New Delhi, March 11
The Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) will build 4,348 additional low-cost houses for workers, its Managing Director, Mr Manoj 
Parida, said.

The corporation has earmarked an area of 23.55 acres of residential pocket at Bawana industrial complex where 3,164 dwelling units have already been constructed as part of the Rajiv Gandhi Awaas Yojna.

Mr Parida said the scheme was on self-financing basis and had been opened for low-income group staff of public sector undertakings under the Delhi Government this time. “It has been decided to build another 4,348 flats of different sizes, using equally high quality material and technology that can withstand earthquakes. At the same time, efforts are on to acquire land in other localities near industrial belts to construct 50,000 of such flats in the near future,” he said.

The DSIIDC has set up a 760-hectare complex at Bawana to provide an alternative industrial zone for more than 16,000 industries relocated from elsewhere in Delhi after the Supreme Court directed both polluting and non-polluting industries to shift out. The houses being built are meant for workers employed in this area.

Mr Parida said the provisional price of each flat varies from Rs 1.30 lakh to Rs 3.15 lakh, depending on the type of flat. The plinth area in square metres will range from 31.60 (for type One flats) to 39.74 for type Three flats.

A total of 314 type One flats will be located in Bawana, 28 in Narela and 408 in Bhorgarh. Narela will also have 480 type One A flats and Bawana type Two flats. The type Three flats will come up in Bhorgarh (864), Bawana (1,184) and Narela (1,184).

The DSIIDC MD said the residential complex would have facilities like landscaping, parks and greenery, a community centre, dispensary, primary school and shopping area. 

New Delhi, March 11
Stung by the criticism that construction of the first High Capacity Bus System (HCBS) corridor in the national Capital will result in the uprooting of about 4,000 trees, the state Transport Department has now had a re-look at the project to ensure that fewer than 1,500 trees need to be cut.

As many as 3,928 trees were originally proposed to be cut over the entire length of the 14.5 km-long corridor from Ambedkar Nagar in South Delhi to Delhi Gate near the walled city but after a review this total has been brought down to 1,376 with 806 trees identified for replanting, department sources said.

According to these sources, another 60 were saved by suitable adjustments and as many trees as possible would be saved by making such adjustments in future. Additional trees would also be planted on the corridor after its completion, it was stated.

In addition to this, compensatory afforestation of 17,790 trees, which was more than ten times of the trees cut, would also be taken up.

Permission to cut trees and replantation had been obtained following the due process from the competent authority under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act 1994, these sources said.

Land for afforestation had been identified and transferred to the forest department, which had also been paid the necessary funds for compensatory affor-estation.

The need for cutting of trees had arisen to provide for exclusive bus lane, proper bus stops, cycle track and pedestrian path within the existing right of way.

In November 2005, the Supreme Court had given directions to the Delhi Government to implement the HCBS within a fixed time frame and the Environmental Pollution Control Authority had been directed to monitor the implementation of the project.

The need for HCBS, among other modern modes of public transport, had arisen because the present public transport system in the national Capital was found to be inadequate leading to phenomenal growth of private vehicles. And with more and more people using personalised modes of transport, pollution, fuel wastage and accidents were increasing.

New Delhi, March 11
Prices of commercial land have increased more than six-fold in South Delhi and more than double in Dwarka since 2004-05. Prices of residential plots have surged by almost 150 per cent in South Delhi over the past two years, sources said, citing the DDA’s auction figures since 2004.

The DDA, which auctioned off commercial land at Rs 36,296 per square meter in South Delhi in 2004-05, sold the same size there at Rs 237,412 up to January 31 this year.

In Dwarka, commercial land was sold at auction for Rs 173,877 per square meter until January this year as against Rs 68,715 in 2004-05.

Prices of commercial land in West Delhi, too, have also surged almost seven-fold from Rs 21,525 per square meter in 2004-05 to Rs 147,792 a square meter up to January 31, 2007, according to DDA auction figures.

The DDA auctioned off residential land in South Delhi at a price of Rs 132,643 per square meter until January this year as against Rs 53,519 in 
2004-05.

The Union Urban Development Ministry believes a range of factors, such as economic growth, supply-demand phenomenon, housing loans and financing and also the 2010 Commonwealth Games, have contributed to increase in land prices.

