Nurses adamant but minister says they will resume work today
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 9
With the staff nurses remaining belligerent and continuing to boycott the three shift duties despite the Nainital High Court order, the Department of Medical, Health and Family Welfare has been plunged into a crisis.

While the nurses remained adamant on the 10th day demanding that their demand for upgradation of grade pay be immediately conceded and they be issued a government order, the Uttarakhand Health Minister Surinder Singh Negi said that the talks with the nurses had been fruitful and they may resume their duties tomorrow.

“I held a fruitful discussion with them and assured them that we would honour their demands,” said Negi.

However, the Director General, Medical, Health and Family Welfare, JS Pangti, till late evening was awaiting response from the political leadership for tiding over the crisis.

“The High Court order is before us. The nurses have to resume their duties. I have held talks with them but they are unmoved. We would be forced to look for alternative arrangements, including inserting advertisements for starting walk-in interviews as part of new recruitment,” said Pangti.

Meanwhile, the Auxiliary Nurses and Midwives (ANMs), who have been discharging duties in place of the nurses today, demanded that they be sent back to the periphery as they had to carry out vaccinations and family planning camps.

“On Wednesday, the vaccinations could not be carried out in the periphery. For the last 10 days we have been holed up in the hospitals and discharging duties for which we are not trained. We should be sent back,” said Kanta Rana, general secretary of Uttarakhand Matar Shishi Evam Parivar Kalyan Mahila Karamchari Association.

The Nurses’ Association president Anjana Bhowmick categorically said that during talks with the Uttarakhand Minister for Health, they had demanded that a government order be issued as a confirmation that their demands had been met.

“We will resume duties only after the government issues an order regarding our demands. If it is delivered we will be back,” said Bhowmick. 

 New licensing policy traders burn govt’s effigy
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 9
Traders burnt an effigy of the state government at Clock Tower in Dehradun yesterday in protest against the new licensing policy that limits their stocks.

Under the aegis of the Pranteya Udhyog Vyapar Mandal, the traders raised slogans against the state government and burnt its effigy at Clock Tower. They later marched to the district headquarters and submitted to the District Magistrate a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister. They demanded that the new licensing policy be scrapped immediately.

President of the mandal Anil Goyal said the traders would no longer tolerate harassment at the hands of the state government. He added by introducing the new licensing system the state government wanted to hurt their businesses.

Goyal said in a state like Uttarakhand, which has difficult geographical conditions, it was important to keep stocks for longer periods.

Umesh Aggarwal, Surendra Prabhakar, Vipin Nagalia, Amarjeet Singh and Anuj Jain were prominent among the group of protesters.

 Interim reservation list
Many residents file objections at Panchayati Raj office 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 9
Unhappy with the interim reservation list released by the Department of Panchayati Raj, on the first day of inviting objections yesterday, several residents of Dehradun filed their objections at the office of the Panchayati Raj officer.

A resident of village Motidhar in Raipur block Tara Chand in his application said that without undertaking proper survey, the gram pradhan seat from Raipur has been reserved for women candidates.

“The gram pradhan seat falling under our village under the three-tier Panchayati Raj system has been reserved for a female candidate, when the literacy level of the village is quite low. I do not know if an uneducated candidate will be able to work for the development of the village,” said Tara Chand.

Similarly, Girish Chander Sontha, ex-pradhan of Virpur Khurd falling under Doiwala block has demanded that the seat for the gram pradhan should be reserved for SC candidates as the seat has been consistently general for the last four terms. 

 BJP protests against rising prices of fruits, vegetables
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 9
Uttarakhand BJP workers yesterday staged a protest at Krishi Utpadan Mandi Samiti office in Dehradun resenting rising prices of fruits and vegetables.

Led by state BJP spokesman Prakash Suman Dhyani, BJP workers said it was a matter of concern that despite announcing withdrawal of mandi fee, the prices of fruits and vegetables still continue to increase at an alarming rate.

Dhyani said the price of fruits and vegetables increased by 13 per cent after coming out from mandi due to various charges levied on them by Krishi Utpadan Mandi Samiti. He said despite curtailing mandi fee, the Krishi Utpadan Mandi Samiti, Dehradun, had failed to check rising prices of fruits and vegetables. He said even farmers are suffering in the process.

