Guv greets people on13th anniversary of state
Dehradun, November 8
Uttarakhand Governor Dr Aziz Qureshi greeted people on the 13th anniversary of the creation of the state of Uttarakhand.

Dehradun, November 8
The police foiled an attempt made by Shiksha Acharyas to stage a protest march in order to gherao the Chief Minister’s residence after heated arguments were exchanged between the protesters and the police here today.

With their one-point demand of absorbing the unemployed Shiksha Acharyas on the vacant positions of Siksha Mitra in the state, they gathered at the Parade Ground today to stage a protest march toward the Chief Minister’s residence. But, they were stopped in between and arrested by the police.

After refusing to abandon their protest march, the police personnel dragged the protesting acharyas in the police vans and were taken to police lines. The woman protesters were also forcibly dragged into the police vehicles.

Shiksha Acharyas had been on agitation since June 3. Talks had been held between them and the government on numerous occasions without reaching any agreement.

In 2008, the government closed the EGS and the AIE centres due to which a large number of Shiksha Acharyas and part-time teachers were left unemployed in the state. They are now demanding that they must be accommodated on the vacant positions of Siksha Mitra.

The protesting teachers are claiming that the government through its Government Order (GO) in 2010, adjusted nearly 1,107 Shiksha Acharyas and part-time teachers on the basis of seniority on the vacant positions of Shiksha Mitra, but around 1,745 Shiksha Acharyas and part-time teachers had still not been adjusted.

Dehradun, November 8
With over more than 4.5 lakh registered vehicles on city roads, the traffic police strength is not even 150.

For the last 10 years, the number of vehicles, size of roads and population have increased manifold, but the number of traffic police has not gone up in keeping with the burgeoning number of vehicles on the city roads.

At present, the city traffic system is managed by two traffic inspectors, 16 traffic sub-inspectors, 19 traffic head constables and 107 traffic constables.

“The number of traffic personnel has not increased in the last 10 years. In 2003-04, there were 130-140 traffic personnel to manage the traffic. The situation has totally changed now and we need more people to streamline the city traffic," said a traffic inspector.

Around 150 untrained home guards have been deployed on traffic duties and are managing the traffic in some of the major busy junctions in the city. “Due to inadequate strength, many a time, traffic constables have to work beyond their shifts. Even the traffic sub-inspectors are forced to work for more than 12 hours a day,” said a traffic constable. Pradeep Rai, SP Traffic, accepted that the department was facing manpower crunch.

He said it became difficult to manage traffic with the present strength. The senior officials were trying to chalk out a plan so that best results could be provided with minimum resources.

“We keep motivating our men on daily basis so that they keep serving with dedication and integrity,” he added.

Dehradun, November 8
Uttarakhand Governor Dr Aziz Qureshi greeted people on the 13th anniversary of the creation of the state of Uttarakhand.

The Governor wished the citizens a prosperous life and for the all around development of the state.

“We must keep in mind that true development will take place only when people of all sections of the society will be given an opportunity to progress without any discrimination. This year, the natural disaster has taken a heavy toll and we must ensure that the affected families get all possible help,” Qureshi said.

He said for sustainable development, there was a need to conserve the natural resources as well as the rich cultural heritage.

“In conformity with the local needs and people's aspirations, we will have to present an outline of programmes for the future. Leading a respectable and dignified life is the right of every citizen and we must ensure that it is prvided to each person in the state,” he added.

Dehradun, November 8
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said issues related to environment and protection of rivers were discussed during his meeting with Prince Charles at Narender Nagar in Tehri yesterday.

Prince Charles, who is a vociferous campaigner of environment issues, shared with the Chief Minister the work being undertaken by his foundation.

“The government will be preparing a note and be looking for international collaboration in the areas of preservation and conservation of environment,” said Bahuguna.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister denied the reports that the people affected by the mid-June floods in the hilly districts continued to stay in tents.

“The government is providing a monthly rent of Rs 3,000 for a period of two years to those persons whose houses were partially or fully damaged and Rs 7 lakh to those who were keen to build their own houses. Around 90 per cent of the people have favoured constructing their own houses. But we will also be providing pre-fabricated houses in Bageshwar and Rudraprayag,” the Chief Minister said.

He added that a meeting of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) would take place on November 17 to discuss the issue regarding implementation of the Lokayukta Act in the state.

Dehradun, November 8
Members of the Uttarakhand Parivartan Party have started a two-day fast at the Shahidi Sthal today to denounce the policies of the state government on the occasion of the state foundation day.

Rajiv Kothari, party spokesperson said, “It will be the 13th foundation anniversary of the state tomorrow. But the way the interests of the people and the existence of hill topography have been ignored, it is resulting into disasters and disappointments all around.”

The government has not been able to clear its policy with regard to the Capital of the state. MLAs of the political parties which are supporting the state government and MLAs of the ruling party itself were condemning the party on this issue. The Chief Minister should resign, he added.

He said the basic ideology behind the creation of Uttarakhand was to develop agriculture, local languages and culture, availability of schools and hospitals in far-off villages, employment to local jobless youth and the ideal coordination between nature and humans in the geographical condition of the state.

He said the model of development presented by the Congress and the BJP had been promoting the connivance among industrialists, politicians, bureaucrats and middlemen.

He said their party had started public awareness agitations throughout the state.

Dehradun, November 8
PTA teachers began their hunger strike in support of their one-point demand of immediate appointment today. They blamed the government for not fulfilling its promise of appointing the PTA teachers in the state. They were also unhappy that no decision was taken regarding their demand in today’s Cabinet meeting.

