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DMC to re-appoint former staff to monitor sanitation work
SFI members hold protest at RTO
Former MP felicitated
Cops distribute pamphlets on road safety
Golden jubilee re-union concludes at IMA
Dry spell continues, no rain in sight
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Illegal axing of trees by forest mafia
VHP again raises issue of Ram
temple construction at Ayodhya
State to adopt Lokpal Bill soon, says CM
Power situation
continues to be grim
Second phase of clean Ganga drive launched
Inclusion of Lal Dhang in Tiger Reserve zone opposed
Bridge the gap between haves, have-nots: Guv
Villagers prefer private schools
Residents threaten agitation, want high school upgraded
State bans 2 wheat seed varieties
Cong Seva Dal workers resign en masse
Protest by trained unemployed members enters 97th day
‘Jeevan Saathi Sammelan’ for 50 plus people
KDMIPE Foundation Day celebrated
Magician enthrals Kingston school students
US Nagar win in table tennis tourney
DM reviews arrangements
for volleyball championship
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DMC to re-appoint former staff to monitor sanitation work
Dehradun, December 19 Agitated at poor sanitary conditions in the city, Principal Secretary MH Khan had directed officials, including Mukhya Nagar Adhikari (MNA) Ashok Kumar, to take immediate steps to bring things back on track. Talking to TNS, Ashok Kumar said, “At present, keeping the city clean and managing waste disposal is the biggest challenge for the DMC. We have failed in the past, but hopefully with new changes and some fresh appointments, we will be able to streamline
the things." He said, “We have decided to re-appoint retired staff members of the DMC and other departments who were dealing with the sanitary work during their tenure. They have a better understanding of the work and need no training. They will be hired on a part-time basis and paid an amount that is difference between the last salary drawn and their pension,” said the MNA. “A government order has been issued in this regard. The appointments will be made soon. Their main task will be to monitor sanitation work being carried out in the city, especially in 20 wards that are now being handled by the DMC,” said MNA. A total of six appointments will be made,
two each for chief sanitation inspector, sanitation inspector and zonal officers. Meanwhile, rumours are rife that the DVWM is all set to withdraw its services from the remaining wards too in the wake of its ongoing tussle with the
DMC.
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SFI members hold protest at RTO
Dehradun, December 19 They also submitted a memorandum to the Regional Transport Officer. The protesters demanded that buses should also ply on college routes. The SFI is also demanding a 50 per cent discount on bus fare for college students. SFI district vice-president Vipin Joshi said private colleges charged exorbitant fares to provide bus service. The protesters have threatened to intensify the stir if their demands were not
fulfilled. — TNS |
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Former MP felicitated
Dehradun, December 19 Jagannath Sharma (90) presently lives in Mussoorie. He is a Member of Legislative Council (MLC), chairman of Mussoorie municipality and dean of the Law Department of Garhwal University. Jaiprakash Uttarakhandi, president of the Mafasilite Memorial Society, said Sharma gave his services as a journalist in 1944-45 for the Mafasilite newspaper. The other distinguished guests on the occasion also threw light on the career highlights and contribution of Sharma in various fields.
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Cops distribute pamphlets on road safety
Dehradun, December 19 Through the pamphlet distribution drive, the traffic cops were explaining the measures to be taken during driving at foggy nights. The two-wheelers and four-wheeler riders were stopped at the Clock Tower and were distributed the literature-related safety norms. Preventive measures to be taken while driving in hilly areas and foggy nights and right ways of parking were mentioned in the pamphlets.
