Gurgaon, February 4
A survey conducted by the income tax (IT) department in the Bada Bazar area near Sohna Chowk here today triggered panic among the traders of the market. The shopkeepers became apprehensive as the inspection by the IT team, which began yesterday, continued throughout the night and till this afternoon.

The traders assembled near the business establishments where the survey work was in progress this morning. After holding a meeting under the aegis of the Bada Bazar Vyapar Mandal, they decided to down the shutters of their shops.

Talking to The Tribune, mandal president Gyasi Ram Jangra and general secretary Dr B.L.Agarwal said the survey had taken too long and the traders were feeling harassed.

A little later, the IT officials left the market, but they did not disclose the outcome of the exercise. “It’s a routine survey and we are doing the work assigned to us,” said an IT official engaged in inspection.

Ramesh Swaika, general secretary of the Sanyukt Vyapar Sangh, said the IT team inspected the premises of a few firms dealing in iron, plywood, pipes, glass and other hardware goods. On being contacted, additional commissioner of income tax Kartar Singh maintained that a department team had been sent to conduct a survey of certain business establishments under Section 133-A of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

“The survey involves physical inspection of stocks, besides checking the account books to find whether there is any deviation from the figures provided to the authorities concerned,” he said. About the outcome of the survey, he said that the survey team was yet to submit its report and the details would be out in a day or two.

Gurgaon, February 4
Hoteliers and restaurateurs of Haryana are feeling dark clouds on the horizon, as the state government has imposed 25% entertainment tax for the last five years on all hotels, clubs, restaurants, pubs, malls and other games and sports units in the state.

“Keeping in view the global economic meltdown, it seems to have a significant impact on corporate demand in Haryana,” said Manbeer Choudhary, former president, Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI). He said this while discussing the problems faced by the members of the association today.

“Many units may collapse due to this burden, particularly when the hospitality industry is suffering heavy losses. It will also render many jobless. Besides, causing revenue loss to the state. It can also adversely affect the future industrial investment of the state,” said Choudhary. He appealed to Haryana Chief Minister to ask the entertainment department not to impose the tax on the hospitality industry for the last five years.

“There has been a marked decline in the occupancy of hotels in the NCR, which is expected to drop further. We are expecting a downslide by 40 per cent in the coming financial year,” he said.

“Haryana’s excise and taxation department has proposed 25% entertainment tax on club fees, annual subscription, sports and other activities with effect from 2004, without any tax notice issued in the past. With this, the liability of clubs will be so exorbitant that many may close down and lose members in time to come. It must be noted that tax on sports and other such activities has not been collected from the public during this period,” a hotelier worried.

“The Haryana hospitality industry is burdened with taxes like entertainment tax (25%), corporate income tax (34%), luxury tax on rooms rent, hall rent on banquet halls (10%), VAT on liquor (20%), food and beverages (12.5%), service tax (12.36%) and annual bar licence fee (Rs 6 to 10 lakh),” Choudhary said. He added, “The department has already loaded the hospitality industry with all type of taxes. Not content with this, it is out throttling the industry with new taxes in the excise policy 2009-10.”

“The backdate collection of entertainment tax will especially affect Haryana clubs’ industry. The revenue that might be collected in the form of arrears may be of some crores. As far as entertainment tax is concerned, the industry is willing to pay the tax hither to and not from backdate, as it has not been collected from guests,” he concluded.

The association members will meet the officials of the excise and taxation department on Friday. 

New Delhi, February 4
In the backdrop of controversy of the use of plastic bags in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, a new twist was added to it yesterday when under the umbrella of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), various stakeholder groups, including Vinod Kumar Jain, who had filed a petition in Delhi High Court, held a round table conference held here. Praveen Khandelwal, secretary-general of CAIT, presided over the conference.

The participants were of the unanimous view that there was a wide gap between demand and supply of the available, viable, cost effective and sustainable alternative to plastic bags. Also, the habits of the citizens needed to be changed.

