Camera balloons are used during the Commonwealth Games

With the Commonwealth Games drawing near, Delhi police are gearing up to the challenge.

According to the police, a trial run of the ambitious camera balloons which will be used for aerial surveillance during the Games will be held during the one-day match between India and Sri Lanka at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium on December 27. "It will be based on the results of the trial run that a decision will be made on its use during the Commonwealth Games,'' said a senior police officer at the police headquarters.

According to sources, around three to four of these helium filled balloons will be mounted during the match. "All these balloons will be having cameras of the latest technology fitted on them. The idea is that this PTZ (Pan, Tilt Zoom) cameras which can rotate 360 degrees will be useful in keeping a watchful eye on the crowd as well as the traffic outside the stadium. These balloons have been used successfully during the Athens Olympics. However, we know there are certain limitations even with this system. We will be waiting to find out the results to ensure that the huge amount of money that would be invested in such a venture does not go waste,'' said a senior police officer.

Confirming that the traffic police too is taking a keen interest in the experiment, joint commissioner (traffic) S N Srivastav said that they were going to evaluate the findings. Speaking on conditions of anonymity, a senior officer added that the immediate use of the technology could be in curbing illegal parking outside the stadium on match day or in spotting potential mischief-makers. "Any irregularity will be spotted by our own men managing the cameras,'' said the officer.

A special control room would also be set up at the stadium for this purpose. "This control room will be helping us in setting up benchmarks for the gala event,'' added the officer. This control room will also act as a training module for the police officers who will be entrusted with handling these balloons during the Commonwealth Games.

Meanwhile, the central district is taking no chances this time around after an uneasy tiff with DDCA last time round. "This is a major chance to evaluate our security position and therefore we are hoping that all agencies will cooperate. We might even take over the stadium, a day prior to the game this time,'' said a senior police officer.

Haryana to flow water into Surajkund lake before Commonwealth Games

Will the dried-up Surajkund Lake see water again? Even as Haryana Tourism seems to have drawn up an ambitious plan to revive the water body before the Commonwealth Games, experts are questioning its sustainability given the fact that mining has caused the water retention capacities of lake's bed to be affected.According to S N Rai, managing director, Haryana Tourism, 12 natural water bodies some of them lakes in the Aravali range have been identified to draw water for the kund. "We will pump out water from these and install pipes to carry water to Surajkund Lake. These have sufficient water, specially during the rain season, and we hope to cash in on the natural resources,'' said Rai during his visit to Surajkund. He asserted that the work would be completed before the Commonwealth Games.

The Times of India had highlighted how rampant mining in the Aravali has caused the three Faridabad lakes Surajkund, Badkhal and Damdama which till very recently had healthy water levels to dry up completely. The reports had caused consternation among environmental activists and even prompted some to plan a cricket match on the dried up Badkhal bed which was scuttled after authorities swiftly moved in to put an end to the "tournament''. The Supreme Court some time back put a ban on mining in Faridabad, Gurgaon and Mewat till the Haryana government comes out with a comprehensive environmental rehabilitation plan.

Meanwhile, environmentalists as well as civil engineers from Faridabad who will be executing the project, are questioning the idea of recharging Surajkund by piped water. "Most of the water bodies that have been identified dry up during summer. Maintaining such a huge network of pipelines in the Aravalis will not be an easy task,'' said S Pillai, a conservationist. According to Pillai, it would be difficult to stop water from evaporating during summers even if the lake flooring is relaid. "This seems a stop-gap method to showcase the area to foreign tourists. The Haryana government may have announced to revive the Badkhal and Surajkund lakes in time for the 2010 Games, but the fact remains that it neglected the two crucial water bodies for well over two decades,'' he said.

The apex court while hearing the matter of mining had said: "Mining alters the natural land profile of the area. Mine pits and unattended dumps are irreversible consequences of mining operations. Rock blasting, movement of heavy vehicles and operation of mining equipment cause considerable pollution in the form of noise and vibration.''

SC had earlier directed the government to develop a 200m wide green belt along Surajkund and Badkhal. But only shrubs and wild growth were found, with no real evidence of good afforestation.

