Pithoragarh, May 31
The Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN), the Pithoragarh District Administration and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) have completed the preparations for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which starts from New Delhi on June 1. The employees of these three bodies have been deputed at all the camps set up on the route of the yatra. The first batch of pilgrims will reach the Dharchula base camp on June 2. “From this year, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra route has been changed and now the pilgrims will drive straight to Narain Ashram instead of reaching Mangti first, as had been the practice till the last year. They will have the first camping at Sirkha,” said DK Sharma, Senior Manager, Tourism, and in charge of the yatra, KMVN, which is the nodal agency for the yatra.

“After staying at the Sirkha camp on June 2, the pilgrims will reach the Gala camp on the next day and after camping at Bundi, they will reach Gunji the next day. At Gunji, a team of doctors from the ITBP will carry out the second medical test on the pilgrims before they leave for the Nabhidhang camp after two days. The traditional camping at Kalapani has been done away with this year to manage the timings of the yatra stages,” said Sharma.

According to officials of the KMVN, 47 pilgrims, including 13 women, are part of the first batch, which is being led by APS Nimbadia, an officer of the ITBP.

“The road up to Narain Ashram and the 70-km trek route from there up to 5,334-metre high Lipulekh Pass, from where the Indian pilgrims will enter into the Tibetan territory, is in a good shape except 1.5-foot snow cover on some parts between Nabhidhang and the Lipulekh Pass, which is an usual condition for this pilgrimage,” said NS Negi, District Magistrate, Pithoragarh.

According to Negi, the security and communication arrangements for the four-month yatra have been completed and jawans of the police and the ITBP have been deputed at all the camps set up on the trek route. “As regards communication, we have a three-tier network. The police posts set up at every camp have their own communication systems besides the satellite phones have been provided by the BSNL at every camp. The ITBP has set up its own communication systems at all the camps,” said the District Magistrate.

“The ITBP, which takes care of the pilgrims beyond the Gunji camp, has not only deputed a team of three doctors to carry out the second medical check up on the pilgrims when they reach this camp after three days of trek, but has also deployed a disaster and rescue team of 45 personnel who will assist the pilgrims in the Gala, Bundi and Lakhanpur areas, which are considered sensitive from the disaster point of view,” said the ITBP officer.

The 644-km pilgrimage, which includes 574-km journey by vehicle form New Delhi up to the base camp of Dharchula, has on the route five camps at Sirkha, Gala, Bundi, Gunji, and Nabhidhang before the Lipulekh Pass. “The highest point for these pilgrimage is the Dolama Pass in Tibet which is at an altitude of 5,550 metre,” said Sharma.

Dehradun, May 31
The University of Petroleum and Energy Studies organised the 8th annual convocation here today. Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank was the chief guest on the occasion while S. Jaipal Reddy, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, was the guest of honour. Senior government officials, leading industrialists and academicians were also present.

As many as 980 degrees were conferred on students of graduate and postgraduate courses. PhD degrees were also awarded to doctoral candidates while gold medals were given to meritorious students.

Those who received gold medals included Vishal Goyal as the best PG student (College of Management and Economic Studies), Ajith K Chandy as the best PG student (College of Engineering Studies), Paridhi Gupta as the best UG student, (College of Management and Economic Studies) and Alice Deepika Prasad, best UG student, (College of Engineering Studies). The university also awarded silver medals, institutional medals and the Cairn-Laureate Student Scholarship to the deserving students.

The honoris causa degree of philosophy was awarded to Krishnamurthi Venkatramanan. The university also conferred executive MBA degrees on working professionals under its Centre for Continuing Education.

Addressing students, Jaipal Reddy said: “The university is playing a crucial role in the country’s economic development by providing industry-ready professionals for the energy sector. To keep a pace with the demands of a dynamic business environment, the university has joined hands with the IBM.”

The CM congratulated the students on their achievement. The ceremony culminated with a report of the college delivered by Dr Parag Diwan, the Vice-Chancellor of the university. 

