C'wealth Games - popular places of worship under scrutiny?

Places of religious importance form part of the itinerary of tourists visiting the capital but barring a few these are hardly ready to welcome visitors from across the world who will throng the city during the Commonwealth Games 2010.

Places of religious importance form part of the itinerary of tourists visiting the capital but barring a few these are hardly ready to welcome visitors from across the world who will throng the city during the Commonwealth Games 2010.

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The war of words between the government authorities and managements of religious places sees no end, with the latter expressing their concerns and the former claiming to have solved these.

Shahi Imam, Jamia Masjid, Ahmed Bukhari says he has written to the MCD, DDA, and government authorities many times. "There is a development plan going on in Jamia Masjid but what the authorities should remember is that it in addition to being a historical place, it is a place of worship as well. Special care has to be taken about it," he says.

Deep Mathur, spokesperson Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), says, "We will take a considered view on this. We want managements of the religious places to coordinate with us. Before the CWG, we are going to develop the area under us properly. We have an ambitious plan and would be implementing it soon."

The spokesperson denies tardy pace of work, saying that the speed is normal and the work would be complete till the CWG.