N C R   S T O R I E S


 

Capital simmers in summer heat
Tribune News
Service

New Delhi, May 21
The unrelenting heat wave in the Capital has already claimed five lives, according to the Delhi Medical Association (DMA). It says that as many as five to six cases of heat stroke are being referred to the doctors in a day.

The DMA has now started a helpline to help people save themselves from getting a heat stroke, which in extreme cases can turn fatal. The 24-hour helpline provides vital information to the public on the dos and don’ts to ward off the possibility of a heat stroke.

According to the guidelines issued by the DMA, one should drink plenty of fluids up to five litres a day. Medical experts claim that since most of the water evaporates from the body because of heat, one should keep replenishing the amount by intake of water and fluids.

Wearing light and porous clothes and opting for full sleeves, which can block the sunrays, are also recommended. Wearing caps and preventing direct rays to the head is also advised.

Doctors say that the brain has a gland, Hypothalamus, which controls the body temperature.

Owing to excessive body temperature, this gland is affected sometimes, resulting in body temperature not being regulated and thus proving fatal.

The guidelines further state that sunglasses should be worn to protect the eyes, long walks or drives on two-wheelers should be avoided and rest should be taken in cool shady places, allowing sweat to evaporate. Car owners should keep the doors open to cool the car before sitting in it and the rooms should be kept cool. All windows and doors should be closed during the day.

Experts add that walking barefoot should be avoided, as the floor temperature is almost double the room temperature.

They also add if the body temperature is higher than 40 degree Celsius, the entire body and head should be sponged with water and in case of temperature not being controlled, a qualified physician should be consulted.

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Anti-dengue, malaria steps in full swing
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 21
To prevent malaria, dengue and other mosquito-related diseases, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is carrying out a door-to-door survey to detect the breeding of mosquitoes.

According to an MCD spokesman, health officials have visited nearly 30 lakh houses so far this year. Of these, 1,574 houses were found positive for mosquito-breeding. Legal notices were issued to 3,054 offenders. Prosecution has been launched against 501 offenders.

As a result of sustained anti-malaria operations, there is a steep decline in the incident of malaria. Only 22 cases of malaria have been reported so far this year. It is the lowest figure as compared to other metropolitan cities.

He said that four persons were reported to be affected by dengue till date during the current year. All these cases were investigated by the MCD and the NICD. No evidence of disease transmission was detected nor the clinical presentation was of dengue fever.

It was concluded that all of them were spilled-over cases of last year. It will be pertinent to mention that no new strain or trend has been detected in Delhi.

As there is no vaccine or specific treatment for dengue, it becomes important to control the vector population by reducing surface breeding. Anti-adult mosquito measures such as fogging have no role in controlling the breeding of mosquitoes.

Such measures are taken only during epidemic or while blocking the cycle of disease transmission.

The spokesman said that the citizens were advised to take the following precautions for control of vector-borne disease: all coolers should be cleaned once a week and mopped dry before refilling. In the coolers that cannot be cleaned, pour one tablespoon of petrol or kerosene or diesel. Overhead and other water tanks should be kept covered. All water containers or ‘haudis’ should be drained once a week and kept covered after refilling. Collection of stagnant water should not be allowed inside or around the office premises and if it does take place, a little kerosene, petrol or diesel may be sprinkled.

Unused or broken bottles, cups, pots and tyres that can hold water should not be left in the open.

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OBSTACLE COURSE
Child interviews: Unaided schools plead their case
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 21
Responding to a public notice on the issue of interviewing children and their parents for admissions to the Nursery, LKG, UKG and class one pre-primary classes, more than 100 unaided recognised public schools of the city today represented themselves in the Delhi High Court.

Under the banner of Action Committee of Unaided Recognised Public Schools, the representatives appeared before a Division Bench of Justice Dalveer Bhandari and Justice R C Jain following a public notice issued by the Director of Education, Delhi Government in two English and a Hindi dailies.

The Bench posted the matter to July 25 after the Committee and some schools sought more time to make their submissions. The court is seized of a petition filed by three parents challenging a single Bench judgement of the same court, which had on January 12 last year rejected the plea, banning interviews of children and their parents.

