D E H R A D U N    E D I T I O N

CM announces awards for young scientists
Prize money: Rs 1 lakh, Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000
Dehradun, December 8
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank after laying the foundation stone of Vigyan Dham at Jhajara village on the outskirts of Dehradun today announced the institution of Young Scientist Awards with a prize money of Rs 1 lakh, Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 each to the first, second and third position holders.

MC not performing: Cong
Dehradun, December 8
A day ahead of the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (MC) foundation day celebrations, the Congress today accused the BJP-dominated corporation board of doing little.
Leader of the Congress in the DMC Ashok Verma (extreme right) addresses a press conference in Dehradun on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph

Police gears up for Kumbh
Haridwar, December 8
As the days are nearing for the Maha Kumbh, so is the intensity and activeness on the part of every department. With security a major concern during the mega event, the police department beefing up its structure and resources.

Redressal camp held
Nainital, December 8
After receiving complaints regarding the construction of a primary school building at Kunda village, District Magistrate (DM) Shailesh Bagauli has ordered a probe by the Rural Engineering Department.

Symposiums to mark 50 years of institute
Dehradun, December 8
As part of its Golden Jubilee Year celebrations, the Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun, is holding a series of several national and international symposiums.

Transfers: Government placates medical officers
Dehradun, December 8
Going back on most of its transfer orders issued in August and October, the Uttarakhand Health Department has cancelled the transfer orders of three medical officers and tried to placate recalcitrant doctors who were not keen to take up long postings for the Kumbh Mela, by reducing their tenure to six months.

Firecrackers Mishap
16 band party members suffer eye injuries
Dehradun, December 8
Sixteen brass band party members suffered serious eye injuries when firecrackers were being burst during a marriage procession here yesterday. Incidentally, the victims could realise that their eyes had got hurt six hours after the incident, after they started experiencing pain. The doctor attending upon the victims said this was the effect of the photo-ophthalmia.
Members of a brass band in Doon Hospital after getting injured in a firecrackers accident in Dehradun on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Anil P Rawat 

DM asks banks to meet CD ratio targets
Dehradun, December 8
Dehradun District Magistrate (DM) Senthil Pandian today presided over the District Review Meeting at the PNB Zonal training centre.

Body of 32-year-old man fished out from lake
Nainital, December 8
The dead body of a 32-year-old man was fished out from the Naini Lake here today morning.

CM announces awards for young scientists
Prize money: Rs 1 lakh, Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 8
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank after laying the foundation stone of Vigyan Dham at Jhajara village on the outskirts of Dehradun today announced the institution of Young Scientist Awards with a prize money of Rs 1 lakh, Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 each to the first, second and third position holders. He also announced the setting up of an Intellectual Property Centre and a Knowledge Commission in the state.

He further said the state government had taken a decision to set up Science Clubs in all degree and inter-colleges, so that a chain of young scientists could be prepared.

He hoped that the construction of Vigyan Dham at a cost of Rs 8 crore would provide a platform of research work for the scientists world over.

It would ensure research for ecological sensitive development projects, besides conservation, evaluation and utilisation of bio assets of the state and could develop technologies that would ultimately be useful for local people.

He called upon the scientists to utilise resources available in abundance at the village level. Nishank affirmed that the setting up of the Intellectual Property Centre was a priority of his government so that the natural resources of Uttarakhand, including herbs and plants, could be patented.

The Chief Minister said Uttarakhand, having Char Dhams, is the spiritual and religious centre of the country and with the setting up of the Vigyan Dham, the state would also develop as a seat of science.

Speaking on the occasion, Uttarakhand Chief Secretary NS Napalchyal said the establishment of the Vigyan Dham was the dream of the Chief Minister and paucity of fund would not come in the way of making it run. “It would help to nurture scientific temper in the students and research scholars,” he said.

Director Uttarakhand Council of Science and Technology (U-COST) Dr Rajendra Dobhal informed that ultra-modern planetarium, science museum and Science Bhawan would be set up in the Vigyan Dham.

Vice-Chancellor, Doon University, Prof Girijesh Pant, former Vice-Chancellor HNB Garhwal University, AN Purohit and others also addressed the gathering on the occasion.

MC not performing: Cong
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 8
A day ahead of the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (MC) foundation day celebrations, the Congress today accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-dominated corporation board of doing little to redress the concerns of the city.

Senior Congress councillor and leader of opposition Ashok Verma said the corporation had failed to perform and even issues of urgency were ignored. He said it was strange that while the BJP government that ruled the state had its Mayor in the Dehradun MC and has majority in the corporation’s board, still the corporation was very slow in the carrying out civic activities.

“The 74th amendment was still a far cry and Uttarakhand lagged much behind other states in the implementation of this amendment in its local bodies,” he said.

Verma said the MC faced heavy shortages of sanitary workers and there had been no sincere efforts so far to recruit new workforce.

