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Demolitions: MPs seek Sonia’s intervention
Acquitted man spends 17 days in jail
Pollution control notices issued to 73 units
IIT students at their ingenious best
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Meerut fire: Woman disappeared en route to hospital
Transport
dept asked to furnish details under RTI Act
Man shot dead by son for family land
Man gets 10-yr RI for raping tenant
Former home guards clamour for reinstatement
Second chance for students of govt schools
Uphaar fire: CBI urges HC to order probe
Arya Samaj to honour Baba Ramdev
Civil Services Day observed
Convict demands money from jeweller
Three held for ransom demand
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Demolitions: MPs seek Sonia’s intervention
New Delhi, April 21 The Congress MPs urged Ms Gandhi to ensure that the demolitions being carried out by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) are stopped till the notification of new master plan for the Capital. Congress MP from Sadar, Jagdish Tytler told mediapersons that the delegation has demanded immediate action in the form of a two-line Bill in Parliament, “stop demolition till the notification of the new master plan for the capital”. The other members of the delegation were Union Minister of Science and Technology Kapil Sibal, Krishna Tirath and Sajjan Kumar. The meeting with Ms Gandhi is part of the attempts being made by these Congress MPs to seek a solution to the situation arising out of the court orders to seal and demolish illegal structures in the Capital. “We believe that the extent of unauthorised construction in Delhi is the result of many years of neglect by the planning authorities and cannot be resolved overnight,” Mr Sibal said at a press conference. Clarifying that they were not in favour of “unauthorised constructions,” Mr Sibal said, “The mess in the Capital cannot be cleared overnight. We are for modern cities, but not at the cost of the lanes of Chandni Chowk and Paharganj, which have their own value”. Mr Sibal said he had also discussed the matter with the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and Union Minister of Urban Development Mr S Jaipal Reddy and hoped for a solution soon. Expressing concern over the demolitions in old Delhi, Mr Tytler said, “at his rate, we will have to destroy 70 per cent of Delhi. Why demolish old Delhi to build a modern city.” Meanwhile, in another development, Jai Kishen Sharma of the Congress today assumed the post of chairman of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi with a resolve to remove corruption from the ranks of the civil-bodies. Mr Sharma was unanimously elected to the post of the chairman as he is the only person to have filed his nomination till April 17, the last day for filing of nominations. The BJP had not filed any nomination for the post. At the same time, Mr Tarsem Bansal of the Congress was unanimously elected as the deputy chairman of the MCD Standing Committee with Mr Bansal being the only candidate to have filed nomination till the deadline of filing of nominations. Addressing mediapersons after assuming his post, Mr Sharma said his first priority would be the removal of corruption from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. “It is important that we present before the people about a clean image of the MCD so that they give a good impression about the corporation,” Mr Sharma said. “The MCD workers should work for the well being of the people of Delhi and the development of the city so that we are well prepared for the 2010 Commonwealth Games,” he said. He, however, denied that there was a nexus between corrupt officials and politicians. On the present crisis in Delhi arising out of sealing of shops in residential areas, as per the order of the Supreme Court, Mr Sharma said “We will make efforts to provide relief to the people of Delhi from the ongoing sealing operation”. He said the MCD leaders had been meeting Chief Minister Ms Sheila Dikshit and others to seek relief for the people of Delhi on the sealing issue. “The Supreme Court has fixed April 28 as the date for hearing the Union Government’s plea for a six month moratorium on the sealing operation. I am hopeful that the situation will be resolved by then,” he said. In the 18-member Standing Committee, 16 members belong to the Congress party and remaining two from the BJP. Among those re-elected to the Standing Committee this year are BJP leader Vijender Gupta as well as Congress leaders Mukesh Goel and Jitender Kochar.
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Acquitted man spends 17 days in jail
New Delhi, April 21 Mohammed Tanvir, a resident of Hath Park here, got the shock of his life when on April 3 policemen from Jehangirpuri Police Station arrested him from Delhi Gate on the basis of an order passed by a Sessions Court in February 2002 declaring him a proclaimed offender. Interestingly, Tanvir had already been acquitted in the case in July 2002 for want of evidence against him. Following his arrest, Tanvir was produced on April 4 before the metropolitan magistrate concerned, who sent him to judicial custody till today. The mistake was finally detected by an additional sessions judge before whom Tanvir was brought after over a fortnight behind bars. On perusal of the case file, it was found that the matter had been closed way back in 2002 and all the accused, including Tanvir, who was declared a proclaimed offender during trial, were acquitted. Following this, the court set him free. “The accused was indeed declared a proclaimed offender. But all the accused were acquitted in 2002 after the material witnesses in the case turned hostile,” the judge observed.
