Dehradun, February 26
Dr Anil Joshi, founder of the Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO), a voluntary body, was conferred the national award for development of women through science and technology application for the year 2008 instituted by the Department of Science and Technology in New Delhi today.

Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Prithviraj Chauhan presented the award comprising Rs 10 lakh and a citation. The award was presented to Dr Joshi for innovating in providing employment opportunities to women of Uttarakhand through science and technology inputs. Dr Joshi is a recipient of Padam Shree in 2006.

Prof Yashpal, Dr DK Pandey, Dr T Ramasami, secretary of the Department of Science and Technology were present at the awards function. 

Dehradun, February 26
The Uttarakhand Vigilance team caught a junior engineer of Zila Panchyat, Chamoli, while taking a bribe of Rs 10,000 from a contractor at his residence.

According to information, Rakesh Pant complained to the Vigilance Department, Dehradun, on February 22 stating that he had a contract of Rs 8,55,000 for the modification of the Kot Kandara Kalimath under the Zila Panchyat.

He was issued three checks on different dates for the work and was to be paid the remaining amount on February 24 and that was to be given to him through junior engineer Dalip Singh. But, when the contractor spoke to the junior engineer in this regard the latter demanded Rs 10,000 as a bribe for the work in advance, the contractor alleged.

The allegation found true in the investigation ordered by Vigilance police superintendent Brijender Singh Juyal. Following which a team was constituted that laid a trap and caught the junior engineer red-handed. 

Dehradun, February 26
The Congress protested against the state government for the shortage of power in Uttarakhand outside the Urja Bhavan at the Balliwala Chowk, here today.

Senior Congress leader Surya Kant Dhasmana held the state BJP government responsible for the shortage of power in the state.

He said the Uttarakhand was known as Urja Pradesh, but the state was itself reeling under the power crises.

Dhasmana alleged that the wrong policies of the state government were responsible for the power woes. The power cuts were being imposed upon for hours in Doon while in the rural areas there were power cuts were from 12 to 20 hours daily. The life of people of the state had become miserable.

Mussoorie, 26 February
While chairing the review meeting regarding the preparation for forthcoming tourist season in Mussoorie at Kacheri premises District Magistrate (DM) D Senthil Pandiyan directed the officials to complete the task till March 15, prior to the tourist season.

Senthil Pandian took stock of law and order situation. He enquired about the pace of development works in town from MDDA and PWD officials and directed them to complete the job before the advent of tourist season. He also formed a committee to monitor all such issues.

He also directed the officials of Jal Nigam to lay down the sewage pipeline without causing any inconvenience to tourists or local residents. He also directed the concerned department to begin the identification of the land for housing scheme worth Rs 5 crores.

DM also directed the Jal Sansthan to deposit the money for separate feeder at Kolti to the Hydel Department so that problem of drinking water is solved. He also directed PWD Department to install parapets at the Mackenzie Road for the safety of vehicles. He also directed the officials to recall the doctors from Kumbh duty after April 15 and depute Vikas Nagar Food Inspector for inspection and sampling in the town during tourist season.

SSP Dehradun Abhinav Kumar said additional traffic police will be deployed during tourist season and close watch of various important intersections will be kept with the help CCTV cameras with control room at police station.

He also said all hotels should install CCTV cameras and keep the identification of the tourists using the services immediately otherwise action will be taken which could lead to seizing the hotel and cancelation of the license.

SDM Mussoorie Jharna Kamthan, CO city Sweety Agarwal, EO R Semwal, AE Garhwal Jal Sansthan, SDO Electricity Department, DFO Ram Gopal, AE PWD AK Garg and other officials were present for the occasion.

Mussoorie, February 26
Elated Palika employees, after getting the timely release of the due arrears after the implementation of 6th Pay Commission by Municipal Board, Mussoorie, felicitated OP Uniyal by offering him a shawl in a simple ceremony held here. The President Nagar Palika Karamchari Sangh Mahavir Rana and general secretary CP Badoni thanked the board and palika president for timely payment of arrears during these inflationary times to the employees.

Haridwar, February 26
The authorities of Gurukul Kangri University have alleged that some forces don’t want the university, which is an educational institution based on the Arya Samaj model, to grow as they feel threatened by the moral education concept that Gurukul propagates. They said because of those forces the deemed status of Gurukul had been cancelled by the Union Ministry of Human Resources.

This was viewed by the non-teaching staff the Union of Gurukul Varsity on the third day of their agitation to get the deemed status of university restored as also Central University status later.

Dr Jagdeesh Vidhyalankar, library head of the university, urged the Central government not to take any decision regarding deemed university status in relation to politics. He said any political mileage should not be gained at the cost of educational institutions and that too with a century old University. “Gurukul has played a pivotal role in freedom movement, spreading yoga, ayurveda which is rare when compared with other institutions,” said Vidhyalankar.

Today also five people associated with Gurukul University sat on agitation after performing the yagna rituals.

Professor Ved Prakash Shastri conducted the proceedings while Dr Shyam Lata Juyal, Dr Nidhi Handa, Dr Pawar, Lal Nar Singh and Baljit Singh Birla sat on fast.

Others who addressed the gathering were Ram Naresh Sharma, Ratan Lal, Laxman Singh, Mahipal Singh, SK Shrivastava, Rakesh Sharma, Sohan Pal Singh Arya, Prathmesh Bhattacharya, Anand Singh, Rajneesh Bharadwaj, Mahendra Singh Negi, Kamlesh Naithani, Hemant Attrey, DeenDayal, Bharat Vedlankar, Kulbhushan Sharma, Lalit Kishore, Mahesh Joshi, Kishan Lal, Dinesh Kumar, Mahavir Yadav, Satya Prasad Bhatt among others.