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Golden jubilee re-union concludes at IMA
Dehradun, December 19 Around 80 officers along with their wives attended the re-union that lasted for three days. A number of events were organised to mark the event including, wreath laying at the IMA
Memorial, golden jubilee dinner, visit to the IMA museum and group photographs. Lt Gen Manvender Singh, Commandant of the IMA, welcomed the veterans and their wives to their alma mater and updated them of
the progress made by the academy since their days as Gentlemen Cadets. He also introduced them to the ongoing projects, which would transform the IMA into a premier world class military training institution. The golden jubilee course presented a memento to the IMA. A specially designed photograph titled “now and then” of Chetwode Building and the academy was also presented to
the ex officers who attended the course. |
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Dry spell continues, no rain in sight
Dehradun, December 19 According to Dehradun Meteorological Department's Executive Director Anand Sharma, there was no immediate possibility of rain and there was only a very slight possibility of rain by the end of
December. Meanwhile, Dehradun roads give a desolate look after 8 in the evening due to cold wave conditions. Dehradun Municipal Corporation had made arrangements for firewood for street dwellers. On the other hand, most of the trains coming to Dehradun are arriving late due to foggy conditions in other parts of
the country. Link Express, Howrah Express and Mussoorie Express were late by approximately an hour than their scheduled arrival at Dehradun railway station. |
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Illegal axing of trees by forest mafia
Mussoorie, December 19 The forest officials, agitated on a case being registered against their colleagues over the felling of 50 oak trees by forest mafia a couple of days back, reached the SDM's office and registered their protest in front of SDM Sonika today and alleged that the police had acted in an partisan manner and filed a false case after pressurising the caretaker of Park Estate Ravinder Singh. The caretaker deposing before the SDM retracted from his earlier statement and alleged that the police had picked him up forcibly and pressurised him to lodge a complaint against the two forest officials for conniving with forest mafia in the felling of 50 oak trees a few days back. Forester Balbir Singh Rawat and the beat officer Gajendar Gaud had been named in the case filed by the police yesterday. SDM Sonika said that she had recorded the statements of all the parties involved in the case. She also lambasted the police officials for misusing their office and registering a case against the forest officials without investigating the matter thoroughly. She directed the police to investigate the matter afresh and without any bias. Notably, around 50 oak trees were reported felled illegally by the forest mafia with alleged involvement of the forest officials at Hathipaon, which comes under the notified forest on December 16. The Forest Department had also confiscated some remains of the trees felled illegally and was still on hot pursuit of the perpetrators who had been identified by them since the occurrence of the incident. Meanwhile, the forest officials Balbir Singh Rawat and Gajendar Gaud who were named in the complaint met the SDM and have registered a strong protest against the police action and said that police was acting at the behest of some individuals ''due to ulterior motives.'' They also said that the senior officials will be informed about the matter without any further delay. When contacted, DFO, Mussoorie, Dheeraj Pandey, informed The Tribune that he was not aware of any case being filed against the forest officials. He also said that the caretaker of Park Estate Ravinder in his earlier statement recorded with forest officials had commended the forest officials for their role and initiating speedy action against the forest mafia, which had led to their fleeing from the scene at Hathipaon. He also said that the forest officials were closing in on the case and would disclose the names of the perpetrators involved in felling of the oak trees illicitly at Hathipaon soon. |
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VHP again raises issue of Ram
temple construction at Ayodhya
Haridwar, December 19 VHP International working president Praveen Togadiya said if the VHP and other pro-Hindu political parties and outfits have to remain in politics, then the Ayodhya temple needs to be constructed, as on this issue people had asserted faith in them. Togadiya welcomed the Centre's retaliatory stance against the USA in the wake of ill-treatment meted out to Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade earlier this week. He related this incident as a blatant example of racism that is practised in America ,while the western world often puts questions on Indian caste system. Citing danger to Hindutva he lashed at the Congress, the Samajwadi Party, BSP and Communists for catering to a specific community only, ignoring the other communities' interests. The firebrand VHP leader called on its members to join in the social networking sites so as to spread the Hindutva philosophy as younger generation is drifting away from moral values. Praising BJP's decision to name Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial candidate, Togadiya said this had already made a major impact as the huge crowd at Modi's rally testifies this. |
