 |
|
|
Heated exchanges in MCD over demolition issue
Provide basic amenities to govt schools within two months: HC
Gurgaon expressway to be ready by
PM to inaugurate expo mart in Gt Noida
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Lawyers intensify protest against transfer of courts to Rohini
Govt properties top chart of property tax defaulters
Noidaites suffering from high noise pollution
Mayawati makes panchayat polls a prestige issue
Row in DU’s Punjabi Dept over book
Compensation policy for Dalit victims of atrocities
Exhibition on Lord Krishna as a human being
Woman shot in posh Ghaziabad colony
CGHS scam: Four more arrested by CBI
Man who beheaded sister arrested
|
||||||||||
|
Heated exchanges in MCD over demolition issue
New Delhi, January 4 Rejecting the short discussion notice given by BJP leader Vijendra Kumar Gupta, the Chairman of the Standing Committee said, “A four member committee has already been set up to probe the ongoing demolitions which will soon give its recommendations on the matter. Let us wait for the committee to submit its report before any discussion on the matter by the members.” The rejection of the motion led to heated exchanges between leader of the House Jitender Kochar and Mr Gupta with the latter coming down upon the government for “divesting the common man of shelter under the guise of the High Court order,” while the former favoured discussion on the issue only after the committee released its report. Later, addressing a press conference, Mr Gupta, describing the rejection of his notice for discussion on the issue as an instance of “lack of transparency” on part of the Congress Government, said, “There is a provision in the MCD rule that any issue which is of crucial importance to the life of the people of Delhi can be taken up for discussion in the Standing Committee meeting”. Clarifying that his party was not against the demolition per se, as per the orders of the High Court, Mr Gupta said, “we respect the order of the court. We only want to know how the MCD plans to go about its task of demolishing the over 18,000 unauthorised structures”. In his short notice for discussion on demolitions, Mr Gupta wanted the Congress government to furnish the zonewise detail of the number of unauthorised structures booked by the MCD for violations of its building by-laws. He also wanted to know whether any of these structures could be declared authorised after the payment of fine. “Furnishing a detailed list of the unauthorised structures would make it clear which structures were to be demolished. The absence of such a list, however, puts a cloud over whether the structures being demolished are the ones that are on the list,” Mr Gupta said. Alleging that big business houses having huge unauthorised structures were being spared while small business units were being terrorised by the fear of demolitions, Mr Gupta said, “for example, no action has been taken on the ongoing unauthorised construction of many malls on over lakhs of hectare of land in several areas”. On the contention of the ruling party members that a discussion on the issue was unwarranted as the demolitions were being done as per the orders of the High court, Mr Gupta said, “members of the house need to know detail of the submission made by the government in the court on their behalf.” Meanwhile, the Delhi BJP has decided to continue its movement against the demolition drive launched by the MD as a lot of citizens of the Delhi has suffered from this drive. The Leader of Opposition in the MCD, Mr Subhash Arya, said that the BJP activists would protest in their respective areas against the activities of the demolition squad of the corporation. He said that the Municipal Commissioner claimed to have 18,000 unauthorised constructions in the national Capital but he failed to give the list of such properties to the BJP members in today’s meeting of the Standing Committee. The four-member committee constituted by the Centre is an eye wash. The Congress government in corporation, Delhi Government and at the Centre were doing nothing for the poor people, he said.
