The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Upadhaya Sewa Pratishthan to hold camp for pilgrims
Dehradun, January 8
Former Chief Minister Nityanand Swami addresses a press conference in Dehradun on Friday Pandit Deen Dyal Upadhaya Sewa Pratishthan will hold a major camp during the Maha Kumbh in Haridwar to help pilgrims coming to the holy city for auspicious baths in the next four months. Announcing this here today, former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Nityanand Swami, who is also the state president of the body, said an exhibition of books and literature related to the life and work of Pandit Deen Dyal Upadhaya would be held.
Former Chief Minister Nityanand Swami addresses a press conference in Dehradun on Friday. A Tribune photograph

Traders protest police inaction in theft cases
Haridwar, January 8
In view of police inaction in increasing cases of theft in New Haridwar, traders of New Haridwar and Ranipur Mod closed their establishments till afternoon as a mark of protest. They alleged that the police was unable to check thefts that were occurring in shops and commercial establishments.

Met tower installed at FRI
Dehradun, January 8
After helping scientists in the Indian agricultural field, micro met tower has made forays into forestry sector revealing for the first time the amount of carbon observed by forests every minute, every hour. At the initiative of the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun and active collaboration of the Indian Space Research Organisation, Ahmedabad, the tower was installed on the sprawling FRI campus and has already started its operations on a trial basis, sending the first of its kind data to Hyderabad.

Three detained for youth’s murder
Nainital, January 8
The body of a youth, who had been missing since the evening of December 31, was recovered from a gorge on the outskirts of Nainital city this morning. The body of Pawan Sah, who was in his mid-twenties, was found near the cremation ground with his face crushed and limbs broken.

Haridwar Briefs
Mahavir Aggarwal made Sanskrit academy vice-president again
Haridwar, January 8
Mahavir Aggarwal has once again been selected vice-president of the Uttarakhand Sanskrit Academy. This is his second consecutive term as vice-chief of the academy and his tenure has been full of achievements. He is a professor in the Sanskrit Department of Gurukul Kangri University.

Pant reassures Jal staff
Dehradun, January 8
It turned out to be a happy day for the employees of Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan Sanyukt Morcha (UJSSM) as Uttarakhand Drinking Water Minister Prakash Pant, who came as a chief guest at a state-level seminar, assured them of considering and accepting all their demands.

Militants’ Escape
Vigil on Nepal border intensified
Nainital, January 8
General vigil on border areas with Nepal has been stepped up in the wake of three Pakistani militants fleeing from the custody of the police in Delhi a few days earlier. Senior police officials said that the vigil has been stepped up keeping in view the possibility of their escape through the India-Nepal border. Combing along the border has also been intensified.

Minister unveils Maruti’s Eeco
Parkash Pant, Parliamentary Affairs Minister, at the launch of Eeco car in Dehradun on Friday Dehradun, January 8
A new model of Maruti, Eeco, was unveiled by Prakash Pant, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Uttarakhand, at DD Motors here today. The Eeco vehicle has been launched in six exciting colours and is also available with an AC version. It has 1200 CC engine. The dispatches for the car has already been started. The five-seater Eeco comes with a price tag of Rs 2,59,000 while the seven-seat version is priced at Rs 2,75,000 in Delhi.
Parkash Pant, Parliamentary Affairs Minister, at the launch of Eeco car in Dehradun on Friday. A Tribune photograph

Tiger Deaths
Corbett tourist guides, drivers hold protest
Nainital, January 8
Tourist guides and vehicle drivers at the Jim Corbett National Park staged a protest outside the reception office of the park on Wednesday to express their concern over the increasing deaths of the tigers and other related issues. Consolidating themselves under the banner of the Bagh Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, the agitators said even as the government was spending more and more amounts on the protection of tigers, the number of their deaths continues to spiral. They called for a probe into the increasing deaths of tigers.

