The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Delhi and neighbourhood

	Society to make city greener Syed Ali Ahmed Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 5 The cabinet has approved setting up of a Delhi Parks and Gardens Society (DPGS) to give a thrust to the greening activities in the Capital. It has also given its nod for creation of six additional courts of special judges under Prevention of Corruption Act and implementation of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993. Talking to media after the cabinet meeting, Sheila Dikshit stressed the need of a unified agency to give a thrust to greening activities in Delhi. The DPGS would have Lt. Governor as chief patron whereas Delhi Chief Minister, Delhi development minister and Mayor of Delhi would function as patrons. The chief secretary of Delhi would be the chairperson of the society which would have officials of Delhi government, MCD, NDMC, DDA and representatives of RWAs, corporates as its members. It would also have an executive committee headed by the secretary (Environment), Delhi. The day-to-day administration would be done by the executive committee. The objective of the society includes creation of a green environment in Delhi, identification of vacant spaces for taking up greening projects, working with local bodies, taking up projects for planting trees and shrubs in avenues. Besides, involvement of RWAs in maintaining parks and gardens, release of funds to RWAs and NGOs, holding competitions to encourage greening and maintaining nurseries and parks would also be the objectives of the society. Delhi has the distinct image of a green city and its green cover has grown 10 times from 32 square km to 320 square km in nine years. There is a need to sustain a movement to create an image of the green city for Delhi. While a lot has been done to make Delhi green, yet there was a need to create an institutional framework to make the citizens of Delhi as Bhagidars in this green Delhi movement. The cabinet has approved creation of six additional courts of special judges under Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 to exclusively deal with the CBI cases. Creating additional courts of special judges has become imminent as the total pendency of CBI cases in various courts in Delhi is around 1400. There are six courts of special judges to try offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988, out of which three courts are exclusively for trying CBI cases. The decision has been taken after a written request on this issue received from the CBI and union ministry of home affairs. The new courts are being created as per norms settled by the Delhi High Court. The decision would pave the way for appointment of six judicial officers of Delhi Higher Judicial Service and other supporting staff in different pay scales. The cabinet has given its nod for implementation of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993 in all the areas covered under the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The Act which was passed by Parliament has been brought into force from January 26, 1997 in all the union territories including Delhi. The implementation of the Act in the Capital city would facilitate conversion of dry latrines into water-borne and liberation and rehabilitation of manual scavengers.
	Tepid response to bandh unnerves BJP strategists Ravi Bhatia Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 5 The strategists of the Delhi Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (B JP) have gone into an introspective huddle following the tepid response to their bandh call in the National Capital Territory of Delhi on Friday last to protest soaring prices of essential commodities. The bandh had little impact on the daily life of the people as things moved normally. Only some wholesale markets remained closed and that too because of the call given by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) to protest against the resumed sealing drive and the threat of eviction of traders running their establishments from rented premises because of the recent Supreme Court ruling. Party stalwarts claimed that the organisers had erred in choosing Friday as the day of protest. This is the day when all the markets are open in the National Capital Territory of Delhi and it is difficult to ensure closure of all of them. Normally, political parties call bandhs on Mondays the day on which most of the major Delhi markets observe their weekly closure. Another factor which contributed to the lackluster response in a city which was once considered the stronghold of the saffron party was the intense infighting in the local unit which has several leaders maneuvering for supremacy. As a result, the rank and file of the Delhi Pradesh remained confused and thus ineffective in making the bandh a success. Party sources said that while the onus of spearheading the bandh was left to the local unit led by its president Harsh Vardhan, the leadership did not discourage other local leaders from jumping into the fray, holding their own protests at the very local level. For instance, Vijay Goyal, former MP and union minister and now the national general secretary of the party, took out a march in the Chandni Chowk area on the eve of the bandh causing considerable confusion among the party cadres. In the South Delhi areas, Vijay Jolly, BJP MLA from Saket, had his own protest programme. This obviously led to the dilution of the efforts of the Delhi unit which was held responsible for making the bandh a success. These party leaders maintain that had the Delhi Pradesh unit stood united, the impact of the protest would have been much more as the issue of soaring prices of essential commodities was a matter of concern for all regardless of their political affiliations. “The Delhi Pradesh BJP failed to take advantage of this and make it into an issue at this crucial time when there are only a few months left for the assembly elections,” admitted a senior Delhi BJP leader. Meanwhile, party sources said that a high-level meeting was being convened for later this week to iron out the differences among the local leaders and to emphasise the importance of standing united at this stage if it wanted to wrest power from the Congress in the coming assembly elections which is now on the verge of completing its second successive term.