The petitioners’ counsel Ashok Agrawal sought issuance of some interim guidelines on the issue, but the court refused, saying “admissions for this academic session are already over”.

The court had on May 6 ordered issuance of a public notice to all schools, including unaided recognised public schools seeking their assistance on this “question of larger public importance”.

Earlier, the court had on February 23 last issued notices to Montfort School, its Principal, Delhi Lt-Governor and Director of Education on the matter. Petitioners’ counsel Ashok Agrawal sought a ban on interviewing children on the ground that it was “arbitrary and violative” of their human rights. Such a practice violated their fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 14 (right to equality), Article 21 (right to life & liberty) and Article 21-A (right to education for children below 14) of the Constitution as also provisions of the Delhi School Education Act, 1973, he contended.

Agrawal had submitted that by subjecting the kids to interviews, public schools were violating the recommendations of the Kothari Commission (1964-66) and the Yashpal Committee (1993) and urged the court to direct the schools to give admission in pre-primary classes by draw of lots only.

He had earlier asked the court to order the schools to implement the April 9, 1997 directive of the city Government. The directive was on giving preference in admission to the students residing within a radius of three km.

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Pak national gets death penalty for killing CRPF jawan

New Delhi: A Delhi court today awarded capital punishment to a Pakistani national for killing a CRPF jawan, Nitin in Delhi on October 18, 2001.

Additional Sessions Judge J M Malik had earlier on Tuesday held Masood Ahmed, who had sneaked into India to carry out subversive activities, guilty of having committed the offence.

However, Mr Malik had acquitted his alleged accomplice Abdullah Mir, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir, due to lack of evidence.

On October 18, 2003, when Nitin and another Jawan, Fernandes were on duty at the CRPF barracks in Jharorda Kalan at 11 pm, Ahmed fired at them by an AK-56 rifle killing Nitin on the spot.

In the shoot-out, Fernandes was injured. The police had retrieved an AK-56 and some live cartridges from the spot. Mir was arrested from Azadpur on October 27, 2001.

In his disclosure statement, he revealed that he had gone with Ahmed to the CRPF barracks at Jaroda Kalan.

He said he used to bring Pakistani militants to the Capital from Jammu and Kashmir. Ahmed was nabbed from Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh on April 15, 2002. He had also been chargesheeted in Ghazipur under various sections of POTA. The Uttar Pradesh Police had recovered an AK-47 rifle from him. During a Test Identification Parade (TIP), Fernandes had identified the convict. TNS

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Travel agent posed as minister, procured visas
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 21
The Delhi Police Special Cell claimed to have arrested a travel agent along with his associate who used to impersonate the Minister of External Affairs and also PS to the Minister for obtaining visas for his clients.

The sleuths also claimed to have seized one car, two passports of their clients along with a letter by the Australian High Commission refusing them visas, fake visa stickers of the UK and the US, 10 passports, books containing addresses and telephone numbers of foreign missions in India and six SIM cards used to make calls to the embassies.

The main accused has been identified as Manoj Kumar Arora (32) and his associate Jawahar Arora (36), both residents of Noida.

The sleuths received a complaint from the Ministry of External Affairs that one Manoj had phoned up Australian High Commission, French Embassy and Royal Danish Embassy and recommended visas to some persons. He introduced himself as PS to the Minister of External Affairs to Australian High Commission and requested visas for two persons, Manmohan and Mrs Harvinder Walia. He called up Royal Danish Embassy also, posing himself as PS to the Minister. The accused requested visas for seven persons for attending a birthday party.

Manoj again called up French Embassy, this time as the Minister of External Affairs and requested visa to some members of a delegation, going to France. He also claimed that some of the persons for whom he was recommending visas were related to a chief minister.

During investigations, the sleuths found out the names of Manoj Arora and Jawahar Arora who were involved in seven to eight cases of cheating.

The sleuths also came to know that the accused had adopted the same modus operandi earlier to obtain visas for their clients.

