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PM promises solution to relocation issue
HUDA collects Rs 3 cr, applicants yet to get promised plots
JNU poll campaign over in midst of claims, counter-claims
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Disaster management plan for schools
4 held for auto thefts, murders
Auto-lifting cases solved, one held
Racket of tax evaders smashed
Train workers going abroad: Minister
Confusion mars collection of property tax: Arya
Living in danger zone with 600 industries
Demonstration against govt’s anti-people policies
Delhiites get taste of hill state’s products at Dilli Haat
Kribhco records highest urea production
NFL releases bonus for employees
Students’ wordy duel on ‘late-night pubs’
Panth missionary holds kirtan
Pradeep Chowbey is new APHS president
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PM promises solution to relocation issue
New Delhi, November 2 Mr Singh, in a reply to Mr Vajpayee’s letter, has said “a well-considered and commonly-acceptable solution will be evolved soon.” The government will soon “find a balanced solution, which is in keeping with the orders of the Supreme Court, without losing sight of the interests of the affected elements of the people of Delhi,” the Prime Minister has said, according to a BJP statement. Apprehending that millions of workers could lose their livelihood if the industries are re-located outside the national Capital, Mr Vajpayee had written to Mr Singh on October 23, requesting implementation of the Cabinet decisions taken by the NDA government to revise the Master Plan of Delhi to accommodate non-polluting small units. “He (Vajpayee) is equally firm on the need to shift polluting units to industrial areas,” the statement said, adding the former Prime Minister favours that the entire issue be seen from a “humanitarian angle”.
Sheila mishandled industries’ issue: Harshvardhan
The Delhi Pradesh BJP has said that Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit mishandled the industries’ issue and that she claimed “undue” credit for taking the decision to change the Master Plan for regularising industries in non-conforming areas. Its president, Dr Harshvardhan, came down heavily on Ms Dikshit for “backtracking” on statehood to Delhi, saying she had completely betrayed the people of the Capital on the issue. Dr Harshvardhan said since Ms Dikshit came to power a year ago, she has “never tired of taking decision after decision to burden the people” and throwing open more and more areas for private operators to fleece the people of their hard-earned money. The Delhi Pradesh BJP president said the Centre and the Delhi Government by declaring that the Master Plan of Delhi would be changed to regularise factories in areas of 70 per cent industrial concentration was nothing new as the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA Government had already taken this decision. This fact was also mentioned by Mr Vajpayee in his recent letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he said. “The Sheila Dikshit government has in fact slept over the relocation of industrial units. The Supreme Court order came in May, but the government did nothing to sort out the problem. It awoke to the issue only at the eleventh hour, going in for sealing of factories in an arbitrary way, leading to hardship to factory owners and their employees,” he said. Dr Harshvardhan alleged that the Sheila Dikshit Government had also been lying to the people over statehood for the Capital. Since coming to power, she has changed her stand and was now saying that full statehood was not possible, he said. The government was keeping people in the dark also by telling them that water would not be privatised, but the fact was that the Asian Development Bank has in its report said the process of water privatisation was going on Delhi, said Dr Harshvardhan.
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HUDA collects Rs 3 cr, applicants yet to get
Faridabad, November 2 It is reported that the scheme was an instant hit and soon the authorities received applications and money from about 62 persons, against the total 52 plots advertised. The booking of the plots which had commenced from July 23, 2003, came to an end on September 22, 2003. The total money collected by the authorities as fee for application comes out to a whopping Rs 3.10 crore, as each applicant had to deposit Rs 5 lakh as 10 per cent of the total cost of the plot stated in the advertisement. The rate of the plot stated in the brochure was Rs 2,500 per sq metre and each plot is stated to be measuring about 2,000 sq metres. Mr B.R. Sachdeva, a lawyer
practicing in the Supreme Court and based in Gurgaon, claimed that the authorities concerned had not only failed to hold a draw of the plots on time, but had been avoiding the queries of the applicants. The alleged delay on the part of HUDA made the applicants form a body known as ‘Garden Villas Association’, said Mr Sachdeva, an applicant. He said while the authorities first informed that the draw of lots will be held on August 27, 2004, the applicants got a rude shock, when they were told on phone that the draw had been postponed and no proper reason cited. He said the authorities gave the applicants another shock on October 15, when a small advertisement was inserted in an English daily that the draw slated to be held on October 18 had again been postponed due to administrative reasons. He said the officials concerned had not been entertaining the applicants regarding the abrupt postponement and when the final draw will be held. Suspecting something murky behind the delay and postponement of the draw, a member of the association said that it was amazing that HUDA office had been keeping the public money of over Rs 3 crore with it for more than 13 months and not paying a single penny as interest. The Garden Villa plot sectors are located on Surajkund-Bhadkhal Road just adjacent to the ‘Leisure Valley’, an entertainment park, inaugurated by the Chief Minister recently.
