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Two security breaches
at IGI Airport
Earth Hour not half as impressive as last year
Private Hospitals Not For The Poor |
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Baba Ramdev’s ‘followers’ making a killing
People lose track of discipline at Rajiv Chowk
Six killed in accidents in
one day
Metro lifts electric tower
to make way for girder
Separate cadre for Mewat teachers soon
Noida Sector 37 crossing to have flyover
Metro to bear medical cost
of mishap victim
DUSU president joins Gujjar agitation
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Two security breaches
at IGI Airport
New Delhi, March 28 He was soon overpowered by Central Industrial Security Force guards. He told them that he had done it in desperation. He said that it was a “religious obligation” for him to visit the holiest Islamic place, but lack of money had upset him mentally. A Central Industrial Security Force spokesperson said his name is Fazal Mohammad and he hails from the Nuh district of Haryana. The incident occurred around 10 pm at Gate No. 5 of the IGI Airport. CISF officials said the man prima facie did not appear to be a serious threat and seemed to be speaking the truth. However, Fazal was not an exception and this caused concern to the security officials. Uday Raj Chauhan had jumped into the airport technical area from a tree yesterday because he wanted to board the aircraft headed for Dubai. He too was spotted and caught in the parking area. Both the intruders have been handed over to the airport police and booked under relevant sections of penal offences. CISF officials, entrusted with the security of the airport, a prime target of jehadi terrorists, played down both the incidents. According to them, they successfully spotted and apprehended these intruders which underscored their preparedness to meet any eventuality. They, however, added that they are enquiring both the incidents and would take corrective measures to tighten the security ring further so that such incidents are not repeated. |
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Earth Hour not half as impressive as last year
New Delhi, March 28 The lack of enthusiasm could be attributed to the fact that this was the second year of observing the Earth Hour as the residents of the city took it for granted and watched IPL instead. While many big government establishments stayed committal and lights were turned off at major monuments like Humanyu’s tomb and India Gate, several malls and multiplexes were seen doing business as usual. The five star hotels were also dependent on the compliance of their customers, many of whom did not want to be bothered. There were few houses this time which showed solidarity with the cause of saving world from the disasters of climate change. Even after the RWAs call to residents to switch off lights during the Earth hour, very few households saw their residents leaving the television or computer screens.
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Private Hospitals Not For The Poor
New Delhi, March 28 A member of the DHC-appointed committee and the medical superintendent of Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Dr T S Sidhu, said, “As per the norm, all the hospitals that stand on subsidised lands are bound to make arrangements for poor patients. If they don’t do so, they have to give it in writing. Due to this attitude, poor patients refuse to go to private hospitals and the referral system has been only on paper.” While the government hospitals attribute this primarily to a fear psychosis among the poor, the private hospitals say government hospitals do not refer patients as the number of patients they entertain is as per their capacity and many times the facilities in the government set-ups are underutilised. The nodal officer of EWS in Primus Super Specialty Hospital, B K Dadu said, “No needy patient is denied treatment. Actually, the turn-out of patients has been very marginal, which is due to two major reasons—poor people are unaware about the norm and the referral cases are very negligible. Generally, it is thought that the government hospitals are overburdened, but it is a myth as in many hospitals, the capacity is grossly underutilised. Utilisation of private set-up cannot be at the cost of government set-up.” The Delhi director general health services, Dr S Bhattarcharya underlined “The referral system has not been that effective as patients want to be treated at government hospitals. Their unwillingness to go to a private hospital springs from two factors, fear in their minds and location of the hospital. Besides, awareness about the provision is yet to spread and the Delhi government is taking step towards it.” On the other side, it is believed that the reason behind the dismal outcome of the provision is largely due to a nexus between the government and the corporate giants. Agarwal, who is the counsel of the PIL filed by the NGO Social Jurists for the free treatment to the poor, said, “Besides, the private hospitals’ unwillingness to treat unpaid patients, the fact that from the total beds that are filled, i.e 50-70 per cent, relatives of government employees constitute 70-80 per cent. Thus, the objective of the provision stands foiled. So, it is the people who have to assert their rights and the referral system has to be strengthened.” Hospital in trouble for refusing
free treatment
