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Dengue cases show 62 pc rise
SC flays govt for commercialisation of residential areas
CVC recommends transfer, but officials stay put
Govt pulled up for dismal conditions in schools
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‘Education Bill must protect rights of 10 cr child labourers’
2500 illegal houses built in Gr Noida in four months
RWA gets control of Ivory Tower
Trade Fair, a gateway to Indian culture
Relics of Guru Gobind Singh on display
Man gets 5-year RI for fatal assault on friend
Passengers looted, assaulted in moving train
25 industries’ standard to be raised
GDA to recover Rs 1.75 cr as penalty from builders
Freak child being worshipped as Devi Ma
MCD school watchman sacked in molestation case
Boy’s death sparks traffic jam
Intern alleges abuse by senior doctor
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Dengue cases show 62 pc rise
Faridabad, November 17 According to the official figures compiled by the authorities concerned, a total of 34 positive cases of dengue and the 242 cases of malaria have been detected in this period, while only 21 cases of dengue and 158 cases of malaria had been registered by the department last year which was certainly lower. Though the highest number of dengue cases had been reported in 2001 in the past five year, the maximum number of malaria cases had surfaced in 2003 when the dengue cases had been around 32. The year 2002 was the only one when not even a single case of dengue had been registered in the official books. But with over a month to go for this year the figure could rise sharply, given the prevailing conditions, which suggest that the occurrence of the disease had been more common this year. As no official figure or statement has come out on the deaths caused by dengue in the city and the district, it is reported that some persons have already fallen victim to it, though there had been
no official confirmation. According to unofficial figures, the number of positive cases of dengue and malaria could be much more as a large number of patients report at private hospitals and clinics. Such figures normally go unnoticed, though the Health Department had recently appealed to private practitioners to report such cases to the office of the CMO here. Incidentally, several cases of dengue have been reported from areas which had a rather clean surrounding and no accumulation of water in open pits. A resident of Sector 8 here who had recently undergone treatment for dengue at a private hospital said that he had no knowledge of how he got affected by it but had to be hospitalised for about six days. The Health Department claims that a campaign had been on. This included fogging in the slums and densely populated areas, larvicide measures in fresh and polluted water, checking and surveillance by the health workers in risk areas and creation of mass awareness on the issue. It is stated that since approximately two lakh persons travel daily to Delhi and back infection was highly possible as a large number of cases of dengue have been reported in the national Capital so far. Moreover, Faridabad has at least 67 slum colonies with no civic amenities and the scarcity of water forces people to store water, which had been a major source of the mosquito causing dengue or malaria. Over six lakh persons reside in such areas, it is added.
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SC
flays govt for commercialisation
of residential areas
New Delhi, November 17 Stating that the law has to be enforced strictly to remove all commercial ventures from the residential areas, a Bench of Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal, Mr Justice B N Srikrishna and Mr Justice R V Raveendran directed MCD counsel Ashwani Kumar to clearly indicate the names of each ward in those zones where commercialisation was “glaring and blatant” to ensure that those areas were taken up first. As the Bench bombarded the MCD counsel with queries why the civic body was finding itself handicapped in implementing the law and take action against its officials conniving with violator businessmen, When the MCD counsel pointed out that a survey was being conducted by the corporation to identify properties in residential area put to commercial use, the Bench said, “You can carry on the survey but we would like to see action on the ground. It does not require more than three days to complete the survey as MCD has all the records of each and every property with it.” The anguished court reminded that it had issued orders to remove commercial ventures eight years ago and the Delhi High Court had passed similar directions 10 years ago, but the authorities were still not able to come up with any solution. The court was hearing a pending PIL of environmentalist lawyer M C Mehta, seeking removal of all commercial ventures from the residential areas. Making it clear to both the Delhi Government and the MCD that the court was dutybound to implement the law when the matter was brought before it, the Bench asked the corporation to put all the violators on notice and give wide publicity to it through media. It disapproved the tendency among authorities at the courts for direction in all such cases, saying “if there is intention to really take action, then why courts’ direction is required at all. It is the duty of the authorities to enforce the law and implement the court orders in this regard.” When asked by the court as what action the MCD plans, Ashwani Kumar said a four-point strategy has been chalked out according to which survey would be conducted in all 12 zones, notices to be issued to those found guilty, giving opportunity to them to be heard and initiating action for removal in the first phase in those areas where violation was found glaring. He also sought a direction to the Delhi Police Commissioner to make force available to the civic body to assist it in removing the illegal ventures. The court was not satisfied by the manner in which inquiries were conducted by the MCD against its officials found conniving with the violators. “Such glaring violations are taking place under the nose of zonal commissioners and police officers. It is a clear case of lack of will. Name a person you have sent to jail for such violations,” it asked. The court said that even when any official was found conniving with the violators, he was not put under suspension during the departmental inquiry. In many cases, such officials had been granted promotion when inquiry was still on. The court indicated that it would not permit more than one month’s time to the MCD to complete the process of issuing notices to violators, seeking their replies and removing the commercial ventures when the MCD counsel and the Delhi Government submitted that at least six months’ time should be given to them.
