Youth’s death
Kin gherao police chowki, seek probe
Tribune News Service

Dehradun December 8
Family members of a 19-year-old Dharmendra, who was found hanging from a cidar tree under mysterious circumstances last morning, gheraoed the Patel Nagar chowki here today. They demanded an enquiry into the incident. While protesting in front of police chowki, deceased’s father alleged his son was beaten up by his employer and later hanged from the tree. He said he talked to his son on Friday night when he was being beaten up. Dharmendra used to work on a meat shop. The police on other hand maintained that Danish, the owner of the meat shop, had been in connection with Dharmendra’s death.

The area councillor Sathish Kashyap and former state minister Ajit Singh Chaudhary were also present during the protest today.

There was a panic in the whole Bhauwala area, when the dead body was found hanging from the cidar tree in the forest yesterday. The locals spotted the body hanging from the tree and informed the police.

The deceased was later identified as Dharmendra.

The case
Nineteen-year-old Dharmendra was found hanging from a cidar tree under mysterious circumstances on Saturday morning

 Hard work key to success in hospitality industry: Chef
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 8
Celebrity chef Kunal Kapoor of the Master Chef television series fame interacted with students of the Madhuban Academy of Hospitality Administration and Research (MAHAR) here today.

Chef Kunal Kapoor gives tips to students of the Madhuban Academy of Hospitality Administration and Research in Dehradun on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

While sharing his experience with students of food preparation and culinary arts and degree programme, Kunal said the only ‘mantra’ of success in hospitality industry was self-confidence and hard work.

“There is immense scope in hotel industry these days. All of you should try to evolve yourself everyday by updating your knowledge,” said Kunal while addressing students.

Budding chefs of the MAHAR hotel management institute put numerous questions to Kunal about the professional life of a chef and how they could excel in the hotel profession. Kunal, while sharing his experience said, “It took me seven years to carve out a niche for myself in this industry, which means there is no short-cut and only hard work pays in the end.”

He also spoke on career in food production and gave tips on cookery. Kunal acquainted the participants with international cuisine round the world and importance of food preparation and culinary arts in the economics and success of hospitality ventures.

Later, Kunal also judged the final round of Master Doon Chef, held at the Pacific Mall here today.

 POLITICAL DIARY
Cong poll debacle in 4 states demoralises state party unit
SMA Kazmi
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 8
The debacle of the Congress in the Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan Assembly elections will further demoralise the party leadership in the hill state.

Already, the ruling Congress has been gripped with extreme despondency and drift, even before the election results were out. The turn of events in the state unit of the Congress in the past one month has indicated that the government and the party organisation have been thoroughly demoralised.

On the other hand, the BJP's win in the elections has enthused the state party leadership, which has been preparing in an unprecedented manner to make the December 15 rally of their prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in Dehradun a historic success.

The demoralisation of the Congress could be gauged from the fact that state party president Yashpal Arya, also a minister in the Bahuguna ministry, had recently resigned on the principle of “one man, one post”.

Interestingly, he was a minister since March 2012 and did not resign despite pressure from his rival Union Minister Harish Rawat faction.

Sources in the Congress said Arya had sent his resignation to the party high command in anticipation of the 2014 Lok Sabha poll elections. It was under the leadership of Arya as party chief that the Congress had won all five Lok Sabha seats in the 2009 parliamentary elections and then scrapped through with a narrow victory in the 2012 Assembly poll, forming the state government.

Arya wants to keep his record unblemished and has invited criticism from the Harish Rawat faction. The writing is on the wall as the party had lost the Tehri Lok Sabha bypoll in October 2012 despite the fact that the seat was vacated by Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on his elevation as Chief Minister.

He fielded his son Saket Bahuguna who, too, lost. The party suffered another defeat in the municipal elections held in April this year due to an intense infighting.

The situation has come to such a passé that except for a few, none of the senior leaders is ready to lead the party in the coming Lok Sabha poll. The powerful group, led by Union Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat, which had been demanding change in the state party leadership, has been keeping its fingers crossed on the issue of the state party president.