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JNU poll campaign over in midst of claims,
New Delhi, November 2 The week gone by saw the campus abuzz with candidates and their supporters seeking votes to make it to the JNUSU panel. While the SFI, which clinched three of the four seats in last year’s elections, is hopeful of making a “clean sweep”, the NSUI is “confident of finally breaking into the red bastion”. “The reason why the SFI always won was because they also got the votes of those who didn’t want the ABVP to come to power, and has no option, but to vote for the Left. But with us coming on the scene, this segment has a choice. We have received a very positive feedback during our campaign and we have been able to reach out to the students with both our work and the agenda,” claimed Madhumita, president of the NSUI’s JNU wing. Not to be cowed down by their performance, during the last two years, the ABVP claims it is “slowly, but surely gaining ground”. “The campaign has been good and the support for the candidates has been encouraging,” said National President, Jatin Mohanty. Rejecting NSUI’s claim that the fight is between the SFI and the NSUI, he said, ABVP has emerged stronger from the differences that cropped earlier and besides the presidential candidate, Dhananjay Singh’s profile and popularity on the campus is a big draw. The fact that NSUI could cause a dent in the Left vote bank could also translate into a plus for the party. The AISA, which won a single post in the last year’s election, is also hopeful of making it to the central panel. While the campaign entailed the usual school GBMs and procession marches, the participation of senior party functionaries also a feature of JNU elections were the highlights. If it was Javed Akhtar and Brinda Karat who showed solidarity with the Left, Arun Jaitly, Shahnawaz Hussain and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi came to garner support for the ABVP. The NSUI had Digvijay Singh, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Salman Khurshid, Tarun Gogoi and Subodh Kant Sahay to provide moral support.
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Disaster management plan for schools
New Delhi, November 2 A Disaster Management Act to bring all agencies involved in rescue and relief under one umbrella is also being planned. A draft of the Act is ready and has been circulated to various departments, Deputy Commissioner (South) S. S. Yadav said today. “The law will ensure co-ordination of the different departments in case of a disaster,” he told a workshop for school principals on school safety and preparedness for disasters. The draft law will be put up before the state cabinet before being introduced in the Assembly. Gujarat was the first state in the country to adopt such a law after the 2001 earthquake that killed more than 15,000 people. The United Nations Development Programme and the Central government are extending help to the state. A disaster management plan for residential colonies will also be prepared along with schools, according to officials.
Municipal teachers call off strike
New Delhi, November 2 A meeting, which was held under the chairmanship of Ch. Satbir Singh, Leader of the house, assured the teachers that their salaries, bonus and arrears would be paid to them before Divali.
— TNS
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4 held for auto thefts, murders
Noida, November 2 The police have recovered two vehicles stolen by them from Noida. The gang has also similarly looted vehicles in Madhya Pradesh and other states. When the police team led by SO R.N. Yadav had signalled some people in Qualis No. HR-18 7779 at Sector-31 and 25 crossing to stop, they fired on the police team. In a quick action, the policemen pounced and overpowered four incumbents. The police had recovered a local revolver, knives and Qualis cars from the criminals. SP City AK Jain said the police had the input that a gang of criminals hires cars and after killing the drivers, it loots the vehicles. The police team constituted for the purpose came to know that the members of this auto thief gang were likely to come to Noida. The SP City said the criminals were identified as Brijinder, son of Sukhbir Singh of 34 Sector Noida and Aligarh’s Gulbir Singh, Sudhi and Rakesh. Two Qualis Nos. UP-16 0403 and HR-12 7779 were recovered from them, bearing duplicate number plates at the time of encounter. Both the vehicles had been lifted from Noida. In August, a car No. DL1 CH 7238 was hired, its driver was strangled by the criminals after making him drink liquor under Tagpal police station. The second vehicle was hired from Sector-28 on September 30, its driver Dinesh was thrown in a canal near Aligarh, A.K. Jain said. Besides, they had looted some vehicles in Guna, MP. The police are interrogating the accused, the SP City said.
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Auto-lifting cases solved, one held
New Delhi, November 2 In another case, the North district police have arrested two auto-lifters and have recovered one motorcycle from their possession. The accused have been identified as Lalit Kumar and Pawan Kumar. The police arrested the accused while routine checking on the pickets.
