The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Delhi and neighbourhood

	Blueline row Government’s submission shocks court Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 11 Appearing for the Delhi government, counsel Mukta Gupta told the Delhi High Court today that 826 Blueline buses are running in the city with tampered speed governors. The government has promised to place a scheme in place to take the Blueline buses off the city roads by November 15. The government has also challaned nine buses for overspeeding and 25 drivers have been prosecuted for drunken driving. The bench consisting of Justice Mukul Mudgal and Reva Kheterpal was shocked on the submission. They showed their concern on the kind of certificates that were being issued to the buses. The court also declared that no bus that has been previously involved in a fatal accident will be allowed on the roads without the permission of the High Court. To penalise the owner of the bus, the High Court would put heavy penalty before releasing it on the streets. The High Court had called the Delhi government to place the scheme of taking Blueline buses off the city roads following Sunday’s accident. Seven people were killed in the accident when an overspeeding Blueline bus rammed into a crowd.
	Panel formed to improve road links Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 11 Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has constituted a committee to overcome obstacles coming in the way of construction of an underpass at Pusa Road Chowk and a flyover and underpass between Liberty Cinema and Anand Parvat on New Rohtak Road. The committee under the chairmanship of principal secretary (UD) has been requested to submit its report within two weeks. The other members of the committee are additional commissioner (engineering), MCD, joint commissioner of police (traffic), engineer-in-chief PWD and a representative of the Central Road Research Institute. This decision was taken at a meeting presided over by the Chief Minister. It was observed that the projects relating to the construction of flyover and underpasses at Pusa Road and New Rohtak Road could not probably be given final shape because of multiplicity of authorities.
	Metro link up to Gt Noida Our Correspondent Noida, October 11 The metro rail will ply between Noida and Greater Noida . A decision to this effect has been taken by Lalit Srivastava, Chairman Noida and Greater Noida Authorities , after his discussions with CEO, Noida, Balvinder Kumar. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has been asked to submit a detailed project report within three months. It has also been decided that commercial strips will also be developed along the route . The money earned from the sale proceeds of these strips will be ploughed into the project. The DMRC had made a presentation before Balvinder Kumar about the project on Tuesday. But now the DMRC will have to prepare a detailed project report . The estimated project cost has been pegged at Rs. 135 crore per k.m. A proposal will be presented in the next board meeting spelling out the financial contribution and liability of Noida and Greater Noida authorities ,respectively, Balvinder Kumar said.
	Delhi begins to rock Amit Kumar Das New Delhi, October 11 With the surfacing of a new breed of Rock music bands, the Capital, that has always been considered by afficionadoes as trailing behind cities like say Bangalore and Mumbai with respect to acceptance and popularity of the genre, is now witnessing a sweeping wind of change. Delhi is now the best place for Rock music. Even two years back, there was not such an audience who was receptive to Rock music but now it has accepted different genres of music, says Dhaval Mudgal, member of the band 'Half step down' that was launched in 2005. There are more active gigs in Delhi which pay as high as Rs 20,000 per show and with about15-20 live shows a month, it is really turning out to be a good time for the bands, he says. Arjun Kaul of 'Prithivi', which has been composing music for the last three years says, the audience for Rock music is growing in Delhi. The quality of production, infrastructure and resources has ensured better events to be organised and better performance, so I feel the music scene is fast changing in Delhi. The success of like 'Half step down,' 'Level 9,' 'Advatia' etc has given inspiration to a new breed of bands to join the bandwagon. 'Stitch,' 'Prithivi,' 'Rampage,' 'Frequency,' 'Inferno' are grabbing the spotlight with their unique renditions. Kshtij Rawal who heads the eight-month-old band 'Stitch' says, in these last few months, we have performed at a lot of places in Delhi. Then we got selected for the Rockilution competition that held here recently and we performed at the zonal level. Every month there are one or two gigs and each of these pays around Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000. Moreover, we participate in different competitions...Every week we try to catch up with each other and have a jamming session, says Akshay Raheja of Frequency, which reached the finals of the Channel V 'Launchpad' programme. With their roaring guitars, pounding drums and high octave vocals, these gang of boys have succeeded in swaying Delhities to their style of music. And, surprisingly most of them have not received any formal instruction in music. We all are students of Jamia Milia Islamia. When we started our band we never had any formal training. It is now that I have started taking classes in drums...Being like-minded, we always used to talk about music. It is through these discussions that everything happened, says Rawal. Although, the music scene might have changed over the years but when it comes to pursuing a profession in Rock music, they feel, it still has a long way togo. To earn a living out of music and survive purely on self-composed Rock music is a little difficult right now. One needs to compose commercial music, jingles for TV and radio for sustenance, says Arjun, who apart from being a guitarist is also a software engineer. All the members of my band are engineers working as professionals in different MNCs, he says. However, Rawal seems optimistic. I know there is struggle initially but I know that times are changing and am optimistic that with hard work, planning and a little bit of luck, we can be successful, he says. — PTI