On May 19, the sleuths received a tip-off that both Manoj and Jawahar would be coming to an embassy in a Wagon R car No DL-8C-H-3692. Accordingly, both were apprehended. During interrogation, the accused confessed to their crime and told the sleuths that they used to charge Rs 2 lakh per visa.

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Sharda Jain had tried to end life, court told

New Delhi: A trial court hearing the case pertaining to the murder of Congress Councillor Atma Ram Gupta was today told that the main accused Sharda Jain had tried to commit suicide nearly two years before she allegedly got him murdered ‘’due to his growing proximity with another woman’’.

Deposing before the Additional Sessions Judge, Mr B. B. Chaudhary, Constable Satbir Singh said a police team from the Keshavpuram Police Station had left for necessary action after receiving an information in this regard from the Maharaja Agrasen Hospital at around midnight on October 25, 2000.

Singh’s deposition assumes importance in view of the prosecution, stressing that the motive behind the killing of Atma Ram by his colleague was due to his growing proximity with another Congress Councillor Memwati Berwal. The Delhi Police have submitted that Jain was perturbed over the relationship. The Constable, who was a ‘munshi’, told the court that he had recorded the information at 1.30 pm and a team under ASI Baljeet was rushed to the hospital for investigation at 2.40 pm. TNS

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Heritage status of DU Old Block in peril
Manish Kumar Singal
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 21
The recent extension to the main building of the Department of Biology has now become a matter of concern for the faculty as well as the students of Delhi University. The university authorities proclaimed that it would be dangerous if heavy equipment were installed in it.

A letter from the university has warned the Department of Environmental Studies not to keep heavy equipment in the laboratories, constructed on the first floor of the Department of Biology, which is one of the university’s three ‘heritage buildings’.

The issue is, if the building, Old Block, was of heritage status and not strong enough to bear the load of equipment, why the extension was allowed in the first place.

The university under the notification number, Estate/2001/R/406, dated February 20, 2001, said that two new laboratories and two classrooms were being constructed on the first floor of the Old Zoology Block.

The rooms were to be used for teaching and conducting practical classes for the Department of Environmental Biology.

They were made allegedly without the permission of the authorities, though a copy of the notification was sent to the Vice-Chancellor, university engineer, head of the Departments, Zoology and Environmental Biology, and the Deputy Registrar (Estate).

The construction was completed on the heritage building subsequently. Nothing happened till August 31, 2002, when the university officials who issued the above notification, issued another letter to the Department of Environmental Biology. The letter said: “We are clearly informed by the university engineer that the old building roof is not so strong and would not be able to take heavy equipment and other structural additions.”

According to sources, the construction plan by the university’s estate department was not passed by the authorities concerned. The university did not take permission from the archeological department before making these additions to the buildings.

The Pro Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University, C R Babu was the only person who had signed the proposed plan on June 11, 2001.

The teachers of the department also alleged that the Pro VC, C R Babu erected rooms on the ground floor adjacent to the heritage building.

Earlier, there was a cycle stand for the convenience of the students and teachers.

All these constructions were made illegally, knowing well that the additional ground coverage was not allowed in the approved Master Plan of the university, said a senior university official.

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SAD (Delhi) calls Sonia lady of the masses
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 21
Jathedar Balwinder Singh Talwandi, press secretary, SAD (Delhi), today welcomed the greatest historic decision taken by Mrs Sonia Gandhi to appoint Dr Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister of India. In this way she has risen above the rank and thus become an undisputed fair lady of the masses. While felicitating Dr Manmohan Singh, Jathedar Talwandi also said at such a historic juncture SAD, irrespective of its political compulsions, should also overwhelmingly support the noble and able candidature of Dr Manmohan Singh.

Jathedar Talwandi said Dr Manmohan Singh had the ability to capitalise “Mera Bharat Mahaan”, the dream dreamt by our late Prime Minister and great visionary Rajiv Gandhi. Elevating a Sikh to the top executive post of country, Mrs Gandhi had shown her tremendous respect for the minority community and really tried hard to heal the wounds of Sikhs.

