Dehradun, March 26
Despite pressure from several prospective candidates to get a nomination for Nainital seat, the Congress high command seems to be considering the name of sitting Lok Sabha MP KC Singh Baba for the post.

The 'sitting getting' formula seems to be working for Baba. Although the party high command has not yet officially declared the names of candidates for Nainital and Haridwar, according to Congress leaders the nominations of former state Congress Chief Harish Rawat for Haridwar and KC Singh Baba for Nainital have been cleared.

Baba is a loyalist of veteran Congress leader and present Governor of Andhra Pradesh ND Tiwari. Baba, a scion of the erstwhile royal family of Kashipur, has been a popular leader in the area. However, this time he faced lot of competition from several senior leaders from his own area. State Congress chief Yashpal Arya, another Tiwari loyalist, was rooting for Tilak Raj Behad, legislator from Rudrapur, while former state minister Indira Hariydesh, another trusted lieutenant of Tiwari was also in fray for the party ticket.

In the home constituency of Tiwari, there was a battle for tickets between those who are or had been his loyalists in the past.

According to party sources, Tiwari decided to keep aloof in the Hyderabad Raj Bhawan when his proteges were fighting it out for the party nomination in New Delhi.

Indira Hariydesh was number two in the Tiwari cabinet when he was Chief Minister of Uttarakhand from 2002 to 2007. Tilak Raj Behad, Rudrapur Congress legislator, is a dynamic leader of the Punjabi community in the Kumoan terai.

However, the party decided to play it safe with the sitting MP, as various parties pitched strong candidates for Nainital. Bacchi Singh Rawat, Uttarakhand BJP president and former union minister, is BJP candidate while Narayan Pal, Bahujan Samaj party (BSP) legislator from Sitarganj, is the BSP candidate.

Already he has shown his presence by organising a successful rally of BSP supremo Mayawati on March 25. Samajwadi Party, that has a sizeable support among Muslims, has fielded Prem Singh, a former Uttar Pradesh Minister, as its candidate.

Dehradun, March 26
To track the movement of criminals in the state capital, drivers of auto-rickshaws, “vikrams” and local buses can prove handy. At least, this is what the authorities 
here think.

A first-of-its-kind move in the state, it entails involving them as ‘eyes and ears’ of the police.

Known for its sleepy character, Dehradun has seen an increase in criminal incidents since it became the capital of Uttarakhand in 2000.

As per official figures, 123 cases of burglary, 40 cases of murder, 164 cases of rioting and 17 rape cases were reported in Dehradun district last year. The situation, for a place like Dehradun, calls for informal ways to strengthen policing.

So the authorities have decided to rope in the services of drivers of private transport vehicles plying locally to strengthen its information network. There are 1,229 auto- rickshaws, 786 vikrams and 123 registered local buses here.

“We are organising a gathering of drivers of all registered vehicles at Parade Ground on Sunday to seek their cooperation in tracking any suspicious movement in the city and informing the police about it.”

“We believe that these people can be very useful due to their wide network and mobility. Though exact formalities are being worked out but those helping the police will surely be rewarded,” informed Nilesh Anand Bharne, SP Traffic and nodal officer of beat policing in the city.

The police believe that these drivers are the first-contact persons for any criminal coming from outside and the last one escaping after committing a crime.

Big criminals usually take this mode of public transport as it helps them mix with the public and conceals their identity. Criminals feel that they would be easily identifiable if they use their own vehicles.

The case in point is the recent sensational murder of a private watchman on Kalidas Road by out-of-the-state smugglers of precious wood. The suspects walked a distance after the crime and hired auto-rickshaws at two points to escape. They were later arrested. 

Haridwar March 26
The principal of a local school was arrested in connection with leaking papers of classes VI, VII, VIII and IX, here today. During a raid, the principal of JS Public School Jagjit Singh Virmani was found with an open set of question papers, the exams for which are scheduled for March 26, 28 and 30.

Additional education officer RP Vishwakarma, who accompanied the team, found the school principal with one paper from every set of question papers.

The raid was conducted following a tip-off that Virmani earlier leaked the papers of English and Commerce subjects.

Meanwhile, the principal has been sent to jail and the police is investigating his role in other such cases.

The news of the principal’s arrest sent shock waves among the residents.

Haridwar, March 26
After a night-long fight between two male elephants over a female elephant, a tusker died and the other was seriously injured at Chila Forest Range in Rajaji National Park.

The incident occurred near the Ghasiram rivulet adjacent to the main road. After killing his competitor, the wounded elephant came back to the spot several times. As a result, the police and forest officials had to divert traffic from the route. The tussle started early in the morning and continued till 8 am. Passers-by heard the sound of the elephants groaning in pain but couldn’t figure it out as a fight between the two elephants.

