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Industrialists should explore agro sector: Sibal
CAG raps DDA for illegal construction of school building
Sealing of shops: SC extends deadline |
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Hooda to launch health campaign on World Health Day
Delhi-London ‘Hotline’ soon to nail criminals
UN project to help strengthen units to face global competition
TERI School announces MBA in Infrastructure
‘Jal Tarang’, a festival to celebrate water
Shastri opens two health centres
Protest against privatisation of ITIs
Govt has failed to redress problems of
workers: CPI
Man fatally wounded in attack by monkeys
Books on Bhagat Singh released
‘Easy Bill’ facility for property tax payers
1.5 lakh people die of TB in India annually
Robbers target posh sectors
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Industrialists should explore agro sector: Sibal
Gurgaon, March 24 Speaking at Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) Haryana State Annual Session on ‘Technology: Strategy for Enhancing Competitiveness’, Mr Sibal said that India is a country where 36 people crore are illiterate and a good number of people face great difficulties to feed themselves. Expensive technology alone can not solve their problems. The Union Minister said that India is the second largest producer of agricultural products in the world and we must harness this sector by using simple technologies. If we ensure good seeds, water, power, agro information, accurate weather report, related news, good marketing of their products, storage, transportation, etc to the farmers, we can find a sea change in the economy of the
country, added the Union Minister. Mr Sibal exhorted the industrialists to explore the agricultural sector to earn money and improve the economy of the country. In order to provide latest medical facilities to the remote areas by using new technologies, the Union Government is going to open 16 ‘medical kiosks’ in north India by linking these centres via transponders with a leading hospital at Delhi. The patients would visit the kiosk and get the medical advice by the leading experts sitting at Delhi, revealed Mr Sibal. The first such medical kiosk would be opened in Gohana, Haryana, within a couple of months. All equipment expenses have been borne by his ministry, added the Minister. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Deepak Puri, Managing Director, Moser Baer India Limited, said that the world would soon become small and the countries political boundaries would have no meaning as far as the business was concerned. Dr Partha S Banerjee, Associate Director, Price Waterhouse Cooper (PwC), said that the industries have to spend on R&D to develop new technologies to meet the challenges. The companies, which have invested or are going to invest significantly in R&D, are going to become global players. Dr Ponani Gopalakrishnan, Director, IBM India Research Lab, opined that it takes 11 ideas to generate one commercial success. We have to align research with corporate strategy to sustain our commercial viability. Mr S K Bijlani, past chairman, CII, Northern Region, said that the time has changed and now India’s strength is being recognised throughout the world. We have to set our own new benchmarks to meet the international players in the fast global business market. Welcoming the guests and other dignitaries, Mr Jayant Davar, Chairman, CII, Haryana State Council, said the industry has to prepare itself for the future. Meanwhile, Mr J K Mehta and Mr Arvind Kapur have been elected as the new chairman and vice chairman respectively of the CII, Haryana State Council, for the year 2006-07 today, according to CII officials.
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CAG raps DDA for illegal construction of school building
New Delhi, March 24 The Comptroller and Auditor General’s report has blamed the DDA’s “lackadaisical attitude” for its inability to protect its interests. The DDA allots land to educational societies recommended by the Directorate of Education of the Government of NCT of Delhi for setting up and running of schools subject to fulfilment of certain specified conditions and at rates determined by the DDA in accordance with the rules. Failure to adhere to the terms of payment of the premium, ground rent etc fixed for allotment of the land renders the allotment liable for cancellation as well as for action to recover pending dues. In April 1988, the DDA allotted a plot of land measuring 3.228 acre at Saraswati Garden to the DAV College Management Committee at Rs 8 lakh per acre for construction of a school. On payment of the premium and ground rent of Rs 16.40 lakh in May 1988, the plot was handed over to the committee in July 1988. Subsequently, the residents of the locality objected to the construction of the school at the site. The report says in February 1989, the management committee requested the DDA for allotment of an alternative site. Without waiting for a formal allotment, the DAV committee entered into an agreement with the Reserve Bank Staff Cooperative Housing Society in August 1989 for construction of the school at a plot in Paschim Vihar. In December 1989, DDA formally offered the same plot measuring 2.492 acre at Paschim Vihar to the committee at a rate of Rs 23.75 lakh per acre. Instead of acting on the offer, the college management committee took up the construction of the school which was completed in three phases between 1990 and 1995, the CAG notes. “Though this land belonged to DDA and not to the RBI Staff Co-operative Housing Society, DDA took no notice till 5 August 1993 when it issued a showcause notice to the committee treating the school as an encroachment and an unauthorised construction,” the report cites. On August 25, 1993, DDA offered to regularise the unauthorised encroachment subject to the condition that the allotment shall be made at the current rates and damages will be paid by the committee for the period of unauthorised occupation of the site. On acceptance of these terms, the land was allotted to the committee in December 1993 at the rate of Rs 23.75 lakh per acre. The committee deposited the premium in June 1996. In January 1999, DDA issued a notice requiring the committee to pay the damage charges, which had amounted to Rs 35.07 lakh. Despite an assurance given in July 1998 to pay the damage charges, the committee failed to pay the damage charge. However, no action was taken and the damages remained unpaid as of June 2005, viz. even after the expiry of seven years from the date of issue of notice. “Thus, lackadaisical approach of the DDA in protecting its interests had enabled the committee to obtain unauthorised possession of DDA land and thereafter even construct a school building over a period of three years without eliciting any reaction,” the report points out. While the matter was referred to the ministry in August 2004 and a reminder issued in July 2005; their reply was awaited as of December 2005, the CAG report notes.
