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| Sunday,
March 3, 2002, Chandigarh, India
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Houses of six MCD engineers raided New Delhi, March 2 The suspects, Prem Chand Meena, Executive Engineer; M.P. Pawar and C.L. Bhola, Assistant Engineers; K.P. Bedas, Mr Dabas and Pawan Gupta, Junior Engineers posted with the division number 23, reportedly had misused their official position to help contractors. They had also reportedly helped the contractors in getting the fake financial bills passed. In lieu of these favours, they took bribe, a CBI spokesman said. According to him, the suspected engineers
The MCD authorities smelt a rat and made a complaint to the CBI. The investigating agency soon found out that the bill was fraud. The agency alleged that the engineers had milked the corporation to the tune of lakhs of rupees. Pots of money and immovable properties were seized during the raids. The spokesman said that the CBI recovered an amount of Rs 26.32 lakh, Indra Vikas Patra worth Rs 10.90 lakh, National Saving Certificate of Rs 3.30 lakh, FDR of Rs 13.47 lakh, UTI and ICICI Bond of Rs 3 lakh, bank balance Rs 25.96 lakh and three immovable property in Janak Puri and a palatial house in the same locality. The spokesman said that the property papers and other documents seized from the engineers were being scrutinised. |
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Dhaba owner shot by
customers Panipat, March 2 According to sources, the assailants, some of them armed with country-made pistols, came to the dhaba well past midnight and demanded a blanket and bedsheet to spend the night. Their tractor-trolley had broken down on the Sanoli Road. The 60-year-old Jagdish, who lived behind the dhaba, offered them the blanket and the bedsheet. In the morning, they came back and ordered tea and snacks which the servant duly served. After having the eats, they stood up to leave. When the servant and Krishan demanded Rs 27 for the tea and snacks, they started arguing, using abusive language. Seeing the situation getting out of hand, Jagdish tried to intervene and urged the assailants to leave the place even if they did not want to pay. However, things came to a boil as one of the assailants pulled out a country-made pistol and shot Jagdish in the chest. Jagdish died on the spot. Though they were chased by Krishan and the servant, they fled the scene, firing in the air. A case under Sections 302, 148 and 149 has been registered and a hunt launched to nab the culprits. In another case of violence, two Dalits, Jagbir and Jagdish, both residents of nearby Jalmana village, were injured on Friday following a dispute over their entry in the village temple. Both of them alleged that they were beaten up by several persons of Gujjar community, led by one Sonu. They said that they were not allowed to enter the temple as they belonged to lower caste. A bag belonging to Jagbir containing Rs 10,000 was also snatched by Sonu. A case has been registered. |
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Sheila Govt has failed to deliver: BJP New Delhi, March 2 Releasing the figures, the Opposition leader in the Delhi Assembly, Mr Jagdish Mukhi, said that the Congress government led by Mrs Sheila Dikshit in the Capital could spend only 46.6 per cent of the total money sanctioned by the Centre. Consequently, the development work in the city had stopped completely. The government did not spend one-third of the total money allotted for development of education, environment, labour welfare works and improving the food supply system, he claimed. He said that the Congress government had declared several times its intention to make the Capital a model city. It also declared to improve the environment and technical education. But the government had spent only 15.1 per cent and 31.9 per cent of the total money allotted for these purposes, respectively. The BJP leader alleged that the food supply system in the Capital was in a poor condition and deteriorating day by day. Despite this, the government had spent only 13 .9 per cent of the total money sanctioned to improve it. He said that Rs 522 crore was sanctioned for the betterment of Delhi Jal Board. But only 40.5 per cent of the money was spent till December 31, 2001. The government did little to improve the sewage system in the Capital and had tried to privatise the education system, which proved a failure. |
