Unique example of brotherhood Muslims do their bit for pilgrims Haridwar, July 15 Presenting a unique example of brotherhood, members of the Muslim community in Haridwar are organising camps for Kanwariyas, where they are being provided with free refreshments. Prior to the Kanwar pilgrimage, they were busy making decorative bamboo Kanwars for them. This speaks volumes about the bond between Hindus and Muslims in Haridwar.

Members of the Muslim community offer eatables to Kanwariyas at Qassaban Mohalla at Jwalapur in Haridwar on Sunday. Tribune photo: Rameshwar Gaur

Jal Police personnel emerge as life saviours
Haridwar, July 15
After the elite Guldaar commando unit's brave attempt at thwarting terror attack during the Kanwar pilgrimage, the mela administration has deployed special water police personnel. Commonly known as Jal Police, these cops have been deployed on various Ganga ghats. This has come as a boon, as in the past decade several Kanwariyas had lost their lives during the holy bath as some of them did not know how to swim.

Blend of the East and the West in Haridwar
As the entry of vehicles is banned at specific places due to the Kanwar Mela, two foreigners walk to their destination near the CCR Tower-NH 58 stretch in Haridwar on Sunday; and (right) Jal Police jawans during a routine patrolling. Tribune photos: Rameshwar Gaur

Two women held for shoplifting
Mussoorie, July 15
The police apprehended two women who used to visit various readymade garments shops and lift items posing as customers in Mussoorie today. According to the police, the two women, identified as Seema alias Maya, aged 35, wife of Laloo, and Shanti, aged 55, both residents of Tyagi Road, Dehradun, were caught red-handed while they were trying to lift readymade items from the shop near Satyam restaurant in Gandhi Chowk.

Villagers gear up for Devi Kol festival of Jaunpur Mussoorie, July 15 Villagers from the Jaunpur region of district Tehri Garhwal are ready to celebrate Devi Kol festival, a bi-annual festival, on July 16 this year. The festival is organised twice, one in the month of April and the other during monsoons. It is a premier festival of Jaunpur celebrated in honour of Bhadra Kal, the incarnate of Goddess Durga. Villagers perform a dance in connection with the Devi Kol festival celebrations. A file photo

UKD (P) to protest against UREDA auction norms
Dehradun, July 15
President of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (P) Trivender Panwar held a meeting of party members on the issue of fresh tenders to be held under the Atal Adarsh Gram Scheme for solar equipment worth Rs 80 cr by the Uttranchal Renewal Energy Development Agency (UREDA) next month.

CITU to observe Aug 9 as 'Quit India' day
Dehradun July 15
Constituents of the Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) held a meeting in the city office today. The important decision taken at the meeting were to commemorate the August 9 as "Quit India" day to protest against FDI, demand a minimum monthly salary of Rs 10,000, declare Universal Public Distribution System, distribution of 35 Kg foodgrain at the rate of Rs 2/kg per family.

Grameen Bank highlights achievements
Dehradun, July 15
The Uttaranchal Grameen Bank today organised a felicitation programme for its employees. Chief Guest Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Harak Singh Rawat lauded the role of the Grameen Bank towards ensuring all-round development in the backward areas of Uttarakhand. He assured all support to the Grameen Bank in its developmental activities in the near future.

Five hurt in mishap
Mussoorie, July 15
Five persons sustained injuries when the car they were travelling in fell into a deep gorge near Bhatta village on the Mussoorie-Dehradun road this morning. According to the police, the incident took place when the driver of the car, which was on its way to Mussoorie, lost control over the vehicle while negotiating a turn at 4 am.

Cavalcade of Kanwariyas puts life out of gear in Haridwar
Over 1.40 crore Lord Shiva devotees fetch Ganga jal 
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, July 15
As was feared, the cavalcade of Dak Kanwars put normal life out of gear as more than 15 lakh Kanwariyas arrived in the city today. A heavy rush of vehicles going on high speed created traffic congestion as all parking lots nearly got full by the afternoon. Heavy traffic congestion was noticed at the Har-ki-Pauri stretch, where the two- wheeler parking lot got full by morning itself.

Kanwariyas from Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Delhi were seen in large numbers today arriving in decorated vehicles to fetch Ganga jal in a time limit duration.

From the nearby states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, Kanwariyas will arrive tomorrow in time for taking part in the July 17 festival of Shravan Maha Shivratri, the date on which the holy Ganga water will be offered at the respective Shivalayas.

Four-wheeler parking lots at Bairagi camp and Gauri Shankar Dweep were further stretched to nearby vacant lots of Pant Dweep, Motichur, Laljiwala and Neel Dhara.

The traffic situation can be gauged by the fact that Senior Superintendent of Haridwar Police Arun Mohan Joshi, Kanwar mela police chief KL Shah were on the road clearing the traffic congestion themselves.

