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CM flayed for imposing house tax
Environment audit for institutes
Rs 10-lakh ransom demanded for child’s release
35 nabbed in abduction case
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Auto passengers looted, stabbed; one dies
One gunned down as ‘baratis’ clash
Construction work on NDMC city centre to begin soon
NDMC to meet today
Priority to power generation: Singhal
Six new educational FM radio stations
Hotel unveils romantic mural
Artscape
Handicraft fair from Feb 25
Punjabi Academy awards
BJP demands CBI probe for rigging draw of residential plots
Two killed in accident
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CM flayed for imposing house tax on villagers
New Delhi, February 13 “The villages do not have basic amenities like electricity, water, sewer, drinking water … the government has now gone ahead and imposed house tax on them. The villagers are not in a position to bear this burden,” the Delhi Pradesh BJP president said in a statement.
Two auto-lifters nabbed
The police have apprehended two auto-lifters during a special drive in the Anand Parbat area. The accused persons were arrested last evening while they were travelling in a stolen motorcycle. They were later identified as Prabhat (25) and Pawan (22), both residents of Anand Parbat. The police said that the accused persons used the vehicle to transport liquor illegally in and around Delhi.
Dharna against DSGMC
The members of the Staff Association Welfare, who are on dharna, warned the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee that they would intensify their agitation if their demands were not fulfilled. They members of the association refused to discuss their problem with office-bearers of DSGMC. They have demanded a meeting with the DSGMC President, Mr Paramjit Singh Sarna, who has gone abroad. The President of the Staff Association Welfare, Mr Satnam Singh Koharka, the General Secretary, Mr Harbhajan Singh Dhillon and its former presidents Mr Harjinder Singh and Mr Iqbal Singh flayed the office-bearers for their delaying tactics. They warned that if the DSGMC did not reinstate the terminated employees, workers on daily wages and others, the members of the Staff Association Welfare would begin a protest in front of the committee office at Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib.
Eye camp
A free eye check-up camp is being organised by Tarun Mitra Parishad and Vaish Samaj Sangthan at New Kondli. According to the President of Parishad, Mr Ashok Jain, this 4Ist eye check up camp will be held on February 19 at Swati-Public School, Indira Chowk, New Kondli. This camp will be organised with the help of the Market Association, New Kondli, in which all the eye patients will be checked-up by the medical team of St. Stephen’s Hospital and will be provided free spectacles and medicines.
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Environment audit for institutes
New Delhi, February 13 The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has developed a ‘Green schools programme’, which aims at evaluating schools and educational institutions through an environment audit. Incidentally, while most schools claim to be in the forefront of the Green campaign, there are only a handful of schools in the Capital that have responded to the offer. Contrary to this, there are close to 5,000 schools in Andhra Pradesh and another 2,000 under the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti that have agreed to be a part of the programme. The programme is being conducted by the Centre’s ‘Environment Education Unit’, with an objective to help schools and other institutions assess their Green performance. “The programme has two main features, a user-friendly manual, designed as a practical tool for environmental education that enables schools to audit their own performance and a teachers’ training programme,” said Sumita Sen Gupta, the coordinator of the programme. “The teacher training bit provides step-by-step guidance on how to use the manual through the medium of presentations, film clips and practical interactive sessions,” she added. The teachers’ training programme is being done as a part of the Anil Agarwal Green College that the CSE is presently in the process of setting up at the CSE itself. Elaborating on the purpose of the programme, it was pointed out that through the exercise schools can make use of the manual in their environmental studies programme or as an activity in the eco-clubs. The data that will be collected by students, working with their teachers, will then be compiled and the schools can then have a self-assessment of their environmental practices. The first edition of the ratings that is expected to be released in May 2006, is to help schools and institutions understand what can be done to improve their performance on its environmental sustainability index and to implement these steps over the coming years. “We also hope that a network of schools will begin to come together to use this manual so that there can be a comparative evaluation and a sharing of experiences of the best practices. The training programme, a three-day long session, will be conducted once every month,” Ms Dasgupta said. The CSE is organising a workshop on February 19, 2005 at their office to present to principals and heads of educational institutions the components of the Green School Programme that was launched in December 2004.
