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Cricket Craze: City comes to a halt
Students desert colleges
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Rs 21,000 crore allotted for developing cities
Illegal colonies: DJB asks residents to pay or face connection cut
Shunglu Report
No shortage of funds for fire service: CM
Court orders probe
into parking mafia
Dispute between religious groups resolved
List of DDA flat applicants on website
The best of Spanish films from Monday
Gurgaon armyman kills wife in front of son
Drug racket run by Nigerians busted, 3 held
2 held for cricket betting
Two liquor smugglers held
Delhi auto drivers threaten strike
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Cricket Craze: City comes to a halt
New Delhi, March 30 The traffic on the normally busiest of roads flowed relatively smoothly as many cricket fans decided to give their daily chores a skip to watch what had been touted as the mother of all clashes. There were sights of joy and agony, ecstasy and pain and relief and disappointment on the faces of the cricket-crazy Delhiites as the clash of the arch rivals went through its usual rollercoaster ride. A group of traders in Paharganj held a havan soon before the match began and kept a bhangra troupe handy to cheer for every single run that the Indian team scored and every Pakistani wicket that fell. They had put up two big screens for people to partake in the event that made the day appear like a national holiday. Many restaurants and bars in the city went for the kill by offering special menus and offers to the fans who had queued up outside the popular watering holes screening the match. However, many of them had to return disappointed as the joints were packed to their capacities. Popular haunt Buzz at the MGF Metropolitan Mall in Saket extended its happy hours, which started right from 3 pm, to 1 am. Many restaurants had put up big projection screens and arranged dholis to add to the mood. Restaurants and bars had come out with contests, offering customers a chance to win drink and dinner. A popular restaurant in Greater Kailash-II, Smoke House Grill, offered a straight 25 per cent discount, while Hype in Shangrila allowed free entry to couples. It usually charges Rs 4,000. Royal China at Nehru Place offered free drinks for every six hit by the Indian team and every Pakistani wicket taken by the team. Blues Bar in Connaught Place had created a stadium-like ambience by putting up posters on the wall. It had also placed bats and balls on the tables. Clearly, the restaurants were making more from the customers than what they were spending on the freebies. As the day progressed and the Pakistani team came to bat, almost all popular bars and restaurants were packed. Many fans were dressed in the Indian cricket team jersey and were carrying vuvuzelas. "I am very excited. I took leave a week in advance to watch the match at this pub with friends. It has been worth it so far," Vinik Khullar, a private company official, said. Almost all big hotels in the Capital had put up big screens in their lobbies for the match. |
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Students desert colleges
New Delhi, March 30 While students at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) had arranged for special screenings, at the hostels of Delhi University,
the common rooms reverberated with shouts and claps for every run that the Indian batsmen scored. Both, North
and South campuses, were buzzing with excitement. Most colleges gave in to the demand of the students to reschedule
or cancel their classes to be held after 2.30 pm, the time when the match began. And where
the students did not have their way, they bunked the classes. "We had lectures in
the second half of the day today, and the teachers refused to cancel the classes. So, out of a batch of 25 girls, 15 of us bunked. With no option left, the teachers had to finally cancel the classes. Everyone gathered at a friend's place and saw the first inning of the match together. We hope India win today," said Kshitija Munim, a
journalism student at Lady Shri Ram College. M.P. Sharma, sports director at Hansraj
College, left for home around 12 in the noon. "I was expecting a very few students to
turn up today, and was proved right. As expected, the hostellers preferred to stay in
the common room. But I will mark their attendance for the day," he said. At St Stephen's, a
screen was installed in the main hall for the students, teachers and other staff to watch the highly anticipated match together. "We are glad that the college arranged this screening for us. We could not go to Mohali, but the excitement of watching the match
with our friends on a projector screen gave us a different feeling altogether. Not just
boys, even girls and teachers joined us as the match progressed," said Parthiv Dey, a
Ppyscology student at St Stephen's. Kiran Bharti, senior associate professor at JNU, said, "The situation today was no different in staff rooms. Everyone was talking about the match and rushing to the common area every now and then to catch a glimpse of the action." |
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Govt staff get half-day holiday