Chain snatchers arrested
With the arrest of five persons, the Delhi Police claims to have solved nine cases of snatching and recovered gold chains and vehicles from their possession. The accused have been identified as Kamal (19), Shiv Kumar (20), Romi Thakur (22), Soni Kherelia (20) and Sanjeev Kumar (23). The accused were arrested from Kirti Nagar area yesterday, while they were trying to flee after seeing the police. Kamal and Shiv Kumar were on scooter, police said. During interrogation, the duo disclosed that they used one scooter and one motorcycle of Romi Thakur and Soni Kherelia to commit chain snatching. After committing the crime, they used to sell the snatched gold ornaments to Sanjeev, who was a jeweller. They were also giving share to Romi and Soni for using their motorcycles in crime. The police have recovered spring-actuated knife, motorcycle, scooter and gold ornaments from them.
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Racket of tax evaders smashed
Noida, November 2 A few heads of government officials, allegedly involved in the racket, are expected to roll when the findings are examined minutely. District Magistrate Santosh Yadav said a detailed inquiry would be conducted and a number of officials of tourism and transport department were likely to face the music for their role in anti-government activities. Cases of market tax, trade tax and misuse of tax coupons to evade tax amounting to crores of rupees are expected to be unearthed through this campaign launched by the District Magistrate. Dozens of vehicles loaded with goods were known to proceed to Delhi through various routes with the connivance of government officials or transporters. A strict operation was launched on the orders of the District Magistrate and the SSP by the police, trade tax and market tax officials. The operation which started at national highway under Mussori police station area at 4 pm continued till 2 am yesterday. Joint Commissioner of Trade Tax, Surender Pal Singh, SDM Hapur, Rajesh Yadav, C.O. Police, Pilkhua D.C. Sharma, Dy. Commissioners, A.K. Mishra, A.K. Singh of trade tax department and police force had taken part in the operations. Some 80 per cent of the 25 truck drivers had printed pink coupons which meant these truck had been ‘passed’ by the officials concerned after checking. All these have been seized for an investigation, sources said.
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Train workers going abroad: Minister
Noida, November 2 Addressing the V.V. Giri National Institute of Labour here, Mr Aula said that the recent experience of three Indian workers in Gulf countries has reaffirmed this need. Most of the Indian workers are illiterate and get stranded there at times. The Union minister was speaking on a workshop on “International Labour Policy” held at V.V Giri National Institute. Mr Aula said the workers going abroad are a great help to the country’s economy. There are about two crore Indian workers in various countries of the world, who remit Rs 7,500 crore foreign exchange to the country annually. It is our duty to provide full support to the Indian workers going abroad. The organisations like V.V Giri Labour Institute and labour ministry will have to play a more positive role in training these workers. He advised the officers to be honest and speak
to the workers in their own language. Over 80% people speak Hindi in India. Top officers of labour, finance and foreign affairs are participating in the three-day workshop which is expected to result in better coordination among the officers of various ministries as also in spelling out clearly the labour-related policies of the government.
Science fair
on Nov 4
New Delhi, November 2 In collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India and Directorate of Education, NCT of Delhi, the event is being held in a phased manner to create awareness among students and motivate them towards science. The project is being launched as a pilot project in Govt. Boys Senior Secondary School No. 1, Mori Gate. The event will showcase activities like competitions on scientific knowledge, exhibitions, science melas, painting
on scientific instruments and processes. MP Kapil Sibal who represents Chandni Chowk will be the chief guest on the occasion and Arvinder Singh Lovely will preside over the function.
— TNS
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Confusion mars collection of property tax: Arya
New Delhi, November 2 Mr Arya recalled that he had earlier cautioned Congress leaders in MCD that the implementation of Unit Area System without taking into confidence elected representatives will create confusion amongst property tax payers since there are many discrepancies present in the proposals. These discrepancies resulted into confusion amongst taxpayers thereby adversely affecting collection. Mr Arya further claimed that various colonies have not been categorised rightly in the absence of any scientific formula. Keeping DDA Flats in the categories of local colonies is also unjustified. Many representations relating to wrong categorisation are lying pending with the Hardship and Anomaly Committee. The decision not to consider these representations is also a matter of disguise amongst public, he alleged. The citizens of rural and urbanised villages are also not happy. Besides, traders and factory owners are also not satisfied with the use factor. Mr Arya warned the Congress leaders that if these discrepancies are not taken care of then the MCD would fail to reach its target of Rs 1,200 crore. He alleged that MCD had miserably failed to pay salaries to its teachers. If the collection of house tax are not according to target, the financial position of the MCD would be in jeopardy and MCD would not be able to pay salaries to its employees.
