NGO ties up with Microsoft for environment education
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 17
Waste Warriors, a local NGO, has joined hands with Microsoft and Nokia to conduct a revolutionary educational programme for schools named ‘Create to Inspire’. Seventy schools in Dehradun have been chosen for participation in the six-month programme.

The focus of the initiative, fully funded by Microsoft, is to provide guidance to teachers on conducting exercises and activities in environment sciences and is geared towards engaging and inspiring students of classes V to XII. For CBSE schools, Microsoft has created a series of exercises being provided for teachers with continuous evaluation as per the CCE framework.

During a four-hour induction workshop at Scholars Home School here today, a set of 14 toolkits with a variety of exercises were presented to teachers. These will structure a strategy for engaging students in activities related to sustainable consumption and lifestyle. Two teachers from each school were invited to attend the event.

A second induction workshop will be held in September. It will be followed by showcase events in November and January wherein teachers and their students will present creative activities they have completed. The programme will conclude in February wherein successful schools will be presented with certificates at a felicitation event.

Jodie Underhill, CEO of Waste Warriors, said, “This is an educational programme that is going to change the way environmental sciences are taught in schools. Children need to know how their actions harm the environment and what they can do to help. The toolkits are full of fun as also interesting and creative activities that will be loved by teachers and students alike.”

The schools who participated in the induction workshop are DAV Public School, Drona International School, Ecole Globale International Girls School, Him Jyoti School, Hopetown Girls School, Jaswant Modern Senior Secondary School, Kasiga School, Rashtriya Indian Military College, SGRR Public School, Scholars Home, Seven Oaks School, Shigally Hill International Academy, The Doon Girls School, Unison World School, Welham Boys School, Raja Ram Mohan Roy Academy, Carman Residential and Day School (Premnagar and Dalanwala).

‘Polythene, pack up’ drive in Paltan Bazaar
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 17
Making a Difference by Being the Difference (MAD), a group of city’s socially awakened youths, conducted a campaign, Pack up Polythene, here today to persuade retailers and shoppers at Paltan Bazaar to use paper bags instead of polythene.

After carrying out a similar campaign at Paltan Bazaar last month, over 100 MAD volunteers distributed 50,000 hand-made paper bags to shopkeepers as part of a persuasion drive today.

“Last time, we covered 72 shops and distributed 1,600 self-made bags. Considering the scale of the market, this time, we made 50,000 handmade bags in the last one month and distributed these to the shopkeepers with a message that they should say ‘no’ to polythene bags,” said Rahul Guru, a volunteer of MAD.

The Municipal Corporation also joined the campaign and Mukhya Nagar Adhikari (MNA) Harak Singh Rawat himself challaned a number of shopkeepers for using polythene bags.

Cabinet approves Rs 7 cr for evening classes
39 govt, 13 pvt colleges to be deaffiliated from HNB Central University
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 17
The Uttarakhand Cabinet today approved a budgetary allocation of Rs 7 crore for starting evening classes for around 10,000 students who have been affected by the Nainital High Court order asking local colleges to give admissions on the basis of UGC norms.

Briefing mediapersons here today, Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar said the Department of Higher Education would make arrangements so that the students from the state were not affected by the court decision. “A budgetary allocation has been approved which will go towards making arrangements for faculty, teachers and clerical staff. At the same time, we will be seeking legal remedies by approaching the Supreme Court,” he said.

The Cabinet also approved the de-affiliation of around 39 government colleges and 13 private colleges from HNB Central University. These colleges were earlier affiliated to HNB University when it was a state university. Now, these colleges would be affiliated to Sridev Suman State University.

It also decided to provide ration to people belong to the BPL and APL categories under the State Food Scheme. “As the new government at the Centre has changed the policies and has stopped giving us the food quota, we have gone back to the previous PDS system of ration distribution. Now, the National Food Security Scheme that was rolled out in July has been postponed,” said Subhash.

Under the State Food Scheme, people belonging to the BPL category will receive 35 kg of ration per family per month, while those belonging to the APL category will receive Rs 15 kg of ration per family per month. This way the government will be able to cover a population of over 1 crore. The APL families receive wheat at Rs 5 per kg and rice at Rs7 per kg.

Further, the government is also going for digitisation of the entire PDS system.

