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New circuit to lessen city power load
The solitary reapers: They have made the world more livable
Guru Maneo Granth: First multi-lingual presentation |
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Changes mooted in building bylaws of religious places
Film focuses on Kiran Bedi’s
UP farmers attacked, crops damaged
Centre asked to enact law to check pvt educational boards
Two-day DUTA bandh against VC from today
Mulayam against UP division
Govt to boot out land mafia
Manufacturing units down shutters
Gang of auto-lifters busted
GIA opposes reservation
SJM blames inflation on govt policies
Cultural shows mark Bal Bhavan School silver jubilee
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New circuit to lessen city power load
New Delhi, September 8 The project when completed will go a long way in meeting the Delhi’s power demands, which have been growing by six to seven per cent every year, she said. Phase one of the project, conceived in 1991, envisaged commissioning of four 400 KV Grid sub-station at Mandola, Bawana, Bamnauli and Ballabhgarh along with double circuit transmission line. The project, costing Rs 140 crore, involved erection of 227 circuit km of 400 KV transmission line with the installation of 320 towers. The 400 KV Mandola-Bawana double circuit transmission line was the first to be commissioned in 1998, while the Bawanan-Bamnauli line was commissioned in October 2002. One circuit between Bamnauli and Ballabhgarh was commissioned in August last year. With the commissioning of the second circuit today, the 400 KV ring around Delhi is now complete and Delhi Transco Limited would be in a position to cater to an increased power demand, Delhi Power and Transport Minister Haroon Yusuf said speaking on the occasion. The total length of the section between Bamnauli and Ballabhgarh is 52.8 circuit km. It was installed at a cost of Rs 43 crore. He said the second phase of the project involved commissioning of the 400 KV station at Maharani Bagh and Mundka. The land for the Maharani Bagh project has been acquired and the work of land filling was in progress. The land for the Mundka station has been notified and expected to be handed over to Delhi Transco Limited soon for starting the work on the project. With the addition of new grid stations, the reliability of power in East, Central and NDMC areas would improve and also provide adequate reserves to the power system of South Delhi. Mundka station would benefit those in the western and north-eastern areas such as Nangloi, Sultapuri, Mangolpuri and Rohini. Later, Ms Dikshit said her government was doing everything possible to improve power supply in the Capital. She said it was only two years since the power distribution in the Capital was privatised and more time was needed to set things right.
Role of NTPC highlighted
Inaugurating the induction programme of the ‘NTPC Executive Trainees’ of the 2004 batch, the Cabinet Secretary, Mr B. K. Chaturvedi, highlighted the important contribution of the NTPC in the ongoing power sector reforms. The young engineers will have to play a crucial role if we are to realise the dream of power in abundance, said the Cabinet Secretary. The Power Secretary, Mr R. V. Shahi, in his address said that the country needs substantial capacity addition to support the growth plans of all the sectors and all those joining the power sector should be ready to meet the challenges of the growth potential. Addressing the trainees, Mr C. P. Jain, CMD, NTPC, said that the future challenges in the power sector could be achieved only by continuous learning, sense of urgency, world class quality consciousness, maintenance of ethical standards and team work. Gold medals were awarded to Mr K. Anoop (Engineering), Ms Disha Awasthi (HR) and Ms Bidisha Sen (Chemistry) on the occasion. Besides the toppers, 13 other meritorious trainees were also awarded on the occasion.
