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Conman dupes admission seekers of lakhs
Eco-friendly cremation for the traditionalist
RSS frowns on move to give district
LG wants 3rd party audit of road repair
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PM releases PNB’s Cancer Seals
Sinha draws flak for remarks about PM
NHRC issues notices on use of ‘Forbidden Park’
Best Teacher’s son repeats history in GGS varsity
Nursery course for teachers
Call to promote youth travel packages
Contractors urged to call off strike
Entrepreneurs baffled at Power Department’s directive
Time-frame likely for new power connections
IN NUTSHELL
Prostitution racket busted
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Conman dupes admission seekers of lakhs
New Delhi, September 9 Praveen Khanna, alias Vinay, was caught from the Safdarjung Hospital area in south Delhi yesterday by sleuths of the Anti-Forgery Section of the Economic Offences Wing while he was waiting for someone outside the hospital in his car. The police have also seized several fake documents issued in his name by various ministries, school authorities and other government departments. The DCP, EOW, Dinesh Bhatt said, ‘’Vinay had duped about ten parents to the tune of Rs 30 lakh by flaunting his connections through letters from high officials.” The accused even forged letters of the Economic Offences Wing, which finally nailed him, to scare people who persisted with getting their money back when their ward’s admission did not materialise, the DCP said. Dinesh Bhatt said that Vinay was caught after a parent lodged a complaint alleging that he had been cheated of Rs three lakh on the assurance that his son would be admitted in Modern School on Humayun Road. During interrogation, he told the police that he used to charge Rs 3-4 lakh per ‘operation’ depending on the “client’’. Several documents on the correspondence between Vinay and the authorities of some renowned schools have also been recovered from the possession of the accused along with application forms, drafts and cheques in the name of various schools and compromise deeds on payments made by parents, Mr Bhatt added. A magistrate remanded Vinay to judicial custody till September 10. He has been currently admitted to the AIIMS following a complaint of chest pain.
Man gets 10-yr RI in 15-year-old rape case
A city court has sentenced a 35-year-old man to ten years’ RI for raping an eight-year-old girl 15 years ago. Additional Sessions Judge N. K. Gupta also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on convict Siyaram, who was accused of raping his neighbour. On April 26, 1989, when the girl was on her way to play with her friends in the afternoon, Siyaram lured her to his house with toys. Siyaram, who was alone in his house at that time, had sent his wife and children to their village. Later, he had raped the minor. The victim returned to her house and disclosed the incident to her mother, who registered the complaint at Samaypur Badli police station. Medical reports confirmed that the girl was sexually assaulted. Siyaram, who disappeared following the heinous crime, was declared a proclaimed offender and later arrested. |
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Eco-friendly cremation for the traditionalist
New Delhi, September 9 Not only this, the process also results in the emission of about 7.6 billion kg of carbon dioxide, a green house gas, which results in global warming, adding to the pollution in the air, everyday, every year. Theoretically, only 22 kg of firewood is required to complete the cremation of a body, but practically nearly 400 to 600 kg of wood is consumed for the purpose. This fact led to the formation of the ‘Mokshda Paryavaran Evam Van Suraksha Samiti’, an NGO, with the concentrated aim of devising an improved system, while maximising the combustion and minimising the pollution level. The NGO, formed mainly with engineers and environmentalists, developed the ‘Mokshda Cremation System’, an environment friendly modified ‘Chita’, which can reduce the firewood consumption to about 150 kg, and is totally free of air pollution. Unlike electric crematoriums, which are not accepted by masses, as they do not conform to religious sentiments, this system enables all Hindu rituals and is user acceptable, says Anshul Garg, Programme Officer of the NGO. The proposal for the system, which will be installed at 10 cremation grounds in the national Capital, has already been sanctioned by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. It has been developed under guidelines of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, which is also providing 70 per cent subsidy to it, said Garg. The information about the system was on the display today at the ‘State Environment Ministers Conference’ in Delhi. The founder president of the NGO, Mr Vinod Kumar Aggarwal, was also present on the occasion. According to Garg, with the growing population, it means that as many as 400 to 500 lakh trees are consumed per annum for cremation purpose. It was with the focussed