Dehradun February 21
The Regional Transport Office (RTO) office in the city today launched the High Security Resolution Plate (HSRP) system. The vehicle number plate under the HSRP will carry a unique seven-digit number, hologram and a digital sticker which will give complete information about the vehicle.

The plate will be attached with strap locks which could not be opened or removed by anybody else. It can only be broken.

Dinesh Chand, Additional Regional Transport Officer, said the new HSRP system had been launched to contain the vehicle theft.

“Since this number plate cannot be removed or changed, the cases of replacing genuine number plates with fake one by thieves will come down heavily. The number plate will also give the entire information about the vehicle and lead to the owners in theft cases. In matters of accidents too, the information given on the number plate will also prove handy.”

In the beginning, the HSRP system will be applied only to new vehicles but later the owners of old vehicles will also have to apply for it within a period of two years.

The number plate will be ready within four days after applying for it. One has to pay Rs 276 for two-wheelers and Rs 300-400 for four wheelers.

Nainital, February 21
Preparations are afoot to initiate the installation of the high-security registration number plates at the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Haldwani.

It is learnt that the machines required for installing these plates will be installed in the Haldwani RTO over the next few days following which the exercise will begin.

Sources say that there are plans to start the installation of high-security registration number plates from Dehradun, Haldwani, Haridwar, Rishikesh and Almora simultaneously.

The high-security registration number plates is to be installed in about 17 lakh vehicles across the state.

The high-security registration number plate installation process has been started across the country following an amendment to Rule 50 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. The amendment mandates the introduction of new tamper-proof number plates.

The number plate is having a patented chromium hologram, a laser numbering containing the alpha-numeric identification of both testing agency and manufacturers and a retro-reflective film bearing a verification inscription "India" at a 45-degree inclination. The characters are to be embossed on the plate for the better visibility.

Officials say that once the high-security registration number plate installation is complete throughout the country, there will be very little scope left for tampering with the vehicles to carry out any sort of unlawful activity.

Mussoorie, February 21
The Mussoorie Municipal Council (MC), in association with the Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Authority (UREDA), Power Finance Corporation(PFC) and Energy Efficiency Service Limited (EESL), has finalised a project to replace the existing streetlights with energy efficient 500 LED lights in and around the town.

Officials of the UREDA, the PFC and the MC held a detailed discussion on the MC premises today and agreed to replace the existing streetlights with 500 LED lights to conserve energy and save on electricity bill of the MC.

OP Uniyal, president of the MC, said the LED lights project would be completed before the start of the tourist season. He added in comparison with high-pressure sodium lamps, the LED streetlights would save energy up to 50 to 70 per cent. Besides, the life span of an LED street lamp was three to five times more than a sodium lamp.

Uniyal said by installing LED lights the MC could save on electricity bill, besides these lights were virtually maintenance free.

The Central government had appointed EESL to overlook the implementation of the project in Mussoorie, added Uniyal. Asim Jain, a senior EESL official, said his company would provide technical assistance to the project in Mussoorie. It would also provide necessary information on using electricity judicially so that energy could be saved.

Vijay Rawat, project officer from the UREDA, said the authority had been appointed the nodal agency for carrying out the project of the Central government. He added the PFC along with the MC had agreed to provide the required funds for the project.

Rawat said with the installation of LED lights electricity up to 50 per cent would be saved. He added talks were being held with the MC to install solar streetlights also in the town, thus making it a premier eco-friendly hill station of north India.

Mussoorie, February 21
Mussoorie Municipal Council president OP Uniyal has directed officials of various departments, including the Jal Sansthan, the PWD and the health department, to complete all pending works before the beginning of the tourist season. Uniyal gave the directions at a meting held on the MC premises today. The MC president also took stock of pending works, including the construction of linking roads and the progress of the cleanliness drive in the town, and directed the officials to ensure that all works are completed before the tourist season.

He directed MC staff to come office on time and wear official dresses and identity cards for the convenience of the people.

Uniyal also directed officials to purchase two vehicles to collect garbage door to door, so that it could be sent for recycling. At the meeting, the issue of the promotions of MC staff was also discussed. The MC employees lodged their protest against the formation of a selection committee in this regard and said seniority should be the criterion for promotions and not the decision of the selection committee.

The MC president said the employees would be consulted before formulating any policy regarding promotions.

Uniyal further said the MC in association with the Life Insurance Corporation would be spending Rs 40 lakh for the beautification and maintenance of tourist spots.

Dehradun, February 21
The Dolphin Volleyball Championship-2012, that commenced on February 18 ended on the campus of the Dolphin (PG) Institute of Biomedical & Natural Sciences, Dehradun, with the final matches in male and female category today.