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Living in danger zone with 600 industries
Ghaziabad, November 2 Given the administration’s lukewarm approach, these 600-odd units will, perhaps, never be relocated elsewhere. These factories are run clandestinely, contributing maximum pollution to the city’s environment. According to a recent survey, there are 197 polluting units in Krishna Vihar and Teela Shahbazpur: 48 in Bhovapur, 42 in Shahid Nagar, 35 in Rajiv colony, 34 in Vrindavan garden
and Janakpuri, 26 in Sagar Vihar, 15 in Hondon Vihar, 12 in Khora Colony, 10 in Makanpur and nine in Panchsheel Colony. Most of them are largely illegal units. Besides, about 100 units in Ram Nagar, Vijay Nagar, Pratap Vihar, Sanjay Nagar, Prahald Garhi are functioning illegally, causing so much pollution that it becomes hard to breathe at times. Most of the units in these residential areas are connected with plastic industry in which polythene is recycled. These units are responsible for increasing the ratio of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen in the atmosphere which in turn have increased the particles of sulphur and carbon. The biggest risk to the atmosphere is from such units, according to experts. The Principal Secretary, Environment UP, Mr Vinod Malhotra, had issued orders to act against these polluting units. However, some officials of the departments concerned have reportedly failed to take action against them. In any case it is the residents who have to suffer the consequences of these half-hearted administrative measures against pollution.
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Demonstration against govt’s anti-people policies
New Delhi, November 2 The leaders submitted a memorandum, listing their 12 demands, to the Chief Minister at the Secretariat, where the ‘Jawab Do’ rally culminated, and discussed measures to address their grievances. Addressing the gathering, Central Committee Member and AICCTU general secretary Swapan Mukherjee said the anti-poor policies of the Delhi Government has brought the common man on the street. “The Congress perhaps has not learnt lessons from the routing of the BJP government from Delhi and the Centre, which was imposing its pro-rich policies on the people.” People had expected the Congress to act sensitively to bring relief to their staring hardships, but its government at the state and Central level has not only betrayed their mandate, but also inflicted added misery to their plight, said the Communist leader. Far from introducing the Social Security System for the unorganised sector workers, even the fixed minimum wage was not being respected, he added. Among the issues highlighted at the rally included the faulty electronic meters, which has harassed people no end, the privatisation of the Delhi Transport Corporation, Delhi Jal Board and State Sanitation System on the lines of the Delhi Vidyut Board.
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Delhiites get taste of hill state’s products at Dilli Haat
New Delhi, November 2 Inaugurated by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, it aims at creating business for the organic products, and introduce Delhiites to the unique features that mark the spirit of the Uttaranchalis. Ms Dikshit, who went around different stalls in a wheelchair, said such events would give a fillip to tourism in the hill state and also bring authentic products of the state to the people of Delhi. “Delhiites can get authentic herbs and organic food here,” Ms Dikshit, who bought chillies and ‘mudve ka atta’ for herself, said. She was presented with a five kg packet of ‘Dehraduni Basmati Rice’ and a dyed Pashmina shawl. After watching the colourful dances of the state, she had authentic Uttaranchal food. While eating, she asked how each preparation was made and what it contained. The fortnight-long event will also see Shubha Mudgal perform ‘Deepmalika’, special compositions on the theme of Dussehra and
Divali, on November 14. ‘Kumaoni Rama Lila’ will be performed by ‘Johar Sanskriti Manch’ of Munsiari, Pithoragarh, on November 10. Other performances by Uttaranchali artistes include traditional ‘Hudkiyan’ song by Kabutari Devi of Pithoragarh on November 11 and ‘Pandu Chakravyuh’ by Dr D. R. Purohit of Garhwal on November 13. Specially-designed stalls have been set up, which serve Uttaranchali cuisine made with organic products. An exhibition is also on, demonstrating ‘Barahnaja’ (12 seeds), a unique form of traditional farming system based on biodiversity conservation that has socio-economic relevance. Also being showcased is the ‘Lost Route’ archives from Uttaranchal, a nostalgic journey through a display of ancient trekking and camping gears, draught power, clothes and culinary habits, prominent in the ancient trade routes trans-Himalayas into Tibet.
