Khora Colony (Ghaziabad)

Ghaziabad ranks 351 of 434 cities in ‘Swachh’ survey 2017

2017-05-06T17:05:00.000+05:30

In the latest ‘Swachh Survekshan’ ranking issued by the Ministry of Urban Development, Ghaziabad fared badly yet again and secured a dismal 351st spot of a total of 434 cities that were surveyed. In 2016, Ghaziabad ranked 67th among 73 cities.

The rankings, commissioned by the Ministry of Urban Development during January-February 2017, aimed at capturing the improvement in sanitation, primarily based on making cities and town open defecation free and also on the basis of processing of municipal solid waste.

According to the latest ranking, a total of 62 cities from Uttar Pradesh competed and Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of PM Narendra Modi, emerged as the top city in the state. The remote town of Loni fared better than Ghaziabad and was ranked 331. Modi Nagar was ranked 360. Nearby Hapur district secured the 424th spot.

The city scored a total of 672 with 374 points out of 900 for self-declaration of cleanliness measures (solid waste management including door-to-door collection, processing and disposal, and, open defecation status). Another 101 out of 500 were scored for onsite observation by an expert team and 197 out of 600 on the basis of citizens’ feedback.

“We think that the ranking has improved a bit as compared to 2016. Still, I am not convinced about the cleanliness measures taken in the city. We will soon start biometric attendance for staff to ensure that they work regularly. We have also installed GPS in all our 200 vehicles and the process is in the testing phase. This will be put in place within a couple of days and will ensure that solid waste is lifted and dumped properly and vehicles are tracked,” said Ashu Verma, city mayor.

The city produces nearly 950 metric tonnes of daily solid waste, which gets dumped at a temporary landfill site near Pratap Vihar, on vacant land, roadside areas and plots.

In a major setback to the scientific solid waste management plant at Dundahera near NH-24, the the National Green Tribunal in December, 2016 had quashed the approval given by the UP pollution control board and also the environmental clearance. The city is yet to get a solid waste management plant.

“It is time that the city gets several solid waste processing plants in different areas. We have identified some locations but the fund arrangement is a major problem,” the mayor said.

During the 2017 ranking, conducted by Quality Council of India, 421 assessors were deployed for on the spot assessment of 17,500 locations in 434 cities and towns. Another 55 persons regularly monitored the survey process in real time.

Of the 62 cities in UP, only one made it to the top 50 — Varanasi at 32. Another 25 cities ranked among bottom 50 while 41 were placed among the bottom 100. Gonda in UP secured the last spot in the overall ranking. The first spot in the ranking was secured by Indore in Madhya Pradesh.

Source : HT

Fee hike: Strike called, 128 private schools in Ghaziabad shut today

2017-05-06T17:02:00.000+05:30

Independent Schools’ Federation of India is observing a ‘token strike’ on Thursday against the district administration’s order to set up the committee to scrutinise their accounts. The committee is to look into the schools’ accounts and investigate other complaints forwarded by parents and associations.

An association of private schools in Ghaziabad has decided to shut nearly 128 schools on Thursday as a mark of protest against the district administration’s decision to set up a committee to inquire into allegations of the unjustified fee hike. The committee comprises the additional district magistrate (finance), district inspector of schools and the basic education officer.

The president of the Independent Schools’ Federation of India (ISFI) on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to the district officials and said that 128 private schools will observe a ‘token strike’ on Thursday against the district administration’s order to set up the committee. The committee is to look into the schools’ accounts and investigate other complaints forwarded by parents and associations.

Source : HT

आज से यूपी गेट होगा सिग्नल फ्री, वाहन भरेंगे फर्राटा

2017-05-06T16:53:00.002+05:30

यूपी गेट शनिवार सुबह से सिग्नल फ्री हो जाएगा और वाहन चालक फर्राटा भरेंगे। इसके लिए एनएच-नौ (पहले - 24) के गाजीपुर फ्लाईओवर को बंद कर ¨लक रोड को काटकर बनाए गए नए रूट को चालू किया गया है। इससे एनएच - नौ से गुजरने वाले लाखों वाहन चालकों को जाम की समस्या से राहत मिलेगी।

एनएच - नौ के चौड़ीकरण का कार्य इन दिनों तेजी से चल रहा है। पिछले सोमवार को निर्माण कार्य के कारण यूपी गेट पर डायवर्जन कर दिया गया था। यूपी गेट को सिग्नल फ्री करने के लिए एनएच- नौ के बगल से ¨लक रोड को काट कर नई सड़क का निर्माण कार्य शुरू किया गया था। शुक्रवार को सड़क का निर्माण कार्य पूरा हो गया। शनिवार सुबह से दिल्ली से गाजियाबाद की ओर जाने वालों के लिए सड़क चालू कर दिया जाएगा। निर्माण कार्य के चलते गाजीपुर फ्लाईओवर रूट को पूरी तरफ से बंद किया जाएगा। प्रोजेक्ट इंजीनियर विकास नागर ने बताया कि हाइवे चौड़ीकरण के लिए यूपी गेट पर एनएच- नौ को बंद करना पड़ा। इसके लिए बगल से ¨लक रोड को काट कर नई सड़क बनाई गई है। शनिवार सुबह नई सड़क पर यातायात शुरू हो जाएगी।

