Delhi Underground

Stress buster

Everyone knows that the job of policemen in this country is rather stressful,more for those in the Ghaziabad district of western Uttar Pradesh. A senior police officer posted in the district has found a unique way to deal with the tensions of his job — playing instrumental music in his office. The officer claims the music is soothing,has de-stressed the environment and helped his output.

He even suggests that the public address system at the district police headquarters play instrumental music for a more calming environment for all.

Role reversal

Due to the lack of space at the CWG Organising Committee office,the administration was finding it difficult to accommodate Shunglu committee officials. So they zeroed on the only empty cabin — the room of T S Darbari. All officials and their staff have been allotted Darbari’s room and the adjoining area,where his secretarial staff used to sit on the eighth floor.

Plans in the freezer

At the Apna Ghar night shelter in Nizamuddin,run by SPYM and UNDP,officials are thinking of opening a women’s shelter,as well as keeping at hand a doctor for first-aid. But such lofty aims are hard to follow up on,given the general state of affairs — the old,threadbare mattresses and blankets handed out by the staff are proof enough. The blankets have not been cleaned for five years,and the shelter residents say they are unable to sleep as the blankets are not enough to keep out the chill. When regulars at the shelter checked the receipts and demanded information,it resulted in an official visit. Improvement of the conditions is,however,a long way off. There is talk of new blankets and mattresses being brought in,but the wait for promises to transform into reality is still on. Meanwhile,the temperatures continue to dip.

On its toes

The new Commissioner of the Delhi Police is making sure the force is on its toes. The new buzz in the department is that

B K Gupta has decided that appraisals will be handed out on a monthly basis in his department,instead of yearly. The policemen are keeping their socks up and remain updated on the happenings in their beat,as no one knows when the commissioner may land up at their station for a surprise check.

No place for sports

With the wedding season here,most colony parks and playgrounds have been occupied by pandals,and those looking for a place for sports have been left in a tight spot. No wonder then that the New Delhi Municipal Council recently received a few applications to open the Shivaji Stadium for sports. The applications,however,only managed to draw peals of laughter. The hockey stadium,which was supposed to be ready for the Commonwealth Games,will now be ready only next year due to the slow progress of work.

Ruling in absentia

The five non-official members of the Delhi Development Authority,nominated from different political parties,wield considerable power. They are always haranguing the DDA to keep them in the loop on matters big and small. With the Lieutenant-Governor backing them,the DDA has little choice. However,despite the agency spending a fortune on renovating the five offices at the DDA headquarters earlier this year,with plush upholstery and the latest flat- screens,the members are barely ever seen in Vikas Sadan. An official said they only show up at the DDA’s meetings in Raj Bhawan,but have not set foot in their offices in months.

No thanks for abiding law

Delhi ministers and education officials are upset that the uncertainty over nursery admissions in the city is getting attention,while their counterparts in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are untouched by the controversy. A Cabinet minister recently said that while the Delhi government is in the spotlight as a result of the controversy surrounding the lottery system for admissions,which the Right to Education (RTE) Act mandates,no one seems to be questioning the neighbouring governments who are blatantly disregarding the legislation. “The process for nursery admissions has already begun in Noida and Gurgaon,and the schools there are not following the norms laid down in the legislation. No one is questioning them,but we are being slammed for the delay in trying to follow the law,” a minister grumbled.