DDA to launch several ambitious projects
New Delhi, August 20
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has decided to take up a series of projects to enable quick and hassle-free travel in the city besides providing public spaces for recreation and quality living.

Street vendors get relief
New Delhi, August 20
In a major relief to street vendors in the national Capital, the Delhi High court today quashed the public notices of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, banning the sale of preparation of sugarcane juice through unlicensed shops/ units and sale of cut fruits and any article of food or drink sold by street vendors.

AAP files petition against Gokalpur BJP MLA
New Delhi, August 20
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday filed a petition before the Election Commission of India seeking disqualification of Ranjit Singh, BJP MLA of the Gokalpur (reserved) constituency, from the Delhi assembly.

Govt asked to pay relief in rape bid case
New Delhi, August 20
The National Human Rights Commission today asked the Delhi government to pay Rs 3 lakh as relief to a minor victim on whom two Delhi Police constables had attempted rape in West Delhi's Uttam Nagar area in October last year.

Majdoor activists hold placards during a demonstration for their various demands at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Manas Ranjan Bhui

Delhi MPs brief Gadkari on traffic problems
New Delhi, August 20
In order to make Delhi free of traffic congestion and reduce the levels of air pollution, all Delhi MPs met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari today, said the party national spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi. She said that completion of Eastern and Western corridors is important to address the traffic problems. Both the Eastern as well as Western Peripheral Expressways planned in 2006 have seen a rather poor progress. — TNS

Noose on bogus dealers tightened
New Delhi, August 20
The Commissioner of Trade and Taxes, Delhi Government, Sanjiv Khirwar, said that the Enforcement Branch of the department has conducted a number of raids against bogus dealers in the city by constituting various inspection teams. He said that the practice of evading VAT by creation of bogus dealers has picked up for the last many years. Under VAT system, the bogus dealers issue fake tax invoices on the strength of which genuine dealers claim Input Tax Credit and thereby reduce their liability of paying VAT. — TNS

DDA to launch several ambitious projects
Plan to decongest roads besides developing plazas, food courts, etc
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 20
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has decided to take up a series of projects to enable quick and hassle-free travel in the city besides providing public spaces for recreation and quality living.

Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu took these decisions at a review meeting of the DDA today. He also emphasized the need for DDA to address the problems of congestion on Delhi roads, housing and other amenities required to enhance the quality of living.

To decongest Delhi, the DDA will take up construction of new roads, upgradation of existing corridors and providing flawless connectivity with other NCR cities without passing through the inner areas of Delhi. This is aimed at decongesting critical roads--Urban Extension Road-II connecting North Delhi with airport and Gurgaon, Rao Tularam Marg, etc. The other critical roads include Extension of Chattarpur and Mandi Road to better connect Gurgaon, Extension of Barapullah Phase-III from East Delhi to Airport, Dwarka Expressway and new connections from Noida and Faridabad.

Naidu asked the DDA to engage a consultant of international repute to prepare feasibility reports.

The minister said that the DDA would promote country's first cycle sharing system at Dwaraka subcity. This system will cover 65 sq kms of area with 300 cycle stations with modern smart-card based interface and computerized docking facilities. This system will be fully functional within one year.

During the meeting, Venkaiah Naidu expressed his desire to make Dwarka subcity a world-class cycle-sharing system.

Besides, the DDA will develop public plazas, food courts, shopping areas within catchment areas of most of the 65 stations of Delhi Metro Phase-III.

Street vendors get relief
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 20
In a major relief to street vendors in the national Capital, the Delhi High court today quashed the public notices of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, banning the sale of preparation of sugarcane juice through unlicensed shops/ units and sale of cut fruits and any article of food or drink sold by street vendors.

The High Court bench comprising Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed and Justice Siddharth Mridul directed all the three municipal corporations in the light of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is the competent authority and it only has the power to take action against the street food vendors. Thus, the prohibitory notices were set aside stating that the MCD has no role to play in the matter.

The National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI), which had challenged the ban on such eateries by municipal corporations of Delhi, has won the suit against Municipal Corporations of Delhi.

After hearing the matter from both the parties, the Bench set aside the notices of MCDs in the light of the FSS Act, 2006. The court held that FSSAI is the competent authority to take care of the regulations and guidelines in respect of the street food vendors. Hailing the directions of the High Court, NASVI national coordinator Arbind Singh has demanded that the municipals corporations start working immediately on the court's order and ensure that the street vendors are not harassed and victimised by the municipal bodies and the police.

AAP files petition against Gokalpur BJP MLA
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 20
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday filed a petition before the Election Commission of India seeking disqualification of Ranjit Singh, BJP MLA of the Gokalpur (reserved) constituency, from the Delhi assembly.

The AAP petition states that Singh contested the December 2013 assembly elections from a constituency reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) on a fake certificate procured from Uttar Pradesh.

A Delhi court had last week directed the police to lodge an FIR against Singh under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code for having committed the offences of forgery and cheating, after a probe report was submitted in the court.

According to the AAP, it is not only a clear and proven case of concealment of facts before the election authorities, but this MLA has also 'cheated' the people of his constituency by having misled them about his origin. Such an individual can no longer be a member of the assembly, the party noted.

"Relevant provisions of the Representation of the People Act show that a clear case of disqualification is made out against Singh. The issue also raises questions about the kind of politics in which the BJP is indulging. What is the BJP stand on the issue? Will it take action against its MLA who has breached all levels of political decency?" the party questioned.

Govt asked to pay relief in rape bid case