New Delhi, July 26
After the power crisis of the last two days, the power situation in Delhi was back to normal today even as the skies opened up over the Capital with heavy showers for the first time in the current monsoon season.

The discoms were able to successfully meet the 3,200 MW power demand in the Capital today and did not have to resort to any loadshedding.

125 MW power from MP was added today to Delhi supply. The state would be able to supply 150 MW power from tomorrow. Apart from this, around 100 to 150 MW power from Haryana would be added to Delhi supply from tomorrow, hence providing Delhi with 250 MW of power.

Power situation in Delhi has been grim for the last two days. In fact, rotational loadshedding of around 600 MW was effected yesterday due to drastic cut in power supply for Delhi as the Naptha-Jhakri Power Plant was closed since Monday morning due to high silt level resulting in non-availability of 300 MW power.

Consequently, the discoms could meet only a power demand of 3,162 MW.

Further worsening the situation, Delhi was also not getting 190 MW power from Himachal Pradesh. Apart from this, HVDC link between the East and North was disrupted, causing loss of power around 80 MW to Delhi.

The rainfall commenced around 9.00 am and continued almost throughout the day, lending coolness to the weather today. The maximum temperature plummeting to 28.2 degree Celsius, six degrees below normal, while the minimum temperature was recorded at 27.1 degree Celsius, the same as yesterday.

A total of 38.3 mm of rainfall was recorded till 5.30 pm, the weather office said. With today’s rainfall, the Capital has experienced about 80 mm of rainfall since yesterday morning.

The coming days could bring more rain to the Capital with the weathermen forecasting a generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain and thundershowers with the likelihood of heavy showers in some areas in the next 24 hours.

In fact, the coming days could witness an increase in rainfall activity in entire North-West India.

As usual, the rainfall led to waterlogging on several roads, leading to major traffic snarls in many arterial roads and major crossings like ITO, the Nizamuddin Bridge, South Extension, Tolstoy Marg, Lajpat Nagar, Malviya Nagar and Saket.

The rains led to waterlogging even in Lutyen’s Bunglow Zone.

Meanwhile, after creating a scare by moving menacingly close to the danger mark, the water level of the river Yamuna began receding today even as the authorities continued to be on alert.

The water level of the river was recorded at 203.04 metres this afternoon, lower than yesterday’s high of 203.90 metres, a spokesman of Irrigation and Flood Department of Delhi Government said.

Yamuna level was receding despite Haryana releasing 56 cusecs water into the river today, he said.

Haryana had released 1, 56, 237 cusecs of water through the Tajewala barrage on July 23, causing the water level at the Old Railway Bridge to rise. The danger mark of the river here is 204.83 metres.

The authorities, however, continued to be alert.

Two control rooms, functioning round the clock, have been set up, one in the office of Deputy Commissioner (East) and the other at ISBT.

Around 130 families have been evacuated from low-lying areas and relief equipment like boats, boat engines, boat trolleys, dragon lifts, life jackets and cement bags have been readied. Divers, boatmen and motor boat operators have been kept on stand-by.

“Even though more rains have been forecast during the next 48 hours, there is a very little possibility of the Yamuna breaching the danger level.

It is only possible if the Capital witnesses heavy showers continuously for at least ten hours,” the sources said.

New Delhi, July 26
In order to regulate the street hawking in the Capital, the Supreme Court today directed the MCD and the NDMC to notify all hawking zones for vendors in their respective jurisdiction so that they did not create traffic and other law and order problems.

The direction to this effect was issued by a bench of Mr Justice B P Singh and Mr Justice Altamas Kabir to enforce court’s earlier order on proper regulation of vendors’ markets and not allow them to squat on no-hawking zones.

The court said till the hawking and no-hawking zones were notified by the MCD and NDMC, its guidelines would remain in force as regulatory measures.

Taking serious view of non-enforcement of the court order in letter and spirit in certain areas, the bench issued notices of contempt to SHO of Sadar Bazar, seeking his reply after it was brought to the court notice that unregulated hawking in the area was continuing.

The apex court also sought details about the cases filed by hawkers in the High Court against MCD and NDMC for their removal from non-hawking zones.

The MCD counsel said that vendors in the markets in the Capital needed to be regulated in the same manner it was being done in Mumbai so that it did not create chaotic situation.

The counsel representing hawkers, whose number by MCD and NDMC was estimated to be over 5 lakh, contended that it was a question of their livelihood as only about 10,000 to 15,000 were eligible to set foot-path shops in the old scheme.

