Roorkee, July 30
The tussles that took place during the takeover of irrigation properties by Uttarakhand from Uttar Pradesh has taken a turn for the worse. The Uttarakhand police is contemplating stern action against UP officials for their alleged misbehaviour.

“We are collecting evidence against all Uttar Pradesh irrigation officials whose names were appeared in the FIR registered here,” said Ajay Joshi, Superintendent of Police (Rural).

The FIR was registered by Assistant Engineer (RRI) ABL Mittal at Civil Lines police station on Tuesday against Dharminder Singh Phogat, SDO, NDGC and other 40 unidentified officials of the UP Irrigation Department.

The police officer added that no person would be spared who had violated the law during the takeover of irrigation properties by Uttarakhand officials on July 27.

“The UP officials misbehaved not only with the senior officers of the state but also with the police officers,” said Joshi. The Nainital High Court on June 29 had ordered the transfer of Irrigation Department properties in Uttarakhand from Uttar Pradesh to Uttarakhand.

Amid some drama on July 27, Uttarakhand officials took over the Administrative Bhavan (Irrigation) here.

Following this, the UP Irrigation Department moved the Supreme Court seeking stay on the orders.

The apex court imposed a stay on the High Court orders on July 28. Next day, Uttarakhand officials were ousted from the bhavan by UP officials.

Uttar Pradesh officials also alleged that they had filed a complaint with the local police but no action was taken against Uttarakhand officials.

“Taking and handing over government properties is a legal process. The way Uttarakhand officials reacted will not be termed lawful,” said Navin Kumar, Executive Engineer, Northern Division Ganges Canal (Roorkee). However, he reserved his comments against the role of the police.

“I don’t want to comment on the role of the police. We have brought all details into the notice of senior functionaries,” said Navin Kumar.

The disputed irrigation properties involve 29 canals, including Gang canal, and 12 colonies in Haridwar and Roorkee, 13 canals and two colonies in Udham Singh Nagar and two colonies in Pauri Garhwal.

The next date for hearing in the apex court is August 10.

“At present, all irrigation properties in dispute in Uttarakhand are being looked after by the UP state officials,” said Navin Kumar.

Dehradun, July 30
The City Congress Committee and National Students Union of India (NSUI) locked the second gate of the DAV girls hostel alleging it to be an illegal construction done by the DAV (PG) College management with the aim to sell the property.

Former president of the city Congress, Lal Chand Sharma, along with supporters locked the second gate which was recently constructed by the DAV (PG) College management.

Lal Chand Sharma said that the hostel had been constructed to provide accommodation to girls who come to the city from far off places to study. But off late, he alleged the property was being alloted to girls studying in other institutes in the city.

Sharma alleged there was a possibility that the management was planning to sell the property and for that purpose, the second gate had been constructed.

Former deputy mayor Ajeet Rawat said, “The second gate will be a source of inconvenience to colony residents. So, it should be locked.”

On the other hand, former president of DAV (PG) College, Om Prakash Sati, said, “The college management has a plan to sell the property the same way it sold off other properties of the DAV (PG) College. We will not allow this to happen.”

Jogendra Swarup, secretary of DAV management, Kanpur, issued a fax ordering the stoppage all construction activity at the hostel.

He claimed to have given no permission for construction. Swarup will visit Dehradun next month and will review the matter.

Dehradun, July 30
The Uttarakhand unit of the Samajwadi Party (SP) today demanded that Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank should immediately call an all-party meeting to resolve the issue of permanent capital of the state.

Accusing the ruling BJP and main opposition Congress of maintaining a silence on the issue, the state president of SP, Vinod Barthwal, dared both parties to publicly announce their stand.

“Neither the state BJP president nor his Congress counterpart have spoken even a single word on the issue. This gives the impression that it suits both parties to keep the issue alive for the reasons best known to them,” he said.

The SP leader suggested the government would do well to declare Gairsain the summer capital. This would be the best solution to the nagging problem, he said.

He termed the hue and cry raised by the BJP’s coalition partner Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) over the Dikshit Commission report as politically motivated.

Had the UKD been sincere in its demand of making Gairsain the permanent capital, it should have set up its party headquarters there, he added.

Barthwal demanded a prompt response from the CM on the issue. He held the BJP responsible for allowing the issue to reach the present stage.

Political observers also felt that had the BJP leadership declared the permanent capital at the time of formation of the state during the NDA regime, the issue would have been settled then.

The residents of some villages around Dehradun, which have been recommended as possible sites for the new capital, are already up in arms against land acquisition for the purpose.

The observers are also of the view that the middle path adopted by the SP is worth trying as this will leave no scope for votaries of either Dehradun or Gairsain as the state capital to allege any discrimination against the people of hills or plains.

