Haridwar, August 7
Thousands of people from various states of the country, particularly from Punjab and Haryana, participated in various programmes on the occasion of the 101st Shri Multan Jot Mahotsava.

Under the aegis of the All-India Multan Youth Organisation, participants carrying ‘Jots’ performed religious rites on the bank of the holy Ganga river and then offered these ‘jots’ to the holy river.

Milk was also offered to the river Goddess with chanting of hymns with the whole Ganga ghat at Har-Ki-Pauri reverberating with sounds of “Jai Ganga Mayya” even as chapters of ‘Sunder Kaand’ were also read by pundits. After this, the holy celebrations were held wherein water colours were replaced with milk, while flower petals were sprayed, casting an enchanting spell on the people present at the venue.

After this, a beautifully decorated tableau procession was taken through the streets of the city in which popular television-cinema stars such as ‘Mahabharat’ serial-famed Mukesh Khanna and Praveen Kumar were the cynosure of all eyes.

Chief of the Multan Jot Sabha Daulat Ram said Haridwar was beautifully decorated for the festival with the huge welcome entry doors put up at various intersection of the city.

Among the socio-politico figures, Delhi’s former Mayor Aarti Mehra, former Delhi legislators Prof Jagdish Mukhi and Vijay Jolly were prominent participants. According to organisers, BJP former national chief Rajnath Singh was scheduled to attend the event but due to some work, he couldn’t come to Haridwar. But he has extended his wishes for the successful hosting of Multan Jot Mahotsava.

Haridwar, August 7
The festival of Shri Multan Jot Mahotsava in Haridwar, with each passing year, is getting bigger in terms of participation.

This year the festival entered its 101st year which points to the significance it holds for the participants, particularly those belonging to the Multan region in Pakistan.

In 1911, a devotee, Roop Chand, hailing from Multan came to the pilgrim city to pray for brotherhood, communal harmony and peace and also to worship the Ganga river.

He followed this for years, with slowly people from different areas of Pakistan accompanying him in this endeavour and later it became a festival.

With every passing year, particularly in recent times, the festival has assumed greater proportion with local people awaiting the mahotsava which is held during monsoon.

All-India Multan Youth Organisation chief Dr Mahendra Nagpal, who is actively associated with this annual festival, said this festival was one of its kind in the country. He said the Jot Mahotsava had transcended religious boundaries.

Several Pakistanis too came with holy Jots to offer it to the Ganga seeking blessings and as their wishes get fulfilled, they try to come again to the city.

Tanisha, accompanying her family from New Delhi, was quite excited while holi was played with milk and jots were offered to the Ganga.

Haridwar, August 7
Hundreds of workers of the Congress today staged a protest at the Jwalapur police station accusing the police of framing party leaders in various false cases. The workers also burned an effigy of state Cabinet minister Madan Kaushik, who is the legislator from Haridwar, accusing him of misusing his power to influence the working of the police, particularly in a case related with former Congress councillor Ashok Sharma.

Last month Sharma had a brawl with the BJP activists after which both the parties filed complaints with the Jwalapur police station but while Sharma had been booked by the police on several serious charges, the BJP activists were let off, forcing the city Congress to carry out a mass protest at the police station.

Senior Congress leader Purushottam Sharma, while addressing the gathering, alleged that the Congress workers were being targeted while the BJP workers in numerous incidents, despite being the culprits, are not touched by the police. He also cited some incidents wherein the BJP leaders tried to interfere in the police working, but the phone calls from the local legislator made the police let them go. He even alleged that even police officials in the district are scared of taking stringent legal action against the saffron party activists owing to pressure from the local minister.

The protesters were also addressed by city Congress chief OP Chauhan, Dr Sanjay Paliwal, JP Pandey, Indu Pandey, Meera Raturi, Sanjay Chopra. They also submitted a complaint to Station House Officer Jasbeer Singh Pundir.

It was only after the assurance from Circle Officer Pankaj Bhatt that a fair investigation will be carried out in the cases pointed out by them, that Congress workers left the police station.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the Uttarakhand assembly Harak Singh Rawat, who was in the city, accused Kaushik of playing dirty politics, which he termed as a sign of insecurity that has gripped the BJP in Haridwar owing to the growing base of the Congress in the district.

