Dehradun, February 6
The stalemate over the strike by the ministerial services employees continued today following the rejection of the offer made by the state government last night. It seems that 40,000 ministerial employees, who have been on a strike for the past 27 days, are now on a collision course with the government.

Meanwhile, the state government has met two of the major demands of the striking employees and appealed to them to resume work while rejecting their main demand of pay hike for a majority of them. The state government in advertisements inserted in various newspapers appealed to the striking employees to resume work or face legal action.

It is likely that the state government could invoke promulgation of Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) from February 8 if the ministerial employees fail to attend their offices. The entire work right from block level to the state administration has remained paralysed due to the strike.

Meanwhile, the ministerial employees continued with their dharna at the Gandhi Park here. A meeting between the association and the administration was held yesterday and was attended by Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank. Two of their demands were met at the meeting.

The two demands fulfilled by the government are that of increasing the grade pay of the senior administrative officers from Rs 4,200 to Rs 4,600 and to impose the ACP framed by the Central government. Their third demand of pay hike from Rs 4,500-Rs 7,000 to Rs 5,000-Rs 8,000 was outrightly rejected by the state government due to financial implications. The state government appealed to the employees that the matriculation board examination starting later this month would be affected by their strike and they should resume work. In a veiled threat, the state government told the employees that legal action would be taken if they failed to turn up for their duties.

Nainital, February 6
The railway station at Lal Kuan is all set for a makeover with the Railways aiming to develop it as the gateway to Kumaon. Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) KV Nanda inspected the facilities at the station on Wednesday and said the construction of a new platform at the station had already been sanctioned and this would help in starting more trains from Lal Kuan.

It is learnt that Rs 23 crore is to be spent on developing the station. The Railways General Manager is scheduled to visit the station on February 9 where he would be given a presentation of the proposed plan for his approval.

Nanda also said the task of conversion of Lal Kuan-Bareilly metre gauge stretch to broad gauge would be initiated very soon.

Stating that it is difficult to lay more lines up to Haldwani and Kathgodam on account of the sharp ascent and the shortage of land, he said there was immense scope to develop Lal Kuan as the gateway to Kumaon.

He once again raised the issue of large-scale encroachments on the land belonging to the Railways and hoped that the state government would help in getting it vacated.

During a visit to the station almost a month back Nanda had said that the Railways wanted to introduce more trains till Lal Kuan but it was for the state government to decide whether it wanted extensive rail network in the region or not.

He had said an additional engine would be sent to Lal Kuan to improve the sliding and shunting facilities.

He was dismayed at finding the large-scale encroachments on the land belonging to the Railways and had expressed surprise at the move of the administration to build roads to the illegal colonies that have come up on that land.

Haridwar, February 6
President Pratibha Devi Patil will be coming to Haridwar to attend a special “rudrabhishek” marking the silver jubilee celebrations of the mercury Shivling at Hari Har Ashram, Kankhal, which is the Acharya seat of the Guru of Shri Pancha Dasnaam Juna Akhara.

Disclosing about the visit of the President, Juna Peetha Dhishwar Acharya Maha Mandleshwar Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj said he had visited the Presidential House in Delhi and now along with the Akhara office, the state government and administration have got the consent letter of her visit to the city.

President’s visit assumes significance as it has been scheduled during the Maha Kumbh.

The mercury Shivling was established 25 years ago at the ashram by former President Giani Zail Singh along with then Acharya Juna Peeth Dhishwar Maha Mandaleshwar Shri Swami Lokeshanand Giri Ji.

Earlier, before the commencement of the Maha Kumbh, the state government had issued letters to all state governments and VVIPs to avoid visits to Haridwar as it would increase pressure on the police and mela administra.

Dehradun, February 6
The cabinet’s decision of hiking the Non Practice Allowance (NPA) to 25 per cent would further burden the state government already saddled with rising salary bills in the wake of Sixth Pay Commission recommendation. Now, in order to pay its doctors the government will have to make a yearly allocation of Rs 1 crore.

However, the state doctors are happy with the change in fortune, the hike is bound to benefit the doctors as most of them would be getting around Rs 2,000-Rs 3,000 NPA. “We have been fighting for hike in NPA since the last 20 years, our demand has only been met now, the NPA is in par with other states now. However, the government should not crib about having to meet the additional demand of Rs 1crore as they will only have to pay 760 doctors. As against the demand of 2,000 doctors in the state,” said Dr SD Joshi, president Provincial Medical Services and Health Association.

The medical fraternity is also eyeing the promotions after the government made 46 promotions in Joint Directors post two days ago and would be releasing another list of promotions of 60 doctors to Joint Directors on Tuesday.

“Within a month Class II doctors will be promoted to Class I, there had been no promotion for the last 14 years. The government has to complete promotions at various levels within a month,” said Joshi.

Dehradun, February 6
Uttarakhand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar, held its second annual function “Dikshant” at the ONGC auditorium here today. As many as 281 students of the institute were felicitated at the function while three students, who had obtained highest marks in the academics, were awarded gold medals.

Margaret Alva, Governor of Uttarakhand, was the chief guest of the event while Dr Vachaspati Upadhyaya, Vice-Chancellor of Lal Bahadur Shashtri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, was the guest of honour. Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal was conferred the DLit degree.

Margaret Alva congratulated the award winners and called them great conserver of the Indian cultural and ethical heritage. She also said Sanskrit Vishwavidyala was a reputed institute that had been constantly serving academic sessions in yoga, astrology, vaastu and journalism and was aiming at starting new course in library science soon.

