Indian workers suffer ‘slumdog’ conditions in rush to hit Commonwealth Games target

Indian migrant labourers rushing to finish buildings for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October are living and working in “rock-bottom” conditions that violate Indian laws, according to a panel set up by an Indian court.

The committee has filed a report accusing government-appointed companies of denying minimum wages, adequate accommodation, basic equipment and medical care to many of the 17,000 workers on the Games sites.

“They’re in such a hurry to finish that they’re cutting corners where they shouldn’t,” said Arundhati Ghose, a former Indian Ambassador to the United Nations, and one of the five panel members.

“This could have been an occasion to show the rest of the country how to do things, but they haven’t,” she told The Times. “You can’t be proud if you treat the people who built the venues so badly.”

She called for an immediate investigation into reports that 43 workers had died — compared with 6 reported fatalities during preparation for the Beijing Olympics in 2008. “We didn’t have enough time to look into that,” she said, adding that the panel had inspected ten venues in one month.
She also called for contractors responsible for the worst violations to be fined or jailed, citing cases where there were only four lavatories for 150 workers.

“We did a lot of shrieking, it’s just outrageous,” she said.

The Delhi High Court appointed the panel in January in response to a public interest lawsuit filed by a non-governmental organisation called the People’s Union For Democratic Rights.

The panel’s official report described the overall situation as “rather tragic” and workplaces as “extremely unclean, unhygienic and unsafe”.

Mike Hooper, chief executive of the London-based Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), which owns and controls the Games, said that he backed the panel’s recommendations. “There is no excuse for operators or contractors to circumvent the laws of India,” he told The Times.

The report is the latest embarrassment for Indian authorities as they race to complete preparations for the country’s biggest international sporting event since the Asian Games in Delhi in 1982. There have been widespread allegations in the media that contractors were cutting corners by employing child workers on the sites.

India had hoped to showcase its economic progress over the past two decades and began a series of important infrastructure projects in Delhi, including a new airport and a metro extension. But with three months until monsoon rains slow work further, the main stadium is still a building site, the swimming complex a pile of rubble and the metro extension behind schedule.

Indian organisers continue to insist that everything will be finished on time and the Games will be the “best ever”. Suresh Kalmadi, the Games Organising Committee chairman, has compared the process to an Indian wedding in which everything comes together at the last minute.

But the CGF expressed concern last week, saying that venues needed to be tested two months before the event. Michael Fennell, the CGF president, told reporters in Delhi: “There remains quite a high level of concern about some venues being completed in time so that proper test events can be held. There is a lot of work still to be done.”

Rising cost: Commonwealth Games to get Rs 700 crore more

After the budget for conducting Commonwealth Games was more than doubled from Rs 767 crore to Rs 1,670 crore just three months ago,the mega event is to receive another infusion of Rs 700 crore for "outlays" - an innocuous-sounding word essentially meaning furnishing.

Even as the Cabinet is set to consider the huge hike on Friday, the jump does not include expenses such as upgrade of sporting infrastructure, security, roads and bridges and various civil works aimed at beautifying the city. The total cost of the Games is estimated to be Rs 10,000 crore even though this does not include the bill for a part of airport modernisation and Games-related Metro projects.

With the Games, scheduled for October 3-14, nearing rapidly, the government has had to put up with a sharp escalation of costs in order to ensure the prestigious event is staged without a glitch. But even as it races to meet deadlines, the Rs 700-crore jump is hardly an insignificant increase given that it is related to "soft" infrastructure like facades, furniture and design elements.

The Suresh Kalmadi-led organising committee has been under fire for slipping on deadlines and officials monitoring the preparation for the Games have repeatedly expressed apprehension that the rush to ensure timely completion could see budgets going haywire. With national pride at stake, the government would have little option but to fork out more funds even as oversight suffered.

With the Commonwealth Games Federation also having warned that Delhi was slipping on deadlines, the PMO was forced to intervene and a team of officials headed by a CEO was put in place. With the CEO supposed to have executive powers, the preparations have been streamlined to some extent. But Kalmadi is still seen to be in the driver's seat and the man behind major decisions.

