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March 7, 2003, Chandigarh, India
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High Court nod to MCD on awarding toll tax contract New Delhi, March 6 The court turned down its petition after the company’s counsel could not satisfactorily answer some of the queries raised yesterday. Sangam was told to satisfy the court that the person who had filed the writ petition on its behalf was an official authorised by the company, as no resolution to this effect was placed on record. The court made it clear that it does not favour a “judicial review” of the MCD technical committee’s decision selecting the bidders for the final round. MCD counsel Anil Grover said Sangam’s bid was rejected by a six-member technical committee, mainly because it did not have the requisite experience in the field, which was a must since toll tax collection is a cumbersome exercise. The city has 65 entry points to be handled, it was pointed out. The decision to privatise toll tax collection was taken by the Congress-led corporation last year as the target fixed by the corporation was never met by the toll tax department of the corporation. When the decision was approved by the Standing Committee of the corporation, it was opposed by the Opposition leaders who pointed out a number of lacunae in the toll tax report presented before the committee. The Congress would favour the bidders while finalising the proposals, Opposition leaders had said then. The MCD wanted to award the contract for toll tax collection to a private party due to the large amount of pilferage. The collection by its officials had never gone beyond Rs 56 crore, the counsel said. He said every precaution had been taken by the corporation before arriving at a decision to fix the “minimum reserve” price of the tender for collection of toll tax at Rs 65 crore. The technical committee had selected two companies — Banas Sands Ltd and Shakti Kumar Sancheti Ltd — for the final round of bidding. Their tenders were for Rs 70 crore and Rs 71 crore, respectively, the court was informed. Sangam’s bid, though not opened by the MCD, was for over Rs 71 crore, the court was informed by its counsel. Sangam had challenged the selection process alleging that its claim was rejected by the technical committee e “arbitrarily and due to mala fide” reasons. |
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CRACKDOWN New Delhi, March 6 A Division Bench comprising Justice Vijender Jain and Justice B. N. Chaturvedi directed the Central government, the Delhi Development Authority, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the Public Works Department and the Delhi Jal Board to remove all unauthorised structures that occupy the riverbed and its embankments. They have also been asked to file a compliance report in this regard by May 14. The Bench ruled that the Yamuna has been polluted not only on account of dumping of waste, including industrial and medical waste, and discharge of unhygienic material but also on account of unauthorised encroachments and construction of pucca houses, jhuggis and places of worship. In their directive, the judges pointed out that Delhi, with its present population of 20 million, could take no more. In view of the encroachment and construction of jhuggis and pucca structures on the Yamuna bed and its embankments, with no drainage facility, sewerage water and other filth is discharged into the Yamuna, the court noted. It also went on to add that while the citizens of Delhi have been silent spectators, the authorities concerned have made no effort to remove the unauthorised habitation from the riverbed. The court observed that rivers are a perennial source of life and all over the civilised world, rivers and their surroundings have not only been preserved and beautified but special efforts have been made to ensure that the river flow is free from pollution. The court gave its order while dealing with a petition seeking removal of unauthorised constructions and encroachments, including illegal hutments, from various parts of the Capital. |
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RESULT ROW Rohtak, March 6 Dr Shiva Sharma had on December 24 directed the university to declare the result of Bhardwaj, a second year student of Gaur Brahmin Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation. Instead of declaring the result, the university cancelled the examination on the ground that she was not eligible. Thereafter, an application was filed for taking appropriate action against the Registrar for disobeying the court orders. Instead of complying with the court order, the MDU, through Dr Rajan, filed a reply justifying its action of cancelling the result. In these circumstance, the court was constrained to pass an order on February 25 directing attachment of the property of the office of Registrar as also his detention in civil prison for one month, Dr Shiva Sharma said. Rejecting the application, Dr Shiva Sharma said that the unconditional and unqualified apology has come too late in the day. “This unqualified apology is not bona fide and has been tendered only to circumvent the order dated February 25,” he said. Had the university been serious, the result of the respondent would have been declared in compliance with the direction dated December 24 last. The direction could have been complied with when an application was filed by the respondent-applicant. Instead of rectifying the mistake, the university chose to justify its wrong orders by way of reply to the application. “It is regretted that the university disobeyed the directions of this court, and it is doubly regretted that the university attempted to justify its wrong order,” Dr Shiva Sharma observed. |
