SPECIAL COVERAGE
CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI



THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
D E L H I   A N D   N E I G H B O U R H O O D

Contenders vent views on new JNUSU
New Delhi, February 22
As the JNU election committee displayed the final list of over 120 candidates contesting for the JNUSU elections, candidates and representatives from different parties had their first face-off with their fellow contenders for the first time as they stated their main agenda on the functioning of the new union at a press conference today.

Maya lashes at rival parties
Greater Noida, February 22
Addressing an election rally in Greater Noida, BSP supremo and UP Chief Minister Mayawati lashed at the Central government and opposition parties, accusing them of being responsible for hampering the development in Uttar Pradesh

Woman loses Rs 7-lakh ring, hotel washes its hands of it
New Delhi, February 22
A newly married couple's stay at The Leela Palace hotel became a torture as they found themselves entangled in an unexpected incident. The woman had lost a diamond ring, worth more than Rs 7 lakh, from the room where the couple were staying. The couple claim that the hotel management staff "deceived" them by promising compensation for the lost article.



EARLIER STORIES




School students take part in a painting competition at India Gate as part of the Delhi police week function in New Delhi on Wednesday.
School students take part in a painting competition at India Gate as part of the Delhi police week function in New Delhi on Wednesday. Tribune photo
Dr Karan Singh, cultural ambassador and president of ICCR, sings classical songs at an evening of music in Azad Bhawan in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Dr Karan Singh, cultural ambassador and president of ICCR, sings classical songs at an evening of music in Azad Bhawan in New Delhi on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Manas Ranjan Bhui

Activists from the Indian trade unions shout anti-government slogans during a protest aganist the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail in New Delhi on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Manas Ranjan Bhui

High Court reserves order on gurdwara poll
New Delhi, February 22
The Delhi High Court today reserved its order on a plea filed by the Delhi government against a single judge's order restraining it from issuing a notification for next month's Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) elections.

450-g stone taken out from gall bladder after 20 years
New Delhi, February 22
For 52-year-old Amlesh Kumar, a resident of Sangam Vihar, life had been difficult owing to pain in his lower abdomen for the past 20 years. For which while he resorted to ayurvedic medicines all this while and even he visited quacks and black magicians for the past six years.

AIIMS surgeons remove 8-kg hernia from infant’s head
“Nowhere in the world have we seen such a giant encephalocele,” said Dr A.K. Mahapatra
New Delhi, February 22
It was a miracle for the Pandey family from Bihar as doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) saved their two-month-old baby's life, removing from his head an 8-kg fluid-filled hernia, considered to be the largest so far.

Govt to promote fish culture in villages
New Delhi, February 22
The Delhi Cabinet today decided to encourage fish culture in villages in order to overcome encroachment activities over the water bodies situated under gram sabha land.

Dialysis centres for freedom fighters soon
New Delhi, February 22
To facilitate freedom fighters in the city, the Cabinet today approved a proposal to enhance amount of cashless facility and increase in empanelled hospitals for Delhi-based freedom fighters and setting up of dialysis centres in identified city government hospitals.

Tax collection up, says CM
New Delhi, February 22
The first 10 months of the current financial year have witnessed better tax collection as compared to the previous year's corresponding period. There has been a growth of 20.80 per cent in the first 10 months despite the economic slowdown.

BKS Marg parking: Trials to be held in March
New Delhi, February 22
The second multi-level automated parking of the city is all set to be opened with a much better efficiency. The construction work of multi-level parking at Baba Kharak Singh (BKS) Marg has been completed by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and the trial runs are expected to begin from March, said senior NDMC officials.

Abuse in orphanage: Court refuses to bar fresh probes
New Delhi, February 22
The Delhi High Court today declined to bar any fresh inquiry into the sexual assault and harassment of children at a privately-run orphanage in central Delhi where an NGO reported physical abuse.

Elders recall Partition through play
New Delhi, February 22
It was an emotional experience for hundreds of senior citizens of the city as they witnessed a musical play on the Partition of India and recalled their tales of joy, sorrow, desperation and separation entrenched in their memories.

