LG to Delhi police: Split up investigation and general law and order duties

Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal chaired a law and order meeting with senior Delhi police officials on Thursday, while asking them to create separate pools of specialists for investigation and general law and order duties.

The L-G has also directed Delhi Police Commissioner, Amulya Patnaik to ensure expeditious investigation in cases of rape against minors and conduct a periodical analysis of conviction rates.

Madhur Verma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (crime branch) New Delhi district spoke to City Spidey on this matter on Friday.

He said that this process is already being followed in some police stations of the national capital.

“Definitely it would be a big reform if separate units are available in every police station for investigating serious crimes and managing general law and order issues.”

Verma further added that with increasing crime graph in the city, the work load of police personnel has also increased.

“Investigation of crimes requires more time and therefore there should be a separate unit in each police station for this purpose. If this becomes a reality, the police would be able to conduct its work with more efficiency. Further, the staff would also increase in every police station,” Verma added.

Creating two separate units for law and order and investigation have been a long awaited demand of the police force.

A retired IPS officer Prakash Singh had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court in 2006 regarding this purpose. Further, the court had then directed all the state governments to focus on this development.

The Ministry of Home Affairs in December had also directed the Delhi police to divide the police force into two units in 2017. However, no concrete steps have been undertaken regarding this matter till date.

Dwarka residents gear up for World Environment Day with eco-friendly initiatives

Residents of Dwarka have already begun to prepare for the World Environment Day falling on June 5.

Various social organisations, NGOs and several resident groups are undertaking activities like plantation and cleanliness drives. Further, they are also offering lectures on environment, water conservation, etc.

Green Circle, a social organisation is trying to make the Sector 6 park free from plastic waste. Further, volunteers associated with it are also trying to replant the trees which were damaged in the thunderstorm.

Secretray of Green Circle and a resident of Dimon Square apartments, Sector 6, V Selvarajan told City Spidey, “‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ is our slogan for World Environment Day this year. As a result, we are organising a drive to remove plastic from the Sector 6 Central Park. Further, every Saturday our members will clean the park from 7.00 AM to 8.00 AM.”

“We are also arranging a poster making competition and slogan writing competition. Moreover, we have also approached Anil Parashar, a resident of Sector 7 and the former Deputy Registrar of National Human Rights Commission to offer a lecture on ‘Environment- A human rights perspective’ on Saturday.”

Federation of RWAs of Sector 9 (FORWAS) is urging residents to plant saplings in the memory of their beloved people.

President of FORWAS, KS Bhati said, “We are promoting plantation of saplings as “Smriti Vriksha”.  We are also motivating people to plant saplings on the occasion of their marriage anniversary, birthday, or other important occasions of their life. This year on Environment Day we will plant more saplings.”

Different RWAs are promoting issues such as water conservation, composting and waste segregation in their societies. They are using Whatsapp groups and conducting door to door meeting with residents to spread these messages.

At Sector 23, another social organisation Sukh Dukh Ke Sathi (SDKS), is preparing to celebrate the ‘World Environment Day’ at New Kanchanjunga Apartments.

According to vice president of SDKS, SS Mann a painting competition will be organised for residents on June 5 where they can display their creative sides. Further, discussions will be held on topics such as environment protection and water conservation.

Dwarka: Thieves target benches in parks to sell retrieved iron rods

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has recently constructed cement benches at the park in Sector-3 near Balaji Apartments in Dwarka. However, these benches are now on target of thieves in the area. The thieves are breaking these benches and selling the iron rods retrieved from it.

The situation is almost same in all the parks in Dwarka. Irrespective of whether it is a DDA Park or the SDMC Park, the benches made from cement, concrete and iron rods can be easily seen in a broken state.

The residents said that the anti-social elements enter these parks at night and break these benches in order to get iron rods.

A resident of Sector-3, RK Sharma, said, “How the parks will be developed and provided with such kind of facilities unless these types of activities are not stopped. Civic bodies should ensure that such benches should not be a target.”

According to sources, hundreds of such benches are stolen and broken by the thieves every year but no effort has been made from either DDA or SDMC to stop such things.

A resident of Sector-14, Shashi Bhushan, said, “In the neighbourhood park of Sector-14 behind Radhika apartments, many new benches were broken and stolen two years back. Finally, the RWA of Radhika Apartments asked the security guards to keep a vigil in the park.”

“The move worked and no bench was stolen in last two years. This must be taken as a major point to involve RWAs of nearby societies to keep a vigil on the neighbourhood parks. I think this is the way the problem should be addressed,” said Bhushan.

