The Hindu : New Delhi News : Now a code for “greenest ever” Games

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New Delhi

Now a code for “greenest ever” Games

Special Correspondent

— Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

NEW CODE: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit along with Union Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor and Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organizing Committee Suresh Kalmadi releasing the "Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010 Ecological Code" in the Capital on Wednesday.

NEW DELHI: While pollution in the Yamuna flowing close to the Commonwealth Games Village in Delhi would continue to be a cause for concern during the upcoming Games here, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday unveiled the “Commonwealth Games Delhi-2010 Ecological Code” that seeks to make the Games the “greenest ever”.

The code is meant to monitor and minimise the polluting impact of the sporting event by ensuring a reduction in carbon emissions and focussing on clean fuel, waste management and water conservation.

The code was released by the Chief Minister at Delhi Secretariat in the presence of Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi and Union Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor.

Mr. Tharoor is the chairman of the Green Games Sub-Committee OC CWG Delhi 2010.

Ms. Dikshit said a number of steps have been initiated to reduce pollution. She said one of the coal-based power plants in the city has been shut down, the entire road public transport in the city runs on CNG and attempts are being made to have more hybrid vehicles to reduce consumption of diesel and petrol.

Green areas

Pointing out that the Delhi Government was creating green areas near various venues for the Games, particularly the Games Village and the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium that would host the athletics events apart from the opening and closing ceremonies, Ms. Dikshit said the focus would be on recycling waste generated during the Games. She said at a time when the green cover of Delhi has been increasing every year, the Organising Committee has also been told to use more recycled paper.

The Chief Minister said the Thyagraj Stadium that has been constructed by the Delhi Government has also come up as a green structure with gas-based power plant.

Asked about pollution in the Yamuna, she said cleaning the river would take time and it cannot be cleaned before the Games.

Green vision

Referring to the Games mascot “Shera”, Mr. Kalmadi said: “Pedh hai to sher hai” (If there are trees, only then would there be tigers). He spoke about how for a “Green Games” the Organising Committee had developed a “Green Games Vision” wherein it would “strive to reduce consumption and carbon footprint and become the benchmark for the multi-disciplinary games in future”.

Mr. Tharoor said the document would go a long way in enriching the Green Games concept as it has been carefully and diligently prepared to make the event memorable.

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