The speakers said a mass awareness campaign should be launched — catch them young initiative— to spread the message.

It was also stressed that prior to implementation of the ban, a breathing time should be given by the government. The government should formulate a joint committee of all stakeholder groups and senior officials to pursue the matter.

Vinod Jain called for responsible consumerism and apprised that the problem arose due to the failure of the civic agencies in Delhi in maintaining a citizen friendly environment in the city and misuse of plastic bags.

Ravi Aggarwal, president, All-India Plastic Industries Association, concurred that promoting safe environment is the duty of all, but the problem of the strata affected and displaced by the recently introduced ban should be patiently viewed since it has its roots in the throwaway culture and not by the use of plastic. He saw it as a selective measure while other potential menaces were not paid any attention.

He stressed the need for effective fiscal and financial measures for the affected groups beside smooth technology transfer made affordable, as suggested by the high court also.

Several NGO groups, including Development Alternative, Aadhar, Nari Uthhan Samiti, Green Forum, Pioneer Conversion that are manufacturing alternative products presented their products mainly of jute, paper, re-cycled paper and highlighted the limitations of the products too. The main deterrents were the cost besides the volume of supplies. It was found suitable for medium and high value and high mass products. The use of plastic as coating was also noticed to give strength and sustainability to these alternative products.

New Delhi, February 4
The MCD is deliberating on to provide basic requirements, including transportation facility to its sweepers doing night shift for its pilot project in Rohini. The civic body gave it a thought after it was rebuffed by the High Court over the issue of night sweeping a week ago.

Standing Committee chairperson Vijender Gupta confirmed that the civic body had already issued instructions on night sweeping of city roads.

“We have asked the commissioner to chalk out a strategy by which sweeping roads at night can be made possible,” said Gupta.

The unavailability of DTC buses during the night, closed colony gates and threat from stray dogs are some dissuading factors for sweepers to work during the night.

“Night sweeping is being carried out in over 40 locations, including markets, roads and some residential colonies. But it cannot continue for long due to the complaints sent in by many sweepers,” informed an MCD official.

However, Gupta assured, “We are ready to give all necessary inputs to begin the work — even if it includes transportation,” he said. He added that providing transportation facility to all sweepers was not possible, as the number of municipal sweepers is more than 70,000.

“The night duty starts from 10 p.m. and ends at 6 a.m. Special care will be taken while allocating areas, so that sweepers get nearby places,” he said. Presently, the city roads are swept from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., exposing schoolchildren, office-goers and morning walkers to dust.

The High Court had originally ordered to start night sweeping eight years ago, after a writ petition stated that sweeping during the morning hours caused breathing problems. 

New Delhi, February 4
Students from different universities of the city and organisations today joined hands to save the Ganga.

As part of a nation-wide campaign, students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Delhi University (DU) submitted a charter of demands of steps to be taken to conserve the Ganga to the Prime Minister here.

“We oraganised this demonstration in the Capital to make our concerns heard at the national level. The Ganga is an integral part of our culture and mother of our age-old civilisation. A victim of severe pollution and arbitrary industrialisation, the river is on the verge of loosing its identity,” said Hemant Dhyani from JNU.

Agitated with the series of dams being built on the river, the demonstrators said it was being used solely for commercial purposes.

“Only for a small amount of electricity, the government is putting the river at stake. Due to all these dams, the Ganga is now diverting from its natural course. If construction of dams continues as per the plan, there wouldn’t be any point left on the course of Ganga for the people to worship or take a dip in the river,” said Dhyani.

The students burned the effigy of the contemporary concept of modernism, development and consumerism that was allegedly ignorant of the ecology of the country.

Members of Govindacharya’s group involved with the Save Ganga Campaign also participated in the demonstration. “We have been part of the campaign since the beginning. Prof GB Aggarwal is sitting on indefinite fast against the violation of the sanctity of Ganga. Because the river belongs to all of us, we should all take steps to save it. We are trying to take his message to the larger masses,” said Pankaj Vidyarthi.

