The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Delhi and neighbourhood

	Resettlement for 3,000 slum dwellers in LIG flats Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 17 Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has said her government has initiated action for resettlement of slum dwellers in multi-storied flats for which time-bound implementation has been started. Around 3000 families will be resettled in the lower income group flats for which 47 acre land has been earmarked. Ms Dikshit along with Development Minister Rajkumar Chauhan today inspected sites of resettlement. Ms Dikshit disclosed that around 3000 families presently settled in five J J clusters would be given quake-resistant flats in the first phase. They would have to pay some amount from their pocket as the flat would cost around Rs 1.5 lakh. Land owning agencies and the government would also make contribution. The slum dwellers would also be sanctioned a loan on concessional interest rates. A detailed action plan had been chalked out in this regard. She added her government was keen to provide new flats to around 20,000 families presently settled in 34 J J clusters in different parts of the city. Four-storied flats would have a bed room, a living room, a kitchen and a bathroom. She expressed confidence that slum dwellers would soon get rid of worst living conditions as community centre and other civic amenities would be available in society complex. The Chief Minister added that 47 acres had been earmarked in Nizampur, Tatesar, Dariyapur Kalan, Bajitpur Thakran and Bawana under first phase of resettlement. While taking a round of the sites, Ms Dikshit expressed satisfaction that the sites were close to inhabited localities and connected with public transport system. She said that flats would be constructed with pre-fabricated material and with new simplex technique. The DSIIDC had been entrusted with construction of flats. She expressed confidence that slum dwellers would soon be able to start a new and pleasant life. She added that all the departments concerned had been instructed to effectively co-ordinate and expedite implementation of scheme. Development Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan has disclosed that slum dwellers of J J Basti, Balmiki Colony Firozshah Kotla Road, J J Basti Kirti Nagar-Pandav Nagar, Nehru Camp J J Basti Patparganj, Rajeev Camp J J Basti West Vinod Nagar Mayur Vihar and Sunjay J J Basti Railway line Chanakyapuri will be resettled. Four multipurpose group-housing societies have been set up for the resident of five J J clusters. The societies are Chanakya Slum Basti multipurpose group housing society, Indira Slum Basti multipurpose group housing society, Maharshi Valmiki Slum Basti multipurpose group housing society and Ashoka Slum Basti multipurpose group housing society.
	Demolition drives go on along with encroachments Bijendra Ahlawat Tribune News Service Faridabad, February 17 Though a drive against illegal commercial activities in certain residential areas of the city has been on, the problem seems to be deep-rooted in several parts of the town due to various factors. The Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) demolished partially around half a dozen structures in the NIT area in the past few days and served notices on owners of many other structures, which have come up illegally in the recent past. According to reports, the absence of a concrete policy in the past and confusion over the rules so far has led to growth of unauthorised commercial activities in nearly all residential areas except the residential sectors developed by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA). Some social bodies have asked the government to come out with a firm policy on the issue and ensure that there is no violation of the rules from the beginning. Mr Kailash Sharma of Manav Sewa Samiti, an NGO, said here that the recent drive of closing down the shops and commercial activities from the Housing Board colonies may be a right step, but claimed that such a move was quite late, as certain markets had become too old to be uprooted and were a cause of concern for many due to the fact that several families would be directly affected as they stood to lose their source of livelihood. Quoting the instance of the market of Sector 7- 10 here as one such spot, he said the owners of majority of shops which had been sealed had been still sticking to the same spot for running their trade, as they had perhaps no option left. Blaming the political leaders and their brokers for the ‘chaos’ that had resulted in various residential areas of the city where markets and commercial activities were still alive, he said had such activities been checked at the initial stage and no political shelter provided to people involved in violations, this stage could have been averted easily. According to Mr Krishan Lal Gera, who has filed some petitions in the court on the issue of encroachments and illegal commercial activities in the city, all the main markets in the NIT had been illegal. He said land grabbing and construction of buildings for commercial activities had been a major problem in the NIT and other parts and this activity nearly went unchecked for several decades. He claimed that even a plot of land allotted for social work had been turned into a shopping complex in