SpiceJet starts two Doon-Delhi flights
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 19
SpiceJet, India’s low-fare airline, launched two direct flights between Delhi and Dehradun today.

The airline launched two daily direct flights between Delhi and Dehradun at an introductory fare of only Rs 1,999 inclusive of all taxes. The airline will have one flight in morning and one in the evening.

Amrita Rawat, state Minister for Tourism, inaugurated the launching service here.

SpiceJet is deploying its brand new Bombardier Q400 NextGen turboprop aircraft on this route.

The Q400 aircraft can accommodate 78 passengers and is widely accepted as the best short-haul plane globally. SpiceJet is the only airline in India having a fleet of Q400 aircrafts.

Apart from regular passenger, the airline hopes to become a popular choice for tourist planning to travel to Dehradun and surrounding tourist spots.

“Dehradun is a popular spot in North India and with our affordable services, we hope people will prefer to fly with SpiceJet. With this launch, we are further expanding our footprint in the northern region,” Chief Executive Officer of SpiceJet Neil Mills said.

The airline has embarked on fast expansion plan and in its effort to reach more hinterland of northern part SpiceJet is connecting more Tier II and Tier III cities on its network. SpiceJet aims to be best networked airline in North India as well as at national level. With its expanded network, SpiceJet will be the only low-cost airline to have such a strong presence across the country.

SpiceJet is deploying these aircrafts in Delhi to serve the adjoining areas by offering affordable air connectivity. New Delhi is its 3rd base after Hyderabad and Chennai for its new Bombardier Q400 NextGen turboprop fleet.

In its first phase of the North India expansion, the airline connects to the cities of Amritsar, Dehradun, Chandigarh, Indore and Srinagar to Delhi among the existing cities along with more cities to be added on its network in coming day.

Schedule

Flt. Destination Departure Arrival Frequency First flight

SG2333 Delhi-Dehradun 10:15 11:00 Daily July 19 2012

SG2334 Dehradun-Delhi 11:20 12:30 Daily July 19 2012

SG2223 Delhi-Dehradun 15:00 16:00 Daily July 19 2012

SG2224 Dehradun-Delhi 16:20 17:15 Daily July 19 2012

16 families shift to safe areas due to heavy rain
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, July 19
Sixteen families have left their houses and shifted to safe areas of Bhulchaura village in Munsiyari subdivision of the district after two houses developed cracks and seven others were damaged partially as Munsiyari and Dharchula subdivisions witnessed 21 mm and 114 mm of rainfall last night, district administration sources said here today.

According to the sources, due to heavy rain in the Bansbagar area of Munsiyari, local rivulet Bhujgarh changed its way suddenly and damaged the houses of Shiv Singh, Heera Devi, Heera Ballave, Jeewan Ram, Ramesh Chandra, Prayag Dutt and Ganga Devi. “We have ordered SDM, Munsiyari, Anil Shukla to visit the spot and file a report after accessing the damage,” said CMS Bisht, District Magistrate (DM), Pithoragarh.

According to reports, the road to Munsiyari has been closed due to rain at Giniband, Laghekla and Ratapani on the Thal side and at Seraghat on the Jauljibi side. “As roads to Munsiyari were closed due to the rain during the last 24 hours, we are trying to clear it by this evening by deploying six dozers, two at Giniband and four at Seraghat,” said the DM.

The sources said four livestock of a farmer, Mangal Giri, were swept away by swift current of the rivulet, which also led to heavy landslides near the village. “Besides Mawani Dawani and Bansbagar, the rain also damaged houses at Alam Darma, Kota and Pandraha Pala villages, affecting more than 40 families,” said the source.

District disaster management officer RS Rana said the border villages of Dharchula subdivision situated at the basins of the Gori and the Ramganga rivers had witnessed 114 mm of rainfall last night creating a scare among the villagers living in the Tawaghat and Mangti areas. These areas had been experiencing landslides every year. “Areas of Dharchula subdivision do not suffer any damage though a detailed investigation is on,” said Rana.

