TMC MP alleges breach of privilege

NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP D Bandopadhyay has sent a breach of privilege notice to CBI, which has registered a case against him for allegedly inflating his travel bills for claiming reimbursement in the LTC scam.

CBI sources said a notice has come to the agency through the office of chairman, Rajya Sabha, claiming the searches at his home and office were breach of his parliamentary privileges. Bandopadhyay could not be reached for comment.

CBI sources defended the raids, saying they were undertaken after obtaining necessary permissions and in accordance with rules and regulations. The agency would file a "suitable reply," sources said.

CBI has named three former members and three sitting members of Rajya Sabha for allegedly filing inflated travel bills to claim reimbursement. Bandopadhyay was examined by the agency on June 16 at the CBI HQ after which he said he was satisfied with the probe and described CBI as the "civilized bureau of investigation." CBI has alleged that Bandopadhyay presented four tickets worth Rs 1.28 lakh whereas Air India was actually paid Rs 2,000. Denying the allegations, the MP had said the fraud could have been perpetrated by the travel agents who booked tickets on his behalf.

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Delhi govt sanctions 10 school building projects

NEW DELHI: Delhi government has sanctioned 10 senior secondary school building projects at various locations in Delhi, construction work of which will start within two months time.

"The entire project will cost Rs 174 crore approximately and tender for these projects have been initiated. The work at site shall start within two months time," said Arun Baroka, principal secretary (Public Works Department).

All these schools will have provision of lifts for facilitating handicapped students and teachers, Baroka said.

The school buildings will be four storeyed ones and will have provisions for rain water harvesting, underground sump and tubewell. Play ground of approximately 2000 sqm area is also provided to the schools.

Baroka said that the estimated cost of each school building varies from Rs 16 to 18 crores.

He said that estimates for 10 more schools have been submitted to the government for which the building plan has already been approved by the local bodies.

These 10 schools are also likely to be sanctioned soon. Sufficient budget provision have been provided in the current fiscal for taking up construction of these schools, Baroka said.

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Onion prices stable, may rise in August

NEW DELHI: The city administration has claimed that there is no shortage of onions in the city and prices are stable, warning of an increase in August.

There has been little difference between wholesale and retail prices, indicating that the steps being taken by the government to control price rise were working. However, administration said that the wholesale rate of onions may go up to Rs 40 per kg in August.

But, there was a massive difference in retail prices across the city. In south Delhi's Gautam Nagar, onions were being sold for Rs 20 per kg against Rs 30 per kg in east and central Delhi.

"The best quality onion sold for Rs 25 per kg in the Azadpur wholesale market while the lowest was Rs 13.75 per kg," sources at Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) said. The APMC also took out an advertisement indicating prices of onions, tomatoes and potatoes at Mother Dairy outlets and their wholesale rates.

Development commissioner Puneet Goel held a meeting with APMC officials on Tuesday, after which the government decided to set up 40 stalls across the city where onions and potatoes would be sold at wholesale rates. The number of stalls will be increased to 200 within two weeks.

"Arrival of onions and potatoes in Delhi has been more than the requirement. On Tuesday, 1,200 MT of onions and 1,299 MT of potatoes arrived in the capital, which is much more than the daily requirement of Delhi," said Goel.

Government premises, from where the sale is proposed, include the offices of food and supply officers, offices of the development department, district magistrates, SDMs and inquiry offices of Delhi Jal Board, said Goel.

Anil Malhotra, committee member of APMC, said that the 70 tempos going into the city with onions and potatoes were returning with some amount of stock each night, indicating that there was sufficient supply in the city and rates had not risen.

"We intend on having the 200 stalls in place till at least September or till prices remain high. These stalls will sell other expensive vegetables as well. A rise in onion prices is expected but that should happen in August. If the rain is delayed further, the high prices will remain till October," he said.

Surinder Sawhney, proprietor of Gujarat Onion Co said that April 15 to September 15 is a lean period for onions and they are often stocked to meet the demand then.

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Cheaper, battery-run rickshaws planned for Delhi

NEW DELHI: Even as the debate on battery operated e-rickshaws rages, the transport department is planning to launch battery-operated three-wheeler scooter rickshaws. These TSRs, much like the existing autorickshaws, will have space for three passengers with a driver in the front. However, unlike the CNG version, the TSR will be run by a battery.

