Pitthoragarh, May 29
Communication facility to pilgrims on the trek route camps during the Kailash Mansarowar Yatra this year has been upgraded by the Kumoan Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) by installing Digital Satellite Phone Terminal sets at every camp from Gala to Navidhang.

This was stated by nigam officials here today.

“The nigam has taken five terminal sets from Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) on commercial lines, which will replace old portable INMAR sets installed by a private company till last year which cost Rs 35 per minute to every corner of India, while this year the communication facility installed by the BSNL will cost only Rs 5 per minute to the pilgrims,” said Rana Ashok Kumar, BSNL GM, Almora.

Kumar said this year the pilgrims would have no dearth of communication system as more than 18 terminals had been installed on the route.

“Unlike the last year, the telecommunication facility on the yatra route will be sound this year as the terminal sets will be installed at every village on this route permanent from where the call will cost only Re 1,” said the GM, adding that, besides the BSNL network, the ITBP and the SSB also had their own communication networks beyond the first camp Gala.

During this year’s yatra all camps beginning from the base camp Dharchula up to Gunji will be connected through wireless sets to give information about the activities of yatra batches.

“These wireless sets will be linked with our centre at Sukhatal and at base camp Dharchula, from where every activity about the pilgrim batches will be known,” said nigam GM Ashok Joshi.

He added that up to the Dharchula base camp the condition of telephone connectivity was in a good shape.

The Kailash Mansarowar Yatra which will begin on June 1 from New Delhi will have to face some snowy hurdles as due to continuous snowfall in the Gunji area, first two batches will have to track on thick snow.

“Though this is the normal condition in this part of the Himalaya during these months, this year due to unexpected snowfall at the 15-km track route from Gunji to the last camp Navidhang, it may be risky for the ponies and the mules which carry the luggage and pilgrims,” said Joshi.

Dehradun, May 29
Once again the directive of the state government to probe into the possibilities of merging both the Irrigation Department and the Minor Irrigation Department by setting up a committee of Heads of both departments, which has to give its report within a month, has created strong ripples.

The Irrigation Department, which has always been denying giving step-motherly treatment to the Minor Irrigation Department, alleges that the latter is always inundated with a plethora of projects and funds, whereas the Irrigation Department has to implore to bag work. Therefore, it is now happy over the recent development.

On the other hand, the Minor Irrigation is not ready for the merger as it feels that it will badly affect their career prospectus.

Head of the Irrigation Department BK Tamta, who recently joined the post and has been cautious of his interaction with mediapersons, desisted from giving an elaborate reply and said, “There had been several cases where both departments approached for the same projects which created clashes”. About the outcome, he said, “It will be too early to predict about the outcome. Both Heads of the departments will discuss in a couple of meetings and put the report forward to Irrigation Minister Matbar Singh Kandari”.

Tamta may be hesitant in his words, but the employees of the Irrigation Department are unequivocal in demanding a merger.

Ramesh Ramola, General Secretary, said, “The Irrigation Department, which has 8,000 employees, gets Rs 200 crore annually to pay for the salaries, projects and other expenses. In stark contrast, the Minor Irrigation, which has merely 357 employees, gets more budget. It is their working style which does not entail much of documentation and accountability, which is why there had been umpteen cases of misappropriation of funds in the past. Their 10 officers are under suspension for this very reason”.

The merger would obliterate the scope for corruption and misuse of government money, as then the Minor Irrigation would have to adopt the working pattern of the Irrigation Department which had been streamlined with checks and balances on every step, he informed.

The Minor Irrigation is categorical opposing any move to merge tooth and nail. Mohammad Omar, Head of the Minor Irrigation, said, “All three attempts made earlier fizzled out for its failure to address the problem of seniority in the new arrangement. This time, too, the same question will pop up. Similarly, our cadre is different, as we have an Agriculture Department which does not exist in the Irrigation Department, how the employees of this department will be adjusted? Thirdly, our cadre has been revised and cleared whilst it is yet to be done in case of the Irrigation Department”.

Omar said all wings of their employees associations, be it the Diploma Engineers Association, Ministerial Association or Clerical Association, were up in arms against any recommendation of a merger.

Calling such attempts of a merger a well-conceived stratagem, LP Baduni, president of the Diploma Engineers Association, Minor Irrigation, said, “We get more projects and funds than the Irrigation Department, as the scope for us is wider in all 11 districts, except Dehradun and Haridwar, for the fact that the Minor Irrigation has been entitled to carry out irrigation work in areas less than 2,000 hectare.”

He added that, “In all these years, the strength of employees too have rose up from 300 to 457 and, we have our full-fledge department with an HoD. In such a scenario, it is wrong to think of merging the with the Irrigation Department, where our promotions and seniority in a large organisation of the Irrigation Department will get a major setback. Therefore, we have decided to meet the Irrigation Minister on June 1 to put our grievances to him.”