It is learnt that some of the ministers in the Bahuguna ministry whom the party leadership wanted to lead the state unit have refused to quit their ministerial positions knowing well the challenges ahead.

The mid-June natural disaster and the response of the state government have given the opposition BJP enough fuel to beat the ruling Congress. A widespread destruction caused by the disaster and delay in the relief and rehabilitation efforts has alienated people living in the hills, making the ruling Congress vulnerable. There is no serious attempt by the party to stop the rot. It is expected that Narendra Modi, in his usual style, would tear into the claims of the state government on relief and rehabilitation efforts during his December 15 rally.

On the other hand, the Congress has no answer to the BJP and the RSS onslaught. For the past one and a half months, RSS cadres, including the students' wing of the ABVP, have visited each and every corner of the state to garner support for the rally. In contrast, the rally of Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, which was supposed to be held on November 15, was postponed on the pretext of his busy schedule following the Assembly elections in five states.

However, it is a fact that the faction-ridden state Congress leadership was so demoralised that it was unable to organise a massive rally for Rahul Gandhi ahead of Modi's rally.

Trying to keep their record unblemished
Some of the ministers in the Bahuguna ministry, whom the party leadership wanted to lead the state unit following president Yashpal Arya’s resignation, have refused to quit their ministerial positions knowing well the challenges ahead.

 BJP activists celebrate party’s remarkable win in four states
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 8
Following party’s success in the Assembly elections in the four states, the BJP workers in the state today resorted to a large scale celebrations.

As soon as the results showing BJP’s victory in the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chattisgarh and Rajasthan started coming, BJP workers, who were glued to the television sets at the Mahanagar BJP office in the city, started distributing sweets and bursting crackers.

The state BJP president Teerath Singh Rawat reached the party office in the afternoon and exchanged greetings with party workers. He said the Assembly elections result reflected what would be mood of the people in the 2014 parliamentary elections. Rawat said the people had reposed faith in the BJP and wanted to free the nation from the Congress rule.

BJP workers asserted that the recent electoral success would also boost Narendra Modi’s rally slated to take place at the Parade Ground on December 15. BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi, Puneet Mittal, Vinay Goyal, Sanjeev Verma, Bhagwat Prasad Makwana and Sunil Uniyal were prominent among those, who participated in the celebrations.

Haridwar: BJP workers today celebrated the stupendous performance of the party in the Assembly elections in four states. They distributed sweets and burst firecrackers to celebrate the victory of the party in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh and good performance in Delhi, terming it as the semi-finals to the 2014 Lok Sabha victory. The BJP activists burst firecrackers, beat drums and danced outside the party district headquarters at Devpura.

Three-time BJP (City) legislator Madan Kaushik said the Assembly election results heralded a new dawn for the country and the BJP was set to return to power at the Centre in the 2014 parliamentary elections.

Legislator from Ranipur-BHEL Aadesh Chauhan extended his wishes to the party units in the four states, especially to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan.

Haridwar (Rural) legislator Swami Yatishwaranand said the public had ousted the Congress for its corruption and ill-governance and paved the way for a BJP regime.

 AAP workers take out victory procession
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 8
Elated at their success in the Delhi Assembly poll, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers in Dehradun today took out a victory procession and expressed gratitude to the people of Delhi.

The AAP workers, led by convener of the district party unit Sanjay Bhatt, gathered at Clock Tower as soon as the Delhi Assembly poll results came in and began celebrations.

Besides dancing to drum beats, the AAP workers also distributed sweets.

District AAP secretary Rajesh Bahuguna, Suresh Negi, Aryan Kothiyal, Raju Singh and Sushil Saini and other AAP leaders participated in 
the procession.

