|
|
|
|
|
Bells, gifts, cakes
RWAs oppose bailout for discoms
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
AIIMS patients’ kin find refuge in Metro station
Three new hospitals in
S Delhi soon
NDMC area water supply to be hit for
3 days
Ring Road to be signal-free by next year
Women take refuge in blankets on a chilly Sunday morning in New Delhi. Tribune photo: Manas Ranjan Bhui
Noida Ext builders start getting buyers
Tihar warms up to inmates
Shelters for homeless without
power, report thefts
Temporary shelters, like this one, erected at Delhi Gate have no electricity. Tribune photo:Manas Ranjan Bhui
Gurgaon cops gear up to
rein in revellers
Man stabbed to death over Rs 60
Teen gangraped for over
2 months
Boy hurt in house collapse
Man held for killing wife
Property dealer shot in
Gzb; ex-cop suspected
Youth absolved of sodomy charges
|
|
Bells, gifts, cakes
New Delhi, December 25 "It is a festival of peace and harmony. People of all religions have come here today. They feel one with Jesus here," said Father Maria Susai at the Scared Heart Cathedral which was built in 1934. "This place gives me a sense of peace. I am not Christian but I celebrate Christmas every year. I and my friends go to a church and have some sweets," 24-year-old Atul Sharma said. The Christmas spirit could be felt all over the place. The church organised a day-long public mass and an open air theatre with a DJ playing songs. Expatriates also gathered at the church to celebrate Christmas. Although Olivier Mensah from Togo in west Africa misses Christmas back home, he is in love with the unique mix of cultures in India. "Christmas is always a big thing at home with lots of dance and merriment. But here, it's different. The churches are so grand and beautiful and so many people of different cultures have come together," said Mensah, 27. While the mood of festivity prevailed on the Church premises, a different type of celebration could be seen outside the Church. A group of youngsters in Santa caps were carrying big sacks just like Santa Claus. The sacks were full of clothes, scarves and ear-muffs which they had decided to give to poor people. The team's leader, Dheeraj Rana, 17 said, "We are volunteering with the church. These are gifts for the poor and the needy." The youngsters' gifts were even more relevant as incidentally, this is the coldest Christmas in the Capital in five years. Other churches across the city held Christmas mass and prayers. Markets and shopping malls in the Capital were flooded with Santa Clauses of all shapes and sizes. They also sold briskly at traffic junctions. There was a huge rush at Hind Bakery at Timarpur and two other bakeries at Jama Masjid where Christians had lined up for getting their cakes baked. They had brought all ingredients. Arnold James, a member of the North West India Counsel of Churches, said the cost for baking a one- kg cake ranged from Rs 300 to Rs 500. The booking for baking cakes is done one week before Christmas. The ingredients for cakes are generally purchased from Khari Baoli and Paharganj. Turkey bird, the holy bird of the Christians, was served by most of the five-star hotels. The celebrations started yesterday midnight. As bells tolled, worshippers thronged churches and cathedrals decorated with twinkling lights for the midnight service, with priests dishing out Christmas messages. Special mass prayers were held in churches. The North West India Counsel of Churches organised a Christmas function at the residence of the Chief Minister.