New Delhi, March 30 The decision was taken this morning after getting information that the big screens were being displayed in a few markets to facilitate people to see the match being played between India and Pakistan. Chandni Chowk, Mori Gate, Kashmiri Gate, Lajpat Nagar and a few other main markets were closed after lunch hours. Shopkeepers as well as their employees left for the house to enjoy the match. TV sets were installed in the libraries and people saw the match instead of reading books and periodicals. Many income tax officials and employees gathered at Dayal Singh Public Library to see the match leaving their office deserted after lunch time. In the Jamia Nagar area shops were open but the shopkeepers were absent. Instead of attending their customers, they devoted their time to enjoy the match on TV sets installed by a trader who deals in electronic goods. Parking lots were also empty. It seems that it was a holiday. There was not much rush on the roads. DTC buses were running empty on roads as there were a fewer passengers. Narender Kumar, who works in CAG office, left his office at 12.30 pm said the semi-final match was as crucial as the final. The government should have declared holiday so that people could enjoy the match while seeing on the TV sets with their family members. He said a few of his colleagues were on leave today while the remaining decided to leave early. |
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Rs 21,000 crore allotted for developing cities
Noida, March 30 Mohinder Singh, chairman of three authorities briefing mediamen after the meeting, said, "Rs 4,955 crore has been approved for Noida, Rs 5,780 crore for Greater Noida and Rs 11,055 crore for the Yamuna Expressway authority development area." The Greater Noida budget includes Rs 665 crore for Gautam Buddha University development and Rs 240 crore for rural development. The YEA budget comprises Rs 444 crore for internal sector development, Rs 50 crore for rural development and Rs 9,648 crore for land acquisition. Noida Board has also approved the Metro Rail project to link it with South Delhi. The 3.76-km stretch from botanical garden to Kalindi Kunj will link it to the Sarita Vihar Badarpur line. The total cost projected by DMRC is Rs 376 crore. The expenditure for Kalindi Kunj to Sarita Vihar line will be met by the Delhi government as this area falls under Delhi. Kalindi Kunj Yamuna Bridge will be widened to four lanes. Construction is expected to start from May. The 10-year period under DND concession agreement has expired. Greater Noida has speeded up the night safari project. It is being developed over 220 acres. Other project is on bird sanctuary. |
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Illegal colonies: DJB asks residents to pay or face connection cut
New Delhi, March 30 If a plot holder in a colony, where sewerage services have already been commissioned, does not deposit sewerage development charge, the water connection will be disconnected after serving a notice, a DJB official said. He said a property owner would get rebate of 20 per cent on the total due amount, if the same was deposited in lump-sum within three months from the date of notification. However, in the annual DJB Budget the water network has been extended in 744 unauthorised colonies and sewer network in 98 colonies. "The Delhi government took a decision to provide basic services like water supply, sewerage, sanitation and roads in a further 1,639 unauthorised colonies. Out of 1,639 colonies, sewerage facility is provided in 98 colonies and out of 135 urban villages, 111 villages have been provided sewerage facilities by 2011," said DJB CEO Ramesh Negi. The official said plot owners would have to collect the bills from the DJB office for development charges. The revised water and sewerage development charge collection policy will be effective from January 1. After three months, the rebate will be reduced to 10 per cent, if the outstanding amount is paid in lump-sum within next three months. In case of payment in installments, no such rebate will be given. Instead, interest rate of 12 per cent per annum will be levied from the date of notification. |
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Shunglu Report
New Delhi, March 30 If she is not removed, the BJP will move the Supreme Court demanding stern action against the Chief Minister. Delhi BJP president Vijender Gupta said his party had assigned a panel of senior advocates to examine the Shunglu Committee report, decision of the lokayukta recommending removal of minister Rajkumar Chauhan in Tivoli Garden tax case, confrontation of the Chief Minister with Lt. Governor Tejendra Khanna in the circle rate case, power privatisation bungling, etc. Immediately after receiving the advice of the panel, the BJP will move the court to get the Chief Minister punished under law of the land. He said Delhi was not safe in the hands of Sheila Dikshit. It was necessary in the interest of Delhi, its public and judiciary that the Prime Minister should immediately recommend to the President for the dismissal of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Instead of admitting her guilt, the Chief Minister trashed the report alleging the former CAG of India of favoritism, Gupta said. |
