December 21 doomsday prophecy ‘a gimmick’ 
Mussoorie, December 21
The eminent Vedic astrologer from Mussoorie Jai Krishan Shah has debunked the theory of the world ending on December 21, 2012, and termed it as the figment of imagination of vested interests.

MDDA to prepare housing scheme for Mussoorie residents
Mussoorie, December 21
Public representatives along with officials from various departments met at the Municipal Council premises and deliberated on the ways to resolve the housing problem in order to meet the long-standing demand of the residents of Mussoorie today.

Haridwar, December 21
A group of concerned citizens has come out openly against the mass quarrying work going on in Haridwar.

Under the banner of Ganga Aahwan Premis, these activists have started an indefinite agitation at the city’s busiest intersection, Chandracharya Chowk.

On a daily basis these activists are sitting on a day-long fast alternately in groups, demanding permanent prohibition on quarrying on the Ganga river bed in the region.

Citing both legal and illegal quarrying as major reason for disturbance in the ecology as well as affecting the holy Ganga river bed, Ganga lovers have also extended their support to Matra Sadan Ashram saints' agitation against quarrying currently going on at Jagjeetpur village.

Citizens' Council of Haridwar general secretary Ashish Gaud demanded a long-term policy on quarrying in Uttarakhand, where, in the name of business, quarrying by the mafia-politician-bureaucrat lobby has been going on for a long time.

Kishore Joshi of Ganga Aahwan said it was important to ensure sanctity and purity of the holy Ganga river, which in the Indian context was given the status of mother deity.

“The Ganga should be made clean right from Gangotri till Ganga Sagar, and all pollutants like construction material and plastic carry-bags etc shoud be scientifically removed. If we keep on allowing quarrying and other construction activities on the Ganga river bed at such an alarming level, then the holy river will get more polluted and billions of rupees that are allocated for Ganga pollution control measures will be wasted,”said Joshi.

Several villagers falling in Bhogpur-Bishanpur Ganga river bed, where quarrying has been once again permitted by the Uttarakhand government, have given support to the citizens' movement.

Gram Sabha, Dhariwala, representative Rishipal said that a majority of the villagers of Dhariwala were against quarrying and wanted to save their village as well Ganga from repercussions of round-the-clock quarrying being done near the village. Several student social organisations have also extended their support to this movement.

Mussoorie, December 21
The eminent Vedic astrologer from Mussoorie Jai Krishan Shah has debunked the theory of the world ending on December 21, 2012, and termed it as the figment of imagination of vested interests.

Shah says the fear created by pseudo astrologers in Europe about the world coming to an end on December 21 has inculcated a sense of fear among many Europeans to the extent that some of them have even made bunkers.

He adds the fear created by a section of astrologers and the media about December 21 has led to many companies cashing in on it.

He says the fear comes from the misinterpretation of the Mayan calendar. As the calendar ends on December 21, some started believing that the world will also end on that day. “It is the current Mayan calendar that is coming to an end and nothing else is going to happen,” he adds.

Shah says according to Vedic astrology, which is divided into four Yugas (Sat Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapar Yuga and Kal Yuga) each era is of roughly about 473,000 years.

The Hindu astrology believes that we are at present in Kal Yuga, which is at its beginning at the moment and hence the gimmick of the world ending on December 21 does not hold good. It is one of the reasons that the people in India have not taken it seriously, says Shah.

He shared his experience about his visit to Europe recently and said whenever asked about the prophecy he said they should prepare for the Xmas party. 

Mussoorie, December 21
Public representatives along with officials from various departments met at the Municipal Council premises and deliberated on the ways to resolve the housing problem in order to meet the long-standing demand of the residents of Mussoorie today.

The meeting was chaired by MLA, Mussoorie, Ganesh Joshi, in which officials from the Municipal Council, the MDDA, Jal Sansthan and Pey Jal Nigam were also present, and it was decided that the Municipal Council would provide the land, and MDDA, acting on it, would prepare a housing scheme for the residents from lower and medium income groups thereafter.

MDDA secretary Bansi Dhar Tiwari, speaking to the media on the occasion, said that the MDDA was committed to resolve the chronic housing problem being faced by the town and it was decided in the meeting that the Municipal Council after earmarking the land for the purpose would send a proposal to MDDA so that a comprehensive housing scheme can be initiated on a priority basis.

MLA, Mussoorie, Ganesh Joshi, said that several meetings had been held in the past to end the housing problem in Mussoorie but had not born any results. Hence, the meeting was called today to remove the bottlenecks for the speedy construction of the housing colony here.

Municipal Council president OP Uniyal, speaking on the occasion, said that they had identified land for the purpose at Barakainchi Road, Jharipani and Batagad, which will be transferred to the MDDA through a proposal in the next board meeting so that a housing colony can be developed by the MDDA.

Ganesh Joshi also lambasted Pey Jal Nigam officials for the shoddy work being done while laying down the sewerage pipeline in Mussoorie under the project funded by Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

Ganesh Joshi sought explanation on the delay in the work and the methodology of constructing the chambers which were not in accordance with the guildelnes and had been damaged even before the completion of the project.

Haridwar December 21
Students, activist of social and women organisations in a large number today held protests against the Delhi gang-rape case.

Students of Shravan Nath Math Jawaharlal Nehru College carrying placards held a protest march against the heinous crime.

Students of Jwalapur Kanya Inter College led by the BJP Women Wing activists also staged a symbolic protest rally.

The Samajwadi Mahila Sabha held a meeting where speakers expressed their views on the Delhi gang-rape case. District chief of the Samajwadi Mahila Sabha Bina Kushwaha demanded severe punishment to all the five accused in the case.

Bina added that the incident happened in New Delhi where the Central government ministers, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dixit reside.

