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Theft-detection teams of the state-run electricity dis- tribution agency Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) will now file appli- cations in police stations for FIRs against electricity con- sumers found involved in power pilferage as against the earlier practice of monetary penalty.

The Electricity Act 2003 pro- vides for such an action, DHBVN officials said.

However, the FIR would not be filed in the first case of power theft, in case the erring con- sumer agrees to pay the penal- ty without any delay.

In the event of the same per- son found stealing power the second time, an FIR would be lodged. Anurag Agarwal, man- aging director, DHBVN said that under a special campaign launched by the Nigam in Dec 2009, teams of DHBVN employ- ees have detected 11,475 cases of theft by conducting 46,800 raids and imposed penalty amounting to Rs. 20 crore on erring consumers.

Source: Hindustan Times Now, FIRs Against Habitual Power Thieves In Gurgaon

This summer, get ready for the biggest reality pro- gramme ever to hit your TV screens--the Commonwealth Games talent-hunt show.

The organisers of the show- piece event, now just six months away, are in talks with TV chan- nels to produce a reality show based on a hunt to find the next sporting superstars hidden in the country's nooks and corners. The nationwide search will have most of the Olympic sports, mainly outdoor ones, and inv- olve teams from CGW organis- ers with local sports authorities to hold trials in your neighbour- hoods in four corners of the country.

"It will bring India's pres- ent champion athletes closer to the people. It will invite everyone to come and play.

And it will help identify the future talent," Suresh Kalmadi, chairman, CWG Organising Committee, said. This will not only fish out the unknown athletes but also turn the whole process --from trials to selections to finals--into a daily fix of reality TV, complete with behind-the-scenes drama.

Everyone can participate, irrespective of age and back- ground. Only the winners in each category will clear the var- ious selection levels.

"The Games will leave a lega- cy of the Olympic sports in a land of cricket and more crick- et," he said.

htreporters@hindustantimes.com

Source: Hindustan Times by Avishek G Dastidar & Sidhartha Roy Everyone's Invited : Games Get A Reality Twist, CWG Talent-Hunt Show To Find Nation's Future Sports Stars

A government official will be at your door with two forms -- and 50 questions, including on your family size, the kind of toilets you have, the kind of house you live in, if you have access to electricity, the assets you possess, your occupation and your educational qualifications.

After the forms are filled up, the official will collect your photo and fingerprint you.

Three government processes -- Census 2011, preparation of the national population register ( NPR) and issuing unique identification numbers -- have been amalgamated in this exercise. The census form has 35 questions, while the NPR form has 15.

While you may have to spend some time on the forms, the government will be spending close to Rs 8,000 crore on the exercise. This will ensure that the country's 1.2 billion residents are counted, identified and given a national identity card with a unique identification number on the lines of US's social security number.

Home minister P. Chidambaram termed it the biggest such exercise conducted since humankind came into existence.

As many as 24 crore households in 7,742 towns and 6.08 lakh villages will be covered to create a comprehensive identity database and strengthen the security of the country.

Source: Mail Today By Aman Sharma Mapping An Identity: The biggest headcount, Exercise Starts In Delhi From May 1

In a bid to facilitate smooth flow of traffic, the Gurgaon police have decided to ban cycle- rickshaws on this road from April 1. If the move is successful, they plan to restrict rickshaws to the old city.

Most people in Gurgaon use rickshaws to visit the dozen- odd malls on the road.

By banning rickshaws, the police hope to avoid the long pile- up of vehicles that block traffic on the road connecting the cyber city to the Capital.

" During weekends, shoppers congest this busy road. We have received several complaints about rickshaws causing traffic jams on the road," Gurgaon police commissioner S. S. Deswal said. The police recently had a meeting with the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon ( MCG) where it was decided to make the road " rickshaw- and cycle- free". " We expect resistance from rickshawpullers, but we have to make the flow of traffic smooth on important roads," Deswal added.

