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Demolition drive: MCD continues to go slow
Khurana for implementing Malhotra |
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Owner of flat bought in violation can’t insist on notice: HC
Projects to be re-examined by Huda
Lid off land scam worth Rs 700 cr in Greater Noida
Ex-Registrar moves HC for bail in CGHS scam case
DCW seeks probe into gang rape on train
Woman cheated of jewellery by ‘tantriks’
A visit to Mehrauli Archaeological Park is a lesson in history
Proposal to set up three new police stations
A child dressed as Santa Claus participates in a Christmas procession in the Capital on Friday.
— Tribune photo by Mukesh Aggarwal
Man gets 10-yr jail term for trafficking
in hashish
Lions Club to organise programme for adolescents
Yoga useful in even curing cancer: Swami Ramdev
BSES to keep offices open on Dec 25, Jan 1
Farmers looted by armed bandits, police clueless
Morning fog disrupts movement
Drive against unauthorised refilling of gas cylinders
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Demolition drive: MCD continues to go slow
New Delhi, December 23 MCD officials demolished, either partly or fully, 34 unauthorised structures and sealed five in nearly 20 areas in all the 12 zones of the capital as part of its drive to remove over 18,000 illegal constructions on the orders of the High Court. “We have fully demolished two commercial properties and pulled down unauthorised extensions of 12 houses and 20 commercial establishments in all the 12 zones. We have also sealed four commercial properties and sealed one residential property,” an MCD spokesman said. The civic body has so far taken action against nearly 250 illegal constructions since its demolition drive began last Saturday, triggering wide-spread condemnation by politicians cutting across party lines. Six illegal structures, most of them residential properties, were demolished in Roop Nagar, G T Karnal Road, Jain Colony, Veer Nagar, Mukherjee Nagar and Samay Puri road in Civil Line Zone while two on-going constructions were pulled down in Pitampura area of Rohini. Five properties, both commercial and residential, were demolished in Chattarpur Extension and Malviya Nagar areas of South Zone while five buildings under construction were pulled down in Tagore Garden and Kirti Nagar localities of West Zone. In Narela, illegal extensions in four units of DSIDC in Bhawana industrial area were pulled down while four commercial units were demolished in Dilshad Garden area of Shahdara South. MCD officials said the clean-up drive will continue tomorrow in several parts of the national capital as planned. Meanwhile, MCD Commissioner A K Nigam, facing a breach of privilege motion in Delhi Assembly over the drive submitted his explanation to Speaker Chaudhary Prem Singh in which he is understood to have cited his compulsions in view of the High Court order. Singh had yesterday asked Nigam to reply within 24 hours to a breach of privilege motion moved in the House by a Congress MLA over why illegal structures were still being demolished in the city despite a resolution passed by the Assembly that the demolition drive should stop immediately. The Speaker, however, refused to divulge the contents of the response given by the Municipal Commissioner. After receiving the response, Mr Singh told the Assembly, “A reply has been received and I would have to examine it before deciding what was to be done further”. On December 20, the Delhi Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution to stop the MCD demolition drive against unauthorised constructions in the city and regularisation of such structures. Mr Singh also turned down Mr Sharma’s request for a copy of Mr Nigam’s reply, saying that he would take any decision only after examining the response. Earlier today, of the two remaining BJP MLAs in the House, Dr Harsh Vardhan was also expelled after he raised the demolition issue. Later, 15 BJP MLAs courted arrest after they were ‘removed’ by the police for demonstrating in the Assembly complex. Terming their ouster from the House as ‘murder of democracy’, Leader of Opposition Jagdish Mukhi stated that the BJP wanted to raise many important problems affecting the people of Delhi and the state government had them ‘removed’ shying away from a debate on them. The opposition MLAs also wrote and met the Speaker over their ouster but they were told that the decision was taken in accordance with the majority opinion. The Congress was “brutalising” its majority in the Assembly, Dr Mukhi added. Yesterday, state Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely had moved a motion to expel the opposition members. As many as 18 out of 20 BJP members present in the House were expelled for the rest of the session that ended today. The five-day session was dominated by the demolition issue. One full day was devoted on a discussion on the vexed problem while one day was lost to it and proceedings were partly disturbed on another. The first day had been adjourned after passing obituary references. Business could be properly conducted only on the last day today but without the opposition present in House.
