Faridabad, June 15
The police has registered a case against six persons, including three women, and an official of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) in connection with a land scam near Ankhir village.

The scam was exposed by 'The Tribune' in a report published on March 29.

The CIA branch here has been asked to conduct further investigations and identify others including the officials who had been involved in the scam, which could be bigger than what it appeared, sources say.

The six persons named in the FIR are Kanahiya Lal, a resident of Sector-21- B, Prem Chand of SGM Nagar, Bhanumati of sector- 21- B, Parmeshwari Devi of Delhi, Anoop Kaur and Darshan Singh (both NRIs).

Besides, the FIR also included names of some officials, including an ALO of the HUDA, and the Tehsil (Revenue) office which had registered the land or the plot at more than one occasion, without verification.

The fraud came to light when an inquiry was conducted following a complaint by two residents here who had entered into an agreement with a party to buy a plot measuring 108 sq. yards in a colony located near sector- 48 here.

It was revealed that the plot or the land in question had already been acquired by the HUDA in 1992 and even paid compensation to the owner and thus any kind of such deal or sale was totally illegal.

The office of the Chief Minister and the DGP, Haryana had directed the authorities here including the SSP to conduct an enquiry and take action against the persons involved in the scam, following a complaint lodged with them by the complainant.

A probe conducted by an inspector of the CIA cell of the police here had submitted his report or findings to the office of the SSP a few days ago. However, no immediate action was taken in this regard.

The matter was reported again by The Tribune that there had been no action in land scam so far.

The FIR was lodged after a meeting of the officials' concerned yesterday.

Though the officials or employees named in the FIR have not been identified, a case in this connection has been registered under section 420, 465, 466, 467, 471 and 120- B of the IPC.

It is stated that further investigation into the matter would be done by an Inspector of the CIA branch till all the accused were identified and booked.

New Delhi, June 15
The Congress led UPA coalition plans to bring an Ordinance to avoid forcible action against unauthorised development for a period of one year.

Information and broadcasting minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi told reporters after the Cabinet meeting that the Ordinance would provide temporary relief from forcible action against unauthorised development to certain category of people for a period of one year.

He said the cabinet gave its approval for promulgation of an Ordinance, the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Ordinance, 2007. A Bill will be moved in the coming session of Parliament to replace the Ordinance.

Dasmunshi said the Ordinance would provide relief to unauthorised development in the form of encroachment by slum and jhuggi-jhopri dwellers, hawkers and urban street vendors and unauthorised development in the existing farm houses involving construction beyond permissible building limits and schools, dispensaries, religious institutions and cultural institutions in rural areas built on agricultural land for a period of one year in Delhi.

The Ordinance would provide temporary relief against forcible action to people of the above categories as to avoid undue hardship and irreparable loss and also allow for a balanced and well-considered view to be taken on policies involving such unauthorised development thereby to formulate schemes to address these issues.

New Delhi, June 15
The Delhi Lt. Governor Tejendra Khanna launched an initiative to have on board all key agencies and stakeholders including representatives of Civil Society in a high-level meeting on Solid Waste Management at Raj Niwas here today.

He said there was a need to have a comprehensive master plan for handling solid waste management in place within three months, which can identify problem areas and formulate strategies.

Khanna said the existing infrastructure would be further strengthened to make Delhi a role model within two-years and before the Commonwealth Games 2010.

He was of the view that size of the total waste for disposal can be reduced many times by segregation right from the individual household level and the example of Defence Colony RWA in solid waste disposal through composting of biodegradable vegetable waste needs to be replicated all over Delhi.

The Lt. Governor said that unauthorised colonies and slum clusters need to be roped in to widen the reach of this exercise. He directed the municipal authorities to contemplate imposition of fine on irresponsible disposal of building rubble on public streets.

He also suggested that gardeners and sweepers working with municipal authorities should be encouraged to perform their duties in close coordination with the local RWAs.

The Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit emphasised on the need to create an authority having representatives from all civic bodies and developmental agencies on board for better coordination and to tackle multiplicity of agencies resulting in lack of direction. She underlined the need to have zone wise periodical review by the authority.

She suggested that the MCD should start a special rubble pick-up service. Delhi Mayor Arti Mehra announced setting up of an advisory group on solid waste management at MCD having experts and enlightened citizens from civil society which would be set up in a week's time.

She said a communication and control system would also be set up which would also entail a provision of a SMS service for information about unattended garbage dumps.

