CPI(M) questions 'huge' spending on renovation of Commonwealth Games stadia

The CPI(M) today questioned the "huge" spending on the renovation of several stadia in the capital for the Commonwealth Games and alleged diversion of funds from the sub-plan meant for development of scheduled castes and tribes.

Quoting figures from the CWG website, senior party leader Sitaram Yechury said the cost of renovating the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium was Rs 961 crore, for Indira Gandhi Stadium it was Rs 669 crore, for Dhyan Chand Stadium Rs 262 crore and the Karni Singh Shooting Range Rs 149 crore.

Maintaining that the total renovation cost for the CWG was Rs4,459.48 crore, Yechury said "these costs are huge. Compare them with the costs incurred in the renovation of Ferozeshah Kotla stadium. It was Rs 85 crore.

"For Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in Hyderabad, it was Rs 80 crore, Sir Fort sports complex Rs 241.32 crore and the construction of a new state-of-the art stadium in Nagpur cost Rs 84 crore," he said.

"Amazing amounts are being spent on renovating existing facilities. No new facilities are being created for the CWG," the CPI(M) said, demanding a comprehensive inquiry into the entire expenses.

It also sought a statement from the government on this issue as well as whether funds were diverted from the SC/ST sub-plan. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, however, had said earlier in the day that no money has been diverted from SC/ST schemes for projects related to Games.

"Such diversion cannot be done statutorily. Therefore, a complete investigation is required by the government. There are also instances of blatant violation of labour laws in the CWG projects. As many as 70 workers have been killed and several others injured in these projects," Yechury said.

"Let the government inform Parliament as to what is happening and who is responsible for all this," he said, adding allegations of corruption and reports about newly-formed companies being awarded contracts should also be probed.

"We want the Games to be held successfully. The parliamentary standing committee (headed by himself) had warned the government a year ago about projects relating to CWG. At that time, we were seen as alarmists. Those warnings seem to have been ignored and our warnings are coming true today," he said.