'CWG creating urban apartheid'

Over 3,00,000 people have been evicted and displaced from their homes due to projects related to the Commonwealth Games (CWG), a report by an NGO Hazard Centre has said. "Very few of them have been given alternative accommodations. Even after strict High Court directives, the Delhi government and
the MCD are not responding to any of our appeals about rehabilitation and alternate accommodation," said Jawahar Singh, president, Jhuggi Jhompri Ekta Manch.

Scores of people affected/displaced due to CWG-related projects would gather at Jantar Mantar on Thursday to protest displacement and demand proper compensation and rehabilitation from the authorities.

Slamming the Games for being completely pro rich, Hazards Centre said the only legacy the Games will leave behind is debt and inflation. "Real estate companies were first paid money by the Delhi Development Authority to build the Games Village and are now getting crores of Rupees by selling these flats. They are the only beneficiaries," said Dunu Roy, director, Hazards Centre.

The report states that a large number of countries that hosted mega sporting events in the past have suffered huge financial set backs.

"Beginning from 1968, virtually every city that had hosted such an event had plunged into debt for the next 25 to 30 years. The $16,600 million adventure of Athens in 2004 (Summer Olympics) is often linked by analysts to the current economic crisis in Greece."