|
|
|
|
|
Delhiites pledge to make city water-secure
Paint the town red with safe colours, advise doctors
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Course panel rejects semseter in English honours
Court slams ‘shameless’ cop for misbehaving with woman
Lotus Temple turns 25 today
At Janoli, Hooda attacks opposition hard
Plot to kill CWG officials: Probe on to know source of knife
Residents cry foul as MCD admits goof
Acid thrown on 17-yr-old girl
Landlord rapes tenant
Man found dead in Paharganj hotel
Driver held for faking
Rs 3-lakh robbery
Man held for posing as police officer
Youth held with opium
304 traders allotted plots
|
|
Delhiites pledge to make city water-secure
New Delhi, March 19 "The idea was to make people realise the pain a women in a remote village has to go through when she walks kilometers daily to get the minimum water required for her family," said Jyoti Sharma, president of FORCE. "We should save water the way we save money," said Delhi Jal Board CEO Ramesh Negi. He said that Delhi faced a daily shortage of 100-150 mgd (million gallons per day) (1 gallon = 3.7 lt). If every individual saved just 10 litres of water per day, it would make a huge difference, said Negi. "It would have been better if there was more participation of people from the upper middle class. However, we all know that the strength of the Indian democracy lies in its middle class," said minister of water resources Salman Khurshid, who was also present at the event. Talking about constant inter-state water disputes, Khurshid said, "The only way to deal with the issue is constant dialogues." Kiran K. Mehra, director of the United Nations Information Centre, New Delhi, read out a message from UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon. "Without water, there is no dignity and no escape from poverty," the UN chief was quoted as saying. The observance of World Water Day is an initiative that was taken at an UN conference on environmental issues in Rio De Janeiro in 1992. |
|
Paint the town red with safe colours, advise doctors
New Delhi, March 19 While holi is all here ready to embrace people in fun-filled gaiety, the Capital's denizens have been making every attempt to make this a memorable one by buying gifts and colours for friends and relatives. But, amidst all this, dampeners may result in the form of eye injuries, skin rashes and inflammation, point out doctors, cautioning people from going reckless in their celebrations when it comes to the use of colours. Traditionally, natural colours extracted from seasonal herbs and flowering plants were used during holi, but gradually, these organic colours have taken a back seat, giving way to synthetic dyes, like auramine, methyl violet, rhodamine, orange II, etc which lead to multiple health problems. "Colours available in the market contain highly toxic chemicals and oxidised metals like lead oxide, copper sulphate, etc. They can cause allergic conjunctivitis, chemical burns, infections and corneal abrasions," said senior eye surgeon from Max Healthcare, Dr Parul Sharma. According to doctors, patients who are undergoing treatment for cancer especially radiotherapy, should avoid any contact with synthetic colours. "Most holi colours these days are oxidised metals or industrial dyes mixed with engine oil and compounds such as aluminium bromide mixed with silver colour. They can cause skin cancer. Also, mercury sulphite used in red colour can lead to skin cancer, impaired vision, mental retardation and even paralysis," underlined Dr Dinesh Singh, who is the director of the radiation oncology, Galaxy Cancer Institute and Pushpanjali Crosslay Hospital. "People should celebrate the fest with floral colours rather than synthetic ones, especially the green and bluish-green hues as they may lead to ocular toxicity. Malachite green, a toxic product is nowadays extensively used in holi," said Dr K. K Aggarwal, president of Heart Care Foundation of India. Besides inflammation of skin and boils, Dr D M Mahajan, senior dermatologist at Apollo Hospital, said, "One needs to protect any existing skin eruption from exposure as it may get aggravated. Use of black and green colours could lead to kidney failures." Tips for a safe holi
|
|
Some prefer to stay indoors
New Delhi, March 19 For the youngsters, adulterated paints, grease, eggs are essential ingredients for enjoying Holi as a class IX student of South Delhi's Amar Colony, Rohit, says, "I get great fun in throwing coloured water balloons at the passersby, especially girls." Nowadays, young boys indulge in eveteasing and various other acts of hooliganism. Owing to this foolish and obnoxious trends of a few insensible youngsters, the festival of Holi is losing its appeal with more people retreating away from the celebrations accompanying it. "I don't know why, but I have started disliking Holi. As the fest approaches, I avoid going out scared of those powerful hits of water balloons. Even on the day of Holi, I generally remain indoors and this time also, I'll lock myself in my house," says Jasprit a bank employee who stays in Greater Kailash Part I. |
|
Steps taken for girls’ safety
New Delhi, March 19 "Respect the feelings of others and do not offend their sensitivity while celebrating the festival," said the police in an advertisement published in newspapers. It advised revellers not to apply colours on unwilling people, not to throw water balloons at passersby and absolutely eschew using dirt and chemicals to smear others. "People should not indulge in eve-teasing or mix drinking and driving," the advertisement further said. There would be vigilant patrolling in the city on Sunday. Women constables will also be on patrol as undercover agents to stop and nab anyone trying to harass women.