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लगता था जाम : एनएच-नौ का गाजीपुर फ्लाईओवर रूट चालू होने से यूपी गेट सिग्नल फ्री नहीं हो पा रहा था। फ्लाईओवर व ¨लक रोड से यूटर्न पर पहुंचने वाले वाहनों को रुकना पड़ रहा था। यातायात पुलिसकर्मी बारी-बारी से दोनों तरफ से वाहनों को निकाल रहे थे। अब फ्लाईओवर रूट बंद होने से दिल्ली और ¨लक रोड आने वाले एक ही रास्ते से यूटर्न पर पहुंचेंगे। वहां से दिल्ली जाने वाले यूटर्न से मुड़ेंगे और गाजियाबाद जाने वाले सीधे निकलेंगे।

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हाईवे चौड़ीकरण के लिए यूपी गेट पर डायवर्जन किया गया है। शनिवार सुबह से गाजीपुर फ्लाईओवर रूट बंद कर बगल से बनाई गई नहीं सड़क पर यातायात शुरू किया जाएगा। इससे यूपी गेट सिग्नल फ्री हो जाएगा।

-राजेश कुमार, पुलिस अधीक्षक यातायात।

Source : Jagran, Ghaziabad News

ऑपरेशन ‘क्लीन प्रॉपर्टी’ शुरू, 2800 लोगों को नोटिस

2017-05-06T16:46:00.000+05:30

बेनामी संपत्ति जुटाने वालों पर शिकंजा कसने के लिए आयकर विभाग ने अब ऑपरेशन ‘क्लीन प्रॉपर्टी’ शुरू कर दिया है। गाजियाबाद स्थित आयकर ऑफिस ने करीब 2800 लोगों को बेनामी संपत्ति के मामले में नोटिस भेजा है। वहीं, आने वाले दिनों में विभाग नेे कार्रवाई के भी संकेत दिए हैं।

आयकर विभाग से जुड़े सूत्र बताते हैं कि नोटिस के माध्यम से लोगों से संपत्ति को खरीदने का जरिया पूछा गया। सभी को दो सप्ताह में नोटिस का जवाब देने को कहा गया है। विभाग ने जिन लोगों को नोटिस भेजा है, उनमें सोना कारोबारी, सरकारी अधिकारी, प्रॉपर्टी डीलर, कांट्रेक्टर, बिल्डर और कुछ कर्मचारी भी शामिल हैं।

उधर, भेजे गए नोटिस कुछ लोगों के पतों पर रिसीव नहीं हो रहे हैं। ऐसे में अब विभागीय टीम संबंधित व्यक्ति के पते पर जाकर नोटिस रिसीव कराएगी। बता दें कि बेनामी संपत्ति वालों पर शिकंजा कसने के लिए केंद्र सरकार ने आयकर विभाग को बिना किसी हस्तक्षेप करने की छूट दी है।

एडिशनल कमिश्नर कर रहे मॉनीटरिंग
बेनामी संपत्ति जुटाने वालों पर कार्रवाई करने के लिए आयकर विभाग ने अलग से नोडल अधिकारी नियुक्ति किया है। नोएडा स्थित आयकर कार्यालय में तैनात एडिशनल कमिश्नर सर्किल -1 को नोडल अधिकारी बनाया गया है, जो मेरठ, अलीगढ़ और सहारनपुर मंडल से जुड़े जिलों में बेनामी संपत्ति के मामलों की मॉनीटरिंग कर रहे हैं।

हर 15 दिन पर कार्यालय वाइज नोटिस की समीक्षा हो रही है। आयकर के अधिकारी बताते हैं कि अभी नोटिस के जरिए शुरुआत है, आने वाले दिनों में विभाग बेनामी संपत्ति वालों पर छापामारी भी करेगा। खासकर उन लोगों पर सबसे पहले कार्रवाई होगी, जिन्होंने चंद वर्षों में बेशुमार दौलत खरीद ली है, जबकि उनका सालाना रिटर्न महज दो से चार लाख रुपये से भी कम का रहा है।

Source : अमर उजाला ब्यूरो, गाजियाबाद

Autos back on Ghaziabad roads on Monday despite strike called by union

2015-10-06T20:51:00.004+05:30

Auto rickshaws were seen plying on city roads on Monday. (TOI Photo)

GHAZIABAD: Three-wheeler autos -- including 3+1 seaters and 6+1 seaters -- have been plying in regular fashion since Monday morning in Ghaziabad despite an indefinite strike called by the union. Autos were seen ferrying passengers at the Vaishali metro station, the terminal point of the metro line in Ghaziabad, on Monday. Autos also have been moving through Mohan Nagar, Link Road, GT Road and other parts of Ghaziabad.

