43 deaths at Games project sites, HC told

Forty-three deaths have been recorded at Commonwealth Games construction sites so far, says a report submitted in the Delhi High Court on Wednesday.

The four-member monitoring committee was formed on the High Court’s directive.

According to the Action Taken Report (ATR) submitted by the committee, 41 of 43 deaths were reported on construction sites within the jurisdiction of the Union Labour ministry. The other two deaths were reported on sites under the Delhi government’s jurisdiction. The report says only Rs 1.6 crore had been disbursed to kin of the affected workers.

The report was submitted separately before the Division Bench headed by acting Chief Justice Madan B Lokur. “The ground level reality (as opposed to statutory requirement) is different and rather tragic,” the report notes. “Accidents are taking place, causing injury resulting in death or disablement... work places are extremely unclean, unhygienic and unsafe.

“Safety appliances, conforming to national standards, have either not been issued or (are) not being used.”

Following the Bench’s order last month, the committee was constituted to look into labour law violations and complaints of safety measures at the Games sites, as levelled in a writ petition filed by the People’s Union for Democratic Rights.

The committee has had five meetings till date and visited several Games construction sites to verify the grievances.

An emergency meeting was also called on March 10 when the committee specifically indicted the Welfare Board, constituted under the laws for monitoring the working conditions, saying it was not functioning properly.

In its report, the committee suggested stern monitoring at the work sites to ensure that no contractor or employer breaches labour law provisions. It also suggests ensuring regular wages to all workers. The committee has also urged authorities to allot land for labour colonies so that they have a “decent living.”

During the hearing, Najmi Waziri, standing counsel for the Delhi government, told the Bench that registration of workers has increased manifold and that Rs 28 crore has already been disbursed to them out of the fund. Waziri said all requisites would be implemented by the Welfare Board by the end of April.

The court fixed April 7 as the next date of hearing.

Findings of report
* Reports of accidents from almost every site, but no information to commissioner of workers’ compensation department
* Safety training not being imparted, safety supervision even rarer
* Medical examinations not usually taking place, very few first-aid centres
* Difficult to confirm whether minimum wages were being paid to all workers — neither muster rolls nor wage slips found
* Disparity in wage rate between the Centre and Delhi govt, making implementation difficult
* Workers not receiving overtime; wherever received, it’s not at prescribed rate
* In large number of cases, there was no weekly off
* An unholy alliance between contractor and representative of the principal employer (Centre or Delhi govt) could not be ruled out, proving detrimental to workers’ interests
* Terrible living conditions — GI sheets for hutments make barracks inhabitable in extreme Delhi weather conditions
* Lack of hygiene, environmental sanitation and cleanliness
* Sub-standard accommodation bound to reduce productivity
* Very few workers registered under labour lawsn Bias against employment of women and provisions of suitable amenities

Workers at Commonwealth Games sites an exploited lot: Panel

In a big embarrassment to the Centre and Delhi government ahead of the Commonwealth Games, a committee appointed by the Delhi High Court has said that workers at Games-related construction sites were not being paid minimum wages and were being made to work overtime for no extra money.

The four-member committee was set up to inquire into allegations levelled in a PIL which said conditions of workers at construction sites was miserable. In its report submitted to the court, the committee said the charges made in the PIL are "well founded".

Recommending "exemplary fine" be levied on errant authorities, the report said steps needed to be taken to start timebound registration of workers and extending to them benefits like weekly offs and hygienic living conditions.

After spending a month visiting several construction sites, the committee found that labourers were being exploited since they were hired by contractors unaware of labour laws.

The committee said many accidents at these sites were never reported while workers continued to work without safety gear. It also said muster rolls were not verified and that abuse of migrant workers was common.

The committee comprised Arundhati Ghose, former representative to the UN, NHRC's LN Mishra and labour commissioner and labour secretary of Delhi government.

No access for panel to sites under DIAL, DMRC

The high court panel members could not access sites under the control of DIAL and DMRC to check if workers at Games-related construction sites were not exploited due to security reasons, the report said. Respondents in the PIL include the Union and Delhi governments, NDMC and Sports Authority of India.

The report recommends that the workers be provided clean and hygienic living spaces, their wages be paid through zero balance accounts and they be registered by the welfare board.

Filed by the Peoples' Union For Democratic Rights (PUDR), the PIL had alleged that workers were being housed in 'crowded hovels' with no protection during winter, no power and filthy or no toilets.

PUDR urged the court to ensure the workers get insurance cover, wage slips, paid weekly offs, proper medical facilities and workmen compensation, among other things.

Estimating the daily wage contract workers to number roughly 4,15,000, the PIL said since the Games-related construction work had been farmed out to private contractors who provided inhuman working and living conditions for the labourers.

'First world' water for CWG athletes

Delhi may not have drinking water but come October, athletes coming to the Commonwealth Games will be getting water of "first world" standards at the Commonwealth Games Village.

As part of preparations for the upcoming Games, Delhi Jal Board has contracted Wabag India to provide clean and safe water for the Games. The agreement includes building a new water treatment plant exclusively for the Village, as well as providing potable water of "first world" standards. Says Sudeep S, country head of Norit, the technology partners of Wabag, "We are the suppliers of the core technology that will be used in the water treatment plant at the Village. The plant will treat, purify and disinfect the intake water to first world standards."

So how different are first world standards? Norit officials claim the standards have been provided in consultation with both the DJB as well as the organising committee, which wanted the water quality to comply with international standards. Said a Norit official, "The quality criteria are simple: we will ensure that the water will be free of pollutants like suspended solids and bacteria like coli." It's a step that OC officials claim was needed in the face of the quality of water that is usually available in the city. Said a senior OC official, "The fact is that water quality supplied by the civic agency is not of international standards. We didn't want athletes to suffer from Delhi belly, especially at an international event like the Commonwealth Games."