	Nishank unveils Rs 35.55-cr projects in Nainital Tribune News Service Nainital, January 8 On an inauguration and stone-laying spree, Chief Minister Ramesh Pokariyal Nishank unveiled projects to the tune of Rs 35.55 crore on the premises of the Kumaon University in Bhimtal today. Inaugurating a biotechnology facility, the Chief Minister said Uttarakhand could be at the forefront in delivering goods in the sphere of biotechnology and efforts would be made to take strides in developing the tissue culture facilities. He said efforts would also be made to bring in more industry in the state to generate more employment. Nishank said it was the primary aim of his government to make the state number one in the fields of education, power, tourism, agriculture and bio-reserves. He said the state had immense potential in the form of prevalent of natural resources that could be tapped for ushering in the economic prosperity. He said revenue receipts of the state had gone up from a mere Rs 165 crore at the time of the creation of the state to Rs 2,300 crore at present. He said he had asked the authorities in Kumaon to preserve the beauty of Bhimtal and not to allow uncontrolled construction over there. He also announced the clearance for constructing a pedestrian track along the Bhimtal lake for promoting it as a walkers delight. He inaugurated a series of buildings and plans that include an aquarium built at a cost of Rs 1.40 crore, expansion of Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission to the tune of Rs 1,960 lakh, expansion and propagation of Mission Butterfly to the tune of Rs 1.90 crore besides the biotechnology facility built at a cost of Rs 3.14 crore. Several legislators, senior officials and Vice-Chancellor of the Kumaon University Dr VPS Arora were present at the function held at Bhimtal. Later in a media interaction, Nishank held the centre responsible for the delay in the restarting of mining on the banks of Gaula river. He said despite having agreed in principle to allow the mining operations, the centre was dilly-dallying in its approach on the issue. He said he would take up the matter with Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh once again in the next few days.
	Kumbh: Slum dwellers seek rehabilitation Tribune News Service Haridwar, January 8 As an anti-encroachment drive continues in the mela area, dwellers of slums on encroached areas have begun an indefinite agitation against the state government’s apathy towards their plight. In this regard they have submitted applications to the government authorities and the mela administration. They allege that without prior information their dwellings were removed and the administration didn’t give them time to find another space. Under the banner of the Jhuggi-Jhopdi Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, the dwellers demand land allotment for them as they have been living for years at Devpura, Ahamtal, Bajriwala, Bairagi Camp, Laltaura Bridge, Tibdi railway area and other colonies. Ompal Sigh, head of the samiti, said if their demands were not met then they would be forced to go on a fast. He said their children and family were forced to live in the open in this extreme weather conditions.
	Upadhaya Sewa Pratishthan to hold camp for pilgrims Tribune News Service Dehradun, January 8 Pandit Deen Dyal Upadhaya Sewa Pratishthan will hold a major camp during the Maha Kumbh in Haridwar to help pilgrims coming to the holy city for auspicious baths in the next four months. Announcing this here today, former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Nityanand Swami, who is also the state president of the body, said an exhibition of books and literature related to the life and work of Pandit Deen Dyal Upadhaya would be held. He said the organisation would also run a helpline in providing succour to lost children, women and elderly during the mela besides providing first aid to the needy. Nityanand Swami also thanked the successive Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Ministers for implementing various welfare schemes in the name of Jansangh ideologue Pandit Deen Dyal Upadhaya.
	Traders protest police inaction in theft cases Tribune News Service Haridwar, January 8 In view of police inaction in increasing cases of theft in New Haridwar, traders of New Haridwar and Ranipur Mod closed their establishments till afternoon as a mark of protest. They alleged that the police was unable to check thefts that were occurring in shops and commercial establishments. Customers suffered a lot as all shopping complexes in the Ranipur Mod, New Haridwar, Awas Vikas Colony, Shankar Ashram areas were closed till afternoon. Yesterday, a major theft occurred at two computer accessory shops in which thieves decamped with computers and laptops worth lakhs in a manner which exposes the security arrangements and fear of the police among criminals. About 30 laptops were stolen from Blue System and TCC InfoTech shops, respectively. Notably, the police check post-cum-beat box is just 10 metres away from Ranipur Mod, which is the busiest commercial and traffic intersection in the city. The laxity of police personnel can be gauged from the fact that now as with the mela police coming in Haridwar at every intersection the number of police personnel has increased manifold. Police personnel are in huge numbers at every point and crossing, yet this is not sufficient enough to dent criminals from carrying out criminal activities. After this episode, two constables on night duty have been suspended with an immediate effect. Meanwhile, the traders today protested against the police administration and demanded more beefing of security at this commercial-business hub. The traders have apprised of SSP Sanjay Gunjiyal in this regard. A team led by ASP Arun Mohan Joshi is carrying out investigations and said the police had got some vital clues and would soon resolve the theft case.
