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No new taxes likely in Budget
Conversion charges
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Haryana, UP not giving enough water: CM
Man shot at for objecting
to eve-teasing
Custody death case against police
Cops clueless about boy’s killers
Kiran Bedi honoured
Threat to blow up rly stations
Firms join hands for GreenSpaces
Paediatric summit held
Ghaziabad tops in pollution level
Symposiums held in JNU
Bus passengers assaulted
Stone of community centre laid
Artscape
Train mows down 2 kids
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New Delhi, March 16 With assembly elections due in November, Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna is likely to announce major sops, particularly for the development of unauthorised colonies that are home to over 3.5 million people. Delhi finance minister A.K. Walia will present the Budget for 2008-09 on March 24. The government has sought Rs 90 billion from the Planning Commission. The government has decided to regularise as many as 1,400 unauthorised colonies, official sources said. “An action plan for the development of these colonies will be the main feature of the Lt. Governor’s speech,” an official said. The government intends to provide basic amenities like roads, power and water supply to these colonies. The sources said that Dikshit assured the Congress party’s state unit chief, J.P. Aggarwal, that her government would not levy new taxes. Earlier, Aggarwal expressed unhappiness a proposal to hike taxes on pets. “I had written to the chief minister following the public outburst on hiking taxes for pets. She gave a positive response,” Aggarwal told IANS. “I expect no new taxes in the budget and more funds for development.” The Congress has ruled Delhi for 10 years although it lost the municipal corporation of Delhi (MCD) polls to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) last year. The budget will also focus on health, education, tourism and facilities for senior citizens. The government intends to spend Rs 13 billion on urban development since the infrastructure needs to be upgraded ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Medical infrastructure is likely to get Rs 8.2 billion, while the housing sector stands to gain Rs 1.8 billion. Basic health facilities including procurement of equipment in government hospitals would get Rs 509 million, officials said.—IANS
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Conversion charges
New Delhi, March 16 They sought this in a communiqué sent to Union urban development minister Jaipal Reddy, minister of state Ajay Maken, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Tejendra Khanna and Delhi Mayor Aarti Mehra. The CAIT in a press note issued today claimed that there was confusion over the payment of conversion charges because of differences in the Master Plan — 2021, the Delhi Laws (special provision) Act, 2007 and other related statutory provisions being in force. It stated that confusion prevailed over the status of commercial buildings allotted by the MCD, the DDA and other authorities. The concerned departments have not issued any clarification on the areas that have been declared commercial from time to time. The CAIT release stated that the last date for paying conversion charges should be extended beyond March 31 and the MCD should clarify as to what falls under the purview of conversion charges. The CAIT added that the apex court had again exempted special areas comprising Walled City, Sadar Bazar, Karol Bagh and Paharganj from registration in its recent order. In view of the apex court’s order and centuries old commercial character of special area, the MCD should immediately declare exemption from conversion charges. Registration is pre-condition to conversion charges and when no registration is required, then conversion charges cannot be levied.
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Haryana, UP not giving enough water: CM
New Delhi, March 16 She said that if both states do not release water, the Delhi government would not hesitate to knock at the door of Supreme Court for its share of water. The Chief Minister further said that the Delhi government is committed to providing equitable water to the residents of Delhi. The DJB is striving hard to get water from the neighbouring states. She expressed displeasure over Haryana and UP for not releasing water despite the intervention of the union government as well as the Supreme Court. The Chief Minister also said that the completion of rehabilitation of trunk sewers in West Delhi will make them fully functional eliminating the possibility of blockage, maintenance of peripheral and internal sewers. It will increase the life of sewerage system for further 50 years. Once these sewers are rehabilitated, the 150 kms of Delhi’s trunk sewer network will be in proper shape. Chief Executive Officer, DJB, Arun Mathur informed that the residents of two parliamentary constituencies including seven assembly constituencies —Raja Garden, Punjabi Bagh, Tilak Nagar, Janakpuri, Patel Nagar, Moti Nagar, Vikaspuri will benefit from this network.
