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July 12, 2002, Chandigarh, India
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Sweat it out for a year, Delhiites New Delhi, July 11 And, as is customary, in a move to garner political advantage, the Delhi unit of the BJP today gave a seven-day ultimatum to the Delhi government to improve the power and water situation. Otherwise, it would launch an agitation. “Poor infrastructure is to be blamed for the problem faced by Delhi. There is no immediate solution to the problem and it would take an year or so to fix it,” said Tata Power and BSES officials at a Press conference here today. ‘’We have assumed charge at a time when upgrading of infrastructure has not been done for the past eight years and revamping of the system is going to be a long haul,’’ Tata Power Managing Director (MD) Adi Engineer and S S Dua, MD of BSES, said. The conference was jointly held by the Tata Power, BSES and Delhi Power Supply Co to clarify the situation in Delhi after privatisation. The senior officials said though the situation would improve a bit with the change of season, it would take a year or so to bring about a “positive change” in the power scenario. About the highly erratic supply in the city in the last ten days, the officials said it was caused by paucity of power from the northern grid, failure of shunt capacitors and burning of transformers. Mr Engineer said the distribution system had a gestation period and the system could be improved only after a thorough review. The replacement of transformers and other equipment normally takes six to eight months. On the functioning of the erstwhile Delhi Vidyut Board, the officials said: “We have taken over a system which was functioning in a bureaucratic way and a complete overhaul is needed.” Delhi Power Supply Co CMD and former DVB chairman Jagdish Sagar also said no overnight change could be expected. “It (the situation) will definitely be better in the next summer.” The decision on privatisation was taken for long-term gains rather than for short-term benefits, he added. He reeled out statistics to prove that demand has gone up in the first ten days of July 2002, compared to the corresponding period last year. The Delhi BJP in-charge, Mr Madan Lal Khurana, while giving a seven-day ultimatum to the state government, said: ‘’I am giving them seven days as I am expecting an announcement about the change in the state leadership in the next couple of days. Once that happens, I will give you the details of the agitation.’’ The BJP MP can see a scam in the distribution sector and has backed the Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh’s move to challenge the decision on privatisation before the
Lokayukta. |
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Khurana
to lead unit in assembly polls New Delhi, July 11 Mr. Garg had submitted his resignation to the party high command on Tuesday, to pave the way for a massive reshuffle in an effort to rejuvenate the cadre for the assembly elections next year and to quell internal bickering. A formal announcement is likely in a day or two. Asked whether Mr Garg would find a place in his team, Mr Khurana replied diplomatically: ‘’I am not commenting , because there is no official confirmation that I will be the President.’’ At the same time, he gave broad hints that he would be taking over the state unit soon and then announce his plan of action on the power front. Sources indicated that the consultations on the appointments of state presidents of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh were holding up the formal announcement on Mr Khurana. The latter started his political career in Delhi with the Jana Sangh in 1961 and has so far to his credit ten victories in Municipal Corporation elections, Assembly elections and Parliamentary elections. Mr. Garg, who has been holding an organisational post in the party — first in the Jana Sangh and then in the BJP — for the past 45 years, said he had full faith in Mr Venkaiah Naidu’s leadership and any decision taken by him would be acceptable. Asked whether he would agree to work under senior party leader Madan Lal Khurana, tipped as the front-runner for the state chief’s post, Mr Garg said: ‘’I have no problem in working with any one. I am a dedicated party worker and will work in whatever capacity and wherever the party wants.’’ “After I learnt that the new party chief wants to carry out organisational revamping, I did not want to come in between and urged him to relieve me of my present responsibility so that the new team can be constituted,’’ he said. On his moving out as the state party chief with the Assembly elections only a year away, Mr Garg said: ‘’It will have no impact as I will continue to be part and parcel of the party and work hard to ensure a victory in the next elections.’’ Mr Garg has been the Delhi state unit President for nearly three years now. He took over immediately after the BJP got a drubbing in the assembly elections in 1998; thereafter, he went on to facilitate a clean sweep in the 1999 Lok Sabha elections. But the BJP suffered its biggest defeat in the MCD elections earlier this year. Speculation about his removal has been rife since then. |
