New Delhi, August 25
Agitated over the decision of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to begin sealing of certain categories of commercial structures from September 1, traders went on a fast in various part of the Capital.

Women traders were on a fast at Rohini yesterday. Traders sat on a fast at Lajpat Nagar and the GT-Karnal Road today.

The protesters, including working women and housewives, have urged the government to save the trade here from sealing.

Trade leaders, including Confederation of All India Traders secretary-general Praveen Khandelwal, senior vice-president Ramesh Khanna and Federation of Delhi Trade Associations’ secretary Murli Mani, who are also on fast, said the MCD sealing drive had damaged the business here to a great extent. There was a decline of about 30 per cent in trade volume in the past two months, they said.

Moreover, the upcountry traders were refraining from coming to Delhi for purchases. This was posing a major threat to the distributive character of the Delhi trade. Beside retail markets, even the wholesale markets of Delhi wore a deserted look.

The trade leaders planned to exert pressure on all leading political parties in Parliament for mounting pressure on the Union Government to bring an ordinance or Bill to resolve the sealing issue. They were also planning to meet former Prime Ministers to garner support.

Families of traders in Delhi comprising women, children and their old aged parents, will also hold a ‘Chetawani Sammelan’ in the capital on August 27 under the aegis of the Confederation of All India Traders. The meet, while warning the Government, will pose a question as to why lakhs of people of Delhi are being deprived of their livelihood, CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal said.

Meanwhile, a delegation of traders met Union Minister of State for Urban development Ajay Maken at his office last night and strongly urged him that the government should not act as a silent spectator and take concrete steps to protect lakhs of people of Delhi.

The delegation said that once the business establishments were destroyed, any attempt made thereafter would be of no use.

Expressing his concern over the situation arising out of the August 10 Supreme Court order, Mr Maken said the Urban Development Ministry and the government had taken due cognizance of the matter and the degree to which people of Delhi would be affected in the event of sealing of shops.

Mr Maken informed that the DDA was already on its way to consider objections and suggestions received from people of Delhi on proposed modifications in Master Plan 2001 and that the Government intended to give maximum possible relief to the people of Delhi by way of proposed modifications for which due statutory proceedings are followed.

He said the government was very carefully looking into various aspects of the issue and while upholding the provisions of the law, every attempt would be made to protect the people of Delhi. Also, considering the humanitarian aspect of the issue, the Government is all set to seek cooperation even from opposition parties along with UPA coalition partners, if the situation so warranted, Mr Maken said.

New Delhi, August 25
An Uttar Pradesh police official told a court today that body of Trinagar councillor Atma Ram Gupta, who was murdered after being kidnapped from Delhi in 2002, was recovered from a canal in Bullandshahr district of the state.

Deposing as prosecution witness before a fast track court of Bharat Parashar, Sub-inspector Rambir Singh said Gupta’s body was recovered from Dahar Ki Madiaya in Bullandshahr district seven days after his murder on August 24, 2002 following an information by Delhi police officials.

The official handed over the body to Gupta’s brother Ved Prakash Gupta after the post mortem examination.

UP police constable Lalit Kumar and a senior scientific officer, FSL Delhi also deposed during the recording of evidence today in the case.

Councillor Gupta was murdered at Chajjupur village in Ghaziabad district after being kidnapped from Delhi. Police have alleged his fellow Councillor Sharda Jain masterminded the murder as she had an affair with Gupta and was jealous over his growing closeness to another Councillor, Memwati Barwala.

A total of nine accused including Jain, her brother and three UP Police officials are facing trial in the case.

New Delhi, August 25
After the scrutiny of applications for the Delhi University Students’ Union elections, the administration has released a list of candidates who have been found eligible for contesting the poll.

Seven candidates from the ABVP filed nominations. These include Gargi Lakhanpal, Jyoti Mahlawat, Surinder Rawat, Jitendra Shokeen, Kapil Garg, Navendra Gulia and Vikas Dahiya.

From the NSUI, the list of candidates includes Ramit Shehrawat, Amrita Dhawan, Shashi Kant, Deepak Chaudhary, Pervez Chaudhary, Abhimanyu Singh, Poonam Yadav, Tarun Tanwar, Devraj Tehlan and Kabir Tokas.

The recently floated United Students has four candidates. These are Aaditya Dar for president, Anshulika Dubey for secretary, Nikhita Arora for vice-president and Lian Min Thang for joint secretary.

While 58 candidates have filed their nomination for the post of president, 54 have filed for vice-president and joint secretary and 57 for secretary.

