The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - National Capital Region

Sunday, October 28, 2001, Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

N A T I O N A L C A P I T A L R E G I O N

Health | Sports | Administration

REALITY CHECK
Delhi slums to burst at the seams by 2011
One crore slum-dwellers projected
New Delhi, October 27
More than one crore people could be living in sub-human conditions in the slums by the end of the decade if the unplanned growth of the National Capital Region continues, urban planners associated with the NCR Planning Board have said.

EARLIER STORIES

	Gurgaon land-grab bid shocks Sikhs October 27, 2001
	Same old alibi for bad report card October 26, 2001
	Noida bridge takes toll of Okhla sanctuary October 25, 2001
	DDA sets eyes on Narela green cover October 24, 2001
	Govt adds diesel to CNG mess October 23, 2001
	Bio-terror or not, onus is on public to respond October 22, 2001
	Believe it or not, the rich too steal power! October 21, 2001
	Delhi bears burden of NCR: Sheila October 20, 2001

A worker on a scaffold gives finishing touches to a mural outside the Punjab pavilion at Pragati Maidan — Tribune photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Post-anthrax, even dengue has health officials worried
New Delhi, October 27
Is it going to be another outbreak of dengue in Delhi like that in 1996 when over 400 lives were lost to the disease? And, is it a strand of the bio-terrorism threat that is rearing its head in parts of the world? Health officials and experts in the Capital are splitting their head over these questions.

AK-47 rounds found buried in field
New Delhi, October 27
The police today seized a cache of ammunition, including five AK-47 rifle magazines, containing 144 rounds, and five hand grenades from a field in Ishaheri village near Najafgarh in south-west Delhi. The top brass of the Delhi Police fear that the arms may have been concealed by terrorists for a possible strike in the future.

It’s back to stone age for govt schools
Why not let children squat on the floor in the classroom in the classic India tradition? New Delhi, October 27
It is a proposal aimed at saving the schools and the exchequer some green wads. As the wooden benches and desks in classrooms are easily damaged and cost a lot to replace, the Delhi Government has come up with an ingenious idea. It has ordered the government schools in the Capital to replace the usual wooden benches or the ones made of moulded plastic with cement ones.

Why not let children squat on the floor in the classroom in the classic India tradition? — Tribune photo

Challans mount, so do accidents
New Delhi, October 27
Imagine a bus driver, who has jumped a red light, and a scooterist without a helmet slugging it out on a busy intersection, pointing a finger at each other for violating traffic rules. This is precisely what happened on the Ring Road at Dhaula Kuan recently until a traffic constable intervened and fined both for their transgression.

Suicide bid by 70-yr-old man
Ghaziabad, October 27
Frustrated over general inaction and alleged police complicity in the killing of his grandson, a 70-year-old man tried to kill himself in front of the SSP’s residence here on Thursday. The police whisked Risal Singh away as he tried to light a match after pouring kerosene on his clothes.

COMMUNITY

Builder mafia fans out in the Capital
New Delhi, October 27
The builder mafia, originally active in Mumbai, has spread its tentacles in the Capital, particularly in the posh localities of South Delhi. Malviya Nagar, one of the most flourishing colonies of South Delhi for over a decade now, has seen rampant illegal constructions. Building bylaws are ignored by “almost 70 per cent of the residents, who join hands” with the builders to construct ‘skyscrapers.’

Posh Vasant Kunj paddles in puddles of cattle urine
New Delhi, October 27
A dairy farm, an open drain overflowing with wastes spreading diseases and loads of health hazards. This is part of the life in the posh residential colony of South Delhi, Vasant Kunj.

Postal authorities taking precautions before opening foreign mail at the General Post Office in New Delhi
— Tribune photo

GETTING AWAY
Badkhal waits, if you can wriggle out of the traffic
New Delhi, October 27
Far from the madding crowd of Delhi is the splendid lake retreat of Badkhal, just an hour’s drive from the Capital. An ideal weekend getaway, Badkhal Lake, 32 km from Delhi, is surrounded by Aravalli Hills. The lush-green environ, pollution-free air and the serene atmosphere provide one with peace and tranquility — a contrast to the hustle and bustle of the metropolis.

Nirankari township comes up for Samagam
New Delhi, October 27
A mini-township is coming up along the Burari Road in North Delhi, where over five lakh persons are expected to attend the annual Nirankari Samagam to be observed next month.

Panwar takes over as NCP Delhi unit president
New Delhi, October 27
Sukhbir Singh Panwar today formally took over as Nationalist Congress Party’s Delhi Unit president here in the presence of prominent party leaders, including NCP general secretary and former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma.

NCR BRIEFS

Dadri youth stabbed to death in Ramleela
Noida, October 27
One youth was stabbed to death while half a dozen were injured in a clash of people watching the Ramlila celebrations in Dadri town last evening. Police have arrested four youths in this connection.

Over 200 held
Son missing
Scholar clarifies

EDUCATION

Society teaching deprived to attain greater heights
New Delhi, October 27
Having nothing to look forward to in life, they saw a ray of hope in education. They said, “We want to learn, but nobody is there to teach us”… until the Sri Aurobindo Education Society learnt of this keen desire in the underprivileged youngsters. Working at the Aurobindo Ashram here, the society runs the Institute of Vocational Training.

Punjabi youth care two hoots for their eyes
New Delhi, October 27
A research on the vision status of youth in the country conducted recently revealed that, about 40 per cent of the college students were not aware of their eye defects.

Amity play calls for women’s liberation
New Delhi, October 27
To mark the 10th annual day celebrations, the students of Amity International staged a powerful play “Aahwahan”, to drive home the message for women’s liberation.