Bangalore attack brings focus on security of ATMs in Doon
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 20
The horrifying attack on a woman in the ATM room of a bank in Bangalore yesterday has once again drawn attention to inappropriate security at the ATMs in Dehradun as well. A number of attempts have been made to loot ATMs in Dehradun in the last couple of years.

Vulnerability of ATMs to burglaries, notwithstanding, many ATM centres in the state capital are without security guards, exposing customers to risk of robbery and attacks.

In years 2012 and 2011, a spate of incidents of ATM looting were reported from across the city and in one of such incident burglars even tried to take away the ATM machine itself. Miscreants had tried to loot a State Bank of India ATM at Jakhan, a Punjab National Bank ATM on the Haridwar Road and an ICICI Bank ATM near Indra Nagar. In all these cases the ATMs were not guarded.

Notably, robbers carrying cutters broke into a Punjab National Bank ATM in 2012 but the police caught them while they were busy trying to cut the machine.

It is to be noted that banks are supposed to employ private security guards at ATMs. The manager of a nationalised bank told The Tribune that, “What can a security guard do without a weapon or proper training when he is confronted by a group of men carrying weapons. Without a weapon even their presence cannot be a deterrent to robbers.”

When asked about the level of training to take on robbers, a security guard sitting ideal in front of a private bank ATM on the Rajpur Road, said, “We get no training from the bank concerned or the agency we work for.”

Even DIG, Garhwal, Amit Sinha accepted that it was a sensitive issue and it was the responsibility of the police to ensure such incidents did not take place in the city.

“Bank managers and the police hold regular meetings on issues related to the security of banks and their ATMs. The number of security guards and CCTV cameras at the ATMs has been increased in the last one year,” Sinha said.

Night patrolling should be increased near the banks and ATMs to keep a vigil on suspicious elements.

Despite dip in prices, veggies still out of reach
Parwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 20
Despite a significant dip in the wholesale prices of vegetables on Wednesday, these continued to remain evasive from the common man.

Among the vegetables, tomatoes and onions ruled the roaster as they continue to be sold at a whopping Rs 60-70 and Rs 40-50 per kg in the retail market. While the wholesale price of tomato stands at Rs 20-30 per kg, the retailers are purchasing onions at Rs 20-35 per kg from the wholesalers.

A visit to the Niranjanpur-based vegetable and fruit market revealed how the retailers are minting money under the garb of inflation. While accepting that the prices of the veggies have indeed taken a jump in the past few days, the wholesalers vehemently denied that the same was being sold at higher prices to the retailers.

Speaking to The Tribune, Jitender Anand, wholesaler for onion and potatoes, said that the day saw a slight dip in the prices of the products. “No doubt that the wholesale prices of onions and potatoes have dipped but the retailers continue to sell them at higher prices after purchasing from us.

The onions coming from Rajasthan are not of good quality and have very low water content. They are the cheapest and are being sold from Rs 25 per kg onwards at the wholesale price. On the other hand, the onions coming from Nashik are of the A grade quality and are being sold at Rs 30-35 per kg,” he added.

On being asked about the reason behind the upsurge in the prices of the vegetables, Ritesh Rana, another wholesaler, said that it was due to the extended monsoons and the cyclone that hit the coastal belts in South India. “This year the rains continued till mid October, as a result the crop sown earlier was completely destroyed. These had to be

re-sown, which in turn lowered the production as compared to the demand. Cyclone Phailin had completely destroyed the onion produce in the southern belt. Farmers, too, are demanding a high price in return for their produce that has greatly impacted the price and led to inflation. We are hoping that the prices would be normalised by the second week of December once the new produce hits the market,” he added.

Meanwhile, the situation of the retail sale was no different in the mandi as retailers at the Niranjanpur wholesale vegetable and fruit market continued to sell the vegetables at high prices as available outside the mandis. With the wholesalers refusing to sell the produce for smaller quantity, the hopes of those visiting the mandi for cheaper veggies were dashed. “The wholesalers refuse to provide few kg of onions and potatoes and the retailers are charging almost a similar amount in the market. We have come so far but in vain,” said Reena, a housewife.

