India’s sacred river Yamuna is a key example of the lassitude and neglect with which the Commonwealth Games’ preparations are being dealt with.

In spite of the millions of Pounds spent on the river by the Delhi government, the Yamuna still resembles the land of Mordor from Lord of the Rings!

The worst part of it is that the Games Village overlooks the river which is ranked amongst the filthiest and polluted rivers of the world.

Director of Toxics Link, an environmental NGO, Ravi Agarwal said:”There have been several attempts to clean the river but still 80 percent of the total pollution load comes from Delhi.

“More than £170 million have been spent to treat the sewage spilling from factories and power plants but with no positive results.”

Yamuna was once a fine sight but neglect and lack of laws has reduced it to a sewage gutter, a dumping ground and a large washerman ground (dhobi ghat).

However, it seems that to the CWG organising committee, cleaning up the Yamuna means evicting the poor from its banks.

Secretary general of the organising committee Lalit Bhanot said: “Slums and beggars have been removed from the city including the Yamuna bank. Delhi will be seen as a world-class hub.”

It is quite ironical that the Indian government is refurbishing the airport, roads and markets that lead to the Village, when the first sight the athletes see from their windows as they gaze into the expanse of Delhi, will be the Yamuna.