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Doon intelligentsia back Hazare’s drive against corruption
UPP’s parivartan yatra begins from Mallital
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Industrial Development Corpn budget fixed at Rs 340 cr
Girls in Haridwar form special Sachin Fan Club
Agro experts predict good price for hill potato
Two-day seminar on career option ends
Free English class for underprivileged kids begins
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Doon intelligentsia back Hazare’s drive against corruption
Dehradun, April 3 Addressing mediapersons in Dehradun, coordinator of “India Against Corruption” Jagdish Mahotra, industrialist Rakesh Oberoi, educationists GC Juyal and Rajnish Juyal, Brig KG Behl (retd) and Dr Kuldeep Dutta disclosed that eminent Doonites from all sections of the society would stage dharna at the Gandhi Park on April 5, as a mark of solidarity
with Hazare’s crusade against corruption. They said, “Social activists, advocates, doctors, teachers, journalists and students will participate in the dharna and also carry out a candle light march in support of Hazare”. “We are strongly in favour of Hazare’s call for tabling the Lokpal Bill in its original form,” said former senior bank official and coordinator, India Against Corruption, Jagdish Malhotra. He disclosed that the All-India Consumer Council, Indian Medical Association, Dehradun Ex-servicemen League, Dalanwala Welfare Society, Geeta Bhawan Dehradun and Dehradun District Bar Association had already pledged their support for the April 5 dharna. Malhotra said the Lokpal Bill if tabled and approved by Parliament would be historic in many ways, as it would be a first major step in the country in the fight against corruption. Responding to queries, Malhotra categorically held that India Against Corruption was an apolitical
body and was neither affiliated, nor aligned to any organisation. |
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UPP’s parivartan yatra begins from Mallital
Nainital, April 3 The party leadership held corner meetings during the yatra, where the masses are being called upon to unite for bringing about a change in the state polity. The leaders attacked both the Congress and the BJP for betraying the faith of the masses since the state came into being. UPP President PC Tewari, while addressing people at the Mallital Rickshaw stand, attacked both the mainstream parties for promoting corruption. “We all know what the Congress leaders have done during the organisation of the Commonwealth Games and what the state government, under the leadership of Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, was up to in the Citurgia land use scam. Just when it saw that there was no way the government could escape from the High Court, the Nishank Government withdrew all the permissions granted for the land use change. This goes on to prove the kind of culture these parties are promoting and how they are squandering the precious land resources of the state to the private parties”. Tewari also attacked the Nishank Government for its alleged role in the scandal involving the hydropower projects. The UPP leadership held both the present BJP regime and the former Congress regime for insulting the sacrifices made by the people for creation of the state. It particularly attacked the present BJP regime for its failure to provide employment to the educated youth and to stop migration from the hill areas of the state. It played up the issue of squandering the natural resources to select private parties and encouraging mafia culture in the state. The leadership said the vision with which the state was created has diminished because of these two parties. It also attacked the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) for sitting in the lap of the BJP and betraying the aspirations of the masses. The UPP leadership also played up the failures of successive governments to declare a permanent capital for the state and said that the masses have been betrayed on the issue of having the state capital in
Gairsain. |
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Industrial Development Corpn budget
Dehradun, April 3 The USIDC, which had been grappling with transport problems, has also been provided reimbursement for the transport. In another important decision, Matoo also gave a green signal for enlisting contractors/consultants. He said, “We need to have list of experts, such as architects and consultants on our panel, so that their services can be roped in without any delay”. Taking cue from the Uttar Pardesh Working Agency, he suggested that these experts should not be hired on a permanent basis, but for the stipulated period when they were needed to prepare documentation for any particular project. Chief General Manager (Finance) Pramod Kumar Joshi, GM Col Dinesh Chandra and Corporate Adviser HP Vyas aptly appreciated the suggestion. Vyas said, “With this system, we will be able to have experts on our panel and weed out problems of permanent staff, who continue to give out same kind of results. By keeping experts on our panel for a fixed period, say for a month or so, we can even change the panel as per the specialisation of their work and specification of our requirement”. The department has been given direction to prepare the list soon. The department, which has shortage of staff, has also been permitted to hire five to six new personnel, including engineers to accountants/clerical staff. The management has been given direction to get clarity on the number of staff required, the recommendations of which would be sent to the state government. The USIDC, at present, has a strength of 56 against the total requirement of 187, but the higher-ups are not asking for a large number of staff, as at present they do not have much quantum of projects. Managing Director Lalit Mohan was also present in the meeting. |
