No polythene in Bageshwar from April 1
Pithoragarh, March 21
The Bageshwar administration and the Nagar Palika have jointly decided to impose a ban on the use of polythene bags in the town from April 1. The ban on the instructions of the Supreme Court orders will be imposed on below 40 micron polythene bags, said a Nagar Palika source.

Colourful programme marks public information drive
Dehradun, March 21
The three-day Bharat Nirman Public Information Campaign in Someshwar block of Almora district concluded with colourful cultural programmes today. Sarv Siksha, mid-day meals and Right to Education were prominently covered in the programmes organised.

Woman, paramour get life term for murder
Pithoragarh, March 21
District and Sessions Judge, Pithoragarh, Vivek B Sharma, today sentenced a woman and her paramour to life imprisonment for killing her husband.

Dehradun, March 21
The Joint Director of the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board AK Singh today banned the wall rapid at Rishikesh for amateur rafters while keeping it open for profession rafters. However, he still kept room for negotiation saying that he would continue to hold meetings with rafters on the issue.

Ironically, he left the matter of differentiating between amateurs and professionals on the rafters themselves. This shows that the tourism department is not ready to take any responsibility in the matter and felt its job over after passing the diktat.

He said: "Rafters must understand that they are not taking people there to be killed but for enjoyment."

It will certainly not be feasible to leave this decision on rafters as they are driven by the thought of earning profit out of this activity and might not screen the tourists. Not happy with the announcement, former president of the Sahsik Paryatan Sangharsh Samiti Pankaj asked who would then guard the wall rapid to ensure that amateurs were not going there.

AK Singh said a seven-member committee was constituted to ponder over this subject. Out of them, six opposed rafting in the wall rapid. He said two eddies emerging over this rapid could engulf tourists, if they stumbled over it.

He said general rescuers or guides would not be able to carry out any rescue activity on this highly dangerous stretch and only trained guides could handle the situation.

He said the department was making an amendment to the rafting policy and add some more clauses regarding safety measures.

Dehradun, March 21
The exercise in the Tourism Department to close down the wall rapid in Rishikesh for tourists may backfire and affect the flow of tourists in this region. Owing to this, rafters of Rishikesh have joined hands and decided to oppose any decision made in this direction.

It was after the deaths of two tourists on March 15 and March 17 due to capsizing of boats on the wall rapid, Joint Director, Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, AK Singh had announced to close it down for tourists.

Secretary, Indian Association of Professional Rafting Outfitters, Manjul said they were concerned about the safety of the tourists because frequent accidents could send a wrong message outside.

He said they had constituted a crisis committee which would conduct a probe into these accidents and examine the shortcomings on the part of the operators.

He also blamed the laxity of the state government because of which obtaining licence for anybody to run rafting business had become easy. Those who had no prior experience are entering into this business and risking the lives of adventure lovers.

He stated, "People get licence for rafting like any other business. Though it has been made mandatory for owners to have guides but the registration of tourists are done by the owners themselves who do not check medical fitness of the tourists or other such vital information. This is the reason the tourists are seen dying of cardiac arrests or panic during the rafting."

Former president of the Sahsik Paryatan Sangharsh Samiti Deepak Bhatt said, "Around 180 persons have died in the Kalindi Khal track in the past two years but the state government did not close it for the tourists. So the Tourism Department should not be in a hurry to close the rapid but investigate the matter by technical experts. He said hundreds of rafting boats passed through the same rapid in the past so many years. On March 17 also, he said 156 boats traversed the same rapid but nothing happened to tourists. He justified the concerns of the rafters saying, "The adventure spots always involved risks. Foreign national Nicolas who died in an accident here had crossed several rapid in earlier as well."

Dehradun, March 21
The three-day Bharat Nirman Public Information Campaign in Someshwar block of Almora district concluded with colourful cultural programmes today. Sarv Siksha, mid-day meals and Right to Education were prominently covered in the programmes organised.

Addressing the concluding session of the campaign organised in the Someshwar stadium, Deputy Commissioner, Almora, Akshat Gupta, spoke in detail about the progress made towards implementation of the Right to Education in the district. He said that efforts were being made to admit to schools all targeted children under the Act, and Almora was far ahead in this respect. He said that it was being ensured to reserve 25 per cent seats in private schools for children belonging to poorer sections of society. He appealed to the people to come forward and take full benefits from the various welfare schemes being carried out by the government.

Sarv Siksha Abhiyan coordinator from Takula block Mahendra Singh Bora spoke about the Sarv Siksha and the mid-day meal schemes. Referring to Sarv Siksha Abhiyan, he said that the scheme provides for compulsory and free education to all children from 6 to 14. Besides, attention was being paid to provide quality education and significantly reduce the number of school dropouts.

SSB spokesperson Santosh Lal dwelt in detail on the contribution of his organisation in the defence of the country. A dog show held by the SSB at the closing session was the centre of attraction. The trained dogs of SSB demonstrated several amazing acts, including searching for ammunition and chasing a thief. In addition, arms and security related equipment were displayed by SSB in the stall put up in the exhibition section.

