PORVORIM: The Opposition members on Wednesday grilled the government over the Rs 975 crore expenditure on the conduct of the 37th National Games and demanded a probe by a retired High Court Judge.
Replying to a starred question jointly tabled by MLAs Venzy Viegas, Yuri Alemao, Cruz Silva, and Viresh Borkar in the Legislative Assembly, Sports Minister Govind Gaude said that the total expenditure incurred has been pegged at Rs 975 crore. Of this, Rs 349 crore was spent on organisational events and Rs 573 crore on infrastructure, in three phases. In Phase I, Rs 317 crores, Phase II Rs 152 crore, and Phase III Rs 104 crore were spent. Also, Rs 23 crore was spent on the opening and closing ceremony of the 37th National Games held in October-November last year, Rs 23 crore on promotional events, and Rs 5.35 crore on advertisements.
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However, the Opposition demanded an inquiry into the ‘exorbitant’ expenditure conducted by a retired High Court Judge.
Replying to a barrage of supplementary questions from the Opposition, Gaude said that Rs 573 crore spent on infrastructure was from 2013 till date and the infrastructure was also used for Lusofonia Games in 2014. About Rs 445 crore was the expenditure for the project plus organisation, of which Rs 261 crore was paid, and Rs 184 was the balance.
Alemao demanded to know why the government tendered Rs 60 crore to undertake painting of the Nehru Stadium at Fatorda when it was painted during the refurbishment. He further said that the government spent another Rs 1.60 crore for the cleaning of the Nehru Stadium ahead of the National Games and reiterated the demand for an independent inquiry by a retired High Court Judge. The Minister assured the Members that the government will utilise the sports equipment. He also told them that no Goan bid for the accommodation, catering, and transportation contract, and so it was awarded to a party from Karnataka.
Intervening during the discussion, CM Pramod Sawant told Margao MLA Digambar Kamat that the government will try to appoint three swimming coaches within a fortnight.
