Disaster-hit areas to get Rs 161 cr for jobs, better farm output: CS
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 3
The disaster-affected areas will be provided Rs 161 crore to generate employment, increase production of crops and link development to self employment. Local institutions will be provide financial assistance, said Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar at a meeting held at the Secretariat here today.

The Chief Secretary was presiding over a meeting of the integrated fund for agriculture development steering committee's integrated livelihood support project.

He gave directions to the officials to start work on the opening of milk distribution centres, generating market for livestock development, sale of fruits and vegetables, village development and eco tourism. He said that there is a need to set a target for this work. “At the next meeting, a review will be held to see how the locals have benefited from this programme,” he said.

“Food security, sale worthy crops should be raised. A committee will be constituted to ensure the same. There will be an increase in production of dairy, traditional crops, vegetables, spices and fruits. Several departments will be identified to boost dairy farming and poultry. Under the programme, 83 milk distribution centres will be set up. Also help will be taken from the existing 71 centres, added the Chief Secretary.

The Chief Secretary was further informed that a survey has been done for the vocational training programmes and eight courses have been identified for nine blocks. Four companies and one NGO have been identified to impart training to the approximately 15,000 candidates under this programme. Besides this 125 students will get trained for three courses from open university.

Additional Chief Secretary Rakesh Sharma, Principal Secretary Watershed, MH Khan, Secretary, Rural Development, Vinod Fonia, Additional Secretary, Finance Dilip Jawalkar, Chief Project Director Vijay Kumar, Edward Mallori and Meera Mishra were present at the meeting.

DVWM to resume work in 10 wards from Monday 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 3
After getting written permission from the Dehradun Municipal Corporation, the Doon Valley Waste Management, a private firm engaged for door-to-door garbage collection, would resume work in the 10 wards from Monday.

Even though the company had given the list of 10 wards almost three weeks ago, the DMC authorities gave written clearance yesterday. With this the bitter battle between the two parties came to an end. In the past, despite pressure from the DMC to re-start the work in 10 wards, DVWM had refused until a written permission was given to them.

The wards given to the company are Arya Nagar, Jakhan, Karanpur, DL road, Dalanwala (ward number 25, 26, 27), Clock Tower, Dhamawala and Sahastradhara.

Speaking to The Tribune, Sidharth Jain, CEO, DVWM, said: “Following the assurances from the District Magistrate and acting Mukhya Nagar Adhikari BVRC Purshottam, we had decided to resume the work. Now that we have received in writing from the DMC, we have no issues.”

“There are some formalities that need to be completed along with the taking over of the vehicles. We would be ready by Monday to start the work. As far as the rates are concerned, a meeting is scheduled for Friday to discuss the same,” he said.

It may be recalled that the company hired for waste management project under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), ended its contract after being operational for three years in the state capital. According to the company, they revoked the contract after the failure of DMC to fulfil their demands and resolve the issues. Among the demands raised by the company was revision of the tipping fee from existing Rs 350 per metric tonne to Rs 472 per metric tonne. 

BJP women cell discusses poll strategy for Nishank
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, April 3
The women cell of the BJP discussed the campaign strategy for Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, party candidate from the Haridwar parliamentary seat, at a meeting held at its city unit office here today.

District BJP women cell president Sanjana Sharma presided over the meeting. She stressed on door-to-door campaigning in the city periphery so that the maximum number of houses could be covered in the first phase of the campaign. All 30 municipal wards and polling booths would be targeted in the second phase.

A resolution was passed at the meeting to make all efforts to ensure Nishank’s victory so that the party attains the mission 272 seat target.

Sanjana said the party had fielded a high profile candidate like Nishank, who had served as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand and also as a Cabinet minister in the Uttar Pradesh government before the state came into being.

