New Delhi, September 27
The NDMC, under fire from the Supreme Court for raising 'unrelated' issues in its affidavit on the proposal to demolish the Super Bazar building in Connaught Place to build a multiplex, was forced to withdraw the affidavit today, and asked to submit a new one.

The court was mainly annoyed with NDMC's submission that it was not getting any tax on 80 per cent of the buildings falling in its jurisdiction, including residential buildings occupied by ministers, MPs, judges, bureaucrats and other government officials.

A Bench of Mr Justice B P Singh and Mr Justice Altamas Kabir objected to the NDMC taking such a stand, which had no relation to its proposal to demolish the Super Bazar building.

Following certain strong remarks by the Bench for raising such 'frivolous' issues, the NDMC counsel offered to withdraw the affidavit and file a new one.

The court told its counsel that the affidavit should clearly state how it would provide a parking space of 80,000 sq feet in the proposed multiplex while the ground area covered by the existing building was nearly 19,000 sq feet.

It further said that the civic body would have to clearly state whether its proposal to have a 80,000 sq feet parking space in the covered area of about 19,000 sq feet was permitted under the building bylaws.

If the demolition was at all permitted, how much time it would take to complete the work and what would be the market rate for intended occupants in the multiplex.

The Delhi Development Authority and Land and Development Officer of Urban Development Ministry were also directed to file their affidavits on the issue.

The NDMC had come out with a proposal to build a multiplex in the face of Reliance and another company offering to revive the defunct Super Bazar, once a popular marketing centre for the middle class in Delhi.

Reliance had reportedly proposed to invest over Rs 200 crore for reviving the Super Bazar, but it was not accepted by NDMC.

All the government agencies were directed to submit their affidavit by October 12, the next hearing of the petition by an organisation of the employees of Super Bazar seeking to protect their interests.

New Delhi, September 27
The Municipal Commissioner, Mr A. K. Nigam, today clarified that the desealing of shops as per the orders of the Supreme Court, would be done only after referring the matter to the Monitoring Committee appointed by the court on the issue.

The Commissioner's statement came after Leader of the Opposition in the MCD House Subhash Arya raised the issue of desealing of shops.

Many other members of the committee also said that the situation with regard to the sealed shops should be clarified so as to clear the confusion prevailing among the trading community.

The Commissioner said the desealing of these could only take place after the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee gives permission for the same.

Owners of many of the shops had given an affidavit that they were willing to change their trade to confirm with the new mixed use regulations mentioned in the Amended Master Plan 2001.

At the same time, the Commissioner said desealing would soon begin for many shops sealed for unauthorised construction on the order of the High Court as per the new building bylaws notified by the Urban Development Ministry. He said that the MCD had issued instructions in this regard to the Deputy Commissioners of the respective zones.

He said the corporation would, in a day or two, issue a public notice of the revised building bylaws. 

New Delhi, September 27
Getting a lukewarm response for the auction of 10 hotel sites and managing to sell only one plot at Rohini for Rs 48.05 crore, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) today said it was looking into the reasons for it.

The DDA sold the 7,127 sq m hotel site at Mangalam Place, Rohini, to city-based Star Realty for Rs 48.05 crore against the reserve price of Rs 48 crore yesterday.

"All aspects for inadequate response to the auction are being looked into, including the pricing," DDA officials said.

They added the DDA would again conduct an auction, but declined to give any timeframe.

The DDA was expecting to garner at least Rs 2,630 crore by selling 10 hotel plots in different parts of the national Capital, but nine hotel sites on offer failed to get even a single bid due to high reserve price fixed.

Faridabad, September 27
Heavy and commercial vehicles, which are illegally parked on the roads here, have become a menace. Several roads in residential sectors are swamped by hundreds of trucks, which are allegedly parked with the connivance of the traffic police.

The local administration has failed to find a solution to this problem despite directions of the state government to tackle it urgently.

The presence of trucks and trailers along National Highway 2 in large numbers has led to congestion for motorists. Besides, they pose a risk to the safety of others. Quite a number of accidents take place in the district due to illegal parking on the highway sides or the main roads.

There has been no development on Transport Nagar, which was touted as an ambitious scheme by the Haryana Urban Development Authority a few years ago. Consequently, the parking of trucks and heavy vehicles is a major problem.

