Haridwar, October 3
Once again Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has shown that how serious he is regarding the Maha Kumbh preparations. Within a span of one month, he has inspected developmental projects and works for the mega fair in the city and pulled up three officers for a slow and low-quality work.

Coming in the line of fire of the Chief Minister were City Health Officer Anil Tyagi, Municipal Committee Executive Officer Rohitash Sharma and Food Inspector Jay Dutt Jaida.

Nishank visited various construction sites and roads in the Kankhal area and was infuriated over the slow pace of work. Moreover, all those officers reached late at the spot and could not give satisfactory explanations to a volley of questions from the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister seemed quite perturbed that despite the state government allocating funds quite early and numerous directions to the departments preparing for the Maha Kumbh, there was no hurry on the part of the departments. Barely 27 days are left for the deadline of work completion.

He also instructed nodal agencies’ officers to ensure quality of work causing minimal inconvenience to local people and a speedy implementation of their respective works. “I will see how the works doesn’t get completed in time and which officer takes it lightly,” said a fuming Nishank.

Earlier, he visited Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidayalaya to participate in a national-level seminar on moral education as a chief guest. Stating that the inclusion of morality and human values in the education makes it complete, he lauded the efforts of Dev Sanskriti University in professing these values. “This university has risen as one of its kind in Uttarakhand for its unique educational structure and will emerge as a national centre of moral and ethical education in the years to come,” said Nishank.

Terming India as on the path of being a developed nation, Nishank said since ancient times, India had been a force to reckon with. Moral and family values played an important role in its development and combining these with latest technologies developed in India, it is sure a global super power”.

University Chancellor Pranav Pandya said Indian education system suffered mostly due to the advent and implication of Macaulays’ British model of education and it needed to be modified.

Dehradun, October 3
The Dehradun Municipal Corporation (MC) has decided today to disallow erection of advertisement hoardings on the roof of the private houses. The decision was taken at the board meeting of the corporation that concluded here today.

Chaired by Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli, the meeting also decided that hoardings near the important intersections and chowks would be removed immediately.

It was decided that no hoarding would be erected at least 25 metres from the intersections and chowks for smooth flow of traffic. The Mayor also announced that advertising companies interested in erecting hoardings in the city have to register themselves and pay a registration fee of Rs 30,000. Locals would be given preference in the registration and hoarding sites would be auctioned.

There was a ruckus in the meeting on the implementation of newer hoKuse tax rates. While Mayor Chamoli who belongs to the BJP was in favour of enhanced rates as per the UP Municipal Laws, Congress councillors led by their leader Ashok Verma and Anoop Kapoor objected to it.

They argued that there was no need for implementing the UP Municipal Act in the matter of House Tax and till the state gets its own law. The earlier system of 20 per cent enhancement should be followed.

Amidst vociferous protests by Congress councillors, Vinod Chamoli remained adamant on his stand.

Dehradun, October 3
Col H Dharmarajan, Commandant, Rashtriya Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, who hails from Coimbatore, graduated on September 22, 2009, from the Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies Comprehensive Crisis Management Course in Honolulu. Dharmarajan received the diploma from Dr Lee Endress, Dean, College of Security Studies.

Colonel Dharmarajan joined 74 other senior military and civilian leaders from 31 countries and territories, primarily from all over the Asia-Pacific region, as well as representatives from the United Nations, attending the four-week course to study regional crisis management issues.

The fellows attending the course came from American Samoa, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Chile, Cook Islands, Fiji, India, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Saipan, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, the United States and Vanuatu. The two fellows representing the UN were from Sweden and Uruguay.

The Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies is a US Department of defence regional study, conference and research centre. The centre’s mission is to educate, connect, and empower security practitioners to advance Asia-Pacific security.

Since opening in 1995, the centre has had representatives from 72 countries and four international organisations attend the courses at the centre for a total of 4,355 alumni.

Dehradun, October 3
Exhibitions are becoming a common affair to brighten up the festive mood of the residents in the city.

A lifestyle exhibition, which began today at a hotel in Rajpur Road, is showcasing exquisite items that suit every pocket.

After receiving a good response in the city last year, the organisers of the exhibition decided to hold it annually. Starting from junk jewellery, worth Rs 75, there are also hi-end platinum, silver, kundan, diamond and polki designs available here.

