Exam form submission date extended
Dehradun, February 3
The Assembly elections have affected the process of filling of the annual examination forms and their submission at DAV PG College, as the college staff was busy with election duties.

Dehradun, February 3
As the margin of victory for the candidates in the January 30 poll is expected to be thin, all eyes are now fixed on postal ballots as their results could make or break the chances of parties hoping to form the next government in the state.

In the 2007 Assembly elections, recounting of postal ballots in the Narender Nagar (Tehri) Assembly constituency was ordered after Congress candidate Subodh Uniyal raised objections, but Omgopal Rawat of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal was declared victorious by 4 votes.

On the other hand, in the 2008 byelection, Lt-Gen TPS Rawat (retd) managed to get an edge over his rival Satpal Maharaj (Congress) solely on the strength of the result of postal ballots on the Pauri Garhwal parliamentary seat.

Similarly, in the 2007 Assembly elections, independent candidate Yashpal Benam won the Pauri Assembly seat by 11 votes.

As each vote polled is crucial, the Congress and the BJP have begun sending feelers to the electoral office to enquire about the process of counting of postal ballots and the Congress is even contemplating putting in a written request for adequate arrangement at the centres.

However, electoral officer said, “Foolproof arrangements are in place at the counting centres. Measures are also taken to avoid duplication of votes. The signature on the postal ballot would be matched with the application form so that there is no duplication. Before applying for postal ballots, the applicants have to fill the requisite form that is submitted at the electoral office,” said Radha Raturi, Chief Electoral Officer.

In the first category, postal ballots of voters serving in defence forces fall and in the second category, postal ballot comprises polling personnel, security personnel and other staff involved in the conduct of poll come. They had applied for casting postal ballots beforehand.

There are over 1 lakh defence forces personnel who had applied for postal ballots while 64 had applied for proxy voting for the January 30 poll. Pauri (Garhwal) district has the maximum number of armed forces personnel, followed by Pithoragarh (Kumaon) and Chamoli (Garhwal) district.

The Uttarakhand Electoral Office has received 11,427 postal ballots cast by polling personnel, falling under the second category.

On the other hand, the postal ballots of armed personnel will continue to be accepted till 8 am on March 6 after which the counting will begun. 

Mussoorie, February 3
The much-awaited survey for the demarcation of forest and non-forest areas began at the Divisional Forest Office (DFO) in Mussoorie today to alleviate hardships being faced by people in construction of houses.

Officials of the Forest Department, Municipal Council and the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) met at the DFO to discuss the modalities of the exercise to identify notified and de-notified forestland in three phases.

The Survey of India is the agency to identify and map forest and non-forestland in Mussoorie while the Forest Department, MDDA and the Municipal Council will assist it in providing necessary inputs.

Divisional Forest Officer, Mussoorie, Ram Gopal Verma said more than 730 acres of notified land would be identified in the first phase of the survey and then the Survey of India would conduct the mapping of land. He added more than 100 estates had been taken up in the first phase and the work on three estates, namely Duggal Villa, Hakmans and Radha Bhavan, would begin on February 14.

Ram Gopal Verma and Executive Engineer, MDDA, Anand Ram said the exercise was necessary to remove ambiguity over forest and non-forestland in the town so that the departments concerned could plan and carry out their activities without any hindrance.

Local historian Jai Prakash Uttarakhandi welcomed the survey and said it was necessary as the previous exercise of notifying land in 1966 was marred with controversy. He added the Municipal Council had then carried out the survey and as the officials concerned had no technical expertise, the exercise was ridden with anomalies, thus creating problems for people.

Jai Prakash said suggestions from local people and estate owners should also be taken before finalising the mapping procedures so that it could be used as a yardstick in future too. 

Dehradun, February 3
The Assembly elections have affected the process of filling of the annual examination forms and their submission at DAV PG College, as the college staff was busy with election duties.

Citing delay in the process, HNB Garhwal University, to which the college is affiliated to, has extended the last day of examination forms submission to February 11, along with the late fee of Rs 1,000.

According to Dr Devender Bhasin, principal, DAV College, the university has directed that no annual examination forms will be accepted after the scheduled date while the last date for students seeking admissions after the declaration of results of supplementary exams is February 4, 2012.