15 dead, seven hurt as vehicle falls into gorge
Tribune News Service

Pithoragarh, November 20
At least 15 persons were killed and seven injured when the vehicle they were travelling in fell into a gorge in Pithoragarh at 7.30 this morning. The ill-fated vehicle (UK05TA-0137), which was reportedly overloaded, was on its way to Dharchula from Rantchi village in Pithoragarh. Break failure is stated to be the reason behind the accident.

Dharchula SDM Pramod Kumar said relief and rescue works were carried out as fast as possible. The injured have been admitted to the local Dharchula hospital. The bodies have been sent for postmortem.

Guv, CM express grief; magisterial probe ordered

Bhopal: Governor Aziz Qureshi and Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna have expressed grief over the road mishap. The Governor prayed for the peace of the departed souls and expressed condolences to next of their kin. He wished a speedy recovery to the injured. The Chief Minister has also ordered a magisterial probe into the accident. He instructed the district administration to pay ex-gratia relief to next of kin of the deceased.

Status of martyrs for four more statehood agitators
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 20
In 2004, former Chief Minister ND Tewari had conferred the status of statehood martyrs on four persons who had participated in the Uttarakhand statehood agitation but had gone missing. Now eight years later the Bahuguna government is planning to confer the status of martyrs on more four persons.

Along with the different factions of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, the relatives and persons who had participated in the statehood agitation have been demanding that the persons who went missing during the statehood agitation be declared martyrs.

Bowing to the demand, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna had declared last year that an exercise would be initiated to declare persons who went missing during the Uttarakhand agitation as martyrs.

According to sources, the Department of Home has started the process and two persons from Tehri, one from Pithoragarh and one from Dehradun are likely to be conferred with the appellation of martyrs.

The Department of Home is now examining the government orders issued during 2004. A senior official said that there was delay in pronouncing the remaining as missing as the details and veracity of the accounts had to be authenticated. “Based, on the local intelligence report and findings of the police, the verifications would be carried,” he said.

Beside, the seven-year waiting period of declaring persons who went missing has already elapsed which would further strengthen the latest case. The government would be in a position to declare them as presumed dead and confer them with the status of martyrs.

The status would entail Rs 10 lakh as ex-gratia amount to the next of kin, a government job for the dependants and pension (Rs 5,000 per month) to the dependants.

However, the demand for re- identification of martyrs also being raised by the state hood agitationists has not found resonance with the Congress government, especially in the light of the Nainital High Court judgment, that recently struck down reservations for those who participated in the statehood agitation.

Giving them their due

According to sources, the Department of Home has started the process and two persons from Tehri, one from Pithoragarh and one from Dehradun are likely to be conferred with the appellation of martyrs.

Sachin Tendulkar arrives in Mussoorie for a quiet holiday
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, November 20
Post retirement, lured by the charm of the grand old travel destination, Sachin Tendulkar, the Bharat Ratna awardee and ace cricketer, arrived to relax in Mussoorie around noon today. The legendary batsman, accompanied by wife Anjali, reached Rockeby Hotel owned by his close aide and friend Sanjay Narang around 12.45 pm and had a sip of coffee and some snacks for at least one hour.

He also waved to a few fans standing below on the road from the lawns of the hotel. Later, he walked on foot till the residence of Sanjay Narang, known as Bothwell, accompanied by Sanjay Narang and former wicketkeeper Sameer Dighe.

Sachin stayed away from the mediapersons and refused to comment about his visit. He only appealed to the media to leave him alone as he was on a private holiday in the town and will be here around Christmas. His two children, Sara and Arjun, were not seen with him as they were busy with their school education in Mumbai. The visit has created a buzz in the town as fans began trickling in the Landour cantonment area since morning.

Mohammad Navid and Mohd Aslam were elated when the legend cricketer waved back at them sitting in the luxury vehicle on his way to Rockeby Hotel. It is indeed a memorable day in their life that they could catch a glimpse of the ace cricketer who they have grown while watching him play cricket.