The proposed construction of hospital and a petrol pump were still to take shape, which could have been a new source of revenue generation. Even the issue of regularisation of slums hangs in a balance, Verma said adding that the Congress had time and again backed for providing ownerships rights to those residing in slum areas.

On encroachment, the Congress leader said encroachment stood a bigger menace in the entire corporation. Corporation land has been rampantly encroached upon while there has been no action on part of corporation authorities.

Referring to the Gandhi Park, the Congress councillor said despite being the only major park in the city, the condition of the park was pathetic and today stood as a safe haven for anti-social elements.

He said despite a lot of efforts on part of Congress councillors, work at the corporation was moving at a snail’s pace. He even accused the incumbent Mayor of doing little towards the speedy conduct of corporation’s affairs.

Verma said the Congress councillor was ready to back and help the Mayor get his due powers from the government.

Police gears up for Kumbh
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, December 8
As the days are nearing for the Maha Kumbh, so is the intensity and activeness on the part of every department. With security a major concern during the mega event, the police department beefing up its structure and resources.

Keeping this in mind, all construction work of police stations will be completed by December 25 so as there is no hindrance to the police personnel at their respective duty stations.

Kumbh Mela DIG Alok Sharma has strictly given directions of completing all works of the police stations and police check posts on priority basis.

Also the DIG has taken serious cognisance of encroachments in the respective police station areas and ordered of removing encroachments to the Station House Officers and also to take measures so that encroachments doesn’t crop up again after the drive.

Meanwhile, next week onwards, additional police force meant for Maha Kumbh purpose will start coming and be allotted to respective police stations of the district.

Redressal camp held
Tribune News Service

Nainital, December 8
After receiving complaints regarding the construction of a primary school building at Kunda village, District Magistrate (DM) Shailesh Bagauli has ordered a probe by the Rural Engineering Department. At the same time, he has also ordered an inquiry into the delay of construction of a Patwari Chowki at Churigad village and asked for the blacklisting of the contractor entrusted with the work.

Bagauli held a redressal camp at Dhari yesterday where people from adjoining villages had come with their grievances. Asking officials concerned to conduct an on-the-spot inquiry pertaining to the damage being caused to the house of a resident on account of the construction of a road between Padampuri and Aksoda, the DM also asked the officials of the PWD to compensate the artisans of Dini and Buribana villages for the losses incurred by them on account of the construction of the road.

Pulling up officials of the Minor Irrigation Department, Bagauli, said they must consult the Block Presidents before finalising developmental schemes. The DM dealt with 40 complaints at the camp.

Symposiums to mark 50 years of institute
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 8
As part of its Golden Jubilee Year celebrations, the Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun, is holding a series of several national and international symposiums.

The fourth symposium on “Biotechnology- A road map towards sustainable energy” is being held on December 10-11.

The symposium aims to bring together leading scientists, academics, stake holders and students on a common platform to review and suggest the critical role of biocatalyst processes, while addressing the challenges and opportunities for the successful developments of the commercially viable new generation fuel and energy.

The symposium will also contain plenary and invite lectures by reputed international and national experts in this field.

Transfers: Government placates medical officers
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 8
Going back on most of its transfer orders issued in August and October, the Uttarakhand Health Department has cancelled the transfer orders of three medical officers and tried to placate recalcitrant doctors who were not keen to take up long postings for the Kumbh Mela, by reducing their tenure to six months.

By doing so, the government has put a question mark on its own actions and now allegations are being heaped that a lot of maneuvering and behind-the-scene adjustments were made.

So much so, the transfer orders of Dr Pankaj Mathur who was transferred from GB Pant Hospital, Nainital, to District Hospital, Bageshwar, along with Dr Madhu Mathur who too was transferred from GB Pant Hospital, Nainital, to District Hospital, Bageshwar, on disciplinary grounds, now stand cancelled.

While the transfer orders of Dr NS Khatri, who was transferred from TB Clinic, Doon Hospital, to Community Health Centre, Luxar, Haridwar, have been withdrawn. In addition, five medical officers have now been posted to the Kumbh Mela Area and one officer at Rishikesh.

Chander Prabha Singh, who was transferred from Chainrai Female Hospital, Haridwar, to Primary Health Centre, Chamba, Tehri, has been transferred to Kumbh Mela Hospital, Haridwar, for a period of six months.

The earlier orders pertaining to Dr Poonam Saxena who was transferred from Chainrai Female Hospital to District Hospital, Pauri, stand cancelled. She has now been transferred to Kumbh Mela Hospital for six months.

Medical officers of ‘A’ and ‘B’ cadre Dr Mukesh Kumar Pandey has been posted to Kumbh Mela Hospital from SPS Hospital, Rishikesh. Dr Pankaj Sharma from TB Clinic, Uttarkashi, has been transferred to Mela Hospital, Haridwar.