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Ruckus in Haridwar Municipality Board meeting again
Haridwar, April 3 What has almost become a norm in Palika Board meetings, was once again witnessed as after ruckus, commotion and even intimidating tactics by ward members, the board meeting had to be finally postponed as ward members didn’t allow any of the proceedings. Ward councillors alleged that the board agenda copy and irregularities found by the councillors were not being presented deliberately and, thus, they opposed any working being done at the meeting. Dinesh Joshi, a ward councillor, alleged that Executive Officer (EO) BL Arya refused to provide a copy of the board agenda and when the Municipal Chairman asked him to do so, he failed to give a satisfactory reply on this matter, aggravating the councillors demanding clarification. Leader of Opposition Sanjay Sharma also alleged that the EO was also not adhering to the municipality rules as he had not invited several department officers to the meeting, and when a clarification was sought on this, again Arya failed to reply, igniting the temper of the councillors. This was bound to happen as Municipal Chairman Kamal Johra and EO Arya are at loggerheads and neither was sparing any occasion to lay blame on the other. Now all eyes are on April 5 when the board meeting is once again scheduled to be staged. Meanwhile, employees of the palika have expressed their resentment over the postponing of the board meeting. Putting forth their 13-point demand letter, they said the postponement was a deliberate attempt so avoid their demands, as in January there was a written statement between between the EO and representatives of the Uttaranchal Swachkar Karamchari Sangh on arrear payments as per the Sixth Pay Commission. Radhe Shyam Chachar, union member, said the daily wage employees were deemed as permanent employees by that statement signed by the EO, but now he wanted to delay and it. This had put questions on the intent of the municipality working, he added. |
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Girls in Haridwar form special Sachin Fan Club
Celebrations galore, the victory has also highlighted the immense popularity thatthis gentleman’s game holds in the hearts of women as is evinced in the way they are celebrating the victory as well as remaining glued to television sets and newspapers to know even minute details about the cricketing extravaganza, cricketers and statistics. Girls in Haridwar have even formed a special Sachin Fan Club dedicated to Indian cricketing maestro Sachin Tendulkar who played in his sixth World Cup and is a hit among youngsters. The Tribune spoke to many such women in the city just after the triumph by Dhoni’s brigade. Sachin Fan Club members held a special “only girls party” this morning as they could not hang out late last night post-match victory. Many had brought special self-made victory celebration greeting cards and posters centring on the Indian cricket team. They ordered special “Sachin burfi” and “Bhajji laddoo” from local Brijwasi Sweets and danced to the World Cup theme songs and Bollywood songs like “Chak De India”. Be it school-college or working girls, everyone seemed to be dipping in the Indian victory as their male counterparts. Payal Bisht, a modelling aspirant, said she had watched all the Indian matches, particularly Tendulkar’s full innings, and was happy that he was part of a team that had won the World Cup. Similarly, Pallavi Suman Sharma, an MBA graduate, has put cuttings of today’s newspapers front pages depicting India’s victory on her room wall so that this memorable occasion was close to her a bit more. “I had watched the exit of India in the 2007 World Cup when Bangladesh had thrashed us out, but now the sweet revenge has been taken as we too defeated Bangladesh en route to winning the World Cup?. Yes, we are world champions,” rhapsodised Pallavi along with her
family members. Ruchi Chaudhari, a college student, averred that earlier she used to watch T20 and IPL matches more, but now she had understood that the real cricket was this, like in the one-day international World Cup. “The pressure in matches against Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka was immense and real character of the team emerged out of it, kudos to Sachin, Dhoni, Gambhir, Zaheer Khan and all,” said Ruchi, who had prepared ‘kheer’ with her mom, to celebrate this occasion. Sakshi Kamra, school student who is also an avid cricket player, has decided to pursue cricket professionally so that one day too she represents India’s women’s cricket team. So from dance party, making ‘kheer’ to deciding to be an Indian woman cricket player, city girls are affected and adding their bit to the ongoing World Cup victory euphoria. |