aim of preserving the environment that the NGO started working on the project 12 years back. Their mission was to make the system successful and acceptable all over India. The system, which has evoked a lot of interest among civic bodies all over the country, can be installed at the cost of Rs 90,000 to Rs 12 lakh, depending upon the model and site requirements. The NGO, he says, works on no-profit-no-loss basis and the money is used on civil work and installation of apparatus. Based on the concept of maximising heat generation and lessening its wastage, it is a completely naturally process and requires no electricity. More importantly, all rituals can be performed. “We are aware that it is very difficult to change old traditions. The NGO is making consistent efforts to get social and religious recognition for the system. Religious leaders, scientists, academicians and intellectuals have given their consent to the system,” said Garg. It also means savings in wood of 60 to 70 per cent; reduced air pollution of 60 to 80 per cent; time saving of 50 to 60 per cent; money saving of 50 to 60 per cent and saving holy rivers from pollution. For the poor, saving in money means a lot. A normal cremation costs Rs 1,100 to Rs 1,200. In this system, the wood requirement is drastically reduced. Lot of water pollution is also caused by way of disposal of half or unburned bodies in the rivers, mostly by poor people, who cannot afford fire wood. The system is based on providing sufficient amount of air for combustion. Installed at huge costs, the running costs of electric crematoriums are also high and can amount to Rs 3 lakh, which local bodies can ill afford. The maintenance cost of this system is almost nil and the responsibility lies with the NGO. The other states, which have sent letters for considering the installation of pilot projects of the ‘Mokshda Cremation System’ on the funding pattern of 70:30, include Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttranchal, Punjab, Maharashtra, Gujarat, MP, Tamil Nadu, AP, Karnataka and Kerala. |
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RSS frowns on move to give district status to Mewat
Gurgaon, September 9 The protesters also blocked the Jail Road skirting the District Court in protest against the “failure” of the Deputy Commissioner to turn up at his office to accept their memorandum on the issue. Quite predictably, there was traffic snarl when the protesters blocked the road. The memorandum addressed to the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, made out a case against providing district status to Mewat. It pointed out that granting of district status on the basis of religious considerations would only foster religious fundamentalism and was fraught with dangerous consequences. Meo Muslims dominate the demographic profile of Mewat, which spans across Gurgaon and Faridabad districts. It may be recalled that the Chief Minister had made poll promise to the people of Mewat to grant district status to Mewat, with Nuh as the district headquarters. Although there is no apparently move by the government to grant district status, a mere stirring from certain quarters in favour of the issue has raised the hackles of the Hindu organisations. The memorandum also pointed out that Pakistan’s ISI has been active in Mewat for the past many years and granting of separate district status to Mewat would only facilitate its growth in the region. It also demanded the withdrawal of government’s sanction for opening a slaughterhouse in Sakatpuri near Ferozepur Jhirka in Mewat. It expressed apprehension that the slaughterhouse would be used to slaughter cows. It said that a large number of cows were being slaughtered in Mewat, and the authorities have failed to check the trend. The local chief of the RSS, Major Deen Dayal, said that it had been agreed in advance that the Deputy Commissioner would meet the delegation and receive their memorandum. However, it was unfortunate that he was not available to accept their memorandum. However, it is learnt that the protestors did not arrive at the office of the Deputy Commissioner at the fixed time. Rather, they trooped in when he was leaving his office. The absence of the Deputy Commissioner forced the protestors to raise slogans against him and stage a dharna for about an hour in the court premises outside his office. With no message from the Deputy Commissioner, they took to direct method and blocked the road in protest. |
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LG wants 3rd party audit of road repair
