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Cong high command approves govt subsidy to Discoms for this year
Govt launches project to reduce poverty in settlement colonies
Despite drive, MCF approach to encroachments lax
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Directive issued against illegal rickshaws
Round the clock helpline for students of Delhi University on the anvil
Dengue fever: Beware of mosquito bites in daytime
Plan to restore the glory of historic Gole Market
Unsound man climbs pole, attacks firemen
No hawking in Chandni Chowk during festivals: SC
Cherie Blair interacts with HC judges
Big blow to thriving piracy trade
IIPM’s nine campuses fully networked now
Wilson to continue as St Stephen’s Principal
Oil hike pushes vegetable, fruit prices up
Businessmen brothers shot dead
Property dealer shot dead in Vijay Nagar
Two killed over land disputes
SP not suspended or arrested: Govt
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Cong high command approves govt subsidy to Discoms for this year
New Delhi, September 8 The Coordination Committee, which met this evening decided to provide subsidy for this year, tighten the noose of the Discoms to improve the efficiency besides setting up of a special committee to look into ‘fast meters’ issue. After a two-hour long meeting at the AICC headquarters, Mr Ashok Gehlot said: “The party supported the roll back and issue of subsidy for this year. We have also taken decision on several important issues to improve the power situation in the Capital.” Earlier, during the meeting, Mr Ajay Maken made a detailed presentation before the committee members about the terms and conditions the government should follow and it was also learnt that the members severely opposed the issue of 5 per cent subsidy to the Discoms. Mr Gehlot said that a special committee would be set up under Delhi Power Minister Mr Haroon Yusuf to check and monitor faulty meters in Delhi. However, both Delhi Chief Minister Ms Sheila Dikshit and DPCC President Mr Ram Babu Sharma who were also present during the meeting refused to comment. The meeting was also attended by Mr Janardhan Dwivedi, Delhi Finance Minister Dr A K Walia and Delhi Food and Civil Supplies Minister Mr Raj Kumar Chauhan. Meanwhile, in the midst of the ongoing power crisis in Delhi, central power utility NTPC today said it had taken due permission of authorities concerned for annual maintenance shutdown of four power plants and claimed it was meeting its commitments in supply of electricity to the city. “We are making due supply of power to Delhi. We are in fact, giving more power. In any case, we had sought permission from the Regional Load Despatch centre and only three of our 42 units in the northern region have shutdown for annual maintenance,” an NTPC spokesman told reporters here. Noting that the 500 MW Rihand power plant would come into operation today, he said: “Its a new plant. It has been checked and cross-checked for stabilisation.” The 500 MW plant at Singrauli, 210 MW Badarpur and 110 MW tanda plants would also become operational by second week of next month, the spokesman added. He said the power crisis in the city occurred mainly due to shutdown of all six units of Nathpa Jhakri due to over flooding. “Had the hydel supply been optimal, the shortage would not have taken place at all,” the official pointed out. The spokesman also dismissed reports that it was under pressure from either Delhi government or the Centre to augment power supply.
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Govt launches project to reduce poverty in settlement colonies
New Delhi, September 8 The project aims to support formulation of a new national strategy to reduce urban poverty in the country through informed debates, national and international experience and research findings on the causes and potential responses to urban poverty. To be implemented by the Ministry of Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation with the UNDP support of $5 million, the project is being carried out in Jahangirpuri (north-west), Bawana (north-west), Nandnagri (east), Dakshinpuri (south), Kalyanpuri (east) and Madipur (west). One of the objectives of the project is to pilot new and innovative community-based approaches for poverty alleviation, livelihood promotion and enrichment of living conditions for the urban poor and to feedback the lessons into policy making. As many as 23 NGOs, working in the areas of
The NGO partners would form multi-thematic teams for each of the specific locations. Through a process of social mobilisation, community-based micro-plans would be formulated for a pilot area which would cover about 2,000 households each. The key objective will be to effectively utilise the existing governmental programmes to meet the needs of the community. While the National Institute of Urban Development (NIUA) is responsible for the overall coordination of the programme under the guidance of the ministry, the Department of Social Welfare, Delhi Government, would be the host agency from the Delhi Government’s side. Participating NGOs include Aicurd, Anchal, Chetna, Indcare, Sewa, Sulabh, IPE, Sycom, Lokayan, Sanchal, Intach, RMSI, YWCA, TERI, Mamta Health, Maa Ratni, Prayas, Chintan, Nirmana, Aum Bal Suraksha Andolan, Action Aid and Toxilink.