“It is good for Haridwar that the party has fielded such a candidate whose vision and experience will ensure its development. Owing to Nishank’s stature the Congress is finding it difficult to field a candidate from the Haridwar constituency. Hence, we need to continue our election campaign aggressively to ensure Nishank’s victory,” said Sanjana. Mahila Morcha activists in groups would campaign in all 30 municipal wards of the city from April 6. Women Cell office-bearers Manorama, Reena

Tomar, Pankaj Gupta, Sudha Tonk, Bindiya Goswami, Richa Gaud, Rajani Verma, Lajjawati Nautiyal, Sushma Chauhan, Sangeeta Giri, Geeta, Vimla Verma, Kanchan, Kavita Gupta and Mamata Shisodiya were given the election esponsibilities.

Secretary of the Women Cell Reena Tomar said soon Nishank would also hold a meeting with them regarding the campaign. 

UKD fighting for existence, courtesy factionalism, says Raturi
Tribune News Service

Haridwar April 3
Founder member of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Airy) BD Raturi, while announcing DD Sharma as the party candidate from Haridwar parliamentary constituency, said, “The decision to not contest the LS elections in 1996 and failure to strengthen the cadre deprived the UKD from becoming a strong political party and paved the way for the Congress and the BJP, to become major political powers in the hill state.”

The veteran UKD leader said while other political parties were enjoying the fruits of power in the state, the UKD that played a pivotal role in the creation of separate state was fighting for its very existence.

Urging all leaders from various factions to rejoin the main outfit to strengthen UKD and give a tough fight to the Congress and BJP, Raturi said the people of the state wanted the UKD to play a major political role.

Lashing out at UKD Progressive (central) president Trivendra Singh Pawar and former UKD quota state minister Diwakar Bhatt, he alleged both the leaders first enjoyed the fruits of power, but when the time came to strengthen the party, they washed their hands off.

“Uttarakhand is just 14 years old, but still nothing has been done for the local people. Unemployment, migration from hills, lack of health, education, water, electricity, connectivity of roads has not been developed up to the mark. Regions affected by last year’s natural disaster have not been adequately rehabilitated,” claimed Raturi. Adding further he said the revered Char Dham pilgrimage was going to commence from May 2 onwards, as the Gangotri shrine portals open on the occasion of Akshayatritiya, but still damaged roads have not been re-carpeted and repaired. Locals do not have a permanent source of employment, but the state government seemed to be unconcerned.

Urging people to opt for UKD in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections party candidate DD Sharma said hydroelectric projects, unemployment and flood prevention measures would be his main political agenda.

The party also announced office bearers for all 14 Assembly segments falling in the Haridwar constituency namely Mohammed Vahid Khan, DK Pal, Bahadur Singh Rawat, Sanjay Sharma, Sarita Purohit, Deep Chand Dhiman, Sanjay Balmiki, Rajendra Chaudhari, Mahek Singh Saini, Mohammed Nassem Ahmed, Mohammed Altaf Hussain, Pradeep Dhiman, Virendra Dhiman and KD Joshi.

Income tax teams to check misuse of cash, bullion
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 3
Director General, Income Tax (investigation), Krishna Saini said today that 13 income tax teams comprising 29 officers had been set up in each district of the state to check the misuse of cash and bullion in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

“In concurrence with the state Chief Electoral Officer, the teams have been set up to extend support to static surveillance teams that would keep a close watch at airports, bus stands and other places and ensure the guidelines of the Election Commission are followed,” said Saini.

Besides establishing a control room, a toll free number (18001804154) is also operational at the Income Tax office, Dehradun, wherein complaints regarding illegal cash and bullion movement in the state could be made.

“Suspicious activities, including carrying cash and bullion beyond the Rs 10 lakh limit set by the EC, will be investigated by the Income Tax," said Saini.

During the last Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the Income Tax office had seized Rs 52 crore from both the states.

“Nearly 1,030 such cases were reported out of which 300 seizures were made. We follow procedures and work in tandem with the police to ensure it does not result in nabbing the wrong person,” he said. During his visit today, Saini also held a meeting with the state police to ensure coordination among police and IT officials.