Members of the Ghaziabad Three-Wheeler Auto Chalak Union, however, said the strike has not been called off.

Regular movement of autos in the city on Monday has spared commuters from inconveniences that were faced a day earlier on roads.

Union president Dilshad Ahmed was not available for comments. The union has called the strike citing a slew of demands. Among other demands, the union has asked for the raising of life span of autos with 3+1 capacity from the current eight years to 15, and that of the Vikram autos with 6+1 capacity from seven years to 10. Union members said that the transport department is, at the same time, collecting one-time road taxes from both categories of vehicles for a period of ten years notwithstanding the life-spans
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Shaban Bukhari, son of Shahi Imam Syed A Bukhari, to marry a Hindu girl from Ghaziabad

2015-10-06T20:49:00.001+05:30

New Delhi/ Nagpur: Despite all efforts to maintain communal harmony and peace, intermittent incidents of unrest and clashes of faiths crop up and pose threats to law and order situation as well as peaceful communal existence. Now, with a new and happy development of announcement of marriage of Shaban Bukhari, son of Jama Masjid’s Shahi Imam Syed Bukhari with a Hindu girl from Gaziabad, all skirmishes between Hindus and Muslims may find a newer dimension of social co-existence, and love as well as respect for one another, which is need of the hour.

It was November 22, 2014, Shaban Kukhari, son of Jama Masjid’s Shahi Imam Syed Bukhari, was formally annointed as the Naib Imam of Jama Masjid, Delhi. The 20-year-old Shaban Bhukari is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Amity University. Shaban will become the Shahi Imam of the country’s largest mosque when he would succeed his father.

Amid rising communal tensions in the capital city, after a violent mob murdered a man and thrashed his son over rumours that they ate beef, there’s a positive news country needs to know, and it’s about a love story. All religions and their sincere followers are tired of stressing the need to maintain love among all human beings.

Shaban Bukhari is all set to tie the knot to a Hindu girl from Ghaziabad. The two have been in a relationship for a couple of years. Syed Ahmed Bukhari, who was initially against the marriage, agreed to it when the soon-to-be-bride gave her consent to embrace Islam. She is already learning the Quran, Shahi Imam said.

Preparations for the marriage to be held on November 13, 2015, are already ongoing. A reception will be organised on November 15, at a farmhouse in Mahipalpur.

Ghaziabad Metro phase-2 project hangs fire over funding

2015-10-06T20:46:00.002+05:30

GHAZIABAD: The second phase of Ghaziabad's ambitious Metro project -from Dilshad Garden in Delhi to New Bus Stand -is facing uncertainty over funding.

Principal secretary (housing) and Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) chairman Sadakant Shukla on Monday said the UP government had not allocated any funds for the project in its budget and the state agencies that had promised to partly fund the Rs 2,208 crore project were now backing out.

However, modalities are being worked out for ensuring the ongoing Metro work is not affected due to paucity of funds and a decision is likely to be taken soon in Lucknow over external funding for the project if state government agencies failed to pay up their share of costs, Shukla said.

In fact, the Metro project is being jointly funded by the Centre, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and the UP government. While the Centre and DMRC have pledged Rs 730 crore for the project, the state government will be bearing a burden of Rs 1,478 crore. The state government funds will be made available by GDA, the UP Housing Board, the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation and the UP State Industrial Development Corporation.

"There is no separate component in the state budget for the ongoing Ghaziabad Metro project, though a sum of Rs 700 crore has been reserved in it for the Lucknow Metro. Certain state government agencies have expressed their inabilities to bear their share of financial burden for the Metro project," he said.

"As of now, work on the project is progressing smoothly without any financial constraints whatsoever.However, an external funding or external loan might be necessary . " added Shukla.

Ghaziabad's Delhi Metro link in trouble

2015-10-06T20:45:00.001+05:30

ByIANS

|Monday, October 5, 2015 - 18:12

Ghaziabad's Delhi Metro link in trouble

Ghaziabad: The extension of Delhi Metro to Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad town is in doubt due to financial crunch, a senior official said on Monday.

Principal Secretary (Housing) Sadakant told the media that government agencies which had promised to partly fund the Rs.1,480 crore project were now backing out.

And the crisis was forcing the Uttar Pradesh government to "review" the project, he said.

Delhi Metro, which now extends to Noida and a part of Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh and Gurgaon and Faridabad districts in Haryana, had planned to take its network from Delhi's Dilshad Garden to New Bus stand here.

Sadakant said the municipal corporation, the Ghaziabad Housing Board and the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corp (UPSIDC) were not financially sound to contribute their share in the project.

Asked how the funding agencies can withdraw their commitment when the Uttar Pradesh cabinet had approved the funding pattern, the official said the situation would be reviewed in Lucknow.

