Dehradun, September 11
Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank today issued directions for preparation of a proposal to curb pilferage of power so that revenue resources of the state can be augmented.

He observed this during a presentation based on suggestions made by the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) on power reforms.

The CM attributed the nagging problem of pilferage to loopholes in the distribution system due to which the state was being deprived of benefits of total power generation.

He instructed the chairman of Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited to prepare a comprehensive proposal by taking into view suggestions of SERC to minimise line losses and curb pilferage of power. He gave a nod for outsourcing of competent workforce for the purpose.

Instructions were also given to recover outstanding bills from the government and private institutional consumers. Nishank said uninterrupted power supply to the people of the state was on the priority list of the government.

He directed the Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited to start a special drive to ensure that industrial units pay for the sanctioned load.

Chief Minister Nishank also issued directions to identify the officials whose negligence caused financial loss to their respective corporations.

Those found guilty should be made accountable so that the loss could be recovered from them, he said.

Dehradun, September 11
The CPI will launch a statewide mass agitation on the issue of price rise and rampant corruption in the Public Distribution System. For this, other Left parties and like-minded political and social 
organisations will also be taken along.

Secretary, state unit of theCPI, Samar Bhandari announced this while addressing party workers during a demonstration organised at Gandhi Park here today on a call given by the state council of the CPI. Similar demonstrations were organised at all district headquarters.

Addressing the protestors, Bhandari held the Congress and BJP-led governments at the Centre and the state responsible for the vertically rising prices of essential commodities.

Due to the state government’s failure to curb corruption, common people were deprived of availing items of daily needs, including foodgrains and kerosene, at fair price shops.

Dehradun, September 11
The Uttarakhand unit of the All-India Democratic Women’s Association has blamed the Union government of failing to fulfill its promise of getting the Women’s Reservation Bill passed in Parliament within 100 days of its rule.

Indu Naudiyal, general secretary of the association, charged that the Union government is delaying the matter in the name of getting consensus from different political parties.

She alleged that on September 12 the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government would be completing its hundred days in the office but failed to do any serious effort to push the Bill.

In a memorandum submitted to Dehradun District Magistrate D Senthil Pandyan for onward transmission to the President of India, Naudiyal said the President in her address on June 4 to Parliament had assured that the government would try to pass the Women’s Reservation Bill paving way for reservation of seats in Parliament and state assemblies.

She charged that the Central government has failed to show any commitment to get the bill passed in the budget session of Parliament. She appealed to the President of India to use her good offices to pressurise the government to get the bill passed in both the Houses of Parliament. 

Dehradun, September 11
Dehradun Municipal authorities today raided Vishal Mega Mart confiscating expired beverages. Acting on a complaint, a team of Dehradun Municipal authorities led by senior health officer, Dr Gurupal Singh conducted a surprise raid at the Rajpur Road situated shopping mall- Vishal Mega Mart and confiscated certain number of expired beverages.

Earlier a customer, who had consumed a cold drink purchased from Vishal Mega Mart, had complained of dizziness and had brought the matter to the notice of the Dehradun Municipal authorities following which the MC team swung into action.

Expiry date cold drink bottles were found from the mall during the raid,” BS Jayara, senior official of Dehradun Municipal Corporation. “We have served the notice to the mall owner under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 37 of 1954,” he added.

This is not the first time that punitive action has come against Vishal Mega Mart. On March 13, this year, various raids were conducted at leading food stores, including Vishal Mega Mart.

Several inferior quality food items and beverages were seized which were being sold in full violation of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.

Chief Food Inspector GC Kandpal attached to the Chief medical officer, Doon Hospital and a team of Tehsildars conducted raids at Amartex, Vishal Mega Mart and Gupta Provision store (Dila Ram Bazar) on Rajpur Road.

The Uttarakhand Health Department had also issued directives to curb the rampant sale of inferior imported foodstuff mainly comprising chocolates, noodles and cold drinks by hi-end food stores in the city.

The health authorities held that these stores were allegedly selling products without paying attention to the to their labeling and packaging.

“Usually, these products do not contain lot and batch number and there are no mention of the contents being used,” said a senior health official. 

Dehradun, September 11
The number of influenza A (H1N1) virus positive cases continue to rise in the state with the total going to 30 now. The state nodal office today received one more report of a 20-year-old woman, a resident of Mehuwala, who tested positive.

Meanwhile, the state nodal officer said as per the WHO warnings and the Central government’s directives, “We have begun making advance preparation for the second phase that has been termed by the WHO as the most virulent phase.

“We will have to take necessary steps to keep a stock of Tamiflu medicines at primary and community health centres. At the moment, only the districts have been supplied with the Tamiflu medicines,” said Dr Pankaj Jain, state nodal officer.

With most of the parents deeming it fit to take their children home, Doon School is empty now.

The school authorities continue to maintain that the school has decided to extend the period of inactivity until the evening of September 21. No new case was reported today.

Yesterday, one more student tested positive.

Dean of the school Piyush Malviya said the school continued to work closely with the state health authorities.

In most schools, morning assemblies have been suspended.

“We had dispatched the Central government’s guidelines about limiting group activities to the minimum, refraining from travelling and even conducting conferences at schools on August 31, but the school authorities have been a little late in responding to the call,” said Dr Jain.

Dehradun, September 11
For the third day in succession, the twin shrines of Gangotri and Yamunotri remained cut-off from the rest of Uttarakhand due to landslides across the approach roads although the district authorities are struggling hard to clear the debris.

The initial efforts to clear the road were disrupted by more landslides.Incessant rains at several places on the highways had disrupted the “Chardham Yatra” in Garhwal region yesterday.

