TOP STORIES

NDMC debt-free; won’t impose new taxes
New Delhi, May 28
The New Delhi Municipal Council will focus on improving the quality of civic services. It will also lay stress on completing some of the ambitious projects during the year 2004-2005 without imposing any fresh tax liability on the citizens.

There is life after CBSE exams!
New Delhi, May 28
The nightmare of waiting for the unknown over, it is time to assimilate the performances, good, bad or merely unsatisfactory. With the CBSE results now an open secret, one can witness a gamut of emotions, from exuberance to disappointment.

In video (28k, 56k) AFTER SWOT, SOME FUN: Class X students making merry in the Capital on Friday. — Tribune photo by Mukesh Aggarwal

Faridabad plagued by poor civic amenities
Faridabad, May 28
Several socially conscious residents of the town have approached the chief secretary of Haryana to take measures to provide smooth roads and other basic facilities in the district.

CRIME MAZE
Trader robbed of Rs 14 lakh
Ghaziabad, May 28
Four armed criminals robbed a steel merchant of Rs 14 lakh at gunpoint. The incident took place a few steps from the police post late at night. Incidentally, this is the sixth incident of robbing businessmen in the area in about 45 days.

BUILDING COLLAPSE
High Court asks contractor to deposit Rs 3 lakh
New Delhi, May 28
The Delhi High Court today directed the contractor of a building in Sadar Bazar to deposit Rs 3 lakh as an interim compensation amount likely to be awarded to the relatives of the victims.

Maken, Tirath quit Delhi Assembly
New Delhi, May 28
The Speaker of Delhi Legislative Assembly, Mr Ajay Maken, and his deputy, Ms Krishna Tirath, have resigned following their election to the Lok Sabha. Mr Maken and Ms Tirath submitted their resignations to the secretary of Delhi Legislative Assembly, Mr Siddharth Rao, in the morning.

SAD seeks Khyala ward for civic by-election

New Delhi: The Shiromani Akali Dal has sought the Khyala ward of Municipal Corporation of Delhi for its general secretary Rajendra Singh Techno, for contesting the civic by-election. A delegation of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Delhi state, calling on senior BJP leader L. K. Advani, demanding action against Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi who, they alleged, had humiliated Mr Onkar Singh Thapar, deputy leader of opposition in the MCD. — A Tribune photograph

POLITICS

Chautala on a meet-people mission
Sonepat, May 28
The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, said here last evening that he was touring the state to discuss with people the reasons behind the poor performance of the ruling Indian National Lok Dal candidates in the Lok Sabha elections in the state.

BJP for splitting MCD into five or seven bodies
New Delhi, May 28
The BJP today demanded that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi be split into at least five small corporations and disfavoured the Government of NCT of Delhi’s move to make the civic body into three corporations.

COMMUNITY

Govt ignores brick kiln workers’ security: CITU
Sonepat, May 28
The Haryana Committee of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions has expressed its grief over the deaths of five labourers at a brick kiln between Sikandarpur Majra and Rubhra villages and demanded immediate payment of Rs 10 lakh each as compensation to the bereaved families.

Traders to meet Laloo with plea to shift overbridge site
Sonepat, May 28
With the Public Works Department gearing up for the construction of an overbridge at the level crossing on the Ganaur-Shahpur road traders and shopkeepers of Ganaur town are planning to meet the new Railway Minister, Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav, with the plea to change the site of the overbridge from the present one to Aagwanpur road in the southern part of the town.

Storm hits power supply
Sonepat, May 28
The thunderstorm that accompanied the rains yesterday uprooted several trees and disrupted the power supply for more than an hour in both the urban and rural areas of the district. According to a report, the power supply, which got disrupted around 10.15 am, was restored around 11.45 am in most parts of the city.

SPEAKING OUT It is often said that schools are the temples of learning. However, there is lot of stress and strain on the parents to get their children admitted to public schools. They have to endure great hardship in the form of standing in queue for hours to collect the admission forms, get their name registered and make them sit for the exams. Later, the admission process includes interview for the parents. SOS to Railway Ministry Petrol supply difficulties Demand for train halt Predictions gone  all wrong Legal wrangles lower security Crane nuisance THE BURDEN OF SURVIVAL. — Tribune photo by Mukesh Aggarwal

Bal Bhawan bards implore through music
New Delhi, May 28
Their concern for the environment is noteworthy. Youngsters have taught not just each other, but the adults too a few lessons to help save the environment from further degradation.

