New Delhi, Sep 3 (IANS) Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy Friday slammed reports of extravagance on Commonwealth Games projects as ‘ridiculously exaggerated’ and promised that the government was taking every possible action to make the mega sporting event a success.
He stressed that while the central government has spent Rs.11,494 crore (over $2 billon) on the Games, the Delhi government has made an expenditure of Rs.600-700 crore (around $130 million).
After flagging off Delhi Metro’s Central Secretariat-Qutub Minar stretch Friday, he told reporters that whatever expenditure has been incurred on the Games would leave a legacy for the city and its residents.
At the same time, he asked the media to focus on the world-class stadiums and infrastructure being readied for the event, which will have the participation of 72 teams from 53 Commonwealth countries, and noted that ‘we should not be worried’.
‘Don’t exaggerate, small things are inevitable,’ he advised the media.
Reddy said that worries should also be left behind and focus should now be placed on the success of the Oct 3-14 event.
About the issue of corruption, he said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has already promised that the guilty would not be spared after the Games.
Answering a specific question, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said the Delhi Metro had assured that roads near its project sites would be cleared of debris before the Games begin Oct 3.