Some surprise has been expressed over plans to hire furniture from foreign suppliers which is to be shipped out after the Games are over. While the organising committee's offices have only recently become fully functional, the reason for not using local suppliers is being wondered at even if the OC wanted to spend on hire and not purchase.

Rs 5165cr: Original total cost of Games projected in 2006, including cost of civil and stadium infrastructure as well as training.

Rs 10,000cr: Total cost now estimated, which does not include projects like airport modernisation and Games-related Metro work.

Rs 2,050cr: Budget for Delhi govt's work alone, which includes a few stadia but is chiefly related to roads and bridges.

Rs 6,200cr: Estimated cost of renovating existing stadiums and constructing new ones as well as conducting Games.

Ramjas no to road widening for Games

The beautification of roads for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games is likely to hit a hurdle on Delhi University campus as Ramjas College has refused to surrender its land for widening of the pavement on Sudhir Bose Marg. The college principal has now written to the lieutenant-governor informing him that the governing body was withdrawing its consent conveyed to the university on November 4 last year.

According to the college governing body, it had earlier agreed to surrender around 565 sqm of its land along Sudhir Bose Marg and another 300 sqm for road widening as there was pressure from the university authorities. The land required was later restricted to just 745 sqm along Sudhir Bose Marg but was again increased to 791.66 sqm in January this year.

The college authorities allege that the land, which belongs to the Ramjas Foundation, is being acquired by the university for the beautification project of the MCD without following procedure. The college principal, Rajendra Prasad, said land from no other college located on that road was being taken over. ‘‘UTTIPEC (a nodal agency headed by the LG for clearing all projects related to road and transport) had decided that footpaths were to be widened by reducing the carriageway and not by taking over the college land,’’ said Prasad. He added, ‘‘We were given only a week to give our consent without even letting us know of this decision of UTTIPEC.’’

College staff says that taking away of land outside the building may disturb the students as classrooms will come near the road. Manoj Verma, president, Ramjas Staff Council, said, ‘‘Due to OBC reservations, we are already falling short of space. We are not in a position to give away even an inch of land from our college campus. And since there are plans to make the traffic one-way outside the college, the traffic volume is set to increase.’’ He further said, ‘‘All our old trees along the college wall will also have to be axed.’’

Prasad insisted that Ramjas has been an enthusiastic supporter of Commonwealth Games but now surrendering its land was out of question. ‘‘We have already given our sports ground for construction of the stadium and our girls and boys hostel too. We are also giving our college as a venue for interviews of the volunteers. But acquiring our college land is not required,’’ he said.

Delhi, smarten up before Games: CM

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has an ambitious new plan — getting rude, unruly Delhiites to turn into charming, gracious hosts for the Commonwealth Games in October. And with just 198 days to go for the sporting extravaganza, she has her task cut out.

The government is compiling what can be called the big book of good manners — which the tourism department plans to unleash on Delhiites via billboards, pamphlets, websites and audiovisual means in the coming months.

“We want to change Delhi’s public culture; their behaviour towards each other and to guests… so that they are courteous,” Dikshit said at the first Delhi Tourism Conclave on Thursday. “We want tourists to go back with the impression that Delhi is a sophisticated city.”

This package of dos and don’ts, called ‘Delhi Celebrates’, will help the city folk portray the Capital as a friendly, clean and safe city, said Delhi Tourism head Rina Ray. “We want to tell them don’t urinate in public, don’t spit, keep your houses and shops clean, keep public transport safe and such things,” she told HT. “This will tell every Delhiite that instead of being on the sidelines as a spectator, he or she can contribute to a better Games.”

Six months ago, Home Minister P. Chidambaram had criticised Delhiites for being rude, loud, discourteous. But the state government believes there is a cure for this famous lack of manners, and that time isn’t short. Infact, Ray said: “We don’t want to start (the campaign) too early lest it fizzles out.”

CWG: England, Australia keen to send squads

The Organising Committee Commonwealth Games (OCCG) on Thursday claimed that England would send a huge contingent for the event here in October.