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Navratras
Dehradun, April 3 The common variety of apples is available at Rs 85-90 per kg, while better quality red delights are burning holes in the pockets of the customers with the price fixed between Rs 180-200 per kg. Similar is the case with grapes, oranges, pears, kiwis, pineapples, pomegranates and other fruits. None of the above-mentioned fruit is available below the rate of Rs 60 per kg, while the imported quality of strawberries and dates are a bit, too, hard on the budget of every household with a price of Rs 50 for 250 gm. “Earlier, all our family members used to have the entire apple individually, but now a single apple is cut into pieces and then given to all,” said Rekha Juyal, a housewife. Housewife Kusum Aggarwal said, “Despite the high prices, we have to buy fruits as these are essential during the festive season. But I have lessened the amount of fruits for daily consumption”. Meanwhile, with a few hours left for the Navratras, fruit sellers are expecting an increase in the sale of fruits, giving them an opportunity to earn their share of profit. “The sale of fruits has been affected in the past couple of months, but Navratras are the time when we can do some business,” said Ratan, a fruit seller. “Till now, we have not received any notification for increasing the rates of fruits, but it might increase in the near future,” said Ratan. |
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Agro experts predict good price for hill potato
Nainital, April 3 The predictions have been made under a national agriculture innovation project entitled “Establishing and networking of market intelligence centres in India”. The main objective of the project is to release price forecasts of selected agricultural commodities before sowing and during harvesting to enable farmers to know the price of their produce even before sowing so that they could decide the time and sowing area for the crop to reap benefits or avoid losses. A project team of the Pantnagar centre conducted a market survey of the Haldwani regulated market, a major market for hill potato in Uttarakhand, and analysed the wholesale price data that had prevailed in the past 21 years. The econometric analysis of data indicated that the wholesale prices of hill potato in the Haldwani market would range between Rs 1,550 and Rs 1,750 per quintal in August and September. In October, the price would range between Rs 1,350 and Rs 1,550 per quintal. The scientists have advised the farmers who wish to take up hill potato cultivation this season to decide upon the area under the crop keeping in view these prices at harvest time. According to the traders’ survey, August, September and October are the peak arrival months while July and November are the lean arrival months for hill potato in the Haldwani market. The traders under the Krishi Utpandan Mandi Samiti, Haldwani, said that hill potato mainly comes from different areas of Nainital and Almora districts along with a few select areas in the Garhwal region. As far as Uttarakhand is concerned, being an off-season product, it is relatively a high-priced commodity. It is exported to other regions due to the low availability of plains’ potato during off-season. Sowing of hill potato starts in the end of February and lasts up to March and April depending upon different altitudes. The harvest goes on from July-end to November. |
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Two-day seminar on career option ends
Dehradun April 3 Like every year, Career Launcher organised seminars enrolling students in various programmes thereby providing solutions to various career related queries. The institute is also planning to visit various schools and colleges to know the kind of problems students are facing to cope up with competitive examinations. According to one of the councillors at CL, “The seminar aimed at comforting jittery students and their parents who are concerned for their future after completing class XII”. “Our experts here counsel everybody individually, while suggesting to them apt courses according to their interest, personality and aptitude. We make sure to clear all the doubts of students and their parents regarding their career ahead,” he added. |
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Free English class for underprivileged kids begins
Dehradun, April 3 He also suggested that the society provide computer education to the underprivileged kids. The function was presided over by Sahdev Singh Chauhan, a social worker. On the occasion, eminent educationist and president of the society Ravi Singh Negi said, “According to a survey conducted by the society, children studying in government schools lack in confidence due to the poor command over the English language and very limited or no exposure to computers. The purpose of these classes is to provide adequate English knowledge to them to increase their confidence level and bring them to the mainstream of the society to compete with their counterparts from public schools”. Anita Negi, general secretary of the society, added that in the first batch around 40 students were likely to attend the classes. |
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Haridwar, April 3