Haridwar, April 24
With the Maha Kumbh 2010 to be officially over on April 28, the mela administration, which was specifically formed to look after Kumbh preparations and arrangements, is now finalising Kumbh works and preparing a detailed report on completed works, problems faced and other experiences.

With more than a dozen departments and nodal agencies related with Kumbh projects, Mela Officer Anand Vardhan has sought physical status reports of Kumbh works and the expenditure details till date. Vardhan has also asked nodal officers to furnish before April 30 their experiences and the problems they faced while carrying out Kumbh works. Suggestions have been also sought from these officers so that in future the mela administration rectifies the shortcomings and mistakes, and uses their valuable advice for better hosting of future Kumbhs.

“We have sought suggestions from nodal officers on any point they deem necessary to contribute, any deficiencies they felt during the Kumbh and also quality standards for future projects to ensure a successful hosting of future Kumbhs,” said Vardhan.

In this regard, a committee has been formed by the Mela Officer which will be chaired by Additional Mela Officer Chandrasekhar Bhatt. It will give an analytical report on this Maha Kumbh which will be used as a parameter to host better Kumbhs in Haridwar.

While the Kumbh mela administration had been criticised for several projects and raw material of inferior quality being used, the Mela Officer has strictly given directions to nodal officers to take stringent action on the report given by third party agencies such as the Shri Ram Institute, New Delhi.

Directions have also been given for timely dismantling of temporary works and materials such as tin, tents, barricading from the Kumbh mela area and simultaneously cleaning of these dismantled camps.

Informing The Tribune, the Mela Officer said from the government a total of Rs 57,182.34 lakh had been sanctioned. Of this Rs 46,482.05 lakh was released and till April 15, a sum of Rs 40,952.20 lakh was spent on Kumbh projects. Of this, Rs 40,739.14 lakh was spent on works of permanent nature, while the rest on works of temporary nature.

As for the Kumbh several toilets were constructed by the Sulabh International, the Mela Officer has directed these to be transferred to municipal committee nagar panchayats so that these can be used by ordinary people in future festive events.

Now all nodal officers have started working on this aspect so that before the next month they file their report and suggestions at the Mela Officer’s table.

Pitthoragarh, April 24
Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank today lashed out at the Central government for its failure to extend the industrial package for the state charging that discontinuation of the special industrial incentive would lead to unemployment among educated and technically qualified youth of the state.

The Chief Minister was speaking at a function held by the tribal Rang community at Pangu in Dharchula tehsil of the district. “Due to the industrial package given by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the state today is manufacturing not only the Nano car of the Tata Group, but also Hero Honda vehicles, which have 70 manufacturing units worldwide,” he said. Nishank said the Hinduja Group had shown a keen interest to set up industry in the state in the hope of extending the industrial package for the state and the project would have gone a big way in giving employment to the local youth.

Referring to the current power crisis faced by the state, Dr Nishank said Uttarakhand at present was purchasing power from neighbouring states worth Rs 400 crore and hoped that soon the electricity generation in the state would improve.

Pokhriyal, who addressed public meetings at Pangu and Kanalichina, announced a grant of Rs 1 crore to construct a hostel for tribal students in the Pitthoragarh district headquarters and Rs 50 lakh for the construction of Rang Bhawan at Dehradun. He also announced the upgradation of some schools in Dharchula and Kanalichina and added that a research centre on medicinal herbs would be opened at Dharchula. “To construct 150 MW Dhauliganga Phase-II Project in Dharchula, the state will appeal to the Supreme Court to give permission as the forest laws are a big hurdle in it,” he said.

The Chief Minister also inaugurated a two-day cultural festival organised by the Rang Kalyan Parishad at Pangu and felicitated the eminent personality from the Rang tribal community.

In Kanalichina, the Chief Minister also announced construction of some schools and roads in the area. He opened the six-day-long Kanalichina Mahotsava.

Dehradun, April 24
Pauri Garhwal Congress MP Satpal Maharaj’s query put up in Parliament vis-à-vis financial package for Uttarakhand seems to have kicked off a new controversy regarding the state BJP government’s true intentions towards seeking a package for the state from the Centre.

While responding to Maharaj’s query dated April 21, Union Minister of State for Planning B Narayan Sami categorically held that the state had not sought any financial package and rather taken up other issues of the state with the Centre.

The Uttarakhand Congress Committee referring to the minister’s reply reiterated that the Congress’ earlier stand that the state government had not sought any financial package from the Centre stood vindicated by the minister’s reply. “The BJP government is fooling people over the issue of financial package and look least interested for the package,” he pointed out.

State Congress spokesman Surendra Arya even went to the extent of asking the state government for seek forgiveness from the public over the issue of package.

