Games Village construction may go beyond April 2010: MS Gill
(Part I of Exclusive Interview)

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali

MANOHAR Singh Gill has faced many challenges in his professional career. He now has a challenge of different kind: of ensuring that the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games are held on time, using world class infrastructure, and that the event leaves a lasting legacy.

After helping start the construction of stadiums, much delayed because of indecisiveness over several issues, in his previous term as minister of state for youth affairs and sports (independent charge), Gill was elevated to the rank of a cabinet minister this May when UPA formed the government again. The 73-year-old career bureaucrat, now a Rajya Sabha member, has got sufficient funds approved by the government to put the CWG preparations on the rails.

In a freewheeling interview at his residence, Gill assures that, maybe except for the Games Village, all other stadiums will be ready within the deadline for the Games to be held from Oct 3-14, 2010. He said the Village may cross the April deadline.

Here’s the first of the two-part interview:

On progress of construction of stadiums:

The Games are next year in October, so we have got barely a year and half. I came in [as sports minister] on April 6th last year for one year, and now we are starting a new term in this job. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) is building seven of the major stadiums. They build it through the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and my ministry provides the funds through the SAI to the CPWD. This is the mechanism. Almost all the stadiums are going to be ready by the end of this year, December.

When I came in April, there were issues regarding three sports. There was a minor issue in swimming. There were quarrelling over how many lanes to have [in the pool] and they were even saying ‘demolish all that you have built worth a few hundred crores [of rupees] and build another [structure] worth Rs. 300 crores’. So, I straightaway talked to everybody -- technical and others people involved, SAI and the organising committees -- and resolved the issue. The swimming stadium is now going along fine and fast.

Shooting also had a quarrel [to settle] and the construction was stuck. So I went to the Karni Singh Shooting Range, collected everybody and we had a real heart to heart talk. I inspected all the points where they had some differences. That issue too was resolved, orders given. From that day on, it is being constructed at a fast pace. Because the start was so late, about which I can do nothing, it will run into next January-February. I am trying to squeeze it back from that period. Let us see.

Then, the final one was the cycling velodrome. There was even an argument with the world cycling body; they had all sorts of demands and the matter had not been resolved. Again, I resolved it after the Beijing Olympics and we have started construction. But because of a late start that too will slip into next year. The Games are in October so that will be done in the first two months or so of next year.

This is important for people to understand – I immediately set up a system. There is a CWG Coordination Committee, I chair it in my office once a month or six weeks, according to convenience. Sheila Dixit, the Delhi chief minister, her chief secretary, the Delhi Development Authority chairman, and all relevant people come for these meetings. All my ministry and SAI people are there. CPWD, the organising committee and [Indian Olympic Association president Suresh] Kalmadi are also there, and so is the urban development secretary, tourism secretary, culture secretary. Occasionally, we call Metro [train] people too. We have intensive dialogue, go over what was settled the last time and see the progress. And, frankly, I am giving everyone a lot of backup.

There is a famous military saying: there is no such thing as bad soldiers; there are only bad generals. You have to lead them well. I can say with some confidence that I have the full enthusiastic effort of all these people. They are aware that they have the total backing of the minister and everyone who goes with me and ‘pure josh se kaam ho raha hai’. It will be done.

On the issue of Games Village:

There was one major item that was stuck for three-four years before I joined. The Games Village is across the Yamuna and the stadium is on this side of the river. Now, it was a strange decision taken long ago -- that’s all I would say. You have to bring the people this side and they were arguing and nothing was settled for two-three years. I’m sorry, it should have been [resolved].

Two days after I took over, we had a meeting. I said to them to show me the options; it had to be done, no choices. They told me about the best options, or the least damaging. And the next day at the [cabinet] meeting I got it fully thorough. Frankly, I really worked for it (smiles). I told Tejinder Khanna, the Delhi Lt. Governor, the decision is made and from tomorrow start laying the bricks. He said ‘sir, fikar na karo, ho ga’. And it [construction at the Village] is going on a fast pace. That was so late -- thanks to meaningless delay -- that it would even go beyond April but it will be done well before the Games.

On funds for construction of infrastructure:

When I came, we had originally Rs.1,000 crores sanctioned for the seven stadiums. And with all the reasons of the global economic meltdown, there have been cost overruns and some delays, we made a through examination. One of things I’ve tightened up is the expenditure finance committee and financial control & management. The special secretary of the finance department of the Government of India sits on this committee, so that if increased costs are being asked for, they must be examined with a fine toothcomb.

Having done that, I took it to the cabinet, the last meeting of the last government on May 8, 2009. They passed Rs.2640 crores, an increase from Rs.1,000 crores. The cabinet did not even murmur because I had discussed it with them and told them we have this duty, like a girl who has to be married off. Now there is no holding back. We have to have a good show; we have to be ready in time. If there is an increased cost, so be it. The country simply has to take care of it. All that we want to see is that there is good financial examination.

Similarly, DDA goes through the chief minister and the urban development ministry. They also get money. I have to say this for the government: that being in it, the government does not stinge legitimate expenditure on these things.

On athletes’ training and preparations:

Ultimately, the Games are for sportspeople. India wants to see lots of medals being won. We have been doing well in the past Games, but here we should do especially well. Surely, it’s our own home ground. The budget for sports has been very, very nominal. But last year they sanctioned Rs.678 crores for two and half years, till the first half of 2010, only for the CWG athletes’ preparations. It’s a lot of money. Straightaway, about 1,300-1,400 sportspeople were chosen according to merit and camps in India are going on with full force at Kolkata, Bangalore, Patiala etc.

Talking of foreign coaches, everybody reads only of [Jose] Brasa, the new men’s hockey coach. But there are almost 40 foreign coaches in India for all games. Again, because I have the money, we have liberally engaged foreign coaches for all games, and not just hockey.

On foreign training/exposure trips for athletes:

We are liberally sanctioning money for teams or athletes or swimmers to go abroad, sometimes for long periods. It’s all at the government's cost. I can’t score the goals or win the medals personally, but the government, through the sports ministry, is doing everything it can to prepare them. And I am confident that they will do better than the last Games. (to be continued)
(This interview first appeared on www.sportzpower.com)