New Delhi, May 24
Delhi Lt. Governor Tejendra Khanna today held a high-level meeting to discuss the traffic problems and related issues at Raj Niwas.

Also present in the meeting were chief secretary Ramesh Narayanswami, police commissioner K. K. Paul, DG, BPRD, Kiran Bedi, principle secretary (home) I Shumsher Sheriff, commissioner, Transport, Chandra Mohan, Jt. CP (traffic) Qamar Ahmed, chairman, Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE), I Rohit Baluja, Dinesh Mohan and Geetam Tiwari from Indian Institute of Technology, associated with Transportation and Research and Injury Prevention Programme and 15 other civil society experts having an interest in traffic issues.

The Lt. Governor said that there was a need for adopting a holistic approach to solve the traffic problems in Delhi. He said apart from tougher enforcement, the expertise of the civil society in NCT Delhi should be tapped in resolving the traffic issues.

It was decided in the meeting that a Traffic Monitoring Group headed by Pr. Secy. (Home) of the GNCTD would be established for better co-ordination between stakeholders and the government agencies. All the user departments including PWD, transport and traffic police would identify various constraints being faced in smooth running of traffic and the group would resolve the matter. Rohit Baluja of IRTE would join the group as special invitee. All future traffic regulation changes or modifications would be vetted by the group to ensure compliance of normative standards.

Two sub-groups would assist this group. The engineer-in-chief, PWD would head the Traffic Engineering Group (TEG), which would have representatives from DDA, CPWD, transport, traffic police, NHAI, Delhi Metro, CRRI and A. L. Aggarwal.

The Lt. Governor said improper traffic engineering had raised the hazard levels; therefore, prior concurrence of the TEG should be required before undertaking any new road construction. The TEG would find engineering solutions to the systemic weaknesses through engineering inputs. This would ensure that latest technology and research findings support all such new roads and accompanying signalling methodology. The Lt. Governor also directed the Delhi Police to immediately identify busy traffic intersections for installing pedestrian operated signal to protect their right of way.

The Traffic Management Group (TMG), under Jt. CP (Traffic) would consist of representatives from Transport Department, Delhi Metro, CRRI and IRTE.

New Delhi, May 24
The process of allegation and counter-allegation has begun between the MCD and Delhi Government.

A few days back, mayor Arti Mehra met the PWD and urban development minister A. K. Walia making a complaint of de-silting of drains maintained by the PWD. A few other issues were also discussed during the meeting.

Making a comment against the civic body, A. K. Walia today expressed his deep concern over lukewarm response of the MCD in de-silting of its 1,265 drains as the progress of work as reviewed by the minister was found to be far from satisfactory.

The minister claimed that the MCD had been able to de-silt only 69 drains so far. It was reported that in 337 drains, work was in progress. The MCD has been able to de-silt only 68,496 tonnes of silt, whereas it is supposed to remove around 4 lakh tonnes of silt before the start of monsoon. Walia expressed apprehension that with the present speed, the MCD would not be able to complete the entire de-silting process before the onset of the monsoon causing irreparable loss to maintain PWD roads, excessive water logging on the roads and inconvenience to the people.

The minister had shot off a letter to the municipal commissioner requesting his intervention and claimed that the entire process required improvement in system.

He appealed to the MCD commissioner to take immediate action to prevent water logging and its health-related effects.

Expressing surprise, Walia said that the MCD had not been able to start de-silting process in those 166 drains which were transferred by the PWD to the MCD for bringing better management system and avoiding shifting of responsibilities.

The minister has decided to personally inspect drains of all the 12 zones of the MCD to take stock of the progress of work. He would be visiting different drains in the first week of June, which would mount pressure on the MCD to complete the entire de-silting exercise by 3rd week of June, as monsoon is expected to arrive in Delhi around June 29.

It was informed during the meeting that the MCD was handing over the de-silting work to contractors. Hardly any drain has yet been desilted by a super sucker, Walia said. Walia asked the MCD engineers to pull up their socks as Delhi government had been generously releasing extra funds to the MCD.

New Delhi, May 24
In order to make Delhi Metro stations easily accessible to commuters, the DMRC will soon launch a ‘Metro Link Bus Service’ scheme under which it will purchase CNG-fitted feeder buses and hand them over to private operators.

The buses will be fitted with Global Positioning Systems (GPS) so that their movements can be tracked. They will also have provision/equipment for use of smart cards, which may be made operational at a later stage.

Initially, the DMRC will buy about 60 buses for operation on 36 routes and the number may be gradually increased subject to the viability of the project and decision of the DMRC and the State Transport Authority (STA).

