TOP STORIES

Bus, auto fare hike put off
New Delhi, April 29
The Government of NCT of Delhi will wait until Saturday for effecting an upward revision of autorickshaw and bus fares. It has in the meantime referred the matter to a three-member committee that will “consider the economic implications” of the hike in price of CNG fuel and submit its report by Friday.

Govt bypasses its statutory body on hike
New Delhi, April 29
Doubts are being raised about the Delhi government’s decision to refer the impact of the CNG price hike on the transport sector in the Capital to a three-member committee, when the state government has a statutory body to look into the fare structure of the transport sector.

UP traders dump wheat in Faridabad, make a killing
Faridabad, April 29
Hundreds of tractor trolleys have lined up at Karman border near Hodal town and across the other side up to Kosi in Mathura district in UP on National Highway no two. These vehicles are waiting for their turn to enter Haryana, so that they can dump their wheat in various mandis.

Do students in the land of Aryabhatta need calculators?
New Delhi, April 29
You either love it or hate it, but there is no way you can ignore it. Mathematics is such a subject that evokes extreme feelings. And if you were to tell people that it could be fun, not many would be amused. “Math is not my cup of tea. I somehow manage to sail though it in the school exams. After my class X, when I have a choice, I will opt out,” said Neha, a class VIII student of a government school in the Capital.

Gujarat victims during a press conference in the Capital on Monday. —Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

GURGAON
Land being acquired for shifting of dairies to outskirts
Gurgaon, April 29
After mollycoddling the panchayat of Khedki Majra village, about 10 km from here, for a long time in vain, the district administration has finally decided to invoke the emergency powers under the Land Acquisition Act for acquiring its land to set up a dairy complex.

Flying squad asks examiner ‘to wink’ at copying
Rohtak, April 29
An invigilator will be put in an awkward situation if a university flying squad directs him to adopt a lenient stance towards the examinees and permit them copying. It happened in a government college at Tigaon recently if a complaint submitted to the university administration by the principal of the college concerned is to be believed. According to sources, the principal stated in a written complaint that the flying squad comprising two women reached the college on April 16 during an examination of B.Ed. (regular) course. 

COMMUNITY

IN PARLIAMENT
Unauthorised construction in 526 govt quarters
New Delhi, April 29
Unauthorised construction in as many as 526 government quarters in the Capital was brought to the notice of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), the Rajya Sabha was informed on Monday. Replying to a question, the Minister of State for Urban Development, Mr Bandaru Dattatreya, said two residential colonies in south Delhi – Moti Bagh and Nauroji Nagar – accounted for 420 and 106 encroachments respectively.

Noida botanical garden to change the face of NCR

Noida, April 29 Noida will soon have another project of national importance when a national botanical garden comes up in Sector 38-A, which will be the only one of its type in the National Capital Region. It will fulfil a long-felt need as Delhi is the only major capital city in the world without a national botanical garden of its own. The botanical garden in Ooty is also a favourite recreational spot of visitors.

Measures to beautify Sonepat lauded
Sonepat, April 29
The Haryana Chief Secretary, Mr L M Goel, has lauded the efforts of the district administration to give a face-lift to Sonepat city with a population of more than 2 lakh. During a day-long tour of the city, Mr Goel went round different parts of the city and witnessed the widening of roads and beautification of main crossings such as the main bus stand, Mamoon Bhanja Chowk, Railway Crossing Chowk near Hindu College, Murthal Adda, Gandhi Chowk in Sector 14 and Shani Mandir Chowk.

Govt for more time for industrial plot payments
New Delhi, April 29
In a bid to give relief to the owners of industries that were relocated last year, the Delhi Government today decided to move the Supreme Court, seeking extension of last date for the payment of balance amount towards the cost of the industrial plots.

Wheat worth lakhs gutted
Sonepat, April 29
Standing wheat crop worth several lakhs of rupees was reduced to ashes in a series of fires, in about 30 villages of the district last week. According to a report, the fire was caused by short-circuits and sparks from the transmission lines passing over the fields.

FACE TO FACE
‘Communal riots have spoiled country’s image abroad’
Septuagenarian poet Shamsher Singh started penning his thoughts in a rhythm quite early in life. One of his first poems was written to protest against the Crips Mission, when Lahore was resounding with the shouts of “Go Back, Crips Mission.”

Swim in Bhadkal lake at your own risk
Faridabad, April 29
While the Bhadkal tourist complex here is fast losing its charm due to its “poor’ maintenance and the inability of authorities to add more features, the lake here is proving deadly.