New Delhi, September 9 Asking Finance Minister AK Walia and Engineers-in-Chief of the PWD and the MCD to ensure quality work, the Lieutenant Governor said public satisfaction is of utmost importance. So, there should be a public audit of the developmental work. In-house satisfaction is not enough, he added. Mr Joshi was talking to them after a presentation on the condition of roads in the Capital given by the two chief engineers, sources said here. The governor had recently asked the PWD for a status report after widespread dissatisfaction expressed by Delhiites over the bad condition of roads after monsoon rains and delay in the completion of various projects of construction of flyovers sub-ways and roads. Ninety per cent of roads in the Capital are under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.The Lieutenant Governor also suggested to the Finanace Minister to introduce a clause in the contract for awarding tenders providing for severe penalty or incentive for the quality of work done by contractors. Mr Joshi said the patchwork was not being done scientifically because of which the tracts repaired returned to their previous state after a short time. Patches should be repaired in a rectangular or triangular pattern, he said. Moreover, he said the equipment used was not good and workers were not properly trained. He also advised the minister and the engineers to pay attention to the surface level of the roads. |
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PM releases PNB’s Cancer Seals
New Delhi, September 9 A seal was presented to the Prime Minister by Mr S S Kohli, Chairman and Managing Director, PNB, and Mr D N Sondhi, Chairman of the Fund Raising Committee, Indraprastha Cancer Society and Research Centre. Dr K C
Chakrabarty, Executive Director, PNB, Mr P M Sirajuddin, bank’s Director, senior executives of the bank and society officials were present on the occasion. The bank had donated Rs. 50 lakh each in 2000 and 2003 to the Indraprastha Cancer Society by way of sponsorship of Cancer Seals. The amount raised through the sale of seals goes towards spreading mass awareness about the dreaded disease and urging the public to go in for routine checkup. The prime minister appreciated the gesture of PNB and remarked that the bank has supported many such causes in the past also, a release said. Mr Kohli said that the PNB, as a responsible corporate citizen, is always forthcoming in extending a helping hand to various sections of the society. The bank has donated Rs. 6.85 crore to various societies, charitable institutions and organizations working for the benefit of the downtrodden, orphans, spastics, handicapped, mentally retarded children, women in shelter homes etc. The bank had donated Rs. 2 crore to Prime Minister’s Relief Fund in 2003-04 while Rs. 27 lakh was contributed towards Armed Forces Flag Day Fund. In the current year, the bank has so far donated a sum of Rs. 1.12 crore. The bank has donated Rs. 11 lakh towards the Assam Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and Rs. 15 lakh to the Indian Red Cross Society, Bihar, for mitigating the suffering of flood-hit. The bank organized 309 community-based programmes throughout the country, including free medical camps. |
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Sinha draws flak for remarks about PM
New Delhi, September 9 Representatives of Gurdwara Singh Sabha of Rajouri Garden, the Residents Welfare Associations from Basai Dara Pur and Raghubir Nagar held a demonstration at Jantar Mantar, raising anti-BJP slogans and demanding an apology from Mr Sinha for his disparaging remarks. The protestors described the former Union Minister’s description of Dr Singh as “Shikhandi’’ as highly objectionable and an insult to the Indian democratic system.“Mr Sinha has lowered his own status by making such remarks about an internationally acclaimed figure like Dr Singh,’’ said Gursharan Singh Oberoi, a senior official of West Delhi’s Guru Nanak Public School. |
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NHRC issues notices on use of ‘Forbidden Park’
New Delhi, September 9 The NHRC has called for a factual report and comments from Chief Secretary of the Delhi Government, Deputy Commissioner (South) of Delhi Police and the Director of Estates of the Centre within three weeks on a news report regarding this in a national daily on September 4. The news report, under the heading ‘The Forbidden Park,’ related to Government officers colony, Nivedita Kunj, at R K Puram where it was reported that the servants and their family members, who occupy the quarters adjacent to the officer apartments, are banned from entering the park, a rule made by the residents association to ‘safeguard their own interests.’ The commission has observed that the contents of the article, if true and correct, present a very distressing picture. “What is revealed in the article is gross discrimination being practiced by senior government officials between ‘haves and ‘have-nots’. It brings to the fore a gross violation of Human Rights of the citizens,’’ it observed. The government officials are expected to honour the constitutional mandate of Article 14 of the Constitution of India and other provisions, which prohibit discrimination on grounds of caste, class and the like, the NHRC pointed out. “It appears from the article that the park, the use of which the ‘have-nots’ have been precluded, belongs to the Government and is not the private property of anybody,’’ the Commission said and asked the Delhi government and the Centre to report within three weeks.
