New Delhi, March 6
The national Capital Delhi ranked last amongst the four metros in solid waste collection, disposal and recycling, according to a study.

In Delhi, only 62% of its solid waste is collected for better disposal and recycling against Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, in which 86%, 85% and 80% of their respective waste is collected by municipal bodies with Kolkata being an exception in removing its municipal waste to an extent of 90%. The survey proves that Kolkatans have much better civic sense to avail themselves of higher municipal services in metros, according to Assocham.

In its study, it said Delhi generates about 6000 tonnes of solid waste per day as against 5800 tonnes in Mumbai, 2800 in Bangalore, 2675 tonnes in Chennai and 4000 tonnes in Kolkata, highlighting that the percentage of collection could be augmented by integrating metros’ municipal services with their disposal system on the lines of Kerala.

The study pointed out that Kerala created Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV) to dispose of its solid waste for power generation by closely integrating its 60 municipalities with three intermediate depots to collect its garbage and waste to dispose it of in large containers. “Similar models be emulated by metros to collect their solid waste which should be recycled for commercial use,” Venugopal N Dhoot, president of the chambers, said.

Interestingly, rag-pickers serve a useful purpose in clearing off the solid waste as they collect a great deal of waste each day in metros. In case of Delhi there are 85,000 of them, the total quantum of waste collected by the pickers is 900 tonnes daily, which is approximately 19% of the total waste generated every day.

The MCD spent approx. 2.4 billion rupees to manage garbage generated during the year. Thus, the rag-pickers saved the municipal authorities more than 250 million rupees.

Urban residents generate 350g to 1000g solid waste every day. Taking waste from commercial and industrial establishments, the total waste generation/day adds up to an enormous quantity.

With increasing population and rising income, the lifestyle of urban residents is also changing. Urban India is becoming a “throw-away society”, the waste material in bigger cities is generally paper, plastics, metal and hazardous materials apart from the vegetables waste.

Bio-degradable household waste has far less impact than the waste generated by the activities like manufacturing of goods. The industrialisation and high level of affluence influence the composition and quantity of waste. About 73 to 96% of the typical family’s waste comprises bio-degradable material in the lower income groups while in higher income groups, it is only about 26%.

“The present annual solid waste generated in Indian cities has increased from 48 million tonnes in 1997 to 95 million tonnes which might exceed 150 million tonnes in the next 7 years and thereby speaks of the potential for its recycling,” said Mr Dhoot.

New Delhi, March 6
The Delhi Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will now have to confront its detractor, Mr Madan Lal Khurana, in the coming municipal elections here.

Now part of Ms Uma Bharati’s Bharatiya Janshakti Party, Mr Khurana, a former Delhi Chief Minister, told reporters he would field candidates to oppose both the BJP and the Congress in the MCD elections.

Delhi’s statehood and rising prices of essential commodities would be the central issues in his party’s election campaign, he said.

The BJP had recently faced some tough challenge from the Janshakti Party in Uttrakhand in the recent state assembly elections.

Mr Khurana, who was accompanied by Ms Bharti, however, did not announce how many municipal wards his would field its candidates in.

The former Delhi BJP chief joined Ms Bharati’s party last month after he found no place in the national executive of the parent BJP despite his reconciliation bids with senior leader L. K. Advani.

Mr Khurana was expelled from the BJP for his outbursts against Mr Advani last year. 

New Delhi, March 6
The Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee today appointed 12 District Congress Committee Observers to bring transparency in the process of selection of candidates for the forthcoming MCD elections. The district committees have been convened on directions of the in-charge of Delhi Affairs and AICC General Secretary Ashok Gehlot.

The observers are Om Prakash Bidhuri for Babarpur district, Suresh Malik, Krishna Nagar; Ajit Singh Chadha, Adarsh Nagar; Deepak Gothi, Najafgarh; Rajender Malik, City; Dheerender Tyagi, Tilak Nagar; Mahmood Zia, New Delhi; Sunil Vohra, Rohini; Raj Kumar Kohli, Mehrauli; C. P. Mittal, Sadar; Hasan Ahmed, Karol Bagh and Naresh Kumar for Malviya Nagar district.