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Examinees
trudge to centre, turned back by armymen New Delhi, March 6 “Students across the city are struggling with the traffic situation. Despite leaving early for their examination centres, there are instances were students have reported in late,” pointed out Mr S. S. Minhas, principal of GHPS, Vasant Kunj. He cited the case of four students who arrived 25 minutes late for their Business Studies paper scheduled today. “These students were on their way to Kendriya Vidyalaya in Delhi Cantonment when they got stuck in a traffic jam near Dhaula Kuan. They managed to hire an autorickshaw after walking for more than a kilometre and when they reached the Cantonment area, they were stopped, because the Army officials prohibit the entry of civilian vehicles inside the area.” The students, despite having left early to make it on time, managed to reach 25 minutes after the exam had commenced. “On arrival, these students were so flustered that it was difficult for them to immediately start writing the exam,” Mr Minhas added. Students and teachers have been complaining that traffic snarls in the city have been a cause of worry and are ruing the fact that the authorities have not been of much help. “There is a need to work out a solution to the city’s traffic problems, especially at a crucial time as this. Everyday, we have students reporting in late. The trauma of being late severely affects their performance,” Mr Minhas said. It is also pointed out that the CBSE should ensure that the examination centres are in proximity to the schools that the students are enrolled in. “The exam centres should not be very far away from the school. The journey from their homes to the exam centre should not be strenuous, Mr Minhas added. Parents, teachers and principals of several other schools in the Capital echoed the sentiments expressed by Mr Minhas and urged the authorities to review the existing system of allotting examination centres more pragmatically taking into consideration the general situation in the city. They also appealed to the Army authorities to make exception in such cases so that the students are not traumatised. |
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The strange
ways of Jarcha police Noida, March 6 The police disclosed that Kiran Pal Thakur, son of Lali Dhar, was a notorious criminal of the area and listed as a history-sheeter. He was wanted in about a dozen crimes, including attempted murder, loot, dacoity and cases under the Goonda Act. He was absconding ever since he was released on bail in one case. But after sometime, he started living in the village again. Surprisingly, no action was taken against him as he had developed “good relations” with the police and had not been getting into trouble. Insiders, however, say that the arrest is an outcome of the SSP Rajiv Krishan reprimanding lax SOs in the area. Some of these SOs fear that they might be sent packing for their lacklustre performance. Their position is shaky owing to the public complaints against them. When the SO of Jarcha police station learnt that his outfit had been adjudged the poorest, he decided to show some startling results. That is why the absconding Krishan Pal was arrested.
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Retd Colonel rapes 17-yr-old maid New Delhi, March 6 Policewomen from Crime against Women Cell reached the spot immediately after it received a call and arrested the suspect with the help of the local police, the police said. The police said that the victim had gone to Vasant Kunj to meet her mother-in-law who worked as a maid there. Unfortunately, she knocked at the door of the suspect’s flat. He called her inside on the pretext of getting the utensils cleaned. Once inside, the suspect allegedly pounced on her and raped her. The incident occurred when the suspect was alone in his flat in B-Block. His wife is a teacher in Ambala. His son is a Lieutenant in the Army while his married daughter lives somewhere else along with her husband. |
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Three die in
bus-jeep collision New Delhi, March 6 A case of rash and negligent driving was registered against the bus driver, Manoj (27). The police said that the victims were returning home after attending a marriage at Raghubir Nagar in West Delhi.
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Delhi Government has failed to achieve New Delhi, March 6 The transport sector had an outlay of Rs 899.19 crore which, he said, had been reduced in the revised estimates to Rs 742 crore. The government, he continued, could spend only Rs 433 crore by the end of February 2003, which was less than 50 per cent of the Plan outlay. Regarding water supply, Mr Mukhi said, out of the 426.84 crore in the revised outlay, only Rs 281.6 crore had been spent. Similarly, Rs 53 crore had been released to the Slum Wing of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD); the figure was revised to Rs 38.9 crore. “By February-end, only Rs 17.85 crore had been spent and for the year 2003-2004, a sum of Rs 45.85 crore has been provided,” he said. For resettlement colonies, the physical target was to construct 55 kilometres of roads by metalling/premixing whereas by the end of February, only 17.66-km road had been constructed.
