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| Sunday,
February 17, 2002, Chandigarh, India
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Only two Faridabad industrial houses care for ozone layer Faridabad, February 16 According to reports, dealers and organisations using CFC gases do not maintain records about the import status of the gas and its use. The registration of agents and organisations using such gases has been on in the state for the last two years, but it is reported that only 15 persons have formally applied for registration while the actual users could be over 200 in the state. Only two industrial houses in Faridabad have applied for registration while none has come forward in Gurgaon district, which is the industrial and commercial hub of the state. The last date for registration was July 2001, which has been extended to July 19, 2002. India had signed the Montreal Protocol on September 17, 1992. According to the Protocol, there are about 20 gases which are dangerous to the ozone layer and their use must be minimised. These gases are normally used in refrigeration, air-conditioning, ice-cream manufacture, coolers, mobile phones, cars, buses, vans, chillers, ice candies, perfumes, foam, paints and pharmaceutical industry. If the ozone layer is damaged, ultra violet rays emitted by the sun can cause skin cancer, blindness and other disorders besides harming the food chain on Earth. A notification for implementation of the Protocol had been issued by the Union Government way back on July 19, 2000. According to the notification, an alternative technology needs to be developed to replace the use of such gases in the manufacturing and the service sector. The Small Industries Services Institution (SISI), the Pollution Control Board and the Union Environment Ministry are responsible for implementing the Protocol. The Haryana State Pollution Control Board and the Union Ministry of Environment held a workshop here yesterday for creating awareness about the Protocol for phasing out ozone depleting substances. |
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Gang of international conmen busted New Delhi, February 16 The leader of the gang, Jai Bhagwan, was arrested yesterday from Tis Hazari premises, where he had gone in connection with a case. His interrogation led to the arrest of his four accomplices, including a woman. They were identified as Sanjiv Chopra, Rajiv Chopra, Prince Chopra and Anita Chopra. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-West), Mr R. P. Upadhyaya, disclosed that the gang had worked out a unique modus operandi. The victim was invariably a wealthy person with huge assets, who would be lured to invest money in hotel business in Nepal. Sanjiv Chopra would impersonate the Nepal hotel owner. Jai Bhagwan would introduce his victim to Sanjiv Chopra and Rajiv Chopra, purportedly running a three-star hotel in Nepal. Later, the suspects would take the victim into confidence. If the person did not have cash, they would transfer the victim’s property to one of the their gang members, for the purpose of obtaining a loan from the bank. They would even take the victim to their place of residence in Nepal — Prince Hotel – and pretend to be the owners. Later, as per plan, while returning to Delhi, they would be stopped by members of the gang posing as policemen. A casual search of the car by the `police’ would lead to the discovery of powder, supposedly contraband drugs. To avert arrest, the gang members would start negotiations with the police for the release of the ‘apprehended’ persons. One of the suspects remained in Delhi, who would inform the family members of the victim that the police in Nepal had arrested the latter under the Narcotics Act and that they had to arrange Rs 40 to 50 lakh for his release;. Otherwise, they would be booked or killed in an encounter. Jai Bhagwan did not even spare his cousin, Rajbir. He cheated Rs 15 lakh from Rajbir on the pretext of investing his money in electronic goods business in Nepal. Besides, he cheated the owner of Reeta Public school, Mrs Kanti Verma, whose husband was a supervisor in DDA; Kishan Pal, a resident of Jwalapuri; and Kishan Lal Batra who runs a garment shop in Rohini. Jai Bhagawn has acquired properties worth Rs 60 to 70 lakh in Rohini, Qutab Garh and Najafgarh. These properties are being verified and will be seized, the DCP said. |
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Rewari custody death case finally goes to CBI Rewari, February 16 The judge has also directed that an officer, not below inspector’s rank, would conduct the investigation and complete it within three months. He further directed Rewari’s Superintendent of Police to hand over the case file to his counterpart in the CBI. The misfortunes of the Aggarwal family, residents of Azad Nagar in Dharuhera, started on November 16, 2000, when the body of Ashok Aggarwal, husband of Sita Devi, was found at a deserted spot; he had been murdered. The Dharuhera Police registered a case of murder and, for reasons best known to them, brought Sita Devi and her daughter, Sarika, to the police station, where they were allegedly subjected to third degree treatment, provoking