The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) was to bear Rs.695 crore of the project, the municipal corporation Rs.246 crore, the housing board Rs.44 crore and the UPSIDC Rs.97 crore.

Accordingly, the GDA entered into a MoU with Delhi Metro.

But after Delhi Metro initiated work in Ghaziabad, the government has begun to have second thoughts.

Sadakant also said the project cost may escalate to Rs.3,000 crore.

"Things in Lucknow were not so clear at that time. They are visible here now."

Rajendra Tyagi, a councillor and social activist, accused the Uttar Pradesh government of not being interested in Ghaziabad's development.

"When the UP government can finance Lucknow Metro with Rs.15,000 crore, why can't it finance Ghaziabad Metro with one fourth of that amount?

"This city is the maximum revenue earner district in the state. The government should fund the project," Tyagi said.

INDIAN DOMINION: Taxing the Super Rich

2014-05-08T08:55:00.001+05:30

INDIAN DOMINION: Taxing the Super Rich: Amidst wide anticipations of taxing the ‘super-rich’ of the country, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said in his budget speech 2013-14 th...

Hurrayy!!!! Khora Colony comes in Muncipal Corporation

2013-06-04T18:51:00.001+05:30

डॉ. राजेंद्र प्रसाद जन्मदिन मनाया

2012-12-04T17:36:00.000+05:30

खोड़ा : खोड़ा में बिहार असोसिएशन ने सोमवार को भारत के प्रथम राष्ट्रपति डॉ. राजेंद्र प्रसाद का 129वां जन्मदिन मनाया। कार्यक्रम की शुरुआत में असोसिएशन अध्यक्ष जितेंद्र शर्मा ने राजेंद्र प्रसाद के चित्र पर माल्यापर्ण किया। इसके बाद एक आम बैठक में राजेंद्र प्रसाद के व्यवहार और उनके कार्यों पर प्रकाश डाला गया। इस मौके पर मौजूद सभी लोगों ने उनके आदर्शों पर चलने का संकल्प लिया। इसमें सर्व समाज के लोगों ने हिस्सा लिया। बैठक में रामानंद सिंह, मुरारी चौधरी, अमन शर्मा, विकास राय, कृष्णा, श्याम लाल, किरन प्रसाद, सतेंद्र कुमार समेत कई लोग मौजूद रहे।

NH 24-Link Road T-point turns major bottleneck

2012-12-04T12:24:00.000+05:30

GHAZIABAD: The Gautam Budh Nagar andGhaziabad authorities didn't seem to take traffic snarls into consideration while opening two lanes of the link road between Holland Factory in Greater Noida and NH-24 earlier this month. The under-construction T-point where the link road meets NH-24 has become a site of major chaos with commuters trying to wedge past their vehicles to use the road to travel between Greater Noida, Ghaziabad and Delhi. Peak hours have been witnessing major jams due to lack of traffic personnel being posted there to monitor movement of vehicles.

Only two lanes were opened to traffic earlier this month for commuters travelling between Greater Noida, Ghaziabad and Meerut since the GDA is yet to complete work on the service lanes and the central verge of the link road. However, in spite of the incomplete construction work, people have been using the stretch. With no traffic cops stationed in the area to check such violations and with the ongoing work adding to the chaos, the haphazard traffic movement results in major snarls through the day.

"The chaos ends up slowing down complete traffic movement on the NH-24. Considering that some work is still being carried out, authorities should ensure that traffic cops are deployed in the area at least during peak hours," said Anubhav Ranjan, a resident of Ghaziabad and a regular commuter on the stretch.

The GDA and the Greater Noida Authority, however, say that the problem is temporary as only some road strengthening and finishing work is remaining. "The NH-24 is a very busy stretch. Cops are stationed at the entry and exit points on the Highway. However, as the traffic volume is very high it often gets impossible to control," said Anil Kumar, traffic inspector, Indirapuram, Ghaziabad.

Source: TOI

CBI files charge-sheet against Pradeep Shukla

2012-12-04T12:22:00.002+05:30

GHAZIABAD: The CBI on Monday filed charge-sheet against senior IAS officer Pradeep Shukla in connection with alleged irregularities in upgrading of 89 district hospitals in the state, under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scheme, causing a loss of Rs 16 crore to the exchequer.

The agency had received sanction to prosecute Shukla on November 30 from the Centre after that a charge-sheet was filed before special CBI court in Ghaziabad on Monday.

Shukla and officials of UP Processing and Construction Cooperative Federation Ltd (PACCFED), including its managing director V K Chowdhary, the then director general of family welfare S P Ram, Moradabad-based businessman Saurabh Jain, and his firms were booked by the agency in January this year.

While remaining accused were chargesheeted in May this year, the charge-sheet against Shukla was pending because CBI was awaiting sanction for his prosecution.

The 55-year-old IAS officer was the NRHM mission director and principal secretary, family welfare, when the Rs 5,700 crore scam allegedly took place during the BSP rule. He was arrested by the agency in May but was released on bail. After his release, Shukla joined back as member Revenue Board but the UP government issued orders of him being "deemed suspended".