The issue is seldom taken up seriously by any official concerned, claim sources.

"The state government have posted a DSP-level officer to tackle the problem of traffic and illegal parking last year. However, the department has nothing to show for its efforts," claimed a local resident.

He alleged that the reports indicated that the officials and employees of the department were more interested in making an extra buck from the truckers and transporters and were hardly concerned about the illegal parking. There was no one to question the drivers of such vehicles.

A resident of Sector 15-A claimed the roads had been virtually hijacked by transporters and truck operators. He alleged it was being done in league with the police.

At least 300 persons fall victim to fatal accidents in the district each year. Many persons die on the main roads, including the highway, which is known as Mathura Road. The total length of the stretch of the highway that passes through the district is about 75 km.

While there are several illegal cuts on the highway in the district, the width of the road gets reduced considerably with heavy vehicles parked on either side of the roads. Slow moving vehicles like three-wheelers, tractors and two-wheelers add to the problem.

The district authorities and officials of the National Highway Authority of India have been asked to put a stop to illegal parking and the plying of three-wheelers on the main road, but the local administration appears to be sleeping over the problem, claimed a resident.

New Delhi, September 27
The Leader of Opposition in Standing Committee, Mr Vijender Gupta, today demanded that the authorities concerned should declare red alert in Delhi as hundreds of people were suffering from the dreaded dengue fever and nine persons had already succumbed to the disease so far.

He raised this issue at the Standing Committee meting today and demanded discussion for half an hour on it, but his demand was not accepted by the Chairman of the Committee. He boycotted the meeting as a result.

He said that last year total cases of dengue were reported as 120 but this year the number shot up to 200. Special precaution should be taken to control the disease, Mr Gupta said.

The Municipal Commissioner, Mr A. K. Nigam, admitted that dengue cases were rising in the Capital. The corporation has proper arrangement for treatment of dengue cases in government hospitals. Medicines are provided to the patients free of charge.

The citizens are being informed through advertisements to take precautionary measures to save themselves from the dreaded fever.

A number of meetings have taken place in the MCD as well as the Delhi government. A drive has been launched to check coolers and other water containers in offices and private houses. Guilty persons are being punished. The minimum challan amount is Rs 100 and the maximum Rs 1,500, sources said.

The Leader of Opposition in Standing Committee, Mr Vijender Gupta, also raised the issue of streetlights. He said that during festival season, the corporation made special arrangement for streetlighting. But this year nothing has been done.

However, the Municipal Commissioner said that a proposal of repairing the streetlights has been sent to the Union Urban Development Ministry. The NDPL and the BSES have been directed to take care of streetlights during the festival season.

Noida, September 27
The 220 KV power cable bringing power to Noida from Murad Nagar via Sahibabad snapped once again on Monday, plunging the whole area in darkness and making people's lives miserable here.

This has had an adverse impact on industry and trade. People in residential sectors went without water as its supply was also adversely affected. Generators were pressed into service, leading to an increase in the levels of noise and air pollution.

Power has been playing truant in all sectors since morning yesterday.

The UP Power Corporation authorities admitted that a power cut of between six to eight hours was imposed in different sectors. An executive engineer of the corporation confirmed that the 220 KV cable bringing power from Murad Nagar to Noida had snapped on Monday, plunging the whole area into darkness. It was corrected to a large extent by last evening, but the power supply was still not normal.

From 2.30 pm yesterday till about 5.30 am today there was practically no power supply.

Each sector had to go without power yesterday for as long as 10 hours at a stretch. In Sectors 8, 9, 10 and 11, power cuts continued from 2 pm to 7 pm. In residential sectors, power was missing since 5 am. As a result, residents could not get adequate water supply also.

Noida, September 27
The Uttar Pradesh Government is sending a proposal to the Centre for setting up 12 special economic zones (SEZs) in the state, including three to be set up here and in Greater Noida.

The final approval of the central government has been sought on five SEZs out of these 12. For the remaining seven, reportedly to be set up in the private sector, approval has been sought in principle.

According to sources in the Industries Department, the state Chief Secretary has already okayed this proposal. Of the five proposals for which sanction has been sought, four will be set up under the UP State Industrial Development Corporation (UPSIDC) while the fifth will be set up under the IT SEZ in the private sector. The state government has also sought approval in principle for seven other SEZs in the private sector.

