Tuesday, May 12, 2009

USD 13.3 bn being spent to prepare Delhi for 2010 Games

New Delhi, May 11 (PTI) The Delhi government today showcased a complete city operation plan while other stakeholders made presentations on their efforts towards the successful hosting of the Commonwealth Games next year. Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta gave a comprehensive overview of the efforts being made by the Delhi government and its agencies to the top brass of Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), including its chief Mike Fennel.

Mehta said around USD 13.3 billion was being spent for the upgradation of facilities in Delhi and most of the amount would have been spent by the time the Games begin.

Other areas touched upon by him were communication, power, water supply, waste management and city beautification.

A presentation was also made on the medical arrangements being readied for the Games which will have three dedicated hospitals -- AIIMS, GB Pant and LNJP. The Games village will have a polyclinic and each stadium will have a medical facility for the athletes and spectators.

Education Secretary gave a short presentation on how the Delhi government is involving the schools for the Games by putting up cultural programmes during the Games. PTI


6000 villages, hamlets vulnerable in last phase LS polls: EC

New Delhi, May 11 (PTI) People in over 6,000 villages and hamlets in nine states and two Union Territories going to polls in the final phase of polling in Lok Sabha election on May 13 are vulnerable to threats and intimidation, the Election Commission said today.
Nearly 19,000 trouble-makers have been identified against whom preventive measures have been initiated to ensure free and fair polls, Deputy Election Commissioner R Balakrishnan told reporters here.

He said 86,782 villages and hamlets in various parts of the country have been identified as vulnerable to threats and intimidation in the ongoing election process and specific action taken against over 3.73 lakh people.

The EC reviewed the arrangements for the fifth and final phase of elections to 86 Lok Sabha seats in which a total of 10.78 crore voters would be eligible to exercise their franchise in over 1.21 lakh polling stations, he said.

With the five-phase poll coming to an end on Wednesday, the Commission will lift the ban on opinion and exit polls which can be telecast after close of the final phase of polls at five PM on May 13.

On April 14, the EC banned dissemination of results of opinion and exit polls by the media. PTI


PM woos Left, wants secular parties to keep NDA out of power

Ludhiana (Punjab), May 11 (PTI) Apparently wooing the Left for support, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said all secular parties had an obligation to provide a "purposeful, secular" government at the centre and prevent the NDA from coming to power at "all cost".
He said allies of the UPA, which were "unhappy", could be mollified but ruled out support to any government led by the Left parties arguing that they would not get more seats than the Congress.

"I always believe that all secular forces have an obligation to work together to give the country a purposeful, secular government," Singh told a press conference when asked specifically about whether he would appeal to the Left to again support a UPA government.

To a question whether the Indo-US civil nuclear deal could be a sticky issue on forging ties with the Left, he said, "I think it is not an issue now. It has been signed, sealed and operationalised. It cannot be an issue for dialogue.

"There is a wider purpose to give the country a purposeful, secular government for which all secular forces should vote together," he said.

On the NDA rally here yesterday, Singh said "you heard (Gujarat Chief Minister) Narendra Modi's tone at the NDA rally yesterday. It indicates the kind of government they want to have. This must be avoided at all cost". PTI

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