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Delhi LPG to cost only Rs 10 more
Price cut a poll gimmick: Vardhan
DU starts special brochures for the blind
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Traffic pathetic during rains: Judge
4 held for cheating
World Environment Day
AIIMS faces serious staff crunch
MCD to observe June, July as anti-dengue months
Dr Talwar sent to 14-day judicial custody
Farmers to profit from land acquisition scheme
Four Amitians to sit on jury of animated films festival
Meritorious students felicitated
Delhi to renovate bus shelters
Goods worth lakhs destroyed in fire
Quack held for killing man
Credit card thieves held
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Delhi LPG to cost only Rs 10 more
New Delhi, June 5 The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting held today. It was decided that LPG cylinders would be exempted from VAT. Besides the government would offer a subsidy of Rs 27 on each cylinder. Currently, the VAT on each cylinder is Rs 13. It will cost Rs 165 crore annually to the government’s exchequer, said the Chief Minister. The government has banned all foreign tours of ministers as well as officers to cover this loss. Other measures will also be taken to meet the loss, said Dikshit. However, a senior officer of weight and measure department said that over 4.5 crore LPG cylinders are consumed in Delhi annually. With this decision, the total loss to the exchequer can go up to Rs 190 crore. When asked about the exemption of VAT on petrol and diesel, the CM said that public transport – bus, taxi and auto run on CNG, so there is no need to exempt VAT on petroleum products. There is no hike in the prices of CNG. According to sources, VAT on diesel and petrol is the major source of revenue for the Delhi government that was why the Chief Minister did not exempt the tax on petro products. Sonia Gandhi had directed to exempt VAT on petrol and diesel also. But Sheila Dikshit did not follow the direction. Earlier, the price of LPG cylinder was Rs 294.70. With the price hike that was announced on Wednesday it would have cost Rs 344.70. But now with the subsidy offered by the government, it will cost Rs 304.70. Dikshit stated that the cabinet had also decided to restrict hike in LPG cylinder to Rs 10 only to contain the rate of inflation in the city. It has also taken certain decisions to economise government expenditure. The government has been striving to make public transport more comfortable, affordable, fast and modern so there will not be any hike in bus fares. Dikshit added that the government would implement steps to curb unnecessary expenditure. The government would also closely monitor its expenditure to make it more rational and justified and ensure full utilisation of the allocated funds for social schemes. The city government took the decision after All-India Congress Committee (AICC) chairperson Sonia Gandhi directed chief ministers of all Congress-ruled states to exempt VAT from LPG cylinders and give subsidy on cylinders so that common people do not feel the pinch. |
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Price cut a poll gimmick: Vardhan
New Delhi, June 5 The Congress government is not going to survive by these tactics. This year the voters will slap the Congress in elections. It will be thrown out of power, said Vardhan. People in the Capital reacted strongly when the Centre announced to increase the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG cylinders on Wednesday. Effigies of the Congress leaders were burnt at many places. The Centre had announced that the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG would rise by Rs 5, Rs 3 and Rs 50 per litre. After this announcement, Congress President Sonia Gandhi had directed Chief Ministers in Congress-ruled states to exempt VAT on oil and gas just to earn people’s sympathy, said Vardhan. He said that the dual character of the Congress and Left has been exposed. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had announced that the government would provide a subsidy of Rs 40 on each cylinder. This expenditure would be borne by the government. Harsh Vardhan has termed the decision of not decreasing tax on petrol and diesel as anti-people. The subsidy will come from the taxes paid by the people of Delhi. This is only an attempt to fool people. On one hand the government is increasing taxes and looting people while, on the other hand the Chief Minister is announcing subsidy on cooking gas and is patting her bag only to avoid the impending defeat in the nearing assembly elections. Traders flay petro price hike
The Confederation of All-India Traders (CAIT) has criticised the hike in petrol, diesel and LPG prices and said this will have a cascading effect on the prices of other commodities. In a statement issued today, the body of the traders estimated that the prices of other commodities could go up by as much as 10 to 15 per cent, adding to the misery of the middle class which is going to be hit hardest by the recent hike. CAIT national president B. C. Bhartiya and secretary-general Praveen Khandelwal said the hike in the prices was unjustified and it would add to the uncontrollable inflation. Since this would put a heavy financial burden on the consumers, it was likely to hit the trade and industry. The trade leaders said instead of hiking the prices, the government should have restructured its taxation system and absorbed the hike in international prices by directing states to lower the high rate of VAT taxes and other levies on petroleum products. |