Hottest day in 5 years, mercury may dip today
New Delhi, February 22
Delhi residents sweated it out today as the maximum temperature was recorded five notches above average at 30.1 degrees Celsius, making it the hottest February 22 in the last five years.

6 kids working in dhabas rescued
New Delhi, February 22
Six children engaged in labour in roadside eateries were rescued today in northeast Delhi's Old Seemapuri area. Five employers were arrested by the district task force of the area.

BSF constable killed in road accident
New Delhi, February 22
A 39-year-old Border Security Force constable was killed when an unidentified vehicle rammed into the motor cycle he was riding near the Mahipalpur flyover today early morning.

Karan Singh croons at ICCR musical soiree
New Delhi, February 22
An evening of music was organised by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) where its president Dr Karan Singh gave the first public performance by singing his favourite songs. It was also Dr Karan Singh's 80 birthday today.

IGNOU centres to be more disabled-friendly
New Delhi, February 22
New wheelchairs, lifts and additional security will soon be provided at all regional centres of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to help the differently-abled students.

Farmer shot dead
Ghaziabad, February 22
A young farmer was allegedly shot dead by some unidentified men in Panchsheel Nagar district, the police said here today.

 





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Contenders vent views on new JNUSU
Jyoti Rai
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 22
As the JNU election committee displayed the final list of over 120 candidates contesting for the JNUSU elections, candidates and representatives from different parties had their first face-off with their fellow contenders for the first time as they stated their main agenda on the functioning of the new union at a press conference today.

As many as 10 nominees have filed in their candidature for the post of JNUSU president, including two independent candidates.

Sucheta De, presidential candidate from AISA, stressed the need for reduction of the 30% weight given to viva marks as compared to the approved limit of 15% according to the UGC guidelines.

Sucheta said that their first fight will be a full-fledged attack on the Lyngdoh committee guidelines throughout Indian universities. Other issues for AISA included the dropout rate of physically handicapped students from science and other schools.

"We have RTI replies that state that not a single physically handicapped student has passed out from the School of Languages in the last four years," Sucheta said.

AISA's strong opponent for the presidential post, Zico Dasgupta from Students Federation of India hit back and said, "AISA had a clean sweep in the JNUSU panel in 2006 and still they failed miserably in contributing towards the restoration of elections after the court stay.

"The last union had shirked responsibilities. After four years, there are a host of issues. Our party's priority will be to address student issues at the earliest and curtail the administration's involvement in them.

Fronts like ABVP and NSUI blamed the left parties for preaching just political ideologies.

NSUI general secretary candidate Manoranjan spoke of the accomplishments.

"We brought in the Wi-fi connectivity in the academic block and this time we will push for Wi-fi everywhere on campus. Student needs have been ignored by the left parties prioritizing other political tactics on campus," he said.

"Students into their second semester have not got hostels yet. This backlog will kick in when more students apply in the coming session. The university's so-called placement cell is eyewash. No private company hires from JNU because of the opposition from the left. Scholarships haven't been revised enough though inflation has skyrocketed. Student issues need importance on JNUSU agenda and that is our priority," said Saket Bahugunia of ABVP, contesting for the post of a councillor from the School of languages.

The councillor candidates from all the parties will now engage in the general body meetings at different schools for the next few days followed by a university GBM on February 27. The presidential candidates will take part in a debate on 28th night followed by polling on March 1.

The main contenders

All India Students Association (AISA), Students Federation of India (SFI), Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Congress student wing NSUI, All India Bahujan Student Federation (AIBSF), Chatra Janta Dal United (CJDU), Youth for Equality (YFE).

A total of 123 candidates are contesting for over 30 posts which include four office-bearers and councillors for all the schools.

Ten candidates are for the post of president, five are vying for vice-president and six each for general secretary and joint secretary.

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Maya lashes at rival parties
Parmindar Singh

Greater Noida, February 22
Addressing an election rally in Greater Noida, BSP supremo and UP Chief Minister Mayawati lashed at the Central government and opposition parties, accusing them of being responsible for hampering the development in Uttar Pradesh

The Bahujan Samajwadi Party, she said, was the first party to have planned and undertaken all-round development of the state during the last 10 years.

The BSP has fielded candidates on 403 seats of the UP Assembly and has not entered into any alliance with any party. The BSP will form the next government on its own, she declared.

