New Delhi, June 30
Indraprastha Gas Ltd, the sole supplier of CNG in the National Capital Territory, today hiked Compressed Natural Gas price by Rs 1.12 per kg to Rs 18 per kg.

“The new price of Rs 18 per kg would be effective from midnight tonight,” a senior company official said.

CNG presently costs Rs 16.88 per kg. IGL, however, did not change the price of natural gas supplied through pipes in homes for cooking purposes.

IGL Managing Director Mr. A K De said the increase in price of CNG was primarily because of increase in input cost of natural gas from Rs 2,850 per thousand standard cubic metres to Rs 3,200 per thousand standard cubic metres apart from the introduction of new statutory taxes and levies.

“The 6.6 per cent hike in CNG price would moderately impact the per kilometre running cost for vehicles: three-wheeler auto rickshaws by 3 paise (Rs 0.03) per km, taxi by 5 paise (Rs 0.05) per km and bus by 32 paise (Rs 0.32) per km. The same translates to half a paise per passenger km only,” he said.

CNG prices were last revised in April 2002 and despite the Rs 1.12 per kg increase, CNG in National Capital Territory of Delhi would still be the cheapest in the country. 

New Delhi, June 30
The Delhi State Industrial Development Corporation (DSIDC) has decided to renovate the Weaver’s complex, a mega-complex situated at Nand Nagari where almost all major offices of the North-East district are located.

The DSIDC recently convened a meeting in this regard in which the Chief Secretary of Delhi government and top officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) were also present. A fund of Rs 2.26 crore has been sanctioned for this purpose.

The Deputy Comissioner (Revenue) of this area will supervise the project.

According to DSIDC sources, all 15 blocks of this complex will be renovated and upgraded. “Apart from this, some beautification drive will also be carried out in to the premises of the complex. A small park will be developed in the vacant land near this complex. A six-feet high boundary wall around the complex will also be constructed for security purposes,” informed a senior officer of the DSIDC.

“To ease the problem of water-logging in the premises, which has become a regular feature in the rainy season, a powerful pump set will also be installed. The sewer system of this complex will also be improved,” he added.

The complex was constructed by the DSIDC about 15 years ago to rehabilitate weavers and artisans living in this area. But because of some basic problems, particularly the non availability of raw material, the weavers and artisans refused to shift into the complex.

After that the complex was lying abandoned for years. Later on, the Delhi government decided to accommodate most of its offices in this area in this complex.

At present, the offices of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), C District Consumer Forum, Food and Civil Supply department, BSES, Prevention of Food Adulteration, sub office of the state election commission etc are located in the complex.

According to local sources, in the absence of proper maintenance and upkeep, the complex has started developing cracks and other faults. “The complex is surrounded by slum area from three sides. Due to this reason, some parts of the premises of this complex have been encroached upon by the residents of these cluster areas,” an official said.

It is precisely for this reason that the DSID has now decided to construct the six-feet high boundary wall and to have a 24-hour security in the complex.

New Delhi, June 30
Delhi Police claimed to have busted a gang that was active in manufacturing spurious ball bearing of a reputed company. The police have arrested a person in this connection who has been identified as Jai Singh Verma (28).

The police claimed to have recovered 647 ball bearings and three dyes that were being used for manufacturing the counterfeit Tata motor parts.

Yesterday, the police were informed by the representatives of Tata company that some persons were involved in manufacturing spurious Tata motor parts at Bhajanpura area. A raid was conducted and the police seized the spurious ball bearings from there.

During interrogation, the accused disclosed that he was earlier into LPG gas regulators manufacturing but suffered huge losses in that business. Thereafter he jumped into this illegal trade.

He also disclosed that he procured dyes of Tata motors from one Ramesh Lamba, who is being traced. 

New Delhi, June 30
Delhi Police have arrested one person for his alleged involvement in several cases of murder, dacoity and attempt to murder. The accused has been identified as Munna Khan (35), a native of Hardoi, UP.