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CM turns 72 today
New Delhi, March 30 Dikshit, born on March 31, 1938, will complete 72 tomorrow. "The bouquet which is in the shape of the World Cup is 6 feet in height and has flowers like imported lilies, gerberas and roses. “It weighs around 50 kg and the flowers have been joined with leaves and stems," said Shiv Kumar Tiwari, owner of Tiwari Florist in Connaught
Place. The bouquet costs Rs 20,000 and was ordered for the CM by a Congress member who does not wish to be named. |
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No shortage of funds for fire service: CM
New Delhi, March 30 The Chief Minister was speaking at a function to mark the Raising Day ceremony organized by the DFS at Fire Safety Management Academy today. Principal secretary (Home) Arvind Ray, director (DFS) A.K. Sharma and other senior officials of DFS were present on the occasion. The Chief Minister said that special arrangements were made during the Commonwealth Games to ensure an incident-free event. |
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Court orders probe
into parking mafia
New Delhi, March 30 "Any nexus of this kind between the police and parking mafia will not be entertained. It is the obligation of the police to curb the menace," the court said. The court fixed May 4 for the next hearing. A public interest litigation filed by Shamsher Kaushik through his lawyer R K Singh alleged that a parking contractor, Narender Kumar Sharma, had illegally encroached the car parking area of Mangalam Commercial Plaza in Rohini. He also alleged that the encroachment was done with the help from the local police. According to the petitioner, Sharma was given contract for two-wheeler parking, but he illegally encroached the adjacent area meant for free parking of four-wheelers and started charging exorbitant parking fee from people. "The parking areas in Delhi are also a breeding ground for all kinds of criminal activities, and if law enforcement agencies are taking over the parking areas and running them, it will be a heavy blow to justice," the petitioner said, seeking an inquiry into the issue. "Anyone who dared to complain was threatened by the police personnel who were always present there to protect the contractor and his goons," the petitioner added. The
petition also pointed out that there was a revenue loss of lakhs of
rupees to the government due to such illegal activities.
— IANS |
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Dispute between religious groups resolved
Gurgaon, March 30 According to South Gurgaon SDM Capt Manoj, a Hindu family put some idols in an old dome-shaped building lying vacant on a land belonging to Wakf Board and demanded construction of a temple there. When the district administration came to know about it, they removed the idols and took over the disputed site after which some Muslims came to the site to offer namaj, saying since the land belonged to Wakf Board so they should be allowed to offer prayer there, he said. The administration prohibited both the sections from performing any prayer there and ordered status quo. To find a solution acceptable to both the communities, a meeting was called by the SDM with 31 members each from both the groups. In the meeting, both the parties agreed to maintain status quo at the
site. — PTI |
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List of DDA flat applicants on website
New Delhi, March 30 The authority has also asked the applicants to check the status of their applications on the website. The authority has received over 7 lakh applications for around 16,000 flats. DDA officials said the names had been put on the website after verifying the details as submitted in the forms. This would help the applicants check the status of their request. Moreover, those whose forms had been rejected could also follow the matter up with the DDA officials. "People can get the status of their application by logging on to the DDA website. This has been done to give a chance to the applicants who have filled incomplete forms. If any detail in the form is incorrect, applicants can contact the officials concerned," said DDA spokesperson Neemo Dhar. Even though nearly 13.5 lakh forms were sold, the DDA eventually received over 7.8 lakh forms. After weeding out duplicate forms, the DDA has narrowed the number of the applicants down to 7.4 lakh. "We have uploaded the names of all qualified applicants on our website before the draw so that people can be certain that they are being included in the draw," the DDA official said. Applicants will be asked to get in touch with the DDA and rectify any errors in the final list before the draw is conducted. The DDA will conduct a draw of lots for the housing scheme in the second week of April. A final date has not been decided yet, but depending on the availability of neutral observers, the draw will be fixed for sometime in the second week of April, said a senior official in DDA. A waiting list of 600 candidates will also be prepared. The new housing scheme, with 15,574 flats up for grab, was announced in November and the application forms were sold between November 24 and December 24. In addition to the 15,574 HIG, MIG, and LIG flats across the city, 699 Janta flats are also up for sale. |