|
|
Provide basic amenities to govt schools within two months: HC
New Delhi, January 4 A division bench of Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Rekha Sharma asked the Director Schools of Delhi Administration and Deputy Commissioner (Education) MCD to be more responsive to the needs of the children. “Why make a mockery of the education without providing basic amenities to the children,” observed the court. The Education Department officials should be sensitised for providing congenial atmosphere in the schools where lakhs of students were getting education, the court said. While fixing the next date of hearing on March 8, the court asked the authorities to file a status report on the amenities provided in the schools. The court had observed earlier that it was a pity that even after 58 years of independence, the government could not provide basic amenities and facilities to the students in the state-run schools in the Capital. In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in 1998, petitioner Ashok Aggrawal for Social Jurist alleged that the state government did not provide basic amenities in government and MCD schools. There were about 4,254 vacancies of primary teachers in the MCD schools, lack of drinking water facilities in 30 schools, no black board and toilet in many schools, claimed the petition. Many of the schools did not have electricity, said Mr Aggrawal in the petition. Further, the petition stated that about 18 to 20 per cent of schools had low water pressure, 60 schools were without electricity, nine schools were in tents and 16 had no toilet blocks. In an order in 1998, the High Court had directed the state government to provide the basic facilities in all the schools. Last year, the court had also asked the authorities to fix coolers in the schools during the summer. Meanwhile, the court today issued notices to Delhi Government and the MCD on a PIL by the same petitioner complaining about the “indifference and connivance” of the mushrooming of unrecognised private schools in the Capital. Aggarwal complained that there were about 10,000 such unrecognised schools in different parts of Delhi in which about 6 lakh children are studying. The PIL alleged that the schools, besides putting academic career of the children in jeopardy, are also functioning in “unsafe” and “unhygienic” conditions in scant disregard of the children’s safety and well-being. A Division Bench of Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Rekha Sharma, while issuing the notices, posted the matter for further hearing till March 29.
|
|
Gurgaon expressway to be ready by year-end
Gurgaon, January 4 The 27.5-km-long project consisting of 8 brides and 5 underpasses was planned at a cost of Rs 555 crore in 2002. The project, scheduled to be completed soon, got delayed as new additions costing around Rs 200 crore were added to the original plan. Now more than 90 per cent project is scheduled to be completed by the year-end, informed an NHAI spokesperson. This stretch would be first such National Highway’s expressway with 32 lanes toll plaza, the maximum in the country. It would use the latest technologies at the toll plaza so that minimum time is spent at the toll. There is even a plan to use the technology being employed at a toll plaza in Germany. The commuters there do not stop at the plaza and the sensors, installed there, read the registration number of the vehicle. The amount is then directly adjusted in the mobile phone of the commuters. They would be free to pay via credit cards, banks or other means at their convenience. “We intend to develop a system in such a way that the commuters have to stay for 15 seconds only at the plaza,” said a consultant, attached with the project. Truck, bus and heavy vehicle would pay Rs 45 per visit, mini bus and other such light vehicles would pay Rs 22 while cars and other such vehicles have to pay Rs 15 per trip at the toll plaza. There would be no charges for two and three-wheelers. The first two bridges with eight lanes each at Rajokari in Delhi and at Rajiv Crossing in Gurgaon would be completed and operational in March-end. Commuters would be asked to pay the toll only when the whole project would be operational, clarified the officer. There would be an additional toll plaza for going to International Airport. The charges would be Rs 30, 15 and Rs 10 as per the above-mentioned categories respectively. As the project was awarded on the basis of BOT (built, operate and transfer), the developer would charge from the commuters for 20 years and then transfer the project to the government. The developer would maintain the stretch during the period. The charges would be the same throughout 20 years, asserted the official. As per the survey, around 1.3 lakh vehicles would pass the toll plaza every day when it would be operational. There would be an increase of 7 per cent per annum in vehicles using this road, estimated the officer. The Central government had invested Rs 200 crore out of Rs 755 crore on the basis that it would get 50 per cent revenue to be collected on the vehicles surpassing 1.3 lakh per day. There would be reduction in travel time from 60 minutes to 15/20 minutes on the stretch. When operational, the highway patrolling staff consisting of expressway marshals would keep a vigil round the clock to ensure smooth flow of traffic. Medical first-aid, ambulance service, police help, taxi services, vehicle minor repairs, firetender help, etc would be provided on the stretch, the spokesperson added.