	Met tower installed at FRI Tribune News Service Dehradun, January 8 After helping scientists in the Indian agricultural field, micro met tower has made forays into forestry sector revealing for the first time the amount of carbon observed by forests every minute, every hour. At the initiative of the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun and active collaboration of the Indian Space Research Organisation, Ahmedabad, the tower was installed on the sprawling FRI campus and has already started its operations on a trial basis, sending the first of its kind data to Hyderabad. Linked to INSAT, 24-hour operation tower can read the carbon capacity of a forest in a three hectares of forest territory. Describing the installation of the tower as a milestone for the forestry sector, Director, FRI, SS Negi said: “The tower would greatly assist in deciphering the amount of carbon being observed by a forest to an extent of absorption in minutes”. The Union Minister of Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh will be formally inaugurating the tower on Sunday.
	Three detained for youth’s murder Tribune News Service Nainital, January 8 The body of a youth, who had been missing since the evening of December 31, was recovered from a gorge on the outskirts of Nainital city this morning. The body of Pawan Sah, who was in his mid-twenties, was found near the cremation ground with his face crushed and limbs broken. The youth was pursuing his masters course and was a resident of a locality in Tallital. His father is an employee of the Public Works Department (PWD). Working on the theory of a brawl after a drinks session that had led to his accomplices committing the murder, the police swung into action and detained three persons from Almora in the case. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) MS Bangyal said: “We have detained three persons and they have confessed to having committed the crime.” He said the formalities of their arrest and registration of a case were under way at the time of the filing of this report. The police managed to zero in on the accused through the surveillance of the victim’s mobile ever since he was reported missing. It is learnt that the accused had decamped with his mobile phone and had kept it switched off. But when they tried to use it, their whereabouts were tracked. Girl sexually assaulted A case of sexual assault on a five-year-old girl has come to light at Taakpur. Daughter of a beggar, the victim was abducted from her residence in Railway Colony and was sexually assaulted after being taken to the Salwani forest area near Bengali Colony. According to the information, the mother of the victim raised an alarm on not finding her at around midnight on Wednesday. The parents started hunting for the girl and it was on early Thursday morning that they came across their daughter who was being attended to by a woman who found the girl in the forest. The victim was profusely bleeding from her private parts. She was admitted to a hospital and the police was informed by her parents. The identity of the assaulter is yet unknown. Thief caught Dehradun: The police arrested a 19-year-old thief from Raksha Vihar at Raipur and recovered Rs 1,000, two ATM cards and 67 bank withdrawal forms from his possession here today. According to the police, the thief has been identified as Brij Mohan Singh, a native of Pauri, and he was staying at Sarswati Vihar, Raipur, Dehradun. He had stolen the money and a mobile phone from Rakhsa Vihar in Raipur last year in November. The police said he was arrested after a tip-off from a local native. He used to roam around a bank in the area often, said the police. The two ATMs recovered from his possession were not on his name and were suspected to be stolen. Meanwhile, a case has been registered against him at the Ripur police station. The accused was unemployed and had come from Delhi sometime ago. Body found The body of a 35-year-old man was found in a nullah, near Lal bridge at Patel Nagar, here today. The police has sent the body for a post-mortem examination to the Doon Hospital. The police ruled out the possibility of any foul play after recovering the body. It said it seemed that the man was drunk and might have fallen in the nullah and died of cold at night. The police enquired the nearby residents for the identification of the body but it couldn’t be identified. However, the police said he seemed to be a labourer.

