Ghaziabad, January 14
Vaishali residents feel that they may not get Metro before the Commonwealth Games as its work was held up due to shifting of sewer and power lines.

Initially, it was planned to start the Vaishali Metro line in May 2010 which was later extended to September 2010 due to some bottlenecks in alignment.

“It may further extend beyond the Commonwealth Games as the authorities have not made Metro Rail track line clear of obstacles,” said Kailash Prasad, a resident of Vaishali.

The Ghaziabad Development Authority has spent Rs 260 crore for the Vaishali Metro line. In spite of spending the huge amount, the GDA was feeling helpless as the Metro might not be started before the Commonwealth Games.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has asked for clearance of the track line which may take a few more months.

“As per the layout, a few changes have been done for the Ambedkar Park station. As Metro was constructing columns, there was a sewer line below these columns. This sewer line has to be shifted which requires proper planning so that it may not lead to blockage in future. Planning will take some time and shifting too requires time,” said Anil Garg, chief engineer, GDA.

“Other obstacle was shifting of power lines. The DMRC now wants shifting as per the amended alignment. We are trying our best to make necessary shifting at the earliest so that Metro Rail rolls into Vaishali before the Commonwealth Games,” added the chief engineer.

New Delhi, January 14
Residential areas along major roads in the Capital are enduring extreme noise levels with most of them reporting 20 to 25 per cent more than the permissible limit, says a study by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Rapid urbanisation leading to huge increase in the number of vehicles on roads is causing noise pollution, disrupting people’s life in residential areas, sais Rajneesh Dubey, joint secretary in environment ministry while releasing the study here.

Among nine residential areas selected for the study, Anupam Apartment in Saket has a noise level of ear-splitting 70.3 decibels in 2008 against the ambient noise standard 55 dB(A) for daytime.

The noise level hovers at 70.1 dB(A) near CSIR Apartments in Ashram Chowk in 2007 and 2008. The plight of residents of F Block in Nauroji Nagar and NDMC Flats at Mandir Marg was no better as the noise level has increased to 68 and 68.1 dB(A) respectively.

During night time, the situation was almost the same in these colonies selected for the study. “In Ashram Chowk, the noise level was 70.5 decibel while at Anupam Apartment in Saket it was 68.3 decibel in 2008,” the study says.

Ambient noise standard for residential areas as defined under the norms is 45 decibel. — PTI

New Delhi, January 14
After five days, thick fog returned to the Capital today, adding to the dismay of Delhiites.

As the sun showed later in the day, the day temperature shot up to 17.1 degrees Celsius, which is four degrees below normal. The minimum temperature was 8 degrees Celsius, marginally lower than yesterday’s 8.1 degrees and one degree above normal for this time of the year.

The weatherman has predicted yet another colder day tomorrow, with the minimum temperature plummeting to five degrees Celsius in the morning hours along with thick fog.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast foggy conditions in the morning for the next two days. It said the maximum and minimum temperatures tomorrow would be around 18 and 6 degrees Celsius, respectively. While the maximum and minimum temperatures on Saturday would be 19 and 5 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Normal life was thrown out of gear today in the Capital and many other parts of north India as a thick blanket of fog held the skies ransom in the morning hours, however it had begun descending on the Capital late last night only, reducing the visibility level drastically.

“Last night, fog almost blinded us. Driving became too risky. Situations did not improve even in the morning today. Traffic jams were a headache due to poor visibility,” said Kartik, a businessman.

Those who were driving in the morning had to switch on fog lights and operations at the airport here were also affected.

Dense fog disrupted flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport, leading to rescheduling of nearly 35 domestic and international flights. Nearly 17 flights were diverted. Airport officials said fog had started descending on the airport late last night, drastically reducing visibility.

According to the officials, visibility had improved to 250 meters by 8 am, to 400 meters by 9 am and more than 1,100 meters by 11 am.

Thankfully, the sun graced the skies later in the day, providing warmth to people.