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Kribhco records highest urea production
Noida, November 2 Kribhco produced 17.73 lakh mt of urea and 11.17 lakh mt of ammonia, reflecting a capacity utilisation of 103% and 111% respectively. The cumulative urea and ammonia production since the inception of Kribhco crossed 29 million mt and 17 million mt during the year. Ammonia and urea production is the highest ever achieved so far. According to Kribhco managing director,
V.N.Rai, the society has achieved highest capacity utilisation of urea and ammonia plants amongst all gas-based fertiliser units in the country. It has also surpassed all its own previous records since the inception of the society. As regards the financial achievements, since its inception in 1986-87, Kribhco has been paying uninterrupted dividend to the Central government and for the 2003-04, the society has presented a cheque of Rs 58.45 crore towards dividend to the Government
of India. The society has so far paid Rs 881.14 crore dividend to its shareholders, out of which Rs 616.05 crore was paid to the Government
of India. This is the highest dividend paid by any Cooperative Society to the exchequer. Besides, Kribhco has also made a contribution to the exchequer of Rs 3527.42 crore by way of taxes, duties, dividend, etc up to March 31, 2004—again the highest in the cooperative sector in
India.. Kribhco also produced the cheapest urea in the country, taking the least subsidy from the Government and achieved the highest utilisation in the industry in gas-based plants in the country,
establishing 38 new records in various fields, Mr Rai stated. The Kribhco dividend cheque this year was presented to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, by Dr Chandra Pal Singh, Chairman, Kribhco at
a brief ceremony last week, when Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers Ram Vilas Paswan, Mr SNPN Sinha, Secretary, Fertilisers, Mr
V.N. Rai, Managing Director, Kribhco and, Finance Director B.D. Sinha were also present. The Managing Director disclosed that during the year, Kribhco had sold 18.37 lakh mt of urea. The sale of urea during the current year, he said, was the highest ever, the previous record being 17.82 lakh mt during 1991-92. Besides, the society also sold surplus ammonia to the tune of 98884 mt to the industrial buyers. This was the highest-ever sale of surplus ammonia so far, Mr
Rai said. The society has undertaken very strong programmes for the transfer of the latest farm technology to the farming community. Over 1,500 crop seminars, farmers’ meetings, field demonstrations for enhancing the farm productivity and promoting efficient and balanced use of fertilisers were conducted. During the year, 42 villages were adopted which included 10 schedule castes and seven schedule tribes-dominated villages, the Kribhco MD added.
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NFL releases bonus for employees
Noida, November 2 According to NFL’s Chairman-cum-MD P.S Grewal, the payment of Rs.500 announced by Union Minister of Chemical, Fertilizers and Steel Ram Vilas Paswan, has also been released by the management to all eligible employees of the National Fertilizers Ltd. This is in response to the news in today’s newspapers that some NFL employee union office-bearers stated that they had not been paid bonus by the company. It has been clarified by the NFL management that Subh Mahila Milan Naya Nangla is a charitable institute and has nothing to do with NFL management. “Surbhi Mahila Milan, Naya Nangal is a charitable institution and is not related with the NFL’s management. This institution organizes Diwali fair in township every year.
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Students’ wordy duel on ‘late-night pubs’
Noida, November 2 The objective in creating a debating platform was to sensitise the students to the burning issues of the day and promote in them not just the sensitivity but to acquire the ability to think objectively and put forth their views convincingly. The in-depth understanding and probing into the topic was seen in the skillful oration of the participants opposing each other. The most interesting part of the event was the Interjection Round where the debaters were grilled to justify their own arguments, which evoked
laughter. Samarth Gopal, Shitij Gulati and Kunal Bhatnagar who teamed up from Sommerville School Noida, emerged as winners of the Rolling Trophy.
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Panth missionary holds kirtan
New Delhi, November 2 In the Samagam, Bhai Jasbir Singh Khannewale described and explained the significance of the 500th anniversary of Guru Angad Dev, 400th year of first Parkash Utsav of Guru Granth Sahib and 300th year of martyrdom of Sahibzadas. Bhai Jasbir Singh Khannewale sang “Khalak Khalak, Khalak Mein Khalak” and “Aral Allah Noor Upaya, Kudrat Ke Sab Bande”. A large number of devotees had gathered in the Pandal erected by the Rajouri Garden Annual Gurmat Samagam.
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Pradeep Chowbey is new APHS president
New Delhi, November 2 It is for the first time an Indian surgeon has elected to the prestigious post in the Asia Pacific Region. The formation of the Asia Pacific Hernia Society in September 2004 has completed the global picture of research and development of abdominal wall hernia repairs by providing the missing link to the American and European hernia society.
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Schools in the Capital have been asked to submit separate disaster management plans within a month by the Delhi Government, which is envisaging a disaster management plan for schools against earthquakes, fire and even a hostage crisis like the Beslan carnage in Russia recently.
New Delhi, November 2
