New Delhi, March 3
The Delhi government is planning to go to the Supreme Court to seek a direction to the Haryana government for releasing adequate water from Tajewala so that the Yamuna reaches an optimum level in the national Capital.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said that neighbouring state governments were aware of Delhi’s problem. Thousands of people come from various states. There is pressure of civic amenities and water supply of the Capital. Still some times Uttar Pradesh reduces water supply to Sonia Vihar and some times Haryana. Now the government will approach the Supreme Court to get its share of water, she said.

Two water treatment plants – Wazirabad and Chandrawal – are the most affected. Production capacity of potable water has reduced till 50 per cent in Wazirabad and 30 per cent in Chandrawal resluting in huge crisis in North and West districts of the national Capital. The NDMC area is also suffering from water shortage.

Haryana stopped releasing Delhi share of water from February first week.

As per the agreement between the two states,the Delhi’s share is 600 cusecs. Against this at present Haryana is releasing 500 cusecs.

Earlier ,the Delhi government had approached the central government for an intervention on the water sharing issue. But the central government failed to pressurise Haryana to release Delhi’s share.

Delhi Jal Board member, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said that Congress governments were there in both the states. When government level talks failed to yield result, there was no alternative but to go to court for the solution.

New Delhi, March 3
Energy Conservation is the need of the hour. And, awareness about it is the key. Keeping this in mind, the BYPL has planned the Bijli Gyan Abhiyan that targets students across 500 schools in East and Central Delhi.

Delhi education minister Arvinder Singh Lovely launched the Abiyan at the Delhi Secretariat today. A Bijli Gyan CD was also released. The CD carries information on energy conservation.

“The content of the 10-minute long CD has been carefully chosen and scripted by professionals,” said a BSES official.

Besides covering topics like — power outage, power shortage, power thefts and the immediate need of energy conservation, the CD covers topics like — global warming, rising CO2 emissions and generation of electricity through renewable resources. The film also outlines the measures that a person can adopt to alleviate these problems.

Lovely said, “I congratulate the BYPL for taking up the initiative. It is the need of the hour. Electricity is a scarce resource and we need to conserve it. Children have a receptive mind. We must ensure that our future generation learns how to use it properly”.

A K Walia said, “Most schools in East and Central Delhi will participate in the programme. Students can be good ambassadors for energy conservation. Energy conservation will not only help reduce the peak demand, it will also alleviate global concerns like — greenhouse effect and CO2 emissions”

“Bijli Gyan Abhiyan is yet another important corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative of BSES towards energy conservation. It aims to sensitise students about the gamut of energy generation, transmission and distribution, giving special emphasis on energy conservation,” said Arun Kanchan, CEO BYPL.

He added, “The initiative is based on a partnership with participating schools. The programme has been designed in such a way that it appeals students.”

Arun Kanchan said, “To drill down the message to the intended recipients, the BYPL will collaborate with schools. The Bijli Gyan CD will be gifted in the enlisted schools in East and Central Delhi. The schools will then be requested to screen the BSES’ Bijli Gyan CD.”

He added, “In order to encourage maximum participation from schools, the BYPL will make arrangements to screen the CD on energy conservation in schools which don’t have access to audio video facilities”.

New Delhi, March 3
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit announced that her government would impart employment-oriented training to residents of slums and JJ clusters. Earlier, she had announced to provide basic civic amenities to the residents.

In the first phase of the programme, around 2,000 youths would be imparted training in 46 different trades. Dikshit said that job training would provide them with various avenues of earning.

She said this at the inauguration of a livelihood programme at Savda-Ghevra resettlement colony of families from 5,500 slums and JJ clusters.

She also inaugurated a gender resource centre. The city-government has signed an agreement with the CIDC, ATDC and Dr Reddy Foundation.

Dikshit added that the ATDC would offer a training programme from six months to one year in textile. Dr Reddy Foundation would conduct a three-month training programme whereas Som Dutt Foundation would impart computer training to children through mobile vans.

Dikshit said that with Sanjha Prayas programme the government had tried to ensure that residents of slums and JJ clusters contributed in the development of their areas.

