Mussoorie, February 13
The ongoing sewerage project being carried out under Jawahar Lal Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) by the Pey Jal Nigam in Mussoorie after several hiccups has picked up speed, providing some relief to the local residents.

Around four to five JCB machines assigned for digging up Mall Road are working round the clock in order to meet the deadline of March 15 here. However, the contractors in order to finish the task in time have completely forgotten to ensure the safety of the tourists and residents of the town while laying down sewerage pipelines here.

The contractors are digging up the road without placing any barricades or danger signs at several places, thus risking the lives of tourists and residents in the town.

Several children have fallen into the dug-up pits due to the absence of any barricading, resulting in injuries, much to the disgust of the residents despite the provision of a separate budget for public safety being given to them by Pey Jal Nigam.

The contractors have also failed to place manpower at both ends of the site to manage the traffic, which is resulting in traffic congestion, much to the angst of the people here.

The residents, angry at the lackadaisical approach of the officials towards the sewerage work, cornered officials and aired their apprehensions.

Jai Prakash Uttrakhandi, the central vice president of Parivartan Party, said that the department had forgotten about the safety of the people by not placing barricades. He also reminded them that already three people had died due to this callous approach of the authorities in the past.

The Pey Jal Nigam Executive Engineer, PK Gupta,when contacted, rushed to the spot and took stock of the situation on The Mall road himself. He directed the officials to immediately place the barricades while working at the site and ensure complete safety.

He directed the officials to monitor the situation on an hourly basis and complete the work within the assigned deadline of March 15.

PK Gupta, speaking to the media, said that the previous contractors, Satya Builders, have been removed from the task and the work has been assigned to the A-Z Builders with stringent clauses attached to the agreement so that there is no let-up in the work.Gupta also said that the contractors had been given clear directions to maintain safety while carrying out the job to avoid any risk of endangering the lives of the people here.

He informed the media that around 9 sewage treatment plants (STPs) will be constructed in Mussoorie. He also said that the water treated instead will be released in the natural mainstream after the completion of the process, and will not be recycled into Mussoorie.

Many residents, shocked to hear that the water will not be recycled, were of the opinion that this could lead to a water crisis during the peak season, as already the town was already facing 50 per cent deficit in drinking water supply, and the water needs would increase once the sewage system is fully operational.

Upendar Singh, a local resident, said that if the water was recycled back to the town using different set of pipelines, it could be used for at least flushing toilets if not for drinking purpose.

Executive Engineer PK Gupta, when questioned about this, said that it would increase the cost of the project manifold as no arrangements had been made for it in the preset budget.

Dehradun District Magistrate BVRC Purushottam meets striking LPG dealers in Dehradun on Wednesday.

Dehradun February 13
The strike call given by gas agency operators in the city today following an altercation between residents of the THDC colony and the owner of Uttaranchal Gas Service yesterday has been put off till Monday.

The strike was postponed on the assurance of the District Magistrate (DM) that the guilty in the matter would be punished after an inquiry by the ADM, Jharna Kamthan. The DM asked for one week for the inquiry

but the operators decided to wait only till Monday.

However, the gas dealers kept their shutters down as LPG consumers suffered.

Residents of the THDC colony had a scuffle with the owner of Uttaranchal Gas Service, Tanvir Singh. Resident of the THDC colony Gomati Devi alleged that Singh misbehaved with her when she called him to complain over a matter. At this, the other residents too reached the gas agency office at Race Course. The matter resulted into heated arguments. Unhappy with the response of the police in the matter, the association decided to go on indefinite strike.

To pacify the agitating operators, DM, BVRC Purushottam, called the agency operators in his office today where president of the association Chaman Lal complained that this was not one-odd incident but a routine affair at gas agencies' offices where the public got rowdy with them now and then. Singh also said that the residents not only broke furniture in his office but also pushed him around.

The DM suggested to them to put up warning boards outside their offices in his name that those who indulged in hooliganism in their premises would be punished by the district administration.

Later, ADM Jharna Kamthan and SP, City, met the agitating members. The gas agency operators certainly throwing their weight around for knowing fully well that they have the power to jeopardise LPG distribution in the city and put the public as well as the district administrating in a tizzy. The public, too, reacted in a negative manner at times.

Dehradun, February 13
In a solemn ceremony, 164 students from classes V-IX were honoured with Scholar Badges and Scholar Blazers as recognition of their outstanding academic merit and excellence in scholastic activities at Delhi Public School here today.

A matter of pride and tribute to success, this ceremony is one of the most anticipated and time-tested traditions of Delhi Public School, when gleaming enthusiasm and the triumphant spirit of young scholars can be seen and felt.

The event started with the lighting of the lamp. Students performed Ganesh Vandana to welcome the guests. TS Bindra, a senior advocate at Civil Court, Dehradun, was the guest of honour.

Principal Savita Chadha welcomed all guests. She motivated the students by telling them about the importance of retaining moral values even as one climbs up the ladder of success.