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Pollution control notices issued to 73 units
Gurgaon, April 21 This was disclosed here today by the Regional Officer, Gurgaon, HSPCB, Dr C. V. Singh, at a function organised here by the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) headed by Mr H. P. Yadav. The function was regarding celebrations of World Earth Day to be observed tomorrow. The function was in the form of a one-day workshop on “Best Practices for Pollution Control and Compliance of Environment”. The HSPCB issued the notices at the behest of the Central Pollution Control Board. It has set the parameters to be followed by the units to control possible increase of the ratio of NOX as well as other toxic gases in the air. According to Mr Singh, the units have been asked to ensure that their generator sets of 1000 KWT capacity and more do not emit more than 75 PPM unit of the gas. Also, that they must have automatic monitoring mechanism. They must also individually prepare an action plan report as preventive and precautionary measures to fulfil the directive of the Central Pollution Control Board to minimise the possibility of increase of toxic gases. To cap it, it has been made mandatory for the units to display the details outside their premises and also send them to the HSPCB. However, the board has not set a deadline for compliance. Dr Singh, during his speech, reiterated the stand of the Haryana Government, debunking a survey of the Central Pollution Control Board which found that air in Gurgaon had three times more of the permissible content of VOX. A monitoring team of the central board had conducted the survey towards the end of last year. The permissible limit is 80 micro gram/cubic metre. According to the survey, Gurgaon was one of the largest pollutants of toxic gas in the country. This had kicked up a furore and the matter was also raised in the Haryana Assembly. Picking up the thread of the government’s stand, the HSPCB lamented that the monitoring team of the board had collected one sample at one of the busiest joints of the city and that too in December when fog and dense air made the weather heavy. The team exterpolated the finding for the entire city. The methodology adopted to reach the conclusion was debatable. Rather, the state board today put the blame on the national Capital, and also the central board in the process, saying that samples conducted by it in January and February this year and also reports of about 35 various other authorised entities, revealed that the level of NOX emission in Gurgaon was less than in Delhi. According to him, while the average amount of the gas in air surveyed in Gurgaon on January 6 was between 10-51 micro gram/cubic meter, in New Delhi it was between 97-99. Also, in February, the survey in Gurgaon put the figure between 11-38 while in Delhi it was between 65-97. The state board also revealed that in its correspondence with the central board it had contested the latter’s finding. Speaking on the occasion, the deputy commissioner expressed concern at lack of greenery in Udyog Vihar area managed by the Haryana State Industrial Corporation. He urged owners of plots in the industrial zone of Udyog Vihar to set up a green hub outside their business premises and assured them of all help from the HSIDC in maintaining them.
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IIT students at their ingenious best
New Delhi, April 21 As part of their B.Tech programme, students of various departments at IIT Delhi will showcase these projects on April 22 on campus. On display are a smart cane for the visually impaired, which is aimed at facilitating their mobility and navigation. The white cane that most rely on can only be used to detect obstacles up to knee-level within a range of only two to three feet. These user-friendly and potentially affordable devices reduce dependence on sighted assistance and thereby empower the visually challenged. An automated mechanical flush for urinals is aimed at replacing the currently used sensor systems with the cheaper and equally convenient mechanical system. The system saves water, making it a big draw. A foot-operated refrigerator door opener has been designed for the multi-tasking individuals as also who cannot use their hands. The new mechanism allows the user to open the refrigerator by foot when both the hands are occupied. Also on display is an appliance identifier, which is useful in identifying exact switch of appliance from many switches on the switchboard easily and quickly. For cleanliness buffs, a magnetic window cleaner is useful for cleaning the outside of windows from inside has been devised. The product has two components, which are placed on each side of window. The outside component has a duster while the inside component has rare magnet, which helps in moving the duster outside. Making the process of sorting mail less dreary is a mechanical mail sorter. The project aims at making a mechanical mail-sorting machine that sorts letters according to their respective sizes. This product spells relief for the local postman. A low-cost mechanical Braille displays device, which is the first of its kind has also been developed. It finds its utility as a teaching aid for the blind and prevents wastage of paper.