They said that the civic authorities should draw concrete scheme for allowing hawking in earmarked areas.

The MCD and NDMC were allowed time till September 12 by the Court to submit its reply.

New Delhi, July 26
The Delhi High Court today directed the authorities to remove rickshaws and ply environment-friendly mini-buses in four weeks in Chandni Chowk area to decongest the historic market, established by Moghul emperor Shah Jehan 300 years ago.

A division bench of acting Chief Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Kailash Gambhir asked the authorities — Delhi Government, MCD and CPWD — to introduce mini-buses from Lal Qilla square to Fatehpuri Masjid on a circular route.

While hearing a PIL for overall development of the Capital, the bench directed the authorities to remove the eight shops on the Ring Road at Narayana for the better interest of the public.

“The eight shops selling furniture and other goods on the 0.350 sq m land create inconvenience and they should be removed after negotiating with them,” said the order.

The status report was filed by the Hemraj Committee stating various steps needed for the overall development of the city.

The court also endorsed the suggestion to build a flyover at Badarpur on Mathura Road for the smooth flow of traffic. The bench suggested that instead of building an overbridge, the government should construct a flyover with cloverleaf and slip roads.

The court asked the MCD to file in affidavit the policy of issuance of licence for plying rickshaws in the Capital within four days.

“Licence is given to the people, who exploit the poor. If the MCD could impound 60,000 unauthorised rickshaws between April 1, 2005 and June 2006, one could imagine how many rickshaws are plying in the city,” observed the court.

Adjourning the matter for September 6, the court directed the authorities to give the guidelines to all the police stations to regulate the traffic during religious, marriage and political processions.

Noida, July 26
The Allahabad High Court has directed Noida authorities not to enter into further agreements with anyone nor give possession of class ‘G’ land supposed to be allotted for information technology projects.

The order has been passed by a Division Bench of Mr Justice Yatindra Singh and Mr Justice R.K. Rastogy on a writ petition filed by Unique Software Technology based in Noida.

The petitioner alleged that as per rules class ‘G’ land is preferably to be allotted to the information technology projects but the same was being allotted to individuals ignoring such projects.

The court has asked the Noida authorities to file their counter affidavit and fixed August 2 for further hearing.

Faridabad, July 26
A number of development plans here have suffered on account of the large-scale encroachments. Decongesting roads and providing new routes for managing traffic in this industrial city have gone awry. While land worth several crores was still under illegal occupation, the lack of a coordinated campaign has threatened the projects announced recently by the state government.

Prime land measuring about two acres and belonging to the Haryana Urban Development Authority on National Highway 2 here has again been usurped by encroachers. Several jhuggis have appeared. This plot, having a market value of Rs 20 crore, was freed from encroachers two and a half years ago on the directions of the then Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala.

Admittedly, the Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) authorities have been able to remove encroachments in the city. Land worth more than Rs 100 crore has been recovered in the past one year.

The responsibility of removing encroachments lies with the district administration and HUDA. The ambitious plan of reviving the service road along

the national highway passing from the city has been hanging fire. Land has been encroached by commercial organisations as well as individuals. Despite several requests and reminders by the National Highway Authority of India, the district administration has failed to free this road. This was a major reason why the scheme of making two-wheelers and slow moving vehicles ply on the service lane had not been implemented so far, claimed Mr Rajender Bisla, a former MLA.

He said the plan of widening and construction of a bypass road for heavy vehicles may also not see the light of day. Heavy encroachments along this road near the Kheri bridge on the Gurgaon canal could prove to a major damper.

Alleging that politically influential persons had been involved in grabbing several acres of land worth crores, he said the project could not be taken up unless the encroachments were removed. He said hundreds of plots in various sectors were under illegal occupation and had led to burgeoning of slums and jhuggi colonies.

He asked the government to direct the district authorities to remove all encroachments without any delay. He claimed that several well-off and influential persons, including industrialists and politicians, had resorted to encroachments.

In the meantime, a local industrialist building a house in Sector 14 had allegedly encroached upon the green belt measuring more than 1000 sq yards. This was in the knowledge of the officials concerned and still nothing was being done about this.

Noida, July 26
The rumour that a bomb had been placed at Centrestage Mall in Sector 18 here led to widespread panic. Security staff and the police scoured every inch of the mall besides frisking those at the mall. It was found to be a false alarm.

At about 3 pm, a phone call was received at the counter where movie tickets are sold about a bomb having been kept at the mall, which would soon explode.

