Dehradun, February 27
Even as the Regional Centre for Urban and Environmental Studies, Lucknow, has prepared a new Municipal Act and awaits a go-ahead from the Uttar Pradesh government, Uttarakhand still awaits its own Act.

As of now, local bodies in Uttarakhand are governed by the two Uttar Pradesh Acts framed in the years 1916 and 1959. While the former deals with nagar palikas, parishads and panchayats, the latter is meant for the nagar nigam. The Act, which aims at ensuring more participation of people in the local bodies, does away with obsolete acts of Uttar Pradesh meant for corporations, municipalities and the zila parishads.

Notably, for the first time, a unified act has been prepared which would be applicable for all local bodies, including corporations, municipalities and zila panchayats and parishads. The Act has rendered these bodies the much-needed powers on the financial as well as other fronts.

While the act lays stress on empowerment of local bodies, it has also made public representatives more accountable and equipped the voters with a "right to recall" for the first time. The long-standing problem of limitation of financial powers of the corporation and municipalities has also been done away with, as the new Act calls for increasing the financial limit from the existing Rs 10 lakh to Rs 10 crore for a corporation.

However, the two acts are obsolete for Uttarakhand taking into account the changed scenario in the region after inception of the new state. This has necessitated the need for constitution of a separate Uttarakhand Municipal Act.

But for the first time, the Municipal Commissioner would have magisterial powers to deal with encroachments. As of now, lack of coordination between the police and the local bodies' officials proves a major hindrance in carrying out anti-encroachments campaigns.

The new Act suggests that the local bodies have powers to levy at least seven taxes on the people to increase revenue generation. These prominently include vehicle tax and entry tax. The Act has also suggested that they be given powers levy surcharges on taxes that are levied by the state government and are linked to local bodies.

A Mayor would now have powers to come up with his or her own cabinet, with a full right to choose the councillors and also decide on their tenure. The Act has finalised a seven-member cabinet for the corporation, while five has been kept for municipality and three for zila panchayat.

The Act also proposes constitution of a Municipal Service Commission, which will decide on the number of employees within a local body, both in terms of their position and numbers. A separate cadre of municipal service is also an integral part of the act. Uttarakhand local bodies would also have a team of officers, including a planner and environment officer.

Interestingly, under the new Act, the Mayor would be elected indirectly. It will be the councilors who would be electing their mayor, while the power to appoint the Deputy Mayor would be with the Mayor.

To ensuring transparency and accountability, the new Act proposes to set up an accounts committee to monitor all financial activities and submit its report to the empowered standing committee of the corporation.

Commenting on the new Act, Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli hoped that it would further the cause of empowerment of local bodies apart from doing away with the problems of lack of manpower. He, however, added that the finer points of the Act would be revealed once it comes for the presentation before the state.

Dr UB Singh, joint director, regional centre for Urban and Environmental Studies (RCUES), said finalisation of the new Municipal Act for Uttarakhand has been done after a thorough study. "We have given proper attention towards making provisions for promotion of tourism, heritage and other natural resources, keeping in view the conditions in Uttarakhand.

He said RUCES has submitted the document before the urban development secretary and would be giving its presentation to the state government shortly, adding that when implemented it would usher in a new era for local bodies.

Dehradun, February 27
A 45-year-old man was allegedly murdered by three unidentified persons, yesterday night. The deceased, identified as Shiv Prasad, used to work as a gardener in the daytime and a watchman in a bungalow during the night.

According to the police, the incident occurred when Shiv Prasad tried to nab the three miscreants who were axing sandalwood trees on Kalidas Road. Giving details, in charge of Kotwali police station JP Juyal said Shiv Prasad hailed from Faizabad (Uttar Pradesh) but was residing on Neshvilla Road since the past three decades.

“Shiv used to work as a watchman in the bungalow of an Army official on Kalidas Road. The three accused were chopping the sandalwood trees in a nearby vacant plot. Circumstantial evidence indicates that when Shiv went there they tied his hands and stuffed a cloth in his mouth, following which he died of suffocation,” said Juyal.

Shiv is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter. A case under section 302 of Indian Penal Code has been registered against the three unidentified persons at Kotwali police station. 

Dehradun, February 27
The Nainital police have rescued five-year-old Vicky Sah from the clutches of three kidnappers from Bihar. Vicky went missing on February 15 from Haldwani and the kidnappers were demanding a ransom for releasing the child. The three accused have also been arrested.

On February 16, Vicky’s father Shambu Sah, resident of Lohriyasal village, had lodged a police complaint that his son went missing from the previous day. Subsequently, Nainital SSP Deepam Seth constituted a team headed by ASP Mukesh Chauhan.

The cops traced the calls made to Sah and a team was dispatched to Betiya (Bihar) where help was sought from Bihar police.

After working on the case for four days, the police conducted a raid at the house of Pappu Alam today and found Vicky there. The three kidnappers Pappu Alam, Munna and Safika were also arrested. Uttarakhand DGP Subhash Joshi and IG Kumaon Ashok Kumar have announced a cash award of Rs 20,000 and Rs 10,000, respectively, for the police team for successfully nabbing the accused and recovering the child. 

