As the countdown for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi begins, the city has some serious thinking to do regarding pollution control.

Delhi and its surroundings have some of the worst polluting zones in the country, according to a list of India’s severely polluted industrial clusters released by the environment ministry.

The report, a comprehensive environmental assessment of industrial clusters prepared by the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi along with the Central Pollution Control Board and the state pollution control boards says more than 85% of the industrial zones in India are severely polluted.

Noida is ranked 12th, according to the report, while Ghaziabad and Faridabad take 3^rd and 18^th place respectively.

Following the report, the environment ministry has separately commissioned the Public Health Foundation of India to conduct a study connecting the pollution loads to public health dangers.

Mayoor School organized a winter carnival in the school premises, the theme of which was Global Warming.

The children went on a green march where they spread the message of keeping nature clean and beautiful.

Close to 3000 people attended the carnival where a lot of games had been organized too. Shooting gun, tail the donkey, vocal hunt and lucky seven were sum of the games enjoyed by people.

A lucky draw was also taken out in which the top three winners were allotted prizes.

As ‘Global Warming’ was the theme of the winter carnival, the whole school was decorated in green. The kids also spread the message of planting trees to protect the environment.

The members of the school management committee were also present there.

The University Grants Commission, after inspection of private universities seeking its recognition, has recommended that the Amity University in Noida, Uttar Pradesh stop running professional courses on distance mode. The UGC had set up committees to inspect the functioning of eight universities as part of the process to include them in the list of recognised universities.

The UGC rapped Amity for running several professional courses on distance mode and other ‘fancy’ but unapproved courses against UGC rules, running off-campus centres against laws, using the ‘AMITY’ brand name too liberally and with all its related institutions, for not following established university provisions on constrictions of varsity authorities and faculty and for running several professional courses on distance mode against UGC rules.

Shopper`s Stop has opened a MAC store at Shopper`s Stop - Noida. With the opening of this store, the company has now eleven MAC stores.

A Canadian brand, MAC (Make-up Art Cosmetics) is very likely the most sought after cosmetics line. It endorses cruelty-free makeup products, child abuse and protection of the environment through recycling.

MAC Cosmetics have developed color palettes for every possible shade, tone and type of skin. Well over 160 shades of lipstick and 150 shades of eyeshadow have been created to date with numerous finishes.

The brand is sold in over 50 countries around the world and is one of the leading cosmetics companies when it comes to social and environmental awareness.

Mukul Singhal, an IAS Officer of 1986 batch of UP Cadre has taken over as the Chief Executive Officer of Greater Noida Authority

Mukul Singhal is a Graduate in Electrical Engineering and joined the Indian Administrative Service in the year 1986. He has served in various capacities in the State Government Administration till 2004, when he was Secretary to UP Government, Department of Higher Education. His area of work in the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India includes administrative matters of very senior IRS Officers, Narcotics Policy and issues related to Prevention of Money Laundering.

A speeding private bus rammed into an auto rickshaw and a two-wheeler on Thursday claiming two lives and leaving three others injured in Noida Sector 32.

The bus driver suddenly lost control over his vehicle while taking a turn and hit an auto rickshaw leaving two persons dead on the spot. The bus then went onto hit a motorcycle.

The accident took place at Morna crossing. The condition of one person out of the three is reported to be critical.

The police have arrested the driver of the bus, who had initially fled from the accident site.

“According to the bus driver, he lost control of the bus due to a brake fail and the bus rammed into a motorist and two auto rickshaw passengers, killing two persons,” said A K Tripathi, Superintendent of Police (Noida).

Further investigation would be done in the matter, he added.

To lure visitors this Christmas, The Great India Place has left no stone unturned. It boasts of one of the tallest Santas in town, thrilling rides and a massive Christmas trees!

Join the Christmas celebrations at The Great India Place in Noida, which lays claim to a 30 feet tall and Bollywood celebs to add glamour to the gala event. Singer Shivani Kashyap was spotted singing carols to celebrate the festival.

The five day (21st Dec - 25th Dec) long Christmas celebrations feature a special skit on Christmas Eve with professional artists recreating the birth of Christ.

The mall is also hosting GUTSO 2010, a New Year event at the Worlds of Wonder.

By: Vineet Wal

HumanLight illuminates Humanism’s positive secular vision.

Late December is a season of good cheer and a time for gatherings of friends and families. During the winter holiday season, where the word “holiday” has taken on a more secular meaning, many events are observed.

This tradition of celebrations, however, is grounded in supernatural religious beliefs that many people in modern society cannot accept.

HumanLight presents an alternative reason to celebrate: a Humanist’s vision of a good future.

It is a future in which all people can identify with each other, behave with the highest moral standards, and work together toward a happy, just and peaceful world.

Celebrating and participating in festivals together shall develop faith in each other and enable us to work towards common goals, for the betterment of the society.

Humanlight reinforces the thought that the human race is one and should remain one.

Like most holidays or celebrations of events which are “made up” in order to celebrate some idea or concept, so it is with HumanLight – it has been “made up”.

It was created, — an “Intelligent Design”, one might say!  — in order to celebrate, and to promote, the ideas, and the ideals, of Humanism, during the winter holiday season.

To help express the meaning of this holiday, you are required to light candles, rather than curse the darkness.

Lighting candles is to symbolize lighting the way forward to a better future for humanity and for the planet and its residents.

It is based on the belief that people can build this future by working together, drawing upon the best of our capacities and the better parts of our nature.

To start the celebrations light the first candle, symbolizing the light of Reason.

Next light the second candle, symbolizing the warmth of Compassion.

And then light the third candle, symbolizing the glow of Hope.

And lastly light the main HumanLight candle.

A grand feast together with one and all will bring the celebrations to an enjoyable end.

Hundreds of farmers held a protest over land compensation and other issues near the Authority office yesterday.

Farmers were allowed to hold demonstration near the parking area, even as police and paramilitary forces barricaded the roads leading to the Authority.

Later, farmers gave a memorandum to the District Magistrate. Their demands included hike in land compensation, stoppage of land acquisition till the amended act was passed, job for the children of farmers whose land had been acquired

By: Maasoom Dhillon

Great India Place has gone all-out this festive season with pretty Christmas decorations adorning every inch of the huge mall!

The massive Christmas tree which lies smack in the centre of the mall decked with shiny balls, ribbons and other tree accessories is not easy to miss and nor are Santa and snowman mannequins guaranteed to make children and adults stop to click a photograph!

However, there is another reason to visit GIP apart from the merry atmosphere. Shops like Om Book Shop are offering colossal discounts up to 90% off while the ‘Home Depo’ at Lifestyle has an ongoing Christmas carnival till the 3rd of January.

For more discounts, bonanzas, gifts and other offers shop at GIP this Christmas week!