The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Delhi and neighbourhood

	MCD books own hospitals for breeding of mosquitoes Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 4 The Municipal Corporation of Delhi today issued challans against two of its own hospitals, Swami Dayanand and Hindu Rao Hospitals, on the charge of mosquito breeding on their premises, the Mayor, Mr Farhad Suri, said. The mosquito breeding was detected at both municipal hospitals during a surprise visit made by the Mayor, who was accompanied by a team of medical experts. At Hindu Rao Hospital, the breeding was found from a park located inside the hospital premises, while at Swami Dayanand Hospital an overhead tank was the culprit. The Horticulture Department had been challaned for breeding at Hindu Rao Hospital as parks were maintained by that department. A departmental inquiry would also be made against the official concerned, the Mayor said. “Instances of mosquito breeding found inside the MCD hospitals point to the laxity of duty on part of some officials,” the Mayor said. Dr P. P. Singh, Medical Superintendent of Swami Dayanand Hospital, chose to downplay the incident as a “stray one” and promised action would be taken quickly. Dr Babita Best, the entomologist heading the anti-dengue team, said, “The pupas found in the tanks would have transformed into adult mosquitoes within two to three days.” The Mayor earlier visited Hindu Rao Hospital, where he gave instructions for an open drain to be covered immediately. The local area civic officials complained to the Mayor of shortage of funds in maintaining good sanitation standards in the hospital. Three wards in the hospital have been reserved for dengue cases. The MCD has augmented its task force formed to tackle the spread of dengue and has commissioned two more mounted vehicles to facilitate outdoor fogging in heavy breeding areas like Karol Bagh and Najafgarh, which have accounted for 82 dengue cases out of the 228 reported from the areas under the civic body. Meanwhile, the Municipal Health Officer, Dr N. K. Yadav, said dengue task forces had been constituted in every zone to monitor the preventive measures being carried out. The disease would be controlled within 15 days. A total of 589 dengue cases had been reported in Delhi. Of them, 352 were from the Capital and the remaining were from other states, he said.
	Fear of dengue epidemic in Noida Our Correspondent Noida, October 4 With two more deaths in Greater Noida and 179 patients admitted to various hospitals, fear of an outbreak of dengue epidemic seems to have pressed panic-buttons for the officials as well as the residents. The total number of deaths in the district has reached 12 now. The number of dengue deaths in Dadri has reached six now. The government hospital, Noida, which is thronged by a large number of patients does not have the basic facilities for blood tests. People are demanding regular fogging in the district. Even in NCR towns like Gurgaon with 15 new cases, the total number of patients has gone up to 39. There are 20 suspected patients in Faridabad, taking the total to 145. There are four suspected cases in Ghaziabad. According to the Meerut Divisional Commissioner, 179 patients are admitted to Noida hospitals, 28 out of them are bleeding. In Greater Noida, 10 patients are being treated. The number of suspected dengue patients has already crossed 200 in GB Nagar. With increased number of patients, beds in Noida hospitals are not sufficient to cope with the rush of suspected patients. In Delhi, some 500 patients are said to be under treatment in different hospitals, 16 out of them are AIIMS doctors and students.
	Capital to be cataract-free, says Chief Minister Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 4 The Chief Minister, Ms. Sheila Dikshit today reiterated that the government was fully committed to make Delhi cataract-free and said all the steps have been taken to achieve the goal. Launching the eighth phase of the two-day ‘Motiabind Mukti Abhiyan’ at the Guru Nanak Eye Centre here, Ms Dikshit said 450 centres have been set up in various parts of Delhi. “The Delhi Government has targeted 4,000 patients to be operated and 20,000 people will be checked up during this two-day programme,” she added. Ms Dikshit said about 21,000 patients with cataract have been operated free of cost under the aegis of this programme in the past decade. “The Abhiyan has been successful in helping build up the infrastructure required to go ahead with the implementation of the programme,’’ she added. The Chief Minister further said community work is the scaffolding on which maximum benefit to the maximum number of people can be given. ‘’The Government of Delhi has been