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July 12, 2003, Chandigarh, India
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After deluge, the destruction New Delhi, July 11 The latest incident took place at around 10.30 am when a portion of the factory wall came crumbling, burying the four. Four fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the bodies were extricated from the rubble with the help of people. The deceased were identified as Pawan (8), Sadan (8), Aasnin (12) and Satbir (30). Their bodies were extricated after some time. The debris-clearing operation was still on, the sources said. In another incident, the roof of a house caved in at Bawana in West Delhi, injuring three persons, according to the sources. While one was admitted to a hospital, the others were discharged after the first-aid. Meanwhile, the sharp rains continued till noon causing waterlogging and traffic snarls in most parts of the city, even as the Met office predicted that the downpour could continue for at least another 12 hours. The total rainfall received since last evening was 12 cm and almost the same amount of rainfall was expected in Delhi and its neighbouring areas today, said an official. In the next 24 hours, Delhiites could get a relief from the continuous rainfall that has flooded a number of residential colonies, particularly the slum areas with no drainage provision, added the Met official. However, before the relief, the deluge has turned the life upside down. The local bus service has been badly affected and the office-goers have had a harrowing experience on their way to office this morning due to traffic jams even as the taxi and auto-rickshaws capitalised on their plight by hiking their charges. In the morning, schoolchildren too had to face the fury of the rains as most of the buses arrived late or not at all because of massive jams. The attendance in the schools was thin. Commuters during the morning rush hour were caught in jams and many reached their offices at least an hour late. The incidents of vehicles breaking down because of waterlogging were numerous and these stranded vehicles added to the chaos on the roads. Some of the worst affected areas were parts of Model Town, Shahdara, ITO Crossing and Minto Bridge. In Model Town, many residents said that they were unable to come out of their homes because of the accumulated water outside, reminiscent of the floods in 1978. Residents of Shahdara also claimed that the majority of the roads were waterlogged and they blamed the civic authorities for the mess. Even though the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has been claiming that most of the desilting of drains had been completed, the ground realities were different. The MCD claimed that teams of officials were deployed in the waterlogged areas along with labour force to drain the water. A senior officer of the MCD said that the problem was because of continuous heavy rains as there was no time for the water to drain away. He also blamed the large-scale encroachments, some of them covering the openings to the drains for the waterlogging.
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Residents
of Old Gurgaon wake up on floating beds Gurgaon, July 11 All hell broke loose as the residents in the colonies in the area woke up to find that water had crept up to their beds. The residents had gone by the hunch that the rain, as has been happening for the past few consecutive years, would not be torrential and a sustained one. Hence, they were happily sleeping enjoying the dip in the temperature. The worst-affected colonies were Baldev Nagar, Jyoti Park, Bhim Nagar,
Shivpuri, Jacompura, Subash Nagar, Krishna Colony, Amar colony, Gandhi Nagar, Shivaji Park, Shivaji Nagar, Hari Nagar, Civil Lines, Om Nagar, Anaz Mandi, Subzi Mandi, Shakti Park, 4-8 Marla Model Town, Hira Nagar, Rajiv Nagar, Prem Nagar and Madan Puri. Former minister of Haryana Dharambir
Gauba, residing in Krishna Colony, also had to face the problem. Ironically, Mr Gauba had represented the Gurgaon constituency in the Assembly thrice. His supporters lent a helping hand this morning to pump out water from his house. Like in Krishna Colony, puddles of water are still there in the houses and most of the colonies. The residents keep their fingers crossed about their plight if the rain continues. The entire morning schedule of the residents here was disrupted. A number of children had to skip their schools and a good number of employees had to miss office. Several families in the colonies have set up makeshift kitchens on their terraces. Old Gurgaon is a low-lying area. This is one factor for this recurrent problem of waterlogging. Mianwali colony and the areas around it are further put to trouble as the nearby bus stand premises are further on the lower side and the water collected there flows into the colony. This development is a sad reflection on the functioning of the district authorities and the state government. According to many, the authorities refuse to learn from such incidents in the past. The showers for a few hours a few days back had caused a similar problem, but on a smaller scale. |