	Vikas wants Katara trial shifted New Delhi, October 11 Former Rajya Sabha member D.P. Yadav's son Vikas Yadav, facing trial in Delhi for his alleged role in murdering his sister's friend Nitish Katara, on Thursday moved the Supreme Court seeking transfer of the case to any court in Tamil Nadu. Admitting Yadav's plea, a bench of Justices Ashok Bhan and V.S. Sripurkar expressed surprise over Vikas Yadav's request. It observed that the case had been first transferred from Ghaziabad to Delhi and "now you want it to be shifted to Madras". Counsel for Vikas Yadav and his cousin Vishal Yadav, who too is facing the trial in Delhi's Patiala House court, contended that they wanted the case to be shifted outside Delhi to escape the "media trial" here. He pleaded for an early hearing of his clients' plea, seeking October 22 as the next date of hearing. But the bench fixed the matter for October 29. In their petition, the Yadav cousins alleged that the slain youth's mother Neelam Katara had an extraordinary influence over the Delhi government, which has prompted it to take unusual interest in the case. They alleged that even Delhi's Lieutenant-Governor recently showed unusual interest in the appointment of the government's standing counsel to challenge their various pleas in the Delhi High Court regarding the trial. They sought to utilise an official communication of the union home secretary to the foreign secretary to buttress their allegation that even the central government was against them. The home secretary's communication pertained to the time when Vikas' elusive sister Bharti Yadav, then staying in London, was evading the Delhi trial court's summon to depose before it. "The home secretary himself had written a letter to the foreign secretary stating that the warrants to bring Bharati Yadav should be executed because the case has attracted considerable amount of general public attention and influential personalities are involved," their petition said. "The home secretary emphasised in his communication that it is their duty to ensure that justice is done and the victim's family rightfully believes that the government has not done enough. "This shows that there is considerable influence from various quarters and the petitioners are being adversely affected," they added.— IANS
	Ajay is a very good cook, says wife Kajol New Delhi, October 11 Hubby Ajay Devgan is a wonderful cook and dishes up mouth-watering Mughlai and Chinese cuisine, vouches Bollywood actor Kajol, while admitting that she is a "bad cook". Talented actress Kajol told IANS here: "I am a bad cook! My husband cooks really well and makes mouth-watering food varying from Mughlai to Chinese. He is a multi-talented person." In the city to promote Whirlpool home appliances for which she is the brand ambassador, Kajol said her idea of a perfect home is one that has loads of harmony. "A perfect home is one which has 60-70 per cent of harmony. You can never have 100 per cent of it, as small tiffs are inevitable. Moreover, if the kitchen is great what else can you ask for," said Kajol, whose daughter Nyasa is four years old. The actress, who was last seen on screen in "Fanaa" with Aamir Khan, is teaming up with her husband in their home production "U Me Aur Hum", which also marks Ajay's directorial debut. Their last film together, "Raju Chacha" (2000), sank without a trace. But Kajol said: "It is true that while working together we are more comfortable." Elaborating on the difference between working in ad films and feature films, she said: "Working in ads is a little more difficult than doing a (feature) film because you have to convey so much in a time span as short as 30 seconds." And to what extent do endorsements boost the popularity of a star? "Endorsements have enormous reach and one can connect to a wider and varied audience. It proves beneficial to a star." Kajol gave a spirited performance in hits like "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge", "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" and "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham", to name a few. Apart from her home production, Kajol will be seen in Yash Raj Films' upcoming venture "Tashan", which also stars Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor.— IANS
	Mayor returns from climate change meet Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 11 Sharing her experience of global conference of mayors, “The Future in Our Hands: Climate Change” in New York organised by the United Nations Organisation, the Mayor of Delhi, Arti Mehra, said she presented the case of the local authorities before the world forum. Addressing the opening session of the conference, Mehra told the heads of the states of more than 160 countries that the role of local authorities for addressing the challenge of climate change was very important. In her speech, she said that the world is changing fast. The climate pattern has changed. The countries of the world are facing new problems due to this change. The increasing population is demanding more resources. Air has been polluted. The demand for power, water and employment has increased. Efforts are on to solve these problems with the cooperation of local authorities. She pointed out that the transport system of Delhi is the largest in the world which is run on clean, pollution-free fuel. The Metro rail is being expanded. Big buildings and new cities are being supported by non-conventional energy. The Capital of India is being provided with new facilities for organising the Commonwealth Games in 2010. Mehra said that the world governments are facing many serious challenges. They have many things to learn from the experiences of local authorities. The local authorities have started using CFL bulbs to address the challenge of power shortage. Similarly the local authorities have provided reliable public transport, managed garbage and protected environment. Thus, the standard of living of the citizens has become high and there has also been decrease in the harmful emissions. She has requested the heads of the states not only to listen to the stories of the success of local authorities, but also give it a concrete shape and provide economic and other facilities to the local authorities in their countries so that the challenges arising before the world could be faced. She advised the heads of the states to find out the right path by exchange of ideas on these things.
