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New pipes cost less, but DJB wants to repair them
Beleaguered CM meets Sonia
Rising crime worries Gurgaon residents
Man killed by wife, paramour
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Tainted Bhatti and wife back in fray
Youth buys Canadian dreams; gets poorer by Rs 1.50 lakh
Money misuse alleged at Ayurvedic Hospital
Harsh Vardhan seeks federal structure for CBI
Court rules against CBSE after 17-yr trial
Revenue collection goes up
Faridabad to get five new police stations
Arjun has high hopes for Gulistan-e-Urdu
18 injured in clash over plot
Computer institute gutted
New MCD chief to take charge on Nov 14
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New pipes cost less, but DJB wants to repair them
New Delhi, November 8 Highly placed sources said that the DJB had awarded the project worth more than Rs 35 crore to a private company to renovate less than 5 km-long 36-inch trunk pipeline. The trunk pipelines run between Pul Bangash and Idgah in Central Delhi and Mangolpuri to Sonia Chowk in West Delhi, connecting the Chandrawal and Hyderpur water treatment plants, respectively. A British technique called ‘spray epoxy resin and rapid setting polymeric lining system through trenchless technology’ was being used to provide protective covering to the pipes. The cost of laying a new pipeline of the same
size would cost almost 50 per cent cheaper, they alleged, saying that the 34 km-long trunk lines laid last year from the Sonia Vihar water treatment plant in east Delhi to various parts of
the city at a cost of Rs 111 crore. The pipelines were of three sizes – 1200 mm, 1500 mm and 1900 mm. “As per estimates, the cost of laying a 36-inch (1200 mm) pipeline at present is less than Rs 3.5 crore per km,” they claimed, whereas the ‘rejuvenation’ cost worked out to more than Rs 7 crore per km. Besides, the sources questioned, how much life could technology to the pipes that were already past their ‘ideal life span’ of 40 to 50 years. The renovation process uses a thick polymer lining, a technology being used for the first time in the country for plugging water leakages. The renovation contract was awarded in June this year but so far no work has started despite the fact that a hefty advance payment of Rs 3.5 crore was made in July. The DJB had undertaken the renovation project of major trunk pipelines on an urgent basis to check leakages, which were as high as 40 per cent, draining the board’s finances for years as well as depleting the regular supply of water to consumers. Most pipelines, laid as early as 1930, required major repair and renovation work. And this
particular project was undertaken as part of the DJB’s long-term plan to check leakages to ensure Delhiites get maximum water, officials said.
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Beleaguered CM meets Sonia
New Delhi, November 8 Sources said, “The Chief Minister had a long meeting with Ms Gandhi and political issues were discussed.” Ms Dikshit has been facing the wrath of the party ever since she walked out of a coordination committee meeting in a huff. Her detractors have always complained that she was not taking keen interest in partymen and due to that several problems had arisen between the party and the government. Later, a coordination committee was formed by the party high command to sort out various pressing issues between the party and the government. When the power hike issue surfaced, the Delhi Congress was quick to criticise her government for being anti-people. Again, when Ms Dikshit’s government was contemplating privatisation of water in the Capital, the DPCC stepped up the pressure against her government for falling into the hands of multinational companies. Two months ago, there were even rumours that Ms Dikshit would be accommodated in the central government and the party high command was considering some other leader for the top post in Delhi. However, Ms Dikshit has started keeping an equal balance between the party and the government and survived as Chief Minister. Sources also said Ms Dikshit had been facing intense problems, especially from president Ram Babu Sharma over various issues like power and water. During a press conference three days ago, Mr Sharma said he would maintain pressure on the Dikshit government and would not hesitate to confront it on civic issues.
