New Delhi, November 24 
A businessman wishing to settle a personal grudge and two management students from well-known institutes needing to cover up their market losses joined hands to kidnap a 14-year-old boy here but soon developed cold feet and released him, Delhi police said today after arresting them.

Bharat Jhamb, 21; Piyush Jain, 21, and Rohit Chopra, 24, who are pursuing MBA from IMT in Ghaziabad and IGNOU respectively, were arrested on Sunday for allegedly kidnapping Arjun Verma, a class IX student of Gyan Bharati School. Arjun is a first cousin of Jhamb.

On Thursday morning, Verma was walking to his school with his friend Ankit in the Saket area of South Delhi, barely a few metres from his home, when he was kidnapped. 

Two and half a hours later, the accused made a ransom call to Verma’s family, demanding Rs 8 million for his safe release, the police said. 

However, they released the boy with his hands tied and mouth strapped with white bandages early on Friday in the Okhla area fearing police action.

But even after releasing the boy, the accused, all from affluent families and living in the DLF area of Gurgaon, again called up the Verma family and asked it to arrange the ransom within 10 days threatening to harm the boy next time. 

Verma’s father passed away last year. The boy has his mother and three sisters, two of whom are married and one is described as mentally retarded.

DCP (South Delhi) H.G.S. Dhaliwal said the accused had hatched the plot to the minute detail. 

“Piyush Jain, who is also a stock sub-broker, had made heavy losses in the recent stock market crash. Chopra lost money in the property market in Gurgaon and other National Capital Region (NCR) areas,” Dhaliwal said.

“Bharat Jhamb had a personal grudge against the boy’s family since their property was divided. The three hatched the conspiracy to kidnap Verma to make up the losses and settle a personal score as well,” he added.

According to the police, their joint loses could be more than Rs 8 million.

Three other accused, identified as Dalip Singh Rathore, 24, Parveen Kashyap, 27, and Ramesh Singh, 30, were also arrested on the charges of kidnapping. A silver-colour Hyundai car used in the crime has been impounded. Jain’s father Parveen Kumar owned the car. 

Jain, Chopra and Jhamb used to regularly visit Kashyap’s hair salon where they befriended one another. Kashyap was the facilitator and Rathore was once arrested in a case of extortion. 

Singh, who is a close associate of Rathore, arranged fake SIM cards and used mobile phones for making ransom calls. 

The three hired Rathore for Rs 1,00,000 and made an advance payment of Rs 40,000. They said they would pay him more after getting the ransom money.
Rathore rented a building at Sector-16 in Sukhrali village of Gurgaon for Rs 15,000 per month to keep Verma.

Dhaliwal said on the day of kidnapping, Rathore, Jain, Chopra and Singh drove in a silver Hyundai Getz car and approached Verma who was on his way to school. They mentioned his sister’s name and asked her address.

“The boy sat with them in the car thinking that the men know his family and want to go to his home. They, however, took the road to the rented building in Gurgaon and threatened him to keep quiet,” he said.

After the boy was set free in Okhla, some passers-by took him to his home. He told the police that the accused roamed around in the NCR region for sometime before taking him to a rural area. 

“The boy told us that there he noticed a school where students prayed in Sanskrit,” Dhaliwal said.

The police said that it had mounted surveillance in the NCR region before identifying the building. 

The boy’s mother Sapna said the family was relieved with the arrest of the accused. — IANS

New Delhi, November 24
The prime ministerial dream of the UP CM and BSP chief Mayawati has turned out to be the rallying point of party’s election campaign in Delhi in the run-up to the state assembly polls on November 29.

From the top leadership of the party to the folk singers, all have been rallying the people on the theme of the BSP supremo becoming the next Prime Minister in 2009. Even the large turnout of people in Badarpur on Monday has started believing in Mayawati’s becoming the next Prime Minister. The folk singers have been tirelessely bringing the people around the PM theme.

