Cannot make public overlays contract documents: Organising committee

The organising committee has refused to make public its documents of controversial contract with companies supplying overlays worth over Rs630 crore for the Commonwealth Games. 

The organising committee said disclosure of these documents would compromise commercial interests as the contracts are underway.

Replying to an RTI application, the organising committee said, "The contracts are underway and copies cannot be provided at this stage."

The contracts with overlays supplying firms generated huge controversy about alleged irregularities in the deals. It was alleged in some reports that overlays have been procured at a much higher prices than market rates.

The committee, however, cited section 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act which exempts from disclosure the information which includes "commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property, the disclosure of which would harm competitive position of a third party."

The application was filed by activist SC Agrawal.

The committee said that four companies, ESAJV; D-Art; Indo consortium, GL Events; Meroform consortium, Nuseeli (Switzerland) Ltd, Pico Deepali Overlays Consortium, were given contract totalling Rs630.23 crore.

"Open bids were invited for seven clusters on December 5, 2009 in which 10 bidders participated. Officers from DMRC, Indian Oil, Railways, ONGC, DGSD and Defence were associated in the preparation of the bid documents and during the pre-bid conference," the committee said in the reply.

It said four international overlays suppliers having extensive experience of supply to Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Games were shortlisted for competitive bids for seven clusters.

"Two rounds of negotiations with the lowest bidders of each cluster were held under the Chairmanship of two separate special DGs. The proposals were discussed in OCFC and FSC for OC and the award of contract was approved by the Executive board on May 18, 2010," it said.