Projects Stuck, Delhi Stares At A Water Crisis

Neither Munak Canal Nor Renuka Dam Will Provide Water This Summer.

The capital is staring at a grim water situation this summer. The city government had been banking heavily on the Munak canal for supply of an additional 80 million gallons per day (MGD) and had hoped that work on Renuka dam would commence, assuring the city of a fixed supply in the coming years. But both projects have got stuck and officials have started advocating water conservation measures.

Delhi has an installed treatment capacity of 755 MGD through eight water treatment plants. An additional 100 MGD is extracted from the ground. "We have a demand of about 1,080 MGD. There is a shortfall of about 250 MGD. We are also expecting the capital's population to grow to 230 lakh in the next 10 years. So far, we have not been able to identify any other alternate source of water. Delhi unfortunately is almost entirely dependant on its neighbours for raw water supply," said a DJB official.

Those working on waterrelated issues in the city say that there is a large population that is not on the DJB's radar at all. These people, mostly living in unauthorized colonies and slums, have to turn to the tanker mafia or survive on groundwater. "Only 27% of Delhi is authorized. If we work out a consumption of 100-300 lpcd (litres per capita per day), the total demand comes to about 1,500 MGD," says Jyoti Sharma of Forum for Organized Resource Conservation and Enhancement.

with thanks : Times of India : link above for detailed news.

www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com

18% of City Water Unfit For Consumption, 111 Out of 616 Water Samples Not Suitable For Drinking

Every fifth person in Delhi is at the risk of getting water-borne diseases, such as typhoid, cholera, gastroenteritis, jaundice, hepatitis A. The figures say it all.

 

In December, 2010, the Public Health department of MCD had sent tap water samples supplied by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to be tested in a government lab.

Results of these samples have revealed that 18% of the city's water is contaminated with disease-causing bacteria.

Out of the 616 water samples tested, 111 were found to be unfit for drinking.

Most number of contaminated samples -21 and 18 respectively -were found in the south and central zone, that has areas such as Green Park, Malviya Nagar, Vasant Kunj, Vasant Vihar, Greater Kailash-I, East of Kailash, CR Park.

"This is a gross health hazard. We keep telling the public to consume tap water. But if this is the quality of drinking water available, how can we prevent the outbreak of waterborne diseases," said VK Monga, chairman, Public Health Committee, MCD.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : link above for detailed news.

www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com

Massive Earthquake of 8.9 magnitude shocks Japan !

A massive Earthquake of 8.9 Magnitude shook Japan today. Massive loss of property is reported due to the Earthquake as well Tsunami after that. We express our Deepest condolences to the people of Japan.

Being on Sisamic zone 4, we at Delhi must be ready to face any such natural Disaster.

But where is our Disaster Management Team ?
Are we ready to face any such problematic situation ?

Meeting with DCP East on law & order in Krishna Nagar area

The office boy who became Chief Justice of India

By Anirban Choudhury

I come from a poor family. I started my career as a class IV employee and the only asset I possess is integrity.

CJI Sarosh Homi Kapadia

At a time when the Indian judicial system is mired in controversy, thanks to the likes of KG Balakrishnan and PD Dinakaran, comes a man with the courage and the integrity to say all is not well with the system.

India's 38th chief justice S H Kapadia began his life as an office assistant who ran errands at a law firm. But deep down, he wanted to study law and be a judge.

Homi Kapadia hailed from a lower middle class Parsi family: his father was a clerk and his mother a homemaker. Quality education was a luxury. Which is why, in 1960, he took up a humble job at the law offices of Behramjee Jeejeebhoy.

His colleagues hadn't imagined even in their wildest dreams that he would one day go on to become the chief justice of India.

A co-worker from his early years told The Indian Express, "He was a young boy when he joined us to help senior advocates carry their heavy case briefs. His self-conscious demeanour would force me to wonder at times what he was doing in such a smart law firm".

The young Sarosh first sought to help his father and finance his younger brother's education before embarking on his journey to become a lawyer.

At 27, in 1974, he became counsel for the income tax department. He was appointed additional judge of the Bombay High Court in 1991 and made a permanent judge in 1993. He decided on matters relating to the environment, banking, industries, and taxation. He also presided over the high-profile Ketan Parekh stock scandal case in 1999, and played an important role in the proceedings of the Joint Parliamentary Committee constituted to investigate the scam.

On 5 August 2003 he became the Chief Justice of the Uttaranchal High Court and on December 2003 was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court.

Here, Kapadia delivered some landmark judgments. In one, he ruled against DNA testing in a property dispute case. He was also part of a three-member bench that heard the income tax case of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. The case went in Lalu's favour.

On 12 May 2010, Kapadia was sworn in as the Chief Justice of India by President Pratibha Patil.

Soon after his appointment, Kapadia wrote to retired Justice V R Krishna Iyer, replying to his congratulatory letter, "I come from a poor family. I started my career as a class IV employee and the only asset I possess is integrity. Even as a judge of the Supreme Court, I have used my knowledge of accounts and economics for the welfare of the downtrodden, including tribals and workmen. I hope to fulfill my obligation to the Constitution in the matter of achieving the goal of inclusive growth."

His actions, after he took over, clearly show that he is here to set the judicial house in order.

