NEW DELHI: With the Delhi University (DU) backing out of its commitment to house a new aquatics complex, the 2010 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OCCG) has started afresh its search for a suitable venue.

Already well behind schedule in its finalisation of sports venues and with space being difficult to find in the Capital, the task of the OCCG is enormous. The only silver lining in the latest muddle could be the prospects of the aquatics complex coming nearer to the main venue, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, than in the original plan.

May lose rugby too

Delhi University was to be the venues for aquatics and rugby according to the plans finalised by the OCCG last December. After having expressed its inability to provide a venue for the aquatics complex, the university could also lose its right to host rugby.

A meeting of the Infrastructure Committee for the 2010 Games, held last Tuesday, recommended that rugby also be withdrawn from DU in case it was not prepared to host aquatics.

In a letter to the OCCG Chairman, Suresh Kalmadi, dated July 24, the DU vice-chancellor, Deepak Pental, wrote that because of the latest developments related to reservations, the university was not in a position to provide the polo ground for establishing an aquatics complex as planned.

He said that the ground would be required for academic infrastructure. He, however, assured Mr. Kalmadi that DU would be willing to host rugby at the main university ground.

Prof. Pental had written on June 23 withdrawing DU's offer to house the aquatics complex but the OCCG wrote back requesting him to reconsider the decision. The July 24 letter was in response to that request.

The OCCG had already finalised the venues and received the approval of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) at its last general meeting in Melbourne in March. Now it might have to make at least a reference to the CGF about the aquatics complex again.

Talkatora not enough

Before opting for a new complex at the university, the Talkatora pool, venue of the 1982 Asian Games, was found to be inadequate to host the events mainly because of the lack of parking space there. Moreover, there was hardly any space there for support staff, media facilities, conference rooms and expansion of players' change-rooms, lounge etc.

The latest development could lead to a situation where the OCCG could review the possibility of renovating the Talkatora pool unless the authorities are able to spot and acquire a 15-acre plot for a brand new pool without losing much time.

Alternatives were already discussed, but acquiring land in the vicinity of the proposed Games village, near the Akshardham Temple, or in the Kalindi Kunj area was proving bothersome, according to an OCCG official.

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