|
|
PM to inaugurate expo mart in Gt Noida
Greater Noida, January 4 SPG DIG, Thomas Jacob issued instructions for security check of the invitees coming to attend the function as also how to deal with any untoward incident. The SPG team had a meeting with the district magistrate, district police chief and officers of greater Noida Authority yesterday. The DIG also inspected the helipad being prepared at the site for the Prime Minister’s helicopter. Mr Thomas Jacob ordered that the Mart be covered with high tarpaulins from all sides so that the wayfarers could not see the activities from the roadside. The district administration has deployed a large number of police, PAC on the Mart and the whole area for the security of the VVIPs visiting Greater Noida. The India Expo Centre and Mart will be a permanent contact point for the foreign buyers throughout the year. Any overseas buyer interested in sourcing from India can do so at this venue as all flights from the east to the west and from west to the east stop midway at Delhi. The buyers will have the chance of dealing with reliable exporters stationed at the Mart. The Centre and Mart will also enable the manufactures and exporters from the interiors of the country, particularly handicrafts and handloom sector who on their own cannot undertake foreign travel and participate in trade fairs, to meet overseas buyers. Handicraft exports presently of the order of US$ 2984 million are expected to grow to US$ 9100 million by 2009-10. This infrastructure will play a very positive role in promoting exports of handicrafts. Handicraft sector already employs more than 60 lakh artisans and craft persons in addition to many more employed through various services relating to the handicrafts. Increase in exports of handicrafts will create additional opportunities for employment generation and improvement of livelihood of the economically weaker sections of society. Hence, the India Expo Centre and Mart will play a dual role: business and social. The infrastructure of India Expo Centre and Mart has been created within a record time of 30 months with an investment of around Rs 400 crore. The India Expo Centre and Mart has all components required for international business. It has 900 permanent show rooms in first Phase, eight exhibition halls, facilities for conference, seminars, banquets, business centre, parking, warehouse, etc. In the 2 Phase, another 900 permanent show rooms shall be made available for which booking has already been made. The permanent show rooms in the Centre and Mart will display the entire range of handicrafts: decoratives, gifts, floor coverings, home accessories, fashion jewellery, fashion accessories in addition to products like silk, jute, handloom and carpets. The IEC &M has a total covered area of 235,000 sq. mtrs. The complex boasts of centrally air-conditioned building, 100% power back-up, 28 escalators, 30 passengers lifts and freight lifts and glass lifts, parking for 8,000 cars and 200 trucks, elaborate firefighting system, video walls and LED screens, lush greens lawns, water bodies, fountains, signages and guiding system, all managed through integrated Building Management System.
|
|
Lawyers intensify protest against
New Delhi, January 4 Lawyers shouted slogans against the CJI and took a lap around the court complex on the third day of their protests amidst a large deployment of police personnel. The Association also launched a mass signature campaign in a bid to gather the support of leaders of various bar associations across the Capital. “We do not consider the courts in Rohini as ‘organised courts’ as there are absolutely no facilities there for both litigants and lawyers. We do not have chambers to sit in and there is not even a proper parking lot,” DBA President Rajiv Khosla said in his address to the gathering of lawyers. The construction of buildings and the choice of site is the government’s responsibility. The Rohini complex is an instance of judicial interference in government work, he added. DBA Secretary Sanjeev Nasiar claimed that the DBA had applied to the CJI to file a “contempt notice” against Delhi High Court Chief Justice Markandeya Katju for “proceeding with the construction of Rohini courts when the case is still pending in the Supreme Court.” Immediate closure of a mediation cell in Tis Hazari and the formation of National Judicial Commission to look into the workings of the judiciary are some other demands. “This is only the semi-final of our strike, our finals will be on January 6 at the Rohini courts’ inauguration,” Nasiar said. Meanwhile, in a major reshuffle in the lower courts, over 150 judicial officers have been transferred across the four district court complexes in the city, including the new complex scheduled to start operations in Rohini later this week. By its administrative order passed yesterday, the Delhi High Court appointed with immediate effect Seema Maini as the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, replacing Reena Singh Nag (who will now preside over a new Labour Court in the Karkardooma complex) besides 92 Additional District and Sessions Judges and 72 Civil Judges and Metropolitan Magistrates. These include judicial officers for the North-west and West districts, who have been transferred to the new courts complex at Rohini, set to start functioning on January 6.