Arya alleged that the state government’s repeated accusation that the Centre was resorting to step-motherly treatment against the state had been proved false. He reminded that the Congress leaders from the state were already pursuing the case of Uttarakhand’s extension of industrial package with the Centre.

Joining the issue, member of All-India Congress Committee Yogendra Khanduri said the state government had little knowledge about the Central assistance packages.

Khanduri said the BJP needed to go for self-introspection before levelling any accusation on the Centre as the Congress-led Central government was firmly committed for the betterment of Uttarakhand.

Dehradun, April 24
The Mahanagar Congress Committee will organise a cultural programme at Premnagar tomorrow as part of the 125th foundation day celebrations of the Congress.

Addressing a press conference here today, committee president Harish Virmani said state Congress president Yashpal Arya would be the chief guest, while Congress MP Vijaya Bahuguna would be the special guest at the function to be held at the Premnagar bus station tomorrow at 5 pm.

Mussoorie MLA Joth Singh Gunsola and Lakshman Chowk MLA Dinesh Agarwal will be other dignitaries expected to attend the programme.

Virmani said folk songs and dances from Garhwal and Kumaon would be the highlight of the programme. Reality show singer Mannu hailing from Uttarakhand, Indian Focus Dance Group, Punjabi folk song troupe Gabaru Shaukeen would also give their presentations on the day.

Virmani said the Congress had a rich and glorious history and its history was full of sacrifices. “We want to convey to people the sacrifices made by the legendary Congress leaders for the cause of the nation,” he added.

State Congress secretary Vijay Chauhan and committee secretary Deep Vohra were also present in the conference.

Haridwar, April 24
With the Maha Kumbh to officially get over in the next five days in Kumbh city Haridwar, after an influx of politicians before the April 14 Shahi Snan, today it was the turn of Himachal Pradesh Governor Urmila Singh to take a dip in the water of the holy Ganga river.

The Governor of the neighbouring state was accompanied by her family members and kept a low profile during her visit so that minimum inconvenience was caused to the locals and pilgrims.

A poised and composed-lookong Urmila Singh arrived at the VIP ghat where she took a dip and performed rituals.

Urmila Singh was appointed Governor of Himachal Pradesh this year only and was former Chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes. Terming her visit to Haridwar as a soul-satisfying one, she added that it was a different experience altogether to be in the city during the mega fair.

As soon as news of the Himachal Governor spread, people, specially Congress party workers, thronged the VIP ghat to interact and accompany Urmila Singh during her stay in the Kumbh city. She was seen interacting with people and enjoying the serene and religious atmosphere of Haridwar.

Mussoorie, April 24
Allahabad Bank, Mussoorie, celebrated its 146th foundation day by distributing sweets among customers of the bank today.

The staff of the bank also held talks on the occasion, in which the bank commended customer growth, both in urban and rural areas in the state as well as the country.

Customers also commended the behaviour and working of the staff and were of the view that they felt at home while banking with Allahabad Bank.

Senior Manager AK Sareen informed that the building of the bank was one of the oldest in Mussoorie and it was constructed way back in 1892 and amalgamated into Allahabad Bank in 1917. The building had a heritage status and was one of the beautiful buildings in the city, he added.

According to eminent historian Gopal Bhardwaj, the bank is one of the oldest in the city and was previously known as Alliance Bank of Shimla, which was incorporated with Punjab Banking Corporation Limited and Delhi and London Bank Limited. It was amalgamated into Allahabad Bank in 1917. The Manager then was British national WD Henry. He also informed that the bank still had the asbestos lockers, lock and key made by famous lock makers the Chubs Patent of London. The only group photograph of the bank employees taken on March 23, 1917, the amalgamation day, is still intact with Gopal Bhardwaj.

According to Sareen the bank is also the oldest joint stock bank. Today it is one of the leading banks in the country with a whooping business of over Rs 1,00,000 crore.

Dehradun, April 24
Against the alleged exploitation and being neglected by authorities, members of Purav Sainik Welfare Association, a body of ex-servicemen, held a dharna at the Gandhi Park here today.

The sainiks protested against the authorities in favour of their long-pending demands and threatened that if their demands were not agreed to, they would intensify their agitation.

The association’s main 50-year-old demand was one-rank one-pension for all. They said it hadn’t been implemented fully.

The sainiks also criticised the issue that after toiling hard for 17 years in severe service, they sat idle at home and there was no help for them in this regard.

They lamented that the property of sainiks was not saved even after they fought to save the country in three wars.

SS Thapliyal said civil and military officers were both into corruption, while the sainiks who are of lower ranks were made to suffer. “It is we who fight on the borders putting our lives in danger, not the officers, then why this step motherly treatment with us?” he questioned.

