CM distributes FDs, NSCs to girl students in Tehri
Hears 350 complaints of residents at ‘janta milan’
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 27
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna today held a 'janta milan' programme in Tehri and Ghansali.

He heard the problems of people and directed officials to resolve them.

He said that a monthly review of the expenses under the District Plan would be conducted.

He heard 350 complaints today.

The Chief Minister distributed fixed deposits under the Balika Protsahan Yojana and NSCs under the Kanya Dhan Yojana to a large number of girl students in the area.

He said that a polytechnic would be started in Chamiyala and a high school in Magro. An Inter-college would be set up in Ghumetidhar and a stadium at Akhauri.

The CM said 20 motor routes would be built in the Ghansali area and some roads would be strengthened. He said motor routes to be constructed included those between Bal Ganga Mahavidyalaya and Ghumetidhar, between Ghansali and Akhauri, Ghuttu and Ghansali, Lata and Sitakot, Karnagaon and Rajeshwari, Ghansali Bazar and Hanuman Mandir and between Jagdish Shila and Hindau.

Local MLA Bhim Lal Arya told the CM about problems of the area.

He reached Ghansali at 11.30 am where he was welcomed by the people of the area.

Among those present at the janta milan were district Congress president K.S.Negi, MLA (Tehri) Dinesh Dhanai, Block Pramukh Neelam Bisht, former MLA Balvir Singh Negi, Congress leader Saket Bahuguna, senior Congress leader Jot Singh Bisht, Vijay Ghunsola , D.L.Shah, Rajnikant Surira, municipal board chairman U.C.Gusain, DM N.K.Jha,SP J.Khanduri, CDO S.Bansal, CMO Dr.S.P.Agarwal and some district level officials.

35°C in Pithoragarh, 38°C in Bageshwar 
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, May 27
Doctors have advised people to wear sun glasses while going out in the sun as the temperature in the Bageshwar valley has reached 38°C, which is 5°C more than what experienced during the same period last year.

The soaring temperature in Almora, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh and Champawat districts has crossed last year’s maximum by 4°C to 5°C at some places. “While 38°C maximum and 34°C minimum temperatures were recorded in the Bageshwar valley, Pithoragarh recorded the highest temperature of the season at 35°C while minimum temperature was 20.7°C there on Sunday,” said Kamal Pandey, in charge of the meteorological station in Pithoragarh district

The hill area of Champawat district recorded a maximum of 30°C on Sunday which was 6°C more than that experienced during the same period last year. “The minimum temperature in Champawat district has been static at 19°C, which is 5°C more than the normal temperature,” said sources in the weather station in the district

Munsiyari, which is known as Himnagari (snow city) due to its proximity to Panchchuli peaks, is still awaiting tourists who used to flock to the place till last year. “Due to widespread and uncontrollable forest fires and high temperature this year, fog and sultriness have not only covered the five magnificent peaks overlooking this town, but also have led to temperature 5°C higher than last year,” said Devendrs Deva, president of the Hotel Owners Association in Munsiyari.

The areas of Askot, Didihat, Dharchula and Baram valley along the Gori river in Munsiyari got some respite from the searing heat after heavy to medium rain lashed these towns last evening. 

Statehood agitators meet DM over demands
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 27
Members of the National Uttarakhand Party and Uttarakhand Andolankari Sanyukt Parishad met District Magistrate BVRC Purushottam today with regard to their demands.

The delegates demanded the release of pension to all statehood agitators, employment in government and semi-government jobs to those below 50 years of age, release of the list of statehood agitators formed in August, 2011, resumption of the process of identification of statehood agitators, enforcement of a welfare scheme to redress their problem and free travel in buses of Uttarakhand Transport Corporation.

They warned that if their demands were not met, they would start an agitation, like that of 1994.

Purushottam assured them of positive action and, directed the officials concerned to expedite the issue related to their pension.