the NH -1 market here. Welcoming the move of the MCF to take action against such development in the NIT he said the demolition of such buildings was perhaps the only option left to deal with the problem. Encroachments on land worth over 100 crore had been removed in the past couple of years claimed an official of the MCF. The administration should not only clean up all such activities and provide immediate relief to the residents, but also take care of the other amenities like the footpath on the side of roads and provide an efficient local transport instead of the three wheelers auto rickshaws, a cause of heavy pollution, said Rajvir of the Punarjagran Sanstha. He said the government should ensure a free hand to the MCF and the district administration to clear all encroachments, including those done by influential political persons or their kin.
	Former Slum Wing chief rejects CM’s claim to make Delhi slumless Syed Ali Ahmed Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 17 The claim of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to make Delhi a slumless city cannot be made true. Slum and JJ clusters cannot be removed from the national Capital. People living in these localities have to be accommodated in the national Capital as they contribute to the city. They are in a large number. To uproot them from the city is not possible. This was a conclusion of discussion “Commonwealth Games and Delhi in 2010” held at YMCA today. A retired IAS officer and former Commissioner of Slum Wing, DDA Mr Manjit Singh said 70 million slum dwellers lived in various areas of the national Capital. They include 67 Harijan Bastis, 400 Balmiki , 1089 JJ clusters and 1500 unauthorised colonies. To uproot such a large number of clusters are not possible, as the government does not have space to resettle them. A few months ago thousands of jhuggis were demolished at Ring Road and Thokar number eight near Kalindi Kunj. The government could not resettle them resulting in they have scattered all over the city. Instead of uprooting, the government should have settled them wherever they are living. They should be provided drinking water, power and other infrastructure required for residential areas should be developed there. The discussion was participated by former Chief Town Planner E. F. N. Rebeiro, former Secretary of Sports D. K. Manavalan, Chief Architect in DDA, V.D. Diwan and Manit Singh. Besides, a few others were also sitting at the discussion table. Mr. D. K. Manavalan said, “we are not lacking talent in sports. In the past youngsters of Kerla, Manipur, Punjab and other states have won the medals. Now we are lagging behind as we do not provide infrastructure to our yogsters.” Sports is very important. Youngsters should be encouraged for sports activities. “Whatever infrastructure we have, we should utilise them. In 1982 we have done a lot for sports but we do not utilise those facilities we have”, he said.
	BJP calls for ouster of ‘anti-people’ Cong govt Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 17 The BJP Delhi Pradesh President, Dr Harsh Vardhan, has called upon the people of Delhi to dislodge the corrupt, inefficient and supporter of price spiral Congress government from Delhi and the MCD. He was addressing a big public meeting at Ghitorni village, organised after a big scooter rally jointly organised by BJP Chhatarapur and Mehrauli Mandals in protest against price spiral and anti-people policies of the Congress. The rally was flagged off at Chhatarpur by Pradesh Organisation General Secretary Vijay Sharma. Thousands of people participated in the meeting organised at Ghitorni and resolved to rout the Congress in the forthcoming MCD elections. Expressing his surprise, Dr Harsh Vardhan said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Planning Commission Vice Chairman Montek Singh Aluwalia claimed to be great economists. Congress President Sonia Gandhi and the Left Parties are shedding crocodile tears over price spiral. The measures taken by the Congress government to curb the price spiral has not shown good results. In contrast the interest rate of home loans have been increased. Due to this the society which is already fighting the price spiral can not think of purchasing a new house. The Congress government which has already forced lakhs of people to become unemployed in sealing and demolition drive has not announced any rehabilitation for those people who have lost their livelihood. Still the sword of eviction is hanging on lakhs of people. After keeping the Master Plan pending for two years the Government has announced the regularisation of 1500 unauthorised colonies in order to take the advantage at the time of elections but this reality has not been taken into consideration that the economic status of more than 40 lakh people living in these colonies is not such that they can pay the proposed conversion charge, development fee and penalty etc. for getting their property regularised. By failing to do so it has betrayed lakhs of people. The government is also avoiding to rein in the forward trading market and due to this the price spiral is not being curbed. Today the Scooter rally reached Ghitorni village after passing through about 50 kilometres of Chhatarpur and Mehrauli Assembly seats and it converted into a public meeting at Ghitorni village. More than 10 thousand scooterists in the rally apprised the people about the anti people policies of the Congress and steep price spiral. The President of the Chhatarpur Mandal Ramesh Ambawata and Mehrauli Mandal President Krishan Ghavari held the Congress responsible for steep price spiral. Both the leaders apprised the people about the oppressive policies of this Government in detail. The BJYM Pradesh President Anil Sharma, S.C. Morcha Pradesh President Rajender Sonkar, Anil Goel, Sunder Singh Tanwar etc. addressed the rally.