Jathedar Talwandi said Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s life was full of sacrifices but this had been the biggest sacrifice and a landmark in the history after Mahatma Gandhi.

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Water-borne diseases are back
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, May 21
The summer season has set in and so have diseases that come with it in this city and elsewhere in the district. The shortage of drinking water has led to an outbreak of water-borne diseases like jaundice, gastroenteritis and cholera.

The authorities of the Public Health Department had failed to prevent sewage from entering the water supply lines in many areas, particularly the old section of the city, Model Town and Indira Colony.

This has led to increase in cases of jaundice. Many residents alleged that leakage of water from the sluice valves could be seen everywhere in the city thanks to the failure of the PHD officials to repair these valves in spite of repeated complaints made to them in this regard.

In the Ram Bazar area, one of the sluice valves had been leaking for the past one year or so but the officials of the PHD had failed to repair it despite public complaints.

Similar incidents of water contamination have been reported from a number of residential colonies, including the mandi area and the old DC road. Private nursing homes and the clinics have been flooded with patients suffering from water-borne diseases. A number of such patents have also been admitted to the local civil hospital for treatment.

Ice factories are manufacturing sub-standard ice thanks to the failure of the district authorities to check it effectively. The owners of these factories have increased the rates of the ice without any authority. Similarly, the sale of ripe fruits, vegetables and sugarcane juice was continuing unabated and the authorities concerned had failed to check such sale. The district authorities too remain silent spectators in this regard.

The authorities of the Health Department and the Sonepat Municipal Council have also failed to check the mosquito menace. This has led to an increase in cases of malaria.

Meanwhile, the residents of this city continue to reel under drinking water crisis. They have to fetch water from distant places to meet their requirements.

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Sectt employees pay tributes to Rajiv Gandhi
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 21
Paying tributes to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 13th death anniversary, the employees of the Delhi Legislative Assembly Secretariat pledged to fight against terrorism.

At a function held in the Secretariat, Speaker Ajay Maken administered the pledge to employees urging them to fight against terrorism and establish and promote peace and understanding among fellow human beings.

The Speaker, who has been elected to the Lok Sabha from the New Delhi constituency, administered the pledge to fight the forces of disruption threatening human lives and values.

Education, Culture and Tourism Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely paid floral tributes at the oil portrait of the late Prime Minister at another function in a school in East Delhi.

“Shri Rajiv Gandhi advocated non-alignment, non-violence, disarmament and placed India on the global scenario,” said Mr Lovely urging the youth to take the pledge to fulfil the dreams and teachings of the late Prime Minister.

He said by his dynamic innovations Mr Gandhi was able to push India into the 21st century. “Now we can see a great revolution in the field of computer science, space and technology, hi-tech information technology around us.”

Rajiv Gandhi’s death anniversary is observed as Anti-Terrorism Day.

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New rail line to link Dadri with Tughlakabad
Our Correspondent

Greater Noida, May 21
The Greater Noida Authority is understood to have initiated action on a project of laying a rail line to link Dadri with Tughlakabad keeping in view the industries of Greater Noida. A meeting between officials of the Railway Board and the Greater Noida Authority was held here on Wednesday. It was stressed that the work on the project should be completed within three years.

The railway line starting from Tughlakabad will be laid via Delhi’s Sarita Vihar, Noida, along with express way to Knowledge Park-III. From here it will become a by point, one line going to Dadri and the second will link Greater Noida’s proposed Boraki railway station.

Having decided to set up an industrial town in Greater Noida, the authority has involved itself seriously in doing away with the transport bottlenecks and ensuring dependable as well as desirable linkages.

The proposed rail link will greatly boost the transportation of products from Greater Noida to Dadri and Delhi.

A detailed discussion was held on all different aspects of the project between Noida Authority officers and Officers of Railway Development Corporation. The Director of Projecting Planning of Railway Development Corporation and an Executive Director of Railway Board had attended the meeting.

Though initially this track will be used for goods traffic, but Greater Noida Authority officers are keen that later on EMU trains should also run on this line for the convenience of the passenger traffic. The GNIDA officers have also emphasised the need to make it a double line track.