Mayawati said, "The Congress, BJP and Samajwadi parties ruled UP for more than 40 years, but did not do anything for its development. All they did was to promote crime and corruption, divide people on the issues like mandir, masjid, etc."

She said, "The Congress ruled UP and the country for over 40 years. It got involved in corruption and scandals worth Rs 2,000 lakh. No wonder, all these parties have been discarded by the people of the state."

The goonda raj flourished during the reign of the Samajwadi Party and communalism during the BJP's seven-year rule. When the BSP was voted to power in 2007, the planned development of the state was initiated, she claimed.

Mayawati said, "The issues pertaining to the minorities, especially Muslims, were very important to my government. Our party has looked after the welfare of farmers, students, unemployed youth and traders."

Counting her achievements, Mayawati said, "We have paid Rs 2,600 crore as balance to sugarcane farmers and the rate of sugarcane has been revised which is now the highest in any state in the country. Power bills of farmers worth Rs 1,500 crore have been waived by the BSP government."

The UP Chief Minister said she had carved out the Gautam Budh Nagar district in 2007 after which the pace of development here had increased. "Soon UP will supply power round the clock to all the factories, schools and villages."

She warned the people against the false propaganda by opposition parties. "Our government respects the saints and leaders of all the faiths. We have maintained peace in the 75 districts of the state," She said and added that her government is determined to ensure reservation for the minority and backward classes for recruitment in the central services.

Regarding black money, she said the BJP did nothing about it during its seven years of rule. The Congress is equally guilty.

"Our party speaks less, but accomplishes more. If any other party forms the government here, all the industries will leave Noida and Greater Noida and the youth will lose jobs which they have got in the industrial units," Mayawati said.

Many came just to see Behenji

Chief Minister Mayawati reached the vast ground behind the Expo Mart about 20 minutes late and flew back 45 minutes later.

The party cadres and people shouted slogans, "Behen Mayawati Zindabad, Zindabad" as the Chief Minister's helicopter raised clouds of dust on the occasion.

About 20,000 people, including women, from the rural areas were present in the audience. Separate enclosures with chairs had been provided for women.

One of the spectators, Rashid Khan from Kanshi Ram Nagar, said, "I have come to see Behen Mayawati. I will vote for Behenji. But I do not know when the voting is."

Lalita Gautam, a young woman, said she would vote for Mayawati Behenji. The Congress had done nothing for UP.

Another person Chhote Lal echoed the same sentiments.

Ridiculing the Election Commission's directions on covering the elephant statues in UP, Mayawati raised one slogan:

"Khula hathi lakh ka

Dhaka hathi sawa lakh ka".

(Open elephant is worth Rs 1 lakh while the covered one is worth Rs 1.25 lakh).

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Woman loses Rs 7-lakh ring, hotel washes its hands of it
Shaurya Karanbir Gurung
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 22
A newly married couple's stay at The Leela Palace hotel became a torture as they found themselves entangled in an unexpected incident. The woman had lost a diamond ring, worth more than Rs 7 lakh, from the room where the couple were staying. The couple claim that the hotel management staff "deceived" them by promising compensation for the lost article.

The staff also requested them not to register a case with the police.

On February 18, the day the couple, Akshay Sharma and Payal Sharma (not their real names), married, they booked a room at The Leela Palace in Chanakyapuri for two days. They started staying in the room the same day. The next morning, they went out for a while. Payal who forgot to wear her ring, immediately went back to the room.

"Before we left, I had kept my ring near the bedside. My husband was wearing his, but I forgot to wear mine. When we were outside, I suddenly remembered and rushed back to the room. I saw two members of the housekeeping staff inside the room. They had scattered the items. My ring was also missing from the bedside," said Payal.

The couple accordingly complained about it to the hotel management. "They were apathetic about the incident," added Payal. She and her husband then lodged a complaint with the police.

The hotel management requested them to take back the complaint. They assured the couple of compensation for the ring. Meanwhile, the police arrived and told the couple that they would be investigating the case. They also sealed the room to search for evidence.

