YJA - Still the wrong in the Games Village site is not visible to the Hon'ble CM

Dear Friends,

Following makes for disturbing reading ..... Two wrongs still continue to
make a right ? And who is saying this - a self proclaimed 'most ecologically
sensitive person'.

Firstly it is an incorrect statement coming from a CM who was in power even
then, that no one objected to Akshardham. (Mrs Ambika Soni, presently
a Union Minister and a Rajya Sabha MP then is on record vehementally
opposing it in the Parliament). Secondly even if she thinks so then does
that mean that by defaulting once people lose their right to object to a
blatant wrong for ever?

manoj


*From Tehelka Magazine, Vol 5, Issue 12, Dated Mar 29, 2008*

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*CURRENT AFFAIRS  **i**in cold blood*

* **'Congress being in the centre doesn't help me '*

*Delhi Chief Minister **Sheila Dikshit **tells **MIHIR SRIVASTAVA** that the
Commonwealth Games' critics are being irresponsible*

*The Commonwealth Games have become controversial on so many counts. How do
you react to the charges?*
Let me make it very clear that nothing is being done for the Commonwealth
Games that will compromise the capability of Delhi to host such a game. For
such international events, I don't take governments as important. Political
governments will come and go, but this is a question of national prestige. I
am just not able to understand why people are running it down.

*Are the ecological concerns over constructing the commonwealth games
village on the riverbed justified?*
You want Delhi ecologically safe, fine. I am the most ecologically sensitive
person. But nobody objected to the Akshardham temple coming up on the
riverbed. This
village is just next to it.
*
Why is there so much of criticism?*
I don't know. I think people are being irresponsible. I don't want to take
names but those who are doing this are doing the country no good.
*
Criticism is coming from cabinet members. The sports minister is concerned
about the escalating cost.*
Yes, the escalation should not be so much, But we have to account for the
inflation rate. Then the question is who is causing the escalation. We are
the ones responsible for the delay in decisions.
*
Another Union minister, who is also a local MP, says that we should plan
infrastructure development keeping Delhi's needs in mind and not peg it
entirely to a sporting event.*
What is going to happen after the Games? The infrastructure that is being
made for it, the infrastructure that is being upgraded, is it not going to
be a legacy for us? Or is somebody else going to take it?
*
One of your ministers has said that the games provide Delhi an opportunity
to be a world city. What is your vision of a world city?*
Delhi is a great heritage city. It has green spaces that very few big cities
have. It has a weak public transport system which is being upgraded. By 2010
we will have modern buses and 270 kilometers of the Metro. The power
situation will be much better. These are add-ons which Delhi requires. If
people want to be cynical, there is always something to find fault with.



*Is Delhi the only city where we can host games of this magnitude?*
This is the only city that has the availability and the capacity to host the
Games despite the multiple centres of governance.
*
Is that a problem?*
It's terrible. The land belongs to the DDA which comes under the Ministry of
Urban Development. We are at their mercy. Then, you have the MCD which does
the basic civic services and falls under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Now the MHA does not have the time to care for one silly municipality. We do
not have the police under us. So what do we do?
*
You have painted a sorry picture. How do you manage?*
It's just the goodwill. When people talk to me about insecurity felt by
girls in Delhi, I empathise with them, I know it myself. I keep telling them
(Delhi Police) to have more vans manned by women. Please get at least one
women in every thana. But I have no powers over them.
*
Does the fact that the Congress is in power at the centre help? You were
also the CM when the NDA was in power.*
I think nobody wants to part with whatever turf they have. There is no
advantage. The evolution of Delhi's administrative system has been such that
nobody wants to tinker with it.



*From Tehelka Magazine, Vol 5, Issue 12, Dated Mar 29, 2008*

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