GM Projects of Greater Noida Authority, S. S. A. Rizvi said, this link will also cater to people’s convenience and Greater Noida will be linked with rail from both the ends. Those travelling to Howrah side could go to Dadri while those passengers wanting to board trains to Mumbai and South will be able to travel to Tughalakabad.

For the growth of trade industry, this line will definitely proves to be a boon. Now industrial product has to be transported over about 30 to 50 km by road. Goods transportation on railway will be cheaper, which will reduce the price of the goods produced. It might help in availability of manpower to industrial units.

Among others, Railway Board Executive Director, Abhishek Agnihotri and Greater Noida Authority’s GM (Finance) A. K. Sirohi had taken part in the discussions.

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Demo against sarpanch

Sonepat, May 21
Large number of residents of Harsana Kalan village held a massive demonstration in front of Deputy Commissioner’s office here yesterday in protest against the alleged irregularities of the Sarpanch Hazari Lal and demanded a high-level inquiry into the public complaints.

According to a report, the residents also raised slogans against the sarpanch and alleged that the sarpanch had been engaged in creating plots on the land meant for the use of chemical fertilisers. The agitated residents warned that if the administration failed to take any action against the sarpanch the situation would turn an ugly turn.

The district authorities assured the agitated resident that steps would be taken against the sarpanch. Thereupon, the villagers dispersed.

Private schools breach govt order

Almost all the privately-managed schools in this city and other parts of the district continue to remain open in violation of the order of the state government closing down the educational institution from May 20 to June 30 for summer vocation.

According to a report, the district administration has failed to take any penal action against such institutions.

The students are forced to attend the classes in the heat wave conditions.

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NCR BRIEF
Man gets 14-yr RI for smuggling opium
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, May 21
The Additional Sessions Judge of Sonepat, Mr Dharamvir Singh, yesterday convicted an opium smuggler Lal Chand of Barkhera village (Madhya Pradesh) and sentenced him to 14 years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 1 lakh or in default of payment of fine to undergo further rigorous imprisonment for 14 months in a case registered against him in the Railway police station on March 8 last year.

According to the prosecution story, the accused was travelling in 2921 UP Paschim Express on its way to Amritsar. On being suspicious, the Government Railway Police (GRP) took him for interrogation. During the search operations, the GRP seized four packets of opium and one packet contains 3.250 kg contraband opium. In this way, the GRP recovered 13-kg contraband opium from his possession and arrested him consequently. The GRP had sent his challan to the court for trial purposes.

Youth held in dowry case

The Kharkhauda police have registered a case of dowry harassment against a youth Naresh of Chiri village in Rohtak district on the complaint lodged by Pooja, wife of Naresh, and a resident of Rohna village in this district and started investigations into it.

According to a report, the complainant has pointed out that she was got married wth Naresh on June 16, 2002 and immediately after the marriage she used to be harassed by her husband for taking cash from her parents house. When she declined she was ousted from the house of her husband. She also pointed out that her parents tried to solve the dispute but failed in their attempts.

Demo against sarpanch

Large number of residents of Harsana Kalan village held a massive demonstration in front of Deputy Commissioner’s office here yesterday in protest against the alleged irregularities of the Sarpanch Hazari Lal and demanded a high-level inquiry into the public complaints.

According to a report, the residents also raised slogans against the sarpanch and alleged that the sarpanch had been engaged in creating plots on the land meant for the use of chemical fertilisers.

Martyr consigned to flames

Jhajjar: Martyr Havildar Ram Kishan of Jat Regiment, who laid down his life fighting against terrorists, was consigned to flames in his native Khanpur Khurd village of the district today.

The martyr was driving the Army vehicle searching for militants hiding in Rajouri sector in Jammu and Kashmir. He was accompanied with a JCO and 10 jawans on May 19. They had hardly drown a kilometer when militants started firing from their hideout on the army vehicle, Ramkishan injured seriously after three bullets pumped in his chest. In a bid to save other jawans, he took a sharp turn, as a result the vehicle overturned, while he crushed under the vehicle, other jawans landed safely.