"We didn't want to stay in the hotel any longer and so we left the place. On February 20, my husband telephoned the hotel management, which told him that a compensatory cheque was made. The next day, they said that nothing could be done about the incident and there was no compensation," said Payal.

The couple thereafter registered a case of theft against the hotel at the Sarojni Nagar police station.

A police official said, "The management of The Leela Palace hotel said that they will question their employees and if they find any mistake on their part, they will compensate the couple. We are presently investigating the matter."

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High Court reserves order on gurdwara poll

New Delhi, February 22
The Delhi High Court today reserved its order on a plea filed by the Delhi government against a single judge's order restraining it from issuing a notification for next month's Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) elections.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Rajiv Shah Endlaw reserved its order after both parties concluded their arguments.

The February 7 order had directed the city government to update, within a month, the electoral rolls with photographs of voters for the DSGMC elections.

The directorate of gurdwara election (DGE) also challenged the order of Justice Vipin Sanghi ordering it to complete the exercise of delimitation in 46 wards within a month.

Challenging the order, the government in its petition said that "the single judge had no right to pass such an order once the directorate has declared the schedule for the polls".

On the delimitation of 46 wards, the government said that it would take a long time and could be done only after the elections.

The single judge's order came on a petition filed by Harmohan Singh, a poll aspirant, alleging that the directorate had virtually announced the schedule for the election but the notification was yet to be issued.

The election is scheduled for March 11 and the filing of nomination papers by candidates would have started on February 16, he said.

"The election of the DSGMC on the basis of incomplete list of voters and without delimitation of wards will cause unfair representation of the members from each ward," the petition said.

"A number of duplicate voters have been mentioned in the list and non-Sikhs also figure in the voters' list," it added. - IANS

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450-g stone taken out from gall bladder after 20 years
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 22
For 52-year-old Amlesh Kumar, a resident of Sangam Vihar, life had been difficult owing to pain in his lower abdomen for the past 20 years. For which while he resorted to ayurvedic medicines all this while and even he visited quacks and black magicians for the past six years.

But to no avail and he continued to suffer until doctors at RG Stone Urology and Laparoscopy Hospital diagnosed the cause to be a 450-g stone in the urinary bladder and the cricket ball sized stone was removed in a rare operation.

"He initially ignored this occasional pain and took ayurvedic medicines without proper consultation. Though the pain subsided by the medicines given to him, it was one day he found difficulty in passing urine. Following which he reported to a local hospital and then to us," said senior consultant urologist Dr Manish Singla at RG Stone Urology and Laparoscopy Hospital.

Tests confirmed a large stone that of a size of a cricket ball in his bladder and then with cystolithotomy, which is surgical removal of bladder stones via a lower abdominal incision, the stone was removed.

"Given the large size of the stone we opted for cystolithotomy instead of the usual minimally invasive techniques. It took almost an hour for the surgery and the patient still in the hospital is fine now," added Dr Singla.

According to doctors, urological stone disorders are increasing day by day amid all age groups but are not being properly taken care of due to lack of awareness. The worse is when people turn to quacks and continue to live under superstitions.

"I had lost all hopes of surviving when I came to know that the stone had become so large. I was continuously visiting 'tantriks' because many people told me that it was a case of black magic," said Amlesh Kumar.

"This is very unfortunate that in a city like Delhi, where there are lots of facilities available, people still overlook such problems until it escalates into something serious. Like in this case, the patient had been ignoring the ailment for 20 years and was relying on traditional medicines which were of no help. All this happens due to lack of awareness. Considering this, we have started a unique programme, RG village drive," said Baldev Raj, country head of the hospital.

The drive targets remote areas for creating awareness about treatment available for various urological disorders such as kidney stone, enlarged prostate and laparoscopic treatment for gallbladder stones, hernia, appendicitis and other minimally invasive surgeries for gynecological disorders, piles, etc.

"This initiative will also help patients who cannot travel to the city to get their check-ups done. As part of corporate social responsibility, RG stone will provide free-of-cost treatment to poor patients. We will run a medical van across villages of India to educate people about various urological disorders and give them free medical consultation," said the country head.

Bladder stones may occur when urine in the bladder is concentrated and materials crystallise; but may also result from foreign objects in the bladder.