Vishnu Sundriyal, Mukesh Rana, Munna Lal Verma and Surendra Sharma, were prominent among the protesters.

 UPSC annual report presented to Qureshi
Try to excel in public service: Guv
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 9
Uttarakhand Public Service Commission chairperson DP Joshi and members of the commission presented the annual report 2011-12 of the commission to Uttarakhand Governor Aziz Qureshi last evening.

The Governor said that the commission should accelerate its selection procedure and provide the state with excellent public service.

He asked the chairperson regarding the 268 vacancies for lecturer in the various colleges of the state to which the chairperson replied that the process of evaluation and selection was under way as per the rules of UGC.

In the annual report was included the complete description of recruitment of people after examinations and interviews and other important activities of the commission.

It was also mentioned in the report that this year applications for various exams like PCS, Ranger ,Civil Judge (junior division) had been invited online .

All applications would be invited online now.

According to the report,the commission had so far selected 14,396 candidates through various exams for which about 7.5 lakh people had appeared .

Of these 14,396 candidates ,5525 were recruited directly through interviews ,2756 through written exams and 6115 through DPC.

In 2011-12 ,candidates were selected for 1648 posts and recommendations were sent to the government and 784 of these were selected through exams and interviews .

The Governor Aziz Qureshi also released the second issue of the commission's own journal, “Medha.”

Besides DP Joshi ,those present were Manjula Bisht, Professor Manjula Rana ,DK Bhatt, NS Negi, CS Bhatt, Examination Controller SN Pandey and the administrative officer SK Bhatt.

 Bahuguna gives Rs 5 lakh to rape victim’s family
Promises punishment to the guilty
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, January 9
In the wake of mass resentment and uproar over the shocking gang-rape and murder of a class VII Jawahar Navodya School student Sandhya at Pherupur village, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna arrived at the deceased's family house here today evening, handing them a cheque of Rs 5 lakh.

CM Vijay Bahuguna also assured of raising the aid by further Rs 5 lakh, which will be handed out later to the victim's family.

Expressing his condolences to the family members of the deceased victim, Bahuguna assured that the whole matter is in his notice and he had given directions to the concerned police officials to efficiently handle this case, so that the family got justice.

Parliamentarian from Pauri Garhwal Satpal Maharaj, who has his ashram in Haridwar, accompanied Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna during his visit to Pherupur village.

Satpal Maharaja termed the act as a sign of degrading moral values. He condemned the act, urging people to be patient as now the CM had assured the victim's family of speedy arrest of the culprits in this case.

District Magistrate Nidhi Pandey,Senior Superintendent of Police Rajeev Swarup,rural legislator Swami Yatishwaranand and Lakshar legislator Sanjay Gupta were also present during the CM's visit to Pherupur village.

Meanwhile, Haridwar parliamentarian and Union Minister for Water Resources Harish Rawat has also expressed his sympathy with the members of the girl's family.

The local parliamentarian announced Rs 5,000 aid from his MPLAD funds for construction of lavatories in every home of Pherupur village, so that women don't have to go out of their homes.

In a media press release, Harish Rawat stated that he had called on Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna and Director General of Uttarakhand Police BS Sidh over this matter.

The release pointed that Union Minister had urged CM to up the ex-gratia relief payment from earlier announced Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh and sought clarification from DGP over the laxity done by Pherupur police in charge and personnel in this case.

Former Uttarakhand Women's Commission chairperson Santosh Chauhan also led a women's delegation to Pherupur village, where they met the victim's family expressing their sympathy.

Meanwhile, five separate police teams have been formed under Circle Officer Chandra Mohan Singh Negi to nab the culprits in this sensational case.

As per Superintendent of City Police Surjeet Singh Pawar, all the five teams are conducting raids to nab the culprits involved in this heinous crime, with police getting some vital clues from the spot.

The police has so far interrogated dozens of people, particularly those working at a sugarcane weight measurement centre ,near which the body of the girl child was found.

