New Delhi, July 1
An 18-year-old girl allegedly hanged herself after she failed to secure admission to a college in the second cut-off list released by Delhi University (DU).

The victim, identified as Prachi Gaur, hanged herself from the ceiling fan in her first-floor house in the Kondli area of east Delhi around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the police said.

Prachi, who had secured 76 per cent in Class-XII, was alone in the room and her parents noticed her hanging from the ceiling half an hour later, said a police official.

They brought her down and took her to a private nursing home where she was declared brought dead. Prachi, who had passed her Class-XII examinations from Rajkiya Sarvodya Vidyalya in Vinod Nagar, was the second of Gopal Das’s four daughters.

“She was tensed about her admission to Delhi University. She failed to secure a seat in the second cut-off list released in the morning on Tuesday,” said Gopal Das.

“We cannot think of any other reason behind her taking the extreme step,” said Das, who runs a provisional store on the ground floor of his house.

According to her family, she wanted to pursue journalism and make a career in the electronic media.

“She was dreaming of becoming a news anchor. For now, she had applied for admission to a BA course with Vivekanand Mahila College in Anand Vihar with two of her friends. But what made her more depressed about her performance was the fact that her friends got through in the second cut-off yesterday,” said Prachi’s elder sister Sangeeta.

The police said no suicide note had been recovered. — IANS

New Delhi, July 1
Maximum colleges in Delhi University (DU) are offering concession of one to five per cent to girl students. The relaxation has been offered to make colleges gender inclusive.

Sources in the university administration said colleges fix the percentage on their own.

However, they added north campus colleges did not need to offer such concessions, as the gender ratio there was already good there.

“Mostly, colleges on outskirts offer relaxation in marks. Zakir Husain College used to offer the relaxation to attract girl students from the Walled City area,” said Gurpreet Tuteja, deputy dean, DU.

Colleges that have offered five per cent relaxation to girls in the second cut-off list are Deshbandhu (evening), Motilal Nehru, Motilal Nehru (evening), Dayal Singh (evening), Satyawati (evening) and Shaheed Bahgat Singh (evening).

“Things have improved considerably in outskirt colleges, as more girls are getting enroled in those colleges. The relaxation has been offered to give girls an extra edge so that they can join undergraduate courses,” said a faculty member at Motilal Nehru College.

Bhim Rao Ambedkar College has offered a concession of four per cent to girls.

Colleges that have given a relaxation of three per cent include Atma Ram Sanatan Dharm (ARSD), Dayal Singh, Ram Lal Anand (evening), Satyawati, Shayam Lal and Swami Shradhanand.

Colleges that have offered a relaxation of two per cent are Deen Dayal Upadyaya, Shayam Lal (evening), PGDAV (evening) and Sri Aurobindo (evening).

Some colleges have offered relaxation in marks on few courses. Keshav Mahavidyalaya has given a relaxation of one per cent to girls opting for B.Com (hons).

While Rajdhani College has given a relaxation of two to five per cent. It has offered two per cent relief in history (hons) and B.Com (hons), three per cent for Hindi, English and BA (programme), five per cent for political science (hons).

Ram Lal Anand College in south campus has offered a relief of two per cent to girls applying for B.Com (hons), three per cent on political science, Hindi, history and BA (programme).

Relaxation in percentage has been offered in science courses too.

A relief of five per cent was offered to girls in Motilal Nehru College and College of Vocational Studies in all science courses.

ARSD and Shayam Lal College have offered three per cent relaxation to girls.

PGDAV (evening) and Ram Lal Anand College have offered a relaxation of two per cent.

Deen Dayal Upadhayay College has offered two per cent relaxation on all courses except B.Sc (life sciences).

Keshav Mahavidyalaya has relaxed two per cent for girls on physics, electronics and mathematics (hons).

Rajdhani College has relaxed one per cent in B.Sc (physical sciences), three per cent in mathematics (hons), two per cent in electronics, physics and chemistry (hons).

Two colleges offered relaxation to Sikh candidates. SGGS College of Commerce offered a concession of three per cent to Sikhs. SGTB Khalsa College has given a relaxation of five per cent on Hindi and punjabi (hons). On other arts courses offered by the college, there was a relaxation of three per cent for Sikh students. The college has also offered three per cent relaxation for Sikh candidates in mathematics (hons) and five per cent in other science courses.

New Delhi, July 1
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) commissioner K.S. Mehra has denied reports on ‘ghost employees’ being paid salaries by the civic body.

The corporation was still carrying out the process of determining the number of employees, Mehra said today.

Terming speculation about the MCD paying salaries to non-existent or ghost employees as wrong, Mehra said the exact number of employees would be determined by July 15. The employees must get themselves registered in the biometric system of attendance by that time.

“It is only after July 15 that we would be able to tell the number of employees in the MCD. There are no bogus employees being paid by us,” the commissioner maintained.

