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Uphill task for CM to get Sonia Vihar water plant operational
Delhi Metro a symbol of Indo-Japanese cooperation: Koizumi
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Delhi students give Koizumi Japanese-style welcome
Admn makes light of rising pollution in Faridabad
Posh South Delhi property of Kapil Dev’s wife sealed
Senior MCF officials accused of corruption
All set for MCF polls today
Man held in triple-murder case
Dacoity bid foiled, 3 juveniles among 8 arrested
‘Media must highlight problems of the poor’
First robotic surgery for prostate cancer at AIIMS
Scintillating performance by Sant Murali Das
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Uphill task for CM to get Sonia Vihar water plant operational
New Delhi, April 29 The Delhi Chief Minister, Mrs Sheila Dikshit, has been facing political heat over the idling plant. The plant would supply 140 million gallon per day (mgd) water per day, greatly easing the situation in water deficient southern Delhi. However, the tunnel, which is to bring the Tehri Dam water to the Upper Ganga canal in Uttar Pradesh, from where water was to travel to Delhi, is not complete yet and Tehri Dam authorities will have to wait for the end of the rainy season to complete their work, according to the CEO, Delhi Jal Board, Mr Rakesh Mohan. He has briefed the Chief Minister of the latest developments after stocktaking visit to the Tehri Dam in Uttaranchal. According to Mr Mohan, the Delhi Government has nothing to do with the delay in the completion of the tunnel and all queries in this regard should be directed to the Tehri Dam authorities. The plant, whose construction had started in the year 2000, should have become operational last year itself. However, the collapse of a tunnel in Tehri delayed the transport of water to the Upper Ganga canal. All requests to Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to give water from their resources also failed. However, the Uttar Pradesh Government had released 80 cusecs of water from the Upper Ganga canal for the flushing of the plant in March. It gave the water for 75 days, which was stopped on March 14 after the agreement for the same expired. The Delhi Government was unable to arrange for water from other sources. It turned to the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh Government for water but in vain. The government has admitted in the Lok Sabha in the current session that so far no solution to the problem of getting water for the functioning of the plant has been found, with Uttar Pradesh showing reluctance to release any more water. In the meantime, results of flushing have gone waste as raw water failed to reach the plant within 15 days, infecting it with bacteria and thus requiring reflushing. So, even if any water would have become available in the Tehri Dam, it could not have been immediately transported to Delhi, as the plant will need fresh water from Uttar Pradesh for reflushing. According to Mr Mohan, there was no need for a separate agreement with the Uttaranchal Government for the release of water, as the Sonia Vihar water treatment plant was planned only after 300 cusecs water for running the plant was committed from the Tehri Hydro Project. He rubbished as ‘’pure case of misinformation’’ the media reports that the agreement with the French company, Suez Degremont, was concluded without any written agreement with the Uttaranchal Government for the release of water. The Uttaranchal Government does not come into the picture at all, he said. The Sonia Vihar plant has been mired in controversy from the very beginning with the Opposition and NGOs blasting the Sheila Dikshit government for giving the contract for the running and maintenance of the plant to French multi-national Suez-Degremont for 10 years, arguing that there was enough expertise for the job in the country itself. They have also been accusing the government of not observing transparency in the deal with the multi-national company. The Delhi Jal Board at present supplies about 680 mgd water per day as against the need of 800 mgd. The Sonia Vihar plant, when operational, would almost fill up the shortfall. However, Mr Mohan disputes the contention that there was any shortfall in water supply. He said the 800 mgd requirement for the Capital has been computed by the DDA and the Jal Board does not agree with it. ‘’The Jal Board is, at present, supplying 690 mgd, which is enough to meet the need of Delhiites,’’ he said.
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Delhi Metro a symbol of Indo-Japanese
New Delhi, April 29 However, officials are sure that the request will be met, especially considering the fact that for the much- successful phase I model of the DMRC, Japan not only provided aid money but has also been the lead consultant. For the phase I, the DMRC received 64 per cent of the total cost of Rs 10,571 crore from the JBIC and the rest from the Centre and state governments. The DMRC is hoping for a financial assistance on the same pattern as provided by the JBIC for the phase I model that has gone off rather well. The phase II, for which actual work will begin by September, is expected to cost Rs 7,000 crore. Besides providing a substantial part of financial aid in the form of loans that will be repaid by the DMRC in 30 years with a 10-year moratorium, Japan is also the Delhi Metro’s lead consultant. The Pacific Consultant International is DMRC’s lead consultant, while Kumagaigumi and Mitsubishi are its consultants. Meanwhile, the DMRC Managing Director E. Sreedharan explained the details of the Metro project to the visiting Japanese Prime Minister and the proposed extensions of the 49.36-km phase II during the visit, adding that the Metro Project had become a reality with the assistance provided by Japan. The phase II will extend Metro services to Jahangir Puri, Anand Vihar ISBT, new Ashok Nagar, Qutub Minar, Dilshad Garden and Mundka and is expected to be completed by the 2010 Commonwealth Games in the Capital. The actual work on phase II, which is awaiting the Centre’s approval after the completion of preliminary studies, is expected to start by September. Mr Koizumi described the Delhi Metro project as symbol of Indo-Japanese cooperation and praised the safe construction techniques and practices adopted by the DMRC during the construction of the project. He appreciated the quick progress achieved by the DMRC in the implementation of phase I of the project.
