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VAT Bill passed, to be in force from April one
Court tells L-G to act on Metro plea on encroachments
Delhi 2021 Master Plan being finalised
In
parliament
MCD gives property tax rebate to traders, hoteliers
Four children perish in house fire
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All nine Gargi proposals get UGC nod
Students in a tizzy over Board exam pattern
Brazen
conduct
Meritorious students awarded
Singer Zila Khan and secretary of Bisnouli Sarvodaya Gramodyog Sewa Sanstha Nandita Kapoor at a press conference in the Capital.
— Tribune photo
MTNL engineer ends life
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VAT Bill passed, to be in force from April one
New Delhi, December 22 During the discussion on the Delhi VAT Bill 2004, Leader of Opposition Jagdish Mukhi said the Bill should not be passed in a hurry as it was a question of the Capital’s economy. This Bill should be declared a draft Bill and referred to the select committee. The draft should also be sent for consideration to the trading associations and industrial associations and chambers who contribute the maximum to the Capital’s revenue, Mr Mukhi said. In his speech, Finance Minister A.K. Walia said that the new system would simplify the tax structure, increase revenue, prevent tax evasion and end inspector raj by doing away with the deficiencies of the sales tax system. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said VAT had to be implemented in the entire country by April 1, 2005 as recommended by the Empowered Committee of the state finance ministers. If Delhi does not implement VAT from that date, it would stop getting the Central aid. She denied the Opposition charge that the traders were not consulted. She said a committee was formed in 2001 which continuously held discussions with the traders. In the workshops held since then, 50-60 suggestions were received and many of them incorporated in the Bill. She said her government would be ever vigilant to any of the problems concerning the new tax system, and would rectify the situation from time to time.
Traders to observe one-day bandh
Traders in Delhi have called for a one-day bandh tomorrow in protest against the Delhi VAT Bill. The traders have formed an apex body comprising representatives of all leading trader associations in the Capital. The Confederation of All India Traders, a body spearheading the agitation, will also burn the effigy of VAT and called upon all traders in the Capital to down their shutters tomorrow.
Govt trying to sell DJB to foreign co: Khurana
Back in action in Delhi politics, senior BJP leader Madan Lal Khurana today accused the Delhi government of trying to sell the Delhi Jal Board to a foreign company and claimed that the recent hike in water tariff in the Capital was effected to ‘sweeten’ the deal. “The hike in water tariff was effected to assure a profit guarantee for the foreign company to which the Sheila Dikshit Government intends to sell the DJB,” Mr Khurana told reporters here without naming the company. The former chief of Delhi BJP and ex-Chief Minister claimed that according to the ‘authentic’ figures in his possession, the DJB has an expenditure of Rs 344 crore and the water tariff hike would result in a ten-fold increase in its revenue. He said the hike was unjustified and demanded an explanation from the government for ‘burdening’ Delhiites. Stating that the increase in water charges was not in line with the Central plan to promote agriculture, he said, “Under the new scheme, water for farming would be charged at industrial rates which are 22 times more than the agriculture rates.” “The failures in the DJB are pointed out not only by the Opposition but also by the ruling Congress members who have raised the issue of corruption in the Capital’s water authority,” Mr Khurana claimed. Interestingly, Mr Khurana, BJP’s zonal incharge for Delhi, chose to address reporters at a city restaurant and evaded queries on why he was not holding the press conference at the BJP office.
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Court tells L-G to act on Metro plea on encroachments
New Delhi, December 22 Justice Pradeep Nandrajog directed the Lieutenant-Governor to treat a petition filed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corp in this regard as a representation, take a decision on it within two weeks and ensure that his orders were then complied with by the authorities. The DMRC, through counsel Shiv Kumar, had moved the court, saying the Delhi Development Authority had allotted to it 155 acres for constructing the station in 1998. Delhi Metro made a lot of efforts to clear encroachments in the area and also complained to the authorities, including Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Railways), seeking removal of a ‘mazar’ and other unauthorised structures, but of no avail. It had sought directions to the DDA and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to clear encroachments from the circulating area of the Shastri Park Metro Station. The judge observed that the petition reflected a complete breakdown of the Delhi Government (machinery). “It is high time that the Administrator of the Union Territory of Delhi sets the governance in Delhi in order,” he added.