A day after being denied medical aid under the free treatment to EWS provision, Bramhapal Singh, a resident of Delhi’s Shashi Garden, was offered conditional facility by Venu Eye Institute and Research Centre against a public apology yesterday. “Hospitals are still reluctant to admit patients and want to absolve themselves of all duties they have as per the law. On Monday, a case of contempt would be filed against the erring hospital,” said Ashok Agarwal, a member of the DHC-appointed special committee. Earlier, Max Devki Devi Heart and Vascular Institute allegedly refused another patient free treatment on March 8 on the ground that the Super Specialty Hospital doesn’t come under EWS provision. |
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Baba Ramdev’s ‘followers’ making a killing
The NGO says quacks are routinely booked by the authorities in Delhi and everywhere for practising one or the other form of medicine. However, this drive does not cover the self-proclaimed practitioners of Ramdev’s alternative medicine. The NGO which promotes organic living, questions the official overlook, asking if politicians are wary of touching those who claim association with the noted swami. Most of these are charlatans who have put up boards with the baba’s photos only because it sells, they say. Is somebody listening? Corporate
Wealth Games The graffiti leaves nothing to your imagination. It calls the Commonwealth Games “Corporate Wealth Games” and shows skeletons to underscore the “destruction” the ongoing infrastructure work in the city has allegedly left behind. Then it goes on to demand that “Malls naheen makaan chahiye (No malls, we want houses)”. The graffiti is especially visible in south Delhi and in the vicinity of the engineering department building in Shahpur Jatt, which is supervising the works in the area. Now there is little doubt that the CWG has created a lot of positive buzz in Delhi and residents are looking forward to the extravaganza. However, the recent price hike in essential commodities has added another dimension to this making the graffiti noticeable. Glad tidings for management graduates
Things are looking up for professional graduates after a couple of years of depressed job market. At the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade this year, new benchmarks in placements were created and overseas assignments, always a fair indication of the global market, came thick and fast for some 164 students. If officials connected with the placement are to be believed, the highest ever salary of US$ 150,000 p.a. was offered to three students. The average salary increased by 53 per cent over the last year. Placements at another institute, the Asia Pacific Institute of Management, were 100 per cent with 92 leading national and international organisations vying for its graduates. The 2010 batch has been offered an average salary of Rs 4.48 lakh per annum, a good deal by all means. PR vs journalism
Public relation professionals and journalists enjoy bitter-sweet relations and many scribes resent what they call growing and malicious influence of PR pros in their field. At a recent panel discussion on journalism and PR in the Chameli Devi Awards function, Outlook editor Vinod Mehta, NDTV India editor Pankaj Pachuri and PR honcho Dilip Cherian piloted an animated discussion on the issue. Pachuri said PR journalism is for lazy journalists, inviting Cherian’s retort that “it is both for the lazy and not-so-lazy journalists”. He said it was a necessity for present times. It was left to Mehta to ensure a fine balance between the two extremes, though in a lighter vein. He said PR was for every journalist who drinks. In the past, he said, there were very few PR companies but these were everywhere today. And so many different whiskies too have come along. So like it or not, the institution of the PR was here to stay because no one was quitting drinking anytime soon, he said. People wake up to the rights of underprivileged
The seventh edition of the film festival, We Care, an annual exercise meant to sensitise the common man about issues and rights of people with varying degrees of disability, saw very good participation and response, raising hopes that people are getting more sensitive to the plight of their less privileged counterparts. The two-day festival in the Capital showed 32 films and documentaries from India and overseas (Israel, Belgium and US among others), which found their way to the fest from a total of 50 entries. The films revolving around issues of rights, dignity and justice of people battling with several kinds of disabilities, like leprosy, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, visual and hearing impairment, were one minute to one hour long. And some films like “Real Disability”, which speaks about the insecurity of a normal person while living with a blind, touched many hearts. The fest would be traveling to 18 different locations. Its director Satish Kapoor said the purpose of the fest was to engage the youth in promoting the cause and serve as an educational tool to effect a change in the attitude of the people towards the underprivileged. (Contributed by Kumar Rakesh, Charu Singh, Jyoti Rai and Ananya Panda) |
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People lose track of discipline at Rajiv Chowk