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Delhi students give Koizumi Japanese-style welcome
New Delhi, April 29 The Delhi Public School, R K Puram, was the first stopover of Koizumi during his two-day visit to India, and he was pleasantly surprised by the strong Japanese influence on the school. Treated to a slice of his home country through traditional Japanese songs and dances, he said, “you are very good at speaking Japanese. I feel proud of the fact that you have learnt Japanese very well.” The school has a three-decade-long history of teaching Japanese language and running a student exchange programme with Japan. Reciprocating the Japanese greeting given by the schoolchildren, Koizumi greeted them with a ‘namaskar’ and said, “I feel much more popular here than in Japan.” “I hope that in the future, you will play an important role in strengthening our friendship by acting as a bridge between India and Japan,” Koizumi said. The children presented a special dance performance, which was a fusion of Bharatnatyam and Japanese styles. While some of the dancers were in traditional Bharatnatyam attire, the others wore the Kimono. Earlier, children dressed in the Kimono, waved Indian and Japanese flags as Koizumi entered the school. Welcoming the Japanese premier, the principal, Ms Shyama Chona, said, “You are a popular leader in Japan. And today, you have become a popular leader of the children of India.” And arousing guffaws from Koizumi and applause from the children, she informed the gathering that the Japanese Prime Minister was an avid singer, who has cut a CD of Elvis Presley, his favourite singer, and has sung together with Hollywood star, Tom Cruise. She also requested Koizumi to provide the school with a robotic lab and a film studio. The students also presented gifts to the Japanese Prime Minister, including a hand-made bouquet, portraits of Indian leaders, a painting and also gave him scrolls and cards for Japanese children. In November 1992, Prince and Princess Akishiro of Japan had visited the school.
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Admn makes light of rising pollution in Faridabad
Faridabad, April 29 The Suspended Particle Matter (SPM) level of the atmosphere in certain parts of the town and district has crossed the permissible limit. And at some spots, the SPM level even has reportedly gone up by 30 to 38 times of the permissible level, thus putting at risk the lives of a large number of population and other living beings here. This fact has been surfaced after a well-known laboratory in Delhi tested the air samples taken from the Pali-Mohabbatabad area in the district recently. It is reported that the SPM level here has touched a whopping level of 18,727.75, while the permissible limit of SPM at any residential area should be less than 500 points. At Pali village, where a crusher zone is located, the level has been found at 10,195 SPM. Bandhua Mukti Morcha, a social body engaged in welfare of the labourers, has claimed that the dangerous levels of air pollution in the mining areas of this town has posed a grave risk to the health of hundreds of labourers working there and the population residing in the nearby villages. The air of the Aravalli Hills in the region, where the Supreme Court had imposed a ban on mining, seems to have become quite safe as there is no open mining activity in the five-km radius of the border with Delhi. But the open mining activity has been going on a large-scale in the hills of Khori and Sirohi villages in the district, which do not come within the ban limit. The government has allowed two crusher zones, one at Pali and another at Dhauj village, where over 250 crushers work every day. A majority of the crushers are reported to be violating the norms regarding the pollution. While it is mandatory to sprinkle water during the work at crushers, there is hardly any unit, which follow it strictly, said an insider. However, some of the norms are followed when an inspection is carried out. It may be recalled that the Pollution Board, which has an office here, provides NOC to such units every year. Besides, there are hundreds of industrial units, which have been the source of pollution, though the Board officials claim that pollution is mainly due to the traffic and outdated vehicles. The environmentalists have also been pointing their finger at the thermal power station here, which is alleged to be spewing out fumes and black smoke at times leading to a polluted air in certain parts. The district administration seems to be in deep slumber over the growing demand on introducing a CNG-based transport system and putting a stop at the movement of outdated vehicles like the mini trucks and three-wheeler auto rickshaws. As many as 15,000 three-wheelers running in the city are a source of huge pollution, said K. L.
Gera, a social activist here. Demanding immediate transfer of all the officials of the Pollution Department, he asked the state government to chalk out and implement a long-term plan to check the pollution menace here.