The Mayor said a biometric system for attendance for field staff would also be considered. She announced institution of a Mayor's Award for clean colonies/neighbourhoods.

New Delhi, June 15
Delhi urban development and PWD minister A. K. Walia has directed the MCD, DDA and PWD to enforce a ban on road cuttings from June 15 to September 15 in the national Capital because of the onset of monsoons.

A statement issued today said that it had been decided to effectively enforce the ban to avoid water logging and inconvenience to the people.

Walia has issued necessary instructions to immediately put an end to the massive ongoing road cutting work by different agencies.

It has also been instructed to restore cuts on the roads and ensure removal of accumulated debris (malba) on roadsides.

All road-owning agencies have also been advised to be vigilant and active in putting an end to road cuttings.

It may be recalled that MCD, DDA, MTNL, Private Telecom Companies, BSES and NDPL have been undertaking massive road cutting for laying utility lines in the city.

The ban would remain in force for three months. However, necessary permission would be granted to undertake urgent and unavoidable requirements.

Digging of road to lay cables or lines for utilities services would be permitted only in rare and essential cases keeping in view importance of the work.

It has also been instructed to undertake road cutting wherever necessary by using trench less technology causing minimum inconvenience to the people and minimum obstacle in smooth flow of traffic.

Walia also made it clear that all roads in Delhi should be smooth and without any visible cuttings.

New Delhi, June 15
The much-awaited first pre-monsoon showers hit the Capital today bringing down the mercury by several degrees in the city, which has been reeling under intense heat wave conditions since the beginning of this month.

The light and moderate showers, which weathermen described as an offshoot of the south easterly winds blowing through the National Capital Territory of Delhi since the last few days, started around 1.30 in the afternoon.

The rain and easterly winds, which followed a cloudy sky since morning brought down the day temperature by a few degrees. The minimum temperature today dropped to 28.0 degree Celsius, one degree below normal.

The Met office has forecast a partly cloudy sky during the next 24 hours with rain and thundershowers in many areas. It has also forecast possibility of squalls in some areas holding out a promise of a pleasant weekend.

New Delhi, June 15
BJP Pradesh president Harsh Vardhan has demanded from the home minister that he should call a meeting of the Chief Ministers of Delhi and Haryana to discuss the water dispute.

In a statement released today, he said that Haryana was deliberately not releasing water for Delhi. Because of this the water level of Yamuna canal had fallen and the production of Haiderpur and Nangloi water treatment plants has been adversely affected.

"The conditions are so bad that the people are purchasing water from private tankers after paying a heavy price", he said.

In Rohini, Samaypur Badli, Shahbad-Daulatpur, Peeragarhi, Nangloi, Paschim Vihar, Khayala, Palam, Najafgarh, Uttam Nagar, Janakpuri, Vikas Puri, Shalimar Bagh, Pitampura, Saraswati Vihar, Mangolpuri, Sultanpuri, Dwarka, Tilak Nagar, Subash Nagar, Tagore Garden, Hastsal, Raj Nagar, Karala, Kanjhawala, R.K. Puram, Moti Bagh, Nanakpura and many village areas are not getting even a bucket of water.

New Delhi, June 15
Tomorrow is the last date for submission of admission forms at Delhi university. Rush for forms has been heavy this year as compared to past years.

On the first day of the admission process, June1, some 32,576 common pre-admission forms were sold from 17 information centers set up across the city.

In fact, the Kirori Mal College, one of the three information centres in North Campus had then fallen short of application forms mid-way and had to bring in a new lot.

Sources within the university inform that this year the form sale has been heavy and has crossed the regular 1.25 lakh figure. Excited applicants apply for 43,000 undergraduate seats in 82 DU colleges every year.

So competition is going to be rather tough. Form sale did fall down slightly during the Gujjar protest. In the admissions schedule ahead, the first cut off list will be out on June 26 and the admission modalities will take place between the 27th and 29th of June, 10 am to 4 pm.

High marks are very important for admissions and the cut off this year has been exceedingly high. For instance the Sri Ram College of Commerce closed at 94.50% for B Com (Hons) and 95.25% for Economics (Hons).

The Lady Sri Ram College in south campus on the other hand came out with the cut off only minutely below SRCC with 94.25% for the B Com course.

Perusal of records shows that despite several opportunities given, the prosecution has failed to examine even a single witness, metropolitan magistrate Ajay Gupta said in a recent order.

