DPE takes up CWG sponsorship with sports ministry

NEW DELHI: State-owned companies may not have to shell out money for sponsoring the upcoming Commonwealth Games. Department of public enterprises (DPE) secretary Bhaskar Chatterjee on Wednesday said that his department is in discussion with sports ministry over the issue. DPE is the nodal agency for all public sector companies.

“We are cautious as to whether the CWG already has enough money from the government or not and if it has enough money, do they need PSUs’ money at this stage or not,” he said on the sidelines of a standing conference on public enterprises function. The Commonwealth Games are scheduled for October this year.

Public sector companies, including banks, have already committed sponsorship for the event. While Railways has committed Rs 200 crore for the games, National Thermal Power Corporation ( NTPC) and Central Bank of India have also paid for a sponsorship of Rs 50 crore each. The move comes after DPE had issued a letter asking PSUs to contribute towards the games.

Air India, the official carrier of the games, has also sponsored tickets for officials and players as part of its contribution to the event. The national career has also offered to provide two chartered flights for the event.

The CWG was given a revised budget of Rs 1,620 crore by the central government as a loan on an understanding that the organising committee would repay the amount after it realises it through sponsorships and sale of TV rights.