“The last date for submitting the examination form for those who have passed the supplementary exams is also February 11 with no late fees,” he added. 

Chilla (Pauri Garhwal), February 3
The world famous Rajaji National Park, falling in Pauri Garhwal, Dehradun and Haridwar districts, abounds in wildlife and natural beauty. Thousands of tourists visit the park that has a wide variety of wild animals and flora and fauna.

But most of the tourists seem not to be concerned about cleanliness at the park as they leave waste material, polythene bags, disposed of plastic bottles of mineral water and cold drinks and left over food items there.

Besides, tourists and people living in its vicinity also take liquor in the park area as empty bottles are often seen littered along the Chilla-Rishikesh road. The lack of cleanliness is posing health hazards to animals in the park and affecting its beauty as well.

Chilla range park official DP Uniyal said now checking would be conducted at the entrance of the park itself to ensure the tourists did not take such material in the park.

Also, the park management is planning to hold an awareness drive to apprise the tourists about the impact of littering on wild animals, which may consume left over food items, and the image of the park.

But despite claims nothing has been done on the ground except that some park employees on their own remove leftovers and garbage from the park. One such employee, Ashish Gaur, can be seen collecting leftovers and garbage and burning them.

Ashish told The Tribune that he had been lifting garbage since he was posted in the Chila range as he did not want the park to get a bad image. He believed tourists too should think about cleanliness at the park. “The park having a plethora of wild animals and birds is meant for all, and the canal running alongside it is one the beautiful tracks in the region. But it’s disturbing that most of the people don’t realise that littering gives a bad image to the park,” said Ashish, whose cleanliness drive is appreciated by park officials as well as tourists.

Though earlier tourists were not allowed to carry things in the park and fine was also mooted to discourage littering there, the plan could not be properly implemented due to shortage of employees.

Dharmendra Bhatt, a local wildlife photographer, said during the past few years anti-social elements and hooligans were often seen in the park, thus threatening its peaceful environment. More vigilance was needed to ensure cleanliness and security at the park, he added. 

Dehradun, February 3
Research in the area of stem cell, targeted therapy and anti-angiogenesis could give hope to cancer patients in the advanced stage of the disease, said Dr Surendra Kumar, a professor from the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER). The doctor was here yesterday to attend a conference at the Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust, Rishikesh (Jolly Grant).

Dr Surendra told mediapersons that the research underway at the JIPMER would give hope to cancer patients in the advanced stage. “But the treatment cost is whopping and only a few patients will be able to afford it,” said the doctor.

He said the JIPMER was among the few medical centres in the country which were carrying intensive research in the treatment of cancer.

Dr Surendra said the targeted therapy was aimed at malignant cells without harming good cells. Similarly, the stem cell therapy was also costly. “The anti-angiogenesis treatment will be able to control the supply of nutrients to vessels,” he said.

However, he said cancer could be kept at bay through proper education and awareness. “Awareness and education can play a key role in reducing the number of cancer cases in the country. In the past 23 years, the number of cancer cases has risen mainly due to the adoption of the western lifestyle and food habits. Now, people, as young as 20 years, are falling prey to cancer,” he said.

A proponent of simple living, Dr Surendra said refined food and stressful environment was taking its toll on the health of the people. 

Dehradun, February 3
District Magistrate Dileep Jawalkar has asked officials to complete all ongoing projects within their time limit .

He also directed nodal officers to use the sanctioned funds by the end of the financial year.

They have also been directed to attend public grievances.

He also asked officials to provide better environment to industrialists with all facilities and better mechanism to resolve their problems.

Jawalkar has asked the Chief Development Officer to prepare the details of the funds of the Centre-sponsored schemes lying unused.

Dehradun, February 3
Giving lessons in diplomacy by engaging the youth of the world in creative solution is what Guy P Djoken hopes to achieve while heading the UNESCO Peace Centre.

The globe-trotting director has now zeroed in on Dehradun where he hopes to conduct a summer camp of the International Model United Nations in 2013 in which over 200 students from India and abroad are expected to learn the art of diplomacy and also discuss the advances made in the field of science and technology.

Djoken said, “Dehradun is selected for the camp because it is the Mecca of education in the country and the UNESCO would like to firm up ties with the student community here. A beginning was made last year, when a delegation had visited Dehradun and I am following that now,” said Djoken.

