PRAMOD KUMAR
New Delhi, Nov. 6: A 1975-batch IAS officer of the Punjab cadre, Sudhir Mittal, and Jiji Thomson, 1980-batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre, are all set to be appointed by the Central government as top administrative officers to look after the functioning of the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games 2010. Besides, Sanjeev Mittal, officer of the defence accounts department, is set to be appointed to oversee the financial aspect of the OC’s working.
According to sources, the Central government has now begun taking matters in its hands to ensure that the Games in 2010 are conducted smoothly by appointing three top ranking officials to keep a constant tab on the day-to-day functioning of the OC. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has already begun conducting concurrent audit of all financial transactions on a regular basis to avoid any discrepancy.
Sources further revealed that Mr Jarnail Singh, who was has recently been appointed as the chief executive officer, is now acting as a "link officer" between the Centre and the OC. The OC had appointed Mr Singh under pressure from the Central government as it faced flak from the Commonwealth Games Federation for poor progress. He has been entrusted with the task of looking after the administration of the Games, which includes all 34 operational areas.
"These three officers will assist Mr Singh. The Centre is likely to issue an official order regarding the appointment of these three top executives in a day or two. Sudhir Mittal and Mr Thomson will look after the administrative functions of the OC. These three officers will report to Mr Singh as well as the Centre," said the source, adding that with this arrangement, the Centre will have direct control over the OC. As far as financial matters or signing of agreements in different operational areas are concerned, Mr Sanjeev Mittal will be made responsible for it, he added. "The Centre does not want to face any further embarrassment neither in connection with the functional areas nor on the administrative front. This is the reason that government is taking the matters in its hands." Sources also revealed that some of the top bureaucrats, who had joined OC earlier, have left recently. There are reports that were dissatisfied with the arbitrary style of functioning of some of the OC members. "The officers, who recently quit the OC and have gone back to their parent cadre, include Mr Ajay Chaddha (senior IPS officer of the UT cadre) and Atul Chaturvedi (senior IAS officer of the Assam cadre)," said the source.
This is a negative development and that is why the Centre is taking control over the administration, he added.
