New Delhi, February 6
The Centre has approved Delhi’s new Master Plan and it will be notified in a couple of days, Union Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy announced today, ruling out resumption of sealing drive from tomorrow.

“I have just now signed the MPD (Master Plan) 2021. It will be notified in a couple of days... 48 hours,” he told reporters at an editors’ conference on social sector issues.

The minister said the notification required some time in order to come out with a Hindi translation of the new plan.

He ruled out the possibility of resumption of sealing drive tomorrow in accordance with the decision of the Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee, saying there were no commercial establishments left to be locked out by MCD squads for non-compliance of court orders to file affidavits.

“We will also try that sealing does not take place,” he said.

The minister spoke about plans to regulate construction in Delhi, saying the Centre proposes to set up an authority on builders to make them accountable.

The Centre, he said, was drawing up a model legislation for states to ensure that builders address basic requirements of their customers.

Also, builders in Delhi would be required to provide housing to their labourers during construction, he added. “Besides, we are encouraging housing for the poor, which involves ‘in-situation’ development of slums and using their land as a resource,” Mr Reddy said.

Under fire from ecologists over Delhi’s new town planning, the minister promised that authorities would discourage activities posing threat to environment.

New Delhi, February 6
With an eye on the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi and presenting the Capital as a clean and modern city of international standards to participants, the Supreme Court today gave four weeks time to the MCD and NDMC to formulate policies on hawking zones.

But the court cautioned the civic bodies that in the process they should take note of the fact that only little over two per cent people were earning their livings from petty business by putting their vends on pavements and in the process they should not cause inconvenience to 97.5 per cent of the population.

A Bench of Mr Justice B P Singh and Mr Justice H S Bedi, hearing the petitions on behalf of hawkers and some PILs for stopping the vendors setting their shops in the open, made it clear to the civic bodies that no vends could be allowed in areas marked as “non-squatting” zones, including the historic Chandni Chowk bazaar and other crowded markets like Karol Bagh.

The SHOs of the concerned areas were directed to take immediate action against illegal squatters extending their activities to prohibited locations.

The court said that the hawking vends should not exceed from the permitted size of four-by-six feet and anyone who violated the norm, could not even be permitted in areas where they were allowed to carry their business. In such cases their ‘tehbazari’ (permit) should be cancelled, it said.

Prior to formulating the policy and guidelines, the civic bodies were directed to have consultation with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Delhi Fire Service, and associations of residents.

They were also directed to furnish details of roads and streets where the squatting could be permitted without causing any inconvenience to the citizens.

Fixing further hearing in the matter for March 28, the court said that the civic bodies would be at liberty to redefine the existing squatting zones when they lay down the new guidelines.

The attention of the MCD was also drawn to taxi stand owners using pavements for parking of their vehicles and vendors cooking food items on roads and streets, causing pollution.

The court said such practice should be stopped and the vendors could only sell cooked food and snacks brought for sale after cooking at home.

New Delhi, February 6
Several Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) in East Delhi, who are Bhagidari members, have openly questioned the systems followed by the Government under the Bhagidari scheme which has seen the programme losing most of its sheen during the last two years due to crisis in the Capital.

“If Bhagidari cannot get us a better quality of life, what is its purpose. Celebrations and rock concerts are for entertainment, not for a city’s residents who have been bearing the brunt of inflated power bills, unannounced power cuts, no water and the curse of sealings and demolitions,” said D. C. Garg of Janhit RWA, Dilshad Garden.

Mr Garg said, “We plan to put a Right to Information (RTI) question about the money wasted on Bhagidari Utsav and the award selection criteria as the same RWAs and individuals are getting the awards for last three years,” Mr Garg added.

“RWAs have also asked probing questions on the manner in which Bhagidari prizes are handed over to chosen loyalists year after year without their having anything to really show for it. This entire scheme has become a means of corrupting RWAs and buying their allegiance by the state government,” says Mrs Ritu Bhatia, secretary, Vivek Vihar, Block B, RWA.

“Are only handful of RWAs working in East Delhi as the awards are being handed over to the same RWA or individual for last three years. Hard-working RWAs, which are really doing good work for the benefit of residents are being ignored. Even the basic selection criterion circulated at time of inviting RWAs’ applications for awards are thrown to dogs while announcing awards,” said Mr Ram Nath Sant of Government Pensioners RWA in Trilok Puri.