However, the craze of meeting and taking autographs, which was visible during his previous visits, was seen missing with the decrease in the number of fans waiting outside the residence and the hotel this year. Perhaps his retirement from cricket had made a difference.

For the Italian tourist, Marco who was on his way to a store to buy some cheese for his trek to Kedar Kanta, the arrival of Sachin Tendulkar was a non-event and showed his ignorance about the ace cricketer and the game of cricket. “Who Sachin?” said Marco when posed the question whether he had any idea about the icon of the cricket staying in the area. He further said that the Italians were crazy about football and not cricket.

“The International Cricket Council should try to popularise the game of cricket in Europe, too. Then only the craze for cricket will grow, especially among the Italians,” said Marco.

For Sachin Tendulkar this is his fourth visit to Mussoorie as his love for the good old charm of the “Queen of Hills” is well known. Sachin Tendulkar retired from cricket after playing his final and 200th Test last week against the West Indies. Sachin is the most successful batsman in international cricket with 15,921 runs in 200 Tests. Sachin will be spending most of his time relaxing at the house of his friend Sanjay Narang or taking a quite walk watching the panoramic view of the Himalayas, which is clearly visible at this time of the year.

Photo expo on Master Blaster concludes
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 20
The ongoing 11-day photo exhibition on Sachin Tendulkar being held at Abhimanyu Cricket Academy, Guniyal Gaon, Purukul, concluded amid a colorful ceremony here today.

The exhibition comprised of rare photographs of the Master Blaster captured by sports photographer Kamal Sharma. Hundreds of fans and students thronged the Abhimanyu Cricket Academy ground to see the pictures of their favourite batsman.

Dharchula villagers reel under foodgrain shortage
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, November 20
Remote villages in Dharchula and Munsiyari subdivisions are facing an acute shortage of essential commodities in the district as two major roads could not be repaired even five months after the natural disaster. Moreover, foodgrains available are selling at high prices.

Villagers told local MLA Harish Dhami during his visit to the area in the lower Darma valley that they were not in a position to purchase costly essential goods like rice and flour as the quota foodgrains were not reaching them due to damaged routes.

“We are purchasing coarse rice for Rs 100 a kg and flour and other essential commodities at a high price as these items are being transported to the area on horseback with great difficulty,” said Netra Singh, a resident of the Tawaghat area.

The main routes of the area from Tawaghat to Sobla and Jauljibi to Madkot are still closed even five months after the natural disaster. These routes are the main link roads to Darma and Madkot villages, respectively. “These roads could not be repaired till date even though Union and state ministers had visited the area after the June disaster,” said Netra.

The people from the Madkot valley in Munsiyari subdivision, which was also severely affected by the disaster, are still unable to access local markets of Dharchula and Munsiyari. “While the road is closed between Munsiyari and Sera on the Munsiyari side, it is closed at Phaguabagar on the Jauljibi side, thus cutting off the area from the rest of the state,” said Bahadur Singh Parihar, a retired school principal in the Madkot area.

Dhami has assured the villagers that he is pressuring the state government to construct these vital roads as soon as possible and hoped that the work will be completed in the winter as lower valleys does not witness much snowfall.

“We are purchasing onion at Rs 160 a kg in our local market as it, besides other items, is brought on horses through dangerous terrain,” said Bahadur Singh Parihar.

Leopard menace haunts outskirts
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 20
Leopard menace continues to pose a big challenge for Dehradun forest authorities with frequent leopard movement being reported from villages on the city’s outskirts.

After much of leopard terror in Chandmari village, leopard movement has also been reported from village Ambiwala in close vicinity of Asharorie forests. A prowling leopard is stated to have eaten a number of calves creating panic among livestock owners. The affected villagers have been demanding immediate installing of cages to trap the leopard. One of the residents, Sumitra Devi, alleged that a leopard had been repeatedly attacking their livestock during night and they were helpless. He said the residents have been repeatedly appealing to the forest authorities to intervene in the matter.