“Baithe PM ki kursi pe behena, sare bahujan samaj mein hai ye bekarari, sarvjan samaj ka sahara, sherni behen Mayawati,” (to occupy the Prime Minister’s chair is the restlessness in the whole bahujan samaj, the support of the sarvajan samaj is the lioness Mayawati) sung the party campaigner Kishore Kumar “Pagla” during a rally at Badarpur. The audience liked the tune of these lines along with lots of similar songs and poems dedicated to their leader Mayawati. The party is seeing assembly elections as a medium to realize Maya’s prime ministerial dream by stepping in for the Parliament elections to be held next year. The party has already started working to increase its vote bank by widening the ambit of its voters. The party is mainly focusing on the Muslims and upper caste voters in the Capital.

Giving a call to the Muslims of Delhi, Mayawati said, “Muslims have always been cheated by the Congress since Independence as they were never given their rights. They have used Muslims to form government but never thought of their development.”

The party has given tickets to Muslims and upper caste candidate in Delhi for the assembly polls.

Explaining the party’s policy to work for ‘sarvsamaj’ instead of only ‘Bahujan samaj’, Mayawati said, “There are rumours that we only work for the betterment of bahujan and that our party is only constituted of SCs and STs. But that is not the case as we want welfare of all poor people, be it from lower or upper caste.”

“Everyone has started talking of behenji becoming the PM in 2009. Not only the people in India are speaking of the behenji reaching to the top post but even those abroad. No force on the earth can stop behenji from becoming the PM of the country in 2009,” said BSP MP Satish Chandra Mishra.

New Delhi November 24
Youth Akali Dal patron and Punjab’s youngest cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia today demanded that the so-called economists-run UPA government should fix the rate of petroleum products.

Petrol should be at the rate of Rs 25 per litre, diesel Rs 15, LPG Rs 150 and kerosene at Rs 5.

Addressing a series of election rallies in favour of BJP-SAD candidates in Delhi, he said that it was strange that the whole UPA government was keeping its eyes and ears shut as crude petrol has dropped from $147 to $40, allowing unhindered profiteering of multinational oil companies for thousands of crores. 

He said that it was a biggest scam in the history of India as India’s rate of petroleum products highest in the world in post-meltdown era.

He said that even by selling petrol at Rs 25, companies would make decent profit but the UPA government was more worried about its booty in petrol price game. 

New Delhi, November 24 
Anti-Sikh riot victims today criticised the Congress for fielding former police officer Amod Kanth to contest the Delhi assembly election. Kanth is accused of helping the 1984 rioters.

“The Congress first helped leaders such as Jagdish Tytler, Sajjan Kumar and H.K.L. Bhagat by giving them senior positions, and to make it worse it has now given a ticket to Amod Kanth,” head of 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims’ welfare society Surjit Singh told reporters here.

He said Kanth, who has been given a ticket from Sangam Vihar assembly constituency, is accused of openly helping rioters during 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Also, his name is included in the list of accused officers in the Nanavati Commission report.

“What does the Congress want to convey by giving tickets to such candidates?” he questioned.

Singh said on the one hand Rahul Gandhi is giving statements that 1984 riots were wrong while on the other hand he is quiet on this kind of decision.

“We want that the Delhi government takes all steps for rehabilitation of riot victims but it is not possible during the Congress rule. That is why we appeal to punish the Congress and dethrone them,” he said. — IANS

New Delhi, November 24 
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad today charged Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit with being the biggest patron of over one million illegal Bangladeshi migrants in the national Capital. 

“Questions are raised in parliament and court directives issued on PILs (public interest litigation), but the Sheila Dikshit-led Congress government in Delhi takes no action,” said Prasad at a public meeting here held to support Vijay Jolly, the BJP’s candidate against Dikshit from the New Delhi constituency. 

