BJP plans to nail Rawat govt at Gairsain House session
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 7
While the focus of the Uttarakhand government during the upcoming session of Uttarakhand legislature at Gairsain is expected to be on development, the Uttarakhand BJP has also decided to nail Harish Rawat government for failing to fulfil promises made to people since occupying the CM’s chair.

In a bid to cash in on the emotive issue of Gairsain, the CM’s efforts are aimed at brushing up the image of the Congress government that has been badly bruised after the loss suffered in recently concluded Lok Sabha polls.

By all accounts, Congress government would ensure that during the Assembly session discussions revolve around hill-centric development. Emboldened by its five seat win over the Congress in Lok Sabha polls, the BJP is not ready to yield an inch and would not like to miss any opportunity in nailing Congress government.

Leader of Opposition in Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly Ajay Bhatt has already raised doubts on the intentions of the government. “The government has once again raked up the Gairsain issue, but it is not willing to discuss whether it would be made a permanent capital. Precious financial resources of the state are being splurged to host the Assembly session when these resources could have been used for constructive purpose,” said Ajay Bhatt.

Two BJP MLAs Yatishwaranand from Haridwar (rural area) and Sanjay Gupta from Luxar have threatened to boycott the forthcoming session of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly to be held at Gairsain from June 9.

“We will not participate in the Assembly session as we view it as a mindless exercise aimed at draining the financial resources of the state without addressing the genuine problems of the state,” said Sanjay Gupta.

CM demands Rs 8,000 cr more for rehab works
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 7
Chief Minister Harish Rawat today presided over a high-level meeting with a team of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) regarding speedy reconstruction and rehabilitation works in the disaster-hit Kedarnath valley. He demanded an additional assistance of Rs 8,000 crore for the purpose.

The Chief Minister complimented the NDMA and other agencies for their commitment towards relief and rehabilitation works in the Kedarnath valley. He said the livelihood of the people of the region was dependent on pilgrimage and tourism and the state government had ensured that the Char Dham Yatra starts on time this year.

Harish Rawat stressed on the deployment of ITBP personnel on the Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Kailash Mansarovar routes. He said the state would require Rs 8,000 crore more for the reconstruction and rehabilitation works.

He told the NDMA team that a human monitoring cell would be set up to keep a constant watch on the surroundings of Kedarnath. He said land was also being allotted to the National Disaster Response Force teams in Pithoragarh, Uttarkashi and Dehradun to deal with such disasters.

Rag-picker children in for surprise
Tribune news service

Dehradun, June 7
More than 22 children working as waste pickers at the Sahastradhara-based trenching ground were in for a special surprise treat organised by the volunteers of Waste Warriors, an NGO working towards disposal of the garbage and keeping the city clean.

“The volunteers have been making numerous trips to the city’s dumpsite every week to dispose of non-recyclable waste collected by them. It was during these visits that they came across the plight of the 50 plus children living on the dumpsite. Their small shacks have no electricity or water supply or toilets,” said Jodie Underhill, founder of Waste Warriors.

“Spending just a few minutes at the trenching ground is unbearable due to the heat and the stench. It is hard to believe that people actually live here. It is heartbreaking to see so many children scavenging through the garbage looking for recyclables that they can sell for a few rupees,” said Sawat Sourabh Panda, a volunteer.

Waste Warriors brought 22 of the children and two of the mothers for an action packed fun day at their headquarters situated on the Rajpur Road.

The children between the ages of 2 and 16 coloured posters, made caterpillars from egg cartons and painted a banner saying “Keep the City Clean”. They were then treated to a sumptuous lunch followed by an animated movie on deforestation.

Kavita aged 15 said: “ We thought we were coming here just to study. However, it was a mild surprise that we had fun learning new things. I really enjoyed the food and the movie too.”

Committee formed to look into problems of ayurvedic doctors

Dehradun, June 7
The Uttarakhand government has formed a committee to look into the problems of contractual Ayurvedic doctors demanding revision in pay scales.

The committee headed by state Finance Minister Indira Hiryadesh has been constituted to give its recommendation. Due to shortage of Allopathic doctors, Ayurvedic doctors have been deployed at several primary health centres (PHCs) in remote areas under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

In 2012, the state government had hiked the salaries of contractual Allopathic doctors. The salaries of doctors posted in accessible areas were hiked from Rs 25,000 to Rs 48,000, for those in remote areas from Rs 29,000 to Rs 52,000 and for those in extreme remote areas from Rs 33,000 to Rs 56,000. The hike was not effected for Ayurvedic doctors. — TNS

Street vendors may get licences soon
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, June 7
The Municipal Corporation may fulfil the long standing demands of street vendors and hawkers of allowing registration and granting licences. Mukhya Nagar Adhikari Vipra Trivedi at a meeting with the representatives of the district unit of the Street Vendors and Hawkers Association here today assured them that necessary steps would be initiated to fulfil their demands. Vipra said separate vending zones had been identified and the hawkers and vendors would be issued licenses to operate there. This would help in removing encroachment and congestion from vital points and markets in the holy city, she added.

