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HC order to DDA on land use
BJP opposes power tariff hike
Want CNG? Have dust plugs
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Factory owner gets 6 months’ jail for stealing power
MCD control rooms to be strengthened
PCR vans to check traffic violations
Stone laid for flyover
District hospital without doctors
One held in anti-trafficking drive
Youth drowns to escape arrest
DUTA gears up for polls
Good old Indian folk tales need a magic genie
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HC order to DDA on land use
New Delhi, July 31 Charges can be levied only for the period of misuse from the date of detection of misuse till the date of vacation of the property, Justice S Muralidhar said in a recent order. Imposing Rs 5,000 as penalty on the DDA for demanding the misuse charge from one Rattan Kaur from the date the plot was leased out in Naraina Vihar in 1975, justice Muralidhar directed the agency to process and decide the woman’s application for conversion in accordance with law within eight weeks. “A direction is issued to the DDA to now process and decide the petitioner’s application for conversion without demanding the past misuse charge and consistent with this judgment,” the court said. “Just like DDA cannot seek to prosecute a person for an offence under the DDA Act at any length of time, likewise collection of fines and penalties will also have to be done within a reasonable time,” the court observed. In 1997, Kaur had moved an application before the DDA for conversion of the general plot to commercial plot as she had set up a typing institute there. After inspection conducted by the DDA, the agency had rejected her application and demanded more than Rs eight lakh for using the property for commercial purpose since 1975 without its sanction. |
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BJP opposes power tariff hike
New Delhi, July 31 “The Delhi Energy Procurement Group constituted by the Delhi government had entered into an agreement with the Himachal Pradesh government to purchase 450 MW power at the rate of Rs 7.29 per unit on the pretext of supplying uninterrupted power in the Capital,” he said. He added that the Delhi government agreed in writing that even if Delhi did not require 450 MW power from Himachal, it would pay at the rate of Rs 7.29 per unit to the Himachal government. “On this basis, the BSES has made a claim to the DERC that it had to purchase power from Himachal at the rate of Rs 7.29 even when it did not require power. This surplus power was sold to the other states at the rate of Rs 3 to 4 per unit. Due to this, it had suffered a loss of Rs 116 crore per month. Hence, BSES claimed that it should be allowed to increase the power tariff immediately,” the BJP leader said. Dr Harsh Vardhan further said that the group constituted by the Delhi government had committed a big economic offence by entering into an agreement for the loot of public money with the Himachal government. “The guilty persons should be punished for it,” he demanded. The BJP state president said that the case regarding increasing the power tariff for the next four years was pending before the DERC. Preparations have been completed to increase the power tariff for the fourth time in December, 2007. “Inspite of this, the BSES company wants that the DERC should allow it to increase the power tariff from this month itself. This is a fraud with the power consumers,” he said. He demanded that power companies should not be allowed to increase the power tariff. “The power companies and the chief minister had claimed in a function that power theft has been curbed. If power theft has been curbed, the power tariff should be decreased. There is no justification in increasing the power tariff,” he said. Dr Harsh Vardhan has demanded a high level enquiry into all the aspects of power purchase agreement with Himachal Pradesh.