The students who received the gold medals are Yogesh Chandra Pargayi, Shashtri, Deepak Kumar Kothari, Acharya and Arpita Negi (business studies). The names of other toppers are: Prakash Chandra Pant, Acharya , Kailash Chandra Bhatt, Acharya , Sudhir Vijalwad, Acharya, Dr Om Prakash Dimri, Acharya , Virjanand Bhramachari, Acharya , Shiv Kumar Sharma, PGD in Astrology, Dinesh Kumar, PGD in Vaastu shashtra, Sudeep Kumar, PGD in Mass Comm and Journalism, Kusumlata, PGD in Yoga.

Nainital, February 6
The Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) is in the process of developing two new tourist circuits in the region. It has also undertaken an initiative to identify new tourist destinations in the region which have till now not made it to the tourism map of the region and the state.

This was stated by DS Garbyal after taking over as the new Managing Director of the KMVN here today. Garbyal is also holding the charge of the District Magistrate in Bageshwar district at present. He has come in place of Haritash Gulshan who had died in a fatal road accident last month.

Talking about his priorities, he said he would be building up on the initiatives undertaken by his predecessor and would try to steer the KMVN towards new heights.

Garbyal said, “My emphasis would also be in strengthening of the paying guest scheme started by the KMVN sometime back. We would like to extend the scheme to the entire region. If it can be a success in Kausani, it could be successful elsewhere too.” The scheme envisages giving residential accommodation on rent to tourists by the local

people who have spacious homes. He said a survey would be undertaken for the purpose so that maximum people get themselves registered under the scheme and reap the benefits.

The new MD also stated, “My emphasis would also be on improving the maintenance of some of the Tourist Rest Centres (TRCs) that are currently in a bad shape. These TRCs should be made up to the mark so that they can be properly utilised.”

The KMVN is trying to develop tourism circuits that would facilitate the entry of tourists from Kumaon into the neighboring Garhwal region.

It was informed that the KMVN want to develop new facilities for the tourists in the form of proper public toilets and parking spaces instead of opening new residential complexes. It is aiming to avail the benefits of a scheme initiated by the central tourism ministry that would enable it to get funds to the tune of Rs 8 crore for developing the sites for providing basic amenities.

“We plan to build hi-tech toilets, changing rooms and washrooms at places where there are clusters of eating joints in the hills. Since the eating joints are running there, the availability of water would not be a problem at such places,” said Garbyal. The KMVN is also chalking out a plan for waste disposal at tourist sites.

He said one of the biggest challenges before the KMVN at present is to raise its income to a level so that it can off set the additional financial burden of about Rs 25 lakh per month on account of the implementation of Sixth Pay Commission recommendations for its employees.

Dehradun, February 6
On the occasion of International Mother Tongue Day on February 21, Dhad a social and cultural organisation will honour local grass root writer and poet Pushkar Singh Kandari and Narender Kathait by conferring this year’s Aditya Ram Nawani award.

Stating this today Tanmay Mamgai, coordinator of Dhad said the awardees would be presented a cash prize of Rs 1,100 along with a certificate.

Kandari is credited for creating a rich resource of Garhwali phrases totaling 13,000. He has also written several stories and poems.

While the other winner Narender Singh Kathait has been selected for laying the foundation of satire in Garhwali literature. He has to his credit seven compilations of Satire.

Dhad will also be organising several functions, including kavi sammelan and books release functions in Kumaon and Garhwal region to mark the day.

Nainital, February 6
With a view to making the Total Sanitation campaign a success in the district, District Magistrate Shailesh Bagauli has called for dovetailing of funds under Swajal and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) schemes for the construction of toilets.

Addressing the officials at a meeting held at Bhimtal, following a review of the Total Sanitation campaign, Bagauli expressed his displeasure at the state of toilets in schools, anganwari centres and the toilets being constructed at individual level. He also ordered that the persons in the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category be provided a sum of Rs 2,500 per head from the MNREGA funds for the construction of toilets.

Stating that this would help in speeding up the work, he pointed out that the money be given for digging up the pits while the remaining material would be provided under the Swajal scheme. He told the officials to ensure the availability of water besides the quality of the toilets being built. Bagauli called for more hard work on the part of the self-help groups and the officials of the Swajal schemes so that the villages were able to take the benefits under the Nirmal Gram Puraskar Yojana.

Bagauli proceeded to Chaumphi village in Ramgarh block where he visited schools. He asked the Gram Pradhan to provide estimates at the earliest for the construction of a boundary wall at the primary school.

Nainital, February 6
The body of a tent house owner was found this morning, 11 days after he was reported missing from the town. The body of Ganesh Lal Sah was recovered from an isolated spot in Ballianala on the Bir Bhatti road. It was recovered from a gorge at least 200 feet below the narrow road that serves as a short cut for two wheelers between Nainital and Jyolikot. His motorbike has also been recovered.

People close to him said the body was not in a decomposed state and the face had blackened. There was also a wound mark on his head.

It is being suspected that 33-year-old Sah was murdered. He had left Nainital on January 27 for Haldwani on his motorcycle from where he was supposed to go to Lucknow for the treatment of his brother-in-law.

It is learnt that he was carrying a large amount of cash with him. It is yet to be ascertained when he had died as there are chances of his being killed several days before and the body not decomposing on account of the severe cold. His post mortem was being done at the BD Pande Hospital in the town. The police are investigating whether it was an accident or a case of murder.