Pauri Garhwal, April 3
Residents of Pauri Garhwal, the home town of Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, are irked over the delay in the construction work at the local bus stand.

The project was sanctioned in 2006 during the then Chief Minister ND Tiwari regime. A total of Rs 4.52 crore had been earmarked for the completion of this project, but only Rs 2.56 crore have been spent so far. Interestingly, the multi-storey bus stand project is being touted as one of its kind in the entire state.

PWD officials say the construction cost will surely escalate, though they failed to give the deadline for the completion of the project, which is only 20 per cent done.

The delay has been causing inconvenience to local residents, especially daily commuters, as there is insufficient space for buses to be parked in the town.

Last year during the annual Pauri autumn festival, CM Bahuguna had assured of speedy construction of the bus stand, making it clear that there would be no fund shortage for this project.

Last week, agitated residents had staged a two-hour 'chakka jam' at the construction site demanding an on-the-spot explanation from the district administration and the working nodal agencies.

Talking to TNS, Municipal Council chairman Rajendra Tamta said the state government had sanctioned Rs 1.96 crore for the project and the construction work would be carried out fast now.

Adwait Bahuguna, a representative of the Nagrik Sangharsh Samiti, which is a local social outfit working for reviving the lost glory of Pauri, alleged that the Municipal Council chairman was not taking the project seriously.

Last week, local legislator Sunder Lal Mandrawal had reportedly offered a grant of Rs 26 lakh to the PWD for the project. However, department officers refused it saying the work would be carried out through the state government grant only.

Executive engineer, PWD, MS Rajput said a revised estimation had been forwarded to the state government as some changes had been made in the design of the project.

Former Municipal Council chairman Yashpal Benam said if the work was further delayed, they would stage a protest and bring the matter to the notice of the Chief Minister again.

Mussoorie, April 3
The political temperature of the sleepy hill town of Mussoorie is on the rise with the tenure of the present Municipal Council coming to an end.

The Communist Party of India (CPI) budging to the pressure from the cadres at the grassroot level has also decided to field its candidate for the post of Municipal Council president along with ward members for the first time on its party symbol in Mussoorie.

Anand Singh Rana, state general secretary at a press meet held in Mussoorie today announced the name of the candidate for the post of Municipal Council president in Mussoorie.

Anand Singh Rana further said the party had cleared the name of Aslam Khan as the party candidate for the post of MC president. The party also announced the names of the candidates from ward No 6 and 8. RP Badoni would be contesting the election from ward no 6 and Surendar Dangwal from ward no 8.

Rana further said the party would enter into political arrangement with other like-minded parties for other wards in the town. Anand Singh Rana being critical of both national parties namely the Congress and the BJP said that these two parties had always fooled the people of the state by introducing anti-people policies during their regimes. Therefore, the party had decided to emerge as an alternative to these through the local body elections.

Rana also said that it had been proved that both Congress and BJP were in collusion with each other and involved in the loot of the natural resources in the name of development. Rana reiterated his parties stand and said that they would go to people in these elections on the issue of “Jal, jungle and zameen(water, forest and land) and fight against the anti-people policy of the previous governments.

Rana also lambasted the previous governments for not implementing the “The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, which came into existence on December 29, 2006, with an objective to give rights to the Scheduled Tribes and other traditional Forest Dwellers of land in their possession to collect, use and dispose of minor forest produce but the Act has not been implemented and government was dilly dallying the issue by misleading the government at the Centre.

He further said that the lackadaisical attitude of the government could be gauzed from the fact that it had not received even a single claim from the forest dwellers on the use of the forest land for indigenous purposes even after so many years of the Act being in existence.

Dehradun, April 3
The CPM has denied extending support to the state unit of the Samajwadi Party (SP) for the civic election.

President of the state unit of the Samajwadi Party SN Sachan had recently said that the CPM was supporting their party on some seats. He had also said SP candidate from Haridwar Beena Shastri was being supported by the CPM and in this way, leaders of both parties were in the process of developing understanding on other seats as well. He had specifically named state secretary of the CPM Vijay Rawat.

However, Rawat has denied having any information about the matter. He expressed ignorance about Beena Shastri’s candidature as well. He said: “There has not been any formal talk with the SP over the civic poll. I have not given any assurance on supporting their candidate on a particular seat.” However, Rawat said the CPM might support SP candidates on some seats, but nothing had been discussed in this regard till now.

He said the party was also considering supporting strong candidates of some other parties and even Independent candidates.

SN Sachan could not be contacted for his comment. State in charge of the SP for the civic poll Rajendra Badi also denied having any information about the tie-up with the CPM for the poll. 

Dehradun, April 3
District Magistrate BVRC Purushottam has deputed officials on the position of in charge and assistant in charge to conduct the civic polls as per the time table given by the Election Commission for various arrangements in this regard.

He said these officials would keep supplying information regarding the progress of the task given to them to the election office. They would also take guidance from the respective assistant in charge officials in the matter of any change or addition in their responsibilities. General Manager, GMVN, Pratap Shaha, has been made in charge of personal arrangement. DC Thapliyal, district information and science officer, assistant personal officer.