“We have alerted our disaster management team based at Ogla, near Didihat, after the rains caused concern and the villages were declared sensitive from the landslide point of view,” said the disaster management officer.

Presidential Poll
69 MLAs cast vote
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 19
A total of 69 out of 70 MLAs and one MP voted in the presidential poll that started on a brisk note with BJP MLA BS Chufal arriving first and casting his ballot. Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna also caste his vote as MP at the Uttarakhand Assembly.

Most of the MLAs, including the independent members and the MLA from parties supporting the Bahuguna government, managed to cast their votes in the forenoon session. The last MLA to cast his vote was Umesh Sharma of the Congress.

"As the value of vote of an MP is higher than that of an MLA, the Chief Minister preferred to caste his vote as an MP," said Yashpal Arya.

Bahuguna will be resigning from his seat in the coming days. The Election Commission had put a single table for casting of votes and only the ballot paper for MP vote was of different colour.

Unlike the election of the Speaker where the independent candidates had carried active bargaining in exchange of their vote, the Chief Minister did not have to encounter anxious moment, except that he had a heated argument with Congress MLA Ganesh Godiyal who had gone to the Chief Minister with some work prior to casting his vote.

In the backdrop of the presidential poll, political manoeuvring for the Tehri constituency to be vacated by Chief Minister in the coming days was also under way with Congress leaders belonging to the Harish Rawat camp holding confabulations with Harish Rawat and AICC secretary Anees Ahmed who was also in the town.

With the name of Sudha Bahuguna, wife of Vijay Bahuguna, as the probable candidate for the Tehri parliamentary constituency doing the rounds, according to sources the restive Harish Rawat camp is keen to nominate its own candidate and former MLA Kishore Upadhyaya.

Meanwhile the ballots would be transported to New Delhi tomorrow amid tight security.

ABVP wants arrest of suspects involved in assault case
Delegation led by former Speaker meets DGP
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 19
A delegation led by former Speaker Harbans Kapoor, MLA, Mussoorie, Ganesh Joshi, MLA, Sahaspur, Sahdev Singh Pundir, and members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) met Director General of Police (DGP), Vijay Raghav Pant, today to demand the arrest of the accused members of the National Students’ Union of India for assaulting students belonging the Akhi Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Wednesday evening.

Enraged BJP leaders questioned the DGP as to why Section 307, attempt to murder, was removed from the FIR registered against the accused, given to which they got bail and attacked ABVP members. They also asked why the police did not arrest the perpetrators even when it had seen them with their vehicles laced with arms. Why were some of the anti-social elements among boys who had been booked for heinous crimes in the past not arrested, the DGP was questioned. The DGP expressed ignorance about all the issues and assured that he would go into the depth of these and take swift action.

The leaders were still not satisfied and demanded summoning of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in their presence. SSP, Neeru Garg, and DIG, Sanjay Gunjiyal, were called on the spot. The leaders gave one-day time to the DGP to show results in this regard. Otherwise, they said, they would start an agitation throughout the city. Later, the DGP held a meeting with the SSP and the DIG on this issue.

ABVP leaders expressed displeasure over the series of attacks mounted by NSUI members on ABVP students for the last three days. They said the police was patronising the perpetrators of the crime.

The members also apprised the DGP that when the ABVP members were let off from jail, an hour earlier than NSUI members on Wednesday evening, the NSUI students were waiting at the gate itself to attack them.

When they could not do so, they stopped vehicles of ABVP members near the IMA, Panditwari, and attacked them with guns and knives. ABVP leaders urged the DGP to arrest the culprits immediately, or else, they warned, they would begin a statewide protest.

Those in the ABVP delegation included Ramakant Srivastav, Ashish Bahuguna, Madhusudan Joshi, Anshul Chawla and Jitender Rawat.

Parleys are going on both at the ABVP and NSUI level for a rapprochement. Circle Officer, Dalanwala, Manikant Mishra, said Section 307 was removed after the investigation when it was found that none was injured to the extent that this section needed to be imposed on NSUI members.