DPCC president Ram Babu Sharma said the party had adopted this kind of process to select candidates the first time to encourage grassroots workers and further enhance their commitment to the party. He said each observer would send a panel of three to five candidates to the DPCC. The president of the district committee will be the convenor. Besides, the local MP and MLAs will be committee members. The last date of depositing the application form for the ticket had been extended for two days. Earlier, March 6 was the last date. Having seen enthusiasm among the workers and rush of ticket seekers in the DPCC, the last date has been extended to March 8. The list of candidates will be declared on March 13.

Faridabad, March 6
The Haryana Government has launched a unique health scheme worth about Rs 6.5 crore to provide benefit to women living below the poverty line and in the slum areas. A total of 30 per cent of the urban population in the cities lives in slums in the state.

The Health department authorities said the scheme, known as Janani Suvidha Yojna, was started for women expecting child delivery. Women residing in slums would be able to take the benefit of pre-delivery health check and immunisation programme at the cost of the government. Besides, the facility of safe delivery at a clinic or hospital existing on the panel of the department would be available to them. In case of a complicated pregnancy, women would be given advisory cards with instructions to the Civil Surgeon concerned to provide medicare on priority basis.

According to the Census of 2001, out of the total population of 2.11 crore in the state about 17.5 lakh people were living in slum areas of cities. The scheme would be put into action with the help of the NGOs already functioning. This would be available in eight districts of the state in the first phase, said a spokesperson of the state government. The government also planned to facilitate state-of-the-art health facilities to those living below the poverty line.

According to a press note, for the scheme, known as Aarogya Kosh Yojna, Rs 2 crore had been earmarked to provide palliative care and treatment facilities for heart ailments, coronary bypass surgery, cancer, orthopedic, blood related, ENT and nervous system diseases, besides kidney transplant and related ailments. It was announced financial assistance for tests like MRI, EEG, ECG and EMG would be provided to the target group. The cost of the scheme would be borne jointly by the state and the Union Government.

Meanwhile, the Health Department has also started another project called Vikalp Yojna to provide quality medical services to the BPL category through public-private partnership. According to this scheme, private nursing homes and hospitals equipped with the required facilities would be empanelled by the department in each district. These would provide free consultation and medicines to poor families referred to them. Known as private health as service providers, they would offer cost-effective treatment to patients, including pregnant women, registered under the scheme.

While several private hospitals here have offered to be a part of the scheme, it is learnt the department would pay about Rs 500 per patient for the treatment. While the government has made budgetary provisions of over Rs 2 crore for the scheme, it has been asked to extend this service to the middle class and the rural population also.

New Delhi, March 6
Chaudhary Bhim Singh, nephew of the Speaker of Delhi Legislative Assembly Chaudhary Prem Singh, today announced to have joined the BJP along with his main supporters.

Bhim Singh claimed that he had always been with the Congress and had worked as DPCC Secretary but now he was fed with the “anti-national and anti-people policies” of the party that had ‘forced’ him to join BJP.

Addressing a press conference, he claimed further that in current political scenario the BJP was the only party that could act in national interest.

“Wrong policies of the Congress-led government is taking the country towards downfall. The Congress is only using dalits, minorities, poor and the people of weaker sections politically by showing them golden dreams. This party is not going to do good for any one,” Chaudhary Bhim Singh alleged.

He added that in near future, thousands of leaders and workers would leave Congress to join the BJP.

On this occasion, the BJP National General Secretary and former MP Dr Anita Arya and Delhi Pradesh SC Morcha President Dr Rajender Sonkar were also present.

The BJP Pradesh President Dr Harsh Vardhan said that Ravi Malhotra, a close relative of the Congress Councillor of Jangpura Subhash Malhotra, had joined the BJP on the February 27. “The leaders are feeling suffocated in the Congress due to its illusory and anti-public and anti-national policies. The policies of the Congress are encouraging inflation. The internal and external security of the country is endangered. The Congress that has ruined Delhi is now hell bent upon destroying industries and trades in India by offering red carpet to multi-national companies,” Dr Harsh Varsh alleged.

Chaudhary Bhim Singh said that his uncle Chaudhary Prem Singh had been serving the Congress since 1958. He claimed that Chaudhary Prem Singh had not been appointed Chief Minister as yet whereas the party had declared again and again that by appointing him as the Chief Minister he would be provided an opportunity to serve the people of Delhi.

Welcoming Bhim Singh to the party, president of Delhi unit of the BJP demanded from the Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to inform the people of Delhi about the expenditure amount that various departments of her government had spent on the development of the national Capital against the budget allocations of last year, Dr Harsh Vardhan added.

