Dehradun, June 15
High level of adulteration was found in food products sold during the just-concluded Kumbh, and the banned kesari dal, known to cause several life-threatening diseases, was freely available at shops then, claims a study undertaken by a Dehradun-based NGO, Society of Pollution and Environmental Conservation Scientists (SPECS).

“Nearly 70 per cent adulteration was found in food items, ranging from spices, water, milk products and other sundry cooking items, and even the banned kesari dal was also detected during sample testing,” said SPECS secretary Brij Mohan Sharma.

A 45-year-ban exists on the dal that is supposed to cause debilitating diseases like lathyrism and even weakening of the heart and kidneys.

A total of 1,980 samples were collected from the Kumbh mela area between Jawalapur and Ram Ghat during the 11 snans and 1,396 samples were found to be adulterated. While turmeric was contaminated with metanil yellow, a carcinogenic substance; spices like coriander had high content of mud and saw dust, and clove had no oil in it. Vegetable oils were found to be mixed with mobile oil.

“Even the famous sweets sold at the mela were found to be adulterated. The incense sticks contained high percentage of wax instead of wholly desi ghee,” he said.

Of the 166 milk samples, 97 were found to be synthetic, while in the rest milk contained caustic soda, and out of 200 samples of tea, 186 were found adulterated. The organisation will undertake a similar study during the Char Dham yatra also.

Dehradun, June 15
Even though Rijul Bakshi, a 17-year-old budding singer from Dehradun, could not make his entry in the finals in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, a talent hunt show on Zee TV, his determination to become a singer still soars high. Among the top 50 semi-finalist participants, Rijul was the only one to represent Uttarakhand.

Rijul, who is still in the national Capital, spoke to The Tribune over the telephone. “I went through many rounds of audition to secure a place among the top 50. The auditions were tough and fair with participants coming from foreign countries also like Pakistan, Canada and Mauritius. I initially gave the audition from Jalandhar, but the entries were limited. So, I again gave the audition from New Delhi. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get selected among the finalists, but the judges, music directors Vishal-Shekhar, Sajid-Wajid and Daler Mehendi, appreciated my performance. They even embraced and awarded me with a cash amount of Rs 1,000,” quipped visually-impaired Rijul, who enthralled the crowd at the audition with the song “Dulhe ka sehra...”, originally sung by Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Rijul, who has just passed his Class XII examination, was a student of the National Institute of Visual Handicapped (NIVH). He was never keen on studying, but had participated in several music competitions held in and outside Dehradun.

“I have huge inclination towards music and I feel connected with the Almighty through my singing. I developed interest in music when I was just a year old. My parents bought me a casio, on which I used to play music. The second major landmark in my life happened at the age of four, when I gave a stage performance at Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh and was awarded Rs 5,000, a trophy and certificate by former President Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma,” he said.

Also a music composer, Rijul hones his musical skills under his teacher Kashiram. He was among the 10 finalists in the singing contest “Hindustan ki Awaz” and was the finalist in “Hindustan ka Rockstar”. He recently won the competition held by the Anup Jalota Foundation at the ONGC here.

“I like all styles of music but these days I am focusing on classical, as I believe that classical music is the base of every composition. Although NIVH helped me with the funding of my studies, yet it never gave me a chance to showcase my talent in the public. There the focus was on academics. I owe my heartfelt gratitude to my teachers, Dua sir and Saurav sir, who encoraged me to develop my singing ability,” he said.

“I couldn’t get selected this time, I’ll try my luck next year. Everybody liked my voice and appreciated my performance in the auditions. I just need to brush up my skills more,” Rijul asserted.

The optimistic approach of this budding star has encouraged many aspirants, who are physically challenged.

Pitthoragarh, June 15
Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Arjun Singh was solely responsible for letting Union Carbide Chairman Warren Anderson flee the country. This was stated by Congress spokesperson Satyavrata Chaturvedi, who was on a visit here today.

“On December 8, 1984, then Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Arjun Singh had himself accepted at a press conference that by his order, the police had arrested and taken Warren Anderson in its custody. The next day, when Aujun Singh was asked by a reporter on whether he had consulted the Centre in this regard, he denied and said the matter was totally under his preview and there was no need to take permission from the Centre,” Chaturvedi said.

“On December 14, 1984, Arjun Singh went to the national Capital and briefed then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on how Anderson was arrested and subsequently released,” said the Congress spokesperson, who is on a private visit in the Himalayan town of Munsiyari in this district.

Dehradun, June 15
Members of the Mohalla Swachhta Samiti went to the Secretariat to give a memorandum of their demands to the Chief Secretary in the wake of their ongoing strike. The strike went off peacefully. The police though did not allow them to enter the gate. Their memorandum was received outside the gate by a Sub Divisional Magistrate who assured them that it would be sent to the officer concerned.