The delegates who met the DM included Rajiv Kothari, Pramod Dobahl, Navnit Gusian, Jagmohan Rawat, and Jaswant Randhawa. 

UKD stalwarts Aeri, Panwar heading towards patch-up
Tribune News Service

Dehradun May 27
Both the leaders of UKD, Kashi Singh Aeri and Trivender Singh Panwar, are heading towards a rapprochement. Aeri has agreed to participate in the party convention to be held in the month of July, while Panwar is also making up his mind to withdraw complaint regarding security threat from Aeri and his supporters in Additional District Magistrate’s office.

While welcoming NK Gusain, who earlier held the position of city president before expulsion by Panwar on taking sides with Opposition party during Assembly election, has joined UKD led by Aeri. He brought along 55 more members with him. While speaking on this occasion, Aeri said: “I had placed two demands before Trivender Singh Panwar. First, he should stop his protest before UKD office, and second, he should withdraw the complaint lodged in the ADM office. He had taken the first step and is mulling over the second.”

He said there were few more issues which were still being considered to remove all the rough edges between both the leaders. He admitted that he was ready to participate in the convention called by Panwar group on July 24 and 25. On being asked whether the convention called by him on May 20 and 21 was unconstitutional, which was why he agreed to become a part of the other convention, he remarked that the unity of the party was their main aim, for which he was ready to take all the possible steps.

Panwar also confessed holding parleys with Aeri to sink their differences. He said Aeri and his people accepted their shortcomings, which was why he, too, thought of forgetting about the past associated with them. He said he made the turnaround in the interest of the party and to enable his party emerge as a strong challenge to both BJP and Congress.

NK Gusain, who raised slogans in support of Aeri, said it was unfortunate that many tall leaders of the party were shown the door by Panwar in the last three years in the the name of indiscipline and he also became prey to that. He justified his decision to float another faction, UKD (Akta), reasoning that he wanted to maintain the ideology and provide a platform to the other members who were also expelled through his party.

He said ever since Aeri took the party reins in his hands, his resolve to join his old party got strengthened. He hoped that their party would return to the old glory under Aeri’s leadership. 

NK Gusain rejoins UKD 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 27
NK Gusain today left the Uttarakhand Jan Kranti Dal (UJKD) and rejoined the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) led by Kashi Singh Aeri. Gusain had joined the UJKD led by former state Revenue Minister Diwakar Bhatt two months ago.

President of the UJKD BD Raturi was quite upset with Gusain’s volte-face. He said Gusain did not inform the party about his decision to rejoin the UKD. “He did not serve us any notice. It is a matter of gross indiscipline and our party will take suitable action against him,” he added.

Raturi, however, made it clear that Gusain’s alienation would not affect the UJKD at all. There is one thing discernible in the circumstances fast developing in the UKD that on the one end where old rivals are joining hands and the expelled leaders are returning to the party, the Diwakar faction has been left high and dry. Gusain’s estrangement is another setback to the faction. It was when Gusain and members of the UKD (Akta) merged with the Diwakar faction that Bhatt changed the name of his party from UKD (J) to UJKD.

Gusain said he had hoped that things would change for the better if he joined Diwakar’s faction but that did not happen. All hopes that the UJKD would take gigantic steps to emerge as a strong party were dashed and he felt disenchanted with that party.

Meanwhile, Aeri has not given any positive signal to welcome Diwakar or his people into the party. Raturi too does not seem optimistic about the way the scenario is changing in the UKD these days.

Raturi said, “The phenomenon of party hopping or infighting among the UKD factions is inherent in the culture of the party. This drama of rapprochement is momentary and lacks maturity. Hence, there can’t be any stability in the long run.”

His pain of being left out was evident when he said, “Unless and until the UKD takes along each member of the split away factions, this reunion will not last long. The public, which lacks confidence in the UKD for all the fickleness it has shown, will not easily believe in the ethos of the party, unless it stands fully united.” 

