Pitthoragrh, September 7
Following reports of Chinese incursions in the Ladakh sector, Border Roads Organisation (BRO) officials have now woken up to clear the Tanakpur-Tawaghat Highway No. 125 that is vital for the transport link to the China border in the sector.

The strategically vital link road had been closed since February 6 due to massive landslides.

It seems that the reported Chinese trespass into Ladakh did move the BRO officials in this sector as they have decided to clear the 1,000 tons of debris lying on the highway since February.

“We will clear the road within 15 days after the heavy rain stops,” said JK Narang, Chief Engineer, ‘Deepak’ project of the BRO.

Essential supplies to the forces on Indo-China Border is either being done by helicopters or by porters beyond Chautuldhar.

“If the rain is not able to wash away the debris, BRO engineers will start heavy blasting to clear it.

“Manual clearing is not the option at the moment as many of our dozer workers have been hit on their head by shooting stones while they were clearing the highway,” said an officer of the 66 Road Construction Company (RCC) of the BRO.

Pitthoragarh district administration officers quoting BRO sources said that despite two proposals about either constructing a 13.5 km parallel road from the NHPC surge shaft to Kopal Khet village to circumvent the landslide-prone area or constructing a 7-km-long tunnel to find a permanent solution of ever-shooting boulders in this part of the road have been sent to higher authorities in May but no decision has yet been taken.

“If the Director General Border Roads (DGBR) wants to construct a parallel road, they will have to start the process of taking over revenue land as the area falls in the Askot Wildlife Sanctuary,” said Navneet Panday, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Dharchula.

The villagers, who are facing difficulties after this road was closed in February, are demanding a 35-km-long alternative way from Chaetalkot via Khela to Tawaghat.

“We have put this demand before the BRO chief engineer who assured us that the highway will be cleared in 15 days,” Hoshiyar Singh Kher, block parmukh of Dharchula. 

Dehradun, September 7
In a bid to make Uttarakhand tobacco-free, the state government is launching a project on an experimental basis that will involve school and college students under Uttarakhand Smoke Free Initiative (USFI).

To be started in association with World Long Foundation-South Asia (WLF-SA), the project envisages formation of a Tobacco Free Brigade (TBF) in each educational institution comprising students of Classes 11 and 12.

Dehradun and Tehri districts have been selected for the purpose in the first phase.

Secretary Health, Medical and Family Welfare, Keshav Desiraju informed that heads of the instructions in both districts have already been given the task of identifying a teacher to be appointed as nodal officer.

He or she would be responsible for constituting the proposed TBF and work as brand ambassador for carrying out the campaign in the institution concerned.

The first sensitisation meeting of nodal officers of Dehradun and Tehri districts will be held on September 10 and 11, respectively. During the meetings, the nodal officers will present the proposed activities to be undertaken for the purpose in their respective 
institutions.

They have been informed to furnish this information to Dr Asha Mathur, joint director, Directorate of Health.

All the institutions in both districts as well as the nodal officers will regularly be apprised about other activities to be planned to make this initiative more effective. They have also been asked to undertake the project with a feeling of a mission.

Besides schools and colleges, the focus will be on professional institutions such as polytechnics and Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). Based on assessment in both districts, the project will be replicated all over the state, added Desiraju.

Haridwar, September 7
Instead of joining any major political party, former Samajwadi Party state chief Ambrish Kumar along with other workers formed a separate forum called ‘Rashtriya Krantikari Manch’ (RKM), here today.

RKM conveners said the Manch would be in place even if they join any other political outfit in the future. Terming the forum as closer to Samajwadi ideology but different in working and management, Ambrish said the Manch would be the voice of farmers and the downtrodden. They would also raise all social and political issues concerning people of the state.

Taking a cue from SP’s poor performance in the recently held Parliamentary elections, Ambrish said the Manch would have a pan-Uttarakhand approach.

