By IANS,
New Delhi: Technical teams have already moved into various stadiums to start work on overlays, though the venues will be formally taken over only after getting the mandatory clearances from their owners, Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC) secretary general Lalit Bhanot said Monday.
Bhanot said the CGOC is responsible for the technical conduct of the Games and they are, in fact, ahead of schedule as their teams have already moved into the venues to work on the overlays and they expect it to complete by Aug 15.
“We have already moved our venue operations teams and they have started working on the overlays. There is no delay on our part. The technical conduct of the Games is our responsibiliy and we are on time,” Bhanot said.
“But we will formally take over the venues only after we get all the necessary clearances like safety certificates and fire and other mandatory clearances from the venue owners. We are taking full precautions.”
Talkatora indoor stadium is complete and it will, perhaps, be the first venue to be taken over in a couple of days. As and when we get completion certificates from other stadiums our teams will move in. As it is 700 of our staff are already functioning from different stadiums informally.”
CGOC chairman Suresh Kalmadi had said that they will not take charge of the stadiums until all the work is completed by the venue owners CPWD, SAI, MCD and NDMC.
Bhanot brushed aside criticism that there have been financial irregularities in the procurement of equipment for overlays.
“There are many committees, which has government nominees, who vet the contracts. And the cost is lower than other major international events like the Beijing Olympics and FIFA World Cup.”