	Providential escape for Krishi Bhavan visitors Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 5 Union minister for agriculture Sharad Pawar would do well to invest some money in the replacement of old coolers at Krishi Bhavan. Only this evening, people parked at the entrance to Krishi Bhavan reception had a providential escape when an old cooler fell off from the fourth floor of the building. The floor in question houses offices under the ministry of agriculture. Although no one was hurt, a section officer in the ministry of food and public distribution escaped miraculously. On deputation to Faridabad, she had come to Krishi Bhavan to complete some official work and was waiting for a colleague at the entrance to the reception when the cooler fell off with tremendous force. Its base was virtually gone from years of rusting and neglect; its overall condition told the tale of its dilapidation. The chaos that followed was natural, with the officer in question trembling and people from the ministry of agriculture rushing to clear the mess and remove that junk of a cooler. The general administration branch of the ministry was immediately informed of the serious lapse that could have cost someone’s life. It later turned out that several coolers on the said floor needed replacement; some people from the general administration branch even went around for a recce after the evening mishap and removed four “dangerously-perched” coolers. Survivors were left wondering: “Why couldn’t they have done this earlier? Have they not been renewing the contract or checking equipment which is in need of being phased out?” The matter, said general administration people, would be enquired at the level of the under secretary.
	Man held for killing in-laws Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 5 With the arrest of Arun Lal, the Delhi Police has claimed to have solved the murder of two women — Asha and Alka that took place in the Kalkaji area on May 2. The police said that Arun killed his mother-in-law Asha and sister-in-law Alka for Rs 6 lakh. According to the police, Alka called up Arun on the fateful day and told him that she could not find her mother Asha anywhere in the house. Asha has a history of epilepsy. Arun went to the house and looked for Asha, who was found near Sai Mandir. After that Alka left the two in the house went to get milk. On finding Asha alone, Arun decided to eliminate her and take the cash that had come after selling some property. He hit Asha with a stone on head. On being sure that she was dead, he decamped with the available cash. Alka who was returning from the milk booth met him on the way. Arun told Alka that Asha had an epilepsy attack and had injured her head. When Alka was inspecting Asha’s body, he hit her with the same stone. Rs 5.70 lakh and the stone used for the killing the two have been recovered.
	Rs 2 m snatched from trader Ghaziabad, May 5 Armed men drove off with a sugar trader in his car here on Monday and escaped after snatching Rs 2 million from him. But one of the criminals was caught after failing to board the getaway car. The police said they traced the trader, Ram Prakash Goel, and his hijacked car on GT Road. He appeared unharmed. According to superintendent of police Vijay Bhushan, Goel, the sugar trader from Simbhaoli, his son Piyush, partner Sanjiv Sharma and driver Kulbir were heading to New Delhi. He had Rs 2 million with him. At 11.00 a.m., on National Highway 24, four criminals in an Esteem car overtook the trader’s Alto car and abducted him after seizing his car. They pushed out the other occupants. After covering over 15 km, the trader was looted and dumped with his car. When the criminals abducted the trader, one of the accomplices failed to board the car and was promptly caught by the trader’s driver. He revealed the identities of the men involved in the crime. — IANS
	CAIT for recast of DUAC Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 5 The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has sought immediate reconstitution of the Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC) in larger interest of the Capital’s planned development. In a written communication to Union urban development minister Jaipal Reddy and minister of state Ajay Maken, the CAIT has expressed concern over the non-functioning of the body after its chairman and members resigned earlier this year. DUAC chairman Charles Correa and other members resigned about three months ago. Since then important projects including that of the Commonwealth Games 2010, Metro Rail, hotels and other infrastructure projects have been delayed. The CAIT has also urged that recommendations of the Tejendra Khanna Committee on administrative changes which include setting up of the Delhi Urban Regulatory Authority, Delhi Real Estate Commission, Empowered Special Task Force for key infrastructure and High Power Enforcement Agency be immediately implemented. The Delhi Urban Regulatory Authority will comprise town planners, structural engineers and representatives from the DDA and the MCD. The Delhi Real Estate Commission will prescribe regulations for property dealers and real estate agents, issue them licence and deal with matters related to property dealings.
