Quality, hygiene to be part of platter before Games

Safe Food, Tasty Food scheme: Guidelines for small restaurants and dhabas to upgrade standard
Delhi is set to ensure that the one ingredient, hygiene, missing from some of city eateries that offer delicious food, is added in time for the Commonwealth Games.
The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) recently launched its ‘Safe Food, Tasty Food’ scheme that has specific guidelines for small restaurants and dhabas to upgrade their standard of food to international level.

The scheme, launched on Monday, will rate food joints as platinum, gold, silver and bronze, which will be accredited by the Quality Council of India (QCI) after strict scrutiny of different parameters like quality of food, hygiene, service among others.

Under the scheme, which was in the pipeline for over a year, dhaba and restaurant owners can file a request for registration with FSSAI.

For the eateries owners it will mean that the Delhi government, QCI and the FSSAI will advertise the food joints and mention them on their websites as hygienic joints thus bringing in more customers.

The guidelines have a say in all things related to the food, from the time the ingredients are procured till the time food is served. The ingredients need to be bought only from licensed sellers, frozen food must maintain a certain standard of temperature and safe drinking water has to be available at all times. All guidelines are available on FSSAI and QCI websites.

“The scheme will work both ways. It will ensure clean and hygienic food for customers and dhabas will get a bigger crowd of patrons,” says Giridhar J Giani, secretary general, QCI.

The scheme will also seek help from New Delhi Municipal Council, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Resident Welfare Associations, colleges and registered societies, which will act like the watch dog.

“They will form the nodal agency that can keep a check by demanding quality food and a proof of certification, there by keeping a pressure on quality service,” Giani adds.

The scheme though under FSSAI, is a joint effort by the Delhi Tourism, ITDC, CII, QCI and FICCI etc. If the pilot project in Delhi is successful, the scheme will be launched in cities.

Delhi underground

Glad tidings
After a brief impasse, the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee and the Games Federation seem to be coming to a better understanding. During a recent press brief, the CGF chief Mike Fennel expressed satisfaction at the progress of work in Delhi and also commended OC Chairperson Suresh Kalmadi for the work put in by him and his team. Kalmadi said he is, “satisfied and extremely happy”, and have credit to the holiday season to the positive turn of events. “The last time Fennel visited, things looked bleak. However, it is all fine now. I think it is the festive season that has brought about the change in mood. The next time I need to call any foreign delegates for inspection, I will ensure they visit during Christmas,” he said.

Up in smoke
The Ministry of Environment and Forests advocates going paperless, but several of its records are in paper files. For an annual award that the Ministry gives for wildlife preservation by individuals in rural areas, the Ministry has called for nominations. It has specified that those even who had applied in 2007-08 can reapply. Reason?
The official notice sheepishly admits that old proposals for the same award — among many other paper documents — were gutted in a fire that broke out in Ministry in April this year.
And for the same reason, no awards were given for the previous year.

Road laws
During a Delhi High Court hearing on the guidelines for the police over sharing of information about investigations in criminal cases, Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam had to appear for the Centre. He, however, got a little late in reaching the court and expressed his apology saying, “I am sorry for reaching late — I got stuck in a traffic jam.” The Bench, which had minutes ago dismissed a PIL for opening the BRT for all vehicles, had a suggestion in store. “You (Government) can certainly make an exception on the BRT for your law officers so as to avoid traffic snags,” the Chief Justice said in a lighter vein. Subramaniam, did not mince words and replied, “Being an amicus curaie, I shall be the last one to seek an exception for myself.”

Tower of Babel
If the Assembly session is supposed to be a war of words and political banter, the recent session of the Delhi Assembly surely lived up to the mark and better still, also witnessed political duels in different languages. While BJP MLA Harcharan Singh Balli delivered most speeches in Punjabi, in one of the meetings held last week, BJP MLA Anil Jha took offence to Finance Minister A K Walia answering one of the questions put to him by the opposition in Punjabi. Jha, who is the ‘Bhojpuri face’ of the BJP in Delhi, resisted ‘Punjabi’ dominance and rattled out a sentence using words from four different languages — Hindi, Bhojpuri, Tamil and Telegu. “I can speak 11 different languages,” he told the bewildered House.

