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No relief from bijli-paani woes
Use water judiciously, says Sheila
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MLAs suspended over water
Residents’crusade to save
water bodies in Bakkarwala
Bijli-paani protesters lathicharged in Gzb
Four die trying to escape heat
Crime File
Businessman shot dead in Najafgarh
Five held for double murder
4 more cases of H1N1
5 gangrape accused arrested
Jail response on Kharb’s plea sought
DDA to construct 65,000 houses in four years
Sheila sends chaadar to Ajmer
Truckers’ kids paint dreams on canvas
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No relief from bijli-paani woes
New Delhi, June 29 Even after Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s strict instructions to BSES, the largest private power distributor in Delhi, to improve the power situation at any cost, not much has improved. The worst affected areas are Safdarjung Enclave, Hauz Khas, Dwaraka, Najafgarh and some areas of ITO.
Asmita, who works at an office in ITO, said there was no power in her office and the staffers, instead of working, were sitting outside. She added that there was no water in her office and she had to buy mineral water. Neena, a resident of Safdarjung Enclave, said she had a sleepless night as there was no power in her area at night. She tried to call the BSES helpline service, but could not get through. Areas like Dwaraka and Njafgarh have been experiencing power cuts from eight to 10 hours. Those who live in flats are worst affected, as they do not get water supply without power. The condition is the same in Najafgarh, where residents depend on tankers for water supply. However, an official of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) said the water supply was sufficient. He said the total water production for today was 815.99 MGD, that is more than normal, but the distribution could not be made properly due to unavailability of power. Spokespersons of the DJB Sanjan Cheema said the water supply problems existed only in the unauthorised colonies that were not covered by the DJB. When asked about the water availability from UP and Haryana, she said Delhi was getting full supply of raw water from these states. She informed that on July 1 the evening water supply would be affected in Vishnu Garden, Khayala, Raghubir Nagar, Rajouri Garden, Subhash Nagar, Hari Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Maya Enclave, Tagore Garden and Shivaji Enclave due to some repairing works in the main supply line. Cheema advised the residents to store sufficient water in advance. Water tankers would be available at telephone numbers: 25193140, 25174140 (Shivaji Enclave), 25221181 (Punjabi Bagh), she said. An official of the Delhi Transco Limited said major power problems were in south and southwest districts due to reasons better known to distcoms concerned. However, an official of the BSES said that the unit was leaving no stone unturned to arrange additional electricity at any cost. He added that the BSES arranged additional power at Rs 13.50 per unit to meet today’s peak demand of 4261 MW. The official said last week there was some problem as Delhi did not receive its share of power from NTPC’s Singrauli, Dadri, DVC, Tehri, Tala, RAP and Rhand. Besides, Delhi’s IP station generated only 105 MW and gas turbine only 30 MW power. An official of the NDPL said there was no power shortage in the area and that the company was purchasing power from outside at Rs 10 and Rs 11 per unit.
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Use water judiciously, says Sheila
Govt offices told to save power Chief secretary of the Delhi government Rakesh Mehta today asked the in-charges of all government buildings to maintain strict power conservation by switching off all unnecessary lights and keeping the temperature of the ACs at 24 degree Celsius. Rakesh said in-charges of office buildings should make sure that all lights, except the emergency lights, were switched off after the office is closed.