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Man shot at for objecting
to eve-teasing
New Delhi, March 16 Praveen Kumar owns Urvashi fast food shop at Hauzpur Chowk in northeast Delhi. “A person had an argument with Praveen on Saturday night. He came back with a few of his friends and shot at Praveen,” deputy commissioner of police Jaspal Singh told IANS. “Praveen was rushed to the Guru Teg Bahadur hospital, where his condition is described as stable,” Singh said.—IANS
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Custody death case against police
New Delhi, March 16 The case was registered after a magisterial enquiry found the Delhi police special staff sleuths guilty. The enquiry was set up by the DCP (south-west district) following an uproar raised by Vicky’s family members at the Safdarjung Hospital where he died after being admitted by the police for stomachache. Vicky, a pickpocket, was caught from Golf Course parking on March 13, following a tip-off by special staff sleuths, Dhaula Kuan. According to police, the victim complained of stomachache while they were on their way, following which, the PCR men took him to the ICU of the Safdarjunj Hospital. However, the family members alleged that Vicky was thrashed by the police and died due to the injuries.
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Cops clueless about boy’s killers
New Delhi, March 16 According to senior police officials of the outer district, four police teams have been formed and working out investigation from different angles. Most of the Sunday was spent by Dr Sagar Preet, DCP, Outer Delhi, in meetings with the police officials engaged in the investigation. |
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Kiran Bedi honoured
New Delhi, March 16 The prize named after Annemarie - Madison, is awarded to persons and organisations that have done a commendable work in health care and represent patient’s rights. The citation read that Dr Kiran Bedi had carved a niche for herself. As the inspector general (prisons) in the early 1990s, she initiated reforms that included detoxification programmes, healthier food, improved sanitary conditions, lessons in reading and writing and even made learning of foreign languages possible for prisoners. She implemented programmes like — tree plantation (green zones) inside prisons and ‘Vipasana’ - the Zen - Buddhist meditation project for convicts, among others. |
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Model stumbles during Parashar’s show
New Delhi, March 16 Decked in embroidered, red flowing harem pants and a yellow top, Priya’s right foot got stuck in the dress and she tripped on the runway. But Parashar, quick to rebuff rumours, said that the incident wasn’t a publicity gimmick. “Every designer or for that matter even a model wishes that their show runs smoothly. There is no reason why one would plant such an incident to spoil the show,” Parashar told IANS. She also said there was no fault with the fitting of the outfit. “There was nothing wrong with the fitting of the garment. It wasn’t a very tough outfit. Maybe, since the harem pants were very flowing, it caused her to trip,” Parashar said. “And it is not a wardrobe malfunction that it is being blown out of proportion by the media. The model managed it well,” she added. Said Priya: “I think it wasn’t my day. In fact, (it was) a bad day for me. And it’s not pleasant to talk about it. Every model at some point of time faces such a mishap. But it is just an accident!” Parashar’s line, titled ‘Mysteriously seductive diva will be dressed in vintage style’, offered dresses and jackets teamed with trousers with stylish details. Rich embroidery, stones and crystals drew attention to broad empire lines and hemlines. Fabrics like soft velvets, ornate brocades, chanderis, Benarasi georgettes and light nets were used, while clothes made of eco-friendly and biodegradable Birla cellulose fibre were also showcased. The colour palette encompassed burgundy, ruby, faded greens and lots of antique golden hues, which could be seen in prints, dense sequins and thread work. On Friday, a wardrobe malfunction occurred during Rajesh Pratap Singh’s show. There was a flutter when Belgian model Debbie’s dark blue dress, which had a deep cowl neck, suddenly slipped off from her left shoulder while she was walking the ramp. During Varun Bahl’s show the same day, model Shamita’s shoe slipped as she began walking. But she simply took off her other shoe and walked with the pair in her hand. The 2006 Lakme India Fashion Week in Mumbai too saw some wardrobe malfunctions. While model Carol Gracias’ halter-top slipped off, Gauhar Khan became a victim of splitting zippers. — IANS
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Threat to blow up rly stations
Ghaziabad, March 16 In the letter sent to Hapur railway station under Moradabad Division, Karim Ansari has threatened to blow up railway stations under Ambala, Delhi, Ferozpur, Lucknow and Moradabad railway divisions on March 23. Karim has identified himself as a terrorist of Lakshre-e-Toyaba outfit. Besides New Delhi, Hardwar, Varansai, Meerut, Ghaziabad railway stations, Karim has also threatened to blow up New Delhi’s Tihar Jail. Officials however say that Lakshre-e-Toyaba activists normally send such threats on the letterheads of their own outfits. Besides, Toyaba is spelt Toyba in this letter. It is perhaps the handiwork of some miscreants, officials feel. RPF commander Rattan Chand said in this letter, New Delhi railway station is also mentioned. “We have written to GRP Ambala, AIG, GRP, Patiala and additional deputy commissioner of police of Delhi railway station to beef up the security in these railway stations. We ourselves are also not taking any chances,” Rattan Chand said. Hapur station master had received this letter on March 9 and it was received by Tara Chand in Moradabad on Friday. According to one version, Karim might have written the letter to get Abdul Guru freed, who is lodged in Tihar Jail after his conviction in attack on Parliament. Whatever the objective of sending this threatening letter, we are not taking any chances and foolproof security is being arranged to meet any exigency, commander Tara Chand said.
