New Delhi, July 24
Continuing the fortnight-old string of hoax calls in the Capital, at least two persons — one of them a ten-year-old — kept the police rattled throughout today sending them on wild goose chases to the India Gate, Red Fort and the Income Tax Building.

All the calls — made within a span of one-and-a-half hour — about bombs having been planted at the three places turned out to be hoaxes but kept the police on tenterhooks for more than four hours.

While a ten-year-old was questioned at his Rama Krishna Puram residence, from where he telephoned about the India Gate hoax, the other person — a 22-year-old broker at the Sales Tax Office — was arrested for calling the police on the Red Fort alert later. The caller of the third hoax call was yet to be traced.

Earlier in the day, even as the first call at 12.02 pm of a bomb been kept at India Gate was being monitored and security forces being rushed to sanitise the VIP area, there was another call of explosives planted at the Red Fort at 1226 pm. Soon after, at 1.35 pm, a third call saying a bomb had been placed at the Income Tax Building at ITO was received, according to the police.

At India Gate, two fire tenders accompanied the Bomb Disposal Squad and the Dog Squad. Police got the entire circumference close to the Amar Jawan Jyoti vacated of people after cordoning the ‘outer circle’ before beginning the search operations.

The call was declared a hoax at 12.40 pm after nothing was found after about 40 minutes of search, said police sources.

Soon after the second call about Red Fort, police cordoned off the entire area, the place was vacated and shopkeepers and the bomb and dog squad pressed into service.

After more than two-and-a-half hours of search, nothing was found at the 17th century monument near Chandni Chowk in Central Delhi and the call declared a hoax at 2.50 pm.

Search at the ITO Building was also completed in about two hours.

A string of hoax bomb calls, most of them pranks by minors, after the blasts in Mumbai have troubled the police and led to searches at India Gate, Red Fort, AIIMS, Akshardham Temple, PVR Plaza, Satyam multiplex and Gurudwara Sis Ganj in the last ten days. They have also arrested several people for making such false calls.

An 18-year-old youth was arrested in North-East Delhi for claiming that explosives had been planted at the Akshardham Temple, PVR Plaza and Gurudwara Sis Ganj while two school kids were picked up for reporting a bomb at AIIMS.

Two intermediate students were arrested by Uttaranchal police on Saturday and two teenagers nabbed yesterday for making hoax calls about bomb at the India Gate and Satyam theatre complex respectively.

New Delhi, July 24
The Delhi Cabinet today approved the release of balance amount of Rs 266.40 crore as its share of enhanced land acquisition cost for peripheral expressways. The Cabinet also gave a green signal to construction of grade separator at Mukarba Chowk by PWD at a cost of Rs 195 crore.

These decisions were taken in a Cabinet meeting presided over by Delhi Chief Minister Ms Sheila Dikshit.

The Chief Minister said that the construction of peripheral expressways around Delhi would go a long way in decongesting traffic in Delhi.

The government has decided to release its share on account of enhanced land acquisition cost by Haryana from Rs 844 crore to Rs 1,307 crore for both the Western and Eastern Peripheral Expressways.

Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are bound to release funds in the proportion of 50 per cent, 25 per cent and 25 per cent respectively for land acquisition cost as per an agreed formula.

Delhi has already released Rs 387.10.

The release of balance amount of Rs 266.40 crore is expected to expedite construction of peripheral expressways, giving a direct bypass or linkage to traffic not destined for Delhi.

The 135 km Western Peripheral Expressway from Kundli to Palwal via Manesar and the 134 kilometer Eastern Peripheral Expressway from Kundli to Palwal via NH-1 and NH-2 would both start and terminate at Kundli and Palwal in Haryana respectively. Out of 134 km length of Eastern Peripheral Expressway, 44 km is in Haryana and 90 km in Uttar Pradesh.

The CM further said that a grade separator at Mukarba Chowk comprising of a main flyover, four slip roads and four clover leaves apart from pedestrian subway, ramps, cycle track and footpath would be constructed by PWD at an estimated cost of Rs 195 crore within 30 months of award of work.

