Coke plant only after nod by eco experts: CM
Assures villagers of Chharba that their welfare will be protected
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 18
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has said today that the proposed Coca Cola plant in Chharba village would be given final approval only after it was confirmed that it would not have any adverse impact on the local environment.

He said a committee of environment experts would examine the issue. He assured a delegation of residents of Chharba who met him at his residence regarding apprehensions about the proposed project, here today.

The Chief Minister said the government would ensure that the residents' welfare was not affected. He said no decision would be taken on the basis of mere apprehension and the facts would be checked by experts.

He said peoples' participation was essential for development.

He said that the Memorandum of Understanding with Coca Cola had promised employment to 1,200 local people and the youth would be trained by the company, if required.

The company had also promised to give Rs 20 crore to the state government every year for the development.

He said environmental norms of the Central Government would have to be fulfilled by the company. The delegation of local residents included Vipul jain, K.Jaswal, Munna Khan, Master Nanak, Praveen Kumar ,Baldev Singh and Kultar Singh.

Mussoorie scribe to get youth icon award
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, May 18
A journalist from Mussoorie Tania Saili, working in a national electronic channel, will receive the youth icon award for her services in the field of journalism at a function to be held tomorrow in Dehradun.

Tania Saili will receive the award in the national media award ceremony along with others for her excellence in the field of media in Uttarakhand.

Tania Saili is the daughter of eminent author from Mussoorie Ganesh Saili. She has worked on a number of issues highlighting the plight of the people of the state for her organisation. Tania Saili said that it was a great feeling to be nominated for the award in the home state.

Court disobedience: MLA denied bail
Our Corrspondent

Pithoragarh, May 18
A first class judicial magistrate at Didihat today rejected the bail plea of Congress MLA Harish Dhami on the ground of disobedience of court. Dhami was wanted by the court in a case of non-bailable warrant issued against him.

Dhami surrendered before the court today, two days before the time given to him by the Nainital High Court.

“The bail plea has been rejected on the ground of deliberate disobedience of court orders, as the court had issued summons several times to the accused to appear before it before issuing NBW on 8.11.2012 and attachment of property orders on 23.3. 2013,” said a source of the court. Dhami had appealed to the high court against the NBW issued by the Didihat court in a criminal case which was lodged against him in 2007 in Munsiyari, pleading that he did not appear before the court as he could not receive the summons issued by respective court. On his plea, the Nainital High Court had given him 20 days' time to surrender before the same court. the time was to end on Monday. The case was lodged against Dhami under Sections 147,148,149,323,504,506 and 527 of the IPC.

As soon as the MLA was sent to judicial custody after the judgment, his supporters started shouting slogans against the administration and the government.

“The police is alert and would tackle any unlawful situation, if need be,” said Vijay Karki, Superintendent of Police, Pithoragarh.

The counsel of Dhami said they would move the bail application of Dhami before the court of district judge, Pithoragarh, by Monday. Till then, the MLA might have to spend two nights inside the judicial custody home in Didihat.

BJP to address PM candidate later: Jaswant
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, May 18
Former External Affairs and Finance Minister in the National Democratic Alliance-led Union government Jaswant Singh has termed the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate issue a much-hyped and media-oriented one.

In the city on a private visit, the veteran BJP leader said the time right now was to strengthen the party in those states where it was not in power or coalition and PM candidature could be decided later when the 2014 Lok Sabha election neared.

The nine-time Member of Parliament said the party national chief Rajnath Singh had already made it clear that the PM candidature issue would be taken on later as the time now was to focus on the parliamentary election preparations.

Taking on the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance coalition government, Jaswant Singh said the tenures of both the UPA-I and UPA-II had been marred by corruption, scandals, scams and ill-governance.

He said both at the economic and international fronts, the UPA government had failed to live up to the expectations of the people and had made the country vulnerable on these twin fronts.

Recalling the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance Union government, Singh said the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee led the coalition government with sheer dexterity and coordination, which was missing in the current government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

On the ongoing Indian Premier League spot-fixing scandal, Jaswant Singh said those who had brought disrepute to the game should be sentenced to a life term ban and a high-level probe should be made into this.

“The Indian Premier League governing body, the BCCI in particular, should frame stern laws to make sure that such incidents don’t occur in future as this ruins the sporting image of the sport that cricket brings in. IPL has been marred by many a scandal and the time is to restructure the event so that only the game and entertainment remain at the helm," said Jaswant.