At about 6 am, passers-by saw the two jumbos fighting. On getting the information, forest department officials came to the site. Despite having floored its rival, the wounded beast continued to thrust its tusks into its competitor.

Forest officials had to resort to firing to detach the two beasts after which the killer elephant ran away to the nearby forest. The officials said that the floored pachyderm was alive when they reached the spot but it eventually succumbed to its injuries. It was 30 years of age and had suffered five deep wounds.

Meanwhile, the forest department has upped its vigil for the killer tusker as it was feared that it could pose a threat to the nearby villages and the vehicles passing through the route.

Rajaji National Park director SS Rassailly said the elephant’s post-mortem examination was conducted by three specialist doctors. He said that the tusks of the dead elephant are safe.

Wildlife and elephant experts said that this is a common phenomenon at this time as the breeding season is on. Male elephants, in search of a female partner, fight each other. In the past few years, several elephant fights have occurred in the region and as a result, five elephants have died in the park area. 

Dehradun, March 26
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Uttarakhand region office, today released the State Focus Paper for the year 2009-2010.

The Paper highlights the potential of the state in terms of physical and financial targets, together with sectoral analysis in order to formulate a state credit programme for overall growth in agriculture and non-farm sectors.

Releasing the Paper at a seminar, state Chief Sectary IK Pandey lauded the bank’s initiative in this regard.

The 150-page document consolidates and analyses the potential-linked credit plans of all the 13 districts of Uttarakhand.

It specifically focuses on the need of development of rural infrastructure for overall growth. Enhancement of productivity in agriculture through adoption of advanced technology and diversification in cropping pattern; development of horticulture sector; promoting cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants; and development of dairy sector have been emphasised in the Paper.

It also points to any successful plan implementation by ensuring participation of all the stake-holders - respective departments and sectoral development goals of the state government, all rural financial institutions and non-government organisations.

“Through the Paper, we are prominently drawing the attention of the policy-makers to factors hindering development of agro sector and way for removal of impediments for speedier development of rural areas,” said P Das, Chief General Manager, NABARD. He assured all support towards implementation of the plans.

NABARD officials also expressed concern over 80 per cent of the credit going to plain districts in comparison to a meagre 20 per cent to rest of the nine hill districts of Uttarakhand.

“There is an urgent need to bridge this gap to ensure sustainable development in the state,” said a bank official.

In addition, the Paper also comes up with a series of suggestions, including building of a reliable and accurate data base in each department by setting up statistical cells; convergence of multilateral, national and state-level ongoing programmes of each sector and identification of a nodal department for their implementation; development of location-specific package of agronomic practices in organic farming based on local agro bio-diversity and climatic regime; popularisation of water-harvesting and micro irrigation techniques in the hill regions; economic analysis of various farming systems, particularly in hill regions, and micro-planning for different regions accordingly.

Haridwar, March 26
Though the media has grown manifold in terms of technology, the need of the hour is to stick to the principles of journalism which formed the basis of the media struggle against the British.

Governor BL Joshi recalled the ideals followed by Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi during his career in journalism.

He was a source of inspiration for his colleagues.

Joshi was the chief guest at a seminar organised by the National Union of Journalists, Haridwar unit.

The seminar focused on the relevance of Vidyarthi in today’s times.

The Governor urged the journalistic fraternity to work for the social and national causes and imbibe the values practiced by the likes of Mahatma Gandhi and Vidyarthi.

Veteran journalist PS Chauhan recounted the contribution of Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi. “He founded Pratap, a weekly from Kanpur.

“It was through this paper that he waged the fight for oppressed peasants of Rae Bareli, the workers of the Kanpur mills and the downtrodden people of Indian states,” said Chauhan.

Gurukul Kangri University VC Swatantra Kumar spoke of remaining rooted to one’s ideals despite pressure and changing times.

Recalling the golden period of journalism during national movement, Swatantra Kumar said, “Mahatma Gandhi, Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi, Swami Shraddhanand and other eminent writers didn’t compromise on their writing and ideals. Such dedication and ethics are the need of the hour.”

Attending the seminar as a special guest, TC Gurani, Uttarakhand president of National Union of Journalists, expressed satisfaction on the role being played by the National Union of Journalists in the state.

The function was attended by Lalitendra Nath Joshi, chief of NUJ, Haridwar unit, general secretary Shiv Kumar Sharma, Press Club of Haridwar president Adesh Tyagi, secretary Manoj Saini, journalists, academicians and students of journalism and social sciences of SMJN college.

Dehradun, March 26
The Indian Military Academy (IMA) and NDA have stormed into the final of the Hexagonal Cup basketball tournament underway at IMA here today. The final will be played on March 28.

In the first semifinal match between IMA and Indian Navel Ship Shivaji, IMA won by 14 points. The final score was 89-75.

