Met office predicts rain today
Dehradun, July 19
Even as Uttarakhand faces week monsoon conditions, there seems another ray of hope by tomorrow as the Met office has predicted another round of rain any time during evening hours.

Dehradun, July 19
After a day-long strike by fruit and vegetable retailers which crippled the supply of fruits and vegetable, wholesalers finally relented and agreed here today to withdraw 2 per cent more commission that they were charging illegally from the retailers.

A compromise was reached between the retailers and wholesalers following the intervention of the administration that also marked the end of the strike in the evening.

The Fruit and Vegetable Retailers Association of Dehradun had decided to observe a strike in protest against 2 per cent more commission by the wholesalers at the Dehradun mandi from them.

The retailers had termed it illegal as there was no government order to that effect. However, the wholesalers had argued that due to cost overrun, they were unable to sustain themselves in 6 per cent commission.

Interestingly, the wholesalers, also known as commission agents, also charge 6 per cent from farmers who come to mandfis to sell their produce.

A large number of fruit and vegetable retailers led by their patron and Uttarakhand Congress Committee vice-president Suryakant Dhasmana had gathered at the gates of the Dehradun mandi and did not allow anyone to enter the premises.

A public meeting was held at the gate where speakers lambasted the wholesalers as well as the state government for its alleged failure to protect the interests of the poor retailers and general public.

Sayeed Tahir, president of the Fruit and Vegetable Retailers Association, alleged that the hike in the commission being charged by the wholesalers from the existing 6 per cent to 8 per cent was illegal. They demanded immediate withdrawal of the said hike.

In the afternoon, Dehradun City Magistrate Harak Singh Rawat, Vijay Thapliyal, secretary of the Mandi Parishad, held several rounds of talks with the wholesalers as well as the striking retailers. At one point, arhtiyas (wholesalers) walked out of the meeting showing their inability to take back the hike in their commission. However, when the officials insisted that they could not hike their commission and any complaint from the retailers could also invite cancellation of their licences, they finally relented.

An agreement was reached in which the wholesalers agreed to withdraw the hike in their commission and charge only 6 per cent from the retailers as was the case earlier. The retailers decided to call off their strike.

Haridwar, June 19
Post-Kanwar fair, the city is reeling under the shortage of LPG cylinders. Such is the situation that people line up hours before the opening of LPG outlets.

Due to Kanwar fair, entry of heavy vehicles was prohibited for the last two days, as a result of which the supply of cylinders got affected. Due to this, people are having immense problems in procuring domestic cylinders, while commercial cylinders, too, are falling short of demand.

LPG cylinders are easily available in the black market, with some even providing home delivery of these high-priced cylinders, charging anywhere between Rs 650 and Rs 800.

On contacting the district Food and Supplies Department, officials put the blame on Kanwar fair traffic restrictions, but failed to give a satisfactory reply on the preparations made by the department before the beginning of the Kanwar fair.

Notably, a few months back, a team of Central Bureau of Investigation from Dehradun had carried out several impromptu raids at various LPG gas outlets and agencies.

Stock registers were checked, illegal cylinders were seized and complaints of customers were also taken into account by the premier investigative agency sleuths.

But that seems to be having no impact on the black-marketers, as at various gas agencies situated in the city periphery, one can see open black marketing of these subsidised cylinders.

Those who can pay at black market rate easily get cylinders, but common customers only get cylinders after lining up in the scorching summer for hours, with many getting these the next day.

Food supplies officials refute these allegations, saying as there is a gap between demand and supply, the scarcity of cylinders is occurring rather than due to black marketing. They also add that the government should provide Haridwar extra quota of LPG during Kanwar fair, too, as is done during the Maha Kumbh tenure.

PS Pangti, district supplies officer, said that gas companies have been apprised of this aspect. He assured that soon the situation would return to normal, with customers getting supplies at home within a time-bound frame.

Sanjana Sharma, local resident, complained that despite three weeks of registering for home booking, gas agency had failed to provide a cylinder.

"When we enquire at their office, they either don't receive our calls or switch off their phones and ask us to line up in the queue to get cylinders. Everyone can't wait for hours in the sun; so eventually we have to shell out extra money to get cylinders as it is our basic requirement," said Sharma just outside a gas agency outlet in Kankhal.

