New Delhi, April 15
Sharing citizens’ concern, the Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, has agreed to a proposal to set up a tree authority that will devise a policy to “make up” the loss of trees cut for constructing various infrastructural projects in the Capital.

In a meeting with representatives of NGOs and enlightened citizens last week, where concern was expressed over felling of trees to make way for various road and transport projects, she agreed to set up a tree authority under the Tree Protection Act that would develop a joint mechanism to make up the loss of the trees cut in a planned manner.

A memorandum, submitted to her at the meeting, sought clear marking of trees, regular monitoring of health of trees, “onsite”/compensatory afforestation and development of dedicated “tree lanes”.

The Chief Minister assured that all efforts would be made to compensate tree cutting at the same place. However, where this was not possible compensatory plantation would be ensured at the nearest available land.

She also reiterated her government’s commitment to plant at least 10 trees for every one tree that was cut for development purposes.

The state forest department, on its part, claimed a lot had been done in the past few years to check the depletion of the city’s green cover. During 2006-07, 17.86 lakh saplings were planted against a target of 17.11 lakh, it said.

Further, nine city forests covering more than 262 hectares were planned to be developed in Isapur, Hirankudna, Rewla Khanpur, Khakhari Jatmal, Sultanpur Dabs, Kunqeshpur, Kutubgarh, Auchandi and Harewali.

Tree saplings were being distributed free of cost from 13 government nurseries besides some selected Mother Dairy outlets, Dilli Haat and 439 CNG and petrol pumps, Delhi Environment Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan said. His Cabinet colleague, Urban Development Minister A. K. Walia said advance compensatory drive in the form of “tree banks” were being created to ease the “damage”.

New Delhi, April 15
A fire broke out today in the Sadar Bazar market in Old Delhi but there were no casualties. Fourteen fire tenders were rushed to put out the blaze, which broke out in the market at 11 am and engulfed as many as 14 shops in its ambit, fire brigade officials said.

The fire was extinguished at 12.20 pm, they said. Though the fire destroyed a lot of material stored in the shops, there were no casualties as the shops were closed on account of Sunday.—TNS

New Delhi, April 15
Thanks to the dismal performance by as much as 75 per cent of candidates who contested the recent Municipal Corporation of Delhi poll here, the city’s Election Commission has become richer by more than Rs 55 lakh as these candidates lost their deposits.

Of the 2,575 candidates, 1,934 (75.10 per cent) could not even garner one-sixth of votes polled in their wards in the fiercely fought MCD elections on April 5, thus forfeiting their deposit money of Rs 3,000 each. Scheduled Caste candidates have to deposit only Rs 1,500.

Twenty-two candidates of the BJP, which wrested power in the MCD by riding an anti-Congress wave in the Capital, too, lost their deposits, prompting the party’s leadership to introspect on the reasons behind this.

In the Congress, there were 27 such candidates. The Congress fielded 272 candidates and the BJP 261. The total expenditure on the elections to the 272 wards was about Rs 22 crore.

Interestingly, 170 candidates of the BSP, which sprang a surprise by cornering votes that have traditionally gone to the Congress and winning 15 seats, lost their deposits. The BSP had fielded 230 candidates.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which tested the waters by contesting 223 seats, forfeited its money in 123 seats.

Independent candidates were the biggest losers with as many as 1,142 of them (90.56 per cent) losing their deposits.

Only 119 of a total of 1,261 Independents managed to get the support of one-sixth of voters in their wards. Eight of them got less than 10 votes. Among them, two candidates from Palam and Tekhkhand had the dubious distinction of getting the lowest number of six votes each.

Eight votes were polled in favour of two Independent aspirants in Major Bhupinder Singh Nagar and Kalkaji wards. In Roshanpura and Kishengunj, two candidates got just nine votes each.

Two women Independent candidates in Tekhkhand and Karampura seats, however, crossed the two-digit figure, managing to get 10 votes each.

New Delhi, April 15
The East district police today claimed to have busted a racket involving the manufacturing and supply of pirated CDs of popular Bollywood films and X–rated films, with the arrest of three persons – Nitin Singh, Rajesh Sharma and Ajay Shukla in this connection.

CD writers, CPU, DVD player, master CDs of movies were recovered from a residence cum godown at Guru Ram Das Nagar of the accused persons. During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to having been used in the crime.—OC

Noida, April 15
Another young girl who went missing from Nithari is believed to have been kidnapped. However, police say that she could have eloped with her lover.

