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Heat wave conditions keep Delhiites indoors
Power cut for 12 hours amid heat |
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HUDA projects likely to give Faridabad its place under the sun
Police officials’ phone-tapping sets alarm bells ringing
Desilting work on drains yet to start
Community hall in state of disrepair
‘Exposure to sun can damage your eyes, skin’
Ban on sale of cut fruits, juice
Film on epilepsy screened
Two caught for hijacking trolley
Former Noida Dy CEO suspended for flyover scam
Discom to provide loadshedding details to RWAs
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Heat wave conditions keep Delhiites indoors
New Delhi, May 7 Though the maximum temperature of 44.4 degree Celsius, nearly five degrees above normal, was a slight drop from the “season’s hottest” at 44.5 degree Celsius yesterday, it was among the highest for the Capital this season. The sizzling conditions, made worse by hot winds blowing through the air, kept a majority of people of Delhi indoors in the comfort of their coolers and air conditioners. Fortunately, today was a Sunday, a holiday for a majority of office goers. However, tomorrow, or for that matter the whole of next week, is unlikely to bring any relief for the people of Delhi from the scorching heat, with the weathermen predicting the heat wave conditions to persist for the next one or two days. In fact, weathermen have forecast the temperature in the Capital to hover between 42 degree Celsius to 43 degree Celsius over the coming week. Though the weather office has predicted dust storms or squalls in the Capital towards the evening tomorrow, with light showers predicted for Tuesday, there is no chance of there being a immediate let up in the summer heat. The maximum temperature in the Capital is likely to be 44 degree C tomorrow. In fact, the last two days have witnessed the mercury touching a new high for May. Friday saw the mercury recording 43.8 degree Celsius, which rose to 44.5 degree Celsius, the highest for the month of May in the last five years. The last time the mercury touched such higher levels in the month of May was in 2002 when the maximum temperature rose to 46 degree Celsius on May 19 2002, and touched 45 degrees Celsius on May 10 and May 12 the same year. The highest temperature in May has been recorded at 47.2 degree Celsius on May 29, 1944. Weathermen say that the unusually high temperatures in Delhi at this time of the year is due to the absence of any western disturbance, which could bring showers to the Capital. In this context, they point out that last year, a series of Western disturbances had brought showers in May, thus keeping the mercury at low levels of 39 degree Celsius. “Since no such thing happened this year, the temperatures have risen to above 44 degree Celsius with no relief forthcoming for the people of Delhi,” the weather office said. The rising mercury has also left Delhiites battling a severe power crisis with the peak demand for power rising with the mercury. The demand touched 3332 MW on Friday, as against a supply of 2976 MW, leading to a shortfall of 350 MW of power.
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Power cut for 12 hours amid heat wave in Noida
Noida, May 7 There was on an average 10 to 12 hours power cut in Noida area on Saturday while 44 degree C had given Noida the look of a curfew-bond town. There was hardly any vehicular traffic or pedestrian movement seen on empty roads. This was despite instructions from Lucknow headquarters of the UP Power Corporation to impose cuts only for six hours in the area. On Friday night, there was no power from 1 am to 6 am throughout Noida and Greater Noida. The Lucknow head office had again ordered a power cut from 11 am to 2 pm. At this time, the whole of UP, except Agra and Lucknow, is without power. Another dose of three hours cut at night had again forced people out of their homes. Many were even seen taking a walk at midnight in posh colonies. In spite of Pali project, all sectors connected with Sector-62 substation will continue to suffer power cuts, it is learnt. Noida is being supplied power from Sector-62 substation of 132 KV and Sector-20 substation of 220 KV.