CBI alleged officials of PACCFED favoured ineligible firms and released payment of Rs 16.93 crore on the basis of forged documents.

In its charge-sheet, the agency alleged Shukla along with Ram entered in criminal conspiracy with private firms and gave contract related to upgrading of district hospitals in Uttar Pradesh worth Rs 89 crore on the basis of forged documents.

Out of Rs 16 crore loss caused to exchequer, more than Rs 13 crore was allegedly cornered by Jain, close confidante of former family welfare minister Babu Singh Kushwaha, who used it to bribe public servants and also invested in various companies.

Earlier on Novemver 26, the agency was pulled up by the Supreme Court for delay in proceedings against Shukla and other accused. The court expressed surprise that CBI had been waiting for sanction for prosecuting its officials, including Shukla, in the scam despite its order that sanction would be deemed to have been granted if the competent authority refused to decide it within three months.

The SC observation came while hearing the plea challanging Allahabad High Court's order to monitor the investigation into the scam. Shukla had pleaded before the high court to quash the FIRs registered against him as, he claimed, the CBI had not taken proper sanction for his prosecution from the Department of Personnel and Training. However, he did not get any relief. Instead, the High Court expressed displeasure over the delay in investigation and prosecution.

The NRHM scam came to the fore last year after two CMOs of Lucknow were shot dead one after another in six months time. The CBI inquiry was ordered by the high court on a public interest litigation.

Babu Singh Kushwaha, who was minister in the BSP regime, was sacked by then chief minister Mayawati. In March this year, Kushwaha was arrested along with 15 others. The CBI was hyperactive during the assembly elections held earlier this year in February-March but slowed down later.

Source: TOI

Bharatiya Kisan Union continues siege of Dasna toll bridge

2012-12-04T12:20:00.001+05:30

Ghaziabad: A day after allowing traffic to pass through free of cost, the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) continued to lay siege to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) Dasna toll bridge in Ghaziabad on Monday.

The BKU plans to make the toll road in Saharanpur and the DND (Delhi-Noida-Delhi) Flyway "toll-free" from December 4 and December 7, respectively, BKU Meerut division president Rajvir Singh said.

"Our next target will be to liberate commuters from paying toll at the DND Flyway in Noida," he said.

Rajvir Singh also threatened to make all the highways in Uttar Pradesh toll-free and termed the collection of toll on the national highways as "extortion" from the commuters.

He said the collection of toll at the Dasna toll bridge was in violation of the norms laid down by the NHAI.

"According to the NHAI rules, a toll bridge cannot be established within a 10-kilometre radius of any municipal body. The Dasna toll bridge is hardly two kilometres from Ghaziabad municipal limits," he said.

Ghaziabad District Magistrate Aparna Upadhyay said: "The district administration would play a role of a facilitator. Only the union surface transport ministry can take a decision on the realisation of toll."

Upadhyay said the administration will "maintain the law and order at all cost" and would "remain neutral". He added that the district administration was trying to facilitate a meeting between NHAI officials and BKU leaders.

Source: NDTV

Ghaziabad man arrested for putting wife on gamble

2012-12-04T12:13:00.001+05:30

A man was on Monday booked for allegedly losing his wife during gambling in Nehru Nagar area in the Ghaziabad district, police said on Monday.

According to the complaint lodged by the woman, the accused lost her in gambling ten days ago following which the fellow gamblers reached her residence to abduct her, she said.

However, she managed to flee from the spot and later filed a complaint against her husband at the Jarcha police station in Noida.

"My husband lost me in gambling. A neighbour I had confided in informed my parents. My father came and took me home. My husband visited me thrice, and I ultimately agreed to patch up with him against my family's wishes," the woman said.

"But my husband continued to abuse me. Once he pushed me off the staircase," she said.

She alleged that after few months of marriage, the accused even asked her to have a sexual relationship with her brother-in-law to which she refused only to get beaten up badly at his hands.

Further investigations are on into the case, they added.

Akhilesh government decides to withdraw all cases against Ponty Chadha in UP

2012-11-20T16:30:00.004+05:30

The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to withdraw all cases against late liquor baron Ponty Chadha in the state. The decision was taken in a Cabinet meeting in Uttar Pradesh. Ponty Chadha, who was the sole liquor distributor in Uttar Pradesh, died after a shootout between him and his brother Hardeep at his farmhouse in Delhi. Hardeep was also killed in the shootout.

Ponty Chadha's other business interests included real estate, sugar mills and film production, which he used to look after along with his two brothers - Hardeep and Rajinder. The business empire was reportedly worth Rs 6,000 crore.

However, no arrests have been made in regard to the double murders case. The police are yet to find significant leads into what led to the shootout. The police have said that a clash between the two brothers had taken place in another farmhouse, located a few kilometers away, on the morning of the shootout.

