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| Sunday,
July 14, 2002, Chandigarh, India
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Khurana crowns himself CM-in-waiting New Delhi, July 13 With the Central leadership asking Mr Khurana to lead the party in the Assembly polls due next year, the senior BJP leader said, “I will strengthen the party’s base in the run-up to the elections.” The Delhi Sadar MP, who would formally take charge on Monday, indicated that the party’s long march to the Delhi Assembly had begun and the Capital in the coming days would witness hectic political activity. The new team of office-bearers, comprising those who have roots amongst the people, would be inducted and preference would be given to the youth, he said. Mr Khurana, known for his street theatrics, stated that his strategy would be going back to the basics – take to the streets and raise issues of public concern. Addressing newspersons, a day after he was named the Delhi BJP head, Mr Khurana warned the Sheila Dikhsit Delhi Government to come out with an action plan to deal with the power and water crises in the Capital within four days. “If the government fails to do so, the BJP along with the people of Delhi would be out on the streets to force the government to resolve the crisis,” the former Delhi Chief Minister asserted. Stating that the timing of Delhi Government to privatise the energy distribution sector to BSES and Tata Power was bad, he said, “The power demand reaches its peak in summer. Had the distribution sector been passed on to the private players around October, the consumers would have not faced such hardship.” Mr Khurana said that the government has given the distribution side of the energy sector to the private parties without making anybody accountable for the flaws in the system. The former Delhi Chief Minister said that the basic issue hampering the development of the city is the multiplicity of authorities. Delhi is a quasi-state, which does not have land, and law and order under its control. All the Bills passed by the Assembly have to be cleared by the Centre. Mr Khurana said that he would meet the Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, soon to discuss the issue of full statehood for National Capital Territory of Delhi. “The best suited model for Delhi would be Chandigarh. While the Rashtrapati Bhawan and other areas around it could be declared Union Territory, the rest of the area could be given to Delhi with full statehood,” he said, adding that the state assembly would have to pass a resolution unanimously to this effect. In a move to indicate that there were no differences within the party, the outgoing Delhi unit president, Mr Mange Ram Garg, and the former Delhi Chief Minister and Union Labour Minister, Mr Sahib Singh Verma, posed with Mr Khurana for the media. While refusing to comment on the internal differences, Mr Khurana admitted that the party’s performance was disastrous in the MCD polls. He said there were several factors, which resulted in the complete rout of the BJP in the civic body. “The Ayodhya issue alienated the traditional Hindu vote bank, Gujarat riots resulted in the distancing of the minority and the Union Budget shattered the dreams of the middle class. These factors resulted in the defeat of the party,” he said. |
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Minor daughter sold for Rs 40,000 Rewari, July 13 The Khol belt of Rewari district, which has of late been in the news on account of incidents of crimes such as murder, rape and suicidal deaths in various villages of the belt, is thus again in the headlines. However, this time the Khol police invoked Sections 372 (selling a minor girl for prostitution), 373 (buying a minor girl for prostitution) of IPC and Section 5 of the Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act. The use of such section had remained a rarity in the Rewari district in the past one decade. It is alleged that the deal was struck in connivance with four persons, including three residents of Lohana village and one of Basai village, Mahendragarh district. All of them acted as ‘middlemen’. The news of the obnoxious event spread following which Mr Balwan Singh, husband of the woman sarpanch, Mrs Man Phool Devi of Lohana village, ultimately made a complaint to the Khol police which brought the matter to the notice of Mr Hanif Qureshi, SP, who then directed the Khol police to register a case. A case under Sections 372, 373 IPC and Section 5 of the Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act was registered against Madu Ram Yadav, father of the girl, Hanuman Yadav, alleged buyer of the victim, and Shri Chand, Gopi Chand, Shahzad, all residents of Lohana village and Prabhu resident of Basai village on July 11. Simultaneously, the police swung into action and the girl was recovered and restored to her parents in Lohana on July 12. She was medically examined there. It was reported that she had not been raped. Meanwhile, a delegation of prominent villagers of Lohana, led by former village sarpanch Sumer Singh Yadav, met the SP as well as the Deputy Commissioner here today and pleaded for immediate arrest of the accused. Later, they also met Mrs Shashi Yadav, director of the Mahila Parishad, and sought her good offices to provide proper protection as well as education to the girl whose future, they apprehended, could not be considered safe in the hands of her ‘avaricious and delinquent’ father. |
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Amnesia