New Delhi, January 14
Utsav Bhasin, an industrialist’s son, who is accused of ramming his BMW car into a motorcycle killing a man in 2008, today told a Delhi court that he could not be charged under harsher penal provisions as he neither had knowledge nor intent to commit offence.

Senior advocate Ramesh Gupta, appearing for Bhasin, argued the charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder could not be framed against the accused as there was neither any knowledge nor any intention to commit the alleged offence.

The police has filed the chargesheet against Bhasin, son of a Haryana-based industrialist, under Section-304 II (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC which provides for 10 years’ imprisonment as maximum sentence.

However, Gupta argued that Bhasin at the most could be charged under Section-304A (causing death by negligent act) of the IPC. This penal provision attracts two years’ jail term or fine or both as maximum punishment.

Additional sessions judge Pinki has fixed the matter for further hearing on February 9.

Earlier, the defence counsel had referred to a Delhi High Court judgement in the BMW hit-and-run case involving Sanjeev Nanda in which it was held that no charge for culpable homicide not amounting to murder could be framed against the accused if the knowledge and intention are absent. — PTI

New Delhi, January 14
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has issued a notice to nine leading companies to remove the unauthorized display of their company’s products. They have displayed their products through unipoles, wall wraps, and rooftop hoardings.

The companies – Bharti Airtel Limited, Spicejet Limited, Aircel Limited, Energetic Lighting (India) Private Limited, Conde Nast India Private Limited, Dell Computers India Private Limited, Spaze Towers Private Limited, Jaypee Greens Limited, Dish TV India Limited — have been directed to remove their displays by tomorrow.

If they fail to follow the direction, the MCD will lodge a complaint against the company’s president, chairman, director or any other official concerned with the management of the company.

The illegal hoardings came to notice during an inspection done by the senior officer of the department concerned.

During the inspection, it was found that a display was unauthorisedly put up. The permission for the display was not taken. The required charges were not paid either to the MCD. This is in total violation of relevant laws of the Supreme Court, an official of the MCD said.

He said that the companies had violated section three of the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act 2007, punishable with imprisonment for a term which might extend to one year, or with fine which might extend to Rs 50,000, or both.

Meanwhile, the official said that Dish TV India Limited has informed the MCD that it has removed the display.

New Delhi, January 14
Delhi University teachers under the umbrella of FEDCUTA have voiced their opposition to the proposed “retrograde” service conditions of university and college teachers which are scheduled to be adopted in a meeting of the UGC on January 16.

In a meeting of the FEDCUTA executive today, teachers at Delhi University have decided to agitate against the issue and even made a detailed agitation plan stretching through this month.

FEDCUTA will call for a one-day strike on January 16. There will also be a hunger strike by the executive on the same day and a dharna by teachers at UGC on January 16.

FEDCUTA will also be going in for a two-day action programme in month-end. Teachers of all the central universities will be called to strike on January 28 and sit on dharna. On January 29, teachers will gather at Ferozeshah Road for a march to the UGC. Teachers are prepared that if their demands are not met, they will go in for a protracted agitation programme.

FEDCUTA chairman Aditya Narayan Misra said, “The UGC officials and the committee had given us assurances that the proposed service conditions would be suitably amended taking into consideration proposals given by teachers. We had stressed the need for quality teaching and evaluation of students by teachers as the real criterion for the career advancement scheme. Taking into consideration teachers’ proposals, the UGC had promised to accordingly amend their proposed regulations on service conditions. But they have not done anything.”

Misra added, “The career advancement scheme for teachers as proposed by the UGC committee would force teachers to pay more attention to other activities rather than concentrate on quality teaching. Further, the promotion modalities have been so devised that it would deflect teachers’ attention from their primary responsibility. Moreover, the UGC committee has given weight to activities such as campus development, institutional governance, consultancy projects, etc. This could lead to a culture of sycophancy at the colleges.”

New Delhi, January 14
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit inaugurated the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) at Vasant Kunj here today.

She said the institute would provide the best clinical care to patients and opportunities for research to its faculty members and scientists.

The world-class institute that started functioning today is the first of its kind in Asia. It will cater to patients suffering from liver, biliary and hepatitis problems. 

