Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit tells MIHIR SRIVASTAVA that the Commonwealth Games’ critics are being irresponsible
The Commonwealth Games have become controversial on so many counts. How do you react to the charges?
Let me make it very clear that nothing is being done for the Commonwealth Games that will compromise the capability of Delhi to host such a game. For such international events, I don’t take governments as important. Political governments will come and go, but this is a question of national prestige. I am just not able to understand why people are running it down.
Are the ecological concerns over constructing the commonwealth games village on the riverbed justified?
You want Delhi ecologically safe, fine. I am the most ecologically sensitive person. But nobody objected to the Akshardham temple coming up on the riverbed. This village is just next to it.
Why is there so much of criticism?
I don’t know. I think people are being irresponsible. I don’t want to take names but those who are doing this are doing the country no good.
Criticism is coming from cabinet members. The sports minister is concerned about the escalating cost.
Yes, the escalation should not be so much, But we have to account for the inflation rate. Then the question is who is causing the escalation. We are the ones responsible for the delay in decisions.
Another Union minister, who is also a local MP, says that we should plan infrastructure development keeping Delhi’s needs in mind and not peg it entirely to a sporting event.
What is going to happen after the Games? The infrastructure that is being made for it, the infrastructure that is being upgraded, is it not going to be a legacy for us? Or is somebody else going to take it?
One of your ministers has said that the games provide Delhi an opportunity to be a world city. What is your vision of a world city?
Delhi is a great heritage city. It has green spaces that very few big cities have. It has a weak public transport system which is being upgraded. By 2010 we will have modern buses and 270 kilometers of the Metro. The power situation will be much better. These are add-ons which Delhi requires. If people want to be cynical, there is always something to find fault with.
Is Delhi the only city where we can host games of this magnitude?
This is the only city that has the availability and the capacity to host the Games despite the multiple centres of governance.
Is that a problem?
It’s terrible. The land belongs to the DDA which comes under the Ministry of Urban Development. We are at their mercy. Then, you have the MCD which does the basic civic services and falls under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Now the MHA does not have the time to care for one silly municipality. We do not have the police under us. So what do we do?
You have painted a sorry picture. How do you manage?
It’s just the goodwill. When people talk to me about insecurity felt by girls in Delhi, I empathise with them, I know it myself. I keep telling them (Delhi Police) to have more vans manned by women. Please get at least one women in every thana. But I have no powers over them.
Does the fact that the Congress is in power at the centre help? You were also the CM when the NDA was in power.
I think nobody wants to part with whatever turf they have. There is no advantage. The evolution of Delhi’s administrative system has been such that nobody wants to tinker with it.
From Tehelka Magazine, Vol 5, Issue 12, Dated Mar 29, 2008
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