IBM, DIT University to launch specialised BTech courses
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 27
IBM and DIT University, Uttarakhand, have signed an agreement to launch an undergraduate BTech programme with specialisation using IBM software.

The programmes launched for the academic year 2013 are BTech with specialisation in mobile applications and BTech with specialisation in cloud-based applications. The curricula of both programmes has been jointly developed and will be delivered by designated subject matter experts from the IBM and DIT University.

The courses offered by IBM career education programme will be integrated along with the existing BTech curriculum of the university. The aim of the programme is to develop sufficient industry needed skills on critical emerging tools and technologies such as cloud and mobile-based applications. The programme with specialisation in cloud-based applications will cover all relevant topics that will enable students to develop and deploy cloud-based applications using IBM rational tools.

The programme with specialisation in mobile applications will enable students to create applications intended to execute on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets that are multi-platform and involve unique requirements and challenges using IBM worklight.

“Today, technology in mobile and cloud are rewriting strategic playbooks across industries. Hence, these programmes in cloud and mobile have been designed to equip students with the required knowledge and skills that will position them better in today’s dynamic IT industry. Our career education programme is a perfect example of IBM’s commitment to software engineering education. Our programme framework helps students and faculty members from professional education institutes to position themselves strongly for the future,” said Himanshu Goyal, country manager - IBM Collaborations Solutions, IBM India.

On the collaboration, Dr Krishna Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, DIT University, said "I am delighted to learn that the IBM and DIT University have agreed to launch BTech courses with specialisation in cloud-based applications and mobile applications. The programmes are futuristic, yet the need of the hour. I am confident that these courses will be extremely beneficial in shaping the professional career of the students opting for the same.”

The courses are designed to develop the right skills and nurture basic competencies that are needed to success in this dynamic industry. The programme curriculum brings together the latest software content, real-world industry experience, hands-on lab courses and best practices, all into a single unique education programme, to prepare students to be readily acceptable in the IT industry and by leading IT companies.

Golden Dance group mesmerises audience
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 27
As part of the ongoing Natya Mahotasav showcasing Indian culture the Golden Dance group from Bareilly with their lithe moves managed to cast a spell on the audience today.

A total of seven performances were held today but the Golden Dance group stole the show. The other performances included a group dance by the troupe from Nagpur and a Sambalpuri dance from Orissa.

As many as 300 participants hailing from 12 states have been enthralling the audience since May 27. The dance festival organised under the aegis of the Doon Ghati Rang Manch and Department of Culture in association with Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, Pauri, will end tomorrow with a march.

The names of the winners of the Natya Mahotsav would be announced tomorrow. 

Three kids who fled home found from Delhi
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 27
All three children who went missing on May 23 from the city were found by the Dehradun police from the Usman Nagar bus stand in New Delhi.

The children had begun working in a dhabha in New Delhi. The children are Arjun Singh, son of Chandan Singh, resident of Malsi; Chander Mohan, son of Pravesh Kumar, resident of Anarwala; and Rajdeep, son of Rajender Kumar, resident of the Bapu Nagar locality of the city.

All three are students of class IX in Rajkiya Inter School, Guniyal.

Arjun, 16, who is the eldest among them, hatched the plan to work in Delhi. Chander Mohan, 15, and Rajdeep, 14, his close friends readily agreed to go with him. It was Arjun who had taken some money from home and took along the two other boys on May 23 to board a bus to Delhi instead of going to school in the morning.

When the parents did not find their children back home in the afternoon, they looked for them in their friends’ and relatives’ places. On May 25, Rajender Singh filed a complaint with the Rajpur police station.

The SP City, Jagdish Chand, while addressing a press conference regarding this case, said he had constituted a team of the Rajpur police to hunt the boys. Since Arjun was carrying a mobile, the police put his phone on surveillance and tracked his location. He was arrested from the bus stand.