New Delhi, March 28 DMRC says close to 85 per cent of the passengers in Rajiv Chowk are those who disembark here to board another Metro as different routes converge here. Regular travellers say, many passengers, especially women and the old, are left out to get into the Metro even during the day, let alone in the evening when thousands more arrive to catch the train of their choice. “I could tell you that we have been asking for such accident, keeping in view the state of affairs here,” said Vikas Hooda, a regular traveller, adding that the DMRC should depute more marshals and put iron slabs on the platform to make sure no one crosses the yellow line under any circumstances. Another passenger, who travels through the station frequently, said passengers had to learn behaving themselves as a crowd. “It is impossible to board a train without picking up an argument with somebody or other who tries to push their way through,” said Lubna Shaheen, who travels from Noida to Karol Bagh every day. And it is those few lacking any crowd discipline who make life difficult for others. “I have seen many people getting stuck either between the train doors or on the escalators,” said Rajeev Bhardwaj adding that people were always in a hurry even when there were trains coming every few minutes. With a new train being introduced every few months in the network, passengers are increasing manifolds. Many passengers complained that most trains run by DMRC are of four compartments when the platforms were constructed to accommodate trains with eight saloons. Earlier this year, Metro officials tried to demarcate the entry and exit points to the station in an effort to manage the crowd on the station. “A way into the station that was not being used earlier has been opened for public so that the entry and exit points are separate,” said Metro sources. But, apparently, it has not helped much. However, many say screen doors on the platform could help avert such accidents. The DMRC is planning to put these doors on the Airport Express Line. “Screen doors are essential on the airport line because the trains move at a speed of 80 kilometers per hour and the doors ensure that the high speed doesn’t affect the passengers waiting on the platform,” said DMRC official. The officials also said the DMRC could not afford such screen doors for all the platforms. “Marshals have already been put on the platforms and iron grills installed on the crowded stations; we can’t afford to screen all the platforms,” said Metro officials.
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Six killed in accidents in
one day
Noida/Gt Noida, March 28 A dumper being driven rashly in Noida crushed an IBM manager in front of Great India Place. After the accident, the driver fled leaving the dumper, while the body of the victim remained on the road for one and a half hours. Raj Narayan Singh, 38, originally a resident of Jaunpur, was employed as manager in IBM in Sector-63. He was living in A-3 in Sector-22 Noida with his family. He was on his way to Gurgaon on bike. As he crossed Atta underpass and reached near the city drain, he was hit by a dumper from behind. Raj Narayan was crushed under its wheel. The dumper had dragged him for about 50 metres. By the time dumper stopped Raj Narayan was dead, an eyewitness said. The police identified him from some papers found on his person. Police informed his wife Archana Singh and his father. In another accident in Greater Noida, a bike turned over after hitting a ditch on road. A truck coming from Secundrabad crushed the woman rider while the other rider was seriously injured. A case has been lodged in Jarcha police station. According to police Nirmla Devi of Gopal Garhi, Secundrabad, was returning from Delhi with her son-in-law on bike. The bike suddenly hit a pitch near Saithli Mode and both of them fell on the road. In Greater Noida, a small girl was hit by a bike under Javer Kotwali as she was crossing road near Nangla Jahanu village. Sakina, 7, daughter of Anwar, died on the spot. The biker, Anis, was also from the same village. In a head-on collision between two tourist buses, three persons, including a child, were killed in Greater Noida on Gulawathi-Bulandshahr Road. According to police, the tourist buses while trying to avoid a canter collided. A two-year-old child and two women were killed in this accident while another 7 passengers were seriously injured. |
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Metro lifts electric tower
to make way for girder
New Delhi, March 28 This is the first time that such work has been done in Delhi by raising the height of the towers from 29.5 meters to a record height of 58 meters without disturbing the regular power supply to the local residents of the Sarita Vihar locality. “Four towers each of 58 meters height have been built near the flyover to facilitate the crossing of the launching girder on the elevated section of this under-construction Metro corridor,” said Anuj Dayal, spokesperson, DMRC. The height of the lowest conductor has been raised to 34 meters from eight meters earlier to make way for the passage of the launching girder that is crossing the viaduct at a height of 27 meters —the top level height of the launcher— above the existing road at the location. “It was also ensured that a mandatory minimum six meters distance was maintained between the top height of the launcher and the lowest conductor of the tower,” said Dayal. Owing to the limited space at the location, the DMRC had to look for some novel way to install narrow base design towers in the area. For this, the Metro staff carried out a survey in different parts of the country. Finally, the search for the design ended in Mumbai where Delhi Metro came across such type of arrangements and the structural drawings were arranged in consultation with a designing body. The towers were built using a very narrow base design of 7x7 square meters instead of using the broad base design that is common in electricity tower construction across India. The 220 kilovolt Delhi Transco Limited (DTL) transmission lines originating from the Badarpur thermal power station and