Town Hall auditorium continues to be under renovation
Dehradun, February 1
The deadline set by Mayor Vinod Chamoli does not matter anymore in the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC). Chamoli had announced to take stringent action against fellow officers if the Town Hall auditorium in the DMC premises, which is under renovation, does not get ready by January 20. Tired of constant delays, he had to announce so but this

Haridwar, February 1
Girl students of Mahila Maha Vidyalaya, Sati Kund, Kankhal, today came out in the open against the college management decision of changing home science as a subject, just a month prior to the annual examinations.

Students of Bachelor of Arts, first year, staged massive protest at the college principal's office and boycotted classes, opposing the decision. Home science is a self-financed subject in Kanya Maha Vidyalaya, while all other subjects are government-aided subjects, whose fee is quite less.

Girl students said the decision would have repercussions on their future and cited inability to opt for a new subject, as there was very less time left for the examinations. Over 300 students have enrolled in home science, while the stipulated number is 120 only.

Last year, too, the number of students exceeded this limit by 100 but then Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University had given permission to all the students to give examinations, but this time the rest of the students are being asked to change the subject.

Notably, the college management as per a notice pasted on the college information board, states that the first year students who are having home science as one of their subjects need to opt for another subject for the upcoming annual examinations.

The management has given options of three subjects, English, Sanskrit and economics to be opted voluntarily by the students instead of home science.

Students point out that for the past 10 months they have been attending home science classes and have been preparing for exams, having already made annual practical files, which consumed their time and money.

College principal Geeta Joshi said that the students were apprised during admission time itself that home science was the lone self-financed subject in which the stipulated seats (120) are in place.

But a majority of the girl students did not pay heed to this and changed their subjects in the option list while filling the examination forms.

Now this has posed a major problem for the college management itself as well as for the students.

Geeta Joshi accepted the mistake in communicating the stipulated number to the students.“We accept that there was laxity from college staff side, too,but most of the girls filled in home science as their subject in the examination form without taking my consent and signature. Now these very girls are protesting, which is not apt. They should cooperate with us and instead of boycotting the classes should concentrate on studies,”said Joshi.

College secretary Veena Shastri said that she had apprised Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University authorities about this matter.

The Vice Chancellor has assured of sorting this matter out in the coming days.

Last year there were reservations from the university level but this time while scrutinising the examination forms, this situation has arisen.

Girl students Vaishali, Imrana, Sandhya, Shivani and Deeksha said that it was a matter of their academic future.

Both the college management and HNB University should look into this matter instantly.

Dehradun, February 1
The city police has released a sketch of an accused who was among five others to have committed a dacoity in a house at Danda Khudaniwala in Raipur yesterday. The sketch has been sent to other police stations.

Six police teams have been sent to Bijnor, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur and Delhi in a lookout for the criminals.

It was on Thursday that a gang of five criminals injured Jugal Kishore Sarin and his son Kunal and stole Rs 3 lakh, one gold ring, chain and bracelet from their house.

The police is also interrogating the two tenants who lived in the rear portion of the Sarin’s house.

The theory about criminals shooting Kunal in head has been negated by the police that said both father and the son had been beaten up with gun handles and not shot at.

The fires were shot and it hit wall and cartridges could be seen strewn around in the house.

Kunal’s wife, Richa, who was wearing jewellery, was not pestered by the criminals for the jewellery.

It is speculated that the criminals might have got clues about Kunal selling a property recently where he had earned lakhs of rupees. The criminals probably steal that. The city police has claimed to have got some strong headways in the investigations about which it is not revealing much at the moment. 

Dehradun, February 1
The deadline set by Mayor Vinod Chamoli does not matter anymore in the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC). Chamoli had announced to take stringent action against fellow officers if the Town Hall auditorium in the DMC premises, which is under renovation, does not get ready by January 20. Tired of constant delays, he had to announce so but this

deadline, too, passed away and the building is not yet ready. Laughing over the lapse, Chamoli ignored the matter, saying: “Deadline are meant to be taken dead and forgotten.” He, however, rued that government works were always like this, the progress of which was always slow. The renovation work which was to be completed in three months flat could not be accomplished in the last one year. The DMC had already spent Rs 1.52 crore on the main room and Rs 6.50 lakh on the green room.

Compromising on the quality of lights, sound system and furnishing in the premises is already being talked about in hushed tones in DMC galleries.

This is the only auditorium of the state government which is in the centre of the city. Most of the cultural programmes and conventions had been taking place at very nominal rates, while many others owned by various other institutions charge hefty price for holding functions there. Many organisations and NGOs which hold their programmes at affordable prices here are waiting to get the Town Hall ready.

Earlier, the same hall drew attention for the wrong reasons. All the seats were in tatters. The electrical and sound gadgets were shoddy and lacked any backup for power shutdown. Shamefully, the cultural programmes proceeding in the hall had to be put on hold till the power supply resumed on its own. The Green room was almost non-existent. 

DMC cared a hoot with such pathetic system in place in the name of auditorium, while taking refuge under the pretext of lack of funds for renovation.

