Doon Medical College yet to become functional
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 1
Though it will be some time before the proposed Doon Medical College becomes functional, the prestige attached to it and the vaulting ambitions of the VC of Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna (HNB) Medical Education University have ensured it becomes a campus college of the university.

Using his political clout, the VC of the university, Prof MC Pant, who was appointed during the tenure of the previous Bahuguna government and was being termed as a newcomer, managed to achieve the impossible.

''With the Doon Medical College being declared the campus college of the medical university, the VC would automatically become the overall in-charge of all matters pertaining to the Doon Medical College, including drawing powers related to funds. Earlier, the Director, Medical Education, was looking into these issues. Despite that fact the Doon Medical College has not taken shape,'' said BC Ramola, former president of provincial medical and health services.

To that end, the Doon Medical College has to pass through several stages of inspection, before it manages to receive approval from the Medical Council of India (MCI) in the form of Letter of Intent (LOI) and Letter of Permission (LOP). But despite the pending formalities, the proposed college that is yet to take shape is already a campus college of the medical university.

Still in the nascent stage, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Medical Education University was set up to streamline the medical education of the state, where several private players have also set up shop and ensure timely examinations and announcement of results. With this aim in mind Prof MC Pant was appointed VC of the university.

For certain, the ever obliging BJP raised the issue about Doon Medical College be first made the campus college of the medical university in the just concluded Budget session of the House with great gusto, forcing the Cabinet Harak Singh Rawat, who earlier held the medical education portfolio, to concede to the Opposition demand and declare the Doon Medical College a campus college. 

Minister releases 3 books on blood donation, youth

Dehradun, March 1
Cabinet minister Dinesh Aggarwal here today released three books titled ‘Raktdan Sankalp’, ‘Yuva Sankalp’ and ‘Youth Survey 2012-13’ published by the Uttarakhand Department of Youth Welfare.

Aggarwal said there is no alternative to blood and therefore efforts should be made to promote voluntary blood donation. “The book, ‘Raktdan Sankalp’ contains a lot of information about blood donation and will clear all doubts. It is necessary to widely publicise the books,” he added.

He said the youth were the backbone of the nation and if they adopted a positive approach the country would progress speedily. “We are among the top countries of the world due to the progressive attitude of our youth. In the present age of telecommunication revolution, the role of the youth becomes even more important,” he added. — TNS

National Science Day celebrated at various Doon institutions 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 1
National Science Day was celebrated at various institutions here yesterday. Uttarakhand Council of Science and Technology (UCOST), Survey of India, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Indian Institute of Petroleum and other institutions in Dehradun held a number of science popularisation programmes to mark the occasion.

Uttarakhand Council of Science and Technology (UCOST) in association with Uttarakhand Chapter of National Science Academy and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited organised a programme for schoolgoing children with an aim to popularise science. Uttarakhand Science and Technology Secretary Manisha Panwar and senior officials of ONGC, who were also present, handed over the prizes to the children, who excelled in essay writing and poster making competitions.

UCOST’s Director General Vijay Kumar Dhoundiyal disclosed that the Nnational Science Day was being observed every year and a number of competitions like essay writing and poster competitions were organised by UCOST to mark the occasion.

At Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Professor Goverdhan Mehta, national research professor and chair professor, School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad, delivered science day lecture. He spoke at length on " Scoping future: Science for global sustainability.” A large number of students present on the occasion interacted with Professor Goverdhan. Another Central Government scientific institution in Dehradun, Survey of India, opened up its museums for schoolgoing children on the occasion of National Science Day. A team of Survey of India officials informed the children about various survey instruments and their working.

Further, Physics Department of Unison World School, Dehradun, organised a guest lecture on the topic ''Refractive Errors and their Correction.''The lecture was delivered by Dr.Preeti S. Naithani, a renowed paediatric ophthalmologist, and Dr. Prashant Naithani, a retina surgeon.

The students at Unison World School were shown a power point presentation on various eye defects, causes and their correction as well as precautions that can prevent them. The students attended the lecture with great attention, interest and exhibited immense enthusiasm by actively participating in the question-answer session. Nalanda College of Education, Miyanwala, organised a science model making competition. A large number of school children participated in the competition.

