2010 Commonwealth games 'complete management failure': PAC

However, PAC noted that govt retrieved situation at last moment and made the event successful

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The 2010 Commonwealth games were a "complete management failure", a parliamentary panel has said as it cited a top officer's contention that it could have created a "national shame".

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has faulted the then UPA dispensation for taking the games management out of the government machinery leading to a "number of errors" that almost resulted in the "biggest management failure".

Its report was tabled in Parliament on Wednesday.

The report, however, noted that the government could retrieve the situation "at the last moment" and made the games "successful".

"The committee appreciate the Sports Secretary's free and frank testimony that there was a complete management failure ...The government came to the brink of defaulting on the games which would have created a national shame across the world," the report added.

Underlining that delays occurred in the initial stages of the game, the panel said as a result decisions were taken in haste and contracts were awarded on the basis of single tenders and negotiations at some times.

The report noted "undue concessions" to a contractor, "unwarranted relaxation" to a private company, and dilution of criteria to thwart competition in various instances.

It said there was a "lack of transparency, fairness and competition in bidding".

Outgoing PAC Chairman K V Thomas, had on Tuesday said there was nothing against former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the report.