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MCD proposes 5% hike in house tax
Rs 6,347-cr budget presented
Owners protest as MCD seals more E. Delhi houses
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Domestic Violence
Few takers for DTC airport buses
Greater Noida to get greener
DU gets new executive council
Learn Mandarin in CBSE schools from next year
11 hurt in fog-triggered
road mishaps
Delhi shivers
Man held for killing friend for his property
Father’s killer arrested
Robbers attack house in Kirti Nagar
10 hurt in bus collision
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MCD proposes 5% hike in house tax
New Delhi, December 8 In his budget speech, municipal commissioner K.S. Mehra said that he was proposing a hike of five per cent in house tax rates in all categories. "It has been proposed to increase property tax rates on residential properties under A and B category from the existing 12 to 17 per cent, 11 to 16 per cent for C, D and E category and from 7 to 12 per cent for F, G and H category," said Mehra. "For non-residential properties, property tax is proposed to be increased from the existing 15 to 20 per cent for A and B category, 12 to 17 per cent for C, D and E category and 10 to 15 per cent for F, G and H category," he said. No change in property tax rate is proposed for special non-residential properties (hotels 3 star and above, malls, air-conditioned gyms, clubs with swimming pools, lodges, guesthouses, banquet halls and coaching centres having more than 50 students, multiplexes, PVRs, shops having covered area of 150 sq metre and above, including warehouses from where goods are sold), the tax rate has been kept at 20 per cent. The budget proposal was presented in a special meeting of the MCD standing committee. Mehra presented the Revised Budget Estimates for 2010-2011 and the budget estimates for 2011-12 in the meeting. The MCD budget for 2011-12 had been projected at Rs 6,347 crore. However, the rebate on timely payment of tax is proposed to be reduced to 10 from 15 per cent. No additional rebate on properties up to covered area of 100 sq meters, cooperative group housing societies and aided schools has been proposed. A senior BJP leader said that the party would take the final decision on the proposed increase in house tax only after a proper debate and keeping the interests of the people in mind. Last year too, the commissioner had mooted an across-the-board five per cent increase in tax rates but the standing committee had revised the proposal and went in only for a marginal hike. |
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Rs 6,347-cr budget presented
New Delhi, December 8 Presenting the revised budget estimates for 2010-11 and the budget estimates for 2011-12 at a special meeting of the MCD standing committee, municipal commissioner K.S. Mehra said that for the next fiscal year, the MCD had projected revenue of Rs 6,247 crore mainly through taxes. The civic body has allocated the maximum fund of Rs 1,580 crore to the education department. The second highest allocation has been given to the sanitation department with Rs 1,006 crore, general administration Rs 645 crore, community services Rs 279 crore, public works and streetlightning department Rs 975 crore and health Rs 551 crore. The MCD has also announced some new proposals to be implemented the next year, which includes allotment of residential flats to 254 safai karamcharis in Rohini, Jehangirpuri, Sundar Nagar and Nand Nagari. Besides, a veterinary hub will be developed in Mukundpur. It will have 10 dog sterilisation centers, dog crematorium, pig slaughter house, pig pound and horse pound. The hub will be built on 27 acre land. Mehra said that the corporation would come up with 147 new community centres in the next five years. Some environment-friendly initiatives like — garbage treatment units, water harvesting and plants to generate power and gas from waste will also be implemented. Mehra said that the MCD was the first local body in India to get carbon credits for the Okhla compost plant. The plant is being run by the civic body. He said that the civic body had started numerous green initiatives, besides following the concept of green building at its new headquarters in Civic Centre which is conserving 25 per cent electricity. “We have also started using solar water heaters in hospitals, solar lights, CFLs for streetlighting and in MCD buildings. We have initiated water harvesting in schools, offices and other municipal buildings. While 78 such projects have been completed, 271 have been taken up,” he said. The MCD will set up a Rs 3-crore solar heater-powered Dhobi Ghat on Lodhi Road in which clothes will be washed mechanically. Mehra added that the MCD had set up 526 waterless urinals which help in saving water. It will approach market associations for setting up bio-toilets and electronic toilets, Mehra said. The civic body has proposed to set up a Rs 12-crore gobar (cow dung) treatment plant at Kakrola in Najagfarh to process 100 tonne dung every day to generate 200 KW energy.
