Nandadevi Raj Jat Yatra details to be available on Internet 
Dehradun, August 23
Nandadev4i Raj Jat Yatra details are all set to be available on the Internet with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna slated to inaugurate the first comprehensive digital database map of Nandadevi Raj Jat Yatra in Dehradun on August 30.

Haridwar, August 23
People of the city faced inconvenience today as the strike by banking employees continued for the second day.

Money transaction, cheque clearances, fund transfers and other banking work got affected.

According to bank officials, an estimated 100 crore transaction has got affected due to the strike.

Huge rush was witnessed at ATMs in and around the city. By the afternoon, most of the ATMs in residential areas got empty.

Banking employees are vying for the non-implementation of the Khandelwal committee report, stopping of outsourcing to private sector of non-core sectors and against the provisions of banking law.

District coordinator of the United Forums of Bank Raj Kumar said banking employees had to go on a strike owing to neglect of their long-pending demands by the government.

He said, “Instead of taking a serious note our demands,, the government is taking measures that are affecting their morale.”

KR Nautiyal, office bearer of the union, said more than Rs 100 crore worth financial transaction had got affected in the district owing to the two-day strike.

Mussoorie, August 23
The local administration in association with the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) that has been drawing flak for not initiating action against the people with high approach finally put its act together and carried out a demolition drive at the Avalon resort near Gun Hill in Mussoorie today.

The MDDA officials demolished two rooms that were conducted illegally near Gun Hill at Avalon resort. The officials from the MDDA resort were not present at the moment as they had leased the property out to another firm of repute.

The whole drive continued for at least 2 hours. The walls of the room and roof were demolished completely in the presence of policemen.

The Supreme Court monitoring committee had also raised the issue of illegal constructions at the resort and had taken a strict view on the non-compliance of its recommendations to demolish the area constructed illegally, sources from the MDDA said.

The SDM, Mussoorie, Ramjee Saran, speaking on the occasion said that the resort was served notice earlier for stopping the illegal construction but it had failed to do so. Hence, the demolition exercise was undertaken. He further said that the law will takes its own course and no illegal construction will be tolerated in the town, and action will be initiated without considering the status of the perpetrators.

Shyam Mohan Sharma, Assistant Engineer, MDDA, speaking to the media said that the whole issue was lingering from 2007-08 when the notices were served on the owners of the property. The demolition exercise was undertaken considering all facts. He further said cases of other illegal constructions are also under scrutiny of the MDDA, and if the owners do not comply, a similar exercise will be undertaken in the near future. He also said that they were aware of other illegal constructions in the town and action will be intiated against them soon.

Dehradun, August 23
Nandadev4i Raj Jat Yatra details are all set to be available on the Internet with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna slated to inaugurate the first comprehensive digital database map of Nandadevi Raj Jat Yatra in Dehradun on August 30.

One of the richest cultural events of the hills, Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra takes place once every 12 years and is now to take place in 2013. Initially, it was scheduled for 2012, but due to the presence of 'malmass,' which prohibits staging of any auspicious act, the yatra was shifted to 2012. The yatra holds cultural, religious and historic importance for Uttarakhand.

Uttarakhand Space Application Centre (USAC), that has prepared the website, has touched every aspect of the yatra before compiling all relevant information in detail and putting it on the website.

The 18-day-long yatra covers a distance of 280 km starting from Nauti village in Karanprayag uptil Roopkund in Chamoli district. Apart from religious significance of the yatra, the entire trek route details have been included in the maps of the website. The maps that are based on Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) also identify halting points and the facilities available at these points for tourists.

USAC Director MM Kimothi said all the Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra details will be available on a web portal along with photos, videos and all information from August 30. He said the website will help raise awareness about the rich cultural heritage of Uttarakhand, particularly about Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra.

Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra is also matter of interest aborad and a large number of people from across the world are interested in participating in the event but often get discouraged as they fail to get all necessary details about the yatra, particularly from a tourist point of view. But now with a comprehensive website, they will be just a click away from all the important and interesting information about Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra.