Elaborating on their agenda, former state SP general secretary Murli Manohar, who is also one of the founders of RKM, said they would address issues that directly concern common man and farmers.

“Farmers should be given 50 per cent subsidy in power, fertilisers and water rates. Also payment of hiked sugarcane rates should be immediately released and special drought package given to them,” said Murli Manohar. The Manch members said the CM’s cognizance of the slow and low quality work for the Mahakumbh Mela was mere showbiz. They pointed out that despite the budget touching 400 crore there were no multilane highways and condition of roads had gone from bad to worse.

“For the past two-and-a-half years, the BJP government has done nothing, but now with just 90 days left for the Mahakumbh they want to do it all,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Manch also released its 16-point programme that includes domicile issue, permanent residential certificate to those who have been living in Uttarakhand for past 15 years, formation of a human rights commission for the state, allotment of houses to slum dwellers, new vacancies for employees on contract et al. 

Dehradun, September 7
Alleging step-motherly treatment towards their constituencies, Uttarakhand Congress legislators today courted arrest in Dehradun. The arrest followed much commotion on part of Congress legislators who said that during the two-and-a-half-year rule of the BJP, constituencies represented by Congress MLAs have been completely neglected.

Congress MLAs and the police indulged in minor physical struggles at times during the protest.

In a planned move, Congress MLAs led by Leader of the Opposition in the assembly, Harak Singh Rawat, had decided to stage a dharna in front of the Chief Minister’s residence.

The MLAs gathered at Bindal Bridge in the morning and started for the Chief Minister’s residence in a procession.

While renting the air with anti-BJP slogans, the MLAs were prevented from reaching the Yamuna Colony residence of the Chief Minister. The police had put up barricades at the entrance of the colony.

As the Congress MLAs remained adamant about reaching the Chief Minister’s residence, this led to on-and-off skirmishes between the MLAs and the police.

Harak Singh Rawat, along with Congress’ Lakshman Chowk MLA Dinesh Agarwal, tried to force their way through the barricades but were prevented from doing so by the police.

Addressing party workers who had gathered at the Yamuna Colony, Harak Singh Rawat said the Congress would not tolerate discrimination by the state government.

“Speedy development is taking place in the constituencies represented by BJP MLAs, but it is not the same with assembly segments represented by the Congress,” said Rawat. He accused the BJP government of resorting to ‘select’ development.

Referring to talks with the Chief Minister yesterday, Harak Singh Rawat pointed out that the CM wanted more time to look into the matter while they could no longer compromise on development.

The protesters submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister and also raised 20 development issues to be completed at a priority basis by the government.

Congress MLAs, in particular, raised the issue of construction of at least 50 km of new roads in their constituencies.

Sanctioning of inter and high schools, primary health centres, a community centre, a tourism centre and the installation of handpumps were some of the demands mentioned in the memorandum.

Congress MLAs Pritam Singh, Joth Singh Gunsola, Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion, Tilak Raj Behad, Dr Shailend, Manoj Tiwari and Dinesh, former Congress MLA Indira Hridyesh, Shoorveer Singh Sajwan, Ram Prasad Tamta, Vijay Pal Singh Sajwan and Subodh Uniyal were among prominent Congress workers who courted arrest. Uttarakhand Congress president Yashpal Arya was also present on the occasion. 

Dehradun, September 7
The National Council of Teachers Education (NCTE) has again rejected the application for recognition to run the B.Ed course by the Nalanda College of Education.

Undeterred by the loss of recognition to run the B.Ed course for its failure to comply with rules and guidelines, the politically influential management of Nalanda College of Education had tried to get fresh recognition from the NCTE.

The college is being run by the Uttarakhand Society for Human Affairs (USHA) whose chairperson Savita Rawat is a teacher at DAV PG College.

She is the wife of Dr Harender Singh Rawat, who is a lecturer at Government PG College, Rishikesh.

He is working as adviser to the state agriculture department on deputation and is a close aide of a cabinet minister in the BJP-led state government.

