Thaindian News

New Delhi, Sep 21 (IANS) Amid mounting concerns over New Delhi’s preparations for the Commonwealth Games that are just 12 days away, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh once again intervened Tuesday and ordered a slew of measures in a bid to save India’s image internationally.
The prime minister Tuesday personally asked Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna to oversee the clean-up and refurbishment of the apartments to house athletes and officials at the Commonwealth Games village.

Manmohan Singh stepped in again after the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Michael Fennell said parts of the Games Village were still not fit for accommodation. Concerns were also raised by contingents from Canada, New Zealand and Scotland about the state of the Village.

The Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement late Tuesday detailing measures taken by various agencies to rectify “certain deficiencies in the residential zone”.

The statement said that status of preparedness at the Commonwealth Games Village was reviewed Tuesday morning by Khanna at a meeting attended by the the principal secretary to the prime minister, the cabinet secretary, the chief secretary of Delhi and vice-chairman of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

Referring to the decisions taken at the meeting, the statement said that DDA’s chief engineer (electrical), assisted by other representatives of the agency and Delhi government and representatives of the BSES will be in full charge of ensuring uninterrupted supply of power in the village comprising residential and international zones.

More manpower and resources will be inducted, as required, for cleaning and maintenance of apartments in towers.

The statement said that one officer from the Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Civil Service will be put in charge of each tower to ensure complete coordination in all operations such as maintenance and cleaning.

A command and control centre, consisting of special officers appointed by government, venue administrator, venue security commander, representatives of the Organizing Committee and the developer will coordinate all activities in all the areas.

Any additional manpower and resources required will be provided on top priority by the Delhi government, DDA and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

The developer will immediately ensure that all maintenance and repair work, as may be required in each tower, will be carried out promptly and on a 24×7 basis.

In view of heavy rains, any requirements of draining out water from the area will be promptly carried out by the developer with assistance from MCD.

The statement said that certain deficiencies in the residential zone, particularly pertaining to cleanliness, had been pointed out by some delegates of Commonwealth Games Associations, which had been promptly attended to.

Fennell, who wrote a stern letter to Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrashekar, the government’s top pointsperson for the Games preparations, said parts of the Village needed “urgent attention”. Hygiene concerns were also raised by New Zealand, Scotland, England and Canada among others.

Complaints that stray dogs were jumping on the beds, that the towers were full of rubbish and that the toilets were filthy came in from the contingents. But Indian officials dismissed these complaints, saying these things happen everywhere before major events and “standards of hygiene differ” from country to country.

Fennell gave the Organising Committee (OC) just 24 hours to take “quick action” and set things right before the athletes start arriving Thursday.

The Village has 1,168 apartments spread across 34 towers that will house over 7,000 athletes and officials.

Fennel’s colleague, CGF chief executive Mike Hooper said the conditions at the Games Village were “filthy and unlivable.”