Quoting from the Commonwealth Games England (CGE) website, OCCG said England would bring a squad of 560 persons, more than its squad for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

“There is no doubt that there are lots of athletes who see Delhi as a vital developmental stepping stone towards the 2012 Olympics in London and they are very keen to be in the team,” said the Chef de Mission of the English squad, Craig Hunter, after his recent visit to India.

“Having seen every competition site, we believe it will all be ready,” Mr. Hunter said.

Australian Commonwealth Games Association Chief Executive Perry Crosswhite did not give much importance to the security issues and said his country would take part.

Got to go? First, look up a map

Your biggest excuse for peeing on the roads-that Delhi doesn't have enough public toilets-will soon be invalid.

The Delhi government is preparing the city's first “loo map” for the Commonwealth Games.

The map, being prepared by the tourism department, will tell you where public toilets are located and how much they charge. “We are preparing this map as a ready-reckoner for Delhiites and tourists,” Rina Ray, head of Delhi Tourism said on the sidelines of the first Delhi Tourism Conclave organised with the Confederation of Indian Industry on Thursday.

The map will classify toilets in terms of their location.

Apart from the common pay-and-use ones, officials will also chart the ones in fast food joints, restaurants, malls and food courts open to all. “The map will have them all clearly marked and explained for the benefit of the user,” she said.

Public toilets or the lack of them dominated the first day of the Conclave as various speakers cited “smelly public loos” the biggest hurdle to a good tourism experience.

“Apart from teaching Delhiites the Ps and Qs, we should also teach them 'pees and poos,” Amiya Chandra, Head, Remunerative Project cell of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) said talking about the absence of proper sanitary habits in Delhiites.

To fill the shortage of quality public toilets in Delhi before the Games, the MCD is constructing 300 "waterless unrinals" through private fast-food chains, which would also run their eateries on top of the toilet building. "It's an innovative business model. The companies would have to keep the loo clean in order to attract customers to their restaurant. We are floating the tender," he said.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which is sprucing up 46 monuments for the Games, too, highlighted on their plans on public toilet. "We will raze unnecessary constructions in several monument premises," said KK Muhammad, superintending archaeologist, ASI Delhi circle. "I can promise you these toilets will not be smelly."

Delhi 2010 will be a huge canvas for sportspersons

A wonderful mixture of positive emotions — joy, pride and excitement laced with confidence — overwhelms me as we get closer to the Commonwealth Games. As I write, there are 200 days to go for the grand opening and we have planned an event on Sunday afternoon to mark this milestone, with dozens of leading artists painting a 200-foot canvas.

I am sure the Games will offer a majestic canvas for sportspersons from 71 nations to express themselves. Besides, it will be an opportunity for India to become more conscious of Olympic sport and participate in a big way. My excitement stems from my belief that the Commonwealth Games will be a huge turning point in India’s sporting history.

And yes, there is the feeling of satisfaction that the Chefs de Mission Seminar for leaders of the contingents from all 71 nations was conducted successfully. It gave us a good chance to share with them our levels of preparation, our plans to make the stay of their athletes most comfortable and also understand their expectations. The Chefs de Mission were completely satisfied with what they saw of the preparations for the Games, including a visit to the Maj. Dhyan Chand Stadium for the FIH World Cup.

Talking of test events, we already have completed successfully the Commonwealth Shooting Championships, the FIH Hockey World Cup, an invitational archery tournament and the Commonwealth Boxing Championship. I am sure the comfort level of athletes around the Commonwealth would have gone up, as the events were completed without any security incident.

I am glad the Commonwealth Games Federation President, Mr. Fennell, made it a point to speak about the robust security for the athletes and officials. He is convinced the Chefs de Mission would have no hesitation in telling their athletes that Delhi has made all arrangements to ensure a safe and secure Games. At the same time, we are impressing upon the security personnel the need to follow sports protocol and that the fans must enjoy the Games.

It is heartening to read reports from Australia, where Olympic and world pole vault champion Steve Hooker says he has no reason to be concerned about security, and England where Commonwealth Games England says it will send a larger contingent to Delhi 2010 than it did to Melbourne 2006.