Each bus will have a maximum seating capacity of 18 to 24 and a maximum standing capacity of 10. The total length of each route will be three to 15 km and the time schedule will be determined by the DMRC on the basis of requirements of commuters and traffic conditions.

The buses will be handed over to the private operators on lease-and-transfer basis. The operators will be required to pay back the cost of the vehicles in 5 years after which they will become owners of the buses. The vehicles will run on the CNG.

The proposed fare structure is Rs 5 for a distance up to 8 km and Rs 8 for distance above 8 km. “But this is subject to review by the STA and the Delhi government,” the DMRC adds.

Moreover, monthly passes have also been proposed, of Rs 450 for distance up to 8 km and Rs 720 for distance above 8 km. Some of the Metro stations to be covered by these routes are Welcome, Shastri Park, Vishwa Vidyalaya, Inderlok, Keshav Puram, Netaji Subhas Place, Pitampura, Rohini East, Rohini West, Kirti Nagar, Indraprastha, Subhash Nagar, Janakpuri West, Dwarka Mor, Dwarka Sec-10, Dwarka Sec-11, Dwarka Sec- 14 and Dwarka Sec-16.

Colonies which will be covered are Vivek Vihar Railway Station, Preet Vihar, Sonia Vihar Extension, Vasundhara Enclave, Mahendra Enclave, Nirankari Colony, Azadpur, Rani Bagh, Nihal Vihar, Badli, Rohini Sec-22, Lakhi Ram Park, Pushpanjali West Enclave, New Ashok Nagar, Delhi Secretariat, Anand Parbat, New Rajendra Nagar R-Block, Janakpuri D-Block, Vishnu Garden, Mayapuri Indl. Area Ph-I, Paschim Vihar, Sadar Bazar, Sukh Ram Park, Vishwas Park, Mahavir Enclave Pt-III, Dabri, Najafgarh, Bijwasan Border and Palam Vihar.

Feeder buses to Metro stations, running under STA permit, will continue to operate as usual, the Delhi Metro adds.

New Delhi, May 24
A delegation of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) today handed over a memorandum to the Delhi Lieutenant Governor urging him to ensure implementation of the recommendations of Tejinder Khanna Committee formed last year by the Union government on sealing and demolition issue.

The delegation also impressed upon the need of adopting relocation policy prior to uprooting any trader in Delhi to meet the end of principle of natural justice. The delegation was led by the CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal. Other members of the delegation included Murli Mani, Ramesh Khanna, Narender Madan, Satish Garg, Kailash Gupta and Vijay Pal.

Talking to the delegation, Lt. Governor Tejinder Khanna stressed the need of an urban regulatory authority, real estate commission, enforcement task force and special task force for key infrastructure projects in order to streamline systematic development of Delhi.

The LG further shared the concern of traders about relocation policy and assured to look into the matter seriously.

Lauding the contribution of traders in development of Delhi, Khanna said that habitation essentially needed shops enough to cater to the requirements of public in general.

He categorically assured that only lawful sealing would be allowed in Delhi and appropriate directions have been issued to departments concerned to uphold the law.

The delegation drew attention of Lt. Governor towards increasing problem of parking space in Delhi and offers to join hands with the government for development of multi-level parking on BOT basis.

Khanna appreciated the proposal of the delegation and assured to involve government public participation policy for parking areas in Delhi.

New Delhi, May 24
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has announced that a world-class Science and Technology or IT Park at Netaji Subhash Institute of Technology (NSIT) would be set up with the help of NASSCOM.

Besides, the Delhi government has initiated an action for setting up of two new engineering colleges during this year. One of them would be situated at Jaffrabad and focus on civil engineering whereas another at Okhla would focus on manufacturing sectors.

Delivering inaugural address in the workshop organized jointly by the NSIT and Directorate of Training and Technical Education (DTTE), the Chief Minister called upon local industrialists to make use of skill which was being developed in technological institutions of Delhi.

She further reiterated commitment of her government to develop Delhi as a hub of skilled technological persons. The Chief Minister further said that collaboration with industry would help in enhancing sphere of research, on-campus programmes and curriculum development. The Taknik Shiksha Sansthan Kalyan Samitis have been providing useful input in this regard.

She also mentioned that a job portal recently launched by the DTTE has proved to be much beneficial to the passing out students.

The department of science and technology, Delhi government has approached NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Services Companies), to assist in the development of the detailed project report (DPR) for the development of the science and technology or information technology park in Delhi.

