The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Delhi and neighbourhood

	Govt to build 36 new hospitals Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 26 Chief Minister Ms Sheila Dikshit today said the Delhi Government would construct 36 new hospitals in various part of the Capital to take primary healthcare to the doorsteps of the people and providing them with super specialty services. Ms Sheila Dikshit said this here today after inaugurating the ultra-modern facilities for treatment of cancer installed at Delhi State Cancer Institute, GTB Hospital Campus. While dedicating the latest technology of radiotherapy facilities, the Chief Minister said that this was the first such facility that had been installed under the Government of NCT of Delhi and it matched with some of the best such facilities in the country. This is the first government institution in the country to straightway start with the latest linear accelerator-based precision radiotherapy facility. Ms Dikshit informed that this institute would provide the most comprehensive facilities for diagnosis and treatment of all types of cancers under one roof with indoor facility for 100 patients. The institute is already providing free Out Patient Department (OPD) services and free chemotherapy to about 100 patients daily for the last more than two and a half years. The institute will lay emphasis on predictive and preventive aspects of oncology and bring awareness in society about the early detection of this disease through IEC and early detection programmes for the public and for the family physicians in collaboration with the NGOs and other similar organizations in the field. The CM said that the Delhi Government took the initiative by opening of new peripheral hospitals, upgradation of the existing hospitals, augmentation of services by making use of the latest technological advancement in medicare system to bring about qualitative improvement in the functioning of the hospitals. She said that in the run-up to the Commonwealth Games in 2010, in the Capital, East Delhi in particular would witness tremendous infrastructural development. Construction of the Games villages in the trans-Yamuna area will not only catalyse all-round development of the area but would also ensure civic services and civic infrastructure at par with the most developed localities of New Delhi. The institute will have the state-of-the-art radiotherapy facilities with the latest generation linear accelerator providing photon and electron beam treatment for the first time under the GNCT of Delhi. It is also the first time in the country that any government set-up has started purely with the linear accelerator-based technology for radiotherapy. The institute will also have computerized 3-D Radiotherapy Treatment Planning set-up, complete networking of all the facilities for record, verification and transfer of patients’ data, the Chief Minister added.
	Hooda orders probe into allotment of hotel site Abhay Jain Gurgaon, August 26 Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has directed the State Vigilance Bureau, Gurgaon Range, to conduct an inquiry into the irregularities committed in the allotment of hotel site no 1 in Sector 29 here. The hotel site (five storeys with basement), measuring 4.2 acres, was allotted in an open bid to M/s Interglobe Enterprises at a rate of Rs 28.60 crore in February 2003. Later, it was alleged the rules and regulations were twisted by senior officers of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) to benefit the allottee. In 2005, when the new government came into power in the state, the Chief Administrator, HUDA, conducted an inquiry into the alleged irregularities and found that a number of “actions/lapses are not in consonance with the policy guidelines, rules and regulations” in the allotment of the hotel site. The investigation revealed that the security amount, which was to be deposited before the start of auction proceedings by the prospective bidder, was received after the fall of the hammer. The bidder deposited 10 per cent earnest money (Rs 2.86 crore) of the total bid amount of Rs 28.60 crore vide receipt no 26670 while the security amount of Rs 30,000 for participating in the bid was deposited vide receipt no 26671. The inquiry further revealed the bidder, Mr Jitender Singh, did not hold any authorisation or have any attorney or declaration by M/s Interglobe Enterprises in his favour. After the bid was over, Jitender Singh did not sign the bid sheet. A person named Sidharth Singh had signed the bid sheet. Further, in the copy of the annual report 2002-03 submitted by M/s Interglobe Enterprises along with the transfer request, it was revealed that Jitender Singh and Sidharth Singh were not associated with the company. The major irregularity occurred while accepting 10 per cent earnest money in the form of a cheque drawn at Mumbai. The 10 per cent amount must have been accepted either in cash or through a demand draft as per the HUDA policy. The cheque was also returned unpaid with the objection “payment stopped by the drawer on March 22, ’03”. Later, a draft dated June 13, 2003, was given to HUDA after a gap of four months, violating all rules and regulations. When HUDA did not get the payment, the case should have been referred to the Chief Administrator, HUDA, Panchkula, in March 2003 for cancellation of the bid. However, this did not happen. The allotment letter was issued by the Estate Officer, HUDA, Mr Pradeep Dagar, on June 16, 2003. The inquiry report further mentioned that the allottee also failed to follow the terms and conditions while depositing the earnest money. Surprisingly, after some time, in April 2004, Interglobe Enterprises sold the hotel site to M/s Iris Hotels Private Limited, a company owned by the Vatika Group. Just a few days back, the Vatika Group started excavation work on the site. HUDA stopped the work as the builder was allegedly carrying out the construction activities without getting the building plan approved. Today, this hotel site is worth more than Rs 200 crore. A high-powered committee of environment officials, headed by the Joint Director, Environment, Government of Haryana, Mr A. K. Mehta, conducted the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) at the hotel site a fortnight back. The team was surprised to notice that work on the hotel, costing around Rs 280 crore, had started without taking clearance from the Union Environment Ministry. Confirming the investigation by the department, Mr Rajbir Deswal, Superintendent of Police, State Vigilance Bureau, Gurgaon, said the SVB would trace out the lapses, if any, on the part of senior officials of HUDA while allotting the prestigious hotel site. The HUDA departmental inquiry had already confirmed irregularities, added the officer.
	Major fire in Chandni Chowk Our Correspondent New Delhi, August 26 Two persons suffered minor burn injuries when a major fire broke out in an electronic goods market in the Capital’s busy commercial area of Chandani Chowk this evening. The fire broke out shortly after 4.45 pm in the evening and soon engulfed several multi-storey buildings which house shops and offices in Bhagirath Place behind Lajpat Rai Market in Central Delhi, fire brigade officials said. Nearly 30 fire tenders reached the spot immediately and began to put out the blaze and rescue those trapped inside the buildings.