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has already accorded a Deemed University status to the institute. The institute is likely to start imparting education in post doctoral medical sciences from this academic session.

The institute has been granted an autonomous status. It has developed a model to facilitate the latest treatment to all. This is the first institute in the world where over 50 per cent beds are in the intensive care unit (ICU).

The central government health scheme (CGHS) and director general employees health scheme (DGEHS) beneficiaries will also be able to avail treatment facilities. In all, the institute commissioned by the city government has 155 beds. 

The ILBS provides services that include dialysis for liver failure, fibro scan to measure liver stiffness, liver pressure measurement, advanced endoscopy procedures, renal dialysis, endoscopic ultrasound and liver transplant.

New Delhi, January 14
Taking view against drunk and rash drivers, a Motor Accident Claim Tribunal (MACT) has asked the Delhi police to conduct alcohol test on drivers of offending vehicles so that it could make the accused pay the compensation to victims.

The court made these remarks while awarding a compensation of Rs 1.76 lakh to Suresh Chand. Chand, a Delhi police constable, was hit by a car driven by Sushil Lilani while he was carrying out a routine vehicle check on the night of July 6, 2006, near Rajghat.

The court also said if alcohol test was conducted on drivers of offending vehicles in accident cases, it would become easier for the court to impose the financial burden of compensation on them.

“It is essential and most desirable that such instructions are issued to concerned police stations investigating accident cases that such tests be conducted by the investigating officers mandatorily,” presiding officer, MACT, Swarana K Sharma said.

The court added that if the police did not conduct the tests, people would continue to drive vehicles after consuming liquor as they know that the insurance company would pay the compensation.

The court said that no leniency should be handled out to such accused or “the roads of Delhi will remain killer roads.”

The court also expressed concern over the absence of adequate security arrangement for policemen who conduct vehicle checks at night.

It was dismayed to notice that the investigating officer in the case had failed to conduct alcohol test on driver Sushil Lilani to find the extent of his inebriated status on the fateful day, saying “in this case, the driver did not even hesitate to hit a group of policemen on duty. One shudders to think what he would have done to common men.”

“A double duty is, therefore, cast on the Delhi police to be more vigilant and careful in prosecuting and investigating such drivers since even they too stand more risk of being hit by such drivers while in the process of trying to stop them driving during course of their duties...” ASJ Sharma said.

Delhi policeman Chand and his colleague had sustained serious injuries after being hit by the car driven by Lilani at a very high speed allegedly under the influence of liquor.

Greater Noida, January 14
Yamuna Expressway Authority’s transfer policy for the just-allotted residential plots has made the allottees sell plots without registration of the property in their name.

Presently in Noida and Greater Noida, allottees can sell their property only after paying the full amount and executing the lease deed in their names at the sub-registrar office by paying the stamp duty of 5 per cent.

Besides, an allottee has to pay transfer charges to the authority which ranges between Rs 600 and Rs 1,650 per sq mt, depending on the sector in which property is located.

The authority recently announced the policy for transfer of allotment rights of residential plots. In case of transfer in favour of blood relation, no charges will be payable. In other cases, transfer charges of 2.5 per cent are applicable. Application will be submitted on stamp papers to the tune of 2 per cent of the total value of property. After transfer, fresh allotment letter will be issued to the purchaser who can pay installments as per plan.

“This way investors and non-serious allottees will dispose of their plots, thereby serious allottees will buy and build

their houses and the area will see fast development. So far we have received around 100 transfer applications,” said a senior officer of the authority.

However, those who have bought the plot on general power of attorney will suffer as they have to pay additional stamp duty of 2 per cent as the authority was accepting transfer applications only on policy format.

“I suffered a loss of Rs 23,000 by way of stamp duty as I had executed GPA before the transfer policy announcement,” said Govind Bhatti, a GPA holder.

Noida, January 14
Noida Authority chairman and chief executive officer Mohinder Singh has given three water tankers to the fire department to augment fire fighting infrastructure in the city.