Source: Mail Today Rickshaws to exit Mehrauli- Gurgaon road in April

सिकंदरपुर मार्बल मार्केट हटाने की राह में रोड़ा बने हाईकोर्ट के स्टे को लेकर भले ही अभी स्थिति स्पष्ट नहीं हुई, लेकिन निगम अधिकारी स्टे खारिज को लेकर आश्वस्त हैं और वह आगे की योजना बनाने मे जुट गए हैं।

मालूम हो कि शुक्रवार को हाईकोर्ट की स्पेशल बेंच के सामने स्टे मामले की सुनवाई हुई थी और उसने स्टे को लेकर निर्णय दिया। इस बारे में निगम अधिकारी कह रहे हैं कि स्टे खारिज कर दिया गया, वहीं स्टे लेने वाले व्यापारी इससे इनकार कर रहे हैं। इसी के चलते निगम अधिकारी अब आदेश की प्रति मिलने के बाद ही आगे की योजना बनाएंगे। मार्केट का कब्जा हटाने पर वहां के व्यापारियों ने निगमायुक्त व संयुक्त आयुक्त के खिलाफ अवमानना की याचिका हाईकोर्ट में दाखिल कर दी थी। इस मामले की सुनवाई अब मई में होगी। आयुक्त आरके खुल्लर का कहना है कि जल्द ही वह मार्केट का कब्जा हटाने की योजना को अमलीजामा पहनाने पर काम शुरू कर दिया जाएगा। रही बात कोर्ट अवमानना की तो स्टे आर्डर वाली प्रति हाईकोर्ट के सामने पेश करने के बाद यह मामला खुद ही खारिज हो जाएगा।

प्रमुख सचिव ने बताया कि 31 मार्च को वित्त वर्ष खत्म होने के बाद जीडीए के पास 703 करोड़ 72 लाख 87 हजार रुपये शेष रह जाएंगे। नए वित्त वर्ष के लिए 1215 करोड़ 54 लाख 50 हजार रुपये की आय का लक्ष्य रखा गया है। नए वित्त वर्ष में जीडीए 1742 करोड़ रुपये खर्च करेगा, उसके बाद भी 176 करोड़ 84 लाख 37 हजार रुपये बैलेंस रह जाएगा।

उन्होंने बताया कि मधुबन आवासीय योजना में ग्रुप हाउसिंग सोसायटियों के लिए एफएआर बढ़ाकर 2.75 कर दिया गया है। अभी तक एफएआर 2 था। ग्रुप हाउसिंग को बढ़ावा देने के लिए बिल्डरों को कुछ छूट दी गई है। आथिर्क मंदी के मद्देनजर छूट को आवश्यक माना गया है। इसके अलावा बैठक में बिल्डरों को कुछ अन्य छूट देने का फैसला किया गया है। अभी तक बिल्डरों को पांच साल में भूमि का पूरा पेमेंट देने के बाद ही कब्जा मिलता था। मगर अब सिर्फ 10 प्रतिशत एडवांस देकर ही बिल्डर कब्जा ले सकते हैं। बाकी रकम वह 6 साल में किस्तों में दे सकते हैं।

प्रमुख सचिव ने बताया कि गाजियाबाद के मास्टर प्लान को चार भागों में करके अलग-अलग जोनल प्लान बनवाया जाएगा। जोनल प्लान से लोगों को यह जानना आसान हो जाएगा कि किस जोन में कौन से विकास के कार्य होने हैं। इंदिरापुरम योजना में महागुन मेन्शन से शिप्रा मॉल तक जाने वाली सड़क का नाम शहीद कैप्टन देवेंद सिंह जस पर करने के फैसले पर बोर्ड ने अपनी मुहर लगा दी। वैशाली आवासीय योजना में अनंत एजुकेशन सोसायटी को और इंदिरापुरम में दशोहा एजूकेश्न सोसायटी को क्रमश: 2400 वर्ग मीटर और 2558 वर्ग मीटर भूमि का आवंटन किया गया है। वैसे स्कूलों के लिए 21 प्लाटों के लिए 70 प्रार्थना पत्र आए थे। बोर्ड बैठक में दो स्कूलों के लिए भूमि आवंटन के मामले ही रखे गए थे।

मधुबन-बापूधाम आवसीय योजना में जिन किसानों की जमीन का अधिग्रहण हुआ है उन्हें दी जाने वाली 6 प्रतिशत भूमि में 2 प्रतिशत कमर्शल भूमि देने और स्कीमों में 17 प्रतिशत का आरक्षण दिए जाने का प्रस्ताव शासन को भेज दिया गया है। एनएच-24 पर प्रकाश व्यवस्था को नगर निगम को ट्रांसफर करने के बाद 15 मीटर हाइट के एलिवेटर प्राधिकरण उपलब्ध कराएगा।