Not surprisingly, the "first world" standards come at a price. According to officials, the water treatment plant alone would cost 5.3 million Euros. A multi-barrier system will be set up at the Village to turn groundwater into "extremely pure" drinking water. The drinking water plant will have a daily capacity of 1MGD. Incidentally, the government is also planning to increase the water supply from the existing 670MGD to 941MGD during the Games.

The water plant will supply the Games Village with its entire infrastructure, extending from residential blocks and hotels to cyber cafes, police station and sports halls, with both drinking and service water for daily needs. Government officials added that in order to compensate for possible capacity bottlenecks, a link will also be created to the Sonia Vihar drinking water plant. Added an official, "The new plant will contribute to environmental protection, as instead of bottled water from supermarkets, athletes and officials will receive top quality water from the mains, which is also cheaper." Once the Games are over, the treatment plant will be available to local inhabitants.

England sending team to New Delhi

England will "categorically" be sending a team to the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi later this year despite fears over security in the Indian capital, chef de mission Craig Hunter said Tuesday.

A five-man delegation from England, led by Hunter, recently inspected the city during a nine-day trip after concerns security issues would force the country to fail to send a team to the 80-year-old event for the first time.

"England will categorically be sending a team to the Commonwealth Games," Hunter said. "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."

Safety concerns and lax security were cited last year when England's badminton team pulled out of the world championships in Hyderabad, India.

However, England plans to take a team of 560 for the Oct. 3-14 Commonwealth Games, which is set to be the biggest multiple-sport event staged in India since the 1982 Asian Games.

"I came away from Delhi feeling greatly reassured as significant progress has been made since our previous visit last October, both in terms of the building works and in the key functional areas," said England team manager Ann Hogbin, who was also on the inspection trip.

"There is still a lot of work to be done but the organizing committee has given their commitment that everything will be ready in time, and I know that they will work tirelessly to ensure that this is the case."

Last week, Commonwealth Games Federation chief Michael Fennell said he was concerned about the pace of work at venues for athletics, swimming and weightlifting but was largely satisfied with the city's preparedness.

Kukla stuns Guehrer to book trip to Dehli

Fourteen-year-old Brisbane schoolgirl Yolane Kukla stunned 50-metre butterfly world champion Marieke Guehrer here Wednesday to qualify for the Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Kukla, a former gymnast who only started swimming two years ago, swam 25.92s to edge out 2009 world champion Guehrer (26.28) and fellow teenager Emily Seebohm (26.47).

"I did gymnastics for five years but had a bad knee injury and couldn't do much for a while," Kukla said.

"So I got into swimming. I only came here to try and do PBs -- I'm just shocked I got under 26 seconds."

Kukla became the youngest female swimmer to make a major Australian team since 13-year-old Jodie Clatworthy earned a spot at the 1986 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games.

Twelve-year-old Dimity Douglas, who swam at the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games, remains Australia's youngest swimmer at a major meet.

Leisel Jones claimed the 50m breaststroke title and a trip to Delhi when she swam 30.87 to beat Leiston Pickett (31.06) and Sara Katsoulis (31.12)

Hayden Stoekel won the men's 50m backstroke in 25.06, ahead of Daniel Arnamnart (25.08), while Nicholas Ffrost surprised Thomas Fraser-Holmes and Kenrick Monk to win the 200m freestyle in a time of 1:47.40.

Coca-Cola India joins CWG as Official Beverage partner

Coca-Cola India, one of country's largest soft drink manufacturer, has become the 'Official Beverage Partner' for the Organising Committee of this year's Commonwealth Games.

They have now joined Air India, NTPC, Hero Honda and Central Bank of India in the Delhi 2010 Games family as its partner.

Organising Committee CWG Chairman Suresh Kalmadi and Coca-Cola India President and CEO Atul Singh today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to this effect at the Games headquarters here.

"We are delighted to have Coca-Cola India as the official beverage for the Commonwealth Games. Coca-Cola has a strong legacy of supporting Olympic sports and today is an important day for all of us as we are just 200 days away from the Games," Kalmadi said after the signing ceremony.

"Coca-Cola as a partner will make its products available to all games officials, participants, citizens of India and guests who will come to witness and be part of October 3-14 sporting event," Kalmadi added.

Atul Singh said Coca-Cola has a strong legacy of supporting Olympic sport and "this partnership is one of the most prominent tie-ups for the multi-sport extravaganza this year."

In 2008, Coca-Cola India was the official beverage partner of Youth Commonwealth Games in Pune, global partner of Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay. It was also the sponsor of the Hero Honda FIH Hockey World Cup 2010 in New Delhi.

IGI's main runway to be shut for maintenance from April 2

The main runway at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here will be shut from April 2 to Sep 28 for repairs and maintenance, the civil aviation ministry announced Wednesday.

The authorities aim to raise the quality of the runway, number 28, at the sprawling and the country's busiest airport, before the Commonwealth Games begin Oct 3.

Ministry officials, including Secretary M. Madhavan Nambiar, visited the airport Wednesday and met officials of the Delhi International Airport Ltd, which operates the airport.

"The recarpetting of the runway will start April 2 and will be completed by Sep 28," the ministry said in a statement. During this time, planes will use the two other runways.

The repair work on the main runway would be carried out in a phased manner to ensure minimum inconvenience to the aircraft, it said.

The main runway was last repaired in 1999. A runway's resurfacing needs to be done every 7 to 10 years depending on usage.

"Due to increase in traffic and heavier aircraft, the runway surface has got distressed and requires rehabilitation," the ministry said.

The Indira Gandhi International Airport handles around 3.8 million passengers every year.