DEVESH R SHARMA'S BLOG

₹20,000 PER SQ. FT.
FOR THE NEW SPORTS BAR ?

Every CCI member deserves an answer.

Dear Fellow Member,

Over the last few weeks, I have been looking closely at some of the decisions taken at our Club—not to indulge in election gossip, but because I believe every rupee CCI spends belongs, ultimately, to its members.

One issue has particularly troubled me: OUR NEW SPORTS BAR

The total area is approximately 2,400 sq. ft. After excluding approximately 600 sq. ft. comprising the kitchen and behind-the-bar areas, the relevant area is approximately 1,800 sq. ft.

Based on the expenditure figures available to us, the cost attributable to this works out to over:

That number deserves a very simple question:

Would you spend ₹20,000 per sq. ft. renovating your own premises?

And if not, why was this level of expenditure considered appropriate for our Club?

This isn't merely about whether the finished bar looks good. The responsibility of those entrusted with members' money is to achieve the right result, at the right quality, at the right price.

There are therefore questions that I believe members are entitled to ask:

HOW DID THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER WHO WAS HANDLING THIS PROJECT LET THIS EVEN HAPPEN ???

• What was the original approved budget?
• What was ultimately spent?
• What caused the differences between estimates/allowances and actual expenditure?
• Were those variations independently scrutinised?
• And who accepted responsibility for the final cost?

I am also concerned by issues that, as I understand them, were identified in the Cushman & Wakefield review/audit concerning allowances versus actual expenditure. Those findings should be put transparently before members and allowed to speak for themselves.

This is not somebody else's money.

It is our Club. Our money. Our responsibility.

And that is why this becomes relevant at election time.

Anyone seeking the privilege of governing CCI again should be prepared to answer legitimate questions about decisions made while previously entrusted with responsibility.

So I ask my friend Bobby respectfully, member to member:

Please explain spending over 20,000 per sq. ft.

• Explain the original budget.
• Explain the final expenditure.
• Explain the variations.
• Explain the procurement process.
• And explain why this represented value for CCI members.

If those questions cannot be satisfactorily answered, then I believe there is a more fundamental question to consider:

Should someone seek another mandate before accounting for the previous one?

This is bigger than one candidate and bigger than one election.

CCI must adopt a simple principle going forward:

Because once money belonging to thousands of members is entrusted to a few people, financial stewardship is not optional. IT IS THE JOB!