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Rising crime worries Gurgaon residents
Gurgaon, November 8 This year there has been 25 per cent increase in heinous crimes with 60 murders, 28 attempts to murder and 28 cases of rape or attempt to rape in the district till date. It is a statement on the working of the police force that the residents of the city, particularly girls and women feel unsafe even in broad daylight. Recently, a tempo owner with a labourer in an inebriated condition kidnapped a 12-year-old girl from the highway in the afternoon while she was going along with her sister and father. After severely beating her, the culprits tried to rape her in a nearby field. A fortnight back, a murder and burglary took place in Palam Vihar. The police suspected a former domestic help at the house to have murdered the owner, a 55-year-old woman. The SSP said the police have rounded up twenty persons and questioned them. Even a team was sent to Orissa but the police are still clueless about the murder. The crime scenario is “shocking” in the jurisdiction of DLF police station. More than 720 incidents of crime, including murders, attempts to murder, rapes, robberies, burglaries and vehicle thefts have been recorded up to October 2005. There is an increase of criminal activities by more than 40 per cent in the area in comparison to last year, lamented Mr Manish Verma, a resident of DLF. A few days ago an unidentified assailants stabbed a father and daughter mercilessly in their house in DLF. The police has been unable to reach any conclusion and trace the culprits. In another daring incident of burglary, criminals broke into more than seven shops and decamped with goods worth lakhs of rupees in a shopping complex during the festive season. This complex is hardly twenty yards away from the official residence of the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). Other incidents which baffled the city during last three months include the murder of an IRS officer Mrs Shrabani Biswas in her house in DLF City, the kidnapping of an 11-year-old school child for ransom, the murder of a hotel owner by the adopted son (also a police officer) of a former DGP and the murder of a guard of an apparel exports company in Udyog Vihar. The “indifferent attitude” of the district police towards the criminals has made the city a haven for hard core criminals, opined Mr Arun Sharma, a senior advocate. A burning example of the nonchalant attitude of the police is of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP from Siwan in Bihar, Mr Shahabuddin, who was wanted in connection with more than 30 criminal cases, including murder, extortion and bank robbery, etc. Even as a nationwide alert had then been sounded for him, the Gurgaon police had been beating around the bush while he had been staying in his flat in Gurgaon. Meanwhile, the Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr Hanif Qureshi, said the district police has set up special telephone lines for senior citizens and women so that they can call for help in times of distress (2302100 and 2300100).
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Man killed by wife, paramour
Greater Noida, November 8 According to the police, as the deceased had become a hindrance in the illicit relations of his wife and her paramour, both of them had connived to murder him and his body had been thrown in the jungle. The police have recovered the victim’s wristwatch, a gold chain and the weapon used in the crime at the behest of the accused, who has been arrested. The woman is still absconding. The S.O. Rajeev Yadav of Surajpur police station said a skeleton was recovered from the jungles on October 4, 2005. A motorcycle was also found parked near the skeleton. The victim was identified as Subash Balmiki of village Lakhanawali. Subash had been missing from his house for 15 days before the recovering of the skeleton and the motorcycle. Investigation showed that Subash’s in-laws lived in Khurja. He and his wife often used to quarrel, as such she would remain at her parent’s house. The police also learnt that Subash’s wife had illicit relations with one Ashok in her parental village. Woman had been seen with Ashok, ever since Subash had gone missing from his house. After Subash’s body was recovered, Ashok had also absconded, the police said. Ashok, who was arrested from Ghaziabad on Saturday, confessed to having killed Subash. According to the murder plan, Ashok had taken Subash to Berahi fair grounds at the back of Surajpur police station. After making him drunk, Ashok had stabbed Subash and then dumped his body in the Surajpur jungle. The police had recovered the body 15 days after Subash had been murdered.
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Security measures at Tihar to be upgraded
New Delhi, November 8 At the inauguration of the new Jail No 9 today at Tihar Jail Complex, Director-General (Prisons) R. P. Singh said biometric and fingerprint identification would be among a host of hi-tech measures in place at the jail. The upgraded security measures would also include a new visitor management system to keep a better tab on the movements of the inmates. The Chief Minister, Ms Dikshit, while inaugurating the new jail, expressed hope that it would help prisoners reform themselves after completing their period of sentence. She also added that three new jails would be constructed soon in Delhi at Mandoli, Narela and Ghitorni. The new Jail No 9 would have the capacity to lodge 3600 prisoners. The function was attended by former Jail Minister H. S. Balli, the Principal Secretary, Home, Mr R. Narayanswamy, and senior officials of the jail. At present, there are eight central jails functional in the Tihar Jail complex and one district jail is functioning at Rohini. Prisoners are lodged in various jails as per their specific requirements. Keeping this in view, there are separate jails for undertrials, convicts and preventive arrest prisoners etc. Jail No 9 has been designed with modern architecture to provide optimum space for the safety, comfort and security of prisoners. The prisoners sent to jail by the Karkardooma Courts will be lodged in this jail. Besides, seven separate wards were constructed to accommodate the prisoners in such a manner that clear surveillance over their activities could be kept. The ‘Mulaqat Jungla’ is quite spacious so that prisoners and their visitors can have hassle-free meetings.