grips Delhi Govt on DTC reforms New Delhi, July 13 “These rumours,” a communique released to the media by the Chief Minister’s Office late Saturday evening read, “had originated out of a central government report that had recommended privatisation. [Any] move towards restructuring or privatisation, even in future will be made after taking the various employees unions in full confidence.” The U-turn could not have been more startling. On March 26, the inaugural day of budget session, Lieutenant-Governor Vijai Kapoor had told members of the House consultants were already in place for restructuring of DJB. “By the end of this year, the road map for reform will be drawn up including identification of projects that can be posed for external funding.” Yet another initiative, the Lieutenant-Governor said, centred around the reform and restructuring of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC.) The finances and management of the Corporation and the possibility to engineer public-private partnerships for efficient delivery of transport services will be explored. “Reforms,” he said, “are critical to improve governance and increase return on investment.” Not only the Chief Minister, her Cabinet colleagues and Transport Minister Ajay Maken had gone on record as late as last month to state in no uncertain terms the government’s commitment to restructure the loss-making transport utility. Talking to media persons, the minister had on June 11 said a consultant would be hired to recommend the model for privatising the DTC. He also hastened to add then that the core committee comprising Transport Commissioner Sindhushree Khullar, Secretary (Planning) Rahul Khullar and DTC Chairman KS Baidwan was expected to submit its report and recommend the consultant to be appointed by June-end. Sources in the Department of Transport say the National Centre for Applied Economic Research (NCAER) and Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (IDFC) were in the running for bagging the contract. The buzzword in the corridors of the Assembly Secretariat that houses the offices of the transport minister and his team of officials was “functional restructuring”. Accordingly, a blueprint had been prepared that suggested hiving off the DTC into three entities based on their respective functions: inter-state service, city service and repair and maintenance. “Private participation in repair and maintenance will be accorded priority … private players including manufacturers would be able to invest in keeping the fleet roadworthy,” an official engaged in drafting the modalities of the restructuring had told the ‘NCR Tribune’. All that seems to have apparently been undone by the general disenchantment among Delhiites post-July 1 when the responsibility of distributing electricity was handed over to private companies. Has the restructuring of DTC become a victim to the privatisation of distribution of electricity? Or is it political expediency at its worst given that the liberalisation of excise policy and privatisation of Delhi Vidyut Board is proving too hot to handle for a government that has to seek the public’s mandate next year? |
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CBI to probe ad agency contract New Delhi, July 13 Lok Janshakti Party Senior National Vice President Ramvir Singh Bidhuri on Saturday told media persons that the CBI’s registering of the preliminary enquiry had vindicated his stand in the matter. He had first raised the issue of gross misconduct in the award of contract two years ago. Taking suo motu cognizance of media reports, the Lokayukta had instituted a probe. The Lokayukta had in his order observed that the agreements entered into by the PWD with the advertisement company were in violation of the rules. The very competence of the PWD, the report read, to grant advertisement rights to any agency without the permission of the MCD Commissioner is questionable. Training his guns on the Sheila Dikshit Ministry, Mr Bidhuri said pending the enquiry the owner of Greenline Advertising should be placed under arrest. Seeking an expeditious probe in the matter, he said he would be calling on Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani and seek necessary action against the errant officials. “The registration of a preliminary enquiry,” he said, “has proved that the Government of NCT of Delhi and especially the PWD had been giving out wrong facts and telling a lie all through.” Mr Bidhuri said the PWD had committed a big fraud in the name of greenery and caused a loss of around Rs 1000 crore to the exchequer. “All the assets of the owner of the company should be probed and his bank accounts sealed in order to trace the money that had been paid or received illegally in the form of payments or bribes to corrupt officials and their political bosses, he said. |
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A fountain
