Cabinet Secy does reality check on venues,debris

Fortunately,officials maintained,the 90-minute review ended with none of the major work areas flagged red. “Everything was flagged orange,with everyone anxious for green lights to come on and the Games to begin,” one official put it.

The major areas taken up at the Cabinet Secretariat was a review of the handing over of all CWG venues by the Suresh Kalmadi led Organising Committee and a reality check on the clearing of debris,the deadline for which has now been extended by the Delhi government.

The schedules for the landing,transportataion and customs clearances for all CWG consignments landing at airports and ports were discussed. These consignments include the landing of the precious “overlays”’ for the Games – moveable fixtures,fittings and equipment which are being imported at a cost of Rs 600 crore from four foreign companies on rent.

The review meeting was informed that CWG consignments will be arriving in around 500 containers,which besides the overlays will contain equipment imported by Prasar Bharti for the Games. The issue of expeditious customs clearances and the required customs waivers (wherever applicable) was also taken up.

Other subjects relating to the civil works were also taken up. Along with the Press Information Bureau and the Indian Trade Promotion Organisation,the Prasar Bharti has given allocations of Rs 482 crore for the Games,of which Rs 187 is a “loan” to them.

Following the crucial stock-taking today,the next review of the CWG will be taken by the Group of Ministers on Sunday evening. The GoM is meeting exclusively to review preparations for the gala opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Games.