Due to haphazard vehicular movement by some Dak Kanwar drivers, many a time traffic jams occurred, which were cleared instantly.

The traffic plan of making Delhi-Haridwar-Dehradun national highway 58 one way is proving to be a master stroke as Kanwariyas' vehicles are moving along unhindered on the Roorkee-Delhi route.

Travelling in trucks, tractors, trolleys, mini vans, jeeps and utility vehicles, aided by motor cycles and bicycles, Kanwariyas, lakhs, have fetched 
Ganga water.

As per administrative figures, more than 1.40 crore Lord Shiva devotees have till date come to Haridwar to fetch the holy Ganga water.

Musical systems and DJs were not allowed by the mela police. At various points Kanwariyas were seen protesting on this matter but seeing the police being strict over this issue, they cooperated.

Keeping in view the problem faced by the local people in commuting, the administration has blocked the entry of the Dak Kanwars in the city area, with residents heaving a sigh of relief.

Inner city traffic restrictions continued with commuters having problems in reaching Shivmoorti Chowk, railway station and the bus stand stretch till the Rishikul temporary bus station.

Local people, normal pilgrims, tourists, including foreigners, were seen either walking or arguing with pedal rickshaw-pullers, who were charging hefty fares to take them to their respective destinations.

Unique example of brotherhood
Muslims do their bit for pilgrims
Sandeep Rawat/TNS

Haridwar, July 15
Presenting a unique example of brotherhood, members of the Muslim community in Haridwar are organising camps for Kanwariyas, where they are being provided with free refreshments. Prior to the Kanwar pilgrimage, they were busy making decorative bamboo Kanwars for them. This speaks volumes about the bond between Hindus and Muslims in Haridwar.

Various Muslim organisations, social workers and local people are offering voluntary services to ensure that Kanwariyas do not face any problem during their pilgrimage on foot.

Abdul Karim, a local social activist, while distributing fruits at Mohalla Qassaban,a Muslim dominated colony, said: "God is one. And it's the religious devotion that they see in Kanwariyas which propels them to do a bit for them."

Rao Shamsher Mohammed, state chief of the minority cell of the Congress, claimed that no communal violence had even been reported in Haridwar. "During Ids, Hindus hold Iftaar function for us while we organise a function for them on Divali every year."

Jal Police personnel emerge as life saviours
Sandeep Rawat/TNS

Haridwar, July 15
After the elite Guldaar commando unit's brave attempt at thwarting terror attack during the Kanwar pilgrimage, the mela administration has deployed special water police personnel. Commonly known as Jal Police, these cops have been deployed on various Ganga ghats.

This has come as a boon, as in the past decade several Kanwariyas had lost their lives during the holy bath as some of them did not know how to swim.

Jal Police personnel have emerged as life saviours for dozens of Kanwariyas who were saved from drowning in the past 11 days since the Kanwar fair commenced.

Special rescue and relief aid training has been given to these personnel, who are manning the river ghats from Haridwar till Roorkee round the clock. Talking to TNS, mela police chief Kiran Lal Shaw informed that apart from Jal Police squad comprising Uttarakhand police personnel, help has also been sought from Bengal Engineers Group SAP divers and Provincial Armed Constabulary expert divers during this Kanwar pilgrimage.

He added that this move was taken keeping in mind the rising number of such incidents occurring during the Kanwar pilgrimage along the Ganga ghats.

“But now with Jal Police deployment every day at various stretches, they are saving at least 15-20 Kanwariyas from drowning,” said Shah, while taking an inspection tour on one of the Jal squad's life- saving boats.

The mela administration has also sought help from local professional swimmers, who have been also deployed at various Ganga ghats, including Braham Kund, Har-ki-Pauri, the core mela zone. These swimmers are being paid on a daily basis. Many of them had also given their services during the Maha Kumbh in 2010.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Jal Police personnel had saved more than a thousand devotees during Maha Kumbh 2010.

But now they are aided with swift boats to assist them in their efforts. The water warriors, prior to the Kanwar fair, were given training in Ganga ghats.

Two women held for shoplifting
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, July 15
The police apprehended two women who used to visit various readymade garments shops and lift items posing as customers in Mussoorie today. According to the police, the two women, identified as Seema alias Maya, aged 35, wife of Laloo, and Shanti, aged 55, both residents of Tyagi Road, Dehradun, were caught red-handed while they were trying to lift readymade items from the shop near Satyam restaurant in Gandhi Chowk.

The shopkeepers surrounded the two women and handed them over to the police.

The police after thorough search recovered several branded T-Shirts and other items from their possession.

The shopkeepers were of the view that the whole gang of about 8-10 persons was active from the past six months and their modus operandi was to visit the town during weekends in turns so that they were not identified easily. But today their luck ran out as a close watch was being kept on them by the shopkeepers themselves. Several shopkeepers visited the police station and identified the belongings in their possession.

