Centre serious about cleaning Ganga: Uma 
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, June 28
Union Minister for Ganga Rejuvenation and Water Resources Uma Bharati has stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is putting in efforts for cleaning the Ganga.

The saint-turned-politician stated this during her visit to the Divya Sewa Prem Mission ashram here today.

She said since Independence, no government at the Centre had formed a special ministry for the Ganga, and this had happened for the first time during the Modi government.

“Modi is concerned about the purity and sanctity of the Ganga. He intends to ensure its cleaning throughout its course from Gaumukh in Gangotri till Ganga Sagar in West Bengal. We all should support the “clean Ganga mission”. The sanctity and purity of the holy river, which we regard as mother, are on our minds,” Uma said.

Uma said her department would not allow even treated sewer water into the Ganga and would set up a sewage treatment plant and divert water from the plant for irrigation and other purposes. The Prime Minister had given them a free hand to execute the correct methodology to achieve the department’s targets.

Uma, an MP from Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh, stressed on the role of mass awareness and mass movement in cleaning the Ganga. “We are taking suggestions from experts and a core group of secretaries. An inter-ministerial group is already working in this regard. We are seeking inputs and trying to set targets in the light of ground realities,” she added.

On the issue of the 330 MW Alaknanda hydropower project affecting Mata Dhari Devi temple, she said she was against the shifting of the revered shrine in Srinagar in Garhwal, but owing to lack of support the level of the shrine was raised from its original place.

Uma said the local ecology should be maintained, sanctity of rivers should be preserved and development should go on side by side. Towns and cities would be developed on the banks of the Ganga, she said.

Congress likely to do well in Kumaon 
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, June 28
The Congress is likely to present a good show in the panchayat elections in all six districts of the Kumaon region as candidates supported by it have won more seats of zila panchayat member.

Deepa Dhami, wife of former Dharchula MLA Harish Dhami, who has been elected member of the Madkot zila panchayat opposed, today published an advertisement in local newspapers appealing to all victorious members to remain loyal to their voters. “This is an indication that she is a contender for the post of zila panchayat chairperson,” said Ramesh Garkoti, a journalist based in Pithoragarh.

“The Congress, which has already won 12 of the 33 posts of zila panchayat member, will be dependent on nine Independent candidates, most of whom are inclined towards it,” said Garkoti. On the other hand, the BJP, which has won the same number of seats, has also staked its claim on the post of chairperson of the Pithoragarh zila panchayat. The party leaders say the elected Independent candidates are their men and will cast vote for the BJP candidate in the election for the post of zila panchayat chairperson. “The contest for the top post in the zila panchayat will become interesting as all candidates from both parties, who aspire to become chairperson, have emerged victorious,” said Congress sources.

In Almora, the Congress has won a clear majority in the 48-member zila panchayat and the chairperson’s post, which the BJP won last time, is likely to go to the Congress as it has won more seats in the Ranikhet, Bhikisain and Dwarahat areas. “The decision of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre to increase rail fares and freight recently has adversely affected the BJP,” said Navin Bisht, a journalist based in Almora.

In Bageshwar district where the BJP claims to have won eight seats in the 20-member zila panchayat, the Congress might try all tricks to win the post of chairperson by mustering the support of six victorious Independent candidates. “It seems that the BJP will win the election for the post of chairperson as its candidates are already in touch with the Independent candidates,” said Ghanshyan Joshi, a local journalist.

In Champawat district, the BJP claims that it will win a majority in the 15-member zila panchayat. “BJP supporters have won eight of the 15 seats in the district and we are likely to rule the zila panchayat in Champawat district again,” said Prema Pandey, a former chairperson of the Champawat zila panchayat.

According to reports, while in Nainital the BJP is likely to win the maximum number of posts in the zila panchayat and unseat the Congress, which controls the local body at present, in Udham Singh Nagar, money and muscle power are likely to play an important role in the election for the post of chairperson. “The use of muscle and money power in the district was so obvious last time that though the BJP had more members in the 42-member zila panchayat, the Congress won the post of chairperson by allegedly resorting to horse trading and personal contact,” said Mohan Rajput, a journalist based at Rudrapur in Udham Singh Nagar. 

CCTV footage helps police arrest thief

Dehradun, June 28
The city police have arrested a B.Tech student for attempting to break open two ATM machines in Dehradun city a few days ago. He has been identified as Pawan Singh Panwar, a resident of Ekta Vihar. 

As per information, officials of Punjab National Bank and Oriental Bank of Commerce had registered a police complaint that some person tried to break ATM machines of the banks installed at Gujarada village in the Sahastradhara area on June 19. On the basis of the CCTV footage, the investigation team found that Panwar unsuccessfully tried to open both ATM machines with the help of a stone cutter. — TNS

Qureshi reviews preparations for Sanskrit conclave
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 28
Governor Aziz Qureshi yesterday reviewed the preparations for the proposed international Sanskrit conclave to be held here in September.