New Delhi, August 25
The success of the Delhi Metro has led countries like Sri Lanka and Syria to approach the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for preparation of feasibility reports for metro systems for Colombo and Damascus respectively, the Lok Sabha was told today.

Replying to a query in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Urban Development Ajay Maken said,’’ requests have been received from the Governments of Sri Lanka and Syria for preparation of feasibility reports for Metro systems for the capital cities of Colombo and Damascus respectively.’’ Mr Maken said the DMRC had also received requests from several state governments for preparation of feasibility reports/ detailed project reports for setting up metro systems in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Noida, Gurgaon, Faridabad and Pune. The Minister, however, stated that the purpose of the consultancy services was not purely commercial.

‘’The DMRC is undertaking consultancy on the basis of the experience gained and the expertise while executing the Delhi Metro Project, mainly to help and guide the state governments wanting to plan similar systems in their cities. Hence, the charges proposed are meagre compared to other international consultants,’’ Mr Maken said.

While the net revenue generated by DMRC from consultancy services, after meeting all expenditure related to field survey and studies was Rs 0.90 crore in 2002-03, Rs 2.08 crore in 2003-04, Rs 2.18 crore in 2004-05 and Rs 4.68 crore in 2005-06, Mr Maken said.

New Delhi, August 25
Expressing deep resentment against the hair-cutting incident of a Sikh youth in Jaipur, Sri Guru Singh Sabha has said this had hurt the Sikh community. In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Smt. Vasundra Raje, the president of the organisation blamed the state government for this condemnable and irresponsible act.

“It is a matter to ponder over that the culture of intolerance has been on increase for some time in the state, as minorities are being targeted in systemic manner. There is no doubt that it will prove to be a serious blow to the secular fabric of the country. Such dastardly acts of intimidating a religious minority cannot be tolerated, otherwise this could lead to chain reaction and issue like this falling into foul hands,” he said. — OC

Gurgaon, August 25
The Punjab and Haryana High Court is regularly monitoring the commercial use of residential properties here. Senior officials of the departments concerned have initiated a special drive to take recourse to legal measures against the rampant commercialisation.

Cellphone towers of different companies, schools, guesthouses and offices of real estate agents enjoy a ubiquitous presence in residential areas.

In the course of a survey conducted by the Haryana Urban Development Authority two days ago, it was found 37 towers by leading mobile service providers like Reliance, Airtel, Hutch and Tata had been built illegally, putting the life and property of people in residential areas at risk.

As many as 395 houses in different sectors developed by HUDA came under the scanner. These were being put to commercial use illegally.

In December 2005, commercial activity was detected at only 177 houses. The number of such houses had more than doubled in a short span of time.

In the colonies developed by private developers, the commercial use of residences is more blatant. The District Town Planner (Enforcement) said 794 house owners were found making commercial use of their premises.

Giving details, she said DLF City had 192 cases in Phase I, 230 in Phase II, 123 in Phase III, 47 in Phase IV and one in Phase V. South City I had 13 cases, South City II three, Sushant Lok I 108, Sushant Lok II 37, Sushant Lok III two cases, May Field Garden two cases, R D City one case, Saraswati Kunj two cases, Green Wood City three cases and Palam Vihar 30.

Mr S. P. Gupta, HUDA Administrator, said an order for sealing a prominent school in Sector 4, Blue Bell School, was passed yesterday. The school owner had clubbed two residential plots, nos 934 and 934-A to run the school.

On August 23, the DTP (E) lodged an FIR against two house owners who had broken the seal put up on their houses in DLF City.

DLF was using the green belt illegally for parking for Mega Mall in Phase I of DLF City. The DTP (E) had demolished the parking and started work on greening the area a couple of days ago, added Mr Gupta. Leading corporate offices and malls in connivance with officers of different departments had converted the service road, green belt and other open places into parking slots for their employees and visitors.

HUDA had directed all mall owners to vacate the land. The department had already started work on building a service road to decongest MG Road, informed the Administrator.

The 3-km MG Road stretch between IFFCO crossing on NH-8 and the Gurgaon-Delhi Mehrauli border had more than 20 malls and corporate offices.

The Estate Officer, HUDA, Mr V. S. Hooda, said the department would soon serve notices on all violators and would not buckle under any pressure. He reiterated that the example of Delhi in violations in residential areas should not be replicated in Gurgaon.

HUDA had made a clear division of work for better results. Roads and berms would be looked after by a XEN for HUDA sectors, the markets by the Estate Officer, and the green belt, parks and open spaces by the XEN, Horticulture, and the DTP (E). The controlled areas and private developers’ areas would be supervised by the DTP (E), informed Mr Gupta.

