New Delhi: "I am not an astrologer to
predict whether there will be rains during the Games or not."
This is how Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit responded today
when she was asked by reporters whether the city government
was prepared to tackle the eventualities if it rained during
the Commonwealth Games in October.
Heavy rains last week had exposed the vulnerabilities of
Delhi in the form of widespread waterlogging and traffic jams,
virtually bringing to halt the capital which is preparing to
host the Games in just over two months.
Repeatedly asked how the government would tackle a
similar situation, Dikshit only said all the agencies were
working very hard to make the event a grand success.
Asked about waterlogging in several areas of the city
today due to rains, she refused to answer.
Despite waterlogging being a repeated feature in Delhi
every monsoon season, various civic agencies and authorities
are yet to act effectively to tackle it and are mostly seen
passing the buck to each other.
Meanwhile, Dikshit today formally inaugurated the Naraina
flyover in West Delhi.
The flyover was thrown open for traffic in March. With
inauguration of the flyover, the traffic flow from Naraina
side had eased a little bit. The work on the flyover was
commenced in March, 2007.
Speaking on the occasion, Dikshit expressed confidence
that new flyover will go a long way in ensuring uninterrupted
flow of traffic on Ring Road.
PTI