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Trial run of airport line to begin within week
Metro phase-III facing fund crunch: CM
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Delhi serial blasts Charges to be framed on Feb 21
Delhi Diary
Paediatric cancer deadlier as it grows very fast
Jittery students make most of
CBSE pre-exam counselling
Delhi youth held for stealing
two-wheelers
1,500 senior citizens get free health check cards
ATM cash van loot: Rs 63.5 lakh found
Pharmacist held for medicine fraud
DJ found dead in park
Mumbai attack martyr’s uncle succumbs to burns
17-yr-old Dalit girl kidnapped from shop
Three held for bank robbery bid in Gzb
MCD to use parking sites for ad
5 injured in cylinder blast
Warm day in Delhi
Civic helpline registers
over 750 complaints
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Trial run of airport line to begin within week
New Delhi, February 5 The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is also hopeful to begin trail runs on the corridor within the next week, once the security staff moves in. Just yesterday, the Centre had formally announced that the security of the line would be handled by the CISF personnel. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, along with Metro chairman E Sreedharan, on her inspection visit to the corridor expressed her satisfaction with the operational preparedness. "I am happy that the line is complete now. It is built very beautifully. With the most modern technology, it is one of Delhi's unique features now. It is the only corridor in the country so far that will connect the city to the airport," Dikshit said. Dikshit sportingly said that some delays are unavoidable in such mega projects. "Such a corridor cannot be opened in haste. The work has to be perfect," she said. Sreedharan said, "It is a beautiful and world-class Metro line." He he will take up the matter of baggage checking with the civil aviation ministry and it will be sorted out soon. About increasing the speed of trains on the line, Sreedharan said trial runs at the promised speed of 120 km per hour will begin next week and the speed will eventually be increased once the Research, Design and Standards Organisation. Currently the line plies on 105 km per hour as permitted by the CMRS. The line will have a 16-hour service from 6 am to 10 pm and some airlines are likely to set up their check-in counters before the operations start, he said. The link has missed three deadlines on October 3, 31 and December 31.
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Metro phase-III facing fund crunch: CM
New Delhi, February 5 She said her government is facing problems in raising funds for Metro's Phase-III, but voiced confidence that the issue would be resolved soon. "Japan International Cooperation Agency funded us for the first and second phases. But now, we are scouting for funds. But I am confident that the Delhi Metro will eventually have Phase-III and IV and a network of 400 kms," she said. She said the roadmap for the Phase-III, that envisages adding another 105 km to the network, had been prepared and a decision about it would be taken by a group of ministers of the Union government. "The decision will have to be taken by the DMRC, Haryana government and other stakeholders," she said. Urban development minister Kamal Nath had last week said he wanted the Delhi Metro to be bigger than the London Metro, which has a network of 412 km, by 2017. The Metro currently has a network of around 200 km. The Delhi government has been maintaining that it has no funds and wants the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Centre to partly fund the third phase. The planning commission has also suggested that the DDA should partly fund the third phase so that the debt-equity ratio could be reduced. The plan panel wants the third phase to be built on a 50:50 debt-equity ratio. The phase, which will have six corridors, is likely to cost Rs 28,000 crore.
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Delhi serial blasts Charges to be framed on Feb 21
New Delhi, February 5 Additional Sessions Judge Santosh Snehi Mann said the prosecution had produced enough evidence to make a prima facie case against their involvement in carrying out the blasts. She said all accused should be present in the court when charges would be framed against them. The court issued warrants against the accused to ensure that they were brought to the court. Two of them are in the Tihar Jail while 11 others are in a Gujarat court in connection with serial blasts. The court had earlier discharged one accused, Salman, saying there was insufficient evidence against him. The proceedings of the court were carried out through video conferencing. Terrorists had carried out four blats at Connaught Place, Karol Bagh and Greater Kailash on September 13, 2008, within 31 minutes. The arrested accused will be charged with murder, attempt to murder and waging war against the nation and also under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Explosive Substances Act.
