New Delhi, August 20
After having a meeting with the medical superintendent at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital (DDUH), the Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) called off their strike tonight.

The RDA representatives also met the additional secretary after meeting the hospital administration. A compromise was reached and the services at the hospital were resumed by 9 pm.

“We had a long meeting with the RDA representatives and a committee comprising of representatives of administration and the doctors was set up to look into the demands of the doctors,” said Avneendra Prasad, medical superintendent, DDUH.

Patients suffered badly for the second day at the hospital as the medical services were stopped yesterday.

Agitated at repeated incidents of attendants of patients attacking them, resident doctors declared the strike.

Some doctors were allegedly beaten up yesterday by attendants of a patient.

The doctors said that 30-year-old Gulshan from Uttam Nagar was admitted to hospital after he consumed poison mixed in alcohol.

According to the doctors, Gulshan was put on ventilator and his chances of survival were bleak. While the doctor attending the patient went to check other patients in the neighbouring ward, Gulshan passed away. Reacting strongly to the death of the patient, his attendants started beating the doctors present in the ward and broke several machines kept in Block Number eight.

The Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) demanded that proper security arrangements should be made at DDUH along with the establishment of a police picket on the premises.

“We also want the norm of one patient-one attendant be strictly implemented at our hospital. It is difficult to work inside crowded wards,” said Dr Devendra Dheeraj, president, RDA.

Meanwhile, the brother of the deceased was arrested by the police.

New Delhi, August 20
Though water is still flowing above the danger mark in the river Yamuna, officials of irrigation and flood control department of Delhi government expect that it may recede within a few days.

Deputy commissioner of east said that water level in the river has come to 205.57 metre though yesterday it was 205.67 metre. It is reducing speedily in the morning hours. In the afternoon, it reduced 11000 cusecs per hour. Within two days, it may come to normal level, that is 204.83 metre, he said.

People living in tents have a terrible life. They are not getting food.

Rukhsana whose husband is a daily wage labourer said that neither food nor beds are being distributed.

“We do not have money to make our own arrangement. Due to flood, there is no work in nearby areas. My husband cannot go far-off places for work as he does not feel secure leaving children in the tent,” she said.

Sunita, another victim of flood, said that water is reducing. But I am worried because my child has fallen ill. He has been running high fever since yesterday,” she said.

A resident of Usmanpur said that the villagers are worrying about their uncertain future. On the other hand, officials at the Delhi flood control department say they are relieved since the water level has started dipping. 

New Delhi, August 20
Anger, angst and absolute helplessness... those are the everyday negatives for millions of people who spend hours traversing the moonscape that are the potholed roads in the Indian capital and its suburbs post-rains.

A young teen was reduced to tears as she spent six hours going from her school in Gurgaon to her south Delhi home, an executive missed his flight to Hyderabad, another missed an important appointment, a sister couldn’t make the trip home for rakhi, a patient had to be given emergency painkillers in the ambulance itself as he cried out in agony when the vehicle jerked with the many craters on the road.

The stories are endless and only too frequent in a city where a good monsoon has meant waterlogging and roads being stripped off tar and bitumen, leaving gaping holes and stony surfaces that jar with every movement—even in a luxury car.

And massive, endless traffic jams adding to stress levels and road rage incidents.

“We might claim that India is an economic stronghold, an IT giant and now a nuclear power, but the fact remains we do not have basic infrastructure. If the situation is so in Delhi what is the condition of our rural villages?” asked Amit Lathwal, a doctor who took nearly five hours to travel about 25 km from his north Delhi hospital to reach his clinic.

Commenting on the many claims that superpower India’s capital was set to be called a world-class city at par with Beijing or Singapore, he added in a matter of fact tone: “Let’s be practical and not compare our city with Beijing.”

“We are at least 50 years behind Beijing,” said a senior journalist who has just returned from the Olympics. “Where is the road in Delhi - they are full of potholes and craters, and connecting them are patches of uneven roads.”