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Posh South Delhi property of Kapil Dev’s wife sealed
New Delhi, April 29 The court order was passed yesterday after an affidavit filed by Mr R. B. S. Bansal, the Executive Engineer (Building) South Zone, Green Park, said that the portions of the building were occupied by both Ms Dev and Ashok Bhatnagar without obtaining any occupancy certificates. Mr Ashok Bhasin, the counsel for the MCD, alleged that contrary to the court order, Ms Dev and Mr Ashok Bhatnagar have not only occupied the respective portions of the building but also used it for commercial purposes. Ms Dev is the proprietor of M/S This and That (Readymade Garments) and Mr Bhatnagar is the sales co-ordinator of M/S Savi Vision Pvt Ltd (Music Systems). Earlier, the court had ordered that the said property would neither be occupied nor put to any use unless the MCD certifies that the construction was in conformity with the sanctioned building plan. The court had also directed that no commercial activities would be permitted in the building.
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Senior MCF officials accused of corruption
Faridabad, April 29 Though an FIR had been filed against some persons about three months back, no arrest has been made. Interestingly, a senior MCF official, who is stated to be one of the suspects in this scam, has been awaiting a promotion. It is alleged that a builder was given the Change of Land Use (CLU) and the permission to construct a multi-storeyed building on the land belonging to the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA). The market value of the plot is stated to be over Rs 2 crore. Some of the residents, including a social activist, have written to the Chief Minister, demanding a strict action against all those allegedly involved in the case. They protest as to why the police are not taking action against the accused against whom an FIR had already been booked under various sections including 406, 408, 409,420 and 120-B of the IPC. According to the FIR, the accused had fraudulently obtained the CLU after concealing the facts about the ownership of the land, measuring about 2,400 sq yards in Old Faridabad area. It is claimed that the land had been acquired by the HUDA vide award No. 13 of 1978-79 and a compensation had been paid to the owner. It is alleged that the builder had got the CLU and the sight plan sanctioned on the basis of fabricated documents and misrepresentation in connivance with certain MCF officials. The FIR had been registered on January 20, 2005, on a complaint lodged by an advocate, residing in Shastri Colony of the Old Faridabad. The matter had been reported to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) in February 2003, who had asked the then Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) to conduct an enquiry into it. The ADC, who submitted his report to the DC on September 11, 2003 (vide letter number 5357), remarked that the CLU had been issued without proper verification of the ownership title and no proper documents were produced by the Revenue Department to verify the ownership of the land in question. It is stated that while the CLU had been taken in an improper manner by concealing the material fact, the role of the concerned revenue and MCF officials was particularly dubious. It is added that while no documentary proof of the revenue record had been produced regarding the ownership of the land by the main accused, the MCF staff had also tried to conceal the facts and seem to have acted in collusion with the applicant. According to the report, the LAO office and the Estate office of the HUDA here were responsible for not protecting the HUDA land and did not take appropriate action against the builder for constructing building on its land.
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All set for MCF polls today
Faridabad, April 29 Claiming that all the measures for the smooth conduct of the elections had been taken, the district election authorities have imposed section 144 throughout the civic limits to ensure that there was no disturbance during the polls. The licensed weapon owners have been asked to deposit their arms at the nearest police station till May 1. The administration has banned the movement of persons with any kind of arms or weapons, including sticks and sharp-edged weapons during the polls tomorrow. All the liquor vends have been closed down till 5 p.m under the election guidelines. The Deputy Commissioner, who is also the District Election Officer, has directed the various heads of departments here to register cases against employees and officials who skipped the pilot and second rehearsal of polling held during the past three days. It is reported that several officials assigned for duty during the polls failed to report during the rehearsal. While the authorities concerned have not clarified how many officials would be facing the disciplinary action in this regard, it is stated that details were being worked out in this regard. According to the officials, the places where counting of votes will take place have been identified: Government Girls School, Ballabhgarh (Ward 1, 2); Panchayat Bhawan, Ballabhgarh (Ward 3,4); Aggarwal Dharamshala, Ballabhgarh (Ward 5, 6,7) ; Dayanand College (Ward 8, 9, 10, 13, 14); Government Girls School, NIT (Ward 11,12) ; Old DC office, Sector- 21 (Ward 15, 16, 17); Community Centre sector-19 (Ward- 18, 19); Community Hall, NH (Ward 20, 21) ; Nehru College (Ward 22, 23); Community Centre, sector- 15 (Ward 24, 25); Government Girls College (Ward 26, 27, 28) and Sports Complex, sector- 12 (Wards- 29, 30 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35). A total of 729 booths have been set up across the city. The Assistant Returning Officers of the various areas will be compiling the results, which will be announced formally by the Additional Deputy Commissioner. Lok Adalat