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The best of Spanish films from Monday
New Delhi, March 30 The festival will feature "Hierro", a 94-minute thriller directed by Gabe Ibanez, "Cell 211", an action drama directed by Daniel Monzon, "Garbo: The Spy", a biopic directed by Edmon Roch, "The Secret In Their Eyes", a romantic thriller directed by Juan Jose Campanella, "Born to Suffer", a comedy directed by Miguel Albaladejo, "Broken Embraces", a romance directed by De Pedro Almodovar, "Agora", a adventure feature directed by Alejandro Amenabar and "Mediterranean Food", a comedy directed by Joaquin Oristrell. Two documentaries -- "La Pardika" and "Senora De" will also be screened at the festival. The movies in the festival will be screened at two venues in the city, Instituto Cervantes, the Spanish cultural centre and the India Habitat Centre. The festival will begin with "Me To", a 103-minute feature film directed by Alvaro Pastor y Antonio Naharro. A seven-member delegation from Spain, including director Edmon Roch, actress Elena Anaya, Gulliermo Rodriguez, head of the Caca De La India (House of India in Spain) and Carlos Cuadros, director of the Film Institute of Spain will also participate in the festival and meet representatives of the Indian movie industry and address sessions on the contemporary cinema movements in Spain. The festival in India is promoted by the Casa De La India in collaboration with the Spanish Institute for Cinema and Audiovisual Arts (ICAA) of the Spanish culture ministry. |
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Gurgaon armyman kills wife in front of son
Gurgaon, March 30 "Monika, who worked with a telecom company, was strangulated two days ago. Her husband, Hari Prakash, an armyman, is the prime accused as his four-year-old son is an eyewitness," a senior police officer said. According to the police, Prakash and Monika used to argue on petty issues and their fight turned violent on Sunday when Prakash murdered his wife in front of his son. He later locked up his son with the body in a room, the official added. The body was discovered by a neighbour, who informed the police. The police said Monika was murdered two days ago as the body had started decomposing. The body has been sent for autopsy.
— IANS |
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Drug racket run by Nigerians busted, 3 held
New Delhi, March 30 The police said the accused were part of a drug syndicate with roots in different countries. The gang smuggled cocaine into India. "We could be arresting more accused in coming days and more cocaine could be recovered," an official said. A police spokesperson said the special cell had been working for a long time on a specific input about drugs being supplied to India from neighbouring countries through different borders. These drugs are brought to Delhi for sale to the end consumers. It was also learnt that the syndicate was being run by some Nigerian nationals based in the city, who were supplying the contraband to the end users. "These consumers mainly use these drugs at select parties held at private places, bars and night clubs in Delhi. Working on these inputs, teams were constituted and on March 29, Mittal was apprehended from near Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium along with cocaine," the spokesperson said. During interrogation, he revealed that Mohemmed was his supplier. A trap was laid and Mohemmed was also apprehended with the contraband, he said. Adigun had been living in India on a business visa since 2007. His visa and passport expired in October, 2009 and he had been staying in India illegally. |
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2 held for cricket betting
New Delhi, March 30 Additional Commissioner of Police Virender Chahal said the betting syndicate had received more than Rs 2 lakh. "Virender Kumar, 46, and Pushkar Raj, 49, were apprehended from Sriniwaspuri in south Delhi following a tip-off," he said. The police had sent a constable as a decoy customer. He placed a bet on the match after paying the duo Rs 500. |
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Two liquor smugglers held
Noida, March 30 "On a tip-off, a team was conducting inspection of vehicles at Okhla barrage near Kalindi bridge of the district," the official said. We intercepted a car and found the illegal liquor in it and arrested two persons Virendra and Ravi, Singh said, adding, it was made in
Haryana. — PTI |
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Delhi auto drivers threaten strike
New Delhi, March 30 The city government has issued an order asking all autorickshaw owners to install GPS in their vehicles. "We go on strike if the government does not review its decision within next seven days," general secretary of Auto Drivers Welfare Union Rakesh Chandra said. The city government, while announcing the hike in auto fares in June last year, had declared that permits of three-wheelers will be cancelled if Global Positioning System (GPS) was not installed in the vehicles. Transport department had recently asked the auto owners to install GPS as soon as
possible. — PTI |
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