Haridwar, May 23
Even as the spot-fixing scandal by cricketers has rocked the lucrative Indian Premier League Twenty-20 tournament, a betting racket dealing in IPL matches has been exposed in Haridwar.

The police has arrested four members of this gang and is probing the matter.

The involvement of some politicians, traders and white collar people in betting has also come to light.

The raid was conducted at a secluded house in Indira Basti, wher the accused were allegedly betting on an IPL match and were found accepting bets from punters.

An LED television set, seven cellular mobile sets, two calculators, Rs 13,000 cash, a Skoda car and sheets of paper in which rates were written, were seized from the house of Hari Om, who works as sanitation worker in the Jal Sansthan.

Along with him, the police arrested bookie Piyush Garg, a resident of Chadmari Road, Doiwala, Dehradun, who had arrived on Tuesday, and Rohit and Pappu, both residents of Indira Basti. All the accused have confessed to betting in IPL matches since the lucrative premier league commenced.

Cellular mobile call details are being checked to get to the length of this betting network. The police hopes that more people would be exposed soon.

The Superintendent of City Police, Dr Kiran Lal Shah, said the gang had links up to Delhi and Haryana and betting was done on telephone on various aspects, like how many runs a bowler will concede in his stipulated four overs, will a said batsmen will get out on zero and which team will win, etc.

Circle officer Rajesh Bhatt said the police had prior information about the betting after keeping a tab on the movements of Hari Om, Pappu and Rohit in the past few days.

A recce of the house was carried out by the police. It came in handy as the accused had made a makeshift escape route in case of a raid, but failed to do so when the moment came. The police is conducting further investigation and raids to expose the racket.

Mussoorie, May 23
Extensive plucking of wild berries popularly known as Kaafal from the forest areas by locals for commercial use is adversely affecting the fragile biodiversity of the region in and around Mussoorie.

Every summer with the ripening of Kaafals on trees around the forest area, near Khatta Pani, Landour Cantonment Board, the local population of street vendors go to the foothills to pluck the juicy crimson coloured berries that too free of cost and bring them back and sell at exorbitant price ranging from Rs 120 to Rs 130 per kg to tourists.

For the tourists it’s a rare treat as it is available in the ripened form only during the summer and they do not mind doling out extra money for its unique taste. But they do not know that they are eating into the food meant for birds, which are completely dependent on them. This adversely affects the biodiversity of the region.

Around 1,000 quintals of Kaafal are plucked in of May and June, which leaves very little for birds and insects dependent on it during the sultry summer. Suniti Bhushan Datta, Wildlife Biologist and author of the book ‘Birding in Doon Valley’, says during the summer migratory or other birds are dependent on Kaafal as their food. These wild berries not only provide the necessary nutrients but also water due to its juicy content to the birds thus saving them from dying of hunger and thirst.

The abundance of birds like Himalayan Barbets, Parakeets and Yuhinas and Pycas in the forest laden with Kaafal also attracts other birds like falcon, eagles and Himalayan Pine Martins etc, which prey on these birds in the lean summer season.

“It is imperative to regulate the plucking of berries so that a large amount of these is left for birds. If the wild berries are plucked in a rampant fashion the whole biodiversity of the area will be affected adversely, leading to the extinction of several species in and around Mussoorie, adds Suniti.Divisional Forest Officer, Mussoorie, Dheeraj Pandey says there is no study so far to show the adverse affect on wild berries due to indiscriminate harvesting by humans. He adds the Kaafal berries are not only good for the health of birds and animals dependent on them, but also for human beings as these contain myrcetin or glycosides, which helps in keeping the digestive system in a good shape and acts as an anti-toxin.

The Forest Department is planning to increase its yield by extensive germination programmes to be conducted next year.

Keeping this in view the Forest Department is planning to create a balance by promoting the plantation of Kaafal trees among local villagers as this will create employment and enhance the economic condition in the long run, said Pandey.

He informed The Tribune that the department realising the need to regulate indiscriminate plucking of the berries by human beings had directed all nurseries to collect the seeds of Kaafal and distribute them in van panchayats in the forest areas around Mussoorie so that it is available for consumption for both birds and human beings alike without creating any pressure on biodiversity.