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HUDA projects likely to give
Faridabad, May 7 HUDA has announced taking up work on about two dozen schemes worth over Rs 170 crore during the current financial year of 2006-07. Mr Mehtab Singh Sehrawat, Administrator, HUDA, told The Tribune here today there were several projects that had been revived. These had been conceived several years ago but languishing in files. They would start shortly as an estimate had been prepared and sent for approval for the authorities concerned to be launched during the present financial year. He said while work on some of the projects had already been in progress, the department had prepared estimates and taken up the matter at an appropriate level with the departments concerned. He said with the completion of these projects, the city would become one of the best urban centres in the region in the matter of basic and civic infrastructure. The biggest of the proposed projects is the construction of additional two-lane periphery road having a length of about 25 km, which runs parallel to the national highway or Mathura Road, from Sector 37 to Sector 59 here. It is estimated that about Rs 75 crore will be spent on this project for which estimation and survey work had been under way. This scheme had been taken up several years ago, but could not be taken up for reasons unknown and the proposal of the authorities concerned to provide an alternative route to Delhi besides the traditional Mathura Road failed to take off. The HUDA Administrator said the department had taken up the matter of two railway bridges, including a railway overbridge near Sectors 59 and 61 and an underbridge at the Old Faridabad railway station. These bridges would cost about Rs 17.82 crore. He said the department proposed to construct an additional two lane on the existing railway overbridge at Bhadkhal crossing at a cost of about Rs 12.20 crore. The construction of an additional two lane from Bhadkhal to Ankhir Chowk here would also be taken up in view of the growing traffic with a budget of about Rs 3.15 crore. HUDA will also take up the second phase of the drinking water augmentation scheme of Ranneywell with a capacity of about 10 million gallons of water daily and it would cost about Rs 28.12 crore. The administration has also started work on the repairs of the Surajkund road from Ankhir Chowk to Prahladpur, having a length of about 8.7 km with an estimated cost of about Rs 3.59 crore. Other works include widening and strengthening of several roads, disposal of storm water in Sector 49 and taking up electrical works, including putting up new and repairing the existing streetlights at various spots in the city at a cost of about Rs 1.80 crore.
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Police officials’ phone-tapping
New Delhi, May 7 The senior police officers have now asked their colleagues to remain more vigilant and use discretion while talking on the phone. The senior officers have also sought a detailed report of the alleged phone tapping by the suspect. The incident of illegal phone tapping of senior police officers and some bureaucrats came to the notice of the authorities when the officers of the Narcotics Cell of the Delhi Police arrested one R.K. Gupta on October 19, 2005, for possessing narcotics. The police officials said that he was also allegedly involved in flesh trade and operated in higher circles. “During interrogation, Gupta claimed that he had managed to secure the Call Detailed Reports (CDRs) of top bureaucrats and politicians and police officials,” said a senior Narcotics Cell police official. “We have to follow certain rules to secure the CDRs of any person while this accused is capable of securing CDRs just by luring some people of the service providing companies, which is very serious,” the official said adding, “If the criminals can secure the CDRs of top officials and bureaucrats, it is certain that the security of the state might fall in danger.” Besides, the police also recovered one telephone diary that contained the mobile numbers one DCP, 10 ACPs and a large number of persons who were suspected to indulging in flesh trade in some of the metropolitan cities, the police official said. This admission by the suspect sent alarm bells ringing in the police headquarters, who were astounded by the ease with which the suspect had managed to track the phone conversations of the senior police officers, some of whom were involved in sensitive investigations. “It is really a serious matter if a person can tap police officials’ mobile phone. It can become a serious security threat if our investigations can be leaked out to criminals,” Mr A. S. Cheema, DCP Narcotics Cell said. “We have initiated an inquiry to ascertain from where he had procured the CDRs of police officers.” Cheema said and added that the suspect had acquired a number of properties and a fleet of cars by indulging in nefarious activities.
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Desilting work on drains yet to start
New Delhi, May 7 The desilting work of drains normally starts in the month of March and goes on till end of June. There are a total of 1296 drains in Delhi. Only 500 drains have been tendered to start the desilting work, sources said. According to the sources, the other drains will be tendered till May 15 and the contractors will be given a dead line of June 30 to complete the work. He MCD has a budget of Rs 25 crore to desilt the drains. If it is not used before beginning of monsoon, the money will be lapsed. It will go back to the Delhi Government. Sources said that reason for the delay was that contractors were reluctant to do the job as they were not paid timely. Their last year’s bill has yet not been cleared. Seeing their adamant attitude, the contractors have been assured by the department concerned that they will be paid timely. Their last year bill will also be cleared soon. The sources said that to attract the contractors the department has float a new scheme to desilt the drains. The department will pay the bill after four months of completion of the job. The contractors have been asked to transport the silt from drains to the landfill sites where it will be weighted. They will submit the receipt of the weight to department for payment of the bills. The sources said that it was not possible to complete the desilting work this year. The work normally starts in the month of March. Now they will start the desilting work after May 15 and the deadline to complete the work is June 30. It is not possible to clear all the drains within one and a half months.