On getting caught, Arjun said that he had lost his mobile. Since all three boys are from lower middle class families, they had planned to earn some money during their summer vacation at Delhi, without informing their family members about it. They did not realise how worried their family members would be. They thought that they would make the families happy when they returned home with the money.

Arjun said after they had exhausted his money, they contacted a dhabha nearby for work. Dhaba owner readily hired them for work. Among the trio, it was Arjun who was not interested in studying further. He said his family pressured him to continue his studies. The other two, however, said they wanted to study in order to become financially independent in life.

Thus, their escapade to earn money during the summer vacations in a humble way was cut short. Good sense prevailing upon them, Arjun said they were happy to be back home and thanked the police for tracking them and bringing them home.

BJP condolence meeting in memory of slain Cong leaders
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 27
The Uttarakhand BJP today held a condolence meeting at the BJP headquarters here in memory of the slain Congress leaders who were brutally murdered on May 25 in Chattisgarh by Naxalites.

Speaking on the occasion, BJP president Teerath Singh Rawat said all parties should work together to find a lasting solution to the Naxalite problem engulfing Chhattisgarh and other parts of the country.

“We implore upon the Central Government to take adequate steps to end the problem in the state,” said Rawat.

All the senior leaders comprising national secretary of the BJP Trivender Singh Rawat, BJP Uttarakhand chief Trivender Singh Rawat, former Cabinet minister Prakash Pant and BJP city president Neelam Seghal were present at the meeting.

Meanwhile, in view of the tragedy the BJP cancelled the jail bharao andolan that was to take place from today. 

Minister listens to problems of Muslims
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 27
State Planning Minister Dinesh Aggarwal yesterday met members of the Muslim community at Patharibagh in the city and heard their grievances. He said he would do his best to redress their problems.

Aggarwal said if the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) gave him land, he would build an inter college, a degree college and madrasas for Muslim students on it. He announced the construction of a community centre and other facilities from his MLA local development fund.

The minister welcomed the decision of the DMC to provide land for a burial ground and said as soon as the corporation gave an NOC for the land he would get a wall erected there and make arrangements for facilities.

He said he would soon bring a proposal to build new schools and madrasas for Muslim girls. He announced setting up of a computer centre at the Majra madrasa and a new madrasa near Chhoti masjid.

Aggarwal said, besides computer courses in education, a scheme had been started to facilitate loan without interest to unemployed Muslims through the Uttarakhand Minority Financial and Wakf Development Corporation. Similarly, a scholarship scheme had been initiated to support the education of Muslim students belonging to the below poverty line category.

 ‘Over 20 species endangered in Himalayan forests’
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, May 27
Though some new species of flora and fauna, besides reptiles and insects, have enriched the glory of the Himalayan forests, some varieties are under threat of extinction, says Dr Prakash Fondari, a scientist, working with the GB Pant Himalayan Ecology and Development Institute, Almora, in the field of biodiversity.

Dr Fondari said more than 20 species of flora, fauna, birds, reptiles, insects and plants are on the verge of extinction in the Himalayan forests. At the same time, 22 new varieties have been found in the last few decades.

“Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India have found two new varieties of tortoise at Rajaji National Park, five new varieties of lizard in Uttarkashi, four new varieties of an unnamed insect in Champawat and Almora forests, and seven new varieties of butterfly in the Kumaon region and some new medicinal plants at the Nanda Devi biosphere in Chamoli district in the last few decades,” said Dr Fondari.

He said the state is rich with 1,496 micro-insects, 6,598 plant varieties, 2,551 medicinal plants and 2,351 animal species. Out of these, varieties of 35 plants, 64 medicinal plants and 101 animals are in danger of extinction.

“The recent report of the Ministry of Environment and Forests says that the nation is rich with 45,000 species of flora and 81,000 species of fauna, which have been preserved in 102 national parks , 551 wildlife sanctuaries and 18 biospheres of the country,” said Dr Fondari.