Delhi govt seeks help in draining out water in C'Wealth Games Village

Delhi government today sought Delhi Metro's expertise in draining out water from basements of some residential towers in the Commonwealth Games Village and rectifying problems in a number of lifts at the complex.

"We have sought help from DMRC in draining out water from the basements and to repair the lifts that were not working," a top Delhi Government official said.

Earlier in the day, chief minister Sheila Dikshit said cleaning staff at the Village was finding it difficult to drain out the stagnant water in the basements.

Asked whether the entire Games Village will be ready by the Wednesday deadline set by her yesterday, Dikshit cited the stagnant water and technical problems in some of the lifts as the main bottlenecks in the much-criticised complex.

"I won't give you a timeline.... It depends on how dry the buildings become. How quickly the water is removed from the basements and how quickly the lifts are working," she said. Officials said at least 17 lifts are not working at the Village complex.

A DMRC official said it has received the request from the city Government and has already arranged for a contractor to do the work.   

"Delhi government has approached us for clearing water near the lifts in the Games Village. We have arranged a contractor to clear the water and repair the lifts," said the official.

Delhi government officials said if DMRC manage to drain out the stagnant water and rectify the lifts then authorities will be able to adhere to the deadline of Wednesday.

Dikshit, overseeing the clean-up operation, had yesterday said everything will be ready at the complex by Wednesday. But she changed her tune today and said authorities were finding it difficult to drain out water at the Village.

Amid strong criticism by the international delegates who dubbed the Village as "filthy and uninhabitable", the PMO had on Wednesday night directed Delhi Government to take control of the complex from the Delhi Development Authority.