Problem of plenty: 46 docs against 23 posts
Parmindar Singh

Ghaziabad, June 6
The State administration has asked the city CMO, Dr A K Sharma, to explain why 46 doctors are working in the District Hospital, Ghaziabad, when the administration has sanctioned only 23 posts.

The Government auditors have complained that on account of the surplus staff, the hospital was spending Rs. 80 to Rs 90 lakh extra, on account of salary disbursal.

Strangely, the Health Department has not stipulated the doctor-hospital bed ratio. Nor has it laid down any norms or criteria. The Ghaziabad hospital has 120 beds, for which the administration has sanctioned 23 doctors. It is a different matter that there are about a dozen physicians in the district hospital for treating common diseases and ailments.

According to Chief Medical Officer Dr A K Sharma, all the appointments and postings of doctors in the hospital have been on government orders. Besides, the government is kept informed of the vacancies and the staff strength. Moreover, no doctor appointed or posted in the hospital on government orders can be turned back by the CMO, points out Dr Sharma.

The Chief Health Officer, Dr Vinode Kumar, confirmed that 46 doctors/physicians were actually working in the hospital against 23 vacancies. He, however, asserted that the hospital had multifarious demands for which 23 doctors were not enough.

Being in Delhi’s backyard, the hospital was always coping with VIP patients. Besides, it was handling post-mortem assignments of Gautam Budh Nagar. (There is no post-mortem house in Gautam Budh Nagar).

Since Ghaziabad was a crime prone district, there was additional work, especially pertaining to medico legal cases. As per government orders, doctors above 52 years cannot be put on VIP or autopsy duty. There are eight doctors in this age group in the Ghaziabad District Hospital, he said.

Out of the total 12,000 doctors in the state, 3,500 are lady doctors who are appointed/posted as per requirements in different hospitals. In Gautam Budh Nagar district hospital also 35 doctors are working against 12 approved posts.

The CMO said there were six large government hospitals in Kanpur, 12 in Lucknow and 5 in Agra. In these cities, the work load can be shared, but there is only one government hospital each in Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar. The 23 ‘A’ class and 12 ‘B’ class doctors in the aforesaid hospitals have to cope with the entire work load, the CMO added.

Good news for patients: Doctored prescriptions
Our Correspondent

New Delhi, June 6
Here is some good news for patients. The Delhi Medical Association has cracked the whip on drug manufacturers by deciding to promote standard medical prescriptions giving generic names instead of specific brand names.

Now, doctors will have to prescribe medicines from a list of 250 drugs, which are specified only by the generic name of the compound as opposed to specific brand name. These medicines will also cost much less.

The President of DMA, Dr. S C L Gupta, clarifies: “‘The doctor’s prescription, for example, would state Paracetamol, which costs 20 paise per tablet, and not Crocin or Metacin or any other brand name which may cost around Rs. two”.

The patients are expected to benefit from this decision as those companies, which make expensive drugs, will be now sell their products under generic names at affordable costs.

A team of experts would prepare the standard prescriptions. Reasons Dr Gupta: “Prescriptions have become very irrational in the last few years”. He adds that there would be a 200 times difference in the cost of drugs, if uniform guidelines were issued for common ailments like diarrhoea. The guidelines would encompass decisions like when to administer antibiotics and what drugs to administer etc.

The DMA will initially train around 10,000 private practitioners, who are members of the association. Dr. Gupta explained that the idea was to train doctors to give prescriptions that give the optimum result at the lowest cost. At present, there are 100 different prescriptions for TB and each one of them is ethical, but the doctors have to be trained to extract the best.

The DMA plans to hold a symposium every week from June 8 onwards to educate the doctors in rational use of drugs. Blaming the quacks for the irrational use of drugs, Dr. Gupta said appropriate action was being taken against them. “We are placing the matter before the government. Creating awareness about the usage of drugs is crucial for ensuring their rational use,’’ he added. Dr. Gupta was speaking at a conference on the ‘Rational Use of Drugs’, which is the theme of the 45th Annual Delhi State Medical Conference scheduled to be held on 8th and 9th of June in the Capital.

The organising Secretary and Convenor of the conference, Dr Hariharan, in his statement said: “Patients need to know about medicines, if they are to use them better. Such information, it is expected, will enhance compliance, reduce wastage and ensure more effective use of medicines”.