|
|
RWAs oppose bailout for discoms
New Delhi. December 25 In a letter written to the DERC, RWAs said any assistance to the discoms would be disguised as equity infusion equal to the share holding in the company. "The crisis that discoms are facing has been created by them only. They did not put in efforts to buy cheaper power nor did they maintain financial prudence in long-term power purchase agreements. They did not even set up their own generating plants as per the public-private partnership agreement," said Rajiv Kakria, member of the GK-I RWA. According to sources, the discoms have defaulted in their payments to the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) etc and the banks are unwilling to lend them more money because of their poor track records. "The consumers have paid their bills regularly. So, where has all the money gone? Power generators and bankers would not have been so harsh had the default been within manageable limits," he said. The members said the DERC, in the last tariff order, had announced to bring in competition by introducing more discoms. "The government will have to infuse capital into the new discoms, it will be pressed to raise funds, which in turn would put unnecessary burden on the citizens," said Atul, a member of the east Delhi RWA. The RWAs, meanwhile, expressed satisfaction over the decision of the DERC to start an awareness campaign on safety hazards and meter installation. "We have made many written representations to the commission about fast running meters and have raised the issue during various public hearings over the past three years," said another member of an RWA. The members said they had also demanded that tests and surveys be conducted by independent institutes of repute to check if improper working of the meters was provided by the licensees. "We have been stating that due to residual back flow in neutral, consumers are being billed far in excess of the power units they consume. Discoms have made millions over the past three years due to the replacement of the mechanical meters," added the members. |
|
AIIMS patients’ kin find refuge in Metro station
New Delhi, December 25 Braving the Capital's biting cold, close to 30 families of patients have taken shelter inside the AIIMS Metro station next to Gate No-1 of the institute and the new subway which forms the entry-exit of the station. "My son has undergone a heart surgery. Doctors have asked us to come for check-up after every 20 days. We cannot afford to travel so frequently from our village. That is why we have decided to stay back and complete the treatment process and return back home," 51-year-old Ramakant Kumar, who came all the way from Madhubani in Bihar, said. "The dharamshala (hospital's rest house) will not allow us to stay for such a long time and we have no relatives here. This (entrance to the subway) is a safe place, being closed from all sides. "Over 30 families live here, including my wife, daughter-in-law and grand daughter. Many live in the stairway (of the Metro station) and others live around the gates," Kumar said. Around 8,000 patients from different parts of the country visit AIIMS everyday. Out these, a majority of them come from economically backward sections and far-off places and cannot afford the hospital's dharamshala, which is otherwise full. A few months ago, the DMRC toilet next to Gate No-1 had turned into a temporary home for several families like that of Kumar. "Earlier we were staying at the DMRC toilet. But then all of a sudden we were thrown out and the toilet, though not in use, is shut from all sides. It is not comfortable place as it is very cold at night and we cannot lit a fire around," Sukhbir, a relative of another patient undergoing treatment at AIIMS, said. "After breakfast, almost all of us stay inside the hospital the whole day. We return only in the evening. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, many people distribute food and prasad too," he said. --PTI
|
|
Three new hospitals in
S Delhi soon
New Delhi, December 25 Keeping in view the vast area of south Delhi and the huge number of the patients, the city government had directed the public works department (PWD) to immediately take up the construction of three hospitals at Ambedkar Ngar, Sarita Vihar and Chhatarpur, said Dikshit. "The health department is taking care of the shortage of doctors and allied staff in government hospitals. A total of 500 new doctors have joined various government hospitals and 500 paramedical staff has also been selected. This will overcome the shortage of staff in government hospitals, resulting in better healthcare facilities," said health minister Kiran Walia. The new ICU at Pt Madan Mohan Malviya Hospital has six beds fitted with all life-saving equipment. Dikshit added that the neo natal ICU had five beds, but the number was likely to be increased to 10 very soon. The unit would provide the much-needed care to the newborns of the area, she added. The hospital was taken over from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in 1996. The city government constructed a new building to make it a 100-bedded hospital. The hospital treats around six lakh OPD patients every year. Walia stated that all government hospitals were being upgraded regularly. "The hospitals are being developed in such a way that there is no need to refer patients to other hospitals. The patients should leave the hospital after full recovery," said Walia. |
|
NDMC area water supply to be hit for
3 days
