Friday, July 23, 2010

Cutting it close to the Games!

India Today
Delhi CM sets August 31 as final deadline for all Games works

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Friday pulled up various agencies implementing Commonwealth Games related projects for lack of coordination among them and set a final deadline of August 31 to complete all minor as well as major works linked to the event.
Sheila DixitAt a high-level meeting to review preparedness of the city in hosting the mega sporting event, Dikshit made it amply clear that she will not tolerate any "blame game attitude" on part of any agency for delay in any project.
"It was also decided that nothing should be left beyond August. The Chief Minister said Delhi should be completely ready by August 31," said a senior official.
She also asked all the agencies to strictly comply with the deadline.
Officials of PWD and some other departments said some of their street-scaping projects are being delayed due digging and cutting of roads by agencies such MTNL, BSES, NDPL, Traffic Police and Delhi Transco Ltd.
Asking implementing agencies like MCD, PWD to "go all out to complete the projects", Dikshit directed Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta to function as a nodal officer to coordinate between various government agencies.
It was decided in the meeting not to allow any digging and road cutting after July 31. All agencies including PWD, MCD, NDMC have also been told to coordinate amongst themselves in removal of construction waste before July 31.
Finance Minister A K Walia, Health Minister Kiran Walia and top officials of various departments were present in the meeting.
Allaying apprehensions, Dikshit said best possible security cover will be provided to everyone, including the athletes and tourists, during the Commonwealth Games in October.
"Best possible security cover will be put in place in the city during the event," she said addressing a seminar titled "From Commonwealth Games to Olympics".
The security aspect of the Games is being looked after by Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna in coordination with the Union Home Ministry.
Highlighting preparations of her government for the Games, Dikshit said the mega sporting event has given an opportunity to significantly improve the facilities and infrastructure in the city.
She said the rich cultural heritage of the city will be on display during the 12-day event from Oct 3.
About the ongoing projects undertaken to improve city infrastructure, she said all the work will be completed much ahead of commencement of the event.
Asked whether Delhi was ready to host Olympics, she said successful hosting of Commonwealth Games will prove the potential of the city to host bigger sporting events.
CM meets Nath, wants repair of NHs linking Delhi
Dikshit met Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Kamal Nath and is understood to have requested him to ensure improvement in condition of the National Highways linking the city ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
Sources said Dikshit apprised Nath about poor condition of some of the National Highways and sought his intervention in ensuring their early repair.
She also requested Nath to improve condition of "certain stretches" of the highways inside Delhi too before commencement of the Commonwealth Games.

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