|
|
|
|
Mayapuri Radioactive Leak
Poor scrap dealer battles for life |
|
|
A powder keg that needs vigil: Experts
Armyman jailed for leaking classified info
Max to upgrade sanitation in public hospitals
Child panel to set up RTE cell
JNU lifts ban on public meets, film screenings
Watch Phoonk 2 alone in theatre, win Rs 5 lakh!
MCD property tax collection rises
5-yr-old raped by minor servant
DLF Place mall gets city’s 1st liquor shop
Chhatrasal Stadium opened
Metro staffer falls on track
5 duped of Rs 50 lakh
Lucky escape for students as bus overturns
Sreedharan stable
Inspector held for graft
|
|
Govt, MCD play blame game
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 9 While Mayor Kanwar Sain claimed that since the radioactive material, Cobalt 60, reached here from outside, that is Faridabad, the responsibility lay with the government. “We are sealing all the unauthorised shops now. The material did not come from a Delhi hospital, but from outside,” he averred. The Mayor said the Faridabad administration has failed to keep an eye on the hospitals which dispose of their waste in this manner. He wondered how hospital staff managed to sell the dangerous substance to scrap dealers. Another official said they would have to check now on the influx of such scrap material into Delhi. Delhi scrap dealers routinely bring goods from the neighbouring areas like Gurgaon, Faridabad and Noida. Radiation from radioactive substances comes under atomic energy rule. Though other hazardous substances are dealt by the environment department, said a senior scientific officer of the environment department of Delhi government. He added, “Only experts of atomic energy can tell the kind of effect it has on environment, that is why the experts from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre had come from Mumbai to study the reason for radiation and its effect. The experts have sought the help of the police to cordon off the Mayapuri Industrial Area for precautionary measures.” The market gets scrap from world over Mayapuri Scrap Market, comprising more than 2,500 shops, is considered to be the largest scrap market in Asia and receives scrap from all over the world. If the scrap dealers here are to be believed, thousands of tons of scrap, produced after the fall of World Trade Tower twin buildings post 9/11 were shipped to India and the mass of it was consumed by Mayapuri Scrap Market. “Not many people would know this but the scrap of Twin Towers in New York came to this market. Thousands of tons of scrap come here from all over Europe, America and several Asian countries,” said Ajay Jain, a scrap dealer from Mayapuri. According to him, there is hardly a thing which cannot be found in the market here—from secondhand tyres to any vehicle parts, machine parts, engineering to farming tools, etc. While the market is a source of income to lakhs of people employed in scrap business, it is also a shopping point for others. “Though never counted the numbers, it is a thriving market and thousands of customers come here every day,” said Ajay.
|
|
Poor scrap dealer battles for life
New Delhi, April 9 Rajesh Jain, Deepak’s cousin who spent the last night with him at the hospital, said that the biggest help which the family can get from the government is financial. “He is not a rich man. We cannot bear the cost of treatment at the Apollo. The government should provide him with the best possible treatment at AIIMS or any government hospital,” said Rajesh alleging that the AIIMS refused to admit the patient even after waiting for three hours on April 3. Finally, he was admitted to Apollo as his condition was deteriorating. “The doctors there simply ignored us and told us to go away. Even today when Himanshu Jain, neighbour of Deepak, was brought to AIIMS, doctors refused to admit him. It was only after the media people came, they admitted him,” said Rajesh. Deepak, the only son among five children, is the youngest of the family and married about one and a half years ago. “He has a one-year-old son and his father is paralytic. We have not told him what exactly has happened to Deepak for you never knew how he may take it at this age,” said Rajesh. According to him Deepak got into scrap business about four years ago and has a rented shop in Mayapuri market. “It is not even his own shop but a rented one,” he said in context of his cousin’s financial position. According to Rajesh, the scrap responsible for the radiation was bought about 15 days ago. “About ten days ago, Deepak vomited and complained of irritation in the skin. He thought it was some a minor thing and took medicine. However, soon his hair started falling and fingers turned black. We took him to AIIMS on April 3 when he was refused admission,” said Rajesh. As per information provided by Deepak’s neighbour at scrap market, the victim unaware of the radio active substance in a container used to sit on it. “Deepak used to sit on the container at the shop and never realized his ill health was the result of this,” said another scrap dealer on condition of anonymity. Four other workers from Deepak’s shop too have been admitted to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital and the condition of Rajender and Ramjivan is said to be critical. According to doctors at Apollo, condition of Deepak is very critical and he is in the ICU. As per medical bulletin released by the hospital this evening, Deepak is undergoing treatment for suppressed bone marrow and fallen platelets. “His condition is very critical,” said a senior doctor from hospital, adding that prolonged exposure to radiation can have long-term side-effects as well. “Sometimes a man can feel the after-effects of radiation after 3 to 4 years. A man can even become sterile,” he said.