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MCD team’s day out to flush out water New Delhi, July 11 He said that despite the record rainfall, efforts were made to clear the rainwater in the shortest possible time and restore normalcy. Consequent to the heavy downpour, some roads, road
under bridges and roundabouts, particularly in low-lying areas, experienced waterlogging. All the pumps were pressed into service to clear out the water. The control rooms functioned non-stop and the staff were deputed to the places from where complaints about waterlogging had come in, he said. The MCD control room received 704 complaints of miscellaneous nature during the last 24 hours. Of these, 292 complaints pertained to waterlogging. The maximum number of complaints was received by the Town Hall control room, the Municipal Commissioner said. Waterlogging was experienced at Minto Bridge due to the heavy inflow of water from the NDMC area. There were reports of waterlogging at Vijai Nagar and Subhadra colony due to the work of Metro rail project being carried out. NDPL call centres abuzz with complaints:
Though the fault is being rectified, areas like
Rohini, Rani Bagh, Mongolpuri and Pitampura have been without electricity. The NDPL has, however, pointed out there has been no flashover at the NDPL substations because of rainfall, but the power was snapped because of revamping and civil maintenance work being undertaken at these substations. The company also claimed that electricity supply to a few areas like Pandav Nagar, Vijay Nagar and parts of Mukherjee Nagar was disconnected because there were reports of wiring leakage on some residential premises. This was done on request from the local area representatives, the NDPL added. |
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MONSOON
MESS Faridabad, July 11 According to Agriculture department, the district has received about 100 mm of rainfall in the past three days. While Faridabad town received the maximum of 80 mm of rain this morning, it had only a total of 16 mm of rain on July 9 and 10. Palwal town, however, received the maximum of 145 mm of rain in the past 48 hours. Hodal had a record 108 mm of rain this morning while Palwal had 83 mm and Hathin 76 mm. Ballabgarh town and adjoining areas had 21 mm on Thursday and 84 mm today. But report from various parts indicate that dozens of residential colonies and sectors have been faced with acute waterlogging. Meanwhile, it is learnt that breach in one of the minors near Kheri Kalan has led to flooding of water in residential areas of the village. The authorities have claimed that situation is under control and there is no threat of floods.
Rohtak in deep water Rohtak: The town recorded nearly 150 mm rainfall during the past 24 hours ending 8 am today, disrupting the normal life in the city. The town had experienced 42 mm rainfall on Wednesday. All low-lying areas in the town have been inundated. The Civil Line Road is under 3 to 4 feet water near the Narayana complex and the Chhotu Ram Chowk. The business activities have come to a halt as the roads leading to the markets are inundated. The main markets wore a deserted look today also. Many schools, including the Model School situated in the town, were closed today as the water had entered their compounds. The attendance of the students in the schools situated on the outskirts of the town was thin. The power supply has also been badly disrupted. Describing the rainfall as abnormal, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ashok Yadav, assured that the water accumulated in the low-lying areas would be pumped out soon.
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Rewari cut off Rewari: Heavy rains during the past 24 hours have played havoc in several villages of Rewari city. Over 70 houses lying in one half of Chhuraiawas village, 7 km from Rewari, have been cut off by a strong current of water which has been continuously flowing for the past over 12 hours. Similarly, another village Dhaliawas, which lies in the vicinity of the town’s bypass, has been surrounded by water while it has also entered in dozens of houses, situated in the peripheral region of the village.