 Mass protest over teenager’s rape, murder enters third day
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, January 9
The resentment among people over the alleged rape and murder of a school girl in Haridwar district continued for the third consecutive day today.

For the past three days, numerous protest march, condolence meetings and protests against the laxity by the police have been held, in which large number of women took part.

Many feared that if the national Capital and the pilgrim city were not safe for women, then no part of the country was safe.

Kiran Singh, a social activist, who had raised the last month's mysterious killing of a girl in Pathri village of Haridwar, said time had come when hang-till-death penalty should be given to all rape and sexual molestation culprits.

Dr Santosh Chauhan, former chairperson of the Uttarakhand Women Commission, said apart from the stringent laws for crime against women, change in the societal and educational set up was needed as the moral values had taken a back seat in the current time.

A large number of women and youth took out a candle march from Bhagat Singh Square. The placards depicted justice and arrest of the culprits involved in the rape case.

Divisional unit of the BJP led by City legislator Madan Kaushik held a meeting at the Chandracharya square to offer tribute to the deceased child. They also pressurised the district administration to expedite the arrest of the culprits.

Kaushik demanded immediate suspension of the police personnel of the Pheruphur, who didn’t file a complaint of the victim’s family and instead tried to shoo them away from the police station.

Sanjana Sharma, president of the district women cell, citing the South-Delhi rape and physical molestation of the medical student, said the same episode was repeated in Pherupur, which pointed that women were not safe in India, despite stringent laws enacted by the Centre.

Uttarakhand Kranti Dal has urged the state government to provide safety women.

“The mindset of the society needs to be changed, which presents women as an object,” said Rashtriya Krantikari Manch activists led by ex-legislator Ambrish Kumar.

Jan Sangarsh Morcha too protested against the police administration for failing to make arrest in the case.

 GSI suggests scientific removal of rubble at Kedarnath shrine
Submits its report to govt
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 9
For maintaining the aesthetic beauty of the Kedarnath temple in Rudraprayag district, the green blast technology frequently used by the mining sector would be ideal for removing big boulders that tumbled down during the 2013 mid-June disaster.

This has been stated by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) in its report submitted to the state government today. The boulders have covered the compound and the platform on which the famous shrine is positioned.

“We have recommended the scientific removal of moronic rubble comprising boulders, clay and sand material by using the state-of-the-art technology. As intense blasting could damage the brick heritage of the shrine, we have recommended the use of the green blast technology. In this technology, a section of the rock is drilled and the chemical is poured into the rock and left to disintegrate. This technology is in use by the mining sector and is safe,” said Dr VK Sharma, Director, GSI.

“There are chances of the formation of water channels under the porus debris in rains. Ultimately, it is for the government to decide and take the call. We cannot set the deadline for its removal because it is not our mandate,” said Dr Sharma.

While the government has been grappling with the problem of accumulated river muck and its removal, the report has also recommended earmarking disposal grounds to get rid of the muck which could be in the vicinity. The GSI has also submitted a report to the Archaeology Survey of India (ASI) and recommended using the retrofitting technology for providing strength to the temple walls wherever gaps have developed due to the shifting of the stone.

“Along with recommending retrofitting, we have also submitted the geological report of the foundation of the temple studied by using ground-penetrating radars. Small cracks have developed on the platform of the temple which require strengthening ” said Dr Sharma.

New and old landslide zones

The GSI has identified 274 new and old landslide zones in the disaster-affected areas of the state and prepared a database for 67 affected villages for the purpose of rehabilitation. It has prepared a comprehensive geological report for the disaster-hit districts of Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Tehri, Uttarkashi and Bageshwar. It has also recommended the shifting of Kedarpuri town in the southward direction and pulling down of the structures that are in the vicinity of the Kedarath temple. 

  Raid on guest house

Dehradun, January 9
The police today raided a guest house at Govind Garh here today and found two youths in a objectionable position with a girl.

The police also recovered obscene CDs and DVDs from the guest house premises. On the basis of the information given by the girl, the police also arrested a broker woman, who had allegedly sent the girl to the guest house.