UKD (U) to contest all five LS seats
Party chief to fight from Tehri
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 3
Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (United) announced to contest from all five Lok Sabha seats of the state.

Addressing a press conference here yesterday, UKD (United) President Rana Ranveer Singh said the party would contest from all five Lok Sabha seats in then state. “I myself will contest from the Tehri Lok Sabha seat while Pramod Singh will contest from Haridwar,” he disclosed.

He also apprised that the party would soon announce its candidates from the rest three Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Rana Ranveer Singh said both BJP and Congress have no policies and programmes for Uttarakhand. “In the last 12 years, BJP and Congress have only promoted corruption in the state without caring about the common man,” he observed. He asserted that his party believed in a strong fight against corruption in the state.

Dinesh Agarwal carries out padyatra
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 3
Local MLA from Dharampur constituency in Dehradun and Cabinet Minister Dinesh Agarwal carried out a padyatra and held public meetings at a number of places within his constituency to seek public support for the Congress.

It is to be noted that Dharampur assembly segment comes under Haridwar Lok Sabha constituency.

While meeting with the public during his padyatra, Agarwal appealed to the locals to vote for the Congress in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

He said his party’s ideology was to undertake large scale development. During the padyatra, a large number of Congress supporters were present.

CPI (ML) flays BJP, Cong; plans to oppose wrong economic policies
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 3
Lambasting the national parties, including Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, the Uttarakhand chapter of Communist Party of India (ML) said that none of the parties had objected to the economic policies that had led to widespread inflation, corruption and unemployment.

Addressing a press conference, the party's state secretary Rajiv Partholi said that their party would be objecting to the wrong economic policies. ''With the sole aim of overturning the policy that has deteriorated the condition of our country, we would be contesting the forthcoming general elections,'' he said.

Speaking about the June catastrophe that hit the state, Partholi said: ''The June disaster was man-made and was an outcome of the corporate-mafia development model adopted by the state government. The state is yet to recover from the disaster and it is only the Congress government that is to be blamed for the shoddy pace of repair and rehabilitation work being carried out in the affected areas.''

''Instead of giving hope and income sources to those affected in the disaster, the Congress-led state government is just interested in bungling the funds received for the re-development of the state. Both BJP and Congress have not taken up the issue of hydropower projects. We would provide an alternative to the general public against the corrupt BJP and Congress,'' said the secretary.

Expelled leaders, turncoats willing to rejoin BJP 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 3
With the BJP expected to do well in the Lok Sabha elections, several leaders, who were shown the door or had quit the party during the last Assembly elections, are lobbying hard to reenter the party.

There are rumours that former BJP leaders Matbar Singh Kandari and Rajkumar, who had joined the Congress, are engaged in working out an honourable entry plan for themselves.

“The Congress is a sinking ship. Its leaders have already given up the battle without even giving a fight. The Congress is in disarray and there are several former BJP leaders who are waiting in the wings to rejoin the party,” said Teerath Singh Rawat, Uttarakhand BJP president.

The BJP had recently re-inducted Shailender Rawat without much ado. The party had held Shailender responsible for the defeat of BC Khanduri from Kotdwar in the last Assembly elections.

The BJP had witnessed a massive rebellion at that time with several leaders questioning the distribution of ticket. Several of them were even served notices. Now, these very leaders are interested in getting back into their parent party.

GL Shah, Kailash Sharma, Rajesh Nautiyal and Anil Nautiyal are said to be among the leaders willing to rejoin the BJP. 

Cong spokesperson canvasses for Nainital candidate
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 3
Congress spokesperson Shilpi Arora, addressed a public meeting at Gadarpur today, in support of Nainital Congress candidate KC Singh Baba.

Addressing a public meeting, Arora said Congress had done a lot of work during its tenure both at the Centre and the state level. The spokesperson urged the public not to get influenced by the lies being spread by the BJP and cast maximum number of votes in favour of the Congress.

