Haridwar, June 13
After a landmark victory from Haridwar constituency in the general election and becoming a state minister in the Union council of ministers, Harish Rawat receives a grand welcome each time he visits the city.

Rawat, who reached Haridwar by the Mussoorie Express today, was once agin given a rousing welcome at the station.

Later, he met party workers and attended various functions, including investiture ceremony of Sanskrit University and felicitation ceremony for him becoming part of Union council of ministers. He also paid a visit to party executive members’ houses.

“The faith reposed by people of Haridwar in me and by the party means more responsibility as well as expectations. I will do my best to live up to them,” said Rawat.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand movement agitators also met the minister today. A delegation under Uttarakhand Kranti Manch (UKM) apprised Rawat of the situation and urged him to take steps for identification of those who fought for separate statehood movement. Rawat was in Lal Dangh area at a function organized in his honour.

Led by JP Pandey, the members demanded that those who actively participated in the movement should get proper benefits.

“Eight years have passed since Uttaranchal was formed, but the government has not been able to identify the activists, let alone giving them benefits,” said Pandey.

The members also put forth the matter of companies flouting the provision of 70% reservation for the locals.

Babita Dandriyal, city chief of the women cell of UKM, said in SIDCUL companies are openly recruiting outsiders and only 30% reservation is being given to the locals. Rawat assured that he would look into the matter.

Accompanying the delegation were Mira Raturi, Dr Amar Singh Ahtiyan Dr Megh Ram Sharma, Uttarakhand Sanyukta Sangarsh Samiti’s Mahesh Gaud, Shahnawaz Khan, Tejpal Singh and Shamsher Khan.

Dehradun, June 13
Changing its position on the issue of special package of incentives for the industry, Uttarakhand government has now sought its extension up to 2020, instead of 2013, at the recent meeting of the state finance ministers held in New Delhi.

After returning from New Delhi yesterday, cabinet minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, who represented the state in the meeting, said the government sought extension of the package because Central assistance was crucial in strengthening the industrial base in the young state carved eight years ago

The urgency on part of the state government is due to the fact that the period of the current package is expiring on March 31, 2010. This means the state will no more remain an attractive destination for outside industrial investment. Nishank termed the demand as justified because the Centre had acted arbitrarily in shortening the original period of the package by three years.

The NDA government had granted the package in 2003 for 10 years, but the UPA government reduced it to seven years. The matter was taken up several times with the Centre in the past but without success.

Chief Minister BC Khanduri had a couple of days ago written to the Prime Minister in this regard. So crucial seems the case that the BJP-led state government has, of late, started seeking cooperation of the newly elected Congress MPs from the state in this regard. It is gratifying to note that the Congress MPs have reciprocated positively to the government overtures.

Welcoming the state government move, chairman of Uttarakhand State Council of CII Rakesh Oberoi said the Union government should relent in the longterm interests of the nascent state. According to experts, the much sought after extension, if granted, could ensure phenomenal inflow of industrial investment into the state because the package allows excise and income tax exemptions to any unit for 10 years from commissioning of its commercial production.

So, any new unit even if set up in 2020, will continue to enjoy these exemptions till 2030. That way, the cumulative gains for the state, if calculated from 2003, when it was originally granted, would last for 27 years.

Dehradun, June 13
Nurses continued to abstain from work for the second day today. Only skeletal services were functioning at the hospitals and health centres in the state.

The Doon Hospital authorities have begun discharging patients who are not critically ill early. In the emergency ward, only critically ill patients were being attended to with the help of nurses, who are undergoing training, and doctors.

“The nurses’ leave has hit our hospital hard. We have only 150 patients at the moment. Doctors have taking up the additional burden of attending to patients. Trainee nurses and intern doctors are giving round-the-clock duties,” said Dr RK Pant, CMS, Doon Hospital.

Meanwhile, the nurses have threatened to go on strike from Monday if their demands are not met. Santosh K Singh, president, Uttarakhand Nurses Service Association, said that the nurses have been demanding an upgrade in pay and other allowances at par with the central government since February 2008.

“We have adopted peaceful and responsible methods while keeping our agitation alive. Each time, we were assured by the authorities of a positive decision but we have been badly let down,” she added.

