American Star King comes to farmers’ aid
Procured from the US by the Horticulture Directorate, American varieties of apple are rich in taste and are disease-resistant
Dehradun, December 7
Apple plantation in surrounding areas of Dehradun is bound to get a boost with American hybrid varieties. These are not only rich in taste but are also virus and disease-resistant. Procured from the USA by the Horticulture Directorate, the varieties include the Star King and Top Red grown at a height of 6,500 ft and Red Chief, Organ Spur, Scarlet Gala, Red Fuji and Vale Spur, suitable for cultivation at the elevation of 5,500-6,000 ft.

Mending lives
Kamla and Karan, inmates of Cheshire Home, dare to dream big despite impairment
Dehradun, December 7
Conquering adversity comes naturally to 17-year-old Kamla and 18-year-old Karan, inmates of Cheshire Home. A never say-die-attitude has seen them cross several hurdles with poise. Kamla was attacked by a leopard in a village in Almora in 2002 when she had gone to fetch grass. She received several injuries on her body and face. Twelve surgeries later, shegot back her face but lost a leg. “I was a carefree village girl, but the attack changed everything. I began to dread meeting people and suffered from low self-esteem. I looked in the mirror and could not recognize myself. It was a long ordeal for me and my family running from one hospital to another, waiting for the doctors to perform a miracle,” informed Kamla.

Jal Nigam employees to step up stir
Dehradun, December 7
Field workers of the Jal Sansthan Mazdoor Union will hold a protest rally at Uttarakhand Chief Minister’s residence and jam the gates of the Jal Nigam headquarters tomorrow in protest against non-acceptance of their 11-point charter of demands.

Play on Sikh values staged
Dehradun, December 7
With an aim to inculcate the values of Sikhism, a Punjabi play titled "Eh Mor Agaya" was staged here last night by Shree Guru Harkrishan Sahib Academy.

Goat sales picks up for Bakr-Id
Dehradun, December 7
With Id-ul-Zuha (Bakr-Id) round the corner, goat sellers from different parts of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh are arriving in the Doon valley with their animals. Goats of different sizes with distinctive names are attracting Muslim buyers in large numbers. Their starting price is Rs 5,000 while well-fed goats are being sold for more than Rs 10,000.


Goat sellers bargain with buyers at Innamulla Building area in Dehradun on Sunday. Tribune photo: Anil P. Rawat