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Illegal structures in VVIP houses under scanner
BJP rally sends traffic for a toss
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Merit-linked promotion for teachers urged
Arjuna Award winner held for tax evasion
Looters have a field day in Ghaziabad
Advani laments decline
in values
Tail-end farmers are worst sufferers
Reduction
in MTNL landline users
Fortis programme to help destitute women
Power crisis to persist in Noida
Three-day science fair opens
Protest rally by brick kiln owners
Training programme for women
Water hike shows Cong bankruptcy: Goel
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Illegal structures in VVIP houses under scanner
New Delhi, December 1 Additional Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran told a Bench of Chief Justice B C Patel and Justice B D Ahmed that a high-power committee to inquire into the matter of illegal construction
category wise has been constituted and the report will be placed before the court. The Government would abide by the directions of the court, he submitted. He said no action could be taken in the matter in view of a 2002 direction issued by the Government to keep in abeyance anti-encroachment drive in the official bungalow zone. As per court’s earlier direction, Director of Estate (Residential) Vijay Dev was present in the court during the proceedings. Dev was summoned by the court after CPWD Chief Engineer Zone-1 made an incorrect statement before the court that CPWD was responsible only for the maintenance of buildings in the Lutyens’ zone and that the removal of illegal constructions was the duty of the Directorate of Estate. However, Government sources said that a notification was issued way back in 1993, which made CPWD responsible for the removal of illegal constructions.
Ministers supervise Haj facilities
Two Central Ministers, Mr P.M. Sayeed and Mr E. Ahmed, today visited the Delhi Haj Committee to monitor the facilities provided to the Haj pilgrims. They also supervised the training session of the pilgrims, a spokesman of the Haj Committee said. He said that the seventh session of the training of pilgrims was held today at Haj Manzil. About 400 pilgrims from across the Yamuna attended it. The Delhi State Haj Committee organised the training programme to acquaint the pilgrims with the ground reality and also provide them with religious training by the Ulemas and trainers. The Union Minister of Power, Mr P. M. Sayeed, congratulated the Hajis on their pious journey and assured them of every possible help. The Union State Minister of External Affairs, Mr E. Ahmed, said all efforts would be made to give better facilities to the pilgrims. Mr Hafiz Matloob Karim, Assistant Secretary of the Delhi State Haj Committee, conducted the programme and announced that this year also, Saudi Riyal (Saudi currency) would be given to the pilgrims instead of drafts at Delhi Airport.
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BJP rally sends traffic for a toss
New Delhi, December 1 Hundreds of motorists, mostly office-goers, were stranded for hours in traffic jams as the police struggled to keep the area clear around the Ram Lila Maidan and the Ambedkar Stadium by diverting traffic and closing all approach roads. The Ambedkar Stadium was converted into a temporary jail for hundreds of BJP volunteers and leaders who courted arrest to protest against the rising inflation and the inability of the UPA government to cope with it. Passengers arriving at the Old Delhi Railway Station and the Inter State Bus Terminus at Kashmere Gate had to wait for hours before they could get transport to reach their destinations. Scenes of traffic chaos were also reported from near the Raj Ghat on Ring Road, the ITO crossing, Connaught Place, the Yamuna Bridge and several East Delhi areas like Laxmi Nagar, Pandav Nagar, Mother Dairy and Inderprastha Extension. Harried traffic policemen, who were yet to recover from the fortnight of coping with the rush at the trade fair, struggled to restore order even as the commuters and office-goers complained of inordinate delays. Many questioned the decision of the authorities to allow the rally at a central place on a working day.
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Merit-linked promotion for teachers urged
New Delhi, December 1 They were addressing a two-day ‘Higher Education Summit: Roadmap for the Future’, organised by FICCI. Dr Parikh pointed out that the current scenario in India was characterised by lack of quality and built-in inequity where only those who are able to afford higher education were privy to education both here and abroad. He said there is need to stress meritocracy whereby the quality of teaching and research became benchmarks in evaluating performance of teachers, which alone, he said, would shake off the complacency and make them accountable to the students and society. Prof. Hennessy spoke of the benefits of a multi-disciplinary approach to the university research programmes and suggested that the focus must be on the areas where in-depth research programmes comprising faculty and students from multiple disciplines can produce new knowledge and solutions. The UGC Chairperson, Prof. Arun Nigavekar, stressed the need to enhance the access to higher education to the larger student community. He regretted that the majority of private players in the country looked at education as a commercial proposition and called for a harmonious and equitable blend of public service and commercial goals. Ms Sushma Berlia, Chairperson, FICCI, Education Committee, impressed on the need for access and equity of higher education, basing it on merit and desire and not economic, social and influential forces.
