New Delhi, December 17
As the Union urban development ministry is planning to amend the Master Plan of Delhi - 2021, the Delhi government is planning to suggest the development of sub-cities on the lines of Dwarka sub-city where high-rise buildings will be constructed to accommodate maximum number of people in minimum space.

A senior government officer said that there are many loopholes in the MPD-2021 that was prepared in 2006. With the population of the city increasing every year and people from other states prefer to stay in the Capital, Delhi has become a mini-India. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is the only agency that is developing dwelling units, but it fails to provide accommodation in proportion to population. Consequently, unauthorized constructions have come into existence.

How to stop such unauthorized areas has not been clearly mentioned in the new master plan, he said.

The officer said that the urban development ministry has to consult the experts for construction of high-rise buildings and involvement of private builders. Delhi is surrounded by Uttar Pradesh and Haryana so there is no space for expanding its area.

Authorities in Mumbai have developed Navi Mumbai, but it is not possible in Delhi.

The only space is at the periphery where high-rise buildings can be constructed, the officer said.

But before developing the sub-cities, the government has to discuss the issue with the Delhi Jal Board and Slum Department to make arrangements for potable water and construction of sewer drains. Besides, a plan has to be made for commercial areas, school, colleges, and other basic needs.

The officer also said that the government plans to suggest the construction of high-rise buildings for jhuggi dwellers. There is no plan to shift them from their places, he added.

New Delhi, December 17
The weekend chill forced Delhiites to cover themselves with the best of their winter wardrobes as the minimum temperature slipped three degrees below the average for this time of the season to 5° C today.

The metrological department today said that the chill was all set to stay and maybe even increase over the coming week.

Weather conditions are likely to stay chilly tomorrow as well. The city is also likely to experience more fog tomorrow morning, as compared to last few days.

The maximum temperature today was recorded at 21.8° C, one degree above the average for this time of the season.

The humidity levels wavered between a high and low of 91 and 32 per cent.

"The city will see mist and fog during the morning hours. However, the sky will clear out as the day progresses. But the skies are likely to get cloudy again towards the evening," said an India Meteorological Department official.

The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to oscillate between a high and low of 22° and 5° C, respectively.

"Christmas will be joyful in the typical Delhi winter. The chill will only rise now. I am excited about the Christmas and the New Year's eve," said Tanya Roy, a Delhi resident.

New Delhi, December 17
Homeless people prefer to sleep on footpaths as there are no basic amenities at night shelters run by the Delhi government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

Subhash, a rickshaw puller who was sleeping on footpath at Delhi Gate, said, "I prefer to sleep on footpath as there is no basic facility available at night shelters. The government does not provide drinking water, light and soap. We have to manage for drinking water if we sleep at shelters. There is no security arrangement there. Theft cases are reported every day."

He said, "Last year, the government had a temporary shelter in a park at Delhi Gate. This year, we have to go inside the walled city where we cannot park our rickshaw. So we feel better to sleep on roads or under trees."

Rakhi, a mother of two small children, who was sleeping outside LNJP hospital, said that there was no shelter nearby. The government has a shelter near the railway station where I cannot keep all my belongings. They just provide space to sleep. She has been living here for many years."

Kishor, who belongs to Bihar and lives on the street, said that the government mentions every thing on paper. In practice, nothing is done for the homeless. Last year, the government had constructed a number of shelters in parks. This year, there is no such arrangement for the homeless.

Hundreds of people are sleeping under the trees, shades of bus stands and verandas of buildings on Asaf Ali Road, he said.

Noida, December 17
Hundreds of Noida Extension buyers held a protest rally this afternoon, demanding an early approval of the National Capital Region Planning Board.

The buyers have threatened to start 'jail bharo' from January if the NCRPB approval is not given.

Though the Allahabad High Court has given relief to the farmers by ordering hiked compensation and other benefits, the clause of mandatory approval of the NCRPB before the start of construction activity in the area has been holding up the projects.

The rally started from Sector 15 Metro station and ended at Sector 16 Metro station near Rajnigandha underpass.

"The association decided if the demands are not met before January 5, they will go to NCRPB Lodhi Colony office and protest there," said Shweta Bharti, general secretary, Noida Extension Flat Owners and Members Association (NEFOMA).

"Now we will meet Rama Raman, CEO Greater Noida, again and find out what the authority has done since our last meeting about a month ago," said Bharti.

"We are also planning a jail bharo andolan in January," she added.

New Delhi, December 17
At a time when the role of college authorities is under scanner in the recent mark-sheet scandal at Ramjas College, a senior Delhi University official revealed that just 10 to 15 seconds extra for verification of a single mark-sheet could easily detect if it's a fake. If the procedure had been followed as the college claimed, there would have been no fake mark-sheets or scam, he said.