a fore-runner while implementing many such community programmes like the Perfect Health Melas, the ‘Stree Shakti’ programme and the ‘Motiabind Mukti Abhiyan’ that have benefited the population of Delhi immensely,’’ she added. The Chief Minister said the government is giving regular community ophthalmology work, its full support. ‘’Running extension rural centres at Barwala and Narela to serve the rural population of Delhi at its doorstep and adopting the village of Barwala to make it cataract free in the future have been excellent steps,’’ she added. Patients registering under this Abhiyan, who are found to be suffering from cataract would be eligible for free treatment at any of the 40 designated hospitals that are managed by the Central or the Delhi Governments, MCD, NDMC, the ESI or the NGOs.
	INLD to meet President on SEZ issue Chautala accuses Congress regime of ‘anti-farmer’ policies Ravi S. Singh Tribune News Service Gurgaon, October 4 Former Chief Minister and INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala said that his party would meet President APJ Abdul Kalam on November 1 to seek his intervention on Special Economic Zone (SEZ) issue. Mr Chautala was addressing his party workers here after the party defeat in the last Assembly election in the state. He urged them to fan out among the masses to win back the support of those who had sided with the Congress in the last Assembly election. Those who had supported the Congress are now seething with ‘anti-incumbency’ feeling against the ruling party, he added. Reiterating his attack on a Congress minister, Mr Vinod Sharma, whose son Manu Sharma is the main accused in the Jessica Lal case, Mr Chautala said the Governor must dismiss him from the post of minister and the Congress leadership must also dismiss him from the party for allegedly tampering with the evidence to bail out his son. Mr Chautala announced setting up of a committee, headed by former Deputy Speaker, Mr Gopi Chand Gehlot, which would meet the farmers in the state for alleged ‘deprivation’ of the farmers. He alleged that his party resents the idea of government purchasing any agriculture land from the farmers to be given to the private parties for setting up of the SEZs in the state. Significantly, Mr Chautala did not narrow his attack on any one industrial house being roped in by the HSIDC of the Haryana government for setting up SEZs. Rather, he did not name any industrial house as was his party’s focussed attack on the Reliance Group of Industries. Reliance Group is to set up SEZ on 25,000 acres spanning from Garhi Harsaru in Gurgaon to Jhajhar district. He also announced formation of a committee headed by former Finance Minister, Mr Sampat Singh, which would draft the proposed memorandum to be submitted to the President. The memorandum would incorporate about 2.5 lakh signatures from the public expressing protest against the SEZ issue, he added. When asked his party’s stand on the SEZ, he said it was not against it, but against the government acquiring land for it and giving it to the private parties. When pointed out that it was under his government that the HSIDC had acquired 1,700 acres, now being given to Reliance Group of Industries, he said that it was meant to be developed by the HSIDC and not to be given to private parties. In response to another point that his government had given about 600 acres to Maruti Udyog Ltd at a lesser rate to the company, he shot back saying that it was for industrial purpose. He differentiated the land being given to Reliance Group of Industries from giving the land to Maruti Udyog, saying that the former would do business in property dealing. Mr Chautala asserted that the compensation to the tune of Rs 29 lakh per acre was given to the farmers against the acquisition of land in 2004 by his government. He named villages Chakarpur, Sahraul, Dundahera, etc to bolster his argument. In response to another point that it was the NDA government to which the INLD was supporting at the Centre that had framed the SEZ policy, he said that the policy had been for setting up the export zone by state agencies and not by private parties.
