Sheila: Not aware of CVC report about corruption in Games works

New Delhi: A combo picture shows the different reactions of Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit during a press conference in New Delhi on Friday.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Friday said she was completely unaware of the Central Vigilance Commission report about alleged corruption in various works related to the Commonwealth Games but assured to have the matter probed “when the report comes.”

Addressing a press conference after the third weekly review meeting on the Commonwealth Games preparations, Ms. Dikshit said coordination between various agencies involved was reviewed and problems between the agencies were resolved at the meeting.

She said the various deadlines for the Games preparations stand unchanged. “The work on debris removal would be completed by August 10. In the last two weeks, 16,000 tonnes of debris has been removed. Then all the other works related to flyovers, stadia, buildings and street-scaping would have to be completed by August 31. September would be kept for the finishing touches. No digging of roads would be allowed then,’’ she said.

On being asked about the CVC report, which had allegedly found rampant corruption in the construction activities and tendering processes and also pointed to use of inferior quality material in the infrastructure being created for the Games, the Chief Minister said she had no comments to make as no information had reached the Government officially.

“When the report comes, it will be taken at that point of time,’’ she said, and on being asked if she took responsibility for the alleged corruption, Ms. Dikshit retorted: “You want me to go to jail’’.

She added that “if there are allegations they will be taken care of’’.

Stating that "works are not complete,’’ Ms. Dikshit said there is a procedure to be followed when CVC sends its comments. ``Eventually everything will be taken into account but all that would be after the Games.’’

Right now, she said the focus is on the preparations and ensuring the success of the international sporting event.

The Chief Minister said “there is no need to panic due to delays’’ and expressed confidence that “this will be the best Commonwealth Games ever’’. She said even the Prime Minister had expressed confidence that these Games will be “well conducted’’.