MC chief takes on ‘corrupt’ dept
Pradeep Sharma
Tribune News Service

Panipat, June 6
The campaign of the Municipal Council (MC) chief, Mr Sanjay Bhatia, against corruption in the Building and Enforcement Branch has entered a decisive phase. He has shot off a letter to the Haryana Government for a “high-level” inquiry into a “big scam” in the branch, which had left the MC poorer by several lakhs of rupees. Following the missive, panic has gripped a section of the staff of the civic body.

While thousands of buildings and commercial complexes have been built in the city in gross violation of the building byelaws, the department concerned allegedly turned a blind eye to the irregularities. A perusal of the records of the department revealed that only a few notices had been issued to the violators and most of them had been left off the hook for reasons best known to the department. Mr Bhatia is pressing the government to unravel the truth and punish the guilty.

It may be recalled that after the abolition of octroi in September 1999, development charges from new buildings had become a major source of income for the municipality. While, on one hand, the department dithered in enforcing the bylaws, on the other, legal steps were not initiated against the illegal constructions, thus raising doubts about the department’s impartial functioning. All these years, the officials of the department continued to mint money, Mr Bhatia alleged, demanding strict action against the guilty.

When Mr Bhatia wrote to the department in an attempt to fix responsibility for the alleged irregularities in the records since 1999, he did not receive a satisfactory reply from the department. Tired at the dithering, he shot off the letter to the Local Bodies Commissioner yesterday.

Citing irregularities in the records, Mr Bhatia alleged that during 1999-2000 only 177 notices were issued to building bylaw violators. The figure mounted to 231 in 2000-2001, an insignificant increase considering that thousands of buildings were built during this period. The rest of the cases were settled by the officials “under the table,” he further alleged.

However, certain columns in the registers were left blank, thus leaving scope for an entry at a later stage, possibly with a view to “blackmail” the builders. Denouncing the “pick and choose” policy of the staff, Mr Bhatia alleged that the inaction had left the MC poorer by several lakhs of rupees.

Sources in the civic body said that many heads were likely to roll in what appears to be a “mega scam”. Mr Bhatia seems to be on firm ground as he has been summoning the records since 1999. Tough times seems to be ahead for a number of officials of the MC as at one point of time or the other they were associated with the department concerned. The fate of the “unauthorized” buildings would be clear only after an inquiry.

Anyhow, the MC has decided to give the violators another chance to have their maps cleared after payment of a penalty. In this case, they would be losing out on two counts. One, they have already a “bribe” to the officials. Second, now they would have to shell out a penalty to the civic body.

Huda makes light of seal-tampering issue
Ravi S. Singh
Tribune News Service

Gurgaon, June 6
The Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) finds itself in an embarrassing situation as the Dakhini Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd (DHBVN) is unwilling to relent with regard to the alleged tampering of the seal of its electric meter in the prestigious Leisure Valley garden. The garden belongs to Huda. The rule has it that the damage to the meter’s seal is tantamount to the fact that the consumer has indulged in power theft and the department must act accordingly. The electricity department has since disconnected the supply to the garden. Consequently, people cannot spend their evenings in the garden for want of lights. The department has also imposed a penalty of more than Rs 8 lakh. The connection to the garden can now be restored only after the fine is deposited by Huda. Both the departments have written to each other to find ways to wriggle out of the piquant situation, but of no avail.

Although the electricity department spotted the damage to the seal of the meter on April 9, it initiated action only when it realised that the Huda department was not ready to pay the fine and settle the issue. Both the departments, it seems, are trying to keep the issue under wraps as they are agencies of the state government. This view is further strengthened by the fact that the electricity department has not registered a case regarding the theft of power.

The sanctioned load to the Leisure Valley garden is more than 35 KW and the surprise inspection was done by the Maintenance and Protection Division in which the seal was found to be broken. The power supply will also have to be restored by this division.

Hundreds of people visit the sprawling garden. Even Delhiites make tracks for the place. The development has dented the image of Huda.

The official line taken by the electricity department is that Huda can move the court if it feels that wrongful action has been taken against it on the issue.

According to highly placed sources, the DHBVN authorities have suggested a way-out to their opposite number in Huda. Huda could deposit the entire penalty money ‘under protest’ so that the supply to the garden was immediately restored. As the amount was out of the jurisdiction of the local authorities, the adjudication in the dispute over the sum would be done by the Chief Engineer, Operations.