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Rs 10-lakh ransom demanded for child’s release
Gurgaon, February 13 A police team left for Bihar this afternoon along with the boy’s father. Kamal, student of Greenwoods Public School here, was taken from his house last Tuesday by a family friend Arvind on the pretext of making just a phone call at a nearby PCO booth. The child has not returned since then. The victim’s family hails from Vaishali district while Kamal’s parents stay in the city. His father, Raja Ram, is a contractor. In an FIR registered by the family, it has been alleged that Arvind had taken the child along with him. Arvind’s sister is married in the native village of Raja Ram. Hence, the family knows the accused. Incidentally, Arvind stays in the city with his family. He is a labourer who keeps migrating to other cities in search of work. His family members are still in the city. Kamal’s grandfather informed Raja Ram about the demand for ransom and the matter was brought to the notice of the police here, where the FIR had been registered. A police team left for Bihar this afternoon along with Raja Ram and his brother. The caller allegedly told Kamal’s grandfather at his native village, a retired principal of a school, that the child had been brought to Bihar. According to the family members of Kamal, Arvind’s name had cropped up in the kidnapping of a doctor’s son in Bihar, a couple of years back. Although Arvind is the main accused in Kamal kidnapping case in the FIR, the police also suspect migratory labourers: Anuj, Mintu Shah, Sunil Mahto and Ram Shakeel. They all stay in Gurgaon. Ram Shakeel who is from Madhubai district in Bihar, is allegedly involved in various criminal activities in his native place. All of them are friends of Arvind and are at large. The police are checking their antecedents as the parents of Kamal have expressed apprehension that they might have helped Arvind in the kidnapping case.
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35 nabbed in abduction case
Faridabad, February 13 The nine-year-old boy, Anand (Golu) is suspected to have been kidnapped while he was returning home from school last Monday. The police have already announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for providing any clue in this regard. According to police sources, several persons have been arrested in the past few days, from the Hodal town and nearby areas. Besides conducting raids, the police prepared dossiers on the youths of several localities, including Sainik Colony to which the victim belongs. While the photo and information about the missing boy have been flashed to many districts, including the towns of UP and Rajasthan, two youths, one of Girsai village, Bharatpur district of Rajasthan and the other of Sancholi village, Mathura district of UP, have been rounded up. The incident could also be a handiwork of small-time criminals, feel the police.
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Auto passengers looted, stabbed; one dies
Ghaziabad, February 13 Meanwhile, a murder case against the unidentified assailants had been lodged with the police. Shamsuddin, alias Shabhu, son of Mohinuddin of Prem Nagar Colony, had come with one Abdul, son of Zahir of Mustafabad to Loni for some work. While returning, they took a three-wheeler from Gokulpuri Mode. At about 8.30 pm, the three-wheeler driver picked a quarrel with the two passengers and assaulted them with the help of his friends. He thrust a screwdriver deep into the victim’s chest. Shabhu died on the spot while his friend Abdul became unconscious. Both the passengers were thrown off the three-wheeler at Khanna Nagar Colony after being looted of about Rs 15,000 and a wristwatch. Around 10 pm, Abdul regained consciousness and intimated his family who reached there and informed the police. The police rushed Shabhu and Abdul to SGTB Hospital where Shabhu was declared brought dead by doctors.
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One gunned down as ‘baratis’ clash
Noida, February 13 According to police CO, one ‘barati’ Gajinder Singh, son of Bhopal Singh of Vishnu, had accidentally rubbed his shoulder against that of Vinay of Partapur. A quarrel ensued between the two over this minor incident and Vinay’s friends beat up Gajinder Singh badly. Before the issue came to a boil, some elderly persons intervened and settled it amicably. However, as the bride left for the groom’s house, Gajinder Singh’s car was stopped by six young men in a Maruti car at Dadri Nagar Parishad office. They assaulted Gajinder Singh and his companions with clubs and iron rods. Both the sides soon resorted to the use of firearms in which Shiv Kumar of Meerut police station was shot dead. Among those wounded in firing was Brijinder, son of Phool Singh of Mewla, Maharajpur in Faridabad. After the exchange of gunshots, police reached the spot immediately and rushed the injured to Navin Hospital, Dadri. Later, Gajinder was referred to Yashoda Hospital in Ghaziabad. No report has been registered till now. — OC
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Construction work on NDMC city centre to begin soon
New Delhi, February 13 The construction work on the building, which is adjoining to the NDMC main office near Jantar Mantar, had been halted after severe irregularities were detected in the construction work carried out by the National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC). According to the Director (PR), NDMC, Mr Madan Thapliyal, “we have now invited fresh tender of Rs 14.25 crore to resume the deferred work of this building.” “We are looking for foreign or multinational companies for this purpose as our experience of hiring indigenous companies has been very bitter. We have also put a deadline for the completion of all unfinished works by 2007,” he added. According to the president of the NDMC Worker’s Federation, Mr Ganga Ram, the responsibility for constructing this building had been handed over to the NBCC in September 1994 through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Sometime after the start of the construction work, the NDMC decided to change its construction plan, which included increasing the capacity of its proposed auditorium from 250 to 700, and construction of electricity sub station, conference hall and the library on the ground floor itself. “Initially, the NDMC was also toying with the idea of shifting its existing offices to the proposed building and putting its old building on rent,” according to a source in the NDMC. In 1999, the NDMC had to change its plan as the proposed building was delayed “beyond its imagination”. However, seeing “unjustified” delay in the construction work, the NDMC decided to set up an inquiry committee, which observed that against the payment of Rs 20.55 crore, works worth only Rs 15. 68 crore had been carried out by the NBCC. Seeing such gross irregularities, the NDMC then slapped a fine of Rs 2.80 crore on the NBCC. Moreover, the earnest money (Reserve Bank guarantee) of Rs 40 lakh had also been encashed by the council as a punitive step.
