No rigour for ruggers

Practice venues for rugby at Delhi University are still under constructionEven as the Organising Committee for the Commowealth Games claims that all venues are ready, eight practice grounds for rugby still require work. MEN AT WORK: This was the status of an under construction rugby stadium at Delhi University earlier this month. Pic/subhash baroliaThe venues for the rugby training were to be constructed across the Delhi University and they were promised to be delivered by December. However, the deadline was missed many a times since then. All the practice venues were to be completed by December 2009.u00a0After missing the first deadline, they promised to deliver within 15 days and then went on to push it by a fortnight. It was promised to be completed by March, then June and so on, said a senior Delhi University official. The players are coming on September 30. With just eight days to go for the mega sporting event, the construction of the training venues is still under the scanner.The practice venues were to be constructed at Hindu College, Ramjas, St Stephens, Shri Ram College of Commerce, Daulat Ram, SGTB Khalsa and Kirori Mal College.The work on playground has been completed but installation of security gadgets like the CCTV cameras, security lights in the area, blockage of sewer and clearing of debris are yet to be done.The players would reach the ground only after getting a taste of the facilities outside. What impression are we going to give them with such a mess, the official said. The principals of the respective colleges have chosen to remain mum over the issue. I cannot comment on the issue, said Dr Rajendra Prasad, principal, Ramjas College. I am not aware about the present situation, said Vinay Kumar Srivastav, principal, Hindu College. While, the principal of the colleges are not ready to speak on the issue, Deepak Pental, Vice-Chancellor, Delhi University said: I am not watching it anymore. An IAS officer has been deputed there who is looking after it. Yes, they are slow with fixing external things. The matter has been reported to higher authorities but no action has been taken yet. We are concerned about the issue as the Games are just a few days away. But, they are still trying to brush it under the carpet. Now, we have left the things as they were, said a senior official. 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.A meeting regarding the venues was held in the university and MCD official pointed out that they were yet to be cleared by the civic agency.u00a0Despite the MCD officials saying clearly that necessary clearance were not taken, no university official was ready to comment about it. But, the Vice-Chancellor affirmed that they had got the go ahead by the MCD.