|
|
|
A powder keg that needs vigil: Experts
New Delhi, April 8 Atomic experts and radiologists say that radioactive isotopes and substances, like iodine used in treatment of various kinds of cancer are operated mechanically by robots and they should be transferred to the site of disposal in lead containers having one-foot thickness. There are standard guidelines laid down by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board of India for safe disposal of radioactive substances without which anybody exposed to its ionising effects could develop serious health complications, leading to death. Chief of radiology department of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Dr K K Saxena said, “If the level of REM (unit of ionised radiation) is one or two, then changes in genes and chromosomes take place. However, no acute illness and external symptoms are witnessed. And when, the level of REM goes up to 50 or more, the person exposed to it experiences nausea and vomiting and there are changes in blood components. Actually, the effect of the radiation depends on the immunity of the person.” Elaborating, Dr Saxena said that when the REM crosses 150, which is supposed to be the third stage, the skin of the person turns black, his nails turn blue and hair becomes brittle. In such cases, the patient can be salvaged through antibodies, blood transfusion along with maintaining the vitals, he said. Dr Saxena added that in diagnostic radiology for the healthy populace as well as animals, exposure to 10 milli REM annually is the safe limit and in fact, the dose is for one whole lifetime. In the present case of Cobalt 60, which emits Gama radiation, if the source is new the intensity of radiations is large. “Effect of ionising radiation effect, which is inversely proportional to the square of distance, reduces with increase in distance from the emitting source,” explained Dr Saxena. Director of NGO Toxic Links, Ravi Agarwal said that there should be more information in the public domain, besides the government should bring stringent monitoring system to ensure safe disposal of bio as well as radioactive substances.
|
|
|
Armyman jailed for leaking classified info
New Delhi, April 9 Holding 34-year-old Mohommad Naseem guilty under sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, the additional sessions judge Dharmesh Sharma also slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 on him. “Crimes like this weaken our country from within. Such acts cause irreparable harm to the security, safety and integrity of the country,” court said. The counsel for the accused, M.Khan, however, pleaded for leniency, saying “The convict is in judicial custody since June 29, 2007 and has already suffered enough punishment so much that he suffers from anxiety, impatience and sleeplessness. It is therefore requested that a lenient view may be taken.” But the court denied his plea saying, “The question of showing mercy to him does not arise…punishment should be a deterrent one.” Naseem was arrested by the special cell on June 29, 2007 from Shastri Park metro station. The police said that Naseem had disclosed that he was in contact with an official of the Pakistani embassy, Ali Jadoon, whom he used to supply the restricted documents. He appeared to have been done this with help from one Kasim, who too was with the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, the police said. Naseem was a Lance Naik with the Indian Army. He was posted with the J&K light infantry unit. He is a resident of Mendhar, in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. He is the only bread-winner of his family that comprises four minor sons, a wife, a younger brother and 70-year-old parents. |
|
Max to upgrade sanitation in public hospitals
New Delhi, April 9 The joint secretary of the health ministry, Shakuntala D Gamlin, admitted that the corporate hospitals are very professional when it comes to sanitation services. “They have regular in-house training and assessment and this gives them an edge. However, in case of government hospitals, where the patients are 10 to 12 times more than those of private hospitals, the area needs attention. In fact, it has been overdue for long.” The push for training the sanitation and housekeeping staff, actually the brainchild of the joint secretary herself, came after a task force, appointed by the ministry, conducted an oversight study in August last year that pointed at the lack of lowest level of cleanliness in the hospital. Shakuntala said, “After a gap analysis done on Safdarjung Hospital (SH) and the two private hospitals, Apollo Hospital and Max Healthcare, the whole culture of housekeeping is being looked at in this programme for which Rs 10 lakh has been allocated. Three levels of staff—senior management, supervisory, ground duty—would be trained on the basis of a checklist and standardised protocols within 150 days.” The training would begin on April 15 at SH under the first phase, followed by other Central government-run Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Lady Harding Hospital in subsequent phases within five to seven months. Nursing educators and housekeeping supervisors of Max Healthcare would run the training. “The training would introduce new work ethics and thus would be replicated in other hospitals,” said Shakuntala. “Poor hygiene generally leads to hospital-associated infections, which could be avoided. The comparative analysis highlighted that the staff here have a limited knowledge of sanitation and hygiene, thereby indicating towards a need for upgrading the sanitation standards to reduce hospital infections,” said Dr N K Mohanty, the medical superintendent of SH. Adding that the minimum age for the training is 55 years, he said, “Out of the 257 permanent staff members, 200 would be trained and would go on to become trainers thereafter. We will institutionalise the training in the in-house instruction system. Significantly, the module would be 25 per cent theory-based and 75 per cent practical.” Giving details on the current programme, which would focus on modern cleaning practices and the entire gamut of housekeeping, the project head Dr Nikhil Mishra of Max, said, “A team of eight to ten people would first carry a baseline study, followed by a trainer programme for senior and supervisory staff and a technical training for ground level staff. The focus would be on modern cleaning practices, hand hygiene, handling radioactive and biological waste, infection control, etc.” |