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State to adopt Lokpal Bill soon, says CM
Dehradun, December 19 He said the proposal will come up in the next
Cabinet meeting. “We will hold extensive discussions on this issue,” he added. It may be mentioned that the Lokayukta Bill passed by the BJP Government and the Congress Government will not be adopted by the Congress
Government. — TNS |
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Power situation
continues to be grim
Dehradun, December 19 Of this, 10.76 MU had been generated in the state’s power stations while the remaining come through the Central pool and other sources. |
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Second phase of clean Ganga drive launched
Haridwar, December 19 President of the Akhil Vishwa Gayatri Family, Shantikunj, Dr Pranav Pandya along with spiritual guru Shail Didi flagged off the volunteers after the conclusion of a three-day training workshop. In her address, Shail Didi said, “The Ganga is like mother to us and we need to conserve its sanctity. It flows from Gaumukh in Gangotri in the Garhwal Himalayas till Ganga Sagar in West Bengal covering 2,525 km.” The Gayatri family has been associated with the clean Ganga drive for the past one year. The whole Ganga course has been divided into various zones. From Gangotri to Ganga Sagar these zones are: (Gaumukh) Haridwar, (Vishwamitra Anchal) Haridwar till Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, (Bharadwaj Anchal) Kanpur till Benaras, (Gautam Anchal) Benaras till Sultan Ganj in Bihar and (Ram Krishan Anchal) Sultan Ganj till Ganga Sagar in West Bengal. Pandya said besides the Ganga its other tributaries like the Yamuna, the Saraswati and the Chambal would also be cleaned with the support of several other organizations. “Till now Shantikunj has covered 10 rivers in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh where the clean rivers’ drive is being carried out in the first phase. Now, the second phase has commenced and nine teams were flagged off today,” he added. |
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Inclusion of Lal Dhang in Tiger Reserve zone opposed
Haridwar, December 19 Notably, Lal Dhang and Shyampur areas are to be earmarked as buffer zones under the Tiger Reserve zone project, falling under protected habitat of Raja Ji National Park. A special committee of forest and park officials is currently surveying these areas, who are being opposed by local residents. Haridwar rural segment legislator Swami Yatishwaranand has also sided with the local villagers, pointing that the decision to include these two rural habitat areas falling in and adjacent to Raja Ji National Park on the Haridwar-Najibabad-Kotdwar highway will not be allowed at any cost. The two meetings called on by the park officials with the local villagers have failed as these two had to be called off as villagers gheraoed the officials demanding no talk on the buffer zone issue as they don’t want buffer zone status. Villagers fear that if these two areas are included in the tiger buffer zone, then many a strict forest-park-environmental laws will come into place, restricting their local movement and livelihood. Though, special committee team official, Dhananjay Mohan, dismissed all such apprehensions and fears saying that core buffer zone is only for conserving and nurturing tiger species and no other such restrictions are imposed on the local people living in the vicinity or periphery of the buffer zone. Legislator Swami Yatishwaranand opposing the move said that he will raise this issue at the higher level if buffer zone is imposed at the villagers of Lal Dhang-Shyampur. Raja Ji National Park director SP Subuddhi has urged the villagers that they cooperate the special committee team assuring them that no additional restrictions will be levied on them as per tiger reserve buffer zone norms and they will be able to continue their livelihood, movement and living in these areas as they have been doing so. Local Zila panchayat representatives Ajay Chaudhari, Satya Prakash along with village representatives Shamsher Bhadana, Shankutala Devi and Omvati Devi said after buffer zone status, village gram sabha land will also come under Raja Ji National Park along with many a restrictions in the buffer zone, which they are opposing.
Sore point
Villagers fear that if Lal Dhang and Shyampur are included in the buffer zone of the Tiger Reserve, many strict forest, park and environment laws will come into force, restricting their movement and sources of livelihood.
