Haridwar, May 20
Devotees performed rituals and took a dip in the holy Ganga river on the auspicious occasion of the Ganga descending on the Earth. According to mythological tales, the Ganga river descended on the earth by the efforts of King Bhagirathi on the Vaisakh Shukl Saptami falling today.

Lakhs of devotees thronged the Ganga ghats, particularly the Brahm Kund in the Har-ki-Pauri, and performed rituals to the holy river with puja-related items, along with the home-made dishes and sweets.

In the city, a religious procession (shobha yatra) was taken out by the Purohit community with thousands of people partaking as well as taking the blessings of the Ganga idol.

Rituals were also organised by the Ganga Sabha at Har-ki-Pauri Brahm Kund with the offering of milk to the river which is considered life-giving to people.

At all ghats people were seen taking a dip in the river. At the Ganga arti too people thronged in large numbers today.

Several religious functions were also organised in the city on this pious day.The day has quite a religious significance in the Hindu religion and traditions.

Dehradun, May 20
The super specialists working in the Doon Hospital kept off work today protesting against the non-payment of dues for the past two and half months.

As there is a dearth of specialists in the state, in order to meet the demand the government hired private practitioners from Dehradun so that they could render services for a few hours at the hospitals.

The exclusive contract for them works out at Rs 50,000 for four hours of OPD. Initially, there were six super specialists appointed at the hospital. They are: Dr Mohit Goyal, plastic surgeon, Dr Naveen Ahuja, neuro physician, Dr Vikrant Pathak, urologist, Dr Anil Rathi DM, cardiologist, and Rajeev Tyagi, DM, endocrinology, and Dr Vikram Singh, nephro physician, who resigned this month to take up another assignment.

According to sources, some of the doctors have even stopped attending OPD on a regular basis in protest against the delay in the release of their salaries. The government requires at least Rs 42 lakh to pay for the super specialists.

“I have already sent letters to the government regarding our demand. We require at least Rs 7 lakh to pay the doctors their pending dues,” said Dr RK Pant, Chief Medical Superintendent, Doon Hospital.

In fact, last year too, the super specialists had found themselves in a similar situation with the government failing to pay them salaries.

“The delay is probably due to the government’s inability to set aside the salaries of the doctors under a separate heads,” said Dr DP Joshi, Secretary, Provincial Medical Services. However, the matter is expected to be sorted out by evening.

“The benefits for patients are manifold, as specialist services are provided at nominal rates for patients and for below poverty line card bearers. The presence of super specialists also adds to the reputation of the hospital that attracts patients from neighbouring states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh,” said Dr Pant.

Mussoorie, May 20
In a meeting held at a hotel in Library Bazar, state Women Congress president Sarojini Kaintura was welcomed by the local unit members on her maiden visit to Mussoorie.

She heard grievances of the women members and assured them of speedy solution. Several women raised the issue of water, BPL cards, unemployment and injustice being faced by women in day-to-day life.

Suman with tears in her eyes apprised Sarojini of her husband Asharam’s ailing condition. She said her husband, who was working at Gandhi Eye Hospital, was removed from the job after the hospital was shut down without any Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) payment and now the family was living in poverty.

Vasudevi Sharma also said her son was unemployed for the past five years and the government was not paying any attention to her woes.

Sarojini, while addressing the gathering, said she was aware of the problems and would talk to the District Magistrate on all issues for their speedy compliance.

Later, speaking to mediapersons, she said the Congress was planning to develop women of rural and urban areas through the formation of an NGO, which would work at village, district and block levels in the state. The women would be trained and expertise would be provided for their sustainable development.

Sarojini said the Congress was concerned about the condition of women and several schemes had been launched by the Centre to uplift them and raise their standard of living.

Dehradun, May 20
The state government has decided to approach the Central government and also appoint a committee under the chairmanship of state Chief Secretary to look into the demand of the Union government to transfer civil land to the Forest Department in lieu of the forest land released for developmental projects.

The state cabinet, which met here today, deliberated on the issue and decided to again approach the Central government due to the peculiar circumstances of the state.