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NDMC to meet today
New Delhi, February 13 “The previous meeting had been postponed on the complaints of the members that the agenda for the meeting had been handed over to them at the eleventh hour so they had no time to study the main points. So we had no other option than to extend the date of the meeting,” she said. Apart from public grievances, review of developmental works, resuming the construction work of the City Centre will be discussed in the meeting, she said. However, according to the President of the NDMC Worker’s Federation, Mr Ganga Ram, “NDMC is quite an expert in drawing projects and proposals on paper, which seldom take shape”.
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Priority to power generation: Singhal
Noida, February 13 The Union Power Ministry has assured us of liberal financial grants and availability of funds to U.P, said Mr Singhal. He pointed out that Rs 2,200 crore will be spent on rural electrification programme while Rs 817 crore is the projected expenditure for urban electrification. Mr Singhal said the state government has listed four priority areas. First, greater power availability to urban, rural and industrial sectors. Second, comfort and convenience of the consumers to be kept in mind. Third, billing system to be improved and revenue generation to be given top priority, so that further investments in power sector could be ploughed in. All the 29,000 villages in UP will be covered under the total electrification plan, which will bring about faster development of villages, Mr Singhal said. Noida is a showcase of UP, he added. Besides Reliance, Birla and Tata Power are also likely to set up power plants in UP, the Chairman of the UP Power Corporation said. There are six companies, including four major companies involved in the distribution of power in UP. It is a big network, he said. A 4,000 KVA station is being set up to augment the generation in the state, Mr Singhal said. He also had a word of advise for the employees. He asked the employees to change their attitude and commitment so that the image of the corporation is improved. A good image is very important for a public utility organization, Mr Singhal emphasised. “We must develop the power sector as a service industry. Equally important is the use of modern technology and skills of better management. Combing operations on line loss and realisation of revenue will be launched soon, said the Chairman of the UP Power Corporation.
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Six new educational FM radio stations
New Delhi, February 13 The Gyan Vani network, launched in November 2001, broadcasts progammes over a radius of 70 km and has the capacity to be specific, catering to the educational and development needs of a locality. The broadcasts are in Hindi, English and the language or dialect of the region and are conducted by local resource persons. According to an IGNOU statement, various ministries, educational institutions, NGOs and national level institutions such as IGNOU, NCERT, UGC, IIT and Open universities contribute to these programmes, which range from 4 to 12 hours in broadcast duration, varying from station to
station.
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Hotel unveils romantic mural
Gurgaon, February 13 The mural, having depictions of characters in idyllic setting evoking the tender emotions of love and romance, forms a kingsize backdrop to the lawns of the main complex of the fast food joint section. This lush green area in the midst of the structures of the place is a frequented place by the visitors, especially the youths of the region. The unveiling was done at an event titled “Oomph” which involved a fashion show and entertainment extravaganza. The fashion show was presented by the students of National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFD). Well-heeled crowd from the NCR, especially from Delhi, dominated the audience enclosure. The audiences were treated to a musical extravaganza performed by dancing sensation, Sonia, of the MTV fame. Speaking on the occasion, the Executive Director of 32nd Milestone, Mrs Mamta Sharma said that the institute had a larger motive to organise the programme. “As a responsible corporate, we in the 32nd Milestone feels enjoined upon to nurture young talent. ‘Oomph’ is a platform that offers the young creative minds of the country an opportunity to show their case creativity,” she added.