The youths are MBA students and belong to Meerut. The girl is a resident of Saharanpur. The police have also arrested the guest house owner. — TNS

Scouts and Guides rally to begin today

Dehradun, January 9
The second state-level Scouts and Guides rally will begin here tomorrow. Addressing a press conference here today, Chief Education Officer, Dehradun, SP Khali said Governor Aziz Qureshi would inaugurate the three-day rally at MKP College.

At least 1,500 Scouts and Guides would be participating in the rally. Competitions like tent making and a photo competition would also be part of it. Cultural programmes will also be organised. — TNS

 Girls told to imbibe discipline
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 9
SP, crime, Nivedita Kukreti spoke about the importance of discipline and self-belief in life while delivering a lecture to over 300 girl participants on the second day of the ongoing women safety campaign at the Dehradun police lines here today.

Dr Prathiba Sharma delivered a lecture on the problem of drugs in society and threw light on the ramifications of alcoholism and how families were disintegrating due to drugs and alcohol intake.

It was a knowledge-boosting session as girls interacted with experts for increasing their awareness on social issues.

 FRI hosts three-day training on agroforestry
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 9
The Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun, started a three-day specialised training for members of various NGOs, joint forest management committees, panchayats, watershed committees, academia and nature clubs from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Chandigarh.

Inaugurating the training programme yesterday, Director, FRI, Dr PP Bhojvaid, said there was a huge scope of agroforestry in states like Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. He added: “If agroforestry is promoted in hilly areas as per the specific needs of the region, immense employment opportunities can be created and farmers too can get proper price of their produce.”

Earlier, in his welcome address, Sandeep Kujur, FRI head of the extension division, said the participants would not only learn or improve their skills, but also gain from the experience of subject experts in this field.

Heads of different FRI divisions were also present on the occasion. The training has been sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

  Negi submits memo against Doon SSP

Dehradun, January 9
The president of Jan Sangarsh Morcha and former vice-chairman of Garhwal Vikas Mandal Nigam Ragunath Singh Negi submitted a memorandum to DGP BS Sidhu against the Dehradun SSP here today.

Negi alleged in his memorandum that the Dehradun SSP had failed to stop the ongoing illegal mining in the district and has allegedly given free hand to the mining mafia to loot the natural resources. “The SSP has suspended or line attached most of the honest sub-inspectors and head constables who were taking action against illegal mining or illegal liquor trade in Dehradun district,” he added. DGP BS Sidhu has further asked Garhwal Range DIG Amit Sinha to look into the matter. — TNS

  UJVNL achieves power target before time

Dehradun, January 9
The Uttarakhand Jal Vidhyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL) has achieved its annual power generation target for the Kulhal hydro power project.

The UJVNL Board had set a target of generating 148 million units of power from the Kulhal hydro power project for the financial year 2013-14, while the Central Electricity Authority had put an annual generation target for the Kulhal hydro power project at 142 million units of power.

The Kulhal hydropower project has generated 148 million units of power by January 8, 2014, thereby attaining the target set by both the board and the central electricity authority, nearly three months before the current financial year comes to a close.

GP Patel, Managing Director of the UJVNL, expressed happiness over achieving the generation target by the Kulhal Hydro power project much before the financial year comes to an end. — TNS

 State to get $250 m World Bank loan for rebuilding work
Tribune News service

Dehradun, January 9
The Central Government, the state government and World Bank today signed a $250 million credit agreement for the Uttarakhand Disaster Recovery Project in New Delhi to support the state in its post-disaster recovery plans as well as strengthen its capacity for disaster risk management, a press note released by World Bank said today.

Nilaya Mitash, joint secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, on behalf of the Central Government; Rakesh Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary, for Uttarakhand, and Onno Ruhl, World Bank country director, India, signed the credit agreement for the project.

In keeping with the Indian government’s commitment to disaster risk mitigation at the national and state levels, this project would focus on the post-disaster recovery plans in Uttarakhand as well as improve the resilience of the state’s infrastructure and that of its communities from the impacts of such disasters in future, said Nilaya Mitash.

The Uttarakhand Disaster Recovery Project was fast-tracked under the World Bank’s emergency procedures and was prepared within three months.