turns into fount of refuse New Delhi, July 13 Within months of its installation, the fountain was abandoned for some inexplicable reason and it continues to be in a state of disarray, a grim reminder of its glorious past. The fountain, which once spewed a soothing spray against the backdrop of colourful lights, has now become a garbage dump. All the fancy fittings have been removed by scavengers, leaving only the concrete slab and an iron grill that surrounds it. Some of the old-timers of Bhola Nath Nagar, including the general secretary of the Residents Welfare Association, Mr. B. C. Srivastava, recall the good old days. The fountain was the brainchild of the then area municipal councillor, Mr Kundan Lal Manchanda, who had persuaded the corporation to set up the visual delight at a cost of Rs 5 lakh. Not to be left behind, the then area MLA managed to get another sum of Rs 3 lakh sanctioned for its renovation, as the fountain had become a popular resort. However, the honeymoon did not last long. “Within a few months, official apathy set in. Things started getting from bad to worse. Lights and other sanitary fittings were stolen by some miscreants and no one bothered to replace them,” recalls Mr Srivastava. The Corporation had initially deputed a watchman to look after the fancy fittings but within a few months, he too made himself scarce. That was the time when things went really bad. Since there was no one to look after the fountain, it became a free-for-all and people just took away whatever they could. The residents of this predominantly middle class colony have now appealed to the local councillor and the MLA to help restore the glory of the fountain. The residents, who have now apparently learned a lesson, even promise to take care of the upkeep, if the fountain is restored. |
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25 illegal
houses on govt hospital land razed Ghaziabad, July 13 The operation was undertaken by a joint team of police force and Public Works Department under Dy D.M. Amar Nath Upadhya. The officials had to press into service bulldozers and cranes to raze 25 houses. After removing the encroachment, debris was removed till late night and two acre was fully restored and handed over to the Loni Hospital authorities. Though initially encroachers had opposed the move, they could not do anything due to the sizeable presence of the police force. The extension work of Loni Hospital could not be carried out for quite some time owing to the illegal occupation of hospital land. Reliable sources disclosed that the officials could not remove the encroachment due to political pressures exerted on them for the past few years. But the present DM, Mr Sanjeev Mittal, had now ordered the SDM Sadar to remove the encroachment. Capt Sushil Kumar Sharma, ADM Circle Officer Police, D. Pal and officials of other departments were a part of the anti-encroachment squad. ADM City, Raj Kumar Sachan said that the encroachment on the government land in any form would not be tolerated in the district. |
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DSGMC New Delhi, July 13 The Director in the Directorate, Mr Manpreet Singh, said the election for co-opted members would take place on July 17. As the contestants would have to secure 16 votes to be elected to the DSGMC, it would be interesting to witness the individual candidate’s political management skills to garner the requisite votes. In the number game, 27 members got elected on SAD Delhi symbol, 14 on SAD (Badal) and five as Independents. Meanwhile, the directorate has received the nomination of Mr Inderpal Singh Khalsa, a member of the Political Affairs Committee of SAD (Badal), as the nominee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee. It has also received the names of four Jathedars from Takhts in the country, who would be non-voting members of the DSGMC. They are Joginder Singh Vedanti of Akal Takht Amritsar, Manjit Singh of Anandpur Sahib Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Bulwant Singh of Hazoor Sahib Takht Sachkhand Sahib and Iqbal Singh of Patna Sahib Takht Sri Haminder Sahib.
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Assembly session to be tumultuous New Delhi, July 13 On the inaugural day of the session, the election for the office of President will be held. Polling will be held between 10 am and 5 pm. One MLA’s vote is valued at 58. It is arrived at on the basis of the population of the state in the 1971 census divided by the number of legislators and multiplied by one thousand. The total value of votes of the 70 legislators of the Assembly comes to 4060. The value of the vote of a Delhi legislator is much more than that of an Arunachal Pradesh MLA at seven and that of Sikkim at eight. A Member of Parliament commands a value of 708. The 70-member Delhi Assembly has 52 Congress members, 14 BJP MLAs, one Janata Dal (S), two Independents and an unattached member. Except for Janata Dal (S) MLA Shoaib Iqbal, whose party is supporting the candidacy of Capt Sehgal, all other votes are likely to go in favour of Dr Kalam who has secured support of the Congress and the BJP. Speaker Prem Singh on Saturday told media persons that new notices had been received for two private members’ bills. The House Committee has cleared the Bill to check extravagant expenditure on marriages for introduction on the concluding day of session. It will be introduced by Congress MLA Kiran Choudhary. Besides the 12th report of Committee on Private Member Bills and Resolutions and the 10th report of Business Advisory Committee, the Report of Rules Committee will be tabled in the House. The Rules Committee, the Speaker said, had met on July 5 and recommended certain amendments to rules. Although several notices had been received from members for discussing issues like admission of students and distribution and sale of illicit liquor, the Speaker has chosen four subjects to be listed. They are excise policy of the Government of NCT of Delhi, privatisation of Delhi Vidyut Board (DVB), acute shortage of CNG and the problem being faced by transporters and commuters and functioning of Delhi Development Authority (DDA.) The Committee on Private Members Bills and Resolutions, Speaker Prem Singh said, had admitted three resolutions : Provision of spending money from the MLA Fund for draining out rainwater from unauthorised colonies, by Mohan Singh Bisht of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP); achieving the target of 100 per cent literacy and making it compulsory for all government and private educational institutions, schools and colleges to run in two shifts, by Kiran Choudhary; and nominating an MLA as one of three Representative Directors of the Government of NCT of Delhi in Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, by Nand Kishore Garg of the BJP. |