The father of the girl has lodged a kidnapping report suspecting that a young boy had abducted her.

The 14-year-old Kanchan, daughter of Raj Kumar, a tenant in Babu Gujjar’s house in Nithari, had left for her school on Thursday but had not returned. Though Raj Kumar had reported the matter to police on Thursday, no action had been taken. According to police, Raj Kumar had suspected a Nithari resident Rajesh for the abduction.

In another incident, an attempt was made to kidnap a 10-year-old girl from Udeygiri Apartments, Sector-34, Noida.

The Udeygiri abduction report had created a commotion in police department which has registered a case of fraud instead of kidnapping against an unknown youth on a bike.

Two girls, aged 8 and 10 years, were cycling in front of the Udeygiri Apartments at about 11 am. A youth, atop a bike, came and enquired from the girls about an address. As the girls started walking along to guide him to the address, he is reported to have grabbed the older girl’s hand and tried to pull her on to the motor bike. The other girl then raised the alarm. Seeing some people coming, the youth let her go and sped away. This incident has created panic in the area.

New Delhi, April 15
A city court has acquitted a youth charged with abetting the suicide of his girlfriend eight years ago as the prosecution failed in proving his role in the incident.

“There is no evidence to suggest that Bhagwan Panda (accused) had in any manner aided, instigated or provoked the deceased to such an extent that she committed suicide,” said Additional Sessions Judge V. K. Bansal in a recent order.

Refuting the prosecution’s claim that deceased Hema was forced by then 25-year-old Panda to commit suicide as he kept on postponing their marriage on one pretext or the other, the judge said it had failed in adducing any material evidence to corroborate the charge.

“No doubt, the girl lost her life after setting herself ablaze but the charges could not be brought home against Panda that he had abetted the act,” the court observed.

Ghaziabad, April 15
Meerut, Basti and now Ghaziabad, jails in Utter Pradesh, one after the other, have turned into battlefields with inmates going berserk. Irked by frisking of a fellow prisoner who was also slapped by the deputy jailer, the prisoners had declared a war against jail officials in Dasna jail of Ghaziabad on Saturday.

After beating up a deputy jailor, the inmates had made him and seven other security guards and jail officials captives. Some bathrooms and barrack walls were pulled down and the broken bricks used as missiles for pelting on the security guards and the officials.

Over 90 prisoners and 35 jail staff were wounded in this violence.

The prisoners who had come out after breaking the jail walls had also extensively damaged the jail office.

Inquires by an additional district magistrate and an additional SP have been ordered

After a 4-hour-long battle, the district police and jail security staff had managed to control the situation in which 50 rounds were fired in air, lathis, teargas shells and water cannons were also used to quell the rioting.

Irrespective of the immediate provocation, the main problem in UP jails is reported to be widespread corruption. Any effort to book the mischief-makers and ring leaders among the prisoners invites opposition and stiff resistance

According to Ghaziabad SSP, Navin Arora, a hardened criminal from Dadri Raja Babu, was shifted from barrack 8 to 2 to which he had resisted and was then slapped by the Dy Jailer Superintendent S.B. Singh.

The prisoners then turned violent.

The police, the SSP said, had managed to avert a jail break.

The violence could be quelled only by 5 pm—- five hours after it started at 12.30 pm..

It may be recalled that the DIG Prisons along with his inspection team from Agra was also assaulted by prisoners in Ghaziabad jail last month. 

Faridabad, April 15
Faridabad city will get linked with Metro train by 2010 and this project would cost the state government about Rs 1,400 crore. Besides, the Haryana Government is committed to getting the work of Badarpur flyover started very soon. The city has already started getting funds worth about Rs 2,679 crore for the renewal of the basic infrastructure within next few years. This would change the shape of the city in the coming years. This was stated by the Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, while speaking at a function organised in Sector 16 here last evening.

Mr Hooda, who was here to lay the foundation stone of a centre of the Punjabi community on the occasion of Baisakhi, claimed that the city’s fortune had started taking a turn when the present government came into power about two years ago.

He said the government would not spare any effort to put the city on the national and international map once again and the selection of the city under the ambitious scheme of the ‘Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Scheme (JNURM) was a move in this direction as the city would get funds for basic infrastructure.

