Super-specialist docs for renewal of contracts
Dehradun, February 4
Awaiting renewal of contracts, once again super-specialist doctors working at the Doon Hospital have started playing truant, putting a big question mark on the commitment of super-specialists who leave their patients high and dry at the slightest excuse.

Roorkee, February 4
In a tragic incident, three labourers were swept away in the Ganga canal in Roorkee in the morning when they were working on an under-construction bridge, which is being constructed by the Public Works Department.

A magisterial enquiry has been ordered by Haridwar district magistrate, and till the filing of the report, a rescue operation was being carried out to trace the bodies of the labourers. The construction work was given to a private contractor by working agency PWD, named Azhar Ahmed, who has been missing since the very time the accident occurred.

As per information, at about 9.30 am five labourers had started construction work at the bridge site on the upper Ganga canal near the Roorkee municipal committee office.

Eyewitnesses said that suddenly a big sound was heard as the iron pillars of the suspension bridge fell and all the five labourers got carried in the slide towards the running Ganga canal water.

Seeing this, nearby workers and people rushed to the collapsing bridge carrying out the rescue operation, which helped in saving of two labourers from the canal flow, but three others were swept far away due to the flow of the canal.

Immediately, police officials were informed with Superintendent of Rural Police Roshan Lal Sharma, Circle Officer Kamlesh Upadhyay along with other administrative officials arriving at the spot.

Along with special Jal Police personnel, a specialised Army rescue team was called on to trace the three missing labourers from Bengal Engineers Group (BEG), Roorkee centre. The three labourers missing are Shamim, resident of Najibabad, Shekhupura village, Roorkee resident Dheer Singh and Zishan from Bedapur village, near Roorkee

Joint Magistrate Roorkee Savin Bansal will be conducting the magisterial probe regarding this incident as per order of the Haridwar district magistrate.

Local legislator Suresh Chand Jain, too, arrived at the spot where he had to face the wrath of the local people as they alleged that the contractor was a close aide of him and the legislator had given him several projects under legislators’ fund. 

Nainital, February 4
The authorities in Naukuchiatal area of Nainital district have a problem at hand. The problem pertains to the large-scale death of fish being reported in the nine-cornered lake, which is a major tourist attraction.

Officials say that the fish have perished in the lake over the last fortnight on account of shortage of oxygen, resulting from the cold weather conditions. The large number of fish dying in the lake has led to a stench emanating from the lake, which has made it difficult for the people to move around in the area. Sources further revealed that since the officialdom was busy with the poll arrangements, there was less attention paid to the issue that first came to light about 10 days back.

Officials say that efforts are now on to dispose off the dead fish that can be seen lying all around the lake. One of the methods being adopted for the disposal is to bury the fish in a pit and later use the same as manure.

Another means being adopted by the locals is to prepare fish feed from the dead fish. Steps are also being taken to clean the lake. A large number of youngsters are carrying out shramdan in the area. Villagers

say that more than 500 kg of dead fish has already been extracted from the lake. They say that the voluntary cleaning of the lake is expected to continue for another couple of days.

The Naukuchiatal Lake is known for its nine corners. The myth related to the lake is that if one gets to look at all the nine corners at one glance, he is sure to vanish in smoke and attain nirvana.

In the Greater Nainital area, it is the deepest lake. It’s length is about one kilometre and it’s breadth varies from .5 kilometre to .3 kilometre. It is located at a height of 1220 metre or 4003 feet. The lake is within an enchanting valley and provides ample scope for rowing, paddling and yachting. It is also famous for angling and bird watching.

A beautiful tree-lined path runs along the length of the lake. The 'nine-cornered lake' is fed by an underwater spring. Scientists believe that the lake was created due to blocking of the valley by a huge debris flow along a narrow outlet. The lake basin was filled intermittently due to fluvio-lacustrine and colluvial processes

that deposited a thick sequence of inter-bedded mud and gravel.

Fluctuating arid-semiarid to humid climatic conditions and repeated tectonic activity may have governed the mode of sedimentation. 

Dehradun, February 4
Awaiting renewal of contracts, once again super-specialist doctors working at the Doon Hospital have started playing truant, putting a big question mark on the commitment of super-specialists who leave their patients high and dry at the slightest excuse.

Due to the paucity of super-specialists in the state, the Uttarakhand Health Department was forced to hire private doctors to render services at the Doon Hospital.

A total of three super-specialists comprising neuro- surgeon Pankaj Arora, neuro-surgeon Arvind Mamgai and neuro-physician Naveen Ahuja are attached with the Doon Hospital.

But since the last few weeks, Dr Naveen Ahuja (neuro-physician) has stopped coming to the hospital as a mark of protest against the delay in the renewal of his contract.

“Both Dr Naveen Ahuja and Dr Pankaj Arora are awaiting the renewal of contracts. While Dr Pankaj Arora has been regularly coming to the hospital, Dr Naveen Ahuja has stopped coming, leaving most of the patients who were undertaking treatment high and dry,” said Dr B.C Pathak, Principal Superintendent, Doon Hospital.

