What does this sort of news say about India?

[postnew]

Indian soldiers reconstruct a collapsed footbridge outside Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main Commonwealth Games venue, in New Delhi on September 27, 2010.​

 

[postnew]

People use a newly built pedestrian bridge where a sign warns pedestrians not to cross the street, near the Commonwealth Games village in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010.​

 

[Rogue Trader]

But if India can learn from this fiasco - combat the chronic corruption (the worse thing is that money kena siphoned away but the work still shoddy!!) then that is a good point. I doubt if anyone of the big shots will get prosecuted and they will be having high tea in London enjoyed their loot.

Besides corruption and human exploitation, one big hindrance to India's development is the land rights issue. Infrastructure building can never take place smoothly because the powerful land owners or the hordes of illegal squatters will never want the anyone to touch their property.

This problem was solved in China with Communism. Now state owns all land. Lease term is 40 years. Not happy don't move. The bulldozers will still come in tomorrow at 7am.

Unless the whole India comes under dictatorial rule for a generation, this land right issue will continue to exist for them.

 

[postnew]

An Indian policeman carries a road divider to identify a dedicated lane for the Commonwealth Games, near the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main Commonwealth Games venue, in New Delhi on September 27, 2010.​

 

[postnew]

Indian labourers clean the grass at the Thyagaraj Stadium during a media visit in New Delhi on September 12, 2010.​

Commonwealth Games organisers to add green touch to venues
27 September 2010
By Damanjeet Kohli

New Delhi, one of the greenest cities in the world, is trying to keep up with its green image for the Commonwealth Games.

New Delhi is on its last leg of the Games preparations.With the stadiums ready, the focus has shifted to beautifying the city.

But plans to create a green cover are running behind schedule.

The capital lost thousands of trees to Metro rail construction, flyovers and other Games-related projects.

Now with no time left to re-grow the greens, the government has turned to potted plants from nearby states, for an instant greening of the Games' venues.

So far, around a million potted plants have been used.

New Delhi Municipal Corporation horticulture director Subhash Chandra said: "We are planting herbs, shrubs, herbaceous plants, foliage plants, ground cover and shrubs to enhance the greenery part during the Commonwealth Games and perennials that can last five to six years".

At the same time, the Games Organisers too, are eager to leave a green footprint.

For example, the Thyagaraj stadium, which will host the netball event, generates its own electricity, using gas turbines and solar panels.

It also harvests rainwater, and is designed to keep the inside temperature cool.

Head of Thyagaraj Sports Complex O.P Bhatia said: "Thyagaraj stadium is the greenest stadium in the world.

"It doesn't leave any carbon footprint. We have the solar panel, and we have our own turbines. Whatever electricity we produce and the vapours we release, we use it for air-conditioning.

"Even our flooring is made from the rags and leftover (material)".

Even the Games mascot Shera is promoting the green drive.

A statue of Shera, made of 250,000 polythene bags, stands tall in New Delhi .

As part of the city's "say no to plastic bags" campaign, people are reminded by the mascot to use cloth or jute bags instead.

Delhi is the greenest metro city in India with more than 20 per cent area under forest and tree cover.

In the last two decades, its green cover has grown ten folds.

For every tree cut, the New Delhi government has made it compulsory to plant 10 saplings in its place.

Even though a lot of trees have been cut for Commonwealth Games projects, in the next few years, New Delhi is hoping to gain back its greenery.

An Indian labourer smokes as rest next to a practice track at the Thyagaraj Stadium in New Delhi on September 15, 2010.​

 

[postnew]

Labourers work outside the airport in New Delhi September 26, 2010. The Commonwealth Games Federation chief said on Saturday there was still work to be done amid concerns about security before India's showcase event starts next week, but that the event will still proceed.​

 

[postnew]

Indian traffic police keep watch as they enforce vehicular activity on Commonwealth Games vehicle lanes (inner L and R), authorised for Games-specific vehicles only, in New Delhi on September 27, 2010.​

 

[postnew]

An Indian soldier keeps watch in front of an entrance leading to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main venue for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, in New Delhi on September 27, 2010.

Indian paramilitary soldiers man on the guard post at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, in New Delhi, India, Monday, Sept. 27, 2010.​

 

[annexa]

if you go to the expatsingapore forum, there's a thread on cwealth games.

the best part is the indian fts in that forum (yes, they consider themeselves expats hor)defend themselves and push the blame on everyone else except them..... from the foreign press, to the cwealth c'tee etc. everyone but themselves.

damn typical.

How to push? If cock up until like this still can push, then knn heaven also can become earth!

 

[Char_Azn]

Besides corruption and human exploitation, one big hindrance to India's development is the land rights issue. Infrastructure building can never take place smoothly because the powerful land owners or the hordes of illegal squatters will never want the anyone to touch their property.

This problem was solved in China with Communism. Now state owns all land. Lease term is 40 years. Not happy don't move. The bulldozers will still come in tomorrow at 7am.