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Delhi 2021 Master Plan being finalised
New Delhi, December 22 In his opening remarks, Mr Azad informed the members about various developmental and housing activities undertaken by Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and said that the Master Plan of Delhi 2021 is in the process of finalisation and the draft Master Plan will be ready in a month’s time. “The new plan is expected to focus on the policy alternatives for redevelopment of large degraded areas of Delhi and would also indicate possible solutions for better utilisation of land, development of new settlements and green areas in Delhi”, he added. Mr Azad underlined the need to have infrastructure plans prepared along with the Master Plan, so that development activities are supported by adequate infrastructure and services. Mr Azad also informed the members that along with the development of Capital City of Delhi, the government is also laying emphasis on development of national Capital region, so that the economic activities are dispersed and a balanced development of the entire region takes place. This, in turn, would help in checking large-scale migration of people to the Capital city. Referring to the DDA activities in housing sector, Mr Azad informed the members that DDA has made available 10.5 lakh dwelling units by way of construction of flats and provision of land to individuals, co-operative societies etc. “Out of 2.9 lakh dwelling units constructed by DDA itself, nearly 1.71 lakh, that is 60 per cent houses were meant for low income category and economically weaker sections of the society,” the minister added. Mr Azad also informed the committee that presently DDA is constructing nearly 23,000 flats out of which 15,460, that is nearly 67 per cent belong to low income group and the economically weaker section category. Mr Azad also observed that despite the efforts of DDA, there still remains a large gap between the demand and availability of houses because of increase in population and also the problems faced by DDA while developing areas through the scheme of large scale acquisition of land. “There is substantial time-gap between acquisition, development and disposal of land during which the land becomes susceptible to encroachment. Hence, there is a need to work out an alternative to the policy of large scale acquisition and disposal of land by the DDA,” he added. He also underscored the need to allow private sector to play its role in urban development and housing under Master Plan of Delhi 2021. Referring to the DDA’s efforts to improve its functioning and make it more transparent and customer friendly, Mr Azad informed the members that DDA has been advised to hold interactive meetings with people and representatives in the area of development so that the grievances are redressed quickly. Mr Azad also directed the DDA to examine the feasibility of allotting land to members of Parliament so that a society / agency can build residential complexes for them with all facilities so that former members of Parliament and ministers can vacate government accommodation on time. But the minister insisted that any such allotment of land should be done on non-transferable basis. Among others present in the meeting were Ms Krishna Tirath, Mr Sajjan Kumar, Mr Anjan Kumar Yadav, Mr NY Hanumanthappa, Mr Swadesh Chakraborty and Mr Tufani Saroj (Lok Sabha); Ms Prema Cariappa, Mr Prasanta Chatterjee, Mr V Narayansamy, Mr Karnendu Bhattacharjee and Mr GK Vasan (Rajya Sabha). Vice Chairman of DDA Madhukar Gupta made a presentation on the activities of DDA. Urban Development Secretary Anil Baijal and Parliamentary Affairs Secretary VK Agnihotri were also present in the meeting.
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In parliament Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 22 While elaborating on the matter datawise, he said Bihar has the highest number of 17 such post offices from where misappropriation by SAS agents of their investors’ money has been reported. The other states in the scam include Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. The total misappropriated money in the post offices in all these states was over three crores, the Minister told the house in a written reply to a question regarding such cases in Indraprastha Head Post Office in Delhi.
