POOR PREPARATIONS FOR DELHI COMMONWEALTH GAMES, SAYS PANEL

NEW DELHI, Feb 25 (Bernama) -- Barely 20 months ahead of the 2010
Commonwealth Games (CWG), an Indian parliamentary panel disclosed that the
Indian capital was ill equipped in terms of facilities, to host the
international games on time.

Chairman of the standing committee on transport, tourism and culture Sitaram
Yechury revealed startling facts about the poor preparations and the organisers
being completely unprepared to host the games.

"The committee is perturbed to note that the countdown to CWG has begun but
there seems inadequate infrastructure in all sectors such as roads, airport,
accommodation, surface transport, entertainment, basic amenities, parking,
information centres, security, stadium and supply of power," Yechury, who is the
CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) Member of Parliament told the media.

The 12-day games, where 71 countries and territories from the Commonwealth
are expected to participate, are scheduled to take place in Delhi from Oct 3 to
14, 2010.


In the report, it was said that akthough funds were readily available with
the Tourism Ministry, no proposals were made for infrastructure development for
the games and even hotels rooms were inadequate.

"Since the 2010 Games are drawing near, so many projects have yet to be
initiated, let alone completed. In such a situation, absence of any proposal
from the NCT (National Capital Territory) of Delhi surprised the committee,"
said Yechury.

The panel said that if development was moving at present rate, there would
be a shortage of 16,000 rooms as hotels were also limited.

-- BERNAMA