Unless the whole India comes under dictatorial rule for a generation, this land right issue will continue to exist for them.

No the biggest problem with India is not Corruption/human exploitation or wealthy land owner. Believe it or not the problem is Democracy, even the Indians will tell you the same thing. Unlike most democracy, India takes the idea to the extreme. Basically when something needs to get done and the Government wants to implement it, the opposition will come up to block it. Or someone who isn't happy will come out and protest.

Unlike in most countries where protesters are generally ignored, the Indian government takes this protests more seriously coz if they don't, the protest will turn into an angry mob or another opposition party will block the entire thing, again citing this as a reason.

The worst part about the opposition blocking any policies or any moving forward by the ruling government isn't even for the pple, they just want to make sure that the country does not go forward coz it will make the ruling party look good. It's kinda pathetic but its what's happening right now.

China BTW pays compensation for the land they take although in many cases, the amt is pretty pathetic which is why U get stories of home owners vs Bulldozers

 

[singveld]

Frantic work is going on around the Commonwealth Games venues The Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit, says the athletes' village for the Commonwealth Games won't be finished until Wednesday.

The news follows mounting criticism over India's preparations for the Games, which open next Sunday.

About 4,000 people are working around the clock to get the village ready, as competitors from across the world begin to arrive.

Athletes from Kenya, Scotland and India are now living in the village.

But some competitors have already pulled out of the Games after the accommodation was described as filthy, uninhabitable and unsafe.

Ms Dikshit visited the site on Sunday to check on progress.

After talking to officials she said work was "on track".

"About 66 flats will be handed over by tomorrow [Monday] and everything will be complete by Wednesday," she said.

Meanwhile, Team England has announced it will move its athletes to the village on Monday from the hotel in Delhi where they have been staying.

'Athletes happier'

The BBC's Rahul Tandon in Delhi said the announcement was a rare bit of good news for the Games' beleaguered organising committee.

BBC sports reporter Sonali Shah said Team Scotland had moved into the athletes' village after flying out on Saturday.

"They say they are happier. They say there are still a lot of things to be done," she said.

The build-up to the Games has been marred by construction delays, corruption scandals, a dengue fever outbreak and the collapse of a footbridge near the main stadium.

Mike Hooper, chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation, told the BBC his organisation wasn't to blame for the problems.

He said he had been applying pressure on organisers since his team first viewed it in March.

"These people just did not understand, or seem to accept the magnitude of the problem. But the reality is, we are where we are."

He said that since the problems had been made public a lot of work has been done on the site.

The cost of hosting the largest sporting event in India's history has soared.

It has become most expensive Commonwealth Games so far, with estimates ranging up to more than $10bn (£6.3bn).

Delhi has had seven years to prepare, though very little work was done until 2008. Ticket sales have so far been low.

 

[postnew]

Chief Minister of Delhi Sheila Dikshit (C) flags off a new 'HoHo' tourist bus in New Delhi on September 27, 2010, which are designed for visiting historic sites and museums, ahead of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games 2010

Indian tourism officials pose inside a new 'HoHo' tourist bus beside India Gate in New Delhi on September 27, 2010, which are designed for visiting historic sites and museums, ahead of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games 2010.

 

[postnew]

Australian athletes Lynsey Aromitage (L), Leif Selby (R) and Claire Duke sit in front of the Hindu 'Akshardham temple at the Commonwealth Games athletes village in New Delhi September 27, 2010.

Athletes and offical from Australia chat as they pose for a photographer (not in the picture) at the Commonwealth Games Village in New Delhi on September 27, 2010 ahead of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.​

 

[postnew]

Team members from Scotland arrive for the Commonwealth Games as Indian security personnel stand guard at the airport in New Delhi September 27, 2010. The Games were supposed to enhance India's image as a rising power, but shoddy construction, dirty accommodation and security fears raised governance and accountability issues in Asia's third largest economy.​

 

[postnew]

Foreign tourists walk past a new 'HoHo' bus in New Delhi on September 27, 2010, which are designed for visiting historic sites and museums, ahead of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games 2010. The Indian capital is scheduled to host the Commonwealth Games October 3-14, the biggest sporting event in the city since the 1982 Asian Games.

Indian tourism officials pose inside a new 'HoHo' tourist bus in New Delhi on September 27, 2010, which are designed for visiting historic sites and museums, ahead of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games 2010.​

 

[cocobobo]

curlin

your picture a bit too small lah. can make it a big bigger?

 

[postnew]

An Indian homeless family, hired to clear the pavement ahead of the Commonwealth Games, wait for a bus in New Delhi on September 27, 2010.

 

[postnew]

Canada Commonwealth Games team member Ken Pereira (R) poses with a Canadian flag 0n their arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on September 27, 2010.

 

[postnew]

Canada Commonwealth Games team members arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on September 27, 2010.​

 

[postnew]

A Australia Commonwealth Games team member waves to media on arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on September 27, 2010.​