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Bomb scare at Canadian embassy Sources said that the Police Control Room (PCR) received a call at about 10.45 am that “a few bombs” had been planted in the Canadian High Commission, located in the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri in South Delhi. Following the call, a police team, accompanied by the bomb disposal squad and the dog squad, rushed to the spot. It turned out to be hoax as no explosive was found in the area. The Canadian High Commission was evacuated and the visa section closed to the public following the bomb threat. However, the commission staff members refused to allow the police to enter the premises, contending that internal searches would be carried out by their own security staff. The commission staff reportedly told the police team that they could scan the area outside the commission compound. When the police insisted on carrying out searches, the commission officials gave it in writing that they did not want the police to search their premises. The police team, however, carried out a search near the visa section and in the nearby areas but found nothing. The commission security staff, which evacuated the entire staff and closed the visa section, also found nothing after their searches, the sources said. |
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A park reborn, after two decades New Delhi, July 11 Finally, there will be some greenery in the otherwise drab residential colony. The children too will be able to romp in the park rather than on roads, as they were forced to earlier with the danger of being mowed down by the traffic. The park has been finally handed over to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), which has acted with alacrity by putting up a board proclaiming its ownership and has also erected a barbed wire fence all around the perimeter, lest some other organisation usurps the prime land. Mr Dinesh Verma, a well-known social worker of the area who played an active role in freeing the park and restoring it to its original form, recalls that the park was called Shalimar Park once. Somehow, about two decades ago, the Ram Leela Mandali started using the open space to organise annual Ram Leelas and Dasehras. A storeroom was also constructed inside the park and it was reportedly rented out to the residents for organising functions and marriage ceremonies. As a result, the park came to be known as Ram Leela grounds. Only a few old-timers continued to refer to it as Shalimar Park. Office-bearers of the Residents Welfare Association (RWA) alleged that while the park was being usurped, the MCD remained a silent spectator. It was only through their efforts that the park was finally restored. The RWA office-bearers said that they had sought the help of the authorities to green the park. |
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PANIPAT Panipat, July 11 The decision was taken at a meeting of the representatives of the dyeing units and the Executive Engineer, Haryana State Pollution Control Board, here this evening. While the government would nominate three members to the committee, the Panipat Dyers Association would name eight members. The climb down by the dyeing units seems to have been made possible with the government announcing a new concessional package for the shifting of the units from the residential areas. The Executive Engineer, Mr Goel, informed that under the new package, the units needing up to 500 square yards would be allotted land at Rs 828 per square yard. Similarly, the rate for the units requiring above 500 square yards would be Rs 1,028 per square yard. Announcing the new rates, which were much lower than previous rates, the Xen announced a virtual bonanza for the owners of units willing to shift by next year and start operations by 2006. Such unit owners would get a 20 per cent discount on the total land price. This is a calculated bait for the unit owners, who know fully well that ultimately they would have to shift in the wake of the Supreme Court directives and state government’s decision to comply with the same. Earlier, the government had offered Rs 1,428 per square yard for units requiring more than 300 square yards. The 20 per cent discount clause is a bonus for the affluent unit owners. The private consultant for the common effluent treatment plant, to be built on the Faridabad pattern, had been appointed. The joining of the association in the committee is being seen as a first step towards the shifting of the units. Hitherto, the association had been vehemently opposing the government on the shifting of the units and had even went to the extent of saying that the owners would rather shut down the units than shift them. |