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Round-the-clock efforts to plug canal breach Sonepat, July 11 According to a report, the gushing water is flowing towards Khizarpur Jat Majra village at a fast speed endangering the ring bundh around Hullaheri village. The continuous downpour has hampered the work for plugging the breach and efforts are being made by the officials of the Sonepat Water Service Division to plug the breach. However, they suspected that some unscrupulous farmers had made a cut in the canal embankment but the farmers denied the allegations. The people of both Hullaheri and Khizarpur Jat Majra village have apprehended that if the breach is not plugged immediately, their villages will be flooded. The gushing water has already submerged standing kharif crops including jowar and paddy in 350 acres of land in Hullaheri and Khizarpur Jat Majra village. Moreover, the standing jowar crop and plantation of paddy have also been damaged in 100 acres. Although the district administration has established flood control centres at the district and sub-divisional headquarters in the district but they exist only on paper. Meanwhile, the work for the plugging of the breach is continuing and a large number of workers are working round the clock for this purpose. |
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Metro-hit shops to get alternative sites New Delhi, July 11 Mr Khurana said he had told the minister that if the matter was not taken up urgently, he would dissociate himself with the project. Mr Khurana said the committee would submit its report by July 21 and the proposals would be taken up for discussion during a meeting on July 22. As many as 529 shops and 518 residential houses would be affected by the construction on the 22.8-km Barakhamba Road–Dwarka stretch of the project. He said the committee would find an alternative site to be given temporarily to the affected people till the exact location for their relocation was worked out. “I am not against the Metro and don’t want to delay the project but having gone through the travails of rehabilitation during the Partition, I don’t want these people to suffer,” he added. He said for the big houses on Pusa Road, compensation would be given at market price while those in smaller dwellings would get MIG or LIG DDA flats. Of the 206 shops on Panchkuian Road, only 14 will be removed in the first phase of construction which will begin within a month. The shopkeepers will have to pay about Rs 5 lakh to Rs 5.5 lakh in lieu of the permanent shops to be given to them, Mr Khurana said. On the assistance he had received from Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Mr Khurana claimed that she had washed her hands of the whole affair because he was the chairman. “She should have taken some initiative and tried to sort out the issue but she was not interested,” he said. Mr Khurana said the decision to move the people to alternative locations was taken at an earlier meeting with Lieutenant-Governor Vijai Kapoor. However, some of the people to be affected had subsequently brought to his notice that as the alternative sites would come up in two to three years what they were supposed to do in the interim. “I felt this was a genuine concern and the government should draw a blueprint for alternative accommodation in the interim for those to be affected,” he said. Thus, the meeting was called yesterday to discuss the issue, he added. The proposed committee will be headed by the Urban Development Secretary and comprise the Deputy Chairman of the DDA, MCD Commissioner and Metro Project Director. Besides, there will be an official of the Urban Development Ministry who will be the Member Secretary. Mr Khurana dismissed the suggestions that the controversy over the two surveys undertaken for the construction in this phase was politically motivated. He said the first survey, carried out by a French firm, was only the project report and had suggested that part of the Barakhamba Road – Dwarka stretch should be underground. However, a second survey by an Indian team had suggested that the stretch between Connaught Place and Panchkuian Road be elevated. The second survey was adopted by the DMRC, affecting as many as 529 shops and 518 residences, Mr Khurana said. |
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Lid off Mirage mystery; three arrested New Delhi, July 11 The sleuths also claimed to have arrested three persons in this connection and recovered a brake parachute from their possession, while the fate of other stolen accessories is being ascertained. In December 2001, the imported parachute and the accessories, bound for Bangalore, went missing from Nizamuddin Railway Station creating a sensation in both the defence and police circles. The police who worked on the case had no clue till last evening. The Crime Branch sleuths had a tip-off that the parachute was being kept in a hideout in Delhi. Following the clue, the sleuths managed to arrest one Hakleen (30), resident of DDA flats, Turkman Gate and recovered the parachute from the hideout. Based on his information, two of his associates Rajesh alias Babloo (26) and Ghansu (40), both residents of the Red Fort were arrested. Their other associate Birju has been languishing in Tihar Jail for some offence, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Railways) Dependra Pathak. The other accessories which were stolen like self-regulating pump, symbol generating unit, oxygen failure detector, auto pellet and switching boxes were sent to an agent. The sleuths are now in the process of identifying the agent as it could lead the police to recover other stolen accessories.
