PANAJI
The Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) has approached the State government for issuing legal notices to the State sports associations, who have failed to submit the financial bills and utilisation certificates towards the funds provided to them for the National Games 2023.
More than one year later, most of the associations are yet to provide details including audit reports despite several reminders and show cause notices.
SAG had sanctioned grants of approximately Rs 15 crore to 35 State associations so that they could prepare adequately for the National Games, held in Goa between October 26 and November 29, 2023.
Speaking to The Goan, Sports Minister Govind Gaude said that SAG has moved a file to the Law Department for necessary action. “We had already served show cause notices to them. We had even granted them one year’s time to submit the bills, UC and audit report but most of the associations have not done it,” he said.
Gaude said that the government will soon start serving legal notices to the associations.
Gaude in the past had lambasted the associations for failing to provide the financial records of the funds after being paid crores of rupees towards preparations for the National Games.
The Minister expressed anguish after Goa Olympic Association – the umbrella body with which all State sports associations are registered, returned Rs 25 lakh cheque to SAG, sanctioned for National Games held in Uttarakhand, stating that the reduced sum was an insult to sportspersons.
