43 pc cast vote for Tehri bypoll
Vikasnagar records maximum turnout of 52.43%, Ghansali lowest of 29.88%
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 10
A total of 43 per cent votes were cast in the byelection to the Tehri Lok Sabha seat where Saket Bahuguna, Congress nominee and Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna’s son, is pitted against the BJP’s nominee Raj Lakshmi Shah, daughter in- law of eight-time MP from Tehri, the late Manvendra Shah of the erstwhile ruling dynasty of Tehri.

In the 2009 general elections, the polling percentage for the Tehri parliamentary seat stood at 50 per cent and in the 2007 byelection for the Tehri Lok Sabha seat it was 61 per cent.

In 2012, the maximum voter turnout at 52.43 per cent was registered in the Vikasnagar Assembly segment and the minimum voter turnout at Ghansali, 29.88 per cent, all falling in the Dehradun district.

In the Purola (SC) assembly segment of Uttarkashi district, the total polling percentage was 45 per cent, in Yamnotri 42 per cent and in Gangotri 45 per cent. The total percentage for Uttarkashi district was 44 per cent.

In the Chakrata (ST) Assembly segment of Dehradun district, the total number of polled votes was 5.08 per cent, in Vikasnagar 52.43 per cent, Sahaspur 48.50 per cent, Raipur 44.11 per cent, Rajpur Road (SC) 39 per cent, Dehradun Cantt 40.08 per cent and Mussoorie 43.15 per cent. A total of 45.29 per cent polling took place in Dehradun district.

In the Ghansali (SC) Assembly segment of Tehri Garhwal district, the total percentage of votes polled were 29.8 per cent, in Pratapnagar 36.61 per cent, in Tehri 33.87 per cent and in Dhanolti 45.44 per cent.

The total number of votes caste in Tehri Garhwal district were 36.19 per cent.

Over 4,58,531 voters came out to vote till 4pm. Taking the percentage to 38.66 percentage for the Tehri Parliamentary seat. The voting percentage in the last hour jumped to around 5 percentage point.

There is an electorate of 11,86,037, out of which 6,22,014 are male and 3,31,124 are female voters in the Tehri Parliamentary seat. This bypoll was necessitated with the resignation of Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna who was elected twice in 2007 and then in 2009.

In the morning, voting in most of the polling booths in the state started on a low key note, gaining momentum midway. There were reports of voters boycotting in at least three polling booths at Gorcha, Kawa Khera and Kandoi Bharam in Chakrata district and one polling booth in Vikasnagar district to protest against some local grievance.

Later, polling officials intervened asking them to exercise their franchise but they refused and the boycott continued.

The Chief Electoral Office also refuted claims about some EVMs developing malfunction in some booths in Mussoorie. “No malfunction in EVMs had come to light and the polling went off peacefully,” said Radha Raturi, Chief Electoral Officer (Uttarakhand).

Elaborate polling arrangements were made for the conduct of peaceful polling in the state. The Tehri parliamentary seat witnessed a multi-cornered contest with a total of 14 candidates in the fray. During the 2009 general election, a total of 18 candidates were in the fray for the Tehri Lok Sabha seat.

U’khand Janmanch thanks people for low turnout
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 10
The Uttarakhand Janmanch has expressed gratitude to the voters for ensuring a very low polling percentage in the Tehri parliamentary bypoll. The Janmanch had launched a campaign for the boycott of the bypoll.

In a statement issued today, Uttarakhand Janmanch general secretary Rajan Todariya said the voters of the Tehri parliamentary constituency had rejected both Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress and low poll percentage evidently revealed the fact.

He said Pratapnagar, Ghansali and Tehri Assembly seats falling in the Tehri Parliamentary constituency witnessed less than 30 percentage polling. He said Ghansali witnessed very low turnout.

He said even in Dehradun, despite lots of efforts from the sitting Congress legislator, poll percentage could just reach 41 per cent in the Raipur Assembly seat.

Even in Rajpur Road assembly, voters did not show any enthusiasm.

Todariya pointed out that both national parties, the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, had used a large amount of money to influence the voters but failed in their efforts.

He said the majority of voters had already made their mind to boycott the poll.

Todariya also asserted that voters had also been forced to take to voting in a number of villages of the constituency.

“People of the Tehri Parliamentary constituency need to be congratulated for the low turnout and following the call of boycott given by the Uttarakhand Janmanch”, Rajan Todariya, general secretary, of the Uttarakhand Janmanch, observed.

BJP, Cong blamed for poor percentage
Tribune News Service

Dehradun October 10
All regional parties as well as Left parties and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has blamed the BJP and the Congress for low voter turnout in the polling for Tehri Lok Sabha bypoll today.

State secretary, Communist Party of India, Samar Bhandari, said: “The low voter turnout signalled the political downfall and a negative anguish of people towards the national parties. This election was more based on personal attacks and the repetition of false promises made by the Congress and the BJP before public. The issues of public grievances were not addressed at all.”