Greater Noida, August 25
A retired (lekhpal) revenue official in Mohammedabad Khera village under Rabupura police station has been booked for allotting five acres of gram panchayat land to his relatives, fraudulently.

The report of the land scam, which took place about 20 years ago, has been lodged by Tehsil official against the former Lekhpal and four others for cheating and fraud. Bhavi Chand from Mohammedabad Khera village was a lekhpal in Javer tehsil some 20 years ago. About 5 acre gram Samaj land vide Khata No.153 and gata No.233 has then been allotted to his daughter-in-law Nirmla Devi, wife of Pradeep, Prem Pal s/o Roshan, Rameshwari w/o of Roshan and Kanchan s/o Babu. The land had also been transferred to the names of these persons.

Some people had objected to this and lodged a complaint with higher authorities, but due to his contacts no action was reportedly taken against Bhavi Chand. After Bhavi Chand’s retirement, the villagers again lodged a complaint. An inquiry was held and these people were found guilty. Revenue inspector – Rampal Saini then lodged a case against five people under Sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 for fraud and tampering documents.

When Prem Pal and Kanchan had reportedly sold 11 Bigha of their land through property agents, a complaint was lodged with Revenue Board member T. George Joseph, who has instructed Dy DM Javer JB Singh to conduct an inquiry. While the sellers were absconding, the new owners of the land might face losses, as the land was likely to be declared as gram Samaj land again, source said.

Noida, August 25
The Noida Authority has earned Rs 200 crore as registration fee deposited with forms for HIG flat in 8 to 10 hours on the last day.

The HIG flats scheme, which had been described as a flop scheme by realtors, had put Rs 200 crore in the Noida Authority’s accounts with different banks in one day.

Over 3500 HIG forms were reportedly deposited on the last day and Noida Authority was richer by Rs 6 lakh as registration fee deposited with each form. During earlier 19 days, the Noida Authority had received mere Rs 50 crore on this account.

Now, the Noida Authority will earn a fat amount as interest on the amount, even if it keeps this money for a short duration in its coffers.

Noida, August 25
The Unitech Developers who have been allotted 13.72 lakh sq. mt. land in Sector-96, 97 and 98 for developing Expressway City Project have deposited Rs. 145 crore as stamp duty. A certificate to this effect is expected to be issued to M/s. Unitech within a day or two and the registry documents are likely to be delivered to them next week.

This amount has also enabled the stamp department to achieve its revenue target.

New Delhi, August 25
Jan Morcha, a political forum launched by former Prime Minister V P Singh, will hold protests in the capital over issues such as power crisis and sealing of shops in residential areas.

“Chief Minister Sheila Diskhit has pleaded helplessness over the issue of power crisis. This is very unfortunate. We will be organising a demonstration on the issue on August 29 here,” Jan Morcha national president and MP Raj Babbar told reporters here.

Besides, the forum would hold a public rally on September 10 to protest the sealing drive of MCD which is set to begin from September one.

“The government should come up with a comprehensive package or legislation to protect lakhs from losing their livelihood,” he demanded.

Babbar also accused the DDA of exploiting the farmers by acquiring their land at dirt-cheap rates.

“DDA acquired the land from the poor farmers at Rs 10,000 per acre. The same land is being sold for crores of rupees,” he said demanding 25 per cent of the profit made by DDA be paid back to the farmers.

Meanwhile, in reply to a question, Babbar said no discussion has taken place between Jan Morcha and expelled BJP leader Madan Lal Khurana for launching a third front in Delhi. 

New Delhi, August 25
Hot and humid weather continued in the Capital today even though westerly winds provided some relief from the sultry conditions of yesterday.

Though there was a slight drop in the maximum temperature to 34 degrees Celsius from 35.3 degree C yesterday yet the high humidity level left Delhiites perspiring. Some relief was, however, provided by a fresh wave of westerly winds.

New Delhi, August 25
An international exhibition showcasing the processed food industry will be held from August 31 to September 3 at Pragati Maidan, here.

The exhibition christened as Food and Technology Expo-2006 will be inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Subodh Kant Sahai on August 31.

The exhibition aims to disseminate information on the latest developments in processed food and food technology sector.

Organised by NNS Group, the four-day event will focus on the latest technology involved in the processing of cereals pulses, spices, dairy products, bakery and confectionary products besides exhibiting a wide range of food products and their derivatives.