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CVC recommends transfer, but officials stay put
New Delhi, November 17 Senior officers of the MCD, when contacted, refused to comment on the issue which is considered an open defiance of the commission. However, Dr Madhu Jain, Director Administration (Hospitals), said that the matter was still being investigated. She added it was premature to comment at this stage. The CVC in its letter issued on February 22, 2005, advised initiation of major penalty proceedings against various officials of the MCD. The letter said that the CBI apart from recommending action against the MCD officials had also recommended banning of the business with the M/s AIMIL Pharmaceuticals. Moreover, considering the seriousness of the case, “It is desirable that all the officials involved in this case are transferred to a non-sensitive post,” the CVC had suggested. Addressing the Chief Vigilance Officer of MCD, the CVC ordered it to look into the matter personally and ensure compliance of the commission’s advice without delay. This case was raised again by one Vivek Anand who had complained to the Lt-Governor that this was a case of excess purchase of Ayurvedic medicines of the allotted budget by RMS Haiderpur hospital under control of Indian System of Medicines, health department, MCD in 1997-98 as referred to the CBI for inquiry. In its report, the CBI had recommended major penalty against Dr Ved Parkash Kannoji, DHO (ISM), Jai Raj Singh Sagar, the then RMS Ayurvedic Hospitals Haiderpur, G.K. Malik, the then AO, H and P, V.K. Sachdeva, UDC, Surender Singh, UDC, and Jai Parkash Pharmacist. They were all posted in Ayurvedic Hospital in Haiderpur. All the officials were later suspended for about two and a half years. Chargesheet was served to VK Sachdeva, Surender Singh and Parkash whereas no chargesheet has been served till date to Dr Ved Parkash Kannoji, Jai Raj Singh Sagar and GK Malik. In the light of the recommendations of the CBI, the case was put before the Appointment, Promotion, Disciplinary and Allied Matter Committee for approval to initiate action against the erring employees, but nothing had been done on banning the business with the pharmaceutical company. Subsequently, the appointment, promotion, disciplinary and allied matters committee did not approve the recommendation of the CBI in the matter and charges were dropped against all the municipal officers. Later, the House meeting of the MCD had endorsed the decision of dropping the charges against the employees. The report was sent to the CVC, but it did not agree with the dropping of charges against the erring employees and advised that the case may be re-examined. The case was re-examined, but the committee and the House again reiterated its earlier decision. Meanwhile, the CVC advised the transfer of the employees and not to post them to sensitive posts. The then Municipal Commissioner, Mr Rakesh Mehta, transferred all the officials but these transfers were never implemented. As the case was against the direction of the CVC, the Commissioner referred the case to the Lt-Governor for advice who had endorsed the decision of the CVC and recommended stern action against the employees and banned the business with the company. However, seven years have passed but nothing has been done so far. The letter said that instead of banning the business with the AIMIL, the ISM is getting supply orders of more than 70 per cent of the total requirement of Ayurvedic proprietary medicines and that without participating in a tender procedure. The letter said that in the current financial year, the firm might get order of more than Rs 1,600 lakh out of total budget of Rs 2,000 lakh. Chairman of the Appointment, Promotion, Disciplinary and Allied Matters Committee, Mr Brij Mohan Sharma said, “We basically deal with the cases of Deputy Commissioners and other senior officers. The case of these officials is dealt with by the Municipal Commissioner who has power to transfer an official. He can also withdraw the transfer order.”