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DELHI IN PARLIAMENT New Delhi, March 6 Replying to the written questions, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Santosh Gangwar said that so far, the CNG had been introduced in transport sector in Delhi and Mumbai only. The minister said that the consumption of diesel in the Capital was on the decrease ever since 1999. The figures that year stood at 10,02,867 kiloliters, which came down to 9,03,230 kiloliters in 2001-02 and in the last fiscal, it stood at 7,76,398 kiloliters. However, there was a marginal increase in petrol from 4,22,184 kiloliters in 1999-2000 compared to 4,58,967 kiloliters in 2001-02, the minister said. The Minister of State for Railways, Mr Bandaru Dattaraya, said that over-bridges and under-bridges were under construction near Palam Railway Station and Bijwasan. The work on the two projects had already commenced and was slated for completion by June 2004, he said. Badarpur Thermal Power Station (BTPS) owed Rs 946.42 crore and Delhi Vidyut Board Rs 173.84 crore to the Railways as on December 31 last year, the Lok Sabha was informed today. Several steps have been taken to recover the dues. These include implementation of various schemes of ‘pre-payment of freight’ for carriage of coal to powerhouses, Mr Dattaraya said in a written reply. The Power Ministry has also given clear instructions to the BTPS to ensure full payment of current freight dues to the Railways. The outstanding dues are also being adjusted against traction bills, wherever feasible, he said. |
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Problem
of plenty: How to store a bumper wheat crop? Sonepat, March 6 According to official sources, this step has been taken in view of the shortage of space in the existing covered godowns and non-lifting of wheat stock procured by the official agency during the last year. The existing godowns of Food and Supplies Department and other official agencies are already packed to capacity which was the reason that thousands of wheat bags procured by them last year are still lying in the open at various places in the city and other parts of the district. The Deputy Commissioner is reported to have directed the officials of the procurement agencies to make adequate arrangements for the procurement of wheat and its storage so that the wheat should be taken to the covered godowns in the district. He said that steps are being taken to identify the empty godowns, closed factories and private godowns for storing the wheat this season. The officials will acquire these places on rent. The DC stated that the state government was committed to purchasing the entire stock at the support price from the farmers who will market their produce in the district. The state government, he said, would safeguard the interests of the farmers during the procurement season. The DC appealed to the farmers to take the advantage of Centrally-sponsored scheme for the construction of godowns in the village and seek loans from it for the purpose. The Central Government, he said, has already allocated Rs 343 crore for granting loans to the farmers for constructing godowns in the villages. The limit of the loans will be between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 1.50 crore and the capacity of each godown will be between 100 metric tonnes and 10,000 metric tonnes, he added. Highlighting the benefits of the scheme, the DC said that the government would give 25 per cent subsidy to the farmers of the general category and 33 per cent subsidy to the farmer of reserved category, for the construction of such godowns. The farmers, he said, would have to spend 25 per cent amount of the total cost of the godown. The DC said that there had been no arrangement for stocking the grain in the rural areas and the farmers have to sell their produce at a throw-away price and suffer a huge financial loss on this account. Meanwhile, enquiries have revealed that at least 2 lakh metric tonnes of wheat had been lying in the covered godowns in the district and other 1.70 lakh metric tonnes of wheat, purchased by various procurement agencies last year, had not been lifted so far on account of non-availability of space in the covered godowns. The stock is lying in the open. Sonepat district is set for a bumper wheat crop this year and its arrivals will be touched to 4 lakh metric tonnes in various grain markets and other procurement centres to be set up by the state government. Hence the authorities of various procurement agencies will face the problem of storage of wheat procured by them at the support price. The storage of wheat, it may be recalled, was a cognizable offence a few years ago, but now the government encourages the traders and farmers to store the same by taking loans from it. The traders, on the other hand, purchased the wheat direct from the farmers and sent it to the deficit states. In this way, they earn huge profit without paying the sales tax and the market fee. |
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High court ruling leaves