Dearth of super-specialists in the state had forced the Health Department to scout for private super-specialists and offer them higher salaries, a one year contract and reduced working hours (four hours) as compared to the government doctors.

Now with Dr Naveen Ahuja refusing to come to the hospital till such time 
his contract is renewed, there is a demand from the Provincial Medical Health Services (PMHS) to ensure accountability clause in the service rules of the super-specialists and also increase their working hours.

“We have been repeatedly calling for making the super-specialists more accountable by ensuring that they render emergency duties,” said Dr D.P. Joshi, General Secretary PMHS.

Besides, there has been a persistent demand by the super-specialists to raise their salaries that have so far not been accepted by the government. The doctors receive a salary of Rs 50,000-Rs 75,000 per month.

Three super-specialists are also rendering services at the Coronation Hospital. 

Mussoorie, February 4
While chairing a review meeting regarding the preparation for the arriving tourist season in Mussoorie at the Municipal Council (MC) office today, OP Uniyal directed the officials to complete the pending tasks till March 20 before the advent of the tourist season. The officials from several government departments were present at the meeting.

Uniyal, taking stock of the situation, enquired about the pace of development works in the town from the Public Works Department (PWD), the Peyjal Nigam and the Jal Sansthan officials and gave them necessary directions.

Showing his concern over the ongoing sewage pipeline project in Mussoorie, Uniyal suggested that the dug up road should be filled before the season. He also advised the Peyjal Nigam officials to re-construct the faulty sewage chambers. The work is being done under the JNNURM scheme of the Government of India.

The MC president also enquired from PWD officials about the condition of the roads, especially the Mussoorie-Dehradun Highway, which had potholes at several places. He also enquired about the Landour road that is still awaiting repair. The PWD officials assured the president that the road construction work would be completed before March 20 and the rest of the work would be completed after the Peyjal Nigam completes the sewage work.

The Electricity Department was also reprimanded for not removing the poles from the roads that have been widened by the PWD Department. The executive engineer of the department said the estimate had been submitted to the PWD department but they have not yet received the amount required to remove the poles. The PWD department executive engineer cited the absence of the budget as the main reason for not submitting the amount to the electricity department.

Uniyal also suggested that if few departments were in need of funds, it could be arranged from other heads allocated by the state government. He also said the situation of the funds would improve after the modal code of conduct was called by the election commission.

He was, however, skeptical about the traffic and law and order situation in the town and directed the officials to remain vigilant and increase the manpower so that the tourists do not face traffic congestion.

Uniyal, who has got relief from the Supreme Court over the graft case, said the development work of the town had suffered in the past few months due to the false allegations against him and the council but now after the SC order, all pending works would be completing soon. He also warned the officials that if the work did not complete on time, he would recommend punitive action against the erring officials.

The officials from all departments concerned reiterated their commitment of completing the pending works before the stipulated time. 

Haridwar, February 4
Today at Delhi Public School, Ranipur, the first Inter-School Kids’ Bee state level quiz was organised where children participated in a large number.

The quiz was prepared for the students of class IV.

A total of 15 teams participated in this inaugural edition, hailing from Dehradun, Roorkee and Haridwar of Garhwal division. From the next year, teams from the hilly regions of the division will also participate in the quiz.

The winners of the contest were DPS Ranipur and DPS Roorkee. DPS Dehradun grabbed the first runner-up trophy. The chief guest on the occasion was Pushpa Rani Verma, additional district education officer, Haridwar, who lauded the efforts of school management and children.

School principal KC Pandey said the quiz was organised as a part of their initiative to promote innovative and meaningful activities among students at junior level.

He cited hosting of Commerce Olympiad, mathematics quiz, CBSE zonal-level Heritage Quiz and 5th All-India Contemporary Art Exhibition to encourage creativity of the students. 

Dehradun, February 4
For better coordination the Food Safety Authority of India (FSAI) would be issuing licences under Central and state categories, depending on the turnover of the food business operators (FBOs).

The food business operators (FBOs) with manufacturing units in more than one state with a turnover above Rs 20 lakh would be issued licences from the Central Government.

The FBOs, whose turnover is below Rs 20 lakh and are concentrated in only one state, would be able to get licences for food from the state.

After the Food Safety Commission came into existence in the state, the licences for FBOs would be issued by the commission. 

Dehradun February 4
On the auspicious occasion of Jhanda Mela, the patients admitted to Shri Mahant Indresh Hospital would get rebate in their treatment.

According to the Deputy Medical Suprintendent, Mahant Indresh Hospital, Dr V K Bihari, patients undergoing various medical tests and treatments in hospital could avail discount of 30 per cent with effect from February 6, 2012.

The managing committee of the hospital took the decision in the interest of the admitted patients. The discount would not be applicable on the patients of private wards and ICU wards, he added.