“We started this exhibition last year to offer a variety of jewellery under one roof. “After getting a positive response we decided to hold it every year, especially before the festivals so that people don’t have to rush to nearby cities,” said Sunisha Agarwal, organiser of the exhibition.

There are 30 stalls, including home décor, footwear and clothes. People from Varanasi, Delhi, Noida, Panipat and Mumbai have come here to showcase their products at the exhibition.

“As compared to last year, this time we have more variety in jewellery and stalls that have rare collection of sarees, designer suits and home décor items,” added Sunisha. “I loved the silver jewellery and have plans to pick up few tradional suits and saris,” said Anamika, a visitor.

“We are exporters from Delhi, dealing in diamonds, gold and platinum jewellery as well as in garments and lifestyle accessories. The response is overwhelming,” said Prasoon Dewan, a businessman.

Dehradun, October 3
From October 5, selected medical officers from the state will undergo three-week training programme at the All-India Medical Institute of Science (AIIMS) in mental health.

The move is aimed at equipping health personnel with necessary training, capable of providing treatment to mentally ill patients at all Primary Health Centres.

With limited number of mental health facilities and professionals, the training is a small step towards making mental health care accessible in each district.

“If the problem is diagnosed at the early stages, the mentally ill patients can benefit a great deal from treatment. But due to the absence of facilities at the district levels, the early symptoms are given a miss.

Equipped Primary Health Centres can play a big role here. Patients will be saved from travelling several kilometres to get the necessary treatment and drugs,” said Keshav Desi Raju, Principal Secretary, Health.

In order to fulfill guidelines laid down under the National Health Services for mental health, the state at least requires 600 clinical psychologists, but it only has seven.

Health experts maintain that patients suffering from Alzheimer’s and certain cases of depression can be treated by MBBS doctors trained in mental health care.

“Moreover, segregating mentally ill patients and confining them to asylums is not encouraged.

“Several mentally ill patients recover if they are given treatment within the confines of their homes,” said Dr JS Bisht, psychiatrist, Doon Hospital.

The National Health Policy envisages a decentralised mental health services by laying a unified protocol for treatment under which prescribed drugs comprising of anti-psychotic, anxiolytic, anti-depressants, anti-epileptic and mood stabilisers are usually given to patients.

Dehradun, October 3
The positive cases of influenza A (H1N1) virus in the state is steadily rising. With two more patients testing positive today, the number of confirmed cases of the virus is now 68 in the state.

The nodal office had sent 272 samples for testing at the NICD, New Delhi.

Among the two patients who tested positive, one patient is from Dehradun and the other from Haridwar.

“Dehradun has the highest number of positive cases at 49, followed by 18 cases in Haridwar and 1 in Nainital,” said Dr Pankaj Jain, nodal officer.

Dehradun, October 3
Football fans are disappointed with the District Football Association’s decision to have two pools in the Super League stage. They complained that the team that would emerge winner as the league wouldn’t play against all teams in the present system to prove its worth.

Currently there are 12 teams in the league and are divided into two pools. As per the current setting, the team that lead the pool ‘A’ will play against the leaders of pool ‘B’.

This has reduced the number of matches in the super league stage to 30, whereas if they had not made pools, the number of matches would just have been doubled.

Gaurav, a die-hard football fan, said, “If we want a true league champion, the format should not change. For being a league champion one has to play against each team in the super league stage to win maximum matches.

“But this time because there are two pools in the league and top teams of both pools will play against each other, the team who emerges as a league champion will not prove its worth of being a true champion in that case.”

Whereas on the other hand association claims that they are finding it tough to prolong the league any more. The association is already facing a financial crunch in the absence of any sponsor. Therefore the association wishes to end the league soon.

In every tournament some 20 to 25 referees offer their services. The overall expenditure on the league is approximately Rs 60,000. But because this year the format was changed it has prolonged the duration of the league. As the result, overall expenditure incurred on league has increased manifolds.

District Football Association secretary Divendar Bisht said, “This year the league has lasted too long that has also increased the expenditure.

“If we prolong it any further, it would clash with other upcoming tournaments and the teams may withdraw from the league in order to participate in these tournaments. Therefore, we want to finish it as soon as possible”.