	DU polls limit issues to bus pass, more colleges Smriti Kak Ramachandran Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 26 Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections are seldom fought on the basis of issues. Apart from a cursory mention of more U specials or heightened security, these polls are a display of muscle and money, of elaborate campaigns and tall promises. Unlike in Jawaharlal Nehru University where polls are fought on the issues as diverse as campus requirements to the country’s foreign policy, candidates in DU have limited their concerns to bus pass and more colleges. Even the raging reservation issue is being dealt with caution. With the exception of the recently floated United Students Frontal Students’ organisations like the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the National Students’ Union of India and the Indian National Students Organisation have chosen to remain neutral on the issues that concern the students. The NSUI, toeing the line of the Congress, claims to support reservation, but is yet to counter the anti-reservation protests or even oppose the concerns raised over the implementation of the 27 per cent OBC reservation. Their main opponent, the ABVP, has also chosen to play safe. The organisation claims it “supports reservation, which is not caste-based”, but has not joined the protests initiated by students in various universities and institutions. Echoing the ABVP’s stand, the INSO too wants, “reservation based only on economic status”. Their participation in the anti-quota protests too has been conspicuous by their absence. The party, which will contest the elections on the basis of issues ranging from more bus passes to more hostels, says it will raise the issue of reservation, but are yet to decide how. The only clear voice on the issue of reservation in the university comes from the parties affiliated to the Left and the recently launched United Students, with the former being pro-quota and the latter against it. While the radical Left, the AISA-RYA (All India Students’ Association-Revolutionary Youth Association) blames the government for “diluting quotas”, the Students’ Federation of India too is seeking the implementation of OBC reservation. Criticising the government for allowing a phased implementation of quotas, the AISF-RYA has accused the UPA of “succumbing to the pressure from the elite pro-corporate quarters”. The United Students’ Group that has been involved in creating public awareness on the Jessica Lal and Priyadarshini Mattoo cases hopes, “the DUSU Elections 2006 will be a referendum on the issue of extending quotas to OBCs on the basis of caste”. The party is organising debates on reservation in colleges and engaging students in discussions. “We have no political backing. We are students and raise the issues that concern us. While others have no clear-cut stand on reservation, we are engaging students in discussion over the issue and telling them what we are against and why,” said Aaditya Raj Kaul of the United Students. And for once the average student, who is otherwise disinclined towards the election process as is manifested by the low voter turnout, getting a chance to participate in the electioneering through such discussions and debates is an all-new experience.
	National meet held on child labour abolition Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 26 Regretting that the movement on child education had not yet assumed the nature of a nationwide campaign and pointing out that the Child Labour Act, 1986, had become redundant, social activist Swami Agnivesh today said the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, needed to be implemented in its original form. Speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day National Meet on Abolition of Child Labour and on Right to Education organised by M.V. Foundation and Social Jurist, Swami Agnivesh said, “The government cannot escape from its responsibilities simply by identifying children working as domestic helps and at dhabas as child labour”. He said that a child out of school could be considered a child labourer and one needed to understand that all forms of child labour were either bonded or forced. He spoke of launching a nationwide movement, “Bharat Nav Nirmaan Maha Abhiyan,” to demand the right to education for children. Prof Krishna Kumar, Director, NCERT, said, “We need to amend the Constitution if it does not talk about care, protection and right to education for 0-6 years of children.”
	Noida cops clueless on custodial death Parmindar Singh Noida, August 26 The death of Rajiv Kapur, who was in the custody of the Sector 39 police here, has left the police clueless. The death has put Noida police in the dock. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the death. There is no doubt the police are certainly guilty of carelessness and callousness. Meanwhile, the SHO and four other policemen have been suspended by the Noida SSP, Mr R. K. S. Rathore, for dereliction of duty. Rajiv Kapur, a resident of A Block, Siddhartha Enclave, New Delhi, was accused of fraud by a divorcee, Shveta, a resident of Preet Vihar in Delhi, on August 2. She had alleged Rajiv Kapur had taken her to Sector 37 and stolen her cash and jewellery. The Noida police had arrested Rajiv Kapur on August 24 from Delhi. He was kept in the Sector 39 police station. At about 2 am, he allegedly doused himself with the lubricant from sewing machines and struck a match. The question arises as to why an accused was kept in an office room instead of a lockup. The accused are frisked before being put into a lockup. Where did the accused get the matchbox from? The veracity of the claim that Kapur sprinkled the lubricant on himself is also being doubted. Observers also say that the one cannot get enough lubricant from five or six sewing machines for self-immolation. Rajiv’s wife, Suman, has said her husband had informed her on phone at 1.30 am that he had told the police everything and soon he would be allowed out on bail. She said if Rajiv had been mentally stressed or upset he would have certainly told her so. Suman has alleged that during interrogation the police burnt her husband alive. Dr Mahesh Sharma of Kailash Hospital said Rajiv Kapur was brought with 90 per cent burns. It would have taken him 10 to 15 minutes to be charred to that extent. He must have cried out during this period. Why did the cops not rescue him?
	PNB staff donate blood at camp Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 26 Mr S C Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director, PNB, inaugurated three days’ Blood Donation Camp at its head office, here. The employees of the bank donated 370 units of blood. For the last more than 20 years, the bank has been regularly organising such camps in association with the Red Cross Society of India. The response by the donors is overwhelming. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Gupta said that their bank is organizing such camps not only at corporate level but also in the branches and other administrative offices spread throughout the country.