Intervention of CM, Guv sought in medical college appointments
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 1
After failing to get a reply from Chief Minister Harish Rawat regarding the enquiry demanded into the scam involving 32 appointments at the Srinagar-based Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Government Medical Sceince and Research Institute, outsourced from Uttarakhand Purv Sainik Kalyan Nigam Limited (UPNL), Lt Gen MC Badhani (retd) wrote another letter yesterday, demanding an immediate decision in the case.

It may be recalled that following media reports of alleged scam regarding appointments made via UPNL, the chairman Lt Gen MC Badhani (retd) had requested the Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat for an immediate enquiry to be conducted into the matter.

In the previous letter, written a week ago, the chairman had also demanded an immediate suspension of UPNL Managing Director Brig AN Bahuguna (retd), who played a key role in the appointments, until the enquiry was completed. Fearing a possibility of sabotage in the enquiry, Badhani had requested that any member having an association with the Uttarakhand Department of Sainik Kalyan should not conduct the enquiry or be part of the team.

Speaking to The Tribune, Lt Gen Badhani (retd) said that he had written a fresh letter to the CM and Uttarakhand Governor after failing to get a reply from them.

“I feel that the matter is very grave and an immediate decision should be taken on the issue. Since the Sainik Kalyan Department is being held by the CM, therefore he is the deciding authority in the matter,” he added.

Making it amply clear that an in-house enquiry would not be conducted, the chairman said: “I cannot conduct an internal enquiry as it would not be possible. Firstly, I don’t have the resources or manpower to conduct an enquiry and, secondly, most of the staff members have been appointed and are having a close association with the MD, Brig AN Bahuguna (retd), whose name appears prominently in the issue.”

“I have not raised the demand for any particular committee to conduct the enquiry but have only asked for someone outside the Sainik Kalyan Department. This issue needs to be resolved at the earliest and on immediate basis,” added the chairman. 

Principal of Garhwali medical institute sacked 

Dehradun, March 1
Uttarakhand Government sacked Dr VL Jhardari, principal of Srinagar based Veer Chander Singh Garhwali Institute of Medical Science and Research. Prof PD Sharma, head of the Department of Eye, has been appointed as the officiating principal.

Dr VL Jhardari had been mishandling the strike that took place at the institute last year and was issued a warning for his conduct.

“Taking serious note of the lapse during the strike, we decided to terminate his contract early. Since he was a contractual employee, he was served a show cause notice,” said Manisha Panwar, Secretary, Department of Medical Education.

Meanwhile, the students of the second batch of Garhwali Institute of Medical Sciences, who failed to fill the mandatory bond for serving in the state for five years, Panwar said the students who had benefited from the Rs 15,000 MBBS course, will have to fill the bond. — TNS

Rain, snowfall continue across state
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 1
Rain in the plains and lower hills and snowfall in higher reaches continued all over Uttarakhand today.

According to the Dehradun Meteorological Department sources, rain that started yesterday continued in plains and lower hills today while snowfall continued in the higher reaches, thus reviving severe cold in the region.

An inch of snow was reported from Mukteshwar and Dharchula in Kumaon, Auli at Chamoli in Pauri Garhwal and Kedarnath in Rudraprayag district. Snowfall also took place at Dhanaulti, near Mussoorie.

Anand Sharma, Executive Director, Dehradun Meteorological Department, said the weather was expected to improve from tomorrow afternoon. He added only light rain was expected at isolated places. Sharma, however, said another weak weather system was developing and rain could take place on March 4 and 5. He added western disturbances and an induced cyclonic circulation over Haryana caused rain and snowfall in Uttarakhand.

Meanwhile, around 29 mm of rain was recorded in Dehradun in the past 24 hours, leading to a further dip in the mercury.

4,200 beneficiaries identified for food security scheme
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, March 1
Around 4,200 cards have been accepted in Haridwar district for the food security scheme.

“The beneficiaries will get the cards by next week. The cards will be distributed by the Block Development Officer (BDO) at their respective offices,” said District Magistrate D Senthyl Pendiyan, while holding a multipurpose camp at Bhagwanpur block, here today.