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Loans at doorsteps of poor: Dikshit New Delhi, July 13 Reiterating her government’s commitment to the welfare of deprived and underprivileged sections of the Capital, Ms Dikshit said the loans to members of minority communities would be distributed on the birth anniversary of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The Delhi Assembly Speaker Prem Singh today underscored the need for opening of more counters of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in order to come closer to the rural populace of the country and catalyse development in villages. “More than 70 per cent of the population is still dependent on farming for earning their bread. Even a large chunk of industries are agro-centric,’’ Mr Singh said, at a function to mark the 20th Foundation Day Reminding that NABARD was set up with a motive to uplift the farming community by providing easy loans to them, the Speaker urged the bank officials to issue more Kisan Credit Cards to facilitate the farmers in procuring loans for agriculture and allied activities, including minor irrigation, farm mechanisation, soil conservation, poultry, piggery and setting up of storage houses and biogas plants. Lauding the bank for providing speedy loans, he expressed happiness that NABARD, which was set up with a paid-up capital of Rs 200 crore twenty years ago, had now a transaction of Rs 38,000 crore and assets of Rs 17,000 crore. |
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Chief Secy unhappy over revenue collection Meerut, July 13 The Chief Secretary discussed the revenue collection with all the 22 District Magistrates of these divisions falling under three zones. After the review, he said that he was not satisfied with the performance and accused the District Magistrates (DMs) of not taking adequate interest in revenue collection. The DMs were transferring their responsibility to their subordinates. He instructed all the DMs to take part actively in the matter. Mr Bagga gave a performance assessment of 12 departments, including excise, trade tax and other state tax. He told reporters that the per capita tax collection in the state was below the average of other states. However, efforts had already been made for the mobilisation of tax collection in the state, he added. Speaking on the sorry state of power and other infrastructure facilities in the state, the Chief Secretary promised that changes would take place soon. He said that the government was calculating the possible loss to the farmers due to the drought as the monsoon had been delayed this time. A compensation packages was under consideration for the drought-hit areas. The government had also decided to establish a combined check post at each entry point to the state and this would be headed by SDMs and assisted by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, he said. He also said that he was going to make surprise visits at various places to take note of the public grievances in the state. |
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GETTING AWAY
Shivpuri is steeped in the royal legacy of its past. It was the summer capital of the Scindia rulers of Gwalior. And earlier, its dense forests were the hunting grounds of the Mughal emperors. Great herds of elephants were captured by Emperor Akbar. Much later, it was the tiger that roamed the wooded hills and many a magnificent beast was ‘bagged’ by royal Shikaris. Today, Shivpuri is a sanctuary for rare wildlife and avifauna. Its royal past has thus been transformed into a vibrant, hopeful
present. With its luxuriant forests and undulating hills, Shivpuri was a natural choice as the summer resort capital of the Scindias. Shivpuri’s royal ambience lives on in the exquisite palaces and hunting lodges and graceful, intricately embellished marble Chhatris (cenotaphs) erected by the Scindia rulers.
Madhav National Park The park, set in 156 sq km, is open throughout the year. With a varied terrain of wooded hills — the forest is dry, mixed and deciduous with flat grasslands around the lake — it offers abundant opportunities of sighting a variety of wildlife. The predominant species that inhabits the park is the deer, of which the most easily sighted are the graceful little Chinkara, the Indian gazelle, and the Chital. Other species that have their habitat in the park are Nilgai, Sambar, Chausingha or four-horned Antelope, Blackbuck, Sloth Bear, Leopard and the ubiquitous common
Langur. The National Park is equally rich in avifauna. The artificial lake, Chandpata, is the winter home of migratory Geese, Pochard, Pintail, Teal, Mallard Gadwall, Red Wattled Lapwing, Large Pied Wagtail, Pond Heron, White-Breasted Kingfisher, Cormorant, Painted Stork, White Ibis, Laggar Falcon, Purple Sunbird, Paradise Flycatcher and Golden Oriole.