Ponty Chadha, who was the sole liquor distributor in Uttar Pradesh, died after a shootout between him and his brother in Delhi.

Ponty was known to be close to the Samajwadi Party but after Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party came to power, he changed his loyalties. His business also flourished during the BSP regime and Ponty floated 16 companies right after Mayawati took over as the chief minister in 2007. These companies were given contracts ranging from real estate to sugar mills to film production and distribution.

After the Samajwadi Party returned to power in March 2012, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said that he would hold a probe against Ponty and his wealth but not much was done following reports that the party had patched up with the controversial businessman. Earlier, in February when Uttar Pradesh was gearing up for Assembly Elections, the Income Tax department had conducted raids at 17 locations across the state and New Delhi including a prime shopping mall - Centrestage Mall in Noida - and farmhouses owned by Ponty. After the searches in February, the Income Tax department had said that it had seized Rs 11 crore in cash, jewellery and fixed deposits and sealed 13 bank lockers. Three months after the raids, an Income Tax official said that Ponty had disclosed an "unrecorded income of Rs 175 crore" to them.
The police are now probing the murders of the two brothers. According to the police, Ponty's men had tried to remove Hardeep's supporters from their farmhouse in Kapashera in southwest Delhi, and that two men had even been arrested for that. The police version has contradicted a claim made by a close relative mediating between the warring brothers who claimed the shootout was not linked to the dispute over the farmhouse. Delhi Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee chief Parminder Singh Sarna, who had mediated, had claimed a settlement had been reached between the brothers.

According to the family, the immediate provocation could be fit of rage and had nothing to do with the farmhouse, but sources say that police continue to maintain that it was the fight for possession of the property which caused the two deaths.

Ponty Chadha’s last appointment with Bollywood

2012-11-20T16:27:00.000+05:30

A major blow to Bollywood is the death of liquor baron and film distributor Ponty Chadha.

Many movie producers and directors worked closely with Chadha in the past. At least 6-7 prominent filmmakers were in serious negotiations with Chadha over big-budget projects which would now have to seek a different outlet for financial sustenance.

Apparently Bollywood financier Bharat Shah was the last person from the Hindi film industry to have negotiated with Ponty Chadha. Bharat Shah has major financial stakes in director Anand Kumar's Sanjay Dutt-Arshad Warsi-Vivek Oberoi production Zilla Ghazibad.

Shah was to fly Delhi on Saturday, the day tragedy struck Ponty Chadha's life, to screen the film for Chadha who showed a keen interest in the distribution of the film. Barely an hour before Ponty was to view Zilla Ghaziabad, he was shot dead.

Confirming this, the Zilla Ghaziabad producer Vinod Bachchan says, "Bharatbhai is closely involved with my film. He was in serious negotiation with Chadhaji for the worldwide distribution of our film. On Friday evening, at around 7 pm, Bharatbhai spoke to Ponty Chadhaji about screening our film for his viewing. On Saturday morning, our representatives flew into Delhi with the film. Our appointment was at 4 pm. Our representatives were waiting at his office for Pontyji when the shocking news came at 3.30 pm."

Bachchan says Ponty Chadha's death is a serious setback not just for his film but to entire film industry. "It's a big blow for our film Zilla Ghaziabad but also for the film industry. He was closely associated with many big projects involving huge financial stakes. It would be really difficult to find someone to replace his high level of financial commitment to our films."

RBI cancels licence of Ghaziabad Urban Cooperative bank

2012-11-20T16:22:00.003+05:30

RBI also asked the UP commissioner of Cooperation and Registrar of Cooperative Societies to issue an order for winding up Ghaziabad Urban Cooperative Bank as well as appoint a liquidator for the bank

Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the licence of Ghaziabad Urban Cooperative Bank as it had become insolvent, reports PTI.

"In view of the fact that Ghaziabad Urban Cooperative Bank, Ghaziabad (UP), had ceased to be solvent and with all efforts to revive it having failed ... the Reserve Bank of Indiadelivered the order cancelling its licence to the bank on 16 November 2012," RBI said in anotification today.

RBI said it has asked the commissioner of Cooperation and Registrar of Cooperative Societies of Uttar Pradesh government to issue an order for winding up the bank as well as appoint a liquidator for the bank.

Ghaziabad to host Interpol programme

2012-11-17T17:12:00.001+05:30

India has requested Interpol to come up with a special notice for terror cases, which is not a part of the existing red corner notice. The request was made at the recently concluded general assembly of Interpol in Rome, which was attended by home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and CBI director A P Singh. "It will simplify the process for all the investigating agencies to know about terror suspects if the notice's colour or style is changed," said an officer. Interpol is reported to be examining the request.

