New Delhi, July 11
The Delhi Revenue Department has inspected 96 premises involved in stocking acid for business and imposed penalty of Rs 1.3 lakh on eight shops while three other were sealed for violation.

Giving details, Principal Secretary (Revenue) Dharampal said that the officers of the department have inspected 96 premises involved in stocking acid for business where 17 premises violations identified.

These inspections have been made in compliance of the directions issued by the Supreme Court in the case of Laxmi Vs Union of India.

He said that three premises in north district were sealed during the inspections whereas south, south-west, north-east, Shahdara and New Delhi districts found with no violation. He further informed that the department is constantly monitoring to check illegal sale of acid.

It may recall that as per the order of the Supreme Court, no seller will be allowed to stock or sell acid without license. Buyers will be sold the chemical only after they show their government issued photo identity proof and purpose of purchase.

"The seller will be obliged to record the sale details and submit them with the police within three days along with disclosing all stocks to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate within 15 days. Failing to do so could lead to a fine of Rs 50,000. No acid will be sold to anyone below 18 years of age. Also, only non-harmful form of acid will be available over the counter," he said.

In laboratories, hospitals and other institutions where acids are used, a person will be placed in charge of storing acid and of compulsory checking of students and personnel leaving the institution.

New Delhi, July 11
Under the South Delhi Greenway Master Plan that was reviewed by the Lieutenant Governor, Najeeb Jung, the DDA decided to transform 900 neglected landscape along with the Barapullah drain into a beautifully connected parkway and trail network.

The project will be monitored by the Municipal Corporations, PWD, DJB, Irrigation and Forest section of the Delhi government, IITs, INTACH, ASI and other organizations, a DDA official said.

The project envisages the cleaning up of the Barapullah drain, originating near Said-ul-Ajaib near Mehrauli and ending at the confluence with the Yamuna near Barapullah Bridge. Decentralized biological treatment facility all along the drain is the central idea of the entire eco-restoration project, which is being done with the help of environmental engineering experts, the official said.

He said the project is not just a beautification of drain, it is also for cleaning it and providing safe and secure recreational space to everyone, including women, children and senior citizens.

The official said that the project will provide heritage trail connecting five of the seven ancient links of Delhi and a large number of historical monuments and help the city showcase its cultural heritage. The second benefit will be of eco-mobility.

All piecemeal developments in the urban landscape such as currently gated parks and beautification projects, as well as important new transportation developments such as Nizamuddin Railway Stations, Sarai Kale Khan ISBT and Barapullah elevated roads shall be integrated holistically with this EcoMobility Corridor project.

Both sides of Barapulla drain would be transformed into front-yard parks with jogging trails, exercising facilities and recreation and play areas for children.

The project will have a three step approach - cleaning, providing access and creating value through public space creation for which experts will be involved.

New routes, access roads, connections, bridges, boardwalks and walkways would be created so that people can reach the river and it becomes part of their daily routes and family activities. The private sector may be involved in developing future models for maintenance, activity general and keeping it the greenway safe.

New Delhi, July 11
Close to three weeks after a 50-year-old woman from Manipur caught two persons who were allegedly trying to snatch her gold chain, her son was shot at near Sarai Kale Khan, south-east Delhi, this morning when he was on his way to a gym.

The woman, Khula Laimayum Sahani, has termed the attack on her son as revenge against her. She said that her son's attackers may be a part of the gang of the two snatchers she had caught on June 27.

Khula's 27-year-old son, Ricky Singh Sahni, was on his way to a gym in Saket, where he works as an instructor. He is a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) professional and had taken part in various national and international events. His father, Avtar Singh Sahni, is a renowned television and theatre personality.

Ricky, who lives with his family in Patparganj area, had taken the Sarai Kale Khan route and around 7.30 am he heard a loud bang which made him stop his motorcycle.

A police officer quoting the victim's statement said that two motorcycle-borne assailants stopped their vehicle at a distance from where Ricky had stopped his motorcycle and shot him before fleeing the spot.

"Preliminary investigations revealed that the assailants fired twice. The first bullet missed Ricky, but the second one was fired from a close range and hit his hamstring," said the officer. Ricky was taken to Saket City Hospital, where he is currently out of danger.

In a statement given to the police, Ricky has said that the assailants wore masks and had rubbed mud on the number plate of their motorcycle.

Ricky's family friend and a colleague of his mother, Linda Newmay, told mediapersons that the family firmly believes that the latest attack was a response to what Khula had done to 'them' last month. "Ricky believes that the attackers were following him for some time. They knew the exact time he will pass the Sarai Kale Khan area," said Linda, who also is a member of the BJP's northeast wing in Delhi.

The police, meanwhile, are trying to identify Ricky's attackers. The police are investigating the case from all plausible angles including the claim made by the victim's mother.

The police have registered a case in regard to the incident at the Sunlight Colony police station.

New Delhi, July 11
A man has been arrested for allegedly raping his minor daughter repeatedly over the last one year, said a police officer today. The arrest was made from the Sultanpuri area, Outer Delhi, last night, the officer said.

The victim is a student of Class VII and her father was sexually assaulting her for over a year now.

Medical examination of the victim has confirmed rape.

An NGO has been called in to counsel the girl, the officer said.

A case has been registered against the victim's father at the Sultanpuri police station.

A similar incident was reported today in the Aman Vihar here where a man allegedly raped his minor stepdaughter for six months, said another police officer.

The accused is at large and the police have registered a case of rape.

The victim is a student of Class VI.

"The accused used to assault her when everyone in the house would sleep," said the officer. — PTI 

New Delhi, July 11
The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) customers can view and pay their water bills at the click of a mouse from the comfort of their homes as the board has prepped-up its Revenue Management System (RMS) in order to provide online bill payment facilities to its consumers.

"The facility is a one-stop shop for all payment related requirements," said DJB spokesperson.

"The consumers can easily pay their bills by logging into the customer portal link and can also avail other online services. The consumers can login to the portal and register using their mobile or e-mail ID to avail the online convenience," the official said.

The DJB has also ensured customer convenience through a bevy of other online facilities such as form downloads, which is for new connection, mutation, disconnection and reopening, complaint registration, track application status, grievance registration, consumer profile edits, etc.

The board is providing these online services 24x7 for the benefit of its customers. 

New Delhi, July 11
Hiring an auto-rickshaw in the city will no longer be a tough task with the launch of a new mobile app "Pooch-O", through which commuters can book auto on smart phone.

The application was launched by Lt Governor Najeeb Jung today.

The application has been developed by Delhi Integrated Multi-Model Transit System (DIMTS), which will now allow users to locate autos, fitted with GPS, nearest to them and can then call its driver, whose numbers are registered with DIMTS, on their mobile phone and book a trip.

"Pooch-O" app can be downloaded on only android phones from Google Play store and thereafter, people have to ensure GPS of their phone is on.

Jung said that this is very advanced technology, which would be very useful, especially for women travelling in auto at night.

"After booking auto through this app, commuters can share their travel details on Facebook and Twitter so that their friends and family members can get to know about their locations. Besides, there are several security elements in this app," Jung told reporters.

"Users can also calculate estimated fare for their trip and even track the auto to check, if it is coming towards them or not after calling its driver. This app will soon be available on iphone. Auto drivers will also be benefitted with this app as they will easily have passengers," S N Sahai, MD (DIMTS) said.