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Privatisation of garbage collection in three city zones
Power production in Haryana to be
‘New mind-set needed for positive image |
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SC verdict on Chandni Chowk hailed
Glaucoma campaign today
Spurt in diarrhoea cases reported
Training imparted for kids’ safety
Criminal shot in encounter
Robbers strike at temple
Wanted criminal arrested
‘Trace missing Honda workers’
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Privatisation of garbage collection in three city zones
New Delhi, August 27 The DWM’s responsibilities are to collect, segregate, transport and dispose of the solid waste in three zones. “The benefits from the project will become evident within a few months. This is a step towards making Delhi a truly international city,” Chief Minister said after inaugurating the project in Defence Colony in south Delhi. The Municipal Commissioner, Mr. Rakesh Mehta said that an independent third party would monitor the working of the private consortium. “We will pay them on the basis of per tonne of garbage collected and we expect that MCD will save Rs 30-35 crore annually as a result,” he said. Addressing the media, the Chief Minister said that the DWM would invest Rs 51 crore in the project and would target all the 31 wards in three zones — South, Central and City Zones by January 2006. Through the project, DWM will cater for the disposal of around 1200 tonnes of solid waste that is generated in these three zones everyday. The DWM has been awarded the contract for managing the solid waste of the national Capital in three zones for nine years by the civic body. The Chief Minister assured the MCD employees saying that no one would lose the jobs. “People like drivers and garbage collectors will be retrained for other work,” she said. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Executive Officer of the DWM, Mr Anil Gupta said that in wake of the prevailing environmental vulnerabilities, hygienic disposal of waste acquires new prominence. Besides, urban waste management is the least explored domain in the country. The consortium has advised a unique mechanism that will cater to the solid waste generated in the three zones and will require minimum manual handling. It will also ensure that the biodegradable garbage bins are cleared once every four hours, he said. Delhi generates 7000 tonnes of solid waste every day. The DWM will collect the garbage – biodegradable and non-biodegradable – from the bins. It has specially designed compactors with an in-built hydraulic operated system. It will be used to compress and transport the waste. He claimed that the DWM was introducing about 60 compactors and around 3000 bins with a capacity of 1100 litres each. Each of the trucks carrying the compressed garbage will transport between eight to 12 tonnes of garbage in one trip. It has already undertaken an exhaustive awareness campaign to educate households and commercial establishments generating waste of the need for segregation of garbage at source, he said.
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Power production in Haryana to be doubled: Hooda
Faridabad, August 27 The power plant at Mothuka village, to be set up by Aban Loyd Chiles Offshore Limited, a private company based at Chennai, will be one of the largest of its kind in the state. The second gas-based plant in the district, will cost around Rs 3465 crore and will be ready in two years. Taking a dig at the previous governments, Mr Hooda lamented that there had hardly been any increase in the production capacity in Haryana in the past 40 years, which was the main reason behind the power crisis being faced by the people. He said while the demand in the state had increased to 9000 MW, the total generation and the availability was just around 4000 MW. He alleged that the Chautala government had misled the people during the past five years, as it had ‘failed’ to do anything instrumental to ameliorate the people’s sufferings. Stating that power was the basic need of the people, he said his government would ensure that the average daily supply was atleast 20 to 22 hours even in the
rural areas. According to the Mr Hooda, waiving off the power bills to the tune of Rs 1,600 crore had been “unprecedented in the history of any state”. Earlier, the MLA from Ballabhgarh, Ms Sharda Rathaur, praised the Chief Minister for sanctioning the project in her constituency. Claming that Ballabhgarh had been ignored by all previous governments, she said the project will usher in an era of speedy development of the area. Among those present on the occasion included Mr Udhay Bhan, Mr A.C Chaudhary, Mr Kulbir Singh, Mr Mahender Pratap, Mr Harsh Kumar, Mr Raghbir Singh Kadian and Mr Karan Dalal.