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ST Tribunal raps assessing authority Gurgaon, July 11 Passing strictures on the working of the assessing authority of Gurgaon, Mr M. L. Tayal, Member, Sales Tax Tribunal, Haryana, in his order (dated June 28) remarked, “The action of the assessing authority in rejecting Forms C on the grounds that these forms were submitted belatedly, without even considering the circumstances, was clearly bad in the eyes of law.” As per the case, the appellant, M/s Imperial Malt Ltd, Gurgaon, could not produce the necessary Form C from a Daman-based company, M/s Blossoms Industries Ltd, as the company was in liquidation and under the control of the Receiver appointed by the Mumbai High Court. Blossoms Industries Ltd was sold to a new company, M/s Khammi Distilleries Ltd, Daman, in 2002 and only after that, Form C was issued to Imperial Malt Ltd. Then, the assessment for the years 1994-95 to 1997-98 was completed. However, the assessing authority, Gurgaon, refused to entertain these Forms C on the ground that they were submitted late. The appeal to the Joint Excise Taxation Commissioner (Appeal), Rohtak, was also rejected. In the order, it was stated that it was a matter of records that the appellant had been making persistent efforts to obtain the forms but could not succeed till the purchasing dealer was bought by another company and Form C could be issued only thereafter. There was sufficient cause for not having furnished such forms before finalisation of the returns. The assessing authority has not bothered to look into the circumstances which may have prevented M/s Imperial Malt Ltd, Gurgaon, from furnishing Forms C, stated the order. It added that the proviso provides power to the assessing authority to extend time for submitting Forms C if there is sufficient cause, which prevented the dealer from furnishing such forms. Therefore, keeping in view the specific provision of law under Section 8 (4) and Rule 12 (7), the State Tribunal held that the assessing authority was competent to entertain Form C even after the assessment was over. Setting aside the impugned order, the tribunal directed the assessing authority to entertain the necessary Forms C, provided the forms were in order. |
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Mayor on inspection spree New Delhi, July 11 She was accompanied by Municipal Councillor Chaudhary Prem Kumar and Deputy Commissioner (Shahdara (South)) Bhuvaneshwar Singh and other senior officers. During the inspection at Krishna Nagar Primary School, F-Block, it was found that almost half of the school buildings are in a dangerous condition and only 169 students have enrolled and that a good part of the buildings lying unutilised. The residents as well as Councillor of the area demand that a community centre in the vicinity be raised on the unutilised area of the school building after completing all formalities in respect of change of land use. The Deputy Commissioner was instructed to take necessary action in this regard. It was noticed that the In Central Park in Krishna Nagar was not being maintained properly. The officers of the Horticulture Department present during the inspection were instructed by the Mayor to ensure that the park is maintained properly in all respects after providing requisite number of drains and other infrastructure. The Mayor has asked for a compliance report in this regard within a fortnight. At the Community Centre in Azad Nagar, the Mayor noticed that the chowkidar was not performing his duties, with the result that the centre was not in functioning condition. The Mayor instructed the Deputy Commissioner of the zone to take disciplinary action against the chowkidar immediately. Instructions were also issued to complete the work of the drain at Shankar Nagar Extension by July 22. During the course of inspection, it was brought to the notice of the Mayor that water sucking machine is made available only for one day in a week which is insufficient to cater to the needs of the area. The Deputy Commissioner was instructed to ensure that the machine is provided on daily basis. |
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BJP to seek L-G’s intervention against liquor policy New Delhi, July 11 “The
‘free’ and ‘open’ liquor policy announced by the Delhi
government is against the spirit of the Constitution and the ideals of
the Father of the Nation. The unfortunate decision to allow the sale
of liquor at departmental stores will attract youngsters towards the
drinking habit”, the BJP MP and in-charge of the party state unit,
Mr Madan Lal Khurana, said here today. He said a delegation of Delhi
BJP MPs, MLAs, corporators and other elected members will meet the
Lt-Governor and request him to deny clearance to the policy. “The
Lt-Governor can and should withhold it, using his powers,” Mr
Khurana said. He charged the policy would have an “adverse impact”
on children and could lead to deterioration in the law and order
situation. Mr Khurana said the sale of liquor in Delhi was placed in
the hands of the government “because of adulteration of liquor by
the private retailers, which at times led to a number of
deaths.” The Delhi Government’s decision to issue licences to
farmhouses and banquet halls to serve liquor “is in contravention of