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DU starts special brochures for the blind
New Delhi, June 5 Gurpreet Tuteja, deputy dean, North Campus informed, “this year we have brought out a brochure in Braille for blind students. However, the form is not in Braille. Further, we have 15 volunteers at our office to assist handicapped students in admission.” Tuteja said that as in the past, there was an existing 3% quota for blind students. Registrations for them will take place between June 2 to 16. Admissions for the handicapped would take place only at the dean student welfare office at North campus. The registration would be followed by a medical examination in the university health center. The forms for handicaps will be available free of cost. The documents required include mark-sheet of XIIth standard and a disability certificate from a hospital. The disability certificate must conform over 40% disability to qualify for the quota. |
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CM flags off 8 low-floor buses
New Delhi, June 5 She assured comfortable and convenient travel in Delhi. There will be 25 air-conditioned buses on roads by the end of this month. She further promised to bring a sea change in the public transport system before the Commonwealth Games 2010. The air-conditioned buses have been introduced on Mudrika, route number 522 from Ambedkar Terminal to Qutab Minar and route number 534 from Anand Vihar ISBT to New Delhi Railway Station. The Chief Minister accompanied by transport minister Haroon Yusuf travelled in the air-conditioned bus. Dikshit said that the DTC was all set to introduce 10,000 buses in phases, which would include 1,000 air-conditioned low-floor buses and 250 air-conditioned semi-low-floor buses. |
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Traffic pathetic during rains: Judge
New Delhi, June 5 Justice J.D
Kapoor, while slapping a fine of Rs 2.5 million on the Municipal Corporation of Delhi
(MCD) for water-logging on the Capital’s roads after heavy rains two years ago, also recommended certain amendments in the Indian Penal Code
(IPC). “The traffic condition in the Capital is the worst and during heavy rains it becomes pathetic. So the need of the hour is conducting a scientific study, particularly as to the lanes and rash driving, as every day so many deaths take place because of it,” Justice Kapoor said on Monday while suggesting that the Delhi police commissioner looked into the matter. The city has an estimated five million vehicles. Besides, around one million vehicles from surrounding areas cross Delhi every day. According to the Delhi Police, 700 people have been killed in road accidents so far this year, whereas last year 851 people lost their lives due to rash driving. Justice Kapoor recommended that offences committed under Section 304-A (causing death by negligence) of the IPC be made non-bailable. The order came on complaints made by three lawyers in 2006 when heavy rains lashed the city. The complaint alleged that following the rains, drains started to overflow and resulted in knee deep water-logging in many areas and roads. — IANS |
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4 held for cheating
New Delhi, June 5 Once the payments were made and they failed to keep their promise, they would put the blame on the client for not providing proper papers and allegedly refuse to return the money, saying that they had already spent it on his application. According to Alok Kumar, DCP Special Cell, a team led by ACP L N Rao has arrested Nukul Kohli, Naveen Malhotra, Javed Khan and Prateek Sharma for the fraud and recovered 39 passports, fake agreements of job with foreign companies and various stickers from their offices in Lakshmi Nagar and Gautam Nagar in East Delhi. While Nukul and Javed were arrested last night from Jama Masjid area, the other two were nabbed from Churu in Rajasthan this afternoon. According to Alok Kumar, the accused would give out advertisements in various newspapers regarding arrangement of foreign visa and jobs abroad after payment of a small fee. When the prospective customers approached them they would demand lakhs of rupees for providing a job and visa in countries like NewZealand, Australia and Canada. They allegedly assured the clients that they have their men in various embassies who would do the job on the payment of money. Nukul Kohli has also been arrested in the past for a similar kind of offence. According to police, the majority of clients he had cheated came from UP and Bihar. |
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World Environment Day
