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Deputy fire chief, 2 others die battling Kirti Nagar blaze
President getting calls from all over for tsunami relief
Hotels, clubs take a cue from Kalam, cancel year-end festivities
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Cong-ruled MCD thrived on tall claims in 2004: Arya
Usher in 2005 with a resolution…
Capital warms up on New Year’s eve
Special cell sleuth killed in shootout
Tender mafia busted
70 new RWAs join Bhagidari scheme
BSP marks broom burn movement anniversary
Success depends on hard work, CBI cadets told
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Deputy fire chief, 2 others die battling Kirti Nagar blaze
New Delhi, December 31 Fire sources said the fire broke out at 0330 hrs, filling the building with smoke in the market stocked with huge quantities of lumber, plywood, windows, doors and roofing material. Sources said that Deputy Chief Fire Officer Surendra Kumar died as the blazing building crashed in a heap, possibly due to the intense heat. Two firemen, Vijay Pal and Danvir, also died on the spot. Three of the injured have been hospitalised in a serious condition. There was considerable panic in the area with hundreds of bystanders watching the spectacle as more than 40 fire tenders combated with the blaze 12 hours after it had erupted. Union Minister Jagdish Tytler, who visited the site, blamed the collapse of the gutted building on it being ‘’overloaded’’. ‘’It is very unfortunate that three firemen died while battling the flames. It appears the building owner had overloaded the godown in violation of safety norms, which caused the building to collapse because of intense heat,’’ Mr Tytler, also the area MP, said. But godown owner Kamal Khandelwal rejected the Minister’s observations. Instead, Mr Khandelwal claimed there was foul play behind the incident. ‘’I had received a written threat that my godown would be set on fire and subsequently reported the matter to the police. But to blame it on overloading is unjustified,’’ he told reporters. The Minister, however, also came down heavily on the local administration, saying logs and wooden material blocked market streets, impeding the movement of fire trucks.
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President getting calls from all over for tsunami relief
New Delhi, December 31 “I am getting a large number of calls from noble hearted persons volunteering to provide all possible support to the affected persons in this critical time,” the President said here today while delivering the Prof D S Kothari Memorial Lecture 2004 at the Delhi University today. He said he had received a call from Lord Swaraj Paul that he would like to take care of all the needs of a hundred children who are orphaned due to the tsunami devastation. Only today I got an e-mail from an IT professional working with Amazon.com, Rajlakshmi Subramaniam, informing about a website she has launched to collect money for the tsunami-hit people. “Launched just two days back, through the website, she has already collected five million dollars
for tsunami relief,” Dr Kalam said. The President has been receiving messages of sympathy and support from across the globe, including from heads of state such as South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, Slovenian President Janez Drnovsek, Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf. Laying out his “Vision 2020” for a developed India, the President said it was essential for scientists to “push” science and technology that gives immediate benefits to the people. “It is essential that tec nologies that give immediate benefits to the people directly or indirectly should be packaged and successfully put up before our Indian political leaders, irrespective of which political party they belong to,” he said while delivering the keynote address. He also called upon the scientists to take up the challenge of tsunami destruction by dedicating themselves to quake prediction as an important area of research. In certain countries earthquakes had been successfully predicted by studying the increase in background seismic activity. ‘‘If fore-shocks can be recognised early, giving a timely warning can save lives of many people,” he said. “India should take it up as a challenge. It may take some years, but it is important to make advances in this area,” the President added. He said the Delhi University could build linkages with universities in other countries such as Japan and the US and usher in international cooperation for quake prediction. “The tidal wave moves with a certain velocity and a warning can be sent out if it is sensed in time. Around 27 Pacific nations already have an understanding for a tsunami warning system,” Dr Kalam said, adding that there was a need for such a warning system in the Indian Ocean too.
