New Delhi, July 02: There had been concerns about the
state of work on the venues for the 2010 Commonwealth Games
and on Thursday a statement in the Rajya Sabha revealed that more
than half of the work is still to be completed in majority of
the stadiums.
Following a question posed by Rajya Sabha MP Rahul Bajaj
as to the percentage of work still to be completed for the
Commonwealth Games to be held here from October 3-14 next
year, the Sports Ministry issued a statement according to
which only five of the 17 venues for training and competition
have been completed 50 per cent.
The report as on June 25, 2009 revealed that only the JN
Stadium to be used for the WADA lab and administration has
been 100 per cent complete.
Work on the JN Stadium (Athletics) is 53.90 per cent
over, the JN Stadium (hostel) is 96 per cent complete, IG
Stadium (Gymnastics) 55.8 and the MDC National Stadium
(hockey) is 75 per cent done.
With 16 months to go for the Commonwealth Games, the
archery venue at Yamuna Sports Complex is in the worst state.
The project, under Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is just
6.75 per cent done.
Venues for weightlifting (43 per cent), wrestling (43),
cycling (36), aquatics (42), Games Village (49.3), shooting
(42), badminton and squash (46), table tennis (46), rugby
(35), tennis (45) and the big bore shooting range in Gurgaon
(40) are all in the red for not even managing to complete half
of the work.
While most projects are being carried out under the
guidance of the Sports Authority of India, the DDA, Games
Organising Committee, All India Tennis Association, Delhi
University (for rugby) and the CRPF (big bore shooting range)
are also the offenders.
India won the bid to host the Commonwealth Games in 2003
and it is surprising to see that work hasn't progressed much
in this six years.
Sports Minister MS Gill admitted that the delay was
mainly due to the start of work at many of the venues.
To a question posed by Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev
Chandrasekhar, Gill replied in a statement, "The work at Dr
SPM Swimming Complex, Cycling Velodrome and the Wrestling
Stadium at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium Complex, suffered a
delayed start due to design issues and certain clearances.
"These have since been resolved and the work has now
achieved optimum level. The work at Dr Karni Singh Shooting
Ranges of SAI/CPWD, also suffered a delayed start, due to
certain design issues."
The list went on to include the training centres
(Chhatrasal Stadium and Ludlow Castle Hall of GNCTD), which
according to the minister's statement, "started late due to
some clearance related issues."
However, Gill claimed his Ministry is keeping a close tab
on the progress of work and said the infrastructure would be
ready in time for the Commonwealth Games.
Bureau Report