State to acquire more land for stadium at Haldwani

Dehradun, September 29
The state government today decided to acquire an additional 15.20 hectares of forest land to build a world-class stadium at Haldwani in Nainital district and asked the officials concerned to clear the bottlenecks in its acquisition on a priority basis.

Adjacent to the site where the stadium was to come up, this plot would be in addition to the 15.91 hectares of land already made available for the ambitious project, an official statement here said.

Haldwani MLA and Finance Minister Indira Hridayesh held a meeting with officials in this regard and asked nodal officer A K Mahajan to address the objections raised by the Union Ministry for Forest and Environment in clearing the land for the project, it said. She said Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna and all MPs from the state would take up the matter with the Centre and step up efforts to start the project at the earliest.

The first instalment of Rs 25 crore had been made available for the project and the Centre was likely to sanction Rs 50 crore more for it, she said.

Tata and Sahara groups had also been approached to seek their assistance for the project, she said.

Govt to popularise use of generic medicines
Procurement, prescription process to be computerised
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 29
In a bid to promote the use of generic medicines in Uttarakhand, the state Health Department is working over time to computerise the process of procurement, distribution and prescription of medicines early next year.

With no financial constraints coming in the way and the Central government ready to fund the proposal under National Rural Heath Mission (NRHM), the Health Department is on an overdrive to set pass the proposal as quickly as possible.

Computerisation of the system would allow for smooth and effective system and also fulfil the Central government’s demand to allow access of generic medicines through the public health system.

“Along with making the entire inventory of medicines online, the availability of medicines and the details of medicines prescribed at OPDs, too, will be available online. This will allow stricter regulations for medicines prescribed by doctors who have often been accused of prescribing brand names, instead of generic drugs and salt names. With the new system, they will have to prescribe medicines according to the list of essential drugs in district hospitals, Community Health Centres and Primary Health Centres, and the monthly prescription audit, too, will be carried to ensure compliance,” said Dr Ranvir Singh, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare.

Before the Health Department are models of Tamil Nadu and Kerala that have successfully overhauled the drug supply and distribution system by setting up Tamil Nadu Medicine Service Corporation Ltd and Kerala Medicine Service Corporation Ltd in these states.

“The National Informatics Centre (NIC) would prepare the software for ushering in transparency in the system. In the past the drug procurement had been plagued by accusation of corruption. Once the stock management and distribution is computerised, automatically the supply of medicines will improve. Above all, we will be greatly relived if the patients begin reporting improvement in the quality of medicines and also frequenting the PHCs in urban towns,” said Dr Ranvir Singh.

The state Health Department has already increased the list of generic medicines from 176 to 800, and shortly Doon Hospital would also have an additional list of medicines catering to the Neuro Department that would become functional in the coming days.

Uttarakhand Police beat Sports Hostel 2-1 in football league
Tribune News Service

A match in progress in the Dehradun District football league at Rangers’ College ground in Dehradun on Saturday. A Tribune photograph

Two teams clash in the 4th ONGC-Ram Bahadur Chettri Memorial Inter School Football Tournament being played at Ambedkar Stadium in Dehradun on Saturday. A Tribune photograph

Dehradun, September 29
Uttarakhand Police defeated Sports Hostel 2-1 in the Dehradun District Football League being played at Rangers ground here today. For Uttarakhand Police, Saurav and Veer Singh scored the two goals in the 45th and the 55th minute, respectively while Manoj scored the sole goal for Sports Hostel.

In the second match, Doon FC defeated Bajrang Club 3-1. Sidharth scored the first and the second goal in the 12 and 28 minute, respectively, while Prashant scored the third goal in the 58th minute of the match. Anuj scored the sole goal for Bajrang Club in the 36th minute of the match.

In the third match, Kasiga defeated Yankees Club 4-3. For Kasiga, Ankush scored the first goal in the 16 minute followed by Aditya, who scored the second and the third goal in the 23rd and the 68th minute of the match, respectively. Tenzing scored the fourth goal. For Yankees, Rohit, Subham and Gaurav scored the goals.

Sarvodaya will clash with KV Sanghatan while Cantt Blues will take on Khalanga Club tomorrow.

Doon Valley Public School enter final

Doon Valley Public School today entered the final of the 4th ONGC Ram Bahadur Chettri Memorial Football School-level Tournament being played at Ambedkar Stadium here.

In the semifinal match played today, the Doon school team beat KV, IMA, 4-3 in a tie-breaker after both sides failed to score at the end of stipulated time.

For Doon Valley Public School, Avtar, Harish, Vivek and Rohit scored goals whereas Surya, Aman and Dhananjaya scored for the KV, IMA, team.

In the other quarterfinal match, Shri Guru Ram Rai (SGRR), Vasant Vihar, defeated SGRR, Bindal, 1-0. Shankar scored the goal for SGRR, Vasant Vihar. The second semifinal match between SGRR, Vasant Vihar, and Army School, Clementown, will take place tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Akranta Club defeated Thakurpur Boys 3-0 in a match during the Lala Nemi Dass Memorial Football League being played at Survey Ground here today.