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AIIMS surgeons remove 8-kg hernia from infant’s head
“Nowhere in the world have we seen such a giant encephalocele,” said Dr A.K. Mahapatra

New Delhi, February 22
It was a miracle for the Pandey family from Bihar as doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) saved their two-month-old baby's life, removing from his head an 8-kg fluid-filled hernia, considered to be the largest so far.

The family had lost all hope after being told by doctors back home to "abandon" Shwetang as he suffered from a life-threatening hernia that hung from his tiny skull.

Shwetang was brought to the premier health institute in a tub as the mother could not hold the 11-kg baby who had a huge sac-like structure hanging from the back of his head.

"When the baby was brought to us, a huge hernia hung at the back of his head. He weighed 11 kg and we decided to conduct a surgery in spite of the long waiting list we have at AIIMS. Nearly six litres of fluid was drained from the baby's hernia that hung from the baby's skull," Dr A.K. Mahapatra, head of the neurosurgery department at AIIMS, said today.

Weighing 3 kg after the surgery, Shwetang is healthy and recovering now.

Mahapatra and his team performed the two-hour long surgery on January 23.

Life was not easy for Shwetang and his family back home in Siwan district in north Bihar. The family was told by local doctors to abandon the baby because "there was no scope for development of the baby's brain". But the family did not give up.

"Some said the baby has two heads, some said it is god's gift. We were initially apprehensive about the surgery, but doctors gave us strength," said his relieved mother Sushma.

Known as encephalocele, the baby's condition resulted due to a malformation in the skull by birth. The hernia's fluid containing protein, fat, and sugar was collected through a suction pipe. Doctors say it was a case of "giant encephalocele".

"Nowhere in the world have we seen such a giant encephalocele and that too on such a small baby. This is the largest hernia so far," Mahapatra said.

The baby was born with a lemon-size swelling at the back of his head. The 10-cm swelling grew into 80 cm swelling within two months of the birth.

"Thankfully, the brain had too little a portion in the hernia. Otherwise it would have been very difficult to remove the hernia," Mahapatra added.

The surgery was a hard battle fought by the AIIMS doctors who felt the blood loss and controlling the body temperature were a major challenge. Death is a possibility of the case, pre- or post-surgery.

"The child was too small. Children have a small blood volume, and even little blood loss during the surgery could have been fatal," said Dr Vivek Tandon, assistant professor at the neurosurgery department. — IANS

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Govt to promote fish culture in villages
Syed Ali Ahmed
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 22
The Delhi Cabinet today decided to encourage fish culture in villages in order to overcome encroachment activities over the water bodies situated under gram sabha land.

While talking to media after the meeting, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said that the Cabinet had decided to promote fish culture in the water bodies to overcome encroachment activities over the water bodies situated under the gram sabha land.

Due to increase in population, encroachment activities are on rise in various parts of the capital. And in some places, these water bodies are being encroached, resulting in reduction in natural sources of water and depletion of water table in Delhi, said the Chief Minister.

She said that pollution of the water bodies started because of opening of drains and sewerage lines in them.

As per the provision of the Delhi Land Reforms Act, 1954, it is the duty of the gram panchayat to develop activities such as poultry farming and fishery.

The Delhi High Court had directed the city government to take all precautionary measures for revival and maintenance of water bodies.

Fisheries unit of development department identified 24 such water bodies in north-west district where fishing can be introduced. The cabinet has decided to auction these water bodies for fishing activities on approved terms and conditions which includes utilisation of ponds for only fish culture and not to further handover to any other person, no modification in the existing structure in the water bodies and not to do any activity which is not in conformity with the existing or future laws of environment.

The ownership of ponds will continue to remain with the gram sabha, added the Chief Minister.

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Dialysis centres for freedom fighters soon
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 22
To facilitate freedom fighters in the city, the Cabinet today approved a proposal to enhance amount of cashless facility and increase in empanelled hospitals for Delhi-based freedom fighters and setting up of dialysis centres in identified city government hospitals.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said that the Cabinet had given its nod to a proposal for setting up of dialysis centres in PPP mode in identified government hospitals. This will increase the number of hospitals having such facilities. The centres are going to be set up for the patients suffering from end-stage renal diseases and regular dialysis.