“When I come home in a rickshaw, I feel I am on a roller coaster ride. The craters and potholes stare at you for months together and get filled up with water when it rains. It is so dangerous,” fumed Ayesha Duggal, a resident of the upscale Kingsway Camp in north Delhi.

On its part, Delhi Police has prepared a list of over 150 roads that are virtual death traps.

The list includes some of Delhi’s busiest and most used roads, including the two ring roads, the Delhi-Gurgaon road and those passing through busy areas like ITO.

The traffic police has written to the MCD, PWD, NHAI and NDMC on the issue - the multiplicity of authority that deals with the Capital’s affairs. — IANS

New Delhi, August 20
Delhi power minister A.K. Walia has expressed his concern over the non-availability of power from Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), which may cause acute shortage in coming months. He has also instructed Discoms to get ready to meet the growing power demand.

There was an agreement with Damodar Valley Corporation for the supply of 400 MW to Delhi. Later, it agreed to supply 150 MW as some of its units were not functional. But the promised power was never supplied to Delhi.

Earlier, Walia had taken up the matter with the Union power ministry. Power demand in Delhi is likely go up during winters. If DVC failed to supply power to the national Capital, citizens would suffer a lot, he said. 

New Delhi, August 20
With the arrest of four desperadoes, the special cell of the Delhi police today claimed to have smashed an inter-state gang of robbers who used to travel in a car with a beacon red light and flags of various political parties. They were nabbed after a brief encounter in Rohini late last night.

According to the police, the gang was responsible for the looting of a bank van in Amritsar, robbing of a liquor contractor in Lucknow and a money changer in Delhi.

The suspects have been identified as Sunil of Mongolpuri, Des Raj of Madipur, Amarjit Singh of Gurdaspur (Punjab) and Rajeev of Baghpat (Uttar Pradesh).

The police said that four stolen cars, including a Scorpio, over Rs 17 lakh in cash, silver jewellery, four foreign made pistols, a country made gun and a toy pistol along with live cartridges were recovered from them.

The Punjab and Haryana police has been informed of the arrest.

According to the police, the suspects were spotted driving in Baljit Nagar last night. A police team immediately swung into action and followed them and managed to intercept them in Rohini. When cornered, the suspects abandoned their vehicle and started running away on foot and firing in the air.

They were finally subdued by the police and arrested. The police said that the suspects were being interrogated and further investigations were continuing.

New Delhi, August 20
A man was arrested on the charge of raping a 15-year-old girl in North East Delhi on Tuesday, the police said.

According to the police, the victim was alone at her home in Khajuri Khas on Tuesday evening when her neighbour Sher Alam barged into the house and raped her.

When the victim’s mother, who works as a domestic help in the nearby area, returned home, the victim told her about the incident and the mother lodged a police complaint.

“She was taken for a medical examination which has confirmed the rape. The accused has been arrested and further investigations in the matter are on,” said a senior police officer. — IANS

New Delhi, August 20
A city court today allowed the police to cancel a case related to alleged molestation of some Delhi University (DU) students in 2007 after a Hansraj College student withdrew her complaint.

“As nothing had taken place in my presence, I am not in a position to identify either the girls or the persons who might have done something wrong. I have no objection if the case is cancelled,” the BA (English honours) student, who gave the complaint in a fake name, told the court.

In September, a group of candidates appearing for an examination to select lower division clerks and police constables had allegedly molested some DU students near Vishwavidyalaya Metro station.

The incident had led to demonstrations by students, leading to suspension of the then station house officer (SHO) of the Mukherjee Nagar police station and two Delhi police constables on the charges of insensitivity in dealing with the complaint.

In its order, the court also issued a warning to the girl, saying, “The complainant, who is a young girl and pursuing her graduation from a prestigious college of Delhi is directed to be careful in future and not be persuaded by undue and false claims of any person so as to request any public authority to take legal action against others.” — IANS

Noida, August 20
The fast track court, Noida, has awarded 10-year imprisonment and fine on the culprit for having raped a three-year-old child on Holi day last year.

Additional district and sessions judge Alok Trivedi had pronounced his sentence yesterday. Shyamu had raped the child to avenge his sacking by the child’s father who was a contractor.