Hydropower projects stop generation due to silt
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 17
Ten of the 12 hydropower projects have temporarily stopped electricity generation following heavy rains in higher reaches of Uttarakhand. Officials blamed silt in the Himalayan rivers and their tributaries for the non-functioning of turbines of the hydropower projects and disruption in electricity generation.

The power generation by the state-run hydropower projects is being adversely affected due to silt in rivers, thus widening the gap between demand and availability of electricity.

The latest data compiled by Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) highlights that power generation in the 198 MW Kalagarh, and 90 MW Maneri Bhalli-I hydropower projects was zero.

The power generation has been badly affected in Dhakrani (34 MW), Dhalipur (51 MW), Kulhal (30 MW), Maneri Bhalli-II (304 MW), Chilla (144 MW), Patthri (20 MW), Mohhamadpur (9 MW), and Khatima (41 MW) hydropower projects due to silt in the Himalayan rivers.

Among all hydropower projects being managed by UJVNL, the 240 MW Chibbro, and 120 MW Khodri hydropower projects are the only one that are generating electricity. The UPCL has implemented four hours of rostering in the rural areas of Haridwar, and six hours of compulsory power cut was enforced in non-continuous industries of Garhwal. A three-hour power cut was enforced in small towns, and rural areas of Garhwal in order to bridge the gap between demand and availability of electricity.

Department officials told power generation is strictly stopped as turbines get damage due to silt in rivers. He told renovation, maintenance, and up- gradation of old turbines especially greasing is a regular feature in order to generate optimum electricity.

Madhusudan, spokesman for the UPCL, told The Tribune that the department was continuously procuring electricity in order to bridge meet the demand.

He added stern instructions had been given to the technical staff to enforce minimum emergency cuts to rectify technical snags. The demand of electricity was 28.03 million units against the availability of 27.98 million units of in the state.

Meanwhile, several areas of Dehradun went without power for hours together as supply lines and transformers were damaged due to heavy rains.

Among the worst affected areas were Bhauwala, Defence Colony, Vidhya Vihar, Rajeev Nagar, Ambiwala, and adjoining areas where electricity poles washed away in the high current of of the Rispana rivulet.

The power supply was also disrupted in Raipur, and adjoining areas after six double electricity poles washed away in torrential rains. Technical snags leading to power cuts were reported from Bindal, Mathurawala, Govindgarh, Vijay Colony, and Anarwala feeders.

625 sq km forests in state lost to human activity
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 17
Though the Union Government has given the utmost priority to the conservation of the Ganga, the holy river seems to be facing a new threat at the place of its origin. The upper Ganga river basin has lost almost 625 sq km forest cover in the past two decades.

A study, “River Habitat Survey: Vegetation, Birds and Landscape Change in Upper Ganges, Uttarakhand”, conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India made this startling revelation, blaming anthropogenic pressure (human activity) as the major cause of decline in the forest cover.

Ankita Sinha, a researcher who was part of the study team, said the study aimed at addressing the issues of structural integrity of riverine forests in the context of vegetation, obligate species and climate change in the upper Gangetic area between Gangotri and Rishikesh.

From Rishikesh, the Ganga enters the plains. Mapping of the riverine vegetation was carried out within a buffer along the river. The occupancy pattern of the major riverine bird species of the basin was also studied and the patterns of distribution were accounted for with the associated habitat parameters seen on ground.

The change detection analysis was done to distinguish land cover and land use changes across the river basin between 1993-2003 and 2003-2013. The change detection analysis suggests that the basin has lost almost 625 sq km of forest area in 20 years. While four types of forests- tropical moist deciduous forests, tropical dry deciduous forests, Himalayan sub-tropical pine forests and Himalayan moist temperate forests are found in this region, 13 species of riverine birds are distributed along the river with varying occupancy and abundance patterns. Scientists Dr BS Adhikari and Dr K Ramesh were the main investigators.

Policy needed for development in Uttarakhand hills
SMA Kazmi
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 17
The natural disaster last year has again brought into sharp focus the problems of development in the ecologically sensitive state as well as the entire Himalayan region. It will be a gigantic task for the Uttarakhand government led by Chief Minister Harish Rawat as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come up with a Himalayan policy to guide development activities in the ecologically-sensitive region.

The natural disaster in June last year, particularly in the Kedarnath area claimed more than 5,000 lives. The state is again facing devastation due to heavy rains, particularly in the Garhwal region where more than 30 people have lost lives and public and private property worth crores has been destroyed.