Among the others who have been included in the panel are Natha Singh Rawat, Himalaya Singh Martoliya, Sangeeta Kanojia, Anand Ram, Deepender Negi, Raman Lata, TK Pant, Prashant Negi, Sanjay Kumar Singh, Ratan Singh Chauhan, SP Khati, Arvind Mishra, BC Uniyal, CM

Pandey, RR Singh, Har Giri and Prahlad Singh Rawat. These officers would report to Additional District Magistrate Jharna Kamthan, who is also Deputy Election Officer. 

Dehradun, April 3
The disgruntled leaders of Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) have joined hands now against party president Trivender Singh Panwar and asked him to hold the party convention in the next 10 days. The sentiments of the Opposition surged high after Panwar expelled the senior leader and statehood agitator Pankaj Vyas and sent notice of disciplinary action to general secretary Harish Pathak. Panwar took this action on account of alleged anti-party statements issued by these two leaders.

Pathak clarified:''Neither did I speak against party nor was I handed over any notice of disciplinary action . It was through media that I came to know of this. I just demanded that since the term of the present president ended in July last year, so party convention should be convened to hold fresh election of the working committee.'' He also asked if Panwar was so disciplined, then he must expel his 'sycophants' who gave statements against the seniormost leader, Kashi Singh Aeri, on several occasions.

Kashi Singh Aeri also said Panwar had lost constitutional right to expel any party leader or members after his term came to an end in July last year. He also urged him to convene a convention and hold elections for new working committee as per the direction of Election Commission

Pathak blamed Panwar for postponing election for the position of president many times in the past. He said earlier he postponed the election under the pretext of Assembly election and then byelection for Parliament seat. Even thereafter, despite promising to hold this

election in January this year, he did not do so. His assurance to hold election in July now is a mere ploy to hold election for block and district working committees first and change the disgruntled office-bearers, so that the path for his victory could be facilitated.

He said if Panwar did not call the party convention, they would convene it on their own. Many senior party leaders who had signed on the press note issued to media in this regard, however, avoided saying much on this matter. The sword of expulsion is hanging on their heads

as well. Nonetheless, Kashi Singh Aeri termed Panwar's notice to Pathak and expulsion of Vyas as unconstitutional and unfortunate. He said it was he who had entrusted them the responsibility to convene the meeting and make preparations for the mega convention.

Dehradun, April 3
A two-day seminar on ''Science and Technology-- Interventions for Food and Agricultural Security'' organised by Society of Pollution and Environment Conservation Scientists (SPECS) started in Dehradun today.

Chief guest, Uttarakhand Council of Science and Technology’s Director General Rajendra Dobhal explained the relevance of food and agricultural security in today’s world. He explained the importance of good agriculture, citing ways to maintain the quality of good harvesting. He stressed the need of sustainable agriculture to feed society. He also asserted that young scientists should come forward in this field and contribute in the agriculture sector towards ensuring overall development of the nation.

President of the workshop Brij Mohan Sharma said the seminar aims to explore how agricultural and food engineering can contribute to sustainable agriculture for the country to achieve self-sufficiency in food production and help enhance the agro-based industry.

Sharma further hoped that the seminar will provide a forum to discuss and promote the importance of bringing technology to life through safe-and-secured food production systems under clean-and-sustainable environment. He stressed the need to identify new research directions and challenges that are relevant to agricultural and food technology and explore the potential of using scientific knowledge, practical ideas, and emerging technologies for humankind.

Sri Dev Suman University’s Vice Chancellor US Rawat gave an insight into the new and upcoming methodologies and techniques regarding organic farming. He said that the need of the hour was to have availability of good market for the yield.

Horticulture University, Bharsar’s Vice Chancellor Mathews Prashad, said that the possibility of horticulture in Uttarakhand was enormous. The intervention of science and technology in horticulture is as important as water for life.

In the technical sessions, scientist DP Uniyal took the subject of possibilities of fisheries in Uttarakhand. He explained the techniques of fisheries. This profession can be used as a cottage industry in traditional water tributaries. Naveen Navani, Nano bio-technologist, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, said that use of Nano technology in agriculture is the new technology for the future.

Earlier, Baba Farid Institute of Technology, Dehradun, Chairman JS Arora welcomed all the dignitaries and participants.

The seminar highlights development in research and innovations in agricultural and food technology. Scientists, scholars, engineers and students from the universities across the country and the industry participating in the seminar will be discussing the ongoing research activities and help foster research relations between the universities and the industry.

Dehradun, April 3
Arya Cricket Club, Delhi, defeated Lal Bahadur Shastri Cricket Club by three runs in a match during the 5th All-India Uttarakhand Cup Cricket Tournament played at the Rangers’ College ground here today.

Batting first after winning the toss, the Arya team scored 275 runs for eight wickets in 40 overs helped by a brilliant century by Mohammad Atiq. He made 108 runs in 92 balls hitting 17 boundaries. Pawan contributed 68 runs. Suraj Rai took three wickets for 46 runs while Nitish Rana took two wickets for 41 runs.

In reply, Lal Bahadur Shastri Cricket Club was all out for 272 runs in 40 overs losing the match by three runs. Nitish Rana scored 81 runs while opener N Sharma scored 67 runs. S. Kaushik also contributed 55 runs.