New Delhi, June 29 She directed the DJB to take immediate action in complaints related to contamination of water. She said this at a meeting held at the Delhi Assembly. MLAs, ministers, vice-chairperson and CEO of the DJB, principal secretary of the Chief Minister were present. Dikshit asked the Jal Board make an assembly segment-wise list of executive engineers containing their addresses and mobile numbers and give it to the area MLAs so that they could interact with the engineers and ensure proper redressal of water-related problems. Issues related to leakage, running taps, uneven distribution of water, lack of power for running water pumps, commissioning of Bawana water treatment plant, availability of tankers, wastage of drinking water, use of drinking water by polluting industries, contamination and in-sufficient drinking water supply in villages and unauthorised colonies were raised in the meeting. Dikshit said people had been facing some problems due to prolonged heat wave and delay in the arrival of monsoon. The situation might improve in coming days with the arrival of monsoon. For water, the city is dependent on Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. She exhorted MLAs to contact the concerned executive engineers so that day-to-day difficulties could be sorted out immediately. A suggestion was also mooted to constitute assembly-wise committees comprising local MLAs and few reputed persons. |
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MLAs suspended over water
New Delhi, June 29 The BJP members entered the House carrying placards criticising the government over water and power crisis. When the Speaker did not allow them to discuss the matter, BJP members — Karan Singh Tanwar, Jai Bhagwan Agarwal, Shyam Lal Garg, Anil Jha and Kulwant Singh Rana — came into the well of the House and reached near the Speaker’s chair raising anti-government slogans. The Speaker asked security guards to take the members out for the entire day. Protesting against the Speaker’s direction, leader of the opposition Vijay Kumar Malhotra boycotted the House proceedings for the day. Later, Malhotra said in a press conference that the saffron party members were not invited to attend the meeting where water problem in the city was discussed. The residents are facing power and water crisis, the government is not taking it seriously. “We met Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit before the commencement of the budget session to remind her about power and water problems. We also demonstrated outside the Assembly on the first day of the budget session, but the government did nothing to control the aggravating situation in the national Capital,” said Malhotra. He added that when he had raised the issue in Assembly, the Chief Minister responded saying that “hame aap ki nadaani par afsos hai.” When power and water crisis was noticed by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, the Chief Minister had no option but to call a meeting of senior officers of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). He said that major loadshedding takes place in residential areas, particularly, in unauthorised colonies and JJ clusters. People in some areas of the city are living without power for eight to 12 hours, he claimed.
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Residents’crusade to save
water bodies in Bakkarwala
New Delhi, June 29 Environmentalists believe the step would encourage others to work as responsible citizens and preserve nature. At a time when the country is battling with water crisis, initiatives like these from civil society are warranted to revive the depleting water tables and the nature’s health. The residents, who are waiting for the monsoon for large-scale plantation, feel water bodies are vital for sustaining the hydrological balance. It can also relieve them of water woes. Earlier, they had taken to the streets against encroachment by the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) to protect the area’s natural preserves. In December last year, the DTC had been allotted 26-acre land in the area on lease to construct a depot-cum-dump yard so that more low-floor buses could be accommodated, but the locals have thwarted all efforts of the government. Bhagat Singh, a resident, said, “When we came to know that the government had been planning to grab the land in the name of development, on February 12 we wrote to various government authorities to shift the project. When no response came, we sent a reminder on May 12.” Diwan Singh of Natural Heritage First said, “On three occasions in the past, the administration tried to acquire the land, but received stiff resistance from locals. On May 11, nearly 250 policemen were deployed in the area to take charge of the situation but to no avail.” Vinod Jain of Tapas NGO called for legal protection of ponds, irrespective of their mention in revenue records. He said, “The Delhi high court has already directed the state government to protect water bodies. Several notices have been issued to the state government on the same.” According to sources, discussions on reconsidering the bus depot are going on between Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and area MP Mahabal Mishra. It is learnt the government might look out for an alternative site, probably in Kair village, where a bus depot is already under-construction on a five-acre land of the gram sabha. Vikram Soni from Natural Heritage First, a research scientist with National Physical Laboratory, has praised the locals who have dared to go against the government to preserve natural essences from being swallowed by urban sprawl. |
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Bijli-paani protesters lathicharged in Gzb
Ghaziabad, June 29 For the past many days, people have lost their cool in Vasundhra, Vaishali and Indirapuram due to lack of power and water supplies. The police had resorted to lathicharge for dispersing the protesters. Hundreds of protesters from Vaishali, Vasundhra and Indirapuram had gathered at Dabur crossing under a call for “Vaishali Bachao Manch” and “Sanyukt Jan Kalyan Parishad” and jammed the roads. A large posse of policemen and PAC jawans under City Magistrate Umesh Mishra and police circle officer, Rahul Srivastava had reached the area. The officers tried their best to make the protesters relent, failing which cops unleashed their lathis on the crowd. A little later when the officers assured them that efforts will be made to ease the water- power problem, the people relented and lifted the jam. The jam was also lifted from Indirapuram Nyai Khand I and NH- 24 on City Magistrate and CO’s assurances. Vaishali Sanyukt Jan Kalyan Parishad general secretary Atul Tyagi said the agitation will be carried on till power and water problems are fully solved. Meanwhile, the police is contemplating action against the protesting and agitating people who had blocked the roads with jams.
