Monkeys! Another threat for the Commonwealth Games, New Delhi
Their seems to be no end in sight for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi with less than a week left for the Opening Ceremony. It looks like India has landed into a huge mess ever since the country signed up for hosting such a mega-event. As a result, the
threat is rife that the Indian government’s aim to portray ‘Shining India’ through these Games to the world might fizzle out into a sham.
At present, the preparation processes for the Games are not very promising. The Organizing Committee of the CWG, New Delhi did take notice of the issues that needed progress and the problems that were faced by the athletes who arrived at the Games Village.
However, the Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Federation Fennell Mike claimed that a tremendous amount of work needs to be done by the Organizing Committee at all the venues across New Delhi.
The security department of the Organizing Committee has deployed over 100,000 security guards to look after the area thoroughly and protect the Games from any terrorist activity. But now, there’s a new issue – monkeys. Yes, a serious threat from monkeys
has emanated, which are likely to cause a lot of trouble in some parts of New Delhi, especially the eastern part of the Indian capital as there is all likelihood that visitors and spectators might be attacked by monkeys. It is pertinent to mention that Deputy
Mayor S. S. Bajwa in 2007 fell off the terrace while struggling to get away from the monkeys which signifies the magnitude of the problem.
He received severe injuries as a result of the fall and eventually passed away. Langur’s on the other hand are big monkeys and have long been used by the New Delhi Municipal Council to scare away the smaller monkeys in the area. The presence of this animal
has once again added to the long list of problems being confronted by the authorities in New Delhi. The international community is pressurizing the Organizing Committee to do some speedy arrangements regarding stray dogs in the Indian capital and especially
in the vicinity of the Games Village. If the monkeys add to the problems, criticism will surge in the international and local media.
The spokesman of the Municipal Council Anand Tiwari has assured visiting delegates and tourists’ not to feel insecure from the monkeys since the Council has appointed 38 langurs who have never failed to keep away the monkeys. He further revealed that the
langurs have been rented by the Municipal Council along with their trainers. The langurs will be sent back home once the project has concluded.
These giant monkeys or the langurs have been placed near the headquarters of the Commonwealth Games Organizing Committee, the Talkatora Stadium and the National Stadium. Accompanied by their trainers, the langurs are a common sight outside some of the important
offices in New Delhi. Most of these trainers and the langurs come from the Indian state of Rajasthan.
Monkeys and dogs are animals that are found in large numbers in the Indian capital. Moreover, the increased presence of rats in New Delhi may also add to the problems. There are a couple of diseases that are associated with and are spread by rats and thus
they are a major setback in the city where an event like the Commonwealth Games is about to start in a few days time. As for the rats, the Municipal Corporation of New Delhi has launched a campaign against the rodents by using 100 kg of rat killer chemicals
and another 600 rat traps across the city.
The Corporation is also working towards the draining of swamps and other dirty water storage systems to prevent the spread of dengue fever. Daily fogging is also being carried out near stagnant pools which are the breeding grounds for dengue mosquitoes.
The health advisory of the Commonwealth Games has also strictly advised athletes and visitors to wear full sleeved clothes and use mosquito repellents so as to protect themselves from dengue fever. More than 3000 cases of this disease have already been reported
in New Delhi.
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