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Owners protest as MCD seals more E. Delhi houses
New Delhi, December 8 MCD officials sealed portions of 17 buildings in Lalita Park. The buildings were taller than the permissible limit of 15 metres. "We did not seal the whole building. Only the fourth or fifth floors of the buildings which were above the permissible height of 15 metres were targeted," a senior official said. However, the drive was marred by violence in the area, with a group of building owners allegedly manhandling MCD councillor Sohan Lal in a parking lot, claiming that he did not help them avoid sealing. A senior police official said a case had been registered in connection with the incident. Meanwhile, another group of locals numbering 20 protested on the busy Vikas Marg blocking traffic for sometime, the official said. The civic agency has asked the owners of 638 buildings in Shahdara South Zone to conduct structural safety checking of their houses and apply with the MCD for regularising them. The civic body is acting against unauthorised structures in the city after a multi-storey building with illegal floors collapsed in Lalita Park in Laxmi Nagar on the night of November 15, killing 70 people.
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Domestic Violence 70 cases reported every month Ananya Panda Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 8 On an average, every month 70 cases are dealt by CSR's crisis intervention centres (CIC), where counsellors and community workers help the women in distress by counselling. Among such women, one is Seema Khorwal of Uttam Nagar, who after coming over the abuse and pain inflicted upon her by her in-laws, emerged to become self-reliant and now helps other community women by arranging medical and ration cards for them. According to Ranjana, trust-deficit in the policing system and the male-dominant mindset within the country's social fabric, to which so-called forward-looking and cultured cities are no exception, are the main obstacles in fighting the menace of violence against women. "There is ineffective policing as most of the times when women need them, the response has been either delayed or poor. So, there is a need to have a strong judiciary system to fast-track cases and police personnel have to be trained to handle the situation with prudence," Ranjana stressed. On the domestic front, there have been several violent instances reported/unreported both within families and outside, she added. Importantly, the trend is not limited to the lower economic stratum for there have been several occasions when the rich and affluent families have approached NGOs with complaints of abuse and violence meted out to their married daughters. "Delhi lacks a culture of respect for women. There is a silence about violence in the upper class. We do receive complaints of gruesome violence and people from rich families come and share their problems," observed Ranjana. Among a 1,000-sampled population, 80 per cent of men said they beat women to control them which clearly reflects the macho and sick mindset of men in communities, especially in Haryana, said Ranjan, while pointing out that the floating population also contributes to the rising incidence of abuse and assault againt women in the national Capital. Head of CSR's gender training programme, Anju Dubey feels it is important to develop awareness around such issues through events where the male society is brought on board for discussion. "There has to be better response in crisis situation through inter-agency cooperation and the component of community participation has a big role to play in it. The mantra is 'empowering women and children and sensitising men and boys'. Through CICs, we have been trying to bring in the culture of sharing within the community right at an early age in schools and colleges. We have initiated the programme in six colleges in Delhi," Anju said.
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Few takers for DTC airport buses
New Delhi, December 8 The DTC had launched this service last month from ISBT Kashmere Gate, ISBT Anand Vihar, Noida, Indrapuram, Azadpur Terminal, Avantika in Rohini and Siddharth Place. An official of the DTC said that Kashmere Gate, Anand Vihar and Noida are profitable routes. But the remaining routes do not have sufficient passengers. At present 60 buses are operating and the earning of the DTC is Rs 3 lakh per day that is much less than the expectation. It seems that people are not aware of this service, the official said on the condition of anonymity. To make this more popular and attract the passengers, the DTC is planning to advertise through print and electronic media from January to March. It has also planned to provide entertainment and the Net facility in the buses. The maximum fare of the bus is Rs 100. This service was launched after getting the feedback that people require public transport facility as taxi and auto are very costly and people face hardship while going to the airport. The private transporters charge manifold on the pretext that they do not get passenger from there. |