Dehradun, February 27
Commemorating the bicentennial anniversary of the “Great Arc” survey done during the 19th century that led to mapping of the country, much of which is associated with Survey of India headquartered in Dehradun, an all foreign vintage car rally reached here this morning.

The rally was flagged-off from the southern-most tip of the country, Kanyakumari, on February 7. After covering a distance of 2,400 kms, the rally reached Dehradun this morning before departing for Mussoorie in the evening, where it would culminate at Hathipaon at the house of George Everest.

Vintage cars including Jaugar, Lagonda, Chevrolet, Benz and Mercedes Volvo reached the Survey of India office at Survey Chowk today, where participants, mostly from Norway, Germany, Switzerland and other European countries were received by a big audience, who were already at there as part of the National Science Day celebrations.

On of the participant, Alexendra from Germany, said taking part in a vintage car rally was a fascination in his country. “It has been my first trip to Indian and participating in the Great Arc Rally has been a mix of everything,” he said while adding that he would definitely like to come back to India again.

Another participant, Partrick Vanda from Switzerland, who drove the 1952-make Cheverlot said it has been a passion for him to drive vintage cars. Other participants also interacted with the visitors, and after making a brief halt departed for Mussoorie.

Held at the initiative of Kalypso Adventure, a Kochi-based adventure tourism company, the vintage rally saw participation from as many as dozen teams with active assistance from UK-based adventure travel company ‘ROARR’.

Dehradun, February 27
Internationally known South Africa bodybuilder Mario Van Biljon, who was placed IVth in the International World Bodybuilding Championship, 2006, believes that Indian has a potential of producing world-class body builders. Mario is presently preparing for the Mr. Olympia Championship in August and subsequently for the World Championship slated to take place in November, later this year.

“On my first visit to India I found that Indians have a smaller wrist and knee joints compared to the people in the other parts of the world. People having a muscular body with smaller joints do exceptionally well in bodybuilding. It is always a game of creating an illusion in bodybuilding and people with such body structure are successful in doing so, and so can be the Indians, who by nature are gifted with such body structure.” Mario said.

Mario feels that conditions for bodybuilding are very good in India and feels that the people here are equally passionate about it. But they have to follow proper regime and diet chart.

He is planning to visit India again after his Olympia Championship and have thought of running a sponsorship programme in the country in bodybuilding.

Mario had a word of caution for those who wish to develop good muscles in shorter span, “Body takes time to take a shape, and those who exert unnecessary pressure may end up sustaining muscular injures which could have a long lasting bad effects on their body.”Chris, an associate of Mario, who was the winner of the Muscle Evolution Show held in South Africa, said bodybuilding requires lot of discipline and is to be followed for gaining healthy mind and body. He added that certainly there were bodybuilders who took short cuts to success, but it would be better if one does without them”.

Earlier , Mario and Chris held an interactive session with over 100 of instructors-cum-bodybuilders of Dehradun, answered their queries and gave them tips on fitness and diets chart.

Dehradun, February 27
The all-round performance by Ankit at the 57th District Cricket League at Survey Stadium, helped ICFAI National College register a three wickets victory over AG Uttarakhand, here today.

It was a sloppy batting display by AG Uttarakhand batsmen who failed to deliver.

The team was all out for 178 runs in allotted 35 overs. It was a middle order batsmen Satish, who bought some hope for ICFAI team scoring a steady 49 runs from 68 balls. ICFAI batsmen bowled a tight line and length giving little opportunity to AG Uttarakhand batsmen to score runs. Ankit, Amit and Nishith bagged two wickets each.Chasing the target, ICFAI reached the target in just 32.4 overs. Earlier, ICFAI also began on a bad note as they lost their first wicket at the score was zero and the second wicket went when they were at the score of 11.

After a shaky start, it was Parinay and Ankit, who made an important contribution and stabilised ICFAI inning. Parinay made 24 runs and Ankit scored 31 runs. Middle order batsman Bipin was the top scorer for the team scoring 51 runs. Meanwhile, in another match UPCL registered a 23 run win over GEU team. Batting first UPCL team piled a mammoth total of 243 runs.

Shaillesh was the top scorer for their team scoring 48 from 48 balls. Chasing a target of 244 runs GEU was all out for 220 runs.

Dehradun, February 27
Potala XI and Khukri Club have stormed into semifinals of the 17th Narayan Gurung Memorial Football Tournament, here today.

In the first match played between Doon Valley and Khukri Club the result of the match was decided in a tie-breaker, as both the teams were locked at 1-1 draw in the match. Doon Valley took a lead in the first half through Praveen’s goal in the 25th minute of the match. 

But Doon Valley failed to maintain the lead as Khukri Club found an equaliser in the 18th minute of the second half. It was Vivek who earned an equaliser for his team. In the tie breaker Khukri won the match by 5-4.

The second match between Vijay Cantt and Potala XI, Potala XI won the match1-0. It was a self-goal scored by Vijay Cantt defender in the 25th minute of the first half that helped Potala XI to advance into semis.