|
|
Govt properties top chart of property tax defaulters
New Delhi, January 4 The department has so far collected only Rs 350 crore while its target under the new scheme, Unit Area Method (UAM), was Rs 1350 crore. To pressurize them their bank account will be attached, the Municipal Commissioner said. He also said that he would take review meeting fortnightly to assess the actual situation, as house tax was the major source of revenue of the civic body. The leader of the House, Mr Jitender Kochar, presented a list of amount to be collected from the government departments. He said that till 2003 the corporation has to collect money from DDA (Rs 203 crore), CPWD (Rs 4 crore), PWD (Rs 3 crore), Delhi Police (Rs 2.50 crore), universities and colleges (Rs 15 crore), Delhi Jal Board (Rs 312 crore), NDPL (Rs 2.65 crore), BSES (Rs 6.25 crore), TRANSCO (Rs 22 crore), Delhi Golf course (Rs 31 crore), Indian Oil Corporation (Rs 17 crore), Bharat Petroleum (Rs 7.63 crore), Delhi Secretariat (Rs 65 lakh), India Habitat Centre (Rs 50 lakh), DTC (Rs 1.68 crore) and Delhi Metro (Rs 400 crore). The Municipal Commissioner said that he had met the Chief Secretary in this connection, who assured that the tax due from the Delhi Metro Corporation would be paid by the Delhi Finance Commission. The Deputy Chairman, Mr Jai Kishan, said that its important to collect these dues as the MCD was under financial crisis. If this money is not collected the civic body will be unable to pay salaries of its employees, he warned.
|
|
Noidaites suffering from high noise pollution
Noida, January 4 All this happens in violation of every norm of sound pollution in the town. Running of generators in markets, institutions, clubs, etc add to the sound as well as air pollution considerably. The Pollution Control Board has brought forth some shocking facts. According to its study, the pollution level is much higher than the permissible limits set by Indian Standards Institute. A disturbing fact is that one does not have to take permission from any agency for nightlong jagrans, marriage or other functions. Each state government is supposed to set up a high-level authority under the district magistrate against Pollution Control Act of 2000. But this authority has not been set up in Noida. This rule is being enforced rigidly in Delhi and other important towns. For example, all New Year parties fixed in hotels and clubs in Noida went on till the wee hours of January 1 with participants creating high-pitched sounds. The sound level form Gole Chakker to Atta on Dadri Road was found between 75 and 80 decibels. In Sector-18 and 12-22, it was between 80 and 85. This was practically true of the whole of Noida with the exception of few residential sectors. The ideal higher limit of permissible noise level, fixed by Indian Standards Institute, is around 60 decibels. Variety of electronic horns in trucks and motorcycles is just another factor that raises noise pollution, according to experts of District Pollution Control Board. Second, the generators being excessively used in view of deplorable power supply position also create air pollution. RTO has not taken any step to control noise and air pollution by vehicles. In case the increasing noise and air pollution is not stemmed, life will become a hell in this town as pollution causes ailments like asthma and other problems related to lungs
and ears.
