meeting with Jaipal Reddy, who heads the Group of Ministers overseeing the Games, Kalmadi, Sports Minister MS Gill, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Lt Governor Tejinder Khanna to take stock of the preparations.

Cabinet secretary K M Chandrashekar also attended this meeting.

Besides promising action against those found guilty of corruption, Singh will also tour some of the venues in the last week of this month.