The basic civic amenities have been provided at Savda-Ghevra. Besides schools and dispensaries, shops have been opened to cater to the daily needs of the residents.

The city-government would ensure that low-floor buses also start from this colony.

Ghaziabad, March 3
Pollution, tension and stressful urban life seem to have taken its toll on Ghaziabad policemen, 70 per cent of whom were found by doctors to be suffering from one ailment or the other in a medical check-up two days ago.

The doctors who conducted a medical examination of policemen felt that at least 70 per cent of cops immediately needed long period of rest to recuperate fully. Most of the cops were found overweight with bulging bellies and they suffer from high blood pressure. These cops have little stamina and can hardly give a chase to errant motor vehicles or catch a fleeing robber.

SSP Deepak Rattan had formerly opened the medical check camp for cops in police lines 
Ghaziabad on orders from UP D-G police. Some 450 jawans and their family members had undergone the medical examination.

Though most of the Ghaziabad cops are far from physically fit, such a medical check-up was also a rarity for them. Many sick cops have to go through a long process to consult a doctor.

According to doctors, about 80 per cent Ghaziabad cops suffer from one or the other serious ailment.

Recently a CO became so sick that he had to proceed on medical leave. The treatment of this officer is still continuing in a private hospital in the Mahanagar, it is learnt.

New Delhi, March 3
As an initiative to extend happiness towards the underprivileged, differently abled and orphaned children above the age of four in the Capital, Group 4 Securicor (G4S) celebrated ‘Happy Day’ at the British High Commission on Monday.

Marking the celebrations of the first ever Happy Day festivities, David Hudson, regional president, Group 4 Securicor, announced the setting up of a school for the disadvantaged children.

“The school would be set up at Pappankala in West Delhi,” he said.

“It would provide free education, food and uniforms to help three hundred children whose parents are out to earn daily wages doing laborious work.”

‘Happy Day’ was conceived with children in mind. “It is our way of repaying to the community we live in and helping those who are less fortunate,” he said.

Revolving around an imaginary theme of fairyland or dreamland, the activities included games, singing competitions and live band performance.

New Delhi, March 3
A 24-year-old man has been arrested on charges of sending emails to a news channel threatening to carry out terror strikes in the Capital on the eve of Republic Day, police said today.

Amit Kumar, resident of Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, was arrested on Sunday for sending an email which claimed that some youth in Delhi have mixed up with a Pakistani militant Babar to carry out bomb blasts on the eve of Republic Day and may also target some VIPs.

On February 21, from the same email id, the accused again sent an email to a news channel that read, “Hum Hindustan mein aatank macha denge, Delhi ko bacha sako to bacha lo. Saat din me Delhi ke main building, VIP honge hamare shikaar. Tum security kar lo.” (We will create terror in Delhi. Save Delhi and within seven days, the VIPs would be made target. You beef up your security.)

Deputy commissioner of police (special cell) Alok Kumar said that during investigations it was found that both the emails were generated from Shakarpur area in East Delhi.

“Amit was arrested and in his interrogation he admitted to have sent the anonymous mail and to create unnecessary havoc as well as to implicate his cousin in a false case over a trifle rivalry. He has denied links with any militant group,” Kumar added. — IANS

New Delhi, March 3
Four persons, including two minor boys, have been arrested here for allegedly murdering a teenaged boy over a failed love affair, police official said Monday.

Manav and Amit (name changed), both 15-years-old, Riyazuddin, 24, and Talibar, 27, were arrested on Sunday for stabbing Rohit, 19, in Badarpur area on Thursday.

“Manav, during interrogation, revealed that he was dating a girl but after some time their relations soured. The girl started dating the deceased and was avoiding Manav. In a bid to take revenge, he executed a plan to eliminate Rohit with his friends,” deputy commissioner of police (South Delhi) Anil Shukla said. — IANS

A case has been lodged and efforts are on to nab the unidentified attackers.

New Delhi, March 3
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said on the occasion of the World Women’s Rights Protection Day that women of merit should be appointed to top political and administrative posts. She added that women made significant contribution in all walks of life.

