Cabinet approves about Rs 2000 cr for Commonwealth Games

New Delhi, Mar 15 (UNI) The Union Cabinet today approved funds of about Rs 2,000 crore for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in the capital.

The Cabinet also approved the creation of one temporary post of Principal Commissioner (Commonwealth Games) in the DDA in the pay scale of Rs 18,400-22,400, for a maximum period of five years, but not extending beyond three months after completion of the Games, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

Ex-post approval was given for release of Rs 112.51 crore to the Organising Committee for the Commonwealth Games, and Rs 12.50 crore to Sports Authority of India (SAI).

The Cabinet also approved the expenditure budget of Rs 767 crore of the Organising Committee, expenditure budget of Rs 1,000 cr of SAI and expenditure budget of Rs 30 crore of All India Tennis Association (AITA).

The Organising Committee's budget will go towards conduct of the Games and Government funding to this extent (to be recouped on the basis of revenue neutrality) with flexibility to sanction escalation up to 15 per cent by the Ministry of Youth and Sports with reference to the Expenditure Finance Committee.

The Committee would be allowed re-appropriation of funds up to 25 per cent across various heads, within the overall approved ceiling with the approval of the Ministry. The funds would be provided to Committee as an unsecured Loan at the Government rate of interest prevailing at the time of release.

The repayment of the loan and interest would commence only after the commencement of the revenue generation by the Committee.

The SAI's expenditure budget will be towards venue infrastructure to be developed and Government fund to this extent with a provision for variation upto 10 per cent as Plan expenditure.

AITA's budget will go towards tennis venues infrastructure to be upgraded by it and Government fund to this extent with a provision for variation up to 15 per cent as Plan expenditure.

The work related to infrastructure development for the Games are likely to commence by mid 2007 and be completed by end of 2009.

The Government has agreed to guarantee free entry for all accredited athletes and delegations of all participating countries as well as underwrite any shortfall between revenue and expenditure of the Committee.

UNI