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No regularisation of illegal colonies without basic amenities: SC
Another financial scam rocks Ghaziabad
SSP reviews security of Gurgaon malls
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Grand finale to spectacular Surajkund Mela today
‘Law and order situation better in Haryana’
Facilitating interaction among academicians of different languages
Robbers strike in Sector 18 market again
Smuggling racket busted, arms seized
Drive against power theft intensified
Woman turned away by hospital delivers child on road
Symposium on forensic science at Khalsa College
Fashion designers withdraw petition seeking stay on demolition
Bid to treat education as commodity flayed
Students felicitated by NDMC
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No regularisation of illegal colonies without basic amenities: SC
New Delhi, February 14 “In case the State authorities are not in a position to make available the basic services in respect whereof it is admitted that there are severe limitations, there shall be no regularisation of unauthorised colonies,” a Bench of Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal, Mr Justice C K Thakker and Mr Justice P K Balasubramanyan said. The observation of the Bench came during the hearing of a PIL, registered by the Apex Court suo motu in 1994 on highly polluted Yamuna, the lifeline of the national Capital, which according to NCT Government’s own admission did not have any fresh water flowing in it in a 48-km stretch between Wazirabad barrage in the North and Okhla barrage in the South. The Bench expressed displeasure over the lack of progress in the past 10 years in desilting the river and major drains despite several directions issued by it as well as setting up Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) by the Delhi Jal Board on 38 drains to ensure that only treated water was allowed to flow in the river. The Apex Court said there has to be a “meticulous” implementation of the Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) for cleaning the river, failing which the huge amount being spent on the project would be going down the drain. The Court pointed out that the authorities were not well equipped to deal with the problem of providing minimum basic amenities to 1.5 crore population of the city, which was growing by four to five lakh every year due to large influx. It said that the illegal colonies were a major source of pollution in the river due to lack of water, electricity, roads and sewage systems in those. The DJB, which is the main agency to look after the water supply, drainage and sewage system in the Capital, in its affidavit admitted that Yamuna pollution problem “gets compounded as no water is allowed to flow through barrage during dry season, resulting in non-availability of any dilution capacity for the pollutants.” It said that the 18 drains between Wazirabad and Okhla originally built to carry the flood water to Yamuna, were now the major source of pollution as they were carrying “raw sewage” from unauthorised colonies to discharge in the river. “The pollution in the river is also due to open defecation by people living on the banks of Yamuna and along side of the 18 drains,” the DJB admitted. Since the water of the river was completely lifted at Wazirabad barrage to meet the drinking water needs of the city, “no supply is released downstream except in monsoon, as a result the water quality between Wazirabad and Okhla is much below the desired standard,” the DJB said.
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Another financial scam rocks Ghaziabad
Ghaziabad, February 14 Taxes on factories were determined fraudulently by giving the go-by to all rules and regulations. In the preliminary probe, frauds amounting to Rs 2 crore have come to light. The Nigam department will have to bear this revenue loss, it is learnt. At least on 27 factories, no tax was ever imposed. Efforts are afoot to sweep the scam beneath the carpet by the interested officials. It is learnt that Site IV industrial area, with 4000 malls and big units, comes under Vasundhra Zone of the Nagar Nigam. The annual target for revenue collection for Vasundhra Zone was pegged at Rs 8.50 crore out of which Rs 4.75 crore has been recovered. Every year rampant complaints are received for revenue collection from Vasundhra Zonal office, according to insiders. Revenue at the circle rate of Rs 1,500 per sq mt on land and construction was to be collected under rates fixed by the District Magistrate and the UPSIDC, but in industrial area site IV, nothing of the sort was done during 2004-05. A land rate of Rs 200 per sq mt was imposed by the department on factories for land as well construction. According to insiders, the Nigam made a revenue collection of over Rs 2.24 crore during 2004-05 from 40 factories in which the Nagar Nigam had to suffer a loss of Rs 1.68 crore. Less tax was determined for about a dozen factories while the remainder of the factories were allowed to go off scot-free without paying any tax at all. Even the probe, if conducted impartially, promises to be the biggest scam in the Nagar Nigam’s history. Additional DM (City) S. K. Singh and Site IV chief say tax component for these 40 factories will be determined afresh.
