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THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE
TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

D E H R A D U N    P L U S

Saints oppose land mafia
Haridwar July 20
With many cases of forcible and deceptive possession of religious properties like ashrams and dharamshalas coming to light, saints today came out in the open against the illegal activities of land mafia.
Aggrieved saints and local people protest against the rise in the number of fake registries of religious properties in the Saptsarovar area of Haridwar on Saturday.
Aggrieved saints and local people protest against the rise in the number of fake registries of religious properties in the Saptsarovar area of Haridwar on Saturday. Tribune photo: Rameshwar Gaur



EARLIER EDITIONS


Land erosion threatens to swallow Chamasari village
Land eroded alarmingly close to Chamasari village in Thatyur.Mussoorie, July 20
Another disaster is waiting to happen due to the continuous mass-scale erosion just below Chamasari village in Thatyur block of Tehri Garhwal district that was triggered by the flash floods and cloudbursts that occurred one month ago.


Land eroded alarmingly close to Chamasari village in Thatyur. A Tribune photo

Students stage a rally on importance of education
Mussoorie, July 20
Primary students from Kulri Bazaar government school took out a rally under the aegis of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) to create awareness toward education in Mussoorie today.

250 students felicitated
Mussoorie, July 20
Around 250 students excelling in the academics in the current year were felicitated by the Mussoorie Agarwal Mahila Mahasabha in Rama Devi Inter College, Mussoorie, on Saturday.

CM gives cheques
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna presents cheques to families of the natural disaster victims at Lambgori village near Guptkashi on Saturday.Dehradun, July 20
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna today visited Lambgori village near Guptkashi in Rudraprayag district and gave monetary relief cheques for Rs 5 lakh each to families of 28 persons who had gone missing in the natural disaster at Kedarnath.

Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna presents cheques to families of the natural disaster victims at Lambgori village near Guptkashi on Saturday. Tribune photo

Face of week
Coordinating a team in helping heal wounds of flood-hit
Dehradun, July 20
An educational and humanitarian movement, The Art of Living has decided to come up with a comprehensive plan to help give psychological treatment to rain disaster victims in Uttarakhand.

Ganga crusader declines requests for ending fast
Haridwar, July 20
Noted environmentalist and Ganga crusader Prof Guru Das Aggarwal, now known as Swami Sanand, has turned down requests of former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishan Advani and firebrand BJP leader Uma Bharati to end his agitation.

Devi Kol temple fair ends with dance, rites
Village women perform the traditonal dance during the Devi Kol temple fair in Kharak village on Saturday.Mussoorie, July 20
The annual Devi Kol temple fair concluded in Kharak village in Thatyur Block of district Tehri Garhwal.





Village women perform the traditonal dance during the Devi Kol temple fair in Kharak village on Saturday. Tribune photo

Students protest firing
Dehradun, July 20
National Students Union of India (NSUI) members today staged a blockade at Rispana Bridge, Dehradun, demanding the arrest of students responsible for firing on two of their leaders.

Quiz organised for schoolchildren
Dehradun, July 20
To make the students confident and well equipped with the world of growing knowledge, an Inter House General Knowledge Quiz was organised by the GK Club in Unison World School, here today.

Youth commits suicide
Mussoorie,July 20
A 25-year-old youth, Dheeraj Nautiyal, committed suicide by hanging himself from the ceiling fan at Bunglow Ki Kandi village, 12 km from here, under the Kempty police station area yesterday.

Child rights body asks CWC to reply in 3 days
Dehradun, July 20
State Child Rights Protection Commission Chairman Ajay Setia, has issued a notice to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) through the District Magistrate about the steps being taken for the children in distress in Pithoragarh, in the aftermath of the last month disaster.

Wynberg Allen win football match
A match of the Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Memorial Football Tournament played at the Marshall School ground at Jogiwala in Dehradun on Friday.Dehradun, July 20
In the Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Memorial Inter-School Boys' Football Tournament First Challenge Cup-2013 being organised by Dehradun Football Academy at Marshall School sports field, Jogiwala, Dehradun, Wynberg Allen won its match against Doon International School 2-1.

A match of the Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Memorial Football Tournament played at the Marshall School ground at Jogiwala in Dehradun on Friday. A Tribune photo


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Saints oppose land mafia
Allege liaison between officials, criminals in fake registries; seek security
Tribune News Service

Haridwar July 20
With many cases of forcible and deceptive possession of religious properties like ashrams and dharamshalas coming to light, saints today came out in the open against the illegal activities of land mafia.