Dehradun, October 3
Uttarakhand Police continued its winning spree at the ongoing District Football Super League by defeating Doon Valley by 4-0 here today.

In the first half, the Doon Valley team gave Uttarakhand Police a tough resistance and blocked all attacks created by the Uttarakhand Police forward line.

The Uttarakhand Police team managed to score its first goal in the 34th minute of the match through Pralad Rawat. In the second half, the Uttarakhand Police team stuck early in the match to take a 2-0 lead.

It was Deepak Rawat for the team who scored in the 40th minute. In the 46th minute, Sher Singh scored the third goal for the team.

Pralad Rawat scored for the second time to make the final score 4-0.

The Doon Valley team completely looked out of the place in the second half, as the Uttarkhand Police team gave the Doon Valley team a little chance to make a comeback.

Meanwhile, in the second match, Sports College defeated Cantt Blues by 3-0.

Dehradun, October 3
The state badminton team for the upcoming Sub Junior National Tournament at Jaipur has been selected.

All selected players have got direct entry to the quarterfinals based on their performance.

In under-16 boys’ category: Chirag Sen of Almora and Udit Dobhal of Dehradun have been selected. In doubles, Vaibhav Gupta and Udit Dobhal of St Joseph Academy have been selected. Ayushi of Dehradun and Smriti of Almora have been selected in under-16 girls’ category.

In u-13 boys’ category: Lakshya Sen and B Joshi have been selected for singles as well as for doubles category.

In u-13 girls’ category: Kuhu of Nainital and Akshita of Almora have been selected.

Roorkee, October 3
With the arrest of two miscreants, the police claimed to solve the murder case of Suleman, a resident of Peerpura village, about 5 km from here, today.

Names of the accused are Dilshad, a resident of Bhagwanpur, and Wazid of Manglore.

Dilshad, who worked as a driver of the victim, and his accomplice Wazid strangled Suleman to death on September 7 for the sake of Rs 1.18 lakh that the victim had withdrawn from the branch of the State Bank of India on the same day.

The missing report of the victim was lodged by his son Farmaan on September 9.

ASP Janmajay Khanduri said the police focused on Dilshad after checking the video clips of the bank, in which he was found with Suleman at the time of withdrawing the money.

The body of Suleman was found in the canal at Charthawal village in Muzzafarnagar district on September 28.

Talking to mediapersons, Dilshad and Wazid confessed that they had murdered Suleman in the car near Khera Mangal village and thrown his body into the nearby canal.

The police recovered Rs 28,000 and clothes of the victim from the houses of the accused.

Meanwhile, the police has registered a case under Sections 302, 364 and 201, IPC, at Civil Lines police station here.

The SSP gave the reward of Rs 2,500 to the police team, including SI Jahangir Ali, SI Vijay Pal Singh Pundir, constables Sanjay Gunjyal, Sandeep Jakhmola and Pankaj Panday.

Roorkee, October 3
After several cases of hacking of e-mail accounts of influential persons, including university professors, to fleece them and their relatives on false pretexts, now cyber criminals are targeting mobile users here.

Many persons are reportedly getting SMSes, displaying that they have won a lottery in the UK Lotto Mobile Draw and should contact a particular 
person on his e-mail ID immediately.

The SMSes, which are being circulated by some TA-Congrate, contains the matter: “You have won 7,50,000,00 GBP in the (UK Lotto) Mobile Draws 2009. To claim your prize, contact Brown Walter on websitecdpf2009@live.com”.

The police has cautioned people against falling prey to evil designs of people behind these messages as these criminals call “prize-seekers” to big cities like Mumbai and Delhi on the pretext of delivering them prize-money cheques.

“There they ask prize seekers for the charges of transferring currency and to deposit security, which ranges from several thousand rupees to several lakhs. They cheat people with this modus operandi,” said SP (Rural) Ajay Joshi.

On being asked what action the police is going to take against such criminals, the SP said the police would contact service providers regarding the matter to know further facts about such messages.

“The police did not receive any such complaint so far but certainly we have to be alert regarding such crimes,” said the SP.

Jitesh Jayanth, an employee of a software company here, opined that the police should send its personnel to such criminals after contacting them on the given mail addresses or phone numbers. The police should put them ehind the bars to save the innocent persons from their nefarious designs.