RWAs in a quandary New Delhi, March 6 Mr A. C. Pathak, President, Hauz Khas SFS Welfare Association, said, “We are already against encroachments and have been working long for removal of all unauthorised constructions in our area. We have approached the MCD several times but to no avail. Also, we do not have any powers to take action. On our part we have put up notices and are not allowing any commercial activity within the premises. But the problem arises when people stop paying membership fees to the RWA or do not take membership and carry on with illegal activities.” Mr V. C. Tondon, President, Gulmohar Park Welfare Association, added, “Mostly, the government functionaries avoid taking action on problems reported by us. In our opinion, once the association submits the list of encroachments to them it should be obligatory on the part of the MCD and the other authorities to start a drive. If out of 15 encroachments only five are removed and others are left untouched it creates bad blood. Also, without giving any prior notice the authorities bring bulldozers to remove encroachments.” Many others suggested ways in which both the parties could contribute without any heartburn. Mr Pankaj Aggarwal, member, Efforts Group of Safdarjung Enclave, said, “First, the illegal structures should be removed from government and public land. The Residents Welfare Association can help the authorities but the multiplicity of authorities that this area falls under, be it the DDA, the PWD or the MCD it aggravates the problem. Also, the encroachments are also of a different nature. I think just saying the RWAs are equally responsible for checking encroachments will not serve the purpose. Confidentiality should be ensured so that we don’t make enemies. But top priority should be given to removal of encroachments from public land. Expressing his views against the builder mafia, Mr T. C. Mitla, President, Hauz Khas Y Block Residents Welfare Association, said, “We cannot do much about all this. We are not entitled to take action against encroachments and have no legal power. Also, many executives think that being a resident of the colony why should I involve myself in all these issues. The problems that could crop up would be related to offering bribes and or supporting one’s kin. And then it could create a fear psychosis in the minds of the residents.” Questions like “Who will protect us?” “What legal recourse do we have?” and “Why to fight with neighbours when we are here for residents’ welfare?” are bound to be raised. |
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Rs 26 cr spent on welfare works Bhiwani, March 6 Speaking to the mediapersons here today, Deputy Commissioner Harpal Singh Malik said that under the programme and announcements made by the Chief Minister, the development works had been completed during the stipulated time limit. Strengthening of streets, construction of boosting stations and old-age homes, backward chaupals, community centres are some of the works either completed or near to completion, Mr Malik said. Giving details, he said that the construction work on boosting station with a cost of Rs 11.57 lakh was in progress at Ajitpura village and an old-age home had already been constructed there besides repair of veterinary hospital, construction of streets and school rooms. He said that the construction of nullah, roads between Badala and Sanwad, Dhareru and Badala and the streets at Badala village had been completed with a sum of Rs 22.93 lakh. A sum of Rs 51 lakh had been spent on strengthening the drain besides construction of old-age home and various approach roads at Dhana Ladanpur village. Mr Malik said that each development work announced by the Chief Minister was reviewed extensively before completion and transparency ensured at every cost. He said that a minor had been constructed with a sum of Rs 1.7656 crore and another sum of Rs 63.40 lakh was spent on improving the drinking water supply at Dhareru village. Miss Adarsh:
As many as 15 candidates participated in the Miss Beautiful competition. Suruchi and Meenakshi were declared second and third. The candidates were asked questions like: which is important between popularity and wealth? Woman is a flower or a thorn and what is the best ornament for women? Bestowing her blessings, the college principal, Dr Urmila Singhla, said that girls had been achieving remarkable position in each field these days. |
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NCR BRIEFS Bhiwani, March 6 According to prosecution, Guddi, now diseased, and Suman were married to two brothers, Krishan and Bijender. Bijender died two years ago and the complainant had arranged for the re-marriage of his daughter Suman with one Rajesh as per the desire of Subh Ram, father-in-law of the daughters. But the accused Krishan did not like it and objected to this marriage, stating that he would keep Suman with him but his demand was turned down. This had annoyed the accused who then killed his own wife Guddi in revenge of a sort on December 13, 1999.
MCF hands over parks to RWAs Faridabad: As many as 50 out of the 400-odd parks under the authority of the Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) have been handed over to respective residents welfare associations (RWAs) for supervision and maintenance here.
Cattle thieves held Ghaziabad: The Kavi Nagar police arrested four persons under Cruelty Against Animals Act and recovered 300 cows from them. The accused are identified as Hem Raj, Thapa, Dharam and Rana, all are residents of Jalore area of Rajasthan.
Noida flower
show opens today Noida: The 17th three-day Annual Noida Flower show will open in Noida stadium on March 7 in which 2000 participants are expected to display their flowers in 40 different categories.