The Kedarnath area received unprecedented rains last year, which led to flash floods and large scale deaths and destruction. In the last five days, the Garhwal region, particularly Pauri and Tehri Garhwal areas, received heavy rains. There were eight incidents of cloudburst that claimed human lives and destroyed hearths and homes in the hills due to floods and landslides.

There is an urgent need for the Centre to expedite setting up of the proposed Himalayan centre. The Central Government could give a fillip to scientific studies to decipher the changing weather patterns in the Himalayan region and suggest development strategies that could minimise loss of human lives and damage to property. It initiated an exercise to set up such an institute a decade ago and an expert committee was formed. But the institute could not be set up due to controversy over the institute’s location.

The NDA government has also announced a Himalayan centre, but it is anybody’s guess when it comes up. There are institutes like the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, the Forest Research Institute (FRI), the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), besides many voluntary organisations which have been working in the Himalayan region in their respective fields, but there is lack of synergy and a composite strategy.

In the past more than 13 years following the formation of Uttarakhand, problems of common people living in Himalayan areas due to natural disasters have multiplied. There is no end to their misery year after year, particularly during the monsoon.

The State Disaster Management Authority, which was formed in 2007, had not met even once till the disaster struck in June 2013 and there was no disaster management plan. Nearly 300 villages vulnerable to disaster are awaiting relocation, but the state government lacks political will to expedite it.

Harish Rawat must take steps to regulate construction activities, particularly on riverbanks and incorporate scientific inputs in overall development planning.

Himalayas need attention

• There is an urgent need for the Central government to expedite setting up of the proposed Himalayan centre. It could give a fillip to scientific studies to decipher the changing weather patterns in the Himalayan region and suggest development strategies to minimise loss of human lives and damage to property.
• The NDA government has announced a Himalayan centre, but it is anybody’s guess when it will come up

Janmashtami celebrated with religious fervour
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, August 17
Devotees throng temples to offer prayers on the occasion of Janmashtami in the city.

Due to astrological reasons, the festival was today celebrated by devotees belonging to the Vaishnavite sect, while members belonging to the other sect will celebrate it tomorrow.

Various religious and other organisations took out processions in the city. In the evening, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) took out a procession from Guru Mandal Ashram in Devpura. After passing through Rishikul-Madan Mohan Malviya chowk, Old and New Ranipur Mor, Chandracharya chowk and Shankar Ashram, the procession culminated at Shubharambh banquet hall.

Special midnight prayers would be offered at Shri Tulsi Manas Mandir, Radha Krishna temple, Kankhal, and other temples to mark the birth of Lord Krishna.

Devotees flock to Bhadraj Temple
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, August 17
Devotees flocked to the Bhadraj Temple to participate in the annual temple fair held annually. They paid obeisance to Lord Balram, the elder brother of Lord Krishna near Doodhli village, 16 km from Mussoorie, with religious fervour today.

The devotees began converging in large numbers at the temple situated about 7,000 feet above the sea level on the way to the Clouds End Resort and sought blessings by offering unprocessed milk to the deity’s idol.

Local folk dances were performed and a common kitchen was organised for the devotees.

Devotee Sunita said they had travelled on foot from Vikas Nagar to join in the festivities and prayed for peace and prosperity in the region.

The festival falls immediately after Independence Day every year.

According to Mandir Samiti officials, the festival traces its roots to 1817 AD and the temple was revered by villagers of surrounding areas.

Officials from the samiti organising the fair welcomed the devotees. They said the Bhadraj Temple fair had gained popularity around the region and the government should incorporate it in the state’s religious tourism calendar. He said fairs such as Bhadraj helped preserve the region’s cultural ethos.

CM’s greetings on Janmashtami
Tribune News Service

Youths try to break a ‘matki’ on the occassion of Janmashtami celebrations at Sai Temple in Dehradun on Sunday. Tribune photo: Abhyudaya Kotnala

Dehradun, August 17
Chief Minister Harish Rawat has extended his greetings to the people of the state on the occasion of Janmashthami.

In a press note issued here, the Chief Minister said Lord Krishna gives us a message to work selflessly for welfare of other people. He prayed for prosperity, peace and feeling of solidarity for all on the auspicious occasion of Janmashthami.