However, Dehradun forest authorities assert that they have been installing cages in the affected villagers whenever leopard movement is reported but the cages had to be removed after return of normalcy. Similarly, in case of Ambiwala, cages were installed few months back but were removed when no leopard movement was observed. But now as leopard activity has been observed at Ambiwala, the forest authorities plan to again instal cages.

Meanwhile, forest officials have asked the villagers to be cautious.

Reeling under leopard attacks, people face threat from bears
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 20
Besides frequent leopard attacks, the people of Uttarakhand are also facing threat to their lives from bears. A total of 407 incidents of bears attacking humans have been recorded in the state since its inception in 2000.

Three species of bears, namely the sloth bear, Asiatic black bear and the Himalayan brown bear, are found in the state. A healthy population of black bears has been reported from Pithoragarh, Uttarkashi and Tehri forest divisions. Other forest divisions with comparatively a good black bear population are Champawat, Nainital, and Badrinath regions.

Bear attacks on humans are quite frequent in the state. The state wildlife authorities have recorded 19 human deaths and injuries to 388 persons, including many critically, in bear attacks since the formation of Uttarakhand. Besides, incidents of bears killing livestock like cows, horses, bullocks, and buffalos and damaging crops are also rampant.

One of the most vulnerable regions has been Joshimath in Chamoli district. Bear attacks on human settlements are quite frequent in Joshimath. Even in the past one month, bears have killed 12 livestock in Auli, close to Joshimath. Villagers have appealed to the state Forest Department for immediate remedial measures.

Bageshwar, Almora, Pithoragarh, Champawat, Nainital, Uttarkashi, Pauri, and Chamoli districts have witnessed frequent bear attacks. The incidents of bears lifting cattle have been quite common in Bageshwar and Uttarkashi districts.

Harendra Singh Bargali from the Corbett Foundation, who has been closely monitoring human-bear conflicts in Uttarakhand, said a detailed study on the trends in the conflict scenario was needed. He added generally human-leopard conflicts get prominence and the rising problem of human-bear conflicts was often ignored. He also favoured the monitoring of the bear population in these vulnerable areas.

Bear attacks increase during the winter when these animals descend to lower areas of the valley. They move to lower areas due to snowfall in the higher reaches and target human settlements in search of food.

Social activist Munish Kumar said it was strange that while the Uttarakhand forest authorities were coming up with a State Bear Conservation Action Plan, they were least concerned about the people facing bear attacks.

Conflict zone

• There have been 19 human deaths and injuries to 388 persons, including many critical, in bear attacks since the formation of Uttarakhand
• Joshimath in Chamoli district, Bageshwar, Almora, Pithoragarh, Champawat, Nainital, Uttarkashi, Pauri, and Chamoli districts have witnessed frequent bear attacks
• Bear attacks increase during the winter when these animals descend to lower areas of the valley

Set up small-scale khadi business, CM tells board
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 20
Maintaining that khadi has a great potential in improving the conditions of the disaster-affected areas of the state, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna instructed the government officials and schools to use the products and uniforms made from khadi.

While addressing the gathering after the inauguration of National Khadi and Gram Udyog here today, the CM said the khadi board should take steps to rope in the youth of far-flung areas to set up their small-scale khadi business. “Efforts should also be taken to ensure the success of khadi mission in the state. To promote the legacy of the country, the government would take steps in bringing together the latest designs and techniques being adopted for the promotion of Khadi,'' he added.

Later the Chief Minister also visited the theme pavilion of the Khadi and Village Industries Board and other stalls set up in the exhibition.

While expressing gratitude to the CM for giving 40 per cent off on the khadi products, Harish Chander Durgapal, Uttarakhand Minister of Small Scale Industries and Khadi, said that VAT should be exempted from products such as candles and incense sticks being sold at the outlets of the Khadi and Village Industries Board.

Scientists back Rao's remark on funds
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 20
The scientist fraternity in Dehradun has expressed solidarity with Bharat Ratna CNR Rao's recent outburst highlighting that poor funds were a big constraint for carrying out research works in the country. Dehradun is home to about dozen eminent research institutions of national and international stature linked to various aspects of science like forestry, geology, wildlife, remote sensing, soil science and anthropology.