	Budget resolutions for development okayed Tribune News Service Gurgaon, May 5 Divisional commissioner, Gurgaon, Rajiv Sharma today approved budget resolutions of the municipal committee for the next six months so that various ongoing development works in the city were carried on without any hindrance till the proposed Gurgaon municipal corporation came into being. Deliberating at length on how to augment income resources of the municipal committee, Sharma directed the MC officials concerned to prepare a list of vacant spaces in the city so that it could be known in future where new constructions have come up. He also issued directions to conduct survey of houses given on rent by their owners. This was felt necessary to find out the actual beneficiaries of the exemption of house tax. The government has given exemption of house tax to only those people who have not rented out their houses. Others are liable to pay the house tax. The commissioner also directed the officials to improve the condition of various public parks maintained by the municipal committee. There are 52 such parks within the municipal limit. Funds amounting to about Rs 1.25 crore were earmarked for the purpose. For the beautification of the city, he also asked the officials to identify busy intersections so that traffic lights could be installed there to regulate the flow of traffic. Budget resolutions for various development works worth Rs 33 crore for the current financial year were tabled in the meeting today but the commissioner approved only those which could be completed in the coming six months. These included the annual budget allocations for the new street lights, public toilets and drains for disposal of rainwater. The MC officials informed that a provision of Rs 30 crore has been made for the management of solid waste in the city. HUDA has acquired 30-acre land in village Bandhwari for the purpose. The scheme would be executed jointly by the HUDA and MC.
	Jamia students bag unique internships Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 5 Some 11 students from the Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution at Jamia Millia Islamia have been selected for rather unusual summer internships. The internships are with organisations like — the Central Information Commission (Right to Information Act); BBC (Urdu), Peshawar; Amnesty International; Pratham (NGO); Global Network of Religion for Children; Alliance for Child Rights and UNICEF. Javed, an Afghani, will work with the BBC in Peshawar. He will come up with his findings on the possibilities of peace building and confidence building activities in the trouble-prone region. Radha Kumar, director, Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution, comments, “Yes, Javed is leaving for Peshawar for an attachment with the BBC and we are expecting an in depth report from him. While M.A.M. Sajeev, a Srilankan, is heading to Northern Ireland where he will work with the Corymeela community.” “We had been planning these internships for a long time. We also hope to have students in exchange but that will take time and funding,” adds Radha. “Five students, all Indian, will be learning the RTI Act. Farah Iman, one of our students will be co-ordinating a children-related conference with the Alliance for Child Right. While Shubranshu Mishra has been involved with the Amnesty International for the last one and half years and Birbal Singh has been accepted as an intern by Pratham that has been active in the field of education at the international level,” informs Radha. The internships will be of 6 weeks and there will be no grading or inclusion of marks. The students are pursuing two-year M.A. course in Peace Analysis and Conflict Building. The course was launched last year.
	Dr Navin Dang gets Dr B.C. Roy Award Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 5 Dr Navin Dang, microbiologist and director of Dr Dang’s Medical Diagnostic Centre here has been honored with the prestigious Dr B.C. Roy Award for his contribution to the field of laboratory medicine. The Award presented by the President of India includes Rs 15,000 and a medal. Dr Dang is the first private consultant in the field of laboratory medicine in the country to be bestowed with the honour. The Indian Medical Council instituted the Award in 1962. The Award, one of the most coveted in medical profession, recognises the best talents in medicine. Speaking to media, Dr Dang said, “The Award is a recognition of the efforts that have gone into the development of laboratory medicine. It is a front-runner among other core specialties. The Indian Laboratory Medicine is at par with international standards”. Dr Dang began his career at AIIMS in 1982 after completing his MBBS from UCMS, Delhi University. He further went on to do his MD in medical microbiology from PGIMER, Chandigarh. Prior to setting up Dr Dang’s Laboratories, he worked with Ranbaxy Laboratories.
