Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy has said steps were being taken to prevent the outbreak of dengue at the Commonwealth Games venue.

“It (dengue) is a seasonal outbreak. Fumigation and other steps required to tackle it are being taken,” he told reporters after reviewing the Games Village and other facilities in New Delhi on Saturday.

Commenting on facilities at the Village and flats meant for athletes, Reddy said, “it is the best ever in the history of Commonwealth Games. It is world class…can be compared with the best of Olympic villages in the world.”

Reddy, who visited the dining hall, practicising venues, swimming poll and other facilities, said it is for the first time that practicing venues are near to the Games Village.

“However, facilities like dining hall is temporary in nature but other sports facilities will stay as a permanent legacy for Delhiites…we are quite proud that we have done it,” he said.

The dining hall has a capacity to serve 3,000 people at a time. 2,500 people have been deployed to prepare 150 dishes during the games.

Asked whether Games projects were still behind the schedule, Reddy said, “There was some initial delay but it was compounded by rains. But now, we are on the track.”

He said all venues will be handed over to the security agencies by Monday.

Over 2,200 dengue cases in Delhi

The dengue menace continued unabated in the national capital with 71 more patients testing positive for the vector-borne disease on Saturday, taking the total number of cases to 2,224.

The capital has reported five dengue deaths this season. During the same period last year, the number of cases of the vector-borne disease in the city was only 21 while it was 369 and 75 in the corresponding periods in 2008 and 2007.

South Delhi continued to be worst-affected this season recording 344 cases, followed by MCD Civil Lines Zone (319), Central Zone (278) and Rohini (253).

The civic bodies are attributing the rapid increase in dengue cases this season to prolonged monsoon and stagnation of water at Commonwealth Games construction sites.

Over 20 nations had sought information from the Games Organising Committee about the dengue outbreak and steps being taken to combat it.

India on Friday issued a health advisory for participants and visitors coming for the event asking them to take precautions like carrying full-sleeve clothes and bringing mosquito repellent creams, oils, mats or coils.