New Delhi, September 21
The Commonwealth Games Organising Committee brazened it out in a press conference following severe indictment of the Games Village by CWG Federation and advance teams of some of the participating countries.

Defending the embarrassment caused to the country, Lalit Bhanot, secretary general of OC, said that the international delegates have a certain level of hygiene which might differ from our hygiene standards.

"They want a certain level of hygiene which may differ from my standards or anyone else's. In order to build up this bridge, we have upgraded our people to assure the similar type of cleanliness that they want," said Bhanot.

Even as the letter written by the Commonwealth Games Federation president to the cabinet secretary terming the Games Village as 'unliveable and unhygienic', the Organising Committee (OC) officials today said these are minor issues and work will be completed before the athletes arrive on September 23.

"This is not a big issue. Every game faces such problems," he said.

Commenting on the Mike Hooper's remark on toilet being used by the labourers, Bhanot said, "When there are so many people working day and night, these things do happen. We cannot clean the rooms or lock them always. Till the time the labourers do not vacate, anything can happen," he said.

Though just one day left for the athletes to come to the residential towers in the village, Bhanot reiterated that the work will be completed before they arrive and said that the delegates are staying in the hotels at present.

New Delhi, September 21
The overseas athletes for the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games will start arriving in Delhi from Thursday, but the warm-up pool at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Swimming Complex is yet to be made operational.

The authorities say things will be in place latest by Saturday.

The Indian swimmers practising here found the warm-up pool not ready and are training at the main pool. "We found the facilities okay. But the starting blocks at the warm-up pool are still to be fixed. We can still manage but the overseas swimmers will be here soon and they will give them (organisers) hell," said a top Swimming Federation of India (SFI) official.

The stadium came under a lot of criticism during the test event in July because of basic technical flaws in the structure. There is no lift for the divers to reach the board, and the staircase leading to the top are so narrow that the swimmers neeeded to be cautioned with a notice "mind your head."

A media tour 10 days ago revealed that the electronic scoreboard, anti-slippery mat for the highboard diving and starting blocks (12) for the warm up pool are still to be placed. Media was told the equipments will arrive by Sep 19.

Competition manager Kamlesh Nanavati said that though the three diving boards have been fixed, the starting blocks for the warm-up pool, and the electronic scoreboard, will only arrive by Saturday or Sunday.

"All these equipment is coming from Singapore and should be here by the weekend. The anti-slippery surfaces on all the three diving boards have been fixed and they are ready," Nanavati said. — IANS

New Delhi, September 21
After the Commonwealth Games Federation's (CGF) rude remarks over the residential towers in Games Village embarrassed the organisers, Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Tejendra Khanna met top officials, including the cabinet secretary and the principal secretary to the Prime Minister, and took stock of the preparedness at the village. The top officials also visited the Games Village.

A command and control centre has been set up at the village. It consists of special officers, venue administrator, venue security commander and other representatives of the Organising Committee (OC) who will coordinate activities like -- requirement of additional manpower and other resources.

The officials who had gone to examine the village said during the past few days, certain deficiencies in residential zone, particularly pertaining to cleanliness and minor rectifications, had been pointed out by some delegates of the Commonwealth Games Association (CGA).

"The number of staff meant for cleaning and housekeeping has been increased. Professionals in the field have been inducted. More resources will be inducted, as per the requirement, into the cleaning and maintenance of apartments in the village towers," read a statement issued by Khanna.

The statement further read that chief engineer (electrical) of the DDA along with representatives of the agency, state government and BSES have been made responsible to ensure uninterrupted supply of power in the village.

Besides, one officer each from Delhi and Andaman and Nicobar civil service will be made in charge of each tower to ensure maintenance and cleaning. In view of the heavy rains, requirement of dewatering the area will be promptly carried out by the developer with assistance from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

New Delhi, September 21
Stepping up security measures ahead of the October 3-14 Commonwealth Games, the Delhi police today banned the holding of meetings and demonstrations around Indira Gandhi International Airport.

The police issued an order imposing section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure banning the assembly of five or more people in the area with immediate effect till October 25.

Explaining the need for the order, the police said experience had shown that "unrestricted holding of public meetings, processions, demonstrations, picketing, soliciting, coercion and touting of domestic and international passengers in any manner" would "disturb the functioning of the airport".

The order lists the areas associated with the operational control of flights, including the recently opened T3 terminal, and roads leading up to National Highway-8.

Some 7,000 athletes and officials from 71 countries are expected to attend the Commonwealth Games. — IANS

New Delhi, September 21
Round-the-clock monitoring is being done by the officials and technical staff of the flood and irrigation department, divers and others following an announcement of the Central Ground Water Board that the Yamuna level is likely to rise up to 207 metre that may cause flood in the low-lying areas of the Capital.

Rail and road traffic has been closed on Old Yamuna Bridge, connecting east Delhi to the heart of the Capital. The direction to close the traffic was given in the morning when the water level touched 205.78 metre which is 95 metre

above the danger mark of 204.83 metre. In the evening, the level has gone up to 206.22 metre.

Engineer-in-chief of the flood and irrigation department, Ish Kumar said that Haryana released 7.44 lakh cusecs of water yesterday and more than one lakh cusec was released this evening.