Dikshit was opening a conference on Women’s Rights Protection which was presided over by Acharya Sadhana Maharaj.

Many women who had distinguished themselves in different fields were given National Pride awards at the conference.

Among the prominent recipients were Reva Nayyar, former IAS officer of 1968 batch for her work in the field of child welfare and oppressed women, Dr Lilly George, president of Young Women’s Christian Association for her work in improving the lot of the underprivileged sections, Dr Manju Bhatt, social science reader at NCERT for her study on Delhi slum dwellers, Dr Ananika, reader in English at Delhi University, who has worked to bring awakening in women, Rachna Gehlot for her study on non-governmental organisations, Kiran Chopra, president of Senior Citizens Kesari Club for her campaign to get respect for

senior citizens, Roopika Chawla, head of the Leper India Trust, for helping leprosy patients stand on their feet, Shakeela Dilkush Bijoy of the ministry of information and broadcasting for her contribution to the library movement.

Other similarly honoured included Brinda Karat, Prabha Thakur, Krishna Teerath, Shobhana Bharatiya, Vidya Subramaniam, Smita Gupta, Alka Saxena, Veena Jain, Aruna Roy, Kiran Bedi, Uma Pillai, Madhu Kishwar, Sunita Narain, Navika Kumar, Justice Rekha Sharma and Shail Mayaram.

Those who spoke at the conference included election commissioner Naveen Chawla and Buta Singh, chairman of the National Scheduled Castes and Tribes Commission.

New Delhi, March 3
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today opened four slip roads of the upcoming grade separator at Mukarba Chowk on GT Karnal Road.

She directed PWD officials to complete the construction by November 2008.

After the opening of slip roads, work on the main flyover on outer ring road and part of four cloverleaves connecting the main flyover will begin.

New Delhi, March 3
Jawaharlal Nehru University students are all set to celebrate International Women’s Day keeping critical gender issues central to the weeklong celebrations.

A film festival has been organised on the university campus by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) providing an opportunity to the students to watch some of the rare international women’s films.

The film festival that started on March 1 would culminate with three international titles, “Orlando”, “Two Women “and “Love Meetings”.

SFI is going to start with their initiatives on Tuesday with a street play, “Wo Bol Uthi” by Jan Natya Manch. “We have also tried to put some public talks together as well,” said Roshan Kishore, secretary JNU unit, SFI.

On Bhatti’s complaint, Haryana State Vigilance Bureau raided Parkash’s office and caught him red-handed while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000.

An FIR has been registered against Parkash. The quantum of punishment will be announced on Tuesday.

New Delhi, March 3
Young women looking for jobs as housekeepers and beauticians need not worry if they are not properly trained as the government is coming out with a free training programme to enable women from poor families to earn their livelihood.

Minister of women and child development Renuka Chowdhury announced this today. She said that the scheme would also help women who plan to work abroad in these fields, particularly in the Middle East. The training scheme would be held in partnership with private firms.

While ITC Hotels will provide training to women from economically weaker backgrounds in housekeeping, as room attendants, security guards and guest house in-charges, beauty chain major VLCC will provide them training to become beauticians.

“This is an excellent example of partnership with private companies and will have a profound impact,” Chowdhury told reporters.

“The initiative under the public-private partnership will help women from poor families to earn their livelihood,” she added.

“Women who go to Kuwait as maids find that they are not able to operate vacuum cleaners and microwaves. We had received several requests about providing them training before they leave the country.”

She said. “The training (with ITC hotels) will upgrade their education and skills. The schemes will also help them earn more,” she added.

Chowdhury said that the government would provide the two organisations with the list of women who could be sent for training.

The list would include destitute women and those who have been victims of trafficking and are living in government-run homes.

According to vice-president training ITC Hotels, Ashok Bhalla, their scheme called Welcome Empower programme, would provide training free of cost.

It would run for one month every quarter at 10 ITC Welcomegroup hotels in the country, he said.

“Women trainees will work with some of the best hospitality professionals in the country. We will also provide them work in our hotels,” he added.