Dehradun, July 19
Even as Uttarakhand faces week monsoon conditions, there seems another ray of hope by tomorrow as the Met office has predicted another round of rain any time during evening hours.

There has been a lull and the rain has been missing in Uttarakhand for the past few days. This, apart from affecting

the agriculture, has also created summer-like situation. In the capital, humidity level rose creating uncomfortable conditions for the residents.

On the brighter side, the Dehradun Meteorological Director, Dehradun Meteorological Office, Dr Anand Sharma said while weak monsoon conditions had been prevailing in Uttarakhand since July 16, rain was expected tomorrow any time during evening hours.

Rain deficit is also on the rise due to frequent stoppage of rain in the state.

Dehradun, July 19
As the nation mourned the loss of it's first superstar Rajesh Khanna, very few know that Rajesh Khanna got the first break in GP Sippy’s film 'Raaz' and not 'Akhri Khat,' as was being reported in sections of the media after his demise.

Film critic Manoj Panjani based in Dehradun, while offering his tributes to the superstar, disclosed that Rajesh Khanna had got his first break with GP Sippy’s murder mystery 'Raaz' and not 'Akhri Khat.' He said the film 'Raaz' that was released in 1967 was the first film of Rajesh Khanna, where he paired with actress Babita, who was the lead heroine.

Panjani said 'Raaz' even starts with a display on screen, 'Introducing Rajesh Khanna.' He said the film has some of very popular songs. Rajesh Khanna subsequently got the role in Chetan Anand’s 'Akhri Khat.'

He said Rajesh Khanna had his own set of principles in life. Even while shooting for film 'Karm' in Dehradun in 1976, he ensured that he paid all his bills for trunk calls he made to Mumbai during his stay in Dehradun. He also paid his liquor bills all by himself.

“This all was revealed to me by RK Sibbal, assistant to BR Chopra, who directed Karm”, Panjani pointed out. 'Karm' was shot on Rajpur Road in Dehradun and Muni ke Reti region of Rishikesh.

Rajesh Khanna also visited Lake City of Nainital of Uttarakhand in 1970 to shoot for 'Kati Patang.' The film was an instant hit at the box office and was prominently shot at Nainital. He said Rajesh Khanna always believed in experimentation in acting and that was also a reason behind his success.

Rajesh Khanna appeared just for a 15-minute song in film 'Andaaz,' and that song ensured 'Andaaz' was an instant success.

“Significantly, Rajesh Khanna had last visited Uttarakhand in 2005. He felt several hill locations in the state were ideal for shooting. He had then even expressed his desire to open a film city in Dehradun.

Dehradun, July 19
Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL) has successfully completed the construction work of 4 MW small hydropower project, Kali Ganga, at village Jaaltalla in district Rudraprayag. This project, initiated in February 2010, has been funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB), whereby it incurred expenditure of Rs 27.85 cr, out of the proposed Rs 32.22 cr. UJVNL has connected Kali Ganga with 33 KV line. The power generated will be transmitted through Ukhimath substaion, which will further be connected with 132 KV substation at Brahmbadi, Rudraprayag. This project will yield a generation of 26.37 MU every year.

Managing Director, UJVNL, GP Patel, said, this was the first project which was commissioned after Maneri Bhalli hydropower project in the state. He said UJVNL had aimed for five SHPs for 39.11million dollar in 2008, of which Kali Ganga was the first one.

This project will yield a revenue of Rs 11 crore.

Kali Ganga will be followed by commissioning of other SHPs like Assi Ganga of 4.5 MW, Kali Ganga-1I of 6 MW, Madhya Maheshwar of 15 MW and Shobla of 8 MW by June next year. Another project, Karligaad, of 9 MW, is unfortunately struck in legal litigation.

Patel said the work was progressing on Vyasi (120 MW) and Lakhwar (300 MW) hydropower projects, where the former will take 3 and latter 5 years to complete. The DPR in Lakhwar will be submitted by June 14.

About power generation, he said UJVNL was able to generate 1367 MU against it's target of 1305 for the period from April to June, despite poor monsoon. He said daily generation, which touched 21 MU on July 3, had dipped to 17 MU nowadays. He said they had already achieved the target for this month of 557 MU.

To consolidate his team for the new additions of power projects, he said a big team of 75 junior engineers and 40 executive engineers would be in place by September. Interviews will soon be conducted for the posts of 9 account officers, whereas Deputy General Manager, Civil, was being hired on deputation. Advertisements had been given for the three positions of Director, Finance, Director, Project, and Director, HR. Along with that 99 promotions, too, had been done in the department.