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‘New mind-set needed for positive image of
women’
Gurgaon, August 27 She also emphasised the role of the media, which could play a constructive role in creating a positive perception about women in the society. Dr Vyas was here today to inaugurate the International Media Institute (IMI). The former Director of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi, Dr J.S.Yadav and the former Principal, Kamla Nehru College, Delhi University, Dr Surender Sharma, are the driving force behind the IMI. Responding to a question on the negative male-female ratio in the country, Dr Vyas said the NWC has recommended the amendment to the PNDT Act to give more teeth to the law enforcing agencies. She highlighted the need for attitudinal change in the society. The disturbing trend was that it was the progressive states, including Haryana, where the male-female ratio was falling most rapidly, she said. Taking a broad sweep, she said that there is a general decline in social and human values, and made a fervent appeal for course correction for balanced growth of the society. With regard the skewed male-female ratio, she said that the NCW has chalked out a “gaaon challo” (go the villages) campaign in six states, including Haryana, to spread awareness in this regard. With regard to the prevention of sexual harassment of women at workplaces, she said that the NCW has sent a plan to the government for effecting a legislation in Parliament. She also said that there is a need to amend the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for protection of women as rape-victims during investigations and trial. Also, the amendment is needed for the proper dispensation of justice against those guilty of rape. On the role of media, she observed that the Indian media was more sensitive than their counterparts abroad. Speaking on the occasion, Dr J.S Yadav, said that IMI has been started to provide training and education in the mass media, especially to the aspiring students of the region.
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DUSU poll: The enemy lies within too
New Delhi, August 27 A case in point being the frontrunners, the NSUI and the ABVP. The NSUI, which proclaims to be on a winning spree owing to their ideology, is being criticised for “playing the good looks card” again. And this time the party has had to face opposition from inside as much as from outside. But the party, which is eyeing the DUSU office for the third consecutive time, and grappling with reports of “internal differences”, is quick to deny them. Spokesperson Kuntal Krishna asserts, “There is no basis to these rumours”. But party insiders have a different story to tell. They pointed out that the party is “still divided over the choice of the presidential candidate.” A faction of these workers feel the party is “relying on good looks to draw voters”. This is an accusation strongly rebuffed by the party that has now opted for posters that list their achievements instead of showing the smiling faces of their candidates. The party’s contention apart the air-brushed posters of their presidential candidate Ragini Nayak still stare down from walls across Her selection, however, has not only caused dissension within the party but has also given the opposition a buoy. “There was a lot of disagreement within the party over her choice as president, which is why the decision took so long. There are people who are rooting for her, but Amrita Dhawan, who is contesting for vice-president, has a better rapport with students,” confessed party workers. The acrimony between the two “leading ladies” is the catalyst that keeps the opposition’s fire burning. Meanwhile, the ABVP too has been vehemently denying the allegations made by the Progressive Students’ Organisation (PSO) that claims to have “former ABVP activists in its fold”. The PSO had accused the ABVP of playing “regional and caste politics”. “The ABVP has always given tickets on the basis of region and caste. They are unfair to workers from certain regions like Bihar”, a PSO activist had put forth. State secretary, ABVP, Nakul Bhardwaj, rubbishing the claim, said, “We are a cadre-based organisation and we do not believe in caste and region. In any case, if you check the history of DUSU polls you will see that there have been a lot of students from Bihar who have been fielded”. They try hard to put up a show of unity and commitment. After all, internal bickering is a party’s best kept secret.
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Devotees throng temples on Janmashtami
New Delhi, August 27 Hundreds of marquees were erected around Delhi to hold Ras Lila or staging of stories from Lord Krishna’s life. Children played a baby Krishna delighting neighbours with pranks, often with his pal Balram. One of the prominent Ras Lila scenes at almost every temple showed young Krishna sneaking butter from a pot while his mother wasn’t looking. Other scenes show a grown-up Krishna moving mountains, conquering beasts and slaying demons that threaten the community and people. People in festive attire were seen at the makeshift fairs with stalls selling sweets and items especially for the occasion. Children, in particular, were enraptured with the miniature ‘Radha Krishna jhulas’, idols of Nand Lalla
and other knick-knacks on display. A fast was observed by the devout till midnight when, according to mythology, the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu was born to Devaki in a dungeon in ‘Braja’. Devaki and her husband Vasudeva were kept in confinement by Kansa as it was predicted that their eighth-born would slay the evil king. With the main event held at Laxmi Narayan temple, priests across Delhi also read the Gita in which Krishna addresses Arjuna’s concerns about going to war against friends and teachers. Roads in Delhi mostly led to Birla Mandir in Gole Market area and the ISKCON temple in East of Kailash. At the Birla temple, the fragrance of jasmine and sandlewood added to the spirit of the devotes.
Special delicacies like ‘singhare ki puri’, ‘gopalkala’, ‘shrikhand’, ‘milk poli’ and ‘pedha’ were prepared on the occasion.
Security was tightened around all prominent temples and traffic was diverted at some places in view of the drove of devotees.