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Sealing of shops: SC extends deadline
New Delhi, March 24 While ordering constitution of a committee to monitor the sealing drive commencing on March 29, a Bench comprising Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice C K Thakker said no more extension would be given after June 30 to stop the misuse of residential premises. Directing that those who wanted time to abide by its order should file an affidavit with the MCD by March 28, the Court made it clear that if the misusers would not comply with the undertakings they would be proceeded with the offence of perjury and for violation of its order for Contempt of Court. The Bench asked MCD to issue public notice by tomorrow about the officers before whom the affidavit has to be filed. It said the MCD will go ahead with the sealing drive as scheduled from March 29 against those violators who failed to give undertaking as per the order. The Bench also clarified that “sealing shall continue notwithstanding orders passed by any other courts”. The order was passed after MCD Counsel Harish Salve and Sanjib Sen and amicus curaie Ranjit Kumar apprised the Bench about the nitty gritty of the situation prevailing after the February 16 judgement on the issue. The Court said those who were carrying commercial activity prior to September 1962 and prior to the Master Plan will be allowed to continue provided “they have not got their building sanctioned for residential purpose”. While ordering the appointment of the Committee to monitor the sealing drive, the Court asked the MCD to suggest three names for heading it. “It is necessary to appoint a monitoring committee to monitor the sealing as per the court’s direction instead of leaving it to the discretion of the officers of MCD,” the Bench said. The apex court in its February 16 verdict had directed the MCD to initiate action in those residential areas in which the width of the road is 80 feet or more. The MCD on Monday had informed the Court that it had identified 189 roads where action has to be taken in the first phase. Following the submission by the Corporation, the Court directed the Delhi Police to provide all necessary assistance to MCD in carrying out the sealing operation. The areas worst affected by the apex Court verdict are Greater Kailash, Kailash Colony, Green Park, Lajpat Nagar, Defence Colony, Hauz Khas, South Extension, Malviya Nagar, Munirka, Aurobindo Marg, Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road, Rajinder Nagar, Nariana, East and West Patel Nagar, Tilak Nagar, Kingsway Camp, Model Town, Laxmi Nagar, Patparganj, Naveen Shahdara, Alipur, Nangloi, Wazirpur and Karampura. These are some of the residential areas where big markets housing showrooms of prominent companies have mushroomed.
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Hooda to launch health campaign on World Health Day
Faridabad, March 24 The drive would be launched throughout the State so as to improve the health services and the infrastructure. A free check-up camp and a training session for workers and volunteers would also be organised on the occasion. It was announced that the visitors could available of allopathic, ayurvedic, unani, homeopathy, acupressure and yoga treatments to overcome their medical problems. Apart from a blood donation camp, a campaign would be launched to provide medical help to the labourers engaged in the unorganised sector such as brick kiln and mining areas in the district. All the departmental heads and officials including the SDM’s, DDPO, BDPO, District Education officer, Tehsildars and Panchayat officials have been directed to support the campaign. According to experts, a large number of people in the region have been found to be suffering from disorders such as asthma, T.B, high and low blood pressure, diabetes and heart ailments due to improper eating habits and lack of physical activities in their daily routine. The district has one of the largest migrant labourers employed in the industrial and service sectors. As a result, a large population could be exposed to sexual disorders and the AIDS menace. Even as the majority of the affluent and middle class depend on the private health services, the poor was fully dependent on the government medical services provided through the civil hospitals and primary health centers. Though the State Government was making huge expenditure on the health services their standard was inadequate, making the common man either depend on private hospitals or even quacks in the rural sector, claims a spokesperson of a NGO here. He said doctors and medicines were hardly available in many of the primary health centers or dispensaries functioning in the rural areas. He asked the government to launch a campaign with the participation of social bodies and NGO’s in the villages and small towns. There was also a need to create awareness among the people about fake medicines and the price of drugs, he added.