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Official
rigmarole: ‘Dead’ man who walks and New Delhi, July 11 Narender, who is a resident of Pusa Road in Central district, was declared dead by the salary disbursement department of the NDPL in April while he was on duty in the Keshavpuram Branch of the company. When he did not receive his salary in June, he inquired about the reason and was tersely told that for all practical purposes, he was “dead”. He even went to the EDP department which is responsible for making the salary slips of employees of the company in Shakti Sadan but could not get a plausible explanation. Victim of an apparent clerical error, Narender was reportedly asked to bring his attendance record of three months when he met the Assistant Personnel Officer (Billing). Even the attendance in-charge, Mrs Kusum, refused to cooperate saying that she had joined last month and had no knowledge of his attendance record. He went from pillar to post to find out the reason for not getting the salary but there was no answer. While he was in the midst of sorting out this ‘unearthly’ problem, he met with an accident and received fracture in his hand. Consequently, he went on a medical leave for 21 days. When he raised this issue with the Keshav Puram branch of the company, he was told by the department concerned that he had been declared dead in April and now he has to prove that he is alive for the sake of records. He joined the Delhi Vidyut Board (DVB) in 1989 when it was a government undertaking. The DVB was privatised a few years back and part of the capital was given to the NDPL for power supply. Before being privatised, he was promoted as a draftsman. He claims that it is the second month that he has been working without salary. He is unable to pay the school fees of his children and also finds it hard to meet the day-to-day expenses. His wife has been forced to borrow money from some relatives to run the house. Mr D. K. Arora, in-charge of the audit department, has admitted that “Narender had not been given salary for the last two months because of some clerical mistake. His name was not typed in the salary list of the EDP branch in Shakati Sadan. This is not true that he has been declared dead. How a man can be declared dead when he is working and we have his all records. This is also not true that his service record has been deleted from the computer. The official work is being done and he will receive his salary cheque within a day”. The official whose mistake led to the confounding confusion has since retired from the service of the company and no action can be taken against him, Mr D.K. Arora said. But for Narender, the last two months have been a nightmare and it will only end when he gets his salary.
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PIL
RESULT New Delhi, July 11 The PIL claimed that during 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1997-98, of the total admissible grant of Rs 16,24,850 to the Government of Delhi under centrally sponsored scheme of integrated education for the disabled children, only Rs 6,52,325 was spent. As much as Rs 9,52,325 was accorded for utilisation during 1997-98 alone. “The Government of Delhi has failed to even fully utilise the grant accorded for the said scheme. The disabled children are not out of school because their parents cannot afford it, but more so because the schools run by the Government of Delhi and the MCD are not disabled friendly,” said Mr Agarwal. A comprehensive education scheme providing for transport facilities, supply of books and other facilities to such children as required under Section 30 of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995. |
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UPHAAR TRAGEDY New Delhi, July 11 However, a Division Bench comprising justices S. K. Mahajan and Mukul Mudgal posted the application to be heard on July 21, as the counsel of the Licensing Authority for movie halls in the Capital was not present. The Licensing Authority had deposited the amount on June 23 and on June 27. A Vacation Bench of the high court had also ordered the disbursement of the Rs 6.85 crore compensation, which includes Rs 2.14 crore, Rs 2.45 crore and Rs 2.26 crore paid by the Delhi Police (Licensing Authority), the Delhi Power Corporation Limited (erstwhile Delhi Vidyut Board) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, respectively. The authority filed its stay application only on July 5. On June 27, a Division Bench comprising justices A. K. Sikri and Pradeep Nandrajog directed the court’s Registry to hand over the amount so far collected to the petitioners in accordance with the high court’s judgement dated April 24. The court on April 24 passed a landmark judgement after six years of protracted legal tussle, asking a hefty compensation of more than Rs 20 crore be paid by the owners of Uphaar Cinema, the Licensing Authority, the DVB and the
