TOP STORIES

Ordinance ruled out, crisis to linger

New Delhi, April 9 With the Centre today ruling out promulgation of an ordinance, the chances of finding an early solution to the vexed CNG problem in the Capital seemed to be bleak.

The eternal wait at a bus stop. —Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Commuters continue to face hardship as more than 6,000 diesel-run buses stay off the roads for the second consecutive day today. In Video(28k, 56k)

CNG duo make strange bedfellows
New Delhi, April 9
The CNG crisis may have proved a nightmare for thousands of commuters and harried parents of school going children, but for the Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party it has come as a blessing in disguise.

A meeting of a Central minister was convened in New Delhi to solve the CNG crisis. In Video(28k, 56k)

Delhi Transport Minister Ajay Maken with Leader of opposition, Delhi Vidhan Sabha, Jagdish Mukhi during the CNG bus route draw, organised by the transport ministry in the Capital on Tuesday. —Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal TOO FEW FOR TOO MANY: Commuters trying to push into an overcrowded bus as over 6,000 diesel buses remained off the road for the fourth day in the Capital on Tuesday. —Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

CM not to move SC, ball in transporters’ court
New Delhi, April 9
At around the same time as Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Ram Naik ruled out the promulgation of an Ordinance permitting the use of alternate fuel, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit made it known that the Government of NCT of Delhi had jettisoned its plans of moving the Supreme Court for waiving of the penalty imposed on plying of diesel buses in the Capital.

• CM apprises Sonia of  transport crisis 

Schools to reopen; office hours may be staggered
New Delhi, April 9
All schools will reopen on Wednesday after the two-day unscheduled closure. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said the Cabinet met on Tuesday morning and decided that the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) will resume its school bus service. It was also officially conveyed that school timings will not be tinkered with although sources said the Government of NCT of Delhi had sounded out certain schools to prep one their afternoon shift by an hour.

Cops give the go-by to DIG’s orders
Ghaziabad, April 9
The protectors of the law seem to have become a law unto themselves in some parts of UP. The Ghaziabad police did not pay heed to the directive of their DIG, Meerut Range, who had ordered them to file a case against some 20 erring police officials, staff officer Ram Suresh Yadav of the Modi Nagar police station and a circle officer (DSP) who had allegedly abducted a person from Muzzafarnagar and implicated him in a case of stealing a scooter.

Blind navigators for all-woman car rally

New Delhi, April 9 A unique all-woman car rally with blind navigators is all set to be flagged off for the third year in succession on April 14. Organised by the Empress Club, an all-woman club, in association with the National Association for the Blind, the rally, ‘Drive with Insight Challenge 2002’, is expected to showcase the grit and determination of not only the rallyists but also those of their visually impaired fellow navigators. Organisers at a press conference. —Tribune Photo

COMMUNITY

A baba who set many political careers rolling
Rewari, April 9
Rewari’s revered Saint Ram Ram Baba, who voluntarily embraced death in 1973, is fast becoming a legend. By attaining a high degree of divinity through ceaseless ‘Nam Jap’ (recitation of Ram’s name), he attracted popular adoration at his own native place near here.

An Islamic treasure trove
Panipat, April 9
The Maulana Altaf Hussain Halli Library, a treasure trove of rare Urdu literature on Halli, a noted poet and close associate of the legendary Urdu poet, Mirza Ghalib, has added another feather to its cap. It has become the only library in this part of the country to add the “Urdu Encyclopaedia of Islam” to its rich collection.

FOLLOW-UP
Samples of killer liquor sent for test
New Delhi, April 9
A joint team of the Crime Branch and West district police of Delhi today brought samples of liquor from Faridabad and sent them for examination after a number of death cases were reported from different areas of the Capital following consumption of liquor of some brands. 

GLITZ & GLAMOUR
Indian Ocean: A euphonic treat for connoisseurs of music

There are four of them. Highly proficient with an almost frenzied calibre for composition that forces you to lend an ear and imbibe every note of music. Meet the Indian Ocean and the quartet that make it. Sushmit on the acoustic guitar, Rahul Ram on the bass, Amit Kilam on the drums and Ashim on the tabla. All doing vocals as well.

The (song) birds of a feather

Dharmendra clone pulls your heartstrings
These days you might have been watching this Dharamendra lookalike on screen, singing and dancing to the tune of Hasna Billo ni tera ‘very good, very good’ from his recently released album of the same title.

• Digital touch

14 cops awarded for gallantry
New Delhi, April 9
Five Delhi Police personnel were rewarded with out-of-turn promotions and nine others were given Asadharan Karya Purskar and cash awards for their gallantry and brave performance leading to the arrest of desperate criminals in the city.

Woman killed as water tank caves in
Jhajjar, April 9
A woman was killed and two children were injured when an overload water tank collapsed in Dubaldhan village of the district today. According to information, the tank was constructed by the village panchayat for water supply in the village.