They said their demand had been discussed in the Cabinet in the past, but to no avail. The teachers threatened that they would intensify their stir if the government did not fulfil their demand. — TNS

Dehradun, November 8
Both the factions of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD), Aeri and Panwar group, sat separately in protest near Shahidi Sthal to slam the state government on various front in wake of the State Foundation Day today.

In their memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister, Latafat Hussain, party leader of UKD Panwar faction, said: “The aspiration of the people of the state behind the creation of their own state has not been realised even after 13 years of the state formation. Today, the entire state is entrapped in the network of land mafia, liquor mafia, mining mafia, criminals as well as corruption and arbitrary bureaucracy.”

He said the state government was inaugurating the Vidhan Sabha at two places, while the question of capital had not been resolved till now.

He said hundreds of statehood agitators were waiting to be recognised and given the benefits which were due for them, but the state government was not bothered.

He said those who had no role to play in the agitation were being identified as agitators which led to anguish among the justified lot.

He said the state government did not depute anyone in the position of Rajya Andolankari

Parishad, while even in the past, no right or power was given to this body.

He said the accused of Rampur Tiraha episode were still roaming around without any fear and the state government did was least bothered.

Kashi Singh Aeri, president, UKD (Aeri) group, said his party strongly opposed the construction of two Vidhan Sabha in the state. He said they would not let the inauguration of the Vidhan Sabha, Raipur, take place at any cost. The state government should also declare Gairsain as the capital of the state as soon as possible.

He said his party had already started statewide agitation on this issue and if needed they would resort to indefinite fast as well.

Dehradun, November 8
Padma Bhushan Prof SK Joshi, former Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), today laid stress on the importance of modern period table in the chemistry.

Delivering a lecture entitled “Higgs Boson, SN Bose and his Statistics” at the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIGH), Prof Joshi told the students about the modern periodic table, which has now replaced the earlier Mendeleevs periodic table.

He spoke on the recent God particle experiment and described it as one of costliest but useful exercises undertaken to understand the particle.

He highlighted the contribution to quantum physics by great scientists like Dalton, JJ Thompson, Englert, Higgs, Albert Einstein and Dr SN Bose. He said Bose’s commitment to popularising science in the Indian subcontinent was unparalleled.

Earlier, WIGH Director Prof Anil K. Gupta introduced Prof Joshi to the audience. He said Prof Joshi had more than 190 publications in international and national journals to his credit. He had received various national and international awards.

Dr VC Tewari, senior scientist of the WIGH, presented the vote of thanks. The WIGH scientists and students were present on the occasion.

Dehradun, November 8
Inhabitants belonging to Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar settled here performed the Chatth Puja today. The Chatth Puja was organised near various water bodies of Dehradun. Large congregation was seen at Tamsa river in Tapkeshwar, on the outskirts of Dehradun.

Dehradun district administration had already cleaned up the water bodies here for the occasion. Large crowds gathered at Raipur canal, Tapkeshwar’s Tamsa river and Kaulagarh canal during evening hours to offer Jal Abhishek to setting Sun marking the beginning of a three-day long Chatth festival today.

Uttarakhand BJP leader Kanchan Thakur, who performed the Chatth Puja at Tapkeshwar said the puja keeps much importance to them. She said the festival this year comes at a time when the state was reeling under disaster and the worshippers would pray for peace in the region.

Thakur disclosed that fasting and workshipping Sun God was part of Chatth festival. 
Mussoorie MLA Ganesh Joshi also reached Tapkeshwar to greet Chatth revelers. 

Dehradun November 8
The district sports office organised a cross-country race to mark the state foundation day, which will be celebrated tomorrow.

The race started from Ashley Hall and ended at the Mussoorie diversion.

The cross-country race took place in five categories of which veterans were also a part. “About 250 students and senior citizens participated in the cross-country race,” said Rajesh Mumgain, district sports officer. 

Dehradun, November 8
A senior council inter-school T20 cricket tournament got underway at St Joseph Academy here today with two matches being played on the inaugural day.

The first match was played between Bala Hisar Academy and Sunrise Academy. Batting first, Sunrise Academy got bowled out at 89 runs with Gaurav scoring maximum 21 runs. Sagar scalped 3 wickets for Bala Hisar. In reply, Bala Hisar chased down the target easily and won the match by seven wickets. Rahul scored 18 runs and remained the highest scorer for Bala Hisar.

In the second match, St Thomas school defeated Aryan School by 37 runs. St Thomas lost the toss and was asked to bat first. The team scored 89 runs. Akshay Sharma’s was the top scorer with 22 runs. In reply, Aryan school was bowled out at 51 runs with Amritanshu remaining the highest scorer for Aryan. He scored 16 runs. 

Dehradun, November 8
In a one-sided affair, The Asian School today defeated the RR Pal Cricket Academy by nine wickets in the ongoing Patidas Singh Memorial 20-20 Cricket Challenger Trophy at Doon Global School here.

After electing to bat first, the RR Pal Cricket Academy displayed a poor batting show and just managed to score 54 runs. The whole team could not even play 10 overs while Sandeep remained the highest scorer with 10 runs. In reply, Asian School chased the easy target in just 4.5 overs at the loss of one wicket. Vaibhav Bhatt remained not out for 41 runs.

Meanwhile, Asian School won its second match of the day trouncing the GOG, Jhajra, by 37 runs. Asian School won the toss and elected to bat first. It scored 145 runs at the loss of six wickets. While chasing the target, the GOG, Jhajra, stumbled from the beginning and its top three batsmen returned to the pavilion with just two runs on the scoreboard.