The police has registered case and investigations were on to apprehend the other members of the gang involved in the crime.

Villagers gear up for Devi Kol festival of Jaunpur
Ajay Ramola

Mussoorie, July 15
Villagers from the Jaunpur region of district Tehri Garhwal are ready to celebrate Devi Kol festival, a bi-annual festival, on July 16 this year. The festival is organised twice, one in the month of April and the other during monsoons. It is a premier festival of Jaunpur celebrated in honour of Bhadra Kal, the incarnate of Goddess Durga.

The devotees, mostly villagers from the region, after a 2.5 km walk, will reach the top where the temple is situated at 5,500 feet above sea level, after an arduous trek of around 4 km from the road near Kharak village.

The devotees will be seeking blessings of Godess Bhadra Kali during the estival.

The women laden with traditional attire and ornaments will also be participating in the festivities here. Devi Kol Mandir Mela Samiti member S.S.Rawat highlighted the fact that this festival was 150 years old and the temple is revered among the villagers of surrounding areas as well.

He also said that from the temple on a clear day, one could see peaks like Trishul and Bundurpoonch on the north side and Doon valley on the south side.

He further said that that all the preparations were in place and more than 5000 persons were expected during the festival. He demanded that the government should include the festival in the tourism calendar of the state so that more people are able to see the culture of the region themselves.

UKD (P) to protest against UREDA auction norms
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 15
President of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (P) Trivender Panwar held a meeting of party members on the issue of fresh tenders to be held under the Atal Adarsh Gram Scheme for solar equipment worth Rs 80 cr by the Uttranchal Renewal Energy Development Agency (UREDA) next month.

The party decided to hold a protest on the UREDA premises on Monday against agency's leaning toward big companies in the tenders.

The parameters of tenders with regard to bulk orders of 13,000 solar lights and 80,000 lanterns under a Centre scheme have been altered in such a manner that the small and medium scale industries will not be able to compete in it.

The annual turnover of industries to bid for the tenders have been increased from earlier fixed limit Rs 5 crore to Rs 25 crore and the experience of making solar equipment has also been raised from 100 KW to 800 KW.

The tenders which were opened on June 24 were postponed when activists of the UKD (P) created ruckus for not favouring small and medium scale industries.

CITU to observe Aug 9 as 'Quit India' day
Tribune News Service

Dehradun July 15
Constituents of the Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) held a meeting in the city office today. The important decision taken at the meeting were to commemorate the August 9 as "Quit India" day to protest against FDI, demand a minimum monthly salary of Rs 10,000, declare Universal Public Distribution System, distribution of 35 Kg foodgrain at the rate of Rs 2/kg per family, facilities to contractual employees like regular ones, increase in allowance, increase in allowance for Anaganwadi and Bhojanmata, regularisation of employees of corporations, strict implementation of labour laws and reinstate the suspended employees of 108 ambulance service.

Representatives from the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam, Tea-garden Unions, Bhojanmata, the Contractual Labour Association, the Jal Nigam Jal Sansthan, the Mazdoor Union and the Ordinance Employees Union participated at the meeting.

Demands

• Minimum monthly salary of Rs 10,000
• Increase in allowance for anganwadi workers and bhojanmatas
• Regularisation of the services of the employees of corporations
• Strict implementation of labour laws

Grameen Bank highlights achievements
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 15
The Uttaranchal Grameen Bank today organised a felicitation programme for its employees. Chief Guest Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Harak Singh Rawat lauded the role of the Grameen Bank towards ensuring all-round development in the backward areas of Uttarakhand. He assured all support to the Grameen Bank in its developmental activities in the near future.

Chairman Uttaranchal Grameen Bank Yashpal Arora informed the gathering about the achievements of the bank.

He said the bank had kept a target of opening 16 new branches in the state for the financial year 2012-13.

He said the bank during the last financial year had opened a total of 14 new branches in Uttarakhand.

He said the bank today with a total of 157 CBS branches and a total annual business of Rs 1,800 crore has become major banking player in Uttarakhand.

A number of Grameen Bank employees were also felicitated for giving excellent results while performing their duties during year 2011-12.

Five hurt in mishap
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, July 15
Five persons sustained injuries when the car they were travelling in fell into a deep gorge near Bhatta village on the Mussoorie-Dehradun road this morning. According to the police, the incident took place when the driver of the car, which was on its way to Mussoorie, lost control over the vehicle while negotiating a turn at 4 am.

The injured have been identified as driver Raju, Neeraj, Arun, Ajay Singh Rana and Ashok Garg, all residents of Panipat in Haryana.

The injured could be rescued only in the morning when passersby heard their cries for help and reported the matter to the police.