He accused the CM of not being serious about the development of the national Capital. “The promises made during the last year’s budget have not been fulfilled. The budget allocations have not been utilised. Crores of rupees remain unutilised in many departments. Ahead of the MCD poll, the Congress has made false claims on the development of 15,00 colonies that will be regularised,” he alleged.

“Had the Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit been committed for providing clean and high standard living for the 40 lakh residents of these colonies, instead of demanding only Rs 7,200 crore from the Planning Commission, she should have demanded at least Rs 25 thousand crore for Delhi,” he said. 

Noida, March 6
The Income Tax Department authorities, during an inspection of showrooms at Centrestage Mall in Sector 18 on Holi day, found many of them had evaded tax in a big way.

In a single show room in the mall, the tax team, after conducting an inspection for 14 hours found the traders had evaded tax on stock worth Rs 2.50 crore. The showroom owners had been showing incorrect figures pertaining to their stocks in their ledgers and were guilty of some other manipulation also.

The department sources said now tax amounting to Rs 1 crore would be recovered from the defaulters. The Income Tax Department is planning to organise raids in some other large showrooms also.

Joint Commissioner Income Tax Simi and Assistant Commissioner B. K. Dixit are maintaining a strict watch on the large showrooms in Sector 18, Noida, it is understood.

The inspection of a showroom dealing in Kashmiri carpets and shawls started at 11 am and continued till midnight. Despite it being Holi day, the IT teams continued conducting their raids.

Last year also, the IT department had conducted inspection and raids on some leading readymade garment showrooms when startling revelations had come to light.

New Delhi, March 6
When this batch of 2007 opted for MBA two years ago at the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) of the Delhi University, what they had been promised was an average salary of Rs 8-9 lakh per annum on graduation and a list of top recruiters.

As this batch completes its course it is seeing the average salary going up one-and-a-half times to touch Rs 12.04 lakh per annum with an even bigger and better list of recruiters. Around 70 per cent of the present batch bettered last year’s average salary and 40 per cent were offered international stints at their companies of choice within the first twelve months of joining.

For the pioneering MBA-MS (Management of Services Batch), the haul was equally rich with both domestic and foreign jobs on offer. The average domestic salary of the batch was an impressive Rs 10.55 lakh per annum, up nearly 40 per cent from last year’s levels.

The FMS of the Delhi University may not exactly be in the league of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMS) having an awesome reputation, but it does compete with them favourably in terms of placement and fat salaries.

According to Dr Madhu Vij, placement advisor for the FMS MBA programmed, though FMS had enjoyed a great relationship with most of India’s favoured recruiters, the flavour of placements this season was that almost all students signed out with a job from a recruiter of preference. With the economy booming, exciting profiles were offered across domains by several companies.

“Banking and financial service was the largest recruiter this year with the highest paying job also coming from the financial sector,” she pointed out.

Interestingly, women managers earned more with an annual salary of Rs 12.58 lakh, while their male counterparts had to contend with an average salary of Rs 11.83 lakh per year. 

New Delhi, March 6
India Trade Promotion Organisation is organising the 22nd Aahar 2007, the premier international fair for food, food processing and related equipment, hotel and restaurant equipment and supplies, recognised as one of the Asia’s leading events on food technology, and Nakshatra 2007 in Pragati Maidan from March 8-12.

Aahar 2007, which is being organised in cooperation with the Ministry of Food Processing Industries and other related apex bodies will be inaugurated by Mr Subodh Kant Sahai, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Food Processing Industries at 12.45 p.m. on March 8 at Hall No. 7.

H.E. Ms Mariann Fischer Boel, EU’s Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner will be the Guest of Honour and will also be giving cookery demonstration. The theme of the fair is ‘Indian Ethnic Food’ which will be projected by APEDA.

For the first time, Alcoholic Beverage is included for display.

Over 300 companies, including overseas companies from USA, Czech, Malaysia, European Union, Singapore, Dubai, Korea, Canada, Italy, Germany, Pakistan, UK and Spain are participating.

The display profile covers, food products, all kind of food and processed food, food processing, packaging, mill machinery and equipment, dairy and confectionery equipment, air-conditioning, refrigeration and cold storage systems, air and water-pollution control equipment and accessories, hotel and kitchen equipment and tableware, health and fitness equipment at Hall No. 8,9,10,11,12 and 12 A, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

Culinary Show will be special attraction during the fair.