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MCD gives property tax rebate to traders, hoteliers
New Delhi, December 22 Industrialists and businessmen earlier had to pay 15 per cent of the total value of their property and hoteliers 20 per cent. But from now onwards they will pay only 10 per cent of the total value of their property. The decision was taken following recommendations of the Hardship and Anomaly Committee, the Municipal Commissioner, Mr Rakesh Mehta, said. When the Unit Area Method report was presented in the corporation, there were certain problems with regard to the tax payer categories of industry, entertainment, recreation and clubs, business, restaurants and hotels. The hoteliers had got a stay order from the Delhi High Court. Taking note of the seriousness of the case, senior leaders of the corporation and officers discussed the matter with the Hardship and Anomaly Committee. The matter was again discussed in depth in the committee, following which the industrialists and hoteliers were given the rebate. In its recommendations, the Hardship and Anomaly Committee said that in order to ensure comprehensive compliance by businesses, clubs, restaurants and hotels in the payment of tax, it is suggested that the burden of tax among these categories be brought down for the current financial year. This can be facilitated by granting a rebate between the tax calculated at 10 per cent and 15 per cent or 20 per cent, as applicable, so that the burden of tax remains at 10 per cent as recommended by the Hardship and Anomaly Committee. The rebate would be applicable only on current year tax liability. The Leader of the Opposition in the Standing Committee, Mr Vijender Gupta, objected to the rebate given to the hoteliers, saying that ten per cent rebate was unjustified. He also said that the rebate extended to self-occupied properties in villages was in response to the BJP’s demand. The BJP had organised an agitation demanding a reduction in the tax.
Marketing research
New Delhi, December 22
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Four children perish in house fire
New Delhi, December 22 Fire sources said that the fire was caused by a petromax lamp in the house at around 8.45 am and it
soon engulfed the whole house, burning the four children alive. Two fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the fire was doused off within a few minutes.
Inter-state gang of auto-lifters smashed, five arrested
With the arrest of five persons, the North district police today claim to have busted an inter-state gang of auto-lifters operating in Delhi and Haryana. The police also recovered one Maruti car and five motorcycles from their possession. The accused have been identified as Dharmender (27), resident of Rohini, Yudhvir Singh (18), resident of Gurgaon, Raj Pal (21), resident of Sonepat, Parmod (19), resident of Bihar and Kuldeep (34), resident of Gurgaon. During a routine check in the Subzi Mandi area,
the police found a motorcycle coming from the Tri Nagar side. When the police signalled to stop the bike, the suspects tried to flee, but were soon overpowered. During interrogation, the accused
told the police that the motorcycle was stolen from Gurgaon. The gang consisted
of seven-eight members, residing in Delhi and Gurgaon.
Kashmiri craft fair
New Delhi, December 22 Add to the list several Kashmiri products — saffron, honey and Kashmiri ‘Kahwa.’ Such is the magic of Kashmiri Craft Expo, which is being held at Baba Kharag Singh Marg here. The Kashmiri Craft Exhibition, which began on November 20, is being held for the last few years by Sai Handicraft and Handloom Society, an NGO that works for the uplift of artisans.
TNS
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All nine Gargi proposals get UGC nod
New Delhi, December 22 “It is path-breaking that all the nine proposals have been accepted and each department will get to set up the projects they had planned,” said the Principal, Dr Hema V Raghavan. The science department has decided to set up an interdisciplinary research wing, with each department, including physics, chemistry, zoology and botany having announced their specific projects. “There will be a project on
nanotechnology. The chemistry department wants to work on green chemistry since it has been noted that some of the gases that the students inhale during experiments can reduce life expectancy. The zoology and the botany departments want to work on cellular culture and plant tissue culture,” pointed out Dr Raghavan. She explained that the wing will not be self-contained, instead it will flow from one department to the other. While the physics department wants to work on software that aids in mathematics being taught through software, the Bachelor of Elementary Education department
(B.El Ed) wants to create a web portal. “The portal will be a first of its kind and will allow not only the students of B.El Ed to exchange their experiences, but also allow schools to share the problems they face with the small children that will eventually lead to enhancement of educational strategies,” said Dr Raghavan. The portal, which will be set up in the next six months, has found support from certain organisations as well. The commerce students can look forward to a PGD and a Diploma in Financial Management and Services. “We have tied up with Manipal Academy of Higher Education
(MAHE) and through a satellite, which is being set up by Hughes Educational Portal free of cost for the college. While the diploma can be done simultaneously with the B.Com. programme, the PGD is a year’s programme that is open to graduates,” pointed out the principal. The Women’s Development Centre will bring out newsletters and organise seminars, conferences as part of their networking with the British Council. The psychology department will launch a new centre, the Centre for Wellness. Gargi has been selected as one of the 47 colleges’ countrywide for grants under the CPE scheme. That entitls them to a financial purse of Rs 35 lakh each.