At the Sapt Sarovar area, which is a saint-dominated area, housing dozens of temples, dharamshalas, muths, ashrams and huts of seers, saints protested against the land mafia and those making fake registries on the religious properties.

Mahant Vinod Giri Maharaj said that last year a rise in the incidents of harassment and illegal transfer of saints' properties had come to light, with a large number of fake registries being done.

He alleged a liaison between some administrative officers and land mafia, ''otherwise how come the administration is keeping mum over such acts?''

Social activist Ved Prakash Gupta said just next to Adhbuth temple , he had 18 bighas of land he had procured in 1995. But recently he came to know that with fake registry, his property was being transferred to an outsider builder.

But due to timely intervention of saints ,the nefarious designs of the builders were brought to police notice and got exposed.

Baba Kamal Das and Mahant Sadhnanad said that vacant plots of saints meant for ashram purpose, cow sheds and other religious/social activities were being targeted in Saptsarovar area in a large number.

They said that the police should keep a tab on such illegal land mafia criminals and provide security to the saints.

Saints also warned that if the district and police administration did not take any stern step on their complaint, then they would be forced to resort to an agitation in the coming time.

Area panchayat member Manoj Jakhmola has also condemned such illegal acts being done on saints' properties and expressed his support to the aggrieved saint community.

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Land erosion threatens to swallow Chamasari village
Ajay Ramola

Mussoorie, July 20
Another disaster is waiting to happen due to the continuous mass-scale erosion just below Chamasari village in Thatyur block of Tehri Garhwal district that was triggered by the flash floods and cloudbursts that occurred one month ago.

The continuous erosion of the farmland has reached alarmingly close to the village, instilling fear among the residents.

The mud debris from the road above has also begun entering some houses and is posing a threat to the life and property in the village.

Added to the woes of the village, natural water canals have been formed due to excessive rainfall and could bring boulders along with them, loosening the soil further and inviting disaster. The villagers fear that the widening of the cracks in the village from three sides could result in the whole village caving in.

Fearing the worst, Tikam Singh, Khajan Singh, Kripal Singh and others from Chamasari have taken refuge in nearby cowsheds. Several villagers are using tarpaulin sheets that were donated during the disaster to cover the roofs of cowsheds in order to avoid heavy rains.

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Students stage a rally on importance of education
Tribune News Service

Students of government primary school stage a rally to create awareness of education in Mussoorie on Saturday.
Students of government primary school stage a rally to create awareness of education in Mussoorie on Saturday. A Tribune photo

Mussoorie, July 20
Primary students from Kulri Bazaar government school took out a rally under the aegis of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) to create awareness toward education in Mussoorie today.

The students held placards and raised slogans highlighting the importance of education to children, especially girls who were accompanied by the school staff, marched from their school to Mall Road.

They also appealed to the street vendors to send their children to school instead of forcing them to work at a young age.

The rally was conducted under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), a government flagship programme for the achievement of universalisation of elementary education.

The rally ended at the school premises where eatables were distributed to the students.

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250 students felicitated
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, July 20
Around 250 students excelling in the academics in the current year were felicitated by the Mussoorie Agarwal Mahila Mahasabha in Rama Devi Inter College, Mussoorie, on Saturday.

Former MLA Mussoorie Jot Singh Gunsola was the chief guest and inaugurated the function by lighting the ceremonial lamp. He distributed trophies and citation award to 11 toppers from different schools on the occasion.

Students from Mussoorie Girls Inter College, St Lawrence Inter College, Oak grove School, Manav Bharti International, Mussoorie Public School, Rama Devi Inter College, Sanatan Dharm Girls Inter College were felicitated.

The president of Mussoorie Mahila Agarwal Mahasabha said her organisation decided to honour the students to motivate them and to inculcate self-confidence among them for their future endeavours.

Agarwal Mahasabha President Sohan Lal Agarwal, MC President Manmohan Singh Mall, former MC President OP Uniyal, Archana Goyal, Dhanprakash Agarwal, Beenu Jain and Nirmal Agarwal were also present. 

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CM gives cheques
Tribune News service

Dehradun, July 20
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna today visited Lambgori village near Guptkashi in Rudraprayag district and gave monetary relief cheques for Rs 5 lakh each to families of 28 persons who had gone missing in the natural disaster at Kedarnath. He also gave away cheques for Rs 25,000 each to 18 widows of the area.

The Chief Minister along with Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Yashpal Arya, Agriculture Minister Harak Singh Rawat and local Congress legislator Shaila Rani Rawat listened to the problems of the disaster-affected people of the village.

