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Civic mess will be Cong nemesis in
bypoll: BJP
BJP cites CAG report to allege corruption in DVB
privatisation |
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Ambiguities in property tax assessment made clear Professor
accused of sodomy Sheila rules out power tariff hike rollback Minor
kidnapped for ‘sacrifice’ rescued PHDCCI for better fiscal management Councillors demand speedy desiltation work Industrial
units in a fix over ‘confusing’ circulars Give
more teeth to CJI: Bar Association
St
Stephen’s releases first cut-off list New
circle rates come into effect 601
recruits pass out as constables HPCC
castigates Chautala govt for erratic water,
power supply Nursing
school expels pregnant students Dacoity in garment unit foiled, five held NIA
launches full-time MBA programme
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Civic mess will be Cong nemesis in
bypoll: BJP New Delhi, June 17 “It seems the Congress government at the Centre and Delhi are vying with each other to torture people by their misconceived policies,’’ the Delhi BJP chief, Dr Harshvardhan, said. He said this while addressing a joint press conference with senior party leaders and former MPs, Mr Sahib Singh Verma, Mr Vijay Goel and Mr Lal Bihari Tewari, in whose Lok Sabha constituency are the six wards where polling for the byelections would be held on June 27. The BJP candidates contesting from these wards were introduced on the occasion. Dr Harshvardhan said that the ‘’manifold’’ increase in property tax and power tariff by the Sheila Dikshit government and now the hefty rise in the prices of petroleum products were making life difficult for the common man. The lack of civic amenities would severely affect the Congress prospects in MCD byelections, he added. Beer bar move criticised
The move of the Congress ruled Delhi Government to open beer bars and sell liquor in grocery shops has come under sharp criticism from the BJP quarters. The BJP said that the move was like asking people to “forget their pains by drinking wine.” Delhi BJP president Harshvardhan today said that “people of Delhi are reeling under water crisis, electricity power hike, broken infrastructure and increased fuel prices.” He was speaking at a programme to introduce the party candidates for byelections to six Municipal Corporation of Delhi seats on June 27. Dr Harshvardhan also criticised the Congress-controlled MCD for not taking steps to desilt drains before the rainy season and introducing the Unit Area Method for calculation of house tax. He said BJP corporators would work for more “people-friendly measures” by the MCD. |
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BJP cites CAG report to allege corruption in New Delhi, June 17 Mr Mukhi told mediapersons that giving benefit to an individual or an institution amounted to corruption as defined by the “Anti-Corruption Department” where receiving and giving bribe is an offence. So, he alleged, if the private companies were made to make a profit of several crores of rupees, the parties to the agreement could be proceeded against under the law. Meanwhile, the BJP has criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for raising the price of LPG cylinder without giving a thought to the homemakers. Delhi Pradesh BJP President Harshvardhan said that none other than the Prime Minister’s wife, Ms Gursharan Kaur, had made her displeasure known. Mr Harshvardhan, who was joined by Mr Sahib Singh Verma, a former Member of Parliament, in the news conference, said that the Rs 20-hike per cylinder of the cooking gas has not been approved even by Mr Manmohan Singh’s wife. She found the hike quite high and said it would burden homemakers, Mr Verma said, and the Prime Minister should have listened to his wife who represents crores of homemakers across the country. The INC, Verma and Harshvardhan said, was taking all those steps that would render the life of a commoner even more difficult. Meanwhile, the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch has alleged that the public exchequer is being looted in the name of reforms in the power sector. |
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Ambiguities in property tax assessment made clear New Delhi, June 17 The clarifications were made after a discussion with the Chief Minister of Delhi, Mrs. Sheila Dikshit. It was during the meetings with the members of Resident Welfare Associations that several ambiguities had surfaced. The Hardship and Anomaly Committee had seven meetings with the RWAs. Addressing a press conference, Mr Dharmarajan clarified the categorisation of farm houses, definition of covered space, date of filing property tax return and self-assessment and payment of tax-extended and the age of owner, for rebate on age. The committee further gave recommendations like a simple table to indicate the tax payable by different categories of flats in DDA colonies and Group Housing Societies and collection of property tax through the Bhagidari system. These recommendations would be implemented with immediate effect. In order to do away with the ambiguities regarding the areas that would come under the term ‘covered space’ for calculation of property tax, Mr Dharmarajan said that a built up area will be included under covered area if it satisfied two conditions – the space has a roof and the space with a roof is enclosed or fitted with shutters or doors or grills or any other such means enabling it to be enclosed. Farmhouses have been categorised on