Celebrations at Lucent International School

Janmashtami was celebrated at Lucent International School with fervour and gaiety here on Sunday with students presenting a cultural programme and religious songs. The school chairman Bhupesh Kumar inaugurated the programme by lightning the lamp. Students took part in the handi-breaking competition and performed dances depicting the life of Lord Krishna.

Raipur bus stand earmarked for protests
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 17
District Magistrate Chandresh Yadav has finalised the old Raipur bus stand at Lansdowne Chowk here as the place for holding protests and demonstrations.

“The spot was finalised on the basis of the reports of the SSP and the Mukhya Nagar Adhikari. Various societies and associations are using the place as dharna sthal for the past two years. For holding a protest march up to the Secretariat, the protesters will have to go through Lansdowne Chowk, Kanak Chowk, and Pacific Chowk. For holding a march up to the Vidhan Sabha the protesters will have to pass through Lansdowne Chowk, Convent Road, EC Road, Nehru Colony, and Pulia No.-VI. Similarly, for demonstrations up to the District Magistrate’s office the route will be Lansdowne Chowk, Faltu Line, and Doon Chowk,” he added.

“Lansdowne Chowk will also be allowed for burning effigies by protesters. A candlelight march will start and end at Lansdowne Chowk after passing through Kanak Chowk, Rozgar Tirahaa, and Tibet Market,” said Yadav.

He added the use of loudspeakers or any other sound equipment was banned within 100 metre of courts, hospitals and educational institutions.

393 rescued from Pauri Garhwal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 17
In the aftermath of cloudbursts on August 14, the Pauri district authorities in assistance with the Disaster Response Force have rescued 393 persons from the severely-affected Yamkeshwar and adjacent areas.

District Magistrate, Pauri, Chandrashekhar Bhatt said 366 persons had been rescued in and around the Yamkeshwar block after a series of cloudbursts took place in the region. “We rescued 103 persons yesterday and 290 persons today,” he told The Tribune.

He said the death toll in the district stood at 13. Bhatt said all rescued persons had been shifted to safer places and were being provided with food, medicine and accommodation arrangements.

On the other hand, several key roads in Uttarakhand continues to be blocked by debris of landslides triggered by heavy rains.

The Rishikesh-Srinagar road was blocked at Bachelikhal, Totaghati and Mahadev Chatti while the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway remained closed at Pakhi some metres ahead of Pipalkoti in Chamoli district. Similarly, the Rishikesh-Gangotri national highway was blocked at Tala, Sukkhitop, Gangnani while the Rishikesh-Yamunotri road was blocked at the Silai bend.

Meanwhile, the Dehradun Meteorological office in view of the Nanda Devi Rajjaat Yatra beginning from Chamoli district tomorrow has forecast a cloudy sky and light to moderate rain or thunderstorm in Chamoli district from August 18 to 21.

Minister takes stock of damage due to rains

Dehradun, August 17
Forest Minister Dinesh Aggarwal visited the city to assess the damage due to heavy rains. He instructed officials concerned to assess the extent of damage caused to houses for disbursal of compensation and repair.

“We have sent a proposal to the Centre regarding flood control projects on various seasonal rivers and rivulets in the district,” he said. — TNS

Qureshi wants boards for religious places
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 17
Governor Aziz Qureshi has directed the government to constitute development boards and authorities on the lines of the Vaishno Devi and Tirupati temple boards for the planned development of religious places in the state.

The Governor said an action plan should be made on priority for the development of the religious places.

He expressed the hope that the religious tourism in the state would get a boost with the constitution of such boards or authorities.

He said after he took charge as the Governor of the state on May 15, 2012, he had been asking the government to work in this direction.

Jobless physical education teachers hold protest
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 17
Members of the BP Ed and MP Ed Unemployed Association staged a protest near Parade Ground here yesterday in support of their long-standing demand for appointment in government schools. The protesters raised slogans against the government and blamed it for giving them false assurances.

The police foiled the attempt by the proetesters to march towards the Secretariat and stopped them near Parade Ground. Heated arguments were exchanged between the protesters and police personnel. A large number of protesters were arrested and were taken away.

“The government has been deceiving us with false promises of appointment. It has forced us to continue with our protest for the last one year. The government should jail us if it can’t provide us jobs,” said Sunder Dhoni, president of the association.

Red Cross team visits rain-hit areas
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 17
Members of the Dehradun branch of the Indian Red Cross Society visited rain affected areas of the district today and distributed relief materials among the people.