While a seminar titled ‘Development in Food Processing from Farm to Fork’ will be organised on March 8 by All India Food Processors’ Association.

The Nakshatra 2007 will be inaugurated on March 8 at Hall No. 14, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Over 100 exhibitors will be showcasing the potential of astrology as well as the entire gamut of occult and therapeutic sciences, in the fair which is organised in association with ‘Future Point’. The focus at the fair will be on astrology palmistry, numerology, face reading, ramal, vastu, feng shui, signology, tarot reading, pranic healing, meditation, karamkand, ayurveda, homeopathy, acupuncture, magneto therapy and herbal therapies.

Gurgaon, March 6
The body of an advocate Sambhu, aged around 55, was found in his chamber No. 127 on the district court premises here in the evening today.

As per preliminary investigation, it seemed that he had died around four/five days back in his chamber as foul smell was emanating. A bottle of countrymade liquor was also found near the body.—OC

Bulandshahr, March 6
Three persons, including a woman were killed in road accidents on Holi day and on Monday. A youth going back to home after playing Holi in Ghaziabad on a bike was crushed by a UP Roadways bus. He was rushed to a hospital but died during treatment. In another accident, two persons including a woman were killed in Khurja.

Besides 13 persons, including a child were injured in these accidents.

Anil Prakash, son of Gangadas, running a shop of electronics goods in Ghaziabad, was returning on a bike when near Sekandrabad a Roadways bus crushed him near the bus stand.

In the other accident, Mohinderpal Singh, resident of Garhi village was returning with his family in a car from village Pachauta Sekandrabad when a tractor-trolley collided with his car. The head-on collision caused serious injuries to nine persons sitting in the car. They were rushed to government hospital where Mohinderpal Singh’s daughter-in-law Gyatri, wife of Deepak, breathed her last. The injured included Mohinderpal Singh, his wife Munni Devi, sons Nand Kishore, Deepak, Shiv Kumar, daughter-in-law Kunti, Beena Devi, and four-year-old grandson Vikas.

New Delhi, March 6
With the arrest of Ramnik and Mukul, both residents of Punjab, the Central district police today claimed to have worked out a high-profile snatching case registered in Nabi Karim area.

One Ms Saral Natheniel, an Australian national had filed an FIR in the case. She along with her cousin Prasant Josef reached New Delhi Railway Station from Kanpur by Shatabdi Express on the day of the crime.

While she was passing near Sheila cinema, two young boys came on a black Pulsar motorcycle from behind.

The pillion rider snatched her black leather bag. She and her cousin raised the alarm but the culprits could not be apprehended.

Her bag contained visa card, credit card, driving licence, passport, gold and diamond ornaments, Rs 70,000, one cell phone and some dollars.

Acting on a tip-off, they were apprehended from Malviya Nagar area. Passport, visa, air tickets and other valuable documents were burnt by them to eliminate evidence.

The Pulsar motorcycle used in the crime has been recovered.

Both the accused are highly qualified and have completed BCA from Punjab University. Ramnik was employed with HCL, Noida.

Both used to commit crime to purchase items for their girl friends, said a police officer. 

New Delhi, March 6
With the arrest of two persons, Naushad and Naseem, from the New Delhi Railway Station, the Crime Branch of Delhi Police today claimed to have busted a gang of drug traffickers. Two strips of banned medicine Ativan and stolen goods have been recovered from their possession.

One Anil Paswan along with his cousin Dinesh Paswan was waiting at platform number 5 at the New Delhi Railwat Station to board North Express. Meanwhile, one young boy approached them and tried to befriend them on the pretext that he was also going to Kathihar in Bihar.

After sometime, he brought tea and offered three cups to persons sitting next to him and one to Dinesh Paswan. After sipping the tea, Dinesh became unconscious. In the melee, the accused lifted their luggage. Seeing this, the complainant Anil Paswan raised the alarm resulting in the arrest of
the accused, said a police officer. 

New Delhi, March 6
In this highly competitive world, one needs to continuously evaluate one’s potential to keep up with the fast pace of modern life. Success is no longer measured only in terms of monetary gains, it is now an all-inclusive quotient of intellectual and spiritual gratification, said Shiv Khera, a renowned motivator in a workshop organised by the IEEMA here today.—OC