the basis of zones like South and Central Zones, West and Najafgarh zones, Civil Lines, Shahdra (South and North), Narela and Rohini zones. Earlier, when the report for assessment of property tax collection was prepared the Municipal Valuation Committee had recommended that farmhouses should be categorised on the basis of the neighbouring localities in the area they are located. This had created some ambiguity in determining the category. The Hardship and Anomaly Committee examined the anomaly and recommended that the farmhouses be grouped together with reference to the MCD Zones in which they are located. The chairman of the Hardship and Anomaly Committee further clarified that date for availing the 15 per cent concession on annual payment has been extended from June 30 to September 30, 2004. Excess amount, if any, would be refunded immediately. Tax paid in lump sum up to the second quarter of the current year would be eligible for such rebate. The committee also recommended that the age of owner for the purpose of availing senior citizens concession of 30 per cent should be reduced from 65 to 60. The limit of covered area, for which the concession would be available, should be raised from the present limit of 100 sq m to 200 sq m which is self-occupied. The concession would be available on 200 sq m, and beyond that, would be payable at a normal rate. Earlier 10 per cent concession was given in case of flats with area up to 50 sq m. This has been extended up to an area of 100 sq m. The committee further recommended that under the Bhagidari Programme, RWAs should be involved in the collection of self-assessment returns from owners and collection of property tax and issue of receipt as agents of the corporation. |
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Professor accused of sodomy Meerut, June 17 The faculty members, students and employees of the university have decided to boycott the accused professor and his accomplices. The unfortunate incident took place on Monday night when Professor R. K. Naresh and his accomplice, Rajeev Kumar, took a BSc student, identified as Anuj Chauhan, in his car to the university guesthouse “to discuss some urgent matter”. Later, the caretaker and the security officer of the guesthouse also joined them. After forcing the student to have an alcoholic drink, they indulged in ‘unnatural sex’. After several hours when the student reached his hostel, he narrated the unfortunate incident to his fellow student. The angry students went on a rampage and locked the university rooms and the VC office. Later, Professor R. K. Naresh, his accomplice Rajiv Kumar, the security officer and the caretaker were booked under Section 377 IPC. The boy was medically examined which confirmed that he had been physically abused. The VC had also ordered an inquiry into the whole episode, which found them guilty of the crime. Besides, the Daurala police have conducted a number of raids to arrest the four accused, who were absconding. Even as the faculty members, employee and students have decided to boycott the four accused, the situation is still tense in the university campus. |
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Sheila rules out power tariff hike rollback New Delhi, June 17 The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) has hiked the power tariff by 10 per cent effective from June 19. It has cut the number of slabs for domestic customers by merging the 0-to-100 and 101-to-200 unit categories. She cautioned that power consumption had gone up by 12 to 15 per cent and that there was a need to bring it down to seven or eight per cent by judiciously conserving the resources. She was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a seminar hosted by the World Bank. Earlier in her address to the delegates, attending the seminar on “Achieving Millenium Development Goals in India”, Ms Dikshit questioned the need for multiplicity of authorities and said administrative reforms were crucial for effective delivery of services. She said hurdles had been created by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Delhi Jal Board and power utilities, whenever the Government of NCT of Delhi embarked on creating dedicated corridors for high-speed transportation. The CM said that better co-ordination was needed among various agencies which would deliver public services. On the supply situation of water, she claimed NCT of Delhi had the highest per capita availability per day at 200 litres. She, however, admitted to “tremendous mismanagement and faulty distribution”. |
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Minor
kidnapped for ‘sacrifice’ rescued Ghaziabad, June 17 Even as some claimed that the boy had been kidnapped for a sacrifice, the police had been calling it a case of kidnapping for ransom. The victim, identified as Mahavir, is the son of Vijay Kumar, resident of Tri Nagar, Delhi. The joint team of Delhi Police and Garh police received a tip-off from a PCO operator that one Rama Shankar was involved in the kidnapping. When the police quizzed his family members, his wife claimed that the boy was their grandson. However, they later broke down and confessed that the boy had been kidnapped. Subsequently, Rama Shankar was taken into custody. According to the police sources, Rama Shankar Swami of Roorkee was a tantaric practicing his craft in the house of Vijay Gupta in Nagloi, Delhi. It was also learn that the accused Rama Shankar was treating the mother of the kidnapped boy, who was suffering from some mental ailments.