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Firms join hands for GreenSpaces
New Delhi, March 16 GreenSpaces is an IT/ITES SEZ being set up in Faridabad. ITT Corporation has agreed to provide world-class fluid technology solutions for the GreenSpaces project. Kamal Meattle, CEO, GreenSpaces, said, “To create a truly green building of world standards with water and wastewater treatment, sewage treatment and recycling of water, we plan to work with the world leader in fluid technology. ITT’s fluid handling solutions, proven world over, will help make GreenSpaces the world’s most energy-efficient commercial building and achieve the status of a Platinum LEED certified building. |
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Paediatric summit held
New Delhi, March 16 Experts from across the country and abroad had participated in the summit. It aimed at enhancing the knowledge of medical practitioners on issues related to pediatrics. The CME emphasised on advances in diagnostic techniques like MRI, clinical application of molecular biology, vaccines like HPV for prevention of cervical cancer and rotavirus vaccine for infantile diarrhoea. Dr Anupam Sibal, group medical director, Apollo Hospitals, said, “At the Apollo Hospitals it is our constant endeavor to keep abreast with the international updates and utilise them to enhance the knowledge and practices of our experts. The advances in this field will lead to right diagnosis, which would lead to right prevention and further to right therapeutics at the right time.” The Indraprastha Apollo Hospital has a specialised centre for advanced pediatrics called ACPC ‘Apollo Centre for Advanced Pediatrics’. To provide comprehensive management of problems of neonates and children, support is provided from experts in rehabilitation and physiotherapy, dietetics and nutrition and child guidance. The centre has well-equipped pediatric and neonatal intensive care units. The ACAP also offers facilities for transporting critically ill babies and children. It has a back up of 50 specialty departments at the Hospital such as — cardiothoracic surgery, interventional radiology, nuclear medicine, immunology and transfusion medicine.
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Ghaziabad tops in pollution level
Ghaziabad, March 16 Rajendra Tyagi, Ghaziabad municipal councillor, claimed at a press conference that 621 city buses permitted to run on 22 sanctioned routes were no longer operational. Instead, more than 6,000 illegal pollution-generating three-wheelers have replaced the city buses in collusion with the local traffic police and the transport department, he alleged. This, he maintained, was not only causing loss to the state exchequer but also contributing to the high pollution levels in the city. This has led to a rise in pollution level from 300 microgram per cubic metre to 450 microgram per cubic metre in last one year, he added. — IANS
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Symposiums held in JNU
New Delhi, March 16 The workshop revolved around bio medical, biophysical research and environmental issues. It highlighted the effects of electromagnetic radiation on living beings. Mobile phones and domestic microwave ovens emit such radiation. Some of the topics that were discussed included issues like, mobile phones and biological effects, radiation hazards and safety standards and electromagnetic fields and environment. Besides, School of Physical Sciences, JNU had organised a two-day symposium on ‘Modern Trends in Chemistry: Molecules to materials’. A two-day symposium was also organised on ‘Brain Cognition and Behaviour.’ Both the symposiums concluded on Saturday. |
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Bus passengers assaulted
New Delhi, March 16 The incident took place near Keshopur bus stand when the youths armed with sticks, bats and rods stopped the bus and ordered passengers to alight. Those who refused to get down were beaten inside the bus. The miscreants also broke the windowpanes. But, they did not touch the driver and the conductor. However, the passengers have denied of being looted. Anil, the bus-driver, said that he had no option but to stop the bus, as the youths were standing in the middle of the road. “As soon as I stopped the bus, the goons got inside and started beating passengers. The passengers were assaulted for over half an hour and those who resisted were beaten more”, said Anil. One passenger was released after the first aid from the DDU Hospital while two are still undergoing treatment.