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Hotels, clubs take a cue from Kalam, cancel year-end festivities
New Delhi, December 31 The India Habitat Centre cancelled a performance by Euphoria on New Year’s eve. According to Mr Pramuch Goel, money was being refunded to the guests. The India International Centre also cancelled its annual New Year’s eve dinner, where upwards of 200 guests were scheduled to attend. The IIC felt that hosting the dinner would be inappropriate. Chelmsford Club cancelled its celebrations featuring Vicky Sharma and his dance troupe. The Press Club of India also followed suit and cancelled all festivities. Similarly, the annual dance at The Delhi Golf Club was cancelled. Its secretary said that the members had begun collecting money for the victims of tsunami. Although Hotel Ashok cancelled its New Year celebrations, certain other hotels went ahead with low-key functions to herald the New Year but desisted from fireworks and opulent lighting. The several deaths in the fire that engulfed a market in Kirti Nagar further dampened the spirits of Delhiites, who gathered in small groups at restaurants or celebrated at home. Eating joints in Connaught Place, South Extension, Greater Kailash and elsewhere in the city did brisk business as hordes of revellers trooped in with families, friends and kids in tow. Resto-bars were another major attraction. While Connaught Place was abuzz with activity, the trade associations had chosen to shun elaborate lights or hold shopping melas. There were no complaints, though. “We want to express solidarity with people worldwide who have been victims of this disaster and share their sorrow and grief,” was the general refrain. Others like Medha, who had a little over a month to go for the Board examinations, chose to remain indoors and watch television before resuming their studies. In stark contrast, it was just another day in the lives of street kids. Untouched by New Year revelry, the kids sat huddled around bonfires to beat the biting cold. Meanwhile, tremors of a different kind can be felt in the offices of tour operators here in Delhi who are reeling under cancellations en masse following the earthquake and tsunamis in southern India and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Although the estimated loss to the tourism industry is still a matter of debate, the fact is New Year revellers who had planned to usher in the New Year at exotic destinations abroad or beaches and resorts in the Andamans and elsewhere in southern India have cancelled bulk bookings, much to discomfiture of the tour operators. Another sector to be hit by the tsunamis is the aviation industry with many airlines cancelling their flights to South-East Asian countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and also Sri Lanka. Colombo was a hotspot for revelers with flight tickets and hotel reservations done months in advance but the Sunday morning’s tidal waves changed all that.
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Police chief hands over Rs 1.70 cr relief cheque
New Delhi, December 31
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Cong-ruled MCD thrived on tall claims in 2004: Arya
New Delhi, December 31 He pointed out that the corporation had made tall claims that it will distribute more than three lakh jerseys among students in schools run by it before the onset of winter season. December had run its course, but the students were yet to get the promised jerseys. Likewise, the corporation had promised to provide two sets of school uniforms, shoes and socks to the students. This claim too had been belied with the MCD giving contracts to small businessmen who do not have the capacity to supply the items in bulk. The corporation had made another hollow claim that most of its departments were computerised. On the contrary, most departments were still grappling with work manually, Mr Arya pointed out. When the Congress came to power, it had claimed that buildings would be constructed in all MCD schools that were functioning from tents. But the fact was that the MCD could not even provide potable water, which were more important than “pucca” classrooms. Again, take Mid-Day meals. Pointing out that there had been a number of incidents of food poisoning, Mr Arya lamented that the corporation had been allocated crores for this purpose. The leader of the opposition debunked Municipal Commissioner Rakesh Mehta’s claim that the national Capital would be made cattle free, dairy farms would be developed and all unauthorised dairies would be shifted. However, there had been no let-up in the stray cattle menace. True, the corporation has developed a dairy farm at Ghogha village. But it was not possible for all dairy owners to shift their cattles to Ghogha due to the distance. Likewise, the corporation has removed encroachments only in a few colonies, which was like a drop in the ocean. Encroachments can be seen in all markets, even in posh localities. Agencies concerned should appoint a special committee to keep a tab on such activities and take appropriate action, Mr Arya pointed out. The leader of opposition had a dig at the Leader of the House and Chairman of the Standing Committee who often claimed that after implementation of the new scheme of property tax assessment, the corporation’s revenue collections would mount. The fact was, only three months are left for the financial year to end; however, the corporation has collected less than half of the target, Mr Arya said.
