Mussoorie, March 18
Mussoorie Palika officials, led by high-powered committee chairman Jasvir Kaur, restarted the anti-encroachment drive here today. The officials were well-equipped with tools to confiscate goods, along with a strong police force.

The drive this time began from Library Bazar with a surprise element involved in it. But there was no change in the scenario as the poor once again bore the brunt of the drive, whereas the rich went scot-free.

Madhu, a street vendor, at Jhoola Ghar, said the drive was always targeted towards the poor and the rich were spared. “Is law only for the poor?” she questioned.

Police station in charge MC Joshi was also furious at this temporary solution, where the encroachers were back to the same site once the drive was over.

The partisan attitude of the Palika was evident from the fact that on the one hand they were removing poor street vendors from the market and on the other hand Hawa Ghar, a resting place for tourists, was being encroached upon at the behest of the Palika near Bata Ghat on the Dhanolty-Chamba highway route.

Hawa Ghar owned by the Palika was given to Sobat Singh when his shop was destroyed during monsoon for a week. But he instead has covered it from all sides and was using it as a godown, thus creating a problem for tired tourists.

Ramesh Bhandari, ward member and Palika president, also consented that the site was given on temporary basis and the encroacher had been warned to vacate the premises within a week after which the evacuation process would be initiated.

Dehradun, March 18
The Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) sealed Swaraj Plaza, a shopping complex, for not paying dues of Rs 5.78 lakh. Not only this, a mobile tower atop the roof was also blocked.

The corporation also attached a bank which henceforth will pay the rent to the DMC.

Mayor Vinod Chamoli said, “Since Sanjay Ghai, the builder, did not pay us his dues, so we have attached the bank that was functioning in his building. It will now give its rent to us”.

The corporation is now planning to attach the Commissioner Office of the Excise Department for the same negligence in the coming days. 

Dehradun, March 18
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has welcomed the Uttarakhand Budget 2010-11 describing its as promoting inclusive growth.

Rajiv Berry, Chairman of the CII, Uttarakhand Council, appreciated the state government for not introducing any new taxes.

“The focus of the budget has been on inclusive growth, infrastructure development, healthcare, tourism, education and employment creation,” Berry pointed out.

He said by reducing VAT on kerosene, the poor and underprivileged in the society would be benefited. Similarly, sanctioning of tourism circuits would also help provide employment to local vehicles and initiatives announced towards development of power projects.

“Measures to strengthen the healthcare services in the state, reduction in stamp duty, entertainment tax and initiatives to promote khadi, handloom and handicrafts sectors are some of other noteworthy initiatives on part of the government,” Berry observed.

Dehradun, March 18
On the concluding day of the workshop on “Preventive Health Care in Old Age,” the participants were encouraged to use the helpline started by HelpAge India in case they have medical or other emergencies.

Prem Poddar, senior manager of Helpline HelpAge India, said in case of medical and other emergencies, the elderly could call on toll-free Elders’ Helpline number 18001801253.

Poddar, who had come from New Delhi, not only requested all participants to spread information about the services of Elders’ Helpline, but also invited suggestions to further improve the services being provided through it.

Dr Aapga Singh, Deputy Director, HelpAge India, said there was a need to raise issues pertaining to senior citizens by joint effort. Therefore, taking a lead HelpAge India would bring various senior citizen associations together and as a first step a sammelan in April would be held.

Guest of honour, London-based Dr Sushil Kumar Bansal, Professor of Medicine, discussed in detail various diseases of old age. He said 80 per cent of heart attacks and strokes were preventable by a healthy diet, regular physical activity, not using tobacco products and control of blood pressure.

Aju Philip, physiotherapy consultant from New Delhi, said senior citizens should take up regular exercise to strengthen muscles and participate in social activities to get rid of loneliness.

The programme was convened and coordinated by Pankaj Kumar Sinha, manager and Sachin Sharma, physiotherapy intern of HelpAge India.

Pitthoragarh, March 18
The ongoing Purnagiri fair, which commenced on March 4, is witnessing less number of pilgrims than last year as the board examinations and the Kumbh mela at Haridwar have fallen simultaneously.

“Apart from that, communal riots at Bareilly, which were followed by the imposition of curfew, have also led to fewer pilgrims this year,” said Prema Pandey, chairman of Champawat Zila Panchayat.