BSP state president Meghraj Jaraware said the public had lost enthusiasm for election. “People feel disoriented in the absence of a third front. The BSP too was not fighting election. Public may help the Congress register a win because it had no option. Unless and until a third front takes shape in the state, people will remain sad for election and political parties.”

General Secretary, Shanti Bisht, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (P), was of the opinion that the real voters or educated lot were no longer venturing out of their homes for voting and those who were settled in the state from outside cast their ballots.

He accused the BJP and the Congress for skillfully cashing in on these votes at the booth level. He said this election would surely add more vote percentage to the UKD’s kitty and added that if the Congress won, then they would stir a campaign to make people realize of their mistake of forgetting about inflation and corruption.

Spokesperson of the Uttarakhand Raksha Morcha PC Thapliyal said this election would prove a deciding factor for the URM and help it cement its position among voters.

“We did not have cadre and national leaders or celebrities to campaign for us but despite that, we have done very well. This election will prove to be a milestone for us,” he said.

Move to unify UKD factions fails to take off
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 10
The Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Ekta) has given a clarion call for the unification of all factions of the party. However, its first attempt at unification seems to be getting off the mark. Senior UKD leader Lalit Bisht has said that they would not put up with former minister Diwakar Bhatt or dictatorial president of the UKD (P) Trivender Singh Panwar if they opposed them at any stage.

President of the UKD (J) BD Raturi, who lent support to the unification move, disagreed with Bisht’s statement. He said all attempts at unification would prove void unless the leaders of all factions did not join hands. “I do not agree with what Bisht has said about Trivender Singh Panwar or Diwakar Bhatt. Despite their differences, these leaders have to come on a platform to strengthen the party so that it could emerge as the third alternative in the state.”

Raturi advocated an alliance with another regional party, Uttarakhand Raksha Morcha.

Another leader NK Gusain was acerbic when he said the selfless activists of the UKD were not going to forgive those who were responsible for the present dismal condition of the party. His assertion too hinted that bitterness in the hearts of disgruntled members was not easy to be expunged in this over zeal for unification.

Hailstorm ruins crops in Kumaon
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, October 10
The matured crops of paddy and pulses were damaged as hailstorm lashed various districts of the Kumaon region on Tuesday bringing mercury down in the towns situated on the lower heights of the Himalayas in this part.

“The hailstorm accompanied by snowfall on the hills of Munsiyari brought the temperature of Munsiyari town down to 8 degree Celsius on Tuesday. The peaks of Panchchuli, Kalamuni Rajrambha and Nanda Devi also received snowfall,” said Devendra Singh, a hotelier at Munsiyari.

According to the information received from Almora district, the hailstorm, which lashed the areas of Ranikhet, Someshwar, Chaukhutia Dania and Bairati, damaged the standing crops of paddy and pulses.

“The green grass, which had been cut to convert into hay, has also been damaged by the hailstorm followed by rain which covered the fields with water,” said Bhuwan Singh Khati, a farmer in the Someswar area of Almora district.

The people of Bageshwar town felt the dawn of winter season as the chilling wind started blowing in the town after rain and hailstorm which was followed by snowfall in the high Himalayas peaks of Pindari area of Kapkot subdivision of the district.

Agriculture land is fast shrinking, says Mahasabha
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 10
The Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Mahasabha has sought immediate redress of long-standing concerns of farmers of the state.

In a statement issued here today, state vice-president of the mahasabha Indresh Maikhuri said agriculture land was fast shrinking due to anti-farmer policies of the Uttarakhand Government. He added wild animals were rampantly destroying crops, forcing the farmers to abandon agriculture in hill areas.

Makhuri said arrangements to keep wild animals away from agriculture fields were needed urgently. He suggested measures to improve the earnings of farmers and said they should be allowed to undertake commercial plantation of trees. He also favoured compulsory implementation of the land consolidation system in hills.

He said shrinking agriculture land was the major reason behind increasing migration from hill areas of the state. Maikhuri added the successive state governments had failed to come up with policies and programmes to help farmers.

He demanded that barren land in villages be handed over to panchayats.

Kumaon hoteliers upbeat as tourists from Bengal arrive
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, October 10
Hoteliers and other tourism-related businessmen in Nainital, Champawat, Pithoragarh and Munsiyari towns of the Kumaon region are elated at the prospects of good business after a dull season during the monsoon, as tourists from West Bengal have started arriving there.

“The tourists from Bengal are the backbone of our business, as they come in groups to view Himalayan peaks, which remain clear and visible during October and November,” said Dinesh Gururani, an official of the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN).

The hoteliers and other people engaged in tourism-related businessmen expect to do good business during October and November and they have made special preparations to welcome the culture and local cuisine loving tourists from Bengal who throng these hill stations around Durga Puja. “We are witnessing a comparative increase in online booking by tourists from Bengal this year and expect a large number of them to visit various districts of the region during the festival season,” said Deepak Rawat, Managing director of KMVN in Nainital.