Chander Mohan Kala, union leader, expressed anger on not being permitted to enter the Secretariat and meet the Chief Secretary and said, “These officials only give hollow assurances. Therefore, we will wait only for a day to get a reply from the Secretariat. In case it does not happen, we will move to the Vidhan Sabha, and, if needed, will protest at the residence of the Chief Minister. This fight will not come to an end now”.

The members demanded regularisation of their jobs, increment in wages, facility of insurance and direct connection of sanitation workers with the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) by removing the role of councillors who supervised and paid them their salaries.

The city Congress leadership too came forward to lend their support. The city leaders such as city party president Twinkle Arora, vice-president Mohan Kala and member Chetan Kumar came along to lend their support to the protesters.

Mussoorie, June 15
Trade union workers in Mussoorie raised slogans against the state government demanding minimum wages for the workers in unorganised sector here today. The workers gathered at the Picture Palace under the banner of the Hotel Workers Union and chanted slogans in support of their demands. A demands letter was also sent addressed to Labour Minister and the Secretary.

According to the union leaders, Mussoorie was a prominent tourist destination of the state where workers in large numbers were providing services at various hotels, restaurants and public schools. The workers flayed the notification issued on April 28, 2005, and termed it as unsatisfactory and inclined towards the capitalist class.

The union leaders demanded that government announce minimum wage of Rs 8,000 along with pension plans. The other demands of the trade unions were opening of permanent labour office in Mussoorie, announcement of bonus on priority basis, assurance of medical facility at PHC in the town and increase in wages of masons and carpenters to Rs 300 daily. The two different trade unions, namely the Hotel, Restaurant Karamchari Sangh and the Hotel Workers Union issued statements separately warning the state government that if the demands were not met, they would start a massive movement and bring the town to standstill.

Dehradun, June 15
After terminating the services of two constables, the Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) will write to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to probe into the role of the doctor under whose supervision Munir murder-accused history-sheeter Jiti remained away from the Doon Hospital for eight hours yesterday.

SSP Abhinav Kumar said, “We will write to the CMO to probe into the role of the doctor. The doctor told the police considering his health condition he had to be admitted to the hospital, but how could he leave from there without anybody’s knowledge”.

Jiti was brought yesterday to the hospital for treatment at about 3 pm, but he left the building with the two cops for about eight hours.

The two cops, who were later terminated, are Anirudh Tyagi and Umesh Kumar.

The accused was admitted in general ward due to the “problem” of stone in his kidney. However, late night, it came to the notice of the police that he had gone with the cops to meet his girlfriend from the hospital.

The accused along with the cops returned to the hospital at 10.15 am and was taken into custody by senior police officials.

Mussoorie, June 14
A seminar on the deteriorating environment of Mussoorie and its solution was held under the aegis of the local Press Club on the Nagar Palika premises yesterday. A video CD prepared by Pradeep Bhandari highlighting the dangers of pollution and a rampant burning of toxic waste at the trenching ground and contamination of a potable water source near Bhilaru was played at the seminar.

Eminent environmentalist Vipin Gupta said the situation as explained through the video presentation was alarming and immediate action was needed on an urgent basis before the situation got out of the control. He also said it was Mussoorie where the first campaigning to ban the plastic was started by him. But it could not make much progress, hence this dangerous state had reached where Mussoorie was facing an environmental crisis. He also said the need of the hour was to join hands together and involve the common man in this conservation project. He also said owing to an Act a recycling plant couldn’t be established in Mussoorie, but the waste could be segregated and sent for recycling elsewhere.

Vipin Gupta ssaid the Nagar Palika could involve people at the ward level by forming health committees. Pradeep Bhandari, the producer of the CD, said will was lacking on the part of the Palika and politicians. Residents and tourists were forced to drink contaminated water in Mussoorie. Bhandari further said a large amount of money was collected in the name of conservancy and eco tax but nothing was being done to preserve environment.

Bhandari said they were biggest polluters in the town as most of them had no soak pits and safety tanks and were discharging sewage into potable water sources intentionally. He also opined that hoteliers should be penalised heavily for destroying the environment of the town.

Another speaker Anita Saxena said the need of the hour was to involve people from all walks of life and try shifting the trenching ground from the present location at Gaddi Khana. Nagar Vikas Adhikari Harak Singh Rawat said the plastic couldn’t be banned completely but it could be managed and the town should make a concerted effort in doing so.

Rawat also laid emphasis on segregating the waste and said he had designed a waste basket with two bins to assist in segregation which could be followed in Mussoorie.

Several speakers laid emphasis on improving the environment by banning burning of toxic waste at the garbage dumping ground. Palika president OP Uniyal said he was planning to put two bins at Kholukhet and collect the plastic there from the tourists so that Mussoorie remained a plastic-free area.

Mussoorie MLA Jot Singh Gunsola announced formation of an environmental conservation core committee consisting of the heads of various institutions and organisations in association with the Press Club. Vipin Gupta was nominated convener of the committee. Press Club president Bijendar Panwar said the club would be at the forefront in raising such issue and ensure a positive outcome.