Asif Ali scored the first and second goals in the 20th and 28th minutes and Ravi scored the third goal in the 59th minute of the match.

In the second match, Balaji Boys beat Tapowan 2-1. Suraj and Nitin scored the goals in the 38th and 62nd minutes of the match while Nitin scored the sole goal for Tapowan in the 59th minute of the match.

Tension in village over animal skull found near temple
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 29
Banjarawala village on the outskirts of Dehradun city today witnessed tension after a skull of an animal was found near a temple. Tempers ran high among Hindu organisations, which alleged that the skull was that of a calf. This resulted in deployment of large-scale police personnel.

The incident came to light, when some people during morning hours today came across a skull of an animal near the Banjarawala temple. The villagers, who resented the act, gathered at the temple in large numbers. On getting the information, Dehradun SSP Neeru Garg and SP City Dilip Singh Kunwar, along with the force, rushed to the site of the incident. The agitated villages blocked traffic on Kargi Chowk, seeking prompt action against the culprits by the police, resulting in traffic snarls. The police, which assured action, had to ultimately use mild force to disperse the crowd.

Later in the day, a postmortem report could not confirm that the skull belonged to which species of animal. The veterinary office report also failed to identify the cause of the death but asserted that this could be an act of another predator.

However, the Police Department is now sending the skull to a forensic lab to further identify the species and has, meanwhile, registered a case against unidentified culprits.

On other hand, Gauri Maulekhi, member-secretary, People for Animals, Uttarakhand, has expressed serious concern over the brutal killing of an animal in Banjarawala. In a memorandum sent to the SSP, Dehradun, Neeru Garg, the PFA member-secretary said it was strange that the veterinary officer who conducted the postmortem could not identity the species. "It seems he deliberately concealed the findings and tried to delay justice by misleading the police," Maulekhi observed.

101th foundation day of gurdwara celebrated
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, September 29
The Guru Singh Sabha celebrated its 101 foundation day of the Landour Bazaar gurdwara and the 95th salana divas with fervour and gaiety in Mussoorie today. The devotees from the Sikh community gathered in a large number at the gurdwara at Landour Bazaar and offerd prayers. Nagar kirtans were also held on the occasion to mark the celebrations.

A ragi jatha headed by Bhai Gurmeet Singh and students of Guru Nanak Fifth Centenary School sang devotional songs in praise of the Gurus. Bhog of akhand path, shabad and kirtans were also held on the occasion.

Later a procession was taken out from the Landour Bazaar gurdwara till Library Bazaar in which band from Guru Nanak Fifth Centenary School and students from Central School for Tibetans displayed their talent. The children from the community also displayed their skills at gatka all along the road during the procession. President of the Guru Singh Sabha MPS Khurana said the celebrations marked the foundation day of the gurdwara at Landour Bazaar that began in a small room at Ganesh Hotel in 1912. He extended greetings to all community members on the occasion and prayed for harmony and peace. A langar was also organised.

Aarti, Shalini, Saifali win gold in athletics meet
Our Correspondent

A race in progress during the 12th regional athletics meet in Mussoorie.

Mussoorie, September 29
Aaarti and Shalini from Mussoorie Inter College and Shefali from Nirmala Inter College won gold medals in various events in the ongoing 12th regional athletics meet being organised at Survey ground today.

More than seven schools from around Mussoorie are participating in the three-day event that will conclude tomorrow.

On the second day, the athletes displayed their prowess in events such as mini high jump, long jump and various races.

Aarti, Shalini from Mussoorie Inter College were declared the winners in the high jump girls category. In the boys high jump, Kamal, Arvind from St. Lawrence and Shubhan Hasan from Ghanand Inter College were declared first, second and third, respectively.

In the 1,500-metre girls event, Shobha Rana, Sushmita Panwar from Snatan Dharm College and Pooja from Mussoorie Girls Inter College were declared first, second and third, respectively. In the sub-junior section, Babita from St. Lawrence was declared the winner, while in the senior division boys, Navraj from Ghanand Inter College was declared the winner in the 1,500 metres. While in the junior division Praveen from St. Lawrence was declared the winner.

DAV College lift basketball title
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 29
The two-day Inter-college Basketball Tournament at the Dolphin (PG) Institute of Biomedical and Natural Sciences, Dehradun, concluded here today. It was organised under the aegis of HNB Garhwal Central University.

Nine colleges affiliated to the university namely DAV (PG) College, Dehradun, Doon (PG) College Dehradun, KL DAV (PG) College, Roorkee, SGRR Institute, Dehradun, Pandit Lalit Mohan Sharma (PG) College, Rishikesh, DBS (PG) College, Dehradun, Birla Campus HNB GU, Srinagar, SRTS, Tehri, and Dolphin (PG) Institute, Dehradun, participated in the tournament. All matches were held under the supervision of Jitendra Tyagi and international basketball player Amit Rawat.

