Despite the media condem-ning the preparation for the CoP-11, Hyderabad has been lauded for playing perfect host, with the cops and volunteers going full out to help the delegates. The Convention on Biological Diversity executive secretary, Mr Braulio F. de Souza Dias said the arran-gements were good and the delegates were happy. “Hyderabad has good infrastructure like the airport, HICC and good logistics.” He hoped the deliberations in CoP-11 would be fruitful and that it would be different from the Nagoya Protocol, that was adop-ted at the previous edition in Japan.
Many delegates too expressed their satisfaction. “The arrangements are very good and we are a happy bunch out here. We like Indian food a lot,” said Norwegian delegate Tone Solhaug. The cops have been going out of their way to help. A policeman who came across a delegate who had forgotten his pass at his hotel, got down from the official bus to accompany him to fetch it. However, a few, like Ghana’s Oteng Nabouya felt the security arrangements were a bit inflexible.
“I think the restrictions are a tad too obtrusive. A delegate who misplaced his priority pass was den-ied entry without any alternative arrangement.” Cultural programmes organised for the delegates are also a huge success. Cultural India, organised at Hitex, had performances of both folk and classical artistes. Slovokian dance and Kommukoya, a tribal dance of Srikakulam, were amo-ng a host of performances on display. The dances are performed every evening at 6 pm after the deliberations are complete.