Renowned botanist A N Purohit asserts that CNR Rao was when he says there were no adequate funds for research in the country. “I totally agree with him”, he said asserting that it was unfortunate that science-based reseraches were not getting their due importance. He categorically held that there was a tendency to appoint a bureaucrat even in the science and technology linked posts as being done in case of Uttarakhand and argued that a scientist can only do justice with such posts.

Anthropologist A R Sankhyan said fund constraint was the biggest challenge before scientists today as inadequate funds affect research work tremendously. He said research was not just a one-day affair but a long time process and thus need patience and appropriate funding.

Appeal to implement sexual offences Act

Dehradun, November 20
Chairperson of the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights Kushal Singh has called upon the government to frame rules and regulations for the implementation of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

Chairing a meeting here recently, Kushal Singh urged the government to frame rules and regulations, so that children in the state could be protected from sexual assault.

For the past eight years, the government has not undertaken any survey to ascertain the number of children engaged in labour.

Earlier, he also visited the office of the state child rights panel in Dehradun and held discussions on several issues.“We apprised the Chairperson about the need to undertake a survey. According to our assessment, local children are engaged as child labour during the Char Dham Yatra. As a result, the government needs to take steps to check the menace,” said Ajay Setia, Chairperson, State Commission of Protection of Child Rights. — TNS

Mishaps claim two lives
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 20
Two persons were killed while two others sustained serious injuries in road accidents here today.

A man, identified as Rajkumar, was killed when his scooter was reportedly hit by a tractor-trailer at Raiwala here. The pillion rider, Nagendra, sustained serious injuries and his condition is stated to be critical.

In another accident, a man was killed after being hit by a tractor-trailer at Harbatpur in Vikasnagar today. The driver of the vehicle, Mohammad Intzaar, has been arrested.

In yet another road mishap, a man, identified as Charan Singh, was hit by a truck on the Shimla bypass, leaving him seriously injured.

The police have registered separate cases in this regard. The bodies have been handed over the respective families after postmortem.

Power situation grim in state
Cuts being imposed to meet shortage
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 20
The state's power availability today stood at 30.50 million units (MU) against the demand for 31.94 MU.

Sources in Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited said out of the 30.50 MU, 8.48 MU were generated in state powerhouses and the rest came from the Central sector and other sources.

At present, power generation is not taking place at the Khatima powerhouse. Thus, to meet power shortage, cuts are being imposed across the state.

Over three hours of cut was today imposed in the rural areas of Udham Singh Nagar and of two hours in other small towns of the Kumaon divisions. Rudrapur, Roorkee and Kashipur witnessed power cut for one hour each. Meanwhile, the power corporation is trying to purchase power from other sources to meet the shortage.

Admission norms for children affected by disaster relaxed

Dehradun, November 20
Relaxing admission norms for children hit by the mid-June natural calamity, the Uttarakhand Government will give them admission in Rajiv Gandhi Navoday Vidyalayas of the state without any entrance test while those orphaned in the tragedy will be given free education. Directives to this effect were issued by Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar while presiding over a meeting of the Uttarakhand Boarding Schools Committee here last evening, an official release here said. Rajiv Gandhi Navoday Vidyalayas were being run in all 13 districts of the state in which a total of 2,711 students study, Director-General of School Education Radhika Jha said at the meeting.

She said rules had been framed for appointment, including those of Principal and Vice-Principal, to different posts in these schools.

It had also been decided that 20 per cent of the grade pay would be disbursed to employees of the Education Department during their deployment in the remote hill areas, she said.

She said 80 per cent of the children from rural areas and 20 per cent from urban areas would be given admission in Rajiv Gandhi Navoday Vidyalayas, which were equipped with all necessary facilities like Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas.