 LS poll will be a different game, says Harish Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, December 8
With the Congress suffering a major setback in the five Assembly elections, where counting was held today, Union Minister for Water Resources Harish Rawat termed it a voting pattern based on local-state level issues. He said it won’t have much impact on the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Rawat, who is a parliamentarian from Haridwar, today said the Congress would fare better in the Lok Sabha polls owing to national-international issues, which affect the parliamentary polls.

He said the five state Assembly results should not be taken seriously as there was a pro-Modi wave. The Aam Aadmi Party had emerged second largest party in the Delhi Assembly elections, he added.

Rawat accepted that the defeat in all these states had to be reviewed seriously. Major changes in policies, organisational structure and Lok Sabha poll strategy were required, he added.

He said the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) had been efficiently working for the poor and rural people. MNREGA, Food Security Bill, Land Acquisition Bill, Right to Education, Right to Information were some of the flagship schemes of the UPA government. Rawat said MNREGA had become the world’s largest employment providing scheme run by a government. Such welfare schemes of the UPA would prove vital during the Lok Sabha elections, he added.

Pinning hope on such welfare schemes, which benefited billions, the four times lower House parliamentarian said in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections too, the UPA would be voted to power for the third consecutive term dismissing pro-Modi wave.

Urging the state government to provide land for various Central institutes and departments in Haridwar, Rawat said sometimes delay in granting permission or allocation meant shifting of these institutes or buildings to other states. It hampered the development and employment process in the hill state, he added. 

 ‘Fall in Naini Lake water level worrisome’
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, December 8
Environmentalists have expressed concern at the decline in the water level in the Naini Lake in Nainital town. A decline of 5 feet in the water level in the lake was witnessed today.

“The water level in the lake starts decreasing from November till June. It has never been a cause for concern. But the water level has started falling drastically during November till June for the last 10 years,” said Kamal Jagati, a local businessman.

Local residents said the Lake Development Authority and the Irrigation Department were hiding the actual consumption of water in the town being drawn from the lake for domestic and commercial purposes. The water consumption from the lake was 80 per cent more than the figures shown by them.

“Due to an increase in commercial activities during the past 20 years, constructions in the catchment area has also increased. The area, which was once kept free of any construction by the British, is now full of concrete buildings,” said Raja Shah, a local activist.

  Flag to fly half mast till Dec 10

Dehradun, December 8
As part of a nationwide mourning in lieu of the demise of Nobel Laureate and Bharat Ratna Nelson Mandela, the national flag will fly at half mast in all the government offices and buildings in Uttarakhand till December 10.

According to Uttarakhand Secretary General Administration CMS Bisht, no government programme linked to any entertainment will take place during the mourning period. — TNS

 Govt plans to invite Sachin to open winter carnival 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 8
The government is planning to extend an invitation to cricketer Sachin Tendulkar to inaugurate the first Winter Line Carnival slated to be held in Mussoorie from December 27 to 30.

The carnival was a regular feature some 10 years ago in Mussoorie but it was abruptly stopped after poor response from the government . ''The Winter Line Carnival will become a regular annual feature and we will take it to other towns of the state. For the coming festival, we have some cultural programmes lined up, including a mix of musical sessions, both light and hard rock, followed by a play to be staged by Tom Alter and his co-actors,'' said Uma Kant Panwar, Secretary, Department of Tourism and Culture.

The Department of Tourism has allocated a budget of Rs 1 crore Rs 2 crore for the carnival.

Further, another person who is likely to visit Uttarakhand is the Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia but for a different purpose. He has expressed a desire to see for himself the work being carried to develop Tehri Lake and the surrounding area as an international tourist destination. 

  ABVP, NSUI members clash over Modi’s rally

Dehradun, December 8
The rivalry between the ABVP and the NSUI took an ugly turn during Swami Vivekanand Swabhiman programme held at Sri Guru Ram Rai (SGRR) PG College recently, when members of the two unions entered into a scuffle on the issue of the rally of Narendra Modi in Dehradun on December 15.