“On September 22, 2003, on a PIL the Delhi High Court ordered that illegal Bangladeshi migrants be surveyed, identified and deported. To begin with, at least 100 of them were sent home,” he said, noting nothing was done after this. 

“On August 12, 2008, the court strongly expressed its displeasure on this issue. It held that illegal Bangladeshi migrants are a threat to the security of the country,” Prasad added.

The BJP leader claimed that there were 5,00,000 to 6,00,000 illegal Bangladeshi migrants enrolled as voters and demanded immediate deletion of their names from the voters’ lists. 

“The Sheila Dikshit-led Congress government has failed to take any action for pure vote bank politics,” he alleged.

Prasad also noted that on July 12, 2005, the Supreme Court said the illegal migration of Bangladeshis amounts to aggression against the country. “But, despite this, the Sheila Dikshit-led Congress government failed to act.” he said. — IANS

New Delhi, November 24
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today asserted that those who divided society in the name of caste and religion for their narrow political gains could never ensure development. 

“You have successfully thwarted the nefarious designs of such forces in the past 10 years and I have every reason to believe why you would not do it for the third time now,” she said amidst applauds from the crowds in an indirect reference to the BJP and BSP during the course of her hectic campaigning in the Capital today.

Among the constituencies she visited and addressed meetings in support of her party candidates included Nangloi- P.C. Kaushik, Tughlakabad- Sheesh Pal, Sangam Vihar- Amod Kanth, Kalkaji-Subhash Chopra, Badarpur- Ramvir Singh Bidhuri and Okhla- Parvez Hashmi. 

Earlier in the day, she also visited Race Course Road, BK Dutt Colony and Khan Market areas of her New Delhi assembly constituency.

During her meetings, she talked about all-round development in the city with particular emphasis on rural development and housing for the poor. 

The Delhi Rural Development Board has already taken up 105 projects worth Rs 427 crore while Lal Dora has been extended. 

Talking for housing for the poor, Dikshit said some 10 lakh dwelling units are being constructed to relocate slum dwellers under the Rajiv Ratan Awas Yojana. Registration for the allotment has begun. Ten thousand houses are ready for allotment and fully developed flats will be given at lowest costs.

She said that ownership rights will be provided to ensure a slum-free Delhi and over 3000 low-cost houses have already been allocated to industrial workers. At the same time, the Chief Minister said, “It will be our endeavour to create housing societies for government employees so that when they retire they can have a roof over their heads.” 

New Delhi, November 24
Encounter of suspected terrorists at Batla House in Muslim-dominating colony has created problems for the sitting Congress MLA, Parvez Hashmi from Okhla assembly constituency.

He has been winning the assembly elections from Okhla for the last three times that is from 1993 to 2003. But this time Muslim voters are angry with him. The main reason is the encounter and no development work in the constituency. 

Voters, who are originally from Azamgarh, always supported Parvez Hashmi but in this election, the majority of them have changed their side, it seems. So far they either support Samajwadi Party candidate Wasim Ghazi or Rashtriya Janata Dal candidate Asif Mohammad Khan.

Parvez Hashmi and Asif Mohammad Khan were always in opposite camps and voters of Azamgarh were always in the camp of the Congress MLA. Asif has always been supported by people who have their routes in Bulandshahr. Asif’s home town is also Bulandshahr.

But the Batla House encounter in L-18 has changed the Muslim voters equation in this assembly election. 

In a public meeting addressed by the Congress candidate, a voter Tariq loudly said, “Exercising franchise in favour of Parvez means voting against the community. Innocent youths have been encountered by the police but he did not speak a single word in their favour.”

Sajid, who runs a sweet shop in the area said that whosoever wins does not matter. Parvez should not win. 

In a corner meeting, a few residents suggested, “We should vote in favour of the candidate who is in a winning position which community and caste he belong to does not matter.”

Jasbir Singh, a resident of village Jasola said that he could not forget the Rajasthan government’s action against the Gujjar youths who were demanding OBC status for the community. He said that he would vote in favour of the BSP.