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Want CNG? Have dust plugs
New Delhi, July 31 In a notice targeted at all CNG Bus and RTV owners as well as drivers operating in the Capital, the company has stated that from August 1 the company will refuse CNG filling to vehicles that fail to comply with safety code of practices as prescribed by the ministry of road transport and highways under rule 115B of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR) for CNG-operated vehicles. The safety code of practice and type approval procedure to be followed for CNG operated vehicles is as per AIS 024 (safety code provision for CNG buses or RTVs) standard. As per the provisions of AIS 024, the filling valve of the CNG operated vehicle should have dust plug or cap and the engine should not start when the dust plug or cap is removed or opened. The notice came following an EPCA report submitted to the Supreme Court stating that IGL should check the dust caps in buses and dust plugs in RTVs and should refuse fuelling of CNG to those vehicles which do not have dust caps or plugs. These dust caps if placed in position, allow the ignition kill safety interlock system of the vehicle to properly function. The company has requested all concerned for co-operation in complying with the prescribed code as this is directed towards ensuring safety of general public. In order to disseminate the information, the company has already published notice in newspaper and the notice is being handed in person to drivers of all buses and RTVs coming for CNG filling at the stations. |
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Factory owner gets 6 months’ jail for stealing power
New Delhi, July 31 Earlier, in an inspection carried out by a BRPL Enforcement Team on July 18, 2005, Dharamraj, running his plastic moulding factory at 45 Bindapur village in West Delhi area was caught stealing 16 KW of electricity by illegally tapping into BSES LV mains. Subsequently, according to the provisions laid down in the Indian Electricity Act 2003, a penalty of over Rs 5.72 lakh was imposed on him. When the accused failed to deposit the penalty amount within the stipulated timeframe, a case was filed in the special court for determination of civil and criminal liabilities. After hearing the arguments of both the sides and taking note of the evidence presented by BSES, the Special Court of Electricity pronounced the accused guilty of theft of electricity and sentenced him to undergo an
imprisonment of six months. In addition, the court also determined a civil
liability of Rs 4.3 lakh against the convicted person u/s 135 of the Indian Electricity Act 2003. According to a BSES official, BSES discoms have filed over 5,000 cases to date in the three special courts in their area. The courts have sent over 175 power thieves to jail so far. |
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MCD control rooms to be strengthened
New Delhi, July 31 He made this announcement at a function in which he distributed uniforms to the staff deployed at CCR. Expressing his satisfaction, the Municipal Commissioner said the modernised CCR set up at Town Hall had completed one year of its effective functioning. Last year, in all, 32,612 complaints were received. Of these, 19,062 were of general nature and 13,550 related to unauthorised constructions and encroachments on public land. Special Task Force issued 2,056 notices to stop work where unauthorised constructions were going on. The Municipal Commissioner also said that all the 12 zonal control rooms would also be provided voice logger, wireless set, internet facilities, fax and mobile vans were provided to central control room. A separate cadre will be formed for the staff of all the control rooms. |
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PCR vans to check traffic violations
New Delhi, July 31 Each PCR van, containing the PCR staff and one SI or ASI from the traffic department, will conduct extensive patrolling on the selected corridors. These vehicles are under instruction to check the Blueline buses not observing traffic rules. The PCR vans have also been instructed to chase the erring vehicles. Vans have also been asked to check for encroachment on the roads, particularly the bus lanes. |
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Stone laid for flyover
New Delhi, July 31 The new flyover would be commissioned by April, 2009 with an estimated cost of Rs 78 crore. Speaking on this occasion, Dikshit stated that transport scenario in Delhi was bound to improve substantially with the commissioning of 27 flyovers and underpasses and 31 Foot Over Bridges before commencement of Commonwealth Games 2010. She added that apart from this, her government had also decided to bring fast moving buses including air-conditioned buses for city transport in the Capital. She announced that construction work of around 2,000 low cost houses for weaker sections, including JJ dwellers would be started in August, 2007. The houses would be constructed with fast-track technique within six months time. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is being requested to lay foundation stone of low cost houses in Bawana. Delhi PWD Minister A. K. Walia presided over the function, whereas Development Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan was present as a special invitee. Local MLAs Bijender Singh and Sultanpuri MLA Jai Kishan also addressed the gathering. Dikshit expressed confidence that new flyover would ensure smooth flow of traffic including interstate traffic and commuting time would be reduced between Delhi and Rohtak. It would also facilitate village bound traffic. A Metro line would pass above the upcoming flyover. Kirari Mor, Sultanpuri Road and Najafgarh Road intersections on NH-10 (Delhi Rohtak Road) are one of the busiest junctions in Delhi. Total peak hour traffic at intersection is 10-262 PCU. The new flyover at Nangloi would provide an uninterrupted straight ahead vehicular movement along NH-10 and reduce traffic congestion through signalised intersection at ground level at Kirari Mor and Najafgarh Road Junction and ensure an uninterrupted movement of straight going traffic towards Mundka. One pedestrian subway at the end of the flyover near Sultanpuri Road Junction would facilitate pedestrian movement. The 1075-meter-long main flyover would have surface level roads of minimum 11 meter width on either side of flyover and cycle track of 3 meter width, one pedestrian subway with staircase/ramp, bus bays, horticulture, landscaping, electrical lighting and traffic signages. She also mentioned that the Delhi government had ensured number of measures for development of rural Delhi for which a Board has been constituted and Rs 125 crore has been released for various developmental works. A new University called Bharat Ratna Dr Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar University is also coming up in rural Delhi. Walia assured that construction of remaining flyovers out of 27 planned would be started within six months. Nangloi flyover is 17th flyover where construction has begun. Delhi Development Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan said that Ration Cards were being issued to the residents of JJ colonies. The present scheme was coming to an end on August 31 and the same would be extended if required, he added. All residents of JJ clusters/rehabilitation colonies are being provided 25 kg wheat and 10 kg rice on monthly basis.