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MCF to improve financial health Faridabad, March 2 The MCF, facing an acute financial crisis, is now considering measures which could improve its health. It is reported that the corporation’s money to the tune of hundreds of crores of rupees has been pending in the form of dues towards individuals and organisations. It is learnt that there were many illegal water connections in the town. While several cases were pending in the courts regarding the recovery, the status of other dues, including house tax, has been quite poor. As a result, the income of the corporation has been affected adversely. The corporation is also in a fix over the requirement of another Rs 15 crore to clear arrears on account of salary revision of its employees. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Arun Kumar, recently held a meeting with the Commissioner. Subsequently, the joint commissioners of the MCF have decided to issue a warning to attach the property of the defaulters this time. The collection status of various dues has been poor, especially in the NIT Zone, having the largest population. The Deputy Commissioner has asked for stern action in this connection. |
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Five killed as Tata Sumo rams truck Ghaziabad, March 2 Three passengers died on the spot while two persons succumbed to their injuries on the way to the hospital. The profusely bleeding injured were rushed to Hapur’s Khan Hospital by the police. The accident occurred at 3 am today when the Tata Sumo (UP-14-F-8446) coming from Hapur at a high speed rammed the truck (UP-14-8005) which was parked on the highway due to some mechanical faults. The impact was so huge that half of the Tata Sumo went under the truck. It was on its way to Mathura with all the 10 passengers. The dead included Sumo driver Mohsin, Mrs Urmilla, wife of Vikas, Mrs Geeta, wife of Manoj, Harshit, son of Sandeep, and Jighase. The injured are Sandeep, Vaneet, Rashmi, Gunjan and Rohit Nandan. All of them were residents of Ram Nagar and had hired the Tata Sumo from Hapur. The bodies have been sent for the post-mortem examination. |
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Lender’s wife, kids
stabbed to death Ghaziabad, March 2 Mr Mushir filed a report with Loni police, naming Abdul Latif, Abdul Shabir, Abdul Shaqur and Subash alias Salim of Sarya Vihar as the culprits. Mr Mushir told the police that at 11.30 pm last night, four persons forced their way into his house and critically wounded his wife, Zahida Begum (30), daughter Shabenoor (8), and son Tashbar (5), with sharp-edged weapons and fled after looting Rs 2,000 from the house. His neighbours rushed the injured to Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital where they all succumbed to their injuries. According to the police, Mr Mushir had lent Rs 21,000 to the accused and got a stamped receipt from them. When he went to demand his money on Friday morning, an argument ensued. To settle scores with Mr Mushir, the assailants attacked the members of his family. The police have registered a case under Sections 394 and 307 of the IPC and arrested the accused.
Shops down shutters Panipat: A majority of shops and commercial establishments remained closed today on account of the Haryana Bandh, call which was given by the VHP and other organisations in protest against the Godhra massacre. The bandh, which was supported by the local unit of the Haryana Beopar Mandal, threw life out of gear as a majority of the shops remained closed in the major markets on the G. T. Road, Railway road, the Sanoli road and Assandh road. A protest march, led by Mr Harkesh Sharma, president of the state unit of the Shiv Sena, Ms Kanchan Malik, president of the state unit of the VHP, and Mr Ramesh Nagra was organised in protest against the massacre. Meanwhile, the president of the Punjab Wakf Board, Dr M. R. Haq, has appealed to the Muslim community to maintain communal harmony.
