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The Centre on Wednesday assured heads of missions of Commonwealth countries about security and stadium preparedness and allayed their fears on the dengue outbreak in the Capital. The high commissioners of Commonwealth countries, including New Zealand, Australia, UK and Canada, had expressed their concerns about Delhi's preparedness for the Games.
With little over a fortnight left for the Commonwealth Games to begin, Health Secretary Sujatha Rao told the envoys that there was nothing to panic about the recent outbreak of dengue fever in the Capital. According to sources, Rao assured them that the situation was under control and the strain of the disease in the Capital was non-fatal. They were also given a briefing on how the government was conducting "fogging" operations in the Games village and the stadia to keep the mosquitos at bay.
In their presentation, Home Ministry and Delhi Police officials clarified that the security agencies have made all arrangements, in terms of "concentric security rings" around the stadia and the Village, to prevent any terrorist attacks.
The envoys were also told that the stadia are ready and test events have been conducted in them. Hence, there was no need for any nervousness on the preparedness of the venues. They were told by the Organising Committee officials and Sports Secretary Sindhushree Khullar that the debris and construction material outside the stadia would be removed by next week. The top bureaucrats were roped in by the Organising Committee to brief the heads of missions on the preparedness of Games as games federations had started expressing concerns over the last few weeks.
Top MEA officials, including Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, were also present to address the concerns of the mission heads, as their games federations are waiting for the green signal from the envoys. After the 90-minute meeting, the envoys were taken to the Major Dhyanchand National Stadium for a visit.
Meanwhile, ten officials from England, Wales and New Zealand visited the Games Village, which is scheduled for a soft launch on Thursday. They were accompanied by top CWG officials.
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