34 dengue cases come to light in Haridwar district
Roorkee most affected
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, October 21
Thirty four cases of dengue have been reported from Haridwar district so far and health operations are being carried out to stop the spread of the disease. The situation is worse in Roorkee from where majority of cases have been reported.

The Health Department has started health checkup camp owing to more than hundred suspected cases of dengue in the district.

State Health Minister Surendra Singh Negi today inspected sensitive colonies and a large number of suspected patients have been admitted in various hospitals of the district.

Talking to TNS, Negi confirmed that out of 710 samples taken, 103 were tested prima facie as suspected dengue cases.

A health drive has been launched in the district with mobile health squads conducting checkups on people suffering from fever and symptoms related to dengue. Also, dengue control measures are being taken in the district.

ASHA health workers have also been pitched in to make sure every area in the district is well prepared to face the situation and make sure the disease is controlled. Regular fogging is also being done in the district.

There is no specialist physician available in the Haridwar district hospital. On this, Chief Medical Officer Dr Deepa Sharma said as medical treatment of dengue was not complicated and regular doctors were monitoring patients.

“We are working to check the spread of dengue. No laxity will be tolerated and Haridwar CMO has been directed to report me round the clock of the dengue situation in Haridwar.

No death due dengue has been reported so far in the state. Medical treatment is being given to the dengue patients at civic health camps. All measures necessary are being taken satisfactorily,” said Negi.

Cabinet nod to Diwali bonus, 7 pc DA
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 21
The Uttarakhand government today accepted the recommendations of the Justice (retd) Irshad Hussain Committee report that has called for striking down the ex-cadre arrangement. It also approved the ban, sale and stocking of gutka and tobacco products that would become effective from January 1, 2013.

At a Cabinet meeting held today after the completion of the Tehri parliamentary byelection, the government decided to accept the Justice (retd) Irshad Hussain recommendations.

The government constituted the commission after the state employees demanding quashing of quota in promotions objected to the creation of ex-cadre posts that was found to be against the High Court and Supreme Court ruling.

While briefing mediapersons today, Chief Secretary Alok Jain also announced that the ban on gutka and tobacco products would become effective from January 1, 2013.

Beside, the government also announced the running of 16 Community Health Centres (CHC) in the state on public-private partnership (PP mode). The decision has been taken to tide over the manpower crunch.

In Dehradun district the CHCs located in Sahiya (Chakrata) and Raipur (Dehradun) would be run on PPP mode.

The government also announced doing away of 20 per cent entertainment tax levied on river rafting activities in the state.

Among other important decisions the government also announced allocation of Rs 25 crore to be given to the Uttarkhand Transport Corporation for buying new buses and starting attractive voluntary retirement plans for the employees of the coproration.

It approved the re-examination of the stone crusher policy, approval for budget manual-2012, Diwali bonus for government employees in the grade pay of Rs 4800 and 7 per cent DA for government employees from July 2012 onwards.

Modernising police govt's priority: Bahuguna
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 21
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna today said the state government was fully prepared to meet the challenges linked to terrorism and Naxalism.

Addressing police personnel on the occasion of Police Commemoration Day after paying homage to police martyrs at the Police Lines, Dehradun, Vijay Bahuguna said it was the priority of his government to modernise the police force. He said the police personnel of Uttarakhand had made supreme sacrifices en-course of their duty.

Bahuguna said the state government was committed to the welfare of family members of the martyr police personnel. He also announced providing Rs 2 crore each for the Uttarakhand Police Welfare Fund and the Uttarakhand Police Sports Fund.

The Chief Minister also held that efforts were being undertaken to curb the rising crime graph. He also appealed to the public to be cautious towards suspicious activities and immediately inform the matter to the police. He also released a Uttarakhand Police Department’s souvenir on the occasion.

Uttarakhand Director General of Police Satyavrat Bansal referred to the history of Police Commemoration Day.

He said it was on this day in 1959 that 10 brave CRPF personnel fought Chinese on the front and attained the martyrdom.

Cabinet Minister Dinesh Agarwal and Harish Durgapal and former Speaker Harbans Kapoor apart from senior police officers of the state were present on the occasion.

Govt finds it tough to speed up development: Tamta
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, October 21
The Congress-led state government is facing problems in keeping development works on the right track as development has suffered during the previous BJP government, said Pradeep Tamta, Almora MP.

He was addressing students and villagers at Dobans Intermediate College near the Nepal border in the district yesterday. Tamta, who reached here after travelling 40 km, including 3 km of tracking, said the area was also suffering as the BJP government did not accord preference to a vital road from Dobans village to Taleswar on the Nepal border. “Our government will ensure the construction of the road in the coming financial year as the Congress has a policy to focus on backwards areas,” said the MP.