She said that in Delhi approximately 8,000 patients, in which around 300 come from outside, needed dialysis at any point of time.

The objective of setting up of dialysis centers is to provide the state-of-the-art dialysis facilities at affordable cost to patients requiring the procedure.

The Cabinet has also decided that the poor and identified patients would be able to undergo dialysis at the centres without any payment or subsidised payment. The government will bear the charges of dialysis of these identified poor category patients.

At present the dialysis facilities are available only in Lok Nayak and GTB hospitals which provide services to people who need emergency dialysis. The decision of the Cabinet will provide facilities to all categories of patients.

The Cabinet has also taken a significant decision to enhance limit of cashless facility and increase in empanelled hospitals for Delhi-based freedom fighters by including 11 super specialty hospitals in the notified list.

The Delhi-based freedom fighters were made entitled for cashless treatment up to Rs 1 lakh per annum in 25 hospitals. The government has considered a memorandum submitted by the Freedom Fighter Relief and Memorial Committee, requesting increase in cashless limit from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh and addition of super specialty hospitals in the list of empanelled hospitals. The Cabinet has approved hike in limit of cashless facility from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh and addition of 11 super specialty hospitals situated in Delhi and NCR in approved list of 25 empanelled hospitals.

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Tax collection up, says CM
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 22
The first 10 months of the current financial year have witnessed better tax collection as compared to the previous year's corresponding period. There has been a growth of 20.80 per cent in the first 10 months despite the economic slowdown.

This was stated today by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit who is also holding charge of the finance department.

She said that Delhi was all-set to achieve tax collection target of Rs 20,246 crore as mentioned in the current year's budget. There had been the highest 62.64 per cent growth in stamps and registration fee, 52.07 per cent in taxes on vehicles, 43.67 per cent in entertainment tax, 21.71 per cent in state excise and 14.05 per cent in VAT collection.

Dikshit said that about 80.35 per cent of the tax collection target had been achieved up to January 2012. This highlighted an important reason for the sound financial position of the government.

The total tax receipts from April 2011 to January 2012 has been Rs 16,268.06 crore compared to Rs 13,467.24 crore collected during the corresponding period in the previous financial year. The tax collection during 10 months has been Rs 16,268.06 crore against the annual target of Rs 20,246 crore which comes to about 80.35 per cent of determined target.

The target of taxes on vehicles was Rs 800 crore and an amount of Rs 890.38 crore, 111.30 per cent of the target, has been achieved, indicating a growth of 52.07 per cent. The target of stamps and registration fee in the current year was Rs 2,300 crore, Rs 1,851.15 crore has been realised in the first 10 months, showing a growth of 62.64 per cent over the corresponding period of the previous financial year.

The target for the state excise in the current year Rs 2,300 crore, an amount of Rs 1,941.79 crore, 84.43 per cent of the target, has been collected showing a growth of 21.71 per cent.

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BKS Marg parking: Trials to be held in March
Himani Chandel
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 22
The second multi-level automated parking of the city is all set to be opened with a much better efficiency. The construction work of multi-level parking at Baba Kharak Singh (BKS) Marg has been completed by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and the trial runs are expected to begin from March, said senior NDMC officials.

The state-of-the-art parking lot has nine floors, two of which will have a shopping complex.

NDMC officials said that the facility would relieve the parking problem of Connaught Place to a great extent. The multi-level parking has a capacity to accommodate 1,408 cars at a time.

After facing much flak due to technical snag at the multi-level parking in Sarojini Nagar forcing authorities to shut it down for three days in December, the official said the surveys were being conducted there to get a better understanding of the technology.

The parking is likely to open for public on a trial basis before it is formally opened. The trail will be of more than 20 days. The trial runs at Sarojini Nagar parking lot had lasted only for 20 days.

The civic agency has also hired a pool of taxis to conduct internal trials before opening to the public. "We will take trials for a longer period to avoid any kind of problem after the inauguration. We also need to ensure that vehicles can be retrieved in a minimal period of time at the BKS Marg multi-level parking lot. The maximum retrieval time should be anywhere between 10 and 15 minutes," said a senior NDMC official.