Presiding over another meeting, the CS asked the officials concerned to conduct a base line survey of children suffering from malnutrition, the release said. — PTI

Providing succour

Eighty per cent of the children from rural areas and 20 per cent from urban areas would be given admission in Rajiv Gandhi Navoday Vidyalayas, which were equipped with all necessary facilities.

ASI: Periodic repairs at temples would have lessened damage
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 20
Inability to hand over the Kedarnath temple for undertaking restoration and conservation work eight years ago has cost the Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee dearly. The temple faced flood fury during the mid-June natural disaster .

“Eight years ago, the ASI was keen on undertaking restoration work at both the Badrinath and Kedarnath temples but the committee members did not relent. Had we undertaken periodic conservation work, it would have helped in lessening the process of decay and would have also enhanced the durability of the temples,” said KS Rana, Director of Science Branch.

He said since the Kedarnath and Badrinath temples were not protected monuments, the ASI could have intervened by offering technology for conservation purpose.

“In cases where the temples and heritage buildings are not under our protection, at the behest of the trust that owns these could approach us by bearing the costs for undertaking conservation efforts,'' said Rana.

‘BJP not against amendment to Lokayukta Act’
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, November 20
The alleged failure of state Congress ministers to attend a meeting called by the Chief Minister in Dehradun recently to discuss the Lokayukt Act's implementation has invited the wrath of the BJP.

Mussoorie MLA Ganesh Joshi, while talking to mediapersons here, alleged fearing backlash, the corrupt state government was delaying the implementation of the Act.

"The BJP was is not averse to making any amendment to the Act, but the state government should implement it first," he said.

The MLA said the Progressive Development Alliance, a forum of independent MLAs supporting the state government, was also supporting the implementation of the Act.

The absence of 16 Congress MLAs from the meeting called by Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna yesterday was indicative of the fact that the government was deliberately delaying its implementation, he alleged.

On the coming panchayat elections, the MLA said the state government should first implement the Panchayati Raj Act of its own and not the borrowed one of Uttar Pradesh and then think of the elections.

DIG discusses ways to tackle cyber crime problem
Tribune News Service

Participants in a workshop organised for Special Operations Group and personnel of the state police surveillance cell in Dehradun on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

Dehradun, November 20
In a bid to improve the working of Special Operations Group (SOG) and police personnel involved in surveillance work in seven districts of Garhwal Range, a two-day workshop began here today at range headquarters.

On the first day of the workshop, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Garhwal Range, Amit Sinha, briefed the participants on the rising incidents of cyber crime and how to curb them by using technology.

Manish Kumar, Senior Analyst Digital Intelligence Officer, gave a presentation on mobile forensics and computer forensics and briefed the participants about the techniques of recovering the data from mobiles and computers and how to gather digital evidences in case of a cyber crime.

The ways to preserve electronic evidences from the crime scene and how to use those evidences in the court against the accused were also briefed by the experts.

It was also told that digital intelligence software with the Special Task Force would also help in curbing cyber crimes related to ATM and credit card frauds.

The participants from the Special Operations Group and surveillance cells were informed about the ongoing project of making a database of all the vehicles in the state, which will help in curbing the vehicle theft incidents.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), STF, Sainthil Abudai Krishnaraj, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), STF, Mukesh Kumar Chauhan and many other dignitaries , were also present during the workshop.

Shiv Sena gives a call for enrolment
Tribune News Service

Singer and Shiv Sena’s national working member Abhijeet Sawant enthrals a gathering at a function in Dehradun on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Vinod Pundir

Dehradun, November 20
Shiv Sena’s national working member Abhijeet Sawant said youth were the future of the country and sought more of their participation in the national politics. Addressing a state-level convention of the state unit of the Sena, Sawant called upon youth of the state to join Shiv Sena in a big way and work for strengthening the Sena’s ideology. He also supported more participation of youth in nation’s politics. He said Yuwa Sena, Shiv Sena’s youth wing, was trying to bring more and more youth into its fold in order to give right direction to society.

Sawant, who is also an avid singer, sang some of hit numbers at the convention, which was appreciated by the audience. Gaurav Kumar and Sudesh Istwal, Shiv Sena leaders in the state, also spoke on the occasion.