Chhatris of Scindias Set in a formal Mughal garden, with quiet nooks under flowering trees, intersected by pathways with ornamental balustrades and illuminated by Victorian lamps, is the complex in which the cenotaphs of the Scindias are set. Facing each other across a water tank are the Chhatris of Madho Rao Scindia and the dowager queen Maharani Sakhya Raje Scindia, synthesising the architectural idioms of Hindu and Islamic styles with their shikhara-type spires and Rajput and Mughal pavilions.
Madhav Vilas Palace Standing upon a natural eminence, the elongated rose-pink summer palace of the Scindias is a fine example of colonial architecture. The ‘Mahal’, as it is called, is remarkable for its marble floors, iron columns, graceful terraces and the Ganpati mandap. The summer palace of the Scindias, Madhav Vilas Palace, looks intensely alluring, dressed in soft shade of rose-pink. From the turrets, one can get a splendid view of Shivpuri town and Madhav National Park itself.
Sakhya Sagar Sakhya Sagar and Madhav Sagar, created on the Manier river in 1918, are two important bio-diversity support systems in the park, besides several perennial and seasonal streams and nalls. A reptile hideout, marsh crocodile, Indian python and monitor lizard are some of the finds once could see in the lake at the few yards of the entrance of Madhav National Park. On the shores of the lake and connected to it by a broad pier is a boat club, an airy and delicate structure with glass panels. The boat club is also known as Sailing Club. Just stand by the railing of Sailing Club deck extending in to Sakhya Sagar and watch. The view of the massive lake all around and the undulating, forested Vindhyachal hills beyond is mesmerising. Now-a-days, boating has been banned keeping in view the safety of lives of tourists.
Bhadaiya Kund A scenic spot by a natural spring. The water here is rich in minerals, supposedly of a curative nature. The glittering white marble surface of Madho Rao Scindia’s cenotaph is inlaid in the pietra dura style, with lapis lazuli and onyx to create a spectacularly rich effect heightened by the delicacy of the trellis, work on the sides. The dowager queen’s cenotaph has a noble dignity of line and superb structural harmony. Both memorials contain life-size images of the Scindias and these are tended to with extreme devotion by ceremonially dressed retainers, who perform the rituals of placing flowers and incense before the statues each day. In the evening, the hush is broken by the sound of music, as artistes of the Gwalior gharana render classical ragas before the statues.
George Castle Deep inside the Madhav National Park, at its highest point stands the George Castle, built by Jiwaji Rao Scindia. The ideal time to visit the castle is at sunset, when Sakhya Sagar Lake seems to take the radiance and changing hues of the sky. The castle located in the central region of the park provides a wonderful panoramic view of Sakhya Sagar and the spread of the forest around. It is interesting to note that the grand George Castle was built by the Gwalior royalty for an overnight halt for tiger shooting by British King Geroge V, while he was to pass that way during his visit to India in 1911. It so happened that the King could shoot a tiger on the way itself and did not stop at Madhav National Park.
