New Delhi, April 11
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said there was no need to be panic as ground water as well as water supplied by the Delhi Jal Board was bacteria free and good for drinking.

Rejecting the claim of international health journal, Lancet, the Chief Minister said bacteria in Delhi water were not harmful for health. The water was safe for use.

The Lancet claimed that NDM-1, bacteria with multi-drug resistant gene, was found in sewage and drinking water samples in a study done in the city that is harmful for health.

DJB CEO Ramesh Negi said the water quality in the city met the official standards. The water was being tested as per the Bureau of India Standard. Chances of the bacteria growing in Delhi's water were less.

Director of Indian Council of Medical Research V M Katoch said NDM-1 gene carrying bacteria was not significant finding since there was no clinical linkage of this finding.

The study of the journal was not scientific. It had targeted India with the motive known by the agency that had got done the study, he said.

There was no major health threat by the presence of multi-drug resistant bacteria in Delhi's environment, the union health ministry said.

New Delhi, April 11
The Delhi Cabinet has given its nod to a revised proposal for Metro Phase-III which includes two new lines and extension of another three existing lines.

While briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit stated that her government was keen to extend the coverage of the Delhi Metro service in the Capital city as its services had been reliable, fast, pollution-free and hassle-free.

The Cabinet had given its approval to a proposal for extension of Metro network under the third phase.

Delhi was still lagging behind in terms of having adequate coverage by Metro network to meet the transport requirements of its population. Hence, it had been decided to go ahead to commission three lines - Mukundpur-Yamuna Vihar and Janakpuri West-NOIDA Botanical Garden and extend two existing routes of Badarpur-Central Secretariat up to Kashmere Gate, HUDA City Centre, Gurgaon-Jahangirpuri up to Badli and Dwarka line up to Najafgarh.

Dikshit further stated that in all, 67 stations would come up under the third phase and around 41 km line would be underground and rest of 67 km would be elevated. The anticipated cost of third phase would be over of Rs 30,000 crore, including taxes and duties. One of the new routes is Mukundpur-Rajouri Garden-Dhaula Kuan-Anand Vihar-Yamuna Vihar with 35 stations and total route length is of around 56 km. This line will pass through Naraina with a new Metro station. This had been approved at the instance of Delhi industries minister Ramakant Goswami.

Another new route is Janakpuri west-Munirka-Kalkaji-Jamia-Kalindi Kunj-Botanical Garden NOIDA with 22 stations and route of around 34 km.

Further, Central Secretariat-Badapur line would be extended up to Kashmere Gate with seven stations and route length of around 10 km. Another line to be extended from HUDA City Centre, Gurgaon- Jahangirpuri up to Badli with three new stations and route length of around 5 km. The extension of 5 km route on existing Dwarka line up to Najafgarh had also been approved.

Dikshit added that with the completion of the third phase it was expected that entire Ring Road would be connected with the Metro service which would provide much relief to the commuters resulting in remarkable decongestion of traffic within the city.

The Cabinet has also decided to get prepared the project report on priority basis for extension of existing Dilshad Garden-Rithala line up to Bawana.

Gurgaon, April 11
The district administration has initiated the process to prepare a zonal master plan for developing an eco-sensitive zone in 5-km area around the boundary of Sultanpur National Bird Sanctuary as per the guidelines of the union ministry of environment and forests.

Deputy Commissioner PC Meena today called a meeting of the officials concerned and directed them to ensure compliance with the guidelines of the Central government in this regard.

After the meeting, Meena said a monitoring committee would be constituted under his chairmanship to keep an eye on the progress made in implementing the provisions of the government notification. The 10-member committee would submit its action taken reports to the ministry every year.

He directed the senior town planner to deploy adequate enforcement wing staff to ensure that no unauthorised construction takes place in the prohibited area.

The union ministry of environment and forests has declared 5-km area around the boundary of the Sultanpur National Park in Gurgaon district as an eco-sensitive zone and the state government has been asked to prepare a zonal master plan for this area involving all departments concerned.

Meena maintained that no change of land use from green usage such as orchards, horticulture, agriculture, parks, etc. to non-green usage would be permitted in the zonal master plan, except limited conversion of the agricultural land to meet the residential needs of local residents, apart from improvement of roads and bridges, infrastructure, construction of public utilities and community buildings.

He said mining and crushing activity within a radius of 1km from the boundary would not be allowed. Similarly, no construction of any kind would be allowed up to a distance of 300 metre from the boundary except tube well chamber of dimension not more than 1,000 cubic inches.