New Delhi, June 5 More than 200 saplings were planted at Talkatora Garden today by various NDMC officials, including Parimal Rai, chairperson, Ashok Ahuja, MLA member, and Vikram Dev Dutt, secretary. The council administration emphasised on the relevance of people’s participation in such drives. Residents of different colonies and societies were advised to contribute in maintaining the ecological balance. More than 100 and 150 saplings were today planted in Nehru Park and Lodhi Garden, respectively. Trees were also planted in parks near Khan Market, Pandara Road and Sanjay Jheel. |
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AIIMS faces serious staff crunch
New Delhi, June 5 With one doctor attending to 60 beds in some departments at the Trauma Centre, doctors are under tremendous workload. Patients are found lying on stretchers, unattended. The frustration within the disgruntled patients is often reflected in violence between attendants and doctors. Doctors at the AIIMS attend around 12,000 new patients on an average daily. Over 400 senior resident doctors are required at AIIMS including, 70 for the smooth functioning of the Trauma Centre. The hospital administration has fixed June 7 as the deadline for the release of recruitment advertisements. As per the assurance given by senior AIIMS officials, hundreds of new doctors will be appointed in one and a half months time. The hospital had recruited 104 senior resident doctors in July last year. However, due to the alleged discrimination, an abeyance was ordered on recruitment. “As the hospital could not function without additional doctors, some doctors were employed on an ad hoc basis,” said Kumar Harsh, president, Resident Doctors’ Association, AIIMS. Out of 104, only 91 doctors chose to work on the given conditions. The next hearing in this regard is on July 15 at the Delhi High Court. While patients complain of their operations is being delayed, doctors feel helpless after writing dozens of applications to the authorities. Senior resident doctors in some departments like — neurosurgery is surviving with a ratio of one doctor on 60 patients including, 20 patients on ventilators. “There is no work satisfaction. We work more than our physical capacities and still face the heat from patients,” said Harsh. |
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MCD to observe June, July as anti-dengue months
New Delhi, June 5 Mehra informed that June and July would be observed as anti-malaria and anti-dengue months. During this period public meetings would be organised in all 272 municipal wards. The meetings, aimed at raising awareness, would involve political leaders, RWAs and NGOs. He pointed out that cross checking teams of the MCD and the National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme of the central government have detected high index of mosquito breeding from various localities in Delhi. At present, the maximum breeding has been found in desert coolers. Other breeding places include uncovered water overhead tanks and bird pots. Dengue mosquitoes’ breed in clean water in coolers and uncovered overhead tanks. |
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Dr Talwar sent to 14-day judicial custody
Ghaziabad, June 5 The CBI, which had been entrusted with the task of cracking this blind double murder on the request of UP Chief Minister Mayawati, did not try to get the accused’s custody extended. However, the CBI had told the court that Dr Talwar was not co-operating with the investigating agency. In two days’ custody the CBI had conducted lie detector test on the doctor, the result of which are expected tomorrow. |
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Farmers to profit from land acquisition scheme
Greater Noida The GNIDA is preparing to launch two residential schemes. A total of 44,000 hectare is proposed to be acquired in 124 villages. The GNIDA has so far acquired 24,000 hectares in these villages. The 5,000-hectare land to be acquired falls in villages along the GT Road, railway lines, Hindon river and in many villages in the Dankore area. For the first stage, land in six villages has been identified along the railway line and the Hindon river where residential, industrial and IT projects are proposed to be located. It is learnt that its proposal is being given finishing touches before being sent to the government for approval. According to the GNIDA sources, out 7,000 hectares acquired last year, 3,500 hectares have already been allotted. Houses and industries are proposed to be located on the remaining land. By the end of this year a low-income housing scheme of plots and flats will be brought. According to Addl CEO, GNIDA, Sudhir Kumar, the survey in the remaining area will start from the next week. The land in Bilaspur village in Dankor is also included in this acquisition plan which will be completed by month end, he said. |
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Four Amitians to sit on jury of animated films festival
