A GAME OF U-TURNS

National Games reminds us of the famous Hindi dialogue ‘tarik pe tarik, tarik pe tarik’ (date after date, date after date) from the movie “Damini” starring Sunny Deol.

Same is the scene with the hosting of National Games as it all began 10 years ago in 2008 when the State was allotted the Games by the Indian Olympic Association scheduled to be held in 2011. From then onwards the Games has been rescheduled several times sighting various reasons and excuses.

But a well known reason which we all are aware of is infrastructure. Building stadiums, multipurpose halls and grounds is a major concern as it has been delayed month by month. People are being fooled by giving reasons of elections, exams, volunteers etc.

The Games were scheduled from March 30 to April 14, 2019, but were postponed to October-November citing elections and school examinations as key reasons. But the question is whether Goa was ready as the infrastructure is yet not in place and months away from completion.

It may be recalled that SAG Executive Director and Joint CEO of the Games, V M Prabhudesai was high on confidence in completing the stadiums by March 30, stating that the contractors are experienced and have delivered projects in time for the Lusofonia Games, stadia which were larger and more complex in nature and moreover the support from the entire Government machinery.

But now Prabhudesai made a U-turn saying, “March-end was not possible for the contractors as they need to have their material in place besides work needs to be expedited at a rapid pace.”

“If the Games were held in March we would have no other alternative but to finish on time by hook or by crook. Since the Games were postponed, the contractors asked for extra time to complete the work, to which we agreed. We have asked the contractors to hand over the possession of the stadiums by May-end. I have directed the SAG chief engineer to give a detailed report by April 5 with regards to the project completion so that it could be inaugurated once the Code of Conduct is over. We have fixed the Statehood Day (May 30) for inauguration and there is no room for any further delay”, he said. 

In another U-turn, Prabhudesai said, “It is the postponement of the Games that has delayed the completion of stadiums. The government has postponed the Games, not SAG or Prabhudesai”.

“We have been after the contractors, who have been given periodic instructions the entire engineering cell looking after the work with day-to-day supervision”, he added.

The target for completion of key infrastructure (construction of indoor complex at Campal, Panjim and Sawalwada) was February 2019 but 75 per cent of the work of the two projects has been completed.

Speaking on the delay of the indoor stadium, Prabhudesai explained, “When it comes to indoor stadium there is lighting, wooden flooring and roofing, which are major components. A lot of time takes procuring these things for the contractors”.

“Weightlifting & Kabaddi stadium at Sawalwada, which was not included earlier, will be added to Games”, Prabhudesai disclosed.

At Sawalwada the fabrication of trusses is completed but flooring and painting works are underway. Erection of truss and roofing will begin shortly, while at Campal, fabrication of trusses is nearing completion besides the finishing and painting works are in progress. The erection of trusses and roofing work will start in coming week, while the landscaping and external development work will be taken up simultaneously. Arena lighting and wooden flooring is ordered.

The squash court at Chicalim where works began in August 2018, has witnessed just 20 per cent completion of the work for past three months (a total of 40 per cent completion) and the concerned authorities have a huge task as they need to finish 60 per cent of the works in the just two months as monsoons begin in June.

The slowest among all is the multi-purpose hall at Navelim as compared to other projects. The hall, which was on the verge of completion after the span of two years and had around 20 per cent of the work left to the completed, has seen a rise of only 5 per cent work completed (from 80 to 85 per cent).

Besides, the multi-purpose hall at Ponda where disciplines like judo, taekwondo & wrestling will be taking place is also 75 per cent ready and the hockey ground at BBKS Peddem, Mapusa which will be a new construction is 35 per cent away from completion.

The two tennis courts at Fatorda for which the work commenced in November 2018 are 50 per cent complete and the Multi-Purpose Hall at Fatorda wherein disciplines like sepak takraw & wushu will be held is 30 per cent away from completion.

The work at the above venues is going on but their completion in time remains doubtful.

After Goa was allotted the National Games by the Indian Olympic Association in 2008, the then Sports Minister Babu Ajgaonkar wasted no time and arranged a study tour of seven sports officials to Dubai and Qatar. The tour was to study the infrastructure in both the countries. The delegation visited the Dubai Sports City and the Aspire Sports Academy in Qatar.

All the seven officials, with the exception of one, were accompanied by their wives. The Opposition reportedly raised the issue in the Goa Assembly after a daily in the Middle East carried an article about the junket wanting to know if the wives had travelled on the taxpayers’ money.

The bureaucrats included the Chief Secretary, Sports Secretary, Director of Sports, Chief Executive Director of SAG, Goa, Chief Town Planner and PWD engineer.

The junket reportedly cost Rs 50 lakh.