Inside main venue,a sticky turf

Officials present at the stadium said the track and the green arena have been protected with three different layers to ensure they are not damaged by rain. The first layer is a waterproof ground cloth which covers the spot,this is followed by a special tensile cover called Armdec that can withstand pressure of up to 10 tonnes/per sq metre and to top it up is a blue carpet.

But the cover is not a single piece and water trickles in through the gaps. To make matters worse,the drainage system under the arena is also not working as it should,as a result of which the water seeping in under the covers is not draining out.

As of now,it is difficult to even walk on the turf without getting stuck. This is a major cause for worry,as a heavy metal stage has to be erected at the centre of the arena for the Games ceremonies. The sand cover will have to be solid enough to withstand the weight of the stage,measuring around 30 by 40 metres.

But the Organising Committee doesn’t see anything wrong. “This report about a blocked drainage system is not true. This is a new stadium,with a new drainage system,and there are no blockages,” said Committee spokesperson Lalit Bhanot.

“We were supposed to have got the ready arena last month,so that the stage could be set up. But the arena is still not set as the sand cover has been damaged and there is water all around. There were great plans for the ceremonies,but now we are not sure. Though we are trying our best,the arena will have to be done again and levelled,” said an official working with the design team for the ceremonies.