Indian Military

NEW DELHI: Even as skeletons keep on tumbling out of its rather huge cupboard, the Commonwealth Games organizing committee (OC) now seems to be also running out of money. The defence ministry, much to its consternation, has been asked to provide military personnel and facilities free of cost for the Games. It had earlier been assured of Rs 11.29 crore for providing organisational support in terms of personnel, horses and bands as well as Army and NCC barracks to house performing artists from different zonal cultural centres from August to mid-October.

But urban development minister Jaipal Reddy earlier this month wrote a letter to defence minister A K Antony to actively intervene in "ensuring" the "full participation" of the armed forces on a "no cost" basis to the OC.

This has startled the MoD because it had earlier reached an agreement with the OC, after a series of meetings, that service officers would be paid a monthly allowance of Rs 20,000, while other ranks and JCOs will get Rs 10,000-14,000.

NEW DELHI: Even as skeletons keep on tumbling out of its rather huge cupboard, the Commonwealth Games organizing committee (OC) now seems to be also running out of money. The defence ministry, much to its consternation, has been asked to provide military personnel and facilities free of cost for the Games. It had earlier been assured of Rs 11.29 crore for providing organisational support in terms of personnel, horses and bands as well as Army and NCC barracks to house performing artists from different zonal cultural centres from August to mid-October.

But urban development minister Jaipal Reddy earlier this month wrote a letter to defence minister A K Antony to actively intervene in "ensuring" the "full participation" of the armed forces on a "no cost" basis to the OC.

This has startled the MoD because it had earlier reached an agreement with the OC, after a series of meetings, that service officers would be paid a monthly allowance of Rs 20,000, while other ranks and JCOs will get Rs 10,000-14,000.

NEW DELHI: The Urban development ministry has sought the assistance of defence minister A K Antony to ensure the Army does not charge the Organising Committee for certain facilities provided by it during the Commonwealth Games.

OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi said the chairman of the Group of Ministers for CWG Jaipal Reddy has written a letter to A K Antony requesting him to ask the Army not to charge for certain facilities it was providing during the Games, scheduled to begin in October.

"... So they have agreed to do somethings free of charge, for some, they will charge," said Kalmadi.

It is learnt that in his letter, Urban development minister Reddy has requested Antony that the Army should not charge the Organising Committee (OC) for allowances for the officers and jawans who are on duty for the sporting event.

Reddy has also sought waiving off charges for Army facilities being used by artists for the Opening Ceremony -- places where they will practice and stay.