Environmentalists in Mussoorie have welcomed the move and are of the view that the health of the forest is of paramount importance along with commercial activities attached to it and van panchayats can play an important role in not only preserving the environment but also providing employment through the propagation of juicy berries called Kaafal that are an integral part of the folklore of the state. 

Dehradun, May 23
The Indian Cambridge School celebrated its 23rd prize day here today. Alok B Lal, a former state DGP, was the chief guest while Dr S Farooq, Director and Chairman, Indian Cambridge School, was the guest of honour.

The programme began with the lighting of the lamp of knowledge by Dr Farooq.

The theme for the programme was "I am the earth" for which junior and middle school students put up a short and impressive musical item to spread the message of saving the earth.

The chief guest gave away awards to all meritorious students. Special awards were presented to Simranjot Kaur, science topper and Jyoti Gupta, commerce topper of the school in the ISC examinations.

Pratiksha Sood, who was one of the national toppers in Hindi (99%), was also awarded.

In his address, the chief guest expressed his pleasure at the good standards and great zeal of the management to take the school forward. He called upon each and every student to take "their India" forward and play their part as being true Indians.

He commended the puppetry display put by the students.

In his address, Dr Farooq showed his appreciation to what the students had put forth, especially their attitude while performing.

Dr Farooq also called upon parents to bring their children up with love and care, let them come to school in a happy frame of mind and that educating them with good moral values is a must and very important part of education.

During the programme, the Science Aur Kainat Society of India (SAKSOI) had their valedictory session for students who took part in the workshop on folk media.

The students put up a short skit using puppets that they had made. For this, S Faizani was gratified a wonderful workshop that lasted a week on the school campus. In his vote of thanks, Director Syed Mohammed Yasar thanked Alok Lal and Dr S Farooq for giving their time to be with the students and for their inspiring words.

Dehradun, May 23
District Magistrate BVRC Purushottam held a meeting with the District Supply Officer (DSO) and a manager of an oil and gas company and owners of gas agencies and distributors in his office yesterday. He gathered information about a news item published in some local dailies saying that consumers would get gas cylinders only when they produce Aadhar cards.

Dhirender Kumar, Deputy Manager, said he had no information or written orders from the authorities concerned regarding the new rule. DSO Shyam Arya too gave the same reply. The DM told the gas agencies’ owners not to stall the supply of LPG cylinders to those consumers who did not have Aadhar cards unless it was made mandatory by a regulation in the state. 

Dehradun, May 23
MK Pangtey, field general manager, inaugurated Punjab National Bank’s first e-Lobby in the Dehradun circle on Rajpur Road here today. The bank has provided a cash deposit machine, a cheque deposit machine, ATM, self-passbook printer and fund transfer facility through the Internet banking at this e-Lobby. The customers can enjoy these facilities 24x7 by operating these machines.

On this occasion, Pangtey said at the e-Lobby, customers will be able to do all their important basic banking jobs at any time through these machines. The PNB has also started the concept of PNB 'Pragati' at nine branches in the Dehradun circle to facilitate excellent and quick customer service. These branches are Astley Hall, Indira Nagar, Yamuna Colony, Nari Shilp Mandir, Ajabpur, Karanpur, Clock Tower, Kaulagarh Road and LJ Road, Rishikesh. In these branches, there is a self-customer service area provided with a cash deposit machine, a cheque deposit machine, ATM, and self-passbook printer.

Keeping in view the convenience of the customers, this is a transformational concept to provide customer-centric services.

Ashok Aneja, circle head, Dehradun circle, briefly described the doorstep banking and mobile banking services being provided by the bank.

VK Mahajan, AGM, SK Bajaj, AGM, branch managers of Dehradun and a large number of bank customers were present.

Haridwar, May 23
The 534th Prakash Utsav of third Sikh Guru Amar Das was celebrated with gaiety in Haridwar today. Guru Amar Das had visited Kankhal 20 times before he become the third Sikh Guru and played a pivotal role in abolishing the Sati pratha in Haridwar at that time.