FOLLOW-UP
Rajje was a political chameleon
Abhay Jain

Gurgaon, June 6
The broad daylight murder of Rajesh alias Rajje last week baffled the police here since he had acted as an ‘informer’ of the police. He would inform the cops of the illegal activities of his rival gangs in the city. The investigative police team, headed by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr Sukhbir Singh, specially constituted for tracing the culprits behind the murder, has failed to make a headway even after five days of the murder. Rajje, as known by the masses, had successfully entered the local politics about a decade ago with the patronage of the then local Congress MLA, Mr Dharambir Gauba.

However, he was one of those who would worship the rising sun. He changed sides soon when Ch. Bansi Lal took charge of the state. He started supporting the then Chairman of Haryana Public Enterprises Bureau and local BJP leader, Mr Sita Ram Singla.

Again changing loyalty, he had sought the blessings of the present MLA and Deputy Speaker of Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Mr Gopi Chand Gehlot. He got his wife, Mrs Sangeeta Rajje, elected as the member of the city Municipal Council and then its vice-chairman. The sources, closed to the political circles, informed the ‘NCR Tribune’ that Rajje, known for his underhand activities, had used the political set-up for the smooth running of his illegal business. He had nothing to do with any political person or party, said the sources. He also tried to groom himself as a Punjabi community leader as an alternative to Mr Dharambit Gauba, the established Congress politician of the community.

The police sources informed that Rajje was engaged in smuggling illicit liquor and he also dabbled with the business of illegal lotteries/cards in the city.

He was into the disputed real estate business as well.

Rajje acted as an informer to the police, particularly when he found that the criminals in other parts of the state like Sonepat, Panipat, Faridabad and UP, had started their operations in the city.

On Rajje’s information, the police had acted a number of times and raided many places and arrested the criminals. That way, the police sources said, he had helped the police check crimes. The sources revealed that Rajje had a good relations with a couple of police and other administrative officers in the district.

His system of network could be gauged from the fact that his wife, Mrs Sangeeta Rajje immediately got the information of the movement of the Haryana Chief Minister, when Mr Om Prakesh Chautala stopped just for a couple of minutes in Gurgaon while going to Delhi from Rewari. Mrs Sangeeta gave a memorandum to the Chief Minister, requesting him to arrest her husband’s killers immediately.

Right now, the police have zeroed in on two persons for the murder, Binder Gujjar and Nitu Gehlot. The names of the duo were given by Mrs Rajje. The third person who had reportedly accompanied them at the time of murder could not be identified so far. Binder Gujjar was very close to Rajje. It is a mystery as to why he betrayed his mentor and became one of three-member team which killed Rajje.

The police have not yet got a clue about the motive behind the murder. The police team is keeping pressure on the criminals and raiding their hideouts, said a police officer. They would soon unravel the mystery and arrest the culprits, added the official.

Man dies in custody of excise team
Our Correspondent

Jhajjar, June 6
A 35-year-old man reportedly died in the custody of officials of the Excise and Taxation Department here today. According to information, Jaipal, a resident of Baharana village, was whisked away by the officials of the department on Wednesday night.

The deceased was reportedly involved in the business of illicit liquor and the officials had seized three boxes of country-made liquor after a raid at his house on Wednesday night. They then took him and the liquor boxes away to their office.

The department officials said that he was found dead in the room, where he was confined, today morning. They said that the deceased went to sleep last night in sound condition. A three-member team of doctors of the local civil hospital conducted a post-mortem examination under the supervision of the local Sub-divisional Magistrate amidst heavy police deployment. The police said that the cause of death could be ascertained only after receiving the autopsy report. Reports, however, stated that certain wine contractors had been trying to hush up the matter.

Child’s body rolls off scooter
Our Correspondent

Noida, June 6
A scooterist, who was carrying the body of a child in a jute bag, sped away when the corpse fell off the vehicle.

The police said at about 10 a.m. on Wednesday a youth stopped his scooter at a wayside restaurant in Sector-57, possibly for a cup of tea.

But suddenly the jute bag fell down from his scooter, sending the youth into a frenzy. He suddenly sped away, leaving the bag behind. When it was opened, the passers-by realised to their shock that it contained the body of a 10-year-old boy. The Sector-58 police have sent the body for post-mortem examination. The boy’s neck had been slit with a sharp-edged weapon. The police said the boy could have been killed over some property dispute or by some tantric.

