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Candidates warm up for DUTA polls
IIT director faints during convocation ceremony
Noida master plan silent on rail link
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DSGMC appreciates PM’s ‘sympathetic remark’
BJP leaders continue tirade against power tariff hike
One held for Sultanpuri gang rape
Traffic advisory on I-Day
Kites to carry health awareness messages
History-sheeter elected unopposed
Hooda asks officials to pull up their socks
Study for development of tsunami-affected areas
Livid villagers gherao SSP’s office against lawlessness
Chemical units minus licence face closure
Registries of 2500 plots pending for four years
Mistaken identity: Father shot dead
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Candidates warm up for DUTA polls on Aug 31
New Delhi, August 13 The elections scheduled for August 31 may be short on the brouhaha, but aspirants claim they are “crucial for the future of the teaching community at large”. With four factions having announced their panels, it is time for Round Two, to canvass and garner the support of the teachers. “We want the teachers to recall the time when the NDTF was in office. We want them to compare those years between 1991-94 and 1997-99 with the last few years and see for themselves how effective the NDTF led Union was,” said Manoj Sinha, who is the presidential candidate from the National Democratic Teacher’s Front. Claiming that the outgoing DUTA has been unable to put forth and protect the cause of teachers he said, “the DUTA in the past has either supported the authorities or failed to alienated the teachers by not living up to the responsibilities of a trade union”. For the Democratic Teachers Front
(DTF), which is being led by Amar Deo Sharma, a former DUTA President, the image and prestige of the Office is crucial. “In the past few years the DUTA has become defunct,” said Sharma. Another one to highlight the “past achievement of the DTF led
DUTA”, he said “if it had not been for the struggle led by Shashwati
Mazumdar, more than 1,200 teachers would have been rendered jobless when the UGC said that the DU has 35 percent surplus staff”. The DTF also pointed out, “despite the change in Government at the Centre in March last year, the long-standing demands of the teaching community have remained unfulfilled. Within the university too, the authorities are showing increasing contempt for the opinion of the teaching community and for all established norms and procedures. Under its current leadership, the DUTA has been considerably weakened and has failed to put up any effective resistance”. Academics for Action and Development
(AAD), whose candidate Aditya Narain Misra is the outgoing DUTA President is promising to “push for third promotion”. Prof SS Rathi of the AAD said, “the HRD Minister has shown some positive indication after we approached him to restore third promotion at the college level, but we want to see this demand
actualised. We will also take up the issue of revision of restructured courses, because we feel that they have been hurriedly brought in without even the least infrastructure in place”. The AAD’s candidate for the President’s post is Dr Prakash Narayan. The Congress party-backed Indian National Teachers’ Congress (INTEC) which will fight the elections in association with the
AAD, have fielded SD Siddiqui for the top slot and are also fighting for “restoring the prestige of teachers”. Its chairman, V K Bhasin said “the DUTA has lost respect and we will try to reclaim that lost glory”. Incidentally, while the party is itself backed by a political party, it is harping on the ‘Depoliticisation of
DUTA’. “We are totally against political interference and disagree with favouring candidates for jobs,” offered Bhasin. Another issue, which all four factions agree on is “treatment of ad hoc and temporary teachers”. “There is a need to regularise teachers who have been on ad hoc basis for long. If there are vacancies then those should be filled, there is no rationale in college hiring guest lecturers and ad hoc teachers,” said Sinha.
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IIT director faints during convocation ceremony
New Delhi, August 13 Director of IIT Delhi, D P Kothari was admitted to Sitaram Bharatiya Hospital after he fell ill during the institute’s annual convocation ceremony here this morning. Dr Kothari who had finished the Director’s speech at the beginning of the ceremony began to feel uneasy after the speech. “Doctors at the Sitaram Bharatiya Hospital, where he is admitted, have begun investigation and he should be well soon,” an IIT medical official said. The 61-year-old IIT director assumed office in April this year. The convocation ceremony, however, continued as per schedule. The ceremony also witnessed E Shreedharan, the technocrat who built the national Capital’s newest engineering marvel, the Metro, being presented with an honorary Doctor of Science degree. Biocon chairman and Managing Director Kiran Majumdar-Shaw presented the degrees to the successful IITians. IIT Board of Governors’ chairman Prof. M G K Menon presided over the convocation ceremony held at the Dogra Hall.