the court decision that has banned parties at such places.” |
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FARIDABAD Faridabad, July 11 According to sources, some shopkeepers in market No. 1 of the NIT area, which is a shopping showcase of the town, have been earning up to Rs 70,000 per month by sub-letting the area encroached upon by them. According to a survey, the width of the 30/35-feet-wide road in No. 1 market (NIT) has now been reduced to 10/12 feet as shopkeepers on both sides have allegedly usurped up to 10 feet of space. A shopkeeper of the area admitted that the encroachment had disfigured the market, which, he said, could easily have become the best shopping area in the town if the road passing through it was left alone. It may be recalled that 12 persons had been burnt alive and several others injured in this market after a fire broke out in one of the congested spots here sometime back. Mr Kishan Lal, a shopkeeper, said that fire tenders would not be able to reach some of the areas in this market if any such incident takes place again. He claimed that due to encroachments, several residents of the town who used to come to the market for shopping earlier had stopped coming, as there was no parking space left. The Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) authorities and local administration launched a drive to remove encroachments in commercial areas last year, but it did not continue for long. Although hundreds of encroachments were removed, no permanent solution was found and ultimately the campaign petered out. It was also alleged that political intervention and secret understanding between the authorities concerned and shopkeepers had derailed the drive. It was reported then that an agreement had been reached between the market associations and the authorities that shopkeepers would remove all the encroachments themselves. It was agreed that a shopkeeper could extend the temporary shed of his shop to three feet in the verandah area, but majority of the shopkeepers in various markets had extended their sheds to 10 to 12 feet outside their shops. Some of the shopkeepers have now constructed cemented walls and have put shutters (gate) in the encroached space to show that it (space) was their property. The problem persists in markets in Sector-15, old Faridabad and Ballabgarh town. The market in Sector 15, which is known as the Connaught Place (CP) of Faridabad, is beset with widespread encroachments. Some of the shopkeepers have occupied the space in verandah and have also sub-let the open space to vendors. Construction of basements without the permission of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) is another problem. The authorities had given notices to the shopkeepers on several occasions earlier but could not take any proper action. The Huda and the Housing Board authorities have also failed to check the use of residential areas for commercial purposes (shops) in various sectors. The fully developed market on the crossing of Sector 7 and Sector 10 is a glaring example of the alleged violation. |
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Ambitious
scheme to give Haryana a green canopy Panipat, July 11 Giving details, Mr Kothari said that the farmers’s participation in their plantation and upkeep would be ensured under the scheme. Besides, the farmers would be given free saplings for plantation along the roads adjoining their fields and the department would extend all help to the farmers for their protection. A committee under the chairmanship of the Chief
Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, would be formed to review the upkeep and protection of the plants. It would be ensured that at least 90 per cent plants survived. Apart from that, the tree plantation would be made a people’s movement and schoolchildren would be involved in a big way in the campaign. Asking the department to provide saplings to the Eco Clubs, he urged various department to achieve their targets by July 31. The officiating DC, Mr Balwan Singh, Forest Conservator, Ambala, Mr R K Sapra, the Forest Conservator, Panchkula, Mr D C Bark, Forest Officer, Karnal, Mr Ghanshyam Gupta, SDM, Samalkha, Ms Pankaj Chaudhary, and the local SDN, Mr Satbir Saini, were among those present. Meanwhile, the DC while presiding over a meeting of the officials said that 1,048 sapling were to be planted during the current financial year. About 3 lakh sapling would be planted on the government land alone. |
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Gallantry
