New Delhi, February 23
The Delhi Metro Rail’s Connaught Place to Dwarka line is well on course for completion before the December deadline, with 85 per cent of its construction works already over.

About 85 per cent of the civil work on the longest line in Phase I of the project was already over and track laying, erection of electric poles and finishing work at the stations was also on in different places, Line III Chief Project Manager Vijay Anand told reporters today.

Work was coming along at a very good pace and it was going to be completed within a record time, he said, without specifying how early the line could be commissioned.

‘’This is creditable because the road alignment had to be followed most of the way, the route was narrow and congested, and the road had numerous utilities running beneath it,’’ he added.

Line III’s Barakhamba Road to Dwarka subcity segment, covering 29-km, was to be completed by December this year, while the 3-km portion from Barakhamba Road to Indraprastha by March next year.

The line was also unique in that it had both elevated (30 km) and underground (two km) sections. The train would run at about a depth of 16 mts in Connaught Place, gradually climbing to a height of 10.5 mts. The track would scale a height of 17.5 mts, which was the highest for the rail so far, at Raja Garden crossing as it jumps over an existing flyover there.

The line would have 31 stations, two underground (Connaught Place and Barakhamba Road) and 29 elevated. The line was estimated to cost Rs 3000 crore.

Having had the experience of working on Line I and Line II, some changes have been incorporated in Line III to cut costs and time as well as making the facility more user-friendly, Mr Anand said.

U-shaped girders, which were cost effective, aesthetic and sound absorbant, have been used most of the way, steel has replaced cement in many places to save time.

The line was designed in such a way that ‘viaduct’ (housing the track) and the stations would take up minimum space on the road and hence, cause minimal hindrance to the flow of vehicles underneath.

Completion of this line, which was believed to cater to the maximum number of commuters, expected daily increase ridership in Phase I to about 22 lakh passengers.

The ride from Connaught Place to Dwarka would be a neat 45 minutes, far smoother than the more than an hour journey at present, and cost little over Rs 14 that Metro was charging for the maximum 23-km journey on other routes.

On completion of work, the Delhi Metro would also leave six-lane road along the way, something which was not there originally, and also re-design three intersection for better traffic movement.

New Delhi, February 23
The Delhi High Court today directed the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to remove shops set up outside Safdarjung Hospital in South Delhi within a month.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice B. C. Patel and Justice S. K. Kaul further directed the CPWD to finish the renovation work of the Central government hospital by June 30.

The High Court directed the NDMC to find another place in the locality to shift the licensed shop owners for the benefit of patients and their attendants coming to Safdarjung and AIIMS hospitals.

New Delhi, February 23
A three-day national seminar to create awareness on ‘Teaching Sanskrit through Sanskrit’ was organised by the NCERT in the Capital. The seminar, which was attended by experts, vice-chancellors and eminent persons, was divided into ten sessions, with 22 papers presented by scholars.

Inaugurating the seminar, Prof. Krishna Kumar, Director, NCERT, said that teaching of a language through the same language is a natural process. It is unfortunate, he said, Sanskrit should not be taught through the Sanskrit language. Prof. K. K. Mishra, Coordinator, National Sanskrit Project, highlighted the importance of Sanskrit and quoting Mahatama Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, said that almost all languages trace their roots to Sanskrit.

Claiming that teaching Sanskrit through the Sanskrit language would usher in a new era, Prof. Rajendra Mishra, VC, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, said that even one tenth of the knowledge stored in Sanskrit texts is not being imparted owing to incapability and hesitance of teachers who do not teach Sanskrit through the Sanskrit language.

New Delhi, February 23
Counsellors across the city, kept busy by the ringing of telephones, have a word of advice for the parents, who incidentally are becoming a conspicuous statistic in the caller’s logbook, to keep the stress levels down.

It was pointed out that parents are just as much, if not more, stressed than the children gearing to take their board exams. And what’s more, they are inadvertently passing their stress on to the children.

“When parents push their children too hard, they add to their stress level, which can have a negative effect on their performance,” said Meenakshi Thakkar, counsellor from Mother’s International School.

So, are the parents the real culprits here, we asked Snehi that runs a helpline for children. “The real problem here is a communication gap. The sentiments and anxiety that parents have is fine, but they fail to deliver when they discuss things with their children,” points out Jyoti Uplelchwar, Vice President, Snehi.

“If parents repeat the same thing more than twice, children assume it for nagging. In fact, we have seen that most children are trying hard to please their parents,” she added.