This created a commotion among the mall security staff. The police were informed.

The entire mall and vehicles parked in the basement parking were checked and screened. People shopping at the mall also left in a hurry.

When after about two hours’ search no bomb was found the call was declared a hoax.

Centrestage Mall is already in the list of sensitive spots.

The police said they were not taking any chances with the security of the sensitive spots in Noida. 

New Delhi, July 26
Jamia Millia Islamia Proctor Rocket Ibrahim today stepped down from his office in order to “facilitate the inquiry” into the violent incidents that rocked the university on July 18. Vice-Chancellor Mushirul Hasan has accepted his resignation and appointed Prof Masood Alam in his place, a statement said.

Meanwhile, Prof Hasan once again appealed to the two students on hunger strike to withdraw their agitation and convey the grievances, if any, to the Dean Students’ Welfare.

The vice-chancellor has lifted the sine die closure and declared the university open from tomorrow.

He also appealed to all concerned to help restore normalcy on the campus.

It may be recalled that violence erupted at the university when a student delegation went to meet the VC to register their complaints on the admission process. Students allege that en route, they were met by the proctor who threatened them at gun-point and had them beaten up.

The main student demands include immediate commencement of the entire academic session in one round, Vice Chancellor Mushirul Hassan’s resignation, police action against the proctor Rocket Ibrahim and his son Ejas and re-admission of the rejected students.

A couple of students have been on indefinite hunger strike at the university to press for their demands.

Shams Pervez, former president of the Jamia Students Union told The Tribune that “We are sitting here in great discomfort in the rain, feeling utterly humiliated, but we will not accept the university’s line till they listen to our demands.”

“The condition of two of the boys who began the indefinite hunger strike, Ashraf Kamal and Satyaprakash Mishra, is deteriorating and they need medical help. Today, a third boy Badri Alam joined the indefinite strike,” he said.

“The university administration is now saying that they are open to discuss the admissions issue with us but we are ready to talk only if the proctor is dealt with severely and is removed from his post. He must pay the price for threatening the students at gun-point and getting them beaten up,” he said.

Meanwhile, the university administration is trying hard to normalize the situation. The university’s faculty of education is all set to resume classes from tomorrow, making it the first department to resume classes after the closure of the university on July 18.

Sources also informed that 26 students have been admitted in the MBA program at Jamia and classes may be resumed in that department soon as well. The Zakir Hussain Library will also be opened tomorrow.

The university is trying to speed up the admissions process so that normalcy can be restored and classes could begun at the earliest.

Last Sunday, former Prime Minister, V.P. Singh, visited the campus and met the agitating students. The students had earlier appealed to union minister, Oscar Fernandes and had put forward their demands. Mr Fernandes had then assured them that the matter would be taken up before union HRD minister, Arjun Singh. 

New Delhi, July 26
Minister of State for Home S Regupathy today informed the Rajya Sabha that Delhi had become an important transit point in drug trafficking.

Replying to a query, Mr Regupathy said it was so because of Delhi’s proximity to opium producing states and the centre of transportation network.

New Delhi, July 26
The Delhi police claims to have busted a gang of robbers involved in a spate of petrol pump robberies in the winter of 2005-2006 and several auto thefts with the arrest of two dreaded criminals, both of them hailing from Punjab.

The two, Sukhwinder Singh and Parvinder Randhawa, were arrested by the South West district police at NH 8 yesterday for travelling in a stolen Qualis.

On the personal search of Parvinder Randhawa, one countrymade pistol was recovered.

Interrogation revealed the gang had committed a spate of petrol pump robberies in the early morning. The accused confessed to several cases of petrol pump robberies in the jurisdiction of police stations of Kalkaji, New Friends Colony, Hauz Khas, Sarita Vihar and Hazrat Nizamuddin. They threatened the employees of the petrol pumps at gunpoint and decamped with the cash.

Further, they had committed several auto thefts from areas under Hauz Khas, Kalkaji, Sarojini Nagar, Chanakyapuri, Tughlak Road, Connaught Place and Mehrauli police stations.

Meanwhile, the police arrested a notorious criminal hailing from Bhagpat in Uttar Pradesh who was wanted in connection with several robberies in the area.

Faridabad, July 26
A student of BA III of Government Nehru college in Sector 16-A here died on the spot after suffering stab wounds in a clash between two groups of students.

The deceased has been identified as Rohtash, a resident of nearby Saran village. He was a student of BA III of the evening course.

