Weather likely to improve
Dehradun, February 8
An overall improvement in weather conditions in the state is likely by tomorrow. According to Dr Anand Sharma, Director, Meteorological Centre, Dehradun, the weather is expected to improve by tomorrow. “Although there will be rain in isolated places, particularly in the Kumaon region, overall weather conditions will improve”, said Anand Sharma.

Mussoorie, February 8
Mussoorie and its surrounding areas received fresh snowfall today, renewing severe cold conditions in the region. The snowfall accompanied with spells of hail and sleet began last night and continued till this evening. More than four to five inches of snow has been recorded till now.

Tourists were thrilled to see the Queen of Hills donning a white mantle. Ravinder Sarkar, a tourist from Kolkata, who is on his first visit to Uttarakhand, said, “Snow on trees gave an impression of cauliflowers growing in abundance.”

Meanwhile, hundreds of tourists rushed to Company Garden, Lal Tibba and Dhanaulti, which experienced heavy snowfall.

Icy winds lashed the area throughout the day, bringing down the day temperature and forcing elderly people to remain indoors. Vehicular traffic was also disrupted and motorists had a tough time commuting due to accumulated snow on Mall Road.

The famous ski slopes of Auli also experienced fresh snowfall today, bringing smiles on the faces of winter sports lovers. The tourists found it difficult to walk, especially on the slopes of Kulri Bazaar. On the other hand, it was a day out for newly wed couples, who were here on honeymoon.

A newly wed couple from Delhi, Raj Khosla, elated at snowfall, said it was an unbelievable experience to be on honeymoon in snow-covered Mussoorie. Children of the town were seen hurling snowballs at each other, while some of them also showed their artistic prowess by creating snowmen at several places.

After witnessing several spells of snowfall in January, residents of Mussoorie were hoping a fair and sunny weather in February. More snowfall this month could not be ruled out.

Farmers of villages near Mussoorie were happy with the fresh snowfall as they had been patiently waiting for a significant amount of precipitation this winter. Chintamani, a farmer from the apple belt on the Mussoorie-Dhanaulti road, said fresh snow would moisten the ground and help in increasing the yield this year. 

Dehradun, February 8
Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar said today that the Dobra Chati bridge in Tehri would became operational by September this year.

At a meeting presiding over by him, he said 105 acres had been earmarked at Raiwala, Dehradun, for the rehabilitation of Tehri Dam oustees.

He directed officials to rehabilitate all 200 Tehri Dam-affected families, whose residences at Tehri are at a height ranging from 825-835 m above the sea level, by May end.

The Chief Secretary further said the Tehri Dam oustees, whether settled in Dehradun, Haridwar or some where else in the state, must get all civic amenities like potable water and other facilities.

He said Rs 7 crore had been set aside for the same purpose. Shivalik Nagar in Haridwar and Rainapur in Dehradun would now be developed as new Tehri Dam oustees re-settlement colonies.

Commissioner (Garhwal) Ajay Singh Nabiyal, Secretary (Irrigation) Umakant Pawar and Director (Rehabilitation) SA Murugeshan were present at the meeting. 

Dehradun, February 8
Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli said today that the renovation of Town Hall would be completed by May 3. He also assured the people that the project related to the beautification of Clock Tower, Ambedkar Park and Badoni Park would start in the next 45 days as the detailed project reports (DPR) of these projects worth Rs 50 lakh had been cleared. An auction of the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) shops would also be held. Chamoli was addressing mediapersons at the DMC here this morning.

The project related to a flyover from Bannu School to Bhandari Bagh had been approved by the Central government. A garbage collection project launched under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Rural Mission (JNNURM) scheme too may cover all the 60 wards of the city by May.

Chamoli said he had constituted a committee of four technical experts to give its suggestions for the renovation work going on at Town Hall at the DMC. The experts are Roshan Dasmana, A. Ananad, TK Aggarwal and Avinanada. An art gallery equipped with four CCTV cameras would also be constructed. Besides Rs 1.5 crore expenses on renovation work, Rs 9 lakh would be spent on the construction of a green room, he added. The Mayor said keeping in view the poor condition of the DMC building he had sent a proposal of Rs 16 crore to the state government for its renovation to be done on the private-public partnership (PPP) mode. Since the DMC did not want to indulge in any commercial activity, it had decided to take up the project in bits and pieces on its own. It had already started working on the Conference Hall, he said.