Mother jumps to death with kids A woman along with her two children committed suicide by jumping in front of a running train on the Shahdara-Ghaziabad rail line near the Sangoli railway crossing at Partap Vihar. Both the children were killed on the spot, while the mother, who was rushed to a hospital with both hands severed, succumbed to her injuries late in the night. The accident occurred at 10 a.m. when the Saharanpur-bound train was passing through the Partap Vihar section. The train made an emergency halt to pull out the bodies of the children and rush the woman to a hospital. The victims have not been identified so far. The police have sent the bodies for the postmortem examination. |
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PHDCCI for better fiscal management New Delhi, June 17 The PHDCCI has suggested uniformity in the VAT legislations, keeping the revenue neutral rate at a maximum of eight per cent, progressively reducing the Central Sales Tax so that a concept of common market is ushered in and shelving of levy of entry tax as it is against the concept of VAT. It says that an essential prerequisite of introducing VAT is that the tax on State services should be integrated with the VAT regime so that the tax structure is simple. The paper underlines the restructuring of public utilities. It says that a beginning has been made with power sector reforms; reforms now need to be extended to Delhi Jal Board so that water tariff is rationalised over three years, subsidies are withdrawn, leakages are plugged and private sector is allowed to participate in the operation and maintenance of distribution of water. The Delhi Transport Corporation should undertake similar reforms and rationalise its fare structure. The paper lists the specific submissions on unit area method and stamp duty that include making the registration of properties simple in view of the stamp paper scam detected in Maharashtra and elsewhere. The user charges should generate sufficient resources for maintenance of civic facilities and the Government of NCT of Delhi may fix the charges after studying the revenue from various taxes and non-tax sources apart from economising the deployment of manpower. Review of the taxes on hotels and the tax on aviation turbine fuel besides setting up a tourism zone are some of the recommendations to boost tourism. It says that the government should rationalise the luxury tax on hotels, which is 12.5 per cent since April 1 last year, so that it does not exceed five per cent. As an incentive to potential investors, the government should lay basic infrastructure support like roads, etc and / or create a special zone for tourism. |
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Councillors demand speedy desiltation work New Delhi, June 17 The Chairman, Conservancy, Sanitation and Engineering, Mr Zameer Ahmed Munna, informed Mr A. R. Verma, and the accompanying councillors that out of 184 nullahs in Shahdara (South) where desiltation was required the work of desiltation had been completed in 115 nullahs. Work was under progress at 42 nullahs. Work would be shortly initiated at the remaining 27 nullahs. On the persistent demand of area councillors, Mr Verma directed the Director-in-Chief (Sanitation), Mr Ravi Dass, that it should be ensured that desiltation work where the work was under progress should be completed within a week. He also directed that the CSE staff should be deployed regularly to ensure cleanliness of nullahs, ensuring smooth flow of rainwater. He also directed him to take necessary steps to prevent waterlogging, particularly at chronic spots. He directed that silt should be removed from the places where the same had not been removed till date. Councillors requested the Mayor that steps should be taken not only to complete desiltation work in time but also to ensure better cleanliness. Mr Prem Kumar of Krishna Nagar ward informed that though the tenders for desiltation work were called in his constituency about a year back work had not been started till date. Mr Hari Chand Jain wanted that certain nullahs in his constituency should be cleaned with suction machine. He demanded more buggies which could go deep inside the narrow lanes and bylanes. |
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Industrial units in a fix over ‘confusing’ circulars Gurgaon, June 17 The Board has issued circulars directing the defaulting units to get authorisation from it and to display boards outside their premises giving details of the effluent discharged by them by May 31,failing which they will have to wind up their business. The size of the boards to be displayed outside the units, as per the directive of the Board, is 6ft/4 ft. Highlighting the confusion created by the circular, the Gurgaon Industrial Association (GIA) stated that although the deadline set for seeking authorisation and for the mandatory display of boards was May 31,the letter from the Board to this effect was received only in the first week of June. The industrial units are confused on another count. A Supreme Court’s Monitoring Committee, working under the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest, had issued a circular dated April 19, 2004, to all the State Pollution Control Boards and Secretaries, Environment, specifying the display of 6/4 meters boards by the units, giving details of the hazardous wastes let out by them. It had also set the deadline of May 31 for compliance of the order. In fact, the Board has acted as a follow up to the circular of the Monitoring Committee. However, the difference in the version of the Monitoring Committee and the Board regarding the size of the boards to be displayed has created confusion among the units. In its judgement dated October 14, 2003, the Supreme Court had taken a tough stand on the discharge of hazardous waste and directed recommendatory steps and strict actions if the defaulting units failed to comply. The