SC concern over Ganga Action Plan

NEW DELHI, Oct 10: The Supreme Court today expressed serious concern that despite spending over Rs 900 crore on the implementation of the ambitious Ganga Action Plan launched by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1985 the industrial pollution went unchecked deteriorating the water quality.

Disapproving the attitude of the Government for not complying with its order, a bench headed by Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal said non-representation of the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoRF) on the issue made it difficult for the court to understand about the steps taken after the CAG report in 2000 pointed out serious lapses in the implementation of the project.

"In view of total non-representation on behalf of MoEF... We are at loss as to what effective steps were taken after the report of the CAG since status report in terms of order dated March 31, 2006 was not filed," said the bench, also comprising Justices C K Thakker and R V Raveendran.

Directing the Secretary, MoEF, to file fresh affidavit by November 15 giving the status of the plan as on October 31, 2006 by taking all relevant factors including CAG report, the bench sternly warned that the ministry would ensure that the Law Officers representing it would appear before the court with proper instruction.

The court was annoyed that MoEF counsel Vijay Panjwani like the previous hearing on March 31, was asked to appear in the matter last evening without any instruction.

Referring to the CAG report minutely, the bench said, "in the plan, hundred of crores have been spent to improve the water quality but the result going by the CAG report is that the water quality has further deteriorated and the industrial pollution increased instead of controlling it".

The court also issued notices to the Ganges basin states — Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Delhi, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh — to file their status reports on the plan as of October 31.

The bench was perturbed that despite having several committees to monitor the project since its inception there was poor and lacklusture implementation.

It was referring to the Central Ganga Authority headed by the Prime Minister, the steering committee under the Secretary, Planning Commission, and the National River Conservation Directorate.

"If this is the state of affairs of the scheme which is monitored by the court what will be the state of affairs of those schemes which are not monitored by the court," the bench observed, adding that "same is the state of affair of river Yamuna for which hundred of crores of rupees have been spent".

Advocate Krishan Mahajan, assisting the court as Amicus Curaie in the matter, said that funds were allocated and spent but the quality of water of Ganga deteriorated.

He held Government responsible for the present situation on the implementation of the scheme which was aimed at reducing the pollution load of the river Ganga.(PTI)

126 new fighter aircraft to replace MIG-21s

CHANDIGARH, Oct 10: The Indian Air Force (IAF) would get a fleet of 126 new fighter aircraft, replacing the MIG-21s, in a span of next four years, Minister of State for Defence Expenditure Rao Birendra Singh today said.

The country would soon invite international biddings for the upgraded fighter aircraft even as the companies from the United States, Sweden, France and the United Kingdom had shown interest in these biddings, Mr Singh told newsmen here at ‘Meet the Press Prpogramme’ at the Chandigarh Press Club here.

He said there has been a decline in the number of incidents of the MIG crashes. Such crashes has been reduced to 0.16 per 1,000 hours of flying from April to September this year from 0.44 in 2004-05, he added.

The IAF has got some Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft from the British company Hawk to train the fighter pilots.

Mr Singh said that the IAF would be procuring the new fleet of fighter aircraft which would be better than the American F-16s being suppied to Pakistan.

Admitting that the country was falling short of officers in the IAF, Army and Navy, he said the government has recently taken some steps and chalked a strategy to attract the intelligent lot of youngsters to make their career in the defence forces. (UNI)

Filmfest to create awareness on disability
issues in Delhi Dec 3

NEW DELHI, Oct 10: A film festival seeking to spread awareness about disability issues as also dispel misconceptions, prejudices and stereotype about it will be held in the capital in December.

Close on the heels of the huge success of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Black’, which has demonstrated the power of films in spreading public awareness about disability issues, stereotype and misconceptions and also making the mentally and physically challenged people aware of their rights and vast opportunities, two NGOs of Delhi-Tamana Welfare Society and Brotherhood are organising a ‘We Care’ filmfest in the capital from December 3 to 6.

Films (both Hindi and regional language) and documentaries focussing on issues concerning the disabled people will be screened during the festival, the first endeavour of its kind in the country.