The event will be held from September 26 to 28 to promote the use of Sanskrit and establish it as a language which can become people’s language and can be used effectively on computers.

A fourth high-level meeting was held at Raj Bhavan here last evening to discuss the conclave. The Governor said it should be kept in mind that this event would make it possible for Uttarakhand to come on the cultural map of the world. All preparations must be made accordingly and within the time limit.

He said there should be proper coordination among all officials and organisations involved in organising this global event. The Governor said a session of the three-day conference would be held in Haridwar. The deadline of July 10 has been fixed for sending invitations to the President, the Prime Minister and all eminent guests from the country and abroad. It was also discussed and decided that Principal Secretary (Sanskrit education) S Raju would hold a meeting to constitute various committees for making the event successful.

S Raju, Arun Dhaundiyal, Secretary to Governor, Mahavir Aggarwal, Vice-Chancellor of Uttarakhand Sanskrit University, VK Jain, Vice-Chancellor of Doon University, Dr Nidhi Pandey, Additional Secretary to Governor, LN Pant, Additional Secretary (Finance), and S Semwal, Vice-Chairman of Uttarakhand Sanskrit Academy were present at the meeting.

Summer camp concludes
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 28
A month-long summer camp concluded at Muslim National Junior High School here today. Friends of Education Society, working for the promotion of education among Muslim students, organised the camp.

Over 70 students belonging to weaker sections of the minority community participated. They learnt personality development and communication skills, besides English language.

Located in the Inamullah building, Muslim National Junior High School has been providing education to young Muslim students since 1963. It is among the oldest elementary schools in Dehradun for education of students belonging to the minority community.

“We organised poster competitions, debates and many other arts competitions for the students. They were given lectures on languages with a special emphasis on Urdu language,” said Haaris, who taught English and mathematics to students during the camp.

“Our primary focus was on inculcating morals and ethics in the students so that they could become good citizens,” said Haaris.

Rain lash Dehradun, mercury plummets
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 28
Rains lashed Dehradun during evening hours today, bringing respite to the people from blistering heat being witnessed in the past few days.

While the sky was clear in the morning, it turned cloudy by the evening. Rain that started around 4.30 pm continued for more than an hour, making weather pleasant.

According to Anand Sharma, Director, Dehradun Meteorological Centre, rain was likely to continue in some places of the state during the next 24 hours. He said the intensity of rain may further increase from tomorrow evening and continue for the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the rain today exposed the preparedness of the Dehradun Municipal Corporation as several roads in Dehradun got water-logged and choked drains were overflowing with filth and dirt.

RG Charitable Trust builds houses for disaster victims
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 28
The RG Charitable Trust today gifted 22 houses to people of Ujwalpur, Karnprayag, Kanderi and Sonali villages in Rudraprayag district who were affected by flash floods last year.

The Trust had come forward to provide houses to the disaster victims in Rudraprayag district.

The Trust had asked the state government to provide a list of such people who were severely affected by the natural calamity so that they could be provided pucca houses. It handed over the keys of pucca houses to the people of some villages in the presence of local MLA and Deputy Speaker of the Uttarakhand Assembly Anusuya Prasad Maikhuri at a function in Rudraprayag today. These houses are made of concrete and have a bedroom, a kitchen and a bathroom.

These houses were constructed at a cost of Rs 1 crore in five months. On the occasion, Managing Director of RG Group Rajesh Goyal said he personally felt the pain of the tragedy and decided to build the houses. It gave him satisfaction and he would continue this work, he added.

Goyal said he was fortunate to be able to help the affected people and bring smiles back on their faces. As for those who got these houses, it was difficult to describe their joy and satisfaction.

Maikhuri appreciated the gesture of the Trust and said its selfless work would always be remembered. 

Unemployed teachers lock education directorate gate
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 28
Taking their ongoing protest one step further, the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) qualified teachers locked the gate of the Education Directorate in support of their demand for jobs in the department here today.

Members of the B.Ed TET Qualified Association gathered in front of the Education Directorate and raised slogans against the government. They blamed the government for deliberately delaying the recruitment process of BEd teachers and playing with the future of thousands of educated youth in the state.

“The posts of B.Ed qualified teacher in government-run primary schools should be increased and the appointment process started at the earliest,” association secretary Kewal Dev Bhandari said.

Their demands include increasing the number of posts of teacher, doing away with the age limit for special Basic Teachers Certificate (BTC) posts and completion of the ongoing recruitment process on the basis of the notification.