He expressed faith that the exercise of merge will prove null and void in short time.

Haridwar, May 29
Former Prime Minister of India Chaudhari Charan Singh was paid tributes and remembered on the 23rd death anniversary of the leader who fought for farmers throughout his life for their causes.

Several commemorative and tribute functions were held in Haridwar district where people paid floral tributes and spoke on the life of the great farm leader who rose to the pinnacle of politics by becoming the sixth Prime Minister of India in July 1979 after becoming the Finance Minister and twice being the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.

Speakers highlighted the various farm movements carried on by the great leader and said his association with the agrarian community could be gauged by the fact that his memorial place in New Delhi is termed as “Kissan Ghat”.

Activists of the Lok Dal, the party which Ch Charan Singh led till his death, said they would follow the ideals and vision of Charan Singh, which, according to them, if implemented by government would eradicate the woes of the farming community.

“Though he never faced Parliament as Prime Minister, yet his working was lauded even by his political rivals. Charan Singh wanted change in Indian labour laws,” said Devpal Singh Rathi, coordinator, Lok Dal Haridwar unit.

A yagya and hawan was also held in the city to pray for the peace of his soul. People from across political lines participated in the yagya.

Haridwar, May 29
The two-day youth convention concluded today at Dev Sanskriti University with urging the youth to follow the path of discipline, character and humanity to put society to path of prosperity and peace.

Being held under the aegis of Shanti Kunj, the convention saw delegates from across the country speaking on various issues, charting out an effective role for the youth and making India a world leader by 2020.

The convention was a well-attended one with more than 150 delegates from 20 states participating.

Addressing the concluding session, Chancellor, Dev Sanskriti University, Dr Pranav Panday said in this time of distress and darkness when world was being inflicted by several problems, only the youth had the power to take the world out of hatred, terrorism, communalism and corruption.

“The youth should conserve and utilise their resources for positive purposes by taking along with them compatriots, elders and every section of the society. The world has to be enlightened by the youth blossoming the world with peace, happiness, harmony and hard work,” said Dr Pandya.

Shanti Kunj coordinator Gauri Shankar Sharma said the youth should indulge in social work too, so that their time, resources and life became fruitful, making progress of the society. Gauri Shankar highlighted the various social movements being done at Shanti Kunj like the Saptkranti movement that includes meditation, education, health, women upliftment, environment conservation, anti-drug movement and eradication of malpractices in the Indian society. He also urged everyone to join in any of these social movements to uplift the society.

Divine India Youth Association representatives’ compilation of literature and Akhand Jyoti magazines from 1940 to 2005 and putting them online was also lauded by the attendants.

Prominent among others, who addressed, were Dr SP Mishra, Veereshwar Upadhyay, Pramod Bhatnagar and Kalicharan Sharma.

Dehradun, May 29
The National Institute of Visually Handicapped (NIVH) is taking the next technological leap by planning to produce all new books in DAISY format and also convert it’s existing collection of more than 30,000 cassettes into DAISY Book format.

A technology that has been designed from the perspective of a visually impaired allows enough manoeuvrability to them and the NIVH with the help of National Association of the Blind (NAB) is about to make a big shift in the coming days.

After approval by the NIVH committee, the implementation will be carried.

Stating this today at a national meeting on the promotion of DAISY Books, Anuradha Mohit, Director of the NIVH, said once the cassettes and CDS at the Talking Library were converted into the DAISY format, the NIVH library would become the largest repository of DAISY Books and the mentoring would be done by NAB that became member of the DAISY Books consortium in 2002. “Ultimately, we have produced things that are from the perspective of the visually impaired persons. It is a criminal waste of public exchequers’ money if funds are used for things that are not fully beneficial for them. The technology will help them access the material para by para and go back to any page or search a phrase by pressing the buttons,” said Anuradha.

Dipender Manocha, managing founder and trustee of Saksham, an NGO and also part of DAISY Forum India (it consists of more than 80 non-profit organisations), said the shift to DAISY Books would not require additional hardware. Only software would be required, besides the DAISY player that would be heavily subsidised for the visually impaired persons. 

Dehradun, May 29
The movement of afforestation in the Doon gained momentum when 51 saplings were planted by the Kash Society at Mahavir Enclave, Majra, here yesterday.

Around 30 persons participated in the noble cause driven by students and the NGO that pledged to plant 1,000 saplings in and around the city by July this year.

Sadhna Sharma, president of the Uttaranchal Mahila Association, was the chief guest on the occasion who inaugurated the event by planting a sapling. Sadhna said: “This morning is a dawn for our environment with the future of our country taking the responsibility”.

Dehradun, May 29
Members of the Uttarakhand Rajya Andolankari Sanghathan today staged a dharna at the Gandhi Park here demanding a CBI probe into the infamous Anshu Nautiyal murder case.