Dr NK Mishra, who was transferred from Doon Hospital to District HMG Hospital, Haridwar, has now been given Kumbh Mela duties at Kumbh Mela Hospital for six months.

Dr Ashok Kumar Gariola, senior anesthetist, has been transferred from District Hospital, Gopeshwar, to Combined Hospital, Rishikesh. He will be transferred after another doctor is appointment in his place. Dr Ramchandar Singh Rawat, surgeon, has been transferred to Doon Hospital from Combined Hospital, Narender Nagar, Tehri.

However, the transfer orders of Dr Rahul Laspal, who was transferred from Combined Hospial Kotdwar, Pauri to EMO, Base Hospital, Haldwani, and that of Dr Sushma Negi, pathologist, who was transferred from District Hospital, Bageshwar, to Primary Health Centre, Khatima, Udham Singh Nagar, remain unchanged.

But Dr RamKrishan Dubey, medical officer, who was transferred from Primary Health Centre, Barakot, Champawat, to Community Health Centre, Gadarpur, Udham Singh Nagar, will take up his new position with the appointment of a reliever in his place.

Three medical officers of Provincial Medical and Health Services (PMHS) dental/ cadre ‘A’ and ‘B’ have been transferred, they include Dr Amit Rautela, physician who has been transferred from Base Hospital, Srinagar (Pauri) to District Hospital, Uttarkashi.

Dr GP Nawani, senior dental surgeon, has been transferred form SPS Hospital to Doon Hospital, Dehradun, and Dr Prashant Kumar Pathak from Community Health Centre, Dharchula, Pitthoragarh, to SPSHospital, Rishikesh.

In August, the state Health Department had carried 72 transfers, then in October 50 medical officers were transferred and the work area of Additional Directors, CMOs expanded.

Firecrackers Mishap
16 band party members suffer eye injuries
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 8
Sixteen brass band party members suffered serious eye injuries when firecrackers were being burst during a marriage procession at a wedding point in Patel Nagar here yesterday.

Incidentally, the victims could realise that their eyes had got hurt six hours after the incident, after they started experiencing pain.

The doctor attending upon the victims said this was the effect of the photo-ophthalmia. “Most probably the patients’ eyes were exposed to the ultra-violet rays emanating from the crackers. In this condition, the effect is felt after four to six hours of the incident,” said Dr BC Ramola, senior eye surgeon, Doon Hospital.

He added that in some cases the rays could even damage the cornea of the victims. “ In this case, the injury is not serious and the patients may recover early if they take adequate precautions and rest,” said Dr Ramola.

Persons engaged in welding work and electricians who do not take adequate precaution may sometimes experience photo ophthalmia condition, in which the corneal nerve endings get exposed.

Mohammad Sabir, one of the victims, said, “We were boarding the bus and suddenly smoke came into our eyes. That time we didn’t realize the consequences, but at 1 at night, that is after six hours of the incident, our eyes started paining. We instantly went to the hospital where we were given medication and we returned home at about 5 am. But our eyes started paining in the morning again and we again came to the hospital where our eyes were dressed”. 

DM asks banks to meet CD ratio targets

Dehradun, December 8
Dehradun District Magistrate (DM) Senthil Pandian today presided over the District Review Meeting at the PNB Zonal training centre.

The DM reviewed the progress made in CD ratio. He asked the banks to ensure that they compulsorily met the CD ratio targets. He also asked the banks with low CD ratio to report to him every week.

The meeting began with outgoing District Manager GS Rana welcoming the newly appointed lead bank Manager MK Diwedi.

Diwedi informed that against the loan target of Rs 345.34 crore for the financial year 2009-10, Rs 360 crore worth loans had been disbursed so far till September, which had already exceeded the target.

Similarly, in agriculture sector Rs 59 crore had been disbursed as loan against a target of Rs 68 crore. Similarly, in ESI sector Rs 71 crore had been disbursed against a target of Rs 62.39 crore.

The meeting was attended by senior district officials, including senior bankers. — TNS

Body of 32-year-old man fished out from lake
Tribune News Service

Nainital, December 8
The dead body of a 32-year-old man was fished out from the Naini Lake here today morning. It is learnt that the man, identified as Lalit Kumar, was a resident of the Sukhatal area of the city and had been missing since November 23.

His family members had approached the police on his going missing on December 1. It is learnt that the he was mentally ill.

Bid to loot ATM

Dehradun: An Automated Teller Machine (ATM) in Nehru Colony was damaged by some unidentified persons with an intention to loot it here late last night.

The police said it was trying to trace the offenders through the footage of the CCTV cameras.

The unidentified persons had broken the door of the ATM and tried to take out money from it. However, they could not succeed.

Sources said the ATM was out of order and some youths must have broken it in frustration as they were unable to operate it.

The SP, City, and the Station Head Officer of Nehru Colony reached the spot to assess the situation. The SP said the police was looking into the CCTV cameras footage and would trace the persons involved soon.