Haridwar Briefs
Mahavir Aggarwal made Sanskrit academy vice-president again
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, January 8
Mahavir Aggarwal has once again been selected vice-president of the Uttarakhand Sanskrit Academy. This is his second consecutive term as vice-chief of the academy and his tenure has been full of achievements. He is a professor in the Sanskrit Department of Gurukul Kangri University.

Vice-Chancellor Dr Sudha Rani Pandey, staff members of various Sanskrit colleges, along with municipal chairman Kamal Johra, have expressed happiness over the reappointment of Professor Aggarwal.

Clean chit to Kumbh works

In a meeting at Ranipur division, BJP members have termed the Kumbh related works as satisfactory and in sync with the quality standards. Divisional head Devkinandan Purohit gave a clean chit to the mela administration and lauded the efforts of former Chief Minister Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri and present Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank in making Kumbh works up to the mark. Sanjeev Chaudhari, Swami Yatishwaranand, Sanjay Sehgal, Kashi Nath, Usha Bharadwaj and others were present at the meeting.

Plantation drive

A plantation drive was carried out by rehabilitated residents of the Tehri Dam areas in Shivalik Nagar Park. Under the aegis of the Tehri Dam Vistapith Punarwas Kalyan Samiti, members of the community planted trees. Present on the occasion were SP Bauthiyal, Himmat Singh Negi, Joth Singh, Birbal Singh Negi, Khushbaseeb Ahmed, Monu, Tinku, Gopal and Ravi among others.

Mother of eight elopes with lover

A mother of eight children eloped with her lover in Khedi village in Lakshar tehsil. While the woman is a mother of eight children, the lover is half her age. According to neighbours, both have been having a relationship for a quite sometime and when their family came to know of it, they fled away. The woman’s family has filed a complaint in the police station.

Senior citizens welfare meeting

A meeting of the Senior Citizens Welfare Society was held here, wherein various issues related to senior citizens were dwelt upon. Various decisions were taken and the executive members gave a review of the works done by the society in the past months. Senior citizens from Shivalik Nagar, Kankhal, Jwalapur, Haridwar and Bahadrabad took part.

Pant reassures Jal staff
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 8
It turned out to be a happy day for the employees of Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan Sanyukt Morcha (UJSSM) as Uttarakhand Drinking Water Minister Prakash Pant, who came as a chief guest at a state-level seminar, assured them of considering and accepting all their demands.

He promised them that the services of non-regular employees of the Jal Sansthan and 24,000 deserving cases pending in various departments of the state would be regularised by March/April.

The members of the morcha reposed their faith in the minister and welcomed his decision by beating a ‘dhol’ as they said that he had a good track record of fulfilling promises.

The biggest promise was to give them salaries as per the Sixth Pay Commission in October.

The other two demands - implementation of amended service regulation and pension benefits to the employees who joined before the minister took over - were also fulfilled.

Pant assured them of filling the vacancies of reserved categories, and if needed, to fill them with the employees of the Jal Sansthan by relaxing the norms.

The minister too showed sincerity in the matter of regularising the services of daily wagers/contract employees who were not given regular scales since 1991. He said, “This matter has stuck due to Supreme Court ruling of year 1996 in case of Uma Devi V/s Karnatka which tied our hands from regularising in this direction. But seeing the matter being serious, where even PWD employees too have gone on strike on the same issue, we have made a sub-committee where Trivender Rawat, Agriculture Minister, and I have brought out the state regulation of year 1991. According to this, if we want, we have to regularise all the deserving cases of all the departments in one stroke. So most probably by March and April, we will regularise 24,000 such employees in the entire state.”

The minister also assured to provide drinking water facilities to the 8,000 villages of the state, which are deprived of this basic need. He blamed this crisis on global warming because of which he said Dehradun city is foggy while the hills are shining with sun and not getting snow.

The minister came Heera Singh Bisht, former Cabinet Minister and Ganesh Joshi, MLA, Rajpur.

Office-bearers

The members of Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan Sanyukt Morcha (UJSSM), consisting of Garhwal Jal Sansthan, Garhwal Division Jal and Uttrakhand Jal Sansthan, sections of Drinking Water Department, selected Vijay Bishat as State President and Gajender Kapil as State General Secretary. Vinod Kandari as Mandal President and Ramesh Binjola have been selected as Mandal General Secretary of Mandal. The organisation, which was floated in hurry to press upon the demands of sixth pay commission in June last year, was not formally created.