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Community hall in state of disrepair
New Delhi, May 7 The condition of the community hall is such that the civic agency, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, which constructed it with much fanfare, has no other alternative now than to dismantle the construction and construct a new building at the same site. According to sources, the Delhi Development Authority had first started constructing a Baraat Ghar at the above site in early 1994 after a persistent demand by the residents as there was not a single such common building for organising weddings and other functions in the area. Due to political controversies, the building could not be completed and this almost half-constructed building had been used as a dumping ground for years. In 1996, the DDA handed over this building to the MCD for further construction. Till then, the DDA had reportedly spent Rs 15 lakh on the development and construction of that proposed Baraat Ghar. “It is interesting that the MCD had suggested to construct a storage house here rather than go ahead with the initial proposal. It is with the intervention of then Municipal Councillor that the half-constructed building got renovated and converted into a community hall incurring an expenditure of Rs 5 lakh. But due to malpractices in the construction and poor upkeep by the civic agencies, the community hall is practically not in use for such functions now,” said a local resident. Mr Amrish Singh Gautam, MLA, said that the Trans-Yamuna Development Board had agreed to release a fund of Rs 1 crore for construction of the proposed community hall at that site again. “There is no denying the fact that owing to wrong planning of the civic agencies, initial community hall building could not last long, but we assure that the new one will be better than the previous construction and it will serve the community better. There are some vacant chunks of land at the same site. We have written a letter to the DDA to induct that portion also in the proposed plan,” the MLA added.
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Eye candy on display at Café Turtle
Ravi Bhatia Tribune News Service
New Delhi, May 7 Entitled “Photo Biryani”, the exhibition is an expression of more than two and a half years of Ira’s journey through the country which he claims is the most photogenic of all. The photographs have been shot from the perspective of a guest in a vast country presenting the photographer’s unique sense of humour in his experiences that could only happen in India. Ira Gur Aryeh studied professional photography at the prestigious Musrara School of Photography and Imaging, Jerusalem and subsequently travelled extensively throughout the world. He contributes regularly to some of the top travel magazines. The proceeds from the sale of photographs at the exhibition will be donated to a Delhi-based NGO, Ritinjali, which is actively involved in education of the underprivileged and community development. This is his way of saying ‘thank you’ to the country which has exerted so much influence on his journey as a photographer. ‘Kashmir Hameen Ast’ Rajesh M. Parikh, a well-known Mumbai-based photographer held an exhibition of photographs on Kashmir at the Lalit Kala Akademi Galleries Number 1 and 2 here from May 1 to 7. Entitled “Kashmir Hameen Ast”, the photographs were specially shot during several trips by the photographer to the trouble-torn valley which has often been described as heaven on earth because of its natural beauty. Tribute to nature
and life
Indira Punia, a well-known artist, held an exhibition of her recent paintings from May 4 to 7 at the Ravindra Arts Gallery here. Entitled ‘Strokes of Life –VI”, the exhibition was the artist’s tribute to nature and life in its purest form.
Festival of performing arts
Talent Resurgence and Youth (TYRYO), an organization devoted to the promotion of sports, art and culture, held Triveni Rang Raag—a national festival of Indian painting and performing arts at the Dilli Haat on May 5.. The highlight of the Festival is the exhibition of paintings and sculptures by some of the eminent artists. The exhibition is on till May 14. New structure to ‘Geeta Govinda’
Known for her innovations on stage, renowned dancer, Geeta Chandran presented a new approach to Jayadeva’s famous “Geeta Govinda” as part of the ongoing Jayadeva Utsav organised by the Odissi Akademi here on May 5. Geeta Chandran viewed the “Geeta Govinda” text through the Bharatnatyam lens and gave a new structure and strength to the erotic love song. On May 9, the famous dancer will present a solo performance at the Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre here after receiving the prestigious Delhi Ratan Award bestowed upon her by the Art and Culture Trust of India.