However, at Sarojini Nagar parking lot the automated system was tested on public cars. "We are using taxis for the internal trials. We want to be sure of every aspect," said the official.

The situation more sensitive at this parking as any technical glitch can lead to traffic chaos. Also, there is no surface-level parking area near the upcoming automated parking facility.

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Abuse in orphanage: Court refuses to bar fresh probes

New Delhi, February 22
The Delhi High Court today declined to bar any fresh inquiry into the sexual assault and harassment of children at a privately-run orphanage in central Delhi where an NGO reported physical abuse.

NGO Haq Foundation in its report based on personal interviews and interactions with children who live in Arya Orphanage in Daryaganj said that the older residents and the staff members subjected a number of children to physical abuse and sexual assault.

B.P. Chaudhary, president of the Arya Orphanage in Daryaganj, pleaded before the high court that it should restrain the government from setting up any other committee as the children were traumatised after people visited the home and questioned them.

The division bench of Acting Chief Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw, however, told him that the government had not set up any other committee, and asked him to approach the court again if any other probe panel was set up and he had objections to it.

Chaudhary alleged that "more than 1,600 children have been staying here and due to some stray incidents the whole organisation cannot be blacklisted".

During the hearing, the official administrator submitted a status report to the court that recommended a stop on fresh admissions to the orphanage as the residential accommodation for the children was not adequate.

The report said: "It has been felt that the orphanage does not have proficiently qualified officer-in-charge and counsellors."

Earlier, taking suo moto cognizance of media reports, the court sought a report from the administrator appointed by Delhi's Lt-Governor to look into the allegations by February 22.

The court would next hear the case on Thursday.

Arya Orphanage earlier submitted that all allegations against it were baseless and that the court could appoint a judicial officer to inquire the matter.

"One cannot rule out that such things never happened in the orphanage. If such things have happened, it is your responsibility to take corrective action," the court said.

The court said it was looking into the larger aspects in the matter, including orphanages running without registering under the relevant laws.

The report given to court alleged that the older residents and the staff members subjected a number of children to physical abuse and sexual assault.

According to the NGO, Haq Foundation, the "older boys" as well the warden of the orphanage had been sodomising the younger boys. — IANS

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Elders recall Partition through play

New Delhi, February 22
It was an emotional experience for hundreds of senior citizens of the city as they witnessed a musical play on the Partition of India and recalled their tales of joy, sorrow, desperation and separation entrenched in their memories.

Organised by the Delhi police to pay tribute to the senior citizens who lived through the Partition in 1947, the play, "Jisne Lahore nai dekhya O jamiya nahi" was staged at the Lotus Temple auditorium last evening.

For 90-year-old Bhupinder Singh, it was an overwhelming experience as he remembered how almost 65 years ago all his friends had disappeared overnight. "I was 25 back then, and majority of my friends were Muslims. We were playing gilli danda (a traditional game) one evening and the next day they were all gone to a place called Pakistan and would never return," a misty-eyed Singh said.

"I lost all my friends overnight with whom I had shared my whole life," added the resident of south Delhi's Lajpat Nagar.

Agreed Salma Parveen, who was a teenager in 1947, witnessed not only her country's partition but her family's partition too. "My father decided to stay back in India but the rest of my relatives decided to go to Pakistan. I lost all my cousins in an instant and it took years to fill that vacuum," said Parveen, a resident of Delhi's old quarters.

"It was a terrible loss for the people of this country and both the nations as well. Partition should never have taken place," she added.

The senior citizens assembled at the Lotus Temple were ecstatic with the initiative and urged the Delhi police to organise many more of such events in the future.

"I compliment Delhi police for organising such a programme which helped us to gather and interact with one another," said KM Dhodi, a retired Indian Army general.

The Delhi police was more than happy to agree. "More of such programmes will take place in future which are vital for spreading communal harmony," ACP (South) Ajay Chaudhry said. — IANS

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Hottest day in 5 years, mercury may dip today

New Delhi, February 22
Delhi residents sweated it out today as the maximum temperature was recorded five notches above average at 30.1 degrees Celsius, making it the hottest February 22 in the last five years.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the second hottest February 22 was in 2009 when the maximum temperature was recorded at 29 degrees. At 23 degrees, 2011 was the coolest.

