Haridwar, February 11
In view of the terror threat and the recent incidents of a bomb having been found at the railway station and the arrest of a Pakistani spy, the holy city has been packed in such a way that no nook and corner is without police personnel.

It seems that Haridwar has been turned into a fort and the mela police claims to have set up a fool-proof security cover to thwart any terror, criminal or violent act.

Police personnel will also be managing the crowd and traffic besides ensuring that the first Shahi Snan of the seven akhadas passes off peacefully.

More than 16,000 mela police force is in Haridwar manning the century’s first Maha Kumbh proceedings.

According to Mela Deputy Inspector General Alok Sharma, mela security personnel have been directed to be alert all the time and ensure that the Shahi Snan is peacefully hosted with minimum inconvenience to pilgrims. He added that the mela police is well equipped to handle any situation.

Several meetings have been taken by Mela Officer Anand Vardhan and DIG Alok Sharma regarding the security and other related aspects for tomorrow’s royal bath.

Apart from the state police, additional mela police from other states, paramilitary forces and elite commando units have taken the whole mela area in their control.

State Chief Secretary, Home, Anoop Badhawan has also warned that no negligence on the part of the mela personnel should occur as a little mistake can disrupt the normalcy of the proceedings. Badhawan has directed all sector magistrates to personally review all facilities being provided to the pilgrims.

In view of the millions of pilgrims and tourists that will throng Haridwar tomorrow, stress is also on keeping the city clean. Electricity and Water Department officers and employees have been placed in sector camps to meet any emergency situation.

If there is any incident in which a sector magistrate is unable to manage or take a decision, he can immediately contact the nodal officer. The mela personnel have been directed to be polite and patient with people irrespective of the situation.

The entry of heavy vehicles into the city had been prohibited since last night. Rishikul bus stations, Motichur, Dakshdeep, Gauri Shankar Neel Dhara, Dheerawali parkings, specially made for the Maha Kumbh, have come into effect since last evening as per the traffic plan charted for the Shahi Snaan.

City buses will also be plied to ferry people from temporary bus stations and parking lots to the nearest area around Har-ki-Pauri.

Entry in the zero zone or the mela zone area is allowed on foot and according to the crowd, some leverage can be given from the traffic administration’s side. This will be effective from midnight tonight and will be in effect till February 13.

Meanwhile, lakhs of pilgrims and tourists from India and abroad have already reached Haridwar lending the city a real mega fair look.

Almost all hotels, dharamshalas, guest houses and lodges were filled to capacity. Whether it be Har-ki-Pauri, Bhoopatwala, Upper Bazaar, Kotwali area, Devpura, Rishikul, Ranipur old and new and even Jwalapur, the rush and effect of the first Shahi Snan can be easily felt.

Journalists from many renowned and recognised newspapers, magazines and electronic channels from the country and across the globe have or will reach by the morning to cover the mega spectacle.

Such was their number that till late evening, reporters and crew teams were seen filling media accreditation forms and many were waiting for passes to be signed.

According to DIG Alok Sharma, one can exactly predict the numbers, but said, “The number of people will be too many. It is Maha Kumbh time and we are prepared for it.”

Haridwar, February 11
Her family may be credited with shaping the political destiny of Nepal, but Ma Amita Giri, adopted daughter of KP Bhattarai, former Prime Minister of Nepal, has chosen a path of religion and spirituality. She would be taking her first Shahi Snan of the Maha Kumbh along with Ma Durga Giri, another woman Maha Mandelshwar (a spiritual title of a guardianship in an akhada) tomorrow.

After being conferred the title of Maha Mandaleshwar at the ongoing mega fair, Ma Amita Giri would be devoting most of her time towards propagating and strengthening religion in Nepal. “We are facing uncertain times and if Nepal has to be saved its soul has to be strengthened. It can only be done through spirituality and non-violence,” said Ma Amita Giri while talking to The Tribune.

An overpowering quest of a spiritual kind led Ma Amita Giri at the door of Pilot Baba, the roving spiritual guru and Maha Mandaleshwar of Juna Akhada, who is credited with starting the movement of conferring the title of Maha Mandaleshwar on sanyasins and also on foreign disciples.

“I am thankful my family did not protest nor prevent me from embracing the religion. I think in Nepal faith is in danger. I would now take the message of my guru to every home,” she stressed.

Along with Ma Amita Giri, Ma Durga Giri too was conferred the title of Maha Mandaleshwar recently. In fact, the Juna Akhada at the 2007 Ardh Kumbh in Allahabad started the practice of conferring titles on women disciples.

Ma Durga Giri terms her initiation into the monastic order as a result of her past karmas and says: “I am carrying forward the guru-shishya parampara and am indebted to Pilot Baba for showing me the way. There has never been any distancing or protocol drawn between our guru and us. We are at equal levels. For us meditation too is not a regimen but an expression of making a connection with God”.