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Despite drive, MCF approach to encroachments lax
Faridabad, September 8 In a notice served to the Deputy Commissioner and the Commissioner MCF, Mr Gera, through his legal counsel has stated the first notice had been served on May 12 this year but the officials concerned had failed to take proper action against encroachments like the unauthorised auto market at Tikona Park, a subzi mandi near the gate of the Government Secondary School, NH-2, and illegal constructions done by the shopkeepers in the area. He has claimed that despite taking up the matter with the offices of various Joint Commissioners of the MCF and serving notices the encroachments still exist. He alleged that the land mafia had become bolder and had been encroaching the land available. It is claimed that illegal shops, shopping complexes and multi-storied buildings had been coming up in prime commercial and residential areas and there was no check on such activities. He has stated that the directions had been issued by the court in response to the PIL filed by him in 2003. Two parks meant for residents were still under illegal occupation of the auto repair shops at Tikona Park. He has also alleged encroachments had grown severely in nearly all the residential sectors developed by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA). Residents had encroached on green belts and had opened gates in the green belts, which he said was illegal. He alleged the authorities concerned seemed to had become totally inactive about checking such developments and improving the basic civic amenities. On the other hand, the MCF authorities had claimed a campaign had been on against all kinds of encroachments and several illegal constructions had been removed in the past several days in the NIT area.
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Directive issued against illegal rickshaws
Gurgaon, September 8 The Deputy Commissioner, Gurgaon, Mr R. P. Bhardwaj, who recently took charge, directed the authorities to take stern action against those autorickshaw drivers who did not have valid permits and proper documentation. The administrative fiat came at a durbar organised by the Deputy Commissioner’s office in connection with the public grievances relating to traffic and development issues. The directive was especially for the authorities of the Haryana Roadways and the Municipal Council. The administrative focus on the autorickshaw was a much needed one. While they ferry more than the optimum load, at times they stop on the roads midway as per their convenience to load and offload passengers. This had led to a number of road mishaps in the past. If motorists or pedestrians object they act rude. The administration is to be largely blamed. With the population growing the intra-city public transport system is not up to the mark. In any case, they have not come on the road overnight. Although the administration’s act of bringing the problems posed by the autorickshaws under the scanner has been generally appreciated, but to many it comes as déjà vu, “administrative bark without bite.” The reason for this public pessimism has good enough reason. Mr Bhardwaj’s predecessors have done a flip-flop on the issue. There were routine check-ups and a few vehicles were impounded. About a year back, the response of the authorities of the Municipal Council became lukewarm to the campaign as its premises became chock-a-block with the large number of autorickshaws impounded. It was a farcical situation and the authorities had to give up pursuit of illegal vehicles on the roads. While the administration shows spirit during the initial part of the drive, the enthusiasm wanes with political interference coming into play. The autorickshaw owners have formed unions and many of the members are locals from the nearby villages. It is an open secret that they contribute in more ways than one to the political campaigns during elections.
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Round the clock helpline for students of Delhi University on the anvil
New Delhi, September 8 The proposal, still in its nascent stage, is being aimed at helping students register their grievances and also seek information, which can be done without having to undergo the usual rigmarole of going from one window to another. “There is a proposal to start a helpline, but we are yet to discuss the modalities…broadly, it will be a one-stop destination for registering complaints, seeking information and aimed at providing all kinds of help to the students,” said the Proctor, Dr Gurmeet Singh. The idea for this proposal germinated at a meeting here today, which included the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Deepak Pental, and a group of representatives from Miranda House, who had come to present a charter of demands. Following the recent assault on two students of the college by their landlord, the college authorities backed by the students have been pressing the university to take immediate steps to ensure safety of women enrolled on campus. “We have presented a memorandum. We want more hostels and more safety provisions for the women living in PG accommodations,” Ms Swati Joshi, Head of the College Complaint Committee. There was also a demand for legal aid to the students in distress. “It is a vital suggestion that the university should offer legal aid to the students who have filed cases,” Ms Joshi said. A demand to make some of the PG hostels, run by individuals empanelled to the university, was also put forth. “If some of these hostels meet certain standards, they could be assessed for whether they can be empanelled,” Ms Joshi pointed out. Acknowledging the need for more space, the university on its part has proposed to call a meeting of all college principals to discuss the issue of constructing more hostels. “First, we will have a meeting with all the principals, and later, we will meet the Chief Minister, Mrs Sheila Dikshit. It is not easy to come up with hostels in a short time. It needs planning and infrastructure, but the VC has assured to do the needful,” said Dr Singh.