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‘Exposure to sun can damage your eyes, skin’
New Delhi, May 7 Dr Purnima Sahni Sood, Consultant Ophthalmologist, G M Modi Hospital, said, “The sun provides enjoyment, but over-exposure can damage your skin and your eyes. The harm to your eyes comes from the ultraviolet (UV) light of the sun, which can trigger a host of ophthalmic maladies including cataracts, solar retinopathy and eye cancer.” She further reiterates that eyecare is a lot more than just making sure that you remove all traces of make up before going to bed at night. It begins with eating right and goes on to good reading habits and regular exercising of eyes. Dr Sood stresses on the fact that vision problem of growing children is often neglected and a slight impairment in the vision can lead to a significant delay in the child’s intellectual development, so it is imperative to get a preventive eye check-up.” At the free ‘Eye Check Up Week’, along with preventive diagnosis of the above, the focus will be on dealing with detailed eye check up by an expert panel of doctors, who would give free consultation to the needy. During the camp, there would be concession on all relevant investigations, surgeries and treatment with respect to any eye problem, which includes cataract surgery.
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Ban on sale of cut fruits, juice
Faridabad, May 7 The notice issued on Friday states that the sale of all kind of overripe or under ripe fruits, ice-candies, ice-creams and aerated mineral water not certified by competent authority has been prohibited and the orders will remain in effect till December 31. In the event of any suspected breakout of cholera in any locality, the residents would undergo cholera inoculation programme. Bathing and washing of clothes and utensils at wells have also been prohibited in rural areas with immediate effect.
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Film on epilepsy screened
New Delhi, May 7 The chief guest on the occasion was noted social activist Mrs Nafisa Ali. Former Secretary of the Sahitya Academy Prof. Indernath Chowdhury also graced the occasion. The film deals about various facets of relationships which explore the realms of psycho-social and cultural dimensions of human relationships that manifest themselves as subtle yet ignored issues. The turns that relationships take in the event of discovery of an unforeseen illness unearths the deeply rooted beliefs and assumptions. According to Dr Chowdhury, the socio-cultural facet of relationships is poignantly depicted in the film in the rejection of Moni, the main character of the film by the family of her fiancee, when they discover an assumed inadequacy in her.
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Two caught for hijacking trolley
Noida, May 7 Jaideep, son of Kiran Pal, a resident of village Amarpur Palaka under Rabupura police station, was returning after unloading the sand on a tractor-trolley to Bidhopur under Kotwali Dehat, when two criminals jumped on the trolley asking for a lift. In the jungles, they took out daggers and hijacked the trolley by threatening Jaideep and his friend Phattan after tying their hands and feet. On raising the alarm, some farmers came running and freed Jaideep and Phattan who reported the matter at Dastura police post. SO Sangram Singh and Jhajhar police post incharge Ramji Lal Sharma chased the criminals with their force. The criminals were arrested and the tractor trolley was seized. The criminals identified themselves as Pintu of Sherpur village and Sanjiv, alias Bhola, of village Azampur. Both of them are notorious criminals who have been jailed earlier also, the police said.
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Former Noida Dy CEO suspended for flyover scam
Noida, May 7 Work on these flyovers was stopped following the fall of the Mayawati government. The Mulayam Singh government had instituted the Vijay Shankar Mathur Commission to probe the allegations of anomalies. It is on the recommendations of the commission that Mr Hira Lal has been suspended. He is alleged to have determined a higher costing for these flyovers. Five Noida Authority officials are already in the dock as a result of the Mathur Commission recommendations. The report was submitted to the state government sometimes
back. — OC
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Discom to provide loadshedding details to RWAs
New Delhi, May 7 The details would be provided to the RWAs so as to avoid harassment to the citizens while trying to find out the reasons and timings behind unscheduled power cuts. As per the advice of the Delhi Government, there will be restricted power supply to the notified industrial areas between 6 pm and midnight. However, loadshedding may increase and decrease depending upon the availability of power for distribution, the spokespersons of the BSES
said. — TNS
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