them to end their lives in custody by consuming poison. Just before she passed away, the statement of Sarika Aggarwal was recorded by Rewari’s Sub-Divisional Magistrate in the local civil hospital, in which it was alleged that she and her mother had consumed poison due to police harassment. Then followed public uproar, leading to the registration of a case of murder under Section 302 against the police personnel. Later, the offence was converted to abatement of suicide. In the meantime, the Police arrested Sri Ram Yadav, Station House Officer of Dharuhera, and Lekh Ram, Sub-Inspector, who were remanded to judicial custody by a local court. However, the case took a u-turn on February 5, 2001 with the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Rewari discharging the accused and paving the way for their release. But the then Additional Sessions Judge, Dr S K Kapoor, suo motu launched proceedings against the discharged accused, maintaining that it was a sessions trial case and the CJM ought to have passed it on to the Sessions Court. Again, on the basis of an application filed by the accused, the
Sessions Judge of Narnaul transferred the case to another Additional Sessions Judge of Rewari, Mr Dharam Vir, who concluded that the CJM’s order of discharge was in a way `illegal.’ |
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Man mowed down in Noida, mob goes berserk Ghaziabad, February 16 According to police, Anees Siddiqui and his nephew Mohd Arif of Salarpur village in Phase-II were going to their factory when a bus crushed Mohd Arif under its wheels. Arif’s head was completely smashed. After the accident, the bus driver fled from the site and the passengers also vanished in different directions, the police said. Hundreds of Salarpur residents descended on the road soon and smashed the glass panes of the bus and damaged some other vehicles also. As police reached the spot late, the people raised slogans against them. The body of the deceased was sent for an autopsy. Police have seized the bus and launched a hunt for the driver. In the second accident near police lines under Surajpur police station, constable Satish was hit by a vehicle when he was trying get a lift fromanother vehicle. In the third accident under police station Sector-20, a Tata Sumo hit a Matiz car near Sector-19 crossing on toll bridge approach road. Tata Sumo overturned after hitting a road-divider. Hayat Khan, Mojmibal and Sariff were seriously injured and were rushed to a private hospital. |
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As usual, men shy away from anti-AIDS drive Jhajjar, February 16 The “Swasth Yovan Mela” was part of the family health awareness campaign launched by the Health Department under which camps were organised at the district and sub-divisional levels aimed at controlling the spread of AIDS and other STDs. As many as 22 camps were organised at different places – from February 1 to February 8 in Jhajjar and from February 9 to February 15 in the sub-divisional town of Bahadurgarh. Camps were organised in Dhakla, Mchharouli, Tumberi, Jamalpur, Bahu-Jholari, Girawar, Matanhale, Dujana Silani, Badsa, Badli, Dighal, Jahajgarh, Dubaldhan, Bhambewa and two in Jhajjar town and Bahadurgarh, Mandouthi, Kharar, Chhara and Chhudani in Bahadurgarh sub-division. According to the official records, a total 3,61,416 people, including 97,230 in Bahadurgarh, were targeted as STD-affected who needed immediate attention of the health authorities. Of these, 2,08,983 were men and the rest women. However, much against the expectations of the health authorities, the health workers attended to only 9,345 persons in these camps, including 2,323 in Bahadurgarh. The more worrying aspect of the drive was that the number of male patients who attended the camps was much below expectation; almost half as compared to the women who came forward. The records showed that while 6,206 women turned up at the camps in the district, only 3,139 men thought it worthwhile to attend them. In Bahadurgarh, 1,660 women as against 663 men came forward to have check-ups. Of these, 1,511 persons were found to be STD-affected in Bahadurgarh alone. In Jhajjar, 11 cases of ulcers, 2,193 cases of discharge and 7,141 cases of other diseases were reported. Moreover, the facilities at the camps also left a lot to be desired as virtually no important medicine was made available. This was also the reason behind the low turnout, it is learnt. The health workers admitted this fact and said that two important tablets — nor phlox and flu nozol — that are very costly and vital for treating STDs had never been supplied by the department at the camps. The Chief Medical Officer or the Deputy Commissioner could not be contacted despite repeated attempts to get their reaction on these allegations. |