Meanwhile, in a meeting organised, KC Singh Baba held a meeting with the Congress party workers at Gadarpur. Baba instructed the workers to highlight the social welfare policies and ideology of the party among the public.

BJP’s hi-tech call centre on info sharing not yet effective
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 3
The much hyped hi-tech call centre set up at the Uttarakhand BJP headquarters to coordinate with party workers and use of social media for exchange of information as part of the IT initiative in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections continues to be high in pronouncements and low in delivery.

At all hours the IT cell at the BJP headquarters remains abandoned, with the so-called IT experts roped in by the BJP engaged in activities other than updating the BJP party pages on the internet.

So far the BJP’s so-called IT initiative has been only restricted to creating face book pages for it’s candidates on all the five seats for a closer interaction with the audience and promoting the candidates on the social media. The pages created for party nominees continue to await regular updating and have nothing new to convey to the audience.

The leaders in the BJP continue to give different sets of justifications for the ennui-ridden IT initiative. “There are only five parliamentary seats in our state and the polling date is slated for May 7. The election activity is yet to pick up in Uttarakhand. There is still time left to spruce up the cell,” said Suresh Joshi, senior BJP leader.

Surprisingly, the spartan party’s concerted efforts to woo voters on social media by allocating at least 1.5 per cent of it’s election budget on IT initiatives has left the senior leaders grumbling.

“Such IT-enabled initiatives launched by the BJP cannot be termed different as they have been in use for quite some time. With so much geographical area to cover, where the accessibility of voters to Internet is nil, such initiatives can prove futile,'' said Bacchi Singh Rawat, senior BJP leader.

While the IT in charge especially appointed by the BJP continues to be the toast of various press conferences, it is the RSS workers brought in from Kanpur and elsewhere who can be seen laboriously making regular manual entries in the registers about the booth level meetings so far. Essentially, when it comes to delivering the results the old would certainly prevail over the new.

20 political workers join UKD
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 3
Over 20 political workers from different political parties joined the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) here today. They were welcomed into the party by party president Trivendra Singh Panwar.

While speaking on the occasion, Trivendra Singh Panwar said: “The supporters of the BJP and the Congress are fed up of the previous political parties and are now joining the UKD, as they are seeing the UKD as the only ray of hope for the development of the state.”

He blamed the Congress and the BJP of betraying people’s faith and failed to bring development in the state. “Uttarakhand can only be developed if the regional party like the UKD is given a chance to rule the state,” added Panwar.

Shashibhushan Bhatt, state general secretary of the UKD, said the present state government failed to act on time during the natural disaster at Kedarnath last year.

He said the victims were still going from pillar to post for getting basic help from the government. He also made an appeal to the people to join the UKD.

To fight dissidence, BJP allots posts before Lok Sabha polls
Ajay Ramola
Tribune news service

Mussoorie, March 3
The Bharatiya Janata Party has come up with the novel idea of fighting dissidence among the party cadres by distributing various party portfolios in the organisation, thus ensuring victory prior to Lok Sabha elections in the state.

Many political pundits here are seeing the announcement of the senior BJP leader Madan Mohan Sharma for the post of BJP state coordinator of small-scale industry cell at a meeting held at Mussoorie today in the same context.

The BJP local unit president Roop Singh Kathait informed the media persons that the state president Teerath Sigh Rawat has named Madan Mohan Sharma as the state coordinator for the state small-scale industry cell in BJP in presence of former MC president OP Uniyal, senior BJP leaders Mohan Petwal, Anil Godiyal etc.

Madan Mohan Sharma speaking on the occasion said that he would work towards promoting the small-scale industry with the help of party workers thus linking the poor people with employment generation schemes in the state.

However, many political analysts are of the view that the BJP while distributing party portfolios before Lok Sabha elections is only trying to control dissidence among the party workers and improve the chances of the party to gain power in centre.

