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Unrest in House continues for second day
Govt to provide world-class health facilities: CM
MCF directed to file affidavits on poor civic amenities
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Route of Dadri-Sonepat gas pipeline finalised
Schools get another chance to frame admission policy
Kalyan Singh to be chief ministerial candidate: Rajnath
JNU students wait for promised 24x7 dhaba
International flavour to Surajkund Mela
Govt to keep watch on quality of road construction
Balmy weather order of the day
Hospital asked to compensate old man for botched eye surgery
Leprosy patients to get vocational training
Man gets life sentence for raping minor
Two criminal held after shootout
Constable found hanging
Gang of looters busted
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Unrest in House continues for second day
New Delhi, January 31 Threatening the Chairman, Mr Satbir Sharma said he would boycott the meeting because he had been waiting for hours to start the proceedings of the House. The House has so far not been informed for the cause of delay. Mr Prem Kumar, who is believed to be from the Chief Minister’s camp, also threatened to boycott the meeting. Mr Asif Mohammad Khan, independent councillor from the Okhla segment, alleged that the Mayor and opposition leaders led by the Leader of Opposition, Mr Subhash Arya, had a meeting to decide whose names should be sent in the affidavit filed before the court in connection with the unauthorised construction. The opposition leaders have been demanding the tabling of the action taken report (ATR) before the House. However, the Mayor yesterday refused to accept their demand saying that it was a sub-judice case. The action taken report has already been submitted before the court. Arti Mehra, a BJP councillor, said the report was filed before the court on behalf of the MCD and “being member of the civic body it’s our right to get the information”. The opposition members boycotted the budget meeting. Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court today clarified that the direction given for the demolition of unauthorised constructions owned by ‘big fish’ would not be restricted to politicians alone, but included all other so-called influential people like top government officials, engineers, builders and businessmen. A Division Bench of Mr Justice Vijendra Jain and Ms Justice Rekha Sharma, while passing the order, asked the MCD to file a comprehensive action taken report (ATR) on the list of unauthorised premises owned by the ‘big fish’ and posted the matter for further hearing to
February 16. Earlier, MCD’s counsel O. P. Malhotra filed an ATR before the court in which he said that notice had been served on 15 MLAs and four corporators for unauthorised constructions. In another order, the High Court has ruled that existence of unauthorised construction shall not be an obstacle in the conversion of a property into freehold. However, the court, while passing the order, clarified that despite the grant of such conversion, it was the duty of the civic authorities to ensure removal of unauthorised constructions. Dealing with a batch of petitions challenging the refusal of the Land & Development Officer to effect the conversions, Justice Sen, however, granted 60 days time to the petitioners to remove all types of encroachments like canopies, sunshades and rainshades that have occupied public roads and government lands. Failure to remove the encroachments within the stipulated period would lead to the consequences of rejection of their application for conversion, the judge said. The court asked the petitioners to furnish before it a compliance report along with photographs to show that the encroachments have been voluntarily removed. Justice Sen asserted that effecting such conversions from leasehold to freehold would help the government generate revenue as authorities in the present circumstances were in no position to recover the lease lands since most of them are on leasehold for a stretch of 99 years.
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Govt to provide world-class health facilities: CM
New Delhi, January 31 She said it was the responsibility of the hospital and healthcare department officials to ensure efficient services to patients. The Chief Minister asked the hospital authorities to use the equipment well after it was installed. A patient must not have any complaints regarding the treatment. The launch was also attended by Delhi Health Minister Yoganand Shastri. The Chief Minister said the NAT technique would ensure that safe blood was provided to people without any fear of HIV or AIDS. She said she was hopeful government blood banks would use this safe system for all our citizens and the government was also considering using this technology in other hospitals. Ms Dikshit announced that an MRI machine would soon be installed in the hospital. “If it is done by the end of this fiscal then it will be installed this year only,” she said. Nearly 40 per cent of Delhi was at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, according to a Delhi State AIDS Control Society report. “The slum population, 40 per cent of the total, poses a special problem. The slum population, characterised by low levels of literacy, poor health conditions, poverty, and low status of women, offered HIV many opportunities to spread, says the report titled ‘HIV/AIDS in Delhi-Meeting the Challenge’.