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Artists contribute their mite for tsunami victims
Ravi Bhatia Tribune News Service
New Delhi, February 13 A fibre glass sculpture of Mahatma Gandhi and a photograph of a ship caught in a storm are among nearly a hundred works of art that have been put up on the online auction. The Mahatma Gandhi sculpture has been donated for the cause by award-winning sculptor Ram Sutar while eminent photographer O P Sharma pitched in with his rare shot of a ship caught in a storm. Others who have contributed to the auction by the recently launched artists’ foundation, ‘Art Ache’, include painter-graphic designer Shanti Dave, who has donated a graphic art on ‘Geet Govind’, and the late Kashmiri painter G R Santosh, whose family has offered one of his paintings. “The artists understand the pain of the people better than anyone and they want to help,” said Manas Arvind, vice-president of Art Ache. At the launch of Art Ache over the weekend, the Chief Minister of Delhi, Mrs Sheila Dikshit, applauded the gesture of the artists. “Artists can help in sensitising the people on social issues,” said Ms Dikshit. As many as 80 artists, including painters, sculptors and photographers have donated their works to the auction, which began on February 9 and runs till the month-end on website www.art-ache.org. The money from the sale of the works will be donated to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, said Arvind. Healing the scars of Gujarat carnage
Several prominent artists and a number of leading poets of the country came together to launch a unique exhibition on the eve of the third anniversary of the Gujarat carnage at the Habiart Gallery, India Habitat Centre here. Conceived and put together by the Amnesty International, the paintings and drawings in the exhibition seek ways of healing the scars of the sectarian violence. Among those who participated in this unique exhibition entitled “To See or Not to See” were well-known names in the art world like Manjit Bawa, Yusuf Arakkal, Jaysri Burman, Gogi Saroj Pal, MF Husain, Shyamal Dutta Roy, Ved Nayar, Kavita Nayar and Ranga. Works of renowned poets like Gulzar, Kaifi Azmi, Dilip Chitre, Aziz Qadri and Girdhar Rathi were read out at the exclusive evening by, among others, Keki Daruwala, J. P. Das. K. Satchidanandan and Anna Sujatha with Mrs Irene Khan, secretary-general of the Amnesty International playing the host. For the last eight years, this young man from Kerala has been carving shapes from the coconut husk—sometimes leaving its shell closed and making it a show-piece, or cutting a portion from the middle so that it can be used either as a flower vase or a pen stand.. Baburaj T, a 34-year-old carpenter from near Kozhikode in north Malabar, learnt the craft of chiselling objects like animals, birds, vegetables and flowers, among others, from his cousin A Prathap, who had won a national handicraft award in 1994. Prathap is still in the field, designing new coconut models on a commercial basis at Thiruvananthapuram, but it is Baburaj who mostly executes the ideas. Monkeys are the ones he chisels the most among animals, as they look ‘’the cutest’’. Also popular are figures of elephants and horses with or without a stand attached to their base. Among the birds, it is the eagle, while lotus is the common flower-shaped out of coconut. ‘’It takes six to seven hours to finish working on the monkey. If its the elephant one needs three days. And it is the eagle, with detailed sculpting involved with the wings, which takes the most time — one week,’’ says Baburaj, whose coconut sculpture had won an award at the prestigious Surajkund Fair in Haryana last year.. Baburaj says the texture of the husk is ideal for sculpting if the coconut is plucked from trees grown in red soil but near the sea. It takes as many as six months to dry the coconut in the open before it can be used to sculpt figures.
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Handicraft fair from Feb 25
New Delhi, February 13 As many as 1,500 leading manufacturers and exporters of handicrafts and gifts from all over the country will display their latest and innovative products spread across 15 halls at the Pragati Maidan. The products to be showcased include home accessories, decorative products, handmade paper, jute products, art, craft, hand printed textiles, Christmas decorations, embroidery crafted products, terracotta, textiles (with vegetable dyes), dry flowers, alternative wood products and brassware. The EPCH Chairman, Mr Navrattan Samdaria, said the exhibitors at the fair would cover more than 100 categories in various sections. However, the focus would be on home textiles, including quilts, coverlets, handloom fabrics, handcrafted carpets, window decorations, bed and kitchen linen, door mats and bathroom accessories and furniture.
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Punjabi Academy awards
New Delhi, February 13 Mr Joginder Amar has been conferred the Param Sahit Satkar Samman for outstanding contribution to Punjabi literature, language and culture. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 1.11 lakh. Dr Jagbir Singh has been selected for the Punjabi Sahit Sewa Samman, Bhai Baljeet Singh for Punjabi music and Mr Mohan Singh Bairy for service to promotion of
Punjabi. — TNS
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BJP demands CBI probe for rigging draw of
Greater Noida, February 13 Addressing the protestors, local MP Ashok Pradhan said the rigging should be probed by the CBI. The case has been hushed up by the authority officials on the instructions of the state government. Ever since the Mulayam Singh Yadav, government has been ruling in UP, he said corruption in the state has touched new high. The draw of the residential scheme had been manipulated at the behest of the state government, Pradhan alleged. MLA Nawab Singh said since thousands of people have been cheated in the scheme, a probe is called for in the matter so that the guilty could be brought to book. Farmers, whose land is being acquired, are being exploited by the Greater Noida Authority, it is alleged.
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Two killed in accident
Noida, February 13 The driver sped away with his truck, the police said. Shri Ram and Hara Ram were brothers-in-law. The Phase-II police have sent the bodies for a postmortem.
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