While speaking with mediapersons, Djoken said: “The resolution of the Palestine issue continues to be discussed by students. We encourage students to find a non-confrontational solution to this burning problem which means putting across a point of view of Israel and the Arab world,” he said.

He said the resolutions emerging at the end of the mock UN sessions in which the students from all over the world participate would be forwarded to the United Nations.

“The students also learn to put into practice the solutions mooted by them at these sessions even among their communities,” he said.

Interestingly, Dehradun-based Heritage School that hosted Guy P Djoken today is expected to play a key role in the conference slated to take place next year. Besides, the students of the school have already made a mark at the UNESCO Centre of Peace (USA), which they visited last year led by Vikrant Choudhury, head of the delegation. In recognition of the achievement, a UNESCO Centre for peace trophy was  also presented to the Heritage School.

A model United Nations conference will be held from July 15-July 28 this year in the US. Besides diplomacy, the focus wild be on robotics, engineering science and technology.

The models presented during this conference will be showcased in the summer camp to be held in 2013 in Dehradun. 

Dehradun, February 3
Centre for Educational Development And Research (CEDR) honoured BCK Mishra, Director, Operation, Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL), with Rashtriya Udyog Ratan Award.

Vimal Dabral, Public Relation Officer, UJVNL, said Mishra was felicitated for his distinct contributions in the realm of the construction of hydroelectric projects, their operation and maintenance.

Managing-Director of UJVNL JP Patl also congratulated the officer, saying it was a collective achievement of all officias and employees.

Dehradun February 3
A district-level boxing championship began at the Parade Ground here today. It is being organised by under the aegis of the Uttarakhand Sports Directorate, District Sports Authority, Dehradun.

Sanjay Gunjyal, DIG (Garhwal range) was the chief guest on the occasion. He appreciated the organisers for promoting sports in the state.

The results of the matches held today are the following.

Up to 26-kg category

Siddhartha beat Anil 3-0

Himanshu beat Manav 3-0

Up to 28-kg category

Anurag beat Pawan 3-0

Naveen defeated Mohit 3-0

Up 30-kg category

Kuldeep beat Vivek 2-1

Up to 32-kg category

Deepal beat Rahul 2-1

Kamlesh beat Arvind 3-0

Dehradun, February 3
The Graphic Era (B) cricket team and the Dinesh Rawat Cricket Academy team won their respective matches in the 60th Dehradun District Cricket League Tournament being played at the OFD and Survey stadiums, respectively, today.

In the first match played at the OFD stadium, Dinesh Rawat Cricket Academy defeated RRP Cricket Academy by 178 runs. Batting first after winning the toss, Dinesh Rawat Cricket Academy scored 244 runs for sevens wickets in 25 overs.

Saurab was the top scorer with 70 runs. Deepak Negi scored 50 runs while Harinder scored 47 runs. Manish took four wickets for 35 runs. In reply, RRP Cricket Academy was all out for 66 runs. None of the batsman could reach the double figure score and the highest score of 21 was contributed through extra runs.

In the second match played at the Survey Stadium, the Graphic Era (B) team trounced Shivalik (A) team by 75 runs. The Graphic Era (B) team, after winning the toss and electing to bat first, scored 151 runs all out in 24 overs. Ranjan Pandit was the top scorer with an unbeaten 48 runs. Sagar and Rohit took two wickets each.

In reply, the Shivalik (A) team was all out for 76 runs losing the match by 75 runs. Sumit and Mudit Tyagi took three wickets each. 

Dehradun, February 3
A total of 145 cadets participated in the RIMC Squash Open competition held at Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) here yesterday.

The competition was held in three categories.

Results

Under-13 category

Winner: Cadet PY Shreevastav

Runner-up: Cadet Mridul Rawat

Under-15 category

Winner: Cadet Vivek Boora

Runner-up: Cadet Tarun Dhanik

Open category

Winner: Cadet Punit Kumar

Runner-up: Cadet Ankit Singh

Best player of the tournament: Cadet Punit Kumar

Upcoming players: Cadet Watandeep Singh and Cadet Sahil Yadav

The Chief Guest on the occasion was Colonel PK Kumaria, Commandant, RIMC. He applauded the performance of the cadets.