Bhatt objects to Deputy Lok Ayukt’s appointment 
Dehradun, September 28
The Leader of the Opposition in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly, Ajay Bhatt, has condemned the government move to appoint a sitting member of the Uttarakhand State Service Commission as the Deputy Lok Ayukt.

Dehradun, September 28
People indulging in wildlife crimes often go scot free as enforcement agencies linked to wildlife offences across the country fail to properly preserve samples and they become unfit for analysis in the laboratory.

Nearly 16.6 per cent of the total samples received from April 2012 to March 2013 at the Forensic Cell of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) were returned without analysis because the samples were not preserved properly by the enforcement agencies. The WII received 342 samples and out of which 57 were not preserved properly and thus were returned to the enforcement agencies.

Significantly, of 342 samples received at the Wildlife Forensic Cell (WFC) from various enforcement agencies, 87.7 per cent were from the state forest and police departments but were not properly preserved.

According to Dr SP Goyal, head of the Forensic Cell, WII, the enforcement agencies lack adequate training to properly preserve samples pertaining to wildlife offences and that is why these were returned to them.

“Therefore, proper training to the enforcement agencies for adequate collection and preservation of physical evidences is a must,” said Goyal. He added that the WII had been undertaking sensitisation programmes for the enforcement agencies with the major impetus on the crime scene management and evidence collection techniques.

The laboratory testing of a large number of species and varied forms of wildlife parts reported in the wildlife offences requires integration of morphology, genetics, toxicology, pathology and entomology.

The examination of the wildlife offences also reveals a need to develop other areas of wildlife forensics like forensic toxicology, ballistics, pathology along with ornithology and entomology to cover a vast scenario involving both endemic and exotic wildlife species in international illegal wildlife trade.

Conservationists also feel that the enforcement of the Wildlife Protection Act is further hampered due to lack of reference materials and methods necessary to identify animal species in various wildlife offence cases. The WII aims to develop a DNA profile database of 40 species, which are commonly reported in the wildlife offences.

Seventy-three per cent of the cases received at the Forensic Cell were of tissue samples and required use of DNA-based techniques for species identification. The DNA profiling has been a key issue for dealing with the wildlife offences of species listed under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Dehradun, September 28
Governor Aziz Qureshi today planted a Rudraksh sapling on the Raj Bhavan premises to launch the Green Doon campaign being jointly organised 
by the St. Joseph’s Academy Alumni Association and E-Rotary.

The Governor said the increasing concretisation in cities was destroying the green cover. He added tree plantation was necessary to maintain the greenery.

He appreciated the efforts of the two organisations and said it was encouraging to see the youth getting associated with the campaign.

The Governor expressed the hope that the campaign would go to all places in the state beyond Dehradun. Randhir Arora, Rahul Jain, Sunil Lalwani, Siddharth Jain, Surendra Batra, Sanjog Berry and E-Rotarians were present on the occasion.

Dehradun, September 28
Voters of Pauri have put up posters of their “missing legislator” Sunder Lal Mandharwal, who has been missing from his constituency for the past six months. Such posters have been put up at the Commissioner headquarters also.

The posters, pasted in every nook and corner of the town, said anybody giving any clue about the whereabouts of the MLA would be rewarded with Rs 5,000. Social media like Facebook is also being used to search for the MLA and interesting comments are being posted on it.

Mukesh Negi, Pramukh, Kshetra Panchayat Pauri, said "We are annoyed with the MLA because he has become un-approachable for the voters and spends most of his time in Dehradun. There are many issues which have to be sorted out at the MLA’s level. His unavailability has become a problem for us."

People alleged that the MLA had been missing from his constituency even during the disaster that shook the whole country. He was absent from the summer festival and also the agitation of the local people to oppose the dismantling of the Jail Garden.

According to Arvind, a social worker, the MLA did not attend the important meeting for the district plan held in May and September. He was absent from the meeting of the District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee as well.

Meanwhile, Mandharwal said he was in Dehradun to discuss the development projects with the officials concerned. “The people who are doing this drama belong to the BJP and wish to harass me. They want to malign me and are obstructing the development works. No legislator can be present in his/ her constituency all the time,” he said.