MCD, after holding them responsible for the fire tragedy, which took place on June 13, 1997 during the screening of the Hindi film, ‘Border’, killing 59 people and injuring 104. The Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy had moved the Delhi High Court seeking damages worth Rs 120 crore from the owners of Uphaar Cinema, the Licensing Authority for movie halls in the Capital, the electricity supply company (erstwhile DVB) and the MCD jointly and severally to the petitioners who had lost their relatives in the tragedy and also to the injured. On June 23, in compliance with the order, the Delhi Police (Licensing Authority), the DPCL (erstwhile DVB) and the MCD deposited cheques towards their share of the compensation. However, owners of the cinema, the
Ansals, have not deposited their share, which came to about Rs 12 crore, including Rs 2.5 crore as fine for selling extra seats in the hall. The Ansal Theatres and Clubhotels Private Limited has moved the high court seeking the release of the sealed cinema building to generate funds for the compensation. |
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Devi Rupak plan for couples top on priority Narnaul, July 11 This was stated by the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, here today on the occasion of World Population Day while addressing a public meeting at Bhankri village. Earlier, Mr Chautala inaugurated a drinking water supply scheme in the village Bhankri. Set up at cost of Rs 38.80 lakh, it will benefit Bhankri, Jodopur, Dochana and Badopur villages. As many as 7,183 ruralites would be able to get 40 litres per capita every day. Giving details about the Devi Rupak plan, he said if a couple had a female child as their first issue then the Haryana Government would provide Rs 500 per month for 20 years as an incentive. In case of having a second issue, whether male or female, and then adopting family planning strictly the couple would get Rs 200 per month for 20 years. This had been decided to maintain the sex ratio. Admitting that the water table had gone too deep in the state, Mr Chautala said demand for water had also increased owing to the population explosion. As a result, 3.5 lakh villages were not getting potable water in India. According to a recent survey, 3,245 villages in Haryana were getting drinking water at an average of 40 litres per capita per day, which was less. The government had decided to change the old pipelines. Besides, eight of the water supply talks were being constructed. On the issue of the SYL canal, he said it was sure to be constructed. “Water will definitely flow in Haryana which will cater to the irrigation needs of additional 7.5 lakh acres. He said Haryana’s population was only two per cent of the entire country. Despite that Haryana had established its identity on the development front. Villagers of nearby villages of Mahendragarh district Put forth their demands on the occasion. |
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Dialogue
with youth begins as part of Population Day New Delhi, July 11 Developed jointly by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the UNFPA and the NYKS, the programme aims at empowering youth of the country by way of providing them information, programmes and policy leverage. “The young in India, especially the adolescents, have immense potential. They must have the opportunities also,” said chief guest at yesterdays’ face-to-face meet, Mr Rajiva Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. “Providing them right stimulus is the responsibility of the society so that they turn out to be engines of social change,” he said in his inaugural speech. Before him, Mr V. Muraleedharan, director-general of the NYKS, in his keynote address informed the audience that there would be year-long activities involving adolescents and stakeholders. The programmes would begin with nine workshops and Adolescent Melas in certain state capitals. As the preliminary part of the programme, a sample of 400 adolescents were interviewed in Delhi. They have been invited to participate in the present programme. |
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SPECIAL
FOCUS ON JHAJJAR/BAHADURGARH Jhajjar, July 11 Following the directives of the Supreme Court last year about the completion of digging work on the SYL canal for providing the waters of the Ravi-Beas to Haryana, this emotive issue again became alive. All major political parties, including the Congress, the INLD and the Haryana Vikas Party, started shouting from the rooftops about “their efforts, which had borne fruit in terms of the apex court judgement in favour of Haryana”. However, when the water did not flow in the fields of this state within the stipulated one year in keeping with the Supreme Court orders, reportedly due to the defiant stand taken by the successive Punjab Governments, which also filed a review petition on the earlier orders, and the lethargic attitude of the central as well as the state government in expediting work on the project, a fresh round of blame game has got under way in Haryana politics. Amid this fresh game of oneupmanship, leaders of various parties find it highly opportune to give lip service to the cause of the people. They announced waging a war for water (jal yudha). Former HPCC president and Congress Legislative Party leader Bhoopinder Singh Hooda jumped into the battleground, declaring the launch of the jal yudh at a rally held in Jhajjar earlier this year. Then, his party colleague and former state unit president Virender