A number of shops of the DMC were awaiting auction. Chamoli said the auction of shops was suspended to consider the demand for reservation in the (auction) process to those who fought for the creation of Uttarakhand.

Since the state government has now reserved 10 per cent of the total number of shops to be auctioned for those who fought for the creation of the state, the auction would be held on priority to raise the income of the DMC, Chamoli said.

The other projects relating to a flyover from Bannu School to Bhandari Bagh costing Rs 55 crore, relocation of Adat Bazaar costing Rs 160 crore and a drainage plan costing Rs 400 crore too had got approval and would be considered, the Mayor said.

He said the garbage collection, disposal and treatment plant was likely to cover all 60 wards by May. It could also take some more time as the DMC did not have the required number of vehicles at present to carry out the garbage lifting task to 
that extent. 

Dehradun, February 8
They were the first few who responded to Chief Minister B.C Khanduri’s cheap medical education scholarship programme and were expected to be role models for the government. But on completion of their courses, rather than fulfilling their duties by serving in Uttarakhand government hospitals, they made a hasty exit, bringing the government’s efforts to a naught.

A total of 36 doctors out of a total of 200, who passed out (2010 and 2011) from the Haldwani Government Medical College and were beneficiaries of the Uttarakhand government’s cheap medical education programme, have since failed to serve in the government hospitals despite filling the bond. Chief Minister Khanduri introduced the scheme soon after the BJP government took office in 2007.

Sources claim the Health Department’s inefficiency came to the fore when the lapse was discovered after the two batches had already completed their courses and now as full doctors preferred working outside the state.

These students were charged Rs 15,000 annually for the five-year MBBS course on the condition that they would serve with Uttarakhand Health Department for five years. “The government had made an investment in students who were bright but belonged to weaker sections of society with the hope that they would address the problem of shortage of doctors, but they moved out. We have now asked the medical colleges to gather details about these beneficiaries. So far we have zeroed on 36 doctors,” said Vinita Kumar, Principal Secretary, Medical Education.

On one hand the government has finally got the requisite information on the number of beneficiaries, on the other hand it is yet to initiate action, if any, against them. “We will have to revisit the scheme once again, to see if there are loopholes and also incorporate certain measures so that the clauses in the bond are not violated. Similar scheme is already being implemented at the Srinagar Medical College to be followed up in the upgraded Doon Medical College and Almora Medical College,” said Vinita Kumar.

While introducing the scheme in 2007, Uttarkhand had termed it as a single initiative that would help the state tide over the crisis of scarcity of doctors, but two years after the beneficiaries passed out, the results of the initiative are still not visible. 

Dehradun, February 8
President of the DAV (PG) College Students’ Union Ashish Rawat said today that the annual fest and the union week would begin from February 24.

He said the union week was organised every year to celebrate unity and togetherness among students and teachers.

“The fest will begin from February 24 and continue till March 1. The union week will begin with a mehndi competition on February 24 followed by a debate competition on February 25. A Garhwali programme and a musical competition will be held on February 27. A kavi sammelan will be organised on February 28 while on the final day, local artistes as well as those from Delhi will give their performance,” said Ashish. 

Pithoragarh, February 8
The famous annual Purnagiri fair, which is organised on a hilltop near the Indo-Nepal border at Tanakpur, Champawat, will be held from March 9 to May 31 this year, according to officials of the district administration.

At a meeting held under the chairmanship of the District Magistrate, Champawat, recently, it was decided that the fair would be organised jointly by the Champawat Zila Panchayat and the district administration.

“The use of polythene bags and the sale of meat, liquor, pan and beedi will be banned at the venue and its nearby areas,” said Ashish Joshi, Champawat District Magistrate.