BJP tells govt to clear air on sealing of units
The BJP has asked the Government of NCT of Delhi to clarify its stand on the sealing of 81 industries of Category F. Its president, Dr Harshvardhan, has said that the clarification was warranted given the contradictory statements emanating from the government. Dr Harshvardhan claimed that the chief minister has said that she would find a middle path; in contrast, the industry minister has recommended to the Union Government that it should not seal three industries – flourmill, dry cleaner and auto spare. The chief minister, he said, is duty bound to prefer filing a review petition before the Supreme Court for seeking relief on humanitarian ground.
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DU bandh: Thin attendance in colleges
New Delhi, September 9 The colleges registered a thin attendance, as most of the students chose to remain away. “Ad hoc teachers, who are paid on a daily basis, came to colleges, but couldn’t take classes,” said a DUTA representative. The bandh will continue for the second day tomorrow. The call for the bandh has been given to register a protest against the “misgovernance” of the Vice-Chancellor and the “highly autocratic conduct of the principals of Shivaji College and Shaheed Bhagat Singh College” who, it is claimed, are “harassing teachers on the basis of fabricated charges and memos”. The DUSU, which has also decided to join the strike, is also seeking an early action to its demands. The demands include timely declaration of annual results and revaluation results, repealing of internal assessment and the proposed grading system. A safe campus and more U specials have been also sought. Meanwhile the JNU Students Union has also called for a bandh on September 10. The JNUSU is seeking better facilities for students on the campus, well-equipped libraries and a grievance redressal mechanism. |
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Best Teacher’s son repeats history in GGS varsity
New Delhi, September 9 Presenting the award at a function held on the campus recently, former UGC Chairman Yash Pal said that the teachers were facing a great challenge today, to keep pace with the rate at which knowledge is growing and new disciplines are emerging. “But catching up is not enough, as it always makes you a follower, rather than a leader,” he said. Accepting the award, which consists of a citation and a laptop, Dr Raghuram said it was a happy coincidence that his mother, N. M. Rajeswari, was also felicitated as the Best Teacher in her hometown, Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh. Commending the Delhi Government, he said it had set a new standard of excellence in terms of its support for infrastructure. “This provides us with a tremendous opportunity to not only realise our own individual intellectual potential, but also to collectively contribute to the cause of higher education,” he said. Dr Raghuram’s current interests are in plant signal transaction, gene expression and metabolic regulation/engineering, apart from scientific writing and policy research in biotechnology and allied subjects. The university adopts a unique formula for the selection of the annual award, the confidential assessment of the teachers by students and colleagues carries 50 per cent and 20 per cent weightage, respectively, whereas the self-assessment reports of the teachers carry 30 per cent of the weightage, which are scrutinised by a committee of the Deans and former Best Teacher Awardees. |
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Nursery course for teachers
New Delhi, September 9 It was pointed out that a candidate opting for teaching in such schools must have leadership qualities and should be well-acquainted with the latest techniques of education for small children. At a convocation it was pointed out that nursery teachers require to be well-groomed with all kinds of skills needed for handling young children. |
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Call to promote youth travel packages
New Delhi, September 9 The Council having members from major Asian cities like Tokyo, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Hanoi, Taipei and Bangkok should develop a network for tourism information to create awareness amongst member cities. Mr Takeo Humauzu, Vice-Governor of Tokyo City, said member cities should make efforts to make ‘Welcome to Asia’ campaign a big movement so that tourism in Asia region should achieve the level of tourism in Europe and other parts of the world. In his welcome address to the two-day-long meeting of the Council for Promotion of Tourism in Asia, Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation Managing Director and CEO Ramesh Negi said Asia has nearly 50 per cent of the world population with Japan and China having strong economy and hence, Asia should be the focal point for the next century. |
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Contractors urged to call off strike
New Delhi, September 9 |
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Entrepreneurs baffled at Power Department’s directive