	Shyama Chona gets Padma Bhushan Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 5 Shyama Chona, principal Delhi Public School and a known educationist was awarded the Padma Bhushan today. Chona has received many national awards including the Padma Shri for her contribution in the field of education and literature. She received the national award for her outstanding performance for the welfare of people with disabilities. Chona has succeeded in securing a special consultative status for NGO ‘Tamana’, set up by her in 1984 with the United Nations and membership to the Economic and Social Council of the UN. She set up the Anubhav Shiksha Kendra in 1999 for the urban poor living in the backwoods of the city. More than 2,000 students are getting education free of cost in the Kendra. Chona also runs a parallel service called JAGO to enable illiterate adults to acquire formal training and skills to improve their living condition.
	Decision on weekly off on May 14 Tribune News Service Gurgaon, May 5 No decision could be taken today in absence of consensus among traders’ organizations on the controversial issue of observing weekly off in Gurgaon markets. Deputy commissioner Rakesh Gupta, after hearing the opinion of various trader associations and unions, deferred the decision till May 14. As of now, various markets in old Gurgaon would observe weekly off on Sunday while the markets in DLF, Sushant Lok and other areas in new Gurgaon including Shopping Malls would remain closed on Tuesday. The violators would be liable for challan. To find an amicable solution to the problem whether markets should be closed for weekly off on Sunday or Tuesday, the DC today called a meeting of various trade unions and shopkeepers associations in the meeting hall of mini secretariat. He also got a survey done by the labour department officials about the shopkeepers who wanted to have weekly off on Sunday and others who wanted to keep off on Tuesday. After his interaction with them, the DC said that all associations failed to make a consensus on the issue. After taking into consideration the survey conducted by labour department and the personal interaction, he would give his decision by May 14. It may be recalled that on the demand of various trade associations of Gurgaon, the state government had issued directions to keep holiday on Tuesday instead of Sunday. The same was implemented by the district administration and for the first time the shopping malls in Gurgaon were closed on Tuesday. But some organizations held that since Sunday was a holiday for schools, colleges and offices, so the markets should be closed so that they may enjoy with their families. This suggestion was also forwarded to the government and the state government revising its earlier order decided to keep weekly off on Sunday in the shops and markets located in old Gurgaon whereas shopping malls and business establishments in DLF, Sushant Lok and other bazaars in new Gurgaon were to remain closed on Tuesday.
	178 units sealed Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 5 The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) sealed 178 units in various areas of the Capital today. According to a MCD spokesperson, the units include two in Mata Sundri Road; 19 in Trilokpuri and Anand Vihar; 29 in Lajpat Nagar, CR Park, GK Enclave, Amar Colony; 36 in Rajouri Garden, Kirti Nagar, Vishnu Garden, Shankar Garden, Tilak Nagar; 20 in Veer Jain Colony, Majlis Park, Mukherjee Nagar; four in Pocket B and C, Sector – A, Vasant Kunj; 15 in GK – II, Geetanjali Enclave and Saket; 21 in Dilshad Garden and Vivek Vihar; 12 in Shastri Nagar, six in Inder Puri, one in Narela and 13 in Keshav Puram.
	SN shopkeepers to pay charges Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 5 Shopkeepers in the Sarojini Nagar market have been asked to pay conversion charges to the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) within three months. Notice banning the commercial use of the first floor of buildings has been served in the clustered market. As per the notice, shops would be sealed if shopkeepers fail to pay the required amount within the given deadline. Fearing the consequences, shop owners have started giving a makeover to buildings fixing up domestic articles on the first floor. However, the NDMC is surveying the market to find out the illegal constructions in the area has not taken any step against the owners yet.