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MCF directed to file affidavits on poor civic amenities
Faridabad, January 31 The court has warned the agencies that the failure to comply with the direction could lead to the summoning of the Chief Administrator, HUDA and the Director, Urban Planning Department. The order was passed by the two judge Bench headed by the Chief Justice, Mr D.K Jain, on January 4 on a PIL filed by a social activist in 2004 regarding the poor state of roads, civic amenities and unchecked encroachments in the city. The PIL had alleged there had been unchecked encroachment upon public land while the civic body and district administration had ‘failed’ to take any action despite reminders and requests. It was also alleged that while the department concerned had been collecting development taxes, the roads were not being repaired and the sewage facilities had not improved in the city, leading to severe inconvenience to the people. The PIL had also taken up the matter of the ‘undue’ delay in the construction
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Route of Dadri-Sonepat gas pipeline finalised
Noida, January 31 IOC’s chief engineer H.P. Sahi assured everyone that environment and security concerns will be taken care of while laying the pipeline. The hearing was held under Addl. District Magistrate (city) S.K. Singh. Mr Sahi said 3 MMS CMD gas will be supplied from Sonepat in 132-km-long pipeline from Dadri to Sonepat which will keep the area free from pollution caused by burning fuel. A 30-inch-wide pipeline will be used under the scheme. The pipeline will cross bridges, rivers, roads and rail tracks through HDD system. For crossing rivers, 15-mt-deep channels will be prepared while the railway lines and roads will be crossed through under ground line. The gas pipeline will be laid from Ghaziabad, Bagpat, Gautam Budh Nagar, Panipat and Sonepat in Haryana. He further assured that while laying the gas pipeline through the villages, the interests of farmers will be fully protected and suitable compensation paid to them. Necessary water resources will also be developed for farmers. Ten trees will be planted in place of one uprooted for laying the pipeline. Pollution Control Board’s regional officer R.C. Chaudhari and environment vigilance cell’s Vijay Pal Singh were present in the meeting, among others.
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Schools get another chance
New Delhi, January 31 A Bench consisting of Mr Justice Vijender Jain and Ms Justice Rekha Sharma directed the Association of Private Unaided Schools to report to the court with an alternative policy by February 28, 2006. The Bench had earlier, on a PIL filed by advocate Ashok Agarwal, issued notices to the government and the management of private schools questioning the authority under which such interviews were being conducted in the Capital. Senior counsel R. K. Jain, appearing for the schools, sought six weeks’ time on grounds that the In-House Committee of the schools formed at the directive of the court was still in the process of formulating an appropriate methodology to dispense with the system
of interviewing kids and parents. However, petitioner Aggarwal strongly opposed any further grant of time to the schools on the ground that it was part of dilatory tactics being adopted by the management of various schools to persist with the pernicious system. He also pointed out that on the last hearing on December 9, 2005, the schools had made a similar plea for a last chance of another four weeks to formulate a suitable policy in this regard. The Bench, while agreeing with Mr Agarwal’s contention, said it would not grant any further time beyond the four weeks granted today and posted the matter for further hearing on February 28.
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Kalyan Singh to be chief ministerial
Noida, January 31 Starting the BJP’s second phase of ‘Nayae Yatra’ (march of justice) from Dadri yesterday, Rajnath Singh termed Kalyan Singh as the “incomparable and unrivalled chief minister”. Virtually initiating the BJP’s election campaign, Rajnath Singh called the reign of UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav’s government as ‘Jungle Raj’. He said once voted to power, the BJP would deal with all criminals properly. Earlier the BJP president had addressed the party cadre in Ghaziabad. He was addressing a large public meeting in Dadri before launching the second part of Nayae Yatra of the BJP against political murders in the state. “Kalyan Singh had been the best Chief Minister UP ever had,” Mr Rajnath Singh declared. He alone can solve all problems of the state if given a chance for the second time, he added. The BJP president said crime has increased in the state due to the anti-people policies of Mulayam Singh government. People’s representatives are being beheaded in full public view. But instead of arresting the culprits, the government is suppressing the cases. ‘Nayae Yatra’ had been started to create awareness among the people so that this government can be uprooted and thrown away. ‘Nayae Yatra’ will later prove to be a journey of change. Challenging the economic policies of the state government, Rajnath Singh said the Chief Minister was trying to safeguard the interest of the capitalists.