Dr IS Pal, general secretary of the Dehradun branch, has constituted a relief team that is working under the guidance of secretary of the society Dr MS Ansari. The team comprises Anil Verma, Ashish Kumar, Alok Joshi, Anil Arya, Sushil Chauhan, and Jagbeer Singh.

The first medical responders Rajendra Pal, Tanveer, and Subham along with relief team visited the areas along the Song rivulet, Doiwala, Lalthappad, and adjoining areas after heavy rain wreacked havoc in different parts of the district. Relief packets comprise blankets, kitchen sets, stoves, bedsheets, mosquito nets etc.

UKD for scientific study on cloudbursts
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, August 17
The Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Progressive) yesterday urged the Central and Uttarakhand governments to take steps to minimise loss of life and damage to property in cloudbursts as several such incidents were reported in Pauri Garhwal and Pithhoragarh districts recently.

UKD central secretary Uday Ram Semwal said only relief measures were not enough, and a detail analysis by scientists, geologists and weather experts on recurrence of cloudbursts in hill districts was needed.

Uday Ram added cloudbursts had occurred in Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Bageshwar, and Champawat during the monsoon. A large number of hydropower projects had come up in these districts on the Ganga, Yamuna, Bhagirathi, Alaknanda, Pindar, Dhauli Ganga, Mandakani, Nandakini, Saryu, Gomti and other tributaries.

Youth wing city president Lalit Mamgain demanded that the government should form a panel of experts to know the exact reason behind the cloudbursts so that could be saved from flash floods.

The regional party also demanded the deployment of a State Disaster Response Force squad at every district headquarters. It urged people to help their fellow villagers as relief work was getting affected due to continuous rain.

MNA tells traders to remove encroachments from MC land
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, August 17
Mukhya Nagar Adhikari Vipra Trivedi has directed traders and vendors, who have encroached upon Municipal Corporation land in Haridwar, to remove encroachments themselves. She has said encroachments, particularly in the core mela zone, are hampering traffic movement.

Vipra said anti-encroachment drives would be carried out again to make city roads, markets and the mela zone land free of encumbrances.

Earmarking lots of the mela zone at Rodibelwala, Pantdeep and Upper Bazaar, she said due to encroachments, particularly by traders, vendors and slum dwellers, the city presented a bad look to pilgrims and tourists.

Vipra urged Mayor Manoj Garg and all 30 councillors to identify encroachments in their respective wards to ensure that these were removed during the anti-encroachment drive to be launched shortly.

Councillors Aman Garg and Mishra welcomed Vipra’s initiative. They said the MNA had been working sincerely but it was the ruling BJP councillors, including the Mayor, who were not allowing her a free hand to implement her vision.

Circle Officer, City, Chandra Mohan Singh Negi said the corporation officials would be provided police support whenever they launch an anti-encroachment drive.

2nd physiotherapy centre for senior citizens opened
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, August 17
The second physiotherapy centre for senior citizens was opened at Tilak Memorial Library under the aegis of the All Mussoorie Senior citizen Welfare Association Mussoorie yesterday.

Municipal Council president Manmohan Singh Mall inaugurated the centre and commended the efforts of senior citizens in its opening here. He said villagers around Mussoorie would also benefit from the services of the physiotherapy centre here. Narendar Sahni, secretary of the senior citizens association, thanked the donors, especially Harbhachan Singh, head of Tilak Memorial Library, for providing space for such activities. Sahni said it was the second such centre, the first being operational at the gurdwara in Library Bazaar.

Prof AS Khullar, president of the association, also commended the efforts of senior citizens and said the centre would benefit residents of the Landour Bazaar and Kulri Bazaar area. He added the association was ready to install bio-toilets in the town in assistance with the Municipal Council. Late Girdhar

Lal was also remembered for his contribution to setting up of the centre here. Freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak, after whom the library has been named, was also remembered on the occasion.

Advocate Alok Melhotra, former MC president OP Uniyal, senior citizens RS Mishra, SC Anand, Gita Anand, GK Gupta, Harish Kalra, Avtar Kukreja, Rajendar Goyal and others were present.

Teenaged girl drowns in Sahastradhara
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 17
A teenaged tourist girl was drowned at Sahastradhara, a picnic spot, after she slipped into the gushing waters of the stream flowing through the getaway destination here this afternoon. The 17-year-old was a resident of Chandpur village in Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh and was on a holiday with her family in Dehradun and Mussoorie.