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Arjuna Award winner held for tax evasion
New Delhi, December 1 The police said that Major Yadav got retired from 8 Para Commando, Hisar, Haryana, in March 1991. Thereafter, he dealt in the businesses of fruit, vegetables and video library. In 1994, he started a cable TV Network in the name of World Vision Cable Network. He disposed of the network in 2000. In 2002, he again started the same business. However, he was evading Rs 11 crore, to be paid to the Excise Department.
Held for robbery, murder attempts
The Delhi Police have arrested a person who was evading arrest after allegedly firing at the police party. The accused has been identified as Raju Kanpuria. The crime branch of Delhi Police apprehended him from Saraswati Vihar area in Northwest district. The DCP (Crime) in a release said the accused was wanted in 16 cases of armed robbery, attempt to murder, riot, theft and arms act. He further said that the accused along with his other associates used to commit pickpocketing in buses. They used to operate in a group of 6-7 persons. In another case, the West district police have arrested two persons who were allegedly involved in autolifting cases. The accused have been identified as Devender Singh and Manpreet Singh. The police claimed to have solved 37 cases of motor vehicle thefts after this arrest.
Four nabbed for murder, robbery
The Delhi Police have arrested four persons for their alleged involvement in killing of two persons and robbing them of money and valuables. The accused have been identified as Ravinder (21), Raj Kumar (19), Monu (20) and Arjun Singh (22). The police said on September 29, a person was found killed in DDA flats, Kalkaji, bearing multiple stab wounds on his head and eyebrow. Similar incident took place on November 14, when the police found another body of 22-year-old person bearing stab wounds on his chest.
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Looters have a field day in Ghaziabad
Ghaziabad, December 1 In another incident in Loni, in one of its posh colonies, Upperkot, a general merchant’s family was beaten up and made captive on Monday night. Later, the intruders decamped with valuables worth Rs 7 lakhs, including Rs 2 lakh in cash. In Rajnagar’s G Block, Sector-23, under Kavi Nagar police station area, some five intruders descended in Umesh Jindal’s house, who is a homeopathic doctor, made his wife captive and decamped with jewellery and cash. The miscreants fled with cash and valuables. But when the doctor’s wife raised an alarm, some neighbours were able to nab one of the robbers, after a brief chase. At the instance of the accused, who was caught by the residents, the police were able to arrest all the five criminals. They were identified as Sonu, Nanhe, Chota, Birju and Munna of Welcome colony, Delhi. In another incident at Upperkot Mohalla of Loni, as many as eight assailants barged inside the house of Bunnyad Ali, who is a merchant. With the help of a ladder, the robbers were able to get into the house, made Bunnyad Ali, his wife and his four daughters captive at gunpoint, after beating them up. The robbers took along with them Rs two lakh in cash and jewellery worth Rs five lakh. Before fleeing, they had their food in the house and departed leisurely after spending over an hour and a half in the house. Somehow, the robbers seem to have known that Bunnyad Ali was to go on a Haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia during December.