"Though the world over such festivals has been held before in various countries, creating awareness on disability issues through the medium of films is a new concept to India. While there are more than 25,000 foreign films and documentaries on disability issues available to the audience through proper channel and distribution network, it is pity that in India, there about 40 films (both Hindi and regional language) and about 50 documentaries which are hardly available to the target audience,"The director of the festival Satish Kapoor told UNI here.

"Research shows that in most countries, the majority of children with disabilities do not know any disabled adults and, consequently, many have a difficult time in imagining their future. Audio-visual medium can provide opportunities for them to observe disabled adults undertaking a wide variety of activities, in effect, introducing them to positive role models.

The aim of such film festival is to break down the myths, misconceptions, prejudices and stereotype about disability by using the medium of film," Mr Kapoor said.

Renowned filmmaker Govind Nihalani will head the jury consisting of Prof P K Nair, Prof M M Alex, actor Nandita Das and many other well-known celebrities from Chennai, Mumbai, and Kolkata.

"The success of ‘Black’ has shown that films can be a powerful medium for educating the people about disability issues, stereotype and misconceptions and also for creating awareness which can give equal rights and opportunities to mentally and physically challenged people. The name of the film festival ‘WE CARE filmfest sums up the spirit of this endeavour. This festival should not be looked as an event but as a movement," Nihalani said.

Chairperson of the film festival and President of Tamana Welfare Society Shayama Chona said the aim of the film festival was to focus on issues concerning mentally challenged and create awareness about disabilities and the disabled people and make masses aware about the different activities which can help them to make their future bright.

She said award winning films would be taken to schools and colleges to educate the students who are the future managers of the country.

Supporting the film festival by proving technical support will be Asia Academy of Film and Television headed by Mr Sandeep Marwah.

"The punch line ‘WE CARE filmfest’ itself propagates that there is a section of people in the society who care about persons who have been ignored by the same society. We will like to go international with all the entries through our online portal," he said.

Entries have been invited for the festival from all over India in two categories - upto 1 minute and upto 5 minutes.

The last Date of receiving the entries is October 30. Film maker and Students with and without disability of Institutes of Mass Communication, Journalism and film making can participate in the above film festival.

The best three films screened at the festival will get special prizes, instituted by the National Trust working for the welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities (Statutory body of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment).

The best film will get a prize of Rs 50,000 while the first runner up will get Rs 30,000 and the second runner up Rs 20,000. (UNI)

Award to honour chefs spreading aroma of Indian cuisine

NEW DELHI, Oct 10: They are the cultural ambassadors of the country who have spread the aroma of the Indian cuisine far and wide.

Seeking to recognize the contribution of various experts in culinary art, the ‘Awards for Excellence in Culinary Art’ will felicitate and recognise achievers in the chefs profession.

A host of culinary artists from across the country who may not necessarily be in the public eye or may not be well recognised Celebrities but who have excelled in the field of "satiating the Taste buds" of the public would be honoured during the third edition of the annual awards, to be held in the capital on October 18.

Being organised by the PHDCCI in collaboration with the Indian culinary forum and the Indian Federation of Culinary Associations, the awards are an attempt to encourage large number of talented and aspiring youth in this profession as also to recognise the contribution of the profession in the promotion of tourism in India, head Chef of the Le Meridien Devender Kumar said at a press conference here last evening to announce the awards.

"Lauding the contribution of chefs is pertinent in the present times when the taste and aroma of Indian cuisine is wowing people across the country. For, unlike earlier, when Indian cuisine was only identified with curry, today it is known for its wide variety comprising chicken tikka, barbecue, Chinese as well as South Indian dishes," Mr Kumar said at the press meet, where executive chefs of premier five star hotels were present.

Among those present on the occasion were Manisha Bhasin of the ITC Welcomhotel, Gilles Favre of the ITC Maurya Sheraton and Francis Luzinier of Intercontinental, the Grand.

A high level jury comprising eminent personalities and experts would selec the awardees.