When posed a question regarding the distribution of the portfolios at this time the local unit BJP president Roop Singh Kathait said that it was a routine exercise in the party and should not be read otherwise.

Congress MLA Rajkumar visits Chander Road Basti
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 3
As part of its ongoing campaign for the forthcoming general elections, Congress MLA Rajkumar visited the Chander Road Basti and spoke to the area residents about the problems being faced by them.

Addressing the gathering the MLA appealed to the public to favour the Congress Party in the elections.

“It is certain that Congress would be returning to power following the elections and neither any wave nor storm can stop it from forming the government at the Centre,” he said.

“Our party’s ideology is based on development and has always been doing so. The primary objective of Congress is the development of the country and for this we have always walked the path with the common man,” he added.

Those who were part of his campaign included Meena Bisht, Jitendra Bisht, Bhupender Bisht, Kumud, Kulbhusan and Rajendra Singh along with several others. 

AAP Tehri candidate meets Jodi Gaon residents
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 3
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from Tehri Garhwal Anoop Nautiyal today met residents of Anarwala, Jodi Gaon and Gucchi Pani to seek votes.

Party workers also distributed pamphlets to passersby and residents.

Nautiyal also visited Sinola, Chandroti, Guniyal Gaon, Purkal Gaon, Shingli Heel, Ghatte Khola, Gajiyawala, Khiwadi and Rikholi.

He said people were fed up with the Congress and the BJP.

Among those present on the occasion were Tara Chand Gupta, Harwinder Singh, Vinay Gupta, Ritu Dimri, Takesh Kukreti, Pyare Lal Nautiyal and Mohit.

Permission cell constituted ahead of Lok Sabha polls

Pithoragarh, April 3
A permission cell has been constituted at the district-level to grant permission to political parties to land helicopters and usage of loud speakers for rallies and other campaigning works during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections within the district. The process of filling the nomination papers for the election had been scheduled from April 12.

“The process of filling the nomination papers will begin on April 12 and will continue till April 23. The last date of withdrawing names is May 7 and will be completed till April 28,” said HC Semwal, district election officer. — OC

World Bank team visits U'khand space centre
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 3
As part of the Uttarakhand Disaster Recovery Programme (UDRP), a World Bank team today visited Uttarakhand Space Application Centre (USAC).

Director, USAC, Vijay Kumar Dhaundiyal apprised the team of the activities of the Uttarakhand Space Application Centre and its contribution in the development of Uttarakhand.

He stressed the need of knowledge appropriate structures in remote sensing and GIS.

The team visited all three research labs of the USAC and enquired about the range of projects in the USAC. After a visit to the labs, a detailed presentation was made by Dr Sushma Gairola, project scientist in the disaster management cell. T. Chari of World Bank also shared his thoughts and made a presentation with Uttarakhand Space Application Centre scientists. The presentation focused on the need of immediate action plan.

It was also discussed that data sharing and networking initiatives be further broadened for inclusive remote sensing and GIS practices. The team comprised Vladimir, hydro-meteorology expert, David Rogers, consultant, T. Chari and operational officer Hemang Kareliya.

BJP unit of Garhi Cantt informs RO about anomalies 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 3
A delegation of office bearers of the BJP hailing from Garhi Cantt led by Devinder Pal Singh, vice-president of Sundar Nagar (city unit) met the district returning officer (RO) and apprised him about the anomalies existing in the voters list of the cantonment board falling under the Mussoorie Assembly.

Devinder Pal Singh and the office bearers pointed out the discrepancies in the voters list

“The names of the residents residing in the same neighbourhood and house have been registered in the voters list of different polling booths. This will lead to confusion among the voters, who may not turn up for voting,” added Devinder Pal Singh.

He said the voters, who had applied for the EPIC card in October, were still awaiting the delivery of their cards.

“Most of the cards belong to the voters whose names are registered by the BLO for polling booth number 133 of the cantonment board,” said Devinder Pal Singh.