Dehradun, September 28
The Leader of the Opposition in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly, Ajay Bhatt, has condemned the government move to appoint a sitting member of the Uttarakhand State Service Commission as the Deputy Lok Ayukt.

He said the decision was unconstitutional and against the spirit of the Constitution. "According to the Indian Constitution, a member or the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission or the State Public Service Commission is not eligible for any other employment either under the Government of India or the state government. As such his appointment was unconstitutional and would be rejected," said Bhatt.

Mussoorie, September 28
The division between the two factions of the Municipal Council employees came to the fore during the protest call given in support of their demands in Mussoorie today.

One faction of employees union, led by Mahavir Rana and CP Badoni, gathered on the MC premises in the morning and raised slogans against executive officer PS Rawat and health officer RK Singh, alleging highhandedness and ostracisation of employees at the behest of MC president Manmohan Singh Mall.

President of the protesting Nagar Palika Parishad Karamchari Sangh Mahavir Rana alleged that the officials were planning to conduct a retrenchment drive against several temporary employees belonging to his union and stalling their job extension period on flimsy pretexts. He said the MC officials, at the behest of Mall, had also tried to threaten their members with dire consequences against joining the protest.

The protesting faction also boycotted the council meeting proceedings and stayed away from work the whole day.

Later, the enraged employees hounded PS Rawat and RK Singh for levying allegation of highhandedness and victimisation against them. The employees also hurled abuses and warned them to mend their ways or face the wrath of the employees.

When contacted, the MC officials said the council was not taking away the jobs of the temporary employees but on the other hand had recommended recruitment of more employees. However, one faction was misleading the employees by spreading false rumours.

The leaders of the protesting employees union said if their six-point demands were not met, they would launch a massive movement in the near future and bring all works of the council to a standstill.

Meanwhile, the other faction of employees that stayed away from the protest has flayed the whole incident and said the union being led by Mahavir Rana was merely politicking on the issue due to their vested interest.

President of the Swayatsashi Karamchari Mahasangh Ravi Raj Bangari met Mall after the council meeting and thanked him for approving the demands raised by their union. Speaking to the members of his union, Bangari said Mall was also committed to resolve the issues of temporary employees so that their jobs were not affected. He also condemned the behaviour of the other group and said entering into a scuffle with the MC officials was unwarranted and condemnable.

He demanded strict action against the employees who had hurled abuses at the MC officials.

Meanwhile, Mall said he had called the protesting union for talks but they did not come forward for it. In addition to that, the MC council had already decided in the board meeting that a committee would be constituted to oversee the issues of the temporary employees.

He, however, said the temporary employees who were not showing any interest in work and were shirking from their duties would be dealt with strictly.

The leaders of the two factions of MC employees were also seen in argument over the issue, which was pacified by other members today.

Dehradun, September 28
In an admirable endeavour, the Border Security Force (BSF) has taken up the task of providing lights in the flood-ravaged villages of Kalimath valley, which have been witnessing darkness since the disaster hit the state in June.

In a bid to light up the lives of the villagers, the BSF is installing solar lights in eleven villages of Kalimath valley. Solar street lights numbering 15- 35, depending on the necessity of that village, are being installed in the villages after taking the villagers and their heads into confidence.

“Solar lights are the best alternative in the absence of normal electricity, especially when the broken roads have still not been repaired and the electric poles are not there. The best thing is that there is no running cost involved in the solar lights”, Ashok Kumar, Inspector General, Administration, BSF, told The Tribune. The locals are very happy after the installation of solar streetlights in their areas, he said.

The villages where the solar streetlights have been installed are: Kalimath, Kavilatha, Kothama, Syasu, Chilodh, Jaaltalla, Jaalmalla, Khunnu, Kuljethi, Chaumasi and Bhyukhi.

The BSF has adopted 11 flood-ravaged villages in the state and is working round the clock to restore the basic facilities in these villages.—TNS

Dehradun, September 28
The couple who was sitting on hunger strike since yesterday at the SSP office against the alleged mental harassment done by a person on the name of interest recovery, were removed by the police here today.

