Mussoorie, September 18
A section of a building in a state of dilapidation caved in owing to overnight rains in Landour Bazaar in Mussoorie today.

Fortunately, the building was not inhabited by any person, otherwise, it would have resulted in fatal injuries.

The building owned by Praveen Panwar, a shopkeeper at Landour Bazaar, had also been identified by the Disaster Management and Mitigation Centre (DMMC), Dehradun, as in a state of dilapidation and requiring immediate attention.

According to Praveen Panwar, who resides adjacent to the affected building with his family, he was awakened early on Tuesday morning while it was raining heavily by a rumbling noise. When they came out, the family members found that the back portion of the building, which had been identified by the DMMC as in a state of dilapidation, collapsed, bringing down the two floors along with it.

Panwar further said that he summoned local administration officials but they failed to turn up to assess the situation.

He informed the media that the building had also been identified by the DMMC in the survey conducted a few years ago. But despite several reminders to the administration, he had not been granted permission to renovate the building as yet.

Panwar said that he feared that the building, which was overlooking the main road of Landour Bazaar, could cave in at any given moment if the rains continued in similar fashion for a few days more, resulting in large-scale loss of life.

It is worth mentioning that the DMMC in its report published last year had stated that of the surveyed buildings in Mussoorie, 615 showed high probability of grade 4 damage and grade 5 damage in the event of high seismic activity.

The DMMC had also suggested that the government should think on providing loans and other tax benefits to motivate the people to take up the initiative of getting their buildings renovated before it was too late.

The Supreme Court Monitoring Committee (SCMC), too, taking cognizance of several reports appearing in the media, had directed the authorities to take an appropriate decision after a survey of the buildings that were in the state of dilapidation, but the authorities, despite several surveys, were yet to grant permission for renovation or reconstruction of the buildings here.

The residents believe that if the administration does not wake up to the fact, then many more buildings could cave in similar fashion on the lines of the building owned by Praveen Panwar, especially in Landour Bazaar.

When contacted the officials at the local administration had no information about any collapse of the building. The SDM, Mussoorie, also failed to respond despite repeated attempts .

Haridwar, September 18
Opposition to the nod given by the Union government to over 51 per cent Foreign Direct Investment in the multi-brand retail sector continues. Various protests were held in the district by different political parties and social organisations here today.

The demand of going in for swadeshi goods was made, citing Mahatma Gandhi’s swadeshi agitation, and allowing of the FDI was termed as a pro-Capitalist move by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government.

In Bhoopatwala BJP activists burnt an effigy of the UPA government, terming the FDI move as anti- poor, which will leave small and medium traders and hawkers without work.

City unit secretary Vikas Tiwari said that while the Congress government seemed quite excited over allowing foreign companies giving them concessions, it was quite ironic that the government seemed disinterested in giving subsidy on LPG cylinders to common consumers.

The Uttarakhand Kranti Dal Progressive, too, lashed out at the Congress over FDI investment, calling for an immediate roll back of the decision. In Roorkee a protest was held by Vishwa Hindu Parishad district unit where instant roll back of the FDI was demanded by the activists.

VHP activists burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance, terming FDI investment as a warning sign for local traders, hawkers, vendors, who will be left with no work when foreign multinational retail chains arrived in India.

District chief of VHP Man Singh said that the UPA government decision seemed to have no concern whatsoever for the medium and small-scale traders.

Sub general secretary Arvind Gautam, advocate, said that the Congress did had no regard for Mahatma Gandhi, who always voiced for swadeshi goods and even had started the Swadeshi Movement. 

Dehradun, September 18
National Students of Union India (NSUI) members alleging irregularities in the elections today created commotion in DAV (PG) College forcing the authorities to close the institution for three more days.

NSUI workers have heated arguments with Dr Devendra Bhasin, Principal,  DAV (PG) College, in Dehradun on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Vinod Pundir

A few days after the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad's Mahesh Jaguri along with the Pattu group's Nitin Chauhan were sworn in as the Students Union's president and general secretary, the National Students of Union members assembled in the college early this morning and resorted to vandalism inside the Principal's office. After raising slogans against the Principal, the NSUI members led by their state president Sandeep Kumar staged a dharna at the college. DAV (PG) College Principal Dr Devendra Bhasin, however, maintained that the college election committee had conducted the Students' Union polls with transparency and accountability.

Referring to the closure of the college for three days, Dr Devendra Bhasin said the grievance committee had requested him that they need peace in the college in order to conduct the probe and thus college had been closed for three more days beginning from today.

Meanwhile, the grievance committee for the DAV (PG) College Students' Union elections under the supervision of Additional District Magistrate Archana Geherwar started the probe. All documents linked to the elections were handed over to the committee by the election committee. The grievance committee also opened the strong room where the ballot papers had been kept. The grievance committee is expected to give its findings shortly. 

Up in Arms

A few days after the ABVP’s Mahesh Jaguri and the Pattu group's Nitin Chauhan were sworn in as the Students Union's president and general secretary, respectively, NSUI members assembled in the college on Tuesday morning and resorted to vandalism inside the Principal's office.

Haridwar,September 18
With Ganesh Chaturthi falling tomorrow, the pilgrim city is all decked up to celebrate the 10-day-long Ganesh Utsav with pomp and gaiety.

Ganesh Chaturthi, which is the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the son of Lord Shiva and deity Parvati,will extend up to 10 days as part of Ganesh Utsav.

Already the markets of city are abuzz with Ganesh Utsav activities with Lord Ganesha idols, statues being made and displayed for sales.

