New Delhi:
With focus now on fast tracking preparations for the Commonwealth Games just seven weeks away, a Group of Ministers (GoM) met in New Delhi on Sunday to consider various aspects of the opening ceremony of the mega sporting event.
It is the first meeting of the GoM after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh directly stepped in on Saturday convening an emergency meeting on review of preparations for the Games in the wake of the alleged corruption scandals and missed deadlines for several stadia in the Capital.
The GoM, headed by Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy, discussed in detail the broad contours of the opening ceremony.
"Primarily the focus is on delivery of the Games and preparation of the various items required for the opening ceremony," Reddy told reporters ahead of the meeting.
The others in the GoM include Sports Minister M S Gill, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi. Oscar-winning music director A R Rahman made a presentation of his theme song for the Commonwealth Games at the meeting.
Sources said the idea was to ensure that the song becomes a sensation like his own 'Jai Ho' composed for the film "Slumdog Millionaire" and Soccer World Cup theme song 'Waka Waka'.
The GoM has now been empowered to take all necessary decisions for the smooth conduct of the event.
The GoM has been directed by the Prime Minister to meet immediately and frequently thereafter. Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar was also directed to liaise closely with the Group of Ministers to ensure "effective coordination" among all the authorities concerned.
At the meeting, the GoM was empowered to take all decisions necessary for the smooth conduct of the Games and refer any matter that may require further consideration to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee for a final decision.
The Cabinet will be briefed on the state of preparations on a weekly basis.