Mukarba Chowk is one of the busiest junctions in the Capital since it is the entry point of North corridor to Delhi. It is a junction formed by NH-1, Road No 26 and Mall Road Extension.

The new grade separator would also benefit the residential and industrial areas in North-West Delhi and interstate traffic moving from North-West Delhi.

New Delhi, July 24
A division bench of Delhi High Court today directed Delhi Government to file a reply to a PIL filed by an NGO regarding denial of admission by state-run schools to a large number of schoolchildren in the age group of 6-14 years.

Acting Chief Justice Mr Justice Vijender Jain and Mr Justice Kailash Gambhir asked Delhi Government to file its reply by August 8 stating why these children have been denied admission in classes appropriate to their age and suitability.

The PIL specifically lists 55 such children — 35 girls and 20 boys — who have been denied admission by government schools.

Counsel for Social Jurist Mr Ashok Agarwal submitted before the court that in terms of the provisions of the Constitution of India, all these children were required to be in school and not at a work place.

The PIL submitted that when these children sought admission in an ordinary government school in classes appropriate to their age and suitability, the schools were not justified in refusing admission to them.

It further alleged that by refusing admission to these children, the government was promoting child labour, which is in violation of laws.

Mr Agarwal told the court that government schools had refused admission even to those children who were part of Learning Centres under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

Seeking the court’s intervention, the PIL states that the children in question came from economically-backward families and were often denied a chance of education for one reason or the other, including poverty, non-availability of school facilities and lack of awareness about the importance of education.

The petitioners told the court that the matter was brought to the notice of the concerned authorities, but failed to elicit a response.

New Delhi, July 24
After a satisfactory power situation for the whole of last week, the Capital today witnessed a severe power crisis with the drastic shortage of power supply resulting in rotational load shedding of around 500 MW in various areas of Delhi.

The power crisis, wherein the discoms were able to meet only a demand of 3100 MW, was caused by Naptha-Jhakri Power Plant not being able to generate power since this morning due to high silt level, resulting in non-availability of 300 MW power.

In addition to this, Hydel Power Plants in Himachal Pradesh also developed problems leading to non-availability of 180 MW of power. Hydel Power Plant at Uri has also stopped generating power.

Official sources said efforts were on to obtain additional power for Delhi from the East, West and Southern Regions.

The sources said the Naptha-Jhakri plant would be able to generate power from midnight.

The power crisis follows a satisfactory power situation in the Capital last week with the discoms being able to meet the power demand during the peak period, barring rotational load shedding of around 80 to 100 MW in few localities to maintain the grid discipline. 

New Delhi, July 24
The Delhi Transport Department has decided to decentralize its East Delhi office based at Anand Vihar Bus Depot to divide the increasing workload by setting up two new offices at CBD Ground, Shahadra and Mayur Vihar Phase 1 Bus Depot.

At present, there are two Transport Authority offices in the trans-Yamuna area. While the office at Anand Vihar Bus Depot caters to the needs of residents of East Delhi, the other one at Loni Road Border is meant for the population of North-East district.

According to sources, the move is in view of the population explosion in East Delhi over the years. Besides, the Anand Vihar office is visited by people living in Noida and Ghaziabad as well.

A Transport Department official said that construction work for the new office had already started at Mayur Vihar Phase 1. “The site for the construction of an office at CBD Ground has been earmarked and we hope that construction will start soon. If the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) acquire the Anand Vihar office, then office for three wheelers will have to shift to Burari transport authority office. Otherwise, the Anand Vihar office will be exclusively for three wheelers,” he said. 

New Delhi, July 24
A young couple died this morning near ITO on Vikas Marg after a speeding Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus hit their two-wheeler.

While Noida resident Aditya (24) died on the spot, Shipra (24) succumbed to her injuries at the Lok Narayan Jai Prakash Hospital later, according to sources.

The motorcycle, on which the couple was riding, was hit from behind by the DTC plying on route no 391 while on its way to ITO.

New Delhi, July 24
Rains continued to elude Delhi today, after last week’s brief spell of monsoon showers.

