Haridwar, May 26
The step by the Haridwar Municipality to clean roads, drains and sewers instead of drawing applause is generating flak from several organisations for the municipality is using Ganga water via pump sets for the cleaning purpose.

People are perturbed that the holy water of the Ganga is being used for cleansing purpose and it is hurting the religious sentiments of Indians. As soon as pump sets were operated at Ramghat late night and early morning, activists of the Teerth Maryada Raksha Samiti and nearby residents gathered at the spot and held a protest.

Tej Prakash Sahu, member of the samiti, said on one hand the Sparsh Ganga drive was being conducted while on the other the same holy water was being used to cleanse the filth, drains and roads. It was a blow not only to the sentiments of people, but also to the Sparsh Ganga Abhiyan, he added.

Samiti founder Sanjay Chopra warned the Municipality Health Officer against further usage of Ganga water directly for the cleaning purpose and threatened to launch a mass protest against the drive.

Protesters also gave the municipality the suggestion of using high-stand post made for the recently concluded Maha Kumbh for cleansing roads and drains.

“The Ganga water is no ordinary water and its misuse will not be allowed. While the holy Ganga is being polluted and it’s the responsibility of the authorities to clean the river, they are using the same holy water for washing purposes. It is totally uncalled for. We won’t allow the pious Ganga water, which people take to their homes to be used on auspicious occasions, being used for such lowly purposes,” remarked Sandeep Gupta.

Meanwhile, the municipality has stopped using the pump set for drawing water from the river for cleaning purposes and is contemplating on using other means for the same. The protesters have decided to take the matter to the state Urban Minister Madan Kaushik and Municipality Chairman Kamal Johra.

Dehradun, May 26
In utter disregard of the SC/ST Commission, District Magistrate (DM) Senthil Pandiyan today failed to turn up at a review meeting called to discuss the allocations made for the development of SC/ST communities under the Special Component Plan. As a result the meeting has now been postponed to a later date.

The commission had informed the DM well in advance about the meeting and other commission members too had arrived in Dehradun.

“The absence of the DM from the meeting reflects the low priority accorded to the commission and its activities. Though the Constitution of India empowers the commission to take action under Sections 174, 175, 179 and 180 (IPC), but after the DM apologised we let him off by giving him a warning,” said Suresh Rathore, Vice-Chairman, Uttarakhand SC/ST Commission, while interacting with the media today.

The commission has received complaints regarding non-utilisation of funds allocated under the Special Component Plan in the districts and wanted to get first hand information about the administration’s response to curb atrocities against the SC communities and ensure their entry in village temples. Commission members have been assessing the ground situation in all districts of the state.

The members have already visited districts of Uttarkashi, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag and then reviewed the situation by holding parleys with the administration. In the second phase, the members visited Tehri Garhwal, Haridwar and Dehradun. Today a similar meeting was to be held here.

Rathore said in Haridwar, the Peyjal Nigam had not spent Rs 122 lakh sanctioned for installing hand pumps in SC-dominant areas. “Not a single penny was spent by the nigam and now we have asked all District Magistrates to monitor the programmes launched for the welfare of the SC/ST communities. We are also collecting information on the recruitment of SCs/STs in government offices and accumulation of backlog,” he added.

Under the Special Component Plan, allocations are made specifically for the SC and ST communities. The other members of the commission Vijay Singh Kutiyar, Leelavati Rana and Swaraj were also present.

Dehradun, May 26
Internal security, education and social sector will be high on agenda at the three-day National Executive Council meet of Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which begins in Dehradun tomorrow.

Interacting with mediapersons on the eve of the convention today, National President of ABVP Milind Marathe said the issue of rampant commercialisation of education would be taken up high on priority during the session deliberations. He said all seven education linked bills tabled by the Central government in recent times would be discussed. “Even the Right to Education that came into implementation from April 1, 2010, will be deliberated upon,” Marathe added.

He apprised that the ABVP had recently done a survey of a couple of states and found large-scale discrepancies in education. The survey had revealed that rampant commercialisation of education had taken it beyond the reach of the common man.

The challenge of rising Naxalism was also a matter of concern and asserted that the recent statement by certain forces for formation of Greater Nepal amply reflected their growing clout. Appeasement of minorities and global warming were other issues high on the agenda.

National ABVP General Secretary Vishnudutt Sharma said the meeting would also pass a total of three proposals that were linked to commercialistion of education, minority education and country’s present education scenario.

Delegates that includes state ABVP presidents and general secretaries and other important ABVP office-bearers and also students leaders from neighbouring Nepal will be participating the in the three-day affair.

Meanwhile, delegates started arriving in Col Brown school, the venue of the convention.

Pitthoragrh, May 26
After trying different vehicles to carry Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims to the base camp from New Delhi, the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) has now finally settled for Uttarakhand Roadways buses.