Gurgaon, September 9 The President of the Gurgaon Chamber of Commerce and Industries (GCCI), Mr Arun Jain, said it is impossible to run the big units on captive power plants for a fortnight. The installed generators in their plants were at best good enough as a standby arrangement and not to supplement the main power supply. The power supply of 63 units, including Maruti, Hero Honda, Honda, RICCO and Sona Steering have been affected by the decision of the government. Agreeing with him, the President of the Gurgaon Industries Association (GIA), Mr Jagan Nath Mangla, said that there would be more than 20 to 40 per cent production loss due to the power cut to these units as they cannot run on captive power for a period of 15 days. At least, they must get enough power to cool the generators. It is unfortunate that the state government has taken this “severe” step to appease the residential and agricultural areas, he said. He pointed out that if one of the big units has to be closed down due to the absence of sufficient power supply, hundred of units would automatically be shut down as they are dependent on these big units, feared Mr Mangla. Mr Mangla expressed his dissatisfaction over the poor power supply even during the period when the government has promised to supply uninterrupted power supply. He demanded that the units should get regular power supply during the schedule period if the units are to continue their operations. Mr Jain pointed out that the industrial sector is faced with stiff competition from the MNCs and such disincentives will only make it difficult for the entrepreneurs to match up to them. He said that after the recent truck strike had ended, the industrialists were looking for a period of “calm”, when they could catch up with their lost time. However, this disruption in power supply will only hamper production, Mr Jain said. |
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Time-frame likely for new power connections
New Delhi, September 9 In its revised draft Performance Standards Regulations 2004, Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission has also included procedures for meter testing, making it mandatory to use only ISI certified meters and revise the assessment formula for energy theft and misuse. The regulations, revised after including suggestions from various stakeholders, include parameters to be followed by the discoms while providing new connections, testing and replacement of meters, energy theft and billing. The distribution companies would also have to pay an interest on the security deposits of the consumers. |
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IN NUTSHELL Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 9 According to the police, Firdaus Bano and Shalu hired a rickshaw from Red Fort last night at 7.30 pm and took him to service road near Shanti Van, where their two associates were waiting. Later, all the four women dragged him to a lonely site and deprived him of his Titan watch and Rs 180. The women also warned him not to raise the alarm, otherwise they would implicate him in a false rape case. Valuables missing from locker
Even as the PNB heist case in Naroji Nagar is waiting to be cracked, another incident of missing valuables was reported in the State Bank of India today in West Delhi’s East Patel Nagar. The police said some jewellery and cash had been reported missing from a locker, but did not specify the amount. The bank manager has been asked to give details of the missing articles, the police said. Further investigation is on. In July 16, lockers of the Punjab National Bank in South-West Delhi’s Naoroji Nagar branch had been found “pilfered”. The case is yet to be solved.
One-yr RI for Home Guards official
A city court sentenced a Platoon Commander in the Directorate of Home Guards and Civil Defence to one year RI and a clerk in his office for taking bribe from a Home Guard for retaining him in its traffic unit and marking his attendance. The Special Judge, Mr P. K. Bhasin, also imposed a fine of Rs 2,000 each on convicts Platoon Commander Suresh Kumar and clerk Ravi Shankar. Complainant Ajab Singh alleged that on May 9, 1996, Suresh had demanded illegal gratification of Rs 200 per month and had threatened to get him transferred if he did not pay
up. Ajab then lodged a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Unit of Delhi Police, which had laid a trap and caught Suresh and Ravi red-handed. On May 10, 1996, when Ajab went to the office, Suresh asked him to give the bribe amount to Ravi. Later, the police aught Ravi while accepting the money.
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Prostitution racket busted
Noida, September 9 Asha and Sapna confessed to the police that nobody suspected them since Sector-18 was a busy market place and most of their bargains were done through cell phones. On the basis of cell phones and diaries seized from the girls, the police are trying to trace out the other girls and pimps involved in the racket.
Auto-lifter held
The Noida police arrested one auto-lifter and seized two stolen motorcycles after an encounter. His other associate managed to escape in the darkness. The police chief, Mr A. K. Jain, said that the police received a tip-off that a gang involved in
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New Delhi, September 9