Haryana Police to get Rs 85 cr for Commonwealth Games security

With the CRPF camp at Kadarpur scheduled to host the shooting event of the Commonwealth Games, Haryana police is all set to get Rs 85 crore for preparations. Senior government officials said the government had already written a letter to state government in this regard.

Senior police officials said that Gurgaon police had recently submitted the detailed security plan to Union government and CWG committee. "Our plan includes a double security layer for players and officials and air surveillance during their movement from the Games Village to the venue. Besides, CCTVs will be installed along the route. The state government has already released Rs 8 crore for the same,'' said R S Dalal, DGP, Haryana.

"The security plan includes measures taken during the construction of the firing range. The equipments used by the participants will also be checked,'' added Dalal.

There will be separate parking for participants, officials, VVIPs and visitors, Deswal added. Haryana DGP added that 2,000 new posts were sanctioned for Gurgaon police in the wake of the Games and the officers will join the force by February-end next year.

The state government has allotted Rs 770 crore for the development of the city before the Commonwealth Games 2010. All major roads in the city would have been widened and there are also plans of beautification of parks and public places before the start of the Games. Beside this, work is being carried out on a new traffic management plan for which a private company has conducted the survey.

20 Hoteliers Drop Out Of 2010 Games projects

About 20 hoteliers have opted out of the Commonwealth Games hotel project putting severe strain on the Government for providing accommodation to guests of the upcoming mega sporting event.

Aiming at providing 40,000 rooms during the 2010 Games, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had auctioned 33 hotel plots in the Capital.

Of the total hoteliers who bagged the project, 20 have not even completed 30 per cent of ground work and have considered opting out, a senior Tourism Ministry official told PTI.

"For example, Amar Hospitality which was to construct a 512 room hotel in Shahadara, is moving at a snail's pace and there are not much activity on the ground. For us, they have opted out of the Games project," said the official.

Similarly, Asrani Inns is yet to make any headway in constructing two hotels with 375 rooms at Wazirpur. The 219-room hotel at Rohini by Breaze Constructions is also delayed and the Government is firmly ruling out its inclusion.

Work progress of Anush, which was given land in Shahadara for construction of a 136-room hotel, is tardy. Even 30 per cent of the work is not completed as per the status report.

IFCI Ltd was given land in Mayur Vihar for building a hotel with 91 rooms, Sewa Hotel was to come up with 72 rooms in Pitampura and Brilliant committed to construct 138 rooms at Shalimar Bagh. The Ministry has put these rooms in doubtful category after their work almost stopped.

Bolt will run at Commonwealth Games - organisers

Organisers for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India are confident Jamaica's colossal sprint star Usain Bolt will compete at the event next October in New Delhi.

Speaking at a sports breakfast held alongside the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Port of Spain this past weekend, Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman, Suresh Kalmadi, confirmed Bolt would take part in the October 3 to 14 event.
The build-up for the 2010 Games has been plagued by venue-construction delays and organisational problems, but Kalmadi - together with a Bolt boost for the event - said preparations were on track and that venues would begin to be completed by May.

Bolt is track and field's biggest star and it is not uncommon for elite athletes at his level to miss the Commonwealth Games to facilitate their appearances in other world level or rich grand prix events.

Bolt, 23, won triple gold - 100, 200 metres and sprint relay - at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, all in world record times, and also picked up gold in all three events at the 2009 IAAF World Championships in August this year.

Commonwealth bans Fiji from Delhi Games

Fijian athletes are banned from competing in next year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.

The decision was announced in a communique at the conclusion of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Trinidad and Tobago.

The leaders of the 53 nations that make up the Commonwealth - including Australia, Britain, New Zealand and South Africa - "expressed deep concern at the further deterioration of the situation in Fiji Islands with regard to its adherence to fundamental Commonwealth values, including the abrogation of the Constitution in April 2009, ongoing restrictions on human rights including freedom of speech and assembly, and the interim government's decision to further delay elections until 2014".

Fiji was suspended from the Commonwealth on September 1 after self-appointed Fijian leader Frank Bainimarama refused to hold elections by 2010.

The CHOGM leaders "observed that Commonwealth sporting events represent a significant public demonstration of the unity of the Commonwealth as a family of members with a shared commitment to fundamental values. They affirmed that sporting ties under the Commonwealth name are inseparable from the values of the (Commonwealth Games) Association".