Barthwal assured cooperation of his party to the government provided it was sincere in resolving the issue in the larger interest of the state.

The SP delegation would meet the CM to give him the idea of Gairsain as the summer capital, he added. 

Dehradun, July 30
Matbar Singh Kandari, Minister for Minor Irrigation, has said the state government is keen to strengthen water resources for the irrigation sector in the entire state with special emphasis on the hills.

Speaking to mediapersons after convening a meeting with the officials of the Minor Irrigation Department, Kandari said that they were contemplating setting up of artesian wells in the hill areas of the state.

“There are 250-300 artesian wells in Doiwala area and Udham Singh Nagar district. We will undertake a survey in the entire state in order to ascertain the areas and locations where artesian wells are feasible,” Kandari said.

The minister said that besides the concept of artesian wells, they also plan to start sprinkler irrigation in mountains.

“We want to set up multi-purpose water bodies. Tubewells will be installed in mountainous areas where the ground-water level is good.

“Small streams and barrages will also be constructed in the near future,” he said.

He added that the department would also put forward the demand of having separate budgetary provisions for the tubewells and barrages.

“These steps will definitely help improve irrigation in hill areas,” asserted Kandari.

Kandari said that 35 junior engineers have been appointed in the Minor Irrigation Department on contract basis and another requirement of 60 JEs has been put up.

He said that Uttarakhand has 12.5 lakh hectares of agricultural land. “The irrigation capacity of the state has increased from 3 lakh hectares in 2007 to 7 lakh hectares in 2009.

“Our government has increased irrigation capacity by 4 lakh hectares in two years whereas the previous Congress government took five years for the same,” he claimed.

Dehradun, July 30
Famous danseuse Sudeshna Ghosh (40) committed suicide at her house in Shivlok Colony, here today. Although police have found no suicide note, Sudeshna’s neighbours disclosed that she was upset because of her elder son, who is dumb and deaf, for quite sometime.

Sudeshna was a known classical dancer and used to perform in most of the cultural events held in Doon. Her husband Amitabh Ghosh is a scientist with the Defence Institute in Dehradun.

According to Sudeshna’s maid Kamlesh, when she entered the house today she could not trace the former. However, when she reached the first floor Kamlesh found Sudeshna hanging from the ceiling fan of the room.

Kamlesh informed the neighbours, who called up a physician and Sudeshna’s husband. The doctor declared her brought-dead and later police sent the body for postmortem.

Raipur police station officer Amarjit Singh disclosed that after marrying Amitabh in 1988, Sudeshna, who belongs to Kolkata, settled in Dehradun. The couple had two sons but the elder one is dumb and deaf, due to which Sudeshna used to remain upset most of the time. 

Dehradun, July 30
Procuring a disability certificate from the CMO office is proving a Herculean task for the physically challenged, who have to be carried to the first floor of the office every Thursday.

In exchange for an important piece of government document that ensures them a honourable existence, the physically challenged persons have to endure humiliation and cantankerous attitude of the clerks.

Strangely, the location of the office has not caught the eye of the health authorities, which are committed to providing a friendly and accessible environment to the physically challenged.

“To our dismay we found the district authorities’ attitude apathetic and unimaginative. To provide assistance to the physically challenged, we set up our counter at the ground floor where preliminary form filling activity is undertaken. We had to push and fight our way in order to provide this facility to them,” said Bhavishya of Latika Roy foundation, which is undertaking all these activities from the ground floor.

However, the problem does not end here, as after the preliminary exercise the physically challenged person has to go to the first floor to collect the disability certificate the next day.

“They cannot reach the first floor all by themselves and need assistance to do so,” said Mamta, superintendent, Cheshire Home.

Even the procedure of physical examination is tedious and stretches to days, depending upon the attitude of the doctor who has to certify a persons disability at the Doon Hospital.

Meanwhile, the situation continues to be bleak for the disabled even at the much-publicised camps that are periodically held by government and non-government organizations, which too have failed to provide the much-needed relief. 

Dehradun, July 30
Taking a serious view of complaints regarding black-marketeering of domestic LPG cylinders and distribution of ration at the government fair prices shops in the state capital, the government has sought a report from the district administration.

Action has been also recommended against guilty officials.

The secretary, food and civil supplies department, Rajiv Chandra has shot off a letter to the District Magistrate D. Senthil Pandian and sought a report regarding measures taken by the administration to curb this malpractice.

Notably, the black-marketeering of essential items as well as LPG cylinders has been going on despite directions by the minister concerned and the Chief Minister in this regard.

