Chandigarh, September 10
Haryana today denied it was deliberately releasing water into the Yamuna river, thus posing a flood threat in Delhi.

"Hathnikund is a barrage and not a dam. Therefore, Haryana cannot release water from Hathnikund barrage but it automatically flows down into the Yamuna with the natural flow," state principal secretary (irrigation) S.S. Dhillon said.

"About 707,000 cusecs of water was flowing in Hathnikund barrage on September 8, which reduced to 74,000 cusecs today. Water level in the Yamuna had risen because there was heavy rainfall on the riverbanks and now it has also started receding considerably," he said.

According to Haryana officials, over one lakh cusecs of water was released into the Yamuna this morning. — IANS

New Delhi, September 10
In view of the alarming rise in the number of dengue cases, the Indian Army today plunged into action and took charge of disinfecting areas around the Games Village.

"Efforts have been doubled. We are increasing steps to check larvae breeding at all Games venues. The Army's cooperation would be more than helpful. The city is well-equipped to cater to the health needs of athletes during the Commonwealth Games (CWG)," said Bhratinder Singh, chief medical officer of the CWG organising committee.

As per the plan, rapid response teams are monitoring all training venues and stadia. Anti-dengue activities are being carried out daily, but the polyclinic made of jute and tart would only be managed with fogging, which the Games officials claim would alone be effective.

Meanwhile, with the soaring number of dengue patients, the authorities concerned feel that the crisis this year would replicate or surpass the 2006 figures when Delhi had reported 3,366 positive cases and 36 deaths.

With the Capital recording 72 fresh cases today, the cumulative count of people down with the bite of aedes mosquito has reached 1,652 this year.

Health experts have attributed the crisis to over 35 per cent more rains this year, dug-up lanes across the city which have become a breeding ground for mosquitoes during the monsoon and the absence of a proper plan to check the outbreak.

Though measures to contain the outbreak have been taken by the authorities concerned, the worst seems far from being over.

Most hospitals in the Capital like-- AIIMS, Safdarjung, Ram Manohar Lohia, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash along with private labs and hospitals like-- Sir Ganga Ram, Moolchand, Max Healthcare, have seen an alarming upsurge in dengue cases.

"Though the number of cases this year is more than previous years, there is nothing to panic. There are many countries like-Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore that report dengue cases throughout the year. It is just that people have to be more responsive," said V.K. Monga, chairman, health committee, MCD.

New Delhi, September 10
Contrary to the estimate of the organising committee (OC) of the Commonwealth Games (CWG),-- which had been expecting more than 8,000 athletes to take part in the mega sports event-- so far, only 7,000 athletes and team officials from 71 countries have confirmed their participation. Of these 7,000 conformations, India has the biggest contingent of 600 athletes.

Though the last date for submitting confirmation of participation is September 16, even with 7,000 athletes and officials, Delhi Games will be the biggest-ever. The number of participants in the last CWG held in Melbourne, which has been the biggest CWG so far, was 5,800.

"We are delighted to announce that Delhi 2010 is set to become the largest-ever Commonwealth Games and are confident that it will be conducted smoothly," said OC CWG secretary-general Lalit K Bhanot.

Bhanot said that the entries might go up as late entry is allowed with the permission of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CWF).

"The number of participants is likely to go up as the CWF has a policy of accepting late entries," he said.

India will field the biggest contingent of more than 600 athletes and team officials while Bostwana will have the smallest team of less than five athletes and officials.

With a 220-strong contingent, South Africa will be the second biggest team from Africa. India's neighbours Pakistan and Sri Lanka will send contingents of around 125 each.

Meanwhile, Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, Scotland and Wales will keep their record as the only nations to participate in all the editions of the CWG when they compete in Delhi.

The exact number of athletes will be known only at the Delegation Registration Meetings (DRMs) that will be held between September 16 and October 2.