Meanwhile, the government is taking all the measures to protect people from the flood. Residents of low-lying areas have vacated their houses and are living in tents erected by the government.

Railways had stopped services on Old Yamuna Bridge around 3 am and are diverting the trains bound for Old Delhi railway station and towards the eastern part of the country through other routes, a railway official said.

Twenty-seven local trains have been cancelled while 58 short distance trains like Farakka, Padmavati, Howrah Janata, Ranikhet and Lal Quila Express diverted.

The closure of the bridge resulted in diversion of traffic to a highway linking Delhi with Uttar Pradesh, which led to further choking of roads.

New Delhi, September 21
With the Commonwealth Games guests all set to arrive in Delhi University hostels in the coming week, students here are trying to contribute in their own ways to ensure that everyone has a good and memorable stay.

Students of several extra-curricular activities are busy preparing information posters and leaflets to be put up across hostel corridors to assist the visitors during their stay.

These colorful handmade posters giving information about food, night life, shopping destinations, hangout zones, museums and Commonwealth Games venues will be put up on boards this week.

"We are also displaying several important Internet links that the visitors can check out. Further, our posters will also tell them about hotels, popular clubs, lounges, salad bars and much more. The students have also created a facebook community where visitors can get the required information," said Archit Adhyan, Hansraj College.

"Tips on shopping, bargaining, eating right and cheap and mini guides on tourist destinations and heritage spots are some of the ideas that we are working on," said Nishita Bhatt, student, Miranda House college.

Information about prices of most common used products, Metro routes, nearest Metro stations from Games venues are also been put up on these notice boards. Brief synopsis about popular destinations and guide to malls in Delhi, Noida and Gurgaon are also on the list of the students.

"We don't want the visitors to be fleeced. We have prepared leaflets containing popular Hindi words with their corresponding English meanings which will help them communicate with locals. These leaflets will be made available to every guest in the hostels," said Suhani Miglani, cultural secretary, Lady Shri Ram College.

Even amid the widespread criticism around housing CWG visitors in DU hostels, many teachers are also supporting students in their endeavours.

"A lot of people feel strongly about the issue. But this is the spirit of the university that even with so many problems that these students are facing, they are ready to help the guests. They tell us that they anyhow make posters throughout the year, why not make something that will help the visitors," said Shalini Tripathi, BA faculty member at Hansraj College.

New Delhi, September 21
Two persons have been detained by the Mumbai anti-terrorist squad (ATS) in connection with the e-mail purportedly sent by terror outfit Indian Mujahideen to own up the attacks outside the Jama Masjid in Delhi on Sunday morning.

According to a Delhi police official, the e-mail was sent through a mobile phone. The SIM card as well as the phone was purchased using a fake name and address of Mumbai.

"When Maharashtra ATS officers reached the address, they did not find anyone by the given name living there. However, two persons have been picked up for questioning," said the official.

Two Taiwanese nationals working with a TV channel were injured when unknown gunmen on a motor cycle opened fire at the bus the duo were boarding outside the gates of the Jama Masjid.

Meanwhile, Delhi police teams continued their raids across Uttar Pradesh in connection with the leads they claim to be working on. However, nothing substantial has come out from anywhere so far.

"There is nothing to tell. We are yet to find something substantial in the matter," said a police official close to investigation.

According to information, the police is also investigating about the local criminals who could have carried out the firing to create panic in the area.

The police has also detained several people, but arrest of anyone could not be confirmed. 

New Delhi, September 21
The Delhi police today announced a reward of Rs. 25,000 for a rickshaw puller who tried to give a chase to the two motorbike-borne gunmen who fired at foreign tourists outside the Jama Masjid on Sunday morning.

Displaying courage, rickshaw puller Salim Ahmed had thrown stones at the gunmen and even chased them to stop the duo from escaping.

"We have decided to give a cash award of Rs. 25,000 to Salim," said a Delhi police official.

Two motorcycle-borne attackers on Sunday shot at and injured two Taiwanese nationals outside the historic mosque which was followed by an explosion in a car in the same area. 

New Delhi, September 21
The theme of 30th international trade fair to be held in November will be "clean and energy efficient technology, product and services" and it would be a green fair. There would be no use of plastic in the fair, sources said.

Partner states of the trade fair will be Maharashtra and Rajasthan as a focus state.

But partner and focus countries have not been decided so far.

An official of the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) said that booking of spaces in the pavilions were done through online for the first time that had saved time and energy of manufacturers and traders. So far, 90 per cent space has been booked, sources said.

Highlighting the global concern of energy security, environment protection will cover new age technologies, products and management system for efficient use of energy and its conservation.

The exhibition ground will be a no smoking zone and plastic carry bags will be banned, the official said.

The fair is also a spotlight on the entire spectrum of policies, plans and activities that ensure socio-economic empowerment for weaker sections of society.

It is also an effort to attain sustainable growth in exports in accordance with the guidelines and programmes under the new foreign trade policy.

It will also unveil amazing strides of achievements in different halls in the form of special display comprising a wide range of products and services, including engineering, electronics, chemicals, drugs, power and medium industries, leather, flooring furnishing and textiles, telecommunications, jute rubber handicrafts, jewellery, processed food, cosmetics, health care, rural arts and crafts, furniture and other consumer goods, he said