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Usher in 2005 with a resolution…
New Delhi, December 31 There are some resolutions that keep visiting us each year with alarming regularity. Sample this: I’ll stop boozing, quit smoking, tilt the scales on the weighing machine in my favour, chuck out my sweet tooth etc. But for the ‘Me-generation’, there are new concerns that reflect their changing perceptions and worldview. Talking about her new year plans, Priya, a student of Mass Communication, told us that she is determined to settle down professionally, which she failed to do last year. Swati, a student of NIIT who is planning a bash with her friends, does not have any resolutions as such. ‘‘But, yes, I would like to see myself working at least this year, which due to some shortcomings I couldn’t do last year.” The other concern, of course, is their romantic entanglements. Peppy and aggressive, Preeti and Shweta, students of KMC, are ready to fight with anyone who is an impediment in their love lives; they don’t mind even taking on their parents. There are other trend-setters. Saubhagya Kala, who works with a mainstream daily, has cancelled all his plans to celebrate New Year in a grand way because of the tsunami disaster. In 2004, he had resolved to give up smoking on ‘‘which he is still working’’. “This year my resolution is to be true to my work and family,” he gushes. Then, there are some resolutions that the right-thinking youth feel celebs should adopt and adhere to. Take your pick: Uma Bharti should stick to her decisions, Mallika Sherawat should find some clothes to cover the matter, Ganguly must take a chill pill, Ambanis should spend a weekend together and, not to forget our own Atalji, who needs to take a break and should give us too. Making resolutions is one thing, sticking to them is another. In the end, we should be thankful for being alive and kicking for another year, so that we can make some more resolutions. What do you say?
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Capital warms up on New Year’s eve
New Delhi, December 31 The city had been braving a cold spell for the last two days and today’s rise in temperature was a welcome change. The MET department said the rise in temperature has been caused by cloudy skies and by south easterly winds that have replaced the north westerlies. The weather office has forecast rain in the next 24 hours. It ascribed the sharp rise in temperature to cloudy skies and south-easterly winds blowing for the last two days. The minimum temperature was recorded at 12 degree celsius today, which was five above normal. On December 29, the Capital shivered at 4.5 degrees, which was two to three degrees below normal and the season’s lowest. The temperature, however, climbed to 6.1 degrees yesterday. The day temperature hovered near normal The city was free of fog this morning but the movement of trains continued to be affected due to the fog prevailing elsewhere in
the country. Flights operation was normal as there was no fog in the airport area, too.
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Special cell sleuth killed in shootout
New Delhi, December 31 The sleuths had received secret information that associates of Kishan Pahelwan would be arriving near Sugar Mill Colony, Panipat, on December 30 and, accordingly, a special team led by SI Mehtab Singh was despatched to the city. The team, with the assistance of Panipat police, took position outside the Sugar Mill Colony. The team spotted one Sundre and his associates on a motorcycle at around 4.45 pm; when the sleuths tried to question the latter, they immediately started firing at the police party. The sleuths also fired in self-defense and in the ensuing encounter Mehtab Singh and Sundre sustained injuries and were rushed to the Civil hospital, where both were declared brought dead. However, the sleuths managed to apprehend two of their associates and recovered three pistols — a Remington .455, a 9 mm Browning and a country-made contraption — from their possession. . The sleuths said that Sundre was involved in several cases of murder, extortion and attempt to murder in Delhi and Haryana. The Haryana Police had announced a Rs 50,000 reward for his arrest. SI Mehtab Singh had been involved in several sensational cases like Parliament House shootout, the arrest of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorists involved in planting IEDs in North and South blocks, and the grenade attack on BSF headquarters in New Delhi. He was also involved in the Millenium Park encounter on August 30, 2003, the Humayun Tomb encounter on May 9, 2002, the Anzal Plaza encounter on November 4, 2002 and the Tughlaqabad encounter on December 14, 2002. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police Commissioner, Dr K K Paul, who expressed grief over the death of SI Mehtab Singh, has announced an immediate grant of Rs two lakh to his family. Further, the government and the UTI bank have been approached for releasing an ex gratia payment.