Now when the funds have been released, the delay has been even more. To this Chamoli said: “The tenders to sell off the old paraphernalia lying in the Town Hall consumed a lot of time. The tenders had to be revised twice. After that, new additions were made time and again at my behest. I have also asked to arrange for a generator for a power backup.”

He said the renovation work was at the fag-end and would soon be over. This is something he had said umpteen times in the past.

Haridwar, February 1
The holy Urs of revered Hazrat Baba Sharma Lussah Rahamatullah Allay was celebrated with religious fervour and communal harmony with thousands of devotees offering chaadar and prayers at the dargah near Mandi-Kuan Maidaniyan.

Devotees apart from the Muslim community participated in a langar (mass food) with evening witnessing qawwalli programme.

Inaugurating the religious festival, Circle Officer Rajesh Bhatt prayed for the welfare of the country.

Bhatt made an appeal for maintaining communal harmony among different sects of the society and also congratulated mela organisers and devotees for successful proceedings.

Jwalapur police station in charge Kuldeep Aswal was specially mentioned by the police officer for providing adequate security and maintaining cooperation with the dargan committee and local people.

Youth activists Gulbahar Khan thanked the police administration for providing cooperation for the smooth mela proceedings.

Sandeep Gaur, general secretary, dargah office-bearer Shakur Shah, mela chief Sonu Shah, general secretary Rizwan Ansari and members Shahdab Ansari, Ramzani Shah, Khalid Khad alias Badl, Sonu Dumbh, Kale Shah, Gulzar Khan, Amzad Ansari, Gulfam Peeji, Shakeel Mansuri, Chaudhari Ashlam Shah among others contributed to the mela proceedings.

Dehradun, February 1
The ONGC volleyball team has won the All-India Volleyball Tournament held at Kasarkode (Kerala) from January 25 to 31. Six top teams in the country, ICF Chennai, KRL Cochin, Southern Railway, Kerela Police and Indian Customs participated in the tournament.

The ONGC beat all teams in the group level matches and semifinals defeated KRL Cochin by 3-1.

In the keenly contested final match, the ONGC team beat ICF Chennai by 3-1 score (25-22, 25-23,19-25, 25-20).

The match was played in front of more than 10,000 spectators.

The ONGC team attacker Lalit Kumar, Mandeep Singh and setter Ranjit Singh played outstanding game. Mandeep was adjudged the best player of the tournament. Ranjit Singh got the best setter award.

Vinod Negi played an excellent game throughout the tournament.

The team comprised Guruchand Singh, Subba Rao, Sukdinder Singh, Rahul, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar, Ranjit Singh, Pintu, Vinay Kumar, Suresh Kumar Godara, Mukesh Kumar and Navjit Singh. 

Dehradun, February 1
The Abbas Tayyabji Educational and Charitable Trust today organised a programme in Dehradun on empowerment of girlchild to celebrate the 160th birth anniversary of the late freedom fighter Abbas Tayyabji, also known as ‘Chhota Gandhi’ for being a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi.

The chief guest, retired senior police officer AB Lal, recalled the contribution of Abbas Tayyabji in the freedom movement. “We have forgotten such a great hero who contributed his life towards freedom movement”, Lal said.

Recalling the life of Abbas Tayyabji, guest of honour Raj Kanwar disclosed that Abbas Tayyabji, who was born in Baroda on February 1,1853, was the first Indian barrister at the age of 21. He went on to serve as the Chief Justice of Baroda High Court and later was an active member of the Indian National Congress.

The Abbas family settled in Mussoorie in 1918 where his house was popularly called “Southwood Estate”. Abbas Tayyabji breathed his last on June 9, 1936”, Kanwar pointed out.

Dr S Farooq, vice-chairman of the trust, gave historical detail and contributions of Abbas Tayyabji toward girl education and national integration.

Among speakers included freedom fighter Paripurnanand Painuili, state agitation activist Sushila Balooni, Ramindri Menderwal and Akbar Khan. RK Bakhshi coordinated the event. 

Dehradun, February 1
Hilton School defeated Raja Ram Mohan Roy Academy in the final match of the Council Schools’ Senior Boys’ Basketball Tournament played at Raja Ram Mohan Roy Academy here today.

Hilton School scored 54 points against 33 scored by Raja Ram Mohan Roy Academy.

Aditya and Shivam scored 20 and 18 points, respectively, for the winners while Mehboob Alam and Amar Rana scored 11 points each for the losers. Wing Commander CB Vasudeva gave away prizes to the players. David Hilton, principal of the Hilton School, was also present on the occasion.

Dehradun, February 1
The Rao Cricket Club-A defeated the Doon Colours XI by 122 runs in a match in the 61st Dehradun District Cricket League played at the Survey Stadium here today.

The Doon Colours XI won the toss and elected to field first. The Rao Cricket Club-A batting first made 196 runs for the loss of all wickets in 30 overs. Amit was the top scorer with 53 runs while opener Deepankar scored 49 runs. Ankur and Anuj took two wickets each for the Doon Colours XI.

In reply, the Doon Colours XI were all out for 74 and lost the match by 122 runs. Suraj scored 14 runs. Sumit and Sanjay claimed two wickets each.