According to Rajpur police, the family had come to Sahastradhara for picnic when their daughter, Shalu, slipped and fell into the stream, which was flowing with intense current due to heavy rainfall for the last many days.

Her family members, along with other people, reportedly jumped into the stream to save her but in vain. The police was informed about the incident. A team of the State Disaster Response Force and Rajpur police initiated rescue operations and pulled out the girl’s body. Police have registered a case of accidental death and sent the body for post-mortem.

Leopard attacks man

Pithoragarh, August 17
Residents of Thal area in the district are living in fear after a leopard attacked and injured Laxman Singh of Dauli Koli village when he was going home from the Thal market.

As soon as the leopard pounced on him, his companion started shouting loudly, forcing the animal to flee. “Laxman Singh, who has sustained serious injuries on the head and shoulder, has been referred to the District Hospital,” said Ramesh Chandra Upadhayaya, a forest officer.

Upadhyay said this was the 15th such incident in the area and 14 persons had been killed and one injured in leopard attacks. “The leopard is elusive though several cages have been put at several places to trap it. Residents of more than 12 villages of the area are in panic following the leopard attack,” said Ramesh Chandra. — OC

Rajnath in Mussoorie

Mussoorie, August 17
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, will be reaching Mussoorie at around 7.30 pm today after his brief stay in Dehradun.

He will be staying overnight in Kalindi Bhavan at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration. He will inaugurate the 8th Mid-Career Training Programme, Phase-III, for IAS officers being held at the main campus. — TNS

Doon lad among southpaws felicitated by LS Speaker
Tribune News Service

Rohan Rawat

Dehradun, August 17
One should not feel inferior if he or she is an inborn left-hander or has switched over to doing routine things with the left hand in later years.

This was stated by Sumitra Mahajan, Speaker of the Parliament’s lower House, at Satya Sai International Auditorium, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, while felicitating talented left-handed students from North India. Mahajan urged people not to be prejudiced against left-handers, as they are in no way less in comparison to right-handers.

Among the selected lot of 200 left handers was Dehradun lad Rohan Rawat, a Class XI student of Central School, Forest Research Institute, who was selected among thousands of students from various schools of North India.

Talking to TNS, Rohan Rawat, whose ancestors hail from Pauri Garhwal district, said Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan motivated them, saying being a lefty doesn’t mean one is any less in comparison to a right-hander. He said the words of Sumitra Mahajan motivated all the selected participants as she cited persons such as Amitabh Bachchan, Barack Obama, Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and also sports icons Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, who are ambidexterous.

Rohan, who has a keen interest in general knowledge, quizzing, computer technology and automobile sector, said he idolises his maternal grandfather Late Advocate Saukar Singh Rawat, who always motivated him. He still has an encyclopaedia that he had gifted him in Class VI.

Parents Ajay Rawat, an LIC officer and mother Jyoti Rawat, a school teacher, said children who write or work with the left hand should be encouraged and not be forced to switch to the right hand, as that may impact one’s natural abilities.

India, Nepal army exercise from today

Pithoragarh, August 17
The second battalion-level combined training exercise of the India and Nepal armies, Surya Kiran Seventh, will be held between August 18 and 3. Over 300 army men will take part in the two-week exercise.

The combined training, to be carried out at an altitude of 5,000 to 6,000 feet in Pithoragarh under the aegis of the Garur division, aims at developing inter-operational ability of both armies in jungle warfare and counter terrorism operations.

“The aspects of disaster management with specific reference to pandemic and epidemic control and incorporation of aviation aspect will also be taken up during the training,” said an Army spokesperson. He added the training would be observed by senior officers of both armies on the day of inauguration. “We see it not only as a strategic cooperation between both armies but a boost to historic and cultural ties between both the nations,” said the spokesman. The two countries started combined strategic exercise at the platoon level in 2011 after an agreement between them during a meeting of the seventh Indo-Nepal bilateral consultative group on security. — OC

Damage to pumping station at Nagni village causes water crisis
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, August 17
Damage to the water pumping station at Nagni village due to swelling of the Heval river near Chamba in Tehri district has resulted in an acute water crisis in the region.