Dehradun, February 26
This year the customary sal tree staff, on which the flag would be hoisted on March 5 at the Guru Rama Rai Darbar Sahib announcing the the historic Jhanda mela, will be 97 feet long.

Head of Darbar Sahib Mahant Devinder Das said the staff was being changed after a gap of three years and in keeping the tradition, a 97 feet tall sal tree, which was straight and equally strong, had been selected from the Doodhali forests. “The height of the previous staff was 90 feet and the new one now placed at Sri Guru Ram Inter College is 7 feet taller than the previous one. It would arrive at the Darbar Sahib on March 2,” said Devinder Dass.

The sangat or pilgrims that come from India and abroad have begun trickling in and will gain momentum after the Holi festival. Close to 5-10 lakh pilgrims are expected to arrive and will be guests of the Darbar staying at various “dharamshalas” and schools.

“The Kumbh mela would not have any impact on the flow of pilgrims as the yearly fair has a standing of it’s own. This year, Darbar Singh, a resident of Jalandhar, would be contributing for the “darshani scarf” (the outer covering of the flag),” said Devinder Das.

The bookings for the “darshani scarf” have been made till 2078.

Further he said a budget of Rs 2 crore had been sanctioned by the Tourism Department and the allocation would take care of the beautification plan that would be taken at the Darbar. “A beautiful wrought iron gate at the entrance would be erected. Renovation work would be undertaken at the Darbar Sahib that would involve tile work and laying of green lawns,” said Devinder Dass.

The Guru Ram Rai Education Mission that built several schools and institutions in Dehradun was also planning to give shape to the non resident university planned under the Ministry of Overseas.

“In the coming two-three months the proposal is expected to be finalised and we would then take the steps accordingly. We would be keeping 50 per cent seats for NRI students and rest of the seats would be open for students residing in India,” emphasised Devinder Das.

Dehradun, February 26
Results of the Dehradun Bar Association 
were declared late at last night, where Manmohan Kandwal as president, Anil Gandhi as vice-president and Rajiv Sharma was elected as secretary of the association.

The celebration on the court premises was held back till March 3, the day of oath of ceremony. To observe mourning for a fellow advocate Surat Singh, who passed away in this morning due to heart failure. The advocates expressed mourning before the District Judge and suspended the work for the day.

Meanwhile, the elected advocates went to the chambers of their colleagues and thanked them for their support. They looked tiered and sleepy as Kandwal said, “The result was declared at 10 pm and then everyone was in celebration mood which went on till 3 am.”

Rubbing off the colours of Holi from his forehead, the newly elected association president denied of getting any goose-bumps on the day of voting and counting. “I am not among those who sit at home stressed and avoid meeting people till the result is announced. I sat in the court building from morning till late night and came prepared with sweets, garlands, dhol and crackers. That itself shows my confidence in my victory.”

Secretary Rajiv Sharma too expressed the same sentiment saying, “The fund of Rs 10 lakh contributed by earlier secretary Prithviraj, which is deposited with the Chief Development Officer, will be used to build a litigant chamber.

With the contribution of willing advocates, a multi-story building will be erected on the site of old shed lying unused in the District Judicial Magistrates office.”

Anil Gandhi, who has been elected as vice-president for the second consecutive year, said he, along with his team, would start insurance scheme, where 50 per cent premium would be contributed by the Bar and rest by the individual himself/herself. He reminded of solving water problems and making library hi-tech with Internet-equipped computers.

Kandwal felt that competing for these elections and working afterwards for the cause gave a sense of brotherhood and unity for the community, whereas Rajiv Sharma said it did give an opportunity to serve one’s own fellowmen and brought further responsibility. Gandhi conceded that the victory bestowed honour to the winner and made one feel a part of this big family.

The others, who made to the coveted posts, include Rajesh Painuli as joint secretary, Nirdesh Khandelwal as auditor and Deepak Kumar Thapliyal as library president.

Dehradun, February 26
Unable to buy necessary food items that make up the staple diet, the Union Budget announcement do not hold any charm for the common man. Still reeling under the onslaught of escalating prices and diminishing incomes, for most of them tightening the Budget strings on day to day basis that includes forgoing essential dietary component has almost become a habit.

Take an example of Vidya Devi, a home guard, who performs eight hours of duty, has been surviving on a monthly salary of Rs 3,000-3,600. Today when she left home, she packed four chappaties and palak for herself in a newspaper. “This has been my staple diet for the past several years, I am the only bread winner for my family of four children as my husband does not contribute anything. I am still recovering from an accident, it left me shattered,” said Vidya.

Most people rue the protein component that they usually got from pulses missing from their meals and are unhappy with the functioning of fair price shops that provide so little.

“My family and I have not eaten pulses for the past four months. On a salary of Rs 5,500 it is difficult to survive. I have to plan for my children’s future,” said Vikram Pundir, working as an accountant with a sweet shop.

Sheetal Prasad, a chowkidar at Dehradun Corporation, earning a salary of Rs 10,000 is still thankful to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her pro-poor policies. “Thanks to her, I have a roof over my head. My father was given a piece of land in the 70s that has passed on to me. Otherwise it would have been very difficult for me to a have shelter,” he said.

However, for Mohammed Ayub, who sells sun glasses at Tehsil Chowk, feeding a huge family is a problem. “My home is in Uttar Pradesh, whatever I earn, a portion has to be saved for my family, which is rare,” he said.