Ram Narayan, a resident of resettlement colony, said that he supported the BSP. “Since Behan Mayawati has come to power in Uttar Pradesh, status of scheduled caste has changed. We all should vote BSP,” he said.

There are a total of 2.18 lakh voters in the constituency. Of them Muslims constitute 43 per cent, Gujjar 15 per cent, OBC 10 per cent, mixed middle class 9 per cent, Chauhan Rajput 2 per cent, Punjabi 6 per cent, Vaisya 3 per cent, scheduled caste 7 per cent, Pandit 3 per cent and Sikh 2 per cent. 

New Delhi, November 24 
Elections, political rallies, and weddings! The Capital’s cup of traffic woes is brimming over as the countdown to the November 29 assembly elections begins just as the wedding season peaks. 

And election day Saturday could see the mother of all jams with over 20,000 weddings slated for the day in the city. 

Already, chaos rules on city roads with political parties pitting their crowd-pullers to woo voters last minute. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is trying to dethrone the Congress after 10 years, has planned several rallies of star campaigners like prime ministerial hopeful L.K. Advani, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, TV actor Smriti Irani, cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu and Bollywood star Shatrughan Sinha.

Not to be left behind, the Congress has lined up Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the party’s star campaigner Rahul Gandhi. 

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati too will be on the roads to garner votes for her Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). 

The Delhi unit of the Congress is sparing no effort to pamper journalists covering the party’s rallies — they are picked up and dropped, and given food and a drink too.

The DPCC has arranged a bus for journalists from its office to the rally venue and back. Snacks and soft drinks are provided on the bus to ensure that the scribes are kept happy. 

This was a real boon, for instance, for those covering Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s visit in North West Mongolpuri on Sunday. 

The strain in the relations between Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and minister of state for urban development Ajay Maken is there for everyone to see. 

In the run-up to the elections on Saturday, Maken has been campaigning for candidates all over the city but has scrupulously avoided the New Delhi assembly seat from where Dikshit is contesting. — IANS

New Delhi, November 24 
The Delhi High Court on Monday issued a notice to the police seeking explanation for not thoroughly probing the murder of Shalini Saxena, a call centre employee who was found dead here two months ago.

Jusice Veena Birbal pulled up the Delhi police and asked why the case should not be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as the police probe was not heading anywhere, and asked the police to reply by December 11.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Vijay Saxena, father of 25-year-old Shalini who was murdered on September 10.

Shalini’s body was found from her Gautam Nagar paying guest accommodation with a mobile charger cord tied around her neck. 

The police has made no arrest so far.

“I am from Saharanpur but I have to come to Delhi every week (for police inquiry). I am tired of this uncertainty,” Vijay Saxena said in his petition. 

“We are facing this when people are speculating about my daughter’s character. I only want justice for her, so I want the case to be transferred to CBI,” he said. 
— IANS

Faridabad, November 24
The Haryana Employees Joint Action Committee is firm on holding its state-level rally at Rohtak on November 30 to press for implementation of the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission without affecting the allowances they were getting.

The Haryana government is said to be ready to implement the Pay Commission’s recommendations but also want to cut down the allowances of the employees.

The Joint Action Committee, spearheading the agitation of the employees, is a representative body of the Haryana Sarv Karamchaari Sangh and the Haryana Karamchaari Mahasangh.

Subhash Lamba, spokesperson of the Harayan Sarva Karamchaari Sangh, said today that a delegation of the Joint Action Committee has already given the viewpoint of the employees to the chief secretary.

According to him, the employees will not allow tampering with their allowances. They want immediate implementation of the Pay Commission’s recommendations. He cautioned that the employees were ready for confrontation with the government on their demands and they would intensify their struggle after the rally in case their demands were not met.

The leaders of the Joint Action Committee are miffed over the delaying tactics in implementing the recommendations that too after Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had announced in his speech at a public function in Palwal on August 15 that they would be implemented with retrospective effect from 2006.

