Delhi Underground

Delhi Underground

New Delhi, July 22: Money matters
The DDA decided to celebrate its golden jubilee year in style and promised all its employees an extra month’s salary. However, what should have been a reason for jubilation among employees has become a bone of contention between the management and the DDA staff. DDA’s accounts department has made it clear that housing rent allowance would be deducted from the salary for the additional month. Needless to say, employees are united in demanding the entire bonus salary. Now the ball is in the DDA top brass’ court, who will decide how much of a celebration bonus the staff members are entitled to.

Painting Burari blue
Burari has turned into a “Blueline town” as hundreds of bus drivers are queuing up there to get their buses serviced before they hit Delhi roads again. The drivers, helpers and bus owners have, in fact, outnumbered the small population of the area. While the local residents are complaining of jammed roads and rude behaviour, a local liquor agent is making merry. The weekend began with a brisk business of more than Rs one lakh on Friday night. And as the Bluelines wait for their turn, the party seems to have just started.

Seniors’ ragging scare
Freshers’ Day at Delhi University this year was not much fun, if ‘fuchchas’ are to be believed. They dressed up in their best attire and contrary to popular perception, wished to be “ragged’”. However, all they got was silence and at best, a few roses at their college gates. On Day 2, Ramjas college principal, who is also on the Supreme Court-appointed panel on ragging, suspended six students for ragging. While one of them has been rusticated, five have been reinstated. But the incident has left many seniors scared. As one of the students put it: “How do you define ragging? If normal interaction can also be branded as ragging, we are too scared to even say hi to freshers.”

Lobbying in the dark
Bureaucrats eyeing Delhi’s most coveted post may have to wait longer than expected. Grapevine is abuzz with speculation that Chief Secretary R Narainswamy may just get an extension. The reason: the Central Government is looking into the possibility of extending the tenure of all secretary-level officers to a minimum of two years. Narainswamy was due to retire this November, after one and a half years in office. If government officials are to be believed, it is likely that he will now get an additional six months tenure, bringing to an abrupt halt all the lobbying that was under way for the position.

Lucky father
Even as a couple of Delhi Police officers are packing their bags for their stint out of Delhi, one man has managed to stay back. Satish Chandra was recently promoted from Joint Commissioner (Headquarters) to Special Commissioner. However, unlike his colleague Ranjeet Narayan, who had to leave for Andamans soon after promotion, Chandra is continuing in Delhi. Corridors of PHQ are abuzz with rumour that Chandra’s bureaucrat son used his connections in the Home Ministry to arrange a Delhi posting for Chandra. His portfolio, however, is yet to be decided.

Nature-lover Sheila
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s climate concern cannot be debated. At a function to boost tree plantation in the Capital, the CM began by explaining in detail the threat of fast melting glaciers and the need for more green cover for rainfall. She went on to talk about the friendly sparrows, which have practically disappeared from the city due to the receding greens. She added that crows and mynahs seem to be the only birds left. Her parting message to the bureaucrats and employees: “Let’s revive the greenery to bring back the birds.” Looks like the ‘green Capital’ has a nature lover at the helm of affairs.

All hype, no news
Absence of a press-room at Patiala House has often given rise to comic situations, particularly when reporters track down stories as they occur. Earlier this week, the word spread when a particular eminent advocate appeared with his entourage at the district court, away from his usual Supreme Court haunt. Reporters were all expecting a high-profile story. But what, exactly? Frantic speculation among itinerant reporters finally led to a trace: the gentleman had dropped in to access registry records of an old civil case. Another red herring. If only they had media announcements, since Patiala House appears to be upgrading now.

link to report : http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=247164