One SEZ each will be set up in Kanpur, Aligarh, Ummaon and Bhadoi. The remaining three are proposed to be set up in Noida and Greater Noida. The state government has also requested the Centre for a discussion on this proposal on October 10.

The Centre has so far sanctioned 150 SEZs in the country, including six in Uttar Pradesh. Five among the SEZs in the state will be in the energy sector, it is learnt.

Gurgaon, September 27
The district administration proposes to improve street lighting in various pockets of old Gurgaon city areas falling within municipal limits by Divali.

According to Executive Officer (EO) of the Municipal Council, a decision has been taken to install 'high mask lights' at seven other centres in the old city area, where as many such lights are already functioning at various points.

The idea behind the move is to link the completion of the process of improving street lighting to coincide with Divali, the festival of lights.

The municipality had already sent a proposal to the Deputy Commissioner for sanction in this regard, the EO said.

The district administration is reportedly in favour of the project and seeking the sanction is being considered as a mere formality.

Each 'high mask light' of 5KWT capacity costs about Rs 5 lakh.

The lights may be installed at Rajiv Chowk, Mehrauli-Delhi road intersection, outside CRPF office premises, Sector 4-5 intersection, Pataudi Chowk and Bhuteshwar Temple. The lights are already installed at Kamla Nehru Park, Sadar Bazar, sector 7 crossing and New Colony crossing.

New Delhi, September 27
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has asked the discoms in plain words to ensure total streetlight illumination during the festival season in Delhi.

She has instructed senior officers of Discoms to personally verify illumination of all streetlights in a couple of days and ensure necessary repair and maintenance wherever necessary to avoid any inconvenience to people during festivities of Navratra, Durga Puja, Dussehra, Ramzan and Divali.

The Discoms have also been instructed to minimise their response time in respect of complaints concerning non-functioning of streetlights.

Ms Dikshit gave these directions in a high-level meeting to discuss arrangements of power supply during the festival season in Delhi.

The meeting was also attended by Power Minister Haroon Yusuf, Chief Secretary R. Narayanswami, Principal Secretaries of Power, PWD, Finance, and senior officers of Delhi Transco Ltd., Discoms, NDMC and MCD.

New Delhi, September 27
With an aim to make the Capital a hot tourist destination, the Delhi government plans to boost transit tourism and tourism within the city and nearby destinations.

Cultural festivals apart, Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation under Tourism Ministry has decided to tap the Information Technology sector in a big way to push tourism in the Capital by setting up kiosks and information centres at various places such as ISBT, Dilli Haat, Connaught Place and Qutub Minar to name a few.

Unveiling these ambitious plans at a press conference today on World Tourism Day, Delhi Tourism Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely said here, "We have taken several tourists-friendly measures to make the Capital a cultural hub. Our annual cultural festivals like Qutub Festival will be a regular event as usual, while now efforts are also on to include more such programmes besides upgradation of tourists spots."

Dwelling in detail about the forthcoming festivals to be held in the coming months in the Capital, Mr Lovely said, "Special incentives will be given to the visitors to ensure their large attendance. For instance, this time entry to the Qutub festival will be free to all with an emphasis on school students."

Delhi is also gearing up to celebrate Ananya festival at Old Fort complex from October 12 to October 16 where artists will perform various classical dances on a single stage.

This festival is being presented by Delhi Tourism and Seher with support from Asian Hotels Ltd. "It is perhaps the only one of its kind to present group choreography in various styles," DTTDC Chairman Sanat Kaul said.

New Delhi, September 27
Himachali Milan, the annual function of the Himachal Social Bodies Federation and its 17 affiliated units, will be held on October 7 at Talkatora Stadium.

The programme includes presentation of traditional items of Himachali culture by artists of Hindi Academy, Delhi, and those belonging to the Language and Culture Department of the Himachal Pradesh Government.

More than 60 lakh Himachalis reside in the Capital.

Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, will preside in the function which will be inaugurated by Delhi Chief Minister Ms Sheila Dikshit. 

New Delhi, September 27
Mr Rajan Soni, an avid Amitabh Bachchan fan is cycling all the way from New Delhi to Mumbai to wish the superstar on his birthday. The 15-day trip, sponsored by Atlas Cycles, was flagged off from here today by Mr Sanjay Kapur, joint president, Atlas Cycles (Haryana) Limited, Malanpur Unit.