The incident occurred when NSUI workers started accusing the ABVP of using the platform for canvassing for Modi's rally. The college management had to call the police to control the situation.

The police took a number of students into custody only to release them 
later. — TNS

 Nirmala college celebrates diamond jubilee
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, December 8
Nirmala Inter College School celebrated its diamond jubilee here today. The students presented a Garhwali dance based on the theme of female foeticide. Planning Minister Dinesh Agarwal, who was the chief guest on the occasion, inaugurated the function by lighting the ceremonial lamp.

Addressing the gathering, he commended the school on the diamond jubilee celebrations. He said the school had served the poor of the area by imparting quality education. The students performed several dance and song items, which were appreciated by the audience.

About 100 former students also attended the function and were delighted to share the cherished memories of the school.

The alumni association of the school was also formed on the occasion. Principal AK Antony, teachers Doris Christy and Joseph Khan were felicitated on the occasion.

Rs 5 crore demanded for road building in disaster-hit areas 
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, December 8
Pithoragarh District Magistrate Neeraj Khairwal has sought from the state government additional Rs 5 crore for the construction of roads in the areas that continue to remain cut off following the mid-June disaster.

The demand was made during the visit of SS Sandhu, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, to the district today.

During a meeting, Khairwal told Sandhu that in the absence of sufficient funds, a road connecting Darma valley villages and the Chaundas area beyond Tawaghat could not be constructed.

Khairwal said the Principal Secretary to the Cheif Minister, who was here today to review relief and rehabilitation works, had directed officials to ensure the completion of road construction works before the monsoon.

The ITBP and the BRO, which are also carrying out road construction works in the affected regions, discussed with Sandhu the problem coming in the way of installing a stone crusher to get raw material, as forest officials are not giving permission for the same.

District Information Officer NS Bisht said Sandhu had asked the department concerned to cooperate in the successful completion of the rehabilitation works.

Other departments also discussed the problems faced by them. Road constructing agencies complained of budget and material problem, the police, the PWD and the irrigation department complained of a shortage of personnel to discharge their services according to the requirements in the disaster-affected areas of the district.

Meanwhile, residents of Darma valley criticised Sandhu for not personally reviewing the condition of roads in the valley and the plights of the people living in the cut-off areas.

Faux pas
Residents of the Darma valley criticised SS Sandhu, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, for not personally reviewing the condition of roads in the valley and the plight of the people living in the areas still cut off due to the natural disaster.

 Contractual power staff hold protest
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 8
Contractual workers of the Uttarakhand Power Corporation today sought alms from the public as part of their protest programme for the regularisation of their services.

The contractual workers gathered at the Parade Ground dharna with begging bowls and sought alms from the people, the protesters accused the state government of befooling them and going back on promises of regularising their services. The protesters also threatened to teach the Congress a lesson in the coming panchayat and parliamentary elections.

Yogendra, president of the Uttarakhand Power Corporation Contractual Employees Association, along with Manoj Pant, Rajesh Bhagat, Sanjay Kala, Gaindaram, Deendayal, Amit Bahuguna and Lalit Negi were prominent among the protesters.

 Ringside view
Harak Rawat rides roughshod over Education Minister Naithani

There is complete chaos in the Education Department of the state as teachers of government schools are trying hard to get themselves transferred to plains of the state, particularly Dehradun, Haldwani and Haridwar. This has forced Education Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani to get strict and he has started taking action against the teachers who are posted in far-flung hill areas but are not joining duty. However, to the shock of the Education Minister, an influential senior teacher got himself attached to the Agriculture Department with the blessings of Agriculture Minister Harak Singh Rawat.

Harak Singh, who is nowadays a favourite of Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, got the teacher transferred by Bahuguna without taking a no-objection certificate from the parent Education Department. Naithani was incensed as it was for the second time in the past nearly one and half years that Harak Singh had stepped on his toes. Interestingly, soon after becoming Agriculture Minister, Harak Singh had got a woman official attached to his department without caring for a no-objection certificate from the parent department. The tussle between the two ministers went on for weeks but finally Harak Singh, who is known to ride roughshod over others, managed to have his way with the blessings of the Chief Minister. It would be interesting to see how the Education Minister reacts to the latest development where his authority has been undermined.