Dehradun, April 24
The Rajya Yuva Kalyan Parishad held a district-level convention in the honour of the Prantiya Raksha Dal (PRD) Hit Sangathan at their Raipur-based office here today. Subash Barthwal of the Rajya Yuva Kalyan Parishad was the chief guest on the occasion. He inaugurated the event by lighting the lamp.

Addressing people gathered at the venue, Barthwal appreciated the humble and selfless dedication of the PRD jawans who provided assistance to the masses. He expressed unhappiness at the condition of these servicemen who did not receive anything in return. He made an announcement of setting a regularised structure to provide financial and educational help, assistance for health, safety, sanitation and security to the PRD servicemen.

Barthwal also opined passing a budget by the state government for the welfare of the PRD men.

Jyoti Gairola, president of the Vikas Nigam, was the guest of honour on the occasion.

Other people present at the function were Ajay Aggarwal, Shakti Singh, DS Rawat, Veer Singh, Pramod Kumar and others.

Mussoorie, April 24
On the second and final day of the fourth Uttarakhand Local Bodies’ Karamchari Mahasangh convention here today, members alleged that development works in Uttarakhand were going on at a snail's pace due the lackadaisical attitude and corrupt practices of bureaucrats and chairpersons of various panchayats and nagar palikas. The speakers also criticised these officials for divulging the funds indiscriminately.

The employees attacked the government on introducing the recommendation of Sixth Pay Commission half-heartedly. They said the government was not solving the arrears and irregular pay distribution in the local bodies.

The elections for the sangh were also held on the occasion in which Bhupendar Rawat was re-lected at the post of president, along with Meraj Ahmed as general secretary. Rawat said the 74th amendment, equal pay and allowance, class IV appointments on vacant posts would be the focus of the mahasangh in the forthcoming days.

Mahavir Rana, Kiran Rawat, Baburam, Nandkishore and other members were present on the occasion.

Dehradun, April 24
The Institute of Engineers and the Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE) and the Dehradun Institute of Technology (DIT), Dehradun, organised their fifth annual general meeting at IMS Seminar Hall here today.

Dr Govind Prasad, Director of DIT, was the chief guest on the occasion. He inaugurated the meeting while Dr RP Jamloki, chairman of the Institute of Engineers, Uttarakhand Centre, was the guest of honour.

Dignitaries present at the event were Er SC Goel, Er Narendra Singh, Er KP Tripathi, Dr JS Saini, Prof Shishir Kumar and other faculty members.

Nainital, April 24
A group of students from Nagaland, who had come to the region to do research on people from the Tharu tribe, had to face the ire of a group of villagers and Hindutva activists yesterday who mistook them to be indulging in religious conversion. The incident took place in the Chakarpur area near Khatima in Udham Singh Nagar district.

While the students maintained that they had come for research, a group of villagers led by Hindutva activists alleged that they were indulging in religious conversion in the garb of conducting research.

There were heated verbal exchanges between the two groups and situation seemed to be getting out of hand when a student was slapped by a villager.

However, timely intervention by the local administration prevented the situation from getting worse.

The students were advised to move to some other destination. The students, who had reached the area on April 19 said they would be doing their research over the next 50 days.

Nainital, April 24
A case of the murder of a bank manager posted in Rudrapur has come to light after his half-burnt body was recovered from the Tanda forest on yesterday afternoon.

The body was still burning when it was discovered, and it was the police that doused the fire. The cause of the murder and the identity of the killers is yet unknown.

According to information, a watchman alerted his senior officials of the Forest Department when he saw smoke rising from an area covered by trees just adjoining the Nainital highway.

The officials then alerted the police who were stunned to see that it was the body of a man that was burning at the spot. Since the tongue of the deceased was hanging out, it is being assumed that he was strangulated before being burnt.

It was late in the night that the deceased was identified as 30-year-old Mahesh Pande who lived in the Mukhani area of Haldwani. His mother told the police that he had been transferred to the SIDCUL area branch of a public sector bank three months back.

His postmortem was done at Haldwani today.

Dehradun, April 24
The body of a missing cement trader from Sharanpur, who was in his mid-20s, was found from the fields on the Kargi Chowk here today. The police examined the spot and sent the body for postmortem at a hospital in Chandernagar. The face was badly decomposed. It had been bludgeoned with stones, and some stones with marks of blood on them were found from the spot indicating that he was murdered with those. The face was also burnt apparently to conceal his identity.

According to Patelnagar police station’s officiating SHO, the body seemed to have been in the fields for about a week. The police found a cellphone from one of his trouser pockets and called up his family members. The deceased has been identified as Naeem, a native of Saharanpur and was a cement trader in Roorkee.