Transport commissioner Gyanesh Bharti said, "Manufacturers have come forward with battery-operated versions of the autorickshaw. Delhi government is looking into granting them type approval after examining the vehicles." These TSRs, said Bharti, have the advantage of being cheaper than autorickshaws, and being more environment-friendly.

Unlike e-rickshaws, however, the TSR will be allowed to run on roads only after grant of permit by the transport department as well as issue of public service vehicle (PSV) badges and a commercial driver's licence to the driver.

One of the manufacturers, Harish Khurana, said that the application for type approval has already been submitted to the Delhi government. The vehicle, which will run on a 1,000W battery, will otherwise operate like any other gear-driven vehicle. "The I-CAT approval for the vehicle has been obtained. I am now waiting to get the approval for the battery," said Khurana.

Incidentally, Khurana also has an e-rickshaw business, which he claims to have launched in 2007. "I am hoping that the approvals will come through by Diwali," said the manufacturer. Besides Khurana, sources said that a few more manufacturers have also expressed interest in getting type approval.

Officials in the department, meanwhile, are hoping that the option will be utilized by the autorickshaw drivers.

"Since the prices are lower, we are hoping that people will be interested. It will also be cheaper to run than the CNG vehicles," added the official.

Permits meanwhile, are expected to come through soon. The department says that its waiting for approval from the court to issue more permits. Till now, more than 50,000 permits have already been issued. The permits which will become available, once the older autorickshaws are phased out, will also be used for these battery operated TSRs.

It's not the first time that the transport department has introduced newer vehicle options for the TSR permits. Some months ago, the transport department had given approval to the Tata Magic IRIS vehicle as a TSR. The vehicle, which is a four-seater vehicle, has an all-steel body with a hard top and steel doors, thus making it a safer vehicle. The four-wheel vehicle was given the go-ahead, said officials, as it has seat belts for the driver and passengers. However, autorickshaw unions had protested the introduction of the new vehicles.

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Rain lashes Delhi, mercury comes down

NEW DELHI: Thundershowers lashed the national capital on Wednesday to bring respite to Delhiites from the hot and humid conditions even as the city geared up to welcome the monsoon.

Although the MeT department did not declare the rainfall on Wednesday as indicating the arrival of monsoon, it said that "the winds were no doubt like monsoon ones and they were also flowing from the Bay of Bengal".

But BP Yadav, the IMD director, said, "We will take data from our weather stations in western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan and study the rainfall and wind patterns before declaring the arrival of monsoon in the national capital."

The city received 4mm rainfall between 8:30am and 5:30pm.

The rain pulled the mercury down with the day temperature on Wednesday recorded at 36.6 degrees Celsius, which is normal for this part of the season. The minimum was at 25.5 degrees or two notches below normal.

The maximum on Tuesday had settled at 35.2 degrees, one notch below normal, while the minimum was one point above normal at 28.5 degrees.

Humidity in air fluctuated between 60 and 85 per cent. The weatherman has forecast a partly cloudy sky with the possibility of rain and thundershowers in some areas tomorrow.

"The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to be around 36 and 26 degrees, respectively," the MeT added.

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Current batch to get 3-year BMS

NEW DELHI: The students enrolled in Bachelor of Management Studies in 2013-14 "may continue in this programme, though its duration will be three years", University Grants Commission (UGC) said on Monday, ending the confusion over the course following the FYUP rollback.

In its letter to the DU registrar on Monday, UGC said the university might continue the programme in the interest of the enrolled students but the duration had to be three years. "The colleges, which admitted students in 2013-14 to the BMS programme, may, wherever required, obtain appropriate approval of the regulatory bodies such as UGC or AICTE and ensure that students admitted in the programme are not put to any disadvantage," it added.

Many students are happy with the decision. Nitish Menon, a BMS student at College of Vocational Studies, said: "We were scared that our course will get split into BBS, BBE, BFIA. But now at least authorities understood our problem and it's a relief for us."

"Unlike BTech, a reduced duration for BMS doesn't really affect anything apart from the study pressure. But there is a relief because now I won't be graduating with my juniors," said Ritwik Malik of Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies (SSCBS).