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SC verdict on Chandni Chowk hailed
New Delhi, August 27 The Municipal Corporation takes ‘teh bazari’ (daily rent) from the shopkeepers who sell their goods from the foot paths, but it had stopped taking the charge from the vendors in Chandni Chowk for the last three years. The councillor told this to ‘rehiri walas’ (vendors) who met him today to know the actual direction give by the Supreme Court. The Councillor also met the Municipal Commissioner in this regard but he had yet not received the order of the Apex Court. Until the corporation receives the official order of the court, nothing can be said. Secondly, the corporation has already declared that selling goods from footpath is illegal, he said. Legal adviser of the Vyapar Mandal of Chandni Chowk, Mr Sanjay Bhardwaj said that it seemed that the police had given signal to the footpath dwellers not to have their shop on the foot path as there was no shop at the footpath in the market. Welcoming the Supreme Court’ s direction he said that it had given relief to the shopkeepers and people who visited
the market. “Earlier a number of pick-pocketing incidents used to come to the notice. Now such incidents will reduce as there will be no rush on foot paths,” he said.
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Glaucoma campaign today
New Delhi, August 27 The DMA and Delhi Ophthalmological Society (DOS) are jointly organising Glaucoma Mahasangram on Sunday, August 28, when a major free glaucoma checkup facility will be organised at DMA Hall, Daryaganj, and the ophthalmologists in Delhi will be giving free glaucoma checkup facilities on their premises in different residential or commercial areas. This was disclosed by Dr K. K. Aggarwal, President, DMA, Dr Noshir M. Shroff, President, DOS, Dr Harbans Lal, Secretary, DOS, Prof J. C. Das, Professor, Guru Nanak Eye Centre and Maulana Azad Medical College, Dr A. K. Grover, Head of Ophthalmology, Gangaram Hospital, and Dr Girish Tyagi, Secretary, DMA. What was high blood pressure to cardiovascular system was glaucoma to the eye, said Dr Aggarwal. When this pressure is high in the eye for a long time it damages the delicate nerve which carries light from the eye to the brain. This causes damage to the nerves, leading to permanent incurable blindness unless detected and treated at the earliest. Glaucoma has been labeled the lurking thief of vision. Dr Shroff said worldwide glaucoma was a major public health problem and was the second most common after cataract. The blindness caused by cataract was curable whereas that due to glaucoma was not curable. It was, however, preventable if detected early. It was, therefore, essential to detect glaucoma in its early stage to prevent blindness. Dr Harbans Lal, Senior Consultant at Ganga Ram Hospital, said the incidence of glaucoma leading to blindness was 2 per cent. Family members of glaucoma patients were expected to have or develop glaucoma more often than blood pressure or thyroid disease. Those on long term steroid therapy for some other ailment like asthma, arthritis, etc were more susceptible to glaucoma’s damage to the optic nerve. It was, therefore, advisable that they consult an ophthalmologist to rule out glaucoma. Answering a question that at what age glaucoma manifested in a patient and how did a patient come to know about it himself, Prof J. C. Das, Chief of Glaucoma Services at Shroff Eye Centre, said that glaucoma may manifest at any age, most commonly above the age of 40 years, almost the same age when cataract (safed motia) also starts appearing. Except a small percentage of patients with glaucoma exhibiting acute symptoms of pain, redness headache vomiting and marked diminution of vision, a majority of them had very mild symptoms, which they tended to ignore. Frequent change of near glasses, mild eyeache or headache towards the evening or seeing rainbow-like colours around light source (coloured haloes) associated with slight diminution of vision may be the only symptoms of glaucoma which the patient may not take that seriously. In more advanced cases the vision was lost from the sides and the patient became more prone to accidents ever if his ‘straightforward’ (central) vision was good. Very often, the patient thought this was because of cataract but it’s actually because of glaucoma, a much more serious disease. Professor Das pointed out that a routine examination of eyes by an ophthalmologist (a glaucomatologist) around the age of 40 and above may detect the presence of glaucoma. Glaucoma may affect even a newborn or an infant or child. Any eye in this age group that looks little larger or appears “not that clear and shiny” should be shown to an eye specialist immediately. Glaucoma in this age group is normally due to a developmental defect and should be treated with urgency to save vision. For people who have glaucoma, early detection and reduction of intra-ocular pressure remains the key strategy to halting or at least slowing down the disease process by taking appropriate medical and surgical measures.
