CWG- a cash cow for government

As per recent reports, common wealth games have become a cash cow for the government and government officials. Thousands of crores have been spent in the preparation and preparations are not completed yet. CVC, the central vigilance commission, has reported severe malpractices in the common wealth preparation. Weak substandard materials were used to prepare stadiums and cost was inflated. Fifteen sites were examined by a team of CVC and they found out many deficiencies in them. As per them, quality was compromised and CWG sites failed to pass strength test. Sites examined were Siri Fort Sports Complex, Shivaji Stadium, Talkatora Swimming pool and at several CWG-related projects including upgrade of street lighting and construction of elevated roads.

They claim that forged records of testing were prepared and NMDC allotted tenders at inflated rates to mislead the authorities. The similar charges are against Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Delhi development authority. As CWG authorities keep on claiming to provide world class facilities, this report came as shocker for the public. Further reports claim that products were bought at higher price than they actually are like, trolley bed which in general cost around 1.5 lakhs per bed, was bought at 2.75 lakhs per bed. Similar is the case with ultra sound therapy machines and many other types of equipment.

These are initial reports which are based on very preliminary investigations. Imagine how much in total has been eaten up by corrupt politicians and officials? Around 80000 thousand crores have been spent in the preparation of these games and large sum of that money has gone in their pockets at the name of these games. CWG has become a cash cow for these officials who are not bothered about tax payers money and nation’s pride which will be severely hurt, in case of any mishap.

Government, as usual, is promising to take action against those who are involved in these irregularities but expecting them to do anything would be imprudent. History has repeated itself many times in India and the best possible thing which we can do is to stay from committing any of these things. These things are big bonanza for these politicians and officials, who have mastered the art of manipulating system. The best way to make money is to add commission to the actual price and then release the tender at that inflated price. Much famous hospital has offered free service for common wealth games but they were ignored and then tenders were released at the inflated rates for the same services.

We have got all reason to believe that current governments are also involved in all of these scams, as nothing can happen without the involvement of these political masters. Thousands of crores of taxpayers’ money has gone into these scams and nobody is going to take any action against these politician and officials. We can only hope and wish that India doesn’t host any other event.