He added many factors needed to be taken into account before figuring out the number of employees in the civic body.

“We need certification from the head of departments and the zonal heads that the employees under them have been registered in the biometric attendance system. The finance department has to certify that the salaries are being paid as per the directions issued by the department heads and certification from the firm undertaking the biometric task by which the employees are enroled,” said Subhash Arya, leader of the House in the MCD.

Meanwhile, the MCD is in the process of implementing the new attendance system and just 15 days are left for the task to be completed.

As per records, there are 1,746 posts of A-category officials; 9,572 posts of B-category officials and 1,18,297 posts of C and D category employees. The total number of sanctioned posts is 1,29,615. Besides, there are over 32,000 substitute safai karamcharies and over 5,000 beldars and other daily wage-earners. 

“Through biometric system of attendance, we have tried to ensure that the employees who are getting salaries through electronic clearance system (ECS) are registered. This includes substitute safai karamcharies too. This will enable the corporation to regularise the services of its employees who are receiving salaries from the municipal treasury,” said former standing committee chairman Vijender Gupta.

Gupta added that July 15 was the last date for employees to register themselves under the biometric system, failing which the MCD would not release salary or any kind of payment. He informed the next step would be to introduce biometric system for the MCD’s 10 lakh schoolchildren studying in 1,850 primary schools being run by the corporation.

New Delhi, July 1
The plight of Delhiites continued today as several east Delhi areas faced four to five hours of power cuts.

East Delhi areas, including Wazirabad, Sangam Vihar, Yamuna Vihar, Bhajan Pura, Shahdara, Preet Vihar, Laxmi Nagar, Pandav Nagar, Mojpur, Rawat Nagar and Dilshad Garden had to face prolonged power cuts.

According Transco officials, the power failure was due to a technical snag in one unit of the Indrapastha Power Plant and one unit of the Gas Turbine Power Plant. “Each unit of both the power plants is not working and it might take some time to correct it,” said officials .

Though today’s total demand of 3,869 MW was less than yesterday’s all- time high of 4337 MW, Delhi still faced a dearth of 300 MW resulting in power cuts in various parts.

Though Delhi Transco claimed there was no loadshedding in the city.

On the other side, the city residents also agitated over the erratic water supply by shouting slogans and breaking earthern pots in the middle of the roads. Protests have been on in the national capital for more than a week now over water and power scarcity.

Complaining that there is no water supply for nearly two weeks and the little that they get is murky, people took to the roads in areas like Vasant Kunj Dabri, Janakpuri and Durga Park in west Delhi. People also protested outside the local office of the Delhi Jal Board in Janakpuri.

“There is no water for the last two weeks and whatever little water we get is very dirty and unfit for consumption. When we go to complain to the DJB office, no one listens to us,” said Jitender Pawar, a resident of Vasant Kunj.

The residents alleged that the DJB officials were involved with the water mafia and were selling water to the mafia who made ice for sale.

New Delhi, July 1
The first monsoon showers yesterday left Delhi basking in the pleasant weather.

The residents had a perfect start to the day today as the sun made its presence felt only by late morning. Morning walkers had to delay their routine as they woke up to a lovely drizzle, which drenched the colony parks and retained the cooling impact of last night’s rains. In fact, due to the pleasant breeze and soothing atmosphere, daily visitors to parks were seen carrying on with their walks and exercises till almost 10 in the morning.

According to weather officials, the day received 8.3 mm of rainfall, which was believed to be more than the average of 5.0 mm.

However, even though the city’s sky continued to be covered with light patches of clouds till late in the evening, no more showers were witnessed till early night today.

The maximum and the minimum temperatures didn’t see much change today with the mercury levels recorded at 35.7 degrees Celsius and 25.1 degrees Celsius for the high and low readings, respectively. The moisture content was also found to be more or less same with the maximum humidity recorded at 92 per cent.

The met department predictions indicate that in the coming days Delhiites can enjoy brief, though irregular showers.

Tomorrow, the weather is likely to retain the feeling of the onset of monsoon with one or two spells of rain accompanied by thunder.

New Delhi, July 1
The urban development department of the Delhi government today submitted a status report of the on-going developmental works in unauthorised colonies, which are likely to be formally regularised very soon.

Having seen the report at an interaction meeting with MLAs, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit stressed upon the need of an effective coordination between various agencies involved in development works in unauthorised colonies.

The Chief Minister also exhorted the agencies to expedite their respective assigned developmental works well within stipulated period.

Delhi urban development minister A. K. Walia informed that now MLAs would be able to make provision for the shifting of high-tension lines from their MLA LAD funds. It was also announced that the government had agreed to release the withheld amount of Rs 85 crore under the MLA LAD Scheme. This would help in making more recommendations for developmental works in various assembly segments.