He is currently an MP from the Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency.

Jaswant Singh offered rituals at Braham Kund, Har-Ki-Pauri, along with his wife and family members and was concerned over the pollution in the Ganga. He called on the3 Central and state governments and people to come forward to clean the holy river, as only then could it be cleaned and its purity, sanctity maintained. 

ABVP seeks ban on T20 cricket tournament
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, May 18
In the wake of the IPL spot-fixing scam in which Indian pacer S Sreesanth and two other cricketers, Ajeeth Chandela and Ankit Chauhan, are involved, the city unit of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has forwarded a memorandum to Sports Minister Jatin Prasad and BCCI chief N Sreenivasan, seeking a ban on the Twenty20 tournament.

In the memorandum, it mentioned several scandals and match-fixings and said it had hurt the feelings of cricket lovers across the country.

A protest was also held by students of Shravan Nath Jawaharlal Nehru College, who demanded a ban on the cricketers involved in the spot-fixing.

Naveen Pant, divisional chief, ABVP (Garhwal), said in the past, too, the names of Indian cricketers had figured in match-fixing scams.

Pant said stern punishment should be given to these cricketers and the IPL should be banned, as this league had made money more important than the game.

"Despite crores being spent on the auction of players and the IPL-6 prize money exceeding Rs 25 crore, players are still indulging in spot-fixing, which points to the degradation of moral and sporting ethics among the players," said Pant.

SMJN former students' union chief Shakti Tyagi said that the Government of India should step in and make the BCCI liable for its actions and cricketing events, as when it came to liability, the BCCI had only one stand that it was an autonomous body and not answerable to the state government.

Tibetans hold rally for Panchen Lama’s release in Mussoorie
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, May 18
Over 500 members from the Tibetan community living in exile walked on the streets holding vigil for Tibet's long imprisoned spiritual leader Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet, yesterday.

The candlelight vigil was organised by the Tibetan Women's Association (TWA) to mark the 18th anniversary of Panchen Lama's disappearance.

Members marched on the Mall Road raising slogans in support of the Panchem Lama demanding his immediate release from clutches of the Chinese regime.

Sending a strong spiritual message of condemnation over the continued detention of one of Tibet's most important religious leaders, chief abbots of the Buddha Temple at Happy Valley lighted the candles and led the march from Gandhi Chowk to Picture Palace and back.

The TWA's yellow and green free Panchen Lama bands, symbolising birth elements of the Panchen Lama and the Dalai Lama, were distributed extensively. Banners carrying messages of Tibetan mothers to the Chinese president Hu Jintao and the United Nations expressed outrage and immediate answer on the whereabouts and condition of the Panchen Lama.

TWA president Tsering Yangzom and general secretary Dickesy reiterated their support for the 11th Panchem Lama and said they would never give up their search for the revered spiritual leaders and never stop calling for his safe return to the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. They also requested assistance from the international community to urge the Chinese Government to accept the dialogue extended by Tibetan leaders in exile.

International neurology symposium today
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 18
Renowned neuro physicians and neurosurgeons from India and abroad will gather tomorrow to participate in the one-day workshop on international neurology symposium at Shri Guru Ram Institute of Medical and Health Sciences.

While addressing a press conference here today, Prof SK Ghildiyal, principal, Shri Guru Ram Institute Medical College said, "Neuro specialists will be carrying out detailed discussions over the abnormal conditions of the nerves. Besides, discussions and exchange of ideas will also be held on various disorders, reasons and conditions of nerves and their ill-effect over the human body.

Specialists will share their experiences about the most modern treatment methods and drugs concerning neurological diseases.

Eminent neuro specialists are coming to participate from New Delhi, Chandigarh, Kolkata and Lucknow.

Neuro Physician Dr Priyanka Kashyap informed that the neuro specialists of Uttarakhand would also get a chance to update themselves with the recent advancements happening in the discipline of neurology. 

Prohibition of inflammable materials in forest range sought
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, May 18
In view of a large number of forest fire incidents in the region, a demand has been made to prohibit match sticks, lighters and other inflammable materials in the forest range.

Notably in the past few days, several incidents of forest fire have come to light where due to negligence of some people, fire got erupted in the forest area.

Yesterday, fire erupted in the mountainous terrain adjacent to Har-Ki-Pauri. Personnels of the Fire Department and employees of Raja National Park had a tough time to extinguish the fire.

