New Delhi, September 2
Several engineers of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) have been served with notices for alleged irregularities detected in the construction of City Centre II.

The building was constructed beside the NDMC office at Palika Kendra. According to sources, the engineers allegedly used low-quality material in the construction. Even the elevator of the building had to be re-fixed due to the use of inappropriate items.

The sources said that more than Rs 50 lakh had to be spent by the council for the renovation of the building.

The case file made in this regard was referred to the Central Vigilance Commission that further instructed the NDMC chief vigilance officer to look into the irregularities.

Two senior engineers were personally deputed, who blamed all the engineers involved in the construction of the building for the alleged misuse of public money.

It was also disclosed that NDMC faced a loss of several crores due to the delay in the construction of City Centre II.

The source said one of the engineers involved in the case was about to retire from his office and was, therefore, served with a charge sheet.

Meanwhile, the council is now planing to utilise the building by opening the secretariat office of the Commonwealth Games there. 

Gurgaon, September 2
Accused of several criminal cases and former municipal councillor Vinder Gujjar today escaped a bid on his life as two unidentified persons shot at him on the Khandsa road while he was travelling in a car.

As the shots rang up the area of Char Marla Colony around 1 in the afternoon, the area became deserted as the residents went indoors. The shopkeepers also downed their shutters.

The police reached the spot immediately and a case was registered on the complaint of Vinder against two unknown attackers at city police station.

Vinder was elected from ward number 22 in the erstwhile municipal committee which has since been dissolved after the creation of the Municipal Corporation.

As per the complainant, two motor cycle-borne youths opened fire at the Indica car moving ahead of the Scorpio in which Vinder was sitting. They shot at the car, believing that Vinder might be sitting in it. The car belonged to one of Vinder’s men.

Sources said that he is under threat from a rival gang, so he always moves in the company of his supporters. In this case, the Indica car was moving ahead of the vehicle he was sitting in as its escort.

DCP (West) Rakesh Arya, in whose presence Vinder recorded his statement, said the police recovered two empty shells from the spot.

He confirmed one bullet hit the Indica car. The attackers abandoned the motor cycle at some distance and absconded. The motor cycle has been recovered.

Gurgaon, September 2
The tough talk by the Chief Minister regarding time-bound repair of Gurgaon roads has put the official machinery into quick compliance mode. As part of this, the Municipal Corporation has set for itself the complete makeover of the potholed roads within three months, well ahead of the six-month deadline given by the Chief Minister.

The MC will spend Rs 21 crore for the purpose over the next three months. Of this amount, more than Rs 10 crore has been earmarked for levelling the roads marked by potholes within a month. The remaining Rs 11 crore is meant for the repair of 24 badly broken ones. This task will be completed within three months.

As per municipal commissioner Rajeev Sharma, the task involved work on total length of 19542 metres in 24 different parts of the city. The areas included Gandhi Nagar, Raj Nagar, Jyoti Park, Krishna Colony, Delhi Road, Model Town, New Railway Road, Rajendra Park, Shakti Nagar, Lakshmi Garden, Lakshman Vihar, Hira Nagar, Mehrauli Road, Om Nagar, Shanti Nagar and Shivaji Park. Besides repair, the roads in these areas would be widened and their level raised within the stipulated time.

Not only the MC, the government agencies including HUDA, PWD B&R, Market Committee, Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board too have waken up. Their officials have chalked out repair plans and work on some roads in rural and urban areas under their domains in the district has also been taken up. Notably, Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda had come down heavily on the officials concerned a couple of days back after experiencing a bumpy ride while travelling to Chandu Budhera village from Gurgaon.

New Delhi, September 2
With elections staring students in the face at Delhi University, election fever is at its peak on the campus of different colleges. Workers of different parties like the ABVP, the INSO and the NSUI are campaigning feverishly visiting different colleges and proceeding from one classroom to another in a bid to attract students and garner votes in the fast approaching election.

