MCD continues to blame Delhi Govt for delay in CWG related works

Less than three months before the commencement of the Commonwealth Games, the biggest sporting event to be held in the national capital, the civic agencies continue to pass the buck on each other. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) today retaliated by saying that among various works which fall under its jurisdiction all are "on time", except those works whose completion has been delayed by the works of the Delhi Government agencies. MCD Mayor Prithviraj Sawhney along with MCD Chairman Yogender Chandolia, Leader of the House Subhash Arya and other officials today visited various sites which come under their jurisdiction as well as the CPWD, the PWD and the NDMC. As their convoy, comprising MCD officials and mediapersons, moved from Ambedkar Stadium at Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, none of the works, including footpaths, roads and dividers, seemed to be on the verge of completion.

However, the Corporation claimed that everything was going on time. ''The three major projects under us, namely Signature Tower, parking at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and beautification of round- abouts have been almost completed and remaining work on them will be over by the end of this month,'' Mr Arya told UNI. However, the delay in the works like laying of stones over the footpaths and dividers, construction of underpasses and others remain unnoticed. They were rather swift in counting the faults of the Delhi Government agencies when they visited areas like Pahar Ganj, Karol Bagh, to name a few. Pointing towards a dug up Deshbandhu Gupta road, Mr Chandolia alleged that laying of BSES cables was responsible for its such condition.

The MCD senior official also directed the attention of the reporters towards a small pit in the premises of flats of the CPWD and said it had been lying unattended by the department for long. The all important projects for the Games have already missed several deadlines but the officials of various agencies claimed to be confident of completing all the works by August 15. Last week, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who was not happy with the pace of work on several projects, had set August 31 as the new deadline for completing all the projects linked to the Games.