The IMD said the sudden rise in mercury was due to western disturbances over the Himalayan region because of which the winds blowing over north and western India are hot and moist.

However, as the western disturbances are expected to move away from Delhi by Friday, the temperatures may come down.

The day's minimum temperature was recorded at 12.8 degrees, two notches above average for this time of the season.

Humidity levels wavered between a high of 91 and a low of 31 per cent.

Meanwhile, Delhi residents should brace themselves for another hot day tomorrow as the maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover around 29 and 12 degrees Celsius.

Tuesday's maximum temperature settled five notches above average at 29.3 degrees Celsius while the minimum temperature was 11.1 degrees, average for this time of the season. — IANS

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6 kids working in dhabas rescued
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 22
Six children engaged in labour in roadside eateries were rescued today in northeast Delhi's Old Seemapuri area. Five employers were arrested by the district task force of the area.

All children are between 11 and 15 years of age and are victims of child trafficking from the villages of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Except for one, all used to work without any wages for more than 13 hours a day. They used to do chores like cleaning, washing dishes, cooking and serving at hotels.

One of them said, "I was brought to Delhi around six years back and since then I am working in hotels. I have not seen my parents for a long time and my employer used to beat me whenever I did any mistake."

These children, who nurtured dreams of a better earnings and future, were trafficked to Delhi by local agents or dalals on the pretext of good fortune, education and work opportunities. Some of them have not been in contact with their parents since they left their homes for long periods, said a member of the rescue operation after the raid.

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BSF constable killed in road accident
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 22
A 39-year-old Border Security Force constable was killed when an unidentified vehicle rammed into the motor cycle he was riding near the Mahipalpur flyover today early morning.

The deceased, Dhiren Kalita was a resident of Najafgarh. He belonged to Dakshin Dinajpur district in West Bengal.

The police was informed about the accident at the flyover at about 2 am. Kalita was headed to Gurgaon on the National Highway 8. Found unconscious in a pool of blood, he was taken to the AIIMS hospital, where the doctors declared him brought dead.

A case of rash driving and causing death due to negligence has been registered against unidentified persons at the Vasant Kunj (North) police station.

The police is yet to find eyewitnesses.

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Karan Singh croons at ICCR musical soiree
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 22
An evening of music was organised by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) where its president Dr Karan Singh gave the first public performance by singing his favourite songs. It was also Dr Karan Singh's 80 birthday today.

Describing himself as an amateur musician, Dr Singh said that he made it a point to sing once a week. "Music plays an important role in my life. I am fond of listening not only to Indian classical music but also western pop. In fact, I am a big fan of Whitney Houston who died recently. I have also admired the likes of Billy Joel," he said during the performance.

The evening had Dr Singh sing his favourite songs from four genres: ghazals, classical, geet and dogri.

Gursharan Kaur, wife of the Prime Minister , was the chief guest on the occasion. Dr Singh was given lessons in music by pundit Uma Dutt Sharma, father of santoor maestro Shiv Kumar Sharma.

"He was my teacher in Kashmir. As ICCR is the hub of cultural activities, I decided to sing and hope people liked it," Dr Singh said.

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IGNOU centres to be more disabled-friendly

New Delhi, February 22
New wheelchairs, lifts and additional security will soon be provided at all regional centres of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to help the differently-abled students.

"Many students with disabilities are seeking admission to various courses offered by IGNOU. At present, there are a few thousand students with different categories of disabilities," Vice Chancellor M. Aslam said today.

"These students need some special service and aids in order to realize independent forms of studying and living. New wheelchairs, lifts and additional security will soon be provided at all regional centres," he added.

IGNOU last week organized a two-day workshop to train staffers form all its 67 regional centres on how to assist and deal with physically-disabled students.

The support staff should have adequate knowledge and information about the students with disabilities. - IANS

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Farmer shot dead

Ghaziabad, February 22
A young farmer was allegedly shot dead by some unidentified men in Panchsheel Nagar district, the police said here today.

Assailants shot dead Prem Chand (22) yesterday in Garhmukteshwar. They threw his body at an isolated area, around 7 km from there, the police added. — PTI

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