In the final match in the female category, the Dolphin (PG) Institute defeated Graphic Era University by 2-1 with the score of (18-15), (25-23) and (15-9).

The final in the male category was played between Graphic Era University & Beehive College. There were 5 sets played in the final match in which Graphic Era University defeated Beehive College by 3-1 with the score of 25-24, 21-25, 25-13 and 25-17.

In the championship, Anjum Nisha of MSc Bio-Medical Sciences, Dolphin (PG) Institute played excellently in all matches and so was declared the best player of the championship.

The chief guest of the closing ceremony was Ashok Arneja, the Circle Head of Punjab National Bank. He distributed cash prizes as well as trophies to the winners and runners-up. The runners-up trophy of the male and female categories was awarded with the cash prizes of Rs 2100 and Rs 1100, respectively, along with the trophies, while the winners were awarded Rs 3100 and Rs 2100 in the male and female categories with trophies.

Addressing the participants and spectators, Ashok Arneja said sports activities were necessary not only for physical health but also for developing a team spirit as well as a healthy competition among players. He expressed his wishes to winners and at the same time he boosted up the morale of runners-up, so that they could get lessons from the mistakes they did and were able to show good presentation in future to get victory.

He also said many schemes had been introduced for students having poor financial background by Punjab National Bank and these schemes were helpful in developing the career of the students.

The matches were witnessed by Chairman of Dolphin Institute Arvind Gupta, Principal Dr Shailja Pant, Director Dr Arun Kumar, Sports Officer NK Joshi, Dean Students Welfare Vipul Garg, match referee and sports in charge of IFCAI University Satendra Singh. A large number of faculty members and students were also present.

Dehradun, February 21
DAV (PG) College Principal Dr Devendra Bhasin today met various student groups to arrive at a consensus for the conduct of Union Week Celebrations in the college.

Bhasin first met students led by college general secretary Bhagwati Prasad followed by another round of meeting with the group led by president Ashish Rawat.

“The DAV (PG) College administration aims to make this year’s Union Week Celebrations a resounding success. We have appealed to the union office-bearers to sort out their difference and work for a united show”, Dr Bhasin pointed out. There is a difference of opinion within the DAV (PG) College students’ union over the timings of Union Week Celebrations. While some student leaders want early observation of the union week, other prefer delaying of the event taking into account the coming examinations.

Dehradun, February 21
One of the few feminine voices of the khayal gayak genre in India Ashwini Bhide -Deshpande has never taken her music for granted.

Be it the performances she gives abroad or the concerts at home, there are a few minutes that have to be devoted to dress rehearsal. So before the musical event, the tanpura is meticulously fine-tuned and the tonal quality of the sound system checked.

“By virtue of my being an artiste, I have this freedom to explore my creativity and then share my art with the world. The artistes enjoy a great deal of latitude. Our music is never on demand. I play what I like using intuition as a guide to know my audience. But one cannot take the audience for granted. There is a great deal of workmanship that takes place behind the scene, before one bursts on the stage,” she averred.

During her first visit to Dehradun as part of the SPICMACAY concert, Ashwini sounded upbeat about the number of artistes emerging on the musical firmament.

“The numbers have gone up. It has made people quality conscious. They are knowledgeable people who come to listen and can point out at a weak delivery in a bandish. While performing for younger audience, I do not make any changes. I like to introduce them to the Hindustani classical music or my kind of music but to keep their interest alive, I reduce the time of the ragas and make them short,” she said. It was evident today when she performed in Jesus and Mary School.

Though steeped in traditional aspects of Khayal gayaki, the finer points of which she learnt from her mother and guru Manik Bhide and gurus Pandit Ratnakar Pai and Pandit Narayan Rao, Bhide has never shied away from adding a dash of her own personality and temperament while shaping a raga.

This streak of individuality even led her to abandon a career of a biochemist and immerse herself into music which she enjoys.

In fact, she is quick to point out while there should not be any compromise on sur and tal, the way classical music is viewed as being difficult to learn has not helped the cause of music.

“I think this preconceived notion of classical music being difficult has done more harm than good. People generally think classical music has to be learnt if one has to become a singer, it is a misnomer. It adds to your singing if you are a trained classical singer, that’s about all. I also do not like the categorization of music. There is place for every kind of music," she adds.

Dehradun, February 21
On the final day of the RIMC Inter-Section Cricket Tournament, Pratap seniors as well as junior section won the final matches in their sections. The first match was played between Pratap and Shivaji seniors in which Pratap scored 85 runs at the loss of 10 wickets in 15 overs. Cadet Mayank Dhama scored 30 runs and was the highest scorer from the Pratap section.

