Despite pressing needs for land in various developmental projects, the national capital comes third after Lakshwadeep and Chandigarh in terms of percentage of geographical area under tree cover.
"Considering the percentage of geographical area under tree cover, the highest rank goes to Lakshwadeep (12.50%) followed by Chandigarh (9.65%) and Delhi (8.29%)," according to a forest survey, the report of which was released recently.
Daman and Diu ranks fourth at 8.04 per cent while Goa (7.73 per cent) and Kerala (7.21 per cent) come fifth and sixth, the report said, while giving comprehensive details on forest status of the states as in 2007.
Delhi has a total geographical area 1,483.01 sq km of which 123 sq km is under tree cover.
The India State of Forest Report 2009 said while the forest cover increased slightly by 14 sq km, the capital city's tree cover rose by 16 sq km from 107 sq km to 123 sq km during the two-year period mainly due to extensive plantation carried out by the state government.
Overall, Delhi's forest and tree cover have increased to 176.58 sq km between 2005 and 2007, thereby constituting 20.2 per cent of the total geographical area of the capital city.
Tree cover comprises patches outside the recorded forest area exclusive of forest cover and less than minimum mappable area (1 hectares). Such small patches comprising block, linear and scattered trees are not delineated as forest cover during interpretation of satellite data.link
Saturday, 2 January 2010
Friday, 1 January 2010
Robbers break into United Bank of India, Khanpur branch
A gang of robbers was good enough to get into a bank in Neb Sarai late Thursday night but not good enough to get into the bank’s lockers.
Police said the robbers got through one wall and one iron grill while the city celebrated the New Year. A case of attempted burglary has been registered at Neb Sarai police station, although bank officials say nothing valuable was taken. The only damage bank officials found when they reported to work the following morning was one half-burnt door and a few burnt pieces of paper.
According to police, the break-in took place at about 3.15 am. The attempted burglary was found out by officials of United Bank of India, Khanpur branch, when they reported to work Friday morning.
The bank has two entrances. The robbers tried to get in from the rear entrance.
They first dug out a portion of the wall around the back door, then broke an iron grill and the door. Inside, they tried to get past another door by setting it on fire. After about an hour of trying to bring down the door, they gave up and melted away, a senior police officer stated.
The bank is on the ground floor, its lockers in the basement. Senior police officers said there are CCTV cameras in the bank but they were of no help because the would-be robbers had cut the camera wires before sneaking into the bank.
A bank employee said, ‘‘We reported to work at about 9.15 am and found the back door broken. There was smoke inside and we found several burnt pieces of paper lying about.”
The bank manager, despite repeated attempts, could not be contacted. Bank officials also refused to say whether any valuables were missing from the bank or not. ‘‘Bank officials so far have not given us any list of stolen items but we are still investigating whether any valuables are missing or not,” said a police officer.
Though no arrests have been made so far, police suspect the involvement of the same gang that is active in the Sarojini Nagar and Kotla Mubarakpur areas and who burn down their targets after they have burgled them.
Joint Commissioner of Police, southern range, Ajai Kashyap said they are working on the case. ‘‘Though there are no clues yet in the case, we are probing it further from all possible angles.”
Police said the robbers got through one wall and one iron grill while the city celebrated the New Year. A case of attempted burglary has been registered at Neb Sarai police station, although bank officials say nothing valuable was taken. The only damage bank officials found when they reported to work the following morning was one half-burnt door and a few burnt pieces of paper.
According to police, the break-in took place at about 3.15 am. The attempted burglary was found out by officials of United Bank of India, Khanpur branch, when they reported to work Friday morning.
The bank has two entrances. The robbers tried to get in from the rear entrance.
They first dug out a portion of the wall around the back door, then broke an iron grill and the door. Inside, they tried to get past another door by setting it on fire. After about an hour of trying to bring down the door, they gave up and melted away, a senior police officer stated.
The bank is on the ground floor, its lockers in the basement. Senior police officers said there are CCTV cameras in the bank but they were of no help because the would-be robbers had cut the camera wires before sneaking into the bank.
A bank employee said, ‘‘We reported to work at about 9.15 am and found the back door broken. There was smoke inside and we found several burnt pieces of paper lying about.”
The bank manager, despite repeated attempts, could not be contacted. Bank officials also refused to say whether any valuables were missing from the bank or not. ‘‘Bank officials so far have not given us any list of stolen items but we are still investigating whether any valuables are missing or not,” said a police officer.
Though no arrests have been made so far, police suspect the involvement of the same gang that is active in the Sarojini Nagar and Kotla Mubarakpur areas and who burn down their targets after they have burgled them.
Joint Commissioner of Police, southern range, Ajai Kashyap said they are working on the case. ‘‘Though there are no clues yet in the case, we are probing it further from all possible angles.”
Dense fog, paralyse Delhi airport operations
Dense fog coupled with technical snag in the instrument landing system Saturday paralysed the flight operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.
"All flight operations to and from Delhi have been affected following technical snag in the Runway Visual Range (RVR) instrument located on the main runway. Many international and domestic flights coming to Delhi have been diverted," said an airport official.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department, the visibility was less than 50 metres in the national capital. link
"All flight operations to and from Delhi have been affected following technical snag in the Runway Visual Range (RVR) instrument located on the main runway. Many international and domestic flights coming to Delhi have been diverted," said an airport official.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department, the visibility was less than 50 metres in the national capital. link
Buses go off Connaught Place
As the beautification of Connaught Place -- the heart of New Delhi -- begins ahead of the Commonwealth Games, buses plying in the area were diverted from Friday.
