The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Delhi and neighbourhood

	Chaos at property tax office Syed Ali Ahmed Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 17 Chaos and confusion was noticed in the property tax office as scores of people struggled to deposit tax and get receipt through the online mode. The dealing officials, who seemed not to be well versed in computers, were unable to solve their problems. People queued up for long to submit their tax and get the computerised receipt. However, the MCD claims that there is a proper system to guide taxpayers to fill in the forms. But the officials sitting on the reception were unable to solve the problems of citizens. People were going from one place to another to get their tax assessed. Kulwinder Singh of New Friends Colony, who had come to deposit tax, said that the online system of the MCD was not successful. It is very difficult to get the receipt from the Net. When the official concerned is approached, the record shows something else. While Surender Kumar of Alaknanda, said that one had to run from one place to another to get a receipt. The officials concerned do not have the exact record of the properties. The receipt given does not carry the name of the owner and the amount deposited against the property. Only the receipt number and the address are mentioned. An official confirmed that those who deposited tax through the online mode and got the deducted money from credit card faced problems in getting the receipt. He informed that an official deployed from Monday to Friday would work out the problem. When asked about the functioning of the online system, joint assessor and collector Amit Prasad said that it was never disconnected. He informed that people preferred that the work be done manually rather than by computer. Getting receipt is not a permanent problem. It occurs once in a while.
	LNJP doctors go on indefinite strike Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 17 The tension between the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital administration and staff reached another level as the resident doctors and interns declared an indefinite strike last night. However, the doctors informed that they would run an OPD outside the hospital premises for the convenience of patients. Besides, the intensive care units (ICU) and critical care wards will remain open. Blaming the administration for not providing enough facilities, doctors alleged that they frequently had to face the aggression of patients and their relatives. “There is a major staff crunch at the hospital and even the infrastructure is not sufficient. The hospital requires around 250 class C and D employees,” said Kuldeep, president, Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA). The hospital has seen several strikes in the recent past. “Our demands are almost the same since the last one and a half year, but the administration does not seem to take a note of it. All that we get are fake assurances,” informed Kuldeep. The LNJP Hospital is going through a basic infrastructure crisis. For a long time, the hospital had no proper arrangement for even drinking water. The previous RDA was promised more than 300 additional security guards. “We are still demanding additional security as we have to face the wrath of the attendants of patients,” said Kuldeep. Meanwhile, the LNJP medical superintendent said that the hospital has already fixed several CCTV cameras at various places to keep surveillance. The administration also maintained that they were working on the demand for more security and staff.
	Animals being removed from airport runway New Delhi, June 17 Authorities today launched an operation to capture monitor lizards, jackals and birds that came from nearby wastelands and took refuge on a runway at Indira Gandhi International Airport yesterday and disrupted flights for over an hour. The captured animals will be moved to a wildlife sanctuary, authorities said. Authorities sought the help of NGO Wildlife SOS to help in their relocation. “We could capture five monitor lizards from the airport. They are being rehabilitated to the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary,” said Wildlife SOS co-founder Kartick Satyanarayan. “No other animal was caught yesterday.” Satyanaryan told IANS that his team was removing the wild grass and debris from the airport area, which attract these animals, especially when there is heavy rain. Operations on the secondary runway were stopped for over an hour on Monday when a pilot spotted some monitor lizards straying. Only the main runway was used, as a result of which some 20-25 flights were delayed, officials said. The Wildlife SOS co-founder said that finding such wild animals on the airport premises was not unique to Delhi. “Many airports across the world face such a problem.” “We are working out a strategy to minimise the threat it poses to air passengers and aircraft. There are small openings around the airport fencing. These have to be closed,” he added. “During monsoon and heavy rains, birds and animals tend to come out of their shelters,” said Arun Arora, spokesman of the Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), which manages the terminal. “We have a dedicated team to control the bird and animal activity to enhance operational safety,” he added. According to Wildlife SOS activists, six jackals, two feral cats and 10 stray dogs were captured from the airport area in December 2006. The jackals were put under quarantine, treated by a veterinarian and then released. The organisation last year had also helped in relocating 52 blue bulls from the airport to the nearby Asola wildlife sanctuary. — IANS
