CWG OC to clear bills in 10 days: Sports Minister

Agencies

New Delhi, 20 January 2011: Sports Minister Ajay Maken on Thursday said that the CWG OC’s dues that are outstanding towards foreign firms will be paid within the next ten days.

 

This came after a number of Australian firms threatened legal action against the Suresh Kalmadi lead organizing committee for delaying the clearance of the outstanding bills from the opening and closing ceremonies, bringing diplomatic embarrassment to the country.

 

The issue was brought up during the talks between External Affairs Minister SM Krishna and Oz minister Kevin Rudd. Subsequently, Maken, the newly appointed Sports Minister, took stock of the situation and has given ten days to the CWG OC to clear the bills to all the foreign firms.

 

Krishna had assured the Australian government that he would take up the matter of non-payment of dues to companies for Commonwealth Games-related work after the issue featured in his talks with Kevin Rudd.

 

According to reports, the Australian companies are preparing a lawsuit against the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee which allegedly owes million to the firms.

 

Australian Foreign Minister Rudd took up the issue with his counterpart Krishna during their bilateral talks and the latter promised to deal with the issue on his return to New Delhi.

 

"It has been brought to my notice and I would go back to India and take it up with the Ministry of Sports," Krishna told a joint press conference after the meeting.