However, officials in the ministry, which has no record of land deals among private individuals through Delhi Government registrars or sub-registrars, believe such transactions would, however, be much larger than the DDA.

New Delhi, March 11
Delhi Chief Minister Ms Sheila Dikshit inaugurated the 54th annual art exhibition of over 1,500 works by the students of Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA) and Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) at College of Art, here on Friday.

Eminent artist Satish Gujral, Mr Muthusamy Varadarajan (President, Osian’s and former culture secretary) and Dr Gita Paintal (Dean, Faculty of Music and Fine Arts, New Delhi) were also present during the opening ceremony.

The show includes paintings in oil, water colour and mixed media and will be on till March 17. The exhibition also showcases drawings, posters, photographs, sculptures in bronze, fiber, glass, cement, stone, marble and ceramics and prints in etching, lithography, silk-screen, mosaic and weaving. In addition, in a special section on display will be paintings, drawings and photography done by senior students of Fine Arts from premier art colleges across the country. The exhibition hopes to showcase the multi-faceted artistic talent of College of Art students to people from various walks of life including visual art, graphic design and advertising.

Says Prof. Vijayamohan, Principal, College of Art: “This annual art exhibition of the college is different from that of the preceding years just for the fact that it is more creative, innovative and full of new and fresher ideas.” 

New Delhi, March 11
Even as the ghost of sealing is hovering over the heads of Delhitraders, the Union Finance Minister Mr P. Chidambaram while going one step ahead has imposed ‘Service Tax’ on rented commercial properties in Delhi and all over the country which has greatly annoyed the trading community and has created strong resentment among them.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), apex body of all traders, has vehemently opposed such move of the Union Finance Minister and has demanded its immediate withdrawal. The CAIT is also planning to launch an aggressive agitation against imposition of Service Tax on rented properties.

According to an estimate, in Delhi alone such properties count more than seven lakh, whereas across country this figure is more than five crore. “Levy of service tax on such properties is an act devoid of any logic and will run counter to the interest of not only the traders but that of professional and other section also,” the CAIT said.

New Delhi, March 11
Cancer of the uterine cervix is the most common cancer striking women in India. In the worldwide scenario, cancer of the cervix is the second most common cancer after breast cancer. It accounts for 68.5 per cent of all gynaecological malignancies in India. The disturbing fact is that 80 per cent of all the cases occur in developing countries and India alone accounts for 18 per cent of them.

Observing the International Women’s Day, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute spread awareness on Cervical Cancer. According to Dr A K Anand, Senior Consultant, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institution and Research Centre, “Out of some 1.26 lakh cases diagnosed in India, 72,000 women die from it annually as it is diagnosed in late stages and therefore, no curative treatment is possible.”

The uterine cervix is the lower part or the “neck” of the womb. When cells begin to divide at an abnormal rate a mass of tissue can appear on the cervix. This need not be always cancerous and benign diseases like Polyps, cysts, and warts are also seen to involve cervix and need to be differentiated from cancer cervix.

Dr Anand said, “Unfortunately, the early stages of cervical cancer are asymptomatic. By the time symptoms such as ulcers in cervix or excessive and irregular bleeding occur, it’s too late. Multiple sexual partners, malnutrition and poor genital hygiene can cause HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) infection which is the most important causative factor for carcinomacervix.

A large majority of women who are sexually-active could get HPV infection, but it would be harmless if treated adequately. Some 10 per cent of the women will have persistent infection and of these, a fraction would develop cancer of the cervix.”

Awareness plays an important role in reducing its incidence and by adopting simple preventive measures, the risk of this type of cancer can be decreased. Education regarding healthy lifestyle and safe sexual practices including genital hygiene is very effective.

New Delhi, March 11
Two persons were arrested on charges of preparing fake voters’ identity cards and driving licenses from Rohini area in west Delhi, police said today.

Police said Harjeet Singh was allegedly caught delivering a fake voter I-card for Rs 1,000 after a decoy was used to trap him.

Harjeet told police that the fake documents were prepared by his accomplice Gautam Arora, who was also arrested.

Four other fake voter I-cards, a fake driving license, a computer set with a scanner and printer, laminating machine used in preparing the documents were seized from the premises of the duo. —TNS

Noida, March 11
Noida police have tightened its stranglehold on the victims’ relatives and other demonstrators in Nithari.