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Meerut fire: Woman disappeared en route to hospital
New Delhi, April 21 Rakesh Girdhar claimed that after the blaze broke out in Victoria Park on April 10, his wife, Vandana Girdhar, was seriously injured and two persons, one of them a private security man, handed her over to a police jeep to be taken to hospital. However, nobody knew of her admission to any hospital or her whereabouts, Girdhar said, adding he had searched for her at every possible hospital but in vain. DIG Police Meerut Range R K Vishvakarma told reporters today that 47 people were officially declared dead, four missing, including Vandana Girdhar, and 108 injured who are being treated in Ghaziabad, Noida, Delhi and Meerut hospitals. He said it had come to light that some people were trying to tamper with evidence of the fire and they will be sternly dealt with. Meanwhile, a local court today issued non-bailable warrants against the organisers of the trade fair where a devastating fire broke out on April 10. The chief judicial magistrate has issued non-bailable warrants for Lakhan Tomar, Aasit Gupta and Sidharath Manohar, who are evading arrest since the incident. The court has also asked the Investigating Officer to file a report in this regard by tomorrow. According to the district magistrate, 77 wounded have been released while 93 people are still being treated in various hospitals, including 49 in Meerut and 44 in Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad. One body is still lying in the mortuary for identification. However, there is no clue about Malti Tayal, Vandana Giridhar, Aadesh Yadav and Ramanand Gupta, who have been missing since the incident, he said.
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Transport
dept asked to furnish details under RTI Act
New Delhi, April 21 The direction was given by the Public Grievances Commission while hearing an appeal under the Delhi Right to Information Act 2001 wherein a citizen had demanded information on how the number of buses on different routes was being decided by the transport department. In another case pertaining to the Patparganj area, the commission directed the department of industries to allow a citizen to view the videography which has been created relating to encroachments on land owned by the industries department.
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Man shot dead by son for family land
Bulandshahr, April 21 The elder son of the deceased has filed a report naming his younger brother for the murder of his father. The police said Chiranji, 65, a resident of Kharikwadi village, was asleep outside his house on Tuesday when his younger son Niranjan descended on the scene and shot at the former. Before his mother Chanderwatti could grab him, Niranjan fled from the scene. Chiranji’s elder son Shiv Charan and some neighbours chased Niranjan but failed to catch him. The profusely bleeding Chiranji succumbed to his wounds while being rushed to a hospital. According to Shiv Charan, though he was married, he had no issue. His younger brother Niranjan had two wives. He had a son from his first wife Savitri while his second wife Champa too had given him some children. He had married Champa who had eloped with him. After his marriage with Champa, Niranjan’s first wife Savitri had gone to live in her parents’ house along with her son. A few days ago, Shiv Charan said his father had gone to Kirthala to fetch Niranjan’s first wife and had wanted to bequeath his property to Savitri’s son. But Niranjan was pressing his father to bequeath his property to the children of his second wife Champa.
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Man gets 10-yr RI for raping tenant
New Delhi, April 21 An additional sessions judge, finding Ram Lal Bhargav guilty of raping and extending threat to the victim, said “the offence of rape also violates the right to life of the victim which includes the right to life with human dignity”. The offender was also fined Rs 10,000. As per the prosecution, the victim, along with her husband and two children, was living as a tenant in Bhargav’s house in Khazoori Khas area of east Delhi. On the afternoon of July 6, 2005, Bhargava, after finding the victim alone in her house, asked her to come down to his room after preparing tea. As soon as the victim entered Bhargava’s room, he bolted the door behind her and sexually assaulted her and threatened her against disclosing the same. Later, the victim mustered courage, and lodged a complaint against the accused who was nabbed and booked for the offence. The medical examination confirmed sexual assault.
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Former home guards clamour for reinstatement
New Delhi, April 21 The former home guards and their families threatened to storm Parliament if the authorities did not take immediate steps to solve their problem. According to a spokesman of the agitating home guards, services of 14,000 of their colleagues were arbitrarily terminated in 1986. The matter was taken to the courts and in 2001, the court ruled in favour of the home guards and asked the city government to reinstate them. The spokesman alleged that despite the fact that five years had passed, nothing had been done to take these personnel back. As a result, they were facing a lot of hardship. These affected home guard personnel claimed that many of them had spent several years serving in difficult times and now they were being treated shoddily.