Animal board to seal Mewat border to save cows
Nawal Kishore Rastogi

Rewari, June 6
The National Animal Welfare Board, working under the Union Ministry of Social Justice, decided to take all necessary measures to stop the slaughter of cows. The steps include the sealing of the Mewat region of Haryana in order to prevent the import of cows from the neighbouring areas of Haryana and Rajasthan as well as their export from Mewat to other parts of the country.

Speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday, Mr Mohan Singh Ahluwalia, a member of the board, expressed concern at the decrease in the number of cows —about seven lakh in the past decade in Haryana..

He said that after making an indepth study, they had come to the conclusion that the large-scale slaughter of cows in Mewat as well as their massive export was the main reason for their decline.

Enumerating the rare medicinal and curative qualities of cow’s dung and its urine, he mentioned the case of the mother of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dig Vijay Singh. She who had been cured of cancer just by the cow-urine therapy. She is leading a healthy life now, he added.

He said that the Board would soon set up a state advisory board for the welfare of animals in Haryana.

Rewari also needed a registered ‘go-shala’ which could be set up by an NGO with some financial help from the Ministry of social justice, he added.

COMMUNITY

Many Sonepat defaulters cough up power dues
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, June 6
The power dues waiver scheme, launched by the state government, for giving 75 per cent concession to the rural power consumers, has yielded good results in Sonepat circle of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN).

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.N. Roy, told mediapersons here today that as many as 17,548 defaulting consumers had deposited their outstanding dues amounting to Rs 5.34 crore during May this year. Of these, 14,917 defaulting consumers had availed themselves of the concession of 75 per cent by depositing 25 per cent amount totalling Rs 3.46 crore during the period under review.

He also disclosed that as many as 2,628 defaulting consumer had deposited Rs 1.87 crore under the Surcharge Waiving Scheme and they belonged to the urban and rural areas of the circle.

The DC also disclosed that as many as 2,879 defaulting consumers in the urban areas and 7,109 in the rural areas had deposited Rs 78.72 lakh and Rs 1.79 crore respectively under the power dues waiver scheme. Similarly in Gohana Division, as many as 4,929 consumers have deposited Rs 88.38 lakh under the scheme during the period under review.

Referring to plying of unauthorised auto-vehicles, including private buses, maxi jeeps and unlicensed tempos and three-wheelers, the DC disclosed that the officials of the police, Excise and Taxation Department and the Haryana Roadways jointly launched a campaign and challaned as many as 672 vehicles during the second fortnight of May in the district.

He said that the officials also impounded 197 vehicles under Section 207 of the Motor Vehicles Act and 433 maxi-cabs were impounded after these were challaned on the charge of plying illegally.

The Deputy Commissioner said that as many as 28 private buses and nine buses belonging to the cooperative societies were also challaned on the similar charge.

According to the DC, the officials recovered Rs 9.66 lakh as penalty from the unauthorised transport operators and another Rs 21.16 lakh as various categories of fees from the erring operators.

Tohra faction releases list of nominees
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 6
The Tohra faction of the Shiromani Akali Dal today released the list of its candidates who have filed their nomination papers for the June 30 elections to the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC). The Badal faction had released its official list of candidates on Tuesday.