On the other hand, the police said that the civic bodies should make a neighbourhood model for such parks by involving RWA, NGO etc. Also, they said that security guards also can be deployed by the civic bodies to protect public properties in parks.

Gzb: Potable water issue worsens; officials not serious about Ganga water plant

While the people are struggling to get potable water in Ghaziabad, the concerned officials are not paying any attention to the problem. Due to the official’s apathy, the files, concerning the new plans to address the issue, are not being brought into effect.

The detailed project reports (DPR) of Ganga water plant was to be sent to the irrigation department of Meerut zone in April 2018 but it is still lying in the offices. ghaziabad news

During the summer, the problem of potable water has got worsened. If the sources are to be believed, the DPR for Ganga water plant has not been sent so far because it not even prepared by the officials.

To address the problem of deficient potable water supply, Ganga water plant of 100 cusec capacity was to be set up in Ghaziabad. The three departments of Uttar Pradesh government including the Municipal Corporation, Ghaziabad Development Authority and Irrigation Department were bestowed with the responsibility to set up the plant.

A plant was proposed under “Amrut Yojana” which did not get clearance from the central government. Then, the public representatives and officials had demanded Ganga water plant which got approval from the state government.

The state government then demanded DPR from irrigation department of Meerut zone for setting up of the plant.

When the DPR was not sent in the stipulated time period, the executive engineer of Meerut, Bishambhar, had written a letter to chief development officer of Ghaziabad stating that the DPT got delayed because there is no canal in the area.

For the DPR, the record of initial surveys was demanded from executive engineers from Meerut zone and Muzaffarnagar zone but it was not sent by them.

The 5 lakh people of Ghaziabad are paying for the issues between the two zones of the irrigation department. The Ganga water plant will solve the issue of potable water in Rajnagar Extension, Mohannagar, Madhuban Bapudham etc.

But, the egos of officials are not letting the work to be implemented on the ground.

Gurgaon: Notices to residential houses pursuing commercial activities likely

After the survey conducted about a few months ago, the district town planning (DTP) enforcement has found commercial activities in approximately 150 residential units in DLF Phase-2 of Gurgaon.

The CM window has referred many complaints which need actions against many owners pursuing commercial activities in residential houses.

gurgaon news

The commercial activities including clinics, lawyer offices, tourism offices, beauty parlours, paying guest houses, property dealers’ office etc. are being run in these residential houses.

The owners of these 150 residential houses are likely to given showcause notices. They will be asked to reply within 7 days after receiving the showcause notices.

Rajender T Sharma, district town planner (DTP) enforcement, Gurugram, said, “We have done a survey of the colony and identified 150 residential houses indulged in illegal commercial activities. There are provisions for running commercial activities and the owners have to obtain permission for such activities before starting.”

These owners will have to apply to DTP enforcement for running commercial activities such as clinics, beauty parlours etc. The department has also clearly mentioned commercial activities which can be run in residential houses. The said list is given on the DTP website.

“One can pay onetime Rs 60, 000 fees for such activities. Non-nuisance activities mean any activity which does not engage traffic mess, the additional load on water, sewer, electricity etc. such activities are allowed only in 50 sqmt portion of the building. After seven days of notice, the department will seal the premises if owners do not reply,” said Narender Kumar, assistant town planner (ATP) enforcement Gurgaon.

Step by Step school mishap: Lucknow lab confirms refined oil as substandard

Almost two months after the dreadful incident where around 190 students and school staffs fell ill after having lunch within the premises of Step by Step school in Noida, the Lucknow lab on Saturday confirmed in its report that refined oil used in the foods was substandard.

The report of the samples was received by the food and drug administration of Gautam Budh Nagar.

As per the report, there was no problem with the sample of celery seeds whereas the sample of refined oil was found to be substandard. gurgaon news

Sanjay Sharma, the designated officer of food and drug administration told City Spidey, “The refined oil, which was used to cook food, was found to be substandard. Now, we are going to file a case against the school canteen and the school management at the ADM court within 15 days. A penalty of Rs 5 lakh is likely to be imposed on the accused.”

Students of Step by Step school had fallen victim to food poisoning after having lunch on the school premises on April 6. The students and school staffs suffered stomach ache and vomiting after having lunch.

The food department had collected samples of the celery seeds and oil used in the foods and sent them to Lucknow lab for testing.

Immediately after the incident, the school’s administration had prevented officials from inspecting the premises and held them at the gate for hours before letting them in.