The IMA players scored some quick points to take the lead. By the end of the second quarter, the scoreline was 45-24.

The next two quarters saw IMA score fluently and take their score to 89 points.

In the second semifinal match between INS Mandovi and National Defence Academy, NDA beat INS 75-64.

NDA was lagging behind INS in the first two quarters. They fought hard to take a decisive lead in the third quarter which they maintained till the end.

Meanwhile in the Hexagonal Cup hockey tournament, IMA and NDA will fight it out in the final tomorrow.

In the first semifinal, NDA defeated Air Force Academy in a one-sided encounter 4-0.

NDA scored the first goal in the fourth minute through R Singh. The second goal came through Sumedhi Dethe in the 12th minute. At the end of the first half, the scoreline was 2-0 in favour of NDA.

The second half was no different. Abhishek scored the third goal for NDA in the 15th minute of the second half. A Rana completed the tally in the 23rd minute.

In the other semifinal between IMA and INS Mandovi, IMA beat INS 2-1. For IMA, A Ashok scored a brace to help his team make it to the final.

IMA scored its goals in the fifth and 10th minute of the game. INS managed to pull back a goal through A Mandoli in the first half. The second half was goalless.

Dehradun, March 26
An all-round performance by Ravinder Bisht helped Uttarakhand Police Cricket Team register a 153-run victory over DDA, Delhi, at the 2nd Uttarakhand Cup at Rangers Ground here today.

DDA’s Rahul Dalal play a defensive shot against Uttarakhand Police in Dehradun on Thrusday. A Tribune photograph

Batting first, Uttarakhand Police piled up 364 runs in 40 overs. It was a fine start for Uttarakhand Police as its opening pair contributed 38 runs in just 3.2 overs.

The team lost the first wicket when the team score was 38 runs. First-down batsman Ashish Joshi played a steady innings of 42 runs off 53 balls.

Vijay Rawat supported him on the other end to make a handy 61 runs off 45 balls smashing eight fours and two sixes. Ravinder Bisht played a scintillating knock of 98 runs off just 59 balls hitting the bowlers all over the ground. He smashed seven fours and seven sixes.

Naresh and Bhuwan also chipped in with 44 and 49 runs respectively. For DDA team, Maharaj and Rajinder scalped three wickets each.

Chasing the mammoth total, no DDA batsmen, except 15-year-old Rahul Dalal, showed any resistance. Dalal scored 110 runs off just 94 balls and remained unbeaten. He smashed 14 fours.

No other batsmen made any significant contribution. The team was all out for 211 runs. For Uttarakhand Police, Ravindra was the lead wicket-taker clinching four wickets in his eight-over spell.

Dehradun, March 26
After being pushed to one side by the “vikram” terminal, sportspersons at the Parade Ground now have to counter another encroacher - a huge pool of water has engulfed the southern part of the ground.

The reason for this inundation is the construction of a drain next to the ground for which drainage water has been stopped. Due to the stoppage, the water has made its way into the ground. Rain experienced by the city on Wednesday has added to the volume in the part of the ground opposite the Tibetan market.

Some months back, the Dehradun District Magistrate had ordered the use of the Parade Ground as a “vikram” terminal.

Although no sports activity is going on at Parade Ground due to the summer heat, sportspersons have voiced their concern over the issue.

Jaswinder Singh, who practices handball, said, “The drain water that has been diverted into the Parade Ground can prove to be a health hazard for players.” He pointed out that already few players have stopped coming to the ground for routine practice.

Interestingly, District Sports Officer UC Khatri dismissed the charge that the collection of water would affect sports activity. Rather, he terms the development as beneficial.

“Watering the ground was proving to be a big problem. The waterlogging will help the grass to grow before we begin with our next event in August.”

He added, “The water collection in the field is not going to affect us as we have already completed our games schedule for the year. And by August, this water won’t last and therefore, it is not a problem.”

The water at the ground may not pose any problem to the District Sports Office’s annual games chart as their event list for the year is complete, but for those coming for daily practice to the ground will definitely be affected.

Moreover after weeks of waterlogging, the ground will not be fit to stage the next sporting event in August.

The 19.5-acre Parade Ground is used by the sports fraternity of Dehradun to play football, table tennis, badminton, judo, athletics, volleyball, basketball, boxing, cricket, handball and baseball.

Besides holding public functions like the Independence Day and Republic Day parade and political rallies, a multi-purpose indoor stadium and the office of the district sports officer are also situated at the Parade Ground.

Former Chief Minister ND Tiwari had laid the foundation stone for converting the ground into a stadium. But the incumbent government has decided to shelve the proposal for building an international-level stadium in Parade Ground.

They are seeking land for the stadium in Raipur on the outskirts of the city. Therefore, the maintenance the ground is being overlooked.