He sanctioned grants for furniture and an additional room for the college. He assured the villagers that development works in the area would be started soon. The slow pace of work on the Mad Manley to Dobans road would be speeded up as the time frame assigned to it had already lapsed. He also felicitated college principal Dr Pitambar Awasthi for his work in dissuading village youths from intoxication.

Agitator on fast rushed to hospital by force
2 more protest against delay in road construction
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, October 21
Two more agitators sat on fast today after an agitator, who had been on a fast for the past six days, was forcibly admitted to hospital on the instructions of the district administration, which has sent its representative at the place at Berinag where the villagers are agitating to construct a 35- km road.

"The fasting agitator, Devidutt Pathak, whose condition has gone worsen as he had been on a fast till death for the past 6 days, was picked up from the place and admitted to a local hospital," said Anurag Arya, Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Berinag, who was sent by the district administration to appease the agitating villagers.

The villagers responded with two more agitators, who announced their fast unto death agitation and sat on the agitation immediately after the administration picked up the first agitator.

"The Sub-Divisional Magistrate and the Public Works Department Executive Engineer couldn't satisfy us, as they could give clear assurances from when the construction of the proposed road will be started," said BD Pathak, president of the Sangharsh Samiti made for the purpose by the villagers.

The agitation to construct a 35-km road from Haliadove in Berinag to Nachni in Munsiyari has been continue from October and turned into fast unto death after no representative of the administration visited the agitation place.

"We will continue our agitation till the construction of the road gets start," said the agitators.

The SDM, who reached the spot on the instruction of the district magistrate, Pithoragarh, said he had informed the agitators of the progress being made on the way to construct the road along with the PWD engineer.

"We have informed the villagers that documents related to forest land involved on this road have been sent to the forest office for clearance and other formalities are also being completed by the officers concerned," said the SDM. 

No fund crunch for cities: Kamal Nath
Ajay Ramola

Mussoorie, October 21
Union Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath said there was no dearth of funds for urban infrastructure development.

He was here yesterday to deliver a lecture to phase V probationers at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration.

Talking to mediapersons, he said the Central Government was committed to improving urban infrastructure and had ample resources for it, provided the state government, in association with the local bodies, send a detailed plan or project on timely basis.

He said if required, the budget for Uttarakhand under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission scheme would be increased in the second phase of the project.

Nath said he had been visiting the Doon valley since childhood and had special attachment with the place. Speaking about Mussoorie, he said it was an important tourist town of the country and any development proposal would be considered on a priority basis.

On the occasion, Planning and Sports Minister Dinesh Agarwal submitted a memorandum to Nath demanding hike in the Centre's share to the state under the JNUURM scheme from 80 per cent to 90 per cent.

He also sought funds for initiating projects such as drainage plant, spider tracks, shopping complexes and tram service in Rishikesh, Dehradun and Haridwar. He also demanded inter-state bus terminus for Haridwar under the JNNURM scheme.

UPP stages street play against shortage of LPG cylinders
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 21
The Uttarakhand Parivartan Party began its campaign against shortage of subsidised LPG cylinders, corruption and Foreign Direct Investment by holding a street play at akhan today.

Party spokesperson Rajiv Kothari said the party would intensify its protest campaign if the state government did not announce subsidised cylinders and 30 kg grain/rice per month to each family.

He said they would also hold a protest on October 27 to make public the reports given by various commissions in the state.

Janwadi mahila samiti members stage protest
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 21
Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Janwadi Mahila Samiti today held a demonstration at the office of Dehradun SSP Neeru Garg, seeking probe into the death of Ashwani, resident of Sangam Vihar here.

Leading the protest, Indu Naudiyal, state general secretary of the samiti, alleged that Ashwani, son of Uma Devi Maurya, had died due to police torture on October 15 in Dehradun. “A high-level probe must be done to bring out the truth,” she observed.

The demonstrators also submitted a memorandum to the SSP.

Face of the week
Reviving musical 'baithaks' in Dehradun his wish
Neena Sharma/TNS

Dehradun, October 21
Located in the greenest part of Dehradun, the charm of Gurukul Viram, the abode of classical vocalists Pandit Rajan Mishra and Sajan Mishra, has never failed in uplifting their spirits.

Pandit Rajnish Mishra, son of Pandit Rajan Mishra, is all set to revive the traditional musical ‘baithaiks’ in Dehradun, a part of the old Benarasi tradition. “The quietude at Gurukul will provide a perfect setting for our musical ‘baithaks’ to be held every month. Coming December, the audience will not only see the home-grown talent but will also witness the likes of Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia in December and dazzle the audience,” said Rajnish Mishra.

Since his debut in 1992 in Varanasi, music has been the fulcrum of his life but the desire to give back to the city has always remained at the back of his mind. “It has taken me 13 years to finally conceptualise musical activity that will be in sync with the city. The typical quietude of this place can only be broken by the sound of music. The connoisseurs of art and music will have something to look forward to,” stated Rajnish.