Economist doctor Bharat Jhunjhunwala also joined hands with the save Ganga campaign. In his studies on Ganga, Jhunjhunwala pointed out that the government was focusing more on the economics of the Ganga than on the emotional value of it. He said, “The government’s decision to give more importance to economics over emotion is on the expected lines, even though not in the best interests of people.”

The protesters said government was working on building five dams right on the origin of the Ganga. “Since these projects are consecutive, it entails diverting the Ganga through tunnels continuously from Bhairon Ghati. This causes the river to disappear in her own origin,” said Dhyani.

The protesters demanded from the central government to stop Loharinag Pala project and to release at least 50 per cent of water in hydro-projects already constructed from the Gangotri to Rishikesh.

As part of the campaign, the campaign coordinators would go to DU tomorrow to present a poster exhibition in the university. 

New Delhi, February 4
A minor girl was allegedly kidnapped, while her brother and father were injured, as they tried to rescue her in the Khazuri Khas area of West Delhi last night.

According to the police, the girl’s father Pramod reported the incident around 12:30 a.m.

Four armed men kidnapped 16-year-old Rani (name changed) from her house at Chauhan Patti in Khazuri Khas. When Ravi, Rani’s brother, tried to rescue her, the kidnappers hit him with a knife in the neck. He has been admitted to the Bara Hindu Rao Hospital. Rani’s father Pramod also received some minor injuries in the scuffle.

Pramod has lodged an FIR at Khazuri Khas police station and has held Ashraf, a barber, responsible for the crime. He has stated that Ashraf along with his friends Yamin, Wasim and Faizaan allegedly came to his house last night and kidnapped his daughter. Ashraf had claimed to have married his daughter in 2008.

According to the police, the girl had gone missing in October last year too. She was found from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh a month later. At that time too, Ashraf was also held responsible and the court had issued a non-bailable warrant against him.

The police said that a few years ago Pramod and Ashraf lived in the same house and had become friends. But on seeing Ashraf’s proximity with his daughter, Pramod changed his residence and warned Ashraf to stay away from Rani.

Meanwhile, police teams have been sent to western UP and other areas to find the girl and the accused. No arrest has been made as of now.

New Delhi, February 4
A large number of children are reported missing from various parts of the Capital. North east district has earned the dubious distinction of having the largest number of missing children cases.

Police said that a total number of 11,825 cases of missing children are reported in the various police stations in the Capital. North east district alone has registered 2,518 cases. This is followed by south district with 2,061 cases.

According to the police record till September 1, outer Delhi has 1,497 such cases followed by south west district with 1,458 such cases. Figure for other police districts are: west 1,341, east 1,183, north west 928, central 348, north 317, New Delhi 79.

There is no information about these children. “Some children ran away from their houses as their parents scolded them on some trivial issues while others ran away due to poverty,” said a senior police officer.

HAQ, an NGO has another story of missing children. It says that some agencies are exploiting such children. They take the missing children with them and finally sell them to local as well as foreign couples in the name of adoption.

The NGO has been working against the business of child trafficking for years.

Bharti Ali, HAQ coordinator says, “In making an inter-country adoption, agencies earn around US$ 15,000 per child. The agencies can also increase the figure if the couple requires the child just within a few days.”

She added, “On the other hand, domestic adoptions are free of charge. It is illegal to charge money in such cases. However, the agencies manage to earn a few thousands from them also.”

Vipin Bhatt, an activist of another NGO, said, “If we take a close view at the list, the Capital has a national missing child hotline called Childline. There is also National Juvenile Justice Act which contains nationally mandated procedures and regulations to facilitate the union of lost children to their parents. There is Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA) to regulate and oversee both the domestic and foreign adoption of Indian children. Besides, there are police and local NGOs to help a child.”

All the same, more children go missing every year. Many organizations in the city blame the government for not keeping a track on such agencies.