In the final match played today, DAV (PG) College, Dehradun, beat and Dolphin (PG) Institute 52-37. The team that will represent the university in the Inter-University Basketball Tournament was also finalised by NK Joshi, Sports Officer, Dolphin (PG) Institute, Jitendra Tyagi and Amit Rawat. The selected team comprises Vikas Kumar, Abhishek, Sunil Kumar, Deepak Bhati, Saunzothang, Rugunabe Solo, Abeizo, Rahul Dhyani, Zube, Ketan Pandey, Deshraj Negi and Neeraj.

Viral fever claims three lives in Almora
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, September 29
Two women and a minor girl died of viral fever in the Salt area of Almora district. According to the medical department, the viral infection has gripped a large number of villagers in the area.

According to villagers, the women died of the fever on Thursday while one-year-old Bhawna, daughter of Shikhar Kothari, a resident of Panyali village, died yesterday. “Sixty per cent of the villagers in Dadoli, Panyali and Punakot are in the grip of the viral fever. The department has so far remained insensitive to it,” said Pan Singh, gram pradhan of Punakot village, Salt sub-division of the district.

The gram pradhan said even after they informed the medical department about the viral fever, no team of doctors was sent to the villages. The department sent only an ANM to these areas. “The Health Department still does not agree that it is a viral fever, which has taken three lives in the area,” Pan Singh said.

Chief medical officer, Almora, Dr RS Shahi, said the medical teams were being sent to the area to distribute medicines to the affected persons after diagnosing disease.

KMVN workers deputed at high valley camps feel ignored
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, September 29
Workers of the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) deputed at various camps to manage the Kailash Mansarowar pilgrimage and Chotta Kailash trekking expeditions have resented that though they remain stationed at high Himalayan valleys for four months braving chilling cold, their problems are not being addressed by the nigam management.

The employees were felicitated by the KMVN Workers’ Union at the Dharchula base camp after their return from the high Himalayan camps. The Kailash Mansarowar pilgrimage and the Chotta Kailash expeditions run between June and September every year in high valleys of Pithoragarh district.

“While the nigam authorities expect best from us, it is not addressing our problems regarding pay and allowances,” said Dinesh Gururani, president of the KMVN Workers’ Union.

“We have resented the nigam policy of not facilitating the workers who run its flagship schemes, but to no avail,” said Chandra Singh Rathor, a camp in-charge who returned from a high valley camp at Gunji.

Activists want firm booked for leaving debris at construction site
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 29
Social activists said today that the leftover construction debris and trees at the site of a dam's construction in Uttarkashi had aggravated the situation arising out of cloudbursts and flooding of Asi Ganga and Bhagirathi in Uttarkashi last month.

Addressing the media, Suresh Bhai of Raksha Sutar said that the government should take action against the company building the Asi Ganga phase I and II dams in Uttarkashi. “They should be booked for negligence as they failed to remove the leftover debris collected due to blasting for building activity, and opened the dam gates very late. By then the quantity of silt had reached unimaginable proportions and created havoc,” he said. He also urged the government to look for the bodies of the unidentified Nepali workers who were said to have been working on the site.

CM Bahuguna’s chopper lands at wrong place

Dehradun, September 29
A chopper with Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on board today landed at a wrong place on a college ground in Uttarkashi district.

"The pilot mistook the Mori Inter-college ground for the venue where the Chief Minister was to address a public meeting and landed there," said Uttarkashi SP Rajiv Swarup. Attributing the faux pas to a "lack of coordination", he said the pilot soon realised his mistake and the chopper took off again immediately for the right venue located nearby.

The CM was on way to Dauni to address a public meeting in support of his son and Congress nominee for the Tehri bypoll Saket Bahuguna. — PTI

People will say goodbye to Cong in Tehri bypoll, says Ajay Bhatt
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 29
Leader of the Opposition in the Uttarakahnd Assembly Ajay Bhatt today said that the people were fed up with the 'anti-people policies' unleashed by the UPA government and were ready to say goodbye to the Congress in the Tehri byelection.

Addressing a press conference, Ajay Bhatt said he had been touring with BJP candidate Mala Raj Lakshmi Shah, and the overwhelming support to her campaigns would give an edge to the party. “A large number of women have been coming to her rallies and the support extended here would translate into votes,” said Bhatt.

He criticised the UPA government for announcing the cap on cylinders at a time when the prices of essential commodities were already skyrocketing. 

Governor mourns Brijesh Mishra's death

Dehradun, September 29
Governor Aziz Qureshi has expressed grief over the death of career diplomat and India’s first National Security Adviser Brijesh Mishra.

He prayed for the peace for the departed soul and strength for the family to bear the loss. The Governor had nominated Brijesh Mishra as convener of the search committee to decide on the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of Uttarakhand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya. However, Mishra had expressed his inability to work due to his poor health. — TNS

Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra

Pithoragah, September 29
A meeting chaired by the erstwhile heir of Kumaon royalty, KC Singh Baba, took place at Circuit House, Almora. Preparations in Almora for Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra to be held in the district next year were discussed.

“The Almora yatra is historic as it is held once in 12 years. We have discussed the plans for providing facilities to the pilgrims at the places of the main stay of this yatra at village Mala and Kot Bhramari Temple at Dangoli in Bageshwar district,” said Baba, also an MP from Nainital parliamentary constituency. — OC