The accused, identified as Mintoo, attacked another student, Surjeet, hailing from another group, with a knife on the college campus this morning. As Surjeet, who was the target, dived, the knife pierced through the stomach of Rohtash, who was an onlooker and perhaps a supporter of the attacker’s gang.

Rohtash succumbed to his injuries on the spot.

The police have booked a case in this connection. The accused is at large.

Noida, July 26
Four policemen were injured when a dumper hit a police vehicle taking a murder accused back to jail after a court hearing near Kot village of Dadri yesterday.

One of the injured cops is said to be in a serious condition.

The murder accused, Manish Doshi, is in fine fettle. Surprisingly, after the accident, the four persons travelling in the dumper got into a Maruti car and sped away, giving rise to suspicion that it was an attempt to free the murder accused by deliberately hitting the jail van. Manish was arrested for the murder of Naresh, a resident of Ram Nagar in Ghaziabad, in January 2003.

On Tuesday, he was taken to court for a hearing in Ghaziabad. During the return journey, a Tata Sumo carrying six policemen and Manish was hit by a dumper (HR-38-L-7636) from the rear.

Cops Kasim, Ranvir, Dheer Singh and Sumo driver Ram Lichhpal were injured. Kasim is stated to be in a critical condition in Yashoda Hospital. The police vehicle was completely smashed in the accident.

Manish’s father alleged Naresh’s relatives had staged this accident to kill Manish. Manish’s supporters are trying to file a case against the family of Naresh.

Noida, July 26
The police recovered four Maruti cars, two motor bikes, one dumper, tools and a bunch of keys from five members of a gang of auto thieves. Four of the arrested thieves belong to Ghaziabad while the fifth is from Jalaur district.

The dumper and bikes were stolen from Noida while all Maruti cars had been taken away from the Kavi Nagar police area of Ghaziabad.

The arrested thieves have confessed to stealing more than a dozen vehicles from Ghaziabad, Delhi and Noida. The gang used to sell the vehicles to junk dealers in Mayapuri in Delhi and Faridabad after dismantling them.

While the SO of Sector 58 was checking vehicles near the Model Town police post, five persons in a Maruti car (DNH-A-7349) were waved to stop. Instead, they tried to flee. After a chase, the police were able to overtake them and block the vehicle.

The arrested persons identified themselves as Ahmed of Ghaziabad, Sanjay, alias Rajesh, Sonu, alias Rahul, Anshu, alias Sonu, and Dinesh Pratap of Jalaur. Sanjay was the kingpin of the gang. He had lured the others into this “business”.

They confessed that a Maruti car stolen from Noida was sold for Rs 8,000 to Amjad in Ghaziabad. 

Gurgaon, July 26
The state Vigilance Bureau caught an accountant of the electricity department and his son red-handed while they were taking Rs 2000 for installing a power meter.

The Superintendent of Police, Vigilance Bureau, Gurgaon Range, Mr Rajbir Deswal, said Bhoop Singh, a resident of Shakti Park, had complained that Abdul Majid, chief accountant (CA), Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd, was demanding Rs 2000 for reinstalling the meter on his premises.

Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner R. P. Bhardwaj appointed Tehsildar Jitender Malik as duty magistrate for conducting the raid.

When Bhoop Singh approached Abdul Majid, the CA told Bhoop Singh to hand over all relevant papers to him and give Rs 2000 to his son Nahid Hussain.

As Bhoop Singh gave the money to Nahid Hussain, a team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Satyawati raided the electricity department office and caught the father-son duo red-handed in the presence of the duty magistrate.

The duo had been arrested under various Sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, informed Mr Deswal.

Gurgaon, July 26
A 23-year-old software engineer working with a multinational was shot at in the Udyog Vihar area here.

Anupam Sharma, working with HCL Technologies in Phase I, was shot at six times by two assailants while he was about to leave on his motorbike at 10.30 pm yesterday, said sources. While five bullets hit him, the sixth bullet hit a passerby, Ajit Singh, who was admitted to the Civil Hospital.

Sharma, at present in hospital, is under observation.

New Delhi, July 26
Deputy Leader of Opposition in the MCD and National General Secretary of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) Onkar Singh Thapar said that the victory of BJP candidate in Subhash Nagar by-election was an indication of failure of Congress government in controlling terrorism, price hike, corruption and criminalisation.

He said that Paramjit Singh Sarna, president of Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee should “retire from politics because he betrayed the Sikh Community by shaking hands with Sajjan Kumar, Outer Delhi MP”.