New Delhi, June 5 The four young animators—Lakshaye Sharma (AIS, Sector-44, Gurgaon), Ruhi Khosla (AIS, Saket), Shaurya Athley (AIS, Noida) and Akshath Sharma (AIS, Pushp Vihar) were chosen by the members of ASIFA (Association International du Film d’ Animation- International Animated Film Association) on the basis of the creativity and animated films they have been making under the aegis of the Amity Animation Club. The students from Amity will share the stage with eminent directors from all over the world such as John Canemaker, director and historian, United States; Stephan-Flint Muller, director, Germany; Zbigniew Rybczynski, director, Poland; Richard Williams, director, Great Britain to name a few. Addressing the media today, Dr (Mrs) Amita Chauhan, chairperson, Amity International Schools lauded the path-breaking effort by young animators and Bharti Sharma, principal of Amity International School, Saket, who initiated Amity Animation Club in 2002. Commenting on the lack of child-centric programmes in India with respect to the USA, she said that in the USA 30 percent of all programmes are reserved for child-centric themes, but unfortunately in India, there is no such provision. Talking about the work done by Amity Animators, she said that although their capability and talent have been tapped yet there is a need to nurture and cultivate that talent at national level which can be done only if these films are shown nationally. She called upon the government and the media to come forward and extend support in this area. She also announced that Amity would soon establish three “Digital Heritage Labs” which would facilitate editing of the animation films, thereby bolstering up the animation industry in India. Nitin Donde, the animation teacher and an eminent professor of animation at IIT, Delhi, expressed gratitude to Amity for being the pioneer in setting up Amity Animation Club which aims to promote art, culture and heritage amongst the students. Amity Group is the only school in India which has included animation in the main curricula, thereby giving a boost to animation production in India. |
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Meritorious students felicitated
New Delhi, June 5 Former Chief Election Commissioner of India GVG Krishnamurthy was the chief guest. He gave away the certificates and momentoes to students. Swati Sharma who passed class X from Kamal Model Senior Secondary School, Mohan Garden has scored 100% marks in mathematics and was placed in 0.1% merit list of the CBSE. Tarun Gera, who passed class XII from the same school, scored 95% in science. Piyush, Anu Terlau and Garvika Singh of Vandena International Senior Secondary School, Sector 10, Dwarka were also awarded. Manchit Gupta of Kawal Model Senior Secondary School, was lauded for his for his maiden effort to qualify in the IITs. |
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Delhi to renovate bus shelters
New Delhi, June 5 Several features will be introduced at the bus queue shelters to make the wait for buses more comfortable. A total of 197 old shelters will be replaced with sleek steel shelters. The NDMC plans to construct ATM booths and fix hot and soft drink dispensers at selected locations. Further, with the intention to increase green area, the NDMC plans to extend the landscaping around the shelters to 50 meters on either side. The beautification will be accompanied by some utilitarian objectives. A rain-harvesting chamber will be located at every shelter to conserve water. The iron dustbins will be replaced with stainless steel ones. Massive landscaping of roads in the NDMC area will be executed by June 2010. Rs 65 crore were sanctioned for the project before December 2007.The Council has also decided to construct 43 public toilet blocks along with the renovation of the existing ones. Under the project, which will be implemented on a public-private partnership model, 160 toilet blocks will be upgraded in North of Rajpath by September this year. Out of 94 toilets in the South of Rajpath, reconstruction on 88 public toilets has already been completed. The Council has also decided to abolish the nominal charge that people pay to use the public utilities. Once the reconstruction is over, all toilet booths will be universally accessible. Most of the existing toilet booths in the area are paid. |
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Goods worth lakhs destroyed in fire
New Delhi, June 5 No one has been reported injured in the incident Goods worth lakhs have been reportedly destroyed in the fire. According to fire officials, the fire call was received around 1.17 am and it took them three hours to douse the fire with the help of 30 fire-fighting vehicles. The cause of fire is being investigated, though short circuit in the wirings is widely believed to be the cause. At the time of the incident, only the watch guard of the factory Rajkumar was on the premises and he called the owners and fire brigade. |
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Quack held for killing man
New Delhi, June 5 According to police, the accused had illicit relationship with the wife of Ram Sumer. However, at the time of murder, Ram Sumer’s wife and children had gone to their native village. Ram Sumer was employed as a linesman with the BSES. She was his third wife after the first two had died. According to Ajay Chaudhry, DCP East, Udaiveer is a married man and has been arrested after investigation. “He used a countrymade pistol to kill Ram Sumer and after the murder, threw the weapon in Hindon river. We have recovered the weapon used in murder by the help of divers”, said DCP Ajay. |
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Now, one cylinder will cost Rs 304.70
New Delhi, June 5