प्रमुख सचिव ने अधिकारियों को आदेश दिया है कि जिन स्कूलों को जीडीए अथवा किसी भी अथॉरिटी ने रियायती दरों पर भूमि का आवंटन किया है उन स्कूलों को अपनी बिल्डिंग के बाहर बोर्ड लगाकर यह दर्शाना होगा कि उनके यहां गरीब छात्रों के लिए क्या-क्या सुविधाएं दी जा रही है। यह आदेश नए और पुराने सभी स्कूलों के आवंटियों पर लागू होगा।

A bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and Mukundakam Sharma, while allowing the appeal of state of Haryana, noted `It may be pertinent to mention that in order to ensure that there is no evasion of stamp duty, circle rates are fixed from time to time and the notification is issued to that effect.

`The issuance of the said notification has become imperative to arrest the tendency of evading the payment of actual stamp duty.

`It is a matter of common knowledge that usually the circle rate or the collector rate is lower than the prevalent actual market rate but to ensure registration of sale deeds, at least at the circle rates or the collector rates, such notifications are issued from time to time by the appellants.' Justice Bhandari, speaking for the bench through his 17-page judgement further said, `It would have far reaching ramifications and consequences if the genuineness of the sale price entered into by the buyer and the seller cannot be questioned, then in majority of cases it is unlikely that the state would ever receive the stamp duty according to the circle rates or the collector rates. The approach of the High Court is totally unrealistic.' In the present case, Manoj Kumar had purchased a commercial plot measuring 788 square yards in Faridabad on November 10, 1999 and paid only Rs 31,000 as stamp duty by under-valuing the price of the plot at Rs 1, 95,000.

Faridabad District Collector, however, demanded the stamp duty of Rs 5,13,050 at the circle rate of the plot (i.e., Rs 4,200 per square yard) and the value of the property worked out to be Rs 33,09,600. Authorities told Manoj Kumar to pay the balance stamp duty of Rs 4, 82,050.

Source: www.indlawnews.com SC: No registration of property below govt circle rates

At a time when the national capital region (NCR) is flooded with FM stations playing the latest music, a Gurgaon-based NGO has started a radio station run by villagers.

The only civil society-led community radio station in the NCR, Gurgaon Ki Awaaz Samudayik Radio Station, broadcast on 107.8 MHz FM, is a platform for and by the marginalised community groups in Gurgaon-- villagers and migrant workers.

'The station is supported by The Restoring Force (TRF), an NGO that works in government schools in Gurgaon district, primarily in the area of infrastructure enhancement,' said Arti Jaiman, project manager of the community radio.

It was launched Nov 19, 2009, after several months of training for its team of raw village recruits, most of whom had never even worked on a computer before. Broadcast in Hindi and Haryanvi, it is run by a team of people, the bulk of whom come from these target communities within Gurgaon.

Source: Sify.com Villagers turn radio jockeys in Gurgaon

Financial commissioner and principal secretary for renewable energy S.S. Prasad said Sunday that the kits have been introduced in the state to educate students about the application of renewable energy.

'This kit would be a very informative tool and would consist of mini-fan, LED lamps, solar radio, solar toy car, door bell, house name plate, traffic light signals, road stud, solar pump, thermometer, solar panel and other things,' Prasad said.

Director of renewable energy department Sumita Misra said there were about 3,000 high and secondary schools in the state.

'In the first phase, the solar education kits had been provided in 2,000 schools of 13 districts at a cost of Rs.80 lakh. These districts included Bhiwani, Sirsa, Panipat, Karnal, Kaithal, Rewari, Rohtak, Jind, Jhajjar, Fatehabad, Gurgaon, Ambala and Panchkula. The cost of this project was borne by the state and the central government on a 50:50 basis,' Misra said.

She said the department was also taking up the matter with the central government to provide the central grant of Rs.20 lakh to provide solar education kits in the remaining 1,000 senior secondary schools of seven districts including Hisar, Kurukshetra, Palwal, Faridabad, Narnaul, Sonipat and Yamunanagar which would be covered in the next three months.

