New Delhi, February 1
Keeping in view the upcoming assembly elections in the Capital, the Centre today directed civic bodies to stop sealing of properties and maintain status quo as on January 1, 2006, in respect of encroachment or unauthorised development.

Section 5 of the NCT of Delhi Laws (special provisions) Act, 2007 empowers the Centre to issue directions to local authorities for giving effect to the provisions of the Act.

The directives states, “Notwithstanding any judgment, decree, or order of court, steps shall be taken by the local authority, including de-sealing, to maintain status quo as on the first day of January 2006 in respect of encroachment or unauthorised development.”

“Notwithstanding any judgment, decree, or order of court, steps shall be taken by the local authority, including de-sealing, to maintain status quo, in unauthorised colonies, village abadi area and its extension, which existed on March 31, 2002 as on February 8, 2007.”

“All notices issued by any local authority for initiating action against encroachment or unauthorised development referred to in Section 3 of the Act shall be suspended and no punitive action shall be taken till December 31, 2008,” the statement read.

Reacting to the directives of the Central government, deputy leader of opposition in Parliament, Prof Vijay Kumar Malhotra said it was being done because of the approaching assembly elections in the Capital.

“We have been talking about general amnesty for unauthorised construction from the first day of 2006. But they are doing in stages. During the MCD elections, the government had given one-year relief by passing a special provision Act. The government has done the same again. What will happen after December 2008,” said he. 

New Delhi, February 1
Leading policy makers from the world over will participate in the 2008 edition of the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS)—the first post-Bali deliberations on climate change. The summit to be held here in February will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

It will see the participation of leading environmentalists, says IPCC chief R.K. Pachauri, who adds that the DSDS is crucial step in the global process to tackle the most important challenge in today’s time—climate change.

“It intends promoting an understanding of the theme —Climate change and sustainable development— to mould public opinion, raise awareness, stimulate debate, and identify challenges and potential solutions and an opportunity for Track-2 diplomacy”.

According to director, Sustainable Development Outreach Annapurna Vancheswaran, the February 7-9 event has become the most important gathering of leaders drawn from various parts of the world and from different walks of life concerned about sustainable development on a global basis.

“A major feature of DSDS 2008 is the focus on sustainable development and climate change as the theme of the summit. It is now clear that the problem of climate change is the consequence of unsustainable patterns of development that have intensified since the beginning of the industrial revolution.

Conversely, the impacts of climate change would reduce options and opportunities for several societies to develop on a sustainable basis.
It is, therefore, essential for the global community including governments, business and industry, researchers and academia as well as civil society to come to grips with the issues embedded in the whole subject of sustainable development and climate change,” she explains.

Vancheswaran adds that those who would be attending the summit include Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister, Norway, Matti Vanhanen, Prime Minister, Finland, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, President, Iceland, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Prime Minister, Denmark, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, President, the Maldives, Ruud F M Lubbers, former Prime Minister, the Netherlands, Moritz Leuenberger, former President , Switzerland and Ernesto Zedillo, former President of Mexico & Director, Yale Center for the Study of Globalization.

The year 2007 has been of great significance in advancing action in the field of climate change. Firstly, the IPCC Assessment Reports, which were completed during the year 2007 has had a major impact in influencing public opinion and convincing leaders round the world of the need for action.

The 13th Conference of the Parties (COP 13) held in Bali. DSDS 2008 would be a unique opportunity for building on the momentum created by the IPCC reports and COP 13 at Bali, feels host TERI.

TERI will also hold its first-ever international climate change exhibition along the DSDS. The exhibition will focus on technologies for tackling climate change like clean development mechanism, clean coal technologies and carbon funding among others.

The objective of the exhibition is to create a platform for climate change and raise awareness, stimulate debate and identify challenges and solutions.

A CEO forum will also be organised as part of the summit. Deliberations at the forum will focus on the impact of climate change on the business sector and identify challenges and opportunities to the industry in the context of climate change.
It will bring out to participants the scope for partnership among industry, research, and international organisations. Discussions will centre on business concerns and impacts of future regulatory policies related to mitigation of climate change and emissions from industrial sectors.

New Delhi, February 1
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today inaugurated the painting exhibition of Shimla-based artist Deepa Seth Bandhu at Experimental Art Gallery, India Habitat Centre here. The exhibition is open till February 4 from 10:30 am to 7:00 pm.

The Veteran Defence Forces Group has sponsored the exhibition. The exhibition is based on the Himalayas. Oil and acrylic work have been showcased.