Singh could not digest the supremacy of Mr Hooda. After the Kaithal rally it appears that Mr Virender Singh wanted to call the shots on the issue of jal yudh. He visited the district recently to address a party workers’ meeting. In the conspicuous absence of supporters of Mr Bhajan Lal and Mr Hooda, Mr Virender Singh tried putting the forth the argument that in fact he was leading the jal yudh of the state Congress. On the other hand, the Rashtriya Lok Dal of Mr Ajit Singh, who was dropped by the Prime Minister in the Cabinet reshuffle recently, also decided to fight its own jal yudh. This episode is scheduled to begin from July 17 from Kaithal district and conclude in Rohtak on July 28. During the campaign the RLD leaders would walk through eight districts and hold public meetings in five villages of each district. The meetings would be addressed by the state president. There would be a mass awareness campaign on the injustice being meted out to the people of Haryana with regard to water distribution. The All India Krishak Khet Majdoor Sangathan has also planned to wage a similar war to get the SYL canal completed by organising a mahapanchayat in a Rewari village. The sangathan has been mobilising the farmers for the meeting. The future course of action regarding how to put pressure on the state and central governments for early completion of the construction work on the SYL would be decided. “Fighting a battle is easier said than done”, said Mr Rahul Dev, secretary of the Bar Association, Bahadurgarh, adding that so far no party had come forward with any concrete strategy. It was not clear against whom they were fighting this war and what the timeframe was for this jal yudh. He maintained that like other political gimmicks, these jal yudhs were also a farce played out to fool the people of the state. Prof Hari Singh of Jhajjar has launched his own jal yudh by initiating a signature campaign for submitting a memorandum to the Prime Minister on the SYL canal. The Chief Minister has been promising the people that the canal would be completed within one year although he had earlier announced work on the canal would be over till January 2003 after the apex court’s directives.
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Tormented
by power shutdowns, people want probe into UHBVN working Sonepat, July 11 According to a report, this has been causing a huge loss of revenue to the exchequer of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN). Moreover, power theft continues unabated in the urban and rural areas in connivance with unscrupulous officials of the UHBVN. Cases of power theft are stated to be on the increase in the villages under the jurisdiction of the Kundli, Rai, Ganaur, Kharkhauda, Gohana, Murthal and Industrial Area subdivisions of the UHBVN in the absence of any checking by the officials. Senior officers always remain silent spectators and hardly take any notice of public complaints against the officials responsible for power theft. During the past few months a large number of power theft cases had been detected by the officials of the maintenance and protection wing of the UHBVN and they had realised huge penalty from the erring consumers. The senior officers of the UHBVN have always remained helpless in transferring the subordinate employees and engineers who are associated with their respective unions as they apprehend agitation from the unions against them or the UHBVN. Whenever reports about the incompetence and indifferent as well as unresponsive attitude of the authorities appear in certain newspapers the authorities of the UHBVN instead of setting their house in order adopt a vindictive attitude against the mediapersons and become so intolerant that they administer threats to them and even direct their subordinates to disconnect the electricity connections of such persons who dare to expose their misdeeds. The severe power crisis which had hit the city for the past many days has started telling on the law and order situation following instances of irate residents taking recourse of direct action. In the Rai area, the situation became tense recently when angry residents came out of their houses and gheraoed the SDO, UHBVN, in the 132 KV grid power substation at Biswan Meel. When the situation turned ugly, the SDO assured the agitating people of nearby villages that they would get normal supply in future.
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Gohana UHBVN staff threaten stir
Sonepat: The action committee of employees of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam in Gohana subdivision has threatened to launch an agitation from July 15 if the police failed to arrest all persons who allegedly attacked a team of the nigam with iron rods and wooden sticks on July 4. The team led by junior engineer Mahender Singh was returning after conducting a surprise raid against power theft at a house in a colony of Gohana town. In the attack, the JE received multiple fractures in both legs while the linesmen were beaten up mercilessly. The police have arrested two of the four accused, but two main accused are still evading arrest. A meeting of the action committee, which was formed after the attack, was held at Gohana last evening.