It is all coming together —and coming together well. I know we cannot afford any slip-ups but, at the OC Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi, we are working through the day and night to ensure that our plans are in place and we have the personnel to execute these plans so that the Games can become a memorable experience for one and all.

We have embraced a positive approach all along. That will remain an important part of our countenance, as we are confident that we will produce the best Games ever. Indeed, Team India, including the Governments of India and Delhi, the Commonwealth Games Federation, the Indian Olympic Association and the Organising Committee, will make it a great Games.

Rathore out of CWG contention after Patiala selection trials

Following a string of below-par performances from him and a new selection policy, former Olympic silver medallist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore has crashed out of contention for upcoming tournaments this year, including the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

Rathore was in Patiala to take part in the selections trials for the national team for this year, which was mandatory for all shooters who are not part of the current squad. Rathore, who has been critical of the range here in the past, shot 50 on 50 in the first round on Thursday. He finished with a score of 140 on 150, which was the best score of the day, but still not enough for him to make it. As per the new selection policy, the five-member national squad will be picked based on performances in the national trials and two international events.

“I am out of contention for the Asian championships and the other World Cups where there are quota places to be won because of the flawed NRAI selection policy,” Rathore told The Indian Express on Thursday. “This new policy came into effect on March 13 and today, at the first trials after that, I shot a 140, the maximum by a shooter. By that logic, I should have been in, but I am out because of what I shot at the January trials. Because of that score I was kept out of the team for the Commonwealth Championships in Delhi and now that performance has been added to today’s to get a cumulative score for selection.

“As per this selection policy, I needed to shoot 160 out of the 150 targets today to qualify. I don’t know how that is possible.”

Rathore was also critical of these trials being applicable for the Commonwealth Games team as well. “This also means that I am out of the Commonwealth Games. How can someone’s form in January be good enough for a tournament to be held in October?” Rathore said.

The only way Rathore can still make the squad is if the shooters who are already in the team perform badly in the Asian Clay Shooting Championship that begins on March 27. The current double trap team include Himanshu, Mohammed Asab, Ronjon Sodhi, Ajay Mittal and Vikram Bhatnagar, who have been consistently shooting better scores than Rathore in the recent past.

“You can’t have a selection policy that suits a particular shooter, there must be a level playing field, and the current policy does that,” a shooter participating in the trial today told The Indian Express.

Labour of pain at the Commonwealth Games sites

“This is a deep dark world, Poor, empty, tiny, caged and cabined, dark cells.”

MEMBERS of the Monitoring Committee, formed after the Delhi High Court directive in February to probe allegations of labour laws violations at Games sites, quoted these lines from Rabindranath Tagore’s poem, Ebar Phirao More (Come back to me now), to convey the conditions of workers engaged at the Commonwealth Games sites.

The committee mentioned the lines after seeing the size of the rooms meant to accommodate workers; the panel members said the rooms have space merely enough to “crawl like animals”.

The committee had visited the 10 Games venues — construction sites and workers’ camps — before it submitted its indicting report in the court on Wednesday.

The 115-page report brought to light the pitiable conditions of the workers and the breach of various labour laws. Newsline lists the facts as adduced by the committee in its report.

Commonwealth Games Village, Akshardham Complex
Date of visit: February 19

Principal employer is Delhi Development Authority, having public-private partnership with EMAAR MGF, which in turn has engaged Ahluwalia Constructions for work at the site.
* As per the Minimum Wages Central Rules, rates of minimum wages are required to be put up at the entrance of the establishment and also at its office. Not a single board displaying such information was, however, available at site
* There was no observance of minimum working hours, no weekly off, no payment for over time
* Women were not getting same rate of wages as men despite doing similar works
* No employment card or ID card for workers
* No mechanism to register grievances
* Several labourers found using chappals instead of gumboots. Non-supply of boots or even ordinary shoes was the main reason. No gloves provided to stonecutters for protection; several others worked without wearing helmets
* Four fatal accidents have been reported so far from the Games Village worksite. The Committee also came to know that a woman died in a fire at the camp last year
* 150 hutments made of asbestos sheet with no ventilation. Four workers shared 7x7-ft room with no bedding. “It is a pity that it is called a bed,” the report states
* 10 mobile toilets for 150 inmates. The toilets are never cleaned or maintained