New twist to JE’s murder case
Noida, December 1 It may be recalled that some motorcycle-borne criminals had gunned down the JE while he was on his way to his house in phase II police station. The engineer was also known to be working as a property dealer and was getting a school constructed in the Naya Gaon village. According to reports, the officials of the Noida Authority had visited the village on Monday. They were doing the groundwork for securing the encroached government land in the area. Reports had indicated that the plot of land on which the school was being constructed was deemed to be a part of the encroached land. According to reports, Rajinder had furnished the relevant documents to show that he was the legal owner of the plot on which the school was being constructed. On the other hand, some villagers believe that pressure was being exerted on the officials of the Noida Authority, after certain discrepancies were detected in the documents shown by him. It is also learnt that Rajinder had not made the full payment to his relative from whom he had purchased the plot of land for the school. He had promised the payment of the balance amount after the completion of the building. Besides, the police are also looking into other land and property disputes that Rajinder was reportedly involved in his paternal village Saini Bisarakh. As such, the police is looking into all these aspects to unravel the mystery behind the murder of the
JE. — OC
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Advani laments decline
in values
New Delhi, December 1 “Today, people are angry with politicians because there has been a decline in their character and values.... I keep telling this to my colleagues in the party,” Mr Advani said last evening after releasing ‘Dare to Publish’, the memoirs of Dina Nath Malhotra, the founder of Hind Pocket Books, who is said to have ushered in a paperback revolution in the country. Prior to 1947 and even some years after Independence, politics was a mission. People used to sacrifice their lives for their motherland. But it is no longer a mission, not even a profession. It has been reduced to a commerce, Mr Advani lamented while taking inspiration from Mr Malhotra’s words that “publishing is a profession and not a business”. Mr Advani said there had been a decline in every section of society, but since in a democracy the politicians happen to be in the limelight, they acquire a clout, a clout far beyond their qualifications. Mr Malhotra, who started as a professor, took to publishing when he found that the books available in the market soon after Independence were very expensive and beyond the reach of a common student. He started publishing reasonably priced paperback editions and soon captured the market in the country. His contribution to publishing has been recognised both by the government as well as the peers. The book, “Dare to Publish,” narrates how he got into publishing and what all it took to make it a success.
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Tail-end farmers are worst sufferers
Faridabad, December 1 The farming in the region is mainly dependent on rain and canal water. It could be affected adversely if there is no rain or the supply in the canals is not augmented in the next few days as the rabi crop, especially wheat which had been sown recently, needs its first irrigation, said a farmer of nearby Sagarpur village. He said the farmers had hardly overcome the problem of shortage of DAP fertiliser when this fresh problem had surfaced. He said the short supply of power was another nagging problem and rural areas were hardly getting more than five hours of continuous supply. It was not possible to irrigate the fields with diesel operated gensets as the cost of production would go up sharply. Rajender Nagar of Fajjupur village claimed that many of the farmers had to sow their crop without proper supply of DAP fertiliser this year. Reports of shortage of water have poured in from dozens of villages located in Ballabhgarh, Hodal and Palwal sub-divisions. Mr Karan Dalal, MLA from Palwal, alleged that the Chautala government was least worried about the farmers and the only agenda left for it was how to ‘befool’ the people and wrest power in the coming elections. He said the people would teach the government a lesson, as no promise made had been fulfilled. According to Mr Ved Prakash Vidrohi, another Congress leader, entire South Haryana, comprising districts of Faridabad, Gurgaon, Rewari, Mahendergarh and Jhajjar, was in the grip of a severe water and power crisis. Alleging that the government had failed to maintain proper supply of both water and power, he demanded a decrease in the rate of power supply to tubewells in South Haryana. Ridiculing the statement of the CM that Haryana would become free of power cut by December end, he said the government had failed to ensure even regular supply to the consumers and described the government claims as a farce and misleading in view of the coming Assembly polls.
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in parliament Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 1 During 2002-03, telephone connections of BSNL surrendered or disconnected were 17,93,536 as against the MTNL’s number of 4,67,200, while in 2003-04 BSNL disconnected 32,60,135 connections compared to MTNL’s 9,76,937 connections during the period, he said in a written rely. The minister said that despite the surrender of telephones, the subscriber base of BSNL has increased by 47.70 per cent in 2002-03 and 34.59 lakhs during 2003-04. The spare equipment is being utilised to give connections to other applicants on the waiting list. ‘’It is, thus, not possible to identify with any degree of precision the revenue loss caused by such surrender of telephones,’’ Dr Ahmed said, adding that ‘’the total waiting list of BSNL as on March 31, 2004 was 17,54,965.” The minister pointed out that though there has been a net addition of landline telephones for BSNL in the past three years, as regards MTNL there has been some reduction in landline customer in Delhi and Mumbai. In order to become more competitive both MTNL and BSNL are taking several initiatives including the introduction of new services, modernising and upgrading the existing network, offering competitive tariffs and improving customer care services, he added. Replying to a question on Indian languages being made IT friendly, Dr Ahmed said that language processing tools are being developed for 18 Indian languages, including Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.