Sources said the office of the district food and civil supplies had failed in its duty to monitor the situation due to which a large section of consumers were facing difficulties in availing these items.

Consumers have also not got any relief despite frequent complaints to higher administrative authorities regarding non-availability of essential items at the rates and quantity fixed under the rules.

Chandra has made it clear in the letter that responsibility should be fixed on any employee or official of the district office concerned who is found guilty of connivance or negligence in this regard.

Meanwhile, the tough talk has led to desired results. The district food and civil supplies office on Wednesday set up a control room to enable the consumers to lodge complaints about the Public Distribution System (PDS) 
even though the government had issued instructions long before.

Dehradun, July 30
A three-day stir by collectorate employees started in Doon today. Employees shunned work and staged a demonstration under the banner of Uttarakhand Ministerial Collectorate Karmchari Sangh accusing the district administration of ignoring their demand for promotions.

President of the Association Ashish Verma said the collectorate employees were in no mood to compromise this time and pledged to continue with the protest till their demands were accepted. Meanwhile, in another protest Uttarakhand Kranti Dal members sought better facilities for the Dehradun Municipal Corporation employees.

Led by the women wing chairman Pramila Rawat, UKD workers said the lack of adequate safety and other equipment for municipal employees was affecting daily works.

The protesters also demanded better sanitary arrangements within the city and submitted a memorandum to the district administration in this regard.

Prominent among those who took part in the protest were Dharmendra Kaithait, Saroj Kashyap, Narayan Singh Rawat and Furkan Ahmed. 

Dehradun, July 30
Eleven Star continued their winning spree today at the District Football League. Eleven Star hammered Junior Cantt 4-0 thereby placing themselves comfortably at the second spot in Pool C with 16 points.

Akranta team lead Pool A by nine points, Doon Star top Pool B with 15 and Doon Valley lead pool D with 15 points.

It was a close contest between Junior Cantt and Eleven Star in the first half and the first half was goalless. Junior Cantt’s inexperience cost them the match as they missed out on a number of opportunities to score against their experienced opponents.

Junior Cantt came close to scoring in the 10th minute but its forward line failed to coordinate well.

In the 20th minute, Junior Cantt forward line again created a good move from the right but failed to find the net.

In the second half, Eleven Star regained their rhythm to score four goals. Eleven Star team scored their first goal in 40th minute through Satya Prakash.

One minute later, Satya Prakash made it 2-0. The scoring did not stop for Satya Prakash who completed his hat-trick in the 49th minute. Rahul scored the fourth goal in the 50th minute.

In the second match, 1/5 Gorkha Rifle defeated Bajrang Club 4-0. Gorkha Rifle was on the offensive from the beginning and scored their first goal in the 23rd minute through Bikash.

The second goal came through Jshring in the 25th minute. At half time, it was 2-0 in Gorkha Rifle’s favour.

In the second half, Gorkha Rifle increased their lead by two goals making it 4-0. Binod scored the third goal in the 48th minute. In the closing minutes, Bikash scored his second goal in the 69th minute making it 4-0.

Dehradun, July 30
The Uttarakhand State Athletics Association will organise the 21st North Zone Junior Athletic Championship from August 1 at Maharana Pratap Sports College. Defending champions Haryana will give tough competition to other teams at the meet.

Addressing a press conference here today, secretary of the Uttarakhand State Athletics Association, Sandeep Sharma said that 650 athletes from eight states will participate in 171 events at the championship.

Approximately 120 athletes representing Uttarakhand will take part. Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal will inaugurate the meet.

A technical support team of the Athletic Federation of India has already arrived in Dehradun. The team of doctors that is headed by Rakesh Gupta will verify the age of the participants through medical tests.

Sharma said that Uttarakhand athletes have been doing well at the national level in middle and long-distance races. They are expected to do well at the meet.

However, star athletes of the state - Pankaj Dimri and Vineet Malik - will miss out on the championship as they are attending a national camp.

At the conference, Rakesh Gupta said that Uttarakhand will also be organising the 7th National Inter-District Athletic Championship at Haridwar later this year.

He said that the championship will be organised in the u-14 and u-16 category in which around 400 districts from all over the country are expected to participate.

The championship is expected to witness the participation of around 4,000 athletes.

The events in u-14 category are 60m, 200m races, discus throw, long jump, shot put and high jump. In the u-16 category, the events are 100m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, long jump, shot put, javelin, discuss throw and 100m hurdles.

World c’ship: Satish to coach judo girls Sports Authority of Indian (SAI) coach Satish Sharma has been selected as the coach of the Indian girls team that will participate in the World Cadet Judo Championship to be held in Hungary from August 4 to 10.