	One fatal accident every five minutes New Delhi, June 17 Over 1,00,000 people were killed in road accidents in India in 2006 and nearly half a million were injured, according to latest government figures. That means one accident per minute and a fatal one every five minutes. In an effort to control accidents, the government plans to introduce tough amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act in the coming session of the Parliament. They include suspending the licence of a drunk driver on the spot for up to three months. There were around 4,60,000 road accidents in the country in 2006, minister of shipping, road transport and highways T.R Baalu said here today, killing 1,05,749 people and injuring nearly 5,00,000. At 2000 prices, the losses due to road accidents were Rs 550 billion (nearly $14 billion) a year, which amounted to three per cent of India’s GDP, Baalu told the consultative committee of MPs attached to his ministry. With the amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, “the penalties for various traffic offences are proposed to be enhanced substantially to make it more deterrent”, Baalu said. “We have proposed that the authorised enforcement authorities may suspend on the spot the driving licence of a drunken driver for a period up to three months and we are also proposing to introduce civil liabilities of a driver by providing penalty up to Rs 5,000 if one drives a motor vehicle in a rash or negligent manner, causing injury to a person or damage to property.” Another amendment proposes to raise the interim compensation to accident victims to Rs 1,00,000 in case of death or permanent total disablement and to Rs 50,000 in case of permanent partial disablement, the minister said. This shall be paid within three months from the date of filing the application in the Motor Accident Claim Tribunal (MACT) or civil court. “We are also providing that the MACT or civil court shall try to finally dispose off the claim for compensation within a period of two years from the date of its filing,” said Baalu. The ministry is designing new model inspection and maintenance centres to be set up by state governments for inspection of motor vehicles. The Centre will give financial assistance to set them up. — IANS
	Deadly Rota Virus linked to monsoon Ravi Bhatia Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 17 With the monsoon having already arrived in the National Capital Region, the focus is now turning around to the diseases that are normally associated with this season. Various kind of viruses proliferate in the hot, wet and humid climate and consequently diseases like cholera and the little-known deadly Rota Virus become rampant, particularly among the children, claim doctors. According to the doctors, Rota Virus alone is responsible for as many as 6.1 lakh deaths annually in the country. This virus causes acute diarrhea and dehydration in children, often resulting in fatalities. However, the good news is that a new vaccination has been developed and this would now be available in the country from July this year. Endorsing the alarming figures, Dr Sonali Gaur, consultant, Neo-Natal and Pediatrics Department, Umkal Healthcare, Gurgaon, says, “Rota Virus is the principal cause of severe life-threatening diarrhea in children worldwide. It accounts for 20 to 70 per cent of hospitalizations in children. In India, incidence of Rota Virus diarrhea varies from five per cent to 70 per cent. Similar incidence of disease in developing as well as developed countries suggests that the disease will not be controlled by merely improving water quality, sanitation or hygiene.” According to the doctor, the virus is transmitted by the fecal-oral route and a small infectious dose facilitates spread from person to person via direct contact or possibly via airborne droplets. Amount of virus required to cause infection is very small. During the episode of Rota Virus diarrhea, large concentration of virus is excreted through stool. Both these factors contribute to the highly contagious nature of disease. Dr Gaur says, “Rota Virus symptoms can occur after an incubation period of 24 to 48 hours. Symptoms range from vomiting and mild watery diarrhea of short duration to severe gastroenteritis with life-threatening dehydration secondary to gastrointestinal fluid loss. Severe dehydration can lead to death if not adequately managed.” She adds, “Vomiting appears first followed by diarrhea and dehydration along with fever and abdominal pain. Both vomiting and fever may last for up to nine days while diarrhea usually persists for 21 days depending upon the immunity and nutritional status of the child.” The primary burden of Rota Virus is on child’s health (morbidity and mortality), which also translates into a significant economic impact—direct and indirect. Direct costs include medical expenditure resulting from hospitalizations, out-patient visits, diagnostics and medication. Indirect costs include those incurred to the society and households as a result of lost work and time when parents are forced to stay home to care for their sick children. Intangible costs such as pain and suffering resulting from Rota Virus disease should not be forgotten. Dr Gaur says, “As a result of this heavy burden of Rota Virus infection, the World Health Organisation (WHO) strongly supports vaccination for Rota Virus and the good news is that a safe vaccine has been successfully developed and it will be available in India in the first week of July 2008.” To add to the relief of parents, this is an oral vaccine . The recommended age for the vaccine is from one and a half months to six months.