Harak Rawat presented relief cheques for Rs 5 lakh each to the families of 10 residents of Lawara village who had also gone missing in the disaster. He also gave cheques for Rs 25,000 each to seven widows.

The Chief Minister said the natural disaster was the biggest tragedy the state had ever faced and the government would continue to support the affected families. He added that by giving away monetary relief the government had not abdicated its duty towards the victims and their families. “We will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with all affected families to rebuild their lives. The state government will also taken care of the educational needs of the children of the affected families,” he said.

Bahuguna said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi were personally involved in the relief and rehabilitation work and every effort should be made to rebuild the state and the shattered lives of the people. He added that the Prime Minister had already formed a Group of Ministers for the reconstruction of the state and its meeting had been convened next week.

The Chief Minister said all construction work would be undertaken in a scientific manner after consultation with experts from the Geological Survey of India (GSI). He added that every effort would be made to restart puja at the Kedarnath temple at the earliest as the shrine is a symbol of faith for the people.

Bahuguna said heavy machinery was being sent to Kedarnath to clear debris. Besides, Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and Public Works Department (PWD) personnel were involved in repairing damaged roads and tracks. He also listened to the problems of teerath purohits of Kedarnath. 

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Face of week
Coordinating a team in helping heal wounds of flood-hit
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Shweta GulaniDehradun, July 20
An educational and humanitarian movement, The Art of Living has decided to come up with a comprehensive plan to help give psychological treatment to rain disaster victims in Uttarakhand.

Shweta Gulani, The Art of Living coordinator for relief works in Uttarakhand, told The Tribune that a large number of victims in Uttarakhand were traumatised and in a state of shock. She said while relief material will fulfill their physical concerns, they urgently need treatment at the psychological level.

Gulani, who has been in Uttarakhand since June 18, two days after the rain disaster hit the state, asserts that disaster-torn families are still to overcome their personal losses. "While there are many lone survivors in the entire family, there are others who have lost their fathesr, sons and other near and dear ones. These people are in a state of shock and need to be treated at psychological levels," she pointed out.

Gulani spent 14 days at the Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun where the evacuated pilgrims were being brought in choppers. Along with the The Art of Living team, she camped at the airport and met the pilgrims, who were exhausted and psychologically tormented. "We talked to the pilgrims and through dyan and other forms of breathing exercises and counselling, made them feel at ease," she said.

An alumni of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, Shweta Gulani said The Art of Living volunteers from across the country were expressing their willingness to serve in Uttarakhand. She disclosed that a large amount of relief materials has also been distributed by their organisation in disaster-affected villages. Apart from food packets, tents, torches and other relief materials are being provided to the victims. She said now the emphasis was on taking relief to far-flung villages that are cut off and devoid of relief.

She said the doctors connected to The Art of Living are also holding medical camps in the affected villagers.

She said The Art of Living will continue to actively work for at least a year in Uttarakhand or till normalcy is restored in the region. She said The Art of Living was ready to provide assistance to the children orphaned in the tragedy.

Founded in 1981 by spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, The Art of Living is engaged in stress management and service initiatives. The organisation has operations in 152 countries across the globe.

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Ganga crusader declines requests for ending fast
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, July 20
Noted environmentalist and Ganga crusader Prof Guru Das Aggarwal, now known as Swami Sanand, has turned down requests of former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishan Advani and firebrand BJP leader Uma Bharati to end his agitation.

Uma Bharati along with her spiritual guru Visheshwar Teerth Swami of Tejawar Math, Udippi, Karnataka, met Sanand at the Matra Sadan ashram at Jagjeetpur village, 7 km from Haridwar city, today.

The former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister also contacted Advani on the phone from the Matra Sadan ashram and the latter also urged Sanand to give up his agitation. But Sanand politely turned down their requests saying he won’t give up his agitation for the cause of Uttarakhand, the Himalayas and the Ganga unless he gets a clear and written assurance.

Sanand, who is on an indefinite fast for a clean Ganga, said human beings and government interference in the local ecology, religious activities and environment were responsible for the natural disaster that devastated the state last month.

Sanand along with Matra Sadan inmates had been opposing hydropower projects being built in Uttarakhand. He had also objected to uplifting of the revered shrine of Mata Dhari Devi at Srinagar in Pauri Garhwal district last month.

Swami Visheshwar Teerth also urged Sanand and other Matra Sadan saints to give up their agitation. He said he would try to take up the issues raised by them with President Pranab Mukherjee soon.