“Our party (Congress) workers are carrying out protests as per the Gandhian philosophy but the BJP ministers aided by a biased bureaucracy are trying to silence their voices in an undemocratic style, which will not be tolerated. Last parliamentary elections Harish Rawat gave a blow to the BJP, this year our village representatives won in the panchayat elections and now in the upcoming Assembly elections the public, who knows everything, will show them the door,” said Rawat, who is the legislator from the Lansdowne Assembly seat.

Mussoorie, August 7
Vice-president of the Char Dham Vikas Parishad Suratram Nautiyal, while talking to the media during his visit to Mussoorie today, said around 20 lakh pilgrims had already visited Char Dham temples in the past three months, which was a record in itself.

He further said Hemkunt Sahib also saw a large number of pilgrims this year.

Nautiyal said owing to a close coordination between various departments, problems that pilgrims were facing in the past could be managed effectively.

He said the Kanwar Yatra in which more than 1.50 pilgrims visited Haridwar also concluded peacefully.

Nautiyal further said a master plan had been approved to improve facilities at Char Dhams for pilgrims.

On the project of winter tourism, Nautiyal said a detailed study had been conducted and it was likely to begin from December. He also reiterated the commitment of the state government to develop the Char Dham circuit on a priority basis.

Nainital, August 7
The town of Nainital would be running in support of the cause to care for the old on August 28. The theme for this year’s Nainital Monsoon Mountain Marathon being organised by a local organisation, Run 2 Live, is “Care for the Old”. Besides the competitive events in which cash and other prizes woth Rs 2,70,000 would be given to the winners, the local population is expected to turn up in large numbers to participate in the marathon.

Talking to media persons, the secretary of the Run 2 Live organisation, Harish Tewari, disclosed that there would be open events for men and women in which the first prize would be Rs 50,000 and Rs 20,000, respectively. Then there would be events for girls and boys in which a large number of students from various schools in the district are expected to participate. In addition to this there would be a special event for persons above the age of 45 years, going with this year’s theme. The local population would be running for fun on the Upper and Lower Mall Roads.

Apart from these events, there would be individual and group costumes competition on the themes of social causes for which prizes would be given.

Tewari said while the men’s open event would be flagged from the basketball court in the Flats Grouds, the women’s event would start from Tanki Bend and the race for girls and boys would be flagged off from Bara Pathar. All the races would conclude at the Flats Grounds.

“Several international-level athletes from Kumaon Regiment Centre at Ranikhet, Garhwal Rifles Corps at Lansdowne, and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Delhi besides others have expressed their willingness to participate in this event. We want to take this event to the level of the marathons being held in Delhi and Mumbai that have become considerably popular,” said Tewari. He pointed out that the winners in the girls’ and boys’ categories from Nainital district would be provided one-year sports sponsorship by Run 2 Live.

In addition to this some veteran sportspersons from the region would be honoured on the occasion. A theme song is being recorded for the event in Mumbai for which the video would be shot in Nainital.

Dehradun, August 7
The Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India has released TIGER MEETR, a document for measuring the management effectiveness of tiger reserves.

The TIGER MEETR document 2010-11 has revealed the Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) within tiger reserves and has indicated an improvement in the overall management of tiger reserves in the country.

The document has categorised tiger reserves in Very Good, Good, Satisfactory and Poor categories. Annamalai, Bandhavgarh, Bandipur Bhadra, Dandeli-Anshi, Kalakad Mundanthurai, Kanha, Kaziranga, Mudumalai, Parambikulam, Pench (Madhya Pradesh), Periyar, Satpura, Sundarbans have been put in the very Good category.

Corbett, Buxa, Dampa, Dudhwa, Manas, Melghat, Nagarhole, Pakke, Pench (Maharashtra), Ranthambhore, Tadoba-Andhari find mention in the Good Category. Achanakmar, Nameri, Namdapha, Sanjay, Sayadari and Valmiki in the Satisfactory category and Satkosia have been put in the poor category.

The MEE Assessment 2010-11 indicates that most tiger reserves have complied statutory requirements such as declaration of buffer zone, tiger conservation plans and carried out a good assessment of their threats.

The MEE has also come with suggestions that include better trained manpower to decrease biotic interferences in the core area of tiger reserves.