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JNU students wait for promised 24x7 dhaba
New Delhi, January 31 First a 24x7 dhaba, then a more glamorous food court was proposed would come up at the space. “The issue was raised by all political factions during the elections and construction of a dhaba or a food court was part of the election manifestos. It’s been a year since the Nescafe outlet was pulled down, but nothing has come up. It is not even clear whether we will have a dhaba or a food court,” complained Bharat, President of Tapti Hostel. Members of the Students’ Union blame the administration for the delay in construction. “Initially we had proposed that those interested in running the food court would collect money and hand over the amount to the administration which will then construct either the dhaba or the food court and collect rent from those who get the contracts,” said Mona Das, President of the JNUSU. She added, “ The administration then decided that they will construct and decide who should be allowed to run the place. As of now, there is no action on that front”. The administration, on its part, claims that the construction can begin only after the Campus Development Committee of the university gives its inputs on the issue. “The CDC will decide what needs to be done. If the money required for the project is a huge sum, then we will have to approach the UGC for grants. Otherwise, the CDC will again have to chalk out an alternate plan,” said the Registrar, Mr Avais Ahmed. When the CDC is asked whether the construction work is likely to begin anytime soon, the answer is this: “We are working out the logistics”. A member of the CDC said, “There are a number of issues to be considered. Who should get the place, what kind of food they will serve and at what price, the hygiene that must be maintained and the sustainability of the project, once all these issues are resolved we can begin construction”.’ With the proposed food court or a 24x7 dhaba yet to get itself a blueprint, the JNUSU is getting ready to press for the construction to begin. “We have said that the place will come up before the tenure of this union is over and we will shortly present our central charter of demands, where the issue will be raised,” said Arani, the General Secretary of the JNUSU. And till the blueprint is shaped into concrete, it is an endless wait for those wishing for a break from the grub that their hostel mess serves.
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International flavour to Surajkund Mela
Surajkund, January 31 “We wanted to give an international flavour to the mela in its 20th year and hence we invited SAARC countries, including Afghanistan,” Director Tourism department, Haryana Vijay Vardhan told reporters here today. A troupe of dancers from Sri Lanka will also be performing during the Mela, to be on from February one to 15, with Maharashtra as its theme state. Of the 350 craftpersons from the country participating in the fair, 250 will be from the theme state, all of them holding national level awards for their works. To be held under tight security with authorities taking the help of Haryana Police and private security services, around 40 close circuit television cameras have been installed at the fair venue to keep a tight vigil, Vardhan said. The event attracted around 4.5 lakh visitors last year and the organisers expect more than five lakh this year. Haryana Tourism Corporation and the mela authorities have made special transport arrangements for visitors from Delhi, he said adding in addition to transport from the Inter-state bus terminal, buses would also be available to the mela site from Haryana Emporium, Baba Kharak Singh Marg and Janpath.
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Govt to keep watch on quality of road construction
New Delhi, January 31 He said the government was much concerned to learn about the findings of the quality assessment of six roads by Shriram Institute for Industrial Research recently. Dr Walia asked the Principal Secretary, PWD, to refer the case to the CVC for examination and further action. He had assigned the institute to conduct quality evaluation of six roads- Anuvrat Marg, Mehrauli-Mahipalpur Marg, Vikas Marg, Mathura Road from Tilak Bridge to Sunder Nagar, National Highway 24 bypass from the Noida crossing to the Gazipur crossing and Ring Road from Rajghat to ISBT Sarai Kale Khan having combined length of 26 km. The institute was also instructed to conduct parameter-wise evaluation in respect of dense bituminous concrete relating to top layer, dense bituminous macadam relating to base- course layer and mastic asphalt relating to topmost layer of intersections and bridge decks. Around thousand samples were taken to evaluate the quality of the material used in construction of roads. It has been observed that most of the parameters were below normal specifications of PWD. The conclusions are based on a roughness survey and job mix formula. Dr Walia has asked the Principal Secretary, PWD, to conduct unscheduled inspections and checks at all stages of construction. He has also been directed to take stern action against erring officials.
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Balmy weather order of the day
New Delhi, January 31 In what could further indicate the “onset of summer” in Delhi, the minimum temperature by and large remained around yesterday’s level, recording just a slight dip to 8.1 degrees Celsius. Even though the minimum temperature of 8.1 degrees Celsius was one degree below normal, ‘pleasant mornings’ characterised the weather in Delhi, leading the people to cast away their heavy woollens. In fact, the last few days have witnessed a trend of warm days and pleasant evenings as the mercury has witnessed a steady rise over the last week. While the minimum temperature of 8.1 degrees Celsius is much above the 4.7 degrees Celsius recorded last week, the maximum temperature has risen sharply from last week’s level of 22 degrees Celsius. The warm weather is a sharp relief for the people of Delhi from the chilly winds of last week, a trend which weathermen attributed to the influence of the North Westerlies caused by fresh snowfall in parts of North India. However, with the waning of the influence of the North Westerlies, weathermen expect weather conditions to improve in the coming days. The weather office has forecast a further rise in minimum temperature tomorrow to 9 degrees Celsius.
