Haridwar, October 12
District Magistrate R Meenakshi Sundaram has taken serious cognisance of various developmental projects and schemes getting stuck in file work only.

A lack of understanding and coordination among various government departments and nodal agencies is severely hampering the developmental projects.

At several meetings with the departments concerned, Sundaram stated despite Haridwar being a world-renowned city, its status didn’t reflect on the developmental works here. A lack of coordination among nodal agencies is affecting the city development, the DM said, adding that on a priority basis, officers have to make sure that the projects are executed before the deadline.

Like the ambitious multi-crore plan to give a facelift to 12-odd intersections of the city, which had to be completed before the Maha Kumbh in January, is still not seeing the light of the day.

Notably, under the the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) schemes, the beautification and renovation of the intersections of the city is to be done, but due to a lack of coordination between the Forest Department and the Power Corporation, the project is biting dust in files only.

Now, the Public Works Department (PWD) has been directed to solve this problem. Now, all these three departments will work amicably to complete the project by the next year. Among these dozen intersections are city’s busiest points, Chandaracharya chowk (Ranipur Mod), Shankaracharya Chowk and Devpura Chowk. The project assumes quite importance as the intersections and adjacent roads will be widened to lessen the traffic congestion. PWD officials said the Forest Department and the Power Corporation had failed to chalk out a plant to remove trees and electric poles at these intersections, which is delaying the whole process.

“Despite repeated requests to these departments, we have still not got any response. That’s why we have complained to the District Magistrate,” said a PWD official, showing the request letters sent to both departments.

Executive Engineer of the PWD OP Singh said as the expansion of these dozen city intersections had to be done under Central norms, the PWD had to take help and coordinate with the departments concerned too which is delaying the process. At their level, the PWD had already started working on this mega project.

Similarly, the ambitious Mahila Ghat expansion project at the Har-ki-Pauri site is also being taken by the district administration seriously.

Dehradun, October 12
While sportspersons are pushing every extra bit to clinch medals for their nations at the XIXth Commonwealth Games in Delhi, members of a monastic set-up of Doon are relieving them of any possible stress and anxiety.

The Centre for Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism in Rajpur that houses more than 200 monks, ranging in age from five to 80, nowadays has three of its members, including the Director, camping at the Commonwealth Games village and helping players de-stressed and also in warding off any possible stress-linked disease.

Lama Jamyang Lekshey and Sonam Choegyal, Director and Deputy Director at the centre, respectively, and Ngawang Gyaltsen, a monk at the centre, are giving classes to sportspersons about the ways and means to relieve stress on the lines of Buddhist philosophy.

Buddhism as a religion, and Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism in particular, puts a lot of emphasis on inner peace and is entwined with stress-relieving techniques.

Apart from countries with Buddhist following like Sri Lanka, Singapore, Maldives, and Malaysia, sportspersons from other nations are also converging at the Sakya centre’s classes.

“Meditation is an important part of Buddhism and can be an excellent means to get oneself relieved from stress and mental fatigue,” said Sonam Choegyal over phone asserting that this was exactly what has been suggested to players to relieve themselves of high-pressure sports events.

He said even a few minutes of meditation could work wonders for a sportsperson who was constantly under pressure to perform.

A personal monastery of His Holiness Sakya Trizin, the Sakya Centre at Rajpur, Dehradun, is the main centre for Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and was established in 1964.

Most monks come from Tibet while some come from India, Nepal, Bhutan and other neighbouring regions. Most students are orphans or from very poor families.

Nainital, October 12
The four-day All-India Agro-Industrial Exhibition-cum-Farmers Fair, popularly known as Kisan Mela, concluded at the Gobind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology at Pantnagar amid a call to researchers and scientists to visit remote and rural areas of the state to learn about their location-specific problems.

Cabinet minister Bansidhar Bhagat, who was the chief guest at the concluding function, said increasing profitability as well as productivity at the farm level should be the prime concern of the scientists from the university.

About 60,000 persons and farmers from different states visited the Kisan Mela in which seeds of various crops worth Rs 70 lakh were sold by the university. About 200 big and 400 small and medium firms representing major brands of tractors, seeds, fertilisers etc participated in the event.

Dr VPS Arora, Vice-Chancellor of Kumaon University, in his address talked about the changing climate and natural calamities that had greatly affected farmers in Uttarakhand.

He said, “The agricultural scenario has changed considerably due to climate change and the prevailing agricultural technology has to change accordingly. Traditional methods of extension and transfer of technology also needs a change”.

He told the scientist community, “We have to evolve new technology which requires less water and must emphasise on more crop per drop of water”.

Dr Arora told farmers who benefited by visiting the event to be in touch with Krishi Vigyan Kendras which exist in all 13 districts of Uttarakhand for further information and to avail telephonic helpline services of the university.

Dr BS Bisht, Vice-Chancellor of Pantnagar University, reiterated the university’s commitment to work for the welfare of farmers by evolving new stress-tolerant high-yielding varieties of different crops.

Dr Bisht informed about the salient achievements of the university in agriculture education and research. He said, “We are also focused on the problems of high-altitude farming and are in the process of setting-up three research stations in such areas with the help of the Indian Army”.

