Nainital, January 29
Uttarakhand is all set to go to the polls to choose legislators for 70 seats in the state. A total of 63,80,085 voters, including 1,00,337 service voters, are expected to exercise their right to franchise during the polling exercise. Of the 62,79,748 general voters, 29,94,283 are female voters. A total of 788 candidates are in the fray in the contest for 70 Assembly constituencies.

Out of these, there are 63 female candidates. Two constituencies of Sahaspur and BHEL-Ranipur have a maximum number of candidates battling it out for securing an electoral victory. Both these constituencies have 23 candidates each in the fray.

On the other hand, the constituency of Lohaghat has the minimum number of candidates in the contest with only three candidates in the fray.

There are 19 constituencies across the state, where there are more than one woman candidates contesting the polls.

Three political parties - the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) - have fielded candidates for all the 70 Assembly seats in Uttarakhand. While the Communist Party of India

(CPI) has fielded five candidates, Communist Party of India (Marxist) has fielded six candidates. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidates are contesting on 20 seats and the Uttarkhand Kranti Dal

(Progressive) is contesting on 44 seats. The number of candidates from other registered, unrecognised parties and Independents who are in the fray adds up to 503.

The largest constituency in terms of area is Gangotri and in terms of electorate is Hardwar. The smallest constituency in terms of the electorate is Purola.

There are 9806 polling stations across the state where the voting exercise would be carried out through the Electornic Voting Machines (EVMs).

The voters across the state will have to produce the Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) for casting their votes. Those not having EPIC can produce the Authenticated Photo Voter Slip issued by the election

machinery. Those not having their photographs on the voter slips will have to produce alternative photo identity proofs. The overseas voters would have to produce their passports for identification.

According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), if a voter produces EPIC issued by Electoral Registration Officer of another Assembly constituency, such cards shall be taken into account provided

the name of electoral finds place in the electoral rolls pertaining to the polling station where the elector has turned up for voting.

The ECI has directed that minor discrepancies in the entries in the EPIC are to be ignored and elector allowed to vote, provided the identity of the elector can be established by means of the EPIC.

Haridwar, January 29
As the last Assembly elections had not witnessed an average voting percentage in the district, candidates in the fray have urged people to exercise their franchise tomorrow.

This, they say, is not an appeal to vote for a specific party or candidate, but to strengthen the democracy as their votes will only decide the future of the state.

Haridwar MLA Madan Kaushik urged voters, particularly those from the urban areas, to cast their vote as during the last elections, rural turnout had been quite impressive as compared to the urban one.

His opponent, Satpal Brahamchari, said representatives they chose were only a bridge between them and the government.

Independent candidate from the Ranipur-BHEL seat Ambrish Kumar said if one did not come out to cast his vote, then how could he or she ask question or blame public representative for not doing his duty properly.

Tripta Sharma of the NCP who is contesting for the first time said every vote was important and matter a lot for a candidate.

Mohan Singh Rawat of the Uttarakhand Raksha Morcha said right to vote was a fundamental right and voting for a good candidate could strengthen the democracy.

District Election Officer D Senthyl Pendiyan said they had carried out several measures to ensure voting awareness was spread. The poll officer expressed hope that a good turnout would be witnessed tomorrow in all 11 Assembly segments.

Dehradun January 29
Sangam Kala group and GKP Event Management and Cultural Society held a joint singing and dance competition at Hindi Bhawan in the city today.

The programme was inaugurated by theatrist Praveen Bhatt and noted singer Geeta Kandpal. Among children who participated in the singing competition were Shashi Kant, Tarun Negi, Vishal, Yogesh Prasad and Dhiman. Those who shook a leg for dance competition included Siran, Keshav, Vineet, Deepak and Mohit Mamgai.

Pankaj Kumar Pandey, convener of Sangam Kala group, said the finalists would be taken up for yet-to-be-named film. Before that, they will also have to compete in Delhi on April 24, 25 and 26 for another round of competition to be held by Sangam Kala Group.

On this occasion, Pravin Bhatt said the contestants must work hard to hone their skills and not to feel discouraged in face of oddities.

Geeta Kanpal suggested to them to continue practice every day.

Dehradun, January 29
In the 60th District Cricket League 2011-2012 today, Uttarakhand Technical University and Helex Cricket Club won their respective matches.

Uttarakhand Technical University (UTU) won by 31 runs against Doon University in the first match. Batting first, UTU piled up 176 runs losing 9 wickets. Nikhil of UTU scored highest 27 runs.

Batting next, Doon University could just pile up 145 runs, thereby ensuring 31 run victory for UTU. Anshuman of Doon University scored 34 runs.

In the second match, Helex Cricket Club won by a staggering 207 runs against SIDCUL, Dehradun. Batting first, Helex Cricket Club piled up 260 runs losing all its wickets in the process. SIDCUL, Dehradun, lost all its wickets at a score of 53 runs, thus giving 207-run win to Helex Cricket Club.

Dehradun, January 29
Unlike many other areas of the city, Ward No. 49 comprising Kanwali and Sangam Vihar is neat. People here adhere to the warnings issued by the authorities and do not throw garbage on roads or vacant plots. Area Councillor Babu Ram is also very particular about cleanliness in his ward.

Small drains in the area are clean and dustbins have been kept at proper places.

However, the only problem that has plagued this area is the poor condition of embankments. Many small localities in this ward are situated on the banks of the Bindal river. During monsoon, damaged portions of the embankments wash away, thus putting the lives of the people living near the river in 
danger.

Manmohan Singh Rawat, a local resident, said: “Last year when the Bindal river was in spate, a small girl had been washed away. Although the government gave a paltry compensation to her family, it did nothing to repair the embankments.”

Another resident, Shyam Kumar, said: “A portion of the embankment near my house has been damaged. I am worried about the safety of my family during this monsoon.”

Poonam Devi said: “Every year water enters my house. I have to take shelter at my relatives’ place.”

Parvti Rani said: “The walls of my house have developed cracks due to prolonged water seepage. It can collapse any time.” Many other residents complained of the same problem.

The councillor said: “It’s a major problem and can only be solved if the state government releases funds for the repair work. Although area MLA Harbans Kapoor had got some parts of the embankments repaired, even those could not sustain for long as the material used was sub-standard.”

He admitted that the construction of the embankments was imminent as every year brittle embankments claimed one or two lives and caused damage to property as well.