DDA’s designs on Yamuna Vihar hit hurdle again

DUAC secretary Sanjib Sengupta has said in a letter (dated April 10) issued to officials of the Yamuna Sports Complex that the plan to develop the complex for table tennis competitions for the Commonwealth Games has not yet been approved.

The letter also mentions that no proposal on the construction of an archery stadium and the conversion of a cricket ground into a hockey field has been submitted by the DDA to the Commission for approval.

Earlier on April 7,members of the Sports Complex had sought the Lieutenant-Governor’s intervention fearing construction for the Games in and around the sports complex would wreck the green cover of the area. They had sent a memorandum to the L-G Tejendra Khanna,alleging the Delhi Development Authority is not adhering to the recommended environment norms.

The DDA is building an archery stadium and a fully air-conditioned indoor stadium to host table tennis matches at the Yamuna Sports Complex in Surajmal Vihar,East Delhi,for the 2010 Games. According to the DUAC records available on the Commission’s official website,the DDA had submitted a proposal regarding the construction of the table tennis stadium to the DUAC in October 2008. The proposal,however,was sent back with some recommendations.

The DDA then sent a fresh proposal to the DUAC in January this year which was again returned with proposed changes,and according to the Commission,the local urban body is yet to resubmit an amended proposal.

Neemo Dhar,Director of PR,DDA,told Newsline that she was not equipped to comment on the issue. Ashok Swaroop,Director of Sports,DDA,meanwhile,remained unavailable for comment.