In the general assembly, it was also decided that Interpol will hold training programmes at the CBI academy in Ghaziabad, for the Asia-Pacific nations. Training will be imparted to law enforcement officers of various countries on bio-terrorism, investigation of maritime piracy and anti-corruption cases, and there will be focused attention on fugitives involved in terror cases. "This was agreed upon at the Interpol's 81st general assembly which was held in Romelast week. In a series of meetings, Interpol secretary general, Ronald Noble, sought India's contribution for officers to the Interpol Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI) in Singapore. He also emphasized on the development of a mechanism for informal cooperation with national central bureau (NCB) - India, relating to investigation of cyber crimes," said CBI spokesperson Dharini Mishra.

Fans get money's worth at toll plaza

2012-11-17T17:09:00.000+05:30

Your car is approaching a toll booth, what do you do? Fumble for change, switch the frequency on the radio, look around to see other glum faces queuing up? If you were at the Ghaziabad-Meerut toll plaza on Friday afternoon, however, you would've got your autograph book out as the man in the SUV parked next to your car was cricket star Suresh Raina. And, so it was...

Ever willing to give back to the ones who cherish it the most, Raina took time out – he was excitedly being chauffeured to the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit – to sign autographs and pose for photographs with frenzied fans who jumped out of their cars to catch a glimpse of the man who two years ago scored a century on his Test debut.

"It's the fans who make you who you are. It's very important to acknowledge that and show gratitude," said Raina, who played a record 98 ODIs before making his Test debut. However, in a country where cricketing stars are worshipped like gods, things can sometimes get out of control. Raina remembers one such incident in Kerala, when a pack of eager autograph-seekers were swarming around him.

"For a moment I was boxed in, there were people all around. It took me almost half-an-hour to find my way out among the sea of bodies. These sort of things happen when you're a celebrity in this country; the key is how you handle such situations," he added.

Die-hard foodie
The 25-year-old has sampled the culinary delights across five continents on his cricketing travels. However, its desi food that really makes his mouth water. Even a roadside eatery selling choley bhature caught his fancy, but lack of time forced him to give it a miss. "I remember the good old days when I would gorge on these roadside delights before my matches in Lucknow," he recalled. "Arhar ki daal, and Lucknavi kebabs were my favourites."

A family man
While the car passed through Raj Nagar Extension in Ghaziabad, where his family lives, he got a call from father, Trilok Nath Raina, informing about the wedding ceremony of a family friend in New Delhi on Friday evening.

Owing to his participation in the Ranji Trophy, Raina informed his father that he won't be able to make it to the wedding, but promised to return home as soon as the match was over on Tuesday evening. "I always try to spend time with my family. Before leaving for the next Ranji match, I will spend a few days with them," he said.

IMS Ghaziabad announces admission for PGDM programs

2012-11-17T17:03:00.000+05:30

IMS Ghaziabad has announced the admission process for its PGDM programmes for the 2013-14 batch. An applicant should have a three-year bachelor degree with 50 per cent marks in any discipline recognized by the UGC/AICTE. Candidates appearing for the final examination for the bachelor degree can also apply. Applicants for the PGDM program must have valid CAT/MAT/CMAT scores for the academic session 2013-14.

How to Apply
According to the institute, a candidate can apply by filling in an application form enclosed with the prospectus and attaching the duly attested copies of the following:

(a) CAT/ MAT/ CMAT/ GMAT score.
(b) Certificates and mark sheets of qualifying examinations passed.
(c) Relevant certificate to verify date of birth.

The prospectus and the application form can be obtained from the IMS Ghaziabad counter against the payment of Rs 1,100. Candidates can get the form via post on payment of Rs 1,150 or can download the same from the website: http://www.ims-ghaziabad.ac.in and send it by enclosing a demand draft of Rs 1,100 in favor of IMS Ghaziabad payable in Delhi.

According to IMS Ghaziabad, it conducts a written expression test, group discussion and personal interview rounds for admission to its various programmes. The GD/PI process will be held on November 17 at its campus.
During the written expression test, aspirants are given a picture-based situation on which they need to express their views. This test basically checks the written ability, command over language and the approach towards psychometric skills.

For the group discussion process, contemporary topics are chosen. The probable topic this year can be right to education, impact of inflation, FDI in retail and aviation, current economic condition of India with respect to scams, etc.
The personal interview round tests your knowledge about yourself and your surroundings. You should be prepared with a short introduction about yourself, devoid of the points which are already mentioned in your application form. Also, you should have an answer which justifies your plan to do PGDM and your goals. Also expect questions on what you have stated during the GD round.

The final selection will be on the basis of CAT/MAT/CMAT scores, performance in GD & PI, past academic records and the performance of the written expression test.

Scholarships policy
To motivate prospective candidates and attract meritorious students, IMS offers scholarships to post graduate management students on the basis of CAT/MAT percentile.

Marks in qualifying exam	Scholarship for the 1 st year
CAT score > 70 percentile	20% of the tuition fee
CAT score between 60 - 70 percentile	10% of the tuition fee
MAT score > 750 / 800	15% of the tuition fee
MAT score between 700 - 750	10% of the Tuition fee

Source: IMS-G website

• These scholarships are awarded purely on the basis of merit, subject to the maximum 10% students applying for management programme every year.