Image makeover
With ‘development’ being its prime agenda, the Haryana government is planning to rope in NRIs from the state for the Department of Public Relations, Information and Cultural Affairs. The newly-appointed director of the department, Shiv Raman Gaur, recently revealed that an annual get-together of the NRIs of Haryana would be held. Asking his officers to contribute for the preparation of an NRI directory, Gaur also advised them to enrich their vocabulary. Interestingly, the director also plans to organise workshops for the officials with a focus on English, in which veteran mediapersons would give them tips on preparing press notes.

Weathering the jibes
Weathermen who usually remain anonymous in the media seem to have had enough of the jokes and cartoons surrounding them. Recently, when they gathered in the capital to talk about climate, a weather expert mentioned how the jokes have entered the silver screen too. In the recent Bollywood movie Tum Mile, weathermen are depicted as a bunch of lazy buffoons who are too busy playing carrom to check weather updates or signal a warning when heavy rainfall is knocking on the computer screens. He said that all this has ‘tarnished’ the reputation of weathermen who do play carrom but also take their jobs seriously!

New technology paves way for a smoother ride

Mandakini Gahlot takes a look at the technology used in laying and resurfacing roads in the Capital

The Public Works Department (PWD) has introduced at least three new technologies over the last year to repair damaged roads and build new ones. But with all attention focused on roads linked to the Commonwealth Games projects, Delhi continues to be riddled with potholes.

Recycling (In-situ)
Conventionally, a new layer of asphalt is deposited on the road each time it is resurfaced. That increases the level of the road. In recycling, the top layer of asphalt on the road is removed, which is mixed with fresh bitumen and then laid on to the road. “Nearly 70 per cent of the material is recovered and only 30 per cent fresh bitumen is added,” said K K Sharma, Secretary PWD, “it is an environment friendly method”. Roads fixed this way have a lifespan of five to seven years. Plus, they dry fast and can be used within hours. Sharma said the PWD has sanctioned Rs 90 crore for repairing roads through this technology and work is underway on Ring Road from South Extension to Dhaula Kuan and Africa Avenue, among others.
The PWD has set a June 2010 deadline for 23.69 km of roads. The stretches include the road from Old Seemapuri to Swami Dayanand Marg, Maujpur to Deputy Commissioner's Office, Loni flyover to Bhopura Road and Wazirabad Road, Apsara border to Ghazipur crossing, UP Link road to Club Road, and Dallupura to Vasundhara Enclave.

Waste plastic technology
With this method, the Delhi government hopes to kill two birds with one stone — reuse burgeoning plastic waste and repair bad roads. Plastic waste is shredded and mixed with bitumen to yield a compound called polymerised bitumen, which is used for surfacing. Roads built with this suffer less damage during monsoons. They cost around 5 per cent more than conventional technology, but last longer. The PWD intends to resurface 242 km this way by June 2010 — the cost will be Rs 250 crore. Work is underway on 71 kms in South Delhi and 32 kms in East Delhi. The stretches include the airport area, Rama Road, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, IGP Slip Road, Bhairon Marg, Okhla Estate Marg no-13, Bhakti Vedanta Marg, and Anuvrat Marg.

Micro-Surfacing
In this method, cracks in roads are filled and resurfaced with a mixture of fine stone aggregates and cold bitumen emulsion. This is ideal for roads in which the wear and tear does not demand a complete resurfacing. By January 2010, the PWD intends to complete work on 16.81 kms of roads in East Delhi at a cost of Rs 7.25 crore using this technology. These roads include Road No 57, 57A, 58, 69, 70, 65, ITO Chungi, ITO to Karkari Mor, and Zafrabad to Keshav Chowk. Works is underway on 71 km in South Delhi and 32 km in East Delhi, where a mixture of waste plastic technology and micro surfacing is being used.

Rare praise from Commonwealth Games Federation president

Finally, a word of praise from Mike Fennell, president of the Commonwealth Games Federation, who has been scathing in his criticism of preparations for the 2010 Games in Delhi.

“We have seen improvement in the operational side,” Fennell told Hindustan Times in an exclusive interview on Sunday, a day after he said he was worried about the delay in delivery of stadiums and venues.

“No doubt their construction will be over,” he said. “As the Games approaches, this (delay in projects) is the area we should not be worrying about.”