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Countrywide plan to fight scourge of AIDS
New Delhi, December 1 Inaugurating the two-day Global Inter-faith Meet, Mr Oscar Fernandes, Union Minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation, exhorted all stake holders to take a lead in fighting the war against the dreaded disease. He welcomed the initiative taken by Amity Foundation and NACO for organising the meet on the challenging problem facing the humanity in the new millennium. He felt that the whole subject requires to be handled with the partnership approach involving not only the medical profession but also all community stake holders. So, the participation of the religious leaders gives a new intellectual as well as inner strength to all affected families in combating the AIDS menace. Mr Amar Singh, Member of Parliament, who was the Chief Guest, said that common problems affecting the humanity cutting across age, sex, religion has to be tackled with a common goal and missionary zeal. The problem of AIDS among youth and also the working class has a major effect on socio-cultural and behavioural actions and it is necessary to spread awareness. The productivity of the working class affected by AIDS would also be substantially improved if the growing problem is checked. Her Excellency, Mrs Stella Obasanjo, in her keynote address, said that the HIV/AIDS epidemic is rapidly gathering momentum and threatening to erupt in most countries. At this point, all sections of society, including faith groups, need to get involved if the rapid spread of virus is to be contained. Dr S Y Quairishi, Project Director, NACO, highlighted the national programme actions and the mission mode with which HIV/AIDS is being fought and the role of religious faith groups in strengthening the same. Leaders of all religious faiths, like His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Swami Agnivesh (head of Arya Samaj), Rev. Vincent Concessao (Archbishop of Delhi), Maulana Sultan Ahmad Islahi Saheb, Rev. Dr Ipe Joseph (general secretary, National Council of Churches), Giani Ranjit Singh, Head Granthi, Gurudwara Rakabganj, Delhi, graced the occasion.
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Fortis programme to help destitute women
New Delhi, December 1 Five girls will be trained in the first batch free of charge under the programme. It was inaugurated by Dr Ashok K Chauhan, Chairman, AEC Group of Industries and Founder President, Amity in presence of Mr Shivinder Mohan Singh, Jt. Managing Director, Mr Daljit Singh, CEO, Fortis Healthcare Ltd. and Dr Alok Roy, COO, Fortis Hospital, Noida. The candidates are sourced from orphanages, women welfare organisations, NGOs, social organisations and peripheral areas of Noida. The training programme will enable these girls to improve their scientific skill and knowledge in the nephro-sciences arena and help them become self-dependant and serve the community in a better way. The eligibility criterion is 10+2 pass with science background. The selection is through a written test followed by an interview. The programme is not only free of charge but also provides benefits like free F and B facilities throughout the course and stipend after six months. It provides classroom teaching as well as on-the-job training which helps candidates getting jobs after the course. The training programme is well structured and will be under the expert guidance of highly experienced doctors.
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Power crisis to persist in Noida
Noida, December 1 According to UPPCL’s General Manager B. B. Singh, the 200 KV main cables from Sahibabad to Muradnagar are being replaced with a high powered cable. This work is likely to take about 10 days, he said. The power supply in the city will remain suspended from 8 am to 4 pm; between 10 pm and 6 am power will be supplied depending on availability, the General Manager said. In residential and commercial sectors, power will be supplied between 4 pm and 8 am depending on availability and exigencies of situation. The revenue collection drive has so far yielded Rs 24 lakh, the GM added. The residents under Khora Kalyan Samiti have started an indefinite dharna at Sector-62, Noida power station. The dharna will continue till their demands are met. The demonstrators, who raised slogans against the UP Power Corporation, have put up 10 demands before the Power Corporation authorities. The residents have demanded that penalty imposed on commercial connections should be waived and the UPPC should hold a camp in Khora and give new residential and commercial connections. The residents have also demanded that ceiling reports should be made available without any further delay. Moreover, the UPPC employees should stop asking for bribes. Wrong billings should be also stopped and bills should reflect actual reading in consumers meters. The Power Corporation should also fix power poles and ensure streetlights in areas, which are unlighted as yet. Those sitting on dharna included Naresh Yadav, president of samiti, Ajit Chaudhri, Rajesh Gupta, Devinder Pal, Brijender Chauhan, Rajpartap Pal, Vijay Gupta, Satish Gupta, Rajesh Pandya. A large number of women were also participated in the dharna.
