Delhi Games in crisis as clock runs down

NEW DEHLI: The Commonwealth Games in New Delhi have been plunged into crisis just two months before the opening ceremony by allegations of corruption, shoddy workmanship and delays in handing over venues.

Monday should have witnessed the final handover - already twice delayed - of the venues to the event directors, but four are still under construction and others are the focus of a row over sub-standard work. The Games are scheduled to begin on October 3.

The charges of rampant corruption and concerns over the ballooning cost have drowned out increasingly desperate-sounding assurances from top Indian officials, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that preparations are on track.

An Indian anti-corruption body last week reported it had found a host of problems with construction work, including use of poor quality materials and dubious contracts. The chief technical examiner from the Central Vigilance Commission inspected 15 sites around the national capital and found a number of irregularities and suspect practices by contractors and public bodies.

The Times of India said all construction quality certificates inspected so far had turned out to be fake or “suspect.” Indian media also reported that the British government had raised questions about suspect sums being transferred from the organising committee to a British-based firm.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 4^th, 2010.