They alleged insensitive attitude on the part of the ministers and departmental heads with regard to their demands. They, however, said that the employees were ready for talks with the government.

According to them, the employees held dharnas and demonstrations at all the district headquarters on October 31 and also submitted memorandum to the Chief Minister.

According to leaders of the Joint Action Committee, the other demands include withdrawal from the practice of outsourcing and privatisation and filling up about 1.5 lakh different categories of posts in various departments.

Also, the demands include regularisation of jobs of the employees in the categories such as ad hoc, daily wagers, guest teachers and contractual assignments who are about 60,000 in number in the state.

Moreover, the employees demand re-implementing the “Ex gratia Employment Scheme” which was scrapped in 2006 and replaced by “Ex gratia Compensation Scheme” for the benefit of the next of kin of the employees who died in harness.

New Delhi, November 24
A whopping Rs 4 million and a public apology to community elders—that is what a Delhi-based man has agreed to before the Supreme Court for divorcing his wife.

A bench of Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice Mukundakam Sharma gave their approval to the terms of mutual settlement for divorce to estranged couple, Shilpa and Abhinav Gupta. The ruling was delivered on Friday but released later.

The estranged couple reached the agreement before an apex court-organised Lok Adalalt on September 6 this year. The court gave its formal approval to it on Friday.

The two also agreed not to follow up on the slew of criminal cases they had slapped against each other earlier.

According to the terms of settlement, Abhinav and his father Ashok Gupta will pay Rs 4 million within two months through demand draft drawn in the name of Shilpa and payable at Bhiwani.

Abhinav, his parents, his brother and sister-in-law and his two maternal uncles would collectively appear before the Aggarwal Sabha and apologise for the alleged wrongs done to Shilpa. The couple are from the Aggarwal community.

In case any of the seven people fail to appear before the Sabha, Shilpa would have the freedom to revive her complaint, the apex court ruled.

The marriage between Abhinav and Shilpa would be dissolved by mutual consent and all criminal cases/complaints filed by both would be quashed. 

The apex court verdict contained bare minimum details about the couple. Counsel P.N. Puri for Abhinav and his parents refused to elaborate on the dispute between the couple.

Puri also refused to comment on the reasons that led Abhinav to agree to pay the huge amount to his estranged wife.—IANS

New Delhi, November 24
As the region goes through radical political changes, youth from different South Asian countries today demanded open borders, democratic societies and peace.

More than 80 delegates from across South Asia got together in the Capital to participate in a two-day South Asian Youth Summit.

The delegates included the youth from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Afghanistan. They expressed their opinion on the political transformation taking place in the region, particularly in Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan.

“Bhutan is a young democracy. We believe that the participation of the youth is a must for the development of our country. The people there have a lot of expectations from the new government. However, we would also want to learn from big and strong democracies like India,” said 29-year-old Yang Chen Pelden, who works with a women organisation in Bhutan.

Pakistani delegates, who witnessed a democratic change in their country early this year, said they were optimistic about the future of the civilian government. “We are demanding the formulation of a youth policy in Pakistan keeping the rural youth in focus,” said Asiya Arif, member of Pakistani Future Youth Group.

The delegates hailed the new government for permitting revival of the process of electing student unions in universities across Pakistan. “It is a very big step towards involving the youth in the functioning of a democracy. The new government has also ensured freedom of media that has made information accessible to the youth. It is very crucial in our country to create platforms for the youth to express themselves,” said another delegate Sidra Tariq.

Representatives from Nepal said they were looking forward to a better political system. “We just became a democracy from monarchy and hope that this new political system would ensure the representation of the youth. We are expecting to work on the declaration of the summit in our country as the challenges faced by the South Asian youth are almost the same,” said 25-year-old Anita, who is part of the seven-member delegation from Nepal.