The awards will be presented at a special ceremony in the capital on October 18, where Union Minister for Tourism and Culture will be the Chief Guest.

As a build up to the event, a week prior to the Inetrnational Chefs day, Executive chefs of the various hotels will be organising a ‘Gourmet Speciality week’ which will be opened to public for participation.

The various category of awards to be presented at the event include the ‘Golden Hat Chef award’, ‘Chef of the Year Award’, ‘Lady Chef of the year Award’, ‘Master Chef International Cuisine Award’, ‘Master Chef Orientel Cuisine Award’, ‘Master Chefs Kebabs Award’, ‘Master Chef Indian Sweets Award’, ‘Master Chef International Confectionary Award’, ‘Kitchen Artist Award’ and ‘Best food Critics Award’.

Incidentally this year the International Chefs Day will also be celebrated as Thanksgiving Day for chefs under the ‘attitude to Gratitude’ programme. The objective is to thank all the chefs of the country for their wonderful contribution to society. (UNI)

New virus detected in chillies in India

LUDHIANA, Oct 10: A virus known as ‘begomoviruses’, which reduces the yield, has ‘infected’ the chilli crop in India for the first time.

The World Vegetable Centre-AVRDC located at Taiwan has detected the presence of this virus in the samples taken from Ludhiana.

This virus is believed to be a tentative strain of the chilli leaf curl virus which is prevalent in Multan in Pakistan.

The Centre has called upon breeders at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) that the presence of the ‘begomoviruses’ needs to be considered for developing chilli cultivars and virus resistant chilli plants.

PAU’s Department of Vegetable Crops, Head- cum- senior olericulturist, Dr Daljit Singh today said that chilli is an vegetable important crop. It is sown on an area of 9882 hectares in Punjab, mainly in the districts of Sangrur, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Amnritsar and Jalandhar. In Punjab. The chilli production is around 15,888 tonnes annually.

Dr Daljit Singh, who is working in collaboration with the scientists of AVRDC, said the tomato leaf curl begomoviruses infecting chillies in India was first noticed in 2004. The results of the analysis done at the World Vegetable Centre in Taiwan have been recently published.

This is for the first time that this begomoviruses has infected chilli crop in India and it will significantly reduce productivity, he claimed. (UNI)

10,000 rooms sought in Haryana
for Common Wealth Games

CHANDIGARH, Oct 10: The Central Government has requested the Haryana Government to allot 10,000 hotel rooms in that state for the Common Wealth Games to be held in New Delhi in 2010, state Tourism Minister Kiran Chaudhary said here today.

The state has decided to ask its various agencies, including Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), Haryana State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC), private developers and promoters of SEZs to earmark sites for hotels to be ready by 2009, she said at a press conference.

Chaudhary said that the centre wanted rooms in Faridabad and Gurgaon districts, adjoining the national capital, which could also be used after the games.

A "tourism zone" would also be developed at a spot along the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Express Highway, being constructed in Haryana around the national capital. The details of the zone are yet to be worked out, she said, adding that a foreign consultancy firm has been engaged to prepare the blueprint.

The Heritage Festival organised at Pinjore and the Surajkund Crafts Mela in Faridabad district would be promoted to highlight Haryana tourism at an international level.

She expressed her inability to rectify poor catering at the state’s existing tourism complexes along the state and national and state highways, saying the issue was not under her control.

However, she spoke of plans of value additions, including the development of spas, to these complexes in the near future. (PTI)

Elderly couple attacked, wife killed

NEW DELHI, Oct 10: An elderly woman was killed while her ailing husband was battling for life after they were stabbed several times at their residence in a posh south Delhi locality.

Mohan Singh (83) and his wife Surjeet Kaur (70) were rushed to a private hospital in a critical condition late in the night after they were attacked with a kitchen knife at their residence in Chittaranjan Park area, police said.

While Kaur succumbed to injuries early this morning, the condition of Singh is stated to be criticial.

The couple was rushed to the nearby Max Hospital after Singh in a blood soaked condition came down from his first floor flat at around 10.30 PM and alerted the neighbours before collapsing.