Giving details of the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, state Chief Secretary NS Napalchiyal said the directive of the Centre to the state government to hand over civil land twice the size of the forest land released for development projects had created a problem for Uttarakhand. He explained that since there was only 12 per cent civil land in the state, as more than 66 per cent of the land was under the Forest Department, the central directive had created a problem.

He said the state government would write to the Prime Minister in this regard and also formed a committee to look into the matter.

Nainital, May 20
Governor Margaret Alva has proposed a plan to conserve the Raj Bhawan premises here. The premises are known for beauty across the world.

The Governor today undertook an inspection of the Raj Bhawan and went around giving directions to the staff. She also went around the Old Sherwood Complex, which is presently being used as the Secretary’s Cottage. Looking at the ancient furniture, she said it could be repaired and kept for the visitors to see. She suggested that the restoration work of the old furniture needed to be done with utmost care so that its originality remained intact.

She also suggested to dispose of articles which were now of no use.

According to a Raj Bhawan spokesperson, works are already being planned with regards to the repairing of the printing press, reconstruction of the fish pond, maintenance of the nursery and the museum.

Mussoorie, May 20
In a meeting held on the Kacheri premises yesterday, SDM Manoj Kumar directed Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) Assistant Engineer Shyam Mohan Sharma to stop the ongoing construction in the wake of the summer season. Jaypee Residency Manor is constructing 40 additional rooms adjacent to the old structure.

Manoj Kumar had banned all construction till July 15 due to summer season and shortage of water.

The SDM also directed all officials to complete their pending tasks immediately.

He was particularly angry at the lackadaisical attitude of the Nagar Palika and passed strict orders to expedite all the issues or else face severe punitive action against them.

He also lamented the fact that Nagar Palika Executive Officer and senior citizen forum president complained about the public utilities remaining shut on the Camel’s Back Road.

Palika officials attending the meeting cited lack of water in summer the main reason.

The SDM said officials from various departments should create an understanding with each other to solve the problems in the town.

Officials from health, palika, electricity, water and various NGO’s were present on the occasion.

Dehradun, May 20
Agriculture Minister Trivender Singh Rawat launched Anchal Packed Mineral Water here today. The water has been purified with the RO technique. Its objective is to benefit milk producers and milk associations. The water will be sold at Rs 13 per bottle.

Managing Director, Uttarakhand Cooperative Dairy Federation, NK Joshi said people these days were wary of the quality of drinking water. That’s why they decided to bring a quality water product in the market. He acknowledged that the federation missed out the opportunity to utilise the occasion like the Kumbh for slick marketing, but, he said, now they would make it up during the Char Dham Yatra in the state.

Rawat urged farmers not to see it as an additional vocation, but eye it as the main occupation.

Informing about the six centres running for the objective, he said this project would become successful only when farmers came forward in the Self-Help Group (SHG).

Forty such SHGs were running in Uttrakashi and four had been started in Pauri, he added.

Talking about diversification, he said his ministry was working towards utilising medicinal value of cow urine saying that it had been patented by the US and some other western countries for its exceptional quality to cure cancer and white patches.

Coming to back to the subject of milk, he apprised of the villages, which had been producing enormous quality of milk, were not able to sell it properly due to lack of buyers.

For two villages, Bugyal and Dudhatoli producing 2,200 litre milk each day, he said, they would install ropeway costing Rs 65 lakh to facilitate marketing of milk products and other products such as onion, garlic, cholai, etc. which gave good yields in these villages.

At present, 1.70 lakh litre milk is being produced by the Anchal brand, which is 7 per cent higher than the previous year, he said.

Dehradun, May 20
A newly married bride has been missing for the past three days under mysterious circumstances in the Patelnagar police station area. The family of the girl suspects a foul play behind the incident by in-laws of the girl.

The family and relatives of the girl today met Superintendent of Police (SP) Jagatram Joshi. They alleged that it had come to their knowledge that the groom had been married thrice.