Govt to seek IAF help to complete border roads
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 20
The state government has sought the use of MI 26 helicopters of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in completing the construction of roads along borders with Nepal and China.

Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar took the decision to seek the help of the IAF choppers at a meeting held to discuss the issues regarding the development of infrastructure on the borders.

Stating that the work on the completion of border roads was being hampered owing to poor connectivity in far-flung areas, officials said they were facing great difficulty in sending material and machinery to high altitude areas due to poor road connectivity.

It was stated in a press note issued here today that several issues pertaining to the development of border roads, forest and environment clearance, review of security in border areas and duties of the ITBP, the SSB, the BRO and the CPWD were also discussed at the meeting.

“Though the Nepal border has been sealed temporarily due to the elections in the neighbouring country, the work to complete 10 roads is going on. The roads are being constructed by the CPWD and the BRO with the district administration, the police, the SSB and the ITBP keeping a vigil on activities on the border,” it said.

DGP BS Sidhu; Principal Secretary, Home, Om Prakash; Additional Secretary Shailesh Bagoli; nodal officers Rajendra Kumar; Additional Secretary, Forest, Manoj Chandran; IG Ram Singh Meena; IG, ITBP, IS Negi and several other officers attended the meeting.

Kumaon varsity gets Indira Gandhi award
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, November 20
Kumaon University in Nainital has become the second university in the country to be awarded with Indira Gandhi National Award for constructive work done under the NSS in the upcoming university category.

University Vice-Chancellor (VC) HS Dahmi received Rs 1 lakh, a citation and a silver crown from the President at the Rastrapati Bhawan on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi, yesterday.

“We have been given the award inthe upcoming university category for the first time after the university came into existence in 1972. The award has been given for the excellent work done by the university in environment preservation by removing polythene bags from public places and water bodies under Sprash Ganga Abhiyan,” said Dhami.

He said university students under the NSS, prepared a list of over 1.5 lakh donors of blood. He added, “The work done by university students under the NSS of plantation, women literacy and in disaster-struck areas of Garhwal this year, has also been commended by the panel, which has forwarded the university name for the award.”

Govt fails to provide land for doppler radars
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, November 20
The state government’s failure to provide land to the Indian Meteorological (MET) Department for installing doppler radar to strengthen early warning disaster indicators has irked the BJP.

Senior BJP leader and former president of the Andolankari Samman Parishad Ravinder Jugran, while speaking to mediapersons here, said the MET Department had felt the need for the doppler-effect radar in the wake of the Uttarkashi cloudburst a few years ago.

It purchased two doppler radars for Rs 12 crore. One radar was to be installed in Mussoorie and and the other in Nainital.

However, the state government instead of providing land for the purpose asked the MET Department to buy the land at the market rate, Jugran added.

He said the state government had learnt no lesson from the mid-June disaster. It had failed to provide any relief to the disaster victims. Jugran demanded that the state government, without any further delay, should provide land to the department free of cost and provide assistance in the installation of the doppler radar. People could benefit from the early warning system and save themselves from any disaster in the near future, he added.

Residents oppose Town Hall construction under PPP mode
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, November 20
Residents and political activists in Mussoorie have warned the Municipal Council not to allot the construction work of Town Hall under the public private partnership (PPP) mode.

Under the banner of the Mussoorie Yuva Vichar Sangharsh Samiti, political activist Megh Singh Kandari, along with social activist Pradeep Bhandari, met the District Magistrate, Dehradun, while he was on a visit to Mussoorie recently, and presented a memorandum demanding that the Municipal Council should not give the construction work of Town Hall to private parties under the PPP mode.

Kandari told mediapersons that there were talks of “selling” Town Hall under the PPP mode by the Municipal Council and this would not be tolerated at any cost.

They said Town Hall was the property of the Municipal Council and instead of giving its construction under the PPP mode to private parties the council should itself construct it and the government should fund the work to keep the land mafia at bay. The activists added that they would oppose any move to give the work to private parties.