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Spurt in diarrhoea cases reported
Noida, August 27 Due to the lack of suitable facilities in government hospitals, dozens of patients are being treated in nursing homes and hospitals in Palwal and Noida. According to sources in these hospitals, such cases are on the increase in the last few days. Patients from half a dozen nearby villages are undergoing treatment at the Gupta Nursing Home in Javer. To make matters worse, the shortage of medicines in the primary health centres and clinics are forcing patients to take the “treatment” of quacks, who are making a “fast buck”, exploiting the helplessness of the poor people. Dr Ashok Gupta of the Gupta Nursing Hospital said that diarrhoea and cholera are very common during the monsoon season. Body pain and fever are common symptoms of the disease, which is more prevalent in humid conditions and area with water bodies, said Dr
Gupta. — OC
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Training imparted for kids’ safety
New Delhi, August 27 Anupama Kalra, Chief Programmes Officer Smile Foundation, explaining the idea behind the initiative, said, “It is important that the issue of violence and abuse be addressed at every level. Violence is all-pervasive, and the perpetuating unit is the family, in the name of tradition, discipline, family values and norms. There is a need to encourage girls and women to speak up and create solidarity networks. Introspection and awareness are the key to a violence-free society. It is important to talk to the youth as they are our future and men as they are an integral part of both the problem and its
solution”. — TNS
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Absconding gang rape accused held
New Delhi, August 27 The accused has been identified as Mahipal Singh, a driver by profession. He was arrested near the Sangam cinema in R.K. Puram area today after a tip-off. DCP (Crime Branch) Tajendra Luthra told a press conference here that he was also involved in a road rage attack. He had allegedly assauled the driver and conductor of a Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus in June. Police had earlier arrested six people in connection with the assault on the night of August 10. This included Narender, Vikas, Rajbir, Narender, Shekhar and Sandip Ahuja. Another accused Jai Prakash was apprehended the next day. The girl had been lured by the driver of the private bus Narender, with whom she was on friendly terms, to the vehicle at around midnight where he and his friends gang raped her repeatedly.
— TNS
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Criminal shot in encounter
Ghaziabad, August 27 According to Kotwali SO G. P. Yadav, when the criminal was signaled to stop near Goyana brick kiln yesterday, they tried to escape. When the police team chased them, they fired at the police. In retaliatory fire, one of the criminals was wounded while his other associate managed to flee in the darkness. He was rushed to a government hospital where he was declared brought dead. According to the police, Raju had been arrested by the Vijay Nagar police a year back for having stolen equipments from a Delhi mobile showroom. He was also involved in many criminal cases in Ballabhgarh. The police have recovered a local revolver from the deceased, Yadav added.
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Robbers strike at temple
New Delhi, August 27 The robbery was committed a few hours before Janmashtami dawned. There used to be a PCR van just next to the temple main gate. Police officials claimed at the time the incident occurred the PCR van had gone to attend another call. The four men entered the temple at 1.30 am. They were equipped with firearms and iron rods, they said. As they entered the main gate of the temple, the guards tried to stop them. They whipped out their firearms and tied two of them. One guard was injured. He was taken to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital where his condition is said to be stable. Police sources disclosed the looted gold and silver items included 20 silver chhattar, seven gold chhattar, five silver meru and two gold meru.
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Wanted criminal arrested
Ghaziabad, August 27 The police team spotted the criminal after they were returning from village Rajpur, where they had gone to arrest two wanted criminals on Thursday. The arrested criminal, identified as Inderjit, tried to flee when the police tried to arrest him. On frisking him, the police recovered one pistol and 35 pouches of smack. According to the police, the nabbed criminal had been a close associate of dreaded criminal Manish Pandit and was now an active member of Naresh Bhatti gang. Besides, Inderjit had also been involved in the kidnapping of one Amit Choudhary (son of Mahender Chaudhry) of Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad. In a similar case, he was involved in the kidnapping of one Dr Maheshawari of Mathura from whom he had demanded a ransom of Rs one crore. He had also strangled to death a tubewell operator in village Marthala, Loni, and had also killed his own servant, the police
added. — OC
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‘Trace missing Honda workers’
New Delhi, August 27 The tribunal, set up by
‘Labour File’ and National Campaign on Labour Rights, also asked the
government to review all policies related to setting up of industries
with FDI. “All the missing workers should be traced and those not
found deemed dead and their families should be compensated. Adequate
compensation should be paid to the injured and proper medication should
be provided,” the report demanded.
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