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Delhi Diary
A sum of Rs 1.5 crore to be given to municipal councillors in the name of development fund has become a point of contention. They have to apply for the fund before March 31.
The formalities for booking the fund are so cumbersome that many councillors say it would be very difficult for most of them to fulfill the criterion on time. They are required to get a project report from engineers, among other things. The report should then be approved by respective authorities besides the municipal commissioner. The councillors believe that the announcement for the fund is eyewash. This sentiment is more dominant among the councillors of the opposition, the Congress. They say the BJP-run MCD does not have enough fund to sponsor the scheme and that is why it has come with an unrealistic deadline to ensure that few councillors could lay their hands on it. Illegal colonies on govt
agenda again
The Congress government in the city has started taking measures to ensure that the party wrest control of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi from the BJP next year when the elections are due. The plight of the lakhs of poor living in unauthorized colonies has begun agonising the government. The cabinet recently took up the issue of developmental works there. Congress leaders say over 40 lakh people residing in these colonies are key to their success in the elections. Considered otherwise a vote bank for the party, a big chunk of the electorate in these colonies had voted for the BJP in the last elections due to its promise of regularising them. The BJP has failed to fulfill the promise. The Congress believes that if the government manages to push through the Assembly the proposal for regularising them, the next MCD election results would go in its favour. Judge found guilty!
During a recent hearing in the trial of Kobad Ghandy, a Maoist leader, a mobile phone started ringing when the defense lawyer was making his arguments. The serious proceedings came to a halt as everyone looked around for the culprit. As it turned out, the guilty was the judge himself. A faint smile appeared on many faces while the judge was visibly embarrassed. According to court rules, any phone that rings inside the courtroom is seized. "I am ready to surrender my mobile. There are notices both inside and outside the courtroom, asking people to keep their cell phones switched off. It is embarrassing," the judge admitted. People present in the courtroom were appreciative of his honest admission and many others were seen switching off their mobile phones. Teachers behave like students
Teachers are supposed to set examples for their students but the lack of discipline shown by Delhi University teachers during their recent interaction with vice-chancellor Dinesh Singh could have embarrassed their students. The teachers were so agitated while putting questions to the VC regarding the semester system, which was fiercely opposed by the teachers' union and could be implemented smoothly only at the directive of the Delhi High Court, that it appeared more like a melee than a question and answer session. Many teachers went overboard shouting while demanding that they be given the mike. Singh asked the teachers repeatedly to maintain discipline as they increasingly looked like a crowd of protestors. The VC commented that old days were much better. "Q&A session used to be so disciplined. You had to see them to believe them," he remarked. Molestation
shadow on AIIMS meet
New and renewable energy minister Farooq Abdullah is quite a media darling for his witty and, at times, controversial remarks. So he was in for a mild shock on February 2 when he was paid little attention by the large number of media personnel present on the AIIMS premises where he had gone to participate in an international conference. Media personnel were more interested in the raging controversy over the alleged molestation of a child by an AIIMS doctor and the subsequent decision of the institute to terminate the services of the accused. While taking part in the seminar, many doctors and experts rued the media's focus on negative news and lack of interest in development stories. (Contributed by Himani Chandel, Syed Ali Ahmed, Rashi Agarwal, Jyoti Rai, Ananya Panda) |
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Paediatric cancer deadlier as it grows very fast