• Sheila off to Ahmedabad

NCR BRIEFS
1,843 auto-rickshaws challaned in Faridabad 
Faridabad, April 29
The authorities have challaned about 1843 three wheeler auto-rickshaws so far in its drive to check traffic rules violation and pollution norms. Stating this, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Arun Kumar, said here that the campaign against erring three wheelers would continue. 

Woman set ablaze Traffic held up Armed youths held

Factory gutted Killed in accident

CRIME

New Delhi, April 29 The South district police today claimed to have solved more than 200 cases of burglaries, house thefts and auto thefts with the arrest of a notorious criminal, Devender Singh alias Bunty (31). The Delhi Police had announced a cash reward of Rs 50,000 on his head earlier. His arrest has also led to the recovery of stolen goods worth Rs 4 crore, consisting of precious diamond and gold jewellery, cash, expensive cars, antiques, watches, TVs and other electronic items.

3 visa-seekers robbed of Rs 4.25 lakh
New Delhi, April 29
Three persons from Haryana, who had come to arrange visas to visit European countries, were robbed of Rs 4.25 lakh by two unidentified youths in Sector 5, R. K.Puram.

Govt employee crushed to death 
Jhajjar, April 29
A Delhi Government employee was crushed to death by a truck, loaded with bricks, at a bus stop in Badli village in the district today. According to information, the deceased, Ranbir Singh of Bamdola village, was waiting for a bus, when a speeding truck ran over him. He died on the spot.

BUSINESS

Benefits of new Exim policy to be felt ‘within two months’
Gurgaon, April 29
The industry here today stumped officials from the Union Ministry of Commerce when its members turned up in strength to compare notes with the officers on the country’s new Export-Import Policy (Exim policy) 2002-2007.

HEALTH

Lifetime awards presented to homeopaths
New Delhi, April 29
On the occasion of the 247th birth anniversary of Dr Samuel Hahnemann, Health Minister A. K. Walia today presented the lifetime achievement awards to 20 homoeopaths.

SPORTS

Uma Bharti honours women weightlifters
New Delhi, April 29
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Uma Bharti today felicitated the Indian junior women weightlifters who participated in the seventh Asian Junior Women and 15th Asian Junior Men’s Weightlifting Championships held at the Khonkaen province of Thailand from April 23 to 28.

Indian Navy team finish third in Hong Kong Challenge
New Delhi, April 29
Team India, comprising Commander Siddarth Panda and seaman Vijay Dahia, put India right on top in the global map of adventure racing, in what proved to be an exciting race through urban and rural Hong Kong. The Indian Navy boys proved their mettle in this ‘intense battle of brain and brawn’ by coming first in the gruelling ‘City Dares Challenge’ held in Hong Kong.

Victor bowls Young Friends to victory 
New Delhi, April 29
A devastating bowling spell of 5 for 34 by Wilkinson Wilkin Victor helped Young Friends Club defeat Lal Bahadur Shastri Club by 87 runs in the first Gyan Prakash Memorial Under-17 Cricket Tournament, organised by the Madan Lal Cricket Academy, at the Mohan Meakin ground in Ghaziabad.

14 teams for National League Volleyball
New Delhi, April 29
Eight teams in the men’s section and six teams in the women’s section are battling it out for supremacy in the National League Volleyball Championships for men and women, which got off to a fine start at the textile town of Tirupur in Tamilnadu on Sunday night.

Harvinder slams century
New Delhi, April 29
Harvinder Singh scored an unbeaten century and left-arm medium pacer Sune Singh claimed 4 for 34 to star in Delhi Police’s 49 runs victory against R N Colts in an A-I Division match of the DDCA League at the Khalindi College ground.

Kuldeep stars in Mandal’s win
New Delhi, April 29
A fine all-round display by Kuldeep (3 for 34 and 30, 4x4) enabled Mandal XI beat Coca Cola Sports by two wickets to enter the final of the Corporate Cup Cricket Tournament, organised by Club House.

ADMINISTRATION

Campaign against illegal vehicles nets Rs 2.14 crore
Sonepat, April 29
The district administration, in a special campaign, has earned a revenue of Rs 2.14 crore from the operators of the vehicles plying without proper licences or requisite documents in this district. Mr S. N. Roy, Deputy Commissioner, told mediapersons here today that the administration had also recovered Rs 61.24 lakh as token tax from the operators of various categories of vehicles.