The Balewadi facility in Pune could be one of the options that may be explored
if infrastructure requirements for the Lusofonia Games in the state fall
shortAjit John / The Goan 06 July 2013
There are concerns over the multi sport facility coming up for the Lusofonia
Games at the university. The CEO of the games, Keshav Chandra expressed his
fear during the course a conversation with The Goan. He said that work which
was meant to be done essentially in three and a half years was now being pushed
into an eight month period. His expressed his concern over the multipurpose
facility coming up at Taleigao which is way behind schedule due to the
rains.Keshav Chandra said work at the various sites was being done with a focus
on ensuring that standards were maintained despite the constraints of time.
Asked what would happen if the sites were not ready he said that he was
confident that the various stadia would be ready to the extent that the games
would be able to be conducted. Asked what he meant by this statement, he said
that extras like modern art and statues may not be ready to be installed but
the stadia would be ready. When he asked again what if it was not ready he said
then in two months various options would be considered. Asked if Balewadi
facility in Pune was being seriously considered, he said it was not on the
radius but all options would be considered in two months.Asked why the roofs
were not in place at the multipurpose stadiums in Mapusa and at the university
as yet despite the deadlines having long gone he said that it was not that
simple. He said “I could have instructed them to install the six metre long
span across the structure which would require welding which by itself would
span two kilometers. That however has to be done in a manner that guarantees
quality. There is a process and time for everything I push the contractors
everyday but there is a time in technical terms which have to be given”.
With regards the controversy over the company selected to install the synthetic
track, he said like many companies, Simplex, the company that won the contract
for the construction of the stadium, did not have the expertise in all aspects
of the job which meant they would subcontract it to specialists. Sports
Infratech Limited a Delhi based company had been given the contract to lay the
tracks. It was also one of the companies booked by the CBI in one of the cases
of the 2010 CWG scam. Keshav said the Karnataka High court had ruled that the
company could not be blacklisted. He said “If it is not blacklisted then there
is nothing I can do. No one has come to me with a document stating as much. If
they did I could then ask Simplex, the reason for doing so. I am not doing my
personal work here but the work that has been deputed to me”.With regards to
the absence of Brazil in the football and volleyball competition, he said the
organizing committee had remonstrated with the Brazilian officials. They had
demanded the best hotels for the team but when the time came they admitted that
they team was an expensive brand and would require large sums of money to make
them come. They said even the “D” team would require large sums of money. It
was, Keshav said, we would have to live with. It was certainly an opportunity
lost for the soccer loving fans of the state.The visa problem for all the
participating countries had been solved with the ministry of external affairs
willing to give visas to all the participants absolutely free. Countries where
there was no Indian diplomatic presence would have to go to the nearest Indian
embassy and it would be issued. This facility would also include officials and
journalists.He was confident the state would put up a great show and that they
would be great hosts and give the guests great memories to carry home.