Meanwhile, Cadet Orkhodip took 4 wickets from Shivaji’s side. In reply, Shivaji Seniors were all out for 33 runs in 6.2 overs. Cadet Hemant Poonia of the Pratap section took 5 wickets and was adjudged the man of the match.

The second match was played between Pratap and Ranjit juniors in which Pratap scored 79 runs at the loss of 7 wickets in 15 overs.

Cadet Mohd Salman was the top scorer with 20 runs from the Pratap section. Cadet Anshul Kumar and Rajeev took 3 wickets each from Ranjit section.

In reply, Ranjit juniors could score 76 runs in 15 overs at a loss of 8 wickets, losing the match by three runs. The highest scorer from Ranjit was Cadet Purnendu with 28 runs. The chief guest on the occasion was Col Pankaj Kumaria, Commandant, RIMC, expressed his happiness by seeing the high standard of cricket played.

The other dignitaries present were Lt-Col Ambarish Tiwari, Wing Cdr SK Thapliyal, Lt Pinku and CS Vishwakarma. The coordinator of the event was Brijesh Chauhan.

Dehradun, February 21
An e-governance training session for 23 nodal officers was held today jointly by an e-governance mission team and the ITDA at the Secretariat.

The training was imparted to make officers aware of e-governance and how to use it effectively for providing services to the citizens.

Director, ITDA, R Meenakshi Sundaram, said for increasing competency, 23 nodal officers of 23 departments were imparted training. He said a similar training would be held at the district level.

The state has already taken several steps towards e-governance. These include making land records available online through Janadhar.

Besides, e-tendering and e-payment facility is already in place. Common service centres will be opened for providing facilities to the people.

The programmes being implemented under the Reproductive and Child and Health of the Health Department will also be made online. All treasuries have been made online. Besides details of GPF accounts and salary account have also been made online.

To make e-governance a reality in the villages, the Centre has set aside Rs 317 crore for the project to be taken up throughout India.

On the occasion, state e-governance mission team chief Navin Garg, Wing Commander A.K Srinivas (retd) of the National Institute for Smart Government, Hyderabad, were present on the occasion.

Dehradun, February 21
The Doon Girls School organised a quiz contest as part of the National Science Week celebrations today.

As many as 16 schools participated in the quiz, which was won by Kasiga School. Five schools, Kasiga School, Welham Boys School, The Doon Girls School, Dehradun Boys School and Doon International School have now reached the final round.

The week is being celebrated in the memory of Nobel laureate Sir Chandrasekhar Venkata Raman.

CP Dang, Chairman of the school, was the chief guest. The quiz was compiled and conducted by Mohini Chauhan. In the end, the teams were given certificates while the winning team was given away the trophy.

Dehradun, February 21
As part of the National Science Week celebrations, the Dehradun-based Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology organised a science quiz competition for students of classes IX to XII.

A total of 19 schools, including Touch Wood School, Doon School, Grace Academy, Children’s Academy, Raja Ram Mohan Roy Academy, Vivekanand School, Grace Academy, Jaswant Modern School, Ann Marry, Doon International School and Doon Valley Public School, participated in the quiz.

The institute now plans to hold a Hindi essay competition on March 24.

The winners of both quiz and essay competitions will be given prizes on February 28.

Haridwar, February 21
As part of the golden jubilee celebrations of Shravan Nath Math Jawaharlal Nehru College, a musical evening was organised on the the college campus, where students showcased their vocal and instrumental talent.

The programme started with the rendition of ‘Sayya-suffi’ by Mehtab Aalam, which held the audience spellbound.

Radha-Krishna bhajan by Neha Kumari also mesmerised the audience.

The Principal, Dr Avneet Kumar Ghildiyal, said the evening was arranged by the Students’ Welfare Association, which deserved accolades as in most of the cases such cultural fests were marred by mismanagement.

College staff welfare council representatives Saraswati Pathak and Sanjay Kumar Maheshwari said various other events were being conducted in this week, including a two-day main annual function, which will mark the completion of a fortnight-long series of cultural-sporting events.

Dehradun, February 21
A group of 27 students from various schools of Manipur visited the Raj Bhavan today and met Governor Margaret Alva.

The students of classes IX and X were led by Capt Akash Dubey of 43 Assam Rifles under the National Integration Campaign.

Welcoming the students, the Governor shared some inspiring memories of her life with them and called upon them to work for building a peaceful India.

She talked to them informally about their hobbies and interests and also asked them to visit South India. This was the students’ first trip outside the north east.