Shyamu and contractor both are residents of Agapur. Shyamu threatened the contractor with dire consequences after the latter had sacked him.

According to prosecution, on March 4, 2007, three-year-old daughter of the contractor was playing Holi with her sister in Agapur. Shyamu had enticed the child with the sweets and took her out of her home and raped her. As the accused used to visit the contractor’s house almost daily, he could easily take away the child.

But when the child did not return home by evening, family members started looking for her and lodged a missing report in the Sector-49 police station. After Shyamu had raped the three-year–old, the child became unconscious. He thought she had died so he dumped her in a field in the village. But the girl soon started crying. Some passers-by took her to her father. Her clothes were full of blood stains.

Rape was confirmed after a medical examination. Subsequently, villagers caught hold of Shyamu and handed him over to police.

According to assistant public prosecutor Jagdish, Shyamu has been sentenced under Section 367 (2). Rape victims of less than 12 year age are sentenced under this section of IPC, he added.

New Delhi, August 20
To dent Congress vote bank, the BJP is trying to welcome the Muslims in its fold. Former metropolitan councillor, Anwar Dehlvi’s son, Jamil Anjum along with 200 supporters joined the BJP.

The Muslim leader along with his supporters from the walled city came to the Delhi BJP office yesterday.

They chanted slogans and joined the party. Jamil filled up membership form in presence of Delhi unit chief of the BJP.

When asked the reason for joining the BJP, Jamil said it believed in development. During the last 10 years, Sheila Dikshit-led Congress government did nothing for the citizens of Delhi.

Sealing and demolition in the National Capital Territory of Delhi has broken the backbone of the citizens. Lakhs of people have become unemployed as their establishments have been closed. People are leaving the Capital.

Jamil Anjumsaid that the Congress party had been ruling the country for the last 50 years by following the policy of divide and rule, the same as the Britishers had followed.

After watching closely he has felt that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) does not discriminate between Hindus and Muslims. It is a secular party.

He assured that he is a secular Muslim and will serve the BJP as a true soldier.

Meanwhile, under the leadership of the Scheduled Caste Morcha general secretary Hari Shankar Dhakolia, 500 members of the All India Safai Mazdoor Sangh, joined the saffron party. They had been associated with the Congress for the last 60 years.

Apart from them, the prominent persons who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party include former additional director general of West Bengal, Chatar Singh Parcha, IPS (retd), additional commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Raj Mohan Singh, civil engineer Gulshan Kumar and the principal of public school at Nilothi Village, Omvir Singh.

Welcoming the people joining the Bharatiya Janata Party, Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan said that the BJP is the only party which is performing its national duty. 

New Delhi, August 20
At a time when the world is chanting the mantra of “Go Green” and emphasizing the need for a clean environment, consider the amount of carbon produced in the classic mode of imparting education—be it travelling to the campuses, paper used and energy consumption, we are increasing our carbon footprints.

However, recent research has suggested that online education is one of the most effective ways in which institutions can reduce their carbon footprint.

Though little research has been done on the topic, Stockholm Environmental Institute (SEI) and the UK’s Open University Design Innovation Group (DIG) had released some relevant studies in 2005. Their work quantifies the environmental impact of the higher education sector and lauds the “potential of the Internet and other e-learning methods to radically reduce energy consumption and emissions.”

The key finding of the UK study was that distance learning courses consumed nearly 90% less energy and produced 85% fewer CO2 emissions than conventional campus university courses.

By logging on instead of commuting to a classroom, you are doing your part to conserve resources and make the world a better, greener place—and not just by conserving resources; virtual education is not only more agile and forward-thinking, but it also helps in making education more accessible to students and a lot easier on Mother Nature.

Students are no longer limited to college campuses within a 50-mile radius.

The online format offers access to countless specialty programs globally by building a global community.

One such platform making accessible best of the courses online and contributing towards the “Go Green” movement is WiZiQ which has made available a number of preparatory courses like CET, CAT, CA and IAS, for students to learn while conserving resources.