|
|
Mayawati makes panchayat polls a prestige issue
Greater Noida, January 4 While BSP supermo Mayawati has assumed the command of the campaign to ensure a District Panchayat chief of her choice in GB Nagar, her home borough; former MP D.P. Yadav and ex-minister Vedram Bhatti have also reportedly placed themselves at the beck and call of ‘Behnji’ to realise her dream. The Samajwadi Party has fielded Lokman Singh Khatik against Bala Devi of BSP—daughter of former BJP MLA Horam Singh who has recently joined the BSP.. The BSP now has four District Panchayat members, including Bala Devi while the SP has only three. Dehat Morcha, Congress, BJP and Lok Dal have one member each in District Panchayat while three are independent. Two out of these independents are learnt to be supporting the Samajwadi Party while one is with the BSP, with Congress, BJP and Dehat Morcha members not having yet indicated as to who they will support in the final reckoning. Since Gautam Budh Nagar is the home district of former Mayawati, she seems to have made it a prestige issue to wrest the District Panchayat chairmanship for her party. She has issued a whip to her party cadres to ensure Bala Devi’s victory.
|
|
Row in DU’s Punjabi Dept over book
New Delhi, January 4 While a section of the faculty and students allege that the book, ‘Beemar Sarak’, is objectionable literature that has been prescribed for the M.Phil programme, Arsi on his part claims otherwise. “The book was written over 30 years ago and has been translated into several languages. The book is being used as a pawn by some people with vested interests,” he said. Refuting that the book has been prescribed as a part of the syllabus, he said, “these are baseless rumours. The book is neither a part of the syllabus nor have I forced students to do their Ph.D. on the book”. However sources in the university maintained that the book has “denigrated the national flag apart from being pornographic in content and is being used as a reference”. “The book is unsuitable for reading and Arsi who claims to be a scholar has taken the university community for a ride,” it was pointed out. Former DUTA President, Aditya N Misra, who is among those demanding the recalling of the book from all college and university libraries said, “there are five books, which Arsi has written, which have the same preface and the same bibliography. He claims to have authored 45 books, but in one book, he has simply lifted five to six chapters of his previous book and added a few more. We question his claims of being a scholar and an author”. The matter has already been reported to the university administration. “We have taken up the issue several times with the Vice-Chancellor, but no action has been taken,” Dr Indra Narain Singh, a member of the Academic Council said. He said, “he has volunteered to be the guide for his own novel and has blatantly lifted chapters from his own books and pasted those in the new, without as much as an explanation or reference; there is a need to institute a proper inquiry by the university”. Prof Arsi on his part is unfazed by the allegations, claiming that some faculty members who are “accusing him of charges as serious as plagiarism are trying to divert attention by spreading malicious rumours”.
|
|
Compensation policy for Dalit victims of atrocities
Faridabad, January 4 It is perhaps the first time that the state government has announced such compensation. According to the office of the Deputy Commissioner, the benefit would be applicable only if a case under the various sections of the IPC, including the SC/ST Act, had been registered on the complaint of the victim and the financial aid would be released after the police files the challan in court in connection with the case. It is stated that the office of the district welfare officer would also help the victim to get the FIR registered against the accused if the victim approaches it with the complaint. The administration has sanctioned about Rs 2.5 lakh as compensation in such cases in the district in the financial year of 2005-06, said the Deputy Commissioner, Mrs G. Anupama. She said in case of death of the victim due to atrocities, the government would pay a compensation of about Rs 2 lakh and it would be given to the next of kin. She said about 75 per cent of the payment would be released when the police produced challan in court and the rest to be given after the judgement. In some of related cases the amount of compensation could be around Rs 1 lakh, if the victim had no source of income.
|
|
‘Nagar Kirtan’ procession leads to traffic jams
New Delhi, January 4 The ‘Nagar Kirtan’, which began at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj, covered Pandit Pant Marg, Gole Post Office, Ashoka Road, Patel Chowk, Parliament Street, Regal Building, Connaught Circus, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Marg, Gole Market, Bhai Vir Singh Marg, Baba Kharak Singh Marg and terminated at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib. The procession, which included schoolchildren, blocked off access to major thoroughfares, a result of which was long queues
and chaos. Meanwhile, taking note of the inconvenience caused to the masses at large, a number of eminent community members and scholars renewed their call to hold such events at stadia or find a people-friendly alternative for religious celebrations.