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Khurana for implementing Malhotra panel report
New Delhi, December 23 When the BJP was in power in Delhi as well as at the Centre, it had given a thought to the problems of Delhiites. Keeping this in view, the V.K. Malhotra committee was constituted which included Congress leaders also. The committee made a thorough study of the problem and prepared a report recommending mixed land use, construction of additional floor and general amnesty for other violations. Addressing a press conference, Mr Khurana said when the Malhotra Committee report was presented before Parliament during the NDA rule, Chief Minster of Delhi Sheila Dikshit also supported its recommendations. Now the Congress party was at the helm of affairs at the Centre as well as in the state. It should get implemented the report to stop demolition of
unauthorised constructions in the national Capital. Demolition was not justifiable. It was a punishment for the owners of the buildings. The MCD was preparing a list of officers in whose presence the buildings were constructed. Instead of taking action against the officers, the government should prepare a list of builders who were basically responsible for the construction of illegal buildings, Mr Khurana said. He said that illegal construction could never be controlled in the national Capital until full statehood was granted. At present, land and building and police were under the direct control of the central government. In such a situation, it was the central government’s responsibility to check unauthorised constructions. Mr Khurana said BJP workers would demonstrate against the demolition drive of the corporation in Rajouri Garden and court arrest. Leader of Opposition in the MCD Subhash Arya said that construction of additional floors was a necessity of the citizens as the DDA failed to provide houses to Delhiites. The Delhi Government should put these facts before the court.
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Owner of flat bought in violation can’t
New Delhi, December 23 While dismissing a writ petition filed by an apartment owner to stall the move of the Land and Development authorities to demolish an illegal portion, Mr Justice Vikramjit Sen asserted “those who have decided to ignore the law can scarcely be heard to claim that natural justice has been violated” by the authorities. The observation followed senior counsel H. L. Tikku’s submission on behalf of the petitioner that “principles of natural justice” were not observed by the authorities who wanted to demolish the illegal apartment. Petitioner Nusrat Afrozi had moved the court seeking to restrain the Land and Development authorities from demolishing her unauthorised apartment in the fourth floor on the plea that she was not served with any notice by authorities. According to the Land and Development authorities, the apartment was constructed by the builder on the fourth floor though there was permission for only two floors. Counsel for Land and Development Kailash Gambhir argued that efforts to demolish illegal construction would be completely thwarted if the authorities were to be expected to give notices to each and every occupant of such properties. He pleaded that the ramification of any direction to the Land and Development to serve a show-cause notice to every occupant of such unauthorised property was fraught with such difficulties that it would be virtually impossible for the authority to carry out its statutory duties.
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Projects to be re-examined by Huda
Gurgaon, December 23 Huda had collected more than Rs 1,600 crore from the private developers as EDC since 1982 for developing various external facilities such as roads, water, sewerage, electricity and other facilities in and around the private colonies. Addressing the press conference, the Huda administrator, Mr S P Gupta, said that Huda had spent hardly 40 per cent amount for developing the facilities till today whereas more than Rs 900 crore was still left unused with the department. He added that more than Rs 450 crore had already been sanctioned for various projects in the city. These projects of roads, water supply, sewerage system, storm drainage, fire fighting, community buildings, master street light and horticulture involving Rs 450 crores would be completed within three years, revealed Mr Gupta. The new SE, Mr S K Kharab, has come from the National Building Construction Cooperation on deputation to the Huda department to supervise the new big projects to develop the city keeping in mind the future growth of the areas, said the HUDA administrator. The officer added that a proposal for appointing another Estate Officer (EO) has also been sent to the Huda’s head office as the incumbent is burdened with heavy work. The Huda administrator, Mr S P Gupta, added that more than 640 cases of completion of building plan are pending at the head office level as the occupants had violated the rules. Huda has also suggested to the head office to rotate the file of change of land use (CLU) through the local office of Huda for better development of the city, said Mr Gupta. He revealed that the Master Plan 2021 of the city is still pending in Chandigarh and the Chief Minister, Mr Bupinder Singh Hooda, was taking pains to look after every issue of the city.