"It takes just 10 to 15 seconds to verify the roll number of the mark-sheet in question from the Database CD provided to the colleges by the university. All the 36 cases of fake mark-sheets were of CBSE board. The university even uploads the results of all the state boards on the web so that every college can access it. CBSE documents are really simple to verify," said the official, requesting anonymity.

Explaining the mechanism, he added that the university provides the state board data to the colleges. It is almost impossible to verify the hard copies as one cannot distinguish between a fake and a real mark-sheet with a naked eye. However, in the data provided online, all one has to do is enter the roll number of the mark-sheet and verify it from the database. The process is a matter of seconds.

Sources in the administration further revealed that almost no college takes the verification of documents seriously. Just yesterday, Ramjas principal said that verification was done only in case of any doubt.

"The incident could have been avoided had there been more vigilance in the matter. Someone has to take the responsibility. There is a mechanism for verification, but no one makes the effort," added the official.

The principal of Ramjas College will soon address the media on the issue and answer the most important question that has been lingering on for a while - that if the college conducts the ideal routine verification, how did it miss six cases unearthed now after a year?

Investigating police officials had also claimed earlier that the college did not use the CDs to verify the documents; however the college officials refuted all such claims.

Another DU official said, "The university doesn't control the verification process in colleges. It is the responsibility of the colleges to follow the procedure. Otherwise, it is only the students who lose as in this case."

Just a few months ago, when the first fake OBC certificate scam was unearthed at DU in July, SRCC principal PC Jain also commented that the fake mark-sheets have been escaping scrutiny for long.

"This is not the first time such an instance has been reported at DU," he had said.

New Delhi, December 17
The Delhi government has opted for the PPP-mode to improve infrastructure in the Capital's industrial estates.

Bids have been issued for three projects to upgrade infrastructure in three estates -- Narela, Bawana, and Okhla and Patparganj bundled together.

Infrastructure in each industrial estate would cover roads, drainage, water supply, waste water and solid waste management system, parking, horticulture, and street lighting.

Delhi industry minister Rama Kant Goswami today visited the Narela industrial complex to inspect the launch of the redevelopment work of the Narela industrial area on the PPP mode.

Goswami said a consultant was appointed by the industry department of the Delhi government for infrastructure mapping, gap assessment, identification of various projects on the PPP mode and undertaking the bid process management to select private sector players for the projects.

Goswami was accompanied by Chetan Sanghi, CMD, Delhi State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) and other senior officers of the DSIIDC and the industry department.

The minister said that based on a feasibility study, the DSIIDC had issued bids for three projects independently under the build, operate, transfer framework -- Narela , Bawana, and Okhla and Patparganj bundled together. — PTI

New Delhi, December 17
The Sheila Dikshit-led Congress government in Delhi failed to meet its assurances even three years after the elections, said president of the BJP unit of Delhi Vijender Gupta.

Dikshit had assured the citizens of the city that if it was voted to power in the assembly election in 2008, she would make Delhi a city like Paris and Shanghai and make it free from slums and garbage. The poor would be provided multi-storey houses on the sites where the present jhuggies were located. But not a single house has been provided to any slum or JJ Dweller, said Gupta.

The Chief Minister had distributed provisional certificates through Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to the Resident Welfare Associations of unauthorised colonies. It was promised to the people that after regularisation of the colonies, basic amenities will be provided them within a year. Not a single colony has been regularised as yet, said Gupta.

The government and land mafia have together committed land scam of thousands of crores in the name of distributing provisional certificates.

New Delhi, December 17
As many as 60 volunteers from all walks of life will impart basic reading and writing skills to illiterate inmates of the Tihar jail.

These volunteers include housewives, students, retired professors, doctors, engineers, chartered accountants and employees with MNCs.

"The project has been undertaken to make inmates completely 100 per cent literate. We had invited voluntary help from people in an advertisement. We received over 100 mails from individuals and organisations offering to help us in our mission," jail spokesperson Sunil Gupta said.

The jail authorities had put up newspaper advertisements last month about the "Padho ya Padhao" (study or teach) project undertaken by them with the help of the National Literacy Mission of the ministry of human resource development.

"People who volunteered to help came from BITS Pilani, Cantonment Board Secondary School Delhi Cantt., IIT Roorkee, Doordarshan, among others," Gupta said.

In the first campus placement conducted in its premises in phases this year, over 100 inmates were selected.

"Inmates who were selected in the placement drive were offered salaries that ranged between Rs 84,000 and Rs 6 lakh per annum. Majority of those selected had enrolled in the 'Padho ya Padhao' project," he said. — PTI

Noted dermatologists gathered at a function organized by the Women's Dermatologic Society (WDS) in New Delhi recently. The WDS attempts to recognize leaders and visionaries among women dermatologists.

Dr Rashmi Sarkar, an active member of the society, promoted its vision of friendship in women dermatologists all over the world through networking.

Prominent and aspiring women dermatologists held talks in a lively manner on the occasion. Women have to balance their professional life with their personal life and this was the focus of discussion.