The NASSCOM would be taking the assistance of a team from Pricewaterhouse Coopers, one of the largest professional services firm in the work with extensive experience in IT and infrastructure development. Proposed Science and Technology Park would focus not only on IT but also on other sectors such as nano-technology, bio-technology, etc.

The NSIT is one of the premier institutes in the country providing research-driven graduate and postgraduate engineering course in the country. The institute has additional surplus land measuring approximately 30 acres in Dwarka, Delhi and now proposes to use the land to develop a world-class modern science and technology park focusing on IT. The government has also earmarked a sum of Rs 20 crore in the budget to develop the park.

Secretary, DTTE, Dr G. Narendra Kumar while delivering address stressed the need of forging links with industry that would help in utilization of technological advances in the fast-changing world.

Assistant vice-president, NASSCOM, Girish Srivastav assured that a detailed project report in respect of Science and Technology Park would be completed within 12 weeks. 

Gurgaon, May 24
We must preserve our natural sources such as water otherwise there would be a severe problem in near future, said Bhure Lal, bureaucrat-turned-social activist.

Stating an example, he revealed that there were around 3000 ponds full of water in different parts of Meerut. Out of which more than 50 per cent had dried up and then disappeared in the recent past creating major problems of water scarcity in the area.

Bhure Lal, presently chairperson, Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority for NCR, has come here to release a book titled ‘Sewage Canal: How to clean the Yamuna’, promoted by the famous NGO, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

He lamented that the water, which is treated by various sewerage treatment plants in surrounding states, again gets mixed up with the untreated water, thereby making the whole exercise useless. A huge amount had been spent to clean the Yamuna but no improvement had been noted till date, opined Mr Lal.

Addressing the elite gathering of the city, he suggested that the time has come wherein, we have to install high quality treatment plants like that of Singapore where treated water is again supplied for drinking purpose in the city.

Speaking on the occasion, S P Gupta, administrator, Haryana Urban Development Authority, Gurgaon zone, said that everyone must realize the fact that the natural sources must not be wasted. People should not depend just on government machinery for preserving the natural sources.

Gupta surprised everyone by revealing that most parts of Gurgaon would be inundated if there is heavy rain in the season as there is no planned provision of the storm water drainage for the city.

New Delhi, May 24
A meeting of Shiromani Youth Khalsa Dal was held in Gurdwara Singh Sabha Gandhi Nagar (Trans-Yamuna). The meeting was presided over by the chairman Sardar Jatinder Pal Singh Goldi. All the members of the Trans-Yamuna Sikh organisation participated in the meeting including the Shiromani Gurdwara Sewadar Committee.

The meeting was held in connection with crisis in Punjab and other states in India over the Dera episode. The chief of the Dera in Sirsa (Haryana) Sant Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh has allegedly defamed the Sikh traditions by imitating Guru Gobind Singh and the ceremony of Holy Nectar.

Sardar Goldi told the press that all the members of the Sikh institutions in Trans-Yamuna area have demanded the Punjab, Haryana and Central Governments as per the Hukamnama of Akal Takhat to close the Deras of Sacha Sauda immediately to bring peace and harmony back in the country.

Varinder Singh Vindi, secretary of the Dal, further demanded a CBI inquiry in all the pending cases against the Dera chief. Sikh community has strongly condemned the Dera episode and asked the Sant Gurmit to apologise.

New Delhi, May 24
Four persons, including two children, were killed and a woman was injured when a huge stone, while being removed, fell on the pavement in Shadipur area of West Delhi in the wee hours today. The victims were sleeping on the pavement.

The incident took place at about 2 am when a JCB crane of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi was trying to remove the rubble lying between two Metro pillars near Shadipur flyover, according to sources.

The driver, who fled the scene after the incident, was arrested later in the day. While two children one six years old and another two and a half years old died on the spot, two others 15-year-old child and a 40-year-old woman died while being taken to the hospital. A 70-year-old woman Kamala Devi, presently in hospital, is said to be serious. All of them were sleeping on the pavement.

Local people later protested and blocked the road following which police had to resort to mild lathi-charge to disperse them.

New Delhi, May 24
An assistant sub-inspector Sukhdev Singh and a head constable Mahender Singh of the Delhi Police have been arrested for accepting a bribe from a woman to quash a complaint against her lodged over a business dispute.

The accused ASI and HC had threatened to arrest the woman after a property dealer filed a complaint against her at Hari Nagar police station over a property matter, asking her to pay Rs 30,000, said the CBI.