Monitoring Committee had conducted a survey and found that the apex court’s order had not been complied with, resulting in the circular issued by it to the states. The circular further cautions that in case the measures set out in it was not heeded to by the deadline, it would amount to contempt of the court. The units are in a fix on another count. Neither the Monitoring Committee nor the State Pollution Control Board has specified the quantity of hazardous wastes, which could invite punitive action. According to the GIA, the small-scale units should be exempted from the provisions. It has urged the State Pollution Control Board to review its stand. It argues that if all the units, without any regard to the quantity of hazardous wastes discharged by them, are brought under the ambit of the new provision, the ‘License Raj’ culture would be revisited on the industry. They fear that it would encourage the harassment of innocent or minor defaulters. |
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Give more teeth to CJI: Bar Association Faridabad, June 17 In a letter to the Union Law Minister, the president of the Association, Mr O. P. Sharma, has stated that certain incidents in the recent past had not only shaken up the faith of people, but have also put up stake the credibility of the judicial system itself. Quoting the statement of a former Chief Justice, who had expressed his helplessness in the open court, about two months ago, that he does not have ample powers to deal with such situations, Mr Sharma said certain incidents that had surfaced had brought down the image of the system. Claiming that many cases of corruption at various levels go unreported, he said the statement of Union Law Minister that the government was open to giving more powers to the Chief Justice of India was a welcome move. It is apparent that the present day legislation is absolutely inadequate and it is the duty of those setting in power to take effective steps, he added. According to the Association president, it is the job of every political party to see that corruption is uprooted from every walk of life and it would be possible only when all the responsible and influential leaders and individuals get united keeping aside their egos and extraneous considerations. Demanding that ruling party ought to convene an all-party meeting in this regard to discuss the proposal of bringing more strict laws. He said an open debate should be launched at various levels throughout the country before enacting a legislation in this connection. The law minister has been requested to get the Constitution amended suitably so as to empower the President of India or the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to effectively deal with any sort of indiscipline or corruption. A copy of the letter has been despatched to the President of India, Vice-President, the Prime Minister and president, Supreme Court Bar Association. |
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St Stephen’s releases first cut-off list New Delhi, June 17 The cut-off percentage in BSc General group A is 87 per cent in PCM; for Physics 90 per cent; for Chemistry 85 per cent; for Mathematics 91 per cent is for science stream students and 88 per cent for commerce stream students and 79 per cent for students from humanities. Similarly, the cut-off percentage for BA is 84 per cent for those with science stream, 87 per cent for commerce stream, 78 per cent for humanities students; for philosophy students 88 per cent for science stream students, 91 per cent for commerce and 79 per cent for humanities stream students. To get admission in English, minimum 92 per cent is needed for science stream students, 96 per cent for commerce stream and 87 per cent for students from humanities; for history 89 per cent for students from science stream, 92 per cent for commerce students and 81 per cent for students from humanities. For Sanskrit, 60 per cent is needed and for economics 93 per cent for students from science stream, 94 per cent for students from commerce stream and 89 per cent for students from humanities. In all the above courses, except physics, chemistry and BSc General group A in which the total of PCM is needed. In all other courses the percentage is needed in best four subjects. |
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New circle rates come into effect Ghaziabad, June 17 Significantly, circle rates in Noida and Greater Noida have been nominally hiked, while there is a ‘relief’ for those opting for multi-storey flats. The construction rates have also been made uniform for the whole district. Due to the proximity to the national Capital, the demand for residential plots and flats have increased rapidly in Noida and Ghaziabad during the past few years. The administration, therefore, decided to hike the circle rates in view of rise in demand for property in the district. The administration, which had been engaged in this exercise for the last few months, had been looking to hike the rate in Noida, Greater Noida and across Hindon colonies. However, the administration has pulled back from implementing steep hike after receiving feed backs that it would be unpopular among the residents. The circle rates in Noida Sector-18 was increased by Rs 10,000. Relief will be provided in commercial property. No change has been effected in the circle rates of UPSIDC property. Surprisingly, factories functioning in residential areas since 1976 have been allowed 50 per cent relief in current residential circle rates. A relief of 10 per cent on plots of 1000 to 8000 sq mt. and 20 per cent on plots upto 10,000 sq. mt will be effected. Five new sectors have been created in Dadri area–Green Park, Urmilla Vihar, Satyawati Colony and Razzaq Colony. For the first time, rates have been fixed for agricultural plots on the main roads in Modi Nagar, Hapur Road, Niwadi road and on Muradnagar–Rawli road. |
