CW Games village site chosen after environment surveys: LG

New Delhi, July 20 (UNI) Allaying apprehensions that building the Commonwealth Games village on the banks of the Yamuna river would adversely impact the environment, Delhi Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna today said the site was chosen after comprehensive surveys showed that no damage would be caused to the river or ecology of the area.

''The Commonwealth Games village site was chosen after numerous environmental surveys and studies to ascertain that no ecological damage is caused to the area surrounding the river due to the coming up of the Games village complex there,'' the Lt Governor told reporters here at a meet-the-press programme .

Environmentalists across the country have protested the building of the Commonwealth Games site on the Yamuna river on the ground that the deposition of cement and other construction materials in the riverbed for constructing the games villages would cause considerable damage to its re-charge zone.

Terming the apprehensions expressed by environmentalists in this regard as baseless, Mr Khanna said, ''All those who are still protesting the construction of the Games Village along the river Yamuna should note that studies on the possible environmental impact on the river and the ecology of its surroundings have been done by several environmental bodies across the country and they have shown that no ecological damage would be caused by the Commonwealth Games Village.

''In fact, it is only after studying these reports that the Supreme Court grant its clearance to the Commonwealth Games village project,'' Mr Khanna said.

Environmental groups have also said plan to build the Games village along the Yamuna would also damage the river's eco-system and reduce scarce water supplies. They say the construction would clog the river bed and expose city dwellers to serious flooding during monsoons.

In fact, conservationists say the Government should look at other sites including setting up the Games Village in Dwarka or providing accommodation to the guests in the University area.

UNI