Morcha threatens indefinite stir
Dehradun, August 29
After the Cabinet Sub-Committee on reservation, which met today, failed to arrive at any decision, the Uttarakhand Adhikari-Karamchari-Shikshak Sangharsh Morcha has served an ultimatum on the government of launching an indefinite stir from September 6.

Wynberg Allen School lift football title
Mussoorie, August 29
Wynberg Allen School defeated Oak Grove School B-team 2-0 in the final of the 8th Alok Ranjan Memorial Inter-school Football Tournament today.

Mussoorie, August 29
The Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA), finally taking cognizance of the report published in The Tribune under the headline, “Disaster waiting to happen”, has agreed in principle to relax the guidelines, thus paving the way for the reconstruction of more than 600 dilapidated buildings situated at Landour Bazaar in Mussoorie.

MDDA Vice-Chairman Meenakshi Sundaram along with the senior town planner SK Pant visited Landour Bazaar to take the stock of the situation. He also surveyed the buildings such as the Kohinoor building and found these in a dilapidated state. He later met the local residents and discussed the ways for the reconstruction of the buildings here.

President of a social organisation, “Friends of Uttarakhand, Vinod Thapliyal along with Municipal Council former president Manmohan Singh Mall, traders association president Rajat Agarwal and others met the MDDA Vice-Chairman and apprised him of the dangers due to the dilapidated condition of the buildings that could fall any time. They demanded the relaxation in the reconstruction norms as the area was under the earthquake-prone zone of Level V sites.

Meenakshi Sundaram informed the gathering that after the inspection of the area, the department was ready to relax the norms of height and setback for the reconstruction of the dilapidated buildings at Landour Bazaar as they were more than hundred years old.

He also said the final decision would be taken at the meeting with the Principal Secretary soon in this regard. Meenakshi Sundaram, speaking on the issue of the parking and housing problem being faced by the residents in Mussoorie, said the MDDA would initiate action only when they were able to procure enough land bank for the purpose.

Senior town planner SK Pant also informed the gathering that he had submitted a report highlighting immediate reconstruction in Landour Bazaar as more than 600 buildings were in a bad state and required immediate action.

He also said the planning would be done in such a way that the width of the road was not affected as it was an important route for the Dhanaulti tourist destination. The members of the “Friends of Uttarakhand” organisation also demanded the reconstruction of the Clock Tower and reopening of the bus stand near Civil Hospital.

They also demanded the construction of parking at South Road and near Arya Samaj Mandir to ease the traffic congestion in Mussoorie.

The MDDA Vice-Chairman said the department would consider the proposals judiciously and then formulate a detailed plan on all matters.

The Tribune had highlighted the issue of dilapidated buildings extensively citing the Disaster Management and Mitigation Centre report in which it was clearly revealed that most of the buildings were vulnerable to even the mildest earthquake. Of the surveyed structures, the oldest building was constructed around 1836.

Dehradun, August 29
Officials from the office of the Sub Area Commander issued notices to 64 residents of Mithibedi village today to show their land-related documents to the department by September 5. The report prepared by

the SDM with regard to allocation of land given to the villagers under Family Planning Scheme today corroborated 32 persons whom the land was given in the village in 1997.

District Magistrate Ravinath Raman said the residents would be given the opportunity to be heard in the matter. The deadline of September 5 could be extended for a few days as well. He said the Army

would have all the right to take any legal action against the encroachers over it's land. The district administration would not meddle into that issue after the offenders were exposed.

He also objected to the contention given by those who are holding the land as to why the Army did not raise the issue of having it's land in the area for so many years. He said the land belonged to the Army. Even if it did not make any use of it, it did not give any right to others to encroach upon the land. There was an eerie silence in the village when Army officials came in the village to serve notices to the residents. Some of the them protested against the move as well. 

Mussoorie, August 29
Wynberg Allen School defeated Oak Grove School B-team 2-0 in the final of the 8th Alok Ranjan Memorial Inter-school Football Tournament today.

The final match was inaugurated by Sports Minister Dinesh Aggarwal, who was the chief guest on the occasion. In the final match today, the first goal was scored by Atwal from Wynberg in the third minute of the second half of the extra time. The second goal was scored by Karan Malhan in the last minute of the match.

Vishal Kumar of Oak Grove School was declared the best goalkeeper while the best player of the tournament prize was given to Karan Malhan of Wynberg. The chief guest gave away the trophy to the winning team. Principal, Oak Grove School, Sandip Trivedi said the aim of organising the tournament was to promote football.

Dehradun, August 29
As part of National Sports Day and birth anniversary of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand, the Uttarakhand Rural Youth Sports Board today honoured a number of sportspersons who have won medals in the national games.

Giving away the prizes, Sports Minister Dinesh Agarwal said his ministry would provide all support to the budding sports talent in Uttarakhand. He disclosed that Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna would provide Rs 11 lakh to Unmukt Chand, under-19 World Cup winning team skipper, who hails from Almora district of the state. He also disclosed that an international stadium would be constructed in Dehradun with the assistance of the ONGC.

Uttarakhand Sports Secretary Ajay Pradhyot said all efforts had been made to promote sports, particularly in the rural areas of the state. He said 75 per cent of the youth of the state resided in the rural areas.

The Sports Minister presented awards to 41 medal winners from Uttarakhand.

Dehradun, August 29
Parent of Rishabh Kshetri, a class X student of Kendriya Vidyalaya, FRI, who has been missing since August 3, met SSP Neeru Garg yesterday.

Rajesh Kumar, boy’s father, who is serving in the Army and is at present posted in Ladakh, said his son had left for school in the morning with his sister, who studies in the same school, but did not return home since then. They got no inkling about his whereabouts either.

He said his son was doing well in studies and did not have enmity with anyone. He had left for school like any other normal day and did not have tiff with anyone at home. The family members enquired about him from his school, friends and their relatives but got no information. The SSP directed the city Circle Officer to look into the case.