	NHRC to celebrate foundation day New Delhi, October 11 The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) will on Friday mark its 14th foundation day with films on social issues, cultural programmes and release of a publication. As a part of the celebrations at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) auditorium, films dealing with issues such as HIV/AIDS, manual scavenging, trafficking in women and children and female foeticide will be released. An NHRC publication on National Old Age Pension Scheme will be released on the occasion. A cultural function will be organised in the evening, presided by S. Rajendra Babu, the NHRC chairperson. Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan will be the chief guest. — IANS
	CBSE essay competitions Tribune News Service Delhi, October 11 In what amounts to good news for school going writing buffs the CBSE on Thursday announced the 16tth All India essay competition on road safety’ and also the 11th ‘All India Essay Competition on Vehicular Pollution’to be conducted in collaboration with the ministry of shipping, road-transport and highways. The competitition will be conducted for all affiliated schools across the country. Students from Classes 8 to 12 can participate in the road safety essay competition on the theme ‘Disciplined driving is the only road to human safety’ and the essay competition on vehicular pollution on the theme ‘Prevent vehicular pollution than cure.’ Both the above mentioned competitions carry over 100 marks and are for three hours duration. Schools have been asked to conduct this competition on any day in the last week of October 2007 and send in the essays by November 8,this year to the regional offices of CBSE. The medium of writing may be English, Hindi or any of the languages included in the eighth schedule of the Constitution. The board will be awarding three cash prizes of Rs 5000, Rs 3000 and Rs 2000 in each language and category.
	IGNOU extends form submission date Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 11 Indira Gandhi Open University (IGNOU) has extended the last date for the submission of examination forms for the ‘December 07 Term End examination’ to October 15. The announcement was made by Dr Srikant Mohapatra, the Registrar (Student Registration & Evaluation Division) at IGNOU. The examination forms received after October 16, 2007, will attract the prescribed late fee, in addition to the examination fee. Students are required to pay examination fee at Rs 50 per course if they are appearing for the first time or failed earlier examinations for theory as well as practical. All other details are available on the official website of IGNOU.
	Gangster arrested Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 11 The Special cell of Delhi Police has claimed to have arrested the desperate criminal working in close association with gangster Narender. More than 12 inter-state cases of extortion, murder and robbery have been solved with his arrest. Information was received that gangster Vikki ,aka Vikram was visiting the Badarpur area and was making a hideout there. He was also giving threats to one businessman in UP. Surveillance was mounted for him and he was apprehended in New Friends colony with one country -made pistol. Vikki was declared a proclaimed offender after he killed his own wife in Faridabad. Gang of auto-lifters busted With the arrest of three auto lifters Sanjay Kumar, Raj Kumar and Vijay Kumar, special staff has busted a gang of auto -lifters. Six cars have been recovered from the suspects along with three forged RCs, three fake driving licenses and instruments used in committing the crime. After putting up a check -post in Burari, the police received some fake documents regarding the ownership of the vehicle. The suspects were apprehended. They used to sell the stolen vehicles to people in rural areas after procuring fake documents. Blind murder solved With the arrest of three persons, Bittoo Kumar, Deepak Kumar and Poonam, the North district police has solved a blind murder case of the Khadar area. The police had registered a case of murder on October 8 after spotting an unidentified body from the Khadar area. The deceased’s wife Poonam had illicit relations with Bittoo. After the deceased got to know about the relationship, he objected. Bittoo got in touch with two of his associates, who further planned to eliminate the deceased. They came to his house and took him out on the pretext of having dinner. After drinking and eating the suspect hit him several times on the head with a heavy stone and killed him. The stone was found near the body.