feeding their 220 kilovolt Okhla sub-station was infringing on the Central Secretariat to Badarpur Corridor near Sarita Vihar flyover and the Sarita Vihar depot area. The matter was referred to the DTL for raising the height of the line. DTL informed that they did not have tower design available with them for facilitating the launching girder to cross the overhead line. They instead suggested that the line be converted into underground from Badarpur station to Okhla. According to the Metro officials, the approximate cost for the underground work could have gone to the tune of Rs 95 crore. Moreover, the execution time required for such work would also have delayed the Metro construction by 18 to 24 months. The solution was not feasible under the circumstances. The DMRC had earlier executed the work for raising the height of 220 kilovolt power lines near Laxmi Nagar on Vikas Marg and near the Indraprastha Metro station. The heights of the steel towers at Laxmi Nagar were raised to 53.5 and 44.5 meters. The towers used in this section were of broad base design that required 20x20 meters of space for their erection. This much space was not available for Delhi Metro near the Sarita Vihar flyover area. “The complete work was executed at a cost of Rs 2.7 crore in about 45 days of time with 30 people working under all safety precautions,” said Dayal. At present, the launching of viaduct is in operation. “This challenging work was done by the DMRC without disturbing the power supply to the local residents of the area and maintaining all electrical clearances as per rules,” he said. The DMRC has shifted nearly 50 transmission lines of varying voltage capacity till date and is in the process of shifting few more high voltage electricity lines at Badarpur and other locations on its under-construction corridors. The shifted high-voltage electricity lines carry about 370 megawatt capacity of power to the area that is 10 per cent of the power requirements of Delhi. |
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Separate cadre for Mewat teachers soon
New Delhi, March 28 The Mewat region will also get more projects for its development, said Hooda at a seminar on ‘Patriotism and its importance’ here today. Speaking about the Mewat region, Hooda recollected that at the time of the Partition, a leader of this area, Yasin Khan met his father Chaudhry Ranbir Singh Hooda to tell him that they want to go to Pakistan. The elder Hooda took him to Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatama Gandhi personally visited Ghasera village in Mewat and assured the Muslims that they would not have any problem, if they wanted to live here. It is the result of this The Haryana Chief Minister said that for the progress of the country, peace and fellow-feeling among different communities is essential. |
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Noida Sector 37 crossing to have flyover
Noida, March 28 At Sector-37 crossing , the Noida Authority plans to construct a flyover and an underpass. As the approval from IIT has been received, the work on the twin projects is expected to be taken in April. Both the projects are expected to cost Rs 73 crore. The two-way underpass will have six-lane road while one way flyover will have three-lane road, it is learnt. A route diversion is also being planned so that the traffic flow can be maintained. According to sources, the work on a flyover and underpass nearGolf Course will be taken in hand in the beginning. The technical study for this had been entrusted to IIT. IIT, in its report, has given a green signal to the twin projects. A 600-meter-long underpass and a 790-mt-long signal-free flyover are to be constructed. |
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Metro to bear medical cost
of mishap victim
New Delhi, March 28 The DMRC spokesperson said the accident did not happen due to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation ‘s negligence so the corporation would only pay for the medical expenses of the victim. |
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DUSU president joins Gujjar agitation
New Delhi, March 28 Delhi University Students’ Union president Manoj Chaudhray has joined hands with the leaders of the Gujjar community of Rajasthan and extended support in their fight for reservation. “Gujjars have not been provided ample opportunities to get ahead in life and to make up for ages of backwardness, the government should now put them under one of the reserved categories,” said Chaudhary. He said if the demands of the Gujjar community were not met in time, he would mobilise other students and take out a march from Rajasthan to the Capital to support them. |
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City simmers in heat wave
New Delhi, March 28 Also, the onset of heat waves, travelling at a speed of 18 km/hr, made the city sizzle further that left the city’s citizens delay their weekend plans till evening. According to the updates received from the Indian Meteorological Department, the scorching phenomenon is likely to prevail because of the westerly winds blowing over Rajasthan and the humidity levels during the day were witnessed to be high of 70 per cent and low of 17 per cent. The forecast for Monday is that the mercury limits would be hovering around 38 and 21 degree Celsius for the high and low respectively with the clear sky. |
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Baba Ramdev’s following may be increasing by the day, but an NGO points out a not-so-rosy aspect associated with it—more and more people claiming to be the yoga guru’s disciples set shops around.
