New Delhi, March 22
The Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president, Mr Ram Babu Sharma, today said that some political parties were involved in ‘rumour-mongering’ by claiming that unauthorised colonies had not been regularised. “These political parties are playing vote politics as they fear losing the Municipal Corporation of Delhi elections,” he said.

The proposal for regularisation of over 1,400 unauthorised colonies had been approved by the Union Cabinet, he said, adding that once any proposal was okayed by the Cabinet, it would become a law. “In a similar instance, when late Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister, 400 colonies were regularised,” Mr Sharma said.

When it was pointed out that construction in unauthorised colonies was still not allowed, the DPPC chief said that all formalities in this connection would be completed after the elections. “At present, the election model code of conduct is in force, which is why the remaining work in this connection is pending,” he said.

He claimed that after finalisation of the new Master Plan and announcement of regularisation of unauthorised colonies, the image of the Congress party had improved.

“The Master Plan had to come in 2001 when NDA government was in power. But the previous government could not do this due to infighting inside the BJP, as a group within the party was in favour of demolition of unauthorised constructions,” Mr Sharma alleged.

“The Congress tried its best to provide relief to the people of Delhi. The party did all that it could do at levels of the corporation, Delhi government as well as the Centre. The only way to protect people from demolition and sealing was to bring the new Master Plan 2021,” he claimed.

He also said that Delhi Government was trying to convince the Centre for not taking development charge from property owners in unapproved colonies. “This will be finalised soon,” he assured.

New Delhi, March 22
Former Union Minister, MP and senior BJP leader, Shatrughan Sinha today said that the forthcoming elections to the MCD would decide the future of Delhi.

“At the time of casting their votes, the voters shall have to keep in mind whether they want to make their future dark by electing corrupt, anti-people and despotic Congress or build a beautiful Delhi by handing over the MCD to the BJP. Since Delhi is my work place, therefore, I am here to awaken the people and start a jehad,” Mr Sinha said.

Addressing the media at the BJP headquarters here, he said that he could see the victory of BJP written on the wall. “With the victory in UP, Maharashtra, Punjab and Uttarakhand, the BJP has again registered its claim on Delhi and the Centre. The people of the country have recognised the fact that the future of entire India, including Delhi, is safe in the hands of BJP,” Mr Sinha said.

“The common man whose security, care and livelihood the Congress had promised, is most frustrated and harassed during the Congress rule. The common man feels cheated by the Congress. The ruling party has worsened the condition of the poor, labourers, farmers, workers, daily wagers, rehri patri shopkeepers, khomchawalas, rickshaw-pullers, vegetable fruit vendors etc,” he said.

In a lighter vein, Mr. Sinha said that although his role was limited, but the scope was unlimited. The entire country, including Delhi, belonged to him, he said. “Since I was born in Poorvanchal of North India, hence Poorvanchal is both my weakness and strength. When I see the hellish conditions of 60 lakh people of Poorvanchal living in more than 1,500 unauthorised colonies of Delhi, I am touched very much,” he said.

“The people who are toiling hard for the development of Delhi are being forced to live worst life by the Congress,” he alleged. Stressing on the need for launching ‘jehad’ for the betterment of every poor person in Delhi, the actor-turned-politician claimed to be ready to sacrifice anything for the golden future of Delhi and well-being of every resident of the national Capital which was the heart of India and being considered mini-India also.

New Delhi, March 22
25-odd sitting Congress Councillors who have not been given tickets to contest the Municipal Corporation of Delhi elections this year registered complaints with the party in-charge of Delhi Affairs, Mr Ashok Gehlot and sought time to meet the AICC president, Ms Sonia Gandhi.

Prominent among them are Memwati Barwala, Indu, Subhash Anand, Anuja Popli, Sadhna Sharma, Subhash Chopra, Rajbir Singh, Kiranwati, Kanti Rani, and Kunwar Sen.

The Councillors said that their complaint was not about denial of tickets, but against Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee President, Mr Ram Babu Sharma, who had alleged that these Councillors had “tainted” records.