A Sarv Shiksha rally was taken out from Someshwar market to the campaign venue at Someshwar stadium. About 250 school children took part in the rally. Deputy Commissioner Akshat Gupta gave away prizes to the exhibition stalls adjudged as the best. The first prize was bagged by Bal Vikas Department stall, while Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan and Health and Family Welfare stalls received second and third prizes, respectively. A special prize was given to the SSB stall.

Pithoragarh, March 21
District and Sessions Judge, Pithoragarh, Vivek B Sharma, today sentenced a woman and her paramour to life imprisonment for killing her husband.

According to a government lawyer, besides this, both of them have also been punished for hiding the proofs.

The incident had taken place in Batkholi village near the town 17 months ago. A complaint in this regard was lodged by the sister of the deceased, in which she stated that Hema Devi and her paramour, Virendra Singh had murdered her brother Shamsher Singh.

The prosecution presented eight witnesses in the case.

Haridwar March 21
Uttarakhand Sanskrit University today organised the 4th convocation ceremony on the university campus here.

Governor Qureshi presided over the occasion.

He said Sanskrit was an ancient language and its literature was vast.

Appreciating the second official language status given to the Sanskrit language in the state, Qureshi urged the people of the state to use the language.

Expressing his views on his visits to hill districts during his one-year tenure as the state Governor, Qureshi said despite 13 years of separate statehood, development had not reached the hill areas. He said it was a major cause of concern.

“I acknowledge the hard struggle people of Uttarakhand suffered during the statehood agitation and the one they face in their daily lives owing to tough living conditions. We need to provide facilities to the people of hill districts and those residing in the far-flung areas of the state,” said Qureshi.

Vice Chancellor of Uttarakhand Sanskrit University Mahavir Aggarwal addressed the gathering in Sanskrit and urged the Governor to cooperate in making the university a centre of excellence and international research centre of Sanskrit.

Haridwar, March 21
Contrary to the general perception, the Sanskrit language is fast emerging as a viable career option with a large number of students getting enrolled in Sanskrit-based educational institutions.

In Haridwar alone, there are more than 10 educational institutions, including Uttarakhand Sanskrit University. Thousands of students have enrolled themselves in professional courses available in various institutions of the city.

Keeping this in mind, Uttarakhand Sanskrit University will soon be introducing MBA in the Sanskrit language, which will give a boost to professional education.

Principal of Bhagwan Das Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya Bhola Jha said an increase in the number of Sanskrit-based institutions, goodness of yoga, astrology, vastu, Sanskrit research scholars and demand for government teachers were some of the reasons for the surge in the popularity of the language.

Sanskrit scholar Beena Singh said Sanskrit had eventually grown as a viable career option.

“I want to pursue doctorate in future in Uttarakhand Sanskrit University. Sanskrit students are in no way less than their counterparts and given more opportunities and better facilities, we will excel in every field,” said Beena.

Dehradun, March 21
National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has moved the district court against the revised rate of land decreed by the then District Magistrate Ravinath Raman.

The land belongs to three villages, Lachiwala, Bhaniawala and Kanarwala, which is being acquired along with 14 other villages to build 40-km-four lane from Mohakampur to Haripur

Kalan. NHAI offical Pradeep Gusai said: “The Special Land Acquisition Officer (SLO) had fixed Rs 977 per sq metre at Lachiwala, Rs 1927/sq metre at Kanarwala and Rs 1923/ sq metre at Bhaniawala. These rates were revised by the then DM Ravinath Raman as Rs 5000 sq metre, Rs 4000 sq metre and Rs 6000 sq metre, respectively.”

He said Raman fixed the rate as per the value of land at the highway but since the land in all three cases was situated 50 metres away from the highway, these rates could not be applied there.

He said NHAI challenged only these three cases; otherwise they had accepted the revised rates by the DM under Arbitration and Consultation Act 1996.

The rates of some other villages were also revised under arbitration, which are Rs 9000 from Rs 7000/sq metre in Mohkamkhurd, Rs 9000 from Rs 2344 in Miyawala, Rs 9000 from Rs 2207 in Harrawala, Rs 6000 from Rs 2690 in Kuanwala, Rs 4000 from Rs 1401 in Athurwala, Rs 4000 from Rs 1407 in Jivanwala, Rs 4000 from Rs 1752 in Majri Grant, Rs 5500 sq metre from Rs 889 sq metre in Khairi Kalan.

The process of distribution of the amount to the beneficiaries is still going on.

Advocate Jitender Garg said: “Neither Ravinath Raman nor present District Magistrate considered the value of other assets such as trees or other constructions present on the land when it was acquired,whereas the NHAI Act clearly laid out that the land owners must be paid the value of these assets also."

He said the owners were also not given any compensation for leaving 17.2 metre land extra, besides their piece of land. “The provision of leaving 17.2 metre land had been kept to keep the roadside free for any movement under the Act. This is the reason the land owners are not allowed to carry out any construction over this land. They are not being compensated for this also.”

He further added that given the compulsion where the district judge can only approve or reject the plea regarding the rate awarded under arbitration, not many are taking up this option.

It is for the simple reason that the judge has not been given any powers to order any addition in the amount. Either he can reject or accept it.