Cycling for roughly 16 hours a day, Mr Soni will peddle nearly 1700 km to reach Mumbai in time to convey his birthday greetings to the legendary superstar on October 11.

A car mechanic, Mr Soni has been has been doing this exercise for the last 2 years. During his trip, he will travel through Kishangarh, Ajmersharif, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Jaipur, Udaipur, Ratanpur, Godhra, Ankleshwar, Surat, Balsar and Bilar.

He will be making a halt at Ajmersharif to offer prayers for the star’s long and healthy life. The ardent Bachchan admirer has managed to meet his idol during his previous trips when the star personally congratulated him on his efforts.

New Delhi, September 27
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said that Arya Samaj had played a significant role in India's freedom struggle.

Speaking at Kendriya Arya Yuva Parishad's 28th Convention and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Birth Centenary celebrations here today, Mr Hooda said Arya Samaj had played a critical role in curbing superstitions.

New Delhi, September 27
The Amity Centre for Science Olympiad in collaboration with Mumbai-based Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education organised a Science and Mathematics Olympiad workshop recently.

Dr Y.S. Rajan, Principal Advisor, CII, who was the chief guest, pointed out that India had produced many great mathematicians, including Aryabhatt, Bhaskaracharya and Sarvapally Radhakrishnan and it was good to see the inclination of students towards a subject like mathematics.

More than 100 students from different schools of Delhi and NCR areas took part in the workshop.

Noida, September 27
Women in Khogoda village of Dadri, sick of putting up with the antics of drunk men, beat them up with broomsticks and canes.

These women had gathered at the village chaupal on Sunday under the leadership of panchayat member Vabeena Devi. They decided to teach the drunk men a lesson by beating them up. With broomsticks and canes in hand, they took to thrashing any drunkard on their way.

Most of the drunkards were caught unawares as angry women vent their fury on them by making liberal use of the 'weapons' in their hands.

Many women did not allow their husbands, who had downed a few pegs, to enter the house. They proceeded to marched to the liquor shop. Raising slogans against drunkards, they attacked the liquor ship and beat up a salesman and another man present there. Then, they smashed the liquor bottles.

Later, the women warned the men against taking to drinking or making efforts to reopen the liquor shop. Panchayat member Babeena said the men who came home drunk were a bad influence on their children.

Noida, September 27
A 6-year-old girl has been raped by a youth here.

Ram Bharosey, alias Harya, the youth from Bihar, is suspected to have enticed the daughter of Pyare Lal of Sector 9 and raped her. The girl on reaching home told her family about the incident. By the time girl's family and some other people went to the house of the youth, the accused had fled from the scene.

However, the angry people caught hold of another youth and beat him up assuming that he was the culprit. Later, the people gheraoed the Sector 20 police station. Senior officials persuaded the crowd to disperse by assuring that the police would nab the culprit.

The police have registered a case.

New Delhi, September 27
A lift operator at a multi-storeyed apartment in South-West Delhi was killed this morning after being trapped in an elevator shaft.

The 22-year-old Tuntun got trapped in the elevator shaft between the first and second floor of Sabka Ghar Apartments in Sector 6, Dwarka, fire officials said.

The fire brigade received a call at 7:20 am about a man stuck in the lift of the apartment.

Tuntun, a resident of Pochipur locality in Dwarka, was found dead between the lift car and the shaft wall, the official said. — OC

New Delhi, September 27
The North-West District Police today claimed to have arrested five robbers Sunder, Vikas, Mahender, Sandeep and Raj from Narela area. Three Pulsar motorcycles, one .38 bore revolver, one .315 bore country-made pistol and one button-controlled knife were recovered from their possession.

On a tip-off, they were arrested near Smriti Van, Narela while they were planning to commit a highway robbery. With their arrest, three cases of murder, theft and snatching have been worked out, said a police officer.

In another incident, the same district police claimed to have arrested three robbers Avinash, Firoz and Javed from Rohini area. One button-controlled knife, two stolen wristwatches and one gold chain have been recovered from them.

New Delhi, September 27
A minor fire broke out on the third floor of a commercial building near the busy Connaught Place area here today.

The blaze was reported from the multi-storeyed Ambadeep Building situated on Kasturba Gandhi Marg at around 1:15 pm, fire department officials said. — OC