None ready to probe rape case

Usually fierce lobbying is witnessed among police officers to head any investigating team, especially when the matter is attracting media attention. However, this time in the sexual assault case against the Additional Secretary, Home, women police officers have not volunteered to head the investigating team, as they consider it a ‘crown of thorns’. A senior woman police officer said nobody wanted to be part of the investigating team because a senior Home Department officer was involved. Moreover, there were rumours in the police headquarters that after all officers expressed their unwillingness to head the probe team, an Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP)-rank woman officer, who was on training at the CBI Academy, had been asked to leave her training midway to lead the investigation in the case.

Forest guest houses tourists’ favourite

Come December and there is a mad scramble among tourists to book accommodation at various wildlife destinations of Uttarakhand. All forest rest houses and lodges and particularly those in Jim Corbett National Park and Rajaji National Park are packed to capacity. Most of these tourists come from cities like Delhi and Chandigarh and they prefer Corbett and Rajaji as the best places to celebrate Christmas and New Year. Interestingly, there is a clientele of tourists that prefers remote guest houses devoid of even mobile phone connectivity. An official working in an MNC said he comes to Corbett with the sole aim to keep his mind off the daily gruelling work and wanted to spend some days in peace. He said one found solace in the lap of nature and amid wildlife and Corbett gives him both. A Rajaji forest official said there were even tourists, who preferred coming to a forest lodge in the park that was even devoid of electricity supply.

(Contributed by SMA Kazmi, Jotirmay Thapliyal and Gaurav Talwar)

 Forest officer having no service record with govt
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 8
An officer of the rank of Additional Principal Chief Conservator (Forests) continues to hold the post of a nodal officer (forest land transfer) possessing all the records of land transfer affected by him for the past 13 years, which continue to be beyond the scrutiny and reach of the Uttarakhand government.

Normally, a government officer cannot stay in one post for more than three years, but this officer, till a few months ago, was also Additional Secretary Department of Forest and Environment.

The said officer was made Additional Secretary through a administrative order in 2001. The Department of Personnel (Uttarakhand) does not possess any record of his appointment nor the records of forest land transferred by him to the various departments for construction of roads, dams, power projects and building of irrigation canals. The lacuna in the appointment may have remained undetected but for an Right to Information (RTI) filed by CP Lakhera, that led to the removal of the nodal officer from the post of the Additional Secretary in the middle of 2013, but he continues to occupy the post of a nodal officer.

“While occupying the post of an Additional Secretary, he continued to work outside the Secretariat remaining out of bounds of the Department of Forest and Environment. So, essentially if decisions taken by him invite litigation, he would not be held responsible. Instead, officers in the state secretariat would be hauled up by the courts and called into question for decisions whose records they do not possess,” said Lakhera, whose RTI revealed that the Department of Personnel does not possess any government order regarding his appointment nor the proposals and recommendations of land transfers affected by him, since the last 13 years.

While the government is still dithering on the removal of the officer, Lakhera has filed another appeal this time with the Information Officer, Department of Forest 
and Environment demanding records of the land transfers affected since the last 13 years by the nodal officer. 

 Water tanks run dry due to MC apathy
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, December 8
Drinking water tanks installed at public places on Mall Road have run dry due to the alleged apathy of the Mussoorie Municipal Council.

Three to four water tanks were constructed by the MC after spending several lakhs to provide safe drinking water to the tourists. But due to the alleged neglect shown by the department concerned, most of the tanks are without any tap or regular supply of drinking water.

Moreover, instead of repairing the old tanks, the MC is constructing a new one near Chick Chocolate at Kulri Bazaar.

Residents alleged that the water tanks did serve the purpose during an emergency or shortage of domestic supply, but due to the non-availability of water, they were unable to use these.