That led the district administration to lodge an FIR under Sections 328 (Causing hurt by means of poison), 341(Punishment for wrongful restraint) and 332 (Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty) against the school management.

However, the school authorities later wrote to the district administration offering full cooperation in the investigation. They also extended their apologies for the mishap.

Noida: Traffic police get tough on rule breakers; arrest many people in a week

The resolve of traffic police to take strict actions against people for breaking rules is translating on the ground. They are not just penalising but also arresting the rule breakers. The cops are getting especially tough on the people who run their vehicles on the wrong side.

The arrested people are being released only after the deposits of personal bonds. The traffic police have arrested more than 150 people for running their vehicles on the wrong side in a week.

People travelling from Delhi used to become very ignorant about the traffic rules as soon as they entered Noida. They do not hesitate to run vehicles without wearing seat belts, helmets and on the wrong sides.

Now, with the strict approach of the traffic police, there is fear among people to break rules in Noida.

noida news

Anil Kumar Jha, SSP traffic police, said, “Most of the people used to take pride in breaking traffic rules. To dissuade these people, the SSP of Gautam Budh Nagar had instructed arrest of rule breakers. People are being arrested for wrong side driving and are only released on the deposit of personal bonds.”

“The traffic police have arrested more than 150 people for the wrong side driving in a week’s time. FIRs have been registered in the police stations. We will continue to arrest people for the wrong side driving in Noida,” said Jha.

Delhi Metro’s network expands to 277 km with opening of Magenta line

With the opening of Magenta line section between Botanical Garden and Janakpuri West, the Delhi Metro’s network has been expanded to massive 277 km with 202 stations in together. The Delhi Metro network is one of the biggest in the world.

After the opening of Magenta line, the ever-growing ridership of Delhi Metro went up by 2 lakh. The DMRC now expects 3.9 lakh passengers to use the Magenta line corridor. On May 29, the overall line utilisation of the Metro system was 45,35,932 passengers.

The Delhi Metro has become a lifeline for the people of the national capital region. People commute by taking Delhi Metro for their all kinds of daily needs.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has over 270 train sets of four, six and eight coaches.

The Delhi Metro has at present 8 lines – Red Line, Yellow Line, Blue Line, Green Line, Violet Line, Orange Line, Magenta Line and Pink Line.

The idea of Delhi Metro was coined in 1984. The DMRC was incorporated in May 1995 and construction started in 1998. The first section Red Line was opened to the public in 2002.

Now, the network has been expanded in such a manner that it covers almost all parts of Delhi-NCR. People consider the network as very comfortable and efficient. People reach their destinations in time as the trains run on time with great frequencies.

Dwarka: Eateries encroach upon market corridors, use space for cooking purposes

Residents in Dwarka are a worried lot nowadays as several eateries have encroached upon the corridors of several markets. Further, vendors have started to cook in the open, thus risking their own life along with those of the pedestrians.

Moreover, cooks working in several sweet shops too have started to prepare food at the ground floors, which are located near the market corridors. 

Residents alleged that vendors continuously use big gas burners and boil oil in pans. They claimed that this trend was dangerous and people passing nearby could get hurt.

Recently, an inspection was conducted by the DDA, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and the DJB upon eateries which have encroached on public roads at the Sector 10 market.

However, in open defiance to the rules of SDMC and DDA, cooking has been going on unabated in the corridors of the market. The Sector 12 market too is facing the same scenario.

“It’s unsafe to use gas cylinders and stoves in the open areas. The local police, SDMC officials and councilors are not taking concrete steps to stop such activities. It’s really surprising that the law makers are supporting the law breakers,” said SN Singh, a resident of Sector 10.

A DDA official spoke to City Spidey on the condition of anonymity. He said, “No one is authorised to cook at the ground floor in the markets and that too in the open. This can even lead to a fire. Recently, a small accident had taken place at a Sector 10 eatery.”

Residents blamed the SDMC, DDA and the Delhi Government for this situation. They further said that this sort of practice must be stopped immediately.

Transformer blast leads to massive power failure in Noida Sector 51

Residents of Noida sector 51 claimed that a transformer located in block D of their area had caught fire at 12:25 am on Thursday. They said that the fire was doused off by two security guards of the society along with a security guard of Rhythm playschool. However, no casualties were reported due to the fire.

The residents have been suffering due to inadequate power supply since the last few days.

Further, their woes failed to end as a blast took place in the same transformer at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday morning. This in turn led to a massive power failure in the entire sector.