In the matter of rejection, owner will have to accept the lower rate fixed by the SLO, or move High Court and wait for years. 

Dehradun, March 21
Nanhi Dunya (The International Movement of Children and their Friends) has entered into collaboration with ‘Swing For Life’ project. It is an initiative that has led an international group of students design and build a structure to show their creativity.

In Nanhi Dunya School at Vikasnagar, a group of volunteers designed swings for the children, using natural materials such as clay, hay, wood, bamboo sticks. The aim of the project is to give the children a space to develop their creativity, their metric skill and social qualities.

It was for the first time in India that such a unique and amazing playground for the children was built. Young designers Leander, Sonja, Sophia, Else, Simon, Alina, Wendla, Nikolas, Luha, Raphael, Christoph, Agnes, Luca, Comelia, Valentine and Clemens designed and worked wholeheartedly, keeping in mind the safety of the children. The dedicated group motivated every student they came across.

On November 17, 2012, Nanhi Dunya completed 66 years of dedication and service to the welfare of children. Nanhi Dunya was founded in 1946 by Prof Lekh Raj Ulfat.

A good number of national and international social workers visit Nanhi Dunya to learn how the children carry out their activities in a natural environment.

All the centres of Nanhi Dunya have a story to tell. Nanhi Dunya, Vikasnagar branch, was started for the children of tea-garden workers. At the same time, Prof Ulfat took an initiative and brought awareness among the labourers about their rights. One of the important activities of this branch is the centre of environment education. Vikasnagar SDM Ashok Pandey was the chief guest at the opening ceremony of the Swing For Life project today.

The programme began with lightning of traditional lamp, followed by Saraswati Vandana by Sonali and Aditi. Dance drama ‘Dharti Ambar’ showed the importance of water. Students also presented folk songs in German language. The main attraction of the event was the opening ceremony.

SDM Ashok Pandey praised the efforts of Nanhi Dunya for working in the field of child welfare and promised to support the humble cause. He also honoured the foreign delegates by presenting colourful shawls.

Dehradun, March 21
Global Sports Management company will hold trials in Uttarakhand as part of its efforts to hunt cricket talent from the backward areas of the country.

Addressing a press conference in Dehradun, Monika Singh, managing director of the company, disclosed that Uttarakhand kept immense cricket talent among its youngsters and a right opportunity was all that was needed.

“Cricketers of the Uttarakhand origin are making a name for themselves while playing for other states. But due to lack of adequate facilities, youngsters are not getting enough opportunity in the state”, Monika Singh asserted.

She said the trials would take place at Khalsa Cricket Academy and Doon Valley School in Dehradun on Sunday in which budding cricketing talent be shortlisted. She said youngsters in the age groups of under-10, under-12, under-14, under-16 and under-18 would be selected. He said the selected lot would be provided all infrastructure and other facilities by the Global Sports Management.

Monika Singh disclosed that on the basis of selections conducted in the trial camp in Dehradun and other parts of the country like Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, a T-Twenty cricket tournament will be held in first week of May in Chandigarh.

She said that former international cricketer Madan Lal would also be providing tips to the participating teams before the start of the tournament.

IPL player Ashish Uniyal, also part of Global Sports Management, said he was hopeful that the best of cricket talent would emerge from Uttarakhand after the conduct of trials. Jawed Bhatt was also present in the news conference.

Haridwar, March 21
Rangoli, mehndi, hairstyle, debate, poster painting and athletic events were organised during the ongoing annual college festival week at Mahila Mahavidyalya, Sati Kund, Kankhal, today.

The fest will conclude tomorrow, wherein meritorious students would be honoured.

A food stall competition was also inaugurated by former MC Chairman Satpal Brahamchari today. Tomorrow, cultural programmes will begin at 11am and an open food festival will mark the end of the annual festival week.

Dehradun, March 21
The one-month-old strike and four days’ fast of five members of Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation (UFDC) ended today after State Agriculture Minister Harak Singh Rawat assured them that the land for Selaqui depot of the corporation would not be taken away from them. But he said the total land would be equally divided between UFDC and Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry at Barsar, Pauri Garhwal.

Rawat said: “The Centre has already released Rs 10 crore out of a total of Rs 36 crore sanctioned under National Development Scheme. The scheme was approved in 2011, for which this land of Selaqui depot was handed over to Barsar University, Pauri Garhwal, to grow flower

beds for research purposes. The department has already spent Rs 10 crore out of it. In case if we do not utilise the land for the purpose, then the Rs 10 crore amount will turn into loan for it.” He emphasised that the UFDC was not carrying out much activity from Selaqui depot and most of the land was lying unused.

He gave the entire credit to chairman, UFDC, Pranav Singh, for striking this deal with Vice-Chancellor, Barsar University. “Since out of a total of nine hectares, two hectares are occupied by villagers. Hence, out of seven hectares, 3.5 hectares land will be given to each.” He also termed this crisis period as a blessing for UFDC, saying that the corporation could never have this land registered in its name, and now if not full, at least half would be registered in its name. He also urged employees to think in terms of the welfare of the entire state. He said the flowers grown over their land for research purpose should be a matter of pride for them also. —TNS