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SEARCH
WITHIN The appalling futility so much of human life in pursuit of happiness does not become evident to most because they are all in an endless rat race. Hither and thither they keep rushing, restlessly preoccupied, driven to and fro by strong, conflicting hungers and instincts and desires, pursuing now one prize and now another and at the end of it all totally dissatisfied, bored and unhappy. In the midst of such hopeless striving, Prem Singh Rawat of the Prem Rawat Foundation comes with the message that the thing we are all looking for is within us. In almost all cultures, people have been told again and again that the happiness they seek lies within themselves. Despite the simplicity of the message, the pursuit of inner happiness has taken bizarre forms. The philosopher known also as Maharaji to his followers in India and over 75 countries worldwide, does not teach a religion, dogma, or doctrine. He also makes clear that his is no new discovery. His father and many others before him had preached the same message. He calls it self- knowledge. His call is to celebrate life that throbs in us. There have been others who spoke in a similar manner. In his famous essay, Self–reliance, Ralph Waldo Emerson, wrote: “There is a time in every man’s education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better for worse as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till. The power which resides in him is new in nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried.’’ When he said that much probably was stressing that man seeking his own happiness must be willing to rely on himself and not on things which he possesses. For the last 30 years Prem Rawat has continuously travelled to all six major continents speaking on this self-knowledge. So far he has addressed in person 4.5 million people. The Divine United Organisation, which propagates his teachings through seminars, workshops, conferences and other means, is located at Sant Yogashram, Shahurpur in Mehrauli near Delhi. (Phones 6654900,6595548) Over the years he has become widely known. Unlike the modern self- improvement Gurus he does not promise that this self-knowledge would catapult anyone to instant success or prosperity but will bring a sense of fulfillment. It will not bring health benefits or business dividends; but the person will have begun his journey towards real joy, contentment and inner peace. “You judge yourself by the good things and the bad things, by what you have accomplished and by what is left to be accomplished. None of these things should be the measure for this life. There should be only one measure — how content and how satisfied you are.’’ People who have received self-knowledge testify that they are less inclined to weigh themselves on the scales of success and failures. They are less swayed by the desire for approval from others. In a world that has learnt to define happiness in materialistic terms his simple teaching appears to be always new. He says that each one carry within himself/herself the key that will unlock all locks. Each one is not far from the joy and the contentment he/she is seeking. He admits, however, that each human being has within a lot of darkness, but also lot of light; a lot of pain, but also a lot of joy. To remove the darkness, one has only to invite the light. There is an innate wisdom that pushes him/her towards that where he can grow, where he can be, where he can learn, understand and feel. “The kingdom of God is within you,’’ declared Jesus Christ long ago (Luke 17:21). Among other things he meant that the Kingdom of God works in men’s hearts. The Kingdom of God is to produce not new things, but new people. It is not a revolution in material things that we are to look for, but a revolution in the hearts of men. He also made plain that a man’s life “does not consist in the abundance of things a man possess.’’ On the other hand a progressively increasing consumerism is being today identified with happiness. The late Malcolm Muggeridge, renowned journalist biographer of Mother Teresa, speaks of this fantasy which the media has created. “To pursue happiness individually and collectively as a conscious aim is the surest way to miss it altogether; as is only tragically evident in countries like Sweden and America where happiness has been most ardently pursued, and where the material circumstances usually considered most conducive to happiness have been most effectively constructed.” Maharaji reiterates: “If you want to make this life complete, then the missing puzzle is inside of you…Come—everyday—approach this life as it is—a gift…Everyday , approach it with the dignity it deserves. Love. Love that which will love you back unconditionally.’’ The same view is endorsed by Muggeridge: “I believe with a passionate conviction that in all circumstances and at all times, life is a blessed gift; that the spirit that animates it is one of love, not hate or indifference; of light, not darkness; of creativity, not destruction; of order, not chaos.’’ M P K Kutty
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PVR Anupam residents get unauthorised New Delhi, July 13 After two hours of demonstration in the morning on July 13, the area SHO assured the residents in black and white that the parking would be removed. The residents heaved a sigh of relief after getting this. About 200-250 residents from all the blocks of Saket followed Rohit Manchanda, Municipal Councillor of the area, to make the demonstration a success. The residents had been trying hard to remove the parking for more than two years. The unauthorised operators used to charge Rs10 to park the vehicles in this area, even though the MCD declared it ‘Free Parking’. Saket ward president S. R. Mathur said, “We have done our bit by approaching and writing to the authorities, including SHO, Traffic Police, but nothing happened. When the MCD has made it free, how can unauthorised operators charge parking fee. Finally, we planned to demonstrate. We jammed the area for about for two hours.” He added, “We did not want to bother others as we understand their problems. We had to compel the SHO to come here and do something concrete. The SHO visited the area also and we were successful in getting it cleared.” Mr Rohit Manchanda said, “We have the unauthorised parking removed. It’s all because of the cooperation of the residents and Saket Federation.” “Had they not contacted me for this problem and cooperated with me, I could not have done this. Credit goes to the residents of Saket only. I am trying my level best to serve them honestly,” he added. |