The highlight of Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra is a sheep with four horns that leads the yatra from Nauti village close to Karnprayag and finally goes up to the Roopkund, where after the havan is performed, the sheep is set freed after being offered food. Historically, the royal families of Garhwal and Kumaon have been conducting the Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra to please their royal goddesses for prosperity and well-being of the kingdom.

Haridwar, August 23
As the agitation by Matra Sadan founder Swami Shivanand entered the 19th day, a delegation of district administrative officials visited the ashram.

Led by ADM Anand Shrivastava, and other members comprising SDM Uttam Singh Chauhan, circle officer, police, Ajay Singh and Kankhal SHO Manoj Chand Joshi met Shivan and spent an hour at Matra Sadan, urging the saint to give up his agitation.

Swami Shivanand, who has carried out many such agitations for social causes in the past too, declined to give up his agitation unless the government acceded to his demand.

Shirvastava though accepted Shivanand's Kumbh land expansion and conservation demand, saying that they had forwarded a letter to the state government in this regard.

Meanwhile, administrative officials tried to put forth the point that any action on CBI officials investigating the Swami Nigmanand case could only be taken by the Central Government. Adding that the CBI didn't come under their purview, Swami Shivanand made it categorically clear that unless his all demands were met, he would not give up his agitation.

Meanwhile, in support of Matra Sadan chief Swami Shivanand, various organisations have extended their support to his movement calling him a true Ganga activist.

A silent march was carried out by people in support of the Matra Sadan saint's agitation.

From Shiv Murti Chowk till Har-ki-Pauri, the supporters carried posters, banners and pamphlets showing the contribution of the Matra Sadan saints for social causes and the apathy of the district administration, the state government and even the Central Government regarding the hunger strike of Swami Shivanand.

Dr Vijay Verma, convener of the march, said, “It's high time the Central Government takes step to look into the demands made out by Swami Shivanand.” The demands pertained to dismissing of top CBI officers who were trying to help the conspirators who killed Ganga activist Swami Nigmanand by poisoning him.

Dehradun, August 23
Residents of Salawala 
have intensified their protest over the encroachment of land on the confluence of four drains in the area.

President of Mohalla Samiti, Salawala, Rajkumar Jaiswal said the encroachers not only occupied land but also diverted the direction of huge drain, where water from four other drains would merge together.

The makeshift bridge which connected Salwala with the Hathibadkala area crumbled when the diverted water flow put pressure on it.

He said the residents had been raising this issue for the past six months but the matter had been caught up in red tape of bureaucracy and nothing was done about it. “Even the Mussoorie-Dehradun Development Authority too gave no objection certificate to the encroachers.

When the residents raised the objections, the construction was stopped but by then the damage was done with regard to drain.

Now the residents of both the area, Salawala and Hathibadkala, were paying the price for having lost the bridge. The residents are demanding the removal of the encroachment from the area.

Dehradun, August 23
Members of the Uttaranchal Sanyukt Sarv Samaj Sangthan burnt the effigy of the UKD-P and the UKD-D for opposing the High Court’s decision to consider those who had been living in the state before November 9, 2000, as original inhabitants of the state.

President of the organisation Kunwar Japinder Singh said the UKD was dividing the state between those living in the hills and plains. “Members of the UKD want those who had been living in the state before 1950 to be considered as the original inhabitants. If this concept is

accepted, then millions of people who settled in the state after 1950 would become outsiders and their rights pertaining to residence, studies or employment too would get severely affected. Hence, the organisation oppose the UKD’s stand on this issue,” he said.

He said his organisation was in favour of uniting the people of the hills and plains together as citizens of one single state.

Mussoorie, August 23
Twelve artists from around the country gathered in Mussoorie to showcase their paintings through exhibition titled Suramya with a message to save environment today.

The painting exhibition was organised by the Snehil, an organisation on mission for the preservation and conservation of the cultural heritage of India, and Wisdom, a society of creative arts, New Delhi.