New Delhi, December 25 "Water will not be available in the overhead tanks in some areas for three days from December 26 to 28. The affected areas include double-storey Panchkuian Road, Palika Place, Doctor's Lane, S Kriplani Hospital, TT Place, the entire Pandara Road flats, Shahjahan Road and adjoining areas," said an NDMC official. Meanwhile, a DJB official has also said, "Due to a repair work at the Sonia Vihar water treatment plant, water will not be supplied to some south Delhi areas from 9 am to 9 pm on December 27," said a DJB official. The affected areas include Dakshinpuri, Sheikh Sarai Phase-II, Madangir, Dakshinpuri Extension, Tigri, Greater Kailash-I, East of Kailash, Sant Nagar, Kailash Colony, Panchsheel Park, Panchsheel Enclave, Udai Park, Niti Bagh, Vasant Kunj, Apollo Hopital, Okhla, Sarita Vihar, EPDP, Saket, Mool Chand, Vikaram Vihar, Lajpat Nagar, Jal Vihar, Sidharatha Enclave, Kilokari Village, Deer Park, Amar Colony, Bharti Nagar and Jor Bagh. Due to the annual flushing of underground reservoirs, water would be supplied at low pressure on December 27 to Sector B-1 Vasant Kunj, Rajpur, Dakshinpuri, Ambedkar Nagar, Madangir, Najafgarh, Dichaokalan, Mitrao, Kair, Zaferpur Hospital, Surera, Khera Paprawat, Chhawla, Jharoda, CRPF Camp, Jharoda Air Force Camp, Prem Kunj Colony Flats, Sarai Phoos JJC. |
|
Ring Road to be signal-free by next year
New Delhi, December 25 The only hurdle may be the traffic signal near Wazirabad where the DUAC has asked that the crossing be closed to test the traffic movement, said a senior officer, PWD in Delhi government. He said that the project was pending for the three years as the DUAC had objected, saying that if the flyovers were constructed the width of roads would become narrow that would cause traffic jams. The sources said that in view of this objection, the government has broadened the width of roads wherever necessary. These are the first projects after the Commonwealth Games that have been granted permission. The flyover project is of Rs 2500 crore. The principal secretary, PWD, told this to the Delhi public works minister Raj Kumar Chauhan, the sources said. In the last meeting of the DUAC and the Union Urban Development Ministry, was held in August, the DUAC had suggested a study report be done on the elevated road and the flyovers. The DUAC was told that the survey report would cost Rs 50 crore to Rs 80 crore. The Delhi government then met the Union Urban development Minister Kamalnath who took initiative to get the project cleared. The sources said that the flyover would be very long, with four or five traffic signals under each flyover.
|
|
At 2.9°C, it is coldest day in 5 years
New Delhi, December 25 "There is a heavy backlog of trains, leading to many delays and rescheduling of trains," a Northern Railways spokesperson said. "As many as 30 trains were running late and 10 services were rescheduled in the Capital, where dense fog reduced visibility to 400 metres in the morning," the official said. As a precautionary measure, 31 long distance trains have been cancelled till January 31 and 27 suburban trains have been cancelled till December 31 due to dense fog that prevails in the region during this period, he dded A Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) spokesman said no flights were affected on Sunday. The weatherman has predicted the chill and fog to prevail in the days ahead. "The chill and fog will prevail in the days ahead. The cold north-westerly winds from the Himalayas coupled with the heavy fog cover that obstructed the sunrays are causing this chill," said an official at the IMD. The maximum temperature was recorded at 20.3 degrees, a notch below the average for this time of the season. The humidity levels wavered between 92 and 27 per cent. The bone-freezing chill forced many to wrap themselves in layers of woollens. For the shelter-less pavement dwellers, the only solace was bonfires under trees and in open parks. "The maximum and minimum temperatures on Monday are expected to hover around 21 and 2 degree Celsius," added the official. On Saturday, the maximum and minimum temperatures were recorded at 20 and 3.3 degrees, respectively. According to the IMD, the record for the lowest minimum for the month of December is 1.1 degree Celsius recorded on December 26 in 1945.
|
|
Noida Ext builders start getting buyers
Greater Noida, December 25 The area around the entire circular crossing at Noida Extension, just across the Hindon river, is full of temporary stalls put up by agents. "I have come to inquire about a flat and see whether the construction work has started. I have booked a flat with Rajnigandha Green," said Joginder Bhatia standing at one of the stalls here today. "I booked a flat with Patel today. Though prices are high, I have booked the flat after checking the area," said Mohit Sharma, a resident of Delhi. "We are getting around 15 to 20 queries for new bookings. We did five bookings today," said Bhushan Sharma, an agent. "This is our first project. Earlier, we had launched a project, but the farmers' agitation stopped it. Now, we have launched afresh. I got 10 queries today," said Surya Raghav, an agent of Rajnigandha Green. "People are waiting for the approval of the NCR Planning Board. Once the Greater Noida Authority gets the approval, bookings will increase," said another agent Madan Mohan. Meanwhile, the rush of the buyers to the area has brought good business for people in food business. Several food vans were seen stationed at the crossing. "We do maximum business on Saturdays and Sundays when a large number of investors visit the place. Business is picking up," said Mukesh Sharma, owner of a food van serving Punjabi thalis for Rs 30 each.
