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New Delhi, Friday, April 18, 2003

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Times Sport

Arsenal hold Manchester United to a 2-2 draw

Page 20

Alert over Lashkar’s

Barzan, Saddam’s half-brother caught by US Special Forces

Page 12

plan to strike during Vajpayee’s J&K visit

Page 7

WIN WITH THE TIMES

Neeraj Paul

Bennett^E,^sC^tao^bl^le^ism^hea^dn¹⁸&³⁸Co., Ltd.

It’s official: SARS is here

You can’t solve a problem on the same level on which it was created. You have to rise above it to the next level.

— Albert Einstein

Delhi gets another suspect...

Goan marine

AP

engineer

NEWS DIGEST

tests positive

Pandya’s ‘murderers’ held: The

CBI has arrested four persons in Andhra Pradesh, who were allegedly involved in the assassination of former Gujarat home minister Haren Pandya. P7

By Kalpana Jain & Vidyut Kumar Ta

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Panaji/New Delhi: When it finally ar-

rived, it chose the Goan paradise. The confirmation of the first SARS case in India has come from the idyll of sun, sea and sand. Marine engineer Prasheel Wardhe (32), who had sailed to Hong Kong and Singapore before returning to Mumbai, has tested positive for the new corona virus, cause of the pandemic of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. He has been in India since April 1; theoretically he could have infected all the people with whom he came in contact. Wardhe was admitted to the isolation ward of the Goa Medical College hospital on April 10 after he went to a private practitioner complaining of fever and cough. He was discharged two days later after his chest X-ray was found clear, and there was no fever. Samples were routinely sent to Pune’s National Institute of Virology (NIV), which nailed the grim truth. NIV director S Mishra told Times News Network, ‘‘We identified the virus in the sample given to us. We stand by our results.’’ Wardhe has once again been isolated in the Goa hospital. Union health minister Sushma Swaraj claimed that this case proved how alert the system was, with even a

Train speed 150 kmph now:

The Indian Railways may soon increase its speed limit from 130 kmph to 150 kmph. The promise made by railway minister Nitish Kumar came at the

Wholesale, Mother Dairy prices

VEGGIE

150th anniversary celebrations of the railways. P10

hold. Vendors continue to extort

PRICES

Amar Singh’s arrest stayed:

The Allahabad High Court has put a stay on the arrest of Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh till May 16. He was arrested in connection with the cases of alleged misuse of discretionary funds on UP chief minister Mayawati’s order. P11

Will supply through ration shops if vendor don’t hold the price line.

GOVT WARNS

PETROL & GAS

AIMTC gives 2-day grace and extends deadline for tankers going off the road to Sunday

Delhi has two sources. Tikri rail point and Madanpur Khadi pipeline for LPG. Petrol pumps can lift directly from Shakurbasti

IN-HOUSE STOCKS

Wipro results: After Infosys, the

below-expectation results of Wipro have shaken the stock market. Wipro’s Q4 net profit fell 5 per cent against the market expectation of a 5.5 per cent rise.

Two nurses stand outside the isolation ward of the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi where a New Zealand resident with suspected SARS is under observation.

Truckers’ talks

PEOPLE POWER

Speak your mind—loud and free.

Question of the week:
Has privatisation improved the power situation in Delhi?

go off the road

And tourism gets the chills

case reporting to a private practitioner being detected and isolated.

Should water also be privatised?

By Byas Anand

the success of each season. Every- screening of in-bound passengers.
The Union government has asked for

a 10-day home quarantine of health workers who had come in contact with him, and Wardhe’s family members. His wife and father have been found to be ‘‘asymptomatic’’ but their samples have been taken for testing.

Call today at 23492136 ( between 12 noon and 1pm ) You can fax us on 2332 3346 / 2371 5832 e-mail: [email protected]. Your response, along with your name, will be published in

one is nervous.

But there’s no increase in the num-

New Delhi: Thursday’s negotiations between the

road transport minister and the AITMC got nowhere. The need for higher political intervention to resolve the issues is clear.
“This case might just lead to a ber of doctors and nurses stationed hasty retreat by the international there. “All passengers are now recharters who have already in Goa,” quired to first report to the doctors adds Harinder Singh, a Delhi-based at the special counter, before they tour operator. The 20 charters due can proceed to Immigration,” says this month are already a big ques- IGI airport director PS Nair.

New Delhi: After three weeks of

‘when?’, SARS has finally struck. The reactions:

SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA

April 20, 2003

The truckers’ union wants talks on the whole range of issues, covering other ministries like finance and petroleum, as well as state governments. ‘‘We don’t want piecemeal assurances,’’ AITMC secretary-general Jatinder Mohan Saxena said after the talks. ‘‘Till then, we are prepared to sit it out...for 40 days, if need be.’’ Road transport minister B C Khanduri said the talks would continue, but did not elaborate. One of the demands of the truckers — that of ending the toll fees for highways — has been rejected. There is a legal problem on another demand — phasing out old vehicles.

