Dehradun, February 7
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has called for a separate Himalayan development and security policy for the Himalayan states having international borders for developing an effective security system in the country. The Chief Minister was speaking at a conference called by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of all Chief Ministers in New Delhi today.

According to a press note of the state government here, Dr Nishank called for development of basic infrastructure of power, water supply, tourism, roads and industry in the Himalayan border areas and raising of a Himalayan security force with 100 per cent financial help from the Central government. This would help in having a check on the illegal activities on the border and ensuring a proper development of these remote areas which were so vital for the security of the country.

The Chief Minister said Uttarakhand state had a strategic importance as it shared 350 km of border with China and 275 km of border with Nepal. He told the Prime Minister that the work to provide multi-purpose identity cards should be started from the border districts of Uttarakhand.

Talking about the situation on Nepal border, Dr Nishank said it was only at Banbassa that a regular check pot was established for visa and other travel formalities but there were more than 50 entry and exit points all along Nepal border with Uttarakhand where unbridled entry and exit had been going on. He also mentioned about some missing border pillars on the Indo-Nepal border in the state and called for speedy talks with the neighbouring country to sort out the issue as it could lead to a dispute in the future about the demarcation of the border.

Demanding enhancing of the budgetary allocation of the Border Area Development Fund, Dr Nishank emphasised more than 3.50 lakh ex-servicemen of Uttarakhand should be given land on the border with ample opportunities of employment for them. He demanded speedy clearances of a large number of roads and developmental projects from the Union Environment Ministry.

The nodal office for transfer and management of forest land should be in Dehradun and maximum limit of forest land to be released be raised to 20 hectares, he added.

Thanking the Centre for providing security forces for the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Haridwar, the Chief Minister demanded that the Central government should pay Rs 100 crore for meeting out the expenses on the Central security as the state government, due to its precarious financial situation, would be unable to bear the burden.

On the age old system of revenue policing in the state, Dr Nishank said 40 per cent of the population was still managed by the revenue policing system and there was need to modernise the police force for which money must be given by the Central government. He lamented that the Central help for police modernisation, instead of getting an increase, had come down from Rs 13.30 crore in 2008-09 to Rs 12.50 crore in 2009-10. On the expansion of the state police force, he said 8,000 new police personnel had been recruited whereas the state police had also established 20 branch units and six Local Intelligence Units (LIU) on the Indo-Nepal border besides other units like Special Task Force (STF), Special Operations Group (SOG), bomb disposal squads. Besides, two companies of India Reserve Battalion have been raised in the state.

The Chief Minister also invited the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and all Chief Ministers to visit Haridwar to participate in the Maha Kumbh celebrations.

Dehradun, February 7
Unable to fulfil the requirements of the Doon Hospital, a cardiac and critical care ambulance procured by the Director-General, Health and Family Welfare Department, has been lying unused at the Blood Bank parking lot for the past two months.

The ambulance, costing Rs 60 lakh, has been procured by the State Health Department and is to be pressed into service for carrying heart patients in critical conditions to higher referral centres located in Delhi and Chandigarh.

“We have asked to upgrade the ambulance as during the trials it was found that it was not equipped with a powerful battery backup and a generator to run the necessary equipment in emergency conditions,” said Dr RK Pant, CMS, Doon Hospital.

The ambulance is equipped with an ECG machine, ventilator, oxygen cylinder, stretcher, BP instrument, operation tools, suction machine, cardiac monitor and other necessary equipment.

To actually make the ambulance fully functional, an independent team of medical personnel comprising a cardiologist, anaesthetist, nurse, driver and helpers has to be appointed, but nothing has been done in this regard so far. 

Haridwar, February 7
In the midst of regionalism being promoted in Maharashtra by political parties, messages of national integrity were conveyed during the Peshwayi of Niranjani Akhada when young Sanskrit students carrying placards marched through the streets of Haridwar today.