According to a release, the candidates are Amarjit Singh Pinky - Chandni Chowk, Raspinder Singh - Defence Colony, Baljit Singh Prince - Connaught Place, Head Master Sucha Singh - Safdarjung Enclave, Bakshish Singh - Vasant Vihar, Harbhachan Singh Matharu – Preet Vihar, Bibi Gurjeet Kaur – Lajpat Nagar, Sunit Pal Singh – Greater Kailash, Harcharan Singh – Kalkaji, Harvinder Singh Khanna – Malaviya Nagar, Harmohinder Singh – Shiv Nagar, Jaswant Singh Sandhu - Sham Nagar, Jathedar Baldev Singh - Shakur Basti, Hjoginder Singh Walia – Rajinder Nagar, Gurmeet Singh Meeta - Janakpuri, Manmohan Singh - Ashok Nagar, Gurcharan Singh - Tagore Garden, Daljit Singh Wadali - Vishnu Garden, Nirwair Singh -Tilak Nagar, Tarsem Singh –Sahib Pura, Manmohan Singh Kochar – Rajouri Garden, Gobind Singh - Subash Nagar, Harcharan Singh - Ramesh Nagar, Malkinder Singh – Moti Nagar, Paramjit Singh Sarana - Punjabi Bagh, Asurinder Singh - Tri Nagar, Harvinder Singh - Wazirpur, Gurcharan Singh - Naveen Shahdara, Harinder Pal Singh - Geeta Colony, Gurbachan Singh - Gandhi Nagar, Balbir Singh -Vivek Vihar, Gurcharan Singh - Khureji Khas, Waryam Singh – Model Town, Surjit Singh - Kamala Nagar, Prehlad Singh - Civil Lines, Tarlochan Singh -Pahar Ganj, Bhajan singh Walia - Pitampura, Davinder Pal Singh - Rohini, Iqbal Singh - Shakti Nagar, Inderjeet Singh - Karampura, Kuldeep Singh - Tibbia College, Surjit Singh – Hari Nagar Clock Tower, Rajinder Singh – Dev Nagar, Inderjit Singh Monty - Vikaspuri and Lakhwinder Singh – Dilshad Garden.

The official release also said that in the Patel Nagar segment, the SAD (Tohra) had decided not to field its own candidate but extend support to Dalvinder Singh Ayur of SAD (Badal).

Child labour, illegal units rampant in Sahibabad
Parmindar Singh

Ghaziabad, June 6
Eight out of 19 labourers injured in the explosion in the Amar Plastics factory in Sahibabad on Sunday were minors while one of the dead, Pintu, was only 17 years. Employing child labour — those below 18 years of age — is illegal under the labour laws.s.

Those injured included minor labourers Naseem (10), Mujmil (16), Shahid (17), Abdul Sleem (16), Ghiasuddin (12), Arjun Singh (13) and Kamlesh (15).

The explosion in the factory has highlighted two things: one, the laxity or complicity of the Labour Department in the running of illegal factories in the area; and secondly, hundreds of polluting factories relocated from the national Capital have been functioning illegally in this area, which is adjacent to Delhi. According to one estimate, there are over 250 such factories in the Rajiv Vihar area of Sahibabad.

It shows that the district administration, Labour Department, the Pollution Control Department as well as the Environment Protection Department had been shirking their responsibilities.

In the mid and late 1990s, a large number of polluting factories were shifted from Delhi by a decision of the apex court.

Since then, a large number of them had shifted to Loni and Sahibabad areas of Ghaziabad district and started functioning in an illegal and clandestine manner. Now it has transpired that most of them were employing child labour also.

Most of these factories have not registered themselves with the Labour Department or obtained other clearance from the departments concerned.

After the explosion in the plastic factory on Sunday, the district administration seems to have woken up to the situation and a hunt is on for locating all such polluting factories, which are operating illegally in this area.

The committee constituted by the District Magistrate and headed by the Additional DM, Mr R. K. Sachan, will look into all these points. Meanwhile, the DM, Mr Sanjeev Mittal, has announced a compensation of Rs 10,000 each for those who were injured in the explosion under the National Family Benefit Scheme.

MCD signs MoU on infrastructure
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 6
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC) for providing expertise in upgrading and enhancing the urban development services in the Capital.

The MoU, signed by MCD Commissioner Rakesh Mehta and IDFC

Managing Director Nasser Munjee, envisages that the two parties would work together in the fields of waste management, land use, urban transport, urban social infrastructure and financial planning for the projects.

Mr Rakesh Mehta said that the MCD was actively looking at innovative methods to bring about speedy, comprehensive and orderly development of urban infrastructure in Delhi with active private-public participation (PPP).

He said a committee comprising representatives from the IDFC and the MCD would be formed to take decisions and effective steps to meet the MoU’s objectives. These would also include identifying other advisory or funding possibilities.

While addressing mediapersons, he said that the IDFC had considerable expertise and understanding of the policy, strategy and environmental issues in PPP in infrastructure in India and was already engaged in advising various entities on the same.

Giving details of the MoU, Mr Mehta explained that as per the understanding, the IDFC would suggest strategies for development of sanitary landfills and waste processing plants on the PPP basis and identifying zones in order to develop a system for waste collection and transportation. It would also prepare an approach paper for development of slaughterhouse waste management on the PPP basis.