Barricades have once again appeared on the road leading to D-5 Nithari, which was sealed on Saturday. When some women demonstrators reached Nithari on Saturday, cops quickly took them to police station in vehicles so that they could not return to Nithari. At least six outsiders who had come to Nithari to take part in protest rally were also arrested.

The police have decided to set up a special team to keep an eye on the development around the ‘Khooni Kothi’, D-5, Nithari in Sector-31, Noida. This strategy has been evolved to cope with the situations as created by the relatives of the victims on Friday when police force found itself greatly out-numbered by stone-pelting demonstrators, most of them were women. The crowd had tried to torch the D-5, house of key accused Moninder Singh Pandher on Friday.

Cops and officers expert in controlling violent mob will be inducted into this team, it is learnt.

SSP Rajiv Sabharwal said a permanent strategy is being evolved to tackle the demonstrations which often take place in Nithari. Even for the coming assembly elections, the security in and around Nithari will be kept in view, SSP said.

A special team, he said, is being set up which will be able to tackle all emerging situations in Nithari in the days to come.

New Delhi, March 11
The Akhil Bharatiya Anganwadi Karmachari Mahasangh today said it would take out a march near Parliament on March 14 in support of its various demands including hike in wage, dearness allowance and other benefits.

About 20 thousand Anganwadi workers from across the country would gather in New Delhi and march to Parliament on Wednesday, general secretary of the organisation claimed in a release.

Referring to a Supreme Court judgment in December last year, it claimed that Anganwadi workers and helpers were entitled to getting ESI, EPF and gratuity at par with government employees.

Ghaziabad, March 11
The President of India, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, addressing the 38the Founding Day of CISF at its campus on NH 24, yesterday, emphasised the need for Central Industrial Security Force to be well-versed in the use of modern technology and be equipped with the latest equipment as per the needs of the changing times. It will not only enable the force perform better with lesser manpower, but also provide better security.

Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam also stressed the importance of including more women to take up responsibilities in forces like CISF. The CISF should increase the recruitment of women in the force who should form at least 10% of the total strength of the force, Dr Kalam stressed.

The President also stressed the need for modern communication skill and equipment for better results. Strong network, mobile services and night vision equipment will help the force meet the challenges of changing times.

The President suggested the CISF to periodically undertake some analysis of the security being provided by the security force so that improvement could be made and lacunae removed.

He said E-governance was also the need of the hour.

Dr Kalam also advised the senior officers of the force to organise seminars once in two years at least. The recommendations of such seminars can help frame more realistic policies.

Earlier, the President took a salute at an impressive parade presented by officers and jawans of the Central Industrial Security Force.

New Delhi, March 11
Troubled? Feel that you are fine and still cannot conceive? Then get yourself tested for deciphering thyroid malfunctions. Today, as the rate of infertile cases is creating havoc in the country, several couples of childbearing age seem to come up as infertile cases on an annual scale.

Though several genetic, physical and mental problems may lead to infertility in women, with primarily 90 per cent of the couples aware of their problem, 10 per cent, however, seem totally clueless about the cause which may be impeding their fertility rates. One of the common causes that may be restricting fertility among these 10 per cent is the undiagnosed or untreated thyroid disease.

“Hypothyroid is perhaps one easily overlooked cause of infertility. Hypothyroid can throw the endocrine system off balance, causing irregularities in the occurrence and frequency of menstrual cycle, which prevents ovulation. Thyroid secretion is essential not only for egg fertilisation and development, but also for sperm production.

Thyroid deficiency can now be identified by a thyroid stimulating hormone test, so immediately seek a doctor’s advice if you suspect thyroid deficiency in you or your partner”, explains Dr Archana Dhawan Bajaj, Consultant, Infertility and Reproductive Medicine, Global Fertility Centre, Global Hospital and India IVF Centre and Research Institute.

Stressing the influence of thyroid malfunctions to the fertility levels in a woman, Dr Bajaj claims, “The functions of the thyroid gland have much to do with a woman’s reproductive system which must be understood by all. An overactive or underactive thyroid may also affect ovulation (the release of an egg for fertilisation).