She said she would inspect the identified vending zones on June 9 so that the actual number of vendors to be given licences and infrastructure facilities could be ascertained. Sanjay Chopra, a representative of the Small Scale Traders Association, welcomed the civic body’s decision to give space and licences to the street vendors. He said the National Vendor Policy makes it necessary for the state government and the civic body to give them their due rights and take steps to earmark vending zones for them.

Bhoopendra Rajput, treasurer of the Vendors and Hawkers Association, said the policy was drafted nearly two years ago but the delay in its implementation had made the situation difficult for thousands of street vendors in the state.

Written exam of Civil Judge Junior Division on June 21
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, June 7
The written examination of Uttarkhand Judicial Service Civil Judge Junior Division( CJ JD ) to be conducted by Uttarakhand Public Service Commission will be held on June 21.

The practical examination will be conducted from June 24 to 26. This was stated by Secretary, Uttarakhand Public Service Commission, SN Pandey. Lone examination centre for this CJ JD Junior Division examination has been made in Haridwar at Mayapur Hari Ram Arya Inter College.

Computer-based practical examination will be held at Gurukul Kangri University’s department of computer science.

Written examination will be held in two sessions: 9:30 to 12:30 pm and 2 pm to 5pm on June 21, while practical examination will be held in three shifts from 9-10 am, 12-1 pm and 3-4 pm.

Uttarakhand Public Service Commission has also released the list of successful candidates for assistant professor, economics, post for state government colleges.

This interview was held for 22 posts from January 6 to 8, 2014, but only eight candidates have been selected by the commission.

Successful and selected candidates names are Dinesh Kumar Gupta, Shailendra Kumar Singh, Charu Dutt Arya, Pradhumn Kumar Richaria, Sudha Rani, Manju Mittal, Pooja Dhyani and Lachi Ram.

Protest against wild animal attacks
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 7
Residents of the Garhi Cantt area of Dehradun staged a demonstration at the District Dehradun Division Forest office here today against frequent attacks by wild animals.

Led by Devendra Pal Singh, vice-president of the BJP Dehradun BJP unit, the Garhi Cantt residents alleged that they had been living in fear of wild animals, particularly monkeys, which were constantly attacking them.

They said there had been instances when even leopards were seen in the area. They alleged that despite assurances of necessary action the forest authorities had done nothing.

Vishnu Prasad, Ankush Prasad, Charanjeet Singh and Sameer Dobhal took part in the protest.

Needy children given books, stationery
Tribune News service

Mussoorie, June 7
The staff and students of Manav Bharti International School paid a visit to Almas village in Jaunpur development region in Tehri district and distributed stationary, books to the poor and needy students, here yesterday.

The students also interacted with other students in the village and shared the experience of village life with them.

Manjari Bakshi, principal of the school, led the team to the village. She said the objective of the tour was to make the students of her school understand the vagaries of village life and how people were living in such hamlets on daily basis.

She said it was a new experience for the students, where they learned how people were living with limited means available to them.

She also assured the villagers that the school would support in the development of Almas village in the near future.

ONGC, MCA enter finals
Tribune News Service

A batsman plays a shot during a match in the All India Gold Cup cricket tournament at the Rangers College ground in Dehradun on Saturday. A Tribune photograph

Dehradun, June 7
ONGC cricket team and MCA, Mumbai, entered into the finals of the prestigious 32nd All India Uttarakhand Gold Cup Cricket Tournament after winning their semifinal matches played here today.

In the first semifinal, ONGC beat Haryana Police by seven wickets. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Haryana Police made 249 runs with Arjun Kumar scoring 69 runs, followed by Joginder Sharma who made 41 runs. Apart from them no other batsmen could score much runs. For ONGC, Summet Narwal took three wickets, while Suhail Sharma and Nitesh Rana took two wickets each.

In reply, ONGC got off to a brilliant start with both openers Samarth Singh and Mayank Tehlan, scoring 66 and 74 runs respectively. Turwar Kohli also played a steady innings of 65 runs and closed all doors for Haryana Police team to come back in the match. The team chased down the target in 38 overs.

In the second semifinal match, MCA, Mumbai, defeated UNIDO Infrastructure, Dehradun, by eight wickets. After being put into bat first, UNIDO made 261 runs with Ajmer Singh making the highest 91 runs, followed by Pramod Chandela, who scored 74 runs. Badre Alam took maximum 4 wickets for Mumbai team.

During the chase, the 144 runs opening partnership of Kevin Almeda and Akhil Herwadkar sealed the match for MCA, Mumbai.

Kevin played an unbeaten knock of 140 runs, while Akhil made 75 runs.

Garhwali film video released

Dehradun, June 7
A video cassette of short Garhwali film “Myara Sipa Ji” was released in Dehradun today. Harpal Singh Rawat, Adviser to CM, released the cassette. He reiterated the commitment of the state government to patronise regional films.

Mahesh Prakash, Producer and Director of the film, said the storyline of film revolved around three friends, who initially were in bad company, but then came a change in them as they get recruited in the Army.

He told the gathering that the film had eight songs. Pawan, Anju and Priyanka have played lead roles in the film, which has been shot entirely in Pauri Garhwal. — TNS