Responding to the allegation, Mr Ram Babu Sharma said that he had made no such comments against them. They are family members of the Congress party. “At present they are angry with the state president. But they will be pacified by senior leaders and would work for the Congress candidates contesting elections in their respective areas,” he said. He said that they could not be given tickets this year due to delimitation of the municipal wards. Their segments have been divided. 

New Delhi, March 22
Taking cognizance of the pathetic conditions of hundred of primary schools run in dilapidated buildings with no basic infrastructure in the national Capital, the Supreme Court has ordered inspection of all such schools by the Delhi Director of Education and sought a report from him within six weeks.

The Education Director was asked by a Bench of Justices A K Mathur and Dalveer Bhandari to inspect all those schools getting financial aid from the Centre either personally or through officers working under him and find out their exact condition.

The Director was further directed to apprise the Court about the steps taken and likely to be taken for improving the condition of these schools.

A petition relating to the bad condition of government run primary schools was filed by a private organisation, Environment and Consumer Protection Forum as a public interest litigation (PIL), which said that despite 95 per cent grant being given by the Union Government, the children from poor sections studying there were not having even the basic facilities. The petitioner said in a large number of these schools class rooms did not have windows and only frames with bars were fitted, roofs were leaking, no mats or desks for children, no toilets and drinking water facilities.

New Delhi, March 22
A total number of 2,581 candidates are left in fray to contest the forthcoming Municipal Corporation of Delhi elections with 223 candidates withdrawing their nominations today.

In the list of candidates who have withdrawn their nominations, three were from BSP, three of NPC and one was a CPI candidate. The remaining were independents, the Delhi Election Commissioner, Mr S. P. Marwah, said.

He said that election symbols had been given to all the candidates. A total of 3,510 candidates had submitted their nominations to contest the elections. Of them, the nominations of 706 candidates were rejected as they could not complete the formalities required to contest the election. —TNS

New Delhi, March 22
The Delhi High Court today directed all private hospitals in the Capital, alloted land by the government at subsidised rates, to provide free treatment to poor patients.

The court also made it clear to them that 10 and 28 per cent beds in the indoor patient’s department and outdoor patient’s department respectively be reserved for the poor patients.

All hospitals are obliged to provide free treatment to the pgor patients and recommendations of the qureshi committee are to be adhered and implemented, said a bench comprising Mr Justice Swatanter Kumar and Mr Justice HR Malhotra.

The bench warned that those hospitals, which had not complied and continue to default despite various notices from authorities, would have to part with their profits.

The court asked the government to take appropriate action against hospitals if they did not comply with its order.

The Centre was entitled to take any step including cancellation of their licence, the court said.

The bench also directed all the government hospitals to set up referral counters so that patients could be sent to private hospitals for free treatment. 

New Delhi, March 22
The Delhi High Court has directed the DDA to put a stay on all constructions in the ridge area for a bio-diversity park near the Jawahar Lal Nehru University (JNU) on a PIL seeking protection of ridge areas in the city.
Issuing notice to Ministry of Urban Affairs, NCT through its Ministry of Environment and Forest besides the DDA, a division bench of Chief Justice M K Sharma and Mr Justice Sanjeev Khanna asked them to file their replies by May 23.

In October last year, the DDA had proposed development of 223 hectares from south west Mehrauli to Masudpur and north of Vasant Vihar near the JNU as a bio-diversity park.

The PIL, filed by a social activist, submitted before the court that no development activities in this area should be permitted as it might adversely affect ground water.

He also stated that the DDA had earlier notified certain rocky highlands in south, central and northern parts of Delhi as ridge areas.

An experts committee had also suggested preservation of ridge areas in their pristine glory, the petitioner stated.

New Delhi, March 22
The South-West district police today claimed to have busted a gang of robbers who used to loot people after giving them sedatives in consumable items, with the arrest of two members of the gang – Rahimuddin (32) and Bichalu (23) from Dhaula Kuan area.