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Evening rain cools city
New Delhi, June 29 The officer-goers started their day, followed by a breezy night, on a relieved note, and in the evening, as predicted by the Indian Meteorological Department, light drizzle left them enjoying the pre-monsoon spells. According to weather officials, the showers are the effect of the southwestern disturbance. Today’s maximum temperature settled at around 40.8 degrees Celsius, a departure of three notches from the normal, while the mercury saw a low of 29.2 degrees Celsius. The 1.4 mm rainfall gave some relief from the searing heat of the last few days, but people still had an uncomfortable time sweating continuously due to the moist conditions. The maximum humidity during the day was recorded at 72 per cent, informed officials from the Safdarjung Met department. According to the met department’s forecast, the maximum temperature would take a further dip to 38 degrees, while the minimum would read at 30 degrees Celsius. The sky tomorrow would be generally cloudy and Delhiites can hope for some more respite from the heat with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers tomorrow. Meanwhile, the southwestern monsoon is likely to advance during the next two days.
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Four die trying to escape heat
Greater Noida, June 29 The fourth one became a victim of heat wave after taking a bath in the tubewell water. Resident of Gautampuri Mohalla in Dadri, Sudhama, Harish Chander and Yoginder of Ferozabad had come to the canal bank near Silarpur village under Jarcha Kotwali on their bike. After taking off clothes, the three jumped into the canal. When Yoginder and Sudhama did not come out of water for some time, their friend Harish Chander raised the alarm, suspecting them to have drowned in the canal. Some people collected there on hearing his alarm and informed the police. The divers who searched a vast area of canal had fished out Yoginder’s dead body by the evening while Sudhama’s body could not be traced. In another incident, 17-year-old Rashid of Bilaspur town had come for a bath at Kharli canal at 10 am. After remaining in water for three or four hours, when he came out to go return, he suddenly fell unconscious on the ground. He was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. Doctors said it was a case of heat and cold due to which he had died. He had remained in water for a long time after coming out in the hot sun. In another incident, an unidentified person, 40, had come to take a bath at a tubewell of a farmer in Jamalpur village at noon. After taking a shower, he fell asleep under a tree in the field. When the farmer tried to wake him up in the evening, the man was found to have died. The police has sent his dead body for autopsy.
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Crime File
New Delhi, June 29 According to information, the Delhi-Hyderabad-Tirupati Air India flight 942, carrying 75 passengers, made an emergency landing at 11.40 am after the pilot discovered problems in the hydraulic system of the aircraft, said a Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) spokesman. According to him, all the passengers were safe. Rickshaw puller crushed by car
A 33-year-old rickshaw puller was crushed to death by a speeding car last night in the Sarita Vihar area of southeast Delhi, said the police today. “Mohammed Naseem was hit by the car from behind near Noida More in Sarita Vihar. As the impact, he fell on the road and got his head entangled in the front wheel of the car. He was dragged for some distance before the car came to a halt,” said the police official. He added that Naseem died on the spot while the driver of the car managed to escape. However, based on the information provided by the eyewitnesses, the car and its owner has been identified, said the police. Gangster held
The special cell of the Delhi police has apprehended a notorious gangster Narendar Bhati (43) who had a reward of Rs 25, 000 on his head. According to the police, Bhati is a member of a gang of land grabbers led by notorious criminal Jagbir and indulged in land grabbing in the areas of Swaroop Nagar and Badli. “They had created terror in the minds of the residents of northwest Delhi. They were involved in a number of sensational cases in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, “said the police Provisions of MCOCA Act have also been invoked against Narender Bhati and his associates,” the police added. |
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Businessman shot dead in Najafgarh
New Delhi, June 29 “We have received five empty cartridges from the scene of the shooting, but Arun was hit by only three bullets in the chest,” said a police official. He said while two empty cartridges were found at some distance from the body, three empty shells were lying only about few feet away from the body. “The first two bullets must have missed Arun, as the assassins were far from the deceased,” said the police. According to information provided by the family to the police, there were three assailants. They had first come to the house, but as Arun was not at home they went to meet him in the factory. “Three men in a white Santro car had first gone to Arun’s house, but when told that he was in factory, they left for factory. However, when they got to know that Arun had left for home, they followed him to the house and killed him,” said the police, quoting family members. Arun owns a factory of automobile spare parts, and as per information, he had got married in April this year. The police has lodged a case of murder against unknown assailants and is investigating the matter. “It could be a case of business rivalry,” said the police, without ruling out other possibilities.