on May 7:
A preliminary meeting was held at the court complex today regarding the Lok Adalat. According to Mrs Anita Dahiya, the Chief Judicial Magistrate and the Member of the District Legal Services Tribunal, the District and Sessions Judge had directed all the Additional and District Session Judges to hold Lok Adalat on May 7 in order to dispose off pending cases relating to accidents and the Marriage Act.—TNS
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Man held in triple-murder case
New Delhi, April 29 The accused was identified as one Ravinder Naik, alias Ravinder Kumar Dalai, alias Satyabhan Dalai (35), resident of Orissa. On December 27, at around 11 a.m. the police received a call that three persons, S. K. Sharma (50), his wife Rita Sharma (45) and father-in-law Bansi Lal Dhawan (65) were found murdered in their house. The police reached the spot and found the victims lying in a pool of blood with injuries on face and head. However, 13-year-old Pulkit, son of Sharmas, escaped as he was staying with his aunt in Pachim Vihar when the incident took place. The house was found ransacked, with gold ornaments and cash missing. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-West), Mr Rajesh Khurana, said that during investigation the police came to know that the servant was missing ever since the incident took place. Relentless efforts by the police to trace the address of the suspect took the police to one Global Nurses and Placement Services in East of Kailash where the Orissa address of the suspect was obtained. When teams were rushed to Orissa to nab the suspect, the address was found to be fake and the police came back empty handed.
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Dacoity bid foiled, 3 juveniles among 8 arrested
New Delhi, April 29 The accused were identified as Akhlesh Mishra (22), resident of Prem Vihar, Raja (20), resident of Rama Garden, Pappu Kumar (19), resident of Karawal Nagar Chowk, Salim Khan (18), resident of Rama Garden, Mohammad Ashraf (18), resident of Karawal Nagar. Acting on a tip-off that some persons were planning to commit dacoity in Gokulpuri area, the police nabbed them. During interrogation, the accused persons said they used to commit dacoity under the leadership of Aklesh Mishra. The police also recovered one stolen TV, DVD and VCDs from their possession. Mystery death of Tihar prisoner:
The deceased identified as one Shabir, alias Kalia (20), resident of Lal Bagh, was arrested on April 23 by the Rajouri Garden police of West district and was sent to jail no 3 on April 24. Since April 24, he was admitted to the jail hospital as he complained of uneasiness. On April 27 and 28, he even remained on medicine and this morning when his release order was being prepared, he again complained of pain and was rushed to the DDU Hospital, along with two doctors where he was declared brought dead.
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‘Media must highlight problems of the poor’
New Delhi, April 29 Delivering the convocation address at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dr Singh said there are over 33 crore people, who have no shelter over their heads. These people, he said, were left to face the atrocities of weather and survive on an empty stomach. Noting that the media has a responsibility in bringing to light the life of these millions, Dr Singh said media ought to have a social consciousness to take the people out of the morass. Pointing out that media persons must have a vision and voice that touches the heart, he said these qualities lead the society and taken upon the challenge to build a new India. Dr Singh, who disapproved of the current trends of soaps that distort reality, he said life is about happiness and media needs to propagate that through the creation of harmonious dialogues in the society. He also asked the media to help save the environment from degradation and focus on far-flung areas.
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First robotic surgery for prostate cancer at AIIMS
New Delhi, April 29 Dr Hemal, Dr Rajiv Kumar and Dr Pankaj Wadhwa performed the laproscopic radical prostatectomy on two patients. While the 62-year-old patient from Kerala had a 50 cc loss of blood, the 52-year-old patient from Delhi had 70 cc loss of blood in the surgery. “The operation on the 62-year-old man lasted two hours ten minutes. The second operation took one hour fifty minutes.” Dr Hemal who has pioneered the robotic radical prostatectomy with Dr Mani Menon in Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, USA, said that robotic radical prostatectomy is superior to other forms of surgeries for removing prostate cancer. Enumerating the advantages of robotic surgery, he said, “There is no incision in the body. Besides, complications as sexual dysfunction, leak of urine and pain are also reduced. It also assures good cancer cure. Post-operative course is cent per cent better than open surgery and moderately better than laproscopic surgery.”
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Scintillating performance by Sant Murali Das
New Delhi, April 29 Sant Murali Das, who is well-known in the music circle for scintillating performance of ‘Divya Nama Sankirtanam’, had a series of programmes here since April 22. He and his party first performed at Raja Rajeshwari Temple in Janakpuri and followed it up with programmes at Narayani Temple in Hari Nagar, Media Apartments in Indirapuram, Ghaziabad and Ganesh Temple at Vasundhara Enclave, Delhi.
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Man held in bank loot case
Ghaziabad, April 29
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