|
|
New Delhi, December 25 As the minimum temperature drops down to 5 degree Celsius in the national capital, jail authorities are making sure that the over 12,000 prisoners are served hot food, warm water and clean blankets. "The solar water heating system is set up in sub jail number 6 and the main kitchen. Hot water is provided to women inmates as they fall sick more often during winter. The males can also get warm water if they fall ill. Hot water can be used for bathing, washing and cooking," a jail official said. Till last year, only undertrials at the Mulahiza ward for first-time offenders were provided hot food from custom-made trolleys. But from this time, the jail authorities are offering hot food to all inmates. "From this winter, the trolleys will provide hot food to all the inmates and not just the first-time offenders. We received requests from several inmates to serve them hot food," another jail official said. The prison provides three meals a day that usually consists of roti, rice, dal and a vegetable dish. The inmates are also being provided four blankets, unlike in summer when they get only one blanket each. The prison launched its own blanket manufacturing unit on December 9 at the sub jail number 8. "We started an in-house blanket manufacturing unit as the demand is more and we can give good quality blankets to all," said Tihar Jail spokesperson Sunil Gupta. Tihar, one of the largest prison complexes in South Asia, houses almost 12,200 prisoners against the sanctioned strength of 6,250. "If each prisoner is given four blankets, we need at least 48,800 blankets. Moreover, a blanket lasts only for four years. So the prison intends to manufacture about 10,000 blankets a year," Gupta said. While the prisoners are roped in to weave the blankets, the polishing work has been outsourced. "But we will later try to set up a system to polish the blankets too," Gupta said. He said these blankets would only be used for in-house purposes and not be sold outside like other products manufactured in the prison. According to a source in the jail, "These facilities have come up this year just because the jail houses many high-profile accused inside. They would not have come up with these facilities otherwise." He added that certain VIP prisoners were given more blankets so that they could use them like a bed. Brushing aside the allegations, Gupta said: "No special treatment is given to any VIP inmate. We allow jail inmates to get blankets from their homes, provided it should be single bed blanket, not a double sheet." Currently, former communications minister A Raja and sacked Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi are lodged in Tihar Jail. -- IANS
|
|
Shelters for homeless without
power, report thefts
New Delhi, December 25 An NGO activist who manages a number of temporary shelters said that the department concerned of the Delhi government had tried to get power through solar energy system, but it was not successful. He said that some homeless rickshaw pullers and daily wage earners avoid these shelters for lack of electricity. They are afraid of theft incidents. To cap it, there are no arrangements for toilet. A caretaker in a shelter at Delhi Gate said that the shelter can house 50 persons, but "we have only 27 homeless persons". When asked the reason, he said that those who have family do not sleep here as there is no arrangement for women. Shelters are for men only. The second reason is free food, blankets and cloths distributed to footpath dwellers by rich people. Those in shelters do not get food. They get blankets at night which they have to return to the caretaker in the morning. |
|
|
Gurgaon cops gear up to
rein in revellers
Gurgaon, December 25 "This time of the year is quite risky as there is dense fog and because of the festive spirit, many people drive in an inebriated condition, which can be quite risky for the revellers as well as others on the road," observed Gurgaon deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Bharti Arora. Talking to The Tribune, Arora said the Gurgaon traffic police had launched a drive to check drunken driving. Apart from the drive against the tipsy drivers, the traffic police authorities have started a campaign to install reflectors on the vehicles so as to prevent road accidents on foggy days. They have also urged other government departments to install reflectors on the road dividers for the convenience of the commuters driving in foggy weather. "With a view to initiate a positive thought process in the minds of the residents, especially commuters, we are distributing pamphlets which contain questions regarding our actual contribution towards maintaining road safety," the DCP maintained. In a novel move, Arora has appealed to the residents to make safe driving and observing traffic rules their New Year resolution. She also plans to organise a ceremony in this regard. The traffic police personnel have also been making the violators of traffic rules take a solemn oath of obeying traffic rules by placing their hands on the scriptures of their respective religions. |