Contrary to earlier Kumbh’s when Peshwayi’s were mostly confined to religious messages only, this time in Haridwar akhada Peshwayis are conveying messages on current social issues affecting people of India and the world.

Today it was the turn of Niranjani Akhada and as has been the norm it also left an indelible impression on the viewers. Flowers were showered from sky by helicopters on the Peshwayi adding to the grandeur upped by the Naga saints who mesmerised the crowd with their appearance and breathtaking skills.

Tableaus conveying social messages were part of the religious procession. Artistes dressed as Radha and Krishna drew attention of everyone while bhangra artistes enlivened the mood of the people.

SMJN college teachers and students of NSS wing too took part in the Peshwayi along with several Sanskrit college students.

Earlier, the holy procession began with rituals at 10 am at the Niranjani Akhada dera situated at Nathwala Bagh and the Peshwayi commenced from 11 am. It passed through the Kankhal police station area, Chowk Bazar, Pahadi Bazar, Bengali Mod, Shankaracharya Chowk, Damkoti Bridge, Tulsi Chowk, Shiv Moorti Chowk and culminated at the Niranjani Akhada Chawni at Subash Ghat.

Reaching the Chawni late in the evening, it was welcomed by Shri Mahants and a welcome mass dinner was organised for Acharyas, Maha Mandaleshwars and Ramte Panches.

Akhada head is Acharya Maha Mandaleshwar Swami Punya Nand Giri. More than 24 Maha Mandaleshwars took part in the royal procession.

Dehradun, February 7
National Young Scientists Conference-2010 has suggested for adopting a “Science for all” policy across the country for promoting scientific development.

The conference concluded at Doon University today came out with 13-point recommendations laying much emphasis on different aspects of energy, rural development, environment conservation, defence concerns, health and medical sciences. Among recommendations, the conference called for establishing Micro-level Climate Study Centres in education institutes while also envisaging tribal technology centres at border areas of the nation.

Addressing the valedictory session, Uttarakhand minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Potable Water Minister Prakash Pant said science has always been high on priority in India since ages. Pant also handed over awards to young scientists. Arvind Kumar Bhandari, Deepali Rana, Dr Vikram Singh Negi, Dr Yogesh Negi, Prerna Sethi, Dr Sunil Chandra Sati were among those bestowed young scientist awards.

A total of 177 papers were submitted out of which 130 papers were presented. Among the presented papers include ‘Prospects of Solar Drying in Uttarakhand Hills by Gunjan Purohit and Ishan Purohit from DAV PG College, Medical Tourism (MT) in Uttarakhand by Shardul Nautiyal. Santosh Kumar and Mohd Aslam from Baba Farid Institute of Technology (BFIT) in collaboration with Dr. Brij Mohan Sharma, Society of Pollution and Environmental Conservation Scientists (SPECS) presented a paper suggesting a viable eco-friendly substitute for nitrogen fertilisers to boost organic farming. Dr NK Navani from IIT, Roorkee, gave a presentation on detection and mitigation of dairy pathogens and detection of pathogens using chemical biology.

Doon University Vice-Chancellor Dr Girijesh Pant, UCOST Director Dr Rajendra Dobhal, Wadia Director AK Dubey, Prof PS Bisht Vice-Chancellor GB Pant Agriculture University, KNP Jaiswal from Vigyan Bharti were other prominent speakers at the valedictory session. A total of 23 awards were provided in 13 disciplines. Mona Bali compared the entire proceedings.

Dehradun, February 7
Amid the decision of the state government to include new technical colleges with the technical university, the Association of Self Financed Institutes (ASFI), Uttarakhand, today maintained that it was and will be with Garhwal University only.

Addressing a press conference, ASFI secretary Sunil Aggarwal said the state government had declared that the new professional colleges would be included in the technical university while the old one would remain with Garhwal University. However, the students had confusion about it but the ASFI wanted to make it clear that it was with Garhwal University, he added.