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Tender mafia busted
New Delhi, December 31 The accused have been identified as Jaswant Kumar Dagar (32), Ashok Kumar Solanki (39), Praveen Kumar Solanki (30), both residents of Najafgarh, and Rajeev Kumar Tevetia (27), a resident of Uttam Nagar. However, three of their associates identified as Chand Pahelwan and Bijender Pahelwan, residents of Dharmapura and Najafgarh, respectively, and Chottu Pahelwan, a resident of Dichaon, managed to escape from the police. The police said that the gang members used to extort protection money from contractors amounting to 30 per cent of the tender amount. The police had received secret information that the associates of Kishan Pahelwan were involved in extorting protection money from the contractors and accordingly constituted a special team to nab them. Accordingly, a decoy customer was sent to the MCD office in Najafgarh to fill up the tender form. Immediately, the gang members surrounded him and demanded protection money. The decoy signaled to the police party and four of the gang members were caught while three of them managed to escape.
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70 new RWAs join Bhagidari scheme
New Delhi, December 31 Out of the 70 RWAs, 30 are from North East district and 40 from East district. It seems that in the recently concluded Bhagidari Utsav, the participation of RWAs from East district was almost nil and only four RWAs from the North East district had participated in the conclave. The Delhi government had recently organised an orientation session at Delhi Secretariat to train the representatives of these newly inducted RWAs, but the exercise proved insufficient, so it has now decided to hold a three-days training programme for these RWAs from January 6 to January 8 at Sai International Center near Lodi Road. Apart from the representatives of these RWAs, the officers from other agencies like Delhi government, Delhi Jal Board, Delhi Police, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and BSES will also participate and exchange views on how the Bhagidari scheme could be made more successful and effective in solving civic and other problems of residents. The president of one such RWA (Mangal Bazar Resident Welfare Association), Mr. Narendra Kumar Singh, said: ‘‘We are so much encouraged by the government initiatives and incentives associated with this scheme and want to do some thing for the betterment of our area.’’
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BSP marks broom burn movement anniversary
Meerut, December 31 Starting from the office of the Cantonment Board, Meerut, the rally - which includes hundreds of sweepers of the Balmiki Society and thousands of other people and chanting Jharu Jalao, Kalam Uthao - passed through various parts of the walled and new city and finally gathered at the Dr Ambedkar Crossing near District Court. Under the leadership of Balmiki, C. P. Verma, National Co-ordinator of Jharu Dehan Andolan (JDA), who led the Bicycle and Jharu rally, reached the chowk at 5 pm in the evening and burnt hundreds of brooms. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Verma revealed that the motto of the JDA is to form a new society by uniting the 27 sub-castes of the sweeper society. Remembering the dream of Dr Ambedkar, who was an apostle of backward class, he said that the sweeper society is considered to be one of the most untouchable castes.
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Success depends on hard work, CBI cadets told
New Delhi, December 31 Addressing the sub-inspectors cadets, the Director said that the success of the CBI hinges on hard work, personality and conduct of the sub-inspectors as they form the backbone of the prime investigative agency. The CBI has trust of people due to which the cadets have to pay a price in terms of hard work, good conduct and impartiality that can further strengthen the trust. He said that the accused persons in case of the CBI are holding high places in society, therefore, the investigators have to be much more careful and polite in their dealings. While emphasising the role of CBI, Mr Misra made them aware that the CBI are mandated to investigate any case anywhere in the country, which includes cases of corruption, financial and other conventional crimes. Therefore, the new recruits have to hone their skills in all these departments so as to become successful investigators. While appreciating the training of the cadets at the CBI Academy, the Director said that long duration of the raining has really transformed the personality of the cadets to serve as public servants. On the occasion, the CBI Director gave away the best all rounder prize to Gaurav Singh, the best shooter prize to Arun Kujur and the best sportsman prize to Rohit Kumar. The training programme was spread over two phases of 30 weeks and 11 weeks respectively.
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