“Govt Pensioners RWA in Trilokpuri has set up a sewing school for women for empowering them, a school for girls and boys from the minorities and economically weaker section, brought in communal harmony in sensitive area,” said Mr Sant.

“We applied for award thrice and each time inspection was done, the award assured by District Commissioner East and last-minute names crop up of RWAs which have close proximity to the Chief Minister’s office and no work to show,” he added.

“We have decided now not to send any application for Bhagidari Award and attend the Bhagidari Utsav as it not for the genuine RWAs,” Mr Sant added.

Mr M. K. Jain of Pushpanjali Enclave RWA, has expressed surprise at the amount of money spent on the two-day event. “I am told that close to a crore has been spent on this event. I am asking you how can a CM dispose of such huge sums of money for nothing to show for it. This money could have helped thousands of MCD school students get a better education, or senior citizens get a safer life in the city.”

New Delhi, February 6
Commuters between Delhi and Gurgaon will now face easy traffic conditions with two overbridges on the Delhi-Jaipur national highway being thrown open today as part of the Rs 755-crore access-controlled expressway to the NCR suburb in Haryana.

The build, operate and transfer (BOT) expressway flyovers at Mahipalpur and Udyog Vihar crossing were inaugurated by Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T. R. Baalu, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Haryana Chief Minister B. S. Hooda here.

Out of the total nine flyovers on the expressway, six are now operational. Two more—IFFCO Chowk and South City—would be operational by the month-end, Mr Baalu said. .

The entire expressway is scheduled to be completed by September with the opening up of the last overbridge at Rao Tula Ram (RTR) Marg junction near the domestic airport, he said.

Mrs Dikshit said it would be easier to move into the national capital from Haryana. The traffic jam, especially during marriage seasons will end, she said.

The expressway, which was scheduled to be completed by July 2005, was to start at one go under the concession agreement, according to the spokesman of D.S. Construction that undertook the work.

The project got delayed due to value additions done in designing. 

Gurgaon, February 6
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said the proposed Vision Document for Gurgaon would be completed within a year.

Mr Hooda, while addressing officers of the district after inaugurating the flyover at the Udyog Vihar crossing of the Delhi-Jaipur highway here, said the document would accommodate all progressive views with regard to the all-round, future growth of the city. This was beside the large number of development projects initiated by the government.

He stressed on integrated development of the city. He reviewed the functioning of various departments, including the Public Health Department, the HSIDC, the Electricity Department and HUDA.

He reiterated Rs 776 crore would be spent on various development projects in the city. A sum of Rs 172 crore would be spent during the current financial year, he added.

The Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Mr T. R. Baalu, was also present on the occasion. The flyover has been constructed as part of the Delhi-Gurgaon Access Controlled (Expressway) project being implemented on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis.

New Delhi, February 6
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today laid the foundation stone of Signature Bridge at Wazirabad. The bridge will connect National Highway number one near existing T-point at Wazirabad on Western bank and Marginal Bund Road at Khajuri Khas on eastern bank of the river Yamuna.

The Chief Minister said that as per the approved concept design, the proposed Signature Bridge would have a bow-shaped pylon of 170 meter height with cable stays on one side and back stays on the other.

M/s Systra SA of France has been appointed as Proof Consultant. Besides, M/s Schlaich Bergermann und Partner were appointed as consultant for design of Cable Stayed Bridge.

The bridge will have dual carriageway of 4-lanes (14.0 meter each) with 1.2 meter wide central verge, space for anchoring cables, maintenance walkway and crash barrier on either side of the central verge. The main span will be 251 meter and approach span of 36 meter on either side. The total length of the main bridge is 575 meter.

The deck will be composite (steel and concrete) while pylon will be in steel.

Laying the foundation stone, the Chief Minister said that the eastern approach of the bridge would be in embankment with a provision of flyover at Khajuri Khas intersection for traffic from Trans-Yamuna and a rotary at ground level for turning traffic making the Khajuri Khas intersection signal free. The provision for cloverleaves has been made in this scheme to cater to the increased traffic volume in future. The flyover will have dual carriageway of three lane of 11 meter each with 1.2 meter central verge and crash barrier on either side. The embankment will have dual carriageway of four lanes each.