Despite the fact that domestic adoption has to be given priority, several agencies push inter-country adoptions.

Sources say that on an average about 200 Indian parents are on the waiting list for adoption at each of the nine agencies in Delhi.

“As the middle class in India grows, the demand for adoptable children also grows. Infertile couples in the city who are ready to spend handsome money are also becoming business for these brokers” added Bharti.

Several lost children are taken directly to private adoption agencies without registering them with the police or the local child welfare committees. In such a condition, there is no official record of their having been “found”. They disappear.

In metro cities, including Delhi, it is nearly impossible for children to be found once they are lost from parents. When such incidents occur, child and parents both suffer. But the adoption agencies enjoy the wealth and accolades for helping “orphans”.

New Delhi, February 4
Cancer is one of the major causes of death in India and the world over. More than 30% cancer patients come to the national Capital from other states, said Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in a seminar on World Cancer Day.

She called upon the government and private sector and the medical fraternity to ensure an affordable treatment for the deadly disease.

Though tremendous advancements have taken place in its treatment, she cautioned it is essential to go for screening and scanning after 35 years. Prevention is always better than cure, she retreated. She called upon people to disseminate messages about the early detection and cure of the deadly disease.

The negativity associated with the disease causes inertia and inaction. “As a result, the disease progresses and the sufferer reaches a stage where the success of treatment is very less. Early diagnosis has twin benefits of higher cure and less cost of treatment,” Dikshit said.

She informed the government had developed an advanced cancer institute in the Trans Yamuna area. The need of the hour is to adopt a public-private participation to ensure the best free treatment to the sufferers. She added that government hospitals are catering to the healthcare needs of those from outside Delhi.

More than 30% patients come to the national Capital from other states. The Chief Minister stressed on the need of developing smaller hospitals and building more dispensaries to solve the problem of over-crowding in major hospitals.

She assured that the world’s best institute of liver and biliary sciences would be commissioned shortly.

The seminar was jointly organised by Galaxy Cancer Institute and Pushapanjali Crosslay Hospital.

New Delhi, February 4
As part of the intensive traffic drive launched against the violators of road rules, more than 10,532 vehicles were challaned by Delhi Traffic Police yesterday.

According to traffic police sources, 94 of these vehicles belong to some big names of the Capital and some vehicles also had the VIP registration numbers. More than 25,000 challans have been issued by the traffic police during the three days since the special drive was launched against the offenders on February 1.

As per the Delhi traffic office, 1,792 challans were issued for wrong parking, 1,795 for red light jumping, 673 for dangerous driving, 427 for overspeeding, seven for drunken driving, 465 for improper number plate while 26 vehicles were challaned for having dysfunctional head and tail lights. About 630 buses, 498 heavy traffic vehicles, 1,200 autorickshaws were also challaned.

The drive also saw action being initiated against the government vehicles and big businessmen in the Capital’s posh South Delhi area. “Nobody is being spared. Be it a government official vehicle or a BMW, all are being given the ticket,” said a traffic official.

He added that the traffic police is also concentrating in certain areas in the Capital where there are more violations. Identifying Delhi University and the surrounding area, the official said that the police is doing round-the-clock monitoring of vehicles at such places and challans are being issued to violators.

The police is taking a serious note of traffic offences in Lutyens’ area, including India Gate and Connaught Place where the VIP movement is most vocal. “The VIP zone is highest on our priority. More than thousands of challans were issued in Connaught Place alone yesterday,” said the official. 

New Delhi, February 4
Delhiites woke up to a foggy morning today, but the sky became clear soon. Thus, saving passengers from any fog-related delays at the airport.

The minimum temperature today settled at 8.9° C. While the maximum hovered around 27° C, four degrees above the normal, said a Met official.

Flights at IGI Airport were almost as per schedule, following clear visibility on runways, an airport official said.

“There was a shallow fog in the morning and the runway visibility did drop. But with the clouds lifting and making way for a bright day, there were hardly any fog delays,” an airport official said.