Capital readies to welcome its guest-Clinton

Capital readies to welcome its guest-Clinton
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEW DELHI, MARCH 15: With only four days left for US President Bill Clinton's visit to India, the country's Capital is being decked up with fancy lights, painted kerb stones, greenery and flowers, operational water fountains and clean surroundings.

And an army of workers are frantically trying to complete the job before the big day. With a fresh look, New Delhi is all set to welcome the world's most powerful man and about 500 others with him including the President's Cabinet colleagues, businessmen, securitymen and the media.

Facelifting traffic islands and removing "useless hoardings" are some of the works being undertaken by over three hundred-odd work force of New Delhi Municipal Council slogging round the clock.

Says NDMC chairman B P Mishra: "I don't consider the on-going beautification work as a major event. Everytime the Prime Minister goes to a State this happens," Mishra said adding the NDMC would not charge anything from the Centre or the Ministry of External Affairs for the "petty work" which is costing a few lakhs of rupees.

However, Mishra said a change is perceptible and wished that "Delhi goes through this dressing up session every three months imagining Clinton or some other VVIP is visiting us".

Enumerating the works undertaken by the NDMC in connection with Clinton's visit, he said these include provision of new light fittings around the US embassy, removing about 45 huts from areas adjoining India Gate and a few structures along the VVIP route - the Shanti Path.

"The work is satisfactory," Mishra said adding a final inspection will take place on March 16. "I will have to make a night inspection as well. I have to ensure that the lights should not go off at night," he added.

Despite the assertion that the on-going beautification works were just a "petty piece of activity", Mishra indicated the significance of the preparations saying the Delhi Vidyut Board "has been requested to leave nothing to chance and ensure adequate power supply during the high-profile visit".

NDMC is also taking other steps like lighting the area across the Maurya Sheraton, where Clinton will be staying during his visit, and covering the front portion outside the hotel gate with arrays of colourful flower pots.

"We have also been asked to do the lighting of the ridge across the hotel. Though it comes under CPWD, because of security reasons, we have been told to do it. The lighting will be functional from March 17," Mishra, who was given the route map of Clinton's visit on March 6, said.