	Patkar leads protests against cola giants in Gurgaon Abhay Jain Gurgaon, October 4 Hundreds of villagers under the aegis of National Alliance of People’s Movements led by social activist Ms Medha Patkar protested here against the alleged unlimited exploitation of ground water by two cold drink giants, Pepsi and Coca-Cola. Addressing the gathering in front of the regional office of Coca-Cola India on MG Road, Ms Medha Patkar alleged that the two companies have set up more than 90 plants throughout India and were drawing 15-25 lakh litres of water per day from each site. Over-exploitation of water has caused the depletion of the water table in the regions where these plants have been set up, she pointed out. Ms Patkar said that the procession for water rights, Jal Adhikar Yatra, which began on September 10 from the Coca-Cola plant at Mehdiganj, Varanasi, reached Delhi yesterday after going through 10 Pepsi and Coca-Cola plants in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Ms Patkar claimed that the depletion of water had threatened the lives and livelihood of the local farmers. Hence, these farmers have resolved to throw these companies out of the country, she added. She appealed to the Central and state governments to ensure drinking water to every citizen at a reasonable rate and free of charge to the poor. There must be no commercialisation of drinking water till all citizens start getting the water, she added. The government must not encourage the multinational companies and other corporates to sell drinking water, she said. She further suggested that the governments should involve local citizens in developing the basic infrastructures in their areas. The MNC and other big companies must be avoided as far as possible and the local citizens should be given priorities, she added. Coca-Cola and Pepsi had neither produced the water nor played any role in its conservation. These companies have no rights to exploit it and make huge profits out of it, she said. Terming all allegations baseless, Mr Kalyan Ranjan, Senior Manager, Public Affairs and Communication, Coca-Cola India, said that there was no over-exploitation of water by the company’s plants. He claimed that some social workers were making a hue and cry even though the company takes around 1.5 lakh litre of ground water per day against the allegation of 15-25 lakh litre at Mehdiganj plant. “Our plants do not cause any pollution as the company follows all norms very strictly as prescribed by the central and state pollution control boards,” he said. The official further clarified that there was no depletion of water table in the surrounding areas due to its plant at Mehdiganj. The water table has marginally went downwards in the wake of less monsoon in the areas for the three consecutive years, and not because of its plant in the region. According to a press release issued by Coca-Cola, water management remains the company’s priority. The company in partnership with the local communities, NGOs and relevant government authorities has taken numerous steps to conserve water, including the commissioning of more than 220 rain water harvesting structures in 17 states and restoration of check dams and old water bodies.
	Welfare Board is a non-starter Only 770 out of 5 lakh workers in Capital signed up in last 4 years Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 4 The Welfare Board for Construction Workers, set up about four years ago by Delhi Government, has failed to evoke a enthusiastic response, with only 770-odd out of over 5 lakh workers registering with it so far to avail monetary benefits. Surprisingly, while the Delhi Building and Other Construction Welfare Board has so far garnered Rs 34 crore through cess collected from the establishments in construction and building sector, not a single worker has applied to it for financial help. Sources said the kin of the registered workers would get money from the Board in case of death or accident. The dismal response of workers to the Welfare Board is being largely attributed to illiteracy and lack of awareness among the target beneficiaries, but many are quick to point out that the government’s half-hearted efforts are equally responsible. The Board was constituted in 2002 under the aegis of Delhi Labour Ministry to provide monetary aid such as monthly pension, insurance, maternity and medical assistance to needy construction workers. As per government estimates, there are over five lakh workers who need state aid in case of death or accident. The Board is also yet to release money under maternity benefits, under which Rs 1,000 will be given to pregnant women. Officials in the Delhi Labour Ministry say that efforts will be made to publicise the concept of the Board through MCD Citizens Bureaus, besides making registration mandatory, to bring the maximum number of workers under the ambit of the Board. As per government rules, every construction worker in the age bracket of 18-60 years who has been engaged in any building or other construction work for not less than 90 days during the preceding 12 months shall be eligible for registration as a beneficiary under the Act. Every worker eligible to become a beneficiary has to pay Rs 25 as registration fee at the time of filing application and contribute Rs 20 per month subsequently.