Talks between the office-bearers of the nurses association and the government representatives broke down late last night as the nurses did not get anything concrete from government officials.

“We will return to work only after a government order is issued on our demands. The authorities are only giving us verbal assurances and we are not willing to buy it,” said Anjana Bhowmik, secretary, Uttarakhand Nurses Service Association.

All major hospitals in the state are understaffed. As per the Indian Nursing Council (INC) norms, a single nurse is assigned five patients but in Doon Hospital and District Women’s Hospital, a single nurse is made to look after eight patients.

The Doon Hospital alone requires at least 180 nurses but there are only 71 nurses while the Women’s Hospital requires at least 26 nurses and there are only 20.

“Our main grouse is that while we were selected as per the INC norms but our pay scales are nowhere near our counterparts. We are overstretched at work. At times, one nurse has to take care of 30 patients. Yet our demands are not being met,” said Krishna Rawat, a nurse at the District Women’s Hospital.

Haridwar, June 13
Even as the fortnight-long agitation by BAMS first- year students has been put on hold till July on the assurances given by state education minister Madan Kaushik, normalcy returned to the medical colleges of Rishikul and Gurukul. Most of the students have now left the hostels for summer vacations.

Earlier, Kaushik had faced the wrath of students and locals for not interfering in the affiliation issue. However, with his involvement now, students are much more relaxed. Kaushik has assured that the matter would be brought to the notice of Chief Minister BC Khanduri and necessary steps would be taken to solve it.

He had also said a representative would be sent from the state to the regulatory body, CCIM (Central Council of Indian Medicine), if deemed necessary, so as to get re-affiliation for both the first- year batches of Rishikul Ayurvedic and Gurukul Ayurvedic colleges for the 2008-09 session.

However, Jitendra Pandey, joint union representative of both the colleges, said if the matter was not solved till July 10, the agiatation would be renewed.

Meanwhile, with the strike on hold, patients heaved a sigh of relief as the hullabaloo of the agitation had posed a lot of problems for them. “Now, the patients will not get disturbed,” said a doctor from the Gurukul Hospital.

Gurukul College Dean Dr DN Sharma has expressed optimism that soon the accreditation matter will get resolved. Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Gurukul University College Union (GUCU) have also expressed happiness over the state government’s assurances.

Dehradun, June 13
Bracing up to the threat posed by influenza A H1N1 virus, the State Health Authorities have established call centres in all the districts of the state for surveillance purpose.

Surveillance is the foundation of all efforts to understand and control swine flu. “The call centres have been established in all the hospitals along with isolation wards and emergency beds at each ward,” said Dr HS Negi, state nodal officer, Integrated Disease Surveillance officer.

The health department has kept a stock of 2,000 oseltamivir or Tami flu capsules, a letter has also been dispatched to the central government for procuring of testing kits, personal protective equipment and masks that have to be sent to all the district hospitals.

“While there is no need to panic in the state, nevertheless as a measure caution we have asked for 3,000 additional capsules, personal protective equipment comprising of 95 masks that are triple layered and help in providing protection to the doctors and nurses,” said Dr PL Joshi, DG Health.

The monitoring of swine flu disease patterns is essential for identification of high-risk groups. The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza like fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and cough.

While the summer heat kills the germs, preventing it’s spread, the approaching rainy season can prove to be risky. “The rainy season can provide the appropriate temperature for the virus to propagate. Some patients may even report runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. If the patient does not respond to the treatment in five-seven days then the case can get serious,” emphasised Dr KC Pant, senior physician, Doon Hospital.

Haridwar, June 13
The Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has added another feather to its cap by bagging a Rs 4,000 crore contract outclassing European and Chinese bids.

BHEL bagged the record order from Hindalco Industries Limited for the supply and erection of the main plant package for the company’s upcoming power plant.

The plant has a capacity of 6 x 150 mw and is situated at Aditya Aluminium in Sambalpur district of Orissa.

BHEL is a Navratna’s accorded status company and the order comes close on the heels of an order bagged by BHEL for a Hindalco’s boiler and turbine generator package for its power plant at Mahan Aluminium in Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh.

What sets aside this mega deal is that this is the largest captive power plant order placed by any industry in India and signifies the dexterity of BHEL in quality generation equipment worldwide.