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Snap ties with NDA, Vidrohi tells Sharad Faridabad & Sonepat, March 2 In a statement issued in Sonepat, Mr Vidrohi described the victory of the former Prime Minister, Mr H. D. Deve Gowda, from Kanakpura Lok Sabha constituency as a result of joint efforts of the two factions of the JD in Karnataka. He said in view of the NDA government becoming unpopular day by day due to its ‘anti-poor policies’ and with no alternative visible to the common people, the Janata Dal could emerge as the Third Front in the country, if all its factions unite under one banner. He said the JD(U) had been losing its identity and could suffer heavy losses if it continued to be a partner of the Vajpayee government. Mr Vidrohi strongly opposed the amendments made by the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre in the 53-year-old Industrial Disputes Act, relating to lockouts and retrenchments of workers in the industrial units. Mr Vidrohi described these amendments as anti-worker and pro-industry. In a signed press statement issued in Faridabad, Mr Vidrohi also declared that his party would take part in any agitation launched by political parties and the trade unions against these amendments. He also extended his party’s full support to the charter of demands put up by the CITU in its state-level rally on February 27 at Hisar. Mr Vidrohi appealed to all Members of Parliament to oppose such anti-worker amendments and not allow the government to go ahead with these amendments. The JD(U) leader also demanded that in view of the recent price rise, the minimum wages of the workers employed in the industrial units and elsewhere be fixed at Rs 3,500 per month. He urged the government to take stern action against employers found engaged in exploitation of workers, particularly those who deny the payment of wages in accordance with the Minimum Wages Act. He urged the government to conduct a new survey so that ration cards could be issued to the people living below poverty line (BPL). Mr Vidrohi demanded a high-level probe into the public complaints regarding the diversion of rationed articles, particularly kerosene and sugar, to the black market by certain depot holders, in connivance with the officials of the department concerned. Opposing the recent hike in power tariff, Mr Vidrohi demanded its immediate withdrawal in the interest of the people, particularly the farmers. He said the results of the recently-held assembly elections in the four state had clearly indicated that the people were fed up with the BJP and had rejected its policies and programmes. |
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Council gives a wide berth to
amenities Jhajjar, March 2 However, its performance does not show this ‘affluence’. The town reveals that most of the development works have gone awry with a number of unauthorised colonies coming up in the areas. The drinking water supply and sewage systems are in a shambles and heaps of garbage dot every spot in the town. If one wants to find what has gone wrong with the town, look at the political set-up of the council. It is alleged that a trio of councillors, who have the backing of the local INLD MLA, Mr Nafe Singh Rathee, is virtually taking all the decisions. No other councillor, including the chairperson, dares to question them. Besides, these is the vigilance inquiry against some officials of the council in connection with misappropriation of the Rs 50-lakh fund for the construction of a ‘nallah’ along the Badli Road, which is non-existent now. Allegations of corruption in floating tenders and conducting mock auctions complete the report card of the council. When this correspondent went to the office of the chairperson of the council, Mrs Roshani Malik, she signalled towards a councillor, Mr Baljeet Nandal, a confidant of the local MLA, sitting beside her for any clarification. Mr Nandal also complained that though more than 75 per cent of the lighting systems had gone out of order, the Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam had sent them electricity bills amounting to Rs 21 lakh. He said that five major roads had been concretised during the current financial year and work would be initiated on another five roads as the grants would reach the office soon. He informed that a dream project of covering the ‘ganda nallah’ running through the town had been sent to the state government. The project includes building shopping complexes above it. The open ‘nallah’ has made life miserable for the residents as carcasses of animals and heaps of garbage have blocked the water supply. The stench is unbearable. On the cleanliness front, Mr Nandal said that the council had only 100 sweepers much short of the required number of 316 for cleaning the town. Of them, around 20 sweepers were regularly working at the houses of the government officials staying in the town, he admitted. Contracts to keep almost half of the areas in town had now been given to private agencies. The municipal council had invited tenders for 12 wards of the town from private agencies with an experience in the sanitation field, he said. But why the private