The artists, Dr Mamta Singh, working in MKP College, Dehradun, Col Karamjit Singh, Vigyan Vrat, PK Chabra, Dr Rita Tiwari, Onkar Singh, Dilip Kumar Sharma, Dr DS Bisht and Dr Aketa Bisht displayed their work on the canvas which was much appreciated by the audience.

The chief guest on the occasion Avdhesh Chaudhry, president, Uttrakhand Voleyball Association, commending the work by the artists, said it was indeed great that the artists had gathered to make people aware about the environment through their work on the canvas.

The coordinator of the programme Dr Mata Singh said paintings and the art form had remained a mirror of the society since time immemorial and the artists had depicted their moods and emotions aptly through their paintings.

The exhibition will continue till August 25 and is open for all art lovers.

Mussoorie, August 23
Salma Ansari, wife of Vice President Hamid Ansari paid a visit to her old friend at her house situated near Lal Tibba in Landour Cantonment Board area at Mussoorie today.

Speaking to mediapersons during her brief visit and saddened at the disaster that has occurred in the state, especially Uttarkashi, she said, “The disaster is a great loss to the country. It is imperative that the governments in the state and the Centre both work together in addressing the grievances of the people and providing immediate relief to the affected persons. “

Salma Ansari stayed at the house of her old friend, former Defence Secretary Sujata Chauhan, for a while. Salma Ansari was mesmerised by the beauty of the hill town and said that the pleasant weather here was an attraction for one and all.

Pleased at the re-election of Hamid Ansari for the post of Vice President, she said that it was indeed a great feeling that her husband had been provided one more opportunity to serve the country and wasSalma Ansari sure that her husband would be able to maintain the dignity befitting the post.

However, unhappy with the condition of the roads in the town, she was of the view that the government should address the problem on a priority basis.

Mussoorie, August 23
Reshma Shah, a folk singer from the Jaunpur-Rawain region of Tehri Garhwal district, was honoured for receiving the Uttarakhand Lok Kalakar Samman at a simple function held at the press club of Mussoorie today.

Reshma was given the award at a programme held at Chakrata on August 20 for promoting the culture of the state through her melodious voice. She is also a recipient of the National Dalit Sahitya Samman, which was conferred upon her in December last year.

Born in 1996 at Pab village of the Jaunpur block in Tehri Garhwal district, Reshma began her journey in the creative world through her first Garhwali album “Chatkara” in 1996. She has sung more than 3,000 songs in Garhwali and Jaunsari dialects till now.

Her songs are an amalgamation of the traditional culture prevalent in the area. She is also a pioneer in raising awareness about traditional ornaments worn by village women of the area such as nathuli (nose ring) through her lyrics.

Reshma said her endevour was to keep the local tradition alive through her songs. She added the award was an honour that she would cherish lifelong. Pradeep Bhandari, Bijendar Panwar, Jitendar Panwar and others commended her efforts in promoting the culture of the region. 

Dehradun, August 23
Representing Uttarakhand, Prem Kumar, a para badminton player, won bronze and silver medals in the National Para Badminton Championship 2012 held in Bangalore on August 20 and yesterday.

Playing in the singles event, Prem won the bronze medal while in the doubles event he bagged the silver medal.

An elated Prem told The Tribune that his win in Bangalore would help him bag a place in the Asian Para Badminton Championships to be held in South Korea this year. “The competition was very tough and the exposure would prove useful for me as I was pitted against the top para players of the country,” he said.

Dehradun, August 23
In the 11th Om Prakash Memorial Football Tournament in Dehradun, a total of two quarterfinal matches were played today.

In the first match, Kendriya Vidhyalaya Upper Camp beat Shri Guru Ram Rai School 2-0. Aman and Resham scored the goals of Kendriya Vidhyalaya Upper Camp.

In the second match, Kendriya Vidyalaya Indian Military Academy beat Moravian 2-0. For Kendriya Vidhyalaya IMA, Brijesh scored the first goal while Rohit scored the second goal.