"More importantly, there are many world, Olympic, CWG and continental champions among the participants," Bhanot said.

"We are sure that spectators and TV audiences across the world will enjoy watching these athletes perform at the world-class facilities created here," Bhanot added.

He said that the Games Village can house up to 7,200 guests . "Of course, we are confident that the athletes in 17 disciplines of sports and four para-sport events (150 athletes) will like the facilities here and deliver very good performances. They will also enjoy living at the Games Village," he said.

New Delhi, September 10
In an attempt to present a beautiful picture of the city during the Commonwealth Games, the authorities have started decorating both sides of the road between Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and the Games Village, a stretch which will be used frequently by the athletes.

Several sculptures depicting trees, which will be lit up in the coming days, have been installed alongside the Millennium Park on Ring Road. Also, mosaic sculptures would be put on display outside various stadia and other games' venues.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today visited the Rajiv Gandhi Smiriti Bhawan near the Millennium Park and assessed the progress of the beautification works.

Dikshit said the plant-like sculptures of different varieties of plants had been prepared to give a holistic look. She asked the officials to light up the sculptures for a more beautiful and elegant look.

Dikshit credited officials of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), environment department and the Delhi Park and Garden Society for bringing out the unique public art and hoped that Delhiites would get a feel of the "Green Games".

According to officials, experts were trained in Japan for making these tree-like sculptures.

The Delhi Park and Garden Society has also decided to prepare iron wire structures of CWG mascot Shera, Games logo and signage boards for Games venues and other important sites in Delhi.

Apart from this, TERI was asked to provide tissue or clone raised plants of uniform growth. The MCD was assigned the task of filling structures with peat muck that should be covered with iron net and grow plants on these structures in artistic designs. Now, 12 Sheras, 12 logos, 17 signage boards and seven common signage boards are being created to put up at CWG venues and important sites.

New Delhi, September 10
Delhi University Students' Union has raised serious concerns about the semester system and eviction of hostellers to lodge CWG tourists. DUSU stated that if its concerns were not addressed by the university, the students would resort to agitation.

DUSU has given a memorandum to the vice-chancellor on these issues, underlining that if the administration does not take action within 15 days, the union would launch an agitation.

DUSU president Jitendra Chaudhry said, "We are deeply concerned about the future of science students for whom the administration has implemented the semester system in an undemocratic manner. The system requires detailed planning and understanding between students, teacher and administration."

Chaudhry added, "No student is prepared for the 1st semester exams and if the administration forces the students to appear for them, there will be a large-scale agitation."

According to DUSU, the semester system has not been implemented in an organized manner and students bear the brunt of this lapse.

Priya Dabas, DUSU vice-president, said that the varsity administration's unprecedented step on evicting hostellers to accommodate Commonwealth Game athletes has not gone down well with the student community.

Dabas said, "The university is unsympathetic to the students who come from outside and need hostels. In the name of the Commonwealth Games, the varsity has not given the hostel facility to them. Consequently, they are facing lots of economical and security problems while trying to get accommodation somewhere else. Compensation to the hostel seekers should be given.

According to DUSU members, the varsity is taking a "casual view of the various sexual harassment cases pending in the colleges and departments."

The union has demanded that the university should ensure the security of complainant students.

New Delhi, September 10
In the power-surplus Delhi, as has been claimed by the government and the BSES this year, there is a village that has remained without electricity all these years of development till today.

Badarpur Khadar, a village that is over 8 km in UP, surrounded by Delhi on three sides and the Yamuna on the fourth, got a power gift on Eid eve today. Homes of families mostly from economically weaker sections were all lit up.

An official said it took time to electrify the village because the power distribution company had to seek the consent and cooperation of UP officials as electric lines could be laid there through the state.

BYPL, which is a division of the BSES, said it raised power distribution infrastructure at Rs 6.6 crore to electrify the village.

Though the formal inauguration of power supply to the village would be done in some time, electricity reached its houses today.