The cloudy sky, which was interspersed with sunny intervals, led to a slight dip in maximum temperature to 35°C even as a high level of humidity at 77 per cent led to perspiring conditions.

After last week’s brief spell of rain, which saw the Capital lashed by heavy showers on Tuesday and thereafter light rains on Wednesday, there has been a lull in rainfall activity even though the sky has remained overcast.

Weatherman say the Capital may witness some showers in the next two to three days.

In fact, they have forecast that with the seasonal trough passing through Anupgarh, Sikar, Kanpur, Varanasi, Gaya, Asansol and thence to North-East Bay of Bengal, there could be an increase in rainfall activity in North-West India, including Delhi, in the next few days.

The weather office has forecast a generally cloudy sky with possibility of rain and thundershowers in some areas of Delhi during the next 24 hours. 

Faridabad, July 24
There is no proper sports stadium in any village of Faridabad at present. There is one in the urban area, but without even basic facilities. As a result, the youths who want to excel in sports feel left out.

The state government’s move to build a stadium in each block may have brought cheers among the sports enthusiasts, but the move is mired in controversy over the selection process.

The short-listing of villages has begun, but there are allegations of bias in certain quarters. Faridabad district has a population of over 22 lakh, but it would get only six stadiums under the present policy.

It is reported that an estimated Rs 15 to 20 lakh may be spent on each stadium and the district would be able to get not more than Rs 1 crore for the purpose. On the other hand, the state government had announced to spend at least Rs 40 crore on construction of these stadiums during the present financial year. This announcement is causing confusion not only on the issue of budget for each stadium, but also regarding the selection of the village, claimed a member of the Block Samiti.

He said though it had been claimed by the officials concerned that the village selected for the stadium would have a large population, the other conditions appeared to be unclear and the selection left the scope of political interference, claimed the member of the Block Samiti.

He said the decision to construct only one stadium in each block was controversial, as the difference in the number of villages in some blocks had been quite high and did not justify the criteria.

It is pointed out that while the Palwal block in the district was having about 100 villages, the number of villages in some other blocks had been fewer than half of it.

According to an elected member of the Zila Parishad, the selection of the villages for this purpose should have been done on a ‘lottery’ system after short-listing about five villages. This, he said, would have reduced the chance of bias and political interference.

It may be recalled that the proposal to develop stadiums in the villages had been first mooted in the regime of the previous government and the authorities asked to start the process in those villages which offered about six-acre land and contributed 10 per cent of the cost of the project. 

Ghaziabad, July 24
Ghaziabad Municipal Committee and Ghaziabad Development Authority appear to have crossed swords over Nehru Vikas Minar land auction for Rs 100 crore.

The Municipal Committee officials have asserted that Nagar Nigam will in no case relent its possession of Nehru Vikas Minar compound land.

An official letter in this connection is being shot to the vice-president of Ghaziabad Development Authority, it is learnt.

Nigam authorities assert that the GDA does not have ownership right on Nehru Vikas Minar land. However, it has still gone ahead with the auction of Minar.

Nagar Nigam has laid claim to over 40,000 sq. yard land in Nehru Vikas Minar compound.

The officials claimed that the GDA owes Nigam Rs 80 crore, including interest since 1991, but the GDA has paid it only Rs 12 crore so far.

The GDA which had auctioned Nehru Vikas Minar for Rs 100 crore recently, made a profit of Rs 88 crore out of it, point out the Nigam officials.

Nagar Nigam is understood to have acquired this land for a farm, but later the GDA occupied it. It does not have ownership rights on Vikas Minar compound, asserts Surinder Varma, Director , Property in Nigam.

Ghaziabad, July 24
Officials in Ghaziabad Development Authority seem to have landed in trouble as files of 40 plots in Sawarn Jyanti Puram are reportedly missing from the GDA records. Nobody knows how these files have vanished.

Everybody appears to be searching for the documents. Even Officer on Special Duty (OSD) R.P. Pandey has admitted that these files are not traceable.

It may be recalled that in recent days 200 plots in Sawaran Jyanti Puram were revived against rules and when the conspiracy was exposed, the staff tried frantically to locate the files. Meanwhile, it came to notice that 76 plots were cancelled as the allottees had failed to deposit the amount due from them.