But after yesterday’s assault where an ABVP member was stabbed with a knife, a case was registered against 8 members of the NSUI under Sections 147,148,149 (ruckus by more than 5), 323 (beating),307 (attempt to murer), 352 (assault) and 427 (damage).

Their names are Sachin Rana, Rohit Chauhan, Raman Bisht, Mohit Rawat, Rahul Negi, Parkash Giri, Nirankar Singh and Vikram. Surprisingly, the police has not been able to arrest a single one till this evening.

Follow flag code on I-Day, says Chief Secy
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 19
The Independence Day will be celebrated in all district headquarters in the traditional way.

Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna will hoist the national flag at Parade Ground, Dehradun. After reviewing the parade of contingents from the Army, Para Military Force, Prantiya Rakshak Dal, Home Guard, NCC Cadets and Scouts and Guides, the Chief Minister will interact with freedom fighters.

A kavi sammelan and mushaira will also be organised on night of August 14 in Dehradun and tree-plantation programmes will also be organised in all districts.

Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain chaired a meeting of officials to discuss issues pertaining to the celebration of Independence Day at Secretariat here today. He directed the officials to inform all educational institutions about the flag code.

He asked them to ensure that the small flags carried by students be disposed of with respect. He said the national flag would be hoisted at all departments at sharp 8.30 am and state-level programme organised at Parade Ground at 9.30 am onwards.

Three 'Munnabhais' sent to jail
Kingpin on the run
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 19
While the kingpin of a 'Munnabhai MBBS' type of racket in Uttarakhand is still on the run, the police yesterday sent to jail three alleged imposters who had taken admission in Haldwani Medical College on the basis of Uttarakhand pre-medical entrance test 2011-2012.

According to the Haldwani college authorities, on the complaint by the Principal of Haldwani Medical College, cases of forgery were registered against 17 'Munnabhais' after the forensic laboratory in Lucknow confirmed that the thumb prints of those who had sat for the entrance examination did not match with those who took admission.

While the police had managed to arrest the three, non-bailable warrants have been issued against the two students and search is on for the remaining 12.

Meanwhile, in a similar case pertaining to Srinagar Medical College, the forensic report from the Lucknow laboratory has confirmed that the thumb prints of 16 students who had taken admission to the college did not match with those who had written the 2011-2012 pre-medical test. The college has cancelled the admission of these students and a complaint has been lodged with the police. The police has started a hunt for the students.

Police teams formed to avert student clashes
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 19
SSP Neeru Garg held a marathon meeting throughout the day today on the issue of preparing a strategy to deal with violent clashes between members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the National Students Union of India (NSUI) studying in DAV College.

The city police is doing its best to deal with the recent situation arising out of student clashes, which has become a challenge for it.

In the wake of the violent attack by NSUI members on ABVP activists last evening, a PAC team has been deployed at DAV College. Police teams have been constituted for the areas where notorious elements belonging of these groups live, to keep an eye on them. Inspector, Vikasnagar, Raghuvir Singh Atwal, who is considered an efficient police officer, has been tasked to look into the matter. Another good officer MS Negi, station officer, Kotwali, too has been deputed to tackle the issue of student clashes. Two circle officers Navnit Bhullar and Manikant Mishra are working on the case which is also being supervised by SP, City, Jaswant Singh.

Garg said the records of criminals, who are said to be involved in the clashes, are being probed. Raids are being conducted to ascertain the whereabouts of those named in the FIR.

Theft in customs official’s house
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 19
Gold jewellery was stolen from the house of Murari Lal Shah, customs excise inspector, at Rajeshwari Puram in Nehru Colony, in the day time today.

Shah told the police that the theft was committed when his family, his wife and children, had gone to his brother’s house in Patel Nagar in the morning. He had also gone for work. When his family returned in the afternoon, they saw the almirah and other luggage in the house ransacked. The jewellery was found missing.

State keen to host 2014 National Games
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 19
Keen to acquire the hosting rights of the National Games, the Uttarakhand Sports Department has begun receiving the much-needed attention towards upgradation and upkeep of sporting infrastructure in the state.