He also demanded a stern action against the concerned officers, who failed to deliver the cards in time.

Choice for medicos to opt for teaching career 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 3
For the smooth functioning of Doon Medical Collegeand Almora Medical College, the Department of Medical Education is looking to offer choice to opt for a teaching career to the serving medicos in the state.

After the creation of the separate Department of Medical Education, several serving doctors had opted to join the department on the posts of director and additional director.

''As the Department of Medical Education has been newly set up, it would take some time before the medical education takes firm shape. In the meantime, we will seek the services of the medicos and ask them to join the teaching faculty of the upcoming colleges. This will ensure, we have no shortage of staff at the time of starting the academic session of these colleges,'' said Dr RP Bhatt, Director, Department of Medical Education.

The Department of Medical Education would make advance preparations at the end of 2014 so that it has sufficient time to fulfil the norms laid down by the Medical Council of India (MCI).

Similar advance planning was missing during the setting up the Srinagar Medical College, as a result the college was even reprimanded by the MCI for taking the council for a ride and not taking adequate steps to bridge the teacher deficit.

Several medicos have also envisaged keen interest in opting for a teaching career and are expected to give their consent. 

Mircobiology referral labs to be spruced up 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 3
For better reporting of water-borne diseases, the Health Department has begun sprucing up the five microbiology referral laboratories all equipped to handle public health cases independently. In the absence of these laboratories, most of the culture tests were sent to laboratories located in New Delhi.

In Uttarakhand, cases of acute diarrhoea and stomach infections begin to rise in the summer and monsoon months. To ensure the patients coming from far off places could receive proper treatment, the referral laboratories were set up.

The microbiology reference laboratory established with Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust (Jolly Grant) laboratory was entrusted with the responsibility for taking up cases in Dehradun, Uttarkashi, Haridwar and Tehri districts.

The laboratory at Forest Hospital Trust Medical College Haldwani would be responsible for Champawat, Pithoragarh, Nainital, Bageshwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts.

The Veer Chander Singh Garhwali Medical College (Srinagar) will be responsible for Chamoli and Rudraprayag districts,'' said Dr Kiran Bisht, Joint Director/ Nodal Officer, Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (Uttarakhand).

In addition district priority laboratory has been established at the district hospital, Pauri Garhwal, and at district hospital, Almora. But most of these are not able to function fully due to absence of microbiologists. 

Major responsibilities

• The microbiology reference laboratory established with Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust (Jolly Grant) laboratory was entrusted with the responsibility for taking up cases in Dehradun, Uttarkashi, Haridwar and Tehri districts
• The laboratory at Forest Hospital Trust Medical College Haldwani would be responsible for Champawat, Pithoragarh, Nainital, Bageshwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts
• The Veer Chander Singh Garhwali Medical College (Srinagar) will be responsible for Chamoli and Rudraprayag districts

Excise duty cut sought on liquor sold through CSD
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 3
Demanding a reduction of the increased excise duty on the liquor sold through the Canteen Stores Department (CSD), Brig KG Behl (retd), president, Dehradun Ex- Services League, said that the state government has earned crores of profit from the public auction of liquor vends and therefore the excise duty on CSD liquor should be reduced.

In a press note issued here, Brig Behl said: “The state government has earned Rs. 40 crores more than the last year's auction and if such a profit has been made then the government should take back the hike in excise duty on the liquor sold through CSD canteens.”

“On the one side everyone praises the services rendered by the defence forces, specially during disaster, but in the same vein the prices of liquor in CSD canteens has been raised just to reduce prices in civil or in the name of stopping smuggling from adjoining states where liquor is cheaper. It is requested that excise duty on liquor sold through CSD canteens may be revised and put to the old rates by reducing by 20%,” he said.