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The solitary reapers: They have made the world
New Delhi, September 8 The awards were instituted in 1986 to recognise the pioneering and innovative contributions made by individuals and institutions in the field of afforestation and wasteland development in the country every year. The award carries with it a medallion, a citation and a prize of Rs 50,000. Though the awards for 2001 have been delayed, these nonetheless have a special significance in view of the Centre’s commitment to increase the forest cover in the country from the existing 23 per cent to 33 per cent by 2012. The story behind the success of every award recipient, whether individual or institution, is that of grit, motivation and effort, mostly without financial assistance from government agencies. For each awardee, it has been a difficult task: overcoming socio-economic barriers, involving people and generating money. But the fruit of their effort is reward enough for most of them. Jitu Kumar Isvarlal Patel, for instance, has offered to donate his award money for constructing more check dams in the country. ‘‘I’ll donate my award money to society, so that another causeway can become a river of plenty,’’ he says. The 14-hactare land he bought on the bank of Rupen river in Gujarat was barren, unproductive, partly saline and affected by large-scale erosion. To begin with, he developed a causeway, abandoned by the PWD, into a check dam. After leveling and terracing the area to create a surface drainage system and making provision for rainwater harvesting, he further developed the area. Now, a total of 12 hectares is under tree plantation. This has also generated employment in the area, and the ground water level has risen by 17 metres in the last five years. In fact, the area has now become a landing site for migratory birds. Interestingly, a check dam, which would have cost any government agency Rs 30 lakh, was built by this civil engineer for 1.5 lakh. “If all causeways in India are modified in this simple but efficient manner, more than 20 per cent of India’s water needs will be solved,” he adds. For tough Mubai cop Pratap Ramachander Dighavkar, who has been dealing with the underworld with the same determination as he has been planting trees since he was in Class XII in 1980, a simple fundamental is the guiding factor. That, if every person contributed equally towards environment, there would be no drought or famine in the country. Keeping this in mind he has used persuasion and his authority to achieve one goal — grow as many trees as possible. He has planted over one lakh saplings till date, without any financial aid from any government agency, with a conservative estimate of 90 per cent survival rate. He has also reined in the underworld with an iron hand and says that their activities have more or less ceased since he assumed charge in tough Mumbai Zone II area.. The awardees concede that people’s involvement made all the difference to their effort. Senthil Kumar, who represents the Kargil Forest Divison in Jammu and Kashmir, said that afforestation and soil conservation could be launched in a difficult terrain like Kargil only with the help of local people. In a harsh region, which did not boast of even a tree 40 years back, 5.6 lakh seedlings have been raised and plantations in 3020 hectares undertaken. The Kargil Forset Divison has been selected for the Indira Priyadarshini Vriksh Mitra Award in the category of
government agencies.
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Guru Maneo Granth: First multi-lingual presentation
New Delhi, September 8 ‘Guru Maneo Granth’ is a unique fusion of film, drama, light and sound. T-Series, a music company, has also released audiocassettes and CDs that contains 16 selected shabads from `Guru Maneo Granth’. This multi-lingual project is being produced in Punjabi, Hindi and English simultaneously to reach the masses world over. The theatre performance is the first ever dramatic presentation of the history of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. It is the third production of the famous father-son team of Dr Harcharan Singh, one of the most popular playwrights of Punjabi literature, and Harbux Singh Latta, a director who pioneered Punjai videos and television films. Earlier, the duo has produced the phenomenally successful ‘Bole So Nihal’ and Sher-E-Punjab. Director Harbux Singh Latta has pioneered the concept of sight and sound by efficiently unifying the three media of performing art into one effective homogeneous form, sight and sound - a unique fusion of film, drama, light and sound in which characters travel from one medium into another. Popular music director H. M. Singh has composed all the 16 shabads that are included in the script in the same raag as mentioned in Sri Gur Granth Sahib. It has been a matter of great research for H. M. Singh as few raags are extinct today. Famous Sikh Ragis like Bhai Harbans Singh Jagadhriwale, Bhai Harijinder Singh Srinagarwale have lend their voices for rendering the selected Shabads. ‘Guru Maneo Granth’ was well-acclaimed by a select audience including former Prime Minister of India Shri I K Gujral, Chief Minister of Haryana Mr Om Prakash Chautala.