“Places of religious significance and natural beauty in the Tanakpur, Champawat, Pithoragarh and Munsiyari areas of the region are attracting tourists from Bengal these days. These places include Mayawati Ashram in Champawat district established by Swami Vivekananda some 100 years ago, Panchchuli peaks in Munsiyari and the Binsar bird sanctuary in Almora,” said Rawat.

He said considering the interest of the tourists in these places the Nigam had provided lodging facilities at Tanakpur, Champawat, Pithoragarh and Munsiyari towns.

25 RIMC cadets scale Nagtibba Top in 12 hours
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 10
A group of 25 cadets of Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), headed by Sanjay Kumar and Havildar Santosh Kumar, scaled Nagtibba Top.

The cadets left for Nagtibba on September 26 camping between Aunter and Tiba village. This area is surrounded by dense deodar trees and forests. Next morning, they started their trek through Aunter village.

The route was an arduous and tiring one as the cadets had to trek through steep and narrow routes. Also, there was no water source and it proved to be one of the most challenging aspects of the trek. After seeing the Nag temple which is considered sacred by villagers, the cadets started for the final push towards Nagtibba Top.

The cadets found the view at Nagtibba Top amazing and enthralling. The total distance covered was 27 km and the RIMC cadets completed it in 12 hours. The very same evening, they interacted with local people and observed village life.

The buildings were constructed in ‘Thivari’ architectural form. The cadets also gifted two chairs and a table from the RIMC side to a primary school.

On back to the college, Col Pankaj K Kumaria, Commandant, RIMC, praised the cadets for their endeavours and told them to be always in high spirits.

‘Andher Nagri Chaupat Raja’ staged
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 10
The RIMC drama club, in collaboration with Udan and Lok Kala Avum Sanskriti Nishphadan Kendra, Srinagar, and Garhwal director Babita Ananth, showcased a comedy, ‘Andher Nagri Chaupat Raja’.

The performance by the cadets held the audience spellbound. Col Pankaj K Kumaria, Commandant, RIMC, was the chief guest on the occasion.

He motivated the cadets to keep working hard and excelling in different fields. The event was coordinated by CS Vishwakarma, Vice-Principal, RIMC, and PN Naik.

Max institute launches memory clinic
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 10
On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, Max Institute of Neurosciences, Dehradun (MIND), launched a memory clinic, especially for the age group of 60 years and above, at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Dehradun.

The memory clinic provided memory tests free of cost for the purpose of assessment along with complimentary consultation by senior mental health professionals today.

The patients were entitled to various discounts and benefits. The clinic also offered the “Senior+ Card” which would entitle patients to additional benefits.

The memory clinic would be operational every Friday from 2pm to 5 pm and was headed by Prof (Dr.) A.K. Singh, Director, MIND, and people would be able to avail certain benefits.

The patients would be attended by senior doctors, who are known in the field for the expertise, such as Dr Linthoi Akoijam, consultant clinical psychologist, and Dr Manish Tomar, consultant psychiatrist.

The launch was followed by an interactive session for principals, teachers, counsellors, nurses and medical officers of various schools. This session, titled “School Mental Health - An Insight”, was a discussion on School Mental Health and issues related to emotional well-being of schoolchildren.

The celebrations for World Mental Health Day started with a symposium on “Understanding Consciousness” which was held on October 6, 2012.

The speakers included eminent psychiatrist, neurosurgeon, radiologist, spiritual leaders and professors from the field of anthropology. The celebrations will continue at Max Super-Speciality Hospital, Dehradun, till October 14 which will see a painting competition for schoolchildren titled “Power of Mind”.

This competition will be attended by Dr Aziz Qureshi, Governor of Uttarakhand, and veteran actor and theatre personality Victor Banerjee.

Commenting on the launch of the clinic, Dr A.K. Singh, Director, MIND, and senior consultant and head, neurosurgery, said, “The idea behind the launch of the memory clinic is to provide early diagnosis, information dissemination, initiation and monitoring of treatment along with providing education of diseases such as the Alzheimer’s disease.

World Mental Health Day is growing in significance due to the fast-paced lives people lead at present which lead to a great deal of physical and emotional problems. It is essential to increase awareness regarding these problems to ensure the quality of life.”

Two killed in accident, 5 hurt
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, October 10
Two persons were killed and five others sustained injuries when the utility vehicle they were travelling in fell into a deep gorge at Badri Gad near Nainbagh in the Thatyur block of Tehri Garhwal today.

The accident took place when the driver of the ill-fated vehicle, which was on its way to Khairar village from Nainbagh, lost control over it.

The deceased have identified as Bhattu Ram (66) and Savita (21). The injured have been admitted to Doon Hospital.

Welham Girls take on Doon Girls in final
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 10
Welham Girls will take on Doon Girls in the final of the 5th Tek Chand Memorial under-12 Girls Basketball Tournament here tomorrow.

In the first semifinal played today, Doon Girls beat St Mary’s 19-8. Vibhuti scored the highest six points for Doon Girls. In the second semifinal, Welham Girls defeated Shigally Hill International Academy 24-10.

For Welham Girls, Shreya and Chavi scored the highest 6 points each.