I am still the boss, will not quit : Kalmadi on CWG

Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi on Friday made it clear that he would not quit despite the charges of corruption levelled against him with regard to the upcoming mega event, asserting that he was still the boss.

Kalmadi said he has taken up the challenge of delivering a very good 2010 Games, and that there was no question of him resigning as he had done nothing wrong.

"Yes. Organising the Games is my responsibility. I am continuing with it," said Kalmadi, when asked whether he was still the boss after the Government set up an empowered committee of bureaucrats to look into the functioning of the 2010 Games.

"Group of Ministers was there. The committee of secretaries under Cabinet Secretary was always there. The Prime Minister had a meeting and he has asked all these committees to get more active and give more support. I am getting more support from government and I am the OC chairman," he added.

Kalmadi further said Commonwealth Games Federation chief Mike Fennel, who had come to India for a two-day inspection of the venues has given a good report.

" I welcome all this because of the circumstances. Things are under control and we are capable of delivering a 'good and transparent Games. I don't know why all these campaigns started. Everything was smooth till the last 15 days or so. All the foreign countries are saying there will be a good Games," said Kalmadi.

"Our reputation is at stake and after all these years of hard work I don't want to go down in this manner. I am ready to face any inquiry after the Games. The Prime Minister has supported us to a great extent. We are focused now. Next one month I will be fully focused and I am not distracted," he added.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games, which kicks off on October 3 is India's biggest sporting event since the 1982 Asian Games.

India is expecting about two million tourists in New Delhi for the Games, as well as about 10,000 athletes from 71 teams representing 54 Commonwealth member states.

Hungama Digital Media redesigns CWG 2010 website

Hungama Digital Media has launched the redesigned website for the 19th edition of the Commonwealth Games (XIX CWG 2010). The website http://www.cwgdelhi2010.org  is website that contains all the information for the forthcoming world event. Hungama will be designing and executing a digital campaign for the event and manage their digital presence through social networking sites.

The Commonwealth Games 2010 will witness participation from 71 countries across the world. Through the new website. the participating nations and spectators have got a single interaction point. The website has been redesigned with effective navigation points so that visitors can find what they are looking for as easily as possible.

Commenting on the revamp, an official spokesperson of Hungama Digital Media said, “We are delighted to partner with the XIX Commonwealth Games 2010 which is a very prestigious event for India. Considering the large number of countries participating in the event, we are expecting people to have a variety of queries ranging from venue details, ticket bookings, code of conduct etc. To highlight and facilitate key information in the most effective and seamless manner, we have revamped the website and have also launched an extensive social media program for the XIX CWG 2010”

The new website was launched on the 19th of August 2010. According to Google Analytics report the traffic on the website has gone up by almost 30% from the time Hungama took charge.

BSES to promote electric scooters to reduce pollution

In a unique initiative aimed at reducing air as well as noise pollution, the BSES is promoting use of electric scooters.

After becoming the first and the only discom in the world to promote the use of electric vehicles by installing 28 (and counting) charge ports free till the Commonwealth Games- the discom now plans to encourage use of electric scooters.

To begin with, the BSES plans to encourage the use of electric scooters among thousands of their employees. For this, the company has entered into an agreement with the manufacturers of Hero electric scooters, which are being made available to employees at discounted prices and convenient instalments.

For the same, the BSES has asked Hero Exports to put up information kiosks at various BSES locations to spread awareness among visitors and employees regarding the benefits of using e-vehicles. This initiative is not only expected to reduce pollution, but also reduce the carbon footprint.

''The idea behind facilitating e-scooters for employees is part of BSES' continued efforts to champion the green cause among all its stakeholders and is in a continuous dialogue with them across platforms,'' said a BSES official.

Electric scooters, unlike their petrol counterparts, are very economical to run. They consume just one unit of electricity (costing between Rs 2.45 to Rs 4.65 per unit) for traveling 60 kms. Whereas their petrol counterparts consume around Rs 40 to run the same distance. An electric scooter is also low on maintenance.

After the successful roll-out of charge ports in east and central Delhi, BSES is now all set to roll out e-charge ports at vantage points across South and West Delhi.

Convenient locations have been identified and will have launched in the days ahead. They too, will be free, till the Commonwealth Games in October 2010.

According to a BSES spokesperson, ''As a responsible corporate citizen, BSES is promoting electric Vehicles (EV's) usage as they are a zero emission mode of transport.'' An electric motor is 400 per cent to 600 per cent more efficient than an internal combustion engine (ICE). An EV, per mile, uses one-half the fossil-fuel resources an ICE consumes. An EV produces only five per cent to 10 per cent of the emissions of an ICE per mile travelled.

BRPL and BYPL, Delhi's premier power distribution companies are committed to ensuring quality and reliable electricity supply to all their consumers.