When contacted, MC executive officer PS Yadav said the MC would conduct a joint inspection with Jal Santhan officials and repair all drinking water tanks prior to the next tourist season.

 Workshop on energy efficient lights concludes
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 8
The Society of Pollution and Environmental Conservation Scientists (SPECS) organised a week long workshop on making of energy efficient lights, bamboo lights and LED lights for the villagers in Udham Singh Nagar district.

Dr Brij Mohan Sharma, Secretary of SPECS presided over the valedictory function. He said the SPECS was working to make the state scientifically literate. He said energy was a vital tool for the overall development of a nation.

“Various methods are adopted in the present world for the sustainable use of energy and its consumption. An intelligent use of energy will save the resources for our future generation,” said Sharma. Dr Manoj Kumar Pant, Joint Director of Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Uttarakhand, distributed electronic kits, certificate and energy efficient light to each participant.

 Dogs of 38 breeds take part in kennel show
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 8
All Breeds Dog Championship was organised by Doon Valley Kennel Club at Survey of India stadium in Hathibarkala here today. The well-groomed dogs with shining coats of varied breeds took part in number of competitions.

Owners with their dogs during the All Breeds Dog Championship held at the Survey of India  stadium in Dehradun on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

Navneet Chaudhary, secretary of Doon Valley Kennel Club said: “Almost 38 dog breeds are participating in the show, which includes some rarest breeds.”

Over 250 dogs from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Delhi participated in the show.

The breeds that participated in the show included Napoleon Mastiff, Labrador, Rottweiler, English Mastiff, Shih Tzu, Shar Pie, Chow Chow, French Bull dog, Pekingese, American Staffardshire and Terrier.

Philip John, Thana Acharya and Simon Sim were the judges of the show.

Man booked for attacking wife with knife
Tribune News Service

Dehradun December 8
A man, identified as Yogesh Kumar, a resident of Sevlakala, allegedly attacked his wife with a knife after an argument over some issue today.

Yogesh’s wife later informed her father about the incident, who lodged a complaint with the police against his son-in-law.

The victim’s father said after marriage Yogesh started harassing his daughter for bringing inadequate dowry. The police have registered a case and launched a manhunt to arrest Yogesh, who is absconding. 

 Nitesh, Rekha register wins in HNB varsity boxing tourney
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 8
The Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University (HNBGU) Inter-College Boxing Tournament was held at Parade Ground here today. It was organised by DBS PG College.

In the 46-49 kg category, Nitesh of Kotdwar defeated Vivek of DAV (PG) College Dehradun. Kavindra of DAV (PG) College won the 49-52 kg category after trouncing Ankit of Haridwar PG College.

In the 52-56 kg category, Ganesh of DAV PG College thrashed Rahul of Kotdwar in the final bout. Akshay Rawat registered win in the 69-75 kg category by defeating Sagar Rawar of DBS PG College.

In the girls' category, Rekha Pandey of DBS PG College defeated Neha Singh of DAV PG College in the 48-51 kg group.

In the 48-51 kg category, Vaishali of DAV PG College trounced Meenakshi of Kotdwar PG College.

 Doon academy enter cricket final
Tribune News Service

A batsman plays a shot in a match in the Youth Cup Cricket Tournament played at Rangers’ College ground in Dehradun on Saturday. A Tribune photograph

Dehradun, December 8
The Doon Combined Cricket Academy entered into the final of 2nd Youth Cricket Cup 2013 after defeating Rao Cricket Academy by 15 runs in the semifinal played at Rangers College Ground here yesterday.

After batting first, Doon Combined scored 196 runs with Vaibhav Panwar scoring 86 runs for his team. In reply, Rao Cricket Academy was bowled out at 181 runs. Ashish Pal scored maximum 63 runs for Rao Cricket Academy.

Doon Combined cricket academy will fight it out against Sonakshi Sports in the final match of the tournament.