Special officer for Commonwealth Games

In a bid to check expenditure for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, in New Delhi, the Union cabinet has decided to appoint an officer of the rank of Principal Commissioner (Commonwealth Games), who will be responsible for coordination between various government agencies.

The officer will work with the Delhi Development Authority for five years in the pay scale of Rs 18,400 to 22,400.

"This decision will enable DDA to properly supervise and coordinate activities relating to development of Games Village, Competition Venues etc for the Commonwealth Games, to be held in New Delhi in 2010," Minister for Information/Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told newsmen at a press conference, at Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi, on Thursday night.

The Union Cabinet also sanctioned Rs 112.51 crore to the Games' organising committee, and Rs 12.50 crore to the Sports Authority of India.

"The cabinet sanctioned Rs 1000.00 crore to SAI towards venue infrastructure to be developed by it, and Government fund to this extent with a provision for variation up to 10 percent as plan expenditure.

The organising committee has put the expenditure of holding the Games at around Rs 767.00 crore.

"The organizing committee Commonwealth Games, 2010 would be allowed re-appropriation of funds up to 25 percent across various heads, within the overall approved ceiling with the approval of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The funds would be provided to OC as an unsecured loan at the government rate of interest prevailing at the time of release. The repayment of the loan and interest would commence only after the commencement of the revenue generation by the OC," he said.

The government also promised to waive interest in case the organising committee makes a request at the end of the Games after taking into account all the expenses and income from various sources.