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TRIBUNE IMPACT Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 17 The Tribune had brought to fore the deteriorating condition of the state-run schools, which fail to provide basic amenities like water and electricity to students. Shortage of teachers, unsafe buildings, poor infrastructure and inferior teaching in these schools had also been reported by the paper. Justice Vijendra Jain and Justice Rekha Sharma criticising the authorities for their lackadaisical approach, asked the MCD Commissioner, the Additional Commissioners, Education and Engineering (MCD) and the Director of Education, Government of NCT of Delhi, to be present in court on the next date of hearing on January 4, 2006. The court has asked the respondents to submit a status report before January 4. The affidavits filed by the respondents pertaining to the facilities being provided in some schools, were described as misleading by the petitioner, Advocate Ashok Agarwal of the Social Jurists who has filed a PIL to bring to notice the failure of the state to secure the right to education of over 21 lakh students studying in the government-run schools. “The MCD officials tried telling the court that they have not provided electricity in the MCD school in Bakarwala because it is not an electrified zone, whereas the truth is that the area was given electricity connections almost two years ago. We informed the bench that the affidavits being presented are false,” said Mr Agarwal. Pulling up the respondents, the court said that if the authorities concerned fail to provide the basic amenities and quality education to students, they should stop running these schools.
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‘Education Bill must protect rights of 10 cr child labourers’
New Delhi, November 17 The “Lawyers’ Meet on Right to Education Bill 2005” organised by Social Jurist, a civil rights group, aimed at formulating a plan of action to bring the desired modifications in the provisions of the draft Bill. Convenor of the Social Jurists, Advocate Ashok Agarwal said of the total schools in the country, only 12 per cent are private schools, of which only 7 per cent are unaided schools and the condition of most of the aided and state-run schools is deteriorating. Highlighting the shortcomings in the proposed draft, he said, “Capitation fee as defined in Section 2(e) and when read with Section 15 legalises the fee instead of abolishing it. There are no criteria in the Bill for determining the method of fee structure nor regulations have been made to check the arbitrary and unjustified fee structure of private schools.” He went on to add, “The draft seems to be totally unfriendly towards the differently abled children. Persons with Disability Act, 1995, has a chapter on Education, but ironically, the Bill for education has no chapter for disability neither does it mention any provisions for differently abled children.” The Draft denies the right to admission to child in neighbourhood school if parent/guardian fails to bring residential proof. This implies that a destitute child who cannot procure the proof will be always out of school and similar will be the case with several migratory labour children, Mr Agarwal pointed out. Further, he pointed out that the Bill does not recognise the need for preschool education. In fact ‘child’ is not recognised as ‘child’ if he/she is below 6 years of age. Chairing the meeting, Prof. Abu Baker Chairman, Delhi Minority Commission, stressed that the political system should progress towards the formation of ‘Federal State’ system where the self-governing regions are united by a central government. This system, according to Prof. Baker, is more relevant in education as education is a subject whose transaction is locality-specific, hence, it can be best looked after by that particular State. The last tier of the Federation, i.e. Panchayati Raj should be given significant powers to implement the education effectively, keeping in mind the needs of the locality, he said. Prof. Baker emphasised that Part III of the Indian Constitution consists of Articles 12 - 35 on Fundamental Rights, and there is no Central Act on any of these rights so far. Therefore, if an Act has to be prepared for the Right to Education, then the Centre should only prepare a model Free and Compulsory Education Act and based on the guidelines of this model Act, States can prepare their own legislation, keeping in mind their objectives and needs. Since Education is a Concurrent subject, therefore, States should have an equitable share in the money distribution with the Centre. Mr Anand Sarup, former Education Secretary and Chairman, Task Force for improvement in the System of Education, maintained that the Bill will not be presented in Parliament as neither the Centre nor State will be willing to share the financial responsibility for its enactment. Prof. Babu Mathew, Country Director, Actionaid India, said Article 21 A was brought in haste by the Government to prevent gathering of strong public opinion against child labour. Though India has the largest number of government schools, the network of these schools fails to work. Even the three per cent GDP sanctioned for the Education is not utilised fully, he said.