They suffered multiple stab wounds on their chest and abdomen, police added. The couple has a daughter who lives in Greater Kailash.

Police believe the assailant was possibly known to the couple as there were no signs of any forced entry. They also found the kitchen knife used for stabbing the two.

"We are looking into all angles including a possible property dispute," a senior police official investigating the case told PTI here.

A case has been registered at Chittaranjan Park police station. (PTI)

Afzal, Azad effigies set afire by BJP, Panthers activists

JAMMU, Oct 10: BJP’s youth wing and Panthers Party, a partner in the coalition Government, today burnt effigies of Md Afzal Guru on death row in the Parliament attack case and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for favouring the clemency plea for him.

Demanding that Afzal be executed, Panthers Party activists set fire to his effigy and another of the Chief Minister in Ramgarh border town of Jammu district, officials said.

They activists said action should be taken against Azad for favouring the clemency appeal for Afzal and asked the Congress to make its stand on the issue clear.

BJP Yuva Manch activists led by state president Yudhvir Sethi also burnt Azad’s effigy and said the Chief Minister should tender a public apology to the children of victims of the terror attack on Parliament on December 13, 2001.

Sethi said given his stand on the Afzal issue, Azad had no right to remain in the Chief Minister’s chair. (PTI)

Gursewak Mann arrested by Haryana Police

PANCHKULA, Oct 10: Punjabi pop singer Gursewak Mann was today arrested after a girl alleged he held her as his friend clicked her photograph with a mobile phone outside the women’s toilet in a hotel on Saturday night.

Police officials said Mann was arrested on charges of outraging the modesty of a woman after he surrendered here to Investigating Officer Inspector Surjeet Singh of the Criminal Investigation Agency, which is probing the matter.

Mann and his friend, whose identity is not known and who is yet to be traced by police, were booked under various sections of the IPC related to outraging the modesty of a woman.

Following the complaint against the singer by the girl, Neha Thakur, a resident of Himachal Pradesh who is attending coaching classes for IAS in Chandigarh, police searched Mann’s house at Mohali in Punjab yesterday but found it locked.

A senior police officer said Mann will be questioned regarding the incident in North Park resort near here. Police are also trying to recover his camera mobile phone.

Thakur’s friend Prabhjot Singh, some members of the hotel staff and others present at a party held at the hotel when the alleged incident occurred at 1.30 am on Sunday were questioned by police and their statements recorded. Police also visited the scene yesterday.

The hotel’s discotheque had opened last week and Thakur had gone there with Singh when the alleged incident occurred.

She alleged that when she was coming out of the toilet, Mann’s friend took photos with the singer’s mobile phone camera. When she objected, the duo had a scuffle with her.

Mann, however, told police on Sunday that his friend was photographing him in the corridor where the toilet is located. He also told police that the toilet’s door was open at the time.

Police investigations have revealed a medical examination of Thakur and Singh stated that she was normal but he was under the influence of alcohol. (PTI)

Kungdoori being developed world famous ski resort

SRINAGAR, Oct 10: The Kungdoori in world famous ski resort of Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir is being developed as a major International ski resort at a cost of Rs 4.35 crore.

The Baitab valley in Pahalgam is being developed under centrally sponsored Destination Development Scheme at a cost of Rs One crore

Secretary Tourism Naeem Akhtar said Trang near Gulmarg is also being developed as a tourist village while log huts in Gurez, Lolab and Boniyar in Uri are being introduced as Private guest houses to make a point of it major tourist attraction.

He said detailed project reports for development of hitherto unknown tourist resorts Bangus, Bhaderwah and Gurez besides a project for preservation of Buddhist cites at Harwan have also been submitted to Center.

The Minister for Tourism Mohammad Dilawar Mir has called for promotion of cultural and pilgrim tourism in a big way alongside showcasing of the hitherto unknown Kashmir.

He said beside, natural scenic splendour, Kashmir has such heritage and pilgrimage sites which could be exploited for image transformation of the Kashmir.