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SSP reviews security of Gurgaon malls
Gurgaon, February 14 The SSP directed them to frisk every visitor thoroughly and check all vehicles that come to their mall. There must be a metal detector at each entrance point of the mall. He further directed to employ extra staff to check the vehicle when it was parked in the basement of the mall. The mall can be a very soft target for anti-social elements as a large crowd is always present at any point of time in it, observed the SSP. Seven leading malls: Gold Souk, City Centre, Mega Mall, Grand Mall, Sahara Mall, MGF Metropolitan Mall and Plaza Mall were represented by their officials in the meeting. DLF management which has three malls in the city informed that they have a ‘blanket’ specially used to dilute the effects of a bomb in case it explodes. The SSP directed all other mall management to buy such blanket which costs around Rs 20,000 each. MGF Metropolitan Mall, where there was a hoax SMS of bomb on Sunday, does not have sufficient numbers of close-circuit television on its premises. The SSP directed its management to install CCTV immediately. This mall has footfalls of more than 50,000 persons on weekdays, informed a security personnel attached with the mall. On Sunday there were major lapses on the part of the administration as they did not call even ambulance and fire brigade when they were evacuating the Metropolitan Mall. The SSP said, “We have formed a committee under the chairmanship of Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr Rakesh Arya, with the security in-charge of every mall to pluck the loopholes in the security systems.” “We would soon make an evacuation and a traffic plan in case of emergency so that there should be no stampede and traffic jam,” informed the SSP. Mr Hanif Qureshi said they had not yet traced the originating point of the SMS of hoax bomb which was sent to the mobile phone of Haryana Director General of Police and the SSPs mobile phone on Sunday. The content of the SMS was the same on both phones ‘dangerbullet_girl: Koi nahi bachega. Mall main sab ke sab maare jayenge aaj’. There was no hoax call at police control room, clarified the officer. It was just the SMS on which we acted and took precautionary measures. However, he added that the police had come to know that the SMS was sent using the Internet and not the mobile phone. “We are tracing the Internet service provider (ISP) of the Internet user,” added the officer. A regular visitor of the mall, Mr Manish Verma suggested that the police and the management of the mall must not compromise on any issue as far as the security of the masses is concerned. It was a trial run and now we must make it a foolproof system for the safety of the general public, added Mr Verma.
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Grand finale to spectacular Surajkund Mela today
Faridabad, February 14 The Governor of Haryana, Mr A.R. Kidwai, will be the Chief Guest at the concluding function on February 15. According to the organisers, a total of over 3.59 lakh tickets had been sold till yesterday, which was the 13th day of the Mela. The number of visitors yesterday was unexpectedly low. The number of foreign nationals was also below expectations. The Mela authorities have been able to earn Rs 52.33 lakh till February 13 from the sale of tickets, though the cost of holding this mega event comes out around Rs 2 crore. It is reported that the Union Government contributed around Rs 35 lakh towards the total expenses. The rest of the cost is met by the Tourism department of Haryana, it is learnt. But huge funds were spent on the hospitality of VIPs and senior officials of the state and other departments. Many of the officers and bureaucrats reportedly make it convenient to stay or enjoy the weekend at the hotel of the Haryana Tourism here. The department also provides a ‘free’ catering to the VIPs and their families at the Mela site and the hotel. The Mela authorities also hold a special press preview a day ahead of the beginning of the event. The authorities provide bus service facilities from various points though the roadways may suffer losses in such operation. It is reported that a total of over 4.50 lakh visitors had come to the fair last time. However, the authorities concerned have been unable to make any noticeable changes or add to any infrastructure at the present site. Pankaj, a regular visitor to the Mela, claimed that the organisers had not provided proper seating arrangements to the visitors coming here. He said chairs in the ‘chaupal’ had been fewer in comparison to the people who wanted to enjoy the cultural show. Keeping in view the fact that a large number of visitors to the fair had been women and children, he said the authorities should provide more facilities to them. It may be recalled that the government had raised the entry ticket fee to Rs 25 this year. About 10,000 passes had also been distributed. The officials had deployed about 1,000 security personnel and another 500 to maintain the law and order.