	Surgeons press for reimbursement for Cochlear implantees Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 17 Three of the country’s leading ENT surgeons today came together to press for reimbursement for deaf persons who undergo a Cochlear implant and are eventually able to lead a normal life. Prof R. C. Deka, Dean and head of the ENT department at AIIMS, Dr (Surgeon) Vice Admiral V.K. Singh, Head of the Armed Forces Medical Service (AFMS) and Dr Ashish K. Lahiri, head of the ENT department at the Ganga Ram Hospital here said that while the reimbursement was available for the Cochlear implantees in government service and the armed forces there was nothing for the common man. They pointed out that there was a need for a policy whereby a common man could get reimbursement for the Cochlear implant as was the case in the medical policies for other medical handicaps. This, specially, as every one out of thousand children born in the country were deaf and there was as big a population as five million deaf people in the country. They said that out of this five million at least one million were in immediate need of a Cochlear implant which would help them eventually lead a normal life. The demand from the three leading surgeons of the country came at a press conference to celebrate 1000 Cochlear implants in the country held by Cochlear Limited, Australia. Australian High Commissioner to India John McCarthy was also present on the occasion. Cochlear Limited has a 70 per cent share around the world in Cochlear implants. The Government had recently waived off all customs duty on the Cochlear implants resulting in its cost coming down by almost Rs 2.5 lakh. Cochlear implant remains the third most cost effective treatment for the deaf. Cochlear Ltd achieved the milestone of 1000 Cochlear implants in the country when two-year-old Ashrita Rana had her hearing restored at Delhi’s Army Research and Referral hospital recently. A team of surgeons headed by Surgeon Vice Admiral V.K. Singh and Surgeon Colonel S. S. Pander carried out the surgical intervention on Ashrita to restore her hearing. Now after rehabilitation with the help of audiologists, Ashrita, whose father is a Lance Naik in the Indian Army would be able to lead a normal life and also go to the mainstream schools. Cochlear’s Nucleus implant electronically stimulates the hearing nerve of the inner ear to allow profoundly deaf people to hear. Cochlear implants are a proven routine treatment for those children and adults with severe-to-profound hearing loss.
	Court raps cops for shoddy murder probe Our Correspondent New Delhi, February 17 A local court has come down heavily on the police for its shoddy investigation in a murder case while letting off a 19-year old man, who was arrested for possessing a knife. It only appeared to be a worked out case without giving any proper thought that the offence was grave in nature and needed serious efforts in the investigation, said Additional Sessions Judge Rajiv Mehra while exonerating Sonu Divakar of the murder charges. Raising doubts over the investigation by the police, the court said the case was full of infirmities, deficiencies and without substantial evidence, adding that the police miserably failed to connect Divakar with the crime. It further noted that the eyewitness in the case also turned hostile during the trial and refused the prosecution contention that he had seen Divakar killing deceased Umesh. Umesh was working as a waiter in a hotel in Paharganj. Indicting the police, the court said the fact of recovery of the victim’s purse from Divakar’s house was highly doubtful and unbelievable as even the police officer, allegedly in the probe team, failed to support the claim.
	ESI hospital told to pay Rs 70,000 Our Correspondent New Delhi, February 17 The state-owned ESI hospital has been ordered to pay Rs 70,000 as compensation to a man whose wife gave birth to a child even after sterilisation. Experience shows that it is the poorer section of society which goes for complete sterilisation after having few children and if burden of one more child in spite of a couple having 5-6 children is put on them, it is not only inhuman, but highly cumbersome for them to bring up the child, said Justice J. D. Kapoor, president of the commission in a recent order. The commission rejected the hospital’s plea that the pregnancy was due to natural failure and there was no medical negligence on its part while conducting the operation. The order came on an appeal of the medical superintendent of the ESI hospital, which was filed against the verdict of a district consumer forum. The forum, holding the hospital guilty of gross medical negligence, had asked it to pay Rs 70,000 compensation to one Ram Avadh Pal, a resident of Vivek Vihar in East Delhi, whose wife gave birth to a child in the year 2005 after her tubectomy operation.