|
|
Exhibition on Lord Krishna as a human being
New Delhi, January 4 According to Milan Das, one of the painting artists, “This exhibition has depicted the human face of Lord Krishna. It is a wonderful way to know God as it gives the human touch and also the feeling of God.” The exhibition would continue from January 3 to 9 daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. R.C. Dalal, the organiser of the painting exhibition said that if one wants to see his God as a human being, it is the best option as there are a number of paintings that depict the human face of Lord
Krishna.” — TNS
|
|
Birthday of CM’s son celebrated in Faridabad
Faridabad, January 4 Led by the senior Deputy Mayor, Mr Shiv Charan Lal Sharma, the participants described Mr Deepender as a promising and upcoming leader in the political horizon of the state. They claimed that he was not only one of the youngest Lok Sabha members, but had a deep interest in the fast development of the state and Haryana was likely to emerge as number one state in the country very
soon. — TNS
|
|
|
Woman shot in posh Ghaziabad colony
Ghaziabad, January 4 Mrs Aruna Sharma, 28, wife of Mohender Kumar Sharma of Rohtash Nagar in Shahdara, was working as a receptionist at Om Nasha Mukt Kendra in Ghaziabad’s posh colony Patel Nagar-I. She was on her way home after duty at about 7.30 pm. She had gone just a few steps from the clinic when two assailants on a motorcycle accosted her and shot her dead. The victim, Aruna Sharma, slumped in a pool of blood on the spot. The assailants then pumped another bullet into her and fled. Someone in the area informed the police. SP (Traffic), Ishfaque Ahmed, reached the spot and ordered vehicle check. He said that a preliminary enquiry had revealed that Aruna was not on good terms with her husband and was living separately. Her family has been informed about her murder. The police, inspite of ordering a vehicle check, were not able to nab the culprits or identify them. The police are interrogating the eyewitnesses of the crime.
|
|
|
CGHS scam: Four more arrested by CBI
New Delhi, January 4 The accused Raj Kumar Pahuja, RCS Inspector Narendra Singh Khatri, Vinod Kumar Gupta and Sunil Kharbanda were produced before a Special Court yesterday and have been remanded to CBI custody till January 10. According to the CBI, Rajeshwari CGHS, which was registered in December 1983 and was even allotted land by DDA, wound up because of lack of funds, cancelling its registration in 1993. However, the agency alleged that the society was fraudulently revived by the four accused, in conspiracy with the then Registrar, Narayan Diwakar, and the Assistant Registrar Jeetendra Singh Sharma. It was alleged that Pahuja submitted 112 forged affidavits purported to have been given by individuals who were later found to be non-existent, and that Khatri submitted a forged report to the effect that the society was still functioning.
|
|
Man who beheaded sister arrested
Meerut, January 4 Shakir was arrested by a team from Medical College police station last night, Senior Superintendent of Police Rajiv Ranjan Verma said. The suspected murder weapon was recovered during a raid on the family’s house in Muzaffarnagar
yesterday. Shakir allegedly killed Nargis (19) on Sunday night while she was asleep in the women’s ward of Meerut Medical
College Hospital, where she was undergoing treatment for stab wounds sustained in an earlier attack by
him. — TNS
|
|
|
Yet another bomb scare in city
New Delhi, January 4 The suitcase was later opened by the bomb disposal squad (BDS) personnel after the local police called for them at about 3.00 p.m., sources said. Two sets of clothing were later found in the suitcase reportedly belonging to one of the labourers working
there. — TNS
|
|
Two arrested on forgery charges
New Delhi, January 4
|
|
Four get life term for murder after 15-yr trial
New Delhi, January 4 Additional Sessions Judge N P Kaushik also slapped a fine of Rs 2,000 each on accused Jaswant Singh, Dharam Vir Singh, Ajit Singh and Rajbir Singh for having murdered Anwar Khan in 1990. “The accused persons had in their mind the common object of taking possession of the disputed land, even if they had to cause the death of the person coming in the way,” the court said.
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