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Noida master plan silent on rail link
Noida, August 13 During a discussion on the master plan at the Noida Authority Board meeting last Friday, this was noted by the Chairman, who pointed out this lapse to the plan drafting team. He had then gave instructions to the officers to remove this lacuna from the draft plan, it was learnt. The team members heard a dozen objections raised by people on the Plan on Friday. The amended version and the team’s response would be placed before the next board meeting. The Noida Board had approved the master plan in 2003. No exercise about metro rail link or
Dadri-Tughlakabad rail links has started yet. That is why the officials had made no provision about the Noida rail transport link in the draft master plan. Noida Authority Chairman Rakesh Bahadur Singh had given a suggestion about the new railway line to be laid in the area. The laying of a line from Ashok Nagar to Sector 37 was also mentioned to link Noida with the Dadri-Noida rail link. The issue is being discussed seriously by the committee members. According to sources, its realistic assessment is likely to be presented at the next board meeting. A builder of Phase-II and a Sadarpur village society member raised the question of residential development while the same place in the master plan has been earmarked for industrial development belt. It was also clear from the stand of the committee that it would not compromise on such objections. Expert from Meerut Development Authority, Raj Pal Kaushik, Special Industrial Secretary R. K. Singh, Deputy CEO Tanveer Japar Ali, Chief Town Planner Bharat
Bushan, and some experts from the School of Planning and Architecture attended the meeting.
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DSGMC appreciates PM’s ‘sympathetic remark’
New Delhi, August 13 The convention was participated by a large number of Sikh organisations from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi. Dr Manmohan Singh assured that the government would reopen cases, including those against policemen wherever it was possible under the law, the resolution said. He promised assistance to all widows, children and the affected families so that they could lead a life of dignity and self-respect. The resolution requested the Sikh Panth that this heartfelt offer made by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, should be evaluated sympathetically. It will be the beginning of the new relationship based on honouring the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib and the concept of autonomy of Sikh Panth, the resolution said. The resolution said that in view of the 1984 Sikh massacre and attacks on other minorities in several parts of the country, this convention resolves that the recruitment of the Sikh and minorities to the police and para military forces be made in such proportion that the police should never fail in future. The resolution appreciated the role of media during the recent episode and observes that had the similar role been played in 1984 and before, such a situation with which the nation is grappling now would not have arisen. The resolution resolved that a detailed directory of the Sikh martyrs of post 1947 era be prepared. The Sikhs are requested to extend maximum cooperation for the accomplishment of this project. It hopes that the Panth as well as the government of India will cooperate in establishing a ‘truth commission’ so that the truth about the massacre of Sikhs and the attack on Darbar Sahib and Akal Takhat finally comes out, the resolution said.
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BJP leaders continue tirade against power tariff hike
New Delhi, August 13 At a ‘padyatra’ to protest against the power tariff hike, Mr Mahajan said BJP was not against privatisation but against the Discoms, which were only exploiting the people instead of providing service. Mr Vijay Goel, who also participated in the padyatra, said, “We demand that the agreement with the private companies be cancelled immediately because of the profit guarantee of 16 per cent provided to them”. Till the time the discoms take some efforts to stop power theft completely, the state government must provide subsidy for electricity, he said. “The accounts of these private companies should be made public because people have the right to know how much money has been put into the system by these (private) electric companies and also the profit and loss account of these companies,” Mr Goel added. He alleged that the Delhi Government was playing into the hands of the private companies and doing whatever was convenient to them. Besides the two leaders, hundreds of BJP workers expressed their anger against the recent “steep” hike in power tariff. BJP leaders plan to meet Delhi Lt Governor to press for their demand for withdrawal of the 10 per cent hike in electricity rates and also on the issue of replacing new meters with old ones.
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One held for Sultanpuri gang rape
New Delhi, August 13 On Thursday itself, a 16-year-old was allegedly gang raped in a bus in Najafgharh area of south Delhi. In another incident the same day, a minor was raped in Pandav Nagar area of East Delhi. On Monday also, two incidents of rape had been reported. In the past week, as many as five incidents of rape have been reported in the Capital, which has of late acquired notoriety for criminal assaults on women.