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Tainted Bhatti and wife back in fray
Greater Noida, November 8 It may be recalled that Sundar Bhatti, lodged in Bulandshahr jail and wanted in many heinous crimes such as murder and loot, and his wife Sunita Bhatti had been declared elected unopposed from ward No 66 and ward No 65 in the recent panchayat elections. But these elections were declared null and void as his supporters had allegedly terrorised the voters with the result that the district magistrate had cancelled the couple’s election to the area panchayat from Dankore block, on the basis of an enquiry report. Now Sunder Bhatti has again filed his papers for BDC on Monday. He had come out on parole to file his nomination papers and only one person is understood to have filed his nomination against the dreaded criminal. But he is a known Bhatti supporter. Thus, the Bhattis will have a cakewalk once again. On Monday afternoon, Sunder Bhatti had been brought from Bulandshahr jail to file the papers with heavy security arrangements. Shauken, son of Kishen, has filed nomination papers against him, but he is considered only a dummy candidate. Sunder’s wife Mrs Sunita Bhatti had also filed her nomination papers from Kulipura, but no other candidate is opposing her. Sunder Bhatti, by putting up a dummy candidate, seems to have scored over the administration, as his victory in the elections cannot be cancelled this time. The potential contenders have again decided not to confront Sunder Bhatti in the elections. Sunder Bhatti, wanted in a number of heinous crimes in Delhi and west UP districts, had remained under the care of a UP minister in Muzzafarnagar who had arranged for his surrender in Delhi a few months back.
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Youth buys Canadian dreams; gets poorer by Rs 1.50 lakh
Noida, November 8 The victim, a youth from Patna, had been going around police station for getting a complaint registered, which was done after three months with the help of some media persons and officials on Monday. The couple had their office at the back of a police post in Atta. According to information, Vipin Kumar was a jeweller from Patna who wanted to go to Canada as gold ornament designer. His application for a visa was rejected by the Canadian High Commission. A friend then referred him to Sanjay Singh and his wife Nisha who owned Travel Axe, a firm dealing with passports and visa. The couple took Rs 25,000 from Vipin Kumar for his medical examination, then Rs 30,000 for air tickets to Canada and after sometime took another Rs 30,000 from him for the same services. In between also, they had been pocketing money on one pretext or the other. He was given only a photocopy of the documents. When he did not get his promised visa even after shelling out a fortune, Vipin Kumar came down to Noida and found that Sanjay and his wife Nisha had fled away after closing shop. Vipin had paid the couple Rs 1.50 lakh till now. He informed the police post in charge of this fraud. Since then, a harassed Vipin has been going to police post and police station. On Monday, Vipin managed to file the complaint against the couple with the help of some journalists. SSP Piyush Mordia has decided to involve the SOG also to probe the chicanery and nail the couple.
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Money misuse alleged at Ayurvedic Hospital
New Delhi, November 8 Mr Arya alleged “mismanagement and serious irregularities have led to a decrease in the number of patients coming to Ayurvedic hospital”. He said the MCD was spending crores of rupees to provide free treatment to the citizens, but this money was being misused. In a letter to the Commissioner, he has sought an inquiry by the Vigilance Department. To support his claims, he said the doctors posted at the hospital were found absent from duty and the Medical Superintendent did not reside in the hospital complex. Referring to the mismanagement, he further said, “There is shortage of medicines and the X-ray machine has not been used for the past two years for want of films”. He said while the poor patients had to pay for X-rays from their pocket, the MCD was paying salaries to the X-ray operators for no work. Mr Arya further said a generator installed in the hospital was missing and there was no provision for electricity during power cuts. This was the state when money was being continuously withdrawn for purchasing diesel for the missing generator. The hospital, he alleged, had purchased an incinerator despite the fact that the waste generated here did not require incineration. And about 15,000 litres of crude oil purchased for running the incinerator was also unaccounted for.
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Harsh Vardhan seeks federal structure for CBI
New Delhi, November 8 Its structure should be federal and there should be no need for taking permission from the state governments for any inquiry by the CBI. He also suggested that the central government should enact a new law by amending the Constitution immediately so that the CBI may be able to unravel the truth in cases relating to sedition and national honour. In a statement issued today, Dr Vardhan said the way in which the Paul A. Volcker Committee report had indicted Mr Natwar Singh and 129 other companies of India for accepting brokerage in the oil-for-food programme, only an agency like the CBI could conduct an impartial and fair inquiry. If the Prime Minister wanted an impartial inquiry, he should immediately order for lodging a criminal case against Mr Natwar Singh, the Congress Party and the Indian companies named and hand over the inquiry of the cases to the CBI, he said. He said that the inquiry assigned to Justice R. S. Pathak was only for protecting the accused persons. The responsibility of collecting the evidence in this inquiry had been given to a bureaucrat who would obviously act at the behest of the government. He would try to protect the accused persons by showing incomplete documents. Dr Vardhan also demanded that the Prime Minister should order an inquiry into Humdan Exports belonging to Mr Natwar Singh’s son Jagat Singh and his friend Andaleeb Sehgal and all those 129 companies were involved in the oil-for-food programme by the Enforcement Directorate.