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DELHI DIGEST
Hospital makes World record in ballooning heart valve
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 21
A world record was made at a single catheterisation laboratory in a hospital in the Capital, when 62 patients underwent successful balloon dilation of Mitral valves.

Congratulating Dr Vijay K Trehan and his team at the G B Pant Hospital for their great achievement, Minister for Health and Social Welfare Dr Yoganand Shastri said: “The largest number of balloon dilations done in one day had so far been 15, but Dr Trehan had set a world record by doing 62 such operations free of cost along with his able team.”

The operations were conducted on May 18. Damage to the valves of the heart often does not respond to medical treatment and requires open-heart surgery to replace the affected valve with an artificial one. However, open-heart surgery can be avoided using the ballooning method in which the narrowed valve is opened with a balloon leading to dramatic clinical improvement.

Compared to the hugely expensive open heart surgery, the ballooning costs only Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,15000.

CBSE results

Dialnet in association with MTNL and BSNL will provide the result of the CBSE class XII and X over the phone. The results can be obtained on the day of the results from eight am by dialing 1250111102 in Delhi and Mumbai.

Helpline for students and parents

With the declaration of the CBSE class X and XII results being awaited, tension in millions of homes across the city has begun soaring. To effectively counter this phenomenon, which sometimes acquires fatal dimensions, Snehi will begin its helpline from tomorrow.

The 24-hour helpline, called Hopeline, will work till June 3, and will offer succor to parents and students. Those wishing for career guidance or any stress related counseling can call 26526001 and 26521415.

Started in 1998, Hopeline received 2,379 calls in 2003, of which 917 were for career related guidance, 295 were of psychological distress, nine were for serious psychological problems, and three were suicidal.

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SPEAKING OUT

DO YOU HAVE A GROUSE?

Do you have a grouse against the apathetic attitude of the authorities? Are you fed up with the dilly-dallying tactics of officialdom and the stranglehold of red tapism? If so, please write to us. We have a full half page every week reserved just for you. The letters should be clearly marked, Speaking out, NCR Tribune, First Floor, Dyal Singh Library Building, 1 Deen Dayal Upadhaya Marg, New Delhi-110002.

Mrs Madhu Chandra, in her write up, ‘Resolute on one’s path in the face of adversity’, NCR Tribune, May 3), has rightly said that we can tide over the adversities, set backs and problems, that we face in life, by following the path of truth, non-violence, dedication, discipline, resoluteness and courage.

About adversity, someone has aptly said: “It is adversity, that shapes character. It is suffering that gives scope for the play of hidden virtues. Affliction recalls us to our links with heaven, when we have long remained sunk in worldliness. Adversity’s greatest service to man is the opening of his inner vision to the reality of God.”

In this context, I am reminded of what The Gita says: “Fill your inside with courage and faith and arise with determination to face whatever life may bring you. Face hard facts with harder determination. Remember there is nothing in this universe more powerful than the spirit of man. Assert your might. Blast your problems with the power of your character, born of awareness.”

About problems, let us face them as and when they come. A host of eminent writers and thinkers have opined that we all face problems, but it is how you face them that counts. Problems in the world will increase, so one should increase one’s capacity to deal with them. Whenever an obstacle comes your way, stop crying and start trying. To smile in the face of a disaster is the result of a stable mind. Instead of getting confused by problems, one should act and not succumb to lame excuses. The best way to behave when a problem arises is to brave and courageous.

AK Sharma, New Delhi

Need to review definition of covered area

The MCD has taken a welcome step by introducing the Unit Area Method for calculating property Tax. In fact, this was long awaited. The new system has divested the inspectorate of discriminatory powers. As such from hence, the rate of property tax will be uniformally applicable on all the properties in the same colony whereas, previously, because of discretionary powers vested in the inspectorate and other factors, different rates were applicable to the same type of properties in a same colony.

However as per the new method of calculation of property tax, the definition of covered area has undergone a sea change. Now the areas occupied by walls, verandas, courtyard, gangway, garage common service area, staircase, balcony etc are included in the covered area. This is most iniquitous and unjustifiable as that covered area will go up by about 50 per cent.