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Lid off land scam worth Rs 700 cr in Greater Noida
Greater Noida, December 23 The district administration is understood to have initiated investigations in this scam. According to District Magistrate Santosh Yadav, action will be taken soon in the matter on completion of the investigations. SDM Sadar, Satya Prakash Patel has been entrusted with the enquiry. According to information, more than two dozen individuals with the connivance of government officials and employees had tampered with the records and got the land transferred to their names. This land was registered as gram samaj land in revenue records till 1967. This 650-bigha land is spread in 45 villages in Surajpur which is estimated to be worth Rs 700 crore in the market. It includes the land under Khata nos 19, 16, 121, 142, 178, 189 etc. According to District Magistrate Santosh Kumar Yadav, the investigation of whole fraud is proceeding and all those found guilty will be awarded exemplary punishment. The DM has expressed fears that the new illegal colonies would be part of this land. But one thing is clear, strict action will be taken against those who are pronounced guilty in the investigations. The names of about two dozen persons, who got this land transferred to their names, could not be traced from the revenue records available at the time of fraud. Most of the records in Secunderabad Tehsil will be brought here for completing the investigations.
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Ex-Registrar moves HC for bail in CGHS scam case
New Delhi, December 23 Vacation Judge Justice Gita Mittal before whom the petition was moved, however, did not pass any order but instead posted the matter for further hearing by a regular judge on January 3, 2006. Besides seeking an anticipatory bail, Diwakar also urged the court to quash the FIR registered by the CBI on the ground that he was totally innocent in the entire controversy. In his petition, Diwakar claimed that as RCS, he enjoyed quasi-judicial powers and acted with due diligence while according permission for the revival of the societies. Diwakar argued that if the mafia elements and vested interests had connived in their own way to capture the defunct societies he cannot be faulted for the same. The former RCS complained that the CBI authorities were bent upon implicating him in the case despite his best efforts to cooperate with the investigating agency in unravelling the truth. According to Diwakar, after the High Court ordered a CBI inquiry, he had presented himself before the investigating agency on 14 occasions for questioning. The former RCS claimed that during all those occasions he explained to the CBI officials the various provisions of the Delhi Cooperative Societies Act (DCS). Diwakar alleged that despite his best efforts, the CBI officials were neither able to understand the intricacies of the DCS Act nor willing to listen to his side of the story. “The only question they keep asking me is how much money you took,” he complained in the petition.
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DCW seeks probe into gang rape on train
New Delhi, December 23 “According to media reports, there were two armed guards on the train when there should have been at least five guards. If such is the case, then it needs to be immediately checked and necessary amendments should be made,” the DCW Chairperson, Prof Kiran Walia, said in a statement. Demanding the presence of at least one lady police personnel in each train, Professor Walia also expressed concern over the changing trend of crime against women and called for fundamental changes in the system to check such crimes more effectively.
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Woman cheated of jewellery by ‘tantriks’
Faridabad, December 23 The accused fled after taking possession of her valuables on the pretext of holding a special ‘puja’ in a temple to rid her of some bad omen. The police booked a case in this regard a few days ago. According to the complaint, the woman residing in the Dabua Colony here claimed that two persons posing as tantriks had come to her house on December 18 and claimed that she and her family were faced with a trouble in near future and it could also be a road accident. She told that this disclosure frightened her and she asked for some remedy. It is reported that the accused told her that the jewellery worn by her did not suit her and she needed to perform some ‘puja’ to avoid the mishap. The tantriks who asked her to come to a prominent temple near Tikona Park for the ‘hawan’ slipped away with the valuables worth Rs 40,000. The victim realised the mistake of handing over her jewellery to the cheats. The accused yet to be identified were nabbed from a place near Punjabi Dharamshala in Ballabgarh yesterday. It is learnt that a group of cheats had been active in some parts of the city, who normally target semi-literate women when they are alone at home. The police have also arrested a youth identified as Irfan on charges of stealing electronic meters from a factory here recently. The stolen equipment had been worth about Rs 60,000. The accused hails from Ghaziabad in UP. Meanwhile in another incident, purse of a woman was snatched by two motorcycle-borne youths in the busy market of NH-5 of the NIT area here last evening. The purse contained about Rs 5,500, a mobile phone and some other papers belonging to one Mrs Neelmani, a resident of sector- 21 here. A newly married woman also committed suicide by hanging herself in a house in sector-23 on Thursday. The deceased identified as Sita, wife of one Santosh, works as a clerk in a private company here. She hailed from Bihar and the couple had been married about six months ago.