Gurgaon, June 15
Local Gujjar leaders cutting across party lines today announced to organise a mahapanchayat in Gwalphadi village in this district on June 20 to press for acceptance of the demand of the community in Rajasthan to accord Scheduled Tribe status.

Among the prominent members who made the joint announcement are the district (Gurgaon) president of the INLD Antram Tanwar and district president of the BJP Tejpal Tanwar.

The leaders cautioned that in case the demand of the community was not met, an agitation would be launched again.

The name of Antram Tanwar figures in the two FIRs that was registered by the local police at the behest of the Supreme Court in connection with the recent violent agitation over the issue.

The leaders claimed that the community members here were approached by the leaders from other states to organise a mahapanchayat on Delhi-Gurgaon road.

This will enable members from Haryana, Delhi Uttar Pradesh to attend the programme. According to them, the panchayat was being organised to give solidarity to their community members in Rajasthan.

Also, the issue of the present trajectory of the agitation and recent arrest and registration of criminal cases against the leaders in connection with the agitation all over the country following the Supreme Court's directive would also be discussed.

They asserted that the Commission, which has been constituted by the Rajasthan government to study on the demand of the community, should pay heed to the demand.

They claimed that the proposed mahapanchayat would have a national orientation and a committee would be formed to spearhead the agitation.

"This suggested approach will make civil defence an effective tool in the disaster management framework at the grass root level with an added advantage of being one amongst the people and with total concern for their own area," he said.

Gurgaon, June 15
Director general of police R S Dalal gave the charge of first commissioner, Gurgaon to IGP Mohinder Lal, here 
today.

The DGP said that the IGP had personally chased truck lifters up to Kolkata to arrest the criminals and busted an inter-state gang which had stolen more than 300 trucks from Delhi, UP, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab.

Dalal said that Gurgaon after Delhi was the first district in North to have the commissionary system.

He further revealed that besides 109 new posts sanctioned for the city, a lot of junior level personnel would soon be posted here for efficient handling of crime.

The Haryana police will soon appoint 1100 women police personnel with a view to having their strength as much as 10 per cent of the total force. Presently 300 women are under training and will soon join the district, revealed the officer.

Mohinder LAl, IPS ,who was born in 1956 in Tumbaheri village in Jhajjar district got his degree in Civil Engineering and MA (English). He competed All India Services and was selected in the IPS cadre in 1983. He was allocated Haryana cadre.

He was posted as Superintendent of Police in various districts of Haryana; Gurgaon, Sirsa Jind, Panipat, Karnal, Kethal, Yamuna Nagar, Rewari etc.

He was promoted as Deputy Inspector General of Police in 1999. He was awarded President Police Medal for meritorious services in 1999. As DIG, he remained posted as Deputy Inspector General of Police, Administration, Panchkula.

He also served as Deputy Director in Intelligence Bureau on deputation with Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi. He was promoted in the rank of Inspector General of Police in 2004.

He remained posted as Inspector General of Police, Hisar and Gurgaon ranges and presently posted as Commissioner of Police, Gurgaon with additional charge of IGP, Gurgaon range, Gurgaon.

New Delhi, June 15
With construction work at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground nearing completion, the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) is gearing up for another busy cricket season.

The Capital is scheduled to host a Twenty20 match between India and Australia in October and the first Test between India and Pakistan in November this year.

The last major match held at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground was a Test between India and Sri Lanka two years ago though the stadium was only half complete then.

The India-Pakistan Test, to be held at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground from November 22 to 26, is likely to be a sell out. Pakistan will also play two more Tests at Kolkata and Bangalore.

Delhi cricket has also received a deserving boost with the selection of opening batsman Gautam Gambhir and promising pacer Ishant Sharma in the Indian team for the forthcoming tour of England and Ireland.

Noida, June 15
In view of the forthcoming Commonwealth games union minister for power Sushil Kumar Shinde today laid the foundation stone of the 980-MW power projects at the NTPC, Dadri.

Delhi will get 90 per cent of the power generated while the Uttar Pradesh 10 per cent. However, till Commonwealth games all power would go to Delhi.

Abha Chaudhary, president, DPMC, stated this in a press release.

A large number of people had gathered at the Lodhi Road crematorium to offer their condolences to Malhotra. They included former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral, former union minister and Governor Jagmohan, Arunachal Pradesh Governor SK Singh.