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Five held for double murder
New Delhi, June 29 Over a dozen armed young boys barged into the house of Vikas (19) to avenge some old enmity. When his friend Vijendra Sharma (25) tried to rescue Vikas, two assailants – Amit and Nikku of Mundewala village — stabbed them. They are still at large. Amit and Nikku pushed Vikas and Vijender on the ground and stabbed them, while their accomplices continued beating them. However, Vikas’s neighbours caught hold of one of the attackers, identified as Sumit, and beat him up brutally. He succumbed to his injuries while recuperating in a hospital. DCP (south) HGS Dhaliwal said a manhunt had been launched to nab Amit and Nikku. According to the police, heated arguments between the two parties during a wedding function in the area led to the brawl. Amit and Nikku had come to attend the ring ceremony of one Kuldeep at Chirag dilli on June 24 where they got into an argument with Vikas. “The two had consumed liquor at the function and were passing remarks on guests. They started a fight too. The guests took an offence to this. Kuldeep’s father with Vijender and Vikas tried to pacify them, but the two did not pay any heed to them. So they were asked to leave. While leaving, they had threatened Vikas and Vijender with dire consequences,” said Dhaliwal. |
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4 more cases of H1N1
New Delhi, June 29 All four cases are imported ones. A 15-year-old girl landed in Delhi on June 27 after visiting several countries in Europe and is quarantined at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. Another declared case of a male adult was also admitted in the same hospital today. The other two (adult females) who have tested positive came to the city from the US two days ago and are undergoing treatment at Malviya Nagar Hospital. |
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5 gangrape accused arrested
Greater Noida, June 29 The medical examinations of two women who were gangraped in Greater Noida and Rabupura, respectively, have been done. But the victim in Dankore police station area could not be medically examined as she had fallen sick. The Greater Noida police has recovered the MMS of the victim which the police station in charge said would be now sent for forensic examination. The police has arrested three accused for the rape of a minor in Menhidpur village under Rabupura Kotwali area. In Bilaspur town of Dankore area, the police has not been able to arrest the accused in a rape case neither the victim could be medically examined due to sickness. |
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Jail response on Kharb’s plea sought
New Delhi, June 29 Kharb’s application, filed by his counsel S.K. Kapoor, sought that he should be provided all the facilities, including television and newspapers, as are available to B-category prisoners, given his status as an ex-legislator. Additional chief metropolitan magistrate R.K. Tripathi sought a response from the Tihar jail superintendent, asking him to file his reply July 1. Meanwhile, the court remanded Kharb, a former independent legislator from the Najafgarh constituency here, and his wife Anita, a co-accused, to judicial custody till July 13. — IANS
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DDA to construct 65,000 houses in four years
New Delhi, June 29 “Of these 65,000 houses, 40,000 will be for the urban poor and low income group, and 10,000 will be for the middle income group,” Reddy told reporters while releasing the 100-day agenda of his ministry. The houses would be built by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), he said. “Our target is to add 10,000 houses for the low income group every year,” the minister said. “Apart from that, 15,000 houses will be available between 2009 and 2011.” The government will also provide another 47,500 dwelling units under the slum rehabilitation programme by March, 2013. Referring to the slump in the realty sector, Reddy said: “We cannot help companies but we can give incentives to buyers. Market forces will decide the rest.” He said the finance ministry has been asked to cut interest rates on home loans to 7.5 per cent for housing units costing up to Rs30 lakh. “We also expect a Real Estate Regulatory Bill in 2009,” he added.— IANS
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