Stray dogs inside “filthy” Games Village apartments raise doubts whether PM’s B-team under KM Chandrasekhar is in-charge or not

ABOUT a month ago, BoI (babusofindia.com) hailed Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s decision to take out his trump card – an army of 10 IAS officers under cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar – to manage the Commonwealth Games, and termed the move as the “biggest ever victory of Indian bureaucracy during the last one decade”. But Tuesday’s incident of participating countries like Canada and New Zealand objecting to “filthy” and “unhygienic” atmosphere of the Games Village, has raised doubts about effectiveness of PM’s B-team (Bureaucrats’ team), or at least whether they are in full control of the situation despite making them “empowered” by the last month’s PMO order. The question here is whether it’s just Suresh Kalmadi and Co which should be held accountable for the national shame of the Games Village being not cleaned till hours before athletes arrive in Delhi? Shouldn’t the high-profile bureaucrats who are in-charge of the Games village be also blamed when stray dogs are reportedly spotted on the beds of those swanky apartments meant for the use of international players? 

After various countries raised alarm over the “filthy” atmosphere, Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chief Michael Fennell still chose to dash off a letter to the Union cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar asking for immediate action, indicating the fact that cabinet secretary is still in-charge of the event’s last minute preparedness.

Meanwhile, a team of bureaucrats under Lt Governor of Delhi reviewed the Games Village on Tuesday and recommended a few measures including enhancing the manpower and resources for cleaning and maintenance of apartments, and deputing one dedicated officer each from the Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Civil Service for each of the 34 towers of the Games Village. Those bureaucrats who were part of the review included principal secretary to Prime Minister TKA Nair, cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar, chief secretary of Delhi Rakesh Mehra and vice-chairman of DDA Ashok Kumar among others.

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Who are those 10 chosen bureaucrats?

Action and Appointments

a) Usha Mathur, a 1974 batch IRAS has been appointed as secretary, ministry of Parliamentary Affairs in the vacancy of Anil Kumar, a 1973 batch UP cadre IAS. Prior to this appointment, she was additional Member, Finance in the Railway Board. During her long career, she has handled many finance and general management posts in the Indian Railways. She has also had a stint in the ministry of finance as joint secretary.

b) Nilanjan Sanyal, a 1979 batch Orissa cadre IAS has been appointed as additional secretary in the department of food and public distribution under the ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution, on in-situ elevation basis, with effect from July 28, 2010.