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Bridge the gap between haves, have-nots: Guv
Dehradun, December 19 Expressing his views at a seminar titled “Minorities - Achievements and Challenges Post Independence,” the Governor said: “We need to provide equal opportunities to all so that the divide between the have and have-nots is bridged,'' he said. Similar views were echoed by Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna in his address. He exhorted the members of the minority communities to lend a helping hand to those among their communities who may have been left behind. He said: “For the economic growth of the country, the distinction between majority and minority has to be bridged,'' he said. In his scholarly and researched presentation, Vice Chancellor (VC) of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Lt Gen (retd) Zameeruddin Shah took a leaf out of history to spell out the concept of minorities. “Let me say this to you. I am not a member of a minority community. I am often perplexed by this classification. Should we, as the second largest community in the country, be termed as minority?” he asked. He said that the Indian Muslims constantly faced a dilemma whether they should throw away the claim to minority, ''especially when it is regularly played in the media about the success stories of few individuals who have made it big in the fields of art, entertainment and sports, when the community as a whole is on a continuous decline and has been declared most backward by the Justice Sachhar committee report,” he said. Zameeruddin Shah said that the Muslims need to break the psychological shell by demanding a proactive role for themselves while retaining their Indo-Islamic identity and participate in nation building. ''We need to learn from Malcolm X who said progress lies in healing the wounds. Please look at us fellow human beings who are true to their salt. Let us not wear religion on our sleeves,'' he said. On the other hand Dr Jaspal Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, said that “we need to accept the plural identity of our nation. It is a reality and we cannot wish it away,” he said. He also decried the tendency among the Indians to target a section of society and push them into the fringes. “Swami Vivekanand had termed it as a malady that needed to be addressed right away. Prejudice based on gender and caste continues to be present among us. Let us work for inclusion,” Jaspal Singh said. |
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Villagers prefer private schools
Pithoragarh, December 19 “The number of students in primary schools in the district was 30,720 against 1,429 primary teachers in Pithoragarh district in 2011. The number of students further decreased to 30,670 despite the number of teachers was increased to 2693 in the year 2013,” said a source from the DEO’s office. Chief Education Officer, Champawat, Anand Bhardwaj, said despite maintaining of schools and appointments of teachers there, the number of primary and junior school students in the district had decreased in the district. “Despite all these efforts, we have at present over 10 schools, which have less than 10 students in primary sections,” he said. According to the education officer, even the teachers have no confidence in their own teaching, as they are sending their children to private schools, a step which is being followed by other guardians of the area. “The district education authorities face difficulties in adjusting the teachers in schools as they have no powers to do so under sole transfer policy,” said the education officer. In Pithoragarh district, where over 28 government primary schools have been closed due to lack of students in primary sections, over 191 schools are being run where there are less than 10 students, and 101 have one teacher due to less number of students there. “Even the number of students in junior high schools of the district has decreased from 10,016 in year 2011 to 7,898 this year,” said VK Tamta, Chief Education Officer of the district. |
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Residents threaten agitation, want high school upgraded
Pithoragarh, December 19 “Being Dalits we are not in a position to send our girls to the college situated 12 km away. As a result our daughters have to stop pursuing education after high school,” said Prahlad Ram, a member of the Dalit community in Kamajual village. The villagers said they were expecting the high school in their village to be on the list of schools selected for upgrade that the state government had released last week. No high school had been upgraded in Champawat district even though the Education Department had upgraded 17 high schools in the state. They said the Education Department frequently flouted the parameters for opening an intermediate college. It opened colleges in places near to each other but did not fulfil the long-standing demand of the villagers for a college in Barakot. “Over 80 per cent of the total families living in the Barakot area are compelled to stop sending their daughters for higher education to the intermediate college as almost all of them are poor,” said Prahlad Ram. “Over 3,000 residents of Kamajula, Bakariajula, Jamar, Phirkola, Kurchori, Barchora and Randhaw villages are now restless that the high school in their area is not being upgraded. We have decided to launch an agitation if the government continues to play with the future of our daughters and does not fulfil our demand for the upgrade of the school to intermediate college,” said Prahalad Ram. |