NCR BRIEFS
Concessional coaching by Rajya Sainik Board
Rohtak, April 9
Rajya Sainik Board, Haryana has arranged coaching classes for admission to Pre-medical Test (PMT), Combined Engineering Entrance Test (CEET) and Bachelor in Dental Surgery (BDS) courses for the dependants of war-widows, widows, ex-servicemen and serving defence personnel of Haryana at nominal charges.

Jhuggis razed

Education drive

• Haryana CM’s brother fears for his safety

CRIME

SP took the Pak wolf by the ears 
Sonepat, April 9
The probing nature of a senior police officer (IPS Cadre) succeeded in exposing the impostor Abhikar Raj who claimed himself to be a senior IAS bureaucrat in the city last week. 

Woman helps arrest robber  in bank
New Delhi, April 9
With the help of a woman, the Paharganj police arrested a robber who was allegedly involved in several bank-related robberies and theft cases. Ms Taravati went to deposit Rs 18, 000 to a bank in Paharganj on Monday. 

Woman shot dead by  husband
Faridabad, April 9
A woman was shot dead allegedly by her husband at Phoolwari village of the Palwal subdivision in the district on Monday. According to the police, the victim, identified as Babli, mother of two children, was cremated soon after the incident. The accused and her husband, Raghvir, is absconding.

• 100 PHD staff arrested from dharna site

BUSINESS

‘Review tax hike on cigarettes’
New Delhi, April 9
The wholesale distributors of cigarettes in the Capital today urged the Delhi Government to review its decision to impose 20 per cent luxury tax on cigarettes. In a memorandum submitted to the Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, the distributors said “imposition of additional state taxes to the tune of 20 per cent will create trade imbalances giving a boost to the inter-state cigarette smuggling as well”.

EDUCATION

Shortage of invigilators mars MDU exams
Rohtak, April 9
Shortage of invigilators and inadequate seating capacity at various examination centres have marred the annual examinations of Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) that commenced on April 4.

School staff threaten  fast-unto-death
Rohtak, April 9
The agitating non-teaching staff members of the local Shiksha Bharti School have threatened that they would resort to a ‘fast-unto-death’ if the school management continued its “anti-employee” policies.

COURTS

Doctor fined for negligence in surgery
New Delhi, April 9
A doctor has been fined for negligence by a consumer court in the Capital after the patient moved it complaining that the said doctor, despite operating his knee, did not provide any relief to his discomfort.

HEALTH

PHC doctor alleges victimisation
Faridabad, April 9
The Haryana Civil Medical Service (HCMS) Association has protested strongly against the alleged harassment and victimisation of a doctor posted at Badli village in Jhajjar by the district authorities.

SPORTS

SAR Group lift Teri Cricket Cup

New Delhi, April 9 SAR Group beat B L Kashyap by five runs in the final of the ninth Teri Cup Cricket Tournament at the Teri Oval, Gurgaon. SAR Group won the toss and opted to bat. They piled up 213 for eight in the stipulated 30 overs with the help of a brilliant century by Rajesh Brown.  Indian women’s cricket team captain Anjum Chopra and director of Teri Dr R K Pachauri with the SAR Group team.

Ramnik Singh, Pavneet emerge fastest
New Delhi, April 9
Ramnik Singh of Guru Tegh Bahadur School, Mansarover Garden and Pavneet Kaur of Guru Harkishan Public School emerged the fastest athletes among boys and girls when they won the 100-m races in the Shri Banarsidas Chandiwala Sewa Smarak Trust Society Inter-School Sports Meet, organised in collaboration with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in the Capital.

Radhey, Pradeep star in ONGC win
New Delhi, April 9
Delhi Ranji Trophy player Radhey Shyam excelled with the bat to score a scintillating unbeaten 70 off 68 balls with nine fours and deadly bowling by left-arm spinner, Haryana Ranji Trophy player Pradeep Jain (3 for 26), helped Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) beat Delhi Administration XI by seven wickets and enter the quarter-final of the 12th All-India Om Nath Sood Memorial Cricket Tournament for the HRS Trophy at the Khalsa College ground in the Capital.

Madras Club carry the day
New Delhi, April 9
Madras Club beat Young Association by 79 runs in an A-I Division match of the DDCA League at the University ground.

Haryana down Delhi in Veterans Cricket
New Delhi, April 9
A fine all-round performance by Rakesh Jolly (2 for 33 and 85), devastating bowling by R P Singh (4 for 48) and a dashing knock of 73 by Amarjeet Kay Pee enabled Haryana beat Delhi by three wickets and enter the quarter-final of the fourth National Inter-State Veterans Cricket Championship at the Nahar Singh Stadium, Faridabad.

ADMINISTRATION

Special police cell to tackle crime against women
Panipat, April 9
Special cells have been constituted in the office of the Superintendent of Police, Panipat to dispose of cases relating to women and economic offences speedily. According to the SP, Ms Mamta Singh, the Mahila cell will deal with the cases relating to atrocities on women, particularly in dowry cases.