Haridwar, August 8
The central government has granted Rs 400 crore for Mahakumbh. The grant has come close on the heels of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal’s meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister P Chidambaram and finance commission vice-chief during his recent visit to the national capital.

The amount of Rs 400 crore is in addition to the Rs 350 crore that has already been allocated for the mega fair.

The Chief Minister expressed happiness over the central government’s decision though he said that it came after persistent efforts by the state government.

“I am happy that the Centre has granted money for Mahakumbh. Now, the work and facilities for the fair will get a major boost,” said Nishank.

“I talked to the Prime Minister about the magnitude and importance of the fair,” said the Chief Minister.

For the first time after assuming office, Chief Minister Nishank was reviewing the Kumbh-related work.

He expressed satisfaction over the ongoing developmental works and hoped that all permanent works such as roads, bridges and renovation as well as setting up of ghats would be over by the deadline - October 30.

“The concerned departments have been directed to complete permanent works before the deadline so that temporary works, which form a major chunk of the Kumbh-related works, can go ahead after this date,” said Nishank.

The government has released Rs 294 crore out of which Rs 166.78 lakh has been allocated to various departments.

Present at the review meeting were cabinet ministers Madan Kaushik, Diwakar Bhatt, Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary, Mela officer, DGP state, DIG Kumbh, SP Kumbh, SSP, HDA Chairman and all nodal officers of the concerned departments.

Earlier, the Chief Minister took part in several functions. At Nishkam Dham Trust, he took a meeting of party workers. He went to Nai Deep Naisotta to inaugurate a bridge.

Then, the CM headed for CCR Towers for a meeting with the mela administration and the Akhara Parishad members regarding the Kumbh.

Haridwar, August 7
In city for the first time to review Maha umbh Mela preparations, Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank today faced a protest by Uttarakhand Vikas Manch activists against the lackadaisical attitude of the ‘mela’ administration and apathy of the state government towards developmental works.

Terming the CM’s visit a mere obligation, protesters said Kumbh-related works were limited only to the files. They alleged that preparations were much better for the Ardh Kumbh Mela held in 2004.

While burning an effigy of state government, protesters raised slogans against failure of state government during the past two-and-a-half years.

“Entire state is reeling under problems created by bad governance,” alleged Sanjay Chopra, a member of the Manch. Bhoopendra Rajpoot, district convener of the Manch, said preparations were much better during the past ‘melas’. 

Dehradun, August 7
Banking services remained paralysed on the second day of the two-day strike by bank employees. Customers, especially from the business sector, had to bear the brunt of the situation.

A large number of employees gathered at Gandhi Park in the morning. They took out a protest march on Rajpur Road.

They raised slogans against the government and the Indian Bankers Association for their failure to accede to their demand of salary revision.

They also organised a symbolic traffic jam near Clock Tower. The protest passed off peacefully amid elaborate police deployment.

Though the United Forum of Bank Employees gave the nationwide call for strike in nationalised banks, private sector banks also followed in its footsteps.

No transactions took place today at leading private banks like the HDFC and ICICI. Their ATMs too ran out of cash at several places.

“I had to be content with only an account statement at the SBI and HDFC ATMs at Survey Chowk and Rajpur Road,” said Manoj Rawat, an insurance executive.

Leaders of trade and business organisations termed the strike as blackmailing tactics of the bank unions.

“Our customers are facing great inconvenience due to the non-clearance of cheques,” said Ashwini Gandhi, a money transfer dealer near Gandhi Park.

Dehradun, August 7
Albeit the state unit of the Congress party’s proposed agitation (“Gaddi Chhoro”) against corruption and other issues is set to get underway on August 9, the leader of the Opposition in Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly Dr Harak Singh Rawat today candidly admitted that corruption was prevalent during the tenure of the previous Congress government as well.

However, Rawat said corruption levels during the Congress regime were ten times less than what it is was under the present BJP rule. “Today corruption is almost ten times of what it was during our 
government,” he told mediapersons.