Reporters feel left out as police close pressroom
Nalini Ranjan

New Delhi, October 4
The pressroom at the Delhi Police Headquarters meant for mediapersons covering the crime beat has been closed since the past three days. It will, in all likelihood, be fully operational in a fortnight’s time. The official reason cited for this is the room is being upgraded. But the upgradation drive is being carried without making any alternate arrangement for crime reporters, thanks to the planning of the Delhi Police.

The police authorities did not think it essential to put up a notice in this regard for the media. Even the room allotted to the spokesperson of the Delhi Police, Mr Deependra Pathak, has been shifted. He has moved into the vacant room of a retired PRO.

“Now, we are facing a tough time as the press room plays a significant role in our routine work. It is the place where we used to meet other reporters of the same beat and update our daily stories. The telephone, fax, photocopier and TV installed in the room helped immensely in the filing of our daily assignments. We feel not only deserted but also handicapped. We have no other option but to hang around the PR Office, library or canteen,” said a senior reporter.

A senior officer of the Delhi Police, on condition of anonymity, said, “Definitely, some alternative arrangement should be made for the press people for that duration. The pressroom was renovated last year. I do not understand why the room had to be upgraded this year.”

Two held for murder near LG’s house
Our Correspondent

New Delhi, October 4
The North district police today claimed to have solved the sensational murder case of a middle-aged woman near the Lieutenant Governor’s house within a few hours of the incident. Two domestic helpers, Mukesh and Monu, have been arrested.

The knife used in the crime and the looted money, Rs 21,85,000, have been recovered by the police at their instance. On interrogation, they accepted their crime.

Monu had been working as a helper in the hotel of the deceased’s son. He was quite familiar with the deceased’s house, particularly the financial status of the family.

So, he hatched the conspiracy with another domestic helper of the family, Mukesh, said a police officer.

The 52-year-old woman had been stabbed to death by three unidentified assailants in a house near the Delhi Lt-Governor’s official residence last night.

The deceased, Charanjeet Kaur, had been found dead with several stab wounds in her body at her residence in Raj Nivas Marg in the Civil Lines area of North Delhi.

Charanjeet’s servant had informed the police he saw the body of the woman

lying in a pool of blood and three masked men inside the house when he was returning from the market at around 9 pm.

He had further informed the assailants had tried to flee when they saw him and knifed him as well when he tried to stop them.

The victim’s husband, Gurcharan Singh, who is into spare parts business, was not in the house at the time of the incident, said the officer.

Court directs police to register FIR against bank officials
Our Correspondent

New Delhi, October 4
The police were duty-bound to register a case if a complaint disclosed a prima facie cognisable offence, a city court said while directing a probe against certain officials of Citibank. The complaint had been turned down earlier.

Metropolitan Magistrate A. K. Chaturvedi asked the Station House Officer of Tilak Marg police station to register an FIR against Citibank officials on a petition filed against them by a woman who had alleged a threat to her life.

The police have also been asked to conduct an investigation and file a status report before the court on the complaint of Asha Deo.

The woman has claimed that two bank officials abused and threatened her with dire consequences if she pursued her case against the bank.

According to the petitioner’s counsel, one caller threatened to kill the complainant, while another, who introduced himself as a Director of the bank, repeated the threat.

Though Ms Deo went to the police station, her case was not registered, counsel told the court.

The magistrate said if a complaint was received by police officials, disclosing the commission of a prima facie cognisable offence, it was the duty of the officials to register a case, investigate and file an appropriate charge sheet.

The Tilak Marg police station has since registered a case against the bank officials.

Hospital cashier robbed of Rs 1.40 lakh
Our Correspondent

Noida, October 4
Some armed criminals snatched Rs 1.40 lakh at gunpoint from the cashier of Prayag Hospital in Sector-41 in broad daylight on Tuesday. The cashier was returning to hospital on his motorcycle after drawing the cash from the bank. The criminals fled away after the crime.

The SP City said SOG and Noida police have been put on the job. Criminals appeared to have observed the movements of the cashier for sometime before striking.

Diwakar Mirsha, accountant, had withdrawn Rs 90,000 from Maha Medha Bank. He was already carrying Rs 50,000. Four criminals on Pulsar bike surrounded him in Sector-40. By putting a revolver on his head, the criminals snatched the bag and sped away.

Diwakar Mishra said he had requested a passer-by to inform the police.

Servant held, part of stolen money recovered
Our Correspondent

New Delhi, October 4
The Delhi Police today claimed to have solved a case of theft by a domestic servant with his arrest within a week of the incident and recovered the stolen Rs 3.6 lakh and a colour TV.

The police said Dalip Kumar was arrested from his relative’s residence in Anand Parvat here after the investigation, which took the police to his native place at Madhubani in Bihar.

Complainant Karam Singh had brought Rs 6 lakh from his native place in Punjab to purchase property in Delhi. He had kept the money at friend Darshan Singh’s house in Rohini here. On September 26, Darshan’s servants Dalip and his brother Pardeep, who had seen the place where the money was kept, allegedly fled with it in his absence. Pardeep is absconding.

Six arrested for theft, stolen goods recovered
Our Correspondent

New Delhi, October 4
The South Delhi Police today claimed to have arrested six notorious Bangladeshi criminals - Ibrahim, Rafiq, Salim, Shahid, Raju and Rahim - from various locations of the district.

‘Stolen’ goods worth more than Rs two lakh have allegedly been recovered from their possession. The accused had allegedly been involved in several criminal cases committed in the past ten days, the police said.