New Delhi, December 17
The Delhi Minorities Commission today promised to raise the issue of teachers for Urdu and Punjabi language in government schools, translators in government departments, graveyard problem of Christians, etc., with the Delhi government.

The chairman of the commission, Safdar Khan, at a conference on the occasion of the United Nations Minorities' Rights Day said the commission was making continue efforts to fulfil the vacant posts of teachers for Urdu and Punjabi language in government schools.

Members of the commission Pushpinder Singh and AC Michael were also present on the occasion.

The Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, at a recent meeting has assured that appointment of teachers for Urdu and Punjabi language would be done by the Delhi Urdu Academy.

When asked why the academy is being involved in the appointment process when there is an education directorate, the chairman and commission members could not reply.

Pushpinder Singh said the commission was conducting a survey to find out the number of students of Urdu and Punjabi language in the government schools for the appointment of new teachers. The commission is also trying to find out the number of officials who are eager to work in these languages in the government departments.

He said the government's fee reimbursement scheme for minority students in public had tremendous response that was double than last year. At present full fee reimbursement is given to the children whose parents' annual income is Rs 60, 000 and 75 per cent at the annual income of Rs 2 lakh.

Pushpinder demanded that the limit of annual income for full fee reimbursement should be increased from Rs 60, 000 to Rs 2 lakh.

AC Michael demanded for graveyards for Christians in different areas of the city. The old graveyards are full of graves. Now the community needs new places to bury the bodies, he said.

New Delhi, December 17
In a unique initiative, Child Rights and You (CRY), a child rights body, is holding a photojournalism exhibition that will display citizens' insights into the challenges faced by children while accessing their right to education.

The two-day event 'Click Rights' began today.

The exhibition will be held simultaneously in five cities. During the event, the citizens will get an opportunity to sign a petition demanding quality education for the children of India.

Earlier this month, CRY invited citizens and volunteers to click photographs of government or municipal schools in their localities that lacked basic infrastructure, as guaranteed to all children in India by the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009.

More than 500 photographs were received. The photos showcase the state of infrastructure in government and municipal schools across the five metro cities - Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai.

The pictures show that numerous schools lack in cleanliness and many do not have toilets. Some schools have dimly lit classrooms, broken chairs and benches. Children cramped in one classroom or sitting on the floor is another common practice that has been photographed, as has the use of playgrounds and classrooms to store construction materials. A picture from Delhi even shows garbage dumped right outside the gate of a school.

The shortlisted pictures will be displayed at various public places in each of the five cities.

Yogita Verma, director, Volunteer Action, CRY, said, "The 'Click Rights' initiative aims to use photography to raise public awareness about the lack of proper infrastructure in government/municipal schools. Through this initiative, the citizens can demand that the state and central governments ensure the right to a quality education to all children. This includes adequate infrastructure like school buildings, hygienic surroundings, drinking water and separate toilets for girls and boys."

The pictures will later be used in the national, regional and local-level advocacy plans of CRY.

A delegation of CRY will talk to the local authorities about the schools that need improvement. The delegation will also submit a report with details of all the schools that need change to the respective chief ministers. The report will also be sent to the Prime 
Minister.

New Delhi, December 17
Students of Father Agnel School in the Capital will form a human chain on Monday against the rise in the consumption of junk food among school-going children.

The students have come up with this idea in the wake of a Delhi High Court direction to the central government to initiate steps to prohibit schools from serving soft drinks and junk food in their canteens.

"We are not aiming at a complete removal of fast food as the extreme of everything is bad, but we are trying to educate people and we want them to know what they are eating instead of blindly following trends," said Simmi Mahajan, event coordinator of Father Agnel School.

"The Capital suffers from a huge trend of fast food consumption among youngsters, especially school and college students," said Mahajan.

Around 1,200 students are expected to participate in the event by forming the human chain which will spell "No more junk food."

"There will be another hearing regarding this matter on December 21. The students' postcards will be presented to the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court by the students themselves," Mahajan added. — IANS

New Delhi, December 17
A 52-year-old man, in a drunken state, died after falling from the terrace of his house in east Delhi, the police said today.

Sukhpal died on Friday night in Patparganj, east Delhi.

"The incident was reported around 8.30 pm when Sukhpal, in an inebriated state, went to the terrace, where some construction work was going on, and fell down," said a police officer.

According to the police, the boundary wall of the terrace was not very high. — IANS

Gurgaon, December 17
The "Cleanse Plant Earth", a campaign of Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa, reached Gurgaon today. A number of followers, led by the sect head, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan, inaugurated the event by sweeping the city roads.

Such drives have earlier been conducted in Delhi, Bikaner and Jaipur as well.

The theme of the campaign is to spread the awareness of cleanliness and hygiene amongst the people. "If people keep on littering their surroundings, any number of cleanliness workers would prove inadequate," said the dera head.Senior officials of the HUDA and the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon were also present on the occasion.