It is well known to the authorities that banks, defence, corporate bodies etc pay rent for the premises hired on the basis of carpet area. Even the private individuals keep in mind the area actually available for occupation.

The demand for property tax for the area other than carpet area will be preposterous and bad in law. MCD authorities may kindly review the definition of covered area so that property owners, particulars middle class do not unduly suffer.

We also suggest the authorities to the following rates for different categories. Category A- Rs 500; category B- Rs 400; category C- Rs 300; category D- Rs 250; category E- Rs 230; category F- Rs 200; category G- Rs 150 and category H- Rs 80.

The unit area method will be an ideal method if the definition is amended as suggested above.

HK Dass, General Secretary, D-1 Block, Janakpuri Residents’ Welfare Association.

‘Go it alone’ won’t work

I entirely agree with your Sonepat correspondent’s report, ‘Not forming an alliance cost INLD, BJP Dearly’, (NCR Tribune, May 16). In fact, not only Haryana, in most other states also, where the BJP had decided to manage it without alliances, it had to suffer humiliating defeat.

This is what happened in Jharkhand, Assam, Himachal and Uttar Pradesh.

In the present political set-up in India, the policy of ‘Go it alone’ cannot emerge victorious in election.

OP Sharma, Faridabad

Abhinav Outsourcing

On behalf of our client, Abhinav Outsourcing Pvt Ltd, we refer to the news item ‘Immigration firm ties up with Canadian Universities’, that appeared in the NCR Tribune on May 21.

The story mentions that Mr Abhinav is the CMD of the immigration firm. In fact the name of the firm is Abhinav Outsourcing Pvt Ltd., while the CMD’s name is Mr Ajay Sharma.

Ashish Dutta, eLexicon Public Relations and Corporate Consultants Ltd.

Woman employee being harassed by Railways

I have been a victim of indifferent and callous attitude of senior officials in the Railway Ministry, New Delhi. I was appointed in the Central Railway Hospital, Dental Department, on February 26, 2002. In October 2003, I applied for maternity leave. However, after delivery, when I went to rejoin, the Railway Officials denied me to join services. Despite hundreds of written representations and meetings with the senior officials of the Ministry, I have not received any acknowledgement nor any reply from the Railway Ministry.

Renuka, Gurgaon

Residents getting polluted water since three years

The residents of Saini Street, Arya Nagar, have been facing the problem of polluted drinking water for over three years now.

There are 25 odd families in this street, who have to go to far away places to fetch drinking water.

Various representations in this regard have been made to the concerned departments, CMO and the Deputy Commissioner. However, no concrete step has been taken so far. Whenever a complaint is made, personnel from CMO’s office come and collect samples.

This has become a routine exercise, after which nothing happens. At times officials from public health department also visit the area.

But such visits have not given any concrete results till date. While millions are being spent in the name of beautifying the city, it is sad that this are is not even being supplied with clean drinking water.

We request the authorities to take note of this and solve this problem at the earliest.

Laxman Saini, Arya Nagar, Rohtak

Lottery, a social problem

Recently I happened to visit Sonepat a few times as I was acting as a Presiding Officer during the elections. At a few places, there was a great rush which I presumed, would be due to some political leader or party. However, to my utter surprise, those were lottery stalls from where not only people from the lower income group, but also school children were purchasing lottery tickets.

The business of lottery might be a boon to those who earn from it, but it certainly is becoming a social problem. Single digit lottery, the results of which are declared the same day, is attracting even housewives.

While labourers and rickshaw pullers waste their hard-earned money to buy lottery tickets, there are people who even sell their household items merely for this dream, which probably never comes true. The government needs to take this seriously and put a check on this business that is becoming a social threat.

Subhash C Taneja, Rohtak

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House robbed, inmates assaulted
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, May 21
A gang of dacoits struck the house of one Rajesh, a resident of Bhogipur Rajlu, about 10 km from here last night and assaulted the inmates who were asleep on the roof of the house.