All manufacturing units of BHEL - Trichy, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Bangalore and Haridwar - will manufacture equipment for the project. The erection of the Mahan project will be undertaken by BHEL’s power sector, western region, Nagpur, and that of the Aditya project will be undertaken by the company’s power sector, southern region, Chennai.

Dehradun, June 13
Stalemate continues over implementation of Sixth Pay Commission recommendations for the employees of state’s local bodies and development authorities.

The talks held at the state secretariat here yesterday between the delegation of Uttarakhand Nikay Karamchari Mahasangh and principal secretary to the Chief Minister BC Khanduri remained inconclusive.

So the mahasangh will go ahead with plan to go on a statewide indefinite strike from June 15 as announced earlier even as the government has asked the delegation to give it more time to resolve the matter. Civic services were badly affected in the state due to one-day boycott of work in the concerned offices on the issue.

Emerging after the marathon round of talks, senior vice-president of mahasangh, Surya Prakash Ranakoti, said that principal secretary Subhash Kumar informed that the proposal to implement revision of salaries as per pay panel recommendations had been put before the cabinet meeting.

The cabinet decided to refer the matter to the cabinet sub-committee under chairmanship of health minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.

“The principal secretary has assured us that the matter will be taken up with the Chief Minister who also holds the finance portfolio but this might take some time,” he said.

But the mahasangh leaders were in no mood to relent. They insisted that the government had failed to honour its commitment given on February 25 that the issue would be clinched in 40 days after studying the whole matter. So much so, the commitment was made in writing. “We will deliberate on the issue of granting more time to the government in the meeting of our organisation on June 14,” added Ranakoti.

Dehradun, June 13
Garhwal Sports Academy registered a thumping 98 runs victory over Uttar Pradesh team at the Krishna Devi Garg Memorial here today.

Batting first Garhwal Sports Academy piled a mammoth total of 186 runs in allotted 20 overs. It was a shaky start for the team with its opening batsman Gopal getting out for 4 runs. It was Shamad’s fiery innings of 93 runs of just 51 balls.

He hit 11 fours and 3 sixes in his innings that paved the path for Garhwal Sports Academy teams’ victory. Suraj supported Shamad on the other end to score 41 runs of 31 balls. For Uttar Pradesh team Karan and Vipin picked up two wickets each.

Chasing the victory target of 187 runs, Uttar Pradesh team was all out for 88 runs in 12.2 overs. Despite having a good start UP failed to capitalised on the start. For the team Kausik was the highest run scorer for the team with 31 runs of 12 balls. Jagpal scored 22 runs. But none other batsman put up any resistance and the whole team was all out for 88 runs. For Garhwal Sports Academy team, Surag and Shyam picked up three wickets each.

Meanwhile, in the second Guru Drona Cricket Academy won the match by 4 runs against Hathibarkala Eleven. Batting first Guru Drona Academy piled 129 runs in allotted 20 overs. Abhishek was the highest run scorer with 51 runs. For Hathibarkala team Ashok and Pradeep took two wickets each.

In reply, Harthibarkala team could only manage to score 125 runs for nine wickets. Chinu made 63 runs of 55 balls. For Guru Drona team Vishal was the lead wicket taker with four wickets.

Dehradun, June 13
6/8 GR team will meet Eleven Star in the final of the 1st Narandra Singh Kharola Football Tournament.

The first semifinal at Mahandra Ground here today between 6/8 GR and Doon Star was a closely contested one.

Both teams were on the offensive right from the beginning and struggled hard to gain an upper hand early in the match.

6/8 GR team launched a sharp attack in the 13th minute from the right flank to penetrate into the Doon Star defence. But their forward failed to take advantage of the opportunity.

Doon too made a number of attacks at the 6/8 GR goal but their attacks were disrupted halfway. At half time, both teams were 0-0.

In the second half, 6/8 GR team took control of the proceedings. In the 60th minute, 6/8 GR team succeeded in scoring the first goal through Ananad Thapa who dodged two defenders and skillfully placed the ball in the Doon Star goal.

In the second semifinal, Eleven Star beat Gipsy team 2-1. Eleven Star team scored the first goal in the 15th minute of the match through Siddharth.

The second goal for the team was scored in the 35 minute through Dipen Thapa. For Gipsy, Kuldeep Rawat scored a goal in the 55th minute.