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Delhi-London ‘Hotline’ soon to nail criminals
New Delhi, March 24 The Metropolitan Police in London have announced plans to set up a direct ‘Hotline’ with the Delhi Police to enhance law-enforcement between security agencies in Britain and India. Addressing the media after the first ‘Economic Crime Roundtable’ on ‘Global Trends in Economic Crime’ here, Metropolitan Police Service’s Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur said among the various steps proposed at the meet was setting up a ‘Hotline’ between the police forces of the two countries. “We also shared the roadmap, which could prove useful in arresting crime and smashing networks, out to disrupt normal peaceful life. This was important as more and more business people of the two countries were investing increasingly at both places,” he said. The areas where they hope to concentrate initially are economic offence concerning business, money laundering and data theft. “The idea is to send across the message that anybody committing a crime would not escape the ‘reach of law’. For this we are exploring ways of communication with the objective of knowledge sharing among law-enforcement agencies,” Ghaffur pointed out. Among the 10 areas of immediate concern that have been put forward by the Metropolitan Police are cyber crime, money laundering, identity abuse, revenue evasion, police-to-police contact and exploring funding besides sponsoring capabilities for improving skills on each side by the business community. Chief Security Officer Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Principal Partner of the ‘Consultative Roundtable on Globalisation & Economic Crime’, said ways and means on how technology could bring about commonality of purpose and a standard in the police system and other agencies were discussed at the meet. The next roundtable on knowledge sharing to be held in London in June next would try to find effective ways of tackling 21st century crime, he added.
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UN project to help strengthen units to face global competition
Faridabad, March 24 According to a FSIA spokesperson, an UNCTAD project, ‘Strategies and Preparedness for Trade and Globalization in India’, is aimed at strengthening the growth of the industries. The FSIA stated that it was necessary to meet the global challenges and enable the small and cottage industries to take advantage of the expanding global trade. The ‘Faridabad Development Cluster’ was also launched, which aimed at imparting training and upgradation to selected units in the fields like finance and human resources. The ‘cluster’ scheme could provide a benchmark for others to follow, said the chief of the FSIA, Mr. Rajiv Chawla. The units selected for this scheme include Arvind Automotive Pvt. Limited, Jairaj Ancillaries, Himesh Manufacturing, Vamani Overseas, Maharani Paints, Arvind Engineers, Mitaso Appliances, San Automotive, Shivani Locks, Joneja Bright Steel and Shri Krishna Auto. Besides giving away the annual FSIA ‘Industry Awards-2005’, the association signed an MOU with the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) for cooperation and support at various levels. The chairman of the NSIC promised full support to the members in various fields such as Infomediary, export, marketing, credit rating project, report appraisal, advisory and mentoring services.
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TERI School announces MBA in Infrastructure
New Delhi, March 24 Dr Vibha Dhawan,Vice-Chancellor, TERI School, elucidating on the programme said, “The MBA programme will enhance the knowledge and skills of enrolled students through a forceful combination of lectures, tutorials, field visits and, most importantly, case studies (from the developed and the developing countries), which will be drawn from the sectors under study. Guest lectures by prominent member representatives of Indian industry and government will be another highlight of the course, offering the students an opportunity to interact with the personnel responsible for successful reforms.” Dr Dhawan said that students would be provided with an opportunity to participate in activities such as open-house processes and public hearings. Project work, which is a prerequisite to successful completion of the course, will help students acquire hands-on knowledge, understanding, and skills in specific infrastructure sectors. Graduates who have studied mathematics as a subject till class XII or with a minimum of two years experience in any of the following sectors: government, regulatory bodies, industry, research/academic institutions, donor/consultant organizations are eligible to apply for the course. Candidates will be selected by the TERI School of Advanced Studies on the basis of group discussions and interviews to be conducted at the School on 5-7 June 2006. The last date for submission of forms, which are currently available is May 15, 2006.