A joint team of World Bank and Asian Development Bank conducted a rapid damage and needs assessment at the request of the Indian Government to rebuild the state’s infrastructure and assets lost in the natural disaster in June last year. The estimated losses across sectors and the reconstruction cost are calculated at about $661 million. The sectors covered included housing and public infrastructure; roads and bridges; water supply and sanitation (both urban and rural); livelihoods (in agriculture, fisheries and medium and small-scale enterprises); tourism; energy; and environment.

“Disasters like the one witnessed in Uttarakhand can roll back decades of development and are a fundamental threat to economic development and the fight against poverty. This project will focus on both reconstruction and disaster preparedness. It will help the Uttarakhand government with immediate relief efforts by building houses and public infrastructure, including rural connectivity and bridges. A very important part of the project will be to help the state be better prepared for the future. The disaster preparedness work will include putting in place information and communication systems that can provide early warning to the people likely to be impacted,” said Onno Ruhl.

“In Uttarakhand, the challenge is to build smarter, so that they do not undermine the fragility of the environment. This project will incorporate lessons from previous national and global post-disaster recovery projects to ensure that the recovery is targeted, effective and more resilient to future disasters,” he added.

From June 15 to 17 last year, Uttarakhand, endowed with vast natural resources and one of the most frequented tourist and pilgrimage destinations in India, witnessed unprecedented rainfall that devastated Kedarnath, Rambara, Gaurikund and other towns. According to official government figures, over 4,000 human lives were lost; 4,200 villages were affected; 9,200 cattle/livestock were lost; more than 3,300 houses and about 995 public buildings were damaged; close to 9,000 km of roads were affected; and 85 motor bridges and 140 bridle bridges were damaged. The event also left over 70,000 tourists and 100,000 local residents stranded in the upper reaches of the state.

Some of the key components of this project include the reconstruction of damaged houses and public buildings; reconstruction of damaged roads and bridges; and enhancement of the technical capacity of the state for managing future disaster risks. About 2,500 permanent disaster resilient houses will be built under this project. About 3,600 km of damaged village roads and about 675 km of other district roads will be reconstructed. About 440 km of bridle roads and about 140 bridle bridges that facilitate pedestrian connectivity for villages located in remote areas will also be reconstructed.

Besides reconstruction, another key component of the project is to focus on disaster risk mitigation. It will strengthen the capacity of the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA). Special skills training programmes will be organised for the district disaster management officers in all 13 districts of Uttarakhand. The Odisha State Disaster Management Authority and the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority are good examples in disaster management efforts and lessons will be drawn from their development and evolution process.

The project will be financed by a credit from the International Development Association (IDA), the part of World Bank that helps the world’s poorest countries, which provides interest-free loans with 25 years’ maturity and a grace period of five years. 

 Bahuguna lays stone of development schemes
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 9
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna laid the foundation stone of several developmental schemes at Joshimath in Chamoli district today. He laid the foundation stone for taxi stands, trauma centers, female polytechnic college and type four buildings for the Village Development Department.

He inaugurated the engineering college at Gopeshwar. Bahuguna said all possible help had been extended to the disaster affected.

He said Uttarakhand would be the first state to implement Lokayukta Bill.

Satpal Maharaj, Lok Sabha MP from Pauri Garhwal, said he would get a railway line lay till Karnaprayag.

Bahuguna said the main motive of the state government was to create employment opportunities in the state to stop migration to other states for jobs. He said technical projects should come up in order to help the state and create employment opportunities.

Bahuguna said 35,000 shops would be allotted to unemployed youths with soft loans to be repaid within 15 years.

Garhwal MP Satpal Maharaj, Rajendra Singh Bhandari, Deputy Speaker Vidhan Sabha Dr Ansuya Prasad Maikhuri and Dr Jeetram were also present on the occasion.

 Farmers worry less rain may hit wheat crop
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 9
Farmers and scientists are anxiously awaiting a good spell of winter rain to charge the dormant wheat crop as low rainfall could affect acreage of rabi crops in the state.