The construction of any building having more than two storey would not be allowed in the area from 300 metre to 500 metre of the park and laying of new high-tension transmission wires would also not be allowed up to a distance of 500 metres from the park.

No new wood-based industry and any polluting unit could be established within 1 km of the boundary. The felling of trees on forest and revenue land would be subject to the approved management plan by the Central government.

The extraction of groundwater would be permitted only for bona fide agriculture and domestic consumption of the occupant of the plot and no sale of the groundwater would be permitted. Discharge of untreated industrial effluents into any water body within the eco-sensitive zone would also not be permitted.

The bird sanctuary, situated about 15 km from Gurgaon city, is known for its wide variety of aquatic avifauna. 

Greater Noida, April 11
Gautam Budh Nagar has registered all round progress on different fronts during the past 10 years, stated the latest census report.

Literacy has jumped from 56.83 per cent in 2001 to 82.2 per cent in 2011. In woman literacy, district tops the state while population in G B Nagar has increased by 5.69 lakh which again is highest in UP from the percentage point of view.

According to social scientists, the fast developing Noida and Greater Noida are attracting a large influx of people from outside who seem to like the world-class facilities here.

The statistics of census reflect the success story of the district. Population of G B Nagar during the past 10 years has increased from 11.5 lakh to 16.69 lakh, now which at 51.52 per cent is the highest population growth for any district of UP. The development of infrastructure and the coming world-class projects in the district are a great attraction for the people of other districts and states, said Dr Vaneeta Verma, a social scientist.

There is a constant influx of people from Delhi, NCR and other states who want to settle down in Noida and Greater Noida.

Besides, these two cities have also developed as educational hub.

After Ghaziabad, which has 85 per cent literacy, G B Nagar has the maximum number of literate people at 82.2 per cent in UP.

According to the 2001censes, the women literacy rate was at 44.64 per cent which today stands at 81.42 per cent. The literacy rate of men also stands at 90.23 per cent in the district.

As per sex ratio is concerned, however, the district lags behind. In 2011 the sex ratio is at 852 which is the lowest in UP. But some improvement has been registered in this sphere too. Sex ratio was at 840 in 2001 censes while it has now improved to 852.

According to Dr Verma, with improved literacy and sex ratio the district will surely improve in future.

New Delhi, April 11
While activists are demanding a lokpal with stringent powers to probe corruption cases, the Delhi lokayukta has slammed the state government for creating legal hurdles in compliance with its directions in ongoing inquiries, stating that such moves make a "dent" in the government's claims of transparency and openness.

"Any institution which is created to check and contain corruption has to face opposition from those upon whom it exercises jurisdiction. Our experience has been no different," Lokayukta Justice Manmohan Sarin said in the annual report for the year 2009-10.

Sarin cited the case of a complaint filed by former BJP MLA Vijay Jolly against Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit where the lokayukta had "merely" asked the government to produce records of the decision-making process, which was challenged by the government before the Delhi High Court.

"Instead of producing the records, they challenged the order of this forum before the Honourable High Court wherein a learned single judge, interalia, directed that the lokayukta could summon the records only after notice had been issued to the respondent 'public functionary'," the report said.

The order was set aside by a division bench of the high court after the office of the lokayukta filed an appeal.

"It said in this era of transparency and Right to Information, where any ordinary citizen can seek information, the stand taken by the Government of NCT of Delhi of not to produce records before this forum not only makes deep dent into government's claim of transparency and openness, but its reluctance and resistance to produce records raises doubts regarding the motive and intentions of public functionaries and public servants holding key positions in the government," the report provided under RTI to activist SC Agrawal said.

It cited three cases where direction of the office of the lokayukta to produce records were challenged by the government departments in the courts just because the head of corporation or department was an IAS officer.

Lokayukta is a state version of lokpal - the anti- corruption ombudsman, yet to be constituted at the Centre - which can probe allegations of irregularities against the state government.

Activists led by Anna Hazare have proposed a Jan Lokpal Bill for creation of the position of lokpal at the Centre and lokayukta at the state level with stringent powers to take action on the allegations of corruption.

While there is no lokpal at the Centre, about 18 states, including Delhi, have lokayukta.

"Public functionaries are yet to reconcile to the fact that this institution has a statutory mandate to inquire into allegations against them. Therefore, challenges to an inquiry or investigation questioning the jurisdiction can be expected from public functionaries, but the approach of the government and government corporation as manifested in few case has left much to be desired," the lokayukta has said. - PTI

New Delhi, April 11
A west Delhi resident has been ordered by a Delhi court to part with half of a DDA flat, which he inherited after death of his mother 25 years back, to his sister.