|
Child panel to set up RTE cell
New Delhi, April 9 This will help the commission take steps to inform the public and children at large about the nuances of the law which makes free and compulsory education a right of every child aged 6 to 14 years. Under the Model Rules formulated within the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE), the respective commissions for protection of child rights in states have been given multiple powers to monitor and enforce the law and function as an appellate authority. With the expected launch of the child helpline, DCPCR will become the first children’s commission in the country to undertake an exercise of this scale to ensure the implementation of RTE Act. It is through the helpline and cell that the commission will ensure that all the children of Delhi are admitted to schools and complete their elementary education. DCPCR chairperson Amod Kanth said, “RTE cell will comprise a dedicated team of education experts, members and staff of the commission. The helpline and the cell would function through cell phones, telephones and letters, which, in turn, will act as a forum for distressed children and guardians to register their complaints against violation of their rights. The helpline would be monitored in a transparent manner at the seniormost level.” DCPCR has already received 2,000 complaints about children, mostly from the deprived and underprivileged sections, in need of care and protection. The commission has contacted and discussed the issues with the Department of Education and others concerned to operationalize the system and implement the Act.
|
|
JNU lifts ban on public meets, film screenings
New Delhi, April 9 A circular was issued by the university administration last week making it mandatory for any organisation or individual to seek permission of the hostel authorities eight days before organisaing any public meeting or film screening on the JNU campus. Certain guidelines were also issued in this regard, stating that films which had not received certificate from the censor board would not be allowed to be screened. Further, public meetings with agendas which the administration thought contradicted with “national integration”, “national harmony” and “national security” were not allowed. Reacting to the circular, students of JNU had two days ago held protest, after which the administration assured that the circular would be withdrawn. “The circular curtailed the freedom of expression on a university campus that is known for its democratic space,” said B. C. Tripathy, president, JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA). The students believe that the culture of JNU was different from other universities because the university ensured space for all ideologies and arguments. “This university has never had any problems about giving space to arguments of all kinds,” said Roshan Kishore, secretary, Students’ Federation of India (SFI), adding that JNU students would not give away the freedom of expression. In the past, students’ organisations and individuals have been calling public meetings in the hostel mess or open air theatres on a notice of two days without the agendas being approved by any administrative representative. “We call speakers on the notice of some hours and students who are interested in hearing them come and join the meetings; this move could not have been sustained on this campus,” said Sucheta, students’ leader from All India Students’ Association (AISA). Some independent filmmakers on the JNU campus have also opposed the move. “This circular precisely means that no documentaries could be screened on the university campus because they do not have certificates from censor board. This is ridiculous,” said Prakash Ray, a senior student from the School of Arts and Aesthetics. Four years ago, Rakesh Sharma’s documentary on 2002 violence in Gujarat was screened on the JNU campus after it was denied an approval by the censor board, inciting violence on the campus when students from the Right wing ABVP attacked the screening organised by the
SFI. |
|
|
Watch Phoonk 2 alone in theatre, win Rs 5 lakh!
New Delhi, April 9 In the Capital for the film’s promotion, Varma known for his peculiar treatment of scripts, revealed the plans for a contest, inviting anyone to watch the movie alone in a theatre and win Rs 5 lakh. “When Phoonk was released, we had held a similar contest, challenging anyone to see the film alone in a theatre and not run out scared. The one who took the challenge didn’t even last 30 minutes and ran out of the theatre. However, after the release, many alleged that the contest was rigged and that they were never scared watching the film. So, the Phoonk 2 team has decided to open the contest to scientific evaluation,” said Varma, addressing media persons. Varma claims that Phoonk 2 is much scarier than its prequel and this time the contest would be conducted in a scientific way. The contest will be open only to people aged between 18 and 60 years and with no history of cardiac disease. “The viewer who will take the challenge will be fitted with an ECG machine while watching the film. The machine will monitor his heartbeats and the results will be shown live on a screen outside the theatre to the media,” he added. When asked if he believed in ghosts, he said, “I haven’t seen one myself so I can’t say. But if someone else claims that they have. I see no point in saying they are lying.” |
|
MCD property tax collection rises
New Delhi, April 9 The civic agency has collected a total of Rs 1,157 crore as revenue, of which Rs 696 crore was received through property tax and Rs 461 crore as transfer duty in 2009-10. However, it was Rs 250 crore less than the target of Rs 1,400 crore. The total property tax collection in 2008-09 was Rs 606 crore, while it rose to Rs 696 crore during 2009-10, recording an increase of Rs 90 crore. The MCD said that the number of taxpayers also reached the highest-ever at 9.73 lakh as compared to 8.63 lakh in 2008-09. It is estimated that owners of around 22 lakh properties in Delhi are not paying property tax. The civic body is planning to conduct a comprehensive door-to-door survey to find out the number of such properties. “The civic agency has upgraded the online payment system and now citizens can also see the pending arrears. We urge taxpayers to use the online mode to pay property tax for this financial year too,” said a senior MCD official.