Other sites
Apart from these venues, the Committee also visited sites and camps at Delhi University, Africa Avenue, Gazipur, International Airport, Tughlaq Road and Shastri Park. Apart from International Airport site being looked after by the Delhi International Airport Limited, the situation looked almost equally gloomy at all other sites, according to the report.

Employment of women
IN its report, the Committee came down heavily on the contractors for showing reluctance to employ women. The members were “shocked” after they were told at the JN Stadium that the women did not have the skills the company needed to carry out certain operations.

“Coming as they do at a time when the Women’s Reservation Bill is on the anvil, such statements smack of a bizarre reflection of a sick mindset, which is clearly anti-gender and deserves to be condemned with all the force at our command,” the report read.

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium

Date of visit: February 20

Principal employer: Central Public Works Department

Contractors: Shapoorjee Palonjee, Era infrastructure, Nagarjun
* Employer and contractors not aware of the revised rate of wages. Consequently, workers got wages at the old rate
* Large number of workers testified before the Committee that full wages were not being paid to them but amount like Rs 100 per day or Rs 400 per week was being given towards day-to-day expenditure
* Committee dubs adjustments of advances with the notified wages as “arbitrary and unilateral”, noting it was probably being done to ensure the workers did not leave the site before competition of the work. The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, however, prohibits the same
* No women employed
* Not all workers registered. No evidence of medical examination of workers at regular intervals
* “The camps are totally unacceptable from the point of view of a decent human living. Tiny rooms represent hovels where human beings have literally to crawl like animals, which reminds a visitor what Rabindranath Tagore had written 100 years ago,” noted the Committee
* 10 mobile toilets for 150 inmates; never cleaned or maintained. Many, therefore, prefer to ease themselves in the open
* No arrangement for washing and bathing. No canteen. No elementary supervision by the Labour Welfare Officer


Siri Fort and surroundings
Date of visit: March 12

Principal employer: DDA

Contractor: Billimoria
* The camps for workers looked like a slum, the report stated
* Accommodation meant wooden shacks with little or no ventilation
* Medical facility was unattended
* No canteen, only a tea shop
* Inadequate number of toilets

RK Khanna Tennis Stadium
Date of visit: March 12

Principal Employer: All India Tennis Association
Contractor: Skyline Engineering Contractors Pvt Ltd
* Accommodation “highly unsatisfactory” with small, dark and stuffy rooms each housing at least two workers
* No evidence of medical facilities even as 140 workers found on the site at peak hours
* No canteen
* The workers expressed no grievances regarding wages, “perhaps because the team was accompanied by representatives of the management”

CWG: Govt to launch website to help tourists

To prevent exploitation of tourists during the Commonwealth Games ,the Delhi government will launch a website containing all information needed by them to avoid dependence on middlemen.

"The website, yet to be launched, will include all information needed by a foreign tourist like location of hotels, nearest foreign exchange centre, metro routes, routes to the stadia, location and details of monuments etc," Rina Ray, managing director of DTTDC, said on Thursday.

She said the government will operate a 'hop-on-hop-off' bus service connecting different commonwealth sites, the details of which will be provided in the website.

The tourism department will set up a 24x7 centre to address problems faced by visitors during the mega event scheduled from October 3 to 14.

"The tourists can call up anytime to register complaints, which will be looked into promptly."

The government will also launch a 'Delhi Celebrates' campaign to train its residents on etiquettes, the official said on the sidelines of the Delhi Tourism Conclave.

"The idea is to involve as many citizens as possible. Anyone can join the scheme, from school children to auto-rickshaw drivers. They will also be given training in basic English," Ray said.

According to official estimates, over 2,00,000 foreign tourists are expected to visit the city during the 12-day sporting event.

