The entire process related to the Comonwealth Games has been marred with secrecy and unavailability of information. India’s decision to bid for the games was not discussed in the parliament. From the time of the bid to the to the allocation of budget, it seen lack of public participation and government accountability.

These are some of the findings of ‘The 2010 commonwealth games: whose wealth? Whose commons?”- a report released by Housing and Land Rights Network.

Former Delhi high court justice AP Shah released the report here on Thursday.

According to the report, India made a last- minute offer of US $ 7.2 milion which clinched the deal in its favour.  Hamilton, a Canadian city, had made an offer of US $ 5 million.

“A decision to underwrite costs and budget shortfall of the games was taken, despite the facts that the ministry of finance, had cautioned against it in 2003,” says the report.

The report points out that though the total expendisure on infrastructure for the Games is unknown, at least Rs 3, 390 crore has been uncurred on stadiums. Also, the increase in expenditure on stadiums is already more than 2000 percent of the initial projected budget.

“The streetscaping of just one street, Lodi road”, says the report, “is estimated to cost Rs 18. 55 crore.”

The report, divided into for thematic fact sheets, also lashesh out the caims  that the Games will help create a world class city. “…Delhi has already proven wrong with grave human costs in the form of slum demonitions, arrests of homeless citizens and beggars, destruction of livelihoods of the urban poor, and environmental delegation.”

Taking a cue from the report, former justice AP Shah said that the government’s approach towards beggars and homeless was not right.

“Most of the dwellers are an integral part of the city. The city will come to a halt without them. When the government is taking away their livelihood, there should be a very strong reason for it and it should be done by following proper procedures,” said he.