Postgraduate in fine arts, Deepa has done artwork for the Himachal Pradesh government on the Republic Day parade thrice.

Praising Deepa’s creations, Dikshit said that the Himalayas have been beautifully depicted in her paintings.

Pawan Verma, head, ICCR; Sandeep Marwah, chairperson, Asian Film and TV Academy and some Indian Army Generals were also present. 

New Delhi, February 1
The Supreme Court today refused to interfere in the Delhi High Court order meant to regulate the “killer” Blueline busses in the national Capital which last year alone had claimed over hundred lives.

“We have a duty to protect the fundamental right of citizens... you have no right to kill,” a Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice R V Raveendran in a strongly worded observation emphasised.

While stating that the ratio of accidental death due to Blueline buses in the national Capital was “very high”, the court threw away an appeal of a private bus operators firm Krishna Travel and some other bus owners challenging the High Court order.

The bus operators’ counsel Punit Bali sought interference of the apex court in the wake of recent verdict by a Bench of Justices A K Mathur and Markandey Katju on “judicial overreach”, making specific reference of Delhi High Court’s interference in issues like regulation of bus services, which it had termed as a purely executive job.

The very mention of the said verdict, annoyed the CJI Balakrishnan, who said “don’t cite that judgement…if the executive action infringes upon the fundamental rights, this court will interfere come what may.”

The petitioner’s counsel tried to make a case of apex court’s interference on the ground that the High Court order had gone beyond the statutory provisions.

The High Court while passing an order on a PIL highlighting a spate of deadly accidents by Blue line buses, had laid down certain guidelines for the authorities to regulate them.

These included imposition of a fine of Rs 5 lakh in case of mass deaths, impounding of buses, prosecution of bus owners and drivers and fixing standards for drivers and conductors, including their educational qualification.

Bali said the guidelines were without any legal provisions and amounted to “judicial legislation”.

If at all an accident takes place involving a Blue line bus, the action could only be taken under the Motor Vehicle Act, which had adequate provisions to take punitive action against errant drivers, he argued. The High Court could not impose hefty fine, that was beyond the provision of the Act, he contended.

But the Bench was not impressed as the CJI said when a question of citizen’s fundamental right like right to life was involved, the Constitution cast a duty on the court as custodian of the law to come forward to protect them.

“We are not inclined to interfere in the High Court order if you have any objection you should move to the High Court,” the CJI emphatically said.

Ghaziabad, February 1
A 14-year-old girl was sold for Rs 1 lakh. However, she escaped from the captivity of her buyer and sought police shelter in city Kotwali here. The petrified girl broke into tears while narrating her tale of woe.

Kotwali police have arrested the person who had sold her off for Rs 1 lakh while raids are being conducted to nab the buyer.

The girl told the police that she was resident of Vijay Nagar area and she has no mother while her father is a small-time businessman in Delhi.

One Raju had threatened her near Old Railway Station yesterday and sold her off for Rs 1 lakh to a resident of Sahibabad. The buyer took her along in a car and left her in a house in Sahibabad. She was able to escape from there and told her story to a friend, Guddu who escorted her to police station.

The police have arrested Raju who lives at Old Railway Station, though he maintained that he was innocent.

SP City Vijay Bhushan said they have summoned the girl’s father from Delhi and the police are in touch with all the people concerned. The girl will be presented in a magistrate’s court after which her custody will be given back to either her father or she will be sent to Nari Niketan, Vijay Bhushan added. 

Ghaziabad, February 1
Hapur town and over 1,000 new villages will be added to the jurisdiction of four development authorities for quick development. Some 407 villages will be added to Aligarh Development Authority while 26 villages will be added to Hapur Development Authority which is being set up as a new development authority with 61 villages already earmarked for inclusion in it.

Besides, 168 more villages will be merged with it subsequently.

Khurja will be the 25th Independent Development Authority in the state. For the time being the vice-chairman of Bulandshahr Development Authority will look after the work of Khurja Authority till a regular vice-chairman is posted here, it is learnt.

Notification had already been issued for merging 135 villages to Bulandshahr development authority. Now another 123 villages are being merged with the development authority. Over 1,000 new villages will be merged with Aligarh, Hapur and Kushi Nagar development authorities and their jurisdictions will also be drawn afresh. A new township being developed is Bulandshahr development authority. The land of 135 villages will be acquired for merging into the authority land in view of the possibilities of rapid development.