The fair, which will continue till May 15, is also facing shortage of security arrangements as most of the policemen from the district have gone on Kumbh duty.

“However, we have managed 250 police personnel to be deputed at the fair, including one platoon of women constables, to minimise the need of police personnel. We are stopping the pilgrims at a place called Boom and allowing them to go on foot for 7 km up to the temple. This has helped control the crowd in the fair,” said JC Kandpal, SDM Mela Officer of the fair.

Champawat Zila Panchayat members feel that once the Uttarakhand Board Examination are over and the condition becomes normal in Bareilly, the number of pilgrims will swell.

“On the last week of the month we will need extra security as the number of pilgrims is likely to be doubled,” said Pandey.

Dehradun, March 18
Employees of the Irrigation Department staged dharna in front of the Vidhan Sabha today. Putting forth their demands, Shekharanand Raturi, president of the association, said, “Two new hydro-electricity projects of Arakot and Tyuni Plasu to be installed near Dak Pathar can not move forward unless the department gets a new corporation.

“The corporation will facilitate funds from foreign agencies to finance the projects. The Irrigation Minister had promised to create a corporation for the department, but has not fulfilled his promise as yet”.

He also expressed anger on the sluggish pace of Saung and Jamrani hydro projects. He demanded speedy action in these projects, which had been approved by the DRB.

He demanded the induction of junior staff in the department so that the work did not suffer much. He also demanded that cadre structure of the department on the pattern of structure adopted in November 2004. He added that by taking the civil maintenance rights of Chilla hydro-electric projects like a few other projects from the department, which it handled for decades and now were given to the just four-year-old Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam, would ultimately spell doom for the department.

He said, “The government order, which accords civil maintenance rights to Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam, was supposed to be cancelled, but it has not been done hitherto. The date for the cancellation has been not fixed as yet”.

Dehradun, March 18
Jaiprakash Aggarwal, Chairman of Surya Roshni Limited, said yesterday that the company was setting up brand new manufacturing facilities at Kashipur with the investment of Rs 100 crore. The different plants would manufacture CFL, FTL, PCB, HID and PVC pipes, equipped with advanced technology of imported nature. All these plants would be inaugurated by Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank soon. Tubelights manufactured here would be world class and save 85 per cent electricity.

However, to generate employment opportunities for women, it would provide a bigger platform to women of the state.

Furthermore, the Surya Foundation runs Surya Bal Vikas Kendras in about 2,000 villages across India. Annually 40,000 children take part in personality development camps through these centres. The programme is being implemented in 24 villages around the Kashipur factory. These villages have considerably developed with the support of such sustainable programmes.

Recently, the Surya group started work of new factories under its development plans with an investment of Rs 550 crore. At least 6,000 people are expected to gain employment annually at an all-India level. The future projects of the company include a steel plant in the state of Karnataka and infrastructure, cement, power and PVC pipe plants in the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Uttarakhand. 

Dehradun, March 18
Members of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) Employees Union held its annual convention at the Tehsil Chowk here today.

A large number of employees of the department had attended the event. The union members were gathered to discuss the issues and agendas of the departments.

The meeting was conducted with the aim to discuss the enhancement of the services as well as the business of the BSNL.

Another important issue that was discussed in the meeting was to put forth the demands of group C and D employees, who have not received the Fifth Pay Commission yet.

PC Kandpal, union secretary, PB Dobhal, union president, Manan Singh Rawat, district secretary, Ajit Saxena, district vice-president, Kishori Lal Chamoli, district secretary, Ram Bahadur, union vice-president and others were present at the function. 

Dehradun, March 18
A 36-year-old teacher of Dolphin Institute was crushed to death reportedly by a college bus at a bridge near Nanda Chowki here today.

The teacher was on his way to the institute on his motorcycle when the accident happened.

He was trying to overtake the bus, but accidentally his bike skidded off in front of it and he got crushed under the front tyres of the bus.

He died on the spot and his body was later sent to a hospital in Premnagar.

According to information got from the police, the accident happened this morning when Prof E Godhman was heading towards his institute.

The police said as he overtook the bus, which was behind him, his bike slipped on the bridge and he came under the bus.

Passersby informed the police of the matter. The police from Premnagar Chowki reached the spot and took the stock of the matter.