New Delhi, February 5 Experts believe that the cure rate for the cancers among children can be bettered significantly if diagnosed and treated on time, with the success rate remaining at 70-80 per cent vis-a-vis 30-40 per cent for adults. However, owing to factors, such as presentation at the advanced stage, poor referral system and sub-optimal chemotherapy, the survival outcome in children has been low, maintain oncologists at the 10th Annual International Cancer Conference today in the Capital. World Cancer Day was observed yesterday. "In children, cancer is rare and curable, with 40,000 new cancer cases each year, compared to cases in adults-eight-to-nine lakhs, but they grow very fast and hence are more dangerous if not detected on time. Chemotherapy is very effective for them if they present within three weeks to month of the onset of the symptoms, depending upon the malignancy of the case," said Dr Gauri Kapoor, senior paediatric oncologist of Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute. Adult cancers are not that curable, being caused mainly by environmental and lifestyle changes, and also they are slow growing and treatment available prolongs survival in adults, but in case of children, the condition is termed to be catastrophic, with the scope being very less, said Dr Jagdish Chandra from Kalawati Saran Hospital. Among the types of cancers afflicting children, while leukaemia (cancer of bone marrow) and lymphoma (cancer involving the cells in the immune system), alone constituting 30 per cent of all childhood cases, are the commonest curable cancers, many times they are misdiagnosed, added Dr Kapoor. Even as awareness has risen in the last 10-12 years, public still needs to be reached with a large part still living under the stigma and perception, both in metros and rural areas, that cancer is incurable. "The childhood cancers that can be cured with quality treatment are acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, hepatoblastoma, Wilms tumor and germ cell tumor. It is important that the symptoms are identified early," said Dr G K Rath, chief of the Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, AIIMS. Patients present with a variety of signs, like fever of unknown origin, anaemia, loss of weight, reduced appetite, aching of bones, enlarged portions or lumps and then, experts suggest that the paediatrician should get the complete blood count done for early diagnosis. According to oncologists, an enlarged lymph node could be a manifestation of progressive and persistent lymphoma. "Cancer is most commonly due to infection in the drainage area of the lymph nodes, may be in the neck, underarms etc. Most neck nodes are not enlarged due to cancers and those that are painless and more than one cm may be suspected cases. It is non-infectious condition. Also, it is unlikely that painful lymph nodes are cancers as they are mostly reactive or secondary to infection," said Dr Kapoor.
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Jittery students make most of
CBSE pre-exam counselling
New Delhi, February 5 A CBSE official said, "The counselling is an outreach programme which is designed keeping the heterogeneity of students' population and geographical spread in mind. Multiple modes of communication such as telephonic counselling, question-answers columns in newspapers, interactive voice response system and online counselling through the CBSE website are being used to reach out to more and more students ." CBSE tele-counselling is proving to be very popular this year and more and more students are calling up to get their queries answered. The counselling is being offered by trained counselors and principals from CBSE schools and this year 49 principals, trained counselors from CBSE schools and some psychologists are participating in the counseling session. Rita Sharma, a counselor, said, "We have been getting a lot of queries from students since the counselling began on February 1 . We are getting a lot of questions from nervous students about the syllabus and pattern of the question paper." Centralised toll free counselling is also available, students can dial a toll-free number 1800-11-7002 from any part of the country to avail of this facility. This gives access to the CBSE helpline and though most queries in this category are being dealt by phone operators, in case of exam stress students are being put across to principals or counselors. CBSE has also arranged counselling for specially abled students and has made arrangements to meet their original special needs. To cater to the needs of students, the online counselling on the CBSE website has also been made available for students, through which they can interact with the chairman and principals on exams related issues. The above mentioned are available on director.edusat@rediffmail.com and mcsharma2007@rediffmail.com. A CBSE official said, "We are getting a lot of exams related queries from students both on the tele-counselling and the online. The online counselling has really picked up this year with many students resorting to the net to get their questions answered. The bulk of the questions are related to the syllabus, exam patterns and some students are plain panicky about exams and they have to be dealt with by trained counselors and psychologists who are part of our counselling team." |
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Delhi youth held for stealing
two-wheelers
New Delhi, February 5 Mohd Noshad was arrested from Rohini area in north Delhi yesterday when police was checking vehicles to prevent their theft. Noshad, who was riding a Scooty, did not stop at the police post and sped away. However, the police caught him and asked him to produce documents pertaining to ownership of the Scooty. The police said he could not produce the same and tried to mislead the picket staff. "During interrogation, he disclosed that he had stolen the Scooty from Sector-11, Rohini," the police said, adding that he said he targets only Scooties. At his instance, four more stolen Scooties were recovered from his house. He claimed he started stealing the bikes to fund the medical expenses of his son, who is undergoing treatment in AIIMS, the police
