Media & Broadcast Centre with the Capacity of 2000 Journalists open

Dismissing travel advisories issued by Commonwealth countries, Organizing Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi on Monday said no country had expressed concern or threatened to pull out of the Commonwealth Games after the Jama Masjid shooting incident.

He said all steps had been taken to ensure safety of athletes and delegates were satisfied with the arrangements made by India. ‘‘We are monitoring the situation on a day to day basis,’’ said Kalmadi while inaugurating the main press centre of the Games at Pragati Maidan. He was accompanied by I&B minister Ambika Soni.

Spread over 6,700sqm, the media centre will cater to about 2,000 journalists including 800 from overseas. It is expected to function 24 hours from October 1-15. There will be free internet access and wi-fi.

The International Broadcast Centre also situated at Pragati Maidan has begun operations with broadcasters setting up operations there. IBC is equipped with technical resources, including broadcast information offices, satellite dish farm and telecommunication operations.

Uncompressed audio and video feed from 38 cameras produced by the host broadcaster from all venues through optical fibre connection will be customised by rights holding broadcasters and transmitted through satellite uplinking service and international fiber service.

‘‘I have not got a single call from any Commonwealth country expressing apprehensions about security (of the athletes after Sunday’s firing). This (firing) was not a Games-related incident. It happened in Jama Masjid and the police are looking into it. It’s not a major incident. As of today, all 71 Commonwealth countries are coming for the Games,’’ he added.

Asked about terror advisories issued by various countries, Kalmadi said their respective Commonwealth Games associations have committed to participating in the multi-sport event. ‘‘Many countries have issued travel advisories earlier also. Australia had earlier issued an advisory but its Commonwealth Games chief Perry Crosswhite said its athletes are coming. So what is important is that the Commonwealth Games bodies of the respective countries have committed to participation in the Games,’’ the OC chief added.

Four Countries Complain About Unliveable Conditions in Games Village

Amid all the gloom about chaotic preparations for the Commonwealth Games, there was at least one silver lining: the widespread applause for the ‘‘world class’’ Games Village at its soft launch on September 16. Unfortunately, the Organizing Committee has run into a rude reality check even on this front.

Advance teams from New Zealand, Canada, Scotland and Ireland have objected strongly to the condition of the accommodation, say highly placed sources. The reason lack of maintenance of apartments in the towers allotted to these contingents and their abysmal, ‘‘unliveable’’ condition, say team delegates. Toilets in particular are said to be in a “mess”.

Sources said the apartments, which are left unlocked through the day and night, were found to be dirty. In some flats, labourers had defecated. In others, fixtures and other facilities were still to be provided or weren’t working. Though athletes are to start moving in after September 23, work in just 18 of the 34 towers is said to be complete. The advance teams believe the remaining work is unlikely to be completed for weeks.

The delegates are learnt to have told the OC that unless the apartments are set right, their teams should be put up in a Games Family hotel the Ashok or Janpath or some other accommodation. This could add to the OC’s logistical problems.

‘Fixtures Don’t Work, Toilets A Mess’

Condition of Games Village has prompted delegates from New Zealand, Canada, Scotland and Ireland to issue ultimatum to OC

Apartments in towers allotted to these countries, especially Kiwis, abysmal. Site workers have been using the unlocked flats. Toilets are stained. Fixtures haven’t been installed, don’t work or are broken

Size of contingent | Canada 400, New Zealand 325, Scotland 300

Those happy with Village | Australia, England

Welsh official had said more work needed in apartments

Several Commonwealth countries have raised concern over the facilities at the Games Village. Mike Hooper, CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), confirmed,’ There have been issues about the lack of maintenance in the towers, which is being addressed by the OC.’’

Hooper admitted that it was a serious issue, but claimed, ‘‘The OC is working right now to ensure that conditions are improved. The issue should be resolved before the athletes arrive.’’OC secretary-general Lalit Bhanot refused to comment.

Sources, however, admitted that ‘‘objections’’ had been lodged with the OC for the past several days, in fact, ever since the soft launch of the Village.

While the teams from Australia, Wales and England expressed satisfaction, the towers shown to the delegates from New Zealand, Canada, Scotland and Ireland failed to impress the visiting delegates.

Though the Welsh have not complained, Chris Jenkins, chef de mission of the Wales team, had admitted at the soft launch that several improvements needed to be made in the apartments given to the team.

Jenkins had said, ‘‘Though the apartments are very nice, some work still needs to be completed like fixtures and other minor details. We are going through all the apartments to ensure that everything is ready for the athletes when they arrive.’’

The Kiwis, with a 300-plus strong contingent, have been provided an entire tower in the Village, say sources.

‘‘While the towers numbered 1-15 are in good condition, the towers numbered higher are not fully ready. These are some of the towers that were allotted to the Kiwis, Canadians and the other two teams,’’ explained an official.

CWG Games flats to go at market rate at Rs. 15000 per Square Feet

DDA to Sell 700 Apartments in CWG Village at Rs 15,000 per Sq Feet

The rates of the once reasonably-priced DDA flats are getting real. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is talking of disposing of over 700 flats it owns in the Commonwealth Games Village at market prices. According to DDA estimates, the market rate is around Rs 15,000/sqft.

The move comes on the heels of allegations of DDA losing over Rs 89 crore in its bailout package to the Emaar MGF, the developers of the Commonwealth Games Village. According to the latest Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report, the DDA’s acceptance of Rs 11,000/sqft as the buying price for the 333 flats it bought from Emaar MGF as a bailout package, was higher than recommended by its own evaluation committee.

