PM steps in, orders daily reports on CWG Village mess

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh summons Delhi Lieutenant-Governor after allegations of 'filthy, unlivable' conditions in the Commonwealth Games Village. See cartoon

Amidst complaints by some countries about the "substandard" and "filthy" conditions in the Commonwealth Games Village, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has stepped in again to put in order the arrangements for the October 3-14 event.

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The Prime Minister summoned Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Tejinder Khanna on Tuesday and directed him to personally oversee the clean-up and refurbishment of the apartments to house athletes and officials, a senior official told IANS.

The Lt. Governor will be submitting a day-to-day status report to the Prime Minster, the official said. See cartoon

Khanna was summoned after Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrasekhar, who visited the Village in the morning, submitted a report to the Prime Minister.

Chandrasekhar visited the athletes' housing site on Tuesday and asked officials to "clean up fast" after several countries complained about the "unlivable" conditions in the Village.

Chandrasekhar instructed senior officials in the urban development ministry and the Organising Committee (OC) to clean up the Village fast and put the fixtures in order, a senior official told IANS.

In August, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had asked Chandrasekhar to coordinate with the OC and speed up arrangements for the Games.

New Zealand, Scotland, Canada and Ireland have complained of substandard upkeep and poor arrangements in the apartments allotted to their contingents.

The initial batches of athletes for the CWG are scheduled to check-in at the Village Thursday.

About 7,000 participants and officials from 71 countries and territories are expected to attend the Commonwealth Games, India's biggest sporting event after the 1982 Asian Games.