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Hospital asked to compensate old
New Delhi, January 31 The District Consumer Forum led by Mr K. K. Chopra also hauled up the hospital’s surgeon for conducting the operation sans a mandatory pre-surgery check-up. “The complainant has a history of hypertension and blood pressure. In this case the cataract operation was done despite the patient having high blood pressure, hypertension and high pulse rate at the time, which resulted in damage to the cornea,” the court observed. O P Verma was admitted to Tirath Ram Shah Charitable Hospital on May 15, 2003, for a cataract surgery in his right eye. The operation was done by Dr V. K. Jain, an honourary consultant at the hospital, and a medical bill of Rs 14,000 was made out to Verma. However, the patient gradually went completely blind in his right eye despite a 10-day treatment at Dr Jain’s eye clinic. A distraught Verma consulted a specialist in AIIMS, who told him that the surgery had destroyed his right cornea and he would need a replacement. Dismissing the doctor’s contention that the surgery was “uneventful”, the court said that the operation was done without a thorough pre-surgery check-up, which showed sheer negligence on the part of the doctor and the hospital. It also ordered Rs 3,000 as litigation costs in favour of the complainant.
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Leprosy patients to get vocational training
New Delhi, January 31 According to the Director, Health, Delhi Government, Dr Anil Mehra, “We are going to launch a drive to identify such patients who have almost recovered from this disease. As a result of social stigma associated with this disease, they are unable to return back to the mainstream of society. Apart from this, they have no tools or expertise to earn their livelihood. In the absence of other options, they usually start begging. Seeing these things in mind, we have decided to take initiative to make them self reliant by providing them professional training in the field of computer applications and repairing of house hold electronic items”. Dr Mehra said the big problem associated with those patients was social non-acceptibility guided by dogmas and myths. “ Nobody wants to give them work even after recovery. Due to this reason, some of them at times even start indulging in drug abuse. Seeing this, we are also toying with the idea of organising yoga and meditation camps inside the shelter home for the benefit of such inmates. We are also planning to upgrade the school running for the children of such patients,” Dr Mehra said. According to the figure provided by a NGO working at Tahirpur Leprosy Shelter Home, Hindkush Kustha Nivaran Sangh, there are approximately 5,600 leprosy patients in the shelter home out of which 12 per cent patients are children or juvenile. A sizeable number of such patients belong to Bihar and UP. Most of them have recovered from this disease. Despite this, they are bound to live in the shelter home in the absence of alternate option. Moreover, the facilities provided by the Social Welfare Department of the Delhi Government seem to have made them lazy and non-functional.
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Man gets life sentence for raping minor
Noida, January 31 Ram Pravesh, the accused, will have to spend another six months in jail for assaulting and beating up the mother and sister of the victim. Baleshwar, father of the minor girl, had filed a report in Surajpur police station in April 2003. He had told the police that Ram Pravesh, a resident of Garhi Shahadara, had raped his four-and-a-half-year-old daughter who had gone to fields to answer the call of nature. The accused had beaten up the mother and sister of the victim when both came to her rescue. The court ordered a separate case be filed against Pravesh’s co-accused Puppu, also of Garhi Shahadara, who has since absconded. The police had arrested both the accused after 15 days of filing the report and seized a local revolver and live cartridges from the accused.
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Two criminal held after shootout
New Delhi, January 31 The police said the accused were identified and asked to stop their vehicle at a checkpoint but they opened fire at the police party. After a short shootout, the police overpowered them. The police claimed to have recovered a 9 mm pistol and a .315 bore countrymade pistol from their possession. The two accused
were allegedly involved in a number of cases, including murder, car jacking,
kidnapping for ransom and illegal possession of arms.
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Constable found hanging
New Delhi, January 31
“No suicide note has been found after extensive search. We are trying to ascertain the cause of this extreme step and making inquiries,” he said, adding that the statement of his wife could be crucial. Denying that there was any ‘pressure’ on him or he was tense, the officer said that Karamvir was a quiet person and had been speaking even less during the past two to three days. He is married with two children and has a sister who is physically challenged. His body has been sent for a post-mortem examination, he added.—TNS
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Gang of looters busted
New Delhi, January 31 The police said the accused were apprehended after one Ram Charan and his cousin Rakesh lodged the complaint that the accused looted them of Rs 2,000 while they were travelling in the Shaheed Express Train from Delhi to Panipat. They allegedly boarded the train from Panipat and whipped out their dagger and looted the two complainants. Subsequently, a team was sent and after investigation the accused were apprehended from Panipat railway station. The police said it was a gang of five robbers, namely Deepak, Manjit, Ashok, Veera and Rakesh who were earlier also involved in similar criminal activities.—TNS
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