agencies when the council itself is flush with funds? The council has a surplus budget with an income of Rs 3.32 crore against the expenditure of Rs 3.28 crore. The revenue collections include Rs 55 lakh as house tax, Rs 80 lakh as stamp duty, Rs 50 lakh as shop rents, Rs 10 lakh from sale of land, Rs 50 lakh as development charges, Rs 5 lakh as interest on money, Rs 20 lakh from miscellaneous sources and Rs 62 lakh as grants and other resources. Despite being such a fund-rich body, the civic amenities, including sanitary arrangements, are in a shambles here. There are allegations galore of adopting a biased approach in pursuing development works. For example, in ward 3 represented by Mr Baljeet Nandal, funds are being spent indiscriminately while many other areas, including wards 14, 24, Anaj Mandi, Shanker Garden, Shakti Nagar, opposite ITI, Vats Colony, Chhotu Ram Park, remain neglected. Five parks of the town are lying neglected. Sources said that new sewage pipes had to be laid on the Barahi Road before it was concretised. However, despite the Deputy Commissioner’s instructions in this regard, new pipes were not laid. Residents lamented that the old pipes had now gone 15 feet deep. They are already choked. The newly constructed road would have to be broken for lying new lines now. Sources said that of the 25 members, only three councillors – Mr Baljeet Nandal, Mr Karamvir, Mr Yoginder Rathee – and the chairperson herself, had a say in the functioning of the council. The other councillors dared not speak on any issue concerning the finance or the functioning of the council and its development activities. Allegations against the troika of councillors are several. For instance, a shop in the main bazaar area was rented out to a defaulter shopkeeper without any auction just at Rs 1,000 a month for reasons best known to the three. This shop could have fetched around Rs 5,000 as rent along with a security of Rs 5 lakh, sources said. Moreover, the council purchased 100 dustbins a year ago at the high rate of Rs 2,500 a piece which had been of little use. Well-placed sources said that a vigilance inquiry was on against some officials of the council in connection with misappropriation of Rs 50 lakh meant for the construction of a ‘nallah’ on the Badli Road. Besides, an inquiry would also be started into other projects, alleged to have been completed only on papers, they said. |
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GETTING AWAY Go canoeing, kayaking or rafting in the wild rivers of Garhwal. Pit your will and skill against nature as you race the rapids, manoeuvre the bends, speed along gorges and break into sparkling surf. The challenge of the hard turbulent rivers is no less than that of the rugged mountains. The icy heights of the Himalayas are the source of some of India’s mighty rivers. Fed by innumerable streams, they race along tortuous boulder strewn beds, cutting deep gorges and breaking into silvery white rapids. With the intricate network of mountain rivers flowing through a myriad of different colours of rocky gorges, forests, flowers and high mountain villages, the Garhwal and Kumaon hills provide ideal locales for the perfect water adventure. The sacred Ganga offers a professional as well as an amateur an exhilaration of white water rafting. The Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers are the main tributaries of the Ganga and meet at Devprayag, frothing from their racy descent. Their waters are Grade IV to V, challenging the expert to survive the thrill. Down river from Devprayag, the Ganga changes into a pool drop river. This stretch of almost 70 km is perfect for an amateur and a novice. The river offers some fine Grade III rapids and two Grade IV rapids, the ‘WALL’ at Bysi and the ‘Golf Course’ 4 km below Shivpuri village; each followed by deep and placid pools. Sandy beaches line the river at intervals, allowing river rafters to pull up alongside. The slopes on either side are covered with oak, pine, spruce and fir, with the occasional village and its terraced fields dotting the landscape. Wildlife can be sighted at a distance, especially spotted deer, monkeys, leopard, while multi-hued butterflies flit among flowering bushes. Spiritual retreats and ashrams overlook the river and add to the spiritual experience. Potential sites for water rafting, canoeing and kayaking in Garhwal: River Yamuna: a) Barkot to Lakha Mandal. Both professional and tourist stretch. b) Damta to Yamuna Bridge - Both professional and tourist stretch. River Tons: a) Mori to Tuni – Between this stretch is Asia’s tallest pine tree measuring 160 mts. River Alaknanda : a) Kaliasor to Shrinage- 16 kms. Tourist stretch. b) Srinagar to Bagwan – 20 km tourist stretch. River Bhagirathi : a) Matuli to Dunda – 12 kms. Both professional and tourist stretch. b) Dharasu to Chham – 12 kms. Both professional and tourist stretch. c) Jangal to Jhala – 20 km. Both professional and tourist stretch. d) Bhaldyana to Tehri – both professional and tourist stretch. Bhilangana river : a) Ghansali to Gadolia – 32 km. Professional stretch. Mandakini River : a) Chandrapuri to Rudraprayag – 30 km. Professional stretch. Water sport in Garhwal Specifications: Road : Local transport union and state transport buses ply regularly. Kaudiyala is from: Dehradun (80 km), Haridwar (57 km), Rishikesh (35 km) and Delhi (260 km) Rail : Rishikesh is the nearest railhead. Air : Jolly Grant is the nearest airport (55 km). Rescue: Every raft for river running is equipped with a first-aid box and other essential life-saving devices essential for rafting sports. All rafting companies have a panel of doctors in case of an eventuality. Hospitals: Govt. hospital and private hospital run by trusts. Accommodation: Tented accommodation for 40 persons is available with dining hall/restaurant run by state government authorities. |