The police claimed to have recovered one button-actuated knife from his possession.

Police said that during interrogation, the accused disclosed that he was an active member of Sabir gang of Hardoi, UP.

He was allegedly involved in more than 10 cases of murder and dacoity. The police got information that the accused would be visiting near Hari Nagar in
west district. A trap was laid and the accused was arrested from Mayapuri, Hari Nagar. 

New Delhi, June 30
A meeting of the Shiromani Gurdwara Sewadar Committee was held here to draw attention to the increasing tendency amongst Sikh youth to defy traditions.

It was pointed out that an increasing number of Sikh youngsters are trimming their hair and beard, which is against the Sikh Maryada. Intake of alcohol and drugs, which are also on the rise, was also discussed.

The SGSC members noted that Sikh leaders, teachers and preachers should take steps to stress upon the necessity of following the Sikh Maryada by the youngsters.

Organising religious camps where the teachings of the religion will be preached should be organised and de addictions centres should be run, the members added. —TNS

New Delhi, June 30
The Delhi Government today introduced video-conferencing facility in three districts of Delhi so that senior citizens can take up various civic issues and other problems with the concerned Ministers of Delhi Government.

Addressing a press conference today, Delhi Chief Minster Ms Sheila Dikshit said that initially the Government has set up this facility in South, South-West and West districts and would extend it to other districts very soon.

She said that the Delhi Government has introduced this facility to encourage ‘Participatory Planning’ so that valuable ideas of senior citizens can be incorporated in the planning process.

“The senior citizens can take up issues related to hospitals, schools, security and other civic issues with the government functionary for improvement. Even the women’s groups would be asked to participate in this program in order to discuss issues like security of women, female child infanticide, dowry harassment and other related issues,” Ms Dikshit added.

Meanwhile, a four-member delegation headed by the Delhi Chief Secretary Mr S Reghunathan, which had received the Bhagidhari-2005 ‘UN Public Service Award’ at the UN Headquarters last week in New York, today officially presented the award to Ms Dikshit and her colleagues.

“This was a step taken by the government. But it is the citizens of Delhi who had played a vital role thereby making it a grand success. We have carried the movement in the right direction and will continue to do so in the future,” she said.

After its success, the government also plans to extend the Bhagidhari system to slum clusters and unauthorised colonies to bring about effective change.

Greater Noida, June 30
At least 60 villages of Dadri area located on GT Road between Secunderabad and Dadri have been identified for fast track development as an industrial hub. The task has been assigned to UPSIDC.

The Greater Noida authority is understood to have sent a communication to the administration to this effect.

According to Addl. CEO, Sanjeev Saran of Greater Noida authority, there are at least 225 villages in Gautam Budh Nagar district apart from the villages covered under Noida and Greater Noida authorities.

Out of these, some 169 villages from Javer and Rabupura will be included in Greater Noida authority with which total number of villages in Greater Noida will swell to 297. But about 60 villages of Dadri area, situated by the side of GT Road will not be included in the GNIDA.

In the last board meeting of GNIDA, it was decided to merge all the villages of GB Nagar including Dadri into Greater Noida. But the decision has been kept pending as the area is crisscrossed by railway tracks and GT Road, Saran said.

The Addl. CEO disclosed that it was decided that an industrial township will be developed in an area of 10 km on both sides of the GT Road. The responsibility for this development has been assigned to UPSIDC. The Greater Noida authority is shortly sending a proposal to the administration regarding this issue. After this proposal is approved by the government, all the villages in GB Nagar district will become part of Noida, Greater Noida or the industrial belt. Besides, the boundary of Greater Noida is proposed to be extended up to Aligarh.

This has broadly been welcomed by people. All the villages falling under Noida and Greater Noida are being developed at a fast pace, but district administration has not been able to undertake the development of rest of the 225 odd villages which are not covered by both these authorities. But linking 169 villages with Greater Noida means that they will also be developed quickly.