According to sources, there are tremendous possibilities for fast development in areas under these four development authorities in view of the coming up of Taj Expressway, Ganga Expressway and setting up of freight corridor.

Besides the Taj Expressway and Ganga Expressway, an eastern expressway is also proposed to be built. Some area left out of Ghaziabad development areas is likely to be merged with Hapur–Pilkhua development authority. This area will also witness fast development.

Due to its links with Gautam Budh, Kushi Nagar has an added importance. The Japanese are understood to have offered a Gautam Budh Development Plan for this area to the state government. They have also offered a cultural development plan for this area, it is learnt.

New Delhi, February 1
Irene Singh, a 25-year-old software executive and a former short distance runner, put on at least seven kg after joining a firm in Gurgaon a year ago. As the jeans became tight around the waist owing to long hours on the desk, Irene panicked and picked up a racing bike.

Cycling, say doctors and health professionals in India, is the most effective way to promote good health. Apart from stimulating a person’s cardio-health, cycling can be a wholesome workout tool to improve the mental, physical and overall well-being of a person.

As a form of exercise, cycling is very relevant for Indians, says Umesh Gupta, a senior cardiologist at Umkal Hospital in Gurgaon.

Gupta said: “Obesity is growing among Indian kids, so cycling right from childhood tones up the body, decreasing the risks of obesity-related ailments later in life.

“Also, due to their body structure, Indians have an innate tendency to put on weight on the thighs and calves. Cycling works miraculously on those areas,” he said.

Another fact that Gupta indicated is that since the average height of Indians is shorter than people in the rest of the world, cycling can help in increasing height during the initial years of growth by stretching the muscles.

According to doctors, 15 to 20 minutes of cycling is equivalent to an hour of aerobic exercise. Cycling, he said, is extremely beneficial for proper functioning of the heart.

“Cycling leads to continuous activation of muscles in the hands, legs and other body parts along with expansion of blood vessels. This combination results in reduced demand for oxygen in the body. With a reduced load of pumping oxygen, the heart functions well and the stress on the organ is relieved,” he explained.

Experts also believe that cycling defies age. A growing child can cycle every day to avoid obesity and bone-related problems and a grown-up can reduce the risks of heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes and other ailments by including cycling in the daily fitness regimen.

In India, where over 40 million people suffer from diabetes, cycling assumes greater significance.

Sanjay Sarup, a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi, said cycling helps the body manufacture Vitamin D.

“Increased outside activity helps the body produce Vitamin D. This boosts calcium absorption levels in the body and makes the bones become healthier and stronger,” said Sarup.

“Increased muscle movement induces tightening of muscles around the ankle, knee and hips, which combine to promote firmness of the joints. Pedalling improves nutrition of cartilage inside the joints which contributes to building healthier bones,” Sarup added.

Riding a bicycle not only gives a daily dose of exercise fix, but also helps alleviate mental tension and anxiety.

Samir Parikh, chief of the department of Mental Health and Behavioural Science at Max Healthcare, suggested that individuals who are inclined towards sports should take up cycling to bust stress.

“Indulgence in activities that give you pleasure can always be used for de-stressing,” he said.

Noida-based bike manufacturing company Firefox offers over 40 models compliant with cycles of international standards.

Shiv Inder Singh, managing director of Firefox India, said: “Cycling has been universally recognised as one of the finest forms of exercise. We should definitely not step down on it. At Firefox, we try to combine the thrill of competitive sports along with the joy of a fun-filled activity to boost ‘biking culture’ in our country.” — IANS

New Delhi, February 1
Jai Kishan Sharma, Leader of Opposition while initiating budget debate described the budget proposals presented by chairman of the Standing Committee as mere juggling of figures.

He alleged that during the last eight months, the BJP has miserably failed on every front.

Sharma said that the chairman proposed an income of Rs 3450.38 crore in the revised budget estimates of 2007-08. “If we see the actual situation as compared to provision of Rs 1051 crore as property tax, only Rs 382 crore have been recovered. Similarly, as compared to Rs 160 crore as advertisement tax, only Rs 28 crore have been recovered so far. It was estimated that Rs 50 crore would be recovered as car parking charges. But only Rs 38.42 crore have been recovered. It has been proposed that Rs 400 crore will be recovered as transfer duty but only Rs 221.57 crore have been recovered so far.

As against target of Rs 351.50 crore as electric tax only Rs 154.17 crore have been recovered so far. As toll tax recovery Rs 90 crore have been proposed whereas only Rs 64.79 crore have been recovered so far.