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Greater Noida to get greener
Greater Noida, December 8 GNIDA, general manager (horticulture), Lalit Vikram, today told The Tribune, "We have kept 1.5 lakh plants for free distribution among the residents who can plant them on their plots. In the past two months, we have distributed 2.5 lakh plants to colleges, institutions and residents for plantation. Our team have even supervised the areas and checked if the plants were taken care off." "Further, from July till date, we have planted 5 lakh plants along the roads and parks in the city. By March 2011, we plan to plant another 5 lakh plants along the 130-metre-wide road being constructed between Noida and Greater Noida. By the time residential and other complexes come up in the next two years, the plants would grow up and provide greenery and fresh air," said Vikram. "Presently, the green lung of the city is 23 per cent. It will rise to 30 per cent after the completion of the proposed plantation. Our aim it to provide clean and fresh air to the residents," said Vikram. |
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DU gets new executive council
New Delhi, December 8 The executive council (EC) which is the highest decision-making panel of the university made fresh appointments to the posts of pro-vice-chancellor, dean of colleges, proctor and director, South Campus, on the recommendation of Singh in a meeting held yesterday afternoon. Vivek Suneja from the faculty of management studies, Sudhish Pachauri of Hindi department, H.P. Singh from physics and astrophysics department and Umesh Rai from zoology department are the new pro-vice-chancellor, dean of colleges, proctor and director of South Campus, respectively. These posts had been lying vacant since Singh's appointment on October 29. While Suneja was part of the previous VC Deepak Pental's team as the dean of planning, others are fresh appointees. Pachauri, who was the head of Hindi department from 2007-10, first joined as a lecturer at Zakir Husain College in 1970 and then joined the department in 2004. Rai who completed his education from Benaras University joined DU's zoology department in 1992. "The act and statutes of the university allow the VC to select officials. Now, that the appointments have been made, meetings of the executive council can be held regularly," a senior university official said. The announcement of the new team was awaited by several heads of departments as there has been confusion regarding the implementation of the controversial semester system. Since the high court's order favoring semester system in science courses came in, other departments have also been gearing up for it, including arts and commerce. While some departments have already chalked out syllabus for the next academic year, others are in process. However, everyone was waiting for the new council to fall in place. As of now, there has been no official communication from Singh's office. "We will discuss the semester system with the VC as soon as he announces his core team," said B. Chatterjee, head of history department at the university.
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Learn Mandarin in CBSE schools from next year
New Delhi, December 8 Mandarin is slated to be introduced in the 2010-11 session in class VI of all the CBSE schools. The language will be introduced in higher classes later. This undoubtedly comes as recognition of China's growing economic prowess. A senior CBSE official said, "Mandarin is undoubtedly the language of the future. Recognizing this fact, the CBSE took a decision to introduce it among students in middle school. The language will be introduced from the next year in CBSE schools as an optional language. In its second phase, the language will be introduced in higher classes as well." The CBSE official added, "A panel of Mandarin language experts from the top universities has prepared the curriculum which is ready. The board has already written to the affiliated schools giving them the option to take up the language. Currently, text books are being prepared and also we plan to deal with the shortage of teachers in Mandarin. There is a plan to train teachers in this language so that schools in the future do not face a shortage of Mandarin teachers." Amita Wattal, principal of Springdales School, Pusa Road, said, "I am glad that the CBSE is now formally introducing Mandarin as a language. We have been toying with the idea of introducing it at the school for sometime, but a shortage of teachers hampered the programme. I hope the board sorts out the problem." Priyadarsi Mukherjee, from the Centre of Chinese and South East Asian Studies, JNU, said, "Mandarin is not an easy language. The earlier it is introduced, the better it is for the students." Mukherjee added, "China is probably the largest trading partner for a number of countries, including India. The language provides good opportunities in finance, banking or corporate sectors."