While asking the man to segregate half of the property for his sister, Civil Judge Ravindra Kumar Pandey also restrained the man and his family members from selling the flat, left by his mother, or transferring it to anybody else.

"Defendant (brother) is directed to separate the half share of the plaintiff (sister) in the suit property within two months," the court said.

The court's order came on a plea by a man's sister, who said her mother had died in 1986 leaving her and her brother as her legal heirs.

The court gave its order on the plea, which remained uncontested as the brother failed to appear in the court to present his side of the story despite repeated summons.

She said after her mother's death, she became entitled to half of the share in the DDA flat along with her brother.

She alleged she had been requesting her brother for partition of the share of the property and also to segregate her share, but he had not consented.

She added her brother wanted to sell the property without her consent and without parting with her share in it.

The court relied on the depositions of the woman as her brother did not appear before the court.

"The testimony of the plaintiff has remained uncontrovert and unchallenged as the defendant (brother) has failed to contest the suit. There is no reason to disbelieve the testimony of the witness.

"In view of the unrebutted testimony of the witness and various documents placed and proved on record and in absence of any evidence to the contrary, the plaintiff's suit is proved to the satisfaction of this court and is hereby decreed and a decree of partition in respect of the suit property is passed in favour of the plaintiff and against the defendant.

"The defendant (brother) is directed to separate the half share of the plaintiff in the suit property within two months," the court said. - PTI

New Delhi, April 11
A Delhi court has rejected the plea of a man who had sought prosecution of six Delhi police officers, including an assistant commissioner of police, for allegedly implicating his son in several cases of theft.

Kumar had moved the sessions court after a magisterial court in October 2010 dismissed his application accusing Mohhamedd Ali, ACP (Subzi Mandi); SHO Ramesh Kumar; head constables Uday Bhan and Jagmohan and constables Virender and Dharambir of picking up his son Vikas from their house in February 2007 on the pretext of a complaint pending against him.

In his complaint, Kumar said the police later booked his son for several cases of theft.

Dismissing the plea of Ravinder Kumar, a resident of north Delhi, additional sessions judge Bimla Kumari said, "Since the police officials did the act under the colour of their duty and authority, the trial court did not commit any error by dismissing the complaint of the petitioner."

The court added that under Section 140 of the Delhi police (DP) Act, a previous sanction of the administrator of Delhi was to be obtained before prosecuting the police officials.

The trial court in its order had said, "No sanction has been accorded to the complainant by the competent authority to prosecute the accused police officials who had arrested the complainant's son under the colour of their duty in accordance with power bestowed upon them by the law. So the complainant's case stands dismissed."

New Delhi, April 11
Unlike previous years, this year no longer will the pre-registration process of admission and to fill the long OMR forms in Delhi University.

Rather, applicants will be able to register themselves online without having to step in the university campus.

This was decided in a special meeting where the DU vice-chancellor met all the college principals and the dean of student welfare. Speaking to The Tribune the principal of Maharaja Agrasen College, S K Sondhi, said, "The main agenda of the meeting today was to invite all the college principals and take a mock feedback on the resources, infrastructure and availability of teaching and non-teaching staff for the admission process of the coming academic session."

Aspiring university students will benefit a lot as most formalities will then be converted online. The dean of student welfare had hinted that the "online open day" will be conducted where applicants will interact with the DU teachers.

New Delhi, April 11
A Delhi court has denied bail to a man arrested for allegedly driving his wife to commit suicide by harassing her for dowry, observing that marriage is a "second birth" for a woman and it is her husband's "pious duty" to treat her well in the matrimonial house.

"Marriage is a second birth for a female in the context of Indian society," additional sessions judge Sanjeev Aggarwal said.

"It is the pious duty of the husband to treat his wife well in her matrimonial house, as she comes to reside after marriage in a totally new environment, after leaving her parents' house and their love and affection," he said, turning down the plea of Ramesh, who had sought bail on the ground of parity as other accused in the case had been granted relief.

Ramesh had married Priyanka in April 2007, but soon after she began complaining about harassment by her in-laws.

Her father alleged that she was often beaten up by her in-laws for not bringing enough dowry.

On November 6, 2009, she had informed her parents that she had an argument with her in-laws and was again harassed and beaten up by them. Later on the same day, she consumed poison and died at a hospital here.

A case was registered against her husband and his relatives at Alipur police station.

"Without commenting upon the nature of the prosecution evidence, led so far, I do not deem it expedient to grant bail to accused Ramesh Kumar. Consequently, bail application of Ramesh stands dismissed," the judge said.