award winner’s 20-month wait for a phone connection Rewari, July 11 He had applied for a telephone connection under non-OYT Special Category of Defence Personnel, for which he was entitled vide letter No 2-47/92-PHA dated March 19, 1993, of the Government of India, Ministry of Communication, which said that gallantry award winners in the three services, war widows and disabled soldiers were eligible for registration under Non-OYT Special Category. Besides being a gallantry award winner, Hony Capt Ram Kumar Yadav also falls under the category of disabled soldiers as he was wounded in the above battle with gunshots, which invalidated him and his ability was then assessed by the medical board at 80 per cent. Being in his 70s, he also falls under the category of senior citizens. Despite all these favourable conditions to his credit, his case for speedy release of a telephone connection has been lingering on for reasons best known to the telecom authorities. He was left out even when telephone connections were released to 12 residents of Gothra village in May 2001. This goaded him to intensify his efforts and finally he personally approached the Telecom District Manager (TDM) who told him that the release orders for his telephone connection had been sent by his office to the office of the SDO who, when contacted, assured him that they (release orders) had been forwarded to the Junior Engineer (JE) at Kund for necessary action. Three months have elapsed since the orders were forwarded by the SDO to the JE, but the connection has not been given even now. Hon Capt Ram Kumar Yadav is now at his wits end. He does not know what to do to get the telephone connection expedited. |
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Population
race flagged off at India Gate New Delhi, July 11 “We need to formalise interventions to include adolescents within the ambit of the reproductive health programme’’, the minister said while flagging off a population race at the India Gate lawns here today. More than 5,000 students from schools and colleges participated in the race. More than 45,600 schoolchildren at 36 places in different States and Union Territories will be part of the movement. Describing the youth as builders of the country’s future, he pointed out that during the decade 1991-2001, the population of the country increased by 181 million – which is higher than the total population of Brazil. Brazil is the fifth most populous country in the world. India is estimated to overtake China as the most populous country in the world in a few years’ time. Among the various states in the country, Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state with 16.17 per cent of India’s population. The population of Uttar Pradesh (166 million) is more than the estimated population of Pakistan. While Maharashtra, which houses 9.42 per cent of the country’s total population, occupies the second position, with 8.7 per cent of the total population, Bihar occupies the third place. Eminent dancer Shovana Narayan and members of the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) also participated in the run. |
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Motorists
advised to avoid Rath
Yatra routes New Delhi, July 11 As a large number of devotees were expected to take part in the procession, motorists are asked to avoid these routes. From the staring
point, the yatra will pass through Golden Mosque, Subhash Marg, then turn left towards Gauri Shanker Temple, Chandni Chowk and will merge with another procession starting from Mandir Jagan Nath Ji Maharaj. The two processions will pass through Hathi Khana, Dariba Kalan, Chandni Chowk, Nai Sarak, Barsha Bulla Chowk, Chawri Bazar, Hauz Quazi, Ajmeri Gate, Shardhanand Marg, Chowk Laohri Gate, Khari Baoli, Masjid Fatehpuri and return via Chandni Chowk–Red Fort crossing to Esplanade Road and will reach outside Darya Ganj. In Mehrauli, thousands of devotees are expected to participate in the fourth Annual Rath Yatra of Sri Gouranga Ashram, which will be held tomorrow. The Rath Yatra, organised by the Bhaktavrinda and Sevaks, will commence from Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir Complex at 4 pm. |
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Four die, five hurt as truck
overturns in Timarpur New Delhi, July 11 The truck loaded with mangoes was coming from Saharanpur and was going to Azadpur Mandi. Two of the deceased were identified as Naresh and Ramesh. The injured were identified as
Nasim, Kadam Singh, Nahar Singh, Sanjeev and Susheel. They were admitted to the Bara Hindu Rao Hospital where their condition was stated to be serious. The truck driver was among the injured, the police said. The vehicle was coming at high speed. As it reached near Gopalpur village, the driver tried to take a turn but lost control and the vehicle overturned. Some of the victims were standing in the pick-up space while others were sitting with the driver. As the vehicle overturned, residents of the village rushed to rescue the occupants but four of them had already died. The residents informed the local police and
PCR. The PCR vehicle reached there and took the victims to the hospital, the police said. |
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NCR BRIEFS Ghaziabad, July 11 Her father, Girdhari, a resident of Bhopura, has registered a murder case and named three persons for the crime in the Sahibabad police station. The police are not ruling out the possibility of the girl having been raped before being killed. However, this will be confirmed only on the receipt of the autopsy report, the police said.