Mussoorie, October 12
The elected college union, from the NSUI, was felicitated at the Congress Bhawan today. Mussoorie MLA Jot Singh Gunsola and Mussoorie Congress president Bhagwan Singh Dhanai congratulated the elected NSUI body on the occasion and said the NSUI had made a niche among students in the town and the victory in successive years was an indication that it had become the most favoured students’ organisation.

Gunsola also advised the newly elected body to work towards solving the issues related to the students in the college.

Gunsola also said the NSUI workers should strive to bring more and more students in the fold of the Congress and strengthen the hands of Rahul and Sonia Gandhi.

Dehradun, October 12
The executive committee of the DAV (PG) College Alumni Association today extended full support to the Principal, Dr BL Nautiyal, in improving the infrastructure and academic environment in the college. Members of the committee expressed concern at the increasing incidents of indiscipline and falling academic standards in the college. They also volunteered to discuss with college students in general and their leaders in particular about the problems and difficulties being faced by them and find an amicable solution.

Association president Raj Kanwar, who was the president of the College Students Union in 1952-53, felt that a majority of the students also wished to improve the overall environment in the college and he saw no reason for acts of indiscipline etc.

Dr Nautiyal was warmly greeted by association members. The committee also appreciated the efforts being made by Dr Nautiyal in bringing about an improvement in the functioning of the college.

The committee also decided to hold two major functions in October and November. The first of the two functions will be held on October 28 at Doon International School to felicitate two high school toppers from each school.

Prizes will be given to the winners of an inter-school essay competition organised last month. It may be recalled that the association had organised an essay contest for senior school students, which had attracted over 200 entries. The subject of essay competition was “Is caste system good for India”.

Raj Kanwar said a special souvenir would be brought out. The association has also decided to honour OP Bhatt, Chairman, State Bank of India, with a lifetime achievement award. Kanwar told the meeting that he had sent an invitation to Bhatt and expected to receive his confirmation soon. Kanwar also said Bhatt was one of the most outstanding alumni of the college, and certainly the most high-profile banker in the country.

Dehradun, October 12
ICFAI University’s Faculty of Education, Dehradun, organised a seminar on the development of creative potential of teachers, parents and learners sans rote learning. The seminar was inaugurated by Dr Dilip K Giri, Dean, Faculty of Education.

Rote learning is a term used to memorise through sheer repetition, and is often viewed as a bad practice, although some may argue that it is a necessary first step in learning some subjects.

Those who are critical of rote learning assert that it involves learning facts without developing a deep understanding about them. This lack of understanding makes it impossible to grasp meaning and thereby impedes application of the knowledge to other areas.

To memorise words is pointless without understanding their usage in conversation, say the critics.

Dehradun, October 12
Pestle Weed College entered the quarterfinals beating Col Brown School 47-40 in a tough boys pre-quarterfinal of the ongoing District Youth Under-16 Basketball Championship at Doon International School here today. Shoaib of the winning side starred in the win top scoring with 27 points.

Welham Boys School also registered a quarterfinal berth as it got walkover over RIMC.

In a closely contested pre-quarterfinal, Hilton’s School defeated Army School 38-23. Hilton won first three sets 11-5, 8-5, 14-5 and lost the last one 5-8.

Summer Valley School did not face much resistance while making their way to the quarterfinal beating The Aryan School 39-13. It won all four sets 11-2, 14-4, 8-4 and 6-3. Cheema scored 14 points for the winning team and Prince scored eight points for Aryan.

In the girls pre-quarterfinals, Carman School, Dalanwala, beat Army School and Hopetown School defeated SIA to claim quarterfinals seats.

Dehradun, October 12
The Aryan School posted a facile seven-wicket win against St Jude’s School during the third Shri Rohitash Singh Memorial Inter-School Boys Super 8s Cricket Tournament held at The Heritage School here today.

Winning the toss, Aryan decided to field first. St Jude’s could just score 18 runs at the loss of five wickets. In reply, Aryan scored 30 runs.

St Jude’s, in their second innings, rose to 22 runs, but their rivals easily scored the required 11 runs without losing any wicket.

In the second match, Summer Valley School defeated St Joseph’s Academy by five wickets. Summer Valley invited St Joseph’s to bat first. The latter scored 22 runs losing five wickets in the first innings. Summer Valley, batting second, scored 36 runs at the loss of two wickets.

In the second innings, St Joseph’s amassed 31 runs, but these proved futile as their opponents scored the required 21 runs with ease. Priyanshu of the winning team was adjudged best batsman for his knock of 22 runs.

Dehradun, October 12
Mussoorie won the first pace in the cross-country event during the District Athletics Competition organised by the District Education Department at Shri Guru Ram Rai Inter College, Nehrugram, here today. Raipur and Doiwala got the second and third places, respectively, in the cross country.

In the exercise event, Ramnagar and Shaspur stood first and second. Aman Singh of Raipur won individuals titles in 50m, 100m and 400m races. In seniors boys triple jump, Sameer Khan got the first place.

In junior boys hammer throw, Ashiq Khan of Sahaspur topped. In junior boys shot-put, Pradeep Kumar got the first place. In senior boys, Ashish Bisht stood first.

Mussoorie, October 12
A cross-country race in memory of late James P Alter will be held under the aegis of the Nand Kishore Bamboo Sports Academy in Mussoorie on October 15. James P Alter’s son Tom Alter is an eminent Bollywood actor who will also be present on the occasion.

According to Roop Chand, a member of the organising committee, the race will be held in three categories in boys and girls sections.