The assailants decamped with cash, gold ornaments and other valuables worth several thousands of rupees from the house. When Rajesh resisted, he was assaulted with an iron rod and he sustained serious head injuries and fell unconscious. Later, he was hospitalised and stated to be out of danger.

According to another reports, the members of the gang also entered the house of one Rajbir in the same village and decamped with household articles, cash and ornaments worth several thousands of rupees from it. Thereafter, they forced their way into the Neel Kamal poultry farm on the Ganaur road and snatched cash and other valuables from three inmates - Pawan, Rajesh and Howa Singh, who were in asleep there. The inmates could not resist the members of the gang as they were armed with weapons.

Thereafter, the residents of the village apprehended three youths, who were bathing at a tubewell near the village and they were roughed up before they were handed over to the police for investigations.

The police have registered the cases and further investigations were in progress. However, no arrest has been made in this connection so far. The police have launched a massive hunt to apprehend the culprits involved in the case.

The cases of loot by the members of this criminal gang have caused a panic among the residents of Rajlu Garhi, Bhogipur and other adjoining villages.

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Sensational robberies solved, three held
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 21
With the arrest of three robbers the West district police today claimed to have solved two sensational robberies and two motor vehicle theft cases and also recovered Rs 1.53 lakh from their possession. The police also seized a country-made weapon and one button actuated knife from their possession.

The accused were identified as Ravinder Tyagi (23), resident of Vikas Puri, Pawan Lamba (21) and Surinder Kumar Mehra (22), residents of Uttam Nagar.

The police received a secret information that some persons would be assembling near the State Bank of Mysore, Paschim Vihar for committing some robbery. Accordingly, a team was constituted and the robbers were nabbed.

The accused told the police that they had robbed Rs 1.70 lakh from one Manish Jain while he came out of the State Bank of Mysore and also robbed one Harkesh of Rs 5 lakh on May 14.

Life term for killing wife’s paramour

A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for killing his wife’s paramour and injuring her on suspicion of infidelity.

The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr. D. K. Saini also imposed a fine of Rs

1,000 on Bansi, a resident of Samastipur in Bihar, who stabbed his neighbour Raj Kumar and wife Geeta in Moti Nagar area of West Delhi on September 30, 2001.

According to police, Raj Kumar, who was stabbed in the abdomen, succumbed to the injuries at Khetrapal Nursing Home. However, Geeta, who was admitted to Handa Nursing Home, survived the attack.

Bansi was arrested and the knife was recovered on the basis of his disclosure statement. Police had rushed to the hospital after getting an information from Raj Kumar’s nephew who was also injured when he tried to intervene.

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Five women thieves held for robbing train passengers
Our Correspondent

Noida (Dadri), May 21
The Dadri police have nabbed a gang of five women, who specialize in depriving railway passengers of their luggage.

The police recovered jewellery from them worth thousands of rupees, which they had stolen from two passengers in a tempo between Dadri and Kot. The entire families of the arrested women are known to be involved in loot, thefts way laying.

According to SO Inspector, C. P. Singh, arrested women are Preety, d/o Raghuveer, her mother Kashmai, Sheela d/o Jaswant, Rajni D/o Rajinder, and Bittu d/o Kaliya.

The police inspector said Rohtash, s/o Harish Chander and Om Prakash, were coming to Dadri from Bhogpur village on tempo in connection with the marriage of a girl in the family. They were carrying old gold ornaments for changing into new one. The she thieves were already in the tempo. As they all got down at Dadri at 9 am. These women quickly disappeared. When the men reached a jeweller’s shop, they found the jewellery was missing. They quickly informed the police giving the details of the gold ornaments – two chains, tops and Mangal Sutra.

The police took both the men along and nabbed the women from Dadri railway station while they were awaiting a train. When frisked after arrest, the ornaments were found on their persons.

According to police the fathers of these women, Rajinder and Jaswant had looted Rs. 2 lakh from two persons after murdering them in Bareilly and are in to jail for last two years. Raghuveer is also serving a term in Dasna jail, Ghaziabad for loot and assault. The women had also served jail term for loots, thefts, etc.

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