Apart from local authorities, personnel of the Public Works Department and Border Roads Organisation have been pressed into service to clear the debris.

Uttarakhand has been lashed by heavy showers during the past 24 hours with the capital Dehradun recording 102.5 mm, Mukteshwar 94.1 mm and Dharchula in Kumaon 60 mm rain.

Dehradun, September 11
An Army adventure trekking team was flagged off by Major-Gen MN Raskina, from the Golden Key premises here today.

It is a 16-member team of the 6/8 Gorkha Rifle with two senior officers, which will go from Uttarakashi to Kedarnath.

It is a 10-day-long journey, which will cover 150 km. The team is being led by Major Mandakini Thakur.

Dehradun, September 11
A balm to the troubled Indo-Nepalese relationship comes in the form of the first International Poets Meet of India and Nepal, who will converge, here tomorrow.

The meet is expected to boost Indo-Nepalese ties as poets and critics from both countries will discuss the prevailing status of literature in these two nations and how it can act as a catalyst in strengthening relationship.

Being organised jointly by Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, and BP Koirala India-Nepal foundation would be inaugurated by the acting ambassador of Nepal Khush Narayan Shreshth.

The participation of popular poets from Nepal who provided strength and gave vision to the anti-monarchy movement like Dharmender Premarshi, Usha Sherchan, Bhuwan Dudhana, Shravan Mukarund and others is expected to lend prestige to the meet.

Stating this today at a press conference Durga Prasad Shreshtha, convener of the International Hindi-Nepali Poets Meet said that the first meet would go a long way in cementing the ties between the two neighbours that have similarity of culture and religion.

“Literature and poetry can often help in building bridges and we are optimistic that the meet would provide an opportunity to the poets and critics of these nations to shed light on the Hindi and Nepali literary scene,” said Durga Prasad Shreshtha.

A total of five Nepali poets, five critics and five Hindi poets, five critics and few Nepali poets from India would be participating in the meet. From India the prominent critics and poets include Kailash Vajpayee, Krishna Datt Paliwal, Sunita Jain, Budhinath Mishra and Leeladhar Jagudri.

Also, Nepali poets like Jeewan Namdund, Diwakar Pradhan and others would be here at the meet.

The BP Koirala India-Nepal Foundation (BPKF) was started in 1991 through a historic Memorandum of Understanding between the government of India and Nepal.

He was the first Prime Minister of Nepal and was a symbol of democracy.

“The organisation supports joint efforts between India and Nepal in the area of education, culture, agriculture research, science and technology, health, technical training, developmental studies and women’s development,” said B Adhikari, member organising committee. With sizeable presence of Gorkhali population in Dehradun who speak Nepali language, the meet is expected to draw good attendance.

Dehradun, September 11
Dehradun-based Doon Scooter India yesterday formally launched its first battery-run e-scooter branded as Zoom Viva.

Doon Scooter India MD Rajeev Sachar said the sleek eco-friendly vehicle had already caught fancy of Doonites with the pre-launch sale of 40 scooters in Dehradun alone.

He claimed to give tough competition to competitors Hero Honda and Avon with its additional features like an auto-cut indicator, adometer that displays mileage and extra strong shockers.

The company had set a sales target of Rs 100 crore in the first year of production. The product had already entered Chandigarh market. Priced at Rs 30,500, it is being manufactured at the company’s facility at Selaqui near Dehradun.

Explaining the marketing strategy, Sachar said the product had been designed to target students, working women and senior citizens to commute within the city areas.

The biggest bait for the prospective customers was its negligible cost of maintenance and fuel efficiency in terms of power consumed. It could run 70 km per unit of power that costs around Rs 2.40. Presently, the company is offering its single model which did not require registration, added Sachar.

“At a larger level, it takes care of environmental concerns. We are already working on R&D aspect to make it work in hilly areas successfully,” said Sachar. Besides Dehradun, the company is soon opening sales outlets at Haridwar, Rishikesh, Vikasnagar, Roorkee, Mangalore, Kashipur and Kichha.

Dehradun, September 11
A resident of Markam Grant, along with some other villagers, was cheated of Rs 50,800 by producing some fake documents here by some unidentified persons.

Complainant Harvinder Singh alleged that he had read an advertisement in a Hindi daily for getting loan within three days.

They contacted on the number mentioned in the newspaper, 09540144525 and asked for loan. The person asked him to arrange about 10 villagers to avail the benefit of the scheme.

The villagers also got influenced with the caller’s misleading talks and deposited some money in a bank account mentioned by the person on his instructions. They deposited Rs 58,800 in total.

However, the person stopped contacting them after a few days. When Harvinder tried to contact that person over the phone and found that it was switched off. After the repeated attempts he approached the police.

Dehradun, September 11
Sarvodiya defeated Roshani Club by 3-1 at the ongoing District Football League underway at Pavilion Ground here today. Eleven Star team got a walkover against Uttarakhand Tiger.

Short ground passes was the USP of Sarvodiya team in today’s match. The team completely outplayed its opponent.

The Roshani Club team got its first jolt in the 5th minute of the match through Sumeet, who scored off a powerful kick from the top of the circle.

The Roshani Club team struggled hard to find an equaliser.

In the 32nd minute the Sarvodiya team was on the attack again, but its forward missed out the opportunity.

Roshani Club found the much-needed equaliser in the 40th minute of the match through Rahul, who scored from the right flank.

Three minutes later, Sarvodiya team struck again. This time it was Ranjeet for the team who scored in the 43rd minute.

Sarvodiya’s forward Madhav scored in the 47th minute to give his team an invincible lead of 3-1.