A new scheme was then thought of for fresh allotment of these plots.

Even seven months ago, the then OSD Hira Lal had summoned the records of plots in Sawaran Jyanti Puram colony, but the GDA’s records department had failed to find the 
files. Staff were issued warnings that they could be suspended for dereliction.

OSD Pandey said in case files were not traced, stringent punishment could be awarded to the officials concerned.

Greater Noida, July 24
Three persons lost their lives in road accidents in Dadri area on Sunday. One factor common in all the three accidents was craze for speed.

The accidental death graph in this area is on the rise. In June alone, some 40 people had lost their lives in road accidents in Dadri.

Raj Kumar Jha, a tube factory hand, waiting for bus at the factory gate to go to Dadri, was hit by a vehicle plying at a very fast speed. He died on the spot.

In the second accident, a scooterist was hit by a UP Roadways bus at VRT police post. The youth was on his way from Secunderabad to Ghaziabad. He also died on the spot.

In both these accidents, drivers sped away with their vehicles. One of them was later arrested from Bulandshahr.

In the third accident, a motorcyclist had hit a divider in Bisarakh on a ‘katcha’ road. One person Afzal was killed and the second, Salim, was seriously injured. Afzal and Salim had set out from Ghaziabad for Surajpur.

The police have sent all the bodies for autopsy and booked the drivers for rash driving.

Noida, July 24
A police station in charge has been sent to police lines on charges of negligence in connection with last Friday’s suspected “contract killing” of a principal and his bodyguard here due to his differences with the school management.

Two suspects were arrested on Saturday after Jaswant Tyagi, principal of Gandhi Samarak School, and his gunman Miraj Ali were shot dead by five assailants in Sector 22 here while his close aide K P Yadav escaped with minor injuries.

The Senior Superintendent of Police had transferred the station in charge of Sector 12-22 police station Santosh Kumar Singh to police lines.

They said SP (City), conducting the probe into the killing, found that Singh was aware of Tyagi’s tussle with the management and failed to inform his seniors.

The SP went to Dasna Jail in Ghaziabad and met four of the suspects picked up in the case so far and claimed to have got clues about the “hired killers”, they said.

The investigating officer was also probing the role of K P Yadav, the school manager. “As to how he escaped the sharpshooters with minor injuries is a mystery,” they said.

K P Yadav, who is a relative of former MP D P Yadav, had also helped Tyagi fight the management, they added.

Faridabad, July 24
Privatisation remains the bone of contention between the employees and the management of the power department of Haryana.

The recent talks between the two sides could not resolve the matter and the employees’ union decided to continue its agitation.

The All Haryana Power Corporation Workers Union has decided to hold demonstrations and ‘dharnas’ outside the offices of the chief engineers of the department from August 8.

A union spokesperson said here today that the authorities had still not given up the policy of contractual appointments or hiring private agencies for various jobs.

He said there had been no justification for such a policy.

The union claimed that it would continue to oppose the ‘anti-people and anti-employee’ moves of the government.

It is claimed that thousands of posts are lying vacant in the power department itself.

The government has been adopting a causal attitude despite the fact that the workload on each of the employee has gone up several times. The overall performance of various corporations had been adversely affected.

Regarding the complaints of poor performance of private companies vis-a-vis the job of preparing bills, distribution and attending to the complaints of consumers, the union claimed that this was only putting a burden on the department. The redressal of complaints was unsatisfactory, alleged the union.

‘The Bijli Suvidha Kendra’ set up in the city to register the complaints and remove faults has just failed to come up to the expectations, it is alleged.

Meanwhile, the union has confirmed that several of its demands have been agreed to by the officials concerned.

New Delhi, July 24
A training camp of youth Congress district presidents from all parts of the country began in the Capital today to familiarise them on various issues including programs and initiatives of the UPA government such as Right to Information Act, NREGA and Bharat Nirman.

IYC president Ashok Tanwar said that the camp is being attended by about 750 delegates from all parts of the country.