Significantly, the Wildlife Institute of India in assistance with the National Tiger Conservation Authority and the Zoological Society of London has developed a “Monitoring System for Tigers - Intensive Patrolling and Ecological Status” nomenclatured - M-STRIPES.

It deals with ways and procedures to assess the status of protection, ecological and biotic pressures in tiger reserves and when adaptive management is necessary.

The Tiger Conservation Plans and Annual Plan of Operations will have to factor in MEE results, to enhance the management effectiveness of tiger reserves.

Dehradun, August 7
The Hans Foundation today started the ambulance service for Nayar Ghati, Satpuli region, in Pauri Garhwal district.

The foundation also handed over a cheque of Rs 1 lakh to Narayan Singh Negi, father of footballer Sonam Negi, who has been selected to represent India in the 9th World Cup Women’s Football Tournament to be held in Berlin from August 19 to August 28.

In her address, Mata Mangla said seven ambulances were proposed to be started for the region. She said there was still a lot to be done for the improvement of health services in the hilly areas.

She said migration continued to take place in Uttarakhand due to a lack of adequate health facilities.

Lt-Gen TPS Rawat (retd), also a former MP, appreciated Shri Bholey Maharaj and Mata Mangla for their efforts to improve health services in the region.

He said Hans Karuna Hospital, which was under construction, would help providing employment to a large number of people.

Jaharikhal Block pramukh Dilip Rawat, district panchayat member Deepak Bhandari, District Cooperative Bank secretary Satpal Negi, in charge of the foundation, Uttarakhand, Padmendra Singh Bisht and Kunj Bihari Negi were also present on the occasion.

Dehradun, August 7
Incessant rain in the Gangotri region has led to the washing away of a stretch of the Uttarkashi-Gangotri road. The 70-metre stretch has been washed away near Senj in Uttarkashi, disrupting traffic movement. It also led to a large number of pilgrims getting stranded.

Officials of the BRO said it might take a day or two to clear the debris and repair the damaged part of the road. Inclement weather has also disrupted power supply and communication services. — TNS

Dehradun, August 7
Twentyfive players from Uttarakhand will take part in the World Veteran Badminton Championship to be held at Richmond in Canada from August 21 to 27. This contingent includes eleven players from the city. A total of 111 players from the country have been named to take part in the competition. Maximum number of participation is said to be from the state.

The players from Doon were felicitated at a city hotel by the District Badminton Association. Navneet Sethi, secretary of the association, said: “We have a good team and are hopeful of good results in the championship.”

The players from Doon who will be taking part in the championship include SK Patet, RK Sharma, Punita Nagalia, Vinod Gupta, Ashok Kumar, Indudhar Badai, Rajesh, SS Pundir, Sunil Dang, Alakananda Ashok and Pakender Goel.

Sethi said RK Sharma was taking part in the world championship for the third time while SK Patet was participating for the second time.

Pithoragarh, August 7
On the occasion of the second anniversary of the tragedy in La Jhekla villages that occurred two years ago, 43 villagers who had died due to heavy landslides in La, Jhekla and Beru Mahar villages of Munsiyari were remembered today.

The people of Munsiyari led by Jaswant Singh, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), gathered at the perished villages, which are situated 40 km from Munisiyari town, and remembered those villagers who had died in the tragedy that occurred at 2.30 am on August 7, 2009.

“Out of the remaining six families of Jhekla and 14 families of La village, we have resettled all of them in the community land at nearby Mankatia village,” said Jaswant Singh.

Dhana Devi, gram pradhan of Dhapa village, took the initiative to reach the Jhekla village.

“Out of these 43 who died, only 28 bodies could be retrieved,” said Dhana Devi.

“The fear of landslides has not gone from the minds of the people of the Talla Johar area and whenever rain occurs, the people of Quiti, Birthi, Ranthi Girgaon and Dhapa and La villages fear about landslides,” said Bhawana Devi, gram pradhan of Quiti village.

“We had lost nearly 15 acres of fertile land in that landslide due to which most of the farmers had nothing else to do as they were dependent on agriculture. We demand that the state government should compensate the villagers by providing them cultivable land in other parts of Munsiyari sub-division,” said Bhawana Devi.