PORVORIM: The government has expressed its inability to host the much-delayed National Games in November this year citing that the State requires at least five months preparation time after announcement of the dates. The Indian Olympics Association (IOA), that was approached in May to give the schedule, has not yet done so.
“The IOA has not given the dates for the Games till date. We require minimum five months’ time after the dates are announced because we have to issue tenders for various works as well as procurement of equipment from abroad,” Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said on the floor of the House during the Question Hour on Wednesday.
“It is not possible to host the National Games in November. Besides the tendering processes, our teams have not started practicing for the event. It takes at least four to five months to prepare for the Games. The coach is also not taken onboard yet,” he added, replying to a volley of questions tabled by BJP MLA Wilfred D’Sa as well as Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat and MGP MLA Ramkrishna Dhavalikar.
Sawant informed the Legislative Assembly that in May the State government had asked the IOA to allot dates to host the Games. It will now request the IOA to schedule the Games after Janaury 2020.
Sports Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar, on the other hand, said they are ready to host the Games and the infrastructure in the State would be ready by August. He, however, explained to the House that with no final dates announced, the contractors are reluctant to bid for the tenders. “Tenders are required to arrange for accommodation (of the athletes), transportation, catering, equipment, etc. Nine tenders have been cancelled because the bidders want the dates of the event,” he said.
The minister said the government will spend Rs 675 crore on the Centre-funded Games, some amount of which was earlier granted and spent accordingly. “We are spending crores of rupees on the Games. Out of the total, around Rs 200 crore will be spent for the ceremony. We should not fail and as such we have sought time as tenders need to be issued,” Ajgaonkar said.
Dhavlikar, however, tried to corner the government pointing at several incomplete works out of 35 works undertaken. He also sought to know amount granted by the Centre during the last few years to which Ajgaonkar stated that Rs 12 crore was allotted in 2009-10, Rs 35 crore each in 2010-11 and 2011-12 and Rs 15.80 crore in 2013-14.