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2500 illegal houses built in Gr Noida in four months
Greater Noida, November 17 On Monday night, some mischievous people had put up Ambedkar’s statue on a two- acre piece of land, which the
police had to remove by arresting three persons, who were later set free. Some mischievous people have been selling land at a rate of Rs 4,000 to Rs. 6,000 per sq mt in the newly announced colonies on Mohinder Singh Bhatti Marg behind Mohan palace cinema. Large-scale illegal construction activity is going on in various villages in Surajpur and plots are being sold by earmarking new colonies. In Surajpur alone, 1500 illegal houses are known to have been built by the land mafia. The Greater Noida Authority has issued notices to 150 persons and registered cases against 88 persons. But the police have not taken any action against these 88 persons. According to reports, the maximum number of illegal colonies and houses have come up in the Surajpur area. Reports against some of these people had been filed in the police stations, but the land mafia has a strong nexus with the police. According to another report, plots on the Noida-Dadri road near Laxmi petrol pump are being sold at a rate from Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 per square metre by the land mafia. In Deula village, a politician is alleged to have constructed a school on a three- acre prime location land. According to Greater Noida officials, a very important 130-metre road is to come up on the land on which the school building has been built. On the banks of the Hindon river in Kulasara village up to Lackhanawali, a colony has been made on which some 1500 persons have already constructed their houses. A year ago, a demolition squad under the Deputy CEO of GNIDA, Capt S. K. Diwedi, had razed all these houses on the riverbank but after Captain Santosh Kumar Diwedi’s transfer from the GNIDA new houses have again come up on that land. In Sudhinjawa village the land mafia has usurped Gram Samaj land along with Greater Noida Authority’s acquired land also. Plots at the rate of Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 per square metre are being sold here. Zila Panchayat member Ravinder Bhatti, Kisan Morcha leader Teja Gujjar of the BJP and Kisan Vikas Parishad Secretary Surinder Bhatti have all expressed anguish at the GNIDA’s double standards. Agricultural land of farmers is being acquired in Saini, Kheda Choganpur, Sakepur, Jailpur, Vaisspur villages etc. The land mafia is playing havoc with the Gram Samaj and public land which they acquire at cheap rates and sell plots for colonies near the villages to the people illegally and at much higher rates.
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RWA gets control of Ivory Tower
Gurgaon, November 17 As per the norms, the builders are in charge of the operation and maintenance of the colonies, condominiums etc set up by them for some period after buyers have been handed over the possession. They are handed to the Residents’ Welfare Associations concerned along with other facilities in them after the stipulated period. In effect, after handing over charge to the RWA, the builder would not be accountable to the residents for maintenance and operation of facilities and related issues in the colonies. According to the president of the Ivory Tower Residents’ Welfare Association, Mr B. K. Dutta, Unitech Ltd handed over operation and maintenance even though the same was to be done at the end of this year. The facilities have been handed over in satisfactory condition, which is most important, he added. Mr Gautam Dey, Head of the Facilities Management of Unitech Ltd, said his firm had not only handed over Ivory Tower to the Residents’ Welfare Association, but also spared its personnel to assist the residents in maintaining the facilities. Unitech did not believe in simple “seller-customer” kind of relationship. Although there is an established rule for handing over the operation and maintenance of the premises, the builders in Gurgaon hardly stick to it. They observe the rule more in breach. Consequently, there is large-scale resentment among residents in a majority of the private colonies and condominiums in Gurgaon. According to many, this development is an ominous sign as Gurgaon city as a whole is getting more and more defined by the private builders on account of their larger than life presence. The reason why private builders keep delaying handing over the facilities along with the colonies and other residential structures is not far to seek. Generally, they convert lands earmarked for setting up public utilities like parks, clubs, schools in colonies into plots and sell them at a huge profit. As in-charge of operation and maintenance, they muzzle the dissenting voices among the residents. In case the operation and maintenance is handed over to the Residents’ Welfare Associations, they will be deprived of illegal profits. The sad tale of development is that the government, which gives licence to the builders to set up colonies and other kinds of residential structures for community living with certain conditions, looks the other way when the rules are flouted. Consequently, the builders not only do not hand over the facilities to the residents but also provide shabby services. However, with Unitech Ltd showing the way residents of other private colonies are feeling encouraged. They now want to intensify their campaign against other builders to behave in the same way.