— IANS |
|
Warning to drunk holi revellers
New Delhi, March 19 Perturbed by these figures, the Delhi traffic police this morning sent SMSes to citizens warning them against the adverse effects of drunken driving which could even land them in jail. Satyendra Garg, joint commissioner of police (traffic,) today posted a message on the traffic police's Facebook page, warning people against drunken driving. "Despite telling them that drink driving is dangerous for their own safety and others and can even result in suspension of the driving licence or a jail term, people violate the law," read his message. |
|
Expect a warm holi
New Delhi, March 19 With the mercury on a steady rise over the last few days, the weather department has forecast a warm Holi day tomorrow. "Skies will remain clear tomorrow morning. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to hover around 32 and 18 degree Celsius, respectively," said an IMD official. |
|
Course panel rejects semseter in English honours
New Delhi, March 19 Out of both the wings of the COC, while the Post Graduate Courses Committee (PGCC) (deciding on PG courses, BA English (Hons) rejected the semester system again after the general body meeting a few days back, the Under Graduate Committee of Courses (UGCC) consented to semester in English paper in BA Programme courses. Amidst tight police cover, most teachers were not even allowed anywhere near the meeting hall. In the PGCC meeting, out of the total 15 members, 11 members rejected the semester system. While two members voted in favour, three members abstained from voting which included the head of department of English," said Nandita Narayan, faculty member, St. Stephen's College. "We feel that any attempt to bifurcate BA English hons will be harmful, realizing the pedagogical objectives of the course. It will hamper the interest of the students," the COC resolution read. The back-to-back meetings of both the PGCC and UGCC took place today. The decision was definitely influenced by the general body meeting on Wednesday where 138 members out of 150 rejected the semester system. The committee today has also submitted a detailed reply as to why the semester system in English (hons) should not be introduced, the committee said. However, a breather for the university administration arrived when in the next UGCC meeting, the committee members with just one dissenting vote agreed to semester syllabus in BA programme's English paper. However, the teachers did not seem very happy today as the vice-chancellor called in between the meetings several times asking for the specific names of teachers who were opposing the semester mode. "It is advisable that the teachers play a most important part in the bifurcation of English course in BA Programme and that all due procedures are followed in the process," read the COC resolution. "Late last night, many principals were rung up and asked specifically that their teachers should definitely be participating in the meetings today. The phone calls between the meetings were another tool of intimidation that the administration resorted to. Teachers on probation, sick teachers, and teachers retiring in the coming months were undoubtedly disturbed with the pressure from the administration as they feared action against them. Even so, most teachers agreed to give their names in writing," said one of the sources in the committee. "However, these names are being sent along with a "resolution of condemnation", strongly expressing the dissent amongst teachers and committee members on the pressure from the administration. |
|
Court slams ‘shameless’ cop for misbehaving with woman
New Delhi, March 19 Justice Ajit Bharihoke, in his ruling today said: "You (Bharat Rattan) have done a mistake for which you will have to face trial. Therefore, I will not quash the FIR." The court said: "Petition will be dismissed or else you withdraw it." "How can you misuse your official position? You have got this uniform to help the citizens in need, instead of that you are trying to enjoy the power," said the court. "You have misused the state police uniform to assault a women, which is really very shameless," said Justice Bharihoke, adding that he had also involved one of his friends in the misdeed. Accordingly, the petitioner withdrew his plea to quash the FIR against them. The court was hearing a petition filed by Delhi police constable Bharat Rattan, posted at the Model Town police station. Rattan had pleaded for quashing an FIR under Section 354 IPC (using criminal force against any woman) lodged against him by a woman, with whom Rattan and his friend (Kapil Sharma) misbehaved while she was returning home around 9.45 pm at Kingsway Camp in north Delhi last year. "The two persons stopped her and misbehaved with her, one was in police uniform and other was in civil uniform. However, when she resisted, the duo fled in their car," said the woman in her complaint. The woman is an employee of Bank of Maharashtra. The two were arrested on March 15, 2010 on the complaint, but were released on bail. Meanwhile, Rattan was dismissed from service when a chargesheet was filed against him, but was reinstated on August 23, 2010. Meanwhile, the woman felt sympathy for the constable as he was young and had a family to look after, therefore she agreed to a compromise and quash the FIR. Accordingly, Rattan and his friend approached the Delhi High Court on March 14. But the court has refused to quash the FIR.