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Second chance for students of govt schools
New Delhi, April 21 These students who have either failed or have been placed under compartment will be allowed to take a re-examination in June. The government will also organise special coaching classes for them starting next month. The proposal to bring down the pass percentage from 33 to 25 per cent in the schools run by the Government was, however, turned down on various grounds. Sources said that the suggestion to the Directorate of Education, Government of NCT of Delhi, to scale down the pass percentage to help students, has been refused on the grounds that it would lead to complacency. The decision to conduct a re-examination is a significant move to check the falling standards of education in the schools run by the MCD and the Government, as also to bring down the drop-out figures. Sources said the DoE has decided to conduct a re-examination for all those students from Class I to XI who have either failed or passed under compartment, instead of making them take the test in the next academic year.
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Uphaar fire: CBI urges HC to order probe
New Delhi, April 21 Senior counsel K T S Tulsi appearing for the AVUT (The Association of the Victims of Uphaar) before Justice R C Jain submitted that loss of incriminating documents was deliberate and not a coincidence as pleaded by RK Naseem, counsel for the Ansals. He also submitted that Naseem’s plea couldn’t stand scrutiny. The documents lost had incriminated the Ansals, owner of the Uphaar cinema, he argued, wondering how coincidence could be far too much. They want us to believe that the documents disappeared as if they had their own minds and wings, he submitted. He also said that the missing documents pertained to minutes of board meetings of the Uphaar cinema, indicating that Ansals were actually managing and controlling the board of the cinema hall. Counsel appearing for HS Panwar, Delhi Fire officer, however continued his argument on challenging the locus standi of the fire victims for filing the case.
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Arya Samaj to honour Baba Ramdev
Faridabad, April 21 Mr Rajender Singh Bisla, former MLA and president of the Ved Prachar Mandal here, said today the function would be held at Arogya Jansewa Kendra at the main market in Sector 37 at 5pm tomorrow. Lauding the efforts and the campaign launched by Baba Ramdev to promote the traditional Indian health system of yoga, he said it was perhaps the first time after several attempts that people had started believing in its importance. Describing the efforts of the baba, Mr Bisla claimed they were quite similar to the tenets of the Arya Samaj, which fought against social ills and promoted the goodness of Indian traditions and its system.
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Civil Services Day observed
New Delhi, April 21 Delhi chief secretary Mr S. Regunathan presented a copy of compilation of Good Administrative Practices to Delhi Chief Minister Ms Sheila Dikshit. Good Governance Practices have been prepared after a comprehensive exchange of views by seniormost civil services officers of the Delhi Government. Speaking on the occasion, Ms Dikshit said that Delhi has become the first state to chalk out a workable Action Plan relating to good administrative practices, which would revolutionise the work culture in various offices of the state government. The compilation has been prepared keeping in view concerns of citizens, legislators and civil services officers. She expressed confidence that the new practices would go a long way in making city government more friendly and
responsive. — TNS
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Convict demands money from jeweller
Gurgaon, April 21 The owner of JMD Jewellers has informed the police that he has received a letter, apparently written by the gangster, by post demanding the money. The letter threatens the jeweller of dire consequences if he fails to provide the money. According to the police, an FIR has not been registered as the jeweller has not made the complaint in writing. However, police protection has been provided to him. The police say they are verifying whether the gangster has indeed written the letter or some one has impersonated him. Significantly, the gangster has been convicted on the charge of extortion of money.
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Three held for ransom demand
New Delhi, April 21 The police said that on February 2, a call was received by Mr Jagjit Singh, asking him to look outside his house. When he went out, he saw his car burning. Subsequently, another call was received, asking for Rs 1 crore as ransom. A case was then registered. The police arrested one Vikas Barua on February 23 who disclosed the names of his accomplices as Sunny Priyadarshini and Jasvinder Singh who were extorting money in the name of one Naga Singh, a dreaded criminal of Bihar. The police arrested Sunny Priyadarshini from Patna and Jasvinder Goldy from Noida. The Special Cell of Delhi Police are interrogating them for their involvement in other cases of
crime. — TNS
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