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District hospital without doctors
Noida, July 31 Over 650 patients who had come to the OPD for treatment had to go back disappointed. Besides radiologist, general physician, child specialist and dental surgeon, no other doctor is available in OPD these days. Patients of viral diseases, dengue and malaria had to return without any doctor examining them. Some Ayurvedic trainee-doctors were, however, seen prescribing ‘allopathic’ medicines to the patients. Sarita Devi, 38, from Banghel and dozens of other eye-patients had to return as ophthalmologist had been relieved from the hospital. Some ENT patients from Chaura village had to be content with pain-killers given by pharmacist. Many patients of gastric problems similarly went back without any relief for want of specialist doctors. ENT specialist is on long leave so his room is locked. The only physician, Dr Lokesh had to attend to about 300 patients single-handedly while two intern-doctors were examining patients in physician room. Hospital physician Dr Renu Agarwal, surgeon doctor R Dang and ophthalmologist, Dr Madan Lal stand relieved from the Noida district hospital. Two doctors attached with CMO Dr Rakesh Kumar ( ENT) and Dr S.Saxena (Ortho) will not attend to patients till new doctors are posted here, it is learnt. The district hospital in Sector-30, Noida, is always facing one problem or another. Sometimes doctors are not available while at others, if they are available, they spend more time in internal squabbles and even legal cases. At times the power supply in the hospital is disconnected due to non-payment of power bills, while at others, parts of dilapidated building come crashing down. |
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One held in anti-trafficking drive
New Delhi, July 31 The cops have a list of some high-profile political names involved in the case. The name of BJP’s Babubhai Katara has already been in the limelight. Mohammed Shamim, who investigators suspect played a key role in the racket, was nabbed from Hyderabad by a Delhi Police crime branch team. “He used to bring prospective candidates for smuggling abroad. He was basically a middle-man,” said A.S.Cheema, deputy commissioner of police (crime branch). Investigators believe that his questioning would throw more light on the case. However, the police have arrested eight people in this regard. According to the sources, the names of nine parliamentarians and two Andhra Pradesh legislators had cropped up during the custodial interrogation of Sunder Lal Yadav, an alleged local middleman, and Mohammad Rasheed, a Hyderabad-based travel agent. |
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Youth drowns to escape arrest
Faridabad, July 31 However, the police authorities have claimed that they did not chase the victim. This is reported to be second such death in the district during the past one year. According to reports, the incident that led to the death of the youth took place yesterday afternoon, when a police team of the CIA branch had gone to raid a house in Prem Nagar in connection with a theft. It is stated that the youth left his house as soon he learnt that the police party had reached there and started running towards the canal nearby. As per the claims of the relatives of the victim, Anish had jumped into the canal to escape the arrest and drowned. This incident took place around 4 pm yesterday. While the residents of the colony, including family members of the victim came out on the road and blocked the traffic against the incident, the office of the police chief here claimed that the police did not chase the youth, but he himself ran away from his house after he learnt that the police were looking for him. The police which fished out the body this morning from a spot near Badoli village described the death as a mystery and a matter of investigation. The youth hailed from a village in Mewat district, but had been living here for the past few years. The residents of the colony have sought a high-level probe into the incident and an action against the cops allegedly responsible for the death. It is alleged that the authorities did not swing into action to save the victim or recover the body immediately, when he fell into the canal. Meanwhile, the fire department also fished out the bodies of a young couple who drowned in the Gurgaon canal near Sector- 55 this morning. The deceased identified as Pawan and his wife Mamta (28) were residents of Gonchhi village. According to police sources, the couple had a quarrel this morning and both of them jumped into the canal at about 10 am. Some locals who noticed the bodies informed the police and fire department, which recovered the bodies near Pratapgarh village after about one and a half hours. No case had been booked till the last report came in. |
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DUTA gears up for polls
New Delhi, July 31 Aditya Narain Mishra is the candidate being fielded by both the Indian National Teachers Congress (INTEC) and the AAD for the post of president of the Delhi University Teachers’ Association for the elections. The other candidates due to be fielded for elections to the executive committee are Dr Vinay Kumar Singh, reader in Chemistry, Aurobindo College, Dr Sanjay Kumar Sharma, lecturer, at the Hindi Ram Lal Anand College and Sanjay Kumar, lecturer political science, at the Zakir Hussain College. |
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Good old Indian folk tales need a magic genie
New Delhi, July 31 But ask a kid today about her favourite book, and chances are she will name an Enid Blyton, a Nancy Drew, a Hardy Boy and—even more likely—a Harry Potter. The story is entirely different for Indian folk tales and other children’s books. A predictable storyline, monotonous illustrations, lots of moral baggage and more importantly sloppy marketing have led to their taking a beating. “Most children have heard the folk tales before—either from their parents or their grandparents. So there is no attraction to read a folk tale book,” said Vandana Bisht, an author based in Delhi.