Is he contradicting himself? Perhaps not, because there is general optimism among the authorities now about reaching there in time despite privately held or publicly expressed reservations.

"I am nervous,” said Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, emerging from a meeting of ministers on the open and closing ceremonies of the Games on Sunday. But she quickly added, “It will be done.”

About his earlier criticism of the preparations, Fennell said he meant what he said and it had the desired impact.

"Mr (Suresh) Kalmadi himself said on Saturday, ‘thank you for the wake-up call’,” Fennel said. “At that time he might not have agreed, but now he must have realised it was necessary.”

Fennell is in Delhi for a series of meetings on the preparations for the Games.

Archery venue also set to miss target

Yet another Commonwealth Games project has run into extra time. After concern was raised over missed deadlines in the case of Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and S P Mukherjee Swimming Complex, now work at India Gate lawns the venue for the archery finals is stuck in a turf war.

Work at the site, also known as Central Vista, is reportedly getting delayed because both the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and Organising Committee (OC) have issued tenders inviting bidders for the same job. "Since the responsibility was given to us, we had issued an expression of interest in September and are now in the process of selecting bidders,'' said a senior CPWD official.

However, department officials claimed that they had come across a tender notice issued by the OC too in a national daily earlier this month, which had created "confusion''. OC, on the other hand, maintained that there was no lack of clarity. Said a senior OC official: "The tender has been issued for overlays in sporting arenas.'' Even as the squabbling continued, experts felt that further delay would compromise preparations for the 2010 Games.

The CGF head, Michael Fennell, had on Saturday raised the issue of delay in construction of venues, especially pertaining to J N Stadium and S P Mukherjee Complex with the sporting body. Central Vista is the venue for the finals of the archery competition. The practice sessions and preliminary events will be held at DDA's Yamuna Sports Complex. YSC is expected to be completed in March 2010, along with most other Games venues.

The Central Vista plans include a temporary structure on 2 acres of land on the India Gate lawns at an estimated cost of Rs 7 crore. About eight reputed firms with expertize in construction of temporary structures for sporting events have already submitted tenders. The venue will be equipped with modern facilities, including a waterproof roof, and will have a seating capacity of over 3,000.

Trying to catch up with lost time: Gill

Union Sports Minister M.S. Gill on Sunday asserted that the government and organisers of the 2010 Commonwealth Games were busy doing the catching-up job and came out with the promise that everything would be in place well before the October 3-14 games next year.

Mr. Gill’s declaration came a day after Commonwealth Games Federation president, Michael Fennell said he was “distressed,” as some of the venues would not be ready before next June. “Whatever time has been lost since 2003, we are trying to make it up,” Mr. Gill told journalists after a meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) here.

Mr. Gill said, “Mr. Fennell had said repeatedly that a lot of progress was made of late and we are doing the catching up job. Engineers are working hard; give them some credit. Workers from Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal are working hard and it is these people who are putting up the game and not me. God willing, I am sure we will get there in good time.” A clear direction would be given on the final plans after the next GoM meeting on December 29, he said.

Fennell's worry, Sheila's too: 2010 Games readiness

Chief Minster Sheila Dikshit has echoed what Commonwealth Games Federation President Mike Fennell's had always feared: that world class stadiums may not be in ready in time in the national capital for the October games.

Sports Minister MS Gill optimistic despite delay concerns

Sports Minister MS Gill today claimed that the organisers for Commonwealth Games were trying to make up for the time that was lost due to the late start of the project work but assured that all the venues will be ready well in time.

Only yesterday, Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chief Mike Fennell claimed that he was disappointed that some of the venues, including the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium which is to host the opening ceremony for the October 3-14 Games, will not be ready until June next year.

'Whatever time has been lost since 2003, we are trying to make up for that,' Gill told mediapersons here.

'Fennell has said it again and again that a lot of progress has been made of late and we are doing the catching up job,' he added.

Gill further lavished praise on the engineers for their dedicated support round the clock.

'The engineers are working hard, give them some credit. The workers from Bihar, Orissa, Bengal are also working hard and it's these people who are putting up the game and not me.

'God willing, I am sure we will get there in good time,' Gill said after his meeting with the Group of Ministers today.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit too admitted that she was a little 'nervous' but said she was confident as well that the national capital will deliver successful Games.

'I am not feeling comfortable. I'm rather nervous, but I think we can do it,' Dixit said.