After a scanty spell of rain in December last year, experts say that if the existing dry spell continues the wheat crop will be badly affected. “The Kumaon region has witnessed scanty winter rain till now this year and this may affect the wheat crop. Similarly, after short bursts of showers in December, the farmers in the Garhwal region too are waiting for the rain that should arrive by this week,” said CS Mehra, Director, Agriculture.

The growth of the wheat crop has been stagnant due to the cold conditions since the last week of December. If the weather conditions persist with no rain in the coming days, the growth of the crop may be hampered, impacting the overall acreage of the rabi crops.

“We can expect growth only after January 15 when the temperature begins to rise and if there is moisture in the soil due to rain it will create ideal conditions for the wheat crop,” said Mehra

According to the Department of Agriculture, the total acreage of the rabi crop comprising wheat, coarse grain and pulses in the state is around 1.80 lakh hectares and last year the acreage of wheat dipped due to rain in February in the plains. “Flowering was adversely affected due to rain in February last year,” said Mehra.

Similarly, for the locally-grown pulses and coarse grains a good spell of winter rain would boost the prospects of the local farmers having a good crop and they may not have to spend much on fertilisers. “Essentially, good or bountiful rain tends to spoil kharif crops but is good for rabi crops,” said Dr BS Negi, Mission Director, Horticulture.

On the other hand, as most of the fruits and vegetables are grown during the kharif season, scanty winter rain may not have an adverse effect on their production. 

 Residents seek embankment along Sharda
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, January 9
Residents of Tanakpur town situated on the banks of Sharda river in Champawat district, have appealed to the state government to begin the work of constructing embankments along the river to protect the colonies situated by it and faces threat of flooding during monsoons every year.

“The Irrigation Department has identified that the localities of Tanakpur town, Nayakgoth, Thwalkhera and Ucholigoth areas are sensitive and are always at the risk of sliding during monsoons. These localities have faced heavy looses during the mid-June natural disaster, when the water level of the river reached to 5.44 lakh cubic meters per second,” said Dharmendra Chand, a local journalist based at Tanakpur. He said the submergence flooded the entire area and washed away dozens of houses besides the pucca construction of the Sharda Ghat.

“Though the Irrigation Department has prepared an estimate of Rs 20 crore to lay embankment at these places, but we want an action on the proposal as the work should be completed before the Panchayat and the Lok Sabha elections,” he added.

The Irrigation Department said it had made two projects of Rs 20 crore to save the town from floods and further sliding, and approved the proposals from the state technical advisory board.

“We are looking for budget approvals from the government to act on the proposal, that involves not only the construction of embankments on the river but also to protect the town from further sliding by the river,” said RK Yadav, XEN, irrigation construction division.

 Land under farming reduces in Champawat
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, January 9
Land under agriculture in Champawat district is gradually reducing as farming has become less sustainable, attacks by wild animals on crops in rural areas have increased and land in urban areas is being rampantly used for non-agrarian purposes, sources in the Agriculture Department said.

“The cultivation of different crops in the district has decreased by 21 per cent in the last 13 years after the state was formed,” said AK Upadhyaya, district agriculture officer, Champawat.

He said the land under cultivation in Champawat town and other towns of the district had decreased manifold in the last 13 years as more people had migrated from villages to towns. “In Champawat town alone the number of houses has increased 42 per cent in the last decade. All these houses have been constructed on fertile cultivable land,” said Upadhyaya.

The agricultural production is decreasing as the weather conditions have worsened in the last decade. “Though new agriculture techniques are being adopted and the irrigated area is increasing in the district, the area under agriculture is continuously decreasing as more farmers are opting for other occupations and migrating to cities,” said Dinesh Pandey, a farmer.

 Protest over police inaction in youth’s murder case
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, January 9
Agitated over police inaction in a youth’s murder case, kin of the deceased today blocked the fleet of Urban Development Minister Pritam Panwar at Almas Bend as a mark of protest.

Mohabbat Singh (25), a resident of Kyari village in the Jaunpur development region, was found hanging from a tree in the Srikot Bhatwadi forests in June last year. Suspecting a foul play, his family members lodged a complaint with the police in this regard.