Most parties have released their manifestoes. The ABVP released its manifesto on Monday. It is divided into three parts with a national component, a focus on failures of rival party,

NSUI, during its tenure and a lengthy section on campus issues that the ABVP intends taking up seriously.

Presidential candidate Nupur Basu harped on the corrupt practices followed by the NSUI which the ABVP would like to do away with.

An excited Nupur said, “DUSU has become synonymous to business. There have been instances when DUSU office-bearers have misused their office and tried to divert the funds. We want to bring in the real essence of a students’ union in the DUSU office.”

Student issues that the ABVP laid stress on were reforms in the fee structure for the university to make it more logical and equitable. Building of more hostels to cater to the current lack of hostel facilities on campus, dealing with hostel problems for outstation candidates, bringing to light anomalies in the internal assessment scheme, sexual harassment and developing better transport facilities are some of the issues that the ABVP has highlighted.

In national issues, the ABVP drew attention to the just-resolved Amarnath Shrine Board land issue, the longstanding problem of Bangladeshi infiltration and terrorism.

The ABVP spokesperson, Shrinivas, commented while releasing the party’s manifesto, “The DUSU elections this year are taking place amid acute national crises that are ideological as well as systemic. The way the UPA government has been dealing with various issues like terrorism, Bangladeshi infiltration, Students Islamic Movement of India and Ram Sethu is condemnable. At this juncture, the youth of the nation should come forward and decide theirs as well as the country’s fate together.”

The NSUI which has been in power on campus for the past year has different things on their agenda.

Their spokesperson, Quintal Krishna said, “We are contesting this election on the basis of the work we have done in the past year and this is what we have been attempting to get through to students in our meetings with them. We are highlighting some of our achievements like the environmental campaign, a cigarette-free campus, a hostel for north-eastern girls, etc. So we want our work to talk. There are also a few issues like building more hostels and there is a lot of stress that we are putting on getting representation in the executive council of the university. This would be a big step for students.”

So while, the ABVP is fighting on promises, NSUI wants its work to swing the deal. The INSO also released its manifesto on Tuesday. 

New Delhi, September 2
Amity International School is hosting an inter-Amity school level science competition ‘Vasudha 2008-09 Level – II’ on Amity campus in Sector- 44, Noida. This year’s theme is “Our earth: Explore, share and care.”

The initial level of Vasudha that also comprised an exhibition of 15 days had taken place in July and August 2008 in all Amity International Schools.

Former President of India Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam will be present for the valedictory function on September 9.

Vasudha Level — II aims at developing an understanding about science among youngsters. It also provides a forum to youngsters by providing them the opportunities to observe, collect data, experiment, analyse, present their findings after thorough research, especially to improve the quality of human life and foster ecological awareness.

Over 1,000 students studying in classes V to XII from eight branches of Amity Schools will present over 195 projects to the 25-member jury from Vigyan Prasar, National Council for Education Research & Training (NCERT), department of science and technology (government of India), National Centre of Global Warming and Ecological Studies, Amity Institute of Telecom Technology and Management (AITTM), Amity Institute of Nanotechnology and Amity Institute of Organic Agriculture. 

New Delhi, September 2
During the teenage years everything seems to be out of gear, yet those are the days which each one of us long to relive. Yep friends, this has been made possible by a young debutante writer, Tishaa, a bubbly, vivacious teenager via the roller-coaster journey, traversed in and out of a boarding school, which is very well penned out in “Pink or Black”.

The book was released by model Nethra Raghuraman, the fear factor 2008 winner, at Café Turtle in MGF Metropolitan Mall, Saket in the Capital.

At 18, Tishaa, making an entry into the literal world with her maiden novel, said, “Starting the book at 16, it took me six months to write the book. Today, I’m at the top of the world and this wouldn’t have been possible without Sanawar in my life.”

Often, small things end up in making big differences to life through life-defining decisions. Lawrence School, Sanawar, was a sinking star in her life and

Tishaa’s going to Sanawar when she was ten, was to rediscover the rekindling creativity residing in her.