“Since the rates of all types of liquor in the CSD canteens have gone up by 20 per cent, defence personnel, especially ex-servicemen are finding it difficult to adjust their budget. It is rather compelling people to smuggle from the adjoining states where it is cheaper. The purpose of stopping smuggling of liquor has thus been defeated. This point has been raised a number of times at different platforms, but no action has so far been taken. The Chief Minister is requested to look into and set it right,” added the retired Brigadier. 

Chamunda Devi worshipped with gaiety
Tribune News Service

Haridwar April 3
On the fourth day of the auspicious Navratras, Chamunda Devi, who gave extension to the universe, was worshipped with gaiety and religious fervour in Haridwar today.

All major temples of the city witnessed a large number of devotees from early morning itself.

At Gayatri Teerth, Shantikunj, a special religious Navratra ritual is going on in which Shantikunj activists, Dev Sanskriti University students and devotees from other parts of the country are taking part.

Spiritual guru of Shantikunj Pranav Pandya said that devotion paved the way for internal awakening and performing havan-yagna during Navratra festival bears maximum fruits.

Pandya said devotees with full devotion should observe rituals during Navratras, as via worshipping development of family and society can be attained.

“Those who worship with patience during Navratra festival surely get blessings of the deity with good health and prosperity coming to the devotee,''Pandya added.

Citing the similarities in astrological figures of the calendar of 1947 and current 2014, Pandya said it bode well for society as there was a similarity in both these calendar years.

Stray dogs instil fear among residents of Mussoorie
Ajay Ramola
Tribune news service

Mussoorie, March 3
The residents are under the grip of fear due to the stray dogs running amuck in the hill town of Mussoorie these days owing to the apathy of the Municipal Council in Mussoorie.

The fear of stray dogs is such that the residents are not sure of the day when they will be next target of these dogs and head to hospital in search of rabies vaccination.

The incidents of stray dogs chasing two-wheelers and attacking public in the town limit have become a routine.

According to the Medical Superintendent, St.Mary's Hospital, the incidents of canine menace have been recorded from Library Bazaar,Husain Ganj,Kulri Bazaar taking the tally of stray dog bites to around 2041 last year.

A case of stray dogs devouring a man who died after falling from a house while coming down from stairs was also reported last year.

The tourists have also been on the receiving end due to the unending menace of stray dogs in Mussoorie town, said one of the resident.

On the contrary, the situation was different during the British Raj where such problem was dealt with iron hands and clear-cut policies in place.

''The stray dogs were destroyed while it was made mandatory to put dog collars on the domestic dogs and other stray animals such as cows were sent to a shed located at one corner of the town,'' said senior citizen and travel writer Hugh Gantzer from Mussoorie.

He further said that even Mahatma Gandhi was clear on the issue of animal menace and aired his view in his newspaper ''Harijan'' that appeared in under the title ''Doctrine of non-killing'' in 1946 on page 123.

Mahatma Gandhi said: ''My ahimsa is my own. I am not able to accept entirely the doctrine of non-killing of animals. I have no feeling in me to save the life of these animals who devour or cause hurt to man. I consider it wrong to help in the increase of their progeny. Therefore, I will not feed ants, monkeys or dogs. I will never sacrifice a man's life in order to save theirs. Thinking along these lines, I have come to the conclusion that to do away with monkeys where they have become a menace to the well-being of man is justified. Such killing becomes a duty. The question may arise as to why this rule should not also apply to human beings. It cannot because however bad, they are as we are. Unlike the animal, God has given man the faculty of reason,'' added Gantzer.

When questioned on the animal rights activists' plea that Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules prohibit the killing of stray dogs Gantzer opined that he was not aware of any act with such provisions. He further said that if such is the case then killing of maneater tigers etc, shouldn not be prohibited under similar rules.

When contacted the municipal council officials said that they were ready to provide animal shelter with complete facilities but would not indulge in killing of stray dogs fearing backlash from the animal activists.

Meeting on infrastructure development organised
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 3
The Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology and National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies (NISTADS) organised a state-level meeting to decide a scientific method for the infrastructure development of the state here today.