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SEARCH WITHIN The country’s future, it is often repeated, lies with the children. And it is important how they grow up to become useful citizens of tomorrow. Ethically speaking, the health of a society is also measured in terms of how its widows and orphans are cared for. It is not only the children of upper middle class and middle class we are talking about, but also the less fortunate ones, the ones who grow up in the slums and others who are brought up in orphanages. In fact, the society is obliged to pay special attention to the disadvantaged children, such as street children for, they could turn out to be even a source of threat if alienated from the mainstream of the society. Children brought up in the stifling atmosphere of poverty and want and who know only the utter indifference and cruelty of a social system that confines them to the gutters of civilisation cannot be blamed if they lose all respect for the law and good manners when they grow up. A study recently undertaken jointly by Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity and the paediatrics department of St Stephens Hospital of an orphanage run in Delhi is indicative of the need for paying attention to child development. The study, in the realm of social paediatrics, was awarded a gold medal by the Indian Academy of Paediatrics. The paper, presented in this regard, points out that there are about 32 million destitute children in the country. A large number of them are in orphanages and institutions. One in 20 babies in this nation is abandoned soon after birth due to social or economic pressures. This amounts to a million abandoned children in a year. (Indian Council of Child Welfare News Bulletin, March 1991) The moral responsibility of a society does not end with finding an orphanage for an abandoned child; its emotional and psychological health should also be ensured, if this study is any indication. The attention of philanthropic organisations needs to be drawn to these aspects as well. It is pointed out that even the best run orphanages fail to provide a child with the quality environment that he can receive from a family. Various studies in the past in India and abroad provide a grim picture of the “development status” of these children. Most of these children suffer from psycho-social, language and motor delays and auto erotic behaviour. The reasons given are lack of individualised stimulation by mother/caregiver, inconsistency of caregivers and low caregiver:child ratio. The pilot study involved the paediatrician and child psychologist developing a structured programme of play for children and training the caregivers in that schedule. It has been proved that a short daily session of structured play significantly improved the development of children in orphanages. The setting of the experiment was Mother Teresa’s orphanages in Delhi and Chandigarh run by Missionaries of Charity Under the experiment, an intervention programme of play was developed for children whose age ranged from six months to two-and-a-half years. The regime of play, it was found, led to significant difference in their development even within a period of three months. There was an overall change in the environment of the orphanage as a result of the intervention. Children were more active, playful, responsive and independent. The assessment showed significant improvement in the motor, mental and social quotients. Children in the age group of 6 to 12 months had the maximum benefit from the intervention. The experiment conducted by the paediatricians, Dr R. S. Beri and Dr Vikas Taneja, and child psychologist Sujata Shriram, under the supervision of Dr Jacob M. Puliyel, head of the paediatrics department at St Stephens Hospital, affirms that children grow “not by bread alone”. The benefit and importance of play in the development of children became quite evident. The Indian Council of Medical Research, impressed by the project, has come forward with funds for extension of such a programme to other orphanages. It is pointed out that the Missionaries of Charity alone runs about 100 orphanages in the country. While the middle class offers fairly reasonable opportunities and facilities for children, there are large sections like inmates of orphanages or slum children who are woefully neglected. This “Not By Bread Alone” project emphasises on a study of the ground situation, that children need more than bread. They need love. Mother Teresa used to tell the world that the worst thing that could happen to a human being is not tuberculosis or cancer but that of not being loved. Dr Puliyel has some suggestions for middle class parents. When they don’t know what to do with their children on weekends or on vacations, take them to orphanages. They might have fun together. When parents buy gifts and toys for own children at Christmas, Divali and other major festivals, they may think of those in orphanages too. Even old toys and clothes, which are no longer in use, could be handed over to these institutions. Such generosity on their part would teach a lesson or two to their children in compassion and in sharing and caring. M. P. K. Kutty