— IANS |
|
|
Lotus Temple turns 25 today
The House of Worship was completed in 1986 and since then it had been dedicated to the service of the community. It is known as the Lotus Temple due to its iconic shape and regarded as an architectural marvel. The lotus stands as a symbol of transformation, rising out of mud, dirt and water--a pure flower opening heavenwards, says Nalina Jiwnani, a spokesperson of Lotus Temple. The Bahá'í community has planned multifarious events throughout the year to commemorate the anniversary in all the states of India. It also regularly hosts non-denominational activities such as moral education for children and youths. In the Republic Day parade recently, a model of the House of Worship flanked by people depicting the major religious communities of Delhi represented the city, symbolizing communal harmony. In its 25th year, the Bahá'í community hopes that the House of Worship will continue to inspire every Indian's dream of living in a peaceful
society. |
|
|
At Janoli, Hooda attacks opposition hard
Janoli (Palwal), March 19 Addressing a well-attended public meeting in this village in Prithla assembly constituency, Hooda questioned the INLD if the government formed by it along with the BJP, which ruled the state for six years before his party took over in March 2005, took even a single decision for the benefit of the farmers. Prithla constituency is presently represented by Congress MLA Raghuvir Singh Tewatia, who was the main organiser of the meeting. Trying to establish an emotional chord with the people of Palwal and the neigbouring Faridabad district, he said that he had old links with them. He reminded the people that it was he who was instrumental in making Palwal a separate district. Hooda accepted all the demands of the people of the area made through Tewatia, which included according Prithla the status of block samiti headquarters and making a Tehsil office in Mohana village. Also, he accepted a demand for the construction of a rail over bridge (ROB) in Alawalpur village, at a cost of about Rs 30 crore. Hooda also agreed to set up sports stadiums in Sikri and Nawada villages. Further, he assured of upgrading all existing government schools in the constituency, provided they fulfilled the parameters. The salient feature of the meeting was large attendance of women. The public started reaching the venue of the meeting after 9 am. They sat through the meeting, which began around 1.30 pm. It was clear that people had come to hear Hooda. They chanted slogans in his favour. The Congress attaches significance to the meeting as Palwal district falls in southern Haryana. The Congress cited the success of the meeting as a pointer to the acceptability of Hooda in the entire state. |
|
|
Plot to kill CWG officials: Probe on to know source of knife
New Delhi, March 19 In a status report filed before additional chief metropolitan magistrate Sunil Chaudhary, the enquiry officer (IO) said he had visited the central jail number 4 and put certain specific queries to the jail authorities and officials of CRPF and the Tamil Nadu special police. Besides the Delhi police, the CRPF and the Tamil Nadu special police are deployed at the high security prison. The IO said he had also sought responses from the authorities on various incidents of scuffle inside the jail. "A letter was written to deputy commandant, CRPF, Central Jail, to know about the places where CRPF jawans were deployed in the prison," the police said in its report. The police, in a report, had said there was no evidence to support the claim made by Tihar inmates Nishant and Amit that they were supplied with a knife to kill two of the three former CWG OC officials T S Darbari, M Jayachandran and Sanjay Mahendroo inside the jail. The former CWG OC officials are now out on
bail. — PTI |
|
|
MCD to have 1,790 ‘special educators’ for disabled kids
A meeting of the MCD Standing Committee approved a proposal in this regard this week. The creation of the posts is also in consonance with a Delhi High Court order of 2008 that said at least two such teachers should be provided in each school along with necessary teaching aids and reading material. Officials said the Education Department has, however, proposed to create one post of "special educator" in each primary school. It is in process to place a request to the High Court for consideration, they said. "The proposal for creation of 1,790 posts of special educators -- one each for schools run and aided by the MCD -- was prepared in compliance with the direction of the court and the provisions of RTE," an official
said. — PTI |
|
|
Residents cry foul as MCD admits goof
The MCD is giving sleepless nights to the property owners in the city. According to residents, they are being harassed by the zonal officers who ask them to pay their property tax while they have already done so.
The civic agency has also served notices to the property owners in the city in this regard. After making several rounds of the corporation offices, the MCD officials have finally admitted that the lakhs of notices that have been sent to property owners was actually a mistake. "We have called an urgent meeting to check out the mistake," said an MCD official. Sympathy for Japan
The recent catastrophe in Japan has moved millions of hearts, and the Internet proves it. All the social networking websites have been flooded with sympathetic messages. Those having relatives there, including many students in the Capital, have already started collecting funds to help the people of Japan in whatever way possible. E-mails, bulk smses and group invites on Facebook, Twitter and Orkut are urging people to react to whatever happened in the land of rising sun. "We are trying our best to provide any help that we can. We have an online forum on Facebook where anyone in India can contact us if they are having trouble locating their near and dear ones in Japan," said Ben Zuni, a Ph.D. student of JNU. So-called gherao
BJP leaders are laughing in their sleeve as the Congress managed hardly 50 teachers to gherao them near the Delhi Assembly. There are 50,000 teachers in government schools and the Congress could gather only 50 that proves that the teachers' community is against the government's policy, said the BJP leaders. Teachers are being pressured into allowing students to cheat in order to get a better result of government schools, the leader of the opposition, Vijay Kumar Malhotra reiterated his claim. Disease, a
God’s curse?