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State bans 2 wheat seed varieties
Pithoragarh, December 19 “We have recommended the ban after this variety developed yellow rust which damaged almost the entire crop of wheat after leaves of plants started falling after becoming yellow and weak,” said PK Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer of US Nagar at Rudrapur. He said these varieties had been developed in Haryana and were being used since 2001. These had been found to be affected by yellow rust after being commissioned. “We have instructed the seed sellers that if any seller is found selling this variety in the state, he will be sued under Seed Act of 1966, which can go up to cancellation of his licence,” he said. The officer added this variety of wheat were affecting other sown varieties at nearby fields. “If the field gets affected by the diseases found in this variety, even the crop of other varieties can be destroyed up to 80 per cent,” he said. |
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Cong Seva Dal workers resign en masse
Mussoorie, December 19 The government nominated Umesh Vaish, Abul Hassan, Javed Khan, Subhasini Bartwal and Sunil Bakshi as ward members of the MC today. The Congress Seva Dal members led by Sunil Panwar, chief organiser of the Dal in Mussoorie, Sandeep Agarwal, Arvind Sonkar, Naveen Bhatt, Dinesh Semwal, Shailendar Bisht and other workers resigned from the party in protest against the nomination of five persons to the MC
as members. The Seva Dal workers in a press conference held at a hotel here alleged that the government at the behest of a few senior state Congress leaders sidelined active party workers and nominated five persons to the MC in an arbitrary fashion. This would not be tolerated
at any cost. Sunil Panwar said the Congress was being run like a syndicate and the real party workers had no say in any decision, which was evident from the nomination of five persons to the MC. Vice-president of the Congress in Mussoorie BP Kukreti, who was livid at the nominations, said many Congress workers, who had been working for the party from the past several decades, had been ignored. He added the parachuting of the nominated members into the MC would not fetch the party votes in the forthcoming parliamentary elections. The Congress would face an electoral debacle similar to that it faced in the Assembly elections in four states the results of which were declared recently. Another senior Congress leader Ram Prasad Kavi said even Dalit party workers had been sidelined and the government decision would spell doom for the party in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. He added more Congress workers would resign soon. President of the Mussoorie Youth Congress Anuj Gupta also objected to the nominations and said no Congress organisation in the town was consulted while finalising the list. Arvind Sonkar, Dinesh Semwal, Amit Kaintura, Naveen Bhatt, Harbhajan Thakral, Ramesh and former Mahila Congress president Bharosi Rawat were also present on The Mussoorie Congress unit president said he had sent the names of probable candidates to the government but he had no say in the final nominations. It is worth mentioning that there has been a practice that the state government nominates about five persons having experience of working in the civic body or belonging to various communities who have failed to find a representation in the board to the MC in consultation with the local party units. |
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Protest by trained unemployed members enters 97th day
Dehradun, December 19 Addressing mediapersons, Sunder Dhauni, president of the association, said despite the silent protest and number of requests for the acceptance of demands, the state government had not paid any heed to them. “It has been 97 days since the members of the association have staged a protest demonstration in 13 districts of the state. Until now we were carrying out a peaceful demonstration. However, if the government does not accept our demands, we would intensify the stir and take actions, for which only the administration and the government will be responsible,” said Dhauni. “We are planning to take out a rally and gherao the secretariat in the coming days, if our demands are not met,” he added. Ramesh Padiyar, Harish Bhoj, Lokesh Nautiyal, Jagdish Pandey, Manohar Singh and Satendra Bisht were also present. |
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‘Jeevan Saathi Sammelan’ for 50 plus people
Dehradun, December 19 Natwar Lal Patel, president of the foundation, said: “It is for the first time that a match-making programme is being organised in the state. It is a cost free event and an ideal place for unmarried men and women, divorced and widowed to find their life partners and start the second phase of their lives.” “The senior citizens are disregarded by their dependants. Recently, due to floods in Uttarakhand, many people have lost their partners. Our objective is to encourage them for re-marriage and start a new life,” said Dr Jitendra Bharti, one of the organiser from Dehradun. To register for the event, the organisers have demanded photographs, copy of death certificate of the spouse or divorce papers and ID proof. — TNS |