|
|
Man stabbed to death over Rs 60
Ghaziabad, December 25 When the owner of the eatery Jaivir Singh Malik asked them to pay Rs 260, Chaudhary was ready to cough up only Rs 200. As the quarrel intensified, Malik and an aide caught hold of Chaudhary to force him to pay. Freeing himself, Chaudhary picked up an iron rod and hit Malik and his wife Savitri. Seeing her bleeding, Malik stabbed Chaudhary with a kitchen knife in the chest. Chaudhary was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him dead. Malik has been arrested. -- IANS
|
|
|
Teen gangraped for over
2 months
Etah (UP), December 25 Acting on a court's directive yesterday, the police registered a case against the four accused, who allegedly abducted the victim on October 3 from Sewar village here and took her to Delhi where they repeatedly raped her. The 18-year-old girl managed to flee from their confinement and reached here. Accused Dharmendra, Lal Singh, Banti and Pappu have been booked --PTI |
|
Boy hurt in house collapse
New Delhi, December 25 "An under-construction building collapsed, injuring Amjad. He was discharged from hospital after treatment,"a police officer said. Owner of the building might be arrested ,if found guilty, the officer added. -- IANS |
|
Man held for killing wife
New Delhi, December 25 "Poonam's family members said Dileep told them that three robbers barged into their house and Poonam was injured when she tried to resist them," deputy commissioner of police Meenu Choudhary said. The woman's family became suspicious of the story and called the police. "Dileep used to beat Poonam for dowry. He also had an affair with a woman for five years and often he did not come home for two or three days," added Choudhary. - IANS |
|
Property dealer shot in
Gzb; ex-cop suspected
Ghaziabad, December 25 According to superintendent of police (city) Jitendra Kumar Shahi, Ankur Pandit (25) of Sarvodaya Nagar was shot dead outside his house. "Pandit had returned to his house No. 43/3, Gali No. 24 around 10 pm. As he came out of his car, four men came and fired on him. Pandit was shot in his back and shoulder and he collapsed. He was rushed to a local private hospital that declared him 'brought dead'," he said. "The family of the victim claimed that a retired Delhi police sub-inspector Jwala Prasad and his son Robin were behind the murder and has named them in the FIR along with two unidentified men," Shahi added. Pandit was an accused in the murder cases of Prasad's two sons who were killed in 2009 and January 2011, respectively. The retired SI and his family maintained enmity with Pandit over this, sources said. "A case of murder has been registered against Jwala Prasad and his son Robin -- both residents of Vijay Nagar - along with two others. We have detained Prasad and his son and are interrogating them," Shahi said. -- PTI |
|
Youth absolved of sodomy charges
New Delhi, December 25 Additional sessions jugde Sanjay Sharma absolved Birju Patel (23) of the charge of sodomising a 14-year-old boy, saying, "The possibility of the accused having been implicated for removing him from his job cannot be ruled out." "Implication in rape cases is not uncommon and in some cases, parents do persuade gullible or obedient daughters to make false charge of rape either to take revenge or extort money or to get rid of financial liability," the judge said, citing an earlier judgement of a higher court. According to the prosecution, Patel had sodomised the boy on April 18, 2010 in a canteen at the Anand Vihar railway station, where his uncle Rai Singh was employed. Patel had in his defence contended that he was being implicated in the matter by Singh who wanted to "take over his job in a Railway canteen since the canteen in which Singh was working had been closed down for unauthorised operation". Noting that immediately after the incident, Singh joined the canteen where Patel was working, the judge held the same was "suggestive of the fact that he was inclined to do the job there and hence in my opinion, the accused has been able to raise a probable defence, which is sufficient to raise doubt in the prosecution story". The court also refused to rely on the medical evidence that had suggested a mere possibility of sodomy. -- PTI
|
|
| 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, December 25