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Villages
getting only contaminated water Narnaul, July 13 A visit to some of these villages by this correspondent has revealed that people of Budhwal, Morund, Rai Malikpur and Nayan are being forced to drink contaminated water everyday. Ram Kumar and Virender Singh, local residents, disclosed that the Public Health Department (PHD) had not taken any measures to improve the water quality even after being handed over the reports on water samples tested. The most affected are residents of Budhwal village, Budhwal bus stand area, Rai Malikpur, Morund and Nayan’s temporary bus stand area. The PHD had taken water samples from these areas for testing a few days ago. However, there was no one to take follow-up action, frustrated residents said. The Executive Engineer of the Public Health Department, Narnaul, was not available for comments. If contaminated water is what worries rural folks, Narnaul town is facing an acute scarcity of potable water these days. A few influential persons have connected their pipelines to the main lines, creating problems to the department and the public at large. Sometime back, a few of such illegal connections were disconnected at the instance of the than Deputy Commissioner. But it seems that the same have been connected again. |
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Drought-like condition in Mahendragarh Narnaul, July 13 It seems to be a case of sorrows in battalions for the farmers here. Even as drought-like condition is prevailing, the supply of electricity to run tubewells for watering the fields is regularly irregular. This affects the supply of potable water too. Many farmers have been forced to stop cultivating their land, says Mr Narender Singh, Congress MLA from Ateli constituency. In a press note issued today, Mr Narender Singh lashed out at the Haryana Government saying that it was meting out step-motherly treatment to Mahendragarh district. This would not be tolerated in anyway. He said that Mr Om Prakash Chautala had claimed that free water and power would be provided to all villages before he came to power in the state. Since he assumed the office of the Chief Minister, he had changed his tune, Mr Narender Singh alleged. Besides, unemployment was increasing day by day, he said. Lamenting over the retrenchment of over 20,000 employees and the closing down of the MITC, he said that the Chautala government had done grave injustice to the employees. They should be adjusted in some other departments, he demanded. If the water and power supply were not improved in the state, his party (Congress) would start agitation, he warned. |
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Women empowerment still a distant dream Faridabad, July 13 Despite claims of improved literacy and health facilities, the women in semi-urban and rural parts, where majority of population resides, had not been able to make the necessary progress. ‘A wide gap still exist between the existing reality and those shown on papers’. This view was predominant at a seminar organised here by `Rashtriya Chetna Shakti Foundation’, a voluntary organisation. The seminar on `Empowerment of women’ was held at the conference hall of the DAV Public School, Sector-14
here. Speakers at the seminar included Mrs Kiran Aggarwal, a former Secretary in the Departments of Women and Child Development of the Government of India and Dr Varsha Das, Director, National Book Trust (NBT) of India. They emphasised the need to provide education to womenfolk in rural areas. The participants at the seminar observed that `female literacy and education was intimately linked to the overall improvement of society”. They said that education had not only provided economic self-sufficiency to women, but even their health and social status had improved. |
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Lt-Governor
reviews power crisis in the Capital New Delhi, July 13 The high-level meeting attended by the Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, the Power Minister, Mr Ajay Maken, and senior officials of the government and representatives of the private power companies – BSES and Tata Power, also asked the companies to ensure that streetlights are not affected by erratic power supply. The ongoing power crisis in the Capital has also affected the water supply.
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NCR BRIEFS Rewari, July 13 Speaking on the occasion, Mr Amit Swami, president of the association, said that it was quite creditable that although the school had been facing heavy odds on account of the infighting between two parallel management, the performance of students in academics and extra-curricular activities had been superb during the past several years under the able and sober stewardship of Mr Dewan Singh. Others present also heartily complimented Mr Dewan Singh for his excellent performance. The speakers said that although he was quite young (34), he had shown that he carried a sober head on his young shoulders. In his brief address, Mr Dewan Singh said that the stupendous co-operation of the staff as well as the diligent and intelligent students had enabled him to take the school to this pinnacle of glory.
Lawyer dead Narnaul He is survived by his wife, five daughters and a son. His last rites would be performed tomorrow.
Dowry death Rohtak Mr Satbir Singh, a resident of Ukhal Chana village in Jhajjar district stated in his complaint that his two daughters, Ms Sunil and Ms Rajbala, were married to Surrender and Bijender, sons of Chetram at Samchana village in March 1997. He alleged that his daughters were often harassed by their in-laws for not bringing `sufficient’ dowry. He alleged that Ms Rajbala was set ablaze by her in-laws and cremated. The police have registered a case under Section 498-A, 304-B and 34 of the IPC in this connection.