Set to be participated by more than 120 companies of national and international repute, the expo will help domestic companies to know about the recent developments in the international food sector. According to Rajesh Gupta, MD, NNS Group, the exhibition is supported by Export Inspection Council of India, Union Commerce and Industry Ministry, Federation of All India Rice Miller’s

Association, All India Food Processors’ Association and Federation of Biscuit Manufacturers’ Association of India. It will also showcase ancillary industries like storage, banking, etc.

New Delhi, August 25
Bharti eye foundation here has acquired a new system of Epi-LASIK in which the flap thickness is only 50 microns and since this flap is the epithelial layer of the cornea, it does not reduce the thickness of the corneal stroma which is the main strength of the cornea.

Thus in Epi-LASIK, there is no loss of corneal thickness and it is better for those people who are declared unfit for lasik due to either higher power or small corneal thickness.

Epi-LASIK provides greater safety in eyes with high myopia in the range of over-8 dioptres. There are other advantages of Epi-LASIK in a person with large pupil in dark situations. With a large pupil, a person starts having glare and holes and has difficulty in driving.

Noida, August 25
In a ghastly incident, a 16-year-old girl was burnt alive by a man who wanted to rape her in Killa colony under Javer police station.

According to the victim’s mother, Rashida, who has lodged a report with the police, she had taken her daughter along with another girl to her new house in the colony on Tuesday. She added that a cousin of the other girl who was already there in the house started harassing her daughter. She further alleged that the man even attempted to rape her daughter.

When the girl threatened to tell her family about this, the youth caught hold of her hair and tied her with a peg. Thereafter, he sprinkled kerosene oil on her and set her ablaze. After committing the crime, he fled away. Some neighbours, hearing the cries of the girl came to her rescue and rushed the badly charred girl to Delhi’s Safdarjung hospital, where she succumbed to her burns on Wednesday.

Rashida further alleged that the police had not taken any action in the matter so far, and instead putting pressure on her for a compromise. SO police, however, denied if any written report had been lodged.

The victim’s friend is also suspected to have assisted her cousin brother in the crime.

Addl. Police Superintendent, Sudhir Kumar, however, said the case was being investigated and strict action would be taken against the guilty persons.

New Delhi, August 25
A 94-year-old woman was allegedly strangled in Old Rajinder Nagar area of Central Delhi during a heist this morning.

Kaushalya Bhalla, who lived with her second son in Gurgaon and had come to her ‘own’ home in Old Rajinder Nagar about a fortnight back, was found strangled in the kitchen by her maid at about 1200 hrs, according to sources. Her hands and feet were also found tied.

Robbery seems to be the motive as the room was scattered with belongings all over, said the police.

While one of her sons, Harish worked in ONGC Gurgaon, her elder son Surender was a consultant with the Nepal government. Her two other sons — Prakash and Prithviraj — and a daughter — Saroj — live in the US.

Neighbours said she was seen last at about 0930 hrs.

Noida, August 25
With the arrest of six persons, the Noida police Sector-39 have busted a gang involved in several murder and robbery cases. Sewing and interlock machines worth Rs 12 lakh, along with two daggers, have been recovered from their possession.

According to the police, the gang had reportedly looted the machines after killing a security guard in Sectors 58 and 24. After looting costly machines, the gang used to sell these to junk dealers for Rs 10 to Rs 15 thousands.

In view of increasing incidents of loot and robberies, SSP had asked the police to keep an eye on such gangs. On a tip-off, the police had arrested these criminals from new Kondli area when they were planning to commit a big crime. The arrested criminals identified as Karmesh Badayun, Shyam Sunder, Abbas Mohd Shaffi, Sompal and Rahul. The kingpin of the gang was Noor Mohd from Badayun, who would buy machines from criminals at half or quarter price and used to sell it to junk dealers.

New Delhi, August 25
Three persons, who had committed robbery two years ago in a house in North–West Delhi in disguise of carpenters, have been convicted by a city court. The Additional Session Judge Mr. Narottam Kaushal sentenced the mastermind of the incident Wasim, a native of Uttar Pradesh, to 10 years rigorous imprisonment under Section 397 (robbery or dacoity with attempt to cause death or grivious hurt) of the IPC and also slapped a fine of Rs 10,000.

The other two Shamshuddin and Khurshid Alam were awarded seven years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000 each under section 392 (robbery) of the IPC by the court. An FIR was lodged at Janakpuri Police Station on March 13, 2004 by a house wife Nirmal Jutshi that the three men, who were engaged for undertaking woodwork in the house, committed a daylight robbery in her house with the help of their four accomplices.