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MCD told to list steps to clear Hindon of carcasses New Delhi, February 16 The court was dealing with a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the United Communist Party of India through its counsel Namita. The PIL alleged that the birds descended on the trans-Yamuna area due to the collection of carcasses and their flaying. As a result, the nearby Hindon Air Base had lost six MiG aircraft over the years to bird hits, it claimed. The petition also sought the setting up of a scientific flaying and disposal centre here. A division bench comprising Chief Justice S. B. Sinha and Justice A. K. Sikri was dissatisfied with the MCD’s reply through an affidavit which stated that carcasses were collected and then taken outside the city for ‘removal and disposal’ by contractors. The affidavit, filed by the Deputy Health Officer, Shahdara South Zone, Mr C. P. Singh, refuted the charges levelled in a PIL that carcasses from all the 12 corporation zones were sent to Gazipur Dairy Farm where they were allowed to be flayed in violation of the MCD Act. It was stated that authorities in all zones had made different arrangements for collection and disposal of carcasses found in their areas. It was also denied that any flaying was allowed at the impugned site. Though the affidavit accepted that several birds flocked to the area, it attributed this to the fact that garbage or waste was brought in from all other MCD zones to this ‘notified landfill site’. The corporation was trying to ‘counter the problem of birds’, it said. |
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GETTING AWAY
About eight hours drive from Delhi is the Valley of Flowers National Park, Chamoli Garhwal. A visit to the valley is an enthralling experience for any tourist, as he will be welcomed by the riot of colours set amidst the pristine surroundings of the snow-clad Himalayan ranges. The Valley of Flowers is a glacial corridor, eight kilometres in length and two kilometres in width, and is surrounded by high mountains on three sides. Its altitude ranges from 3,200 m to 6,675 m. Variation in the altitude provides a great diversity of landscape and microhabitats. In 1982, the valley was named the Republic Park. Its area was fixed at 87.5 sq. km. The snow on the Himalayas adds majesty to the mountains and the innumerable flowers add to its beauty. When the sun shines directly, thousands of flowers bloom here. The valley was unknown to the outside world until a British mountaineer, Frank Smith, first visited here. Many small streams flow within the valley adding to its overall beauty. The high mountain peaks surrounding the valley look like they are guarding it. The glaciers amongst this look very attractive. In 1931, Frank Smith wanted to scale a peak in Garhwal called Comet. While returning after successfully completing his mission, he took the western pass and lost his way and reached this valley after many difficulties. All of a sudden, he had come upon a sea of flowers, which enchanted him. He put up a tent and stayed here for many days. During these days, he collected 260 different species of flowers. He also took back some of the seeds with him. In 1937, he came back again to the valley and stayed here for a long time. Then he wrote a book called “The Valley of Flowers”. And, the place became famous and nature lovers started visiting here. Legends associate this valley with the area from where Hanuman collected ‘Sanjeevani’ herbs to revive Lakshman, the younger brother of Ram. The place is also associated with Lakshman, who is said to have meditated on the banks of Hemkund where a little known Hindu temple `Lokpal’, dedicated to him, exists besides a magnificent Sikh shrine. Local people collect the religious and sacred flowers of Brahmakamal on some auspicious days to offer the gods and goddesses. The valley has been described as `Nandan Kanan’ meaning “Garden of Indra in Paradise” in the Hindu mythology. Of the many species, which coexist in this unique ecosystem, include the Himalayan blue poppy, native to the region, the uncommon varieties of primula and orchid, which bloom during June, and the impatiens, potentillas and campanulas which paint the valley pink, red, and purple during July and August. Of the 31 rare and endangered plants found in the Valley of Flowers, 13 are medicinal plants. Most of the rare plants grow in unusual habitats such as rocky slopes, forest edges, and marshy meadows. The species are rare because of restricted habitats, small population size, narrow range of distribution, and overexploitation by people for medicinal uses in the recent past. A stone path meanders through valley amidst the plants and across streams. The flowers grow so tall that leaving the path and entering among the plants is difficult. The area becomes snowbound for about seven months – from late October to early May - when the vegetation survives under snow with the help of tubers and rhizomes. The growing season starts at the end of May and lasts for about 15 to 20 weeks only. Monsoon usually reaches here in the third week of June and continues till the first fortnight of September. July and August are the wettest months when there is rainfall almost everyday. And, the best time to visit the valley is between mid-June and mid-September, when the valley is an enchanting vision filled with a multitude of flowers. |