Students agitated Several candidates are sore over the denial of honours courses by the Government College for Women(GCW). The GCW had stopped admissions to honours classes last year. The candidates alleged that the decision of the college to stop admissions to the honours classes were unjustified. The students said that it was one of the best colleges in the state and had excellent results in honours courses. They said Ms Ritu, an English honours student of this college, had topped the Maharshi Dayanand University in B.A. (final) in April this year. The candidates said that in an age of specialisation, about five per cent weightage was given to the honours students for admission to the M.A. courses. They said even the University College had denied admissions to the honours courses because of lack of required number of students. They demanded the restoration of admissions to honours courses. |
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Husband plotted woman’s murder Ghaziabad, July 13 Ashok Kumar had given a contract for Rs 25,000 to his two friends to accomplish the crime. The police have also recovered the weapon used in the murder as well as the blood-soaked garments as proof. Ashok Kumar had informed the police at 2 am on July 1 that four criminals had forced their way into his house and had looted Rs 1.4 lakh. Hearing the commotion, his wife, Neera, woke up and rushed to his help but was shot dead by the intruders. On this complaint, the police had registered a case of loot and murder and were investigating the matter. The police arrested Ominder of Dahna village and Chanderhas of Motawali village after an encounter in Chhajpur village of Dholana on July 11 afternoon. Country-made revolvers were seized from them. During interrogation, the youth confessed to have committed several crimes, including the murder of Neera. They told the police that Neera’s husband, Ashok Kumar, had given them a contract for Rs 25,000 to eliminate her. Another youth of Dahna village was also with them during the crime. Ashok was arrested later. He confessed to the crime during interrogation. He told the police that he wanted to marry his divorced sister-in-law and that was why he got his wife removed from his path. He denied the loot and produced Rs 1.10 lakh, which he said he had collected from Kanpur and Lucknow, from a wheat drum in his house. He had, however, mentioned Rs 1.4 lakh as the amount having been looted by the criminals on July 1. |
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Attempt
to rob businessman foiled New Delhi, July 13 The arrested persons were identified as Ved Pal, Ranbir Singh, Manjit Kumar, Kanhya Lal and Ganga Ram. Knives and iron rods were recovered from their possession. The police arrested them from Bemisal Restaurant in Janakpuri where they had gone to rob a businessman. The businessman had come to the restaurant to make payments to one of his business parties. Several cases of pickpocketing were worked out with their arrest, the police said. Chain
snatcher:
Youth held:
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Dreaded
gangster handed over to cops by parents Jhajjar, July 13 The police said that Shamsher alias Bholu, son of Mahender Singh of Sarangpur village, was a member of the Krishan Dichao gang. He was arrested when he came to the district courts to surrender before the magistrate. As it was a holiday today, he could not surrender. He was handed over to the police. He had allegedly shot dead two persons in Chhudani village on September 18 last year. The Police said that he started criminal activities at a tender age and had been arrested under Sections 376, 365, 394 and 379 of the IPC for crimes committed in Janak Puri and Najafgarh areas of Delhi earlier. On coming out of jail, he allegedly killed a transporter in Bahadurgarh. He had also shot dead Dharam Pal of Mundaka in Gurgaon and Raju Dahiya in CR College in Rohtak in 2000. |
Registration to small units in unapproved Faridabad, July 13 Mr Rajiv Chawla, general secretary of the FSIA, said here today that majority of the industrial units in Faridabad had been set in unapproved areas due to non-availability of plots in the industrial sectors and the areas developed by various state government agencies. The Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation (HSIDC) and the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) had been able to provide only 3,000 plots for industrial units, while the town had about 15,000 units functioning at present. He said a majority of entrepreneurs had been forced to set up their units in unapproved areas since there was no proper space available in the approved sectors. Moreover, the process of allotment of plots in the industrial sectors was very complicated and as a result a good number of plots were lying vacant, he alleged. He said the FSIA had been taking up the demand of allowing registration of units working in unapproved areas, but said no positive development had taken place. He claimed that various state government departments had recognised the existence of such units and the factories had been contributing towards the state exchequer by paying all taxes and licence fees. In this view, not issuing registration to a large number of units offering employment to thousands of persons was unjustified, he said. He said the delay in removing such hassles had only become a hurdle in the smooth growth of the industry in the state, especially Faridabad which had been facing a downward trend as far as the growth of big and multinational firms was concerned. He said the issue had been discussed in the meeting of the executive committee of the FSIA and at a meeting with the General Manager of the District Industries Centre (DIC) recently. He said the GM (DIC) had assured the association to take up the matter with higher authorities soon. The FSIA has also expressed unhappiness over the delay in issuing licences to `canteens’ of industrial units by the Municipal Corporation, Faridabad, which had recently introduced a licence fee for canteens operating in factories. |
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