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Changes mooted in building bylaws of religious places
New Delhi, September 8 This was decided in the meeting of the Standing Committee today following a resolution moved by the Leader of Opposition, Mr Vijender Gupta, with regard to buildings used for religious as well as social functions. As per the resolution, in a plot meant for, say, an auditorium the maximum ground coverage can be 70 per cent. Until now, only 35 per cent of the total plot area could be covered. Another recommendation is that the maximum floor area can be increased to 200 per cent and the height of the building can be increased to 26 metres, instead of 20 metres. As per the existing bylaws, 33 per cent of land area can be covered in religious plots. The MCD has recommended that this should be enhanced to 70 per cent and the maximum floor area should be 200 per cent instead of 66 per cent. At present, the recommended height is 11 metres, though the new bylaws, which are under consideration, have 20 metres as the benchmark. The resolution states that after the amendment of the bylaws, dharamshalas, barat ghars and night shelters will have 70 per cent covered area, a maximum floor area of 150 per cent, instead of 75 per cent, and a height of 26 metres. Plots for colleges will be divided into building area, play ground, parking area and residential and hostel area. The maximum ground coverage of the building will be 25 per cent of the total premises of the college. Large campuses of universities, medical and engineering colleges and other educational and research institutes will be covered under the college regulation. At present, the basement is considered as a floor, but with the new amendments in the bylaws, it will not be counted in the covered area. The Standing Committee took this decision keeping in mind that most of the religious places and community halls in the Capital already had extra coverage.
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Film focuses on Kiran Bedi’s prison reforms
New Delhi, September 8 Gautama the Buddha, gifted mankind with Vipasanna (self-awareness) meditation, around 2500 years ago. Dr Kiran Bedi, introduced this ancient form of self-enhancement and reform, to thousands of inmates in Tihar Jail. This film dwells on the importance of humane management and sensitive governance, be it in prisons or in policing. It highlights the power of meditation, to not only reform the prison inmates but also inspire the police personnel to realise the importance of self-audit and self-policing, in order to perform their duty with compassion and dignity. This inspirational film has been directed by Dr Lavlin
Thadani, a product of the Pune Film Institute, Dr Lavlin’s very first production, ‘Karmawali’ became India’s proud entry to the prestigious Cannes Festival in 1992. Amongst numerous films and serials produced and directed by her, Lavlin’s extremely popular children’s serial, ‘No Kidding’ continues to be aired even a decade later, by Doordarshan’s National Channel. Road To Pakistan, was another highly acclaimed film where Dr Lavlin along with veteran journalist, Venkat
Narayan, covered Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s historic visit to Lahore. L V F was founded in 1994 with the receipt of the Ramon Magsaysay Award by its Chairperson, Dr Kiran Bedi, IPS.
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UP farmers attacked, crops damaged
Rabu Pura (Noida), September 8 The farmers of Haryana are reported to have either extensively damaged the paddy, bajra, oilseeds and jawar crops or loaded the crop in their tractor trolleys and took it along. Their cattle damaged the remaining crops. Reports with the police have been filed by the farmers on both sides of border in their respective police stations. It may be recalled that there is a longstanding dispute between the farmers of Haryana and UP about land on Yamuna bank. These clashes are more acute during the time of sowing and sometimes farmers equipped with firearms come face to face in these fields and resort to firing. Unfortunately, the authorities in both the states have failed to hammer out a solution of this problem. As result of regular clashes between the farmers of Haryana and UP, quite a few farmers have lost their lives while many others have been wounded in these clashes. At about 11 am when the farmers of Phallunda in UP were working in their fields, dozens of farmers from village Pehaua in Haryana, equipped with lathis, clubs, firearms descended there in their tractor trolleys. On seeing the intruders, many UP farmers fled from the scene while Haryana farmers had resorted to firing in the air and took the bajra crop along with them in their tractor trolleys. When the farmers of Phallaunda village reached there, the intruding Haryana farmers had gone back after damaging the standing crops.
