The Hindu : New Delhi News : L-G convenes meeting on preparation for Games

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Saturday, Jul 07, 2007
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New Delhi

L-G convenes meeting on preparation for Games

Staff Reporter

Khanna assures all co-operation from the Delhi Government

Various departments and agencies make presentations on projects related to the Games
The Cabinet Secretary in his brief identifies three major areas of focus

NEW DELHI: Stating that this is the first time India would be hosting the Commonwealth Games, Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna said on Friday that this opportunity must be utilised to showcase the country and the host city of Delhi in the best of light. He was speaking at a high-level plenary meeting convened by him at Raj Niwas here to review preparedness for the mega sporting event in 2010.

During the meeting that was also attended by Chief Minister Sheila Dixit, Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrasekhar and Chairman Organising Committee of the Games Suresh Kalmadi, Mr. Khanna assured all co-operation from the Delhi Government in respect of construction of the Games Village and various special projects being undertaken by the Delhi Development Authority.

At the meeting, presentations were also made by various departments and agencies on projects related to the Commonwealth Games 2010. Mr. Khanna said the meeting was an effort to bring together all stakeholders to monitor key areas of responsibilities and also to evolve mechanisms to resolve bottlenecks and inter-agency problems. The Cabinet Secretary in his brief identified three major areas of focus for the Commonwealth Games, namely civil infrastructure, sports infrastructure and tourism along with business proposition. Mr. Kalmadi expressed satisfaction on the action having been initiated at the ground level thus far.

It was pointed out that around 10,000 athletes and sports officials from 71 countries are expected to come to be in Delhi for the Games. Besides, a large number of sport tourists are also expected to converge for the event.

As for the preparations, while the construction work of Commonwealth Games Village is expected to be completed by November 2009, for generating accommodation for the visitors, an Ordinance on bed and breakfast scheme with interested residents of Delhi would soon be brought to ease the situation. Also, several hotels, including budget ones, would be constructed ahead of the Games.

Review

It was also decided at the meeting that similar review meetings would be convened every quarter to monitor the progress of the projects connected to the Games.

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