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Trade Fair, a gateway to Indian culture
New Delhi, November 17 Amidst the well-dispersed spread of products, the ambience of the state pavilions reflects India in its true hues. Through the exclusive display of handicrafts, cloth items, music and food stalls, these pavilions contribute in promoting national integration. From Delhi’s Parliament House to Gujarat’s Akshardham, to Orissa’s Sun Temple, the pavilions resemble all major monuments of the nation. This simply accentuates the unity-in-diversity feature of India. “I am really fortunate that I came to Delhi at this time of the year. One can see the whole of India here in this fair at one go. Indian food, Indian costumes, Indian diversity in culture—everything is visible in these pavilions,,” said a tourist from London. While Rajasthan pavilion, through an extensive display of Bandhanis and ethnic jewellry, brings out the bright colours of its culture, the Chattisgarh pavilion claims itself to be emerging as an eco-friendly tourist destination. The Punjab state pavilion displays models of its major power plants and the UP pavilion highlights its major cottage industry products like Banarsi silk saris, pottery and brass gallery. While the alluring paintings of Raja Ravi Varma displayed in the Kerela pavilion entice art lovers, exclusive display of Bengali literature on the other hand, is a source of attraction for many others. Delhi state pavilion highlights the graphic details of Rajiv Gandhi Housing schemes and information about the industrial areas of Narela and Buana. Pamphlets to spread awareness about dengue and malaria are also being distributed here. On the other side, jute products and Tanjore paintings attract a large number of tourists to West Bengal and Tamil Nadu pavilions respectively. Apart from all this, these pavilions are also decorated in a traditional manner. People inside are also seen dressed up in ethnic attires, which reflect the lifestyle of their respective territories. Women in Bengal pavilion dressed up in white saris give a Bengali feel while the South cotton and Kanjivaram saris introduce us to South India. Music and folk dance performances made by the local artists from various states also add on to the enthusiasm. While the artists from east Godavari region perform ‘Garagalu’ and ‘Kummukoya’, dancers from Assam make lovely Bihu performances. Traditional art forms like ‘ghoda’ and puppet shows, indigenous to Rajasthan, also increase the fun. The mega-event also proves to be a great treat for food lovers.
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Relics of Guru Gobind Singh on display
New Delhi, November 17 The exhibition, organised by the Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), has been attracting thousands of devotees to have ‘darshan’ of these relics. Besides its collection, INTACH has also put on display the relics conserved by the devotees and private collections which will be returned to the owners at the conclusion of the exhibition on November 29. Some of the relics conserved by the INTACH included the ‘dastar’ (turban) of Guru Gobind Singh. During the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa Panth in 1999, INTACH took up the task of locating, cataloguing and photographing the relics connected with Sikh Gurus, Maharaja Ranjit Singh and other historical personalities. These relics have been in the private collections of various families who have religiously guarded and preserved these for generations.