“We will be with Garhwal University because we want to be under the centre government. But the university should make its session regularise,” he said.

On the inspection drive of universities conducted by the state government, Aggarwal said the government should find out the non-affiliated institutes in the region and should initiate action against them.

The ASFI secretary pointed out that though the state was known for its education in the whole world, it had failed to make mark in the higher studies, as the state government wasn’t doing much.

“The students are migrating to other states for education and the government should do something to stop the students’ migration,” he said. 

Dehradun, February 7
Second President Cup Football Tournament got off to a flying start at the Pavilion Ground with City Young team winning its first match of the tournament.

City Young team proved to be far more agile than its counterpart Combine Hostel. City Young came close on scoring the first goal in the 5th minute of the match but could not take the advantage of the opportunity. Barely after 11 minutes, the team struck its first goal of the match. It was Anurag for the team who scored through a powerful kick.

After scoring the first goal, the City Young team mounted pressure on the defence of Combine Hostel team and got many opportunities to score goals. But Combine Hostel team defence managed to check the attack.

In the second half, Combine Hostel team got great scoring opportunities but couldn’t turn those into goals.

Earlier in the day principal of DAV (PG) College Prof BL Nautiyal inaugurated the function. Gypsy team defeated Vijay Cantt team in the second match. 

Dehradun, February 7
Cricket Academy of Uttarakhand (CAU) defeated Little Master Cricket Club at the final of the Women District Cricket league here today.

Batting first, the CAU team scored 208 runs. Manju was the highest scorer with 53 runs off 55 balls. She hit seven fours. Kamal made 28 runs.

For the CAU team, Pooja and Preeti took two wickets each while Jyoti took three wickets.

Little Master Cricket Club failed to achieve the target and were all-out for 129 runs. Sopna was the lead wicket taker with two wickets. 

Haridwar, February 7
As the quarter final matches were played today in the ongoing All-India Junior Major Ranking Badminton tournament at City Sports Complex, an intense competition was witnessed with players displaying their badminton prowess and skills to the fore.

In girls’ category, Shikha Gautam of Maharashtra defeated Kanika Kanwal of Delhi to win in straight sets 21-9, 21-13 to cruise into the semi-final match while Chirag Sen of Uttarakhand outplayed A Anirudh Shankar of Andhra Pradesh by 21-16, 21-8 points.

In other matches of the day, AS Siril Verma of Andhra Pradesh won two sets 21-13, 21-6 against local player Lakhsya Sen while Bodhit Joshi gave host Uttarakhand a smile by defeating M Kanishq of Andhra Pradesh 21-18,21-16 and C Rahul Yadav of Andhra Pradesh won against Mithun Manjunath of Karnataka by 23-21, 21-16.

V Harika of Andhra Pradesh won against M Krishna Priya of the same state, G Vrishali of Andhra Pradesh defeated Kuhoo of Uttarakhand, R Santoshi Hasini of Andhra Pradesh defeated Ria Mukherjee of West Bengal, K Maneesha of Andhra Pradesh won against Sanchali Dasgupta of West Bengal, Poorvisha S Ram of Karnataka won against V Pramada of Andhra Pradesh while J Meghana, Rituparana Das won their respective matches.

In doubles category, C Rahul Yadav-Chirag Sen, Mithun Manjunath-Raghu M, Bodhit Joshi-Lakshya Sen, ASS Siril Varma-M Kanishq won their respective quarter final matches. They were joined in by duo of Kuhoo-V Harika, G Vrushali-Shreyanshi Paradeshi, K Ashwini Baht-Kanika Kanwal, A Bhandari and Mahima Aggarwal.

So were Arun Geore-Santosh Ravuri, Aditya Joshi-Shreyansh Jaiswal, Harsheel Dani-Shlok Ramachandran and K Chatanya Reddy-KP Chaityanya to cruise into semi-final.