New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) is constructing new subways in the Outer Circle, a service corridor in the Middle Circle, and is renovating the buildings and making other improvements.
In view of the construction work, all buses, except those to New Delhi railway station, will be kept away from Connaught Place.
"Buses for New Delhi railway station will continue to ply through Connaught Place. Routes of all other buses have been changed," a joint advisory from Delhi Traffic Police and the NDMC said.
"NDMC has taken up redevelopment work of Connaught Place including construction of eight new subways in the Outer Circle, a service corridor in the Middle Circle, facade restoration and other related improvements. These works are proposed to be completed ahead of Commonwealth Games - 2010," the advisory said.
The Delhi Transport Corporation will notify the changed routes soon.
Other traffic in Connaught Place will also be regulated and parking in the middle and outer circles will be closed.
"General public is advised to use Metro and other public transport to Connaught Place. No parking will be available on middle and outer circle. Only half the width of Outer Circle shall be available for vehicular movement," the statement said.
The restriction on vehicular movements will continue for 80 days.
Connaught Place is one of the largest financial, commercial and business centres in Delhi. It was developed as a showpiece of Lutyens' Delhi featuring a Central Business District. Named after the Duke of Connaught, the construction work was started in 1929 and completed in 1933.link
New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) is constructing new subways in the Outer Circle, a service corridor in the Middle Circle, and is renovating the buildings and making other improvements.
In view of the construction work, all buses, except those to New Delhi railway station, will be kept away from Connaught Place.
"Buses for New Delhi railway station will continue to ply through Connaught Place. Routes of all other buses have been changed," a joint advisory from Delhi Traffic Police and the NDMC said.
"NDMC has taken up redevelopment work of Connaught Place including construction of eight new subways in the Outer Circle, a service corridor in the Middle Circle, facade restoration and other related improvements. These works are proposed to be completed ahead of Commonwealth Games - 2010," the advisory said.
The Delhi Transport Corporation will notify the changed routes soon.
Other traffic in Connaught Place will also be regulated and parking in the middle and outer circles will be closed.
"General public is advised to use Metro and other public transport to Connaught Place. No parking will be available on middle and outer circle. Only half the width of Outer Circle shall be available for vehicular movement," the statement said.
The restriction on vehicular movements will continue for 80 days.
Connaught Place is one of the largest financial, commercial and business centres in Delhi. It was developed as a showpiece of Lutyens' Delhi featuring a Central Business District. Named after the Duke of Connaught, the construction work was started in 1929 and completed in 1933.link
189 booked for drunken driving in Delhi
As many as 189 people were booked for driving under the influence of alcohol in the national capital on New Year's Eve, police said on Friday.
The Delhi Police prosecuted 189 people for drunken driving on Thursday night as a part of their drive to check violation of traffic rules.
"Several police teams - static and mobile - kept a tight vigil in the capital to check people driving under the influence of alcohol," Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said.
Two magistrates were stationed at Parliament Street police station to fine the offenders.
Staff equipped with breath analysers and alcometres were deployed near pubs, malls and hotels as part of a drive to check dangerous and drunken driving during the festive season.
Police Control Room (PCR) vans were also pressed into service to ensure hassle-free flow of traffic.link
The number of offenders has come down rapidly this year as 384 people were booked for drunken driving on the New Year's Eve of 2008.
The Delhi Police prosecuted 189 people for drunken driving on Thursday night as a part of their drive to check violation of traffic rules.
"Several police teams - static and mobile - kept a tight vigil in the capital to check people driving under the influence of alcohol," Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said.
Two magistrates were stationed at Parliament Street police station to fine the offenders.
Staff equipped with breath analysers and alcometres were deployed near pubs, malls and hotels as part of a drive to check dangerous and drunken driving during the festive season.
Police Control Room (PCR) vans were also pressed into service to ensure hassle-free flow of traffic.link
The number of offenders has come down rapidly this year as 384 people were booked for drunken driving on the New Year's Eve of 2008.
Reena Kaushal is first Indian woman to ski to South Pole
Reena Kaushal became the first Indian woman to ski to the South Pole.
Ms. Kaushal, 38, settled in Delhi, made the historic ski-run as part of an eight-woman Commonwealth team that crossed a 900 km Antarctic ice trek to reach the South Pole to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Commonwealth.
Skiing eight to 10 hours a day, Ms. Kaushal and her teammates from seven other countries covered the frozen continent to the pole in about 40 days. Each skier towed a sledge with food and gear weighing some 80 kg.
The skiers, Ms. Kaushal said in a statement online, braved blinding blizzards, jet speed winds blowing in excess of 130 km an hour and temperatures of minus 40 degrees Celsius.Australia to send big team to Delhi
Australia is planning to send its largest-ever delegation for next year’s Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. “Australia will send a full team of over 600 athletes, coaches, managers, medicos and officials. The team will be the largest ever to compete in an overseas Commonwealth Games campaign with the first round of team nominations including the provisional selection of eight track and field athletes, including world champions Steve Hooker and Dani Samuels,” Australian Commonwealth Games Association said in a statement. ACGA CEO Perry Crosswhite said no athlete had raised any security concerns about travelling to India.link
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