The Chief Minister said in the 11th five year plan, an amount of Rs 2,800 crore had been kept aside for developmental works in unauthorised colonies, including civic amenities such as roads, drains, water supply, sewerage, electricity, street-lighting and sanitation. The agencies like MCD, DSIIDC, I & FC, PWD, DJB and discoms will be involved in carrying out the developmental works.

An amount of Rs 1,977 crore has been released since 1998-99 to the agencies. The MCD has been given an amount of Rs 427.47 crore, DSIIDC Rs 629.69 crore, I & FC Rs 174.50 crore, DJB Rs 701.15 crore and discoms Rs 44.50 crore.

According to the report, as far as water supply pipelines are concerned, work has been completed in 490 colonies; water has already been released in 373 colonies, work is in progress in 107 colonies, proposals for 131 colonies are in the tender stage and proposals for 231 colonies at estimates stage.

With regard to sewer lines, the report states that lines have been laid in 26 colonies; work is in progress in 45 colonies, for 14 colonies the proposals are in tender stage, for 20 colonies, the proposals are in estimates stage and study in respect of technical feasibility has been completed for 203 colonies.

About the power situation, the report states that the discoms have provided electricity in 1,384 colonies— BRPL in 867 colonies, NDPL in 310 colonies and BYPL in 207 unauthorised colonies.

With regard to the regularisation of the colonies, the report states that the ASI has cleared 1,577 colonies and the forest department has cleared 1,334 colonies. The MCD has received information about 50 per cent built-up statuses in respect of 511 colonies. The MCD assured that the final report would be submitted in next three months.

At the meeting, the MLAs also presented various suggestions such as provision of outflow of water, laying of water and sewer lines together, formulation of a policy on road-cutting, increase in number of employees for sanitation purpose, identification of plots for schools, dispensaries and community centers in unauthorised colonies.

The MLAs raised a demand of re-organisation of divisions and sub-divisions of developmental agencies as per the delimitation of the assembly segments. The MLAs were directed to furnish a list of unauthorised colonies that have come under their constituencies post delimitation.

New Delhi, July 1
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will launch mobile library in every ward of the Capital.

The mobile library will take rounds of the ward and will carry books relating to wide range of subjects.

“We found the project to be very interesting as it will help us in providing knowledge at the door steps of people,” said Delhi mayor Kanwar Sain.

The concept of mobile library is being considered in collaboration with Delhi Public Library. The organisation had asked the civic body’s help in initiating the proposal.

“The chairman of Delhi Public Library, Sheleja Chandra, had approached us with the proposal of opening a mobile library in every ward of the city. We have assured our full cooperation in taking up the initiative. The libraries will launched in two or three months,” said.

The corporation will provide 272 vehicles to the organisation, which will act as mobile libraries. According to the MCD officials, each vehicle will cost around 2.80 lakh.

The money for purchasing all the vehicles would be utilised from the councillor’s fund.

“We have sent letters to all the councillors asking them to buy vehicle from their development funds and hand over them to Delhi Public Library,” said the mayor.

However, the diver of the vehicles and their salaries will be managed by the organisation itself. The vehicles will take rounds of the wards as per a fixed schedule in the weekdays.

Noida, July 1
The Noida police is likely to book a builder who allegdly duped hundreds of persons across India of over Rs 100 crore by booking two-bedroom and three-bedroom flats in “non-existent Green City township” in Bhiwadi, Daru Hera and another locations near Agra.

The police had found him guilty in connection with two complaints filed last year. A chargesheet has also been submitted against him in the court, it is learnt.

The police is conducting raids at different places to nab builder Jatinder Chaudhary who was reportedly under the protection of a local MLA, who had restrained the police from arresting him.

The builder, after taking money from people, had closed down his offices in Noida’s Sector 39 and Delhi’s Laxmi Nagar.

Jatinder had launched the scheme in Daru Hera in 2006. Kubir Malik, a Delhi resident, had booked a flat at the said township by paying Rs 3 lakh. He had paid a total of Rs 5.16 lakh. But then he learnt that Jatinder had taken him for a ride. Similarly, Aval Sethi, an NRI from Delhi, had booked a three-bedroom flat in 2007 by paying Rs 9.42 lakh.

But when the duped people demanded their money back, Jatinder flatly refused.

According to Noida police’s circle officer Shailener Lal, Jatinder has already been found guilty of the charges in the complaints filed by one Kaushalya Rai of Patel Nagar in Delhi and one Rajiv Gautam of Gurgaon. The two had lodged reports in March 2008 and November 2008, respectively.

Many other similar complaints have also been registered against him, said Lal.

The Noida police has therefore decided to book him under the Gangster Act, he added.

Noida SP (city) Ashok Tripathi said strong action would be taken against the builder and a chargesheet has also been filed in the court against Chaudhary. Chaudhary, however, told some friends on phone that he was innocent and was willing to complete the project. The Noida police was registering false cases agianst him, he alleged.