Sharma further alleged that the commissioner has proposed Rs 500 crore from the Delhi Government as assigned taxes which has been increased in the budget proposals to Rs 700 crore. About Rs 100 crore have been proposed as income from construction of multi-level car parking sites on built operate and transfer (BOT) basis but it is astonishing that out of 17 sites proposed, only foundation stone of one site has been laid.

He regretted that all these estimates of income have been deliberately increased to balance the budget and misguide the citizens of Delhi.

Giving details of maladministration of BJP, Sharma alleged that Rs 2 crore were provided this year for renovation of heritage buildings but not a single paisa has been spent under this head. Similarly Rs 5 crore were provided for giving incentive to dedicated municipal employees but no amount has been spent. For welfare of dependents and widows of deceased employees, Rs 2 crore were provided but not a single rupee has been spent. For development of Mahila Parks Rs 6.70 crore were provided but only Rs 13.76 lakh have been spent. For horticultural works Rs 4.50 crore were provided but only Rs 1.18 crore have been spent.

The Deputy Commissioners of Zones were provided Rs 6.10 crore to carry out petty development works which are of urgent nature but it is unfortunate that only Rs 5 lakh have been spent under this head.

The Leader of Opposition alleged that in the budget speech, Gupta said that online system for payment of property tax was started under which Rs 1.90 lakh property tax payers paid tax online. There are 20 lakh properties under property tax net. Due to lethargy and maladministration they are not paying the tax.

Sharma alleged that the problem of stray cattle, monkey menace and dog bite could not be curtailed even as there was budget of Rs 5.33 crore for this purpose. But only Rs 93.15 lakh was spent. 

New Delhi, February 1
Two persons Imran of Bijnaur (UP) and his brother-in-law have been arrested in connection with the murder of Ajay Aggarwal businessman of West Vinod Nagar Mandawali. On the night of January 1,this year, Ajay was found dead and a sum of Rs 50,000 was stolen from the shop.

SI Praveen Kumar and Constable Subhash found out that an Ajay’s ex-employee Imran had been spotted in the area on the night of incident.

Imran worked as a help at the shop on the monthly salary of Rs 3200. In May,he didn’t go for for two days and was not paid that month’s salary. He phoned Ajay for salary but was not given any positive response. He also went to the shop to ask for his salary. When Ajay sent him away without his salary, Imran threatened Ajay with dire consequences.

Imran along with his brother-in-law procured a knife and razor (Ustra) . On January 1 night ,Ajay was alone in the shop .They assaulted him. Ajay resisted and snatched knife from Imran and slashed his wrist. The brother-in-law stabbed Ajay several times. They stuffed the cash in a polythene bag and left.

New Delhi, February 1
A 16-member delegation of Australian women entrepreneurs today met Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. They expressed their desire to improve business relations between Australia and Delhi.

Appreciating the women entrepreneurs, the Chief Minister assured to provide all help to strengthen business relations between Australia and Delhi. She also apprised them with the administrative set up, public transport system, water, power and other developmental works of the state government.

The delegation also met some known industrialists. It said that it was keen on exporting Indian garments and jewellery. 

New Delhi, February 1
The issue of the alleged attack on a journalist and the sacking and the shocking treatment meted out to a number of journalists in the yet-to-be launched Newsx channel reached the government today with a delegation complaining to information and broadcasting minister P R Dasmunshi

An official release said a delegation of senior and eminent electronic media journalists and news editors of the channel met Dasmunsi and explained to him the way security staff and others treated them and how they were sacked.

Dasmunsi said the manner in which the eminent editors have been treated and the rights of media personnel reportedly infringed upon, was really a matter of great concern for free and fair journalism.

He said he had been apprised of the serious allegations including the source of channel funding on which he was not competent to react. Accordingly, he has referred the matter to the finance ministry for ascertaining the facts through investigation wing. — PTI

New Delhi, February 1
With the addition of 10 new buses on Capital’s roads tomorrow, the total number of low-floor buses will be 60. 

The fleet of new buses will be flagged off from Anand Vihar bus depot to various routes by East Delhi MP Sandeep Dikshit, Delhi transport minister Haroon Yusuf, Arvinder Singh Lovely, Narender Nath and Naseeb Sigh. These buses will be driven on route numbers 221, 500, 610, 479 and 729, chairman-cum-managing director, Delhi Transport Corporation, Ramesh Negi said.