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11 hurt in fog-triggered
road mishaps
Noida, December 8 "Near Chhijarsi Sector 63 area, a truck rammed into an autorickshaw. A few minutes later, a bus carrying 20 passengers rammed into the truck. One Wagon R car and another Bolero car which were moving behind too dashed into the bus, leading to a series of collisions," said Hari Mohan Singh, SHO, Sector 58 police station. "Eight persons were injured in the collision. They were rushed to nearby hospital. All the injured were discharged after the first aid. Fog caused the collision. Three injured were Ajay, Rahul and Ajay. The Wagon R car was damaged badly," said Singh. In another incident at Greater Noida on Expressway, three persons were injured in a collision of two cars. Here too fog was reported to be the cause of collision. The injured were engineering college students. They suffered minor injuries. Their car was at slow speed when the collision took place near India Expo Centre. "Drivers are advised to fit the anti-fog lamp and drive under controllable limit. Fog is expected to increase in the days to come as air temperature goes down," said Ajay Sahdev, superintendent of police (Traffic). |
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Delhi shivers
New Delhi, December 8 The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the minimum temperature was 8 degrees , a notch below the average. The maximum was also one degree below average at 23.4 degrees. The morning fog cleared as the day advanced. Thursday is expected to be foggy. The minimum and maximum temperatures are expected to hover around 8 and 23 degree Celsius, respectively. The minimum and maximum humidity levels were recorded at 38 and 97 per cent, respectively. -- IANS |
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Man held for killing friend for his property
New Delhi, December 8 The accused have been identified as Satander (24), Vicky (21) and Sandeep (21). The police claims to have seized from the accused the weapon of offence, two motorcycles and two mobile phones allegedly used in the crime. Apart from these, the purse of the victim and a blood-stained jacket belonging to one of the accused has also been seized from them. On December 4, a body was found lying in a pool of blood in a field near Karala, Delhi. The face of the body was crushed and it bore injuries, the police said. The victim was identified as Siya Ram Yadav, a resident of Subash Nagar, Bahadurgarh. He worked as a gateman for the Railways. Yadav's brother-in-law Ramyag told the police that on December 3, Yadav had asked him to bring clothes for him at Bahadurgarh railway station as he had to attend a marriage in Delhi along with Satander, Vicky and Sandeep. On a tip-off, the police arrested Satander, who confessed to have murdered Yadav along with Vicky and Sandeep. At his instance, the other two accused were arrested. Sikander disclosed that Yadav was his friend and had a house in Subash Nagar, Bahadurgarh. "He thought that if he killed Yadav, he would take over his property," said a senior police official.
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Father’s killer arrested
New Delhi, December 8 The accused have been identified as Nikesh Gupta (son of the deceased), Lalit Yadav, Lal Bahadur, Ganesh Kumar and Mohad Adil, the alleged contract killers. On January 11, 2008, the accused killed Jai Bhagwan Gupta in Model Town when he went out for a morning walk. A case was registered and investigation taken up. The police suspected Nikesh and kept a tab on his activities. Secret information was received that Nikesh along with Lalit Yadav, alias Pongi, and other conspirators would assemble at Chaurasiya Pan Bhandar, Kalyan Vihar, Delhi, to plan the eviction of a tenant. A trap was laid and the accused were apprehended. On interrogation, Nikesh confesed to his crime, said the police. He was annoyed with his father for ill-treating him. He came in contact with Lalit Yadav and conspired to eliminate his father. Yadav hired contract killers to eliminate Jai Bhagwan Gupta for a sum of Rs 10 lakh. "Nikesh was unemployed and indulged in illegal acts which were opposed by his family. He used to pester his father for money which was seldom given to him. This enraged Nikesh and he hired contract killers to kill his father," the official said. Another alleged contract killer Rakesh Kumar involved in the case died in a gang war last year, the official added.
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Robbers attack house in Kirti Nagar Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 8 The man, Rajan Lambha (50), works with a private company in Gurgaon. He was robbed of Rs 40,000 and gold ornaments. The incident took place around 5 am today. Lambha was sleeping with his wife in a room while his 10-year-old son was sleeping in another room. "Two persons entered my room and asked me for the locker keys. They said that my son was in their custody and that if I denied, they would kill him," said Lambha. He added that when the two persons left with the robbed articles, he went to his balcony and saw that one of their accomplices was standing outside. The police has registered a case under various sections of the IPC against unknown persons. "We are trying to trace the accused," said a senior police official.
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10 hurt in bus collision
New Delhi, December 8 The incident took place in Vivek Vihar around 9 am. "It was a minor accident. Nobody was seriously injured. The DTC bus rammed into the private bus. The driver tried to apply the brakes but could not escape the bang," said Sanjay Drall, SHO of Vivek Vihar police station. The police has arrested the DTC bus driver. |
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(MCD), irate building owners today allegedly manhandled a councillor and blocked a busy road in east Delhi's Lalita Park, where a building collapse had left 71 people dead last month.
"There is a big gap between the actual and reported cases of discrimination and violence against women. The data put up by the National Crime Records Bureau reflects 10 per cent of social reality and most of the cases of domestic violence and discrimination against women go unnoticed," the director of Centre for Social Research (CSR) Ranjana Kumari told The Tribune at an event organised to mark the 27 years of its community-based interventions targeted towards empowering the women.
New Delhi, December 8