Interestingly, Rawat also went on to say that Congress lost elections on account of two main issues - corruption and creation of the red-beacon posts (ministerial-level posts) in bulk.

However, when asked whether the Congress was really at fault, he said, “If we lost elections, there had to be a reason. Obviously, the electorate rejected Congress because of these reasons.”

But he added that the BJP government had surpassed the Congress in distributing red-beacon posts to its party men.

“During the Congress regime, the honorarium and other allowances being given to these beneficiaries was very less, but BJP government has increase that as well,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, coming down heavily on the decision of the state cabinet to increase the royalty on quarrying, Rawat said the decision would lead to escalation in the price of construction material and was detrimental to the interests of people.

“Already the price of cement, sand and even labour has witnessed a considerable increase. Yesterday’s decision will lead to further escalation of construction material rates.

It will be very difficult for people of the state to construct houses now,” he said. Rawat alleged that since the state was formed the quarrying policy had only benefited the mafia.

“Because of the wrong decisions of the present government, people of the state now feel that they were better off as part of Uttar Pradesh,” he said.

Rawat also criticised the announcement of the state government that benefits of the Sixth Pay Commission would be given to employees of only profit-making corporations.

“This is ridiculous and great injustice to the employees. If any corporation is in loss, the entire management, including the minister concerned, is responsible and not only the employees.

“In that case, Six Pay Commission benefits should be denied to the MDs as well as GMs of these corporations as well,” he said.

Dehradun, August 7
Laboratory technicians owing allegiance to Registered Laboratory Pravidhik Sangathan today staged a demonstration outside the secretariat in support of their two-point charter of demands.

The members even threatened to stage mass suicide if their demands were not met. They were, however, stopped midway by the police force deployed outside the secretariat.

Incensed by this, president of the Sangathan Rakesh Rawat banged a brick on his head in order to draw attention of the authorities. However, even this did not work as cops pushed the protesters out of secretariat premises. Later, Rawat was given first-aid.

Vice-president of the Sangathan Prashant Vanwasi said the organisation was demanding that the technicians who have opted for Uttar Pradesh should be immediately relieved and sent to that state. “They have illegally filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court demanding immediate cancellation of registration of technicians who are state subjects of Uttarakhand,” alleged Rawat. 

Dehradun, August 7
Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has stressed on the need to pursue a sustainable model of development based on local resources.

He made the observation during interaction with the delegation led by Rakesh Oberoi, chairman, CII Uttarakhand State Council, here today.

He also sought detailed suggestions from the CII on overall development of the state.

Reiterating the CII’s commitment, Oberoi said his organisation’s work in the state would be guided by the recently prepared ‘Vision 2022: Uttarakhand’.

The document prepared by this premier industrial organisation is based on the aspirations of the people of the state.

Oberoi briefed the CM that this year, the focus of the CII would be on hill development, skill development, competitiveness and environment.

On the key recommendations of the CII’s report on development strategy for hill districts, he told the CM that this included building brand Uttarakhand as an organic green state, tourism, agri-business and connectivity.

The delegation also discussed key policy issues included linking the state to the proposed Eastern Freight Corridor and modifications in the APMC Act.

While the linking to the Eastern Freight Corridor can help reduce transportation costs for industry in and around Haridwar as well as congestion on the Delhi-Haridwar highway, the modifications in the APMC Act will enable direct linkages between farmers and corporates and make agriculture attractive for private investment.

Dehradun, August 7
Anxious over ongoing terrorism problems in the country, members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidhratiya Sena (ABVS) burned an effigy of Pakistan outside the DAV (PG) College, here today.

“Despite the division of land between India and Pakistan, the latter is still indulging in terrorist activities in India, which is dangerous for our growth,” said mahanagar president of ABVS.

“Every big city has been the target of Pakistan and many innocent people have lost their lives.

“By taking up so much time to set up an inquiry against Haafiz Sayeed, the head of Lakshar-e-Toiba group, their lenient attitude is revealed,” he added.