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‘Law and order situation better in Haryana’
Gurgaon, February 14 Interacting with mediapersons here, he said in 11 months of its rule, the present government has devised plans to set up domestic power plants which would enhance the overall generation by 5000
MWs. On the other hand, past governments set up plants which could generate only 1860
MWs. Already works on some of the power projects have begun and the result would be for all to see in fewer than three years, he added. Referring to Gurgaon, he said that it has emerged as an international city. Big-time investors from far and wide have evinced interest to do business in Haryana, especially Gurgaon, since the present government came to power. His rationale for the claimed eagerness of the investors to do business in Haryana was that they were wary during the tenure of the past government. Dwelling on the issue, he said that Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has listed law and order at the top of the government’s priority list. With the law and order situation drastically improved, the investors are now ready to put their money in the state. Major players like Reliance group have already signed an MoU. On the law and order front, he said that either criminals have been put behind bars or have left the state ever since the present government came to the saddle. Earlier, the criminals used to operate from jails. When pointed out some of the areas like shortage of water, power and other infrastructure in Gurgaon, he said that it was a growing place. When a place is in evolution, there are bound to be teething problems. However, the government is aware of the situation and the Chief Minister has his hands on the button to redress them, he added. According to him in order to redress the shortage of water, the government has already redeemed its poll promise of equitable distribution of available pool of water in the state. This has benefited the areas of South Haryana encompassing Gurgaon, Rewari, Mahendragarh, Faridabad, Jhajhar and Mewat districts. Besides, in order to cheer up South Haryana, the government has decided to create another channel from West Yamuna canal which comes from the main Bhakra dam to bring additional water. This project would cost about Rs 259 crore, he added.
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Facilitating interaction among academicians of different languages
New Delhi, February 14 This was decided after the government got feedback that academicians and experts in languages, including Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Sanskrit and Sindhi, were unable to interact regularly, sources said. It may be pointed out that the Urdu Academy is located on Shamnath Marg, Hindi Academy in Padam Nagar near Gulabi Bagh, Punjabi Academy in Motia Khan, Sanskrit Academy in Karol Bagh, Sindhi Academy in Sadar Bazar and Sahitya Kala Parishad in Satsang Vihar. After having discussion with academicians of different languages and Sahitya Kala Parishad, the State government has planned to construct the building on a location where these people can interact with each other. The Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, held a meeting of senior officers of the Engineering Department of Public Works Department of the Delhi Government to discuss the building plan, plot area, cost of construction, sources said. The building was likely to come up near IP College where the government has a vacant plot. The building could be constructed in other areas but the government preferred this locality as this was close to the University of Delhi. It will take some time to start the construction work.
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Robbers strike in Sector 18 market again
Noida, February 14 Two criminals, atop a black Pulsar motorbike, had robbed an export company employee of Rs 2.50 lakh near the police post in Sector 18 on Monday. The employee of an export company in Gurgaon had come to withdraw money from a bank for making payment to another private company. But Noida SP Soumitra Yadav, expressing his suspicions, has taken the Gurgaon company employee into custody for interrogation. Tarun Mehra, an employee of Shiv Krishen Company in Gurgaon, had come here on his scooter. Since he could not get money from the bank, his company owner sent him to an acquaintance in Noida. After collecting a cheque from him, he went to a private bank in Sector 18. According to Mehra, as he walked to his scooter after withdrawing Rs 2.50 lakh from the bank, two persons on a black motorbike pushed him from behind and snatched the bag containing the cash. Tarun Mehra, instead of raising the alarm, stood mum on the spot for some time, according to witnesses. Then he informed the police and the man who had given him the cheque on phone. The police had immediately ordered putting up barricades and vehicle checks to nab the motorcyclists. After sometime, Tarun Mehra was taken into custody for interrogation as the incident appeared to be suspicious, the police said.
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Smuggling racket busted, arms seized
New Delhi, February 14 The police claimed to have recovered 28 pistols, 27 spare magazines from his possession. The police officials said that the accused was an accomplice of ISI agent Tariq Hassan, a native of Lahore, Pakistan. The accused was evading his arrest for the last 10 years in a case of arms smuggling that was registered in the Karol Bagh police station. Yesterday, he was caught from the airport while he was going to Pakistan to watch the cricket match being played between India and Pakistan. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police arrested one person for allegedly betting on the India-Pakistan cricket match. The accused has been identified as Neeraj Bhatia (35), a resident of Tagore Garden. The police claimed to have recovered one colour television, mobile phones, calculators and other accessories from their possession. The accused was running a satta racket at his shop at Vishal Market in the area.