	Minimum rises to 26° C New Delhi, June 17 For the first time since monsoon arrived in Delhi on Sunday, the sun today appeared in the skyline here bringing back sultry weather conditions in the capital city. Though clouds continued to hover over the skyline, the appearance of the sun, coupled with a high level of humidity in the air, led to rise in minimum temperature to 26 degree Celsius. The weather conditions are likely to improve later in the day with weatherman forecasting a few more spells of rain and thundershowers in the city in the next 24 hours, one or two of which could be heavy. Delhi has received a total of 44 mm rainfall since Sunday, when the south west monsoon arrived in the city, two weeks earlier than its scheduled date. — PTI
	CM opens Kendriya Bhandar at Delhi Secretariat Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 17 Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today inaugurated a branch of Kendriya Bhandar at Delhi Secretariat. The Bhandar would provide quality goods at reasonable prices to the employees as well as visitors. The Chief Minister said that the government would provide assistance to open more branches in government colonies. Dikshit added that the government aims to provide better facilities to its employees. And in line with this, a well-equipped gym, a dispensary, a library and a Khadi Gramodyog shop are already functioning in Delhi Secretariat. Delhi chief secretary Rakesh Mehta, chairperson, Kendriya Bhandar Poonam Rawat and managing director Jagdeesh Bhatia were also present on the occasion. Dikshit announced that the government plans to open Kendriya Bhandar in authorised colonies to provide essential commodities to the residents on reasonable rates. Kendriya Bhandar was for the first time opened in 1963 under the administrative control of the Union ministry of personnel. At present, 82 Kendriya Bhandars are running in various parts of the Capital. The Chief Minister later also inspected an X-ray luggage search machine installed at the main entry gate of Delhi Secretariat. The government plans to install more such machines at other entry gates.
	Rag pickers protest privatisation of waste collection Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 17 The Workers’ Solidarity Centre (WSC) and the All-India Kabadi Mazdoor Mahasangh (AIKMM), representing over 3.5 lakh rag pickers in the national Capital, today protested against the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) decision to privatise garbage collection. The rag picker bodies will protest outside the MCD office on August 9. The move will adversely affect the livelihood of many rag pickers. A resolution demanding ban on the privatisation of waste collection was also passed. The protestors demanded the formulation of a comprehensive legislation of workers, including waste collectors. “Rag pickers have always been a neglected lot. The government has not worked out any legal mechanism for them so far. They are treated as thieves and criminals by the police and the society,” said Devendra from Bal Vikas Dhara. Phundan and his wife leave their house early in the morning to collect rag on a hired rickshaw. After a day’s work, the family earns Rs 100. A part of it goes in paying the rickshaw rent. “Recently, the MCD officers gave the contract of collecting garbage in our area to a private contractor. We received a major set back, as he took away our livelihood,” lamented Phundan. The protestors demanded that they be issued a residential proof. “We do not have any ID proof and, therefore, the police blames us of being Bangladeshis,” said Mukesh, a rag picker. Over 60,000 children work as rag pickers in the national Capital. “Along with the victimisation that comes with the job, these children have to bear the burnt of illiteracy. The government has not instituted any system of imparting education to them,” said Devendra. Children of rag pickers keep away from normal schools, as they complain of being cornered. “Nobody talks to them and the fellow students do not sit with them,” said Bali Bhai from AIKMM. While stressing on the importance of rag pickers in maintaining the cleanliness of the city, Dono Rai from Sanjha Manch said that the entire city would panic if waste collectors stop working for a day.
	St Stephen’s first cut-off list out Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 17 As ever the St Stephen’s cut-off is high, there was a huge crowd of students before the cut-off list put up at the college today and nervous students thronged the hallways debating on whether they fitted the eligibility criterion for an interview. It is going to be a tough competition on who makes it to St Stephen’s this year round with a 50% quota announcement for Christians. Science cut-off for the general category is 94.5% BFS, commerce 96%, humanities 94%, 80% in elective English or 90% in core English for general category and 75% in elective English and 85% in core English for SC/ST and Christians. Meanwhile, the Physics Hons cut-off is 92% PCM for general category and for chemistry it is 87% PCM. The BSc programme with computer science has a cut-off – 91% PCM for general category and the BSc programme physical sciences with chemistry has a cut-off – 84% PCM for general category. There is a 15% relaxation in all subjects for Christians, SC and ST candidates. The seats for general category are literally sliced off to a minority presence in the college.
	Madrassa delegation calls on CM Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 17 Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today assured a delegation of madrassa management committees that the government would do its best to provide them with basic facilities. The delegation was led by a member of Allama Rafiq Trust. Delhi Minorities Commission members Pushpinder Singh and Arnold James also accompanied the delegation members. The delegation discussed the problems of Urdu and Punjabi students enrolled in the Delhi government schools. The Chief Minister asked the delegation members to provide computer training to more Muslim students in their localities. At present, the training is given in the Okhla area only, she said.