In its complaint, the deceased's family alleged Mohhabat Singh, who used to work as a driver in Chandigarh, had been in a relationship with a woman for the past several years. They would talk over the phone daily.

According to his call details, Mohhabat Singh was near Vikas Nagar on May 18. On May 22 and 23, he called up that woman several times between 6 am and 7 am. After that he went missing. His body was later found on June 17.

They alleged the revenue police, which was earlier handling the case, did not even question the suspect and later transferred the case to the Chamba regular police station. They alleged the Chamba police had also failed to solve the case even after nearly seven months.

Irked over the slow pace of investigation in the case, they were forced to resort to road blockade.

The protesters demanded that a CBI probe should be ordered into the case and police officials who had failed to solve the case so far be suspended.

Urban Development Minister Pritam Panwar assured the protesters of looking into the matter. He told them that he would led a delegation to Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna to persuade him into directing his officials to conduct a CBI probe into the case.

 Fall in Naini Lake water level cause for concern
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh January 9
Environmentalists are worried as the Naini Lake has witnessed a reduction in water level up to 10 feet this month. They have cautioned that if the winter rainfall does not occur in the days to come, the water levels might reduce in the lake. This lake is the main attraction for tourists who come to Nainital during the summer season.

“The situation may worsen if snowfall in the higher peaks around the city and rain in the region do not occur in the days to come,” said Ajay Rawat, an environment activist.

Rawat said the main cause for reduction in the water level in the lake was excess exploitation of groundwater in the watershed areas of the lake, besides no rainfall during the winter.

“The lake which is fed 60 per cent by rainwater and 40 per cent by the groundwater generated inside the lake is suffering due to lack of rainfall during the winter and the indiscriminate exploitation of groundwater in the recent years,” said Rawat.

According to experts and lake-watchers, a similar situation had occurred in 2011, when due to lack of winter rains the water level of the lake receded and reached 16 feet below the average level.

 Maroj festivities begin in Mussoorie
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, January 8
The Maroj festival celebrated by the Jaunsar-Rawain-Jaunpur community residing in Mussoorie kicked off with the traditional goat sacrifice and beating of the drums in Mussoorie, thus ushering in the month-long festivities in the region starting from today.

The festival began with the traditional goat sacrifice early morning in the presence of a large gathering and was followed by traditional songs and a dance by the members of the community around a bonfire.

The community members also savoured a locally-prepared traditional herbal drink called “ghani sur,” which reminded them of the tradition followed in their villages situated around Mussoorie and far beyond.

Nandlal Bharti Group along with famous singer from the community Reshma Shah presented several cultural items that reminded the gathered audience of their roots back in their respective villages.

The women performers, who were dressed in traditional attire, enthralled the audience with their foot-tapping song and dance numbers on the occasion.

The organisers of the festival, Aglar-Yamuna Ghati Vikas Manch, organised a traditional community lunch called “baanta” (share of the sacrificed goat) for the community members.

The Education Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani invited as guest could not stop himself from beating the traditional drums and danced along with the Municipal Council president Manmohan Singh Mall, Sports and Planning minister Dinesh Agarwal, former Cabinet Minister Khajan Das and BJP MLA from Mussoorie, Ganesh Joshi.

Earlier, Urban Development Minister Preetam Panwar inaugurated the festival and danced with other political dignitaries on the occasion. Addressing the community members, Panwar said it was a historical festival and such occasions not only brought the people from the region residing in Mussoorie closer but also helped in preserving the culture and tradition. He also commended the Aglar-Yamuna Ghati Vikas Manch for organising the festival.

The president of the manch Shoorvir Rawat informed the gathering that the actual Maroj Festival would begin on the eve of Makkar Sankranti on January 14 in the region and as most of the community members would be leaving for their villages for month-long celebrations, they thought of observing it here today.

He further said that traditionally the festival was celebrated as a symbolic slaying of Dushashana in the epic Mahabharata. “During the Mahabharata, after Dushasana pulled the sari of Draupadi, she vowed not to tie her hair till she washed it with the blood of Dushasana and since then the sacrifice of the goat is symbolic of the slaying of Dushasana. The women of the community on this day observe a fast and keep their hair untied until the goat is sacrificed, added Rawat.