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Stone of community centre laid
New Delhi, March 16 Rs 174.19 lakh would be spent on the community hall. It will have two storeys, which will house a library and a teaching centre. “Though community halls have come up in all blocks of Janakpuri, but this built on 2,500 sq yard will be the most modern. This would be the first air-conditioned community hall,” said Mukhi. |
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‘Hands of Hope’ to document stories of obstacles and successes
Ravi Bhatia Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 16 The pictures attempt to illustrate the different forms of labour and income-generating activities in which SEWA members are involved, including individual and collective forms of struggle against corruption, diminishing natural resources and economic opportunities. The photographs are intended to document SEWA members’ stories of obstacles and successes experienced in their struggles to establish and maintain self-sufficiency, with a special focus towards particular moments of joy and the hopes and dreams which members have for future generations and communities. Each photograph is accompanied by a brief notation, highlighting the activities presented and the state from which the subject hails. The intention is to highlight the various trades in which women engage in order to support their families, especially those trades associated with specific geographic regions, and to honor these demonstrations of women’s empowerment. Through this exhibition, the audience (members and non-members of SEWA) will have been presented a real-life illustration of the lives of SEWA members from around the country, reinforcing SEWA’s philosophy of solidarity and collective struggle for self-sufficiency. SEWA, being the largest trade union of women workers in the informal sector with more than one million members, will represent the story of thousands of women workers throughout the country. “Hands of Hope” is a project conceived and photographed by Sanjay Kumar, coordinator of SEWA Bharat on behalf of the organization. Sanjay has been involved with the SEWA movement for nearly nine years, and is currently completing his doctoral theses on “Micro Finance Interventions among Women Workers: A Comparative Study of SEWA in India and BRAC in Bangladesh” from Jawaharlal Nehru University. He started his career with SEWA by organizing women vendors in Delhi. He has been involved with all types of activities both at the grassroots and policy level. Taking advantage of his vast experience with the informal sector workers and his passion for photography, he decided to share the lives of poor women workers with the outer world through the exhibition and proposed book. ‘Endless Echoes’Sahaj Sankalp and Studio Vasant here are presenting “Endless Echoes”, an exhibition of paintings by artists Indu Tripathi and Ajay Kumar Sameer from March 14 to March 19 at the Experimental Art Gallery, India Habitat Centre here. Indu Tripathy did her M.A. (Fine Art) from Agra College, Agra, with a Senior Fellowship by Department of Culture. Her select shows were held at Lokayata, New Delhi, ANZ Grindlays, New Delhi, Tapaswini Art Gallery, New Delhi, Collectors Stop, New Delhi, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, Art Junction, Hotel International, Delhi, Russian Centre, New Delhi Nehru Centre, Mumbai, British High Commission, New Delhi, Studio Vasant, New Delhi. Her works are in some of the major collections in India and abroad. Sameer has done B.F.A. Painting from College of Art, New Delhi and held several solo shows and group shows at Triveni Art Gallery, Shahjahan Art Gallery, Lalit Kala Gallery, Krishna Art Gallery, Dhoomimal Art Gallery, PBC Art Gallery etc. and participated in several others. His medium is water colour and he specializes in landscapes. His collections form a part of Prime Minister’s home, Gulzar’s home, National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi Shahjahan Art Gallery, New Delhi, Hotel Siddharth and Vasant Continental, amongst others. Art in Rajasthan
The Dhoomimal Art Centre here is holding an exhibition “Art Today in Rajasthan” from March 10 to March 26. The exhibition has on display paintings by some of the well-known contemporary artists. The exhibition is curated by Shail Choyal. Solo exhibition of paintings