Activists of the Uttarakhand Kranti Manch have urged the Uttarakhand Government and the Forest Department to prohibit usage and carrying of inflammable objects in the forest-park periphery.

Founder of the samiti JP Pandey said hundreds of hectares of forest and flora fauna had been destroyed by the forest fire in the previous summer season.

Preventive steps need to be taken, particularly prohibition of match sticks or lighters in the forest green cover area.

Forest officials, too, have pointed out that tourists who come to the hilly terrain leave burned match sticks or buts of cigarettes. Even adventure tourists-trekkers leave dry burned wood sticks after using it for cooking purposes, Pandey said.

When contacted, Divisional Forest Officer D Sanatan said a proposal had been send to higher authorities in this regard, though forest employees do make routine vigil in the fire suspected areas.

He said the forest employees had been carrying out awareness drive, urging local people, tourists and pilgrims to be careful and not use inflammable objects like match sticks and other such items that may create fire-like situations.

Environmentalist Dr Ritesh Joshi pointed out that in the coming days more such fire incidents may occur if penalty and stringent action was not taken in the forest terrain. He said as the pro-fire grass ‘bhabhar’ grows in this terrain, the area was more vulnerable for such incidents. 

Emotional crisis sparks suicides among youth: Expert
Psychologist gives lecture, counsels at a workshop in school
Seema Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun May 18
The suicide letter of a 22-year-old girl of Doiwala who hanged herself yesterday was quite revealing about how easy youngsters find committing suicide. She mentioned that her parents should enlarge her photo which is on her wallpaper in her mobile set. She also suggested that her pregnant sister should name her child after her name. She seemed bothered about her parents worrying about her marriage.

This M.Com educated girl could have taken employment to support her parents and could avoid getting married, if that was the reason.

Such cases where youngsters are embracing death on small issues are on the rise. Hardly a day goes by when a suicide is not reported in the district. After couples aggrieved over marital conflicts, youngsters have shown great tendency towards suicide.

Sensing the emotional crisis looming large in this vulnerable section, Kendriya Vidyalaya School held a workshop on the theme of suicidal tendency among youngsters yesterday at Sahaspur, where psychologist Mukul Dev Sharma, who researched on this subject for 11 years, gave a lecture to the students as well as faculty members.

Superintendent of Police Mamta Bohra said, “Usually people who are reserved and do not share their problems with others take to suicide. Housewives come in that category. Secondly, the victims in their suicide letters exhibit enough wisdom in leaving instructions for their family members about how to live life happily after they are gone, which they do not apply on themselves.”

Their real life which is far removed from the so-called good life online with friends on Facebook instil in them hollowness. She laid emphasis that the parents must cement the bond with their children and must be aware about their activities and extend emotional anchor at the time of crisis in their life.

Mukul Dev Sharma also felt a huge vacuum has emerged between parents and children these days. He wondered how two persons, mother and father, could not take care of one or two children. A balanced approach toward them since childhood would pave their way in enriching the bond, he said.

He said the anger turning into bitterness is prevailing among all the youngsters. The victims are mostly focused on the limited ambit such as relation in love life and not other positive things around them. By distributing fact sheets among students, he could detect many school children with suicidal tendencies and counselled them. He said almost everyone in their life did contemplate about suicide. They required counselling at such a stage.

Indiresh Hospital doctors perform complicated hip replacement surgery 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 18
A complicated hip replacement surgery was successfully performed by Dr Puneet Gupta, senior orthopaedic surgeon, Shri Mahant Indiresh Hospital. The patient was suffering from acute pain for the past two years and was unable to walk.

Doctors said the patient would be able to walk normally in the next few months.

A farmer by profession, Kishanlal (50), a resident of Harnol village, had met with an accident while going to his farm in Yamunanagar in which his hip joint ball cracked.

Treatment at various places proved futile and he then decided to approach Shri Mahant Indiresh Hospital.

Dr Puneet Gupta and his team of surgeons comprising Dr Harpreet and Dr Kunal Vij performed the complicated surgery. The operation was conducted for four hours and proved successful.

More leaders nominated to BJP working committee
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 18
Uttarakhand BJP chief Teerath Singh Rawat has nominated more leaders as members of the working committee.

Mohan Singh Gaunwasi, Manujender Shah, Tarun Vijay (MLA, Rajya Sabha), re-elected mayor Vinod Chamoli and newly-elected mayors Jogainder Singh Rautela, Soni Koli and Manoj Garg have also been included in the list of permanent invitees.