The IDFC would also suggest measures for the development of parking sites on the build-operate-own (BOO) basis as well as build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis. It would also advice the MCD on putting in place a system for tracking the records of land rights for efficiently conducting the property market transactions.

The two parties would jointly prepare a strategy report on procurement and financing of flyovers, preferably on private financing initiatives.

The MCD Commissioner said the two parties also agreed to work for exploring various institutional alternatives to enable the corporation to access expert advice on appropriate frameworks and strategies for PPP in urban infrastructure and identifying, structuring and developing viable projects.

HVP to hold rallies at Gurgaon, Rewari
Our Correspondent

Rewari, June 6
The Haryana Vikas Party (HVP), led by former Chief Minister Bansi Lal, has stepped up its activities in Ahirwal in the wake of the “growing unrest” among the masses, particularly the farmers. The party is now planning to hold massive demonstrations at Narnaul (June 17), Rewari (June 21) and Gurgaon (June 25) with the twin aim of revamping its cadres at the grassroots level and registering its protest against the `anti-people’ and `anti-farmer’ policies of the Chautala government.

Mr Anil Rao reiterated his earlier demand that all those farmers of South Haryana, who had been regularly paying their electricity bills, should also be given the exemption of 75 per cent of the total amount of the bills, which was granted to the defaulters. He also informed that the demonstrations at Narnaul, Rewari and Gurgaon would be led by the HVP general secretary and former MP, Mr Surender Singh.

End to BKU agitation in sight
Our Correspondent

Rohtak, June 6
The continuation of road blockades notwithstanding, the fortnight-old BKU-sponsored farmers’ agitation may be called off sooner than expected.

The government appears to have made up its mind to settle the issues concerning the BKU leaders and the farmers. This became evident when the government on Wednesday paved the way for the release of arrested BKU activists on personal bonds. The police, too, have not been arresting the agitating leaders for the past couple of days.

The BKU leaders, on the other hand, too do not seem interested in escalating the agitation. Although the farmers are holding blockades, they appeared to be lying low. For the past couple of days, no untoward incident has been reported.

The blockades are being continued to pressurise the government to release all the arrested BKU leaders and activists. The beginning has already been made in the direction of settling the issue when the government did not oppose the bail applications of the arrested farmers.

The government had even gone to the extent of declaring that no criminal case was made out against the arrested BKU activists. With the view to pacifying the agitating BKU leaders, the government may even assure that no more arrests would be made.

THE ACHIEVERS
From dancer to dealer, she is never out of step
Our Correspondent

New Delhi, June 6
When a trained classical dancer with a penchant for cars decides to turn entrepreneur, the spotlight shifts from the agile and rhythmic movements to the manoeuvrability of a woman in a cut-throat world of business.

A commercial artiste by choice, Ruby Mehra let her passion for cars persuade her to vie for the dealership of Daewoo Motors. A decision that many even in her family would not have quite agreed with. After all, a woman blessed by the muses tinkering with cash registers and metal bodies is a picture that many still cannot identify with.

But with the fierce determination to turn her dream into reality and the necessary ability, Ruby emerged successful. And today, Ruby Mehra has earned the distinction of being the second woman entrepreneur in the country who has carved a place for herself in what is essentially seen as a man’s forte.

An alumna of Presentation Convent School, Ruby pursued a course in commercial art from the South Delhi Polytechnic and later moved on to join the Triveni Kala Sangam where she was trained in Bharatnatyam.

But dance and painting could not hold her in their confines. Cars swept her away in an altogether different direction.

Committed to her job and equipped with a motto that reads “service from the heart”, Ruby ensures that her customers leave with a smile in their hearts. This is the reason why her Triumph Motors now has sold a record number of cars.

Through the happy and satisfied customers, this lady entrepreneur has earned a lot of goodwill. She attributes her success to these customers who have helped her retain her position in the sale of Daewoo cars in India. The numerous market surveys conducted by Mehra are responsible for her bagging an index that indicates over 80 per cent customer satisfaction.

Ruby goes an extra mile to ensure that her customers are taken care of. Customers are afforded facilities like a lounge where they can play billiards and snooker and also grab a bite in the cafeteria while their cars are being serviced.