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‘Focus
attention on God and the present’ New Delhi, March 6 For the seekers of truth, an initiation into the ‘science of spirituality’ to experience meditation on the inner light and sound was also organised. The devotees sang hymns on the occasion. |
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Ex-IB official, son booked for dowry New Delhi, March 6 Mr Singh, former Additional Director of IB, his son Rakesh, along with wife and daughter were arrested in Moti Bagh area of South-West Delhi on Wednesday night following a complaint by their daughter-in-law that they had been harassing her and had even assaulted her on several occasions. In a complaint to the Crime Against Women (CAW) Cell of Delhi Police, the complainant alleged that she had had abortion recently following a severe beating by the accused, the police said. The four accused were booked under Section 302 (Murder) of IPC and various sections of Dowry Prohibition Act. The accused were today produced before a court, which remanded Singh in two days’ police custody and other family members in 14 days’ judicial custody. Kidnappers held, victim rescued:
The PCR staff acting on an information that one person was forcibly being taken by four miscreants in a Qualis (No HR-55A-T1106. The car was intercepted and the victim rescued. The two kidnappers were identified as Jaipal Singh (25), resident of Haryana and Suresh (26), resident of Chhawla, while their associates managed to escape. The police said that the victim Vakil Chand was picked up from Peera Garhi Chowk bus stand. The victim had some financial dispute with the accused in the illegal liquor trade. As Chand could not repay Rs 70,000 to them, the culprits kidnapped him to extort money. |
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Ex-serviceman held for selling dream jobs
Ghaziabad, March 6 Police recovered a fictitious ration card and forged documents of BSF, ITBSF CISF, RPF and an identity card from Assam Rifles. Circle officer (City) Dharam Veer Singh said that SI Praveen Saxena had nabbed him when Sharma was going in a Maruti car without a registration number plate along with one Devinder, resident of Khalora under Bulandshahr police station, Jahangirabad. A number of forged certificates from many organisations, stamps of tehsildars and pragana officers of Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh were also recovered from him. CO said Sunil had been in the Army but was dismissed from service for illegal activities. On interrogation, Sharma confessed that he used to charge between Rs 50,000 and Rs 75,000 to arrange for a job. He had promised to arrange for a job in Assam Rifles for a person who was waiting in the car. OC
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BSNL set to face challenges posed by pvt players Rewari, March 6 Speaking to the mediapersons, he said that their priority is to give better services to the customers in Haryana circle, which has now over 12-lakh telephone subscribers. For this purpose, computerised service centres (CSCs) have already been set up in seven of the nine SSAs of the Haryana circle, while the remaining two SSAs of Rewari and Hisar were going to have this facility by the end of March, 2003. These CSCs would ensure total elimination of manual paper work previously involved in the provision of relevant facilities to the customers, he added. Referring to their second priority, Mr Nagpal disclosed that they had introduced mobile telecom services in a big way, under which about 60,000 customers in over 30 cities of the state were provided cell phones in the first phase. He also described that the second phase was expected to be launched from March 15, during which the number of the BSNL cell phone users in Haryana would be just double of the number of its present subscribers. Making a specific mention of their endeavour to bring about the much-needed improvement in the telecom services in rural areas of the state, Mr Nagpal informed that the BSNL had decided to provide one lakh connections in far-flung rural areas under its wireless in local loop (WLL) services. Besides, to achieve its current targets of development of telecom services in Haryana, all the 930 telephone exchanges of the state would be linked with reliable media by March 31, 2003, and one lakh new telephone connections would also be released, he added. Earlier, Mr Nagpal commissioned the newly-established 5,000 line Trunk Automatic Exchange (TAX) here. He said it would go a long way in making long distance services flawless and speedy. |
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Aahar 2003, global food expo from Mar 9 New Delhi, March 6 Covering an area over 5,000 sq. mtrs. in Hall No 14 and 18, the Aahar 2003 (March 9-13) elicits participation of over 200 companies from India and abroad. The US Department of Agriculture is organising national level participation of American companies. The display profile covers fresh and processed food items, agricultural and horticultural products, beverages, spices, snacks, food processing machinery and equipment, refrigeration, packaging machinery, requisites for hotels, industrial kitchens and canteens, dispensers, consultancy and publications, kitchen equipment and housekeeping equipment. The show is being organised with the support of the Department of Food Processing Industries, Ministry of Agriculture, and sponsored by Processed Food Products Export Development Authority
(APEDA). |
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PHDCCI opposes regularisation of units
New Delhi, March 6 Reacting to the proposal, the PHDCCI has said this was against the Master Plan and would only lead to further congestion in the Capital. “The government’s focus should instead be on improving infrastructure in the approved industrial areas and on expediting the development of new industrial areas,” the PHDCCI said in a communique released to the media. TNS
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