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Man gets 5-year RI for fatal assault on friend
New Delhi, November 17 The court also imposed a fine of Rs 2,000 on the convict, default of which would invite further imprisonment of three months. According to the complaint filed on September 22, 2004, Rameshwar and the deceased Ishwar Singh had attended a function on the same night in a common friend’s house where the incident occurred following an angry exchange of words between the two. Though describing the crime as ‘serious and grave’, the court, on
perusal of evidence, observed that the “incident had taken place unexpectedly and the accused had no intention to kill the deceased”.
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Passengers looted, assaulted in moving train
Noida, November 17 The criminals are reported to have broken the mineral water bottles and used them as a weapon of assault. The passengers, who tried to oppose them, were beaten up squarely. The criminals were seen jumping off the train in Roopwas village in Dadri. They had climbed into the compartment near Ghaziabad station when the train slowed down. The train was allowed to proceed after the police searched the train at Dadri station. The bandits snatched jewellery from the women passengers and took away whatever cash they were carrying. According to reports, the criminals looted Rs 3,000 from Ram Prasad, Rs 10,000 from Ram Sanehi, Rs 4000 from Sudesh, Rs 7000 from Brijender and gold jewellery, wrist watches from other passengers. The train driver reported the matter at the Dadri station. The driver also informed the GRP, who in turn alerted the Noida and the Ghaziabad police. At Dadri station, the police allowed the train to proceed when they found that the criminals had jumped off the moving train. Incidently, there were only two constables for the security of the whole train. The people said that the criminal elements here have fine-tuned a methodology of looting passengers in running trains and jumping off from the moving train. However, the police have failed to tackle this problem.
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25 industries’ standard to be raised
Faridabad, November 17 According to Mr Andleeb Jain of the CII, a target had been fixed to raise the
standard of about 25 industries here to international level in the next five years. Claiming that the industry would have to adjust itself to the changing environment and international business scenario, he said, failure on this front had been mainly responsible for the closure of many units in Faridabad in the past few decades. Consumer satisfaction, competitiveness, higher productivity, continuous improvement and a learning aptitude were part of the basic mantras of
success in this field. According to Mr Rajiv Chawla, president of the FSIA, industries would be imparted training and upgraded in various aspects, which included management, production, quality control, financial management, human resources, and world class shop floor practices. Energy, quality and cost management would be three key components which he said could make a huge difference in the
performance and the standards of any industrial unit. Claiming that the experiment had been a success in Mohali and Gurgaon,
he said such a move was most awaited and could open a new chapter in the industrial development here.
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GDA to recover Rs 1.75 cr as penalty from builders
Ghaziabad, November 17 According to the Chief Engineer Division-II, the GDA is issuing notices to 20 big builders of Indirapuram for recovery of Rs 1.75 crore from them. This action is being taken after conducting an inquiry, the GDA Secretary, Mr Devi Shankar Sharma, said. While sanctioning the architectural plans of their buildings, builders are specifically asked where the building material will be stored by them during the construction stage. The builders are also required to give an undertaking that the building material in no case shall be kept on public land or roads and will be kept on the plots only. Should they violate their own oaths, builders have to pay a penalty. When material is stored on roads, the construction labour, it has been observed, put up their juggis also on the roads. This affects the flow of traffic, especially heavy-duty vehicles.
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Freak child being worshipped as Devi Ma
Noida, November 17 She is the second child of Ranvir Singh and Radha. Her two small undeveloped hands and arms are joined on her stomach. Her legs are also joined to her lower stomach. It appears two separate bodies were developing, but one could not develop beyond hands, legs and a small portion of abdomen. These are joined to the stomach of the developed child. The couple does not want to take the child to doctors for treatment or surgery as they fear she may not survive surgery. Since word has spread in the area, people from distant villages are also trooping in with pooja ingredients. The members of the family are also not averse to all this as they too feel a Devi Ma has been born in their family.
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MCD school watchman sacked in molestation case
New Delhi, November 17
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Boy’s death sparks traffic jam
Ghaziabad, November 17 He died on the spot. Subsequently, the protest by an irate mob led to a traffic jam on the NH 24. There was a lot of tension in the area for about 4 hours.
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Intern alleges sodomy
New Delhi, November 17
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