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Poverty of ideas: Jhuggis on land earmarked for community centre The residents of Outram Lines, Kingsway Camp, have been peeved about the huge jhuggi cluster in their area. They claim that even after several written complaints and applications, nothing has been done to improve their living conditions. The 1.97-acre land in the area has been originally earmarked for a shopping and community centre, but for more than eight years, some jhuggi-dwellers have occupied the land. Over 400 jhuggis could be seen in the area. The jhuggi-dwellers have also set up their shops at Outram Lines, Kingsway Camp. They have extended the shelters of the shops on to the road. The residents often tried to complain but were threatened with dire consequences. Ram Kumar Sharma said, “We are really bothered about this cluster. They are involved in prostitution, liquor, smack and other unlawful activities. Our association tried to take up the matter but they threatened us. We got the ‘veer bazaar’
removed from the place in 1997. But they are still carrying on their activities, committing the contempt of the High Court orders with regard to the weekly mart. They park their ‘rehris’ in front of our houses. We cannot take out our cars. Another resident Shyama Anand said, “Moreover, these people ease themselves in the open. We cannot even cross the road without covering our nose. They have opened a few meat shops. Ironically, they have got all the creature comforts like fridge, coolers, TV sets, cooking range, etc. They have made the When this reporter tried to eli it the views of the members of the Welfare Association, they refused to come on record out of fear. The residents informed that petty thefts like chain snatching and
pick pocketing have also taken place several times. The area remains jammed in the peak hours as almost 20ft. of road has been encroached upon. One more jhuggi cluster has come up on a patch of land near house No. 1457 to 1471. The 1.5 acre of land is originally earmarked as a green land. More
than Rs15crore could be earned if the land is maintained properly. Sukumar Sinha, another resident, said, “I have been residing in the area for more than 20 years and have seen the deterioration in the standard of life. No concrete development has taken place. In fact, the place has become more congested and
commercialised.” When contacted, the DDA officials tried to pass the buck. They refused to say about any plan to co struct the community centre or shopping center on the place earmarked for them. |
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SEARCH WITHIN The National Gandhi Museum is holding an exhibition on its premises under the title, The last phase of Mahatma Gandhi’s life, (From October 21, 1946 to January 30, 1948.) So much has been written about him, that one does not expect any new revelation in this partial display of his life and times. All the same, the exercise is worthwhile, if only to remind the people of the values and ideals he cherished and the issues that bothered him towards the end of his life. The exhibits bring out his preoccupations during the turbulent period, his concerns and above all his sorrow. It is significant that the man who struggled all his life for the freedom of his people, was fasting on the day the country gained independence. He was not celebrating, but praying. He was in pain. The source of his pain was obviously the communal disharmony and killings in various parts of the country. The account of how he spent his last birthday is particularly revealing. The visitors and friends had been coming the whole day to offer their greetings. They included members of the diplomatic corps, some of them carrying greetings from their respective governments. His request to all was to pray that “either the present conflagration (he meant the communal riots) should end or He (God) should take me away. I do not wish another birthday to overtake me in an India still in flames.” “What sin must I have committed,” he remarked to the Sardar (Sardar Patel) that “He (God) should have kept me alive to witness these horrors?’’ He seemed to be consumed with a sense of helplessness in the face of the surrounding conflagration. Sardar Patel’s daughter, Manibehn, recorded in her journal that day: “His anguish was unbearable. We had gone to him in elation; we returned home with a heavy heart...’’ The All India Radio had arranged a special programme in observance of his birthday. He did not accept the invitation to take part and preferred to spend his time turning the spinning wheel. How deeply the events had hurt him was clear from his remarks: “The desire to live 125 years, has completely vanished as a result of this continued fratricide. I do not want to be a helpless witness of it.” During the two-year period, he was in daily contact with the leaders of different communities, counselling them and persuading them to heed the voice of sanity. The hatred between communities had shattered all his dreams. He had depicted the India of his dreams in Young India as early as September 10, 1931: “I shall work for an India in which the poorest shall feel that it is their country in whose making they have an effective voice; an India in which there shall be no high class or low class of people; an India in which all communities shall live in perfect harmony. There can be no room in India for the curse of untouchability or the curse of intoxicating drinks and drugs. Women will enjoy the same rights as men. Since we shall be at peace with the rest of the world, neither exploiting nor being exploited we should have the smallest army imaginable. All interests not in conflict with the interest of the dumb millions, will be scrupulously respected, whether foreign or indigenous. Personally, I hate the distinction between Indian and foreign. This is the India of my dreams.’’ Rabindranath Tagore who did not readily agree with the Mahatma on several subjects had this to record about his common touch: “He stopped at the thresholds of the huts of the thousands of the dispossessed, dressed like one of their own. He spoke to them in their own language; he was living truth at last, and not quotation from books. For this reason, ‘the Mahatma’, the name given to him by the people of India is his real name. Who else has felt like him that all Indians are his own flesh and blood?” No mean tribute. He had the poor in mind when he formulated his ‘talisman’ in August 1947. It was his prescribed test, to determine the justness of one’s actions. “Whenever you are in doubt or when the self becomes too much with you, recall the face of the poorest and the weakest of men, whom you may have seen and ask yourself, if the step you are contemplating is going to be of use to him? Will it restore him to a control over his own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melting away.” Everyone, who is concerned with the present conditions in this nation, will immensely benefit by this exhibition which will be on till March 30. Then perhaps, sensitive hearts will share the sorrow of the Mahatma and that sorrow perhaps will lead some to cry peccavi. M P K Kutty
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Use of women in
risque ads decried Sonepat, February 16 He also opposed the wearing of ‘burqas’ as well as the use of dresses which exposed them rather than covering their bodies. Women should be treated equally in today’s society, he said. Dr Dahiya also called upon the students to set an example by serving the people in the rural areas. Speaking on the topic, ‘Women in political institutions’, Mrs Jagmati Sangwan, Assistant Professor, University College, Rohtak, said that discrimination on the basis of sex, caste, creed, etc had existed for a long time and it was because of this, the fathers of our Constitution had made the provision in Articles 14 and 15 that there should be no such discrimination. She said that women must be represented in the august decision-making body of the country, Parliament, through reservation. Giving examples for the past and present status of women, she also suggested what must be their status in the country in the future. |
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Seatbelts not needed in low-speed zones, feel motorists New Delhi, February 16 The drive has led a majority of those fined to turn against the traffic cops by arguing that the belts are not necessary in a low-speed zone. But the traffic authorities are not relenting. “This time, we are not bothered about the public outbursts on the issue. We wanted to maintain strict discipline on the roads and we will achieve this steadily and gradually,” said a traffic police official. “It’s just a matter of habit and they will get used to it, while the youngsters will continue with this inclination,” he added. The police also said that they had given enough time for the public to start getting used to the belts as the Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, herself had inaugurated the advisory driving. Now, there would not be anymore “advice”, but only prosecution, said the official. The random checks by the traffic cops at intersections yesterday found that most of the passengers of cars and other light motor vehicles were violating the traffic rules by not wearing the belts despite the announcement of the drive. “However in some cases, the cops could not hide their surprise when the passengers were seen using seatbelts and when some told them that they respected the law and gave value for their lives,” said another traffic official. Contrary to the expectations, the seatbelts were not selling like hot cakes as such, even though people are spotted at busy intersections bargaining with hawkers for makeshift belts that sell between Rs 80 and Rs 120 depending on the quality. However, these belts sold openly at the intersections are not advisable as they are not scientifically designed to suit the needs of the drivers in the Capital. They did not provide comfort while driving as they lack flexibility, claimed a shopkeeper. So far, the fine is fixed at Rs 100 which most of the drivers can afford to pay. But there are indications that the fine may go up if the “indiscipline” persists. |
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NCR BRIEFS Faridabad, February 16 The victim in her complaint to the police had alleged that she was taken to a house in the village by the accused, Chander, and was raped. The court found him guilty and sentenced him to the jail term. However another accused was acquitted in the case.
