We are trying to make up for lost time: Gill

Sports Minister MS Gill on Sunday conceded that the organisers of the 2010 Commonwealth Games are doing a catching-up job but assured that stadia and other infrastructure would be ready in time.

Sports Minister MS Gill on Sunday conceded that the organisers of the 2010 Commonwealth Games are doing a catching-up job but assured that stadia and other infrastructure would be ready well before the October 3-14 Games.

A day after Commonwealth Games Federation president Miachael Fennell said he was 8220;distressed8221; as some of the venues would not be ready before June next year,Gill said the organisers were trying their best to catch up.

8220;Whatever time has been lost since 2003,we are trying to make up,8221; Gill told reporters today.

8220;Fennell has said it again and again that a lot of progress has been made of late and we are doing the catching up job,8221; the minister said.

Patting the engineers and the workers for working on a war footing,Gill said,8221;The engineers are working hard,give them some credit. The workers from Bihar,Orissa,Bengal are also working hard and it8217;s these people who are putting up the game and not me.

8220;God willing,I8217;m sure we will get there in good time,8221; added Gill,who attended a Group of Ministers8217; meeting today. Fennell was particularly annoyed after the CGF Coordination Commission8217;s report pointed out how far the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and the S P Mukherjee Swimming Complex were lagging behind schedule.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit also admitted feeling nervous even though she was confident that in the end,the capital would put up a good show.

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8220;I8217;m not feeling comfortable. I8217;m rather nervous,but I think we can do it,8221; she added. A clear direction would be given on the final plans after the next Group of Ministers meeting on December 29,Gill said. The Group of Ministers for the Commonwealth Games,chaired by Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy,met during the day to take stock of the progress.

The GoM,which meets virtually every week to keep a tab on the progress on various fronts,mainly discussed about the opening and closing ceremonies in the meeting today.

A detailed presentation on the opening and closing ceremonies was given by the core team set up for the purpose.