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A visit to Mehrauli Archaeological Park is a lesson in history
New Delhi, December 23 This park covers some 100 acres lying adjacent to the world heritage site of Qutab Minar and the Mehrauli village settlement. Conservator Ajay Kumar from INTACH’s Delhi chapter says, “This area is really very important as it is only here that you have remains from almost every era of Delhi’s history from the early Hindu settlements to the more recent British times.” He further informs that it was in this general area that Tomar Rajputs first established Lal Kot, the first fortification in Delhi They were succeeded by Chauhan rulers who extended Lal Kot to form the Qila Rai
Pithora. Later, Qutub ud din Aibak made this the seat of his Sultanate and built major monuments like the Qutub
Minar. The area is also replete with buildings from the Lodi period, Mughals and the British
period. INTACH’s plan for developing this archaeological park has already entered its sixth phase with some 40 monuments restored. The park has been thrown open to tourists and a rather interesting heritage walk has been started here along a well-laid out heritage trail. Explanatory signage has been installed along the monuments lining the heritage trail to make it convenient for visitors. Perhaps, Dilkusha or Quli Khan’s Tomb is among the most significant of the restored monuments. Muhammad Quli Khan was the foster brother of Emperor Akbar and his tomb lies just outside the walled enclosure of the Qutub complex. This octagonal, large domed tomb built in the 17th century was originally well decorated with tile work which are now visible only on the eastern façade. The building was in a state of neglect and decay and suffering from water penetration, vandalism, major vegetation growth on the roof and walls etc when conservation work was started. Interestingly, in the colonial period, Dilkusha was part of the estate of Sir Thomas Metcalfe, the British resident at Delhi, who had converted the tomb into a country residence with landscaped gardens, terraces and guest-houses. Other restored structures include the mosque and tomb of Maulana
Majduddin, a mid-13th century Sufi teacher, Khan Shaheed’s Tomb, which houses the grave of Muhammad.
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Proposal to set up three new police stations
New Delhi, December 23 According to the Additional DCP of this district, Mr Devesh Srivastava, there is no hindrance in creating these additional police stations. The site for the proposed police station at Jyoti Nagar has been allotted recently near the Loni Road residential area. The search is on for suitable sites for the other two proposed police stations. “Recently, Gokulpuri has been given the status of subdivision. After that, it had become imperative to create additional three police stations in the area to cope with the changing scenario. Under the first phase of the proposal, two police stations – Harsh Vihar and Karawal Nagar — will be created. The proposed police station at Jyoti Nagar will be created in the next phase of the project,” said the officer. “As a result of proximity to the UP border area, cases of migration from UP and Bihar are maximum here. Apart from this, the district is dubbed as a sensitive area because of mixed communities. So there has been a tremendous pressure on our existing police force here to maintain normalcy,” he said. According to sources, at present most parts of Karawal Nagar area fall under the jurisdiction of the Gokulpuri police station. Prior to the creation of the Gokulpuri police station, there was a small police post at Karawal Nagar. Now, the Delhi Government is planning to create Gokulpuri subdivisional office here. “The Karawal Nagar police station will be created out of parts of Gokulpuri and Khajuri Khas. The expected population of the proposed Karawal Nagar police station will be 6.75 lakhs and it will be spread over a five square km area. The expected population of the Harsh Vihar police station will be around 4.75 lakhs. There is a police post here since 1989. The expected population of the Jyoti Nagar police station will be 3.75 lakhs and it will be spread over an the area of four square km,” he informed.