Around 889 applications for old age pension, 168 applications for widow pension, and 112 applications for physically handicapped pension have been verified by the administration. These applicants will now have to provide their bank account details to the block level officers.

The District Magistrate also directed the officials to address the scholarship related issues, being provided to school students.

  Garhwal university Vice-Chancellor retires

Dehradun, March 1
Senior-most professor in HNB Garhwal University will be the officiating Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the university after the 5-year tenure of incumbent Vice-Chancellor SK Singh ended today. He will perform the duties of the VC till a new person assumes office. 

It is to be noted that according to the sections 2 (7) of the Central Universities Act-2009, the senior-most professor shall perform the duties of the VC until a new VC assumes office. — TNS

  BJP mulls over announcing candidates’ names

Dehradun, March 1
The central parliamentary board of the BJP is likely to finalise the names of candidates for the Tehri, Pauri and Nainital parliamentary seats.

Teerath Singh Rawat, Uttarakhand BJP Chief, is likely to hold meetings with the members of the central parliamentary board including, national president Raj Nath Singh in New Delhi.

According to party sources on the Pauri seat, it is likely to choose between former CM BC Khanduri and senior BJP leader Mohan Singh Gaunwasi. Whereas, for the Nainital seat, Bhagat Singh Koshiyari and Bachi Singh Rawat are the two contenders. While on the Almora seat, MLA Ajay Tamta, Mohan Lal Tamta and Rekha Arya are the three contenders. — TNS

  Contracts of 350 docs not renewed

Dehradun, March 1
The pending file work pertaining to the renewal of the contracts of 229 allopathic and 121 ayurvedic doctors in the state has put the Health Department in a spot with some of the doctors failing to report for duty today.

While the file regarding the renewal of contracts had been forwarded to the government several days in advance, the change of CM was being stated to be one of the reasons behind the delay. But in the absence of contract renewal, several doctors did not report for duty. “In all, contracts of six doctors of Doon Hospital (women) and 15 doctors of Doon Hospital have not been renewed. Contracts of 229 allopathic and 121 ayurvedic doctors have to be renewed,” said Dr LK Gusain, Director, Doon Group of Hospitals. — TNS

5 killed in separate accidents as 2 vehicles fall into gorge

Mussoorie, March 1
Five persons were reported dead in separate accidents when two Maruti 800 vehicles fell into deep gorge in district Tehri yesterday night.

In the first incident, four persons were reported dead as their vehicle fell into a deep gorge at Chopdiyal gaon on the way to Chamba. According to the Chamba police, a Maruti 800 car carrying four people was on its way to Chamba from Jharipani village when the driver lost control of the vehicle and it fell into a deep gorge at Chopdiyal gaon around 8 pm yesterday night, killing all the occupants on the spot.

The police rushed to the spot after they were informed about the incident by the local residents and recovered the bodies of the deceased from the gorge early morning today.

The deceased have been identified as Rajendar Ramola, 36, resident of Jharipani village near Chamba, Neeraj, 27, resident of Indira colony, Mussoorie, Ajit, 25, and Sinesh, both residents of Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh.

According to the police, Rajendar Ramola was carrying the other three who worked as labourers with him to Chamba from Jharipani in district Tehri when the mishap occurred.The police have sent the bodies of the deceased for postmortem and begun investigations

In another incident one person was reported dead and four others injured when their vehicle fell into a deep gorge near Khairad village in Nainbagh tehsil of district Tehri yesterday night.

According to the police, the vehicle was on its way from Sendul village to Nainbagh and was carrying two pregnant women for delivery at the government hospital in Nainbagh around 11 pm yesterday night when the driver of the vehicle lost control of the vehicle on Bahdri gad-Banchaura road near Khairad village and it fell into the deep gorge.

The deceased has been identified as Satish Kumar, 33, resident of Sendul village in district Tehri, while the injured, Jabar Singh Chauhan, 52 resident of Sendul village, Asha worker Rajkumari, 32, along Nisha and Subbo Devi, both pregnant women of the same village, were rushed to the health centre at Nainbagh from where they have been referred to the higher medical centre at Dehradun and are reported to be out of danger. The police have recovered the body of the deceased and sent it for postmortem.