Unfailingly as the New Year arrives, students gearing to take their class X and XII examinations are reminded of the fate that awaits them should they waste as much as a precious one hour.

“Alongside the peer pressure and the individual’s ambition, there is the media hype and parental pressure,” says Anita, a parent. Anita claims to be part of a “miniscule percentage of parents, who have let their children forget that they are appearing for the boards”.

However, the atmosphere in most other house is in sharp contrast. Television, telephone calls and even taking a breather in some cases are strictly forbidden.

Counsellors, however, are against such “stringent measures”.

They contend that “children will perform worse if driven too hard”. “The role of parents during exams should not be that of a nag. Support and encourage interaction with friends, have fun with them, don’t let them overwork, take breaks with them and professional help if needed,” says psychiatrist Samir Parikh.

Counsellors also agree that it is “parents who need counseling”. “There is a discernible increase in the number of parents who call seeking help. But we still feel it is essential that parents understand the role they should play,” said Uplelchwar.

Making a case for parents to seek counseling, Thakkar adds: “Even when parents claim that we are not saying anything…the vibes that they send across are enough to stress children. Parents being more experienced should refrain from unduly stressing children and instead should be able to counsel them”.

New Delhi, February 23
The Delhi Police Commissioner, Dr K. K. Paul, has issued an order enumerating measures to be in force during the period of Board examinations to check copying and other unfair means, besides maintaining peace and tranquillity in and around all exam centres in the Capital.

The order issued yesterday, to be in force from February 28 to March 14, would prohibit certain types of activities, for preserving peace and tranquillity and orderly conduct of the examinations, within 500 mts from the boundary of any exam centre in the city.

Also, raising slogans or loud voice, facilitating copying from outside the exam hall, use of photo-copy machines that could be used for facilitating unfair means during the exams would not be allowed. Assembly or procession within the specified areas and timings would not be allowed except for bonafide students appearing in the Board exams. The use of loudspeakers would not be allowed within a kilometer of the exam centres. It is hoped that these measures will help the students concentrate better during the examination period.

New Delhi, February 23
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi demolished as many as 30 illegal structures in the Khari Baoli area.

The demolition was made under a special drive. The MCD officials said that the drive would continue.

According to the Deputy Commissioner, City Zone, Shashi Kant Mehrotra, “The demolition is being carried out after the Delhi High Court issued an order to raze the third and fourth floors of the houses in the areas.

The Municipal Councillor of the area, Mr Brij Mohan Sharma, said that the demolition was carried out in 15 buildings where the people have erected illegal structure.

“The MCD has razed only the 3rd and 4th floor of the houses. Another 18 buildings were found locked so the demolition of those buildings would be carried out after the court’s permission,” said Mr Sharma.

Gurgaon, February 23
Residents of the city are dismayed by the rise in crime as the area again witnessed two incidents of firing and dacoity in DLF Phase-III last night and in the wee hours of this morning.

This is the fifth incident of dacoity and aborted attempts to dacoity in DLF Phase-III in the past fortnight. The developments have again exposed the chinks in the police campaign for security.

Sanjay, brother of a notorious gangster, was shot at by three youths in Shakti Park from close quarters last night. The injured was taken to a local hospital and later shifted to Delhi. His condition is said to be out of danger.

The three youths were allegedly on a motorcycle. No FIR was registered till the time of filing this dispatch. The reason was stated to be the unstable condition of the injured who was not in a position to make any statement.

He was injured on his chest. In another development, four stengun-wielding youths committed dacoity in V Block of Phase-III of DLF at the residence of Mr T.K.Vasu.

The four got into the house by breaking open the kitchen grill at about 2 am. Mr Vasu said they packed him, his wife and daughter in a room after breaking into the house. While a couple of them stood guard, pointing guns on the head of his daughter, others ransacked the household.

According to him, the criminals took away jewellery and cash worth Rs 60,000.

When his wife inquired of them whether they were of the same group that had committed dacoity a couple of days back in T Block of Phase-III, they just nodded.

A rise in crime in the city suggests that the anti-social elements have become active after the Assembly election, especially during the intervening period of the polling and announcement of the election results.

According to many, the developments on the crime front in the city also suggest that the criminals have no fear of the uniform.

A large section of the city has demanded a thorough investigation into the sudden burst of crime.

The residents of DLF appear to be at their wits’ end at the recurrence of dacoity in the area.

While the DLF management says that the police should fulfill their role, the police say that they are taking all measures to meet the challenge. The residents allege that both the DLF management and the police are to be blamed for the rise in crime.

Greater Noida, February 23
A girl was kidnapped by two brothers from Shahdara village under Surajpur police station.