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Drive against power theft intensified
New Delhi, February 14 The BSES’s drive against power thefts received a fillip when the Karkardooma Metropolitan Court rejected the anticipatory bail of a power thief and penalised yet another for Rs 1. 63 lakh. “We welcome the court orders and also appeal to the consumers at large to assist BSES eradicate the menace of power theft in the city,” said Mr Lalit Jalan, BSES director, while appreciating the assistance provided by the Delhi Police. In the first case, BYPL enforcement team caught one Mukesh, a SPD contractor at 72, Anna Nagar, East Delhi, on February 13 for stealing and illegally supplying electricity from an already disconnected meter by tapping into the nearby BSES LV mains. This particular SPD contractor was permitted to supply electricity to about 1,000 houses in the area and collect money from the residents on behalf of BYPL. According to a BSES spokesperson, “The SPD contractor was caught red handed. He was stealing and illegally supplying 325 KW of electricity. A penalty of Rs 1.30 crore has been slapped on the accused. Strict action would be taken against him as we have already lodged an FIR.”
— TNS
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Woman turned away by hospital delivers child on road
Noida, February 14 Since the place where the newborn made its entry into this world was near a private clinic, the doctors of the clinic took the mother and child into their care where both the baby and mother are reported to be in good health. This clinic in Sector 22 here is extending free treatment and care to the mother-child duo. Umesh Sharma of Chaura village, a rickshaw puller, had taken his wife Bhavna, 23, to Government Hospital on Monday morning. He was given an OPD ticket at the counter but the lady doctor at the maternity ward on the first floor, without examining the patient, turned her away, saying that Bhavna still had some more time for delivery. While returning home in a rickshaw, the woman developed pains and delivered her baby on the roadside. A woman shopkeeper had covered Bhavna with a bed sheet. Both were taken to the nearby Bajpai Clinic in Sector 22 where Dr Manoj Bajpai took the woman and child in his care. Timely treatment had saved the life of both the woman and her child. Doctor Bajpai offered treatment and medicines free of cost. Bhavna was under treatment at the government dispensary since November 2005. The shocking and callous attitude of lady doctors at government hospital in Sector 31 has been condemned by doctors and people alike.
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Symposium on forensic science at Khalsa College
New Delhi, February 14 Welcoming the delegates, the principal, Dr Jaswinder Singh, emphasised the importance of introducing B.Sc. Hons in Forensic Science at the undergraduate
level. — TNS
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Fashion designers withdraw petition seeking stay on demolition
New Delhi, February 14 Counsel for the 11 designers Sultan Singh initially complained to the court that the MCD was acting in an “insane” manner by demolishing the buildings. However, when the Division Bench of Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Rekha Sharma suggested that the matter could be clubbed with other related petitions and taken up on February 16, Singh sought the court’s permission to withdraw the petition. Accordingly, the court granted permission, treating the petition – “dismissed as withdrawn”. The petition related to a batch of applications moved by scores of businessmen carrying out their trade in the Capital’s ‘Lal Dora’ areas at 1 and 2, MG Road, which house several prominent fashion and lifestyle showrooms.
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Horse show brings out agility of young riders
New Delhi, February 14 The horse show is an integral part of the school activity, which highlights the skills of young riders and showcases the agility and synchronisation of riders. The highlights of the show were aerobics on horseback, an amalgamation of Manipuri and Bharatnatyam dances on horseback and trotting of the horses to music. Moreover, there was speed jumping, tent pegging and steeplechase performed with great equanimity and precision. The ‘Equestrian Club’, presented several mesmerising shows, symbolising the values of team spirit, steadiness, uniformity and adventure. Earlier, inaugurating the show, Dr V. K. Bhatnagar, founder chairman Manav Sthali organisation, highlighted the need to motivate children for constructive and competitive spirits at an early age.
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Bid to treat education as commodity flayed
New Delhi, February 14 Speaking on the occasion, Prof. J P Singhal criticised the attempts of the government to treat education as a commodity rather than a powerful mechanism for social transformation. He castigated private financing of higher education. Mr Shriram Oberoi, former DUTA president, demanded that the government should consider the constitution of a higher education regulatory authority to lay down the rules and guidelines for proper regulation of the entire education system. Spokesperson of the ABRSM, Dr Virendra Bhardwaj said the resolutions passed at the two-day seminar will be communicated to the Ministry of Human Resource Development in the form of a
memorandum. — TNS
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Students felicitated by NDMC
New Delhi, February 14 Mr Keshav Chandra, secretary, NDMC, distributed the prizes among the meritorious students in a function organised at NP Bengali Senior Secondary School, Gole Market,
today. — TNS
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