What has been niggling the Sports Department is Uttarakhand’s inability to get the sporting rights for hosting the National Games when both Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh created at the same time as Uttarakhand has managed to do so.

While Jharkhand hosted the 34th National Games in 2011, Chhattisgarh has been allotted the 36th National Games to be held in 2013, Uttarakhand is keen to get the rights in 2014.

“To prepare grounds for our claim, we have to first spruce up our existing infrastructure in Dehradun,” said Dinesh Aggarwal, Sports Minister.

Work has begun on building a boundary wall of the sprawling parade ground that has become the refuge for parking vehicles and pick-pockets.

The Sports Department is keen to demarcate the areas so that the ground could be used for sports as well as holding exhibitions and trade fairs.

“We will be putting up gates and a boundary wall will be erected so that it is used only by sports persons. The area for holding fairs and cultural activities will be demarcated separately,” said Aggarwal, Uttarakhand Sports Minister.

He said Pavilion Ground too was being given a facelift on which the work was already started by the previous government. The demarcation of boundaries and plantation of trees at the Suddhowala had also begun.

“As the upkeep of the sporting facilities are under the Sports Department, we have to devise ways to make a sound financial arrangement so that the earnings go towards the regular maintenance of these facilties. I have already begun talks with the State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCUL) for contributing towards the cost of gates and boundary around Parade Ground. Besides, we are also in talks with the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for the creation of a corpus for supporting the sports activity in the state,” said Aggarwal.

Besides, the Sports Department is keen to maintain the ice-skating rink and contemplating handing it over to a private party under the public-private partnership.

“It is a huge facility with the state-of-the-art equipment that has to be kept going,” said Aggarwal.

Ways to raise revenue of sick transport units discussed
Ajay Ramola

Mussoorie, July 19
Around 20 member-states of the standing committee of the Association of State Road Transport Undertakings (ASRTU) gathered at a hotel here to discuss ways to revive the loss-making transport units on behalf of the state transport undertakings.

The issue of finalising the rates and contracts for the spare parts and other components used by the state transport undertakings was also discussed in details here.

The event was inaugurated by state Transport Minister Surendar Rakesh by lighting the ceremonial lamp. In his address, Rakesh commended the efforts of the ASRTU for ensuring the quality check over the supply of spares and other parts used by the state transport undertaking units around the country.

He said he had suggested the state government to convert the service provided by the state transport into essential services instead of treating it as commercial activity as most of the buses run by the transport corporation were catering to villagers, especially in the hill district of the state. Rakesh stated that he also met the Chief Minister and apprised him of the present condition of the state transport which incurs loss of Rs 25 crore annually and demanded to provide financial support in order to run the corporation effectively.

While speaking in context of the inter-state taxation issue, Rakesh advised the members of the standing committee that they should resolve the issue of taxing passengers using the state transport even while passing through states falling on their way to the national capital. “Every citizen has the right to visit the national capital but the states are charging extra amount from them in the name of road tax which should not be done,” said Rakesh.

Later speaking to mediapersons, Rakesh said the state transport corporation was also planning to introduce e-ticketing service and the project would see the light of day within three months.

He also stated that a demand for augmenting the state transport service by introducing around 300-400 new buses in the state had also been made to the Chief Minister who has constituted a sub-committee that will oversee the feasibility of the project.

The minister also gave an assurance that he would look into the demand of running the state transport buses from Mussoorie to Haridwar and Rishikesh after consultation with the officials from the department.

State Transport secretary Umakant Panwar said the meeting of the standing committee deliberated on several issues and finalisation of rate contracts on the behalf of member state road transport undertakings (STUs) for the supply of genuine auto spares figured prominently. He further said the members also laid stress on adopting systematic and well established procedure while inviting tenders from reputed auto component manufacturers.

The ASRTU is the apex body of all state road transport undertakings (STUs) in the country. It is a non-profitable association working under the administrative supervision of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. At present, 57 STUs are the members of this apex body and about 1.20 lac heavy duty passenger transport vehicles are being operated by these member STUs.

