Karnataka - Mangalore   

Scam-tainted firm is lowest bidder for synthetic track

MANGALORE: A company that has emerged the lowest bidder for the synthetic athletic track at Mangala Stadium here is facing charges of conniving with officials and causing loss to the nation's exchequer as a contractor in the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2010.

Jubilee Sports Technology (I) Pvt. Ltd. of New Delhi has quoted Rs. 3.12 crore to lay the synthetic track. The district administration is yet to sign the contract with the company.

This company's contracts in relation to the Commonwealth Games have come under the scanner of the high-level V.K. Shunglu Committee. In its fourth report on the mega scam, the committee has concluded that “the facts and chain of events… establish beyond doubt the connivance and complicity of CPWD officials with Jubilee Sports Technology (I) Pvt Ltd for awarding contract of lawn bowl greens at abnormally high rates resulting in a loss to the Government.”

The committee's study revealed that an unduly high number of lawn bowl grounds were constructed and the contract was awarded at a very high rate. Out of the total contract amount of Rs. 11.31 crore, the contractor (Jubilee Sports) earned a profit of Rs. 7.61 crore. “The modus operandi, as in earlier cases, was to bill an amount larger than the imported cost,” the report said.

Dakshina Kannada Athletics Association Secretary Arun Rao said this has come to his notice and a meeting of the association has been convened to discuss various issues relating to the synthetic track. He, however, said the association was keen to ensure that a synthetic track materialised for the Mangala Stadium.

District Sports School's athletics coach Vasanthakumar said one needed to tread cautiously in view of the Shunglu Committee findings.

Deputy Commissioner Subodh Yadav, who chairs the Stadium Committee, said the tender had not been finalised yet and all aspects would be considered. He said the administration would get reports from the Union Government regarding the charges against the firm before taking a final decision. “If they are involved in any illegal activity, we will not give it (the contract) to them,” Mr. Yadav told The Hindu.

One of the directors of the firm, Rajiv K. Sharma told The Hindu over phone that the company had not done anything wrong (in Commonwealth Games contracts). He said he had not received any communication from the district administration regarding the Mangalore synthetic track bid. Mr. Sharma said he was not aware of an FIR being lodged against officials of his company as he was away .

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Scam-tainted firm is lowest bidder for synthetic track

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