He said Faridabad would be the second city in the state to get Metro train link after Gurgaon and declared that it would be available by 2010 up to the YMCA crossing here. This would be extended up to Ballabgarh town later.

He also announced that all hurdles in the way of flyover at Badarpur border, connecting Delhi with Faridabad, had been cleared and he was hopeful that the construction work would start soon.

“This project had been hanging in the balance for the past over six years and despite the demand being taken up several times, the state government and the politicians from here could not get the issue sorted out due to hurdles created by some politically influential persons,” claimed an official here.

“The construction of the flyover would facilitate smooth travelling to Delhi by saving at least half an hour,” said a resident here.

The Chief Minister announced an aid of Rs 10 lakh for the community centre. He also gave a cheque of Rs 51,000 to Ankit, a 7-year-old boy of Sanjay Colony here, who escaped from the clutches of kidnappers recently, but lost one arm when he was thrown from the running goods train by the culprits.

New Delhi, April 15
The Manav Sthali Organisation held its annual horse riding show on yesterday and today at Bhatnagar International School, Vasant Kunj, here.

Mr S. M. Khan, Press Secretary to the President of India, was the chief guest and presided over the thrilling and enchanting event.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Khan commended the supreme efforts of the enthusiasts who exhibited not only the physical courage but the spiritual strength surpassing the young age and mind. He was truly fascinated to view the scintillating performances by the young on horseback. He conveyed his sincere thanks to the organisation for inviting him to the show.

Mr Khan also complimented Dr V. K. Bhatnagar, Chairman, Manav Sthali Organisation, for making the organisation what it was today in the field of education.

He also inspired the young participants with the success mantra of the President of India that dream, dream, dream, transformed into thoughts, thoughts result into action by which you achieve success in life.

Dr Bhatnagar, Founder Chairman, Manav Sthali Organisation, strongly believes the role of sports in shaping the global personality of a youngster is of paramount importance. His strong conviction, and unmatched passion to create global achievers and aspirants has led the organization to ‘catch them young’ in every field.

Horse riding is a part of the school curriculum and the show an annual feature.

The highlight of the show were performing aerobics – exercises on horseback, an amalgamation of Manipuri and Bharatanatyam dance on the planks rested on horses, trotting of horses on music, followed by thrilling speed jumping, tent pegging and steeplechase exhibited with great equanimity and precision.

The most adventurous event of the day, “Girls’ Polo”, and “Conquering the Fort”, a unique feature presenting an exciting locking of horns, enthralled one and all on the delightful occasion.

The horse riding show, held annually, is not a competition, but an accomplishment on horseback which gives ample testimony of students’ proficiency and dexterity. The show is an incessant endeavour which inculcates in the students a team spirit, patriotic fervour and love for animals. 

Greater Noida, April 15
An accountant in Rabupura area and five other officials had to face the music for taking lightly the work of election such as preparation of voters’ list and photo identity cards. An FIR has been filed against six of them.

All the employees are in a panic wherever mistakes had come to light in voters’ lists and photo identity cards. Even the names of the poling agents were found missing from the voters’ list in Rabupura.

In Rabupura, a large number of voters had complained from Booth Nos. 16 and 17 that though they had photo identity cards, they could not cast their votes.—OC

A painting by Dhiraj Choudhury.

There have been only a few naïve artists of repute in the country and the exhibition is likely to generate interest in this stream of creative art.

Saluting spirit of Delhi

‘Golden Orb’

Dreamtheatre presents the world premiere of a theatrical presentation of William Dalrymple’s “City of Djinns” from April 16 26 at Maati Ghar, Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA) here. The play features many renowned film and theatre personalities of the stature of Tom Alter, Zohra Segal, Shrivardhan Trivedi among others from the Delhi stage.

Delhi has been one of the important epicenters of various historical episodes in Indian history. Thus, by saluting the spirit of Delhi, this production duly commemorates the 150th year of the Revolt of 1857 and salutes 60 years of India’s Independence.

Present day Delhi bears witness to old mansions, colonial bungalows, ancient ruins, mausoleums, places of worship, modern monuments, shopping malls, high-rises and more, all coexisting together in perfect harmony. This breathtaking production will enable the audience to re-discover Delhi’s crumbling ruins and monumental splendour in the midst of contemporary development and state-of-the-art infrastructure.