Gallerie Alternatives is presenting a solo exhibition of paintings by Sougata Guha from March 15 to March 30 in Phase - I, Gurgaon. Born in Chittaranjan, West Bengal, Sougata at heart has never quite left behind the quiet climes of life back home, innocent and unassuming. Those were the days when he did not know about art schools and its yields. He swayed in his personal hammock of contentment, cocooned by a wish list which graduated with time from artisan’s toys, to picking tamarind and raw mangoes from the neighbourhood orchard, each friend a little barefoot soldier of his own, to concerns of livelihood, secure with leisure for local gossip after work. Between his Bachelor’s Degree in Painting from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, and his Master’s from MS University, Baroda, he spent a year at Kalabhavan, Shantiniketan recounting with gratitude his association with mentor Salil Sahani, whose advice and suggestions he continues to value deeply. Baroda provided exposure to artists from different backgrounds and insights into various kinds of art writing, gaining him confidence in expressing himself with boldness and honesty. Anurakti’s exhibition Anurakti Wagh, a local artist is holding an exhibition of her creations at gallery number 7, Lalit Kala Akademi here from March 13 to March 19. Anurakti who teaches art at the Salwan Public School in Rajinder Nagar here has had her paintings displayed in many exhibitions. An artwork by Anurakti Wagh The woman of today
CHIVAS in association with Anita and Dhiren Chauhan are holding, “Awakening”, an exhibition of paintings at the Palm Court Gallery, India Habitat Centre here from March 16 to March 19. Anita Chauhan draws, sketches and paints mainly women. It is desire, love, hope, aspirations, anxiety, fear, dreams, motherhood, marriage, emotional triangles, whatever…but her genre is something that is unusual in today’s context. According to critics, Anita’s content in terms of permissiveness is extremely veiled, especially considering today’s attitude towards morality in India. Her other drawings, out of the public view, are even more erotic and much more sensuous. ‘Woman’ is a vast canvas in terms of her history, of being right from the plain and simple to the existential. To portray a woman is a challenge when it goes beyond just the body or its sexual context. Women in India have been portrayed in folklore, art and sculpture. In more recent times several artists have also attempted contemporary figurative female form and Anita’s attempt in her current work indicates certain uniqueness in terms of the same continuity. However, Anita’s exercise is more daring and free. Anita is expressive, as it brings out detail in quite a different way. She has tried to bring out the woman of today, encompassing the entire spectrum of what she is and how she feels. Bharatanatyam
performance
Geeta Chandran’s Natya Vriksha is presenting Dharohar 2008 featuring a Bharatanatyam performance by 18 of her disciples. This gala classical performance is scheduled for Sunday, March 23, at the Chinmaya Hamco Auditorium, Chinmaya Mission, in Lodi Estate here. Aarti Mehra, Mayor of Delhi, will be the Chief Guest. The dancers are Aarshiya Chaudhry, Aarushi Chaturvedi, Akanksha Mehra, Anubhuti Chaturvedi, Archana Shivan, Arundhati Raman, Kanupriya Bhatter, Megha Jaju, Radhika Kathal, Radhika Kaw, Sheena Iype, Shivangi Verma, Shruta Sarath Gopalan, Tanushree Gupta, Tanvi Thomas, Trisha Thomas and Vanshika Ahuja. An evening of
Russian dance
The Indian Council For Cultural Relations (ICCR) here and the Federal Agency of Culture and Cinematography of Russia are jointly presenting an evening of Russian dance and music on March 23 at the Sirifort Auditorium here. The performers are the vocal trio “Relikt” with Yarmarka. The ICCR along with Remscheider Viokafensemble of Germany and the Capital City Minstrels will jointly present Viva La Musica – Songs Beyond Borders at the Max Mueller Bhavan here on March 17 and at the India Habitat Centre on March 19. Viva La Musica will be conducted by Gabriella Boda Rechner and Werner Rizzi. Artworks in
Chinese style
Mystiq Art Gallery is hosting, “ Milieu Tunes”, a solo show of artworks in Chinese style by Shubhra Nag from March 14 to March 27 here. |
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Train mows down 2 kids
New Delhi, March 16 The accident happened at Seelampur when the two children, around eight and 10 years old, were running over the railway track. “A train on the Delhi-Ghaziabad route ran over the children around 2 p.m. killing them on the spot,” said J. Singh, station house officer (Old Delhi). — IANS |
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