As per the residents, the power was restored after three hours, around 11:30 a.m.

Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary of RWA, Sector 51, spoke to City Spidey regarding the issue of  power cuts.

“Whenever we complain, the officials blame it on the ongoing work of the Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC). However, what we fail to understand is that when the metro’s trial run is conducted during the day, then why do power cuts occur in the night?”

The residents are fed up with frequent power cuts which have worsened in comparison to the last year.

Rahul Pandey, an engineer of PVVNL, however said that the transformer hadn’t caught fire. He claimed that instead the cable box installed near the transformer had caught fire.

“The reason is still unknown but we think that it happened due to overloading or heating,” Pandey said.

He further claimed that the problem had been resolved and power supply restored in the sector.

Delhi Metro Blue Line services disrupted as CISF personnel assault manager

The services of Delhi Metro's Blue Line from Dwarka Sector 21 to Noida and Vaishali were temporarily suspended on Thursday evening due to protests by DMRC staff in Dwarka.

They were affected from 9:10 PM onwards after reports emerged that some CISF personnel had assaulted the station manager of Dwarka Sector 21. The DMRC employees while protesting against the alleged assault, had gathered on the tracks of Dwarka metro station. 

As per sources, an altercation had taken place during the morning hours when the station manager had objected to a wrongly parked vehicle of the CISF personnel. Thus, enraged they had assaulted him in his office. 

The manager is injured and a  report has been lodged on this issue by DMRC. The CISF is conducting a departmental investigation in the matter. Senior officers from both DMRC and CISF had to intervene to sort out the issue.

A massive police force has been deployed on the Dwarka metro station and the services are normal now.

Gurugram: Bar Association bans plastic, paper cups in district court premises

A unanimous resolution was passed by the Gurugram District Bar Association on Friday to ban the use of disposable plastic and paper cups in the district court premises – with immediate effect.

The resolution, passed in a meeting conducted by the association’s president Ajay Chaudhary and Secretary Hemant Sharma states that vendors flouting the norms within the court premises will have to face strict action.

Sharma said that a similar resolution was passed by the association last November and it was even implemented to an extent.

“Vendors have been directed to use clay cups. We will make sure that no one flouts the norms this year. Those who are still found using plastic and paper cups will be asked to relocate to some other place,” he further added.

Members of the association claimed that the move has been taken considering the harmful effects that Styrofoam and plastic cups have on the environment.

“Plastic cups react with hot fluids and lead to poisoning. Paper cups, Styrofoam cups and plates also have a harmful effect on the environment,” the resolution read.

Environmentalist Vaishali Rana Chandra said that passing such resolutions and legislations is not enough.

She said that the Bar association had passed a similar resolution last year also but it wasn’t properly implemented. However, until the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) and Gurugram police, execute these rules properly, they wouldn’t have the desired effect, Chandra further added.

"The MCG had, banned the utilisation of non-biodegradable plastic bags in 2015. “Despite the ban, restaurants and shops are openly flouting the rules,” Chandra said.

Flat in Noida Extension's La Residentia society catches fire

A flat in tower 8 of La Residentia high-rise society in Noida extension caught fire on Friday afternoon around 12:30 pm. While alleging that the fire safety equipment of the tower wasn't functionong, the residents blamed the builder for the accident.

The residents claimed that the fire department reached the spot forty minutes after being apprised of the incident. Although the actual reason of the fire remains unknown, they think that it may have been caused due to short circuit.

The owner of the flat, Kamal Kant Bahuguna was in office when the incident occurred and was informed about it by his neighbours.

Sharad Pandey, a resident of the society said that the apartment was locked and almost all the furniture was burnt. As the fire department took a considerable time to reach the spot, residents and the maintenance team used water pipes to douse the fire.

“Upon reaching the society, the fire department officer checked the safety devices available in tower 8. However, neither the fire safety equipment nor the fire alarm were functioning at that time”, Pandey said.

Pandey said that he saw smoke billowing from flat number 104 of tower 8, which is situated on the first floor. He further claimed that as the curtains caught fire, he alerted the society’s security guard to control the situation.

SN Yadav, fire officer of the area said that the cause of the incident is still unknown.  

“I am going to issue a notice to the builder to be present at the society on Saturday. I will check the fire fighting system of the whole society in his presence. Through the notice we are also giving him fifteen days time to rectify the problem,” Yadav said.

Yadav further added that if the developer didn’t repair the fire fighting system he will file a case against him.