Rajasthan-based artistes are working round the clock to make Ganesha idols, which are much in demand during Ganesh Chaturthi and Ganesh Utsav.

Lassi Ram of Rajasthan, who has been making Ganesh Plaster of Paris statues for the past 15 years in Haridwar, said that they waited for Ganesh Chaturthi eagerly as the demand and sales went up in this festival tenure.

His whole family, including three daughters and wife, help in making sculptures, which were on display at Bhagat Singh Chowk,BHEL, Sector-1 stretch.

He said that this year the sales were not so high as competition had grown with Rajasthan-based artistes and from other states also coming to Haridwar to sell Ganesha, Lord Shiva, deity Parvati, deity Laxmi and deity Saraswati idols. Shikha Ohri, student, said that these beautiful sculptures of Lord Ganesha were an attraction and he will be visiting one of the Ganesh pandals where prayers are held in front of a huge Ganesha idol followed by beautiful depiction of religious tales by theatre artistes.

Dehradun, September 18
In keeping with the agreement reached between members of the Uttarakhand Karamchari Shikshak Sangharsh Morcha and the Uttarakhand government, the employees today returned to work. According to the agreement between the government and the office-bearers of the morcha, the employees have decided to defer the strike till October 15 after the government assured them that the issue of ex-cadre would be examined.

However, the morcha has launched a relay sit-in from today at the Parade Ground.

The employees who participated in the sit-in include Chandermohan Singh Negi, DS Rawat and others.

The convener of the morcha SS Valdiya and Mahesh Dobriyal also visited the dharna site to lend support.

Tomorrow, employees from the Transport Department, Social Welfare and other departments will participate in the sit-in at the Parade Ground. — TNS

Dehradun, September 18
The Doon Traders Association observed a two-hour bandh here today in protest against the increasing incidents of theft in the city and the imposition of tax on commercial properties. The rally, which began from Gandhi Park, culminated at the District Magistrate’s office where the traders submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister to the City Magistrate.

The bandh evoked a lukewarm response in the city. President of the association Vipin Nagliya said, “The traders are feeling insecure due to increasing incidents of theft. Their shops are being looted openly and the police has not been able to crack most of the cases.”

About the commercial tax, he said, “Until now, the tax levied on commercial properties has been nominal but now the Dehradun Municipal Corporation and other local bodies are ready to impose an annual commercial tax based on the circle rates. The owner of the commercial properties where tenants are paying peanuts as monthly rent will also have to shell out tax as per the circle rate. Godowns situated 50 to 100 metres from the main road will also be covered under the circle rate. The traders will suffer a severe blow due to the commercial tax and hence we oppose it.” 

Dehradun, September 18
The entire city is terrorised by incidents of theft, which have not spared traders, residents of posh localities, ordinary colonies and even temples. Gold chain-snatching incidents are happening

almost every day. Now theft cases are on the rise. In the face of 60 theft cases over a period of last two months, cracking merely six cases is not comforting either. The big sensational theft cases such as at Sai Temple, digging of a tunnel underneath a shop on Saharnpur Road and a burglary at Vikasnagar had swiftly been solved on a priority basis. But other cases have remained unsolved. Traders’ call for city bandh today over the spiralling theft cases indicate to that.

Senior Superintendent of Police Neeru Garg denied the situation was alarming with regard to theft cases, saying the police was also solving cases along side.

Inspector General Ram Singh Meena too expressed satisfaction with the

functioning of the city police. He said: “A trend emerges in crime

scenario. Earlier, dacoity was rampant. The criminals would abduct for extortion. It is now auto thefts and thefts or burglaries at residential or commercial properties.” He, however, made it clear that the police could not sit complacent and had to put its act together to control thefts. He said the police personnel of each police station were required to keep the documents regarding hardened criminals or gangs, who had been active in the past in their area handy. Besides that, the police should also keep a tab on their present activities. These are mandatory instructions for every police station but they did not comply to these strictly.

It was quite recently that Deputy Inspector General, Dehradun Range,

Sanjay Gunjiyal, too instructed each police station to send a dossier with regard to the antecedents and background of hardcore criminals or gangs under their areas to him. The information would then be published in a booklet form and given to each police station so that they can refer to it to solve crime cases .

City police is also taking novel steps to control thefts by involving people in their endeavours. This is aimed at encouraging the participation of people and instilling confidence and a sense of security in them. Circle Office, Mussorie, began the exercise of holding a dialogue with residents of Shivlok Colony and Doon Vihar for their suggestions on checking thefts. Those leaving their houses shut for a long time can now inform the police to remain vigilant about the security of their premises. Those who are going to withdraw money more than Rs 1 lakh have been advised to seek police protection before going to bank. The house owners who had been negligent about getting verification of their tenants done have been warned of action by the police. The public has also been urged to cooperate with the police in informing it about any suspected individuals or groups seen in their localities. 

Dehradun, September 18
The Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, has won the Bakshi Cup 2012 held at the academy here from September 16 to 18. The IMA and the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune, participated in the event.

The IMA and NDA teams competed in football, volleyball and cross country competitions. The IMA emerged the winner in the three events. Lieut Gen Ashok Singh, Commandant, NDA, gave away the trophy to the IMA at a function held here today. The championship was decided on the basis of the overall results. The genesis of the Bakshi Cup can be traced back to 1963.

Major Gen Ranbir Bakshi, the then Commandant of the NDA (1963-66), instituted the Bakshi Cup to promote the spirit of sportsmanship, esprit-de-corps and a healthy interaction between the IMA and the NDA.