“Moreover, they don’t find the Indian folk tale books interesting because they are not laid out as interestingly as their foreign counterparts.” Most traditional Indian stories have a rural backdrop or a royal setting. Many have birds, animals, trees and flowers talking and interacting freely with man—far removed from reality and a rather different take on fantasy compared to, for instance, a Harry Potter! “The main problem I think with these books is that they compromise on the fun factor by attaching too much of moral baggage. Also, kids get bored of seeing the same kings and queens in their royal garb,” Bisht said.Currently working on a book based on Tibet and with elaborate illustrations, Bisht has authored many children’s books like “Avadhi Folktales” and “Princess With The Longest Hair”. Mamang Dai, another writer of children’s books based in Arunachal Pradesh, said that besides lacklustre illustrations, the marketing strategy adopted by publishing houses and agents here is perhaps not good enough to attract more readers. Agreed Gita Wolf, publisher of Chennai-based Tara Publishing House. “The reason why certain things are popular is often not because of their intrinsic merit, but because there is a huge marketing machine behind them. This is increasingly the case. “This is not to say there is no merit in Harry Potter—on the contrary. But sadly, marketing budgets need to be several times larger than publishing costs—and Indian children’s books do not have pride of place in Indian book shops,” Wolf said.Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih, deputy director of publications of the Northeastern Hill University based in Meghalaya, said there is a need to revamp folk tales to suit the changing tastes of children. “There should be an element of modernisation along with the mythical element in the folk tales so that children can relate to the stories. There should be contemporary characters with elements of mystical powers. While some things—a part of the essence perhaps—are going to be lost because of this, there will be something gained as well,” Nongkynrih said The author of numerous folk tale books in the local language of Meghalaya, Khasi, he said there was also an urgent need to transform these stories that hardly goes beyond three pages into full-length novels. Bisht points out yet another reason. “Children today are looking towards the West in every aspect. Be it in clothes, movies or food. So is the case in books. Moreover, the rural setting or royal background which the Indian storybooks generally deal with is not identified with by the children,” said Bisht. Steering away from this trend, some publishers like Tara Publishing House of Chennai and Katha of Delhi are giving a push to children’s books that are more realistic and have extensive illustrations. One of the books by Tara, “Trash! On Ragpicker Children and Recycling”, for instance, is based on the real life experience of ragpicker children. It talks about one particular child who runs away from home and ends up as a ragpicker in the city. His trials and tribulations, humorous instances sprinkled with serious ones like child labour, child rights and recycling, earned this book a mention in the Munich-based White Ravens, a selection of international children’s and youth literature—IANS.
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5 criminals arrested
New Delhi, July 31 Yesterday, the police got an information that five armed criminals were allegedly sitting in Mahavir Swami park in Kailash Nagar. The police claimed that the criminals were planing to rob a cloth merchant. The police laid a trap near the park and surrounded the alleged criminals. The accused tried to escape by running in different directions but the police succeeded in apprehending them. |
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Fugitive criminal held
New Delhi, July 31 |
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Vehicle thief held
New Delhi, July 31 Following a tip-off, a Maruti Zen car was signalled to stop on a post in Paschim Vihar. The occupants of the car tried to escape, leaving the car behind. The police overpowered one of them, while the other managed to flee.The arrested person was identified as Amit Kumar. The alleged gang leader Neeraj Gupta also runs a prostitution racket, the police claims.
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