The budding author says, “Sanawar was the best thing that could have happened to me and my tenure there has helped me to come up with this book that I have written for my teenager friends who don’t seem to understand themselves. This book of mine will enable them to relate to their selves.”

Yes comrades, this book has it all, the usual stuff of a teenager’s life starting from homework tensions, love saga, friendship and much more. It eloquently describes the metamorphosis of a teenager Tishaa, oops, Tiana beyond trendy clothes, make-up and boys. So dear friends don’t you dare to take this piece as yet another chick-lit for it opens up a door to revisit your bygone days of childhood, while promising to take you for a ride, right down memory lane.

While Tiana’s friends are busy in being cool, Tiana steps into a mission—a quest of searching own self and exercising the power of choice. The discretion of going for the Pink or the Black, is the vital occurrence, which perhaps makes all the difference to her life along with her friends.

Revealing the psyche of the Tiana, the protagonist, she said, “The book precisely entails finding your own self and assert in what you believe in and say that to the world. Those are the defining moments of your life.”

The author added, “The day when you find an honest answer about everything in life than can you say that you know yourself. I am on the right track and hopefully, one day I’ll reach that destination.”

About the strange yet apt title and cover design, she said, “Pink is for health and happiness and black for strength as well as sadness. As colours, they have certain traits and these traits have been reflected in the character of Tiana.”

Releasing the book, Nethra said, “I am fond of collecting and reading books, and I feel that any reader can surely relate himself/ herself to this book for it would help one to relive one’s own life.”

Kapish Mehra of Rupa Publications said, “More than a thousand copies have been sold in just three days and this is indeed commendable.”

This budding author from Chandigarh, bubbling with colourful ideas, has a passion for dancing and Hollywood movies. Aspiring to be a filmmaker, she is all geared to join the New York Film Academy.

New Delhi, September 2
The Welcome Colony police today arrested a man in connection with the murder of his woman friend last month.

Mohammad Qasim had allegedly killed Sitara, 35, a resident of Janta Colony on August 22 following a dispute between the two over money related matters.

The murder took in the wee hours when Sitara’s husband was not in the house. According to the police, Qasim shot Sitara when she asked him to return the money that she had given him to buy a jhuggi for her.

According to investigation, Qasim and Sitara were friends and Qasim often use to come to her house. Few months ago Sitara had given some money to Qasim to buy a jhuggi for her. However, instead of buying the jhuggi in the name of Sitara, Qasim bought it in his name. This irked Sitara and she constantly fought with him over it. Annoyed of the constant nagging, Qasim decided to kill Sitara. He arranged for a countrymade pistol and shot Sitara when her husband was not at home. However, her daughter saw Qasim shooting her mother who later told the police about it. 

New Delhi, September 2
A woman was crushed to death by a DTC bus while she was crossing the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Corridor in South Delhi today morning. The deceased, who is yet to be identified, had come under the front wheels of the recently launched low-floor bus at around 10.15 a.m. in Ambedkar Nagar.

The woman died on the spot due to grievous head injuries. Her body has been sent to AIIMS for post mortem.

The bus was plying on route number 423 between Khanpur and Mori Gate. The driver of the bus Bal Krishan was beaten up by the angry mob and is recuperating at AIIMS. A case of negligent driving has been registered against the driver and he will be arrested once he is discharged from the hospital.

Meanwhile, the police is working to identify the woman. “Her face is mutilated beyond recognition and she did not carry any document that could have established her identity. We are working to find out about her whereabouts,” said a cop.

New Delhi, September 2
A Delhi Public School (DPS) bus jumped a traffic signal and mowed down a Class XII student of another school in East Delhi on Tuesday.

Mohammed Kashiv, 18, was killed when the bus belonging to the DPS Indirapuram jumped the traffic signal near the C block bus station of Yamuna Vihar.

