Officials’ heads for delays

New Delhi, March 21: Facing criticism over incomplete Commonwealth Games venues, the government has decided to crack the whip on officials involved with projects, making them “directly responsible” for any further delay.
“Henceforth, the chief engineer of the project would be directly held responsible for failing to meet the deadline in completing the work,” Union urban development secretary M. Ramachandran said.

The urban development ministry, the nodal ministry for coordinating all projects related to CWG, has found in its latest review meeting that the majority of the 17 venues will not be able to meet the March-end deadline.
While the CPWD is involved in handling 11 venues, the Delhi Development Authority is responsible for the completion of four venues.
“The director-general of the CPWD and vice-chairman of DDA have been told categorically that no further delay is acceptable,” Mr Ramachandran said.    —PTI

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US, Pakistan to discuss N-plants?
Islamabad, March 21: In a departure from its earlier stand, the US is ready to discuss Pakistan’s request for nuclear power plants and the issue may come up for discussion during the next week’s strategic dialogue between the two sides, a media report said on Sunday.
“We are beginning to have a discussion with the Pakistan government” on the country’s desire to tap nuclear energy, US envoy in Islamabad ambassador Anne W. Patterson was quoted as saying.    —PTI