Games project in green row
DDA continues work at Yamuna Sports Complex despite objection from Delhi Urban Arts Commission, Nivedita Khandekar & Ajai Masand report.
The message is clear. Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC) has not approved a proposal for development work at Yamuna Sports Complex in East Delhi for the Commonwealth Games 2010.
But Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has gone ahead with construction work which continues unabated at the complex.
On Monday, DUAC secretary Sanjib Sengupta said, “The proposal has not been approved…no proposal regarding archery stadium and conversion of cricket ground to hockey field has been submitted to the DUCA for approval.”
The 700 members of the Yamuna Sports Complex have also raised a collective voice against the clandestine construction initiated inside the 71-acre complex and recently observed a ‘black day’ as well.
But DDA officials maintained that they are working according to plan. “We have all the necessary permissions,” said DDA spokesperson Nemo Dhar when asked if the apprehensions of the complex members that the work would eat up all the greens and do away with open areas were unfounded.
The DUAC sent back DDA’s proposal with certain observations twice. Earlier, during the December 2008 meeting, the Commission had objected to inadequate arrangements for circulation of people, VIP movement and improper connectivity of parking lot with the stadium, etc.
“When the proposal came up for consideration again on January 14, we did not approve it again as the eight objections raised earlier were not complied with. They have also not submitted the site plan where trees are shown, so that we can superimpose that with the new design to see viability,” DUAC chairman K T Ravindran told Hindustan Times.
Sanjeev Bhasin, coordinator of the movement, told HT that he had sought replies from the DDA. “No one is willing to share any information. My only question is, has this work been approved,” said an exasperated Bhasin. “If it is, we will stop protesting.”
The contractors have taken over the cricket and hockey grounds. “The information we’ve gathered is that they are going to alter the plans and uproot more than 100 trees to make way for paths,” he said.
The contractors have also taken over the athletic ground and turned it into a mud pit in just a matter of days.