This is one of the 21 self-financed private B.Ed institutes in the state de-recognised by the NCTE last month for their failure to adhere to the provisions of Section 17 of the NCTE Act 1993.

Running the institute from a residential building, which Rawat termed as a ‘minor thing’, was one of the major reasons behind the rejection of the new application UR-208.

“We had applied for fresh recognition because we sensed that de-recognition was imminent. We will try again after our new building in Mianwala is complete,” he said.

The Visiting Team Report (VTR) submitted at the Northern Regional Committee (NRC) meeting held from August 28 to 30 noted that the building was under construction.

The VT members were shown a residential building which was not appropriate for running the teachers training programme.

Proper science, education technology and psychology laboratories did not exist, language-learning facilities were not available. Moreover, the information required as per NCTE regulations was not available on the institute’s website.

Rawat termed the NCTE decision as wrong claiming that there was provision to have a proper building within three years of starting the institute.

He brushed away other deficiencies as of little consequence. He also termed the previous decision of de-recognition as unjustified.

“We were punished for admitting just two candidates against vacant seats in the reserved category.

“We have filed an appeal before the central committee of the NCTE against the NRC decision,” he said. The de-recognition was based on 13 deficiencies which were posted on the official website of the NCTE. 

Dehradun, September 7
The existing vacancies in the grade III and IV categories in the education department would be outsourced soon.

The education minister Govind Singh Bisht today said that after the Planning Commission imposed a ban on posts in grade III and IV, no permanent appointment can be made.

But in order to meet the demand, the appointments are likely to be made on contractual basis. He said that contractors would be pressed in to appoint candidates for these grades. All efforts would be made to give preference to local people and policy of minimum wages would be adhered to.

As per the need even new posts would be created, the minister said.

He said that the government is committed to allocate 20 per cent of seats to the poor in private schools as well. For this a committee has been formed under the chairmanship of Karen Hilton.

It may be mentioned the state has imposed complete ban on the appointment of grade III and IV employees in the state, it is believed that after the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations are implemented these categories would fail to exist.

The employees already under these grades would be absorbed as grade C employees. 

Dehradun, September 7
In a bid to resolve the differences DAV (PG) College principal has made suggestions to college election committee, in-order to carry out Student Union Elections without any 
hurdle.

The committee members had earlier claimed that college principal had overlooked the seniority while selecting the committee.

The college principal, Ashok Saxena said, “In the last few days major differences have erupted between me and election committee over seniority of the committee members. Therefore, I have decided to give committee members freedom to interchange post with each other so that they can work as per their will and start preparing for the college elections.”

Saxena said that if any committee member is unwilling to work as a member then in that case he could suggest the name of the substitute who could take his place.

Over the issue of appointing an observer for DAV (PG) College election he said that he was following the Lyngdoh Committee rules. Therefore, he was not wrong in this matter, he added.

He further said that he already held two meetings with the members but the meeting was unfruitful. Principal has already put the matter before the DAV management. 

Dehradun, September 7
Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK), a Dehradun-based non-government organisation in collboration with Talwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD) will organise a two-day workshop on ‘Role of Panchayati Institutions in Protecting Human Rights and Promotion of Democracy’ on September 8 and 9.

More than 80 elected women representatives from Uttarkashi, Bagheshwar, Tehri, Haridwar and Dehradun districts will attend the workshop, including academicians, human right activists and other civil society members.

Justice SB Sinha (retd), a former judge of the Supreme Court, will inaugurate the workshop while Justice GN Ray (retd), a former Supreme Court judge who is presently chairman of the Press Council of India will preside over the inaugural function.

Dehradun, September 7
Little Star beat Western Boys team 1-0 at the ongoing District Football League here today.

Little Star took an early lead in the 11th minute through Dipankar to take their opponent by surprise. In the 20th minute Little Star came close on scoring its goal but it was excellent work by the goalkeeper under the bar that denied Little Star an opportunity to goal.