• Each scholarship awarded at the time of entry or admission will be valid for one year only and may continue/discontinue in the subsequent year on the basis of academic performance of the student, subject to minimum score of 8.00 CGPA on a 10 point scale.

• The scholarship amount calculated in all the categories will be on the basis of specific percentage of tuition fees only.

• Any amount of scholarship will not be paid in cash, but will be credited against the last installment of the fees of the year concerned.

Apart from scholarships, the institute awards seven gold medals to students for contributing towards various facets of life. The purpose of these medals is to cultivate leadership, sense of social responsibility & contribution, holistic development and academic excellence.

(N.B. All the information about scholarships and medals has been furnished by the institute)

SP declares Lok Sabha candidates

2012-11-17T16:58:00.001+05:30

More than 16 months ahead of the scheduled general election of 2014, the Samajwadi Party has declared the names of its candidates for the Lok Sabha seats of Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar. The names of the candidates for the two seats of UP-NCR figure amongst a list of 55 candidates released by the party on Friday.

Samajwadi Party spokesperson, Prof Ram Gopal Yadav, released the first list of candidates comprising 55 seats from a total of 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh in Lucknow.

In Gautam Budh Nagar, the SP has re-fielded its candidate of the 2009 general election, Narendra Singh Bhati. Bhati had lost to rival Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Surendra Naagarand had secured the third position in the number of votes polled. In the neighbouring seat of Ghaziabad, the party has fielded a new candidate, Sudhan Rawat, for the 2014 polls. Rawat had unsuccessfully run for the post of mayor of Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam for the municipal election of 2012. SP had not fielded a candidate for Ghaziabad in the general election of 2012 as Rajnath Singh had contested from there.

Imran Khan, Arshad Warsi are screen lookalikes

2012-11-17T16:53:00.003+05:30

Actor Imran Khan's rustic look in Vishal Bhardwaj's Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola and Arshad Warsi's get up in upcoming film Zila Ghaziabad bear a striking resemblance.

Arshad, who plays the role of Mahender Fauji in Zila Ghaziabad, sports a beard, which is very similar to what Imran sports in Matru ki Bijlee....

"When I saw the first look of Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola, I was really amazed by Imran's look. This is really very surprising that both of them are seen in a similar look for the film, we wanted to keep it exclusive for Arshad," said Zila Ghaziabad producer Vinod Bachchan.

Noida Development Authority gets new Chairman, CEO

2012-11-10T13:32:00.000+05:30

Lucknow: Suspended under the Mayawati regime, IAS officers Rakesh Bahadur and Sanjiv Saran have been appointed as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Noida Development Authority by the Uttar Pradesh government, official sources said on Saturday.

Both the officers were posted in the same capacities under the earlier SP government.

They were suspended in 2009 on charges of allegedly allotting plots to 14 hotels, including 3-star, 4-star and 5-star ones, at throwaway prices in 2006 in a scam of over Rs 4,700 crores.

In 2009, the Mayawati-led government cancelled the allotment and refunded Rs 283 crore to the allottees. The Supreme Court last year quashed her decision and directed the allottees to pay an additional premium of Rs 70,000 per sqm.

High court orders removal of Noida CEO, Chairman

2012-11-10T13:30:00.001+05:30

The Allahabad high court has overturned the appointment of two controversial IAS officers as the chief executive officer and the chairman of the Noida authority. CEO Sanjeev Saran and chairman Rakesh Bahadur, who will have to relinquish their positions immediately, had been appointed to their posts after the Samajwadi Party came to power in Uttar Pradesh. Bahadur was also the chairman of the Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway authorities.

The Akhilesh Yadav government had drawn flak for appointing the duo, who were accused of allotting 14 plots in Noida to hoteliers at throwaway prices since 2001, causing an estimated loss of over Rs. 4,700 crore to the state.

In June, Allahabad-based NGO Madhav Samaj Samiti had gone to court, challenging the appointments.

“Both were chargesheeted in Noida’s sector 20 police station for the hotel land deal, and an economic offence wing (EOW) inquiry is pending against them, they being at influential postings can hamper the inquiry and also damage the evidences (sic),” the Samiti said in its petition.

Last month, Renu Singh, a lawyer, also approached the court, demanding a CBI enquiry into the deals and their removal.

“The court has asked the state government to remove the duo immediately. It has also ordered a CBI probe into the land deals,” Singh said.

Singh on Thursday claimed that she was offered money to withdraw her petition.

“I had stopped going out and attending calls to avoid these dealers. They had offered me a huge sum to withdraw the petition,” she said after the high court judgment.

“I do not know if they were well-wishers of the Noida authority CEO or chairman. But they tried very hard to convince me to the withdraw the petition,” Singh added.

She is planning to move the Supreme Court, as she wants a probe into all land deals since 1991.

With PTI inputs