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Nishank meets PM, demands Rs 5,000 cr for infrastructure
We erred on Haridwar seat: Barthwal
BJP gets ready for Vikasnagar
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Seven arrested for BHEL officer’s murder
No power for telecom towers, says Kamat
Horticulture office to plant 70,000 saplings
In 6,000 villages, every married girl has her own tree
Collectorate staff begins indefinite stir
Best still to come, says double record breaker Prabhjot Kaur
Athletics coach lauds team’s performance
7th consecutive win for 1/5 Gorkha Rifle
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Nishank meets PM, demands Rs 5,000 cr for infrastructure
Dehradun, August 3 During his visit to the national capital, Nishank met Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and urged him to extend the industrial package to the hill state till 2020. Nishank apprised the Prime Minister that the industrial package was given to Uttarakhand till 2013 but later, it was limited to 2010. This was great ‘injustice’ to the new and backward state of Uttarakhand. “On the lines of North-Eastern states, the package to Uttarakhand should be extended,” he stressed. Nishank has put forward a demand of financial assistance of Rs 5,000 crore for the infrastructure development of Uttarakhand. He requested the PM to sanction funds amounting to Rs 500 crore for the Mahakumbh, slated to get underway in Haridwar early next year. He also demanded central funds of Rs 500 crore for setting up the AIIMS in Rishikesh. The Chief Minister also apprised the PM that on account of Uttarakhand government’s decision to implement the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission, there will be additional financial burden on the state exchequer. Hence, central aid of Rs 2,500 crore should be given to the state. Nishank briefed Dr Manmohan Singh that around six crore people would be visiting Haridwar for the Mahakumbh. “In order to ensure that everything is in place and pilgrims get all kind of facilities, there is a requirement of funds and hence central assistance of Rs 500 crore must be sanctioned immediately,” he told the PM. “Also, the Uttarakhand government had recently taken a decision to set up an ayurveda university. It will be of immense benefit to the entire country and hence the Union government should give funds amounting to Rs 200 crore for the university,” he requested Dr Singh. He also took up the matter of the cut in the state quota of LPG, kerosene by the Centre last year. Underlining the need for new rail lines in the state and creating better railway infrastructure, Nishank told the PM about the state’s requirement for the new rail lines. During his visit to the New Delhi, Nishank also met President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil and Union Minister of State for Finance Namo Narayan Meena. |
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We erred on Haridwar seat: Barthwal
Haridwar, August 3 Notably, Samajwadi Party suffered a humiliating defeat in Haridwar constituency, which used to be its bastion earlier, in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. Barthwal, on his first visit to the city today after being appointed SP chief, admitted the party’s mistake of playing up the hill-plain divide. “I accept that the party’s step of playing up the hill-plain card was wrong, which led to the defeat. “But now, we will boost up our activities at the grassroots level in all 13 districts of the state. “Our first priority is formation of the Himalayan Development Authority,” said Barthwal. Meanwhile, he lashed out at the Congress and BJP governments for not being able to solve the problem of water and electricity, and said all the districts were reeling under scarcity of both. Samajwadi Party would soon hold a national convention in Agra for which delegates from Uttarakhand would be chosen this week.
