Activists seek audit of Pune Marathon funds

The standing committee of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) recently approved an emergency proposal to provide Rs14.5 lakh to make payment for trophies and medals given to winners of the Pune Marathon last year.

However, civic activists demanded that the money should not be made available till the organising committee submits its audited accounts of the last 5 years. Civic activists of the non-governmental organisation (NGO), Sajag Nagrik Manch (SNM), Vivek Velankar, Vishwas Sahastrabuddhe and Jugal Rathi raised the matter. 

They had said that though the PMC has been regularly donating money for organising the Pune Marathon, the civic body has not received statements of income and expenditure. They demanded that the PMC not make payments until it receives the statements. 

The PMC subsequently withheld the payment for the annual event. Against this background, the standing committee approved the
proposal for making payment for medals given last year. 

Velankar said it was surprising that payment for the marathon stopped last year for want of income-expenditure statement was being made this year. Also, the standing committee made provision of Rs25 lakh for organising the marathon this year. 

Rathi said the organisers charge Rs500 from each participant. Also, Rs100 to Rs300 per head are charged for other races. Students are supposed to pay Rs20 for participation. The committee also gets money from sponsorships and advertisements. Hence, the PMC should know how much money was collected by the organising committee and should provide money only if there is gap between income and expenditure.