They complained to the SP that the girl had spoken to the family last on May 16 and since then there was no information of her whereabouts. They also alleged that she used to be harassed by her in-laws and was never allowed to talk to them without the knowledge of her husband.

Haridwar, May 20
The agitation led by the Hind Rashtriya Awami Hukook for providing shelter to the poor and needy is getting intensifying with three women protestors sitting on an indefinite fast to press for their demands.

The agitators today got support from the Uttarakhand Kranti Manch and the Small Vendors Association. Both these organisations executive members also sat in protest at the squat spot.

Sitting at the Municipal Committee office premises, the agitators are quite perturbed over the attitude of the municipality and the administration over the non-implementation of housing schemes for the lower strata of the society. Vice-chief of the Uttarakhand Kranti Manch JP Pandey coming forward in support of the agitation said to have a home was the right of every citizen, and apathy from governmental departments and municipality didn’t bode well for the democratic setup in the society.

“We know what it is living in the open and taking care of families. During elections, politicians come seeking votes, but now when the implementation time comes, they think poor people are just flies in the pan. We need justice, and then only will the dream of Mahatma Gandhi become a reality when all citizens will have a shelter to live in,” said Pandey.

Small Vendors and Squatters Association founder Sanjay Chopra, along with dozens of association members, also came in support of the HRAH movement for home for everyone. Addressing the protestors, he said time had now come when all organisations working for the poor to press for their demands and rights.

Murslein Qureshi, founder of the Awami Hukook organisation, thanked them for the support and hoped that the authorities would hear their woes and soon allot houses under various governmental schemes to the needy.

Congress secretary Mira Raturi too addressed the agitators and urged women to come out and make the movement a success. Among those who gave non-stop support were Shayra Bano, Soniya Devi, Meena Khatoon, Ramaakant, Shabir Qureshi, Munsrena, Malikka, Angooti Devi, Rafik Ali and Seema Verma aided by hundreds of people.

Pitthoragarh, May 20
More then 25,000 pilgrims from all the communities, including Muslim, Hindu and Sikh, are converging to attend a five-day Urs celebration of renowned Sufi saint of the 13th century Kalu Sayyad Baba in Ranikhet today.

According to M Mohsin Khan, Chief Khadim of mazar, the first chadar was offered at the mazar today.

“The Urs celebration started by Mohammed Shamim at the mazar, which is said to have been situated at the place where later Ranikhet town came up,” said Khan, adding that this year the pilgrims from Bareilly, Shahjanpur, Moradabad, Etawah, Aligarh, Badayun and almost all towns of the Kumaun region were attending the celebration as the Sufi saint while coming from Delhi crossed all these towns of the plains and spread his goodwill to people of the hilly region at that time.

“Baba was a disciple of Hazarat Nizamuddin Aulia, renowned Sufi saint. After obtaining knowledge from Aulia, Baba set out towards the hills and stayed at various places in Ranikhet, Almora, Kosani and Champawat districts,” said Khan, adding that after Aulia ordered him to set for the Himalayan region only to cool down his emotions, Baba reached Ranikhet and spread the message of love and fraternity among the locals.

The Urs celebrations started on May 19 after a mushaira on Sufi teaching. “From May 21 to May 23 a community feast (langar) will be arranged along with a qawwali and natia kalam,” said Khan.

“During that time when areas near Ranikhet were fully covered by thick jungles, Baba used to accompany the locals up to their homes only to ensure their safety. He spread the message of humanity which is still evident during his Urs when the jayarin (pilgrims) from all communities attend it in a big number,” said Hazi Mohammed Sabir Khan of Almora.

Nainital, May 20
The pension disbursed through the Social Welfare Department of the state government will now be disbursed only through banks.

The beneficiaries falling under the category of old, disabled and widows will get the pension for 2010-11 from banks and have been asked to get their bank account number notified at the office of the Assistant Social Welfare Officer at the block level.

As per a government spokesperson, the pension will no longer be sent by money order and those who fail to get their bank account number notified will not be able to avail the pension benefits.

He said the list of beneficiaries had already been sent to block level.