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Traffic advisory on I-Day
New Delhi, August 13 This arrangement would be effective from 5 am to 9 am on August 15. The traffic police have also advised against plying any commercial transport from the evening on August 14 till 11 am on August 15. The Delhi Police have also directed the people visiting the Red Fort on the Independence Day, not to bring camera, binocular, handbags, mobile phones, match box, tiffin box, etc.
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Kites to carry health awareness messages
New Delhi, August 13 Kite flying was an interesting event, which had a fan-following in all age groups, he said and added that in such a situation, kites were the most effective way of spreading health awareness in a cost-effective way. These special kites were imprinted with one line messages like, ‘If you are above 40, get your eyes checked up for glaucoma’, ‘Don’t go to quacks, they can be dangerous to your life’ or ‘Participate in Polio-Bharat Chhodo Andolan’ or ‘To prevent dengue and malaria clean your cooler every Sunday’.—TNS
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History-sheeter elected unopposed
Greater Noida, August 13 In Dadri block, one history-sheeter has been returned unopposed as pradhan. Rowdies and people with criminal background are already seen going around intimidating the voters. In Sarfabad village, the voting centre has been declared the most sensitive one. In many villages, known criminals are in the fray for the pradhan’s elections. They are known to be intimidating people with their arms and ammunition. The administration has declared 20 gram panchayats in Bisarakh along 89 voting booths as most sensitive. Though the administration has arranged for the security of the people and voting staff, armed miscreants are threatening voters. Sarfabad, Parthal, Suterpura, Lakhanwali, Jighore are all sensitive villages. In Sarfabad, for the past three years only members of BSP leader D. P. Yadav’s family have remained as pradhan and this time the contest is with SP state secretary Jatinder Yadav’s mother. In Dadri block, also the scene is not any less explosive. A history-sheeter, wanted in about 12 cases of loot, dacoity and murder, has been elected pradhan. He is a member of the Naresh Bhati gang. No one had filed a nomination against him out of fear, say the villagers.
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Hooda asks officials to pull up their socks
Gurgaon, August 13 Incidentally, Mr Hooda addressed the meeting of the Grievances Committee for the first time. As Chief Minister, he has chosen to address such meetings in three districts. These meetings are held once every month. Other ministers address the meetings in other districts. He said the government had pledged to provide corruption-free and transparent governance. Also, it had promised the people of the state it would provide an atmosphere where people were without fear. He reiterated his government’s resolve to provide sound law and order in the polity of the state. On the occasion, 10 grievances from the public were submitted before the Chief Minister for disposal. They related to complaints against the Electricity Department, the Public Health Department, the Municipal Council and the police. About the complaint regarding the Electricity Department, the Chief Minister cautioned the department’s officials to improve the style of their functioning. The complaints ranged from erratic power supply and non-replacement of cables. With regard to the Public Health Department, the complaint was that sullied water was being supplied to households. With regard to the local municipality, there was a complaint about encroachment of land. The Chief Minister asked the departments concerned to solve the problems.
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Study for development of tsunami-affected areas
New Delhi, August 13 A joint initiative of the students of School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) and School of Planning, Chennai, the study has brought into focus the need for a spatially designated agency such as a coastal development and conservation undertaking of India, to study in detail the coastline in order to evolve a meaningful action plan. “The study shows that the poverty in the fishing community in the affected areas has risen by about 30 percent. Since not all the fishermen own their own catamarans, they make sure that they live close to them on the backwaters where they are moored. And when the Tsunami occurred, these people were the worst affected. So there was a suggestion to have a garage for these catamarans where they can be kept safely and the people persuaded to move away from the shores,” said Dr Shovan Saha of the SPA. Claiming that 90 percent of the population in the coastal areas is dependent on the sea, he said there was a need to educate these people on the alternate and appropriate methods of agriculture pissiculture. The study also put forth the need to have provision of hygienic methods of waste disposal, facilities such as community and information centres, establishment of community voluntary committee responsible for dissemination of weather forecasts, emergency management and shelter belts including mangroves to reduce the impact of future cyclones and Tsunamis. Pointing out that the Tsunami has had an adverse impact on not just human and animal life, but also on the water, on fishing, landforms and the soil conditions, the study calls for effective steps to be undertaken to prevent such large-scale devastation. Proposals for integration of the coastal zone with all weather transport and communication system, introduction and promotion of scenic coastal tourism along the seaside and enhancement of human resources capacities in terms of occupational diversity and local management techniques have also been made.