The recession that hit markets across the globe set the entrepreneur in her thinking and she, like a perfect businesswoman who knows how to make the right moves, applied for the dealership of Hindustan Motors as well.

Daewoo’s financial troubles have not bothered Ruby Mehra. Backed by the high volumes of sales posted by her, she still rakes in an average of 25 to 30 cars everyday for servicing. Vouching for the company, she is confident that the unique features offered by the car major will put it back on the top.

Shop gutted in Savitri Nagar
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 6
A fire broke out in a shop in the Savitri Nagar area of Malviya Nagar in South Delhi following an explosion of a gas compressor kept inside the general store shop.

The explosion was so powerful that the ceiling of the shop was broken and the vehicles parked near the shop were damaged. However, no loss of life was reported in the fire. The shop was completely gutted in the fire.

The incident occurred around 3 am when the market was closed. A night watchman was on duty in the market, informed the police. He was surprised to hear the compressor explosion and informed the Delhi Fire Service and the local police. By the time fire fighters reached the spot, the shop was completely damaged.

The police said that some repairing work was being done in the house of the shopkeeper, Sanjeev, and the refrigerator and other household items had been shifted to the shop. The gas compressor could have exploded because of pressure. Further investigation was under progress, the police said.

NTPC stations to get productivity awards 
Our Correspondent

New Delhi, June 6
Twelve Power Stations of National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. have been selected for the Government of India’s Meritorious Productivity Awards for the year 1999-2000.

While three power stations, Ramagundam, Korba and Dadri, will receive gold medals, Kawas, Auraiya, Singrauli and Anta stations will receive silver medals.

The total amount of cash awards to be given to NTPC stations is Rs 136.34 lakh.

In all, 23 power stations in the country have been selected for the awards given every year by the Central Electricity Authority. The Union Power Minister, Mr Suresh Prabhu, will give away the awards on June 12.

NCR BRIEFS
Five safai karamcharis suspended
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, June 6
Five safai karamcharis have been placed under suspension at Hodal town for allegedly misbehaving with a member of the municipal committee. The employees were asked to complete a work but they allegedly misbehaved with the member, it is stated.

Meanwhile, the police have booked a case of theft at Palwal. The thieves decamped with Rs 25,000 and other valuables from the house of one Hem Prakash Mangla of Moti Colony on Wednesday night.

ST Inspector held

The Crime Department of the police has arrested a Sales Tax Inspector here on the charges of issuing fake receipt of sales tax penalty to a party. Another person of Palwal had already been arrested. It is reported that the accused Inspector and his broker had been engaged in issuing fake receipts and the police had received a complaint about an incident last month. The accused had been absconding for about a month.

5 hurt in clashes

Sonepat
At least five persons, including three women, in group clashes in the Rajinder Nagar area of the city and at Nahra village, about 25 km from here, on Wednesday. According to a report, all the injured persons were hospitalised and they are stated to be out of danger. The police have registered cases against the alleged assailants who are still at large.

Man killed

Mr Randhir Singh, resident of Kundli village, was killed after he was hit by an unknown vehicle while crossing G. T. Road near Kundli village, about 25 km from here, on Wednesday night. According to a report, the Kundli police have registered a case and launched a hunt to apprehend the driver of the unknown vehicle.

According to another report, a youth, Shukan, was injured when he was hit by a vehicle on the Sarang road here on Wednesday. The injured youth belonged to Raipur village and he had come to the city for purchasing household articles.

The third accident occurred on G. T. Road when a truck loaded with paddy overturned near Kundli village on Wednesday. All the injured persons were immediately hospitalised and they are stated to be out of danger. The police are still investigating into the cases and no arrest has been made in this connection.

BKU rallies

The Haryana unit of the Bharatiya Kisan Union has decided to organise demonstrations and rallies on June 10 in protest against the anti-farmer policies of the INLD government headed by Mr Om Prakash Chautala. According to a report, demonstrations and rallies would be held at each district headquarter and the leaders of the BKU (Khokhar group) would submit a memorandum listing the demands of the union to the deputy commissioners. The union leaders also appealed to the farmers to join the processions and show their strength and unity to the state government.

BJP convention

The Beopar cell of the Haryana BJP is holding its one-day convention on June 9 in the city, according to Mr Ram Singh Doda, leader of the BJP. He told mediapersons here today that the convention would be addressed, among others, by Mr Rattan Lal Kataria, president of the state unit of the party, and Mr Kishan Singh Sangwan, MP.