A classical musician in his own right, Rajnish began his musical journey as a tabla player and veered into classical singing only after he was implored by his grandfather. “While my elder brother was already into classical singing, I was more interested in tabla and was trained by Guru Kishan Maharaj. But after my grandfather insisted that I join my elder brother, I began learning bit by bit from him. In that sense, my elder brother is my guru and also my teammate. In the green-room, before the start of any performance, you will always see me seeking guidance from him,” he shared.

Despite the adulation and accolades coming his way, Rajnish says he has never forgotten the first lesson he received from his father about conducting oneself in public life. “My father always told us to remain humble and never take the love of audience for granted. His advice has kept us rooted to the ground,” he said.

The trademark humility of the Mishra family has helped them win friends even in the neighbouring Pakistan and gazal singer Ghulam Ali continues to be a family friend.

Ksatriya Chetna Manch performs Dasehra Pujan

Dehradun, October 21
The Ksatriya Chetna Manch performed Dasehra Pujan at its Nanurkhera Dehradun office today.

Traditional weapons were worshipped to mark the festival of Dasehra symbolizing the victory of good over evil. A havan was also performed for the betterment and peace for the society. President of the manch Mohan Singh Chauhan, who conducted the proceedings, greeted the people on the occasion. Manch general secretary Ravi Singh Negi said the worship of weapons was symbolic and were performed to keep the age-old traditions alive. He, however, also pointed out that for maintaining peace in the world, Gandhiji's weapon of non-violence was equally relevant and would remain effective forever. He said but the kshatriya community was committed to taking to arms to guard the nation’s frontiers.

Manch secretary Mahesh Rauthan said besides the office-bearer of the manch committee, community members from nearby villagers, also participated in the Dasehra Pujan. —TNS

Students spread green message
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, October 21
Schoolchildren, under the aegis of the Prithvi Vandana Green Theatre, staged a skit to generate awareness about conserving the environment.

Students from 15 schools across the district participated in this presentation, which dwelled upon varied topics related to the environment such as harmful effects of logging, air and water pollution, global warming, greenhouse emission and change in the weather pattern in the recent years due to rapid urbanisation. The students held the audience spellbound with their presentation.

Joint Magistrate Sonika Rana, who was the chief guest on the occasion, lauded the efforts of the students.

Students of St Anne's School also presented a skit showcasing changes that had taken place on the earth from 1970 till 2012. Among other participating schools were Kasturba Gandhi Awasiya Vidyalaya, Delhi Public School, DR Kala School and Doon Public School.

Three held with leopard's skin, bear bile
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, October 21
The Haldwani police today arrested two youths, identified as Madan Singh and Chatur Singh, and seized a leopard skin from their possession.

Circle officer, Haldwani, Pramendra Singh Dobhal said their third accomplice was still at large.

In another incident, the Bageswar police today arrested a youth from the Bharari market and seized 50 gram of bear bile from his procession.

During interrogation, the accused, Lokpal Singh, said he had killed a Himalayan bear a month ago in the forest near his village and extracted the bile from its body," said sub-inspector Om Prakash.

The market value of the bear bile has been estimated at Rs 1.5 lakh.

Uttar Pradesh, Haryana lift titles

Rudrapur, October 21
Uttar Pradesh have lifted the title in the boys’ section while Haryana won the crown in the girls’ category during the second Hockey India Sub-Junior National Championship (North Zone) here.

While UP defeated Punjab 5-4 win via penalty shoot-out in the nerve-wrecking boys final, Haryana thrashed UP 6-0 in the title-clash of the girls competition.

The boys final between UP and Punjab was decided via shoot-out as both the teams were locked at 1-1 after the end of regulation 70 minutes and 15 minutes of extra time.

UP scored the opening goal in the fourth minute through Amit Kumar Singh but Punjab drew parity in the 26th minute with a field goal from Shamsher Singh.

Haryana finished third in the boys competition after beating Uttarakhand 4-1 in the classification match.

Haryana scored through Gurmeet Singh (13th minute), Sumit (19th minute), Vikas (54th minute) and Govind S Rawat (65th minute), while Jonny Prasad (66th minute) score the lone goal for Uttarakhand.

Meanwhile, in the summit clash of the girls competition, Haryana had an easy outing against UP.

Haryana scored through Arshiya Singh (18th and 34th minute), Khushboo (21st minute), Mohini (31st minute), Siddhi Singh (44th minute) and Shweta Singh (59th minute).

Punjab finished third after defeating Uttarakhand 5-0 in the play-off match.

Punjab scored through Lakshmi Devi (23rd, 41st and 53rd minute), Nitika Devi (28th minute) and Paramjeet Kaur (45th minute). — PTI