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Students in a tizzy over Board exam pattern
Faridabad, December 22 Since the syllabus is nearing completion in Matric and Plus Two classes, both teachers and students are cut up about the issue. The Haryana Education Board will hold the Board examinations of 2005 from March 11. The confusion stems from the fact that the State Education Department had adopted a new syllabus for the Board classes of Matric and Plus Two this year and was due to announce the pattern of the tests to be followed in the examination. But it is reported
that there has been no communication in this regard as yet from the authorities concerned. The teachers in most of the schools are going about things in the manner they deem fit. Result: There is no similarity in the pattern, which is being adopted in the midterm and pre-Board examinations. Several schools and their principals have written to the Board and the Department to seek clarification in this regard. According to Dr Sita Ram, Principal of the Government Senior Secondary School, Baghpur village, he had taken up the matter with the authorities concerned, but there was no response, which he claimed had created confusion among the students and teachers alike. This could affect the preparations for the Board exams as well. He said the students preparing for the exams ought to know whether the examination would follow the old CBSE pattern or not. An early decision would help the examinees prepare well for the exams. It may be recalled that the pass percentage of students in the Board exams in the state for Matric and Plus Two exams has been below expectations in the last few years. Several thousand students take these exams each year. The Board, however, to its credit has taken several measures to discourage and prevent copying.
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Brazen conduct Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 22 The incident, which happened yesterday, highlights the falling standards of discipline in public schools. These students — all belonging to class XII — were apprehended while they were e “sipping from a bottle that had been sneaked into the classroom” during the last period of the day. Taking to The Tribune, the Principal of the school said that the parents of the boys were called, but no student has been expelled. He said that the school was of the view that such children require help rather than punishment. The leniency could also be in view of the fact that these boys are scheduled to take their board exams in March next year and expulsion from the school could spoil their career. The Principal also said that since it was the last day of the school he did not even inquire as to how they had procured the bottle and brought it to school; the reason he gave for the inaction was his belief in reformation than reproof. The incident has. However, raised questions about the lack of discipline and values in public schools.
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Meritorious students awarded
New Delhi, December 22 Dr R C Meena, Director Education, NDMC and Dr Mamta Kochhar, Secretary, Navyug School Education Society, gave away the prizes to the students. Award winners from class XII were awarded a cash prize of Rs 600 while the class X students were awarded a prize of Rs 500 along with a merit certificate. Students of NP Bengali Girls Sr. Sec. School, Gole Market, remained toppers in all streams of class X and XII and were awarded two shields. Teachers were also awarded certificates for their contribution.
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Zila Khan to raise funds for NGO
New Delhi, December 22 The proceeds of the concert will directly go to the NGO, to help the organisation in setting up a mobile health care unit with all facilities for slum women. “I am quite excited about supporting the NGO, as they are really working for a genuine cause at a time when some NGOs are only interested in collecting funds for their own development,” says Zila Khan. Highly disciplined and motivated citizens committed to supporting women who are economically deprived run the NGO. For instance, both ex-IPS officer Vijay The NGO, which started with only five women in the Sangam Vihar slums, today trains over 700 women in the Delhi slums. These women earn at least Rs 3,000 every month without depending on anyone. “We want to integrate these women into the mainstream of the society. We train them in entrepreneurship and want them to live with dignity,” says the secretary of the NGO, Nandita Kapoor. “I and Vijay had left the government services to support these women and worked very hard for the last one decade. We never looked for any funds from the government and managed on our own,” she adds. The president of the NGO, Vijay Jha, says, “It took one decade for the Delhi Government to recognise the work of the NGO. We have created income generation for at least 300 women so far and they are empowered in their own capacity.” The NGO supports women by way of providing healthcare and education in addition to training in beauty care, tailoring, computer skills.
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MTNL engineer ends life
New Delhi, December 22 The police said that the victim’s wife tried to contact him on telephone at around 9.30 pm last evening in his office, but did not get a response. She immediately contacted the police who reached the spot and found that the door was locked from inside. When the police broke open the door, Rakesh was found hanging with a telephone cable. However, no suicide note was found. The victim’s family members told the police that he would look tired after returning from the office during the past few days. Stress could have been the reason for taking the extreme step. He left behind his wife, a son and a daughter.
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