'The HSIIDC will invest over Rs.1,200 crore in 2010-11 in Haryana. A multi-modal logistic hub, an exhibition-cum-convention centre and a mass rapid transport system from Gurgaon to Bawal had been identified as the early bird projects which will be developed during 2010-11,' a HSIIDC spokesman said.

He added: 'Under the economic stimulus package, special dispensation is being made for creation of housing stock for industrial workers. Haryana has emerged as a favourite investment destination for industry, and scored amongst the top states in India on per capita investment performance.'

The HSIIDC is also planning to expand Industrial Model Township (IMT), Manesar, besides the development of IMTs at Faridabad and Ambala is under consideration.

The spokesman said to equip the people to reap the advantages of industrialisation, the state government is establishing a number of skill development facilities in the state.

These included the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), footwear development and design institute, central institute for plastic engineering and technology and Indian institute of corporate affairs at various places in Haryana.

जिस भूमि पर ये शोरूम बनाए गए हैं, उसे अधिग्रहण करने के लिए भूमि अधिग्रहण अधिनियम के तहत हरियाणा शहरी विकास प्राधिकरण ने नोटिस जारी किए हुए हैं। भारी पुलिस बल की मौजूदगी में की गई कार्रवाई के दौरान दस्ते को किसी के विरोध का सामना नहीं करना पड़ा। शुक्रवार को जिला नगर योजनाकार एन्फोर्समेंट, डीटीपीई, अधिकारी भुवनेश कुमार के नेतृत्व में तोड़फोड़ दस्ता सोहना रोड बादशाहपुर पहुंचा। मुख्य सड़क के किनारे बनाई जा रही इन दुकानों को तीन जेसीबी के मदद से तोड़ना शुरू किया। कोई अप्रिय घटना न हो, इसके लिए सहायक पुलिस आयुक्त ताहिर हुसैन, बादशाहपुर थाना प्रभारी संजय कुमार भारी पुलिस बल के साथ मौके पर मौजूद थे। ड्यूटी मजिस्ट्रेट नायब तहसीलदार संदीप दहिया ने पुलिस को स्पष्ट निर्देश दिए कि तोड़फोड़ की कार्रवाई में व्यवधान न हो, इसलिए मौके पर कोई भीड़ जमा न होने दी जाए। डीटीपीई भुवनेश कुमार ने कहा कि उपायुक्त राजेंद्र कटारिया के स्पष्ट निर्देश हैं कि अनधिकृत निर्माण न होने दिए जाएं। ये शोरूम मुख्य सड़क पर उस भूमि पर बनाए गए थे, जिसके अधिग्रहण की प्रक्रिया शुरू भी हो चुकी है।

उन्होंने कहा कि कंट्रोल एरिया एक्ट के तहत तोड़फोड़ की कार्रवाई की गई। उन्होंने कहा कि तोड़फोड़ के दौरान किसी तरह के विरोध का सामना नहीं करना पड़ा। निर्माण हटाने के नोटिस पहले ही दिए जा चुके थे। इसके बाद भी शोरूम बनाए जा रहे थे।

It is a bricks and mortar industry that caters to the local market. Yet it is so vast that it is creating untold riches. As people move to cities to build their careers, builders are fueling their aspirations for a dream home. The builders themselves have built their companies with successful initial public offerings and by attracting foreign investment. It's a good time to be in Indian real estate, with buoyant prices and never-ending demand.

Yet it is our contention that the industry, indeed the economy as a whole, is on some shaky ground.

First of all, the overall challenge India will face is in dealing with urbanization. We have clearly not been able to use urbanization as part of an inclusive and healthy economic growth strategy. In fact, we have been able to attain a commendable level of economic success despite failing urban infrastructure and services.

Today, even though only 30% of India's population lives in urban areas, cities contribute more than 60% of the country's GDP and account for 90% of government revenues. Urbanization is a key component of economic development. But, as reflected in the state of most Indian cities, little attention is given to their well-being and advancement. The dire and unbearable conditions of our cities are a result of slow and small-scale interventions to ever worsening conditions. They are a result of a complete lack of long-term strategic thinking.