There have been four women Maha Mandaleshwars in the past and a nasty controversy had surfaced a year ago when a woman monk as a sign of rebellion had threatened to start a distinct monastic lineage headed by women terming it “Parvatacharya”.

Terming it as a handiwork of some disgruntled elements and unsound mind, Pilot Baba said he brought women to the fore only to give a loud and clear message that they were no less than anybody. “If the need arises, we will not hesitate to appoint a sanyasin as a Shankaracharya and she can be from any country. The entire world is our family,” he said.

Dehradun, February 11
Speaking yesterday at a workshop on Uttarakhand Tobacco-Free Initiative organised by the Director-General, Health and Family Welfare, in association with the World Lung Foundation South Asia, Principal Secretary, Health, Keshavdesi Raju said, “We are pitted against commercial interests that have ensured that the youngsters view smoking as something cool. We have to focus on the negative effect of smoking on health,” said Raju

Assuring full cooperation to the Uttarakhand initiative, Dr Rakesh Kumar, Secretary, Education, said to give further push to the initiative on the first day of the new academic session in Classes X and XII of government schools would be dedicated to awareness building on the harmful effects of tobacco smoking.

The session would begin on April 15, this year. He said 360 high schools and inter-colleges in Dehradun district and at the later stage 90 degree colleges in the state would 
be involved.

He asked the communication wing in the Health Department to device a strong Information Education in Communication (IEC) strategy and establish norms for putting up “No Smoking” hoardings.

Dr Harish Bhatt, Director, Administration, said nicotine present in tobacco disturbed the blood supply that in turn impaired the functioning of heart and lungs.

While Dr KL Arya, DG, Health, stressed on the need to create more and more tobacco brigades in the state to curb the practice, so far 122 tobacco brigades in Dehradun and 135 in Tehri have been created.

The project is on in 19 colleges and 216 schools of Dehradun and in eight colleges and 144 schools in Tehri district.

Earlier, Dr GP Khatri, President, World Lung Foundation, gave a presentation on the efforts of the “No Tobacco” initiative which is on in Tamil Nadu and Delhi University.

Nainital, February 11
The Gobind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology at Pantnagar has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with industrial giant Nestlé India for the implementation of the Nestlé’s Nutrition Awareness Programme in Uttarakhand.

The MoU was signed by Vice-Chancellor Dr BS Bisht on the behalf of the university and Suresh Damodaran, who is a factory manager of Nestlé India.

Damodaran said the project aimed at reaching out to adolescent girls studying in village schools to spread health and nutrition awareness among them.

It was related that a pilot project was carried out jointly by the company with Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. It covered over 1,300 girl students in the regions of Ludhiana and Moga and the results that had been achieved were positive. The programme will now be launched across the country in collaboration with reputed educational institutions.

The programme is targeted at girl students in the 13-17 age group and aims at creating nutrition awareness through easy-to-learn and interactive sessions.

The main topics to be covered under this programme include balanced diet, nutritional value of common foods, common local deficiencies and fads and fallacies related to food.

A joint committee comprising Dr Rita Raghuvanshi, Dr Kalpana Kulshrestha, along with Dr Pratibha Singh from Pantnagar University and Suresh Damodaran, Sanjay Singh Rawat, Chitra Mehra, Ajay Pal Singh Kang and Smriti Singh Verma from Nestlé India Limited has been formed to oversee implementation of the programme.

Joint surveys will be carried out to determine the areas in which the project will be implemented.

Dehradun, February 11
In a great fervour, students participated on the concluding day of the third national debate competition organised at the Sardar Bhagwan Singh Postgraduate Institute of Biomedical Science and Research in the fond memory of founder Director late S Gurucharan Singh here today. The topic for the debate was, “Are the MNCs really playing an important role in the economic development of the country?”

Students presented its pros and cons. Students in favour of the motion said coming of the MNCs had proved beneficial and led to employment. And students, who spoke against the motion, said people, who were working in the MNCs, were no less then white-collared porters, which had turned them into mere machines.

The chief guest for the concluding ceremony was Vice-Chancellor of Uttarakhand Technical University Durg Singh Chauhan. Giving a stiff competition to the participants, the Dehradun Institute of Technology (DIT) won the award for the best team. The best speaker award was bagged by Abhimanyu Barthwal of DIT, the second position by Aachal Bhadwar and Rahul Dubey of SBS and the third position by Balawala.

Jyoti Chabra of MKP College and the Zakir Hussain College team got consolation prizes.

The winners were awarded by Prof Durg Singh Chauhan and MD of the institute Gaurav Deep Singh. 

Dehradun, February 11
A management block was inaugurated while a foundation stone was laid of the girls hostel of the Institute of Co-operative Management, Dehradun, today by Ghanshyambhai H Amin, president of the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) and vice-chairman of the International Cooperative Alliance Asia Pacific Regional Board.

Principal of the institute Dr AP Dube said the institute would also start its BBA programme from this session. He thanked the students and faculty members for their efforts to make the day possible. He also thanked Amin for extending his full support to the institute.