Dehradun, July 19
With the recent High Court judgment quashing the state government decision to give reservations (to SCs and ST) in promotions, fissures have erupted within the employee unions with both the proponents of reservations calling for maintaining the status quo, and those against reservations asking the government to go by the High Court judgment, and do away the policy of reservations in promotions.

A delegation of Uttarakhand Adhikari-Karamchari-Shikshak Sangharsh Morcha met the Chief Minister, demanding that the recent High Court judgment be implemented by the government. The delegation led by Sunil Dutt Kothari (member-coordinator) met the Chief Minister and said that the judgment was in favour of employees.

President of Diploma Pharmacists Association B.S Payal also said that the government should implement the decision as it would pave the way for better and equal opportunities for all.

On the other hand, employees belonging to Uttarakhand SC/ST employees' federation, too, met the Chief Minister, demanding that the reservation policy in promotions be followed.

Meanwhile, in the light of the High Court decision, the Chief Secretary, Alok Jain, has asked senior officials of the departments to put on hold a decision inthis regard.

Pithoragarh, July 19
In an another case of cruelty towards an animal by human being, a leopard, which was enjoying his prey, was brutally killed by villagers at Pipli village of Bhaisiyachana block of Almora district last evening, Forest Department sources said.

According to information, a leopard lifted a dog from the village.

Villagers tried to snatch the prey from the clutches of the carnivore, but the leopard attacked the snatchers and injured them.

“Infuriated with the attack, the villagers attacked the leopard with lathis, injuring it badly. Later, the body of the leopard was recovered by Forest Department employees from a gorge near the village,” said Prem Kumar, DFO, Almora.

“At prima facie, it seems that the villagers attacked the leopard in their defence, but if the animal died of injuries it received from the villagers' lathis or it died due to felling into a gorge, it could be ascertained after the post- mortem report, which is yet to come,” said the DEO. 

Dehradun, July 19
The hoarding structure which was being removed from the rooftop of a building at Prince Chowk was stopped at the behest of BJP leader Vinay Goyal.

The team, which was in the process of bringing it down, had to halt the work when Goyal reached on the site and stopped the team from taking any further action. The hoarding was being removed on the direction of Mukhya Nagar Adhikari Ashok Kumar.

It was a day before that Rajender Kumar, CEO of a local channel, had challenged MNA for removing his hoardings which the tax superintendent, DMC, had reported to be illegally installed. Kumar openly criticised DMC officials for sparing Vinay Goyal of BJP and Rajiv Mahrishi of Congress, who, he said, had installed their hoardings on rooftops of the buildings in the city.

Mayor Vinod Chamoli said he would look into the matter.

Haridwar, July 19
SP KL Shah has said the Kanwar fair this year was a learning experience as it broke all previous records of Kanwariyas visiting Uttarakhand.

Shah said smooth management of 1.95 crore Kanwariyas in the mela zone this year spoke volumes about the skills and efficiency of the Uttarakhand police. He attributed the successful completion of the fair to the combined efforts of the mela administration, the police and local people.

The SP said he had started planning for this year’s Kanwar yatra keeping in mind last year’s experience when 1.52 crore Kanwariyas had visited the state to fetch Ganga water.

“First thing we planned was to restrict the entry of Dak Kanwariyas into the Har-Ki-Pauri mela zone as it led to traffic jams. Then we opened parking lots at Bairagi Camp and Lalji Wala where more than two lakh vehicles were parked this time. This proved to be a master stroke as for the first time the national highway-58 remained opened for most of the time during the Kanwar mela,” said Shah.

Initially, Kanwariyas were routed onto the stretch earmarked for them, but later when their number increased they were allowed to travel on the national highway and the inner city lane from Shiv Moorti Chowk to Jatwada Pull. This eased congestion on all the three paths. The deployment of paramilitary forces at important points also helped in controlling a small section of errant Kanwariyas who tried to flout mela rules.

Shah has received an appreciation letter from SSP, Haridwar, Arun Mohan Joshi for the smooth conduct of the Kanwar fair. He has also received congratulatory messages from DGP Vijay Raghav Pant and DIG, Dehradun range, Sanjay Gunjiyal.