Denying the findings of the CAG report, DDA’s finance member, Nand Lal, said, ‘‘The rates paid by DDA was less than the prevailing rates of that time. It is expected that after the Games, the prices will go up further. Therefore, DDA has incurred no loss as the flats purchased will be disposed of at a much higher price than the purchase price.’’ While Lal refused to reveal what the sale mechanism would be whether through auction or otherwise he admitted the flats would be sold at market rates. ‘‘We will substantially gain from the deal (the bailout package),’’ added Lal.

The market rates agreed by DDA for the Village flats in 2009 when DDA gave the bailout package was Rs 11,000/sqft, which DDA estimates say, has gone up to Rs 15,000/sqft in the current realty scenario. It’s expected to go up further by next year, when DDA will dispose of the flats. The move to sell the flats at market prices is a departure from the norm for DDA, which usually sells its flats at prices considerably lower than market rates. The rates for DDA flats which were sold as part of its latest housing scheme in 2008, ranged from Rs 7.20 lakh-Rs 24.80 lakh for the one-bedroom flats, while the costliest was less than a crore for the three-bedroom flats.

Lal meanwhile denied almost all findings of the CAG report, claiming the rates were agreed by not only its evaluation committee but also officials of the ministry of urban development and the LG office. He also claimed that the allegation of DDA not charging the developer any penalty for over-shooting the agreed floor area ratio (FAR) was premature, as it was charged at the time of giving the completion certificate. Said Lal, ‘‘Once the developer applies for the completion certificate, we shall compute the FAR and charge penalty if it is beyond the agreed figure. It is premature to talk about penalty as of now.’’

Flats are ready at Commonwealth Games Village

Flats are ready at 2010 Commonwealth Games residential complex. It is designed and developed by Emaar MGF.

Some Salient Features:

Adjacent to Akshardham Temple
Next to Metro Station
Adjoining DDA Sports Complex
Clubhouse, 30M lap pool, tennis, basket ball courts
Health club and Gym
Community centre
Library
State of the art security system
100% power Backup

CWG village to be ready by March 31: Sports Ministry

India’s junior sports minister Pratik Prakashbapu Patil said Tuesday that 56 percent of construction of the Commonwealth Games Village has been completed and the complex will be ready by March next year.

Patil informed the Lok Sabha that progress of the work at the Commonwealth Games Village is being closely monitored by the sports ministry, CWG organizing committee, chief minister and lieutenant governor of Delhi.

The Minister further informed the House that for the 17 disciplines of CWG-2010, 12 venues will be developed as competition venues and the various venue owning agencies i.e. Sports Authority of India, Delhi Development Authority, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, University of Delhi etc are spending considerable funds for developing these venues as world class venues to deliver the best results.

An amount of Rs.1, 770 crore has been allocated by the Planning Commission to the Govt. of NCT of Delhi for improvement in the city infrastructure which, inter-alia, includes substantial amount for beautification of Delhi. In addition, NDMC and MCD will also spend considerable amount from their own resources for sports and civic infrastructure, power, water etc, he said.

Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that the CWG Village, meant to accommodate over 8,000 athletes from 71 countries, is not being built on the Yamuna riverbed or floodplain.

A bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan gave the verdict, dismissing a Delhi High Court judgment of Nov 2008 and removing all uncertainties over the ongoing construction of the Games Village.

Supreme Court Reserves Judgement on CWG Village PIL

The Supreme Court reserved its verdict on a petition challenging the Delhi High Court judgment of staying the ongoing constructions on the Yamuna river bed for the 2010 Commonwealth games.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrisnan, Justices P Sathasivam and B S Chauhan reserved the judgment after hearing all the parties, including the Union government, delhi Development Authority (DDA) and 2010 CWG organizing committee.

Attorney General G E Vahanvati and Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium contended before the court that the construction was not on the river bed and that the Supreme Court had cleared the construction of Akshardham Temple, which according to the authorities was at a distance of 1.7 Km from the river bed and India’s claim for staging 2010 Commonwealth Games will be in jeopardy if the construction stopped at this stage.

Out of 34 towers for the sports complex, 32 were already completed and all requisite clearances had been taken for the concerned agencies including Ministry of Environment and Forest.

Mr. Subramanium also contended that the High Court had erred in interfering with the ongoing constructions for the games on the basis of PIL filed by some vested interests.

Senior counsel Andhiya Rjuna appearing for the organizing committee contended before the court that Rs 2000 crores have already been spend on the construction of about 1100 flats and sports complex meant for athletes from 71 countries who will be participating in the 2010 games, which starts in October next year.

Mr.. Sanjay Parikh appearing for the respondent, however, contended that the ongoing construction was in violation of environmental laws and no construction could be permitted within the vicinity of Yamuna river bank as the river is already dying and this is the main source of water for Delhites.

Mr. Parikh also contended that he was not asking for any interim stay against the ongoing construction. But the expert committee must be permitted to carry on its job of ascertaining whether any construction are permissible in the area and whether it would damage the environment, which may also lead to water crisis in the city in future.

He also contended that he has no objection to the completion of the games but once the games were over this court must consider the report of the expert committee, which it may keep till the games are over.

He also read out from the report of the expert committee of ministry of MES, which had disapproved any construction on the river bed.