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‘Jal Tarang’, a festival to celebrate water
New Delhi, March 24 ‘Jal Tarang’ seeks to revive the love for water amongst communities and more than 100 Resident Welfare Associations (RWA) and a large number of residents are participating in the festival. As part ‘Jal Tarang’, the Union Minister launched a slew of initiatives on water conservation and management, including the inauguration of 3.72 million liter capacity Rain Water Harvesting Project at Gulmohar Club. Prof Saif-Ud-Din Soz also launched a film on Water Conservation “Harness the Flow”, produced by ‘Counterpoint’ in association with Central Ground Water Board and supported by Coca-Cola India. This film may be telecast on national TV channels and it delves on the problems of ground water and the methods to conserve it. Coca-Cola India also announced the institution of the ‘Skoch Coca-Cola Challenger Water Management Award’, the winner of which will be announced next week. Speaking on the occasion, the minister said that fresh water is a global challenge and needs the attention of all stakeholders. Although fresh water is a global challenge, the solution to this problem is local. It is heartening to note some pathbreaking initiatives on water being taken by many NGOs and corporates. The minister added that he would like to thank the Gulmohar Park Club and Central Ground Water Board for being able partners in this water conservation project. The launch of the RWH project at Gulmohar Park is one amongst the 40 projects that Coca-Cola India will commission this year and is the first amongst 10 such projects to be commissioned in Delhi. The company already supports several such projects with 200 RWH structures in 17 states of the country, including 50 RWH structures in Delhi. In Delhi alone, the existing RWH structures have the potential to harvest more than 100 million liters of water.
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Shastri opens two health centres
New Delhi, March 24 With the opening of these two centres, the number of health centres in the area has reached 182. The minister informed that in the last two years the State Government has opened 19 new health centres and improved the services in 12 centres. Dr Shastri the Government intends to open three new centres in Sector-10, Sector-14 and Sector-17 in Dwarka whereas the proposal of new buildings at Kondli (Mayur Vihar Phase-3), Saket, Hiran Kudna, Tikri Kalan, Janak Puri, Madanpur Khadar, Molarband (Gautampuri), Gali Guliyan, Jama Masjid and Rajnagar is being considered.
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Protest against privatisation of ITIs
Gurgaon, March 24 It many be pointed out that the Haryana Government has decided to privatise the ITIs in the State in order to uplift the academic standards and impart the requisite skill needed by the industry. An eight member team including the Director-General, Employment and Training Centre, Delhi and the Director, Technical Education, Haryana had come to inspect the institute to complete the spadework to hand it over to the Maruti Udyog Ltd, which has its plant in Gurgaon. The students and the employees boycotted their classes and workplace. The president of the Gurgaon ITI Employees Union, Mr Subey Singh, said that the Haryana Government had indulged in total sell out by deciding to hand over the ITIs to the private parties. The students also feared an increase in fees after the privatisation process.
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Govt has failed to redress problems of
workers: CPI
Gurgaon, March 24 Addressing a public meeting in which hundreds of workers from various industrial units took part, Mr Gupta alleged that the Government of Haryana had failed to redress the problems of the workers. Employees of Aarusi Enterprises, Markato, Land Base India, Classic Gold Resort, Speedomax, Amira Foods and Aanchal Engineerings took part in the meeting. Although the meeting was related to the general problems of industrial workers, the focus was the dismissal of eight employees of Amir Foods. The workers alleged that they were dismissed as they had formed an employees union. However, the management has accused the employees of indulging in indiscipline. The meeting also focussed on the failure of the Haryana Government to withdraw the criminal cases registered against the employees of Honda Scooter and Motorcycle in connection with the violent agitation that took place here a few months back.
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Man fatally wounded in attack by monkeys
Greater Noida, March 24 Shastri had received serious head injuries as he slipped and fell from the stairs. He was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him dead. Dadri area has been terrorized by attacks by groups of moneys. The residents had protested to the administration against the monkey menace. The administration had brought a langur, which had driven them away to villages and Surajpur. A group of wild monkeys had made Luharli village their base.—OC
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Books on Bhagat Singh released
New Delhi, March 24 The volumes have been published by the Bhagat Singh Foundation and the Hope India Publications and are part of the 10-volume series on Bhagat Singh to mark his 75th year of martyrdom and 100th year of birth.—TNS
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‘Easy Bill’ facility for property tax payers
New Delhi, March 24 Property tax in cash can be paid up to 3.00 pm, whereas cheques/drafts can be deposited till 8 pm from March 27 onwards. Separate counters have been opened for senior citizens/women/handicapped persons. Drop boxes have been placed at each Citizen Service Bureau and property tax offices to drop property tax returns.
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1.5 lakh people die of TB in India annually
Noida, March 24 According to Dr A. K. Sharma, district TB control officer, patients diagnosed for TB are administered free medicines in the doctor’s presence in government hospitals under this programme. Dr Sharma said 2,603 patients have been identified as against a target of 3,072 TB patients during 2005. One third of world’s total tuberculosis patients are in India. The dreaded tuberculosis affects two Indians every minute. Out of the 5 lakh people dying of tuberculosis at least 1.5 lakh are Indian.—OC
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Robbers target posh sectors
Noida, March 24
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