said.--PTI |
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1,500 senior citizens get free health check cards
New Delhi, February 5 The cards will help them in availing free medical facilities, especially in eye care like cataract or other vision related disorders, at the branches of Medfort and other hospitals. The launch of the card is the part of a care programme for senior citizens of the city that has been devised by Sharp Sight Medfort Hospital in association with confederation of the associations of the senior citizens in the Capital. "Among the elderly, the focus should not only be on reducing disease related morbidity and mortality, but also on promoting optimal health and ensuring disability free years. We need such more initiatives that focus on overall health of the senior citizens and provide holistic care," she said "Also, the idea of introducing the card for the senior citizens is first of its kind activity which will ensure that the need of eye care of elderly being looked after properly", she said. The programme had clinical discussions focusing on improving the overall health status of senior citizens. Doctors from different specialties participated in the discussion and talked about holistic approach to manage health problems in elderly. Experts talked at a length about diabetes care, eye care and holistic care for the senior citizens. Yoga session was also part of the programme in which benefits of yoga in the prevention and control of common health and emotional problems linked with old age was discussed. "Failing health has emerged as the predominant concerns for the elderly. Ageing causes declines in various aspects of health which also raises the issue of their safety and security. The holistic approach to improve the health status of senior citizens will help make their life easier and safer," said Kewal Singh, Joint Police Commissioner, Head Senior Citizen Cell, Delhi police.
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ATM cash van loot: Rs 63.5 lakh found
New Delhi, February 5 According to the police, the money was recovered yesterday from a village in the Etah district of Uttar Pradesh. It was found buried under ground by one of the accused, Pramod. Pramod is still absconding. "A raid was conducted at Pramod's house following interrogation of an accused, Arun, arrested four days ago. The money was kept in gunny bags in a room meant to store food for cattle," said Amulya Patnaik, joint commissioner (South). Three persons, including gunman Sandeep (24), driver Gautam (20) and the key conspirator Arun, were arrested four days ago. However, the money could not be recovered then. Sandeep and Gautam, who worked for Scientific Security Management Private Ltd, which providing security services to HDFC Bank for filling cash in its ATMs, were arrested by the special cell from the outskirts of Bulandsehar while Arun was apprehended from Samalkha by the southeast district police. The four disclosed that during the loot, while Sandeep and Gautam fled with the cash van, Arun along with Pramod and one Sohan followed them in a Tata Sumo car. Arun helped Sandeep and Gautam in preparing fake documents to get jobs with the security company.
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Pharmacist held for medicine fraud
New Delhi, February 5 The medicines waere meant to be supplied under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) and then selling it in open market with huge profits. According to DCP (Crime) Ashok Chand, the accused led by one Attar Singh (46), a pharmacist in a CGHS dispensary, Nanak Pura, procured documents of, at least, 47 beneficiaries from the CGHS database and got the medicines supplied under their cards. Apart from Singh, other accused have been identified as Satish (40), Sanjeev (40) and Manoj (27) who were arrested, on a tip-off, from Gole Market two days ago. According to the DSP, the medicines procured by the gang were sold at 50 per cent of the prescribed rates. Singh has been running the racket for more than 18 months. He has caused a loss more than Rs 18 lakh to the exchequer.
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DJ found dead in park
New Delhi, February 5 According to a police official, Shammi was found dead in a pool of blood with several injuries on the head and face. "It seems he was killed at the spot where his body was found and probably a heavy rod or metal was used to hit him. He had several injury marks. The body has been sent for postmortem to the Lal Bahadur Shashtri Hospital," said the official. Shammi is survived by parents and three siblings. Shammi worked as a DJ and often returned home in the wee hours. According to his family, Shammi had left house around 7 pm yesterday for some professional commitment. A case of murder has been registered, with the police suspecting personal enmity as the reason of murder.