The western approach meets NH-1 and covers four intersections on NH-1. The grade separators consisting of flyovers, ramps and loops have been proposed to allow signal-free traffic movement at the proposed intersection of bridge with NH-1 and existing intersections at Timarpur, Nehru Vihar and Wazirabad. The width of carriageway of grade separators has been provided as per traffic requirement, including future projection of traffic.

New Delhi, February 6
Tamana Chona was one of the honoured recipients of the ‘Kalpana Chawla Excellence Awards 2007 for Women’ from Kalpana Chawla’s father Banarsi Lal Chawla, at a function held in the Capital last week. The function was organised by the Punjab Engineering College Chandigarh Old Boys Association (PECOBA) on the occasion of the 4th death anniversary of Kalpana Chawla. Kalpana was on alumnus of Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh.

Tamana was detected with cerebral palsy at birth leading to spasticity. She had delayed milestones and was trained to sit, stand and speak after aggressive physiotherapy and speech therapy. Her parents trained her in the USA where she also joined a special school.

Inspite of her mental and physical challenges, Tamana’s is a success story. She successfully passed Class XII from National Open School and completed Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education from IGNOU.

She was also selected to represent Asia-Pacific as one of the Special Olympics, Inc. Sargent Shriver Global Messenger for 2002-2003 and was one of the twelve athletes from around the world who represented the Special Olympics movement for over two years.—TNS

Faridabad, February 6
The heavy presence of policemen at the ongoing Surajkund Crafts Mela seems to have come as a damper for many and proved to be a cause of inconvenience and harassment. Senior politician and former MLA Rajender Singh Bisla and his wife had a taste of this at the mela grounds today. They alleged their vehicle, which had an authorised parking sticker, was not only denied entry into the premises but they were also victims of harassment and misbehaviour by certain cops.

Mr Bisla, who has been elected MLA thrice from the Ballabhgarh constituency, said a Haryana Police constable stopped their vehicle at the gate located near Sunbird Motel. He said he was asked to move outside the premises as no vehicle, except those belonging to government officials and VIPs, could be allowed to move to the parking located near the mela gate.

He said when he told the policeman he was a former MLA, had a proper parking sticker and was there at the invitation of the Tourism Minister of Haryana, the latter, identified as Constable Dharmender, allegedly started using unparliamentarily language and misbehaved with them. When Mr Bisla asked the constable to tell him his belt number, the latter did not disclose it. Some other junior police officials intervened, but there was no relief. No one was willing to take action against the errant policeman.

The former MLA went on to say the cops at both the gates stopped him and other persons from entering the premises along with the vehicles, though they had valid parking passes. Expressing concern, he claimed the spot had been turned into a police camp as uniformed men were positioned in large numbers, threatening the overall atmosphere of the mela.

Ms Pooja Tyagi, a resident of Gurasan village, also claimed the heavy presence of policemen at the mela was a source of inconvenience to the people, especially women. She said a friend of hers also became victim of the foul behaviour by some persons at the parking a couple of days ago. She said though the presence of police and security persons was mandatory for security the police should do their the duty properly, rather than behaving like anti-social elements.

Mr Anand Singh, an advocate here, said the number of people at the mela from rural areas had decreased. 

Noida, February 6
A builder has gone missing a few yards away from the police station in Noida. His family fears he has been kidnapped while the police say he has gone of his own accord and his mobile phone is giving out the location near Mumbai.

Jaikishen Agarwal had left his house, D-68, Sector 41, here on the afternoon of February 2 for his site. But, he never reached the site. Nor did he come back home in the evening. Jaikishen Agarwal is a partner in a firm, DR Builders. When his family failed to trace him, they expressed the apprehension he had been abducted.

The Sector 39 police were informed and a case was registered. Jaikishen is reported to have received a threatening telephone call regarding some monetary transactions during the past few days, the last being on February 1, which had upset him.

Some car-borne persons had come to meet him. He was seen talking to them on the day he disappeared.

The Noida police have sought the help of the Special Operations Group in tracing Agarwal.

The SO of the Sector 39 police station, however, said Jaikishen was a little upset and could have left the house as he was depressed.

On February 2, the location of his cell phone was traced to the domestic airport in New Delhi. The police said Jaikishen was booked on a Mumbai-bound Jet flight.