“Now we have 17 fire fighting tankers. The authority has placed an order for eight more water tankers. Besides, an order for 30 meter hydraulic ladder has also been placed which we will get in a few months. The authority has been providing us with the necessary equipment as and when needed and has assured that there will be no shortage of fund for augmenting fire fighting infrastructure in the city,” said A.B. Pandey, fire officer.

“We have also received few breathing apparatus and fire-proof dress recently. By the next month we will get 200 breathing apparatus and fire-proof dress each,” said Pandey.

Federation of Noida Residents Welfare Association, patron Sushil Aggarwal said, “This has augmented the city’s fire department’s fire fighting capacity. The department should also see that multi-storeyed buildings, schools and colleges should have proper fire fighting system on their premises.”

New Delhi, January 14
The Delhi police has arrested one Ashwani Kumar Sisodiya, who allegedly impersonated as a Delhi police head constable and cheated nearly half a dozen people.

Sisodiya was arrested yesterday.

A uniform of Delhi police head constable, fake identity card, fake election card and 12 electronic goods that the accused had bought from the money he earned by cheating innocent people have been seized.

DCP (north-west) N.S. Bundela said the police had received information about a man who cheated people impersonating as a policeman.

Sisodiya has allegedly cheated many on the ground of providing them with auctioned vehicles of the Delhi police at cheap rates.

The success came on Wednesday evening when a police team saw Sisodiya arguing with an autorickshaw driver at GTK Depot. Sisodiya was in police uniform.

“The police team questioned Sisodiya about his posting. The accused could not reply satisfactorily,” said Bundela.

Bundela said the autorickshaw driver Subhash Yadav claimed to have been cheated by Sisodiya. Sisodiya had allegedly promised Yadav of providing him with an autorickshaw, for which he had already paid Rs 18,000 to the accused.  

He added that another person named Chand Babu had told the police that Sisodiya had cheated him of Rs 62,000 in lieu of providing him with an auctioned Innova car.

During course of investigation it was revealed that Sisodiya originally from Basti (UP) had come to Delhi in 2001. He had started working with a private security company in Rohini. He gradually came close to police personnel and learnt about the behaviour and working of policemen.

“After some time, Ashwani came in contact with a contractor Balak Ram who purchased auctioned police vehicles at Old Police Lines,” said a police official. “Another person Mukesh Kumar had told the police that Sisodiya had promised to provide him 175 auctioned vehicles and had taken Rs 5,000 from him as advance,” the official added.

New Delhi, January 14
Think before you bend! Two people were robbed of money and valuables after some crooks fooled them by drawing their attention to the money strewn on the ground.

In the two incidents reported from different parts of the Capital, the criminals robbed drivers of two businessmen of Rs 1,15,000 and some valuables using this modus operandi in New Delhi and south district area. Police lodged FIRs in both the cases.

According to information, the first incident was reported from the Hauz Khas area of south district yesterday.

Anurag Gupta, a businessman of UP, had come to attend a business meeting in the area. He left his briefcase containing Rs 25,000 and a passport and some other valuables in his car and told his driver Sarvesh to wait. However, when he returned, his briefcase was missing.

“His driver said that when he was waiting for Anurag, a man told him that his money had fallen on the road. He got off to retrieve about 20 currency notes of Rs 10 denomination strewn around the car. When he was picking up the notes, he heard a thud from the rear of the car, but did not see anything,” said the police.

It was only when Anurag returned and enquired about the briefcase that Sarvesh realised he had been fooled.

The police has registered a case under Section 420 and 379 of the IPCand is looking into the incident.

Similar incident was reported from the Barakhamba Road area of New Delhi district yesterday evening.

The victim, Rakesh Duggal, a businessman of south Delhi, had come to Inderprakash building to meet someone when his laptop, Rs 90,000 and other valuables were stolen from his car. His driver told the police that he was alone in the car when a person signalled to him to look under the car.

“When he looked, he found some notes were lying on the road. As he alighted from the car, some unknown persons stole the bag containing money, laptop and passport,” said the police.

The police has registered an FIR, but added only Section 379 of the IPC while in the first incident, it had added Section 420 too.