Also, it was due to his efforts that the ‘jajia tax’ imposed on devotees coming to Haridwar by the Mughal rulers was waived.

Guru Amar Das had started a mass langar at Sati Ghat, Kankhal, and offered rituals to the Ganga. Since then this place is a pilgrimage place for both Sikhs and Hindu devotees and a sign of religious brotherhood.

At Dera Baba Dargah Singhji, Tapsthan, Teeji Patshahi Guru Amar Dasji, Gurdwara Sahib Shri Guru Ardasji, Sati Ghat at Kankhal, a special religious function was held.

Guru Granth Sahib was recited by granthi Devender Singh followed by shabad kirtan and a mass langar.

Notably, on the directions of 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh, Baba Dargahji Maharaj discovered the Teeji Patishahi place and since then this place is known Dera Baba Dargah Teeji Patshahi Guru Amar Das Gurdwara.

During Guru Amar Das’s maiden visit to Haridwar a teerth purohit had noticed a special mark on his foot. He had stated then that Amar Das would either become a noted religious person or a legendary emperor.

The prediction came true as Amar Das had become the third Sikh Guru when visited Kankhal for the 22nd time.

At Teeji Patishahi, 22 structures have been made that remind of 21 visits of Guru Amar Das to this place. Mahant Ranjay Singh and Bibi Vinnidar Kaur Sodhi were present on the occasion.

Dehradun, May 23
The state Congress today demanded a CBI probe into the alleged killing of Badrish Dutt, a Delhi police inspector from Uttarakhand, who had tapped phone conversations of cricketers and bookies in the IPL.

Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress spokesman Dhirendra Pratap met CM Vijay Bahuguna and made the demand.

Demanding an inquiry by the apex investigation agency into Dutt's mysterious killing, Pratap asked the CM to take personal interest in the matter and ensure that his family was duly compensated. — PTI

Dehradun, May 23
District Magistrate BVRC Purushottam yesterday held a meeting with the officials concerned with regard to the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan, the Mid-day Meal Scheme in schools and the Right to Education. He directed them that all 344 development projects in the district pending since 2009-10 be completed.

He called a meeting of gram pradhans of villages of Kalsi and Chakrata to know about the condition of schools in these areas. He said anyone found negligent in duty would face action.

The SDM, Chakrata, informed the District Magistrate that for negligence in the execution of the Mid-day Meal Scheme in schools of the tehsil he had withheld the one-month salary of a district in-charge, Manoj Kumar, Deputy Development Officer, Mid-day Meal, Chakrata, KR Verma, Sukhvir Singh Negi, Inspector, District Supply Office (DSO), ML Sharma.

He said he had also ordered that allowance payment to retired DSO Inspector KP Singh be withheld. 

Dehradun, May 23
To highlight the ''failure'' of the UPA government, the BJP Yuva Morcha took out a death procession of the government under the leadership of the newly elected president of BJP Yuva Morcha Saurabh Thapliyal.

The procession started from the BJP city office and ended at Clock Tower where the BJP Yuva Morcha members raised slogans against the UPA.

Thapliyal said the corrupt UPA government had failed on all fronts. “It has broken all previous records of corruption and inefficiency and the people should now boot out the government,” he said.

Dehradun, May 23
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between DIT University and Cambridge University Press was signed at DIT University here today. Kakoli Sarkar, on behalf of Cambridge University Press, and Capt Ajay Swarup (retd), Registrar, on behalf of DIT University, signed the MOU.

The Vice-Chancellor and Pro Vice-Chancellor, DIT University, were present. “We are delighted to announce this collaboration with Cambridge University Press”, said Dr Krishna Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, DIT University. “I am certain that this collaboration will create further exciting opportunities for both of us,” he added.

This MOU ensures that the students will be given training and certificates of spoken and written English which will enable them to meet the industry requirements and get jobs.

Instructors from Cambridge University will be stationed at DIT University for conducting the classes which will be spread over two semesters. After completion of the course, the students will be given a certificate from Cambridge University. — TNS