In the second half, Little Star was on the defensive, giving little opportunity to Western Boys to score an equaliser. The team held on to their lead throughout the match. Western Boys kept on trying to fetch an equaliser but failed.

Meanwhile, in the second match Rishikesh defeated Doon United by 1-0. In the first half both teams were locked at 0-0. For Rishihesk team Ritesh scored in the 42nd minute.

Meanwhile, THS Mussoorie and TNMF School Clementown made it to the semifinal of the RIMC Soccer Cup Football here today. For THS Mussoorie School Tenzing Gurmey was the star performer with a double hat-trick.

In the first quarterfinalsk, THS Mussoorie completely outplayed Welham Boys, defeating them by 6-3. It was Tenzing Gurmey for THS Mussoorie who did the trick. Tenzing scored in the 2nd minute of the match to give his team an upper hand in the match.

Barely three minutes later Tenzing struck again for his team making 2-0. Welham Boys defense found it difficult to stop skillful Tenzing.

He scored the third goal for his team in the 9th minute. By the time first half came to an end, Tenzing had scored his fourth goal in the 28th minute to make the score line 4-0.

Welham Boys team looked completely demoralised in the second half and conceded two more goals.

It was Tenzing again for THS team who scored in the 9th minute and 26th minute of the second half. The score line at the end of the match was 6-2.

In the second quarterfinal, TNMF School Clementown defeated Wood Stock in a tiebreaker.

TNMF School took a lead in the 11th minute through Peme Tashi, but Wood Stock team pulled an equaliser in the 23rd minute by Chang You Lee.

In the second half TNMF school took a lead again in the match through Tenjin in the 40th minute of the match, but Wood Stock leveled the scored in the 44th minute.

The result of the match could only be decided in the tiebreaker.

Dehradun, September 7
RIMC cadets dominated the 6th Inter-School Shooting Championship held at Jaspal Rana shooting range which concludes here today.

Results:

Peep Sight Air Rifle sub-juniors: Ist Cadet Rajat Tripathi, 2nd Cadet Gaurav Kumar

Open Sight Air Rifle sub-juniors: Ist cadet Puneet Kumar, 2nd cadet Divya Raj Singh, 3rd cadet Prince

Open Sight Air Rifle juniors: Ist cadet Ankit Malik, 2nd cadet Krishan Pal Singh

Peep Sight Air Rifle juniors: Ist cadet Ashish Tiwari.

Overall, a total of 9 golds, 6 silvers and 3 bronze medals were bagged by cadets of RIMC.

The team bagged golds in Peep Sight Air Rifle (sub-juniors), Peep Sight Air Rifle (juniors), Open Sight Air Rifle Sub Juniors, Open Sight Air Rifle (juniors), Air Pistol (juniors) and Air Pistol (sub-juniors).

The officiating commandant congratulated the OIC, Shooting, Khushi Ram and the participants, for hitting the bull’s eye and bringing laurels to the school. 

Haridwar, September 7
The ninth Divisional Kabaddi Championship will get under way from September 15 at the Bhalla Intermediate College Sports Ground.

Additional District Officer Ramendra Kushwaha said that the district administration has geared itself up for the event.

The players will be put up at the Saraswati Vidya Mandir, Sector 2, Government Inter-College Anandmayi Sadan, Hari Ram Inter-College, Tarun Himalaya and Jwalapur Inter-College.

For the first time, the National Cadet Corps will be posted at the railway and bus station to guide outstation players.

District sports convener Narendra Singh said that the ground at Bhalla College will be levelled and standardised in accordance with the Kabaddi Association’s norms.

Dehradun, September 7
GGIC School registered a 5-0 victory over CNI School at the district-level women’s hockey competition organised by the District Sports Office here today.

It proved to be a one-sided match as GGIC School totally outplayed CNI School. Bimla, Mamta and Nilam were the goal scorers.

The second match was played between Welham Girls School and Monsoon Club. Welham Girls School won 3-0.