Two delegates from Afghanistan are participating in the summit. Though they believe their country was going through rough times, the delegates said they were hopeful that things would improve with the participation of young generation.

“When we started working with the United Nations, people believed that we had compromised our nationality by associating with a foreign organisation. But we never stopped working,” said 25-year-old Emal Karimi.

The Afghan delegates expressed concern over the serious problem of landmines and drug mafia in their country. “Narco-terrorism is a significant problem in Afghanistan. A whole generation is being spoilt for fundamentalist purposes. You get any kind of arms easily. So, any initiative would require the involvement of grassroot population and we are working towards educating them,” said Yama Enayat.

Pradeep Peiris from Centre for Policy Alternatives, Sri Lanka, said, one third of the country’s population comprised the youth and hence their participation in politics must be ensured. “It is because of the mistakes made by the politicians in the past that the youth is suffering in Sri Lanka today,” he added.

“There is mass unemployment and the youth that is employed is also not financially stable. Our education system needs to be thoroughly revised as it does not fulfill the requirements of the modern times,” said Buddhika from Sri Lanka.

Two key issues to be discussed in the summit tomorrow include ‘Market Economy and South Asian Free Trade Zone’ and ‘State, Democracy and Human Rights in South Asia.’

New Delhi, November 24
Apart from being a business hub, the India International Trade Fair (IITF) is a place for art lovers. Each day at the IITF is celebrated as a state day where cultural programmes like folk and dance and songs are performed across Pragati Maidan.

Jammu and Kashmir Day was celebrated today at Lal Chowk Theatre here.

Dance forms like kuchipudi, bharatnatyam, odissi, mohiniattam and kathak were presented. Violinist, guitarist, thumri, gazals, qawali, puppet shows and what not! The fair has something for everyone. Giving a musical touch to itself the fair has given a taste of local dance and music which attracted a large number of audiences.
Showcasing the best features of all 28 states and union territories, the trade fair gives one a glimpse of the never fading deep culture and increasing industrialisation in India.

Besides, the participation of other countries make the visitors feel lucky, as they give them an opportunity to buy a variety of wares like — Istanbul’s crystal products, Vietnam’s brocade, artificial flowers and flower pots from Thailand and not to miss the electrical products from China.

Even talent shows find a place here. An upcoming show Rock and Roll Star from Space TV and SaReGaMaPa from Zee TV have arranged auditions here.

Those who wanted to shake a leg crowded at the rock and roll stall whereas the singers thronged the SaReGaMaPa stage.

“I am selected for rock and roll star competition and am looking forward to it,” said Ashna, 19.

Even the elderly people were enjoying themselves at these auditions. Undoubtedly, ‘Dilwalon ki Dilli’ has people full of energy and enthusiasm even at 70’s. 

“We are getting very good responses. People are very happy as they are getting a good platform and of course they get a chance to come on TV too,” said programming head of Space TV Vikram Kapoor.

Therefore, if you also want to watch some folk, classical performances or want to participate in singing or dance competitions, rush before it is too late. 

Besides, special performances by famous artistes everyday are a must watch. Kathak dancer Rekha Mehra will perform at 6:30 pm on Tuesday. A puppet show at food court theatre by Ram Karan Bhopa will also be held. 

New Delhi, November 24 
Two men were buried to death when the top floor of a decades-old three-storey building collapsed in Central Delhi today, the police said, adding some officials were injured during the rescue operation. 

The accident took place in the densely populated Farshkhana area in Old Delhi around 1.30 am when some labourers were at work inside the building. Ball bearings for cars were stored in it. 

“There were 14 labourers working then. Most of them managed to save themselves when one of the walls fell due to an overload of spare parts,” said Mohammed Furzat, who had a narrow escape.

According to the police, the building was stocked beyond its capacity.

“It could not sustain the additional weight and a portion of the building collapsed. Some policemen and officials from the Delhi Fire Service suffered injuries when another portion of the building also collapsed during the rescue operation,” a police official said.