The Minister urged for innovative concepts to promote vast potential of adventure, heritage and eco-tourism in the valley to make optimum share in the world tourism market.

Speaking at a function here he called for focused attention on consolidating of basic tourism infrastructure at various tourist destinations adding the encroachments or any sort of constructions in violation of approved master plans would not be tolerated.

He directed for early execution of works on all the proposed aerial rope-ways at Shankara Acharya, Hari Parbat, Aishmuqam, Patnitop and Mubarik Mandi.

Mr Akhtar said a comprehensive plan for restoration of old Mughal city of Srinagar, the Naager-Nagar with emphasis on conservation of Mughal monuments has also been formulated.

The Nageen and Anchar lakes are being restored to develop them as water track, Mr Nayeem said adding that a water park at Pokhribal is also coming up shortly. (UNI)

Patna HC reserves order on anticipatory
bail petition of Sadhu

PATNA, Oct 10: The Patna High court today reserved its order on the anticipatory bail petition of controverisal RJD MP Anirudh Prasad alias Sadhu Yadav in a case of forgery and cheating, an offshoot of multi-crore flood relief scam.

Justice Mridula Mishra reserved her order for a future date after completion of arguments of Yadav’s counsel Ganesh Prasad Singh and Vigilance advocate Y V Giri. Yadav is the brother-in-law of RJD chief Lalu Prasad.

The Special Vigilance Court has already rejected the application for anticipatory bail against the RJD MP from Gopalganj and issued a non-bailable warrant of arrest against him.

The case relates to alleged transfer of Rupees six lakh ‘slush money’ to Yadav’s account from that of Santosh Jha, a supplier of relief materials and alleged kingpin of the scam which rocked the state in the year 2004.

The RJD MP’s advocate Ganesh Prasad Singh argued that his client had already got bail from the Patna High Court in a case based on similar charges.

Vigilance advocate Y V Giri objected to Yadav’s bail citing his criminal antecedents and lodging of a fresh case against him on the basis of new evidence surfacing during the probe.

While hearing anticipatory bail petition of the MP in a case of assault, the Supreme Court had on September 29 directed the Bihar police not to arrest him or carry property attachment proceedings till October 19.

A Gopalganj district court had on September 27 issued order for attachment of properties of Yadav for assaulting a candidate for Phulwaria block development committee Chairperson Dinesh Sah on June 29. (PTI)

Southern rly specials for Ramzan/Deepavali

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Oct 10: The Southern Railway will run special trains between Nagercoil and Chennai to clear the extra rush of passengers in connection with Deepavali/Ramzan festivals.

The Chennai Egmore-Nagercoil special would leave Chennai Egmore at 2300 hrs on October 18 and arrive at Nagercoil at 1400 hrs the next day, a release said here. The Nagercoil-Chennai Egmore special would leave Nagercoil at 1940 hrs on October 19 and arrive Chennai Egmore at 0900 hrs the next day.

Another Chennai Egmore-Nagercoil special would leave Chennai Egmore at 1900 hrs on October 19 and arrive Nagercoil at 0815 hrs the next day, the release said and added that on the return it would leave Nagercoil at 2030 hrs on October 24 and arrive Chennai Egmore at 0930 hrs the next day.

Meanwhile, the Nagercoil-Chennai Egmore special would leave Nagercoil at 1940 hrs on October 22 and arrive Chennai Egmore at 0900 hrs the next day. On its return direction, it would leave Chennai Egmore at 2030 hrs on October 23 and arrive Nagercoil at 1045 hrs the next day.

The release said on October 23, another Chennai Egmore-Nagercoil special would leave Chennai Egmore at 1900 hrs and arrive Nagercoil at 0815 hrs the next day. It would leave Nagercoil at 1330 hrs on October 24 and arrive Chennai Egmore at 0430 hrs the next day.

The trains would have stops at Tambaram, Chengalpattu, Tindivanam, Villupuram, Vriddhachalam, Tiruchirappalli, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudunagar, Sattur, Kovilpatti, Vanchi Maniyachchi and Tirunelveli. (UNI)