New Delhi, Oct 18 (IANS) An official, confidential audit of the accounts and financial activities related to the just-concluded Commonwealth Games will be completed within 90 days and presented to parliament immediately thereafter, a top official said Monday.
‘For us to be of some practical utility, we have decided that if audit has to be of some consequence, we will complete it in three months’ time,’ India’s Comptroller and Auditor General of India Vinod Rai told a press conference here.
‘Huge amounts of money have been spent. It is going to be a gigantic task. The entire activity will involve at least 20 different institutions,’ Rai said, explaining the process his office will follow to ascertain how prudently the funds were used.
Rai said the audit report would be comprehensive and cover all the institutions involved in organisation of the games. ‘The report will be shared only with parliament.’
He said the audit team will have three goals to establish – the physical outcome of expenditure, accountability of the persons involved and whether the resources were utilised optimally.
‘It is not an exercise like we do for other activities. If we do it over say six-eight months and submit the report in 2012, the entire purpose will be lost. We have decided — and launched a programme– to use the IT platform and ensure results are available at the earliest possible time.’
A CAG team started audit process in August. In its interim report submitted before the beginning of the Games, the audit agency had pointed out serious irregularities in preparation of the games.
However, the process was temporarily suspended between Sep 24 and Oct 14 to ensure smooth organisation of the games.
Rai’s comments came against the backdrop of the government announcing a committee to look into the organisation and conduct of the Games in view of the complaints received earlier of irregularities in giving contracts and the delays in execution.
Prime Minister Manohan Singh Friday set up the high-level committee headed by former comptroller and auditor general V.K. Shunglu to look into all matters relating to the conduct and organisation of the games.
He had also directed the concerned ministries to conduct thorough investigations into all the complaints that have been received of procedural and other irregularities and said those found guilty should face severe and exemplary punishment.
The Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi had come under fire in the run-up to the 12-day event, held here from Oct 3-14, over allegations of delays and cost over-runs.