The victims are identified as Quamruddin, 20, a native of West Bengal and Matajul Ansari, 22. — IANS

Noida, November 24
Some 50 iron merchants in Noida and Greater Noida are currently under scanner by the commercial tax department. The department suspects that these iron traders have indulged in large-scale tax evasion by resorting to fictitious billings to take advantage of Input Tax Credit (ITC).

The special investigation branch of the commercial tax department is conducting a probe into the functioning of these traders under the additional commissioner A.K. Roy.

When Roy got a steel trader in Sector-9 Noida investigated, it was found that the firm was using five bill books with the same numbers. Another firm in Dadri and two firms in Madhopur showed purchases from a firm which investigating team could not locate. Inquiries revealed that no goods were ever received there.

To take advantage of ITC, fictitious billing was indulged in. This led this department to bring all the 50 iron merchants and traders in the ambit of investigations. When returns of these firms were scrutinized, it was found that only one month’s returns had been submitted by them to the commercial tax department. Non-submission of monthly tax returns had raised the suspicion of the department. Sector-9 firm had shown purchase of iron from some Ghaziabad Loha Market traders also.

Noida, November 24
Noida Authority Board in its 156th meeting today decided to dispose of the UP properties in Delhi after taking them over from the Delhi Development Authority as the properties are presently governed by DDA land use policy.

The UP irrigation department has some 311 acres of land at about eight different locations in Delhi, viz Okhla, Jamia, Mathura Road, etc. After taking it back, Noida Authority will take a decision about its future use, said Noida chief executive officer Mahinder Singh. 

Noida Authority Board also approved three schemes of group housing in Sectors—50, 51, 56, 99, 100, 108, 110 and 121 on 13 available plots of 40,000 to 80,000 sq mtr sizes. In group housing, FAR ratio has also been changed and more floors allowed so that the Noida skyline will be changed with taller building blocks, the CEO said.

The Board also approved the setting up of Kanshi Ram Shehri Garib Avas Yojna in Sector-45 Noida where 500 housing units on 40 sq. mt plot each will be built. Each unit will cost Rs 3.20 lakh to Noida Authority. Tenders for constructing these houses will be received by November 28, the CEO said.

The Board also approved an amnesty scheme for water and sewerage connection in Noida villages. The charges for it have been brought down from Rs 1,500 to Rs 500-Rs 250 for water connection and Rs 250 for sewerage. The idea is to give the villages the same facilities as in towns. 

As per another decision automatic multi-tier car parking on 16,590 sq mtr area will be built in plot L 2-A, Sector – 18. With a common rotating platform at each floor, more space for car parking will be made available. Technically qualified and commercially sound private builders will be selected for the BOT car parks.

The CEO said the Board also decided that reservation letter to allottees will be issued before they are issued with formal allotment letters. This is being done to avoid any inconvenience to allottees if the plots are not ready for allotment and to ensure that the plots are free from encroachment etc.

The Noida CEO also informed that for ITs, ITES, scheme has been amended due to current financial crises in the market. Those allottees who cannot go ahead in setting up institutes, will be free to transfer it to person or parties who might be in a better position to complete the projects. 

Noida, November 24 
The Aligarh police seized six hard disks and arrested two employees after raiding the office premises of a TV channel here on Sunday.

The police raided the office after a case was registered against the channel for allegedly showing a concocted programme about a company employing child labourers.

According to deputy superintendent of police Sunil Kumar of Aligarh, the Television 100 also flashed the programme on internet.

The company, according to a police officer, lost contract worth over Rs 50 million with a foreign firm. 

The firm cancelled the order on the ground of illegally employing children to produce brassware goods incurring heavy losses on the company, Kumar said.

Peasant Enterprises head S.K. Gupta told the police that the TV channel aired concocted story about the company engaging child labourers. 

The police seized the hard disks from the Noida office of the channel to verify the complaint, the police officer said. — IANS