“This year we have decided to carry the pilgrims from New Delhi up to Kathgodam on Volvo buses of the Roadways and if these buses would not be available at appropriate time, the Uttarakhand roadways authorities have promised to arrange other air-conditioned buses,” said Ashok Joshi, GM (Tourism), KMVN. The yatra starts from June 1.

Joshi said from Kathgodam onwards the pilgrims would be carried by Tata luxury buses up to Mangti because the regional transport authority had rejected bigger vehicles up to Mangti keeping the tough terrains beyond Dharchula.

The KMVN has also decided to continue with the 6th trek route camp at Pangla which was opened in view of the road blockade at Chetalkot. “Despite the motor road at Chetalkot has been opened since 26 September last year, we have decided to make continue with this camp for in the case of the landslides and if the road blocks again, the pilgrims could be lodged at Pangla instead of the first camp at Gala,” said Joshi.

This year, according to the KMVN estimates, there will be nearly 60 pilgrims in the first batch of yatra. As many as 100 pilgrims were called by the Foreign Ministry for the first medical checkup in New Delhi.

Nainital, May 26
Caught between the jurisdiction of the state police and the role earmarked for its own Railway Protection Force (RPF), the Indian Railways has expressed its helplessness in combating the crime that is committed against the passengers when they are in transit.

When the issue of a large number of thefts pertaining to passengers coming to Kumaon by the Ranikhet Express and other trains was taken up with Divisional Railways Manager (DRM) KB Nanda during his recent visit to the region, he said the police force in the states from where the train was passing at the time the crime was committed were not ready to take the responsibility for its prevention. On the other hand, the RPF has the mandate only to protect the railway property from theft and vandalism. This has resulted in the passenger being left in the lurch.

Hitting out at the state governments in the country, Nanda said: “No state government is ready to give the power to the Railways to prosecute the culprits indulging in crime against the passengers in transit. If the state governments ratify the proposal to give power to the Railways to arrest the culprits indulging in crimes against the passengers who are travelling in trains, the Centre could make a law empowering the Railways. But no state is ready for it”.

Another issue on which he gave the viewpoint of the Indian Railways was the notice being given to the institution by the Forest Department on the issue of the proposed Elephant Corridor and the movement of pachyderms in the region.

Nanda said while the Forest Department had sent a notice to the Indian Railways, it must also look into the presence of a paramilitary facility and a facility of an oil company in the region. He also pointed out that the Railways had been present in the region for more than a century when the tracks were laid down.

The Railway officials have pointed out that the growing urbanisation and closed settlements at both paramilitary and oil company facilities near Lal Kuan are primarily responsible for creating hurdles in the movement of the elephants.

“As far as the Railways is concerned, the tracks are open and the elephants can easily move across them. We will do whatever is possible to let them move without any threat to them,” said Nanda.

It has also been pointed out that the trains also run through a stretch of the Rajaji National Park. In certain areas where there is frequent movement of the elephants, the trains slow down and move at a snail’s pace. This move of the Railways has been appreciated by the Forest Department in the past.

Officials say an appropriate reply has been sent to the Forest Department on the issue.

Dehradun, May 26
A “mashaal jaloos” was taken out by the Dehradun branch of the Northern Railway Men’s Union on a call of the All-India Railway Men’s Union here today.

It was carried out from 7 am to 8.30 am. The demonstration was held from the union premises to Upper Railway Colony Mussoorie via Down Railway Colony to the Railway Health unit.

Branch secretary Ugarsen Singh said there was an additional burden on employees due to no new recruitments in the Railways and consistent surrender of posts was also piling on.

He also warned that if their demands were not heard by the administration, they would disrupt the movement of trains. He said they would carry their movement in future too.

Mussoorie, May 26
Mussoorie Palika’s dreams of running a local city bus on the roads of Mussoorie have turned sour, as the Uttarakhand Roadways Department has raised a strong objection to it.

The Nagar Palika had passed a resolution to provide a city bus for local commuters from Suvakholi to Jharipani, from Jharipani to LBSNAA via Chuna Khala, but the Roadways has raised a strong objection citing the reason that only they had the right to ply on national highways and not the Palika.

OP Uniyal lambasting the mentality of Roadways officials said it was shocking that the officials were thinking on those lines.

He also lamented the fact that such officials running the Roadways were against the development of the hills. He also said the mentality of the officials was anti-people and against environment.

Uniyal further said the reason for running buses by the Palika was to stop unnecessary movement of private vehicles in the town. If they travelled by city buses, they saved fuel for the country and in the process also safeguarded the environment.

He also said this partisan attitude of the officials was against the will of the people in the town and he would apprise Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank about the whole situation immediately.

He categorically stated that the Roadways had said it had increased the number of buses, but it was of no use to the locals. Hence, the city bus was essential for the town.