Kashiv, a student of the Ludlow Castle School at the Kashmiri Gate, was crossing the road.

The police said Kashiv suffered injuries on head and other parts of the bodies and was taken to a nearby hospital, from where he was shifted to the Trauma Centre of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). He later succumbed to his injuries.

The police has impounded the bus and arrested its driver Sunil.

Last week, a girl student allegedly jumped to death in DPS R.K. Puram while a male student was found drowned in swimming pool of his DPS Mathura Road branch. — IANS

New Delhi, September 2
Delhi government has issued directions to all deputy directors, education officers, principals and school administrators to ensure basic amenities in the educational institutes in the Capital.

Taking cognizance of newspaper reports, Delhi education minister Arvinder Singh warned respective school officials to fall in line in providing the basic amenities or else face action.

The minister chaired a review meeting of the school authorities of Sonia Vihar and Dallupura schools, which was attended by secretary, education; director, education and other senior officers.

He further asked the schools to submit daily reports on cleanliness of the toilets, water supply, power supply and availability of drinking water, online to the directorate of education. This would go along with redressal of shortcomings.

“If any school fails to do so, the principals, deputy directors, and education officers would be held personally liable and would be fined heavily on the lines of the Right to Information Act,” he said.

Arvinder also directed the respective deputy directors to go personally to the field and check the schools for any deficiency in the basic amenities. “The directorate of education is in the process of upgrading all the existing facilities in the school buildings of the government schools,” he said.

Schools were further asked to shift half of the students to the nearby schools and start new shifts to ease pressure on the amenities and schools.

He added that any school found flouting these guidelines would have to face action.

Recently, students from several girls’ schools in the city have also protested highlighting the inadequacy of basic infrastructure in the schools.

New Delhi, September 2
The department of dietetics, All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), is organising “Healthy Lifestyle Event 2008” as part of the national nutrition week celebrations beginning tomorrow.

The event is targeting about 1,000 young adolescent public schoolchildren of Delhi for correcting and inculcating good nutritional habits and promoting physical activity.

Childhood overweight and obesity is now rapidly devastating them in terms of infliction with severe medical complications like high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, stroke, early puberty, musculo-skeletal disorders, dental caries, breathlessness etc.

This all due to eating habits, junk food consumption, physical inactivity little outdoor activity and excess time spent in front of T.V. and Computer.

It is indicated that 7% of Delhi public schoolchildren are likely to develop serious heart problems by the time they are in their early thirties and the prevalence of overweight was reported to be 37.5% in urban Delhi and 8% in rural Haryana.

Over a dozen prominent schools from Delhi and Noida are participating in the event.

New Delhi, September 2
The Confederation of All-India Traders (CAIT) today decided to adopt one flood-affected village of Bihar on the appeal of Bharatiya Janata Party national president Rajnath Singh who was addressing a meeting of traders today at BJP Headquarters here.

The Confederation of All-India Traders also declared to launch a nationwide relief campaign from today till September 7 during which trade bodies across the Country will collect donations and relief materials.

Delhi state BJP president Harsh Vardhan and former state BJP president Mangey Ram Garg were also present at the meeting. Several prominent trade leaders, including Satish Garg, Ramesh Khanna, Vijay Pal and Satender Jain, too attended the meeting.

The traders announced a donation of about Rs 15 Lakh and 11 truckloads of relief material as a first installment of relief. Moved by the gesture of traders, Rajnath Singh also announced his personal contribution of Rs 1 lakh towards the flood relief fund. Confederation of All-India Traders secretary-general Praveen Khandelwal made an appeal to trade bodies across the country to donate generously towards relief fund and collect fund and relief material immediately.

He also announced that on September 6, from 9am to 11am, volunteers of the trade bodies will move on roads in Delhi and other cities of different states to collect funds and relief material from the public and traders.

He further said that traders will make efforts to contribute food articles, sattu and chana, utensils, medicines, gur, tarpaulin, garments and other materials.