Dehradun, May 31
The Graduation Day Ceremony for the 169th Course, passing out from the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), Dehradun, was conducted here last evening. A total of 26 cadets passed out from the elite military institution.

Maj-Gen AK Mudholkar, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of a division in the Western Sector, was the chief guest on the occasion. An alumnus of the NDA, Khadakwasla, the IMA, Dehradun, and the United States War College, Carlisle (PA), the officer was commissioned into 20 Lancers, one of the elite units of the Armoured Corps, in June 1977. He has held several prestigious appointments during the course of his illustrious career and has also been the recipient of the Chief of Army Staff Commendation in 2007 for distinguished services. The event began with the lighting of a lamp by Maj-Gen AK Mudholkar, followed by the address by Col PK Kumaria, Commandant (RIMC).

Though there have been a plethora of sporting glories and co-curricular accolades that the college has amassed over the term, the highlight has been the placing of 11 cadets among the top 15 ranks on the merit list of the NDA Entrance Examination.

Following the Commandant’s address, the Vice-Principal of the college, KS Ahlawat, announced the names of various award winners, including the recipients of the Wavell Sword and the prestigious Sword of Honour. The awards were presented by the chief guest.

The chief guest advised the graduating cadets, “What you want to do and what you can do is limited only by what you can dream, so dream big and work hard. The world is yours to conquer”.

With the ceremonial segment of the event over, the stage was then set for a cultural programme prepared by cadets. It was a well-balanced amalgamation of fun and frolic as well as deep-rooted sentiments as the college bid adieu to the passing out course while the leaving cadets expressed their gratitude towards their alma mater.

The cultural presentation was a medley of musical compositions presented by the college orchestra, contemporary dances, fusion of Indian and western songs as well as an amusing mime bringing forth the talent of otherwise ramrod and discipline-bound cadets.

Dehradun, May 31
While welcoming the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas S Jaipal Reddy at the annual convocation of the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies in Dehradun here, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, said the Union Government should make more and more gas available for gas-based power plants in Uttrakhand, keeping in view the growing industrialisation and also ban on hydroelectric projects in the state.

He said in view of the peculiar topography and geographical situation of Uttarakhand, domestic gas should be made available to the hilly regions at cheaper rates.

Dehradun, May 31
Leader of Opposition Harak Singh Rawat said today that the Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank-led state government had been trying to “hoodwink” the masses through its Antodaya yatra.

Talking to mediapersons, the senior state Congress leader said the government stood exposed and the people of the state knew the farce being enacted in the name of the yatra. “These yatras by the BJP will prove to be their last as people will teach them a lesson in the forthcoming Assembly poll,” he said.

Rawat said the Chief Minister, during his visits to various parts of the state, had been making announcements of development works worth hundreds of crores. “Neither the government has money nor the infrastructure or employees to implement such large number of schemes. Moreover, it has not been able to even spend the money given by the Centre under various schemes,” he said.

He alleged that the state government had been involved in many scandals and failed to govern the state. “They have failed to provide employment to jobless youth and even the money meant to be spent on the poor is being distributed among ruling party leaders and the areas of opposition legislators were being neglected,” he alleged.

On the question of inquiry into the 54 alleged scandals of the previous Congress regime, Rawat said during the past four and a half years of the BJP rule, the government could not complete the probe into the alleged scandals. “They want to use the probe politically at the time of the elections,” he said.

He further announced that a memorandum against the state government would be presented to President Pratibha Patil on June 2 in New Delhi.

Haridwar, May 31
Though Haridwar has been accorded the status of municipal corporation, the woes of residents have remained as these were under the former Palika. The residents of several areas have complained that they are being supplied with contaminated water.

Particularly in the ares of Moti Bazar, Bada Bazar, Ram Ghat, Vishnu Ghat, Upper Road, Brahampuri, Kashipura and even some sections of BHEL, residents have alleged that they are being supplied contaminated water, some residents even claiming that the quality of the potable water was as bad as sewage.

