Seven varsity facilities that were used for training during CWG are yet to be handed over by the OC to respective colleges and are in poor shape
Seven varsity facilities that were used for training during CWG are yet to be handed over by the OC to respective colleges and are in poor shape
It's game over at Delhi University. So it would seem from the condition of the sporting infrastructure at the varsity. And yet, only a year ago, a contract had been signed between the University and the CWG 2010 Organising Committee that had promised a very different future. The agreement said that the OC would use seven sports fields at various DU colleges as training facilities for athletes and would hand them over to the varsity by October 20 with improved infrastructure.
Ground reality: Sports venues which were used as training facilities for
the Commonwealthu00a0 Games are not yet ready to be handed over to the
u00a0college authorities. The due date was October 20. PICs/ Imtiyaz khan
The contract
The Delhi University Engineering Department with vice-chancellor as the heading member had signed the contract. The list of colleges includes Hindu College, Sri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), St Stephens College, Ramjas College, Kirorimal College, Daulat Ram College and Khalsa College. Apart from these, the University Polo Ground was another venue used for athletics. These sports grounds were made into training venues for the Games where players held their practice sessions.
The grounds are in the custody of the Delhi University Engineering Department (which has personnel from the ranks of the OC as members), and it is now in the process of handing it over to the colleges. But, the institutions claim that the condition of the venues is far from satisfactory.
'Unacceptable'
In a letter to the University, Hindu College has declared that it will not accept the ground in its present state. "The condition of our sports ground is not satisfactory. We have held a meeting with the University authorities and have sent in writing the specifications required for the ground," said Dr Vinay Kumar Srivastava, principal of Hindu College.
While Jai Inder Pal Singh, the sports head of Hindu College is completely disappointed with the condition of the turf. "Only rugby can be played here; our ground has been totally destroyed. They have cut the main area of the field into an oval to make it fit for their own purpose. The grass is not suitable for any sports other than rugby or football. We had our field divided for cricket, tennis, football and basketball, but now there is nothing except for the rugby oval."
Sports personnel at the college too do not seem happy with the Facility Block created at the ground. "The physio rooms in the facility block are too small and probably of no use to us. We cannot even house our fitness equipment in these cubicles, though the changing rooms and the washrooms are the good aspects having a modern expensive look," added Singh.
Nowhere to go
Amidst all this, the sports students have got a raw deal for the past one year, and the scene. "We were not allowed to use the grounds at all since they had been taken over for the Games. It has been some time since CWG got over, but still we cannot use the turf. The ground is lying empty. What is the use if we cannot play on it?" said Sahil Choudhry, member of the Hindu College cricket team.
"Instead of improving the condition of the ground they have spoilt it completely. The grounds are not levelled, the side work is incomplete, and the grass has to be relayed. The shape of the grounds has been damaged and these can now only be used for football and hockey. Also, the grass in its present condition cannot be maintained by the colleges as it would require a huge sum of money. It is a flop show," said M P Sharma, Associate Professor, Physical Education, Hansraj College.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
"The college sports faculty is waiting for the grounds to be handed back. The students would have nice changing rooms and lockers now, which never existed before. But the ground is still in the process to be given its original shape," said Kavita Sharma, sports faculty member of Daulat Ram College.u00a0u00a0
Beenu Gupta, Associate Professor of Physical Education at Kirorimal College, said: "Till now, they have not handed over the venues to us. The ground has not been used by the students at all as it still lies in the custody of the University. We are yet to receive the fitness equipment for the Gym as well, which had to come after the Games were over. The work on the ground is still in process."
Deadline missed
"We are yet to sit for the legacy plan of the Commonwealth Games. The bump out process is currently on. The process is taking a bit more time than expected. I hope it will fall in place soon. But, we are happy that the students would now have better infrastructure. The University never had a sports culture. Now it can at least aspire for it," said Sudarshan Pathak, Venue Administrator, CWG and Director, Delhi University Sports Council (DUSC).
| Unsporting Behaviour |
| The EIL was supposed to build the Rugby Stadium, training venues for netball and boxing, training venues for Rugby at Ramjas, KMC, SRCC and St Stephen's, training venue for athletics at Polo Ground, lay synthetic track at the same venue and build internal roads and carry out landscaping. However, three of these practice venues were "found unsuitable". |
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| Clearance Mess |
| Mid DAY had reported how the construction of Rugby practising venues was not approved by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The college authorities were in the dark over getting necessary approvals from the MCD. |
| The Other Side |
| The Organising Committee has shifted to another deadline as usual. "The deadline has been extended to October 30. By that time, all the venues will be handed over to the respective colleges," said Lalit Bhanot, General Secretary, Organising Committee. |
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