Ranchi, June 13: A day after the state government came under fire for allegedly not being cooperative over the National Games, the finance department cleared the decks for the sports department to sign the host city-contract with the Indian Olympic Association to hold the mega event in Jharkhand.

Sports secretary N.N. Sinha said the finance department had raised a few queries but had cleared the proposal after being satisfied with the information furnished by his department.

Optimistic of signing the contract next week, Sinha said all other formalities to host the Games would be completed on time.

?A government department cannot sign any contract without the prior approval of the law and finance department, which allots the funds to hold the show,? Sinha reminded.

There are no more hurdles and the sports department is moving ahead following all the procedures, he added.

Meanwhile the state government today dismissed the allegations levelled against them by the Jharkhand Olympic Association (JOA) for non-cooperation in preparation for the National Games 2007.

Sports minister Sudesh Mahto made it clear that party politics has got nothing to do with the Games and the government was doing the needful for successfully organising the mega event.

Talking to The Telegraph, the sports minister said preparations were on in full swing.

?Politics has got nothing to do with sports. This is one thing in which I do not want any politics to enter. The state government is working sincerely in this field and the process is on. I am only concerned with my work. When I am working sincerely, let people say whatever they feel like,? said Mahto.

The minister was reacting to Congress MP and JOA president R.K. Anand?s allegations, made yesterday, that the state government was not providing any help for the preparations of the Games.

Anand had accused the government for not being serious about organising the Games properly. He had also alleged that the government had till now made no provisions for proper training of the swimmers of the state.

?We are having a series of meetings, holding discussions and doing so many things. Most of the meetings done are on proper development of infrastructure in the state,? the minister defended himself.

Sources in the sports department, however, claimed that Anand, who is also president of the JOA, was trying to derive political mileage out of the issue.

The sports department, they added, had requested the IOA to make a few changes in the contract but instead of expediting the amendment process Anand had indulged in a blame-game. ?There are have been procedural delays but norms have to be followed to avoid any irregularity,? said one of them.

?When a stadium to hold Sydney Olympics can be completed in 22 months, there was no reason why the infrastructure required to hold the National Games could not be expedited in 18 months in Jharkhand,? he pointed out.