Devita Saraf is the CEO of Vu Technologies; Prathima Manohar is president of The Urban Vision think tank in Mumbai.

Source: Wall Street Journal By DEVITA SARAF and PRATHIMA MANOHAR India's Real Estate Boom Is on Shaky Ground

The premises and the common areas of the complex were physically handed over to the RWA but the title of the land is still with the DLF Ltd. Condominium Association approached the DTCP for the transfer of the title of the land but has received no response from the department till now.
"Maharashtra ownership flats Act has rules that it is mandatory for the builders to transfer the tittle of the land to RWA upon 50% occupancy of the apartments. We feel to be at dead end when we get no response from the administration also," said S K Chowdhry, a resident.

The residents allege that the provisions of Haryana development & regulations of Urban Areas Act has failed to ensure the transfer of the title of the land to RWA from builders after the completion.

"It seems that the builders are holding on to the title of the land to perhaps inflate their land bank and have also staked a claim to make additions or raising extra floors or putting up extra structures as may be permitted by competent authorities through an arguable cause in the convenience deed drawn with the owner," said Nalin Sharma, a resident. Residents also approached the Municipal Commissioner to find a solution before taking the township from the developers.

The applications says the title of a land of a apartment complexes is transferred to RWA from the promoters, without the levy of stamp duty. Since the stamp duty for the proportional land share has already been paid by the individual apartment owner, or else the promoters will be asked to pay the property tax proportional to the cost of the land.

District magistrate Deepak Agarwal has reportedly approved this decision in a meeting with officials of the department concerned. It will hike circle rates in Noida and Greater Noida by 20%. Besides, there is a possibility of a hike in circle rates for villages and rural areas.

To date, there are more than 9,000 properties which have not so far been registered in Greater Noida. These include 3,760 (agricultural sector), 2,806 (individual houses), 1,250 (group housing), 224 (industrial), 66 (institutional) 450 (builders) categories.

At present, circle rate in Noida ranges from Rs 18,000 to Rs 40,000. In Greater Noida, circle rates vary from Rs 14,000 to Rs 17,000. From April 1, the minimum circle rates in Noida will be Rs 20,000 while the maximum will be Rs 46,000.

In villages, circle rate at present are from Rs 8,000 to Rs 9,000. After the hike, it will be between Rs 9,000 and Rs 10,500

The district magistrate said a meeting in this connection has been held with the stamp and registry department. A decision to hike circle rate up to 20 per cent has been taken. The registry of property will be done as per the revised circle rates from April 1, the district magistrate said.

The nomenclature being used for the area is Noida Extension. This is to differen- tiate it from both Noida and Greater Noida, and also to make it clear to potential homebuyers that it's close to Noida and not as far as Greater Noida.

The new projects coming up here are located adjacent to Noida's Sector 121 and face the 130 m road now known as the Noida-Greater Noida Link Road. This stretch is current- ly under construction, with the first 10 kms likely to become operational within the next three months. A 60 m road connect from NH 24 also passes through the area.

This stretch is almost ready (work on 1.5 kms needs to be completed). "A 100 m wide commerical belt is planned on one side of the 130 m road as per the Master Plan 2021," says Mukul Singhal, CEO, Greater Noida Authority.

Metro connectivity is com- ing here soon, too, with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (DMRC) having sent a detailed project report (DPR) to the Greater Noida authori- ty proposing the route for Phase 1. As part of this phase the Metro is expected to con- nect the Sector 32 City Centre to Barolla, the Expressway, Pari Chowk and Knowledge Park 4, covering a total of 29 kms. Phase II of the project will connect Knowledge Park 4, sector I in Greater Noida and Noida sectors 71, 72 with the Sector 32 City Centre.

Source: The Hindustan Times By Vandana RamnaniAffordability extended: Noida Extension Is All Set To Become Delhi NCR's Next Budget Housing Hub

Developers are not only coming up with residential projects, but they are also developing Special Economic Zones (SEZs), hotels and commercial complexes. Some high-end projects are going to change the entire residential scenario of the region. A couple of premium residential projects are already receiving great attention from the property seekers. Although most of the residential projects involve high investment, projects for budget buyers are also to be developed in a 3 to 5 km stretch along the expressway with proposed rate of Rs 5000 to Rs 7500 per sq ft. As per realty experts, the already existing properties are experiencing appreciation in last couple of years of around 80 per cent, where the rates went up to Rs 2,900 per sq ft from Rs 1,600 per sq ft. In the affordable segment, while Jaypee Group has several projects in sectors 128, 134 and 151, Unitech has Unihomes in sector 117.