Institute dupes students The Police have booked a son of a former Congress MP in connection with a case of cheating. According to complaint lodged with the police, the accused, who has been the director of a private medical transcription institute at Sector 16-A here, had failed to honour the commitment made to the students of the institute during admission that he would fetch jobs for them. It is stated that the institute had charged hefty fees during admission by offering job guarantee to its trainees. The complainant, a resident of Sahapur Kalan village of Ballabgarh sub-division, alleged that the institute was closed sown in September 2001 without ensuring job and completion of training.
Held after 13 years The police arrested a proclaimed offender who was booked for looting and murder about13 years ago. The accused, identified as Rakesh Kumar alias Rukhi, had been declared a proclaimed offender by the court. A resident of Jawahar Colony, he was booked on September 7, 1988 in a case of loot and murder.
Photo sessions Photography sessions for voter identity cards in the Faridabad assembly constituency will be held from February 18 to 25. According to the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Mehtab Singh, the photography sessions would be held at various places during the period. The sessions will be held at mainly in schools located in various blocks, it is added.
Factory gutted Noida Liquor seized Jhajjar Loans not repaid The district police have registered a case under Sections 406 and 420 of the IPC against Vijay Kumar of Khanpur Khurd, Mahender of Jhamri village, Shriniwas of Mohanbari, Billoo of Dhalanwas, Omali Devi of Sehlanga and Sanjay of Sunderheti on the basis of a complaint lodged by the Manager of Punjab National Bank at Jhajali. All these persons had failed to return the bank loans taken by them.
Inter-college contest Rohtak Man shot dead Sonepat |
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Eight of robbers’ gang arrested New Delhi, February 16 While three suspects, Sanjay Saha, Rajesh alias Zaheer and Sanjay, were arrested yesterday from the Patel Nagar area, their interrogation led to the arrest of Rahis, Mukhtiar, Sheikh Pappu, Mubarak, Riyaz and Suresh Kumar, all from Bihar, later. They used to commit robberies in West district. They used to pose themselves as rickshaw-pullers or painters and spend nights at bus stands and dhabas. They would identify the locked houses during the day and rob them in the night. Sanjay was the first one to be arrested. He was admitted to a hospital after he got injured allegedly in the police beating. After his discharge from the hospital, he was again interrogated during which he disclosed his involvement in several robbery cases. He disclosed the whereabouts of his other gang members. They had been sent to judicial custody, the police said. Body found in bag:
The man aged around 30 years was found abandoned on the pavement. He had apparently been strangled. The Kamla Market police have registered a case of murder and are trying to find out the identity of the deceased. |
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Newly-wed woman commits suicide Noida, February 16 While Rajindra had gone to his company on duty, Sunita reportedly strangulated herself with her chunri. Rajindra’s neighbours said the young couple appeared to be living happily though there were occasional quarrels. They said they never noticed a major or serious clash between the husband and the wife. The police have sent the body for an autopsy. |
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