Help reform rude Delhi, Dikshit urges private sector

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Thursday called for a public-private partnership of a different kind - to develop a package to change Delhi residents' 'rude behaviour' so that guests during the Commonwealth Games can take back home a 'good impression'.

Speaking at the first Delhi Tourism Conclave jointly organised by the government and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here, Dikshit said: "All of us are thinking of nothing but how to make Commonwealth Games successful and showcase Delhi and India. I can see a lot changing, mannerisms are changing but it's still not enough.

"We have to do some things that are extremely basic like keeping the city clean, giving our citizens the culture of politeness and sharing and caring for each other, so that the world goes back with an impression that they have been to a truly civilized city. Ranging right from how we talk to each other, how we look after our public systems," she said.

"After all, it is the behaviour of a people that one remembers," she added.

Dikshit hailed the city as unique but emphasized on an attitudinal change.

"We are a unique city, we live in the present and look to future but we also have a huge historical heritage. We can be truly proud of our rich repertoire but when we showcase it to people, especially during the Games, they should be looked after and not go back with an impression that there are small time crooks not charging proper rates (for services). All that culture needs to change," she said.

Calling for an initiative from private sector, Dikshit said: "The private sector has already partnered for raising green cover in Delhi. If other organisations want to join in cleaning up Delhi or teaching the people through campaigns how to behave and be polite... by holding meetings with youths and students and urging them to use public transport like bus or Metro, I hope that happens."

When the private sector appeals to the citizens, "it has a greater impact", she said.

"We can generate a package on how to change the culture of Delhi and the behavioural pattern that we have today not only where are language but our behaviour towards each other and the guests who come here. (This should be) implemented right away," she added.

Indian Committee Finds Games Construction Workers Exploited

A committee appointed by the Delhi high court has determined workers building facilities for this year's Commonwealth Games in India are being exploited by contractors apparently unaware of labor laws.

A preliminary report submitted to the Delhi high court finds all allegations made in complaints about workers' conditions "are well founded."

Those charges include laborers working and living in highly dangerous and deplorable conditions; earning less than the stipulated minimum wage; with no access to basic sanitation and health facilities; and, lacking safety equipment.

The four-member court-appointed monitoring panel blames the exploitation directly on private contractors being unaware of any liability in violating labor laws.

One of the advocates for the Commonwealth Games' site workers, Tariq Adeeb of the Human Rights Law Network, tells VOA News that India's central government and Delhi authorities should ultimately be held responsible.

"If the contractors are not aware of the rules and regulations of the government, then it's the responsibility of the government. Why they have given such contracts to those people who are not aware of anything?" asks Adeeb.

A top official of the Sports Authority of India, Hardip Singh Kingra, tells VOA it wants to "ensure all labor laws are followed." But he contends it is the Central Public Works Department which has the responsibility to implement them.

The chief engineer of the CPWD, V.K. Gupta, brushes off the committee's findings, calling violations "isolated cases" and contends that "by and large" the law is being followed. But he says, in reaction to the allegations, trade units "have been sensitized" to the need for observing workers' rights.

Despite some pessimism that the legal process will drag on until after the Games begin in October, attorney Tariq Adeeb expects quick results because of the Delhi court's attention to the alleged exploitation.

"Things will change definitely in a positive way because, on the next date of hearing, the court will direct the government to look after these workers because it is the responsibility of the government and the state," said Adeeb.

The next hearing is scheduled for April 7.

A report submitted to the court says there have been 43 deaths at project sites.

More than 400,000 people are believed to be working as daily wage contract workers on Games'-related construction projects, worth billions of dollars.

This is the first time India is to host the prestigious athletic event, which is expected to attract more than 8,000 participants and officials from most of the 54 countries of the British Commonwealth.

England to send 500-plus contingent for Commonwealth Games

England are planning to send a huge contingent of more than 500 athletes for the October Commonwealth Games and Australia too are determined to come full strength.

According to a report on the Commonwealth Games England website, a team of 560, more than the squad for the 2006 Melbourne Games, will compete in upcoming edition.