The association also undertakes various other activities such as liaisoning between various transport related undertakings, departments and Ministries of Central and State Governments and coordinating the activities of various similar undertakings for development of the public transport system. At present, the ASRTU is also undertaking the third party technical inspection (safety checking) of CNG vehicles on the behalf of the Transport Department.

The senor officials from the state transport department of 20 states were present on the occasion.

‘Grow fruit trees in forests to check monkey menace’
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 19
Director General, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dr VK Bahuguna has suggested to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) of all states in the country to spread seeds of fruit trees on forest floors near villages and suburban areas to check money menace.

In a letter written to all PCCF, Bahuguna said, “After analysing the situation it is felt that besides the people feeding monkeys on roadsides and in villages, the major factor responsible for the rising human-monkey conflicts is the gradual reduction in number of fruit bearing trees in the areas adjoining forests. It has been observed that where ever fruit bearing trees are available near villages and suburban areas, the monkey menace is considerably less.”

Bahuguna said, “The present season is of ripening of mango and other fruits and hence it is worth trying to collect the seeds of these seasonal fruits so that they could be spread on the forest floor near areas afflicted by monkey menace. This will ultimately enrich the forest biodiversity which will further help provide food for the wildlife. This operation can be undertaken at bare minimum expenses. We should also plant more fruit-bearing forestry species in the afforestation programme,” he stressed in his letter.

Ticket cabin at Tehri razed on SDM’s order
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, July 19
The differences between members of the Mussoorie Taxi Association and the Jaunpur Jeep Owners Association widen when the former began opposing illegal construction of a temporary ticket counter at the Tehri bus stand today.

The members of both associations entered into a verbal confrontation that nearly led to exchange of blows. However, they were pacified by the police and administration officials. The local administration led by SDM Ramjee Saran controlled the situation and directed the officials to dismantle the illegally constructed ticket cabin.

Taxi owners association president Hukum Singh Rawat said the Jeep Owners Association was constructing a ticket counter without any permission to which his association was in opposition. He said the members of his organisation were also not provided any ticket counter space by the motor operators in other towns, including the Tehri district, so they would also respond in the same manner and oppose any erection of such counter by any organisation outside the town.

Senior politicians from both Mussoorie and Janpur such as Tara Chand Aswal and Jot Singh Bisht were seen campaigning in their constituency that was not liked by the members of the Mussoorie Taxi Association.

Jaunpur Jeep Owner president Vijay Bhandari said jeeps from the Tehri bus stand were catering to poor villagers in the Garhwal region at a nominal cost and considering the monsoon they had erected a small shed but the Mussoorie Taxi Association was creating a ruckus on the petty issue.

Bhandari said if they were not provided a small ticketing counter by the administration, then they would be forced to take action.

SDM, Mussoorie, Ram Jee Saran said as the dispute between two associations had created tension, he had ordered to dismantle illegally constructed ticket counter immediately. Many members of the Jeep Owner Association termed the exercise one-sided as no other illegal construction was touched in the area.

The Mussoorie Taxi Associations members left only after the illegally erected ticket counter was dismantled.

Sundarwala Boys beat Thakurpur Football Club 5-0
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 19
Sundarwala Boys beat Thakurpur Football Club 5-0 in the inaugural match of 3rd ONGC BS Negi Memorial Football tournament at Ambedkar Stadium, Dehradun, today.

In a one-sided affair, Balbir scored the first goal for Sundarwala Boys in the 25th minute of the match. Subham scored the second goal in the 35th minute. Shashank, Govind and Abhishek scored third, fourth and fifth goals for Sundarwala Boys in the 43rd, 45th and 60th minutes of the match, respectively.

Earlier, inaugurating the tournament, chief guest, Uttarakhand Sports Minister Dinesh Agarwal reiterated his commitment towards promotion of sports activites in the state. He said he was undertaking all possible efforts to ensure necessary sports infrastructure comes up in the state.

ONGC’s Executive Director Tauqir Hussain and other senior ONGC officials were present on the occasion. The tournament is being held in memory of the Late BS Negi, former Chairman of ONGC.