Ballabgarh to get facelift to attract CWG tourists

The ancient city of Ballabgarh and its historical sites, in proximity of the National Capital of New Delhi, would be given facelift before Commonwealth Games to attract tourists.

This was stated by Haryana Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Information, Public Relations and Cultural Affairs Department Sharda Rathore here today.

She said as thousands of visitors would use the National Highway passing by the Ballabgarh city while going from Delhi to Mathura-Agra and Agra to Delhi daily during the Commonwealth Games and the National Highway Authority of India should take steps to beautify the dividers and the crossings of this road.

Delhi Commonwealth Games biggest challenge for me

With the controversies surrounding the 2010 Commonwealth Games, it’s understandable if Commonwealth Games Federation chief, Mike Fennell, felt staging the Games has been one of the greatest challenges.

During an exclusive interview with HT on Sunday, he said, “Hosting a Games is always challenging, but here it’s been different. With changes in environment globally, it’s been daunting.

“We faced different challenges in Kuala Lumpur, so in Manchester and Melbourne, but here it’s a little more. Things have changed. Security is a great challenge, so is technology on which we are so dependent,” said Fennell, who has been chief of the CGF since 1994. “This is how the world has changed. Maybe, a few years ago, security wouldn’t have given us nightmares, but this time we have to tackle this threat also,” he said.

Speaking on the areas that had irked the CGF for a while, he refused to give details but said, “Operational matters were a concern. Technology should have been procured long ago. Games information systems, management systems and result systems should have been acquired & put in place.”

On CGF CEO Mike Hooper and OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi’s spat in October:

Everybody knows my stand. It was rather unfortunate. Now I think they have understood their roles better. Such things don’t help anyone. Both of them realised that hosting a great Games is their priority.

On abolition of the Technical Review Commission (TRC):

We have seen considerable improvement. As you know, we review things as we go. We felt then it was necessary. Instead of the TRC, we will assist the OC with specific expertise. For example, there might be a lot of people who can train volunteers, but the expertise needed to host a multi-discipline event is different. So is technology.

It has grown in prestige, stature. It has set the benchmark for performance. Every regional Games has its charm. We try to live up to our motto of ‘friendly Games’. The last few Games have been great. We hope India provides a chance to further enhance the prestige of the Games. In this, we are on the right track.

Sheila 'prays' for Commonwealth Games success

Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit said on Sunday she can only pray for a successful Commonwealth Games next year after admitting to delays in the construction of venues.

"I only keep praying that we won't let the country down," Dikshit told the Press Trust of India as concerns mounted over the slow progress of work for the October 3-14 Games in the Indian capital.

Dikshit's remarks came after Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Mike Fennell said he was distressed by a report that two major venues won't be ready till June next year, barely three months before the opening ceremony.

The CGF's co-ordination commission said last week that work on the Nehru stadium, where the opening and closing ceremonies and the athletics programme will be held, and the swimming complex, was way behind schedule.

"We have continuously received assurances on the delivery timelines for these projects, and to now hear that there are further delays is distressing," Fennell said in a statement.

"These delays will have an impact upon the organising committee's operational planning, particularly in relation to the conduct of test events and overlay installation. There can be no further delays."

Dikshit, whose government is charged with building the infrastructure for the Games, admitted the construction was lagging, but was confident the work had picked up in recent months.

"There will be areas of concern, but everybody is trying, everybody is on board, the funds are there. So we just need to see that it is implemented," Dikshit told PTI.

"(But) we will be ready. We have got eight months to go. Actually, nine months to go but I said eight months. And you can see work going on all over Delhi."

Dikshit said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had formed a group of ministers (GOM), which met almost every week to review the preparations.

"We meet once a week or eight days," she said. "We pool our experiences together. It is a good system we have set up. I only keep praying that we won't let the country down."

The CGF general assembly in October warned India it faced "an enormous challenge" to be ready for the Games, which involve 6,000 international athletes competing in 17 sports.

The federation highlighted problems ranging from ticketing, accommodation and transport to accreditation and logistics, besides the construction of venues.

The Commonwealth Games, the biggest multi-sport event to be staged in India since the Asian Games in 1982, will feature 71 nations and territories, mainly from the former British Empire.