She had been kept in different places where the duo raped her repeatedly at the point of dagger, the police said.

The Surajpur police recovered the girl on Tuesday when they found two young men and a girl moving in suspicious circumstances on Hindon Bridge at 7.30 pm. As the cops closed in, the youths sped away in their car, leaving the girl crying.

She told the Surjapur police that she had been forcibly pushed into the car by two youths, Vinod and Ved in village Garhi Shahadra on February 15. She was later blindfolded and raped at the point of dagger in different places.

On Tuesday also, they were hunting for a place to commit the crime.

When they could not find a convenient place, they fled leaving the girl near Hindon Bridge. While leaving, they threatened her with death if she told anybody about them.

After recording her statement and getting her medically examined, the police have sent the girl to her parents. She is still dazed and is not able to talk coherently, the police said.

Meerut, February 23
The much-hyped midday meal scheme for the primary schoolchildren is in the mire of controversy once again as there are reports that NGOs as well as some teachers are making money in the name of the scheme.

A number of schools came into scrutiny recently. When Model Central Primary School, Gulaothi, Bulandshahr, was inspected, the total number of students present in the register was 939, while the students actually present were 346. In Primary School, Lakhvaya, Meerut, the attendance register showed the total number of students was 140, while the students physically present were 71.

These are just a couple of instances. There are many schools where such irregularities are quite common.

The meal distribution system has allegedly become a major source of income for teachers, NGOs and for village panchayat office-bearers.

The primary education department suffers heavy financial losses on account of these scams. Such irregularities are common in entire Meerut division.

The Assistant Director Basic Primary Education of Meerut division, Mr Raj Pal Singh, told The Tribune that irregularities are being committed in the name of attendance as headmasters show more students present than they really are and thus save Re 1 per student and his meal.

Ghaziabad, February 23
The Chairman of UP Development Council and MP, Amar Singh has announced that a habitat centre will soon be built in Indirapuram on a 5.14 hectare land.

Mr Amar Singh, who was speaking at Ghaziabad Maha Utsav, on Monday said the centre will be known as Samajik and Sanskritik Kendra (social and cultural centre).

It may be mentioned that the GDA has already approved a proposal to this effect in its last meeting.

The Ghaziabad Development Authority had earmarked the land for the centre from the day development of colonies was taken up in Sahibabad area.

In between the GDA had attempted for a change of land use, but it was opposed by Anil Swami and other members.

In the 96th Board meeting of GDA, a proposal was mooted that 5.16 hectare land in plot No. 16 of Abhay Khand will be auctioned to the private companies, with the rider that only those companies which have experience of building and running such centres will be entrusted with the job.

The company will also exercise complete authority after the construction of the centre.

According to Board decision, a detailed project report will be presented in the next GDA meeting, likely to be held in May.

According to informed circles, even if the proposal is given a green light in the meeting, the selection of competent builders will be an uphill task for the GDA.

It may not be possible for the Samajwadi Party general secretary to lay the foundation stone within 90 days. Many feel that he had made this announcement just to please his party’s vote bank.

Noida, February 23
A large number of women from Sadarpur Colony held a dharna at the office of Noida Authority to protest against the demolition of dozens of pucca houses by the authority in Sadarpur.

The protesters were led by MLA Madan Chauhan of the Samajwadi Party, who after a meeting with the authority officials, said the houses demolished by the authority, would be rebuilt at their original site.

The MLA with a group of demonstrators, trooped into the authority’s boardroom and stayed put till Chairman Dev Dutt came and discussed the matter with him.

A contingent of police, including women police, had been deployed in view of a large number of women protesters. —OC

Noida, February 23
The Uttar Pradesh Corrugated Board Manufacturers Association (UPCBMA) is on the verge of a collapse due to the ‘defective’ policies of the state government, its office-bearers said.

The UP government, according to S. P. S. Luthra, president of the UP CBMA, which was losing no occasion to make tall claims of the industrial development in the state, has treated UP Corrugated Board Manufacturers in a partisan manner.

The paper and cardboard manufacture industry has always supported the government, but it is still being given a step-motherly treatment.

“Up to February 14 this year, the paper industry had to pay four per cent tax, but now besides this tax, we have to pay another tax on the finished product,” Mr Luthra said.

New Delhi, February 23
A 17-year-old student of Bal Bharti Public School today committed suicide by hanging from a ceiling fan at her residence in Samaipur Badli. The police said that there was no suicide note found and she may have committed suicide due to depression. The girl was a student of class XII.