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601 recruits pass out as constables New Delhi, June 17 These trainee constables today had passed out in the presence of Delhi Lieutenant-Governor B. L. Joshi and Delhi Police Commissioner K. K. Paul. This is the first batch of trainee constables who were trained in the Police Training School, Wazirabad. The trainees were given rigorous outdoor training in Unarmed Combat (UAC) and Small Arms Training Simulators (SATS). They were also taught subjects like Police and Society, Organisation and Administration. Law, Police Procedures, Criminology and Traffic Management apart from training in Cyber Crime, Computer and Anti-Terrorist Measures. Emphasis was also given to Human Rights and the trainees were asked to be more sensitive towards the rights issues. This batch of recruits, who were selected from various states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi, has 95 ex-servicemen. All trainees were given five months’ training in law and order situations in different districts and the feedback was collected. |
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HPCC castigates Chautala govt for erratic water, Faridabad, June 17 In a statement, the HPCC spokesman, Mr Krishan Murti Hooda, claimed that the Chautala government had failed to fulfill any of its promise, including that of round-the-clock power supply, made before the last assembly elections. He said the recent reports about the power supply indicate the gloomy picture, especially in summer season, when its demand was at peak. Alleging that the Chief Minister and his cabinet members had been befooling people and making false claims for the last four years. He said it was the same CM, who had been claiming that 24-hour power supply would be a reality in next 18 months or 24 months, and these claims had been made since the INLD came into power. But the ground reality, he said, was different and people, especially in rural areas were still reeling under the water and power shortage. He said not only the condition of majority of roads in the state had worsened beyond repairs and the people, who voted against the misrule of the present government in the last Lok Sabha election, were made to face the music. He claimed that the Congress was all set to come to power in the next Assembly elections and this factor had left the present rule completely demoralised and perhaps ineffective. And people will teach a lesson to the present government, he added. |
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Nursing school expels pregnant students Meerut, June 17 The victims, Seema Mishra and Sunita Verma, joined the General Nursing Training School, Meerut, on May 20, for a three-year course. At the time of joining the institute, all the students were medically examined and five of them were found to be conceived. All the students have already completed their course over a month. On Wednesday, Sunita Verma and Seema Mishra revealed that the Principal of the Nursing School, Mr S. K. Soloman, informed them that they were expelled from the course as per the order from Health Directorate, Lucknow, as they are pregnant for over four months. And the principal also forced them to receive the order. Both the students said that they would take up the matter with NHRC and NCW, as the authorities have challenged their basic human right of maternity. Talking to The Tribune the principal of the Nursing School disclosed that rules and regulations of the GNT course allows a student to take admission even if she was pregnant at that time. Mr Soleman also said that he is in favour of taking pregnant students to the school. |
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Dacoity in garment unit foiled, five held New Delhi, June 17 Based on information that some youngsters would be assembling near Lal’s Stadium in Najafgarh the police nabbed Rajesh Kumar, alias Bindu, Kailash, Suresh, alias Kala, Mahesh, alias Dandu, and Dinesh Sansi. The North-East district police claimed to have arrested two snatchers and worked out two cases of snatching in the Gokulpuri area. The accused persons, Rahat, alias Rahul (19), resident of Moonga Nagar, Rashid Ali, alias Nanhe (19), resident of Moonga Nagar, along with their accomplices had snatched Rs 2,500 and a mobile phone from one person in Moonga Nagar. Schools told to adhere to quota for poor students The Department of Education of the Government of NCT of Delhi has asked the public schools to adhere to the government order reserving 20 per cent of seats for students from economically challenged backgrounds. Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely has told the representatives of the public schools who called on him yesterday that the designated nodal officers may visit schools in their respective zones to ascertain if the government order was being adhered to or not. In a statement released to media, the minister is quoted as having asked the schools to display the status of admissions on a notice board. |
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NIA launches full-time
MBA programme New Delhi, June 17 To survive the challenges of the contemporary business environment, specialised skills are often needed. However, standard MBA programmes only offer a generalist perspective. In an effort to create successful business leaders for global communication, NiA Business School’s MBA programme is a unique, world-class MBA degree designed to impart start-of-the-art management knowledge and appropriate analytical problem solving skills. Mix of compulsory ‘core’ and ‘elective’ options gives each individual a strong foundation in management concepts, as well as the freedom to select specialisation areas of his/her choice bringing the best of management and communication portfolios together.
— TNS |
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Former
cop R. K. Chaturvedi gets PM’s Noida, June 17 |
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