Uma refrained from commenting on the BJP’s projection of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial candidate and the formation of the Central Election Campaign Committee of the party.

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Devi Kol temple fair ends with dance, rites
Devotees offer prayers for flood victims
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, July 20
The annual Devi Kol temple fair concluded in Kharak village in Thatyur Block of district Tehri Garhwal.

The devotees offered prayers for the victims of the natural disaster that hit the state nearly a month ago.

The temple committee held special prayers and sought blessings for the well being of the people and safety of the livestock of the state.

A large number of villagers gathered from around the region. They also presented folk dance, dressed in traditional attire which were followed by religious rituals.

The temple is situated at a height of 6,000 feet above sea level in Kharak village.

The temple priests Ram Prasad Bijilwan and Brahmanand blessed the devotees amid the chanting of the mantras.

The general secretary of the temple committee Sultan Singh Rawat, Vice-President Rakesh Rawat, members Prem Singh Rawat, Kamal Rawat, Ramsingh Rawat and others were also present on the occasion.

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Students protest firing
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 20
National Students Union of India (NSUI) members today staged a blockade at Rispana Bridge, Dehradun, demanding the arrest of students responsible for firing on two of their leaders.

This resulted in a long traffic jam on the key Dehradun-Haridwar highway. After much persuasion from the police, the protesters relented and lifted the blockade.

Two NSUI student leaders from DAV (PG) College -- Navdeep and Pradeep -- were allegedly fired upon by some miscreants, supposed to part of the rival students' group.

Both NSUI leader Swati Negi and Navdeep's father lodged complaints separately with the police against certain NSUI leaders. The students named in the FIR have absconded.

NSUI members led by Swati Negi had staged dharna at Gandhi Park yesterday. Today, Swati Negi accused the police of trying to protect the culprits. She asserted that they would be forced to intensify their agitation if the culprits were not put behind the bars at the earliest.

After the bloody duel between two groups of students, the college authorities yesterday closed the college for two days, as a preventive measure.

Following the attack, college authorities announced closing the college for two days to ensure peace and students who came were told to leave the college.

A large contingent of the police was deployed to avert any untoward incident.

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Quiz organised for schoolchildren
Tribune News service

Dehradun, July 20
To make the students confident and well equipped with the world of growing knowledge, an Inter House General Knowledge Quiz was organised by the GK Club in Unison World School, here today.

The quiz consisted of various interesting rounds. The rounds were based on general awareness, logical reasoning and current affairs. The students enjoyed answering the intriguing questions.

Orchid House emerged as the winner, closely followed by Jasmine House, Tulip House and Daffodil House.

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Youth commits suicide
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie,July 20
A 25-year-old youth, Dheeraj Nautiyal, committed suicide by hanging himself from the ceiling fan at Bunglow Ki Kandi village, 12 km from here, under the Kempty police station area yesterday.

According to the police station in charge, IS Bisht, the deceased Dheeraj Nautiyal, who worked as cable man at the local cable station, rang up his friend at nearby village stating that his all dues should be given to his parents as he was leaving on a long journey. His friend, sensing danger, rushed to the Nautiyal's house and informed the parents, who forcibly entered his house to find him hanging from the ceiling fan.

Dheeraj's father Girdhar Nautiyal, who works as caretaker in a resort at Mussoorie, was shocked to find his son dead and said his son was a lively person, but was under stress from the past two days. The police has sent the body for postmortem at the government hospital.

No suicide note was found at the incident site.

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Child rights body asks CWC to reply in 3 days
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 20
State Child Rights Protection Commission Chairman Ajay Setia, has issued a notice to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) through the District Magistrate about the steps being taken for the children in distress in Pithoragarh, in the aftermath of the last month disaster.

Taking cognisance of the letter written by Juvenile Justice Board member Jagdish Kaloni, about the condition of children, Setia has asked the Child Welfare Committee to reply within three days.

"I have asked the DM to furnish information if the CWC meeting was called for discussing the issue and what steps have been taken to ameliorate the suffering of the children in distress," said Setia.

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Wynberg Allen win football match
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 20
In the Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Memorial Inter-School Boys' Football Tournament First Challenge Cup-2013 being organised by Dehradun Football Academy at Marshall School sports field, Jogiwala, Dehradun, Wynberg Allen won its match against Doon International School 2-1.

In the second match, Kendriya Vidyalaya Indian Military Academy beat Shri Guru Ram Rai School Vasant Vihar 2-0.

Advocate Rajneesh Juyal was the chief guest at both these matches.

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