Led by Vijyesh Nawani, president of the sanghathan, who led the protesters, asserted that it was strange that while the state government had ordered a CBI inquiry into the Ranbir encounter case, the police was yet to take up Anshu Nautiyal case seriously.

“The government must immediately order for a CBI probe into Anshu Nautiyal case or else the state agitators will be forced to go for a state-wide agitation,” Nawani pointed out.

Omi Uniyal, Manoj Dhyani, Vivekanand Khanduri, Ravindra Pradhan, Navneet Gusaind, along with parents of deceased Anshu, were present on the occasion.

Anshu, a school-going student, was brutally murdered one year back and the police is still to arrive at any conclusion in the case. 

Dehradun, May 29
Lt-Gen VK Ahluwalia, GOC-in-C, Central Command, toured Dehradun Garrison where he was briefed on all activities being carried out by the Uttarakhand Sub Area by GOC, Major Gen Ranvir Yadav. The Army Commander directed the GOC to ensure the timely completion of all major MES projects related to the construction of dwellings and development in Uttarakhand. He also directed him to review the intelligence setup of the Army and provide for additional resources, if these were needed.

He gave strict directions to nip any effort to encroach the defence land. He further asked the GOC to make the Army Field Firing Ranges safe by planting a large number of trees behind the stop butt, which would also act as environmental protection.

While touring the station, he directed him to send more resources for the development of residential, play and recreational facilities for troops and their families. His wife Shobha Ahluwalia also met the wives of troops serving in the field area. She heard their problems and assured them of speedy action on the issues.

The Army Commander, who arrived a day before, also met the CM of Uttarakhand on yesterday and projected many welfare schemes for the serving and retired soldiers. The General will leave tomorrow.

Mussoorie, May 29
At a function held at Aashiana Hotel at the Library Bazar-situated Press Club of Mussoorie felicitated five journalists for excellence in journalism today. Talks on the present status of journalism were also held in which various dignitaries from Mussoorie presented their views.

The five scribes to be felicitated were Harbhachan Singh from Seemant Prahri, Jaikishan Shah, a freelancer, Jabbar Singh Verma from Amar Ujala and Ajay Ramola from The Tribune.

The chief guest on the occasion, eminent author and writer Ganesh Saili inaugurated the function by lighting the ceremonial lamp. The other invited guests were Palika president OP Uniyal, Senior Citizen Forum RS Mishra, former Palika president Manmohan Singh Mall and BJP Mussoorie president Roop Singh Kathait . Uniyal said on the occasion that jouralism should be fair and without prejudice, and good works of the government also should be highlighted. He congratulated the scibes who were felicitated on the occasion.

Mall said journalists should themselves draw a line and keet away from yellow journalism. RS Mishra was of the view that scribes were also facing exploitation in present times, but they should continue value-based journalism which was missing.

Felicitated scribe Harbhachan Singh said the state of journalism had changed vastly and dedication was missing. Most of the media had now become local and it was difficult to view the news at other stations.

Another journalist Jaikishan Shah said all scribes should maintain high standards in reporting. He also said there was a flood of media which had its advantages and disadvantages too.

Press Club of Mussoorie president Bijendar Panwar said any complaint about the misdoings of a journalist should be reported immediately at the club for prompt action.

Dehradun, May 29
A month-long Agnihotry’s Dreamland and Trade Fair 2010 at Parade Ground that began here yesterday has a variety of handicrafts and rides for children. Vinod Chamoli, Mayor of Dehradun, inaugurated the trade fair. Prior to the fair, Dreamland was one common platform that provides a perfect way of shopping, advertisement, recreation and business, altogether.

However, the fair is more of an amusement park that caters to the demand and likings of children during vacation. More than 100 stalls are there at the event. FMCG products, electronics, home appliances, furniture, interiors, luxurious home needs, fashion, garment, jewellery, educational institutes and kitchen accessories - there’s a lot more providing an array of choices to visitors at the fair.

Along with showcasing unique items of different states, the fair particularly lays extra emphasis on the handicrafts and food items of Uttarakhand. Exhibitors are also from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal and many other states of the country.

Adding more variety and spice is the list of cultural shows to be performed every evening. 

Dehradun, May 29
More than 400 patients availed the 50 per cent discounts in both diagnostic disciplines of pathology and radiology at Dr Ahuja’s Pathology and Imaging Centre.

The team, led by Dr Alok Ahuja, pathology, and Dr Alka Ahuja, radiology, performed all tests with expertise and skills.

The quality of the services was continuously monitored by the internal quality control team.

Many challenging cases of bone-marrow aspirations, CT guided FNAC’s, allergy tests, DNA PCRs were attended.

Many people also availed annual health check-ups.

The centre also did not forget to take feedback from patients in order to improve their still better.