Six JNU associations get together for meeting
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 17
At the JNUTA’s initiative, a joint meeting of presidents and secretaries of the six democratically elected associations of JNU was held recently. For the first time in the history of JNU, a joint platform of six democratically elected associations was formed to take up issues of common concern to all six associations and other sections of JNU.

This platform will largely function through dialogue, when issues of dispute or differences arise between various associations and try to resolve these in a reasonable and friendly manner.

A coordination committee of the following representatives of various associations was formed: JNUTA — Dr M. M. Kunju (secretary), JNUSU—Jyotsna (joint secretary), JNUSA—Jagdish Vidyarthi (general secretary), JNUOA— Dr S. K. Mishra (president), JNU SC/ST Employees Association—Mr J. K. Kataria (general secretary), JNU Physically Handicapped Association- Mr L. Kanyapan (general secretary).

Temperature plummets again
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 17
Delhiites today woke up to a chilly and foggy morning as the minimum temperature plummeted to 9.1 degree Celsius from yesterday’s 11.5 degree Celsius.

The dense fog disrupted air traffic schedules in a big way as runway visibility dipped to around 75 metres since 6.30 am, an airport spokesman said.

General visibility was around 50 meters. Yesterday, the mercury had touched a maximum of 22 degree Celsius. Met officials have predicted mist accompanied by fog in the morning tomorrow followed by mainly clear sky.

Cardiac death comes within one hr of symptoms’ onset
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 17
Sudden cardiac death is an instant unexpected death, which occurs within one hour of the onset of cardiac symptoms. So far, more than 24 lakh people have died in the country of heart attack. Of them, 17 lakh have died suddenly before reaching the hospitals. Twelve lakh of them could be revived if the general public was taught basic cardio brain pulmonary chest resuscitation. This was stated by Dr K. K. Aggarwal, Chairman, IMA Academy of Medical Specialties, Dr Anil Saxena, Senior Consultant and Cardiologist, Escorts Heart Institute, Dr Nitish Nayak, Associate Professor, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, and Dr Gautam Sharma,

Associate Professor, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, during a workshop on sudden cardiac death organised at IMA headquarters today.

Categories of wards announced

New Delhi, February 17
The Delhi Election Commission today announced the categories of the newly demarcated 272 wards of Municipal Corporation of Delhi, setting in motion the process for holding elections to the civic body.

“Of the total 272 newly delimited wards, 226 are in the general category of which 76 have been reserved for women,” Joint Election Commissioner V. K. Harit said.

According to the new demarcation, 46 seats have been reserved for scheduled castes categories of which 16 seats are reserved for women belonging to the scheduled castes, he said. — TNS