According to a spokesperson, WiZiQ.com is an online learning platform focused on empowering teachers and education service providers to reach out to students and make learning more effective over the Internet.

It boasts of a free Virtual Classroom that is equipped with live audio-video communication, chat, content sharing, and session recording capabilities. 

New Delhi, August 20
The International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) has conferred the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) with ‘2008 ISOCARP Award for Excellence to Master Plan for Delhi -2021’during their meeting of the jury held in Madrid, Spain last month.

ISOCARP is a highly reputed professional association of city and regional planners, having members from more than 75 developed / developing countries world over and recognised by the UN, UN Habitat Council of Europe with a formal consultative status with the UNESCO.

ISOCARP instituted the award in 2005 in its 44th anniversary. The award is granted to a city or an institution in recognition of exceptionally innovative urban and regional planning initiatives that best express the theme of the ISOCARP congress, that year.

The theme of ISOCARP congress this year is ‘Urban growth without sprawl – A way towards sustainable urbanisation’.

In their communication, the ISOCARP has said that ‘Award of Excellence to MPD-2021’ is ‘for the capacity to articulate a holistic planning at one of the most complex metropolitan areas of the world and facing key changes that are in common in many other megalopolises of the planet: from shelter to trade and commerce, from industry to environment, from conservation of built heritage to urban design and from development code to plan monitoring’.

In all, the award for excellence has been conferred to six institutions (1) Municipality of Amsterdam Physical Planning Department for the project titled ‘An Image for Development of the Region for 2040’ (2) Municipality of Antwerp, Belgium for the project titled ‘Antwerp, site of the century’ (structure plan) (3) IMPLAN – Institute de Planeaciun de Desarroiio Urbano, Municipio de, Cancun, Mexico for the project ‘Strategic Plan Cancum 2030’, (4) Delhi, India, Delhi Development Authority for the project ‘Master Plan for Delhi 2021’ (5) Master Plan for a Warsaw extension, Poland for the project ‘Miasteczko Wilanow Master Plan, Warsaw, Poland’ and (6) Yanghou, China, Ruan Yisan Heritage Foundation for the project ‘Great Canal Conservation and Study’.

The jury of award comprised: Pierre Laconte, president of ISOCARP, Alfonso Vegara, past president, Elias Beriatos, vice-president in charge of awards, Ismael Fernandez, vice-president in charge of the Sitges Regional Project Office and Jaime Lerner as external adviser.

It has further been said in their communication that to encourage future candidates, a special publication will be devoted to the six winning projects, aimed at giving maximum visibility to the award winning institutions.

DDA representing through planning development, had submitted the entry in June – July, 2008 of the policies, proposals of MPD-2021 for the consideration of Award of Excellence.

The award Ceremony will take place in (Sitges), Barcelona in Spain on November 8, on the occasion of World Planning Day.

Ashok Kumar, vice-chairman, DDA, has been formally invited to receive the Award for Excellence to MPD-2021 at Barcelona, Spain.

The work of MPD-2021 was started in the year 2000. A dedicated team of multi-disciplinary planners was engaged for the work of different functional aspects and 13 expert groups were also formed to deliberate and advise on these functional aspects of the MPD-2021. The reports were finalised and the draft Master Plan was formulated and the final MPD-2021 was notified on February 7, this year.

New Delhi, August 20
Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Jai Prakash Aggarwal exhorted youths to come forward and work hard to realise former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s dream of making India a world power by the 21st century. He said this on the occasion of the 64th birth anniversary of the late leader.

He said that Rajiv Gandhi had a unique personality and had the quality of fighting the odds. He sacrificed his life fighting terrorism and bringing social justice and religious freedom.

Meanwhile, Delhi Pradesh Youth Congress (DYPC) had organised sadbhavna pad yatra from Vir Bhoomi to DPCC’s headquarters. Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot had flagged off the yatra.

Apart from the party workers, Union labour minister Oscar Fernandes, Indian Youth Congress (IYC) president Ashok Tanwar, general secretary of the IYC Pradeep Zaildar and DPYC spokesperson Kunal Sharma had participated in the yatra.