Vandana Luthra, who founded VLCC that employs 4,500 women in its 120 centres, said that they would finalise the list soon and begin the training.

“Women are the best managers and have great HR skills. Apart from beauty culture, we will also teach them about healthy nutritious food. This is the way to make a healthy India,” she said. — IANS

Gurgaon, March 3
The department of post here is facing crisis of manpower and infrastructure despite the fact that it leads in the state in the collection of revenue.

The Gurgaon IT city alone generates the revenue of more than Rs 2 crore monthly through postal services in the city.

According to the figures provided by the postal department, the collection through speed post is more than Rs 1 crore, similarly collection through financial statement is also more than Rs 1 crore every month.

Besides, the department also generates revenue from the retail services of the department.

But shockingly, the Gurgaon postal department has only a meager staff of 30 personnel.

A senior official of the postal department revealed that there were around 250 clerical employees for the four districts of this division.

Out of which about 40 employees on an average remain on leave due to one or the other reason and rest of the 200 employees handle the postal services in four divisions of the district.

He said that to cater to the work of the two head post offices in Gurgaon and Narnaul, as many as 25 employees at each place have been deployed.

He said that the employees of the head offices look after the accounts of the branches of the postal department, compile the data of the revenue collection of branch post offices and also provide services to the public.

He said that as the workload in the city is increasing manifold due to setting up of many companies, there is need to increase the staff strength to 45 for the smooth functioning of the post offices.

Official said that there is feeling that the work in this department is decreasing due to availability of other substitutes of the communication. But in the case of Gurgaon, this is wrong.

He said there has been no monitoring in the workload and availability of manpower in terms of the post office for the last more than 15 years by the postal department. The services of the department are being adversely affected due to these factors.

He further said that most of the branches of the post office in the city and even the head offices of postal department are facing a shortage of postmen.

Due to shortage of staff, even the speed post letters are not delivered on time, he said.

While talking to The Tribune, director postal service, Ashok Kumar said that there is no doubt that city is facing many problems but these would be solved soon as the department had recently sanctioned 30 new posts of the postman especially for Gurgaon.

He said this time preference would be given to young people. With the recruitment of young staff, postal services in the city would improve.

Greater Noida, March 3
The 25th Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair (IHGF) was in full swing from the very first day of the fair with an unprecedented display of products in various categories.

For the first time, the show has carved out a segmented display of products.

According to executive director EPCH, Rakesh Kumar, “It is for the first time that the display in the fair has been divided into specialized and segmented sections viz fashion jewellery, Christmas decoration, furniture, home textiles and general decoration handicrafts”.

During 2006-2007 the handicrafts, gems & jewellery had accounted for exports with Rs 17288.14 crore—a share of 3.02 per cent in total exports of handicrafts worth Rs 571779 crore from the country, Rakesh Kumar said.

The buyers were seen roaming in on their choice products assisted by electronic touch-screen kiosks.

Many buyers expressed satisfaction at the new arrangement as it cut down on time in locating the correct stalls.

The 25th Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair (Spring), 2008 was inaugurated by union minister of textiles, Shanker Sinh Vaghela at a colourful ceremony at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida on February 28 in the presence of a large number of foreign buyers from different countries.

Vaghela lauded the role of handicrafts sector in Indian economy and in particular Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts in promoting handicrafts exports.

“Handicrafts sector plays an important role in employment generation at the grassroot level and increase in exports directly results in employment generation. Due to this social angle, Government of India attaches great importance to this sector and to this fair,” the minister said.

This fair had 5 major different sections viz Fashion Jewellery, Christmas Decorations, Furniture, Home Textiles and General Decoration Handicrafts.

While the ground floor of the India Expo Centre and Mart had multiple product display, other floors were dedicated to product specific groups for display. This was done for the convenience of overseas buyers .

Another feature of this fair had been that the duration of the fair had been extended to 6 days from 4 days in the past to enable foreign buyers to have more time to see various product categories on display.

The jute products displayed, particularly the bags caught the fascination of many design houses and retail chains of EU and the USA.