Indian Express 26.07.2010
Delhi underground
Express News Service Tags : city, events Posted: Mon Jul 26 2010, 01:44 hrs
New Delhi: High reasoningFollowing flak from all quarters, including its own members and the media, over its plan to build cafes and eateries above its ‘high-end’ under-construction toilet complexes to ensure maintenance, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) recently came up with a novel idea to put all doubts to rest. The agency organised a visit to various Games venues, followed by a lunch for all its members. And it cleverly chose the Barapullah nallah, which is now covered to make way for a parking lot for the Games, as the lunch venue. “Could you have ever imagined eating lunch near a dirty nallah? But this has been covered so well now. The concept of having eateries near high-end toilets is the same. They will be kept clean, and having eateries above will further ensure they are maintained well,” explained a senior BJP member.
Appeasing the gods
After the Metro tragedy in Zamrudpur last year, the Badarpur Metro corridor seems to be relying heavily on the gods’ mercy. First, the civil contractor conducted a ‘havan’ on July 12, exactly a year after the Zamrudpur mishap. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation organised yet another puja on July 23 when the trial runs on a section of the corridor began. With two pujas conducted in a month’s time, it seems the contractor and the DMRC is counting on its lucky stars.
Animals Vs IGI
It was a dilemma for the Customs department at the IGI Airport when a woman passenger was held for illegally flying in 14 exotic puppies and six exotic kittens from Ukraine . The documents were incomplete and only for a total of seven animals. And they were brought in as registered baggage, with six-seven of them clustered in one basket. Not knowing what to do with the little animals, the department first showed them to the veterinary doctor at the airport, and later put them up in a kennel at the airport. However, after considering options like auctioning them or giving them to a shelter, the department finally decided to send the animals back to Ukraine. The department will now take action against the Ukrainian airline for flouting international practice and allowing these exotic species into another country without valid documents or medical clearances.
Newest fad
With extensive police bandobasts in place, alongwith a host of other new measures like anti-ragging helplines, it seems Delhi University has no time to rally for causes such as smoke-free campus this year. Surprise checks in hostels and vigils outside popular eating joints near colleges are being carried out, and in classic NGO-intervention style, activists are rushing in to cash in, knowing that anti-ragging is the new “in thing”. NSUI is setting up its own anti-ragging helpline. An anti-ragging rally is also in the works. The Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU), which usually never speaks in one voice, has Vice President Kriti Wadhera to champion the cause. She claimed she had “appointed” an anti-ragging squad of students.
Battling fakes
Brand names do matter in Delhi. Further illustrating the fact is the trend being followed by many tour operators. To cash in on tourists arriving in the city, many operators have inserted the logo of the Delhi government Tourism Department on the display boards outside their offices to appear “branded”. The Delhi Travel and Tourism Development Corporation (DTTDC) has been receiving information about many such offices located all over the city and is sending its officials to find out such offices and seal them. “There are fake branded shoes and clothes, but the same should not happen to tourism,” said a senior official.
No earthly matter
As if seeking the release of human beings was not enough, a lawyer recently approached the High Court seeking directions for the release of deities. Sugriv Debey, a lawyer, wanted the High Court to order the police to release hundereds of idols of gods and goddesses lying in police malkhana after being recovered from thieves at the city’s police stations. The High Court, however, decided to keep religious matters out of legal procedure and dismissed his PIL, saying the court’s intervention is not required in the matter.
Tainted practice
Being a doctor at Safdarjung Hospital is not easy these days. “There was a time when working for a Union government hospital was a matter of pride. These days, Safadarjung is in the news only when a doctor is booked either by the CBI or the police. Wherever we go these days, people ask in jest if I am going to be next one,” joked a senior doctor. “Doctors who have a reason to worry are keeping a low profile,” he added. This comes after three doctors — Dr R Verma, Dr J S Dhupia and Dr D K Gupta — were booked under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act by the CBI in the past 10 days.
Power tussle
Sources say that ever since the Amity University has taken over the volunteer training programme, things are not hunky dory between the Games Organising Committee and the staff of the university. The OC members is irritated by the fact that Amity has ‘literally’ hijacked the programme and is working according to their own ideas. The Amity staff, meanwhile, insists the OC is creating roadblocks in the programme they have been working on.