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Christmas caravans to distribute goodies
New Delhi, December 23 Organised by Coca Cola in association with Literacy India, an NGO working for the underprivileged children, a series of four huge caravans were flagged off today by the Vice-President, Public Affairs and Communications, Coca Cola, Mr Deepak Jolly, from 3Cs in Lajpat Nagar. Starting from the south, the caravan will travel across the city distributing gifts, sweets and playing fun-filled games with the people. Coca Cola has been associated with Literacy India for the past four years and is presently supporting at least 60 children of the NGO. Started in 1996, Literacy India offers a variety of educational initiatives such as informal education, remedial learning, vocational training and serves as the overall facilitator and financial support. To make the occasion even more special, free gifts were distributed to these underprivileged children for their all-round development. In the presence of as many as 250 persons, Mr. Jolly said, “…the joy seen on these young faces makes all the effort worthwhile. I’m sure the same joy will be seen on many faces across the city…” “We want to ensure that this festival reaches the maximum number of people. For that matter, we decided to lend wheels to Santa Claus as part of the Coca-Cola Christmas Caravan”, added Mr Jolly while speaking about the purpose of celebration. The caravans along with Santa Claus will visit every part of Delhi during the Christmas season, as well as the NCR regions, including Gurgaon and Noida.
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Man gets 10-yr jail term for trafficking
in hashish
New Delhi, December 23 Additional Sessions Judge Lal Singh also fined Girdhari Lal a sum of Rs 1 lakh, finding him guilty under various Sections of the Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. On February 25, 2003, the police intercepted Lal in Okhla in South Delhi after they found his movements suspicious. On conducting a search, the police found a plastic gunny bag containing approximately 1.75 kilograms of a substance, which they suspected to be some kind of narcotic. During his interrogation subsequently, Lal disclosed that the substance was indeed hashish and he had been in custody since his arrest.
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Lions Club to organise programme for adolescents
New Delhi, December 23 The LQIF programme is the result of research in about 40 countries on value-based education initiative in children of adolescent ages. At this time, a lot of physical, emotional and behavioural changes take place in children and they need concerned but regular guidance from parents and
teachers. — TNS
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Yoga useful in even curing cancer: Swami Ramdev
New Delhi, December 23 According to a press release by Yogantavya, Swami Ramdev said that yoga cures problems like diabetes and was very useful in cure of diseases like cancer. He said efforts should be made to check diseases, which wastes the huge capital spent on development of human resources. Swami Ramdev said Yoga was a complete medical science and a way of easy, comfortable
living. — TNS
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BSES to keep offices open on Dec 25, Jan 1
New Delhi, December 23 The LPSC waiver scheme is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for those consumers who desire to clear their outstanding electricity dues. The one time scheme which started from December 7, 2005 and will continue for one month till January 6, 2005, allows a 100 per cent waiver of the late payment
surcharge. — TNS
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Farmers looted by armed bandits, police clueless
Ghaziabad, December 23 According to reports, the bandits deprived two farmers of Pakherpur village of Rs 10,000, while they were returning to their village after selling sugarcane in their cart. Later, after leaving the farmers in the field, the bandit blocked the road by parking their cart across the road. Subsequently, a farmer, Harpal of Khakoda village, was looted of Rs 7,000. The bandits also looted Rs 5000 from some farmers travelling on a tractor trolley near Mandola village. Later, the police were informed of the looting cases by the farmers left in the field who managed to free themselves. However, the police were clueless about the criminals. The victims said all the five bandits were armed with guns and revolvers, the police said.
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Morning fog disrupts movement
New Delhi, December 23 With visibility reduced to a mere 50 metres, several flights and trains were either diverted or delayed. Even on roads, foggy conditions led to traffic moving at a slower pace. However, the fog nudged the minimum temperature to eight degrees Celsius. According to the Met office, the sun is expected to play hide and seek throughout the
day. — TNS
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Drive against unauthorised refilling of gas cylinders
Noida, December 23 Five persons including four children were killed in a cylinder explosion yesterday in Chaura village, Noida. The police have also seized 171 gas cylinders in this connection. The police have started a drive to shut down such illegal operations. According to the Circle Officer, Mr K. K. Gatuam, the arrested persons have been identified as Surinder, Pushpinder and Rakesh from Chhalera and Sadarpur colonies and Rahul, Bhagirath, Subash Chander and Rajesh from Agapur
village. — OC
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