CGF drops plans to form monitoring panel

Bowing to strong opposition from the Organising Committee, the Commonwealth Games Federation on Saturday dropped its controversial proposal of constituting a monitoring panel to oversee the preparation of the 2010 Delhi Games.

The CGF said it had decided not to go ahead with its Technical Review Committee in view of the current improved status but would provide additional support to the OC through its existing Commonwealth Games Knowledge Management Programme.

“In October, I announced the CGF would be instituting a TRC that would visit monthly. However, in view of the current improved status we have agreed it is now more appropriate for the CGF to provide additional ongoing support to the OC through its Games Knowledge Management Programme,” CGF President Michael Fennell told a press conference here.

The decision to drop TRC is widely seen as a thumbs up to the OC Chairman Suresh Kalmadi who and his team had vehemently opposed such a proposal.

The development is also likely to bring about a temporary truce between the OC and its parent body who had been engaged in a public spat a few months back over organisational issues relating to the October 3-14 Games.

While Fennell lauded the positive progress made on mainly operational fronts, he warned the organisers that further delays in the construction of stadia would seriously impact on the conduct of test events.

“We have continuously received assurances on the delivery timelines for these projects, and to now hear that there are further delays is distressing,” Fennell, who is here on an inspection tour, said.

“These delays will have impact upon the OC’s operational planning, particularly in relation to conduct of test events and overlay installation.

“There can be no further delays and I was pleased to receive directly from the sports minster Dr Gill, his assurance today, that the venues will not encounter any further delays,” he said.

Fennell expressed great disappointment at the Coordination Commission’s report on the delayed delivery of the venues and in particular how the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and S P Mukherjee Swimming Complex were so far behind schedule.

“While I note improvement in operational areas, the OC and its partners must maintain the momentum that they have now gained across all functional areas,” Fennel said.

The CGF chief said that in the backdrop of the CoCom’s draft report and the “positive progress” made in operational planning, he and Kalmadi have agreed to an alternative approach to interaction and monitoring work.

“This approach will provide the OC with a constant access to specific expertise in areas where both the CGF and the OC agree additional support is required. The CGF will through expansion of its support programme assist the OC and its delivery partners to maintain the necessary momentum,” he said.

“When I announced the formation of the TRC just over two months ago, I noted that these group would monitor ‘progress against promise’. I also said this group would be empowered to call in other technical experts as required,” Fennell said.

“So the first part of this progress against promise will now be delivered in two ways. Firstly it will through the work of now expanded Coordination Commission (with the addition of four members) which as scheduled will visit Delhi on two further occasions ahead of the Games. Secondly, it will be through the ongoing work with the OC of our CEO Michael Hooper who is predominantly based in Delhi,” Fennell said.

“The second aspect which was to come under the TRC – assisting the OC through access to functional area Games expertise in specific areas – will now be provided through the expansion of our existing support programme with the OC. The cost associated with providing the OC with access to such support will be met by the CGF,” he explained.

Fennell also thanked the Indian government for their unequivocal support for the Games including the recent approvals of the revised budgets.

“We will provide the OC access to appropriate expertise to assist them with three key areas – venue operations, volunteer programme and Games readiness.

OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi admitted there were delays in the construction of venues but promised Fennell that the increased tempo of the preparation work will be sustained to ensure a successful Games.

Commonwealth Games make Delhi CM jittery

Delhi Chief Minster Sheila Dikshit admitted on Sunday that she is nervous about the shaky preparations for the Commonwealth Games which will be held in the Capital next October.

“I am still not comfortable. I am nervous but sab ho jayega (it will be done),” Dikshit said.

The construction of the stadia remains a major concern area for Dikshit, who said she is praying that the country will not be let down by the chaos before the Games.

Asked about the criticism over the delay in various projects and readiness of the city to host the event, she said, "of course it is (ready to host the event). No city in the world will be ready till a year before.”

Meanwhile, Sports Minister MS Gill said the Government has lost time since 2003. He said there is no reason to worry following Commonwealth Games Federation President Mike Fennel once again criticising the slow pace of stadium preparations.

According to Gill, planning for the opening and closing ceremonies has affected the schedule.

Expressing "regret" over the delays in construction of venues for the event, Fennell had on Saturday warned the organisers that further delays in the construction of stadia will impact the Games and its schedule of events.