England Chef de Mission Craig Hunter said their athletes want to use the Games platform for Olympic preparations.

"England will categorically be sending a team to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi later this year. There's no doubt that there are lots of athletes who see Delhi as a vital developmental stepping stone towards the 2012 Olympics in London and they are very keen to be in the team," Hunter said.

"Let's wait and see who decides to go and who doesn't when the time comes," Hunter added.

Australian Commonwealth Games Association Chief Executive Perry Crosswhite, dismissing all security fears, said his team was even more "bullish" on taking part in the Delhi event.

The successful running of hockey World Cup along with trouble-free test events in shooting and archery has bolstered confidence that organisers have security under control.

"We are even more bullish on it than we have been before. All that has gone well and the security, although there was some question about it early in those events, has been fixed up pretty quickly. There hasn't been any incidents so it's been good," Crosswhite was quoted as saying by 'The Age.'

With the Games less then 200 days away, Crosswhite said Australia's athletes had been kept well informed about the measures being put in place to protect them.

"No one has expressed to us that he or she is not going. Everybody has got to make their own mind up but I'd be disappointed if someone didn't go

"I think the main thing, is that Australian athletes are just really competitive. They are more so than other nations and as far as they are concerned the Commonwealth Games is really important to them and they are not afraid. Threat or no threat, they are going to go," he said.

Commonwealth Games, a boon for Delhi: Suresh Kalmadi

The Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC), Suresh Kalmadi, has said the Commonwealth Games will be a boon for New Delhi.

Talking to reporters here on Thursday, Kalmadi said: "The Commonwealth Games to be staged later this year has been possible due to the liberal loan worth 1600 crore rupees advanced by the Government of India. So, this event will be a boon for New Delhi.

"The Organising Committee has the budget of 1600 crores. This money has been given to us as loan which we have to repay through sponsorships, through revenue, merchandising and ticketing. So, we have to return all the money we have got. And we are getting a lot of sponsors on board. There is going to be no expenses on our account to the government.

Whatever is happening, the stadiums, the roads, metro and airport is not just for the 15 days of the Games, but that is a legacy for the city of Delhi to enjoy," added Kalmadi.

Kalmadi further said the CGOC is confident about successfully conducting the games.

He also claimed that the game would leave behind world-class sporting infrastructure and allied civic facilities in the country.

Indians try to clean filth from river in New Delhi

Hundreds of volunteers wearing gloves and face masks picked up garbage along the Yamuna River on Wednesday to offset what they say is government inaction that has left the waterway a putrid sewer.

The volunteers hope the Commonwealth Games coming to New Delhi in October — the athletes' village is located on the river bank — will finally spur action to clean up what has become an embarrassment to the government and a public health crisis for the city.

The river water looks dark with a foul smell and some human waste flowing from city drains.

A tributary of one of India's main rivers, the Ganges, the Yamuna is small but swells during monsoon rains. Hindu worshippers bathe in the river during religious festivals, but not many people swim there.

Nearly 800 people, mostly young students, worked to clean the river and its banks early Wednesday. Some of them got into motorized boats to scoop the filth from the river in barrels.

"This is not river water, this is gutter water," said Sangeeta Anand, a spokeswoman for the Art of Living Foundation, sponsor of the cleanup campaign.

The educational and humanitarian group, founded in 1982 by spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, plans to clean the river banks and build walkways and parks on the riverfront ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

"This is a mass citizen campaign to motivate people to become aware of what they are putting into the river — plastic, toxic wastes and all that sewage," Anand told The Associated Press.

Officials say factories are ignoring regulations and dumping untreated sewage and industrial pollution, turning toxic the river that gives the capital much of its drinking water. The corruption and bureaucracy that derails many public initiatives in India have hampered previous cleanups.

The Yamuna's water is chemically treated before being supplied to Delhi's nearly 16 million residents.

The New Delhi-based Center for Science and Environment blamed the condition of the river in part on the improper placement of treatment plants, along with fights between water-starved states over managing the river water.

Government officials were not immediately available for comment.