Future in the twin cities
The speed of infrastructure development in Noida and Greater Noida has been accelerated by many degrees and other projects like the DND Flyway and Taj Expressway. According to Ashwini Prakash, Executive Director, Paramount Group, "The value and demand for any property in NCR region largely depends on its connectivity with Delhi. The properties along expressway are in huge demand today. The reasons are its prime location and its connectivity with the national capital with the continuing developmental projects and the plan of an international airport."

Source: Mail Today By Kausar Firdausi The 8-lane Noida-Gt. Noida E' way Promises To Give Two Potential Locations A Realty Boost

• All things bright and beautiful

• Care, just round the corner

• Residential projects in the region

Home prices have not proved to be predictable, but they aren't the only factor buyers can consider.

And many real estate agents said it was time to buy as prices began to drop -- and continued to say it over the past several years as prices fell by an average of 33 percent in America's 20 largest cities.

Mr. Lereah would acknowledge that he had gotten it wrong. But from the perspective of many real estate agents, it is always a good time to buy.

"What they are really saying is that it is a good time to be involved in a transaction that generates a commission," says Barry Ritholtz, C.E.O. and director of equity research at FusionIQ, a quantitative research firm. He's also author of "The Big Picture," an irreverent blog on markets.

If agents are always motivated to make a deal, buyers are often asking an impossible question: "Will the price of this house go up?"

Although the National Association of Realtors said for many years that home prices historically don't fall, actually they do, and sometimes quite sharply. The housing market is complicated, and the future unknowable. Still, for clues to the overall direction of prices, Mr. Ritholtz advises buyers to look at three metrics: the ratio of median income to median home prices, which suggests whether people can afford a house; the cost of ownership versus renting; and the value of the national housing stock as a percentage of gross domestic product.

Source:The New York Times By DAMON DARLIN "Great Time to Buy" (Famous Last Words) As Real Estate Brokers Always Say

Maheshwari caught 20 vehi- cles that were without proper registration papers or had black films on their windows. The vio- lators also included errant driv- ers and those doing triple-rid- ing on a two-wheeler.

Later, he ordered the driver of his police jeep and consta- bles to proceed to the congest- ed Anand Vihar-Maharajpur border to streamline the chaot- ic traffic situation and encroach- ments in the area.

What seems like the regular job of a police officer is actual- ly not for him to do. Maheshwari is a civilian resident of Surya Nagar and part of a project launched by the Ghaziabad Police.

"It is a new initiative to bring the residents close to policing," Ghaziabad Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Raghubir Lal said.

So, on Thursday evening, more residents of the city from 10 police station areas took over the job of the actual SOs and got down to work.

htreporters@hindustantimes.com

Source: Hindustan Times By Peeyush Khandelwal Ghaziabad Police Lets People Take Charge: Residents Get To Play `Police-Police'

Every lease holder will have to rehabilitate and reclaim the area once mining t ends in the Aravallis. t The Haryana government t has proposed an extensive reha- bilitation plan in the Aravallis and a detailed proposal has been submitted before the spe- t cial bench of the Supreme t Court.

The government said it t would be mandatory for the les- t see to deposit 10 per cent of the auction money with the State Mining Department.

If the lessee fails to hold up t its promise to rehabilitate the area, the amount would get for- feited to the Aravalli Reha- i bilitation Fund. t Haryana has also proposed depositing 10 per cent of the f auction money that would be set up under the chairmanship t of the state Chief Secretary. t Subsequent to the court's t direction, the government has decided to identify 600 hectares in Faridabad for mining of minor minerals.

It would notify transparent T guidelines for the mining auc- tion. While formulating the F guidelines, the government would prescribe that each min- ing lease should not exceed 30 hectares to ensure a healthy A competition. T The government intends to ban establishment of a labour camp in the forest area.

bhadra.sinha@hindustantimes.com

Source: Hindustan Times By Bhadra Sinha Haryana submits Aravalli rehab plan before SC