Though the Jal Sansthan has refuted the allegations of the affected residents, it has not carried out any inspection of damaged sewer lines and water supply pipes.

Many people, particularly children, complained of stomach problems. Today, the affected residents held a protest and demanded the laying of new water supply lines and sewers.

Traders too demonstrated in front of the office of the Jal Sansthan. They said the contaminated water had not only caused health problems, but also affected their business, as pilgrims and tourists are avoiding visit to these areas.

General secretary of the Vyapar Sabha Rajesh Khurana said there had been leakages in pipes of water supply network and sewerage at many places. It was a major cause of concern, as the department was playing with the health of the people. It was a matter of shame for a world-renowned city, he said.

Meanwhile, activists of the Teerth Maryada Samiti filled the contaminated water in plastic bottles and showed it to everyone. They have warned that if in a day or two proper potable water supply is not restored, then they will make the officials concerned drink that contaminated water.

Meanwhile, an official of the Jal Sansthan, on the condition of anonymity, said there might be leakages in the pipes of the water supply network and sewers due to which potable water supply was getting contaminated. The fault will be rectified by tomorrow, he added.

Nainital, May 31
The Governor of the Southern Province in Sri Lanka, Kumari Balasurya, is on a visit to the Lake City and its adjoining areas along with her husband, Dr Jagat Balasurya, who is the National Heritage Minister in the Sri Lankan Government and other members of her family.

The guests from the neighbouring island nation were welcomed here by Uttarakhand Governor Margaret Alva. They visited the Jim Corbett National Park museum at Kaladhungi yesterday. The guests decided to skip a scheduled visit to the Jim Corbett National Park and instead went for boating in the Naini Lake. Today, they went around the places of tourist interest in Nainital.

Haridwar, May 31
Learning its lesson from last year’s rain fury, the district administration has begun preparations to deal with any rain-related disaster.

The Education Department of the district has begun a survey of those government-run schools, which are in a dilapidated condition or had been affected in the heavy rain last year, so as to avoid any mishap in the coming monsoon.

Notably, in September last year, a student had died when the boundary wall of a school collapsed due to continuing rain in Khadkhadi Colony.

Officers of the Education Departmental, with the help of engineers, are preparing a data of all such schools. The identified schools will be provided with temporary shelters to avoid any untoward incident during the rains.

District Education Officer (Basic) KK Gupta said a report was being compiled having the data on those schools that had been identified as vulnerable and marked sensitive in both the urban as well as rural areas. Temporary rooms and Principal’s room-cum-staff office will be constructed or reconstruction work will be carried out at these schools.

“We have submitted a proposal to the department concerned. As soon as consent is given to it, we will start the construction work instantly, monsoon has hit Kerala and we have very less time left to complete the work,” added Gupta.

Meanwhile, the delayed action by the department has caused resentment among parents and local people. They allege that the state government and Education Department have slept for nine months and now these are trying to rectify their folly by making this temporary arrangement, which shows little concern they have for students.

The parents associations of Jwalapur, Ranipur and Jagjeetpur have decided to take up this issue with the District Magistrate, Haridwar parliamentarian Harish Rawat and all nine legislators of the district. The National Students Union of India (NSUI), Student Federation of India (SFI) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) have also decided to stage protests against the delay on the part of the administration in taking care of the dilapidated schools.

Dehradun, May 31
The Mayor, Vinod Chamoli, yesterday asked Chief Executive Engineer Sushil Kumar to investigate about the building that fell on May 29 due to rain, injuring four people here.

The two-storied building located near the electricity substation on MayaWali Road is said to be 80 years old and was in bad shape. A portion fell on the persons who were sleeping in the area next to it.

There are as many as 24 old structures in the city that are on the verge of collapsing and call for immediate attention. But the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) has failed to take any action in the matter.

Ashok Verma, Leader of Opposition, DMC, said the corporation was waiting for something serious to happen and then only it would take some action.