Ramesh argued before the court that his mother had already secured bail from the Delhi High Court while his father, sister, brother and brother-in-law, who were co-accused in the case, were also granted anticipatory bail by trial court. He said that he was in jail since November 7, 2009 and sought bail on the ground of parity.

The prosecution, however, opposed his bail plea, saying that Ramesh's case stood on a footing different from those of other co-accused as he was the victim's husband and was living with her in same house whereas all the other co-accused persons were residing separately. -- PTI

New Delhi, April 11
The identity of the woman who was murdered and parcelled in a metal trunk from Delhi to Ajmer about a week ago remains a mystery as two families, which yesterday approached the police, have expressed no relation with the victim.

According to the police, establishing the identity of the victim will be its primary task as unless the whereabouts of the woman was known, the killer would not be traced.

"We were approached by two families from Jalandhar and Rohini after the news broke. However, they could not recognise the body. The Rajasthan police is investigating the case and we are assisting it," said a senior police official from the north district.

The badly disfigured and decomposed body has been kept at Yagya Narayan Hospital in Kishangarh (Ajmer).

The woman, in her mid twenties, bore about 12 stab wounds and her face has been completely disfigured by acid, making it difficult for the police to publish her photograph.

The body was parcelled by an unidentified person from Milap Transport Roadlines, Lahori Gate, to its branch in Kishangarh in Ajmer on April 2.

According to information, the sender has identified himself as 'B' and the package was to be received by only him at Kishangarh.

However, when no one came to claim the package at Kishangarh, it was kept in the storage of the transportation company. But, on April 8, the workers smelt foul smell emanating from the parcel and they alerted the police.

According to a senior police official of the crime branch, initial investigations in Delhi suggest that the killer was well aware of several transport companies operating in the Lahori Gate area.

"The killer could be a trader or someone with some association with transport companies. He is well aware of their working style. Besides, the killer could also be having some association with Kishangarh. It is not a random choice," said the official. He added that catching the killer would be cake walk once the identity of the victim was established. 

New Delhi, April 11
The Seemapuri police has arrested a 25-year-old man for killing two puppies and beat up an elderly lady and her daughter for objecting to his action.

A case in this regard has been registered and the accused has been identified as Deekshit Sharma. The incident took place at Dilshad Garden on Saturday night.

Pooja Mahajan, a housewife complained to the police around 7 pm when she saw Sharma beating dogs and killing two puppies just outside her house.

"Pooja Mahajan is an elderly woman and often feeds the dogs in the area. However, Sharma who lives in the same locality often picked up fights with the lady for doing so. On Saturday evening, he beat up the dogs and killed two of them, after which Mahajan called the police," said Sourabh Gupta from Animal Welfare Officer with PFA (People For Animals). However, Sharma managed to flee the spot. In his absence, the police told his parents to send him to the police station. When Sharma got to know about it, he went to Mahajan's house and attacked her.

"He not only beat up the elderly woman, but also her daughter who came to her rescue. It was only after the injured ladies were taken to hospital and their medical examination was conducted that the police arrested the accused later in the night," said Gupta. 

New Delhi, April 11
The crime branch of the Delhi police has arrested four persons in connection with the murder of one

Subhash Chopra who was found gagged to death at his residence in Prashant Vihar on March 11. The accused include a nephew of Chopra.

They were arrested yesterday from Mubarka Chowk after a tip-off.

According to the police, Chopra's nephew, Kuldeep Chopra, had planned the murder-cum-robbery of his uncle. He was helped by three of his friends-- Jitender, Sachin and Satpal.

To mislead the police, Kuldeep had lodged a complaint against three unknown persons and had even pretended to assist the police in arresting the culprits.

On the night of March 11, Kuldeep along with his accomplices allegedly entered the first floor residence of Subhash Chopra, a retired MCD employee, with the intention of robbery. The intruders gagged Chopra with a tape, which eventually killed him.

The intruders then ransacked the house and took away Chopra's purse and mobile phones.

According to Ashok Chand, DCP (crime), Chopra ran two schools and had several other properties. Kuldeep assisted him in his business. Kuldeep had even mortgaged his father's house with Chopra for Rs 2 lakh.

"Kuldeep revealed that Chopra mistreated and rebuked him over petty issues. He had planned the robbery to get back the papers of his father's house. Also, he was under the impression that his uncle had kept a large amount of money in the house. Thus, he planned the robbery," said Chand.

He added that the police had recovered two mobile phones, mortgage papers of Kuldeep's house and some other Chopra's documents from the accused.