Thirty nine meritorious students who had already been honoured with Scholar Badges for the past three consecutive years were honored with Scholar Blazers as a hallmark of true academic genius.

Bindra congratulated the scholars and wished them success in life. He said there were no shortcuts to success and he advised the students to "think high, think positive, but not forget the responsibilities towards parents and society."

He stressed the importance of discipline in students' life.

The students also gave a mesmerising presentation on the life of former President and great scientist APJ Abdul Kalam 'Roots to Grow, Wings to Fly'.

The life of Kalam, from the hardships of his childhood to the achievements as scientist, was represented through different dance forms.

Dehradun, February 13
Head of the State Women's Help Cell, IPS officer Vimmi Sachdeva, today held a workshop at State Women's Inter College, Lakhi Bagh, in the city to disseminate information regarding crimes against women. Sachdeva divided the girls between class V and IX among five groups and gave them topics with regard to eve-teasing. Each group consisting of 15 girls was given 10 minutes to prepare impromptu skits around the topics.

The girls displayed their talent and understanding on this particular issue to the hilt in their individual performance. At the end of the dramatic presentations, Sachdeva addressed the girls in a personal manner, describing these incidents of eve-teasing, which include harassment through lewd messages or phone calls, or MMS, or stalking, as unfortunate. The girls sat in rapt attention and listened to her quietly, whereas some inquisitive minds also posed questions to her to gather extensive information on the matter. Sachdeva prodded them and encouraged them to come up with their queries.

Sachdeva said: “The girls who hesitated to say much on the harassment faced by them on a daily basis expressed themselves fully through drama enactment, where they poured their hearts out. I am really impressed with their talent.”

She said the Principal of the school had asked her to hold another workshop in the month of April when new girls took admission in the school, so that they too benefited from the exercise.

Later, pamphlets were distributed among the girls regarding legal protection extended to women in the matter of crimes against women.

The pamphlets carried the number of Women's Helpline -1090 and 18001804111.

On this occasion, DSP Jaya Baluni and Sub-Inspector Neelam Rawat were also present.

Dehradun, February 13
The Clementown police recovered Mamta Bhandari, 24, who was missing since August 23 two years ago from Jalandhar yesterday. She had begun living with her lover Vikram, who was working at a hotel there.

Bhandari's husband Narender Bhandari, resident of Baniawala and a photographer by profession, had already lodged a divorce case in the court.

The couple does not have children.

Vikram, who also hails from Tehri as did Mamta, drew her closer to him by making some missed calls initially. The phone interaction soon turned into a love affair and both decided to live together. Mamta left her home and went with him and also changed her name as Divya. Since her father had been levelling allegations against the police that it collided with her in-laws, the SSP handed over the inquiry from Patel Nagar police to Claimentown.

SHO and head of the Cyber Cell, who after detecting the IMEI of her dual sim cell number, found her cell number and reached her location. The girl was not willing to come back and wanted to stay with her paramour, whose wife lived at his village in Tehri Garhwal and had also deserted him after coming to know that he had begun living with someone else.

Meanwhile, the city police today stressed the need to verify tenants and people of Kashmiri origin living in the city. Those who do not come forward for verification will be sued by the police.

Dehradun, February 13
At a camp for disabled persons organised by the Latika Roy Foundation at the Doon Hospital today, 70 disability certificates, 50 bus passes and 40 rail passes were issued to the beneficiaries.

An awareness camp was organised to generate awareness about disabilities. The camp was supported by Social Welfare Department, Uttaranchal Gramin Bank , Raphael (NGO) and others.

Dehradun, February 13
Shivalik Club, Hathibarkala, defeated Doon Warriors by three wickets in a match in the 61st Dehradun District Cricket League played at the Survey Stadium here today.

The Doon Warriors team won the toss and batting first scored 195 runs for the loss of all wickets. Rishab was the top scorer with 67 runs while opener Rajeev scored 33 runs.

Pawan Rawat took three wickets for 25 runs for Shivalik Club. In reply, Shivalik Club scored 197 runs for the loss of seven wickets to win the match. Openers Rohit Rawat and Girish Pant scored 54 and 32 runs, respectively. Rishab Mishra took three wickets for 28 runs.

Dehradun, February 13
Haryana XI defeated BDM, Delhi, by seven runs in a match during the 5th All-India Shaheed Girish Bhadri Memorial Cricket Tournament played at Rangers’ College ground here today.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, the Haryana XI team scored 189 runs all out in 38.3 overs. Opener Bhupesh Tanwar scored 55 runs while Shahbaz Khan scored 53 runs.

Ravinder Bhola took four wickets for 37 runs. In reply, BDM, Delhi, was all out for 182 runs in 37.4 overs, losing the match by seven runs.

Opener Saurav scored 37 runs while Rohan Rathi scored 46 runs. Vicky More, Shahbaz Khan and Varun Khanna took two wickets each.

The Indian Air Force team will clash with Devbhoomi XI, Haldwani, on Thursday.