The Hindu : New Delhi News : Jagmohan proposes alternative site for Games village

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Sunday, Jul 01, 2007
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New Delhi

Jagmohan proposes alternative site for Games village

Staff Reporter

“A good idea to consider the area around Nehru Stadium”

“There is land around the stadium which could be developed”
“Flats at Lodhi Colony could be
re-built for athletes”

NEW DELHI: Offering an alternative to the proposed site for the 2010 Commonwealth Games Village that seems to have run into trouble with environmentalists who say that it will be disastrous for the city, former Union Urban Development Minister Jagmohan has asserted that it would have been a good idea to consider the area around the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in South Delhi.

“There is land around the stadium which could have been used to develop the rest of the stadia. The flats at Lodhi Colony that at the moment serve government officials could have been re-built as multi-storey buildings for the athletes. These flats have been built a while ago and have served their purpose. This way all the facilities would be in one place and there would have been no question of building a tunnel road that has met with such opposition from various groups,” he said.

Welcomed

Mr. Jagmohan also welcomed the inclusion of the Red Fort in the World Heritage List. Having served as the Union Minister for Tourism and Culture when the Red Fort was handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Mr. Jagmohan said the cleaning up of the surroundings of the Fort – which took place under his stewardship – had improved its prospects of inclusion in the World Heritage List.

“Over the years, the Red Fort had suffered at the hands of time. It had been submitted before the World Heritage Committee earlier but no one would have included it with the kind of filth that was just outside it. The open ground at the back of the Fort had become a nauseating slum. It was often used as what was called ‘Chor Bazaar’. Now if you look at the back of the Fort, you will find a new landmark all green,” he said.

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