Earlier, monthly board meeting of the Palika was also held on the Palika premises in which more than 25 bills of such newspapers which were not visible in the town were passed along with routine tenders for the development of the town.

Uniyal said his board had done more work for the town than any other Palika president so far and reiterated the fact that he was committed towards the continuous development eagerly.

He also added that Chief Secretary NS Napalchayal in a meeting held yesterday in Dehradun was also serious about the development works in Mussoorie and had strictly directed the officials to expedite all pending projects like Hardy Fall on urgent basis or face dire consequences.

Dehradun, May 26
The Punjabi Biradari Welfare Society, Dehradun, laid the foundation stone of its community hall at the Rajpur Road near Mussoorrie diversion here today. The community hall is being constructed with the aim to help people have a venue for their gatherings and other functions.

The chief guest of the occasion was Ganesh Joshi, MLA, Rajpur, who also donated the amount of Rs 9. 36 lakh that was sanctioned under the Vidhayak Nidhi Scheme.

Also present at the occasion were VP Gupta, advisor, KK Bhalla, president, Rajinder Singh, vice-president, MMK Sabherwal, general secretary, Rajeev Sacchar, secretary, Yashpal Bhati treasurer, Roshal Lal Makin, Executive Committee, PP Sabherwal, Neelam Sehgal, Surinder Kaur, CP Kapoor and BK Oberoi.

Dehradun, May 26
People sweating in their vehicles, children baking in the sun, ambulances stranded in long jams have become a every day nuisance with public protests, dharnas and effigy burning taking place at roundabouts near and in front of the Gandhi Park on the Rajpur Road, one of the busiest roads in the city.

The administration and political parties too seem to be wary of this problem, but are unable to find a practical solution of this problem.

District Magistrate Santhiyal Pandiyal said the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) had seen a place near the Parade Ground, but that proposal fizzled out due to objections raised over it. At present, no such proposal is on the cards.

Mayor Vinod Chamoli said the DMC had earmarked a corner in the Parade Ground for the purpose some months ago, but a few NGOs came opposing it in the name of uprooting trees for the purpose. “There is no such ban on felling eucalyptus trees, still the NGOs made a hue and cry and the government bowed before the pressure”. He acknowledged the fact that Dehradun being the small city did not have many options of places meant for demonstrations, so sooner or later a place at the Parade Ground would prove to be the only viable choice for the purpose.

The political parties are not averse to any change in the place. The message was made clear by Omi Uniyal, District President, UKD, when he said, “In my view, all political parties should build up a consensus in demarcating a place for the purpose such as Jantar Mantar in Delhi where they can exercise their democratic rights of holding demonstrations without putting convenience of people at stake”.

Uniyal said it was important to take along the approval of political parties on the subject, otherwise it would again meet the same fate as that of the Parade Ground.

The police is always ready to take up any challenge, be it on the Gandhi Park or anywhere else, said SSP Abhinav Kumar. He added, “The job of the police force, including the traffic police, is to maintain law and order during such demonstrations. Wherever the site is fixed, we will continue to serve”.

Dehradun, May 26
The district medical authorities are on a high alert after two boys suffering from convulsions and vomiting died at the Doon Hospital here today.

The two boys and sons of labourers from Orissa are living at Baliwala Chowk. In the morning Amrit was brought to the Doon Hospital after he began to experience convulsions and started vomiting foamy liquid. He did not respond to the treatment and died in the morning.

Later in the day, Sikander, son of Sadhu Singh, displaying similar symptoms was admitted to the Doon Hospital and he too died. In the afternoon Sikander’s sister displaying similar symptoms was also admitted to Mahant Indiresh Hospital (private). Her condition is said to be stable.

Dr DP Joshi, child specialist of Doon Hospital, who attended on the patients said both patients died of convulsions. However, CMO of Dehradun GC Baunthiyal said the deaths might have occurred due to Japanese encephalitis. “We are monitoring the condition of Sikander’s sister who has been admitted to a private hospital,” said Dr Baunthiyal.

Dehradun, May 26
A day after the theft of a bag containing Rs 2 lakh from a car on the Rajpur Road, a man was allegedly robbed of a bag carrying over Rs 38,000 outside the main branch of the State Bank of India on the Convent Road here.

The victim chased the Pulsar bike-borne two men who fled after snatching the bag from his hands. He chased them on his scooty till Bangali Kothi from where they suddenly disappeared. The victim then reported the matter to his employer and the police.

Speaking to reporters outside the bank, victim Alok Dhyani, who works with a furniture firm and deals with accounts and stocks, alleged that he had come to the bank to deposit the commercial tax (Rs 38,400) of his firm.

The victim, who is a resident of Dharampur, added that he had seen the face of the pillion rider but couldn’t see the face of the rider since he was wearing a helmet. He said it was a black Pulsar with number- UK-07-2866.