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BJP gets ready for Vikasnagar
Dehradun, August 3 The BJP core committee meeting was held in Dehradun today. State general secretary Ajay Bhatt said that ‘winnability’ would be the sole criteria for allotting ticket and a panel would be constituted in this regard. “The panel will shortlist six names from all probables and then the state election committee will send that list to the party’s central election committee that will take a final decision,” he said. |
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Seven arrested for BHEL officer’s murder
Haridwar, August 3 On June 25, three motorcycle-borne assailants shot at Dalchand, an AGM in Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL), and his wife Suchitra in their car in front of their residence at the city’s posh Shivalik Nagar colony. Suchitra had sustained injuries and was admitted to a hospital. The motive behind the murder was a family feud and the masterminds behind the killing — Sonu and Manoj — are distant relatives of Dalchand. They have been convicted in various cases, including that of murder, and They fixed the deal for Dalchand’s murder at Rs 60,000 and gave an advance of Rs 26,000 to Narendra, Avtar alias Tinku and Brijpal, all residents of Deoband, Saharanpur. On the fateful day, Tinku had opened fire on Dalchand and his wife followed by Narendra and Brijpal. Along with the trio, four more persons — Anil, a resident of Aneki, Mahak Singh, Pinchu and Ravi, all residents of Deoband Saharanpur — have been arrested for conspiring and helping the miscreants. During the investigation, the involvement of a Saharanpur jail employee has also come into light in helping the duo carry out their designs. On a tip-off, the joint team led by STF incharge Aishwarya Kumar Pal nabbed the culprits The police also seized the motorcycle (UP 11U 7399) and the revolver used in the murder from the spot. The Haridwar police got a lead in the case when it reopened the file pertaining the murder of Ram Singh, brother of Dalchand, who was killed by unidentified assailants. The Saharanpur police had closed the file as it could not make any breakthrough in the Ram Singh case. As the brothers had a clash of interests, the police initially felt that Ram Singh’s family had murdered Dalchand for revenge. After study of both cases and inputs from Saharanpur police, the investigating team rounded up Sonu and Manoj who had a link in both murders. Manoj and Sonu had been sentenced to death by a sessions court in 2004 along with two others for the murder of three persons, including two children, in Deoband in 2001. They filed an appeal in the Allahabad High Court which reduced their punishment to life imprisonment. Apart from this, both have several cases registered against them at various police stations in Uttar Pradesh. Meanwhile, rewards have been announced for the investigating team. Director General of Police Subash Joshi has announced an award of Rs 20,000, Inspector General Garhwal range MA Ganapathy 10,000 and Senior Superintendent of Police Haridwar Sanjay Gunjiyal 2,500 to the team. Even the family members of the deceased have announced an award of Rs 50,000 for the cops. Suchitra, Dalchand wife, and her daughter thanked SSP Gunjiyal, the media and union minister Harish Rawat for their support. Meanwhile, a report from Roorkee said the police had brought a man accused of raping a 17-year-old girl from Jhabrera village from a jail in Muzzafarnagar for interrogations on a transit remand, here yesterday. The accused, Gyanendra, hails from Bijopura village Seventeen-year-old Ruby, a resident of village Bishtipura (Jhabrera), was allegedly kidnapped on May 22 this year from her place. The father of the victim had suspected Gyanendra’s involvement in the incident.
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No power for telecom towers, says Kamat
Dehradun, August 3 Addressing mediapersons in Dehradun today, Kamat said as many as 60 telecommunication towers have been installed for connectivity in the hill areas, but lack of power was affecting their functioning. He categorically blamed the Uttarakhand government of failing to provide power connections for these towers. “Power connections in these 60 towers are pending for the past many months,” Kamat said, adding that he would be meeting the Chief Minister in this regard tomorrow. He also informed that Uttarakhand was one of the few states in the country that has witnessed the launch of 3 G services. Kamat, who would be releasing the first day cover of Pantanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar tomorrow, categorically distanced himself from state level Congress leaders’ recent diatribe against Baba Ramdev, founder of Pantanjali Yogpeeth. “The stamp release function is a government programme and was finalised during the earlier UPA government’s regime. Moreover, every individual has a right to opinion and Congress party believes in the democracy,” Kamat pointed out. Referring to the measures taken by the Union Telecom Ministry against nuisance calls, he said strict directives have been issued in this regard. He disclosed that that the Telecom Act incorporates a provision to scroll the number out for any telemarketing exercise. “Laws are effective and consumers have been provided adequate protection against nuisance calls,” he said. |
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Horticulture office to plant 70,000 saplings