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Speaking
out
The killing of twelve jawans and injury to seven at the Sunjuwan Army Camp in Jammu region when two terrorists intruded into the camp is a grim reminder to the unfolding tragedy in the Kashmir Valley. The incident has shocked the near and dear ones of the victims, fellow army jawans and countrymen from all walks of life. At the same time, it is a reminder of the failed strategy in dealing with the decade old cross border terrorism in Kashmir. Other countries, which are faced with similar situation, would have reacted in a different manner and given a fitting reply to the terrorists and those sponsoring them from across the border. Israel and the United States of America would have destroyed and dismantled the terrorists camps operating deep inside the enemy territory. But India is a unique country. Our Army Chief General N.C. Vij rushed to the camp and went through the motion and instructed the Army to strengthen installations in the Jammu region. There was no hard talk of giving a fitting reply for the terrorist attack. The most brazen attack was carried out when President Abdul Kalam was on a visit to the border areas of Kashmir. President Abdul Kalam had gone to the valley to inspire the Kashmiris who have been bearing the onslaught of the mercenaries from across the border for more than a decade now. In the background of the continuing violence in the Kashmir Valley, the question posed by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee about the final outcome of the peace process is relevant. When such unabashed militant attacks are carried out on a regular basis, he has rightly questioned the outcome of the peace process between India and Pakistan. There is a limit to India’s patience.
The truth is that when this patience is exhausted, the consequences will be calamitous. It is time that Pakistan learnt some lessons from the
past. UJJAL PAL SINGH,
Filling up vacancies in schools It was shocking to learn that notwithstanding the direction of the Delhi High Court to fill up all the vacancies of teachers in schools run by the Delhi Government, a large number of these posts continue to remain vacant. Being insensitive to the direction of the court is not only a fit case of contempt of court, but it would have a lasting impact on the development of the children who have been deprived of their fundamental right to education. It is clear that when there are not enough teachers, the basic education of the future citizens of our country will suffer. Hence, I hope the authorities will do the needful to rectify the situation at the earliest so that our students are not made to suffer due to the negligence on the part of the department. SUBHASH C.
TANEJA,
A new work culture needed Madhu Chandra in her write-up (‘Learn to love what you do for a living’, NCR Tribune, July 7), has stressed the importance of work in our life. Everyone complains in India that we lack a work culture. “Chalta
Hai”, has become a way of life for most of us. Clearly, we need a new work culture which puts emphasis on hard work. Why not try a ‘prescription’ offered by an expert? “If you are poor-work. If disappointments come- work. If you are rich-continue to work. If faith falters and reason fails-work. If dreams are shattered and hope seems dead -work. If sorrow overwhelms you and your loved ones are untrue-work. If you are burdened with seemingly unfair responsibilities-work. If you are happy—keep on working, idleness gives room to doubt and fear. No mater what ails you- work. Work as if your life is in peril, for it
is.” ANUP KUMAR,
Money for degree deal M.P.K. Kutty in his article (“Doctor! Listen to your patient first, then heal”, NCR Tribune, July 6), has discussed the role of doctors by quoting from Dr Bernie S. Siegel’s book, `Love, Medicine and Miracles’ and from the thoughts of Mother Teresa penned on the walls of a children’s home. However, there is also a news report by Jatinder Sharma
(“Wanna have MBBS seat? Pay Rs 25 lakh” in the NCR Tribune, July 6) stating that “The sons and daughters of the neo-rich can walk away with an MBBS seat for Rs 25 lakh even in the government owned medical colleges. The price is a few lakh less for private colleges.” It is also disclosed that 25 per cent seats under the management quota for those who can pay Rs 25 lakh (and they need not belong to Haryana and need not appear in common entrance test), came as a shock for the students and their parents, who had come to the PGIMS for counselling. This is not limited to one or few states in our country, but is the norm in all the other states as well. In the above context, I don’t think that the noble thoughts expressed by Mr Kutty would move those who have become doctors after spending lakhs of rupees and without appearing for any entrance test O. P. SHARMA,
Homeopath recruitment racket It is strange that the Delhi Government is unaware of a racket involving the recruitment of Homeopath on contract basis. This is in reference to the recruitment of Homeopaths on contract basis for six months period or till selections of candidates have been made through the UPSC. Unfortunately, by ignoring this ongoing racket, the money of the common man is being lost. The contracted candidates had lost their case for extension/ regularisation in the Delhi High Court. Moreover, their appeal in the Supreme Court had also been rejected. However, they continue to work as usual. It is surprising why the Department of ISM and H have not initiated action against them? Will the concerned department look into the matter? RAJ KUMAR JAIN,
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NCR
BRIEFS Sonepat, July 11 Man gets trapped in machine Tinku Kumar, a labourer, was injured seriously when he was trapped in a machine while working at a factory in Dhaturi village, about 15 km from here, last evening. According to a report, the injured worker was rushed to the local civil hospital from where he was sent to the ESI hospital at Delhi. The police are still investigating into the case.