Woman raped Faridabad Lender killed A man was allegedly murdered for demanding his money in Ballabgarh town. The police recovered the body from the fields. According to the report lodged with the police, the victim identified as Iliyaas, alias Kallu, had lent an amount of Rs 2,000 to one Prem Chand, a few months back. When Iliyaas repeatedly demanded that the money be returned, he was allegedly hacked to death and his body was dumped in a field near Ballabgarh. When he did not return and suspecting the hand of Prem Chand in the murder, a kin of Kallu lodged a report with the police.
Chief Secretary Meerut Scottish distiller Gurgaon Suicide pact Panipat Ghee stolen Jhajjar Roadways Union Narnaul |
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Kin of Kargil martyr gets petrol pump New Delhi, July 11 The dealership has been awarded under the Operation Vijay Special Scheme launched by the Government of India to rehabilitate the widows and next of kin of soldiers who laid down their lives for the nation during the Kargil war in 1999. Under the scheme, LPG distributorship and retail outlets (petrol pumps) are being awarded to the widows and next of kin of Kargil martyrs. Oil companies provide all facilities free of cost to the allottees, which involve an investment of about Rs 45 lakh per petrol pump and around Rs 20 lakh per LPG distributorship. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Ram Naik saluted Capt Amit Verma for his brave work for the nation. The minister said that work on the allotment of gas agencies and petrol pumps had slowed down due to unavailability of land but all possible remedial measures were being undertaken by the government to remove the
bottlenecks. . |
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Zee boss
takes up cudgels on behalf Panipat, July 11 He was speaking at a function of the Rotary Club, Panipat, here last night. Narrating an anecdote, Mr Goyal had a dig at the Rotarians saying that during his early days, he thought the Rotary and other club badges were “status symbol”, which the members flaunted in public. He reacted positively to a request for allotting a slot on Zee TV to inform the public about its various activities. |
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Neighbour of missing girls commits suicide Jhajjar, July 11 The suicide is being linked with their disappearance, as she was very depressed after the incident and some persons were holding her responsible for it. According to the sources, Poonam (22) was married to Ram Chander last year. Her house was beside the house of the disappeared girls and she was reportedly an intimate friend of the girls. The village sources said that Poonam knew about the relationship of the girls with a Dalit youth of the same village, with whom they reportedly eloped on last Saturday. The youth has also gone missing since the same day. In fact, she has been allegedly behind the affair between the girls and the youth. The sources said that she was being taunted by some neighbours. The family members of the missing girls have held her responsible for their elopement. Fed up with the continuous taunting, she took the extreme step today morning, it is learnt. Meanwhile, the police have failed to make any headway in the mysterious disappearance of the girls. The police have not been able to track down the Dalit youth who has been missing from the same day. |
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Auto thief gang busted, four nabbed New Delhi, July 11 On further interrogation, they confessed to have stolen the car from Masjid Moth and they were on their way to dispose of the vehicle at Karol Bagh. Meanwhile, the South-West district police arrested a gang of dacoits found roaming near Priya Cinema complex. The accused Amit Kumar, resident of Basti, Sant Ram alias Vikas, resident of Devariya, Zahid, resident of Baghpat, Balbir alias Changa, resident of Alwar and Jaan Mohammad, resident of Bulandshahar were found to have been involved in a dacoity case in Najafgarh area. All the five arrested confessed to their crimes and said they had injured a watchman of the factory during the dacoity and disposed off the property to a kabari in the Mayapuri area. |
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Sale of minor girl thwarted Gurgaon, July 11 Miskeena, a 13-year-old illiterate girl of Rehna village in Nuh tehsil, about 50 km from here, was allegedly sold for Rs 50,000 to Janu, a resident of Chandoli village in Alwar district 20 days ago. The two parties agreed that 35-years-old Janu would marry Miskeena on July 11, to put a seal of sanctity on the sale deed. Upset by the decision of his relatives, Nisar, a cousin of Miskeena, reported the matter to the SDM, Nuh. |