Demolition drive

The civic administration launched a vigorous campaign to remove the encroachments on the municipal land at Ganaur, a sub-divisional town about 16 km from here, on Wednesday.

According to a report, during the daylong operation, the anti-demolition squad demolished unauthorised structures raised by more than 200 shopkeepers on the railway road and nearby areas. OC

‘Ardas Day’ observed

New Delhi, June 6
The DSGMC arranged a huge congregation at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib and Bala Sahib after the Bhog ceremony of Sri Akhand Path here today. The day was observed as a special ‘Ardas Day’ in the memory of those who laid down their lives at the Golden Temple in Amritsar during Operation Blue Star in 1984. Among those who attended the meet were Jathedar A. Singh Hit, Sardar K. Singh and Jathedar K. Singh Bhogal. The special ‘Ardas Day’ was also observed in other Gurdwaras across the Capital. OC

CRIME

32 vehicle thefts solved, one held
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 6
With the arrest of a resident of Bhagpat in Uttar Pradesh, the North district police today claimed to have worked out 32 cases of motor vehicle theft.

The suspect, Jan Mohammad (33), operated in areas of North-East district adjacent to UP border. He used to dispose of the stolen vehicles in Uttar Pradesh, where he had contacts and a number of customers for his stolen vehicles. One Hero Honda motorcycle was recovered from his possession. He specialises in the theft of two-wheelers, particularly motorcycles.

During sustained interrogation, he disclosed that he had stolen 32 motorcycles from Dilshad Garden, Seemapuri and Mansarovar Park. He would tamper with the engines and chassis numbers of the stolen vehicles. Several forged documents were also recovered from him.

Call girl racket

The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police today claimed to have busted a racket of call girls, who allured youths of rich families.

All the call girls belonged to Mumbai and were married. There family members lived in different slum areas in Mumbai. They came to the Capital as they heard that the flesh trade racket flourished here. The police sent a decoy customer and nabbed just after the finalisation of a deal, the police said.

BUSINESS

Publishing industry: It’s time to book pirates
Our Correspondent

New Delhi, June 6
The next time you are tempted to buy a pirated book off a pavement, think of the loss of revenue that you are causing to the government.

Book piracy leaves the exchequer nursing a loss of over Rs 100 crore each year. The Rs 7000-crore publishing industry is fighting a battle against piracy claiming that nearly 25 per cent of the revenue earned each year comes from the black market sale of the pirated books.

“The pirates unlike the publishers do not have to pay anything in terms of tax or royalty to the author. The publishing industry is suffering a lot because of these pirates who have access to technology and can print books at much cheaper costs and sell them. We have to spend a lot of money whether it is tax or royalty and on top of it, we have to suffer losses on account of these pirated books,” said the president, Federation of Publishers and Booksellers, Mr Sukumar Das.

He added, “Book piracy poses a major threat to the publishing industry. So much so that if measures are not immediately taken, this malpractice will be responsible for the downfall of the entire industry.”

Mr Das pointed out that school and college textbooks, apart from works of fiction, are most susceptible to piracy.

“The NCERT texts, which are published in lakhs are prone to piracy. This is why we have written to the NCERT to publish a chapter on book piracy and include it in their curriculum of value-based education.”

The Federation has taken up the cause and started organising seminars in colleges and schools to educate students about the demerits of piracy.

“We need to catch them young and inform them about the vice called piracy. Apart from this, we have also begun to create awareness among publishers about the copyright laws. We have made it clear that any work that is published should have the copyright law clearly written on it,” said Das.

The police and the publishers too have been roped in to fight the menace. “We are in touch with the legal experts and a film on piracy will soon be circulated. We are seeking the cooperation of the police as well. Printers have also been directed to verify whether the work that is being published has a copyright.”

Mr Dass elucidates, “Book piracy is a cognizable offence. Violation of copyright can amount to imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000. The second time offence can extend up to Rs 2 lakh.”

A Delhi Market Survey conducted by FBPAI in 2000 found 85 of the city’s 110 retail outlets selling pirated books. Books from the libraries of All India Institute of Medical Sciences and National Medical Library were used to make pirated copies, it revealed.