Dehradun, August 3 These will be planted through community participation and will encompass 250 hectares in Chakrata, Kalsi, Sahaspur, Raipur and Doiwala areas. Amar Singh said that after the rains, the department will focus on the plantation of apple saplings. The Dehradun Horticulture Office has been instrumental in planting lakhs of trees on the city’s outskirts in past few years particularly after concerns were raised over large-scale felling of trees within the city to make way for buildings. No let-up in poaching cases
As many as 20 leopard skins have been seized in the state this year, which reveals that poaching in the region has been on the rise and authorities are yet to put a check on it. According to Wildlife Protection Society of India sources, during the last six months, as many as 16 leopard skins have been seized. On July 26, three skins were seized from a hotel at Birhi, near Chamoli, which falls under the Badrinath Forest Division. While one person was arrested, three managed to flee. The leopards were believed to have been killed in the Nijmullah valley. Earlier in May, a youth was apprehended in the Timili Thana area, Champawat, district with two leopard skins. However, even in this case one of the miscreants managed to flee. Bigwigs to get together for eco-function
Roorkee: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal will visit the town to participate in the ‘Save Environment’ programme on August 5. The programme is being organised by the Vishwa Jan Jagriti Mission, Dehradun, to inspire residents about environmental issues. Union Minister of State for Employment and Labour Harish Rawat, Swami Agnivesh and Swami Yatinderanand Giri will also participate in the function. Yog guru Swami Ramdev will preside over the function while the chief guest will be Swami Sushil, convener of Sarv Dharam Sansad. “We are organising the programme to commemorate the birth anniversary of our founder Acharya Ashish,” said the members of the mission. The programme will get under way at 5 pm at Vaishali Mandpam here. |
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In 6,000 villages, every married girl has her own tree
Mussoorie, August 3 This practice turned tradition has resulted in plantation of thousands of trees in the villages during the past two decades. The tradition was first started in 1995 in Gwaldam village of Chamoli district by rofessor Kalyan Singh Rawat with an aim to link environmental conservation with the religious and emotional sentiments of the people. The practice of planting a tree at the time of marriage is called ‘Maiti’. The word Maiti is derived from ‘mait’, which means house of the parents of a married girl. Under the tradition, bride and the bridegroom jointly plant a tree in the village, which was then looked after by the parents of the bride as for them it holds fond memories of their daughter. ‘Maiti Sangathan’ is formed in the village where unmarried girls of the village play a key role in the entire Maiti movement. “The eldest unmarried girl is given the responsibility to head the sangathan,” Rawat said. The members of the sangathan raise seedlings for plantation and on the day of the marriage they take the bride and the bridegroom to the site of plantation. Maiti Sangathans open an account in the post offices where they deposit their money and use it for taking up plantation related activities in their villages. Rawat has now become an integral part of the marriages as in many cases it is even mentioned on the invitation cards. According to Rawat, the movement has spread to as much as 6,000 to 7,000 villages in the state and due to the special care being accorded to the ‘Maiti tree’ nearly a 100 per cent survival rate has been ensured. “There is almost 100 per cent survival rate but sometimes if the sapling dies the parents immediately plant another sapling,” he said. In the past few years visitors to Uttarakhand have also been greatly influenced by the merits of Maiti which has now spread to other states and countries as well. According to Rawat, “Maiti has now spread to 18 states within our country as well as in other countries like Nepal and Canada.” He informed that in Nepal a separate organisation called Maiti Nepal has been formed while Theora Donald, a former minister in Canadian government, is widely propagating this movement in Canada.
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Collectorate staff begins indefinite stir
Dehradun, August 3 Uttarakhand Ministerial Collectorate Employees Association president Ashish Verma alleged the district administration for ignoring their genuine concerns. He also threatened to intensify their agitation. Apart from promotion issues, employees are seeking transfer policy based on roaster and other better infrastructure facilities.
— TNS |
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Asha Negi Miss U’khand
Dehradun, August 3 The grand finale was attended by the eminent personalities of the city who thoroughly enjoyed the competition. The pageant was divided into four categories. First round was a saree round which was followed by western dress round. Ethnic and evening gowns also carried on the schedule. However, after the announcement of the results, winner Asha Negi said that it’s like a dream come true and a path to enter mainstream glamour world. While Priyanka Chetri the first runner up said that in future she aims to participate in Miss India contest. Sonia Chauhan the second runner also expressed the same feelings. Meanwhile, the results of 12 sub-titles were also declared the same evening. Manoj Lal fashion designer, Ritu Jaitley from VLCC, Sunny Gupta from Aryan School, Cherry Jain educationist, Savita IFS officer and Pankuri Malasi Miss Uttarakhand 2008 judged the pageant.