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UP traders call for end to trade tax raids Ghaziabad, July 11 A high-level meeting, which has been called for July 14 at Rampur, will take policy decisions and finalise the strategy to be followed by the mandal vis-à-vis the government. The bandh call had evoked an overwhelming response Traders at Delhi Gate, Kirana Mandi, Navyug Market, Raj Nagar, Rakesh Marg, Sanjay Nagar, Kavi Nagar downed their shutters. Their participation in the bandh was 100 per cent. The Bar Association had also supported the bandh. Advocates kept away from the courts. The Bar Association president, Mr Satyapal Yadav, had given a call to advocates to support the bandh. The district president of the mandal, Mr Ram Kishore Aggarwal, said the traders and business community were being exploited in all possible ways. Clause 3/7 of the Essential Commodities Act had not been withdrawn as yet. The prevailing power crisis had badly affected business, trade and industry. Consumers were being exploited on the pretext of installation of electronic meters by the Power Department. The mandal will strongly oppose the forcible installation of electronic metres. On the law and order front, the less said the better. Businessmen were continually exposed to all sorts of risks. The district general secretary, Mr Shiv Shankar, said that confiscation of goods of traders by filing FIRs under Section 420 was unjust. He called for putting an end to the trade tax raids. Trade tax should be replaced by additional production tax, he demanded. He said that raids by the Power Department should also be stopped. He also called for uniformity in entry tax. The traders also submitted a 26-point charter of demands to the Chief Minister that was handed over to the Additional DM (City). It called for withdrawing Section 3/7,improving the law and order situation, resolving the power crisis, enforcing a uniform and simple tax policy, giving priority in issuance of arms licences to the traders, making available land for godowns to C and F agencies. It also demanded reduction in tax on diesel from 20 per cent to 12 per cent and pleaded for ending exploitation of traders under the pretext of trade tax.
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And now, smart card for rural customers Panipat, July 11 Under the ambitious plan, the bank plans to tie up with a Delhi-based firm which boasts of over 800 encashment centres in the country. The smart card holders will have the facility to encash the amount equivalent to the deposited amount from the encashment centre, the Managing Director(MD), Dr K.M. Bhattacharya, said here today. Since the bank had a huge rural and semi-urban base with 75 per cent of the total 340 branches in this area, it was imperative that the bank should concentrate on these areas instead of launching credit cards, whose market was already saturated, Dr Bhattacharya stated. Talking about the modernisation plans of one of the largest private sector banks in North India, he informed that by March 2003 the bank would become the first private sector bank in North India to computerise all its 340 branches. Similarly, the online banking facility would be available at 100 branches. The bank proposes to open about 160 more branches in the next three years. On the diversification plans, he said the
depository services of the bank would be strengthened. Apart from this, the bank had tied up with Bajaj Allianz with a view to enter the insurance market. He also dispelled doubts about the high prime lending rate of 13.5 per cent, saying that this was applicable to only big industrial houses and lower rates of interests could be considered for the small-scale sector. The manager of the GT Road branch, Mr S.C. Aggarwal, informed that the bank had declared a profit of Rs 32 crore in 2000-01 and Rs 40 crore in 2001-02. This was in sharp contrast to the whopping loss of Rs 157 crore as on March 31,1999. At that time 20.55 per cent of advances remained impaired and capital adequacy ratio went below 1 per cent . It was under such dismal circumstances, Mr Aggarwal said, that Dr Bhattacharya assumed charge in May 2000. Not only had the huge accumulated loss of Rs 157 crore been wiped out but the bank’s capital adequacy ratio had also been brought down to 12.5 per cent against the RBI stipulated minimum of 9 per cent. The turnaround is considered to be a landmark in the Indian banking industry. |
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Jaywant
to head API division at Alembic New Delhi, July 11 Mr Jaywant has a Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering and a Masters degree in Management Studies. He has worked with distinguished companies such as Boots Pharmaceuticals, ICI, Parke Davis and Lupin Labs. He has handled overseas assignments as well for Lupin and Oman Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals. |
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New Delhi, July 11