Speaking on the occasion, Amin said he was delighted that the institute was doing a good job. He further said the cooperative was trying to make it possible that the students passing from the institute got placements in the cooperative societies.

He persuaded the students to do well in order to be good managers. He said there was a stiff competition ahead and the students had to stand among the tops the way they were already doing. 

Dehradun, February 11
Under the aegis of Ritu Dental Care, a dental health camp was organised for visually impaired students of Sharp Memorial School here today.

Chief guest former Chief Minister Major-Gen BC Khanduri (retd), while addressing the gathering, said, “A health camp is definitely a boon for visually impaired who are in a need of help and support at every moment of life. Any work done for their betterment makes human beings more compassionate and forgiving”.

Major Ritu Roy after inspecting the school found that visually impaired students faced immense problem while maintaining a proper dental routine. And, therefore, decided to arrange a dental camp. “I got inspired to set up a dental health camp when I inspected the school and found that these students faced lot of difficulties while brushing and maintaining a healthy dental care routine,” informed Major Roy.

Around 250 students in a three-day camp will attend and learn basic habits related to benefits of timely brushing.

“As there are almost 250 students, so, within three days we will complete our health camp. However, to provide them long time benefits, students in batches will be regularly inspected on every Saturday,” added Major Roy.

Present at the camp were school manager M Samuel, Sumna Samuel, Principal B Luthra, Col SBK Singh and other members of the school.

Dehradun, February 11
Rao Cricket Academy won by a massive 148-run margin against Rajender Pal Cricket Academy to make it to final of the 58th District Cricket League here today.

It was an outstanding bating display by the Rao Cricket Academy team with 254 runs in 40 overs. Opener Dipanker set the pace for the team hitting 40 runs off 46 balls. First down batsman Sharad scored 34 runs off 43 balls. After them it was Ashwani who maintained the scoring momentum for the team. He played a knock off 57 runs off 61 balls hitting six fours and one six in the match. Middle order batsman Saurav made 38 runs while Sanjay made 24 runs. For Rajender Pal Cricket Academy, Deepak and Aman took two wickets each.

In reply, Rajender Pal Cricket Academy was all-out for 106 runs in 26.3 overs. Rawjyot was out for 19 runs, whereas Aman scored 10 runs. Inder made the highest score for the team with 23 runs. For Rao Cricket Academy, Ashish Pal took three wickets, whereas Sanjay, Sharad and Sankar took two wickets.

Aifatah Club, New Indian Star win

Aifatah Cricket Club defeated Nehru Tiger by 85 runs at the Suresh Chand Memorial Cricket Tournament here today.

Batting first, Aifatah Cricket Club scored 155 runs off 20 overs. Ajaiz scored 73 runs off 45 balls. Tariz scored 21 runs. For Nehru Tiger, Himanshu took two wickets and Kashish, Sarseev and Sandeep took one wicket each.

In reply, Nehru Tiger were all out for 70 runs. Kashish scored nine runs. For Aifatah Cricket Club, Tariq, Tanzeeh and Nadih took two wickets each.

In the second match, New Indian Star secured a 57-run victory over Demolition Boys.

Dehradun, February 11
Uttarakhand Police registered a thumping 6-0 victory over DFA Champawat to advance to the next round of the IInd President Cup Football Tournament here today.

Uttarakhand Police dominated the game throughout. The team was outstanding in all departments of the game giving little space to their opponents to get a foothold in the match.

The police team delivered the first jolt to Champawat in the fifth minute. Himanshu scored the goal after skillfully dodging the defenders and then placing the ball in the net.

Twelve minutes later, it was Prahaladh who scored the second goal in favour of Uttarakhand Police.

Striker Saurabh scored the third goal for the cops. Prahaladh scored two more goals in the 42nd and 60th minute of the match. Saurabh completed the tally for Uttarakhand Police.

In the second match, Gorkha Brigade secured a 2-0 victory over Almora. The Brigade team was far superior to Almora. The Gorkhas scored their first goal in the 20th minute of the match through B Thapa. The second goal for the team came in the 43rd minute of the match through Abhinav Chhetri. Gorkha Brigade won the match with ease.

Dehradun, February 11
Kuho, a player from Uttarakhand, gave an outstanding performance at the recently concluded All-India Badminton Tournament that was scheduled from February 4 to 8. The mega event saw 230 participants from all-over India.

Kuho stood fourth in the under-13 girls singles tournament and was number two in doubles. She is devoting extra time for the national tournament.

She has been playing badminton for the past two years and her achievement is rich dividend, as she also cleared the first round of Maths Olympiad. The second round is scheduled to be organised by February end. Kuho’s ideal is Saina Nehewal.

“The tournament was a great learning experience. I found out my errors and now I try to correct those during my practice. I wish to play for the nation,” said Kuho.

Her performance at the national level is expected to promote the state players at national level.

State Badminton Association president Ashok Kumar and Secretary BS Mankoti have played an important role in promotion of the game in Uttarakhand said Kuho.