One Ram Dayal had complained that he had hired a TSR from Dhaula Kuan area for New Delhi Railway Station. After some time, two persons also boarded the TSR. On the way, they offered a cold drink. After consuming the cold drink, he became unconscious while the looters decamped with his valuable belongings and cash, the complainant alleged.

Following a tip-off, they were apprehended near Dhaula Kuan with 110 gm of charas. During interrogations, the duo had allegedly confessed to having involved in criminal cases.

They allegedly revealed that they used to target alone passenger. One of them would become friendly with the targeted passenger. After some time, his other associate would join them with offering charas-laden cigarette to the passenger. On inhaling the cigarette, the passenger would feel uneasy. Thereafter, they used to offer passengers cold drink containing sedatives. When the passenger became unconscious they used to decamp with the booty, said a police officer.

Gurgaon, March 22Emboldened by the district administration’s tough measures against the patwarees which had led to their unsuccessful mass strike, the elected representatives of Panchayati Raj institutions today again drew the attention of the their ‘corrupt’ behaviour.

A sarpanch of Bapla village today alleged to the district administration at a panches’ convention that the patwarees not only play truant, but also harass people. Voices were also raised of their alleged corrupt behaviour.

The Deputy Commissioner, Gurgaon, Mr Rakesh Gupta, presiding over the meeting, advised the commoners as well as the panches and sarpanches to inform his office of any case of corruption.

In a drastic move, the administration ordered for public display of government rates regarding imposts on land deals executed vide the Tehsil offices of which patwarees are an integral part.

The development has to be seen in the context of recent mass strike by the patwarees of the district which was called off following public pressure and touch posture of the government. In a similar convention of panches and sarpanches of about 50 villages falling in Faruknagar area of this district, the Deputy Commissioner had forced the patwarees of the area to publicly pledge not to take graft money.

This incident happened when the sarpanches and commoners alleged corrupt behaviour on the part of the patwarees. The patwarees had gone on strike, alleging insult to them by the administration.

Greater Noida, March 22
Ipex South Asia 2007 announced today the participation of over 80 exhibitors in Asia’s largest printing expo this year which will be held in the state-of-the-art venue, India Expo Centre, Expo XXI, Greater Noida from October 24 to 27.

Some 80 exhibitors at the Ipex South Asia 2007 will include Xerox, Hewlett Packard, KBA, Prakash Offset, Micro Inks, The Printers House, IMPZ, Canon, Morgana, Bottcher, Redlands, BST Sayona and Cosmo Films.

The exhibitors that have confirmed their place at the expo represent a number of countries such as the UK, Germany, Belgium, Russia, Singapore, the USA, the UAE, China and India.

According to Mr Trevor Crawford, Exhibition Director, Ipex South Asia, “The purpose of the briefing was to help the key industry players to discuss the issues surrounding this booming industry and learn more about the initiatives of Ipex South Asia developments. The exhibition will offer the entire graphic arts industry an excellent opportunity to participate and share information across regions, enabling graphic arts professionals to take advantage of the very latest technology to help develop their business opportunities.”

The industry from different parts of the country: Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and South Asian countries like Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, will be fully represented in the expo. For Xerox, Ipex South Asia is a significant opportunity to demonstrate our commitment and portfolio to the graphic arts and production print industry across India, said Valerie Thomassin, vice-president, Production Systems Group Developing Markets, Xerox Corporation.

Exhibitors at Ipex South Asia 2007 will represent all aspects of the graphic arts process, including pre-press, press manufacture (including digital presses, newspaper presses) post-press, converting and packaging, consumables and used machinery.

A pan-regional marketing campaign will target visitors with decision-making authority to visit the exhibition, free of charge, from across the length and breath of India as well as Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. It also aims to attract senior buyers from markets like the UAE and East Africa. Visitors will be owners and managers of newspaper, digital and specialist print houses, corporate end-users, marketing professionals, print buyers, designers, pre-press and repro-house personnel.

New Delhi, March 22
Fog made a surprise appearance today virtually on day one of summer, disrupting air traffic this morning.

The Met department attributed the phenomenon to moisture-laden northerly winds, which it said, was unusual during this time of the year.