Goa takes a dip: The country’s

top tourist destination stares at a long, lean season. Typically, Goa’s tourism inflows dry up as summer approaches. This time around, there was the hint of an upsurge — inbound travel bookings were up 20 per cent with the end of the war in Iraq. And domestic tourism was looking good as SARS-hit Southeast Asia was out of bounds.
“If SARS spreads, things would just move from bad to disastrous,” says Ankur Bhatia, managing director of Amadeus India. Goa’s economy is largely dependent on tourism with the num-

by Laxman

YOU SAID IT

Nightmare scenario: Prasheel

Wardhe spent 3 days in Mumbai and 7 in Goa before he was isolated. The SARS virus is highly infectious and can spread even through droplets left on objects. The government still doesn’t know where he stayed in Mumbai, how he travelled to his hometown in Goa, and how many people came in close contact with him along the way.

tion mark.

Screening could be extended to do-

Goa tourism authorities put up a mestic airports and airlines, brave face. “Things are normal and sources said. I don’t see any reason to panic,” says Suryanarayan, director, tels across the country are getting Goa Tourism in Panjim. ready for SARS by installing

Hotels begin drill: Five-star ho-

M

Are travel advisories up next?: special air filters to preempt infec-

The UK government, for one, has tion. A couple of hotels in the said that it is closely monitoring capital have already installed spethe situation in India. If SARS cial ionizers, which defuse airspreads, governments will act borne microbial contaminants. quickly to stop the flow of citizens “Besides, we have trained the
Comment: The usual game of brinkmanship is on to see who blinks first. Both sides should try to reach a compromise formula which would put trucks back on the road while backroom negotiations continue.

Masks for all? Not yet. Frequently

wash hands and cover mouth/nose while sneezing/coughing.

to an affected country.

staff and asked them to be on

Has Delhi airport geared up?: the look out for guests who show

Health and civil aviation authori- symptoms similar to SARS,” says a

See Sacred Space, ‘Right Remedy’ on Edit Page

ber of charter flights determining ties say they are intensifying hotel manager

If this transport strike continues, I’m afraid, we have to suspend production, Sir.

Believe it or not: Zipping down Ring Road

Graphic: Neelabh

indiatimes.com POLL

Yesterday’s results: Do you think Virender Sehwag has the makings of a future
Indian captain?

Yes

No

43%

57%

• The poll reflects the opinions of Net users who chose to participate, and not necessarily of the general public.

Today’s question: Does the Goa SARS case reflect the government’s indifference in handling the crisis?

Cast your vote on www.indiatimes.com or SMS ‘Poll’ to 8888

WEATHER

o

Max. 38 C/ Min. 21 C

This is what Delhi’s circular artery would look like with an elevated expressway atop it. A proposal for this given to the government could be the answer to the growing gridlock. Report on page 3

Moonset: Sataurday — 0741 hrs. Moonrise: Friday — 2045 hrs. Sunset: Friday — 1848 hrs. Sunrise: Saturday — 0552 hrs.
Mainly clear sky with dust haze, likely to become partly cloudy sky towards afternoon/evening. Max. relative humidity on

Thursday 56 per cent, Min. 17 per cent.

Infotech takes a reality check

By Pradipta Bagchi & Tina Chopra-Karkhanis

asks Amit Chandra, ED, DSP er price for software shares.

Merill Lynch.

All that changed last week, when

Market players do admit there has Infosys confirmed that not only were been a downward re-rating of the growth rates slowing but also that sector. ‘‘Investors realise that big fierce competition meant that the tech companies are increasingly software bluechips were having to going to behave like large old econo- cut their prices and hence their profmy companies, which cannot its. ‘‘Today’s customers want to have double in size and profits every their cake and eat it too. They want
Mumbai: Is it the beginning of the end of a golden era for the country’s software sector? If Infy’s cautious projections about profitability in the months ahead unnerved investors last week, then Wipro’s lower than expected profits on Thursday was another nail in the proverbial tech coffin. With the stock markets punishing technology stocks, there are question marks over the future profitability of India Inc’s IT program. But market experts don’t seem unduly worried. ‘‘This is far from a technology meltdown. Despite its troubles, this industry is still growing by 20-25 per cent. Can any year,’’ says Pashupati Advani, Mumbai-based broker.

a

higher value at a lower price,’’ said

Wipro’s chairman Azim Premji.