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Three-day science fair opens
New Delhi, December 1 The theme of the fair is ‘Recent Trends in Science and Technology’ and it is further divided under sub-theme like agriculture and industrial development, energy conservation and education technology, technology for health and mathematical modelling for the middle and senior secondary schools. Primary schools have exhibited their models and charts on the theme. In all, 95 NDMC schools from the nursery to the senior secondary level have participated in the fair and more than 285 exhibits consisting of models, charts and projects prepared by the students are on display. The fair will remain open to public and schoolchildren till December 2. While going through the exhibition, Dr R. K. Kotnala appreciated the efforts of the students and teachers highlighted through various means depicting the role of science and technology in development of nation and meeting the challenges being faced by mankind in different spheres of life.
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Protest rally by brick kiln owners
New Delhi, December 1 Addressing the gathering on Tuesday, Mr Rajendra Pratap Singh Chandel, President, All India Brick and Tiles Manufacturers Association said, “we will not manufacture even a single brick if our demands are not met.” He also complained about the livelihood of more than 50 lakh people employed by the industry being adversely affected. The strike by the brick kiln industry has been a major set back to the construction industry due to the rapid increase in the price of bricks. If this situation continues, bricks might have to be imported if adequate steps are not taken to end the problems of the industry, Mr Chandel said.
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Training programme for women
New Delhi, December 1 The training programme will enable women to improve their scientific skill and knowledge in the Nephrosciences arena and will help them becoming self-dependant and serve the community in a better way. Under the programme, five women will be trained free of cost. The candidates will be sourced from orphanages, women welfare organisations, NGOs, social organisations and peripheral areas of Noida. The eligibility criterion is class 12 with science background.
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Briefs
New Delhi, December 1 Mr Goel regretted that the Chief Minister, Mrs Sheila Dikshit, has not expressed any concern about the deteriorating quality of drinking water, laying of water lines in one third colonies of Delhi and delay in commissioning of Sonia Vihar water plant. The government has put a burden of Rs 300 crore on the common man by increasing the rates of the Delhi Jal Board water. He said that even the weaker sections have not been spared as they would be forced to pay 55 per cent more. The increase is between 6 and 26 per cent. Mr Goel described the claim of the Chief Minister that the water rates would still be cheaper compared to other metros as a jugglery of statistics.
Mobike rally in aid of Tibetan monk
The Delhi University students under the banner of Tibet Student’s Alliance today set off on a motorcycle rally to seek support for the release of Tibetan monk Tulku Tenzin Delek
Rinpoche. The rally was flagged off from Ladakh Budd Vihar near ISBT Kashmere Gate. It will cover more than 28 cities in the country.
Psoriasis is not contagious: Doctors
Psoriasis, a skin ailment, which is regarded as grave as cancer and AIDS, is not contagious as perceived, but needs immediate medical attention, according to doctors. The Indian Psoriasis Rural Welfare Foundation engaged in curing people suffering from the distressing ailment claims that though the disease cannot be cured completely, it can be controlled to a great degree through Ayurvedic medicines. Dr Deepak Bhalla, Chairman of the Foundation, points out that psoriasis, which is basically a red itchy patch with a silver coating, is caused by excess cells in the body. The ugly form that the disease assumes causes much mental agony as patients find themselves alienated from society. He also ruled out that the disease is contagious. The disease, he said, often begins as dandruff which later leads to a red patch with silver coating. It enters into the human blood system and spreads, leading to severe itching that makes it difficult to even wear clothes.
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New Delhi, December 1