Mr Tobacco to be consigned to flames on Sunday New Delhi, May 28 The city on Sunday has an option of sticking to their weekend itinerary or joining in a funeral. The mood may be sombre or even upbeat. Unlike the usual funerals, this one will have three members lighting the funeral pyre. And consigned to flames will be Mr Tobacco.
Former Miss India Manpreet Brar along with Dr K. K. Aggarwal, Executive Vice-President of the Heart Care Foundation of India, garlanding the photo of the deceased Mr Tobacco. He will be cremated on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

Market association donates money to fire-fighters
New Delhi: Bari Market Association members, Sadar Bazar, today donated a cheque of Rs 25,000 to the Delhi Fire Service. The cheque was handed over by the association president, Mr Paramjeet Singh Pamma.

2,500 fined for smoking in public places
New Delhi, May 28
About 2,500 people were fined in the Capital this month for breaking regulations that prohibit smoking in public places in the country.

DELHI DIGEST
Surplus staff to be shifted to other hospitals, says Minister
New Delhi, May 28
The surplus staff in certain hospitals in the Capital will be transferred to the hospitals where there are few or none so that the patients did not suffer. Health Minister Yoganand Shastri has asked the heads of Government of NCT of Delhi-run hospitals to act accordingly.

• Compensation demanded

• Mobile study centre  inaugurated

CRIME

Businessman held for cheating
New Delhi, May 28
The Economic Offences Wing has arrested a businessman on the charges of duping several companies of lakhs of rupees. It is alleged that the accused, Vijay Kumar Malik (45), resident of Laxmi Bai Nagar, who used to purchase goods from companies, neither paid them nor returned their goods.

• Two killed in cylinder blast

• Stolen Maruti car recovered

BUSINESS

IndianOil gifts 31 trucks New Delhi, May 28 ‘IndianOil Aao, Roz Ek Truck Pao’ had its exciting finale with the winners carting away the mega prizes, 31 Ashok Leyland trucks. In addition, another 10,200 lucky winners took home a range of major prizes today, including colour TVs and refrigerators. Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister presenting the award to IndianOil Chairman M. S. Ramachandran, Director (HR) P. K. Agarwal, and Director (Marketing), Dr N. G. Kannan, in the Capital.

EDUCATION

INSO demands changes in DU’s admission process
New Delhi, May 28
With the CBSE results having been declared, students seeking admission to various colleges of the Delhi University can be seen in the University area inquiring about admissions.

DAM cries foul over dumping of NCERT texts
New Delhi, May 28
Peeved at the Delhi Government’s decision to dump the NCERT texts for the SCERT ones in the state run schools, the Delhi Abhibhavak Mahasangh has described the move as “politically motivated”.

Sonepat student shines in matric exams
Sonepat, May 28
A student, Nidhi Malik, became the top scorer in North India by scoring 98 per cent marks in Matriculation Examination of the CBSE results, which was declared today, according to the school authorities.

SPORTS

ONGC move into G G Dutt Cricket semi-final New Delhi, May 28 Defending champions Oil and Natural Gas Corporation defeated Chand Khanna Club by five wickets to sail into the semi-final of the Goswami Ganesh Dutt Memorial Cricket Tournament at the SGTB Khalsa College ground on Friday. ONGC will now take on the winners of the match between Food Corporation of India and Lal Bahadur Shastri Club. Khalsa College principal Dr D S Clair presenting the man of the match award to Amit Bhandari.

Amit Yadav, Naveen star in Subhania’s victory
New Delhi, May 28
Deadly bowling by Amit Yadav (4 for 21) and a quickfire half century by Naveen Sharma (456, 8x4) helped Subhania Club defeat Saraswati Bal Mandir Public School by three wickets in a league match of the second Cambridge Foundation Under-19 Summer League Cricket Tournament at the Cambridge School ground, Rajouri Garden.

• E-Fund lift CallC Cup

• Paradise Club win

Tarun Gupta slams century in DDCA League
New Delhi, May 28
An unbeaten century by Tarun Gupta and a solid knock of 63 by Kunal Sethi helped Delhi Blues defeat Municipal Corporation of Delhi by seven wickets in a DDCA Super League Super A Division match at the Jamia Milia ground.

• Sonnet beat Rajdhani

Celebrity Golf for a cause
New Delhi, May 28
Stars from the sports and glamour world will rub shoulders when they take part in the Signature Celebrity Golf Bonanza to raise funds for Sunil Gavaskar’s initiative to support sportspersons of yesteryear—Thee Champs Foundation—on June 6.