Kapadia has warned against frivolous public interest litigation (PIL). "Huge costs will be imposed against those filing frivolous PILs," Kapadia said, during a hearing. But the Indian courts are choked with cases filed by frivolous litigants who, for example, want to teach their political and business rivals a lesson. Citizens hope Kapadia will deal with them as firmly.

with thanks : YAHOO NEWS : link above for more detailed news.

The Piedpiper and the mice

There is a small storey about a man who could play on a flute like instruments and all the mice shall follow him.
On a certain settled fee, he shall drown all the mice of the city in a river. This was necessary to save the city from dreaded diseases like plague.
Our country and especially DELHI, is infested with rats who are spreading corruption, not solving small small problems like burning of lights in night time in parks.
DESPITE our clamour,there is pitch dark in parks. One our repeated requests, for one day the HIGH MAST LIGHTS WERE BURNING, but alas again we are where we were.
Go to any department say of MCD AND DDA, no file shall move unless you know some one who would accept bribe and pass it on to conerned babu.
So, the service spirited ladies and gentlemen, let us search a pied piper, who would blow on his pipe and all the rishwat khor officers,politicians and babus and TAX EVADERS SHALL BE LEAD TO VARIOUS points along river YAMUNA and one by one shall walk into river and drown.
TV CHANNELS COULD COVER THE PROGRAMME.
Vohra ji, will ensure that NO MONEY IS TAKEN FROM ANY CHANNEL TO COVER THE WONDERFUL SCENE OF DROWNING OF RATS.

LPG Subsidies For BPL Families Soon: Sheila, Govt Wants To Make City Kerosene-Free

 

Following central subsidies on LPG announced in the recent budget, chief minister Sheila Dikshit announced on Sunday that the state government would be coming out with bank loans and subsidies for poor families in a few days. The scheme, which Dikshit said was in the final stages, would ensure that the city became "kerosene-free".

 

Dikshit, who was speaking at a health camp organized by the DC (revenue) northeast district and the health department, said the government will replace kerosene oil stoves with LPG and provide further subsidies through banks to families falling in the BPL (below poverty line) category. The idea behind the scheme is to do away with the profiteering and adulteration in kerosene oil rampant in the city. While Dikshit didn't reveal the timeline for the launch of the scheme, the announcement comes in the run-up year to the civic polls scheduled for next year, said political observers.

with thanks : TOI : link above.

Posh Areas To Pay More Tax Despite Poor Amenities

The posh colonies in the city may soon have to shell out more money in terms of property tax due to the land appreciation in their respective areas even though as far as civic infrastructure is concerned, they are still lagging behind.

Realising this, a number of Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) in the city have already submitted their objections to the Delhi government constituted Municipal Valuation Committee.

The committee has recommended upgrading 168 colonies in the city on account of their proximity to the Metro lines and land appreciation that they have witnessed over the years. Presently, the Municipal Valuation Committee is holding several hearing sessions wherein the objections and the suggestions submitted by the residents and others are being heard.

Areas under the jurisdiction of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) are at present divided into categories A to H depending on the infrastructural facilities present there.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : link above.

In 3 Months, Update Your Voter ID Card From Home

You will soon be able to get the spelling of your name corrected or your residential address changed on the voter's identity card, while sitting in the comfort of your home.

The Delhi election office plans to upgrade its website to allow residents to apply for new voter's identity cards and make corrections in their records without going to the respective election office in their area.

Officials said the new facility will be available in two-three months. "Currently, one can only fill up form number 6 online to get his/her name added to the voter's list," said a senior election officer.

"In two-three months, the voter will be able to fill up form numbers 7, 8 and 8A, which are required to delete the name, make corrections in their name or address and transposition of entry in electoral roll respectively," the officer added.

The only time the applicant will have to visit the election office is to get a photograph clicked. The voter will also be able to scan the necessary documents and upload them on the website. 

with thanks : Hindustan times : link above for detailed news.

A Letter To Prime Minister on Service Tax on medical facilities !

FM Said :  Besides, treatment at all air conditioned private hospitals with over 25 beds would be costlier as Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced: "I imposed service tax in 2010-11 on health check ups. This caused differential treatment between persons who pay themselves and others where payments are made by insurance companies or a business entity. I therefore propose to replace it with a tax on all services provided by hospitals with 25 or more beds that have the facility of central air conditioning. Though the tax is on high-end treatment, I sweeten the pill by an abatement of 50 per cent so that the actual burden is kept at 5 per cent of the value of the service." This levy has been extended to all diagnostic services as well.

with thanks : tribune :  http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110301/main6.htm


We are SHOCKED on hearing this clause in the Budget Speech of Finance Minister. For any major illness one has to go to the big hospitals as small hospitals have no such facilities. Just ask an ordinary person that how he / she treats the near & dear ones in these big & private hospitals. One has to sell Jewellery, property or similar investments kept for old age to meet the expenses for the treatment of Heart, Cancer, Kidney transplant etc. , all of which have become so common due to adultured food, water and even air. 

HOW GOVT. CAN IMPOSE A SERVICE TAX ON THESE EXPENSES.

We request to the PRIME MINISTER of INDIA to look into this.

Thanks

www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com

Indian Medical Association: A Letter To Prime Minister,Salt Tax On The Sick And ill

 
with thanks : Hindustan Times