It is also believed that the tradition started in the period when no cultivation was possible in winters due to heavy snowfall in the region. The farmers on the advent of the chilly month of January would slaughter goats before the deity and feast othese. Once slaughtered, the goats are taken home and the meat is cut into pieces, which is locally called ‘banta’. Then it is wrapped in paper to be sent to married daughters.

Several eminent figures from the community were also felicitated by the manch on the occasion.

The villages in Rawain-Jaunsar-Jaunpur region will feast on goat meat and make merry for the one-month-long festival.

 RLEK chairperson to get Palkhivala award
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 9
Padam Shri Avdhash Kaushal, Chairperson of the Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK), a voluntary advocacy group has been selected for the Ninth Nani Palkhivala Civil Liberties Award in the individual category.

The award constituted by Nani A Palkhivala Memorial Trust carries a cheque for Rs 2.50 lakh and a citation.

The award was finalised by a group of eminent persons headed by Justice Sujata Manohar (Retd).

The award will be presented at a function to be held in Mumbai on January 16, 2014, which also happens to be the 94th birth anniversary of late Nani Palkiwala.

This year the award in the organisational category was being presented to Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement in Mysore.

Harish N Salve, Senior Advocate and former Solicitor General of India, will deliver the 11th Nani A Palkhivala Memorial Lecture on ‘Governance and the Constitution’ on the occasion. 

 Statehood fighter Bamrada's condition worsens
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 9
The condition of Baba Mathura Prasad Bamrada, a leading light of the Uttarakhand statehood agitation, has worsened following fast unto death undertaken by him for the past month at his residence near Srinagar, Garhwal. He was shifted to Srinagar base hospital by the Pauri Garhwal district administration but he refused to take any food in the hospital. He is being administered glucose.

Baba Bamrada had started his protest against the policies of the state government towards statehood agitators and growing unemployment amongst youth. Meanwhile, Dhirendra Pratap, spokesperson of the Uttarakhand Congress, has appealed to Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna to help Baba Bamrada. In a statement , Dhirendra Pratap said that the Chief Minister had earlier also helped Baba Bamrada and he needs further help in his old age. He appealed to the Chief Minister to provide employment to his son, who is looking after his father. 

  CM seeks central medical college

Dehradun, January 9
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has requested Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to sanction a central medical college for Uttarakhand. Bahuguna made the request at a meeting with Azad in New Delhi yesterday. The CM said the Union Health Minister gave a positive response to his request. — TNS

 One arrested for giving wrong info to police
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 9
Dehradun police have arrested one person for providing wrong information to fetch arms licence here today. Reportedly, one person, namely Ved Prakash, resident of Anarwala, applied for arms licence in year 2006 and allegedly mentioned in the application form that there is no police case against him.

Meanwhile, police also did not cross the information and sent its recommendation to the government for giving arms licence to Ved Prakash.

Later, somebody extracted information by using Right to Information Act and revealed that there were a number of cases registered against Ved at the time of issuance of arms licence to him.

However, the police were now looking for Ved Prakash and on Wednesday night, a police team arrested him and he was sent to jail after he was presented before the court here today. 

 One arrested in Baiju Shah murder case
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 9
Dehradun police claimed to have worked out the Baiju Shah murder case, which took place last year in the month of May, and arrested one person on charge of murder while one is still absconding.

According to the police, the arrested person's name is Rajesh Mehto, who is a resident of Shanti Vihar and was a partner of Baiju Shah in their money lending business. Reportedly, Rajesh and his friend Sonu called Baiju in the cantt area with Rs 1 lakh and drank liquor together.

The police are also claiming that Rajesh had told them during interrogation that they had an argument over some money issue and he along with Sonu strangulated Baiju Shah to death and fled from there after taking his money.

However, Sonu is still out of the police radar and raids are being carried out to nab him.

It is to be noted that the body of Biju Shah was found lying in the cantt area, which triggered panic in the whole area last year.

His wife has been going from pillar to post to seek justice and finally she has got some respite.