Sheet Glass Co shuts plants The management of Haryana Sheet Glass Company has closed down two plants with immediate effect rendering about 700 workers jobless. According to a report, this has caused widespread resentment among the workers and they are planning to launch an agitation. Many workers alleged that the management has betrayed them by closing down these two plants.
Man electrocuted New Delhi: One person died of electrocution this morning in the Badarpur area of South district. The police said that the victim, Suresh (21), a resident of Harsh Vihar, owns an audiocassette shop in the same area. He reached the shop at around 10 am today. He switched on the light but was electrocuted. He was found in an unconscious condition by his family members and was immediately rushed to Holy Family Hospital where he was declared brought dead.
NTPC Delhi team win quiz contest The NTPC Delhi team emerged champions in a business quiz, entitled ASKANCE, held at Bangalore, as part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Karnataka Quiz Association (KQA). The team was represented by Mohit Bhargava, senior manager, Ajay Sahoo, Sujit Varkey and K. M. Prashanth, all managers. Around 60 corporate teams from Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai participated in the written quiz. The Karnataka Quiz Association (KQA), formed in 1983, a registered society in Bangalore working on a non-profit basis, conducts quizzes for colleges, institutes and corporates regularly.
TNS
Population Day observed Narnaul: World Population Day was observed at the government school under the chairmanship of Dr S. N. Sharma, District Family Welfare Officer. A declamation contest was organised on the occasion. Kiran Sain, Neetu Sanghi and Mamta Sharma were declared first, second and third respectively in the contest. Speaking on the occasion, Dr S. N. Sharma stressed on the need to get births and deaths registered with the Health Department.
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DELHI
DIGEST New Delhi, July 11 Demanding stalling of the CAS till set-top boxes were manufactured in India, the Delhi unit of the RSS outfit, the SJM, today said the immediate implementation of the system would result in a loss of over Rs 1,000 crore to the country. He alleged that if this was not done, the country would face a “minimum loss of Rs 1,000 crore in foreign exchange”. Though supportive of the CAS, he argued that the government “should not allow advertisements on pay channels as they are already charging the consumer”. They also demanded greater regulation of the contents shown on satellite channels. Lankan delegation visits NDMC:
The NDMC apprised the visitors of the functioning of the council and gave a detailed account of issues like city planning, system of electricity distribution and road maintenance among others. The delegation was particularly interested in garbage disposal, sewage plant, solid waste management and road maintenance. The delegation was also apprised of dengue prevention techniques undertaken by the NDMC. The Chairman of the NDMC, Mr R. Narayanaswami, explained the causes of insanitation and the way it is being controlled through the appointment of municipal magistrates who are empowered to fine defaulters. Mr Narayanaswami added that sanitation problems in the city were mainly because of immigrants to the city. Cop’s widow assured of job:
Reshuffle in Delhi Police:
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Factory making spurious tyre tubes unearthed New Delhi, July 11 The suspects are identified as factory owner Sardar Jasbir Singh Chaddha, a resident of Jangpura, and manager Ram Raj. The factory manufactured spurious tubes of CEAT, MRF, Apollo, Bridgestone and Dunlop companies. A huge quantity of tubes, metal dyes, wooden dyes, stamped or unstamped loose tubes, packing material, a label-marking machine and sealing machine were seized, the police said. Sleuths of the Crime Branch received an information that spurious tubes were being manufactured in Lahori Gate area. The suspects were arrested following a raid. During interrogation, they disclosed that the illegal factory had been running for the last several years. They managed to supply these spurious tubes by mixing them with the genuine ones in the market in the Capital as well as other places in the country, the police said. |
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