But some are concerned about the work pressure. There were many foundation courses in the first yeara. "We will be under pressure now. We will cover the whole syllabus scheduled for three years into two years. However, if the recognition by Faculty of Management Studies continues, I don't have any issues," said Raunit Soni, a student at SSCBS.

DU has scrapped finance and management courses —Bachelor in Business Studies, BA in Business Economics and Bachelor in Finance and Investment Analysis — under the three-year mode.

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PIL against FYUP disposed off as infructuous

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday disposed off as "infructuous" the PIL filed before it seeking restoration of three year degree course (undergraduate course) in university of Delhi.

"In view of the subsequent event nothing survives to be decided in the writ petition therefore the matter is disposed off as infructuous," said a bench headed by chief justice G Rohini as the issue has been resolved between UGC and DU.

The PIL by advocate R K Kapoor had sought an early resolution to the "controversy", saying, "Most of the university's colleges are deferring admissions, leading to confusion among lakhs of aspirants..."

Kapoor in his plea said that "FYUP violates the National Education Policy 1986, which advocates the 10+2+3 system, and therefore it is necessary, that DU must revert to the earlier system." The petition also stated that due to the conflict between UGC and DU there is no clarity regarding the admission process. Kapoor had sought directions to DU to implement the three-year undergraduate programme as recommended by UGC.

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Petition in favour of FYUP withdrawn from HC

NEW DELHI: A petition filed by eight students of university of Delhi in favour of implementation of the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) was on Tuesday withdrawn.

The petitioner's counsel Pratap Shanker said that the petition has been withdrawn as his clients did not want to pursue it. The withdrawal of the petition comes a few days after the DU accepted the UGC's directive to scrap FYUP.

The eight students of Maharaja Agrasen College, who are pursuing their four-year course under the FYUP, had moved the plea seeking court's intervention on the issue of UGC-DU row ovet FYUP.

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Consumer forum asks car agency to pay woman Rs 70,000

NEW DELHI: A district consumer forum directed a Honda car agency to pay a compensation of over Rs 70,000 to a woman who was overcharged in the name of being provided vehicle accessories.

The forum held that the agency harassed Kusum Vohra, a resident of Gagan Vihar by indulging in unfair practices, and overcharging her.

East District Consumer Redressal Forum said the commerce and industry ministry should cancel licences of such agencies as they not only exploit customers but also bring bad name to big brands.

"To consider the cancellation of the dealership of such scrupulous people who are cheating customers and getting richer at the cost of the others.," the bench headed by Justice N A Zaidi said.

The forum also pointed out that some agencies were causing loss to the state exchequer by not paying service tax, and that the trade taxes department is required to survey the operation of such car dealers and take appropriate action.

Kusum Vohra had purchased a Honda Brio from Capital Cars Private Ltd on February 18, 2013 for Rs 4.76 lakh, which included free insurance of the vehicle. But the agency issued a receipt of only Rs 4,54,067, which included the car's cost and the registration cost. Vohra was not provided any car accessories as promised by the dealers. It also didn't refund the Rs 21,933 despite Vohra's repeated requests.

While awarding a compensation of Rs 50,000 to Vohra and directing the agency to refund the excess amount of Rs 21,933, the forum also referred to the statements of other Honda dealers in the capital who stated that Vohra was overcharged at least by over Rs 20,000.

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Metro services on Dwarka-Noida line disrupted

NEW DELHI: Metro train services on line 3 from Dwarka to Noida and Vaishali were affected during the morning rush hour on Tuesday due to an overhead electrification problem.

Train services have been affected since 10:20am due to Overhead Electrification (OHE) problem and trains on this line have been running in single and two loops, a DMRC spokesperson said.

The Blue line metro trains on this line are running in 2 loops from Kirti Nagar to Dwarka and Shubahsh Nagar to Nodia/Vaishali whereas single line service is available between Kirti Nagar and Shubhash Nagar.

Several passengers were stranded on this busy route. "I have been delayed for work due to this problem.Trains are delayed on each station by over an hour and auto rickshaw and other cab services outside the station are charging double the amount to ferry passengers," said Tripti, a regular traveller on the route.

The DMRC spokesperson, however, said the problem was rectified by noon.

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