Compounding these worries is the

So, large tech stocks will become

like a Colgate or Hindustan Lever — unusual strength of the Indian curthey will deliver regular returns but rency in the past six months, which will no longer be able to deliver the far from depreciating has risen in

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explosive growth of the past. Over the past decade, Indian IT knocking down profits further. companies notched up growth rates Moreover, the advantage of cheapvalue by almost three per cent,

The ATM of information

The Largest Classifieds Site

of 40 to 50 per cent — thanks to big er workers is also being nullified by outsourcing deals by US firms and a foreign tech firms who are increasdepreciating rupee. And that’s why ingly setting up their own develop-

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Friday, April 18, 2003

D E L H I

The Times of India, New Delhi

Fourth episode of Art Show

Shopping Fiesta

he fourth episode of Art Show will be telecast on CNBC

T^{on Saturday at 9 pm and repeated on Sunday at 12 noon}

and again at 9 pm. As always the anchor is Mallika Sarabhai and she can be expected to draw out the inspiration and approach of the featured artists. ajpat Nagar is holding for the first time ever a can Express card will have 15-day Shopping Festi- double the chance to win in
Shoppers who use Ameri-

L

val, with 6 Fiat Palios as the lucky draws as they are mega prizes among other entitled to two coupons made goodies. A Delhi record of for a purchase made for Rs more than 90 showrooms and 500. American Express card outlets at Lajpat Nagar are shoppers are also entitled for
Art Show, a half-hour weekly programme is an initiative of Satish Kumar Modi’s International Institute of Fine Arts in partnership with the Times Foundation. The Times Foundation has involved itself with this programme in continuation of its efforts to make art accessible to the people and encourage the young to take to it.

To chat on SMS send 'cchat' <your question> to 8888

“Cinema is the best way to promote language

and culture” — HARBHAJAN MANN, Singer-Actor

participating in the festival.

a special prize, which are re-

Q. Why did you decide to

on hand?- Rit_sid

Presented by Delhi Times turn tickets for two couples and American Express, the to Singapore.

act in Jee Aaya

A: I’m starting my next film

Nu?- Punjabiput- with Manmohan Singh in

Fiat Lajpat Nagar Shopping

Times of India readers are

er

July or August, which will be shot in Canada.

Q. How would you rate yourself as an actor?- Mamu

A: I’ve got very positive feed back for the film from abroad and (from) Punjab.

Q. Will you still do music albums?- Rahi

A: Definitely. Music is my first love and I’m myself looking forward to making some new music videos with nice peppy numbers.

Fiesta has a bagful of excit- entitled to an extra draw for ing prizes to be won by Lajpat 45 gift hampers worth Rs Nagar shoppers. To qualify 5,000 each on depositing the for the lucky draws, shoppers reader coupon along with the need to buy products worth bill details of the purchase Rs 500 from any one of the made. Reader coupons will participating stores or have a appear every day.

A: I feel cinema

is a very good medium which Punjabis have been ignoring. This is the best way to promote your language and culture. For any good Hindi film to be successful, music and overseas markets are very important. So, I thought, if we make technically a very good film, which in any way is not less than a good Hindi film then we would succeed.

Q. Have you any more films

meal at any one of the partic-

The festival is organised

ipating restaurants, and then by Confluence, a retail manfill up a draw coupon. In addition to the cars agement company. The festival starts on Frithere are three draws every- day, April 18 with a bang and day at 2 pm, 5 pm and 8 pm. a scintillating performance Attractive offers and dis- by the king of Punjabi pop counts such as free meal Gursewak Mann along with coupons from Bikanervala his dance troupe.

For complete chat log on to

http://chat.indiatimes.com

and various ‘Buy and Get’ deals will add to the glitter.
Shop and you may drive home a Fiat Palio.

CHATTING LIVE ON INDIATIMES TODAY

2 pm:

5 pm:

Dr Raj Deepak Mishra
Anjhula Singh

Model of the WorldAsia 2001 On what it takes

Gang of cheats

Astrologer & Signaturist

busted, 2 held

On future to carve a niche in the modelling world happenings in India and the World

T^IMESNEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: The New Delhi

district police have busted a gang of cheats who sold financed cars using forged documents. The case has brought to light a nexus between criminals and the police. Deputy commissioner of police (New Delhi) Manoj Lall said: ‘‘We have arrested two persons, Madan Mohan alias Pappu and Dharmender Singh, but head constable Krishna Kumar Kaushik is absconding.’’ The DCP said two stolen cars have also been recovered. Pappu is wanted in connection with over 20 murders and numerous extortion cases. He is the only surviving member of the dreaded Satvir Gujjar gang. The other accused, Dharmender’s father was a sub-inspector with the Delhi Police. The police said Dharmender, Pappu and Kaushik had been operating since 1998 and had evolved modus operandi of forging no objection certificate a
(NOC) for loaned vehicles by the financing bank. Head constable Kaushik Kaushik was using official seals to certify documents for registration, Lall said.

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D E L H I

Friday, April 18, 2003

3

MAKING DELHI MOVE FASTER

Will elevated Ring Road end gridlock?

By Manoj Joshi

Fact file

New Delhi: Among Indian

Whose proposal? Delhi Noida Toll Bridge Company. How long will it take to build? Up to six years with hi-tech

machinery.

How long will it be? Six lanes of 48 km each. It will in-

crease the carrying capacity of the Ring Road by 200 per cent.

What will it cost? Rs 4,000 crore Who will fund the project? Private sector with government

support and concessions.

cities, Delhi is reputed to have the widest roads. It also has a new metro rail service whose network is growing every year. But Delhi’s dark side is that it has more vehicles on the road than Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata combined, and that this number is growing at the rate of 4,000 a week.