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Mumbai attack martyr’s uncle succumbs to burns
New Delhi, February 5 "He was on ventilator and in critical condition. He suffered a heart attack while undergoing treatment yesterday. His prognosis was not good, his urine output being very less. Besides kidney, his other organs gradually gave in. He died last night at 11:55," the RML medical superintendent Dr T S Sidhu said. A team, under Dr L K Makhija, HOD of burns and plastics, was handling the case of 56-year-old K Mohanan, who suffered 90-95 per cent burns when doctors said his recovery became difficult. A native of Kozhikode in Kerala, he poured kerosene on himself and attempted immolation outside Gate No 4 of Parliament House near Vijay Chowk. Earlier, he told doctors that he was unhappy with the condition and the way the victims of the Mumbai attacks had been treated by the government. Some of his relatives, including his wife, had reached the hospital yesterday morning.
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17-yr-old Dalit girl kidnapped from shop
Ghaziabad, February 5 The girl, a student of class XI of a government school in Delhi, was kidnapped on February 3 while she was purchasing some household items from a shop in Pappu Colony, ACP Amit Verma said. The victim's father, Satpal Jatav, in his police complaint has said the girl was kidnapped by four car-borne men around 9 pm, Verma said.
--PTI |
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Three held for bank robbery bid in Gzb
Ghaziabad, February 5 "All the three have confessed to their crime to the police," said SHO Yogesh Pathak. Two members of the gang are still at large he added. While the mastermind of the plot Harish, a resident of the Begamabad area, was arrested yesterday, two of his aides were nabbed today. "Three of the five accused had gone inside the chamber of the manager of Vijaya Bank on February 2 on the pretext of procuring bank loan while the two others overpowered the cashier at the counter," the SHO said. However, the bid to rob the bank failed as the customers present in the bank and a security guard on duty raised an alarm. All the accused managed to escape after assaulting the security guard. A local court has remanded all the accused to the police custody. — PTI
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MCD to use parking sites for ad
New Delhi, February 5 The civic agency will allot the parking sites located within different zones for putting up advertisements. The corporation has set a target of Rs 60 crore in the current fiscal year and Rs 66 crore in the next year. "We are seeking to increase our revenue through outdoor advertising. It is proposed to exceed the income target of Rs 60 crore during the current financial year through outdoor advertising and Rs 66 crore during the next financial year," said a senior MCD official. "In order to exploit revenue generation potential to the fullest extent, the MCD will tender locations for erecting unipoles in different zones. Also, the sites located with the MCD parking lots will be exploited," he said. MCD is inviting response for Sadar Paharganj, City and Rohini Zones. On completion of the process in these three zones, the work of revenue generation would be initiated in other zones. The tendering procedure would be held between February
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5 injured in cylinder blast
New Delhi, February 5 Four of the injured have been identified as Harishchand (33), his wife Rita (31), their two children-- Sumit (10) and Sujit (7). The fifth victim, whose identity could not be confirmed, lived next door to the victims' house and got injured while trying to help them. "Rita was cooking food when she noticed fire in the gas pipe. But before she could do anything, a blast took place. The impact of the blast was so severe that a portion of the roof of the kitchen collapsed and the area was engulfed by fire. All the injured were taken to Sonia Hospital on Rohtak Road. The condition of the duo is said to be critical. |
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Warm day in Delhi
New Delhi, February 5 The maximum temperature was 8 degrees above normal for this time of the season. It is the warmest day of the season so far," said a weather department official. Early morning hours were also not particularly cold, with the minimum temperature rising to 11.1 degree Celsius, 3 degrees above normal and up from yesterday's 9.6 degrees . Yesterday also, the city recorded the warmest day of the winter, till then, with the maximum temperature touching 28.4 degree Celsius, 6 degrees above the normal. Tomorrow, while the minimum temperature is expected to touch 12 degree Celsius, the maximum is expected to touch 30 degree Celsius. |
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Civic helpline registers
over 750 complaints
Noida, February 5 Launched on January 14, the scheme enables aggrieved citizens to record their complaints in an Integrated Voice Recording System. These complaints are then sent to nodal officers, who within three days address the grievances. District magistrate Deepak Aggarwal, who reviewed the scheme today, said action on the majority of the complaints has been taken by the officers
concerned.--PTI |
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