New Delhi, Sept. 26: The 19th Commonwealth Games are less than a week away but, contrary to assurances by the organising committee, government authorities and various agencies, the athletes’ village is far from being habitable.
A snake was found in one of the apartments earmarked for the South African contingent. “Yesterday (Saturday), we found a snake in one of the apartments. It is really disappointing,” said South African high commissioner, Mr Harris Mbulelo Sithembile Majeke.
The Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, spent over an hour-and-a-half inspecting conditions at the Rs 1,350-crore village and asked for 72 hours more to complete the cleanup job.
The security lockdown of Games venues could not be finished yet again as work continued at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The authorities have missed at least five deadlines for handing over the stadium to the Delhi police.