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New Delhi
Inside Delhi
Listening in
Most intelligence personnel are easily identifiable. Their mannerisms and their shoes and hair-cut just give them away. Scribes covering election rallies or protest meetings often find in these personnel giving a `helping hand' as they normally possess `correct' basic information.
So was the case when recently the Narmada Bachao Andolan organised a sit-in outside the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment at Shastri Bhawan. The scribes found it but natural that a few ``personnel in civvies'' were standing around and taking note of the developments.
But, the presence of these `bugs' did not go down well with the Andolan activists. ``Are you from the police?'' was the question, they repeatedly asked all ``suspicious-looking persons''. Why? ``When the intelligence personnel do not call us to their meetings, why should be entertain them,'' replied a belligerent activist.
Even the NBA leader, Medha Patkar, was able to pin-point a lady official in dark glasses who was watching the events closely from a distance. ``Aap aaye. Main aapko pehchanti hoon'', she told the somewhat embarrassed woman, as she signaled her over and uttered something to her.
However, that was outside the Shastri Bhawan where a large posse of personnel in uniform also stood. When the same woman surfaced at a press briefing at the Vithalbhai Patel House lawns, held by the NBA after calling off their sit-in, the activists ensured that they would not allow themselves to be bugged. ``Madam, you please leave. This is a private affair,'' they curtly told the firm-looking woman.
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Majestic touch
The diplomatic area of Chanakyapuri, which houses several important embassies and high commissions, is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful avenues of the Capital. Grand lush green vistas with beautifully done-up roundabouts on Shanti Path -- the major thoroughfare of this high-security area -- give it an attractive and distinctive look.
However, for the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) -- the Government body entrusted with the beautification of the diplomatic enclave -- maintaining this high-profile zone is not an easy joy. For CPWD, people moving on green areas and flower beds in this area are a big nuisance as they spoil all the hard work done by its workers.
But now the CPWD has found a novel way to ensure a long life for this green and beautiful vista. It has erected a barbed wire fencing around the newly developed flower beds along Shanti Path which is helping in keeping people away from vast lush green tract. Besides new flowering plants planted for the coming spring season, regular watering of grass and flower beds is also being done. Special care is being taken to give the roundabouts an altogether new and attractive look.
With the special beautification drive already nearing completion and CPWD workers exhausting all their skills sprucing up the diplomatic area, one thing is for sure -- this spring Chanakyapuri will wear a majestic look which it never had earlier.
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Elusive stop
Commuters wanting to board a bus on the busy Aurobindo Marg at the Kidwai Nagar intersection, particularly at night, are facing a harrowing time as the bus stand here has been dismantled due to the construction of the flyover at the AIIMS crossing.
This has created a difficult situation as they have to either board the bus at the previous stop at INA crossing or at the AIIMS stop after crossing the traffic light at the Ring Road-Aurobindo Marg intersection.
While a bus stand has been in existence at both INA and AIIMS, the one at Kidwai Nagar side has been done away with to facilitate smooth flow of traffic, especially as some diversions have been made due to construction of the flyover.
At night, commuters continue waiting at the place where the bus stand was earlier, hoping that buses would stop. As bus stands in both directions are quite at a distance, they have to either walk a few paces forward or backward to catch the bus. Needless to say, they are not ready to take any chances and board the buses while they wait at the traffic signal.
While buses running under DTC operation do not stop as per orders, private buses take full advantage of the situation and stop at the dismantled stop.
Commuters feel that it is all right during the day for the buses to keep moving for maintaining the traffic flow, but it might do some good if the buses were allowed to stop during night. This would also check the dangerous practice of boarding buses while they wait at the traffic signal.
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Exotic collection
``Exhilarating, invigorating, contemplative...'' call the designs what you want, but that is just what MTV Style's Spring-Summer 2002 collection has in store for you. Fusing great fabrics with trendy styles to give you an interesting variety to choose from!
This forthcoming summer, MTV Style's ``Spring-Summer 2002'' collection is based on funky themes -- Wild Flowers and Club Tropicana. When great fabrics are fused with exotic colours and, of course, a touch of the inimitable MTV style, the result can be phenomenal. Wild Flowers has done just that with fabrics ranging from lycras, shimmers and denims in the shades of misty pinks, lilacs and lavenders. Tiny cap sleeved body Ts, boat-necked raglans, low slung hipsters and slim-cut capris for that soft subtle cool look.
If you are looking for some fun in the sun this summer, MTV Style's Club Tropicana is what you should set your eyes on. This range of garments is simply ``hot''. With colours like spicy lime, forest pine, tangerine, the garments range from funky pedal pushers, simple round neck tees with spray prints, hot shorts, ombrey washed Denim floods -- it is all about bold, in-your face attitude, courtesy MTV Style.
(By Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar, Sandeep Joshi, Prashant Pandey and K.Kannan)
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