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Dengue fever: Beware of mosquito bites in daytime
New Delhi, September 8 West Delhi is the most affected area where 19 cases of dengue have come to light so far. The health department of the MCD is taking strict action against the house owners where mosquitogenic conditions are found to be prevalent. Raids are conducted in the houses, offices and commercial establishments to know whether the people have water in their coolers and water containers where aedes mosquito breeds. According to experts, people can protect themselves from the aedes mosquitoes by wearing full clothes. They do not bite during the night. Generally aedes mosquitoes bite during the day and by wearing full clothes and shoes people can protect from themselves. Dr. K. N. Tiwari, Director Medical Health Services, MCD, said that aedes mosquito generally bites five to six times a day. It bites between 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., 12 noon to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. It never bites after 5 p.m. So there is no need to be worried when people go to bed in the night. There is no need to use mosquito repellents at night for fear of the aedes mosquito. In majority of the cases, males are found affected from the mosquito bites. The experts say that 35 per cent women are affected while men’s number is 65 per cent. The reason may be that man generally wear shorts inside the house and maximum parts of their body is open inviting mosquitos to bite them. On the other hand woman wear full clothes.
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Plan to restore the glory of historic Gole Market
New Delhi, September 8 The NDMC has sought the help of a well-known architect of Mumbai, Ms Aabha Narayan, to prepare a project report for the proposed facelift of the building. A senior officer of the NDMC said that the complete project report was expected to come by the end of next month. According to sources, this building was constructed way back in 1920 for housing the government servants. The two-storeyed building has eight corners. The building was quite famous those days due to its unique construction. How important the building was, can be gauged from the fact that the entire area near that building had been declared Delhi Important Zone (DIZ). At that time, there was no Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone (LBZ) in the NDMC area. “Only due to that building, the market set up in this area was called Gole Market. Like the building, the market was also very popular. Now so many markets have come up in this area which have spoiled the beauty and business of this market,” said an official. Mrs Sheila Dikshit who is the MLA of this area, had also donated Rs 1 lakh from her constituency fund to the NDMC for renovating the building some years back. However, the money is yet to be utilised, the official regretted. The historical building has lost much of its glory due to the apathy of the authorities concerned. Cracks have appeared at several places, lamented the official.
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Unsound man climbs pole, attacks firemen
New Delhi, September 8 Hundreds of curious onlookers gathered near the spot as the police and fire brigade personnel cordoned off the area after the man was spotted clinging to the top of an electrical pole. The man had climbed the electrical pole near Anand Vihar ISBT at about 8.30 am and was refusing to come down. The fire personnel who were called, managed to get him down by about 10.30 am with much difficulty, but not before the ‘mad man’ attacked them, injuring two firemen, one of whom fractured his arm, the fire department said. However, the 45-year-old man was overpowered and taken to a nearby hospital, but he managed to run away only to climb a tall tree about a kilometre and a half away from the original spot. The fire personnel had to be called in again at about 1.30 pm when he climbed a tree near Ghazipur crossing and refused to come down. However, before the firemen could reach the spot this time, the man fell off as the branch he was perched on broke. The police immediately pinned him down and sent him to Dr Vidyasagar Institute of Mental Health and Neurological Sciences, in order to ensure that he did not repeat his antics.
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No hawking in Chandni Chowk during festivals: SC
New Delhi, September 8 A Bench comprising Justice B P Singh and Justice S H Kapadia dismissed the application seeking modification of the apex court order by which the stretch from Jain Mandir to Fethepuri has been declared as a non-hawking zone. The application in this regard was mentioned for early hearing but was opposed by advocate Usha Kumar appearing for Petitioner Sudhir Madan. The apex court on August 25 had passed an order making it clear that the police authorities will act in accordance with the orders passed by it earlier and remove all hawkers and squatters and in case of any breach of the order they will held responsible for Contempt of Court. Referring its previous orders and the one delivered on October 26 last year, the court had said that “a combined reading of the orders indicate that so far Chandni Chowk area is concerned, the same has been declared to be a non-hawking zone”.