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KDMIPE Foundation Day celebrated
Dehradun, December 19 The day is marked by the Keshava Deva Malaviya Memorial Lecture, where renowned oil industry experts are invited to share their knowledge and domain expertise. NK Verma, Director (Exploration) of ONGC was the Chief Guest on
the occasion. Prabir Sengupta, former secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and David Mullins, senior director in PFC Energy’s Upstream Practice were
the speakers. NK Verma, Director (Exploration) of ONGC raised serious concern for the precarious energy scenario where demand was growing at a much faster pace than supply. “It is imperative that we leverage the knowledge pool, technology and available resources to increase the production,” said Verma. “In 1984-85, India had attained 80 per cent
self-sufficiency in oil whereas currently 80 per cent of our oil requirement is imported,” said Prabir Sengupta on the issue of ‘Energy Security and a Sustainable Approach’. He focused on various actions initiated by the Government of India but emphasised that there was a lot more to be done if India dreamt to be
energy independent. David Mullins gave an insight into the exploration and production competition and challenges through 2020. He gave a lucid presentation on the rapidly
changing business practices in the global energy scenario. The dignitaries released three special publications namely, Gravity Atlas of India, ONGC Bulletin and Annual Report 2012-13. |
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Magician enthrals Kingston school students
Dehradun, December 19 Magician VK Samrat enthralled one and all with his unmatched
magic talent on behalf of the Indian Red Cross Society. The founder and Principal of the school, BS Rawat, expressed his thanks to VKSamrat for showcasing unexpected magical performances and to the HDFC Bank for having organised the drawing and painting competition at the school. He further said, “Every now and then one paints a picture that seems to have opened a door and serves as a stepping stone to other things. The goal of
education is the advancement of knowledge and the dissemination of truth. I really appreciate the kids for taking interest in such extracurricular activities and realising
its importance.” The result of this competition will be declared on the sports day, which
is scheduled for December 21. |
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US Nagar win in table tennis tourney
Dehradun, December 19 Udham Singh Nagar won the table tennis championship in the boy’s category after defeating Dehradun in the final match. In the girl’s category, Udham Singh Nagar team won the table tennis championship after trouncing Dehradun in the final match. Udhamsingh Nagar carried its excellent form to the boy’s badminton finals also and the team consisting of Pallav Joshi and Himanshu won the championship by defeating the team from Pauri by 21-11, 21-13, 21-11 and 21-14. In the girl’s badminton finals, Dehradun team consisting of Shafali and Divyanshi defeated Udhamsingh Nagar girl’s team with a score line of 21-15, 21-13, 21-13 and 21-5. In the boxing events, Nikita from Nainital won the 44-46 kg category in the girl’s category after defeating Hema from Bageshwar in the final bout by 3-2. Amita from Dehradun won the 46-48 kg category with a win over Neema from Bageshwar. While in the boy’s boxing final events, Arjun from Udhamsingh Nagar won the 44-46 kg category final bout after defeating Puran from Dehradun by 5-0. In the 46-48 kg category, Haran from Udham Singh Nagar defeated Anil from Bageshwar by 5-0 score. Ajay Kumar Pradyut, Secretary of the Sports and Youth Development Department, gave awards to the winners. |
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DM reviews arrangements
for volleyball championship
Dehradun, December 19 The officials while informing that arrangements for the boarding and lodging of the players were made, said that 1500 players and members are expected to be part of the championship. The District Magistrate said that vehicles to ferry the players should be provided at the earliest so that timely arrangements can be made. Instructions to manage traffic and sanitation of the city were also given to the respective officials by the DM. The Water Corporation was asked to make arrangements for 2-3 clean drinking water tankers in the stadium. The PWD officials were instructed for the construction of temporary washrooms for the players near the grounds.
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The protest by the members of the B. PEd and M.PEd Trained Unemployed Association entered its 97th day today. They threatened to intensify their stir in case the government fails to accept their demands at the earliest.
Addressing mediapersons, Sunder Dhauni, president of the association, said despite the silent protest and number of requests for the acceptance of demands, the state government had not paid any heed to them.