Experts during a press briefing session of the South-East Asian countries, while debating the myths surrounding chronic diseases, said the people in rural areas still live in fear attributing many diseases to nature's fury or God's curse. Many people in villages refrain from visiting a doctor during illnesses and refer several diseases by unusual names like "cloud burst" for pneumonia. Experts believe that diseases like cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular ailments, etc, are no longer an urban phenomenon. For this changing scenario, experts stressed the need to evolve comprehensible ways with the media support in order to have a better health
reach. (Contributed by Himani Chandel, Jyoti Rai, Syed Ali Ahmed, Ananya Panda) |
|
Acid thrown on 17-yr-old girl
New Delhi,
March 19 The victim had gone to a nearby shop when the attacker threw acid on her. "She suffered burns on the face and neck. Her family took her to GTB Hospital and informed the police. It looks like the handiwork of a jilted lover or stalker," said a police official. He added that the girl's condition was said to be stable. The name of a youth (minor) has cropped up in the investigation and the police is checking his antecedents. |
|
A 27-year-old woman has been allegedly raped by her landlord in the Welcome Colony police station area of northeast district. According to the police, the incident was reported from Kabir Nagar Colony yesterday. Rukshana (name changed) lives as a tenant in the house of Parvez (name changed). Yesterday, Parvez went to Rukshana's house to collect rent and allegedly raped her. In her complaint to the police, Rukshana has alleged that she was alone in her room when Parvez tried to molest her. However, when she resisted, he raped her. Rukshana was taken to a hospital for medical examination, which, according to police officials, is inconclusive. Meanwhile, the accused has denied the allegations.
|
|
Man found dead in Paharganj hotel
New Delhi, March 19 He has been identified as Vipul Chaudhary and had checked into the Golden Palace hotel on March 17. "From the records of hotel register, the deceased has been identified. He is a resident of Muzaffarnagar and a property dealer. The cause of his death is not yet clear, but it seems to be a case of suicide as the door of his room had to be broken upon," said a police official, adding that the body has been sent to RML Hospital for postmortem. According to the police, Vipul could have died the same night when he checked in. "The body was in a highly decomposed condition," said the official, adding that his family in Muzaffarnagar has been contacted and informed about the incident. Further investigation in the case is on. |
|
Driver held for faking
Rs 3-lakh robbery
New Delhi, March 19 According to the police, the main accused, Sadhu, who had received payment for delivering a consignment of ghee to a customer, allegedly faked a robbery to cheat his employers. He called a friend, identified as Rajesh, gave him the money and later told his employers that he had been robbed. Sadhu made a PCR call around 1.55 pm on March 17, complaining that he had been robbed of Rs 3 lakh at gunpoint by two motorcycle-borne robbers on the main Najafgarh road. However, when a police team reached the spot, it did not find any eyewitness. Sadhu said that he did not raise the alarm and so there was no eyewitness. Sadhu did not behave like a person who had been robbed after being held at gunpoint and so became a suspect. "When interrogated at length, Sadhu confessed to have faked the robbery. Being a poor man with two daughters, he was finding it hard to meet his expenses and thus planned the fake robbery," said a police official. |
|
Man held for posing as police officer
New Delhi, March 19 "Deepak was sitting in his car when Viresh, in police uniform, approached him and charged that he was drunk and should give him money to avoid lock-up. Deepak recognized Viresh as he had extorted money from him earlier also. Deepak called the PCR after which Viresh was arrested," said Renganathan. During interrogation, the accused disclosed that his father has retired from the Delhi police and he is aware of the police functioning. "Whenever he noticed any suspicious person or the place where construction is going on, he introduced himself as a police officer and extorted money. Earlier, he was having a business in property dealing," said Renganathan, adding that after breaking off the partnership in business, he started committing this crime. |
|
|
Youth held with opium
New Delhi, March 19 According to S.S.
Yadav, DCP (North), Dinesh hails from Chitorgarh district of Rajsthan, but had been living in Madhya Pradesh for the past 10-12 years. He has been supplying opium to Punjab for the past 2 years. |
|
|
304 traders allotted plots
New Delhi, March 19 The beneficiaries were selected by Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) through a computerised draw of lots last evening. DSIIDC chairman-cum-managing director Chetan Sanghi said the agency has distributed 22,510 plots so far. |
|
| 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 | |
New Delhi, March 19
New Delhi, March 19