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Attack on minorities condemned Rohtak, March 2 He said the attacks on minorities and mosques in Kaithal, Kalayat and some other parts of the state by the activists of these organisations had adversely affected the communal harmony in the state. The CPM leader said the announcement made by the VHP regarding the construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya from March 15 and accumulation of thousands of Kar Sewaks there had created a tense situation all over the country. Mr Anoop Singh, Secretary, district unit of Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI), said the party submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister seeking an immediate check on the communal violence in the state. The SUCI demanded that the insensitive statements of the organisations like the VHP and the Bajrang Dal should be strictly monitored in order to maintain communal harmony in the region. Ms Jagmati Sangwan, president, state committee of Akhil Bhartiya Janwadi Mahila Samiti, said the violent attacks on minorities in the name of retaliation against the recent onslaught on Kar Sewaks at Godhra in
Gujarat could not be justified. They demanded the e evacuation of Karsewaks from Ayodhya and strict action against those responsible for the violence. |
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Municipal Council draws flak from trade unions Sonepat, March 2 In a joint press release, the organisations alleged that the civic administration seemed to have collapsed and the employees had been denied their salary for the last three months. Expressing their concern over the inefficient and unsatisfactory working of the council, the organisations also threatened to launch an agitation for pressing their demand to supersede the council. They also criticised the civic authorities for conducting the survey of the house tax under the new policy of the state government in an irresponsible manner, thereby harassing the residents on some pretext or the other. They also pointed out that a large number of residents living in the Model Town, mandi and some other areas had not received the notices regarding the assessment of house tax so far. These residents had been visiting the office of the council frequently but there was response from the officials concerned. The organisations also charged the authorities with the bungling of municipal funds and said that a high-level probe into the public complaints in this regard would expose the misdeeds of the officials. They alleged that the funds meant for the development works were being mis-utilised and the works undertaken or executed were sub-standard and this had caused a huge loss to the exchequer of the council. They alleged that the chairman and councillors were busy in faction fights and they had failed to deliver the goods to the residents of the city. |
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NCR BRIEFS Sonepat, March 2 Housewife killed Mrs Krishna Devi (35) a young housewife was allegedly murdered by some unidentified persons at Barwasni village about 5 km from here last
night. According to a report, the victim had gone to dispose cow-dung in the `gher’ of the house but did not return. After a few hours when the members of the family started a search for her, her body was found in a pool of blood. The police has registered a case against some alleged assailants. Further investigations were in progress.
Water connections Faridabad Youth sodomised Rohtak |
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Elaborate measures in Haryana Rohtak, March 2 |
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Yashwant Sinha’s effigy burnt Faridabad, March 2 The protestors alleged that the Budget was anti-poor and the hike in the prices of essential commodities be rolled back. The secretary of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC), Ms Sharda Rathour, has also condemned the hike in prices of LPG, kerosene and withdrawal of subsidy on fertilisers. She said the Budget was anti-farmer and the government was doing this to please multinationals and big business houses. She also condemned the imposition of five per cent surcharge for national security. |
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Notorious criminal arrested in Mangolpuri New Delhi, March 2 Liquor seized:
Cyclist crushed:
Robbers
arrested:
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