Car thief held after encounter
In an encounter with a gang of auto thieves in Sector 16, the police have arrested a Khurja-based criminal in Noida. The gang would pick up costly cars and had stolen dozens of cars recently. There was an exchange of fire from both sides in the day-time encounter, causing quite a sensation in the busy Sector-16 market. One bandit was hit on the foot while two others fled firing on the police. SP City AK Jain soon rushed to the site and directed operations. A few days ago in Janakpuri area, the Delhi Police had reportedly arrested one Anand Jamwal During interrogation, he admitted that his gang, which picks costly and sophisticated cars, had stolen dozens of cars recently. Some of the gang members were reported to be hiding in Noida for stealing big cars. On Tuesday when the police tried to nab three thieves, they opened fire. Yogesh Kumar, 23, of Khurja was injured in the left leg while his two companions, including Anil Khana, alias Sharif, of Rampur, kept on firing on the police while fleeing in a car. The case about the police encounter is being filed in Sector-20 police station, the SP City said. The injured Yogesh was rushed to a government hospital in Noida from where he was shifted to a Delhi hospital.
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Centre asked to enact law to check pvt educational boards
New Delhi, September 8 Hearing a case pertaining to a private board, hauled up for allegedly issuing senior secondary school certificates, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Manoj Jain sounded a warning that the situation was requiring urgent steps by the Centre to stop exploitation of students. He said as per the situation shown to the court, it becomes apparent that it is not difficult for anyone to exploit the system by running a society and simultaneously by conducting examinations, that too, for class 10 and 12 on all-India basis. Advising that there should be a strong check on such activities, he said the only way it could be done was by enacting a suitable legislation. It is expected that the Ministry of HRD and Education would sense urgency of the situation and come up with a requisite legislation as early as possible, Justice Jain said. The court discharged three persons Suresh Chand, Maheshwar Prasad and Arun Kumar Mahajan accused by the police of running an unrecognised “Central” Board and issuing certificates that were “forged” after finding that “the only fault of that Board is that it is not recognised by the Government, but that does not constitute any offence”. It cannot be said that the Central Board of Higher Education (CBHE) was fake or that the certificates were forged, the court added. The magistrate, however, added that it hurt his conscience that the education policy of our country is so weak that anyone can get a society registered and in its name anyone can run an education board and conduct examination on all-India basis. There was likelihood of students registering with such boards, wrongly assuming that they are registering with the board approved by the government or which was a Central Board, the court observed. According to complainant Uday Shringara, the labour union leader in Mumbai-based Dr Balabhai Nanavati Hospital, Mane Hemant and Girishbahi Rathod working in the hospital, submitted certificates showing that they have passed SSC exam from CBHE. During investigation, it was found that the board was a fake body and did not have any government recognition. Chand, Prasad and Mahajan were running the fake board and issuing the certificates to many students by taking money, the police alleged. But the defence counsel contended that the CBHE was registered in 1956 and there was no legal bar in running such a board and conducting exams on all-India basis, adding that the certificates were not forged. The court noted that even Council of Indian School Certificate Examination was a registered society and not a statutory set-up. But the court ordered the accused not to use the word ‘Central’ in their board.
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Two-day DUTA bandh against VC from today
New Delhi, September 8 The bandh call has been given by the Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) and is being supported by the University and College Karamchari Union (DUCKU) and the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU), which has just assumed office. DUTA gave the call for the bandh to register its protest over the “misgovernance” of the Vice-Chancellor. The DUTA is also protesting against the “highly autocratic conduct of the principals of Shivaji College and Shaheed Bhagat Singh College who, it claims, are “harassing teachers on the basis of fabricated charges and memos”. The DUTA, which has also submitted a ‘White Paper’ to the Ministry and the Visitor of the University, has decided to socially boycott the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Deepak Nayar. The DUTA has alleged that the VC has been working in a “non-transparent manner” and offers “no explanation” for his “decisions”. Meanwhile, the DUCKU decided to join in the two-day strike, following the response to its demands. Earlier, the DUCKU had written to the VC asking him to agree to some of their demands, following which it would reconsider joining the strike.