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Livid villagers gherao SSP’s office against lawlessness
Greater Noida, August 13 The villagers handed over a memorandum addressed to the UP Governor to the SP (Rural), Mr M. P. Singh. The body of a Scheduled Caste boy, Mohit, 9, was recovered from a field in Sirsa village on July 8. Villagers had suspected a tantrik for the murder while the Kasna police had arrested and tortured a 13-year-old village boy, Shambu (not real name) and sent him to jail. At meetings of the panchayat of six villages, the police version was disputed and pressure exhorted on them to take action against the tantrik and the guilty cops. SSP Piyush Mordia had then ordered a probe by the Special Cell. The report is still awaited. The agitated villagers reached the SSP’s office in a procession. MLA Nawab Singh Nagar, addressing the farmers, said incidents of murder, kidnapping, loot and rape had increased in the district. He alleged that innocent people were being sent to jail while the desired crime figures were doctored. Former Central Minister Sand Priya Santam said CM Mulayam Singh Yadav wanted to turn UP into Uttam Pradesh but looking at the law and order scenario UP deserved to be called the “worst state”. He pleaded for arresting those found guilty of Mohit’s murder and punishing conniving policemen. The organiser of the rally, Rakam Singh, said protests and gheraos would continue till the administration took action against the guilty.
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Chemical units minus licence face closure
Gurgaon, August 13 The directive has been issued to the office of the SDM and the Executive Officer of the Municipal Council. The Deputy Commissioner, Gurgaon, Mr R. P. Bhardwaj, has asked the Municipal Council to conduct a survey of the chemical units functioning in the municipal limits of the city and present a report to his office. The administrative fiat is a sequel to the recent outbreak of fire in a godown of Friends Chemical, a unit which supplies chemicals, including high-powered acid to certain manufacturing units. Although the police is still investigating into the matter, the general feeling is the godown functioned illegally in a busy commercial and residential area along the national highway. It was clear that besides the storage of prohibited acid in the godown the place did not have fire safety measures. Rather, the owner of the godown fled from the scene when the fire broke out. The authorities took more than three hours in spite of 13 fire engines being pressed into service to douse the fire. There are about half a dozen chemical units functioning in the city. It is not immediately known how many of them hold a license and have fire safety measures.
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Registries of 2500 plots pending for four years
Noida, August 13 The Noida Authority had allotted these 2500 plots in 112 sq
mt, 250 sq mt and 450 sq mt sizes, but the Authority has not shown any interest in their registries, says Mr O.P.
Awasthi, Assistant Chief Director, Registries. The stamp department’s source of revenue is only from these registries. According to an estimate by officials, the government is losing Rs 30 crore revenue due to this lapse. According to Mr
Awasthi, the accounts calculation of the stamp department is in a jeopardy after the administration allowed Noida Authority freedom from using stamps in the case of suspended plots. Now, everything will depend on the registries of these properties. According to a Noida official, this is a direct offshoot of the non-supply of the layout plan by the Chief Architect and Planner, Noida Authority. The rates of registries have fallen due to the spurt in property of late. While there was a mad rush of people who used to throng the registry office in Sector 16A for getting their properties registered, now people visit the office in a trickle. Mr Awasthi said unless the Noida Authority evinces interest in the registry of properties the state government will continue to lose sizeable revenue on account of stamp duty.
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Mistaken identity: Father shot dead
Bulandshahr, August 13 The gunfire created a furore in the village. The injured was rushed to a hospital where he was declared dead. The victim’s wife, Sheela, has filed a report, naming a village youth for the murder. According to the police, the assailant wanted to kill Ravinder as he allegedly had illicit relations with someone.
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