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Cherie Blair interacts with HC judges
New Delhi, September 8 Ms Cherie Blair visited the court premises at around 10 am and interacted with judges over a cup of tea spending more than an hour, the High Court sources said. During her visit to the apex court, she did not interact with the media and members of the bar. Later, she went to the court of Acting Chief Justice B A Khan and watched the proceedings for about five minutes. Ms Cherie, a lawyer by profession, refused to take a seat in the court and watched the proceedings while standing. She was accompanied by the Delhi High Court Registrar General V B Gupta and some members of the British
delegation. — TNS
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Big blow to thriving piracy trade
New Delhi, September 8 In a move that shook the pirates in the city, the IMI anti-piracy team and the local police delivered a strong blow to the thriving piracy business, and raided shops in Jama Masjid and Palika Bazar. More than 7,000 pirated CDs and DVDs were seized. The total seizure of the CDs, MP3s and VCDs would amount to a huge loss to the music companies whose products are being sold at 1/10th their actual market price, by the pirates. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There remains a large number of pirates operating all over the country who are untouched by the authorities yet. IMI in its efforts to curb the raging piracy has undertaken to conduct as many raids as possible all over the
country. — TNS
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IIPM’s nine campuses fully networked now
New Delhi, September 8 IIPM’s nine campuses are spread across seven centres in the country (Delhi-3, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Ahmedabad). The IIPM Towers in all these campuses were already under Local Area Network, and presently, they have all turned ‘intelligent’ with the implementation of wireless architecture which has made them Wi-Fi. “IIPM has always been a trend-setter. As soon as a student enters one of these campuses, he would get direct access to the worldwide web. He no longer would have to log on to the Net through any ISP connection or through the local area network,” said Prof. Saurabh Chatterjee, Dean-Student Affairs and Head-MIS, IIPM. According to Parnab Paul, a first year student, “Thanks to the Wi-Fi facility, we can now go online at the click of a mouse, sitting right in the middle of a
class.” — TNS
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Wilson to continue as St Stephen’s Principal
New Delhi, September 8 Dr Wilson had recently resigned alleging that he was being pressurised by the clergy to clear an admission in violation of norms. A joint statement issued at a press conference addressed by Dr Wilson and Bishop Karam Masih, chairman of the St Stephen’s governing body, said that there was no issue either administrative or financial and the Principal would continue on his post.
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Oil hike pushes vegetable, fruit prices up
Noida, September 8 This spurt in prices of items of daily use has been attributed to increased cost of transportation. The vegetables and fruits are the first to show significant price hike. The tempo and mini trucks transporting fruits and vegetables from Ghazipur and Delhi to Noida Mandi had charged hiked transport charges from the traders, Surajpal, a trader said. The prices of vegetables and fruits could further go up in the coming days, the traders warned. Another factor is that there is a decline in the quantity of vegetables and fruits landing in the Noida market. The ration prices will also show Rs 2 to Rs 4 increase when the next consignment is received in the market.
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Businessmen brothers shot dead
New Delhi, September 8 The brothers — Deepak and Dheeraj — had just sat down for lunch at their Kondli office under Kalyanpuri police station at about 3 p.m. when two masked men shot at them from close range and fled, police said. Both the brothers, who were cold drinks suppliers, were rushed to Lal Bahadur Shahtri Hospital where the elder one, 34-year-old Deepak, was declared brought dead. He had received bullets in his stomach. His younger brother Dheeraj (28), who had been shot at in the head, was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit where he later succumbed to his injuries. Eyewitnesses said on hearing the gun-shots, the servant chased the fleeing assailants who fired on him but he was saved. The brothers lived in
neighbouring Ghaziabad’s Vasundhara area, the police said.
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Property dealer shot dead in Vijay Nagar
Ghaziabad, September 8 The police said the murder was the result of an old enmity. Sunil Nagar was running a realtor’s company under the banner of Harsh Associates and he lived in the Bhim Nagar area of Vijay Nagar in the house of his paternal aunt. Three assailants had come to see Sunil Nagar at about 7 am and called him out. Before Sunil came out, the three rained bullets on him and fled from the scene. Sunil was hit by three bullets, one in the chest and two on the feet. Hearing the gunfire early in the morning, a large number of people rushed to his house. Sunil Nagar succumbed to his wounds on way to Yashoda Hospital, Ghaziabad.
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Two killed over land disputes
Ghaziabad, September 8 According to the police, those involved in the dispute were identified as Rafique, Farooque, Harun and Ishtiaque. The dispute was regarding the construction of a boundary wall around the MSC land in Nahal village. In the altercation between the two parties, a shopkeeper, Niaz (32), who had tried to intervene, was shot dead. According to the police, while Rafique and Farooque were fleeing from the scene, they stabbed Aas Mohd (13). He was rushed to the Hira Lal Hospital in a serious condition. The brother of the deceased, Piar Mohd, has filed a report against Rafique, Farooque, Zakir, Sabir and Naser. According to the police, the land dispute is already a subject of a court case. In the second incident in Nurpur village, a young man was also shot dead over a land dispute.
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SP not suspended or arrested: Govt
Noida, September 8 The government had only allowed his prosecution on charges of shielding an accused in the murder of four persons in Haryana a few years ago, Principal Secretary (Home) Alok Sinha told reporters here. Refuting media reports, he said the government had issued no such
orders. — TNS
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