	BSES to pay Rs 1 million for man’s death New Delhi, May 5 A court today ordered the power discom to pay Rs 1 million to the family of a man who died after coming into contact with a poorly maintained electric cable. Additional district judge Kamini Lau ordered the BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd to compensate the wife of Om Prakash for the latter’s death on June 2, 2001 when he suffered electric burns. Om Prakash was on the terrace of his house when he accidentally came in contact with the electricity wire. He fell unconscious and was declared dead at the Rao Tula Ram Hospital. The judge said, “You (BSES) are guilty of not maintaining the high voltage wire. The cause of the incident could have been averted if the agency had been more vigilant.” The BSES argued that the wire that caused the death was laid in 1964 when the company did not exist. But the court ordered it to pay the money to Gyano Devi, wife of the deceased. — IANS
	Kids turn RJ for a day New Delhi, May 5 Twelve-year-old Aanaya, a student of The Riverside School in Ahmedabad, just can’t get over the feeling of being a radio jockey (RJ) for a day. “Wearing the headphones, using the mike and the console...My experience was out of the world,” Aanaya said of her experience of being an RJ for a day through the “My Ka Laal” initiative launched by 94.3 My FM Dil Se! “My Ka Laal” is an attempt to garner the raging interest of school-going children in smaller Indian cities like Chandigarh and Ahmedabad to become an RJ for a day. Parents and teachers feel that a show like this adds to a child’s personality. “Apart from the child who becomes RJ, it benefits even fellow students who listen in. It also generates more confidence, more freedom and a feel-good factor as they become a star for a day,” Dhara Parmar, a teacher at Som Lalit School in Chandigarh, told IANS over telephone. The show, which began in April, airs every Sunday and has already started in Indore, Amritsar and Jalandhar as well. 94.3 My FM Dil Se! is a venture of Synergy Media Entertainment Ltd. “This show not only provides innovative entertainment, it also gives a speaking platform to young kids,” said Harrish M. Bhatia, business head of Synergy Media Entertainment Ltd. “We wanted to cultivate a competitive spirit in children so that they feel challenged enough to venture into radio and make the most of their hidden talent,” he said, explaining the motive of the show. The students are selected through auditions in schools and are provided basic training to help them evolve their own style and content. “Basics of radio handling are taught along with nuances of speaking on radio. The executive producers and programming heads train the kids and it takes around four to six hours to help them write the script, edit it, rehearse it and then record it,” Bhatia said. According to him, children love to talk about themselves, their achievements, their interests, movies, sports, and at times topical issues as well. “Ideas like cleanliness, civic sense, traffic, and sometimes even serious issues are picked up. Picking topics and ideas for the show is mostly their own prerogative,” he said. “‘My Ka Laal’ is a wonderful platform for kids to express their thoughts. They get more exposure and they are also encouraged to talk about their problems,” said Sandip Pandya, principal, ASIA English School - Secondary, Ahmedabad. Jayanti Banerjee, senior counsellor at St. John’s School in Chandigarh, says the show is a beneficial experience for her students. “The show allows them to talk on important social issues that are close to their heart. It also ensures commitment as children love to live up to the public image that they build of being heard on this programme,” she said. — IANS
	16,000 students commit suicide in 3 years Prashant K. Nanda New Delhi, May 5 Over 16,000 school and college students in India committed suicide in the last three years, says the health ministry, shedding light once again on the sorry state of mental healthcare in the country. As per the ministry, 5,857 students committed suicide in 2006 and the figure for 2005 was 5,138. Similarly, in 2004, 5,610 students committed suicide. “We know about the gravity of the situation and are going to re-strategise the national mental health programme,” Anbumani Ramadoss told IANS. Experts, doctors and even the World Health Organisation (WHO) believe that a multi-pronged strategy needs to be put in place to tackle problems ranging from anxiety, depression, stress and finally suicidal tendencies. Cherian Verghese, a specialist with WHO India, said, “The mental health system needs an overhaul. Our schools might be giving good education but we need education in life skills. From counselling to increasing the number of mental health workers, the strategy should be holistic.” “Students are a vulnerable group. Age, competition and relations in the family are all contributing to the growing cases of suicide among schoolgoers,” Verghese said. He said some private schools in India have started appointing counsellors but “government schools across the country need to make a move now”. “There is a gamut of problems; India lacks the required number of psychiatrists as well. The social taboo around mental health also fuels the problem. A country which houses a huge number of youngsters must not take mental health lightly,” Verghese added. He said that since India faces a lot of natural disasters and deaths thereof, the country needs a brigade of social counsellors. Their job is to counsel people during post-disaster trauma disorder. Nimesh Desai, a leading psychiatrist in the national Capital, said, “India needs a 10-fold increase in the number of psychiatrists. Across the country, there are not more than 3,500 such processionals.” “The doctor-patient ratio, social stigma, growing competition and the desire to succeed in every field are leading to a higher level of anxiety, stress and acute depression,” Desai said. — IANS