|
|
|
5-yr-old raped by minor servant
New Delhi, April 9 The medical report of the girl has confirmed that she was raped. The accused has been arrested and sent to observation home, the police said. “The incident took place when the girl’s parents were not at home. Taking advantage of the situation, the 16-year-old domestic help of the family Ramesh (name changed) took Neeta (name changed) to bedroom and raped her. When the parents of the girl returned home, they found that the she was shuddering. Despite repetitive attempts, she was not responding to their questions. They then took her to a doctor, who told them that she was raped, whereupon the police was informed,” said a police official. A complaint in this regard was registered at the Sultanpuri police station. “After medical examination of the victim at the Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital confirmed rape, a case was registered and the accused was arrested. He has been sent to an observation home,” said the official.
|
|
DLF Place mall gets city’s 1st liquor shop
New Delhi, April 9 This will be the first liquor shop at a mall in Delhi. The shop spread over 1,400 sq feet has been renovated keeping in mind the international standards. Imported foreign liquor comprising around 200 brands, imported beer around 10 brands, IMFL and other beer brands are on sale in the outlet. The shop is fully air-conditioned and has professional staff. It has been computerised with a billing and bar-coding scanning facility. With separate entry and exit points, the shop offers credit card facility. It has a tie up with the ICICI Bank. There is a separate section for imported wine with provisions to maintain the correct temperature, said Jagjivan
Bakshi, a DSIIDC spokesperson. More shops will follow elsewhere, all of them to be named ‘High Times’. They will have a separate logo, he added. The outlets are also likely to attract visitors to the upcoming Commonwealth Games that are scheduled to start in October. |
|
|
Chhatrasal Stadium opened
New Delhi, April 9 The stadium has a 400x8 metre athletic track with four high mast lights that would give lighting of 500 lux. It also has a double-storeyed new athletic block. Parking facility for 464 vehicles has been provided in the basement. The ground floor has a cafeteria, physiotherapy centre, medical room, security room, event managers’ room and store, whereas the first floor has two athletic lounge for male and female, a VIP lounge, conference room and technical observer room. |
|
|
Metro staffer falls on track
New Delhi, April 9 “The train operator immediately applied the emergency brakes and the person was taken to hospital for treatment of minor injuries in the ankle and head,” said Anuj Dayal, spokesperson, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. The victim was later shifted to the Max Hospital in Patparganj. The victim has been identified as Alok Kumar, 28, who works as a customer relations assistant at Madipur metro station. He was reportedly heading for work when he fell on the tracks. The incident had no impact on train services, which remained normal on all lines.
— TNS |
|
5 duped of Rs 50 lakh
Greater Noida, April 9 The victims have lodged a written complaint with the Kasna police station. The accused, Anil Bhatia, who lived in a rented posh house in NRI City, used to claim that he could send people to Canada and many believed him. But Bhatia started fleecing people. After taking money, Bhatia allegedly gave fake passports to victims and promised to send them to Canada after completinng other formalities. |
|
Lucky escape for students as bus overturns
Faridabad, April 9 However, there is no report of injury to any child. The school has also denied injury to anyone. The incident occurred in the morning when the bus was taking the children to school. The bus overturned when the driver allegedly tried to swerve around a bend on the road. |
|
Sreedharan stable
New Delhi, April 9 A doctor said, “He gained consciousness this morning. A team of multi-disciplinary doctors is monitoring his progress. All his vital parameters are stable.” Sreedharan would be under observation for at least a week, he added. A team led by senior surgeon Dr Ganesh Mani operated the Metro man during a six-hour surgery yesterday. |
|
Inspector held for graft
New Delhi, April 9 According to a CBI official, “Om Prakash was arrested while accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000 from the complainant”. He has been remanded to 14 days’ judicial custody.
— TNS
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Classified Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