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Best still to come, says double record breaker Prabhjot Kaur
Dehradun, August 3 She created two new records at the championship in shot put and discus throw in the u-18 category. Born in Australia Prabhjot Kaur came to India last year. She has been a sports lover from her childhood and wish to wear the Indian blazer in future. Prabhjot covered a distance of 13.24m in shot put, breaking the previous record of 12.67m made by Seema Antil in the year 1999, whereas in discus throw she created a new record of 44.15 m, smashing the pervious record of 43.30 m made by Ankita Julka of Delhi by .83m. “I was always involved in sports in some form or the other right from my childhood and had always wished to make my career in sports. My passion for sports is just undying. I used to spend hours working out on improving my skills,” said Prabhjot. For Prabhjot her father, Iqbal Singh has been a great inspiration. Her father was a javelin thrower but had to leave the sport due to a back injury during an event. Thereafter, Iqbal has always supported her daughter Prabhjot to carry on with her sports. Prabhjot feels that she hasn’t given her best shot at the championship and her best performance is still to come.
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Athletics coach lauds team’s performance
Dehradun, August 3 Overall, the team finished at the third place with 12 gold, 12 silver and 24 bronze medals. Athletics coach of Maharana Pratap Sport College Manoj Sharma, while terming it as a big achievement, said: “This time, our athletes have won five more gold medals as compared to last year. “Being a newly formed state, there is not much infrastructure for sportspersons here. Still, our athletes performed very well and were placed overall third, behind Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.” He said the state does not have many sports academies when compared to Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, but still the talent here was good. Sharma informed that this time as many as 120 athletes from the state took part in the championship because the event was held in Uttarakhand. “Generally, on a tour to some other state only a few athletes are selected. This was not the case this time,” he said. He hoped that next year athletes from Uttarakhand would perform even better.
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7th consecutive win for 1/5 Gorkha Rifle
Dehradun, August 3 Today they registered a 3-0 win over Garhwal Sporting team, which is still placed at the second spot in Pool C. The Gorkha Rifle team was on the offensive right from the beginning and displayed excellent ball control. Vikas Gurung scored the first goal in the 20th minute. In the 26th minute, Top Bahadur scored the second goal. In the second half, Gorkha Rifle’s Sagar scored the third goal for his team in the 55th minute. In the first match scheduled between Nagar Nigam and Rishikesh team, the former got a walkover. — TNS
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Saawan: 80 tableau displayed on fourth Monday
Dehradun, August 3 More than 80 tableaus were dedicated to different Gods were the main attraction of the procession that started from Shivaji Dharamshala in the morning. Leading the procession were women carrying pots on their heads followed by tableau various godsothers. As the devotees filed through the market the shopkeepers offered them ice-creams, kheer, chilled water and laddoos. At some places bhandars were held for the devotees. The enthusiasm of the devotees was at full display as they chanted slogans hailing glory of Shiv. Another attraction of the procession was the cultural programme presented by the artistes who presented Rajasthani folk dances and garba. People turned out in large numbers.
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With Vinod Barthwal’s appointment as state chief of the Samajwadi Party and the sidelining of Ambrish Kumar, the party seems to be on a revamp path.
Notably, Samajwadi Party suffered a humiliating defeat in Haridwar constituency, which used to be its bastion earlier, in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.
Barthwal, on his first visit to the city today after being appointed SP chief, admitted the party’s mistake of playing up the hill-plain divide.
Haridwar, August 3
Her skills impressed everybody present at the 21st North Zone Athletics Championship and she was certainly the most popular among her fellow athletes. Prabhjot Kaur a participants from Ludhiana stole the lime light at the championship.
She created two new records at the championship in shot put and discus throw in the u-18 category. Born in Australia Prabhjot Kaur came to India last year. She has been a sports lover from her childhood and wish to wear the Indian blazer in future.