But his family members said he did not have any relative or friend in Mumbai. In all probability, he had been kidnapped, they held. 

New Delhi, February 6
Special security arrangements have been put in place for underworld don Abu Salem’s 15-day stay in the Capital beginning from tomorrow.

The don, who would be interrogated by the Special Cell sleuths in connection with two cases of extortion (the third case against him is with the crime branch), would be arriving here on February 7 and produced in the court the following day, said a senior police official.

“He has to be produced at a Mumbai court on February 23 and until then, he will be interrogated on the two extortion cases, involving two Greater Kailash businessmen, by the special cell sleuths,” the official said.

It will be a jail-to-jail transfer from Mumbai to Tihar here, after his arrival here on February 7. Later, he would be produced before a court and taken on police remand for interrogation, said the official.

“Special security apparatus has been put in place for his safety during his transfer from Tihar Jail to the court and from there to the interrogation venue.”

Refusing to elaborate on the ‘special measures’, the official said this was imperative in the light of his background and threats to him from rival gangs.

“Everything necessary for his ‘protection’ was in place.”

Of the total three cases against Salem in Delhi, one case of extortion and criminal intimidation involved a one crore rupee ransom from a businessman.

The special cell of the Delhi Police had sought Salem’s custody in the case in which his associates allegedly demanded Rs one crore from the owner of South Delhi-based Allied Communication in 2002 and threatened him with dire consequences if the amount was not paid.

The owner of the firm was asked to get in touch with Salem on satellite phone (no 00871761888132).

On July 20, 2002 the victim again got a call from one Bhai Thakur asking him why he had not called Salem. He was again threatened with dire consequences and told to contact the don on his cell phone (nos 00971507741932 and 00971505307204).

The extortion amount was also increased to Rs two crore. On September 26, 2002, Sadik Ali and Chandra Prakash Rai were arrested near the private firm’s office, as the two had allegedly come to kill the owner. Later, two others – Ishtiaq and Papu Yadav – were also arrested from Uttar Pradesh in connection with the case.

The second case for which Salem is wanted by the special cell involves a Rs five crore ransom from another businessman. The third case, involving politician-fixer Romesh Sharma, was with the crime branch.

New Delhi, February 6
The Special Cell of Delhi Police today claimed to have apprehended a person Mohd Yunus, a resident of Srinagar but now residing in Lajpat Nagar area, in connection with possessing nine rare Shahtoosh shawls.

The shawls are worth lakhs in the international market and banned under the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972. A case has been registered against him at Lodhi Colony police station, said the DCP, Special Cell, Mr Alok Kumar.

These shawls are made from the hair of a rare wild animal antelope which is found in Tibet. The skin of antelope is smuggled from Tibet to Srinagar where shawls are fabricated, said the officer.

New Delhi, February 6
A local court today sentenced three Delhi Police personnel to seven-year imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on each in a custodial death case.

Additional sessions judge S P Garg handed down the sentence to former head constable Rajbir Singh, constables Bachchu Singh and Ramesh for beating to death Indal Singh who was picked up by the police on charges of stealing a car stereo on January 2, 1996.

Ravinder Singh, the owner of the car, had lodged a complaint with the police.

Indal was arrested and taken to Mehrauli police station for interrogation.

However, the court acquitted Inspector Buddhi Prakash, then additional SHO, due to lack of evidence.

Kanwar Pal, a home guard, was absconding and was declared a proclaimed offender by the court.

During the investigation, it was found that Indal had no injury on his body when he was taken for medical examination on the day of his arrest at AIIMS. But he was under the influence of liquor, the charge-sheet said.

On January 3, 1996, when he was taken to the hospital, the doctors declared him brought dead.

New Delhi, February 6
In yet another case of Internet misuse, the Delhi Police have received complaints from nine former students of a reputed management institute here claiming their photographs have been morphed with obscene pictures and posted on the college website.

The complainants, who graduated from the college last year, said an E-mail containing the obscene photographs along with their contact addresses and mobile phone numbers is also being circulated to the students of the institute, police said.

The obscene pictures were downloaded from pornographic sites and morphed with their photographs, possibly taken from the college album. The pictures were later uploaded in the college website after hacking it, they alleged. “We had received a complaint in this regard in mid-January and registered a case under relevant sections of the IT Act and the IPC. An investigation is on,” a police officer said.—OC