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Mulayam against UP division
Ghaziabad, September 8 The Chief Minister, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, was apparently reacting to the well-orchestrated demand for a Harit Pradesh being articulated by Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Ajit Singh. The Chief Minister was also at pains to defend the law and order situation in the state. “The law and order machinery is fully alert, geared up and efficient, he said. It is only mischievous people who are spreading the canard of poor law and order in the state,” he said. The Chief Minister was speaking at Radha Krishan Mandir in Vaishali on the occasion of Janmashtami yesterday. Mr Mulayam Singh categorically ruled out the setting up of a small state in western UP. He dismissed that there is any bitterness with RLD supremo Ch. Ajit Singh. “It is not true. I keep meeting with Ch. Ajit Singh. So far as the division of UP state is concerned, I do not agree with him,” Mr Mulayam Singh said. “Punjab and Haryana have a dispute on Chandigarh. Chandigarh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have differences on Kavery waters. Closer home, leaders like N.D. Tiwari, Pant and Bahuguna from Uttaranchal were made chief ministers of UP by the people here. But the people and officials of UP are now being given step-motherly treatment in Uttaranchal. It is very clear the division of states leads to clash of interest and creates bad blood,” The Chief Minister said. He claimed in UP, all segments of people, advocates, government employees, minorities, teachers, students are happy with the working of the Samajwadi Party government. Mr Yadav warned that the colleges who fail to conduct student elections, their government grant will be stopped. “In Ghaziabad alone, 48 dreaded criminals have been eliminated in encounters in one year. There is decline in crime and people have a respect for police and law,” the Chief Minister claimed. What better proof of an atmosphere of peace and development could be there than the fact that industrial houses like Reliance and General Motors are setting up industries in UP.
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Govt to boot out land mafia
Greater Noida, September 8 Simultaneously, identification of villages where the work pertaining to land consolidation is also to be completed so that strong action could be taken against the mafia. The tehsil-level lists of villages, where some
bungles have taken place, has been prepared. Besides, a special report is to be furnished in respect of government officers and employees suspected of involvement in the bungles. A report about officers, who cannot be proceeded against at this level, will be submitted to the state government for taking action against them. According to Additional DM Ajay Deep Singh, the mafia has harmed the state to the extent of crores of rupees by usurping and encroaching upon the government land and getting it transferred in their names. In the second category are villages where consolidation work was started long ago, but due to some reasons it is still going on. A list has been sent to all tehsildars about it, and they will furnish full reports about such villages falling in their tehsils, the ADM said. He said the mafia had succeeded in taking possession of the government land and getting it transferred to their names with the connivance of government officials and employees. About a dozen Noida villages, including
Bhangel, Shahdara, Shahpur, Govardhanpur, etc are in this category.
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Manufacturing units down shutters
New Delhi, September 8 Manufacturing units all over the city, including those in trans-Yamuna, Rithala and Haiderpur, are taking part in the strike, Talwar added. “The Delhi Assembly passed a resolution in July for declaring areas with more than 70 per cent manufacturing units as industrial zones, but the government is now dilly-dallying on it and industries are being forced to close down,” the DMF Secretary said. He said the manufacturers were also not happy with the facilities provided to them in the industrial areas they were being shifted to. Talwar claimed that while there were 1.5 lakh non-conforming units in the city, only 16,000 plots were available for relocation.