The runway visibility range at the airport dropped to 200 metres, while normal visibility dipped to 100 metres during the foggy hours, disrupting air traffic. One flight to Lucknow was cancelled, while 25 flights were delayed, Delhi airport officials said, adding that two flights were diverted.

The minimum temperature was recorded at 18.4 degree Celsius, two degrees above normal today.

New Delhi, March 22
Accusing the Congress government of ‘failing’ to improve the water situation in the national Capital, the BJP today claimed that forty per cent of the people of the national Capital were facing a shortage of drinking water, while the services rendered by the Delhi Jal Board had deteriorated so much that it was supplying polluted water even to the residences of the Prime Minister, Vice President and many VIPs.

Senior BJP leader and MP Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra said, “How much the Congress is serious about the interest and health of people can be judged from the fact that Yamuna is still dirty even after spending crores of rupees. The pipelines laid by the Delhi Jal Board are in such a condition that 42 per cent of the water being supplied is lost due to leakage. Despite this, the repair work being carried out by the Board is too slow.”

Prof. Malhotra claimed that after coming to power in the MCD, the BJP would make sufficient arrangements to solve the problem of drinking water. On the occasion of ‘World Water Day’, he urged the people not to misuse water.

New Delhi, March 22
On the occasion of World Water Day 2007, Water Digest, the leading water information source, together with UNESCO and Plan India, organised a water awareness campaign. The campaign was organised to foster awareness on the subject of ‘Water and its scarcity’ and ‘Water and Sanitation’.

The keynote address by the chief guest, Prof. Saifuddin Soz, Minister of Water Resources, highlighted the current crisis in the water and sanitation situation in the country. The distinguished guest representing UN agencies, international and national non-governmental agencies and corporate houses stressed on the needs to address related issues to improve health and living standards of the people in India.

Corporate speakers representing Ion Exchange and ITT who are pioneers in the water industry also made their points to address the current water crisis.

Availability of fresh water in India was 5,277 cubic meter per capita per annum in 1955 and it has reduced to 1500 cubic meter per capita per annum in 2003. This shows the severe water scarcity that is unfolding in the coming years. Creating awareness among all users on water harvesting and proper management of water is essential.

The sanitation situation in India is also alarming with only 32 percentages of people with access to safe sanitation facilities. Promotion of toilet usage and safe hygiene practices to be given priority to improve the health among the people. The safe disposal of solid and liquid waste in urban and rural areas that is neglected at the moment needs greater focus and action, the experts say. On the occasion, awards were given to children and students participated in the art and cartoon competition conducted as part of the awareness raising campaign. Information, education and communication materials developed in five regional languages by Plan India to educate and create awareness among children and communities on the need for safe drinking water and appropriate sanitation facilities were also released by the minister. These posters have been developed based on the drawings prepared by the children affected by Tsunami in Tamil Nadu during the last year’s World Water Day.

Water Digest, which launched the “Water Awards” to honour exemplary work and innovations in the water sector last year, declared the Water Awards for 2007-2008.

New Delhi, March 22
The National Board of Accreditation (NBA) awarded accreditation to the APJ School of Management (ASM), Dwarka, on March 15 for its PGDBM program.

This accreditation holds effect for a period of three years providing an impetus to the careers of the current and the next two batches of PGDBM students.

The ASM has been ranked as an A+ institution in a survey conducted by the Business India Magazine. The college offers 100 per cent placements, quality research, innovative pedagogy, dedicated faculty, numerous faculty and management development programmes, high level of corporate interface.

Ghaziabad, March 22
The advocates in western UP have decided to strengthen their ongoing agitation for setting up a High Court bench in Ghaziabad, said advocate Mukesh Saini here today.

About 35,000 advocates in 20 districts of western UP have decided to go on strike and boycott the district courts on Saturdays.

A decision to this effect has been taken by the Action Committee of the Advocates. According to the resolution, the advocates will boycott the courts till their demand is met and a bench of Allahabad High Court established in Ghaziabad. All the litigants are forced to travel 750 km to attend the court in Allahabad, Saini said. — OC