The members requested the Centre to carefully look into the matter.

Others present during the protest were Nitin Yaadav, Kailash Aswal, Rahul Chauhan and Kuldeep Singh.

Meanwhile, stepping up their stir, collectorate employees today forced closure of the Dehradun city tehsil.

Leading the protest, Ashish Verma, president of Uttarakhand Ministerial Collectorate Employees Union, accused the district administration of ignoring their genuine concerns. 

Dehradun, August 7
For the next five days, a feast awaits theatre buffs of Dehradun with the commencement of the Annual National Theatre Fest at the AMN Ghosh Auditorium today.

The first play titled ‘Acharya Tartuffe’ was a National School of Drama presentation. Written and directed by Prassana, it sketches the life of an ordinary family that undergoes through a period of turmoil.

One day, the head of the family Omnath brings saint Tartuffe to live with them. Gullible Omnath and his mother devote themselves wholeheartedly to the service of the saint while other family members resent their devotion. They try to make the mother and son aware of Tartuffe’s unholy ways but in vain.

Until Tartuffe begins to make overtures towards Omnath’s wife Kamini, Omnath had made up his mind to marry off his daughter Mamta to the saint.

In the end, Kamini manages to expose the evil ways of the saint.

Slick direction and spotless acting by actors made it a memorable evening.

Dehradun, August 7
Pachvadoon defeated Roshni Club by a solitary goal while Garhwal Boys beat Western Boys 4-1 at the District Football League here today.

The young Pachvadoon team played aggressive football right from the beginning and surprised their opponents in the fifth minute but missed the opportunity by a whisker.

In the 15th minute, Pachvadoon team was on the attack again but their forward was obstructed by Roshni Club’s defenders. The first half went goalless.

In the second half, Pachvadoon took control of the proceedings. They constantly mounted pressure right from the beginning.

In the 50th minute, Manoj scored for Pachvadoon.

In the second match, Garhwal Boys outclassed Western Boys 4-1. Garhwal Boys scored the first goal in the 22nd minute through Tenzing. At the end of the first half, Garhwal Boys led 1-0.

In the second half, Garhwal Boys scored three goals. Tenzing scored the second goal in 37th minute of the match to make it 2-0.

Tshring scored for Garhwal Boys in the 40th minute to make it 3-0. Nitin scored the fourth goal for his team.

Western Boys could only manage a goal in the 56th minute through Naveen to make it 4-1.

Dehradun, August 7
Uttarakhand Police has emerged the strongest team at the District Football League which is under way at Pavilion Ground for the past 20 days. The team has won all its pool matches to score 15 points.

The dominance of the team could be gauged from the fact that in its five matches, it has scored 31 goals and just conceded one goal against the New Gipsy team. After the league matches, 12 teams, three from each pool, will be selected for the Super League stage.

The six teams which are already in the fray to enter in Super League stage are Doon Star, Eleven Star, Doon Valley, 1/5 Gorkha Rifle and 6/8 Gorkha Rifle.

The teams with a possibility to enter into the next stage include Akranta, Cantt Blues, Sports College, Shivalik, CT Young and Vijay Cantt.

This year, the league is of a longer duration and will last three months. Till now, 93 matches have been played at the league and as many as 489 goals scored.

Three hat-tricks have been scored. Madhav of Sarvodiya team scored the first one and the second came from Khukri team’s Sagar.

The Uttarakhand Police’s Veer Singh, who is the highest goal scorer in the league, is a strong contender for the Golden Boot trophy.

He has scored 12 goals that include a hat-trick. The second contender for the golden boot is Deepak Kandari of Uttarakhand Police.

The teams with the highest goals are Uttarakhand Police 31 goals, Doon Star 19 goals, Doon Valley 16 goals, 6/8 Gorkha 14, New Gipsy 12 goals, Cantt Blues 12 goals, Eleven Star 11 goals and Khukri 12.