Forum for better deal to teachers
The All-India Citizens Committee has demanded better emoluments and proper status for teachers in the society. Addressing a meeting of teachers and students, the speakers urged wealthy individuals and organisations to come forward to build and run educational institutions. Mr Pramod Arya, Secretary General of the All India Citizens Committee, said that the quality of education depends on the quality of teachers. A good teacher is better than a priest just as an educational institution is better than any temple, he added. The meeting also passed a resolution urging the government to encourage job-oriented education system along with technical, medical, law, management and engineering education in Indian languages. It also resolved to open high schools at the panchayat level, colleges at the tehsil level and universities at the commissionary level to facilitate continuity in education of the rural students at the grass root level. The resolution also urged the government to implement a nationwide uniform pay scales and satisfactory service conditions for teachers. The Vice-President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Sewadar Committee, Sardar Darshan Singh, appealed to the electronic media to abstain from showing vulgar scenes in the name of Punjabi pop songs, because it creates a wrong and misleading image of Punjabi culture and community. He asked the Punjabis to work for the prosperity of the country.
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Gang of auto-lifters busted
New Delhi, September 8 Acting on a tip-off that two auto-lifters would be going to Haryana via Singhu border to dispose a recently stolen Splendor motorcycle, a police team laid a trap and arrested the duo from Sanghu border area. During investigation, they revealed that the motorcycle had been stolen from Jahangir Puri area on August 31. The police recovered nine motorcycles from them, the police said. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has arrested one youth for allegedly snatching a chain from a woman going on a rickshaw. The accused has been identified as Pradeep (20).
Illicit liquor seized
The Delhi Police has seized 210 bottles of illicit liquor and arrested one person in this connection in Narela area. The person has been identified as Sunil Kumar, a resident of Punjabi Colony, Narela. A person was found going on his scooter near DSIDC Narela. Seeing the PCR van, the accused tried to escape. But after a chase, the police intercepted him and recovered the illegal liquors from them.
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GIA opposes reservation in pvt sector
Gurgaon, September 8 Expressing resentment against the idea of reservation in private sector, it said that the subsidy, which is expected by the industrial units from the government, is being denied to the deserving lot. There is stiff competition in the world market, as buyers do not compromise with quality. Also, the industry is plagued by trade unionism. The employers are already subjected to ever-increasing stress to compete and survive in the face of “endless” industrial problems. It categorically stated that under the present situation, the government’s contemplation to introduce reservations in private sector is “wrong” and has the potential to crumble the Indian economy. The best solution for unemployment is to help the masses by providing them with free and quality education, subsidy/ concessions to the needy, open more college and universities to make them more capable so that they could stand on their feet.
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SJM blames inflation on govt policies
New Delhi, September 8
At a demonstration at Jantar Mantar, SJM leaders said the government was insensitive to the needs of the common people. The Common Minimum Programme of the government had nothing for them. The argument that the rising inflation was due to increase in international prices of crude oil and poor monsoon was fallacious. —
TNS
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Cultural shows mark Bal Bhavan School silver jubilee
New Delhi, September 8 Mr B K Gupta, Director, Bal Bhavan Public School along with the School Chairman, Mr G C Lagan, presided over the function. School Principal Mrs Saroj Gupta was also present on the occasion. The evening was a cultural extravaganza with colourful synchronisation of various spectacular events. As per the tradition, the event began with ‘Saraswati Vandana’, offering prayers to Goddess Saraswati to shower her blessings and bestow upon the pupils the vision to follow the path of truth and knowledge. Coco Jumbo, Spanish Catch Up, Goa Dance and the Rajasthani Folk dance were the highlights of the function. Dressed as Chacha Nehru, the toddlers of nursery class presented a beautiful song. Fifth standard students presented a Kashmiri folk dance. Keeping fitness in mind, students of class XI presented aerobics. There was a fashion show highlighting the culture and tradition of India. The students worked hard to make the programme a success. The audience was held spellbound by the performances of the students.
Teachers hailed
Paying tributes to the teachers, students at the Amity International School, Noida, expressed gratitude to their instructors and highlighted their importance on the occasion of Teacher’s Day. A cultural programme by the students of class XII was aimed at making the teachers feel like a “true friend, philosopher and guide”. The Chairperson, Dr Amita Chauhan, encouraged the teachers and Brig C. N. Sawant, the chief guest, provided an insight into the teaching profession..
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