The venue for the staging has been chosen after much deliberation and it beautifully complements the concept. Not only is the façade of Maati Ghar the ideal synthesis of Mughal and Modern Architecture but this monument also marks the meeting point of Old Delhi and New Lutyen’s Delhi, thus making it the perfect venue for staging “City of Djinns”.

The essence of the production will become evident from the moment the guests arrive at the venue. They will be transported into a different realm altogether with the entire venue being converted into an experiential zone of sights, sounds and smells that define Delhi. The steps leading to IGNCA will be marked by trinkets and bangle sellers, creating the illusion of stepping into a “Dilli bazaar”. The production itself will feature renowned Sufi Qawwali singers from Old Delhi. Real characters from Old Delhi like pigeon fanciers, kebab wallas, calligraphers, eunuchs, Sufi saints, tangewallas, cockfight organisers, snake charmers will add to the flavour of the evening while the live background score based on works of Khusro, Rumi, Bulle Shah etc will create a unique atmosphere.

A mirror to art

Gallerie Nvya here is holding “Darpan”, an exhibition of the recent works of some of the well-known contemporary artists of the country at the Academy of Fine Arts and Literature here from April 15 to 20. The exhibition was inaugurated by Ms Gursharan Kaur, wife of the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh.

Arty stories

Gallery Espace here is holding an exhibition of the paintings of artist B. M. Kamath entitled “108 Small Stories” from April 13 to 20.

A reflection of the past

Gallery Art Alive is holding a solo show of the recent works of the well-known artist Mohan Malviya from April 19 to 30 here. Malviya’s paintings are a reflection of his lived past and bring forth the struggles he went through to achieve his dream of becoming an artist of repute.

Cultural extravaganza, thanks to ICCR

Continuing with its efforts to provide a glimpse of the music, dance, art and culture of the various countries of the world, the Indian Council For Cultural relations (ICCR) in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan is presenting an evening of traditional music and dance of Azerbaijan at Kamani Auditorium here on April 18.

On April 23, the council along with the Embassy of Mexico is presenting a concert by Horacio Franco on the flute and Victor Flores, a double bassist, at the Shri Ram Centre Auditorium here. Both the artistes are internationally renowned in their respective field and have performed in many countries.

A chip off the old block

Shrine Gallery here is holding an exhibition of the select photographs of city photographer Dheeraj Paul from April 15 to 21. Dheeraj, son of renowned photographer S. Paul, has won many an award for his photographs and has contributed to many newspapers and magazines. Like his brother, Neeraj, who is working with a national English Newspaper, Dheeraj learned the basics of photography literally on the knees of their father. The exhibition is being curated by Prima Kurien.

Contemporary art at Canvas

Canvas Art Gallery here is holding an exhibition of creations and photographs of 51 contemporary artists from all across the country entitled, “Guernica to Nithari” from April 14 to May 5.

Of buildings and environment

The Hungarian Information and Cultural Centre here in collaboration with the Austrian Embassy, Embassy of the Czech Republic, Embassy of the Republic of Poland, Embassy of the Slovak Republic and Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia is presenting an exhibition entitled “ Form and Nonform”, a selection of Central European photography of architecture from April 18 to May 18.

The exhibition traces the relationship between buildings and their environment in the central European region through photographs.

A tribute to an artist with a mission

Art Konsult is presenting a retrospective show of more than 70 works by Dhiraj Choudhury spanning his 50 years of work between 1955 and 2005 at Gallery I - IV, Lalit Kala Akademi, Copernicus Marg here from April 15 to 21.

The retrospective, marking the artist’s 50 years of contribution to art which is touring the metros (Delhi, Mumbai, Baroda and Singapore), is a tribute to his talent.

Says Bhavna Kakar of Art Konsult: “The exhibition showcases works that constitute multiplicity of roles that this artist with a mission plays through his drawings, paintings and sculptures. The range of subjects covered in this prolific artist’s work is as crowded as the density of his ideas and concerns, with a twist of celebration in some and dismay in others.” Dhiraj’s Bangla roots are reflected in his poetic work which has been inspired by none less than Rabindranath Tagore and Jibananda Das. Several of his compositions, including the beautiful image in Banalata Sen, are his tributes to the poets.

Preview of works of Neeraj Goswami
Aicongallery held a preview of the

“Golden Orb”, a solo show of recent works of artist Neeraj Goswami, at the Travancore Art Gallery here last week. The exhibition opens at the Aicongallery in New York on May 17.