“If women are treated in such a way in a highly protected city like Delhi, how can we expect a girl to feel safe in rural Bihar or Uttar Pradesh,” said Manju Mishra, city chief of the mahila sabha.

The Teerth Maryada Raksha Samiti also held a protest against the atrocities committed on the girl, who was a student of a medical college in Dehradun.

Sanjay Chopra, chief of the Teerth Maryada Raksha Samiti, at the Alaknanda ghat demanded stern laws for rape, sexual harassment and infringement on one’s freedom. 

Dehradun, December 21
Social activists and students once again hit the streets today demanding justice for the victim of New Delhi gang-rape.

The activists submitted a memorandum, demanding setting up of fast-track courts to deal with rape cases, rehabilitation of rape victims, medical care and psychological counselling for them, drive for sensitising students, total boycott of perpetrators of the crime, deployment of sensitive and trained female cops to deal with these kinds of cases.

Geeta Gairola, project manager of Mahila Samakhya, who participated in the march, said strong law was needed on the lines of Protection of Woman from Domestic Violence (PWDV-2005).

Social activists from Mahila Samakhya, Disha (NGO), Pahal (Uttarakhand), Pragatisheel Mahila Manch, Uttarakhand Mahila Manch, Shri Bhuwneshwari Mahila Ashram (SBMA) and other organisations and students from local colleges participated in the march. 

Dehradun, December 21
The annual function of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Birpur, was celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm here today.

The school campus was majestically decorated with flags and flowers as NCC cadets, Scouts and Guides with a team of teachers welcomed the guests and parents.

Brig RC Dwivedi, Deputy Director General (DDG), NCC, Uttarakhand, was the chief guest while NS Rana, Deputy Commissioner, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Dehradun Region, was the guest of honour.

Head girl Priyanka Danosi and the head boy Bhaskar Tamang of Class XII honoured the guests with tucking of badges.

The students of KV Birpur were really exuberant and lively in their presentation which drew the attention of all. After lighting of the traditional lamp, students presented Saraswati Vandana.

Principal in charge PN Kala highlighted the growth and achievements of the school throughout the year. Anjali Dwivedi, wife of Brig RC Dwivedi, gave away the prizes to the position achievers of various co-curricular activities held time to time in and outside the school. The little ones dressed as Barbie dolls from the junior wing presented a melodious song.

The students also performed qawwali, Bengali dance and classical dance with Gayatri mantra in the background. The dance drama titled Ori Cheraya on the theme of saving girlchild was appreciated by one and all.

The Nepali dance was the main attraction of the programme and fusion dance sent the message of national integration. BS Gusain proposed a vote of thanks.

Dehradun, December 21
Before closing for winter vacation, Kidz Play Home organised a Christmas and New Year programme today. The children sang Christmas carols and heard the story of why Christmas is celebrated throughout the world. The school had put up a Christmas tree decorated by children with steamers, balloons and toys. The arrival of Santa Claus drew a round of applause from tiny tots. They waited with bated breath for gifts that Santa brought for each of them and he did not disappoint them.

The principal of the school, S. Rehman, and the staff also participated in the function. 

Dehradun, December 21
Nanhi Duniya (The International Movement of Children and their Friends) celebrated Christmas with great enthusiasm here today.

Christmas celebrations included songs from Germany, England and India. The children enacted the play of Jesus birth. The story highlighted the kindness of the shepherd and says how the three kings give their blessings to the new born child. The children enjoyed the play very much because it gave them the chance to bring out their hidden talents.

The celebrations concluded with the appearance of Mother Mary.

Volunteers from Germany Andy, Miriam and Paulina enjoyed giving music lessons to the children. One can see the pleasure children drew when they were playing guitar.

Christmas play presented by the children was appreciated by all parents and friends.

Dehradun, December 21
Christmas was celebrated in Shalini School, Beverly Hills, with great fervour and gaiety here today.

Sumita Srivastava, principal of the school, conveyed her warm wishes to the children. A Christmas play was put up by the tiny tots. A choir was presented by the children and they sang Christmas carols. The students were also given gifts and a party was organised for small children where they all shared the snacks with each other.

Dehradun, December 21
Shopkeepers of Paltan Bazaar, the main shopping market of Dehradun, will observe a two-hour bandh on December 24 from 3 pm to 5 pm in protest against the new traffic regulations imposed by the police on the market.

The Dehradun police has imposed a complete ban on the entry of any vehicle, including two wheelers, in the market from the Clock Tower to Kotwali. The shopkeepers allege that the new traffic regulations had affected their business adversely. The shopkeepers met Suryakant Dhasmana, vice-president of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee, and took him to the market to show him the problems being faced by them as well as the shoppers. They demanded that their two wheelers should be allowed in the market. 

Dehradun, December 21
Bright World School celebrated its 12th annual function here today in which children presented various cultural programmes. The function was inaugurated by chief guest Rajpur MLA Rajkumar.

Children presented folk dances of Punjab, Maharashtra, Haryana, West Bengal and South Indian states. —TNS

Dehradun, December 21
In the Late Bankelal Shah Memorial Cricket Tournament being played at the Rangers College ground, Little World won its semifinal match against Yamuna Nagar by 5 wickets, thereby ensuring its place in the final.

Electing to bat after winning the toss, Yamuna Nagar scored 85 runs, losing all its wickets in the allotted overs. Rahul contributed valuable 26 runs to the Yamuna Nagar team. As of the Little World bowlers, Akhilesh took 5 wickets in his 4 over spell.

Batting next, Little World easily got to the target score, losing just 5 wickets in the process, thereby ensuring a 5 wicket win for itself. Vikas scored the highest 42 runs for Little World. Yamuna Nagar's Shubham took 2 wickets.