It is to be noted that Arun Kumar and Amita Devi submitted their complaint application to the SSP and they sat on hunger strike after the police did not take notice of their complaint.

The SSP then forwarded their complaint to the Laxman Chowk Police Post today and asked the couple to go there. — TNS

Dehradun, September 28
The computer department of Unison World School organised an inter-house IT Quiz for the students of Grade IX and Grade XI. The quiz was conducted in five rounds, namely hack your brain, visual round, fundamentals of computer, latest gadgets and rapid fire round.

The participants exhibited their IT skills in the five rounds of grilling quizzing with Daffodil House winning the quiz after fetching 120 points. Jasmine House and Orchid House shared the second position after getting 100 points each. Tulip House was the second runner-up after scoring 95 points. — TNS

Dehradun, September 28
Wynberg Allen won the ongoing 9th Gardner Silver Jubilee Inter-School Basketball Tournament for girls after defeating Convent of Jesus and Mary (CJM) by 31-23 in finals here today.

The final match between Convent of Jesus and Mary (CJM) and Wynberg Allen School was proved to be a summit clash and both the teams looked equal from the beginning of the tournament.

CJM played exceptionally well in the first two quarters and even won the 1st quarter by 8-6. The second quarter was ended in 4-4 draw. Wynberg Allen won the last two quarters by 9-4 and 12-7 score. Jenzus Dolkar scored the maximum 16 points for Wynberg Allen.

Dehradun, September 28
Two action packed matches were played in the ongoing Drona College 70th Nemidas Memorial District Football League here today.

Garhwal Boys showcased a brilliant game of football and registered a 2-0 win over Thakurpur Football Club. Ajay opened the score with a brace at the second minute and Jatin scored the second goal for his team at 29th minute. The players of Thakurpur Football Club came close to scoring number of times but could not covert the moves into goals.

The second game was proved to be a one-sided match for the spectators. Continuing its good form in the tournament, Garhwal Sporting thrashed Khalinga Boys by 6-1 score with Rahul winning for his team.

For Garhwal Sporting, Abhishek opened the tally at 15th minute followed by three goals by Rahul at 29th, 35th and 40th minute. Mohit and Gaurav found the net at 45th and 47th minute respectively. Rakesh Mehra scored the lone goal at 45th minute for Khalinga.

Haridwar, September 28
A one-day vendor meet on blade machining was organised by the turbine blade manufacturing unit of Bharat Heavy Electronics Limited (BHEL), Uttarakhand unit, at its new engineering building here today.

Prakash Chand, Executive Director, Heavy Electricals Equipment Plant, BHEL, said be it European or South-Asian companies, the repercussions in power sector market was being felt everywhere and the foreign companies were taking a slew of preventive measures to meet the slump down in the sector.

He said with the power sector facing global meltdown, the public sector undertaking the BHEL’s Uttarakhand unit, has decided to take certain measures to come of this meltdown.

He emphasised that the BHEL too needs to react fast. He suggested various measures during the meet. He said cutting the production costs to stay in the global market competition was most important.

“Innovation, improving quality, induction of latest technology and motivating the employees is also important,” he added.

Dehradun, September 28
DBS PG College, Dehradun, trounced SGRR PG College, Dehradun, by 10 runs in a match during the HNB Garhwal University Inter-Collegiate 20-20 Cricket Tournament here yesterday.

Batting first, DBS PG College made 131 runs in 20 overs at the loss of 9 wickets. In another match, ITM, Dehradun, defeated SGRR ITS College by 9 wickets. Batting first, SGRR, ITS, made 84 runs at the loss of 9 wickets. Even after loosing the first opener early, players of the ITM, Dehradun, managed to won the match.

In yet another match, BCC Srinagar beat SDM PG College, Doiwala, by 6 wickets. After winning the toss, the SDM team chose to bat first and scored 71 runs.

Ravi Negi of the BCC was adjudged the man of the match. — TNS