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Court rules against CBSE after 17-yr trial
New Delhi, November 8 “CBSE did nothing to put an end to the shock, humiliation and trauma suffered by the complainant by delaying the telling of his revised marks. It cannot escape its liability to pay damages for the agony and depression caused to him,” Additional District Judge G P Mittal said while fining CBSE Rs 10,000 for “negligence of duty”. Complainant Rajneesh Chandra Narang, presently a homeopathy practitioner and resident of Tagore Garden, had in the year 1988 appeared for his class 12 Board exams held by CBSE. When the results came out, he found that he had scored highly in all the papers except Physics (52 per cent), much against his expectations. He applied to the CBSE for re-totalling his Physics marks on May 23 the
same year, on the condition that the Board would inform him of the outcome within a period of 10 to 12 days. However, they got back to him only after 54 days (on July 18), spoiling the complainant’s chances to apply for professional courses. Furthermore, the re-totalled marks showed an error of 30 per cent in the earlier calculation and now stood at 82 per cent. The court also ordered CBSE to pay six per cent interest since September 1989 – date of institution of suit – while rejecting the complainant’s contention that the delay had hampered his choice of career and caused him a loss of one academic year. Taking up the case as an instance in which official apathy hampers the prospects of students, the Judge observed “students burn the midnight oil for several years to join prestigious institutions because ours is a country where too many are vying for a few seats”.
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Revenue collection goes up
New Delhi, November 8 He said the additional collection of Rs 993.52 crore was possible only because of implementation of the existing simplified procedure. There had been a cumulative increase of Rs 883 crore in VAT collection, Rs 61.26 crore in excise, Rs 2.34 crore in entertainment tax and Rs 46.92 crore in luxury tax up to October this year as compared to the figures of the corresponding period last year. The highest increase was in VAT, which was recorded 25 per cent higher than the previous figure. Dr Walia added that the cumulative receipt at the end of October 2005 was Rs 3717 crore as against Rs 2834 crore collected during the same period last year. Dr Walia further said the growth rate so far was the highest ever recorded. Dr Walia made it clear that up to October this year the collection in respect of excise went up from Rs 521.27 crore to Rs 582.53 crore, which is an increase of 11.7 per cent. As regards entertainment tax, the collection went up to Rs 24.71 crore from Rs 22.37 crore, registering an increase of Rs 2.34 crore, which is an increase of 10.46 per cent. Regarding luxury tax, the percentage increase was much higher than all other sectors. It went up from Rs 63.82 crore to Rs 110.74 crore, hence an increase of Rs 46.92 crore, which comes out to be 73.5 per cent increase. Dr Walia expressed confidence that the increased revenue would be utilised for development activities in Delhi and help in providing suitable infrastructure for Commonwealth Games 2010 in Delhi.
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Faridabad to get five new police stations
Faridabad, November 8 The IGP, who was meeting media persons here today, admitted that there had been certain lacunae in the police administration. He declared that special instructions have been issued to the police to register all complaints lodged by the people. However, it the police stations refuses to register any complaint, the citizens could lodge their complaints on emergency number 100. The Superintendent of Police would personally check all complaints lodged on emergency number 100 and would seek reports on them, Mr Mohinder Lal said. Admitting that the behavior of the police was not people-friendly, he said efforts were on to remove this problem. He pointed out that efforts are on to recruit people with good educational background. He said a comprehensive and long-term plan was required to make the police people-friendly. According to the IGP, the problem of lack of basic infrastructure, including the shortage of the police staff and equipment, were being tackled. He assured that the issue of corruption in the Police Department was being tackled effectively by making the working of the police more transparent. Mr Lal said measures would be taken to streamline the traffic movement in the city and check the problem of traffic jams and congestion on the highway and the main roads. At least five new police stations were being set up in the district, he said.
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Arjun has high hopes for Gulistan-e-Urdu
New Delhi, November 8 Hopeful that a network of such programmes would be beamed through EDUSAT for reaching the masses, he said this programme consisting of information, medicine, music and other education programmes would reach a large number of Urdu speaking people through the Gyan Darshan
channel. — TNS
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18 injured in clash over plot
Noida, November 8 Fateh Mohammed with his sons and some labourers had reached Kakrela village to construct a boundary wall on a plot. The villagers opposed this move to construct the wall around the plot. According to villagers, Fateh Mohd and several armed goons who had come with lathis and clubs started beating up the villagers with lathis and also fired shots. They had pelted the villagers with stones. Some women and children were also allegedly beaten after the Fateh Mohd’s men barged into their houses. The villagers also retaliated and threw stones.
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Computer institute gutted
New Delhi, November 8 Meanwhile, police sources said the institute had not been fitted with fire control devices, which were a must in any institution.
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New MCD chief to take charge on Nov 14
New Delhi, November 8 Mr Kumar, a 1974 batch IAS officer, is currently serving as Arunachal Pradesh Chief Secretary, official sources said. He would join duty on November 14 when current MCD Commissioner Rakesh Mehta hands over charge.
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