The land of 41 villages adjacent to Greater Noida will soon be acquired. Rest of the villages will be developed under 2021 mater plan as part of Taj Expressway authority after approval is received, it is learnt.

The distance from Kulesra to Javer will become 80 km after these villages are included in Greater Noida.

Faridabad, June 30
There were about a total of 90,926 persons in this district who have been drawing a pension of one kind
or the other. These beneficiaries include about 27,735 women who were either destitute or widows and had hardly any source
of direct income for their survival.

As many as 265 women had submitted their applications for such a monthly pension with the district authorities here in the
last month.

According to the Deputy Commissioner, Mrs G. Anupama, the issue of providing help to poor and destitute women was quite vital and she had given instructions to the officials concerned to carry out an extensive campaign to inform the people, especially those living in rural areas and to women, so that they could take benefit of the various social schemes launched by the government and the funds meant for the target areas do not go waste or lie unused.

She said the literacy level among the women in the district was very poor and this was directly affecting the awareness level of the section concerned, throwing a challenge before the official machinery and all those who were concerned about the development to ensure the success of any plan or scheme.

She admitted that though the government had provided 33 percent reservation to women in the local bodies and various other forums, a majority of the elected women representatives were still to come out and use the opportunity for their growth.

According to the officials concerned, particular days had been fixed for receiving the applications for the widow or destitute pension in the respective sub-division and preference was being given to women in any scheme of self-employment or of their social and economic upliftment.

An amount of about Rs 84.51 lakh was disbursed as pension to the widows and destitute women in the district during the month
of May.

The authorities concerned also distributed an amount of Rs 13.43 lakh as monthly financial help to about 4,382 physically and mentally- challenged persons in the district.

However the majority of the pensioners belong to the old age category in which about 58,809 persons received their monthly pension of Rs 300
per month.

An amount of over Rs 1.76 crore was released last month for this head.The district has a population of about 22 lakh at present. 

Gurgaon, June 30
The very first showers of the monsoon this summer, which lasted for just about an hour, inundated many areas of the city on Wednesday.

Ironically, the rainfall created almost a pond in front of the local Municipal Council complex as well as Haryana Tourism’s Shyama Restaurant.

Many roads, especially in the old city, were also flooded, leaving scores of two-wheelers spluttering and stranded.

This included Old Railway Road and New Railway Road, whose residents had to contend with water trying to enter their premises in tides.

The General Bus Stand almost turned into a lake, with urchins and pigs playing on the shore.

The vegetable market was one place where none could venture, what with human excrement and flotilla scattered over swarm of storm water.

Although all colonies in the old city were affected, including Jacompura, Rajindra Park, Rajiv Nagar, Surat Colony, Arjun Nagar and Mandanpuri.

This is because they are low-lying areas, which means they always end up flooded with water every monsoon season. 

Ghaziabad, June 30
Two boys were crushed to death under the debris of a boundary wall which collapsed due to rains in Pratap Vihar under Vijay Nagar police station here on Wednesday evening.

The youngsters Imran (14) and Sonu (12), sons of Afzal and Farhat Ali, were playing in the rain alongwith three friends Shahzad, Assif and Salman when the wall in under-construction Kirshana Vihar Apartments suddenly came crashing down on them.

The incident led to an angry demonstration by people who went on to damage a ‘model apartment’ and the builder’s office inside the complex.

The area was visited by District Magistrate Santosh Yadav who announced grant of Rs 50,000 to the kith of the deceased boys and promised strict action against the builder.

GDA Chief Engineer SPS Chauhan said the foundation of the collapsed boundary wall had not been properly dug up and laid.

Vipin Kumar, a partner of the builder firm, however, said the tragedy was a mere accident.

Meanwhile, local BSP leader Jalaludin Siddique demanded payment of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the two deceased boys and Rs 5 lakh to each of the injured boys.

The three injured boys were admitted to Ganesh hospital.