The boulders kept to block the water dismantled due to the water gushing from Heval river that entered the field gallery of the Nagni water pumping station, damaging it completely. The damage to the water pumping station has resulted in disruption of supply of potable water to Chamba town along with the nearby areas, mainly Badshah Thaul, Rani Chauri etc, creating outcry in the region. Water Department officials said the pipelines had been damaged, due to which the supply had been disrupted and the repair work would be carried out only after the water in Heval river recedes. Officials further said they were supplying drinking water through tankers.

57 assistant review officers promoted

Dehradun, August 17
The Uttarakhand government yesterday promoted 57 assistant review officers as review officers to be posted against vacant posts in the Secretariat here.

The members of the Uttarakhand Secretariat Review Officers had suspended their agitation after the state government promised to fulfil their six-point charter of demands.

“Our agitation has begun to yield results as the government has announced the promotion of 57 assistant review officers to the posts of review officer,” said Deepak Joshi, general secretary of the association. — TNS

sports
Asian School beat Cambrian Hall 4-1
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 17
The Asian School thrashed Cambrian Hall 4-1 in the ongoing 2nd Summer Valley Seven-a–Side Invitation Football Cup at the Sumer Valley football ground here today. Abhgyan scored two goals while Vinesh scored other two goals for The Asian School. Roshan scored the lone goal for Cambrian Hall.

In an interesting encounter, Colonel Brown registered a 4-3 win against Summer Valley School in a tiebreaker after both team drew 2-2 during the normal allotted timing.

Rohan and Sahil scored the two goals for Colonel Brown while Shivang and Dishant scored one goal each for Summer Valley. The third match between The Doon School and the Summer Valley ‘A’ team ended in a 3-3 draw. Azad, Shrestha and Rohan scored goals for The Doon School while Gargi Dobhal scored two goals and Amit Rana scored one goal for for Summer Valley.

Cambrian Hall victorious

Matches were played in different categories in the ongoing Inter School Girls/Boys Inter School Football Tournament at Gorkha Military College here today.

In the senior boys category, Cambrian Hall defeated Gautam International School 1-0 with Shivam scoring the winning goal. In the second match in the same category, Doon International School defeated Pestle Weed College 1-0 with Anirudh scoring the goal. Kasiga School also won its match against Sant Kabeer School 2-0 with Ajay scoring a goal and Chen scoring another goal. The match between The Asian School and Children Academy ended in a draw.

In the girl’s senior category, Kasiga School trounced Doon Valley Public School 2-1 with Aditi scoring both goals. Maa Anand Mayee School also won its match against KC Public School 1-0. Shefali scored the winning goal.

Shooter Shapath bags 2 gold
Tribune News Service

Shapath Bharadwaj

Dehradun, August 17
Budding shooter Shapath Bharadwaj bagged two two gold, in the individual and team event category in the Double Trap of 13th Uttrarakhand State Shooting Championship held at the range of Jaspal Rana Shooting Academy here today.

Notably, Shapath Bharadwaj of the Uttaranchal State Rifle Association (USRA) defeated his nearest rival in a tie breaker and bagged the gold medal in the individual category of the Double Trap (Junior Men) event. He also bagged the gold medal in the team (Junior Men) event. The general secretary of the USRA, Subhash Rana, congratulated Shapath and his teammates for their success. The seven-day state championship concluded on Sunday where winners of different events were given away prizes in a ceremony held at the shooting range. Over 1,000 shooters exhibited their shooting skills in various events.

Govt should focus on sportspersons: TT referee
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, August 17
International table tennis referee Parag Agarwal on his brief visit to Mussoorie, today, said the state government should focus more on sportspersons of the state and try to provide them adequate facilities so that they were able to compete international players in tournaments.

Parag Agarwal has represented India in Asian Games and has been honing the skills of budding talent in table tennis in the last few decades.

Agarwal speaking to mediapersons in Mussoorie said there was no dearth of sporting talent especially in table tennis, but the need was to provide them adequate facilities and guidance so that they were able to succeed at every level. He also said the state associations should also make an effort of unearthing talent at the school- level and provide them world class training so that they can bring laurels to the country.

Advising the budding talent, he said the hard work was the investment that never failed and the aspiring TT players should work diligently and with patience for achieving success.

He also said the aspiring TT players should work without any pressure, as their future was secure in the game as it was gaining popularity in the country.

Agarwal said table tennis has caught on in states like West Bengal, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu etc. India is currently ranked in top hundred in the world and that figure would improve in near future. Players like Sharat Kamal are ranked in top 50 in the world, added Agarwal.