It was decided during the meeting that a national-level conference would be organised in the state to discuss the various plans for the infrastructural development of the state.

Dr BP Purohit, Dr DP Uniyal, Dr Kavita Mehra, Dr Arun Kuksal and Amit Pokhriyal were present during the meeting.

Archana Puran Singh, Ayub Khan to back AAP candidate from Tehri

Mussoorie, March 3
Renowned Bollywood actor and reality TV judge Archana Puran Singh along with Ayub Khan will be campaigning for the Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Tehri Lok Sabha Anup Nautiyal in Mussoorie on April 5, said the party convener Tushar Rawat.

Tushar Rawat speaking to the media persons at a hotel in Mussoorie, today said that two eminent actors would be seeking votes for the AAP candidate in a road show planned for April 5.

The campaign will begin at around 11am from Tehri bus stand and end at Library Chowk, said Tushar Rawat.

He further said that Anup Nautiyal will be addressing the gathering and will appeal to the citizens of Mussoorie for their support and vote from Tehri constituency.

“The people of Mussoorie would support Aam Admi Party and Arvind kejriwal as he has shown the courage to take on the nexus between capitalists and the two largest parties in the nation, thus ushering in an era of change in the Indian politics.

The AAP members Jashoda Sharma, Jai Prakash Rana, Ahmed Quereshi, Billu Balmiki, Rita Kumar, Mohd Aseem and others were present on the occasion. — TNS

Power plants generate more power than set target

Dehradun, April 3
All the power plants in the Yamuna valley managed to generate power more than the target set for in the outgoing financial year 2013-2014, the Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL) officials said on Thursday.

All the power plants gave record generation of 1989.899 million units against the target of 1719 million units for the outgoing financial year. — TNS

Sama House win cricket final by 4 wickets
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 3
The sub-junior inter house cricket final was played between Sama House and Rig House at the Aryan School here today. Batting first, Rig House scored 84 runs in 15 overs. In reply, Sama House achieved the target for the loss of six wickets and won the match by four wickets.

Meanwhile, Sama House defeated Arthava House 6-0 in the final of the inter-house hockey tournament.

Easy win for ITM

In a one-sided encounter, Institute of Technology Management (ITM) defeated Petroleum University by nine wickets in the ongoing 62nd District Cricket League played at OFD Ground here on Thursday. After being put into bat first, Petroleum University got off to a bad start with top order getting out without scoring much runs. In the middle, Madhur managed to score 21 runs, and apart from him, no other batsmen managed to reach double-digit mark. The team got bowled out at just 91 runs. For ITM, Praveen Kumar took 3 wickets and Chetan Vats fetched 2 wickets.

In reply, ITM cricket team did not find any difficulty in chasing down the target and the team achieved the total at the loss of just 1 wicket. Harsh scored highest unbeaten 45 runs while Nadeep Khan made 28 runs. For Petroleum University, Shubhav took the only wicket in the innings.

DIT sports meet from April 5

The Dehradun Institute of Technology (DIT) will organise its first inter university sports meet ‘Sphurti-2014’ from April 5 to 8. During the four-day extravaganza, best sportspersons from technical universities and institutes of north India will take part in different events.

The meet will see competitive sports like cricket, badminton, basketball, table tennis, volleyball and football. Around 900 students from various professional institutions of Uttarakhand are expected to participate in the meet that is being organised at six venues, including DIT University and the Abhimanyu cricket ground.

Six killed as vehicle falls into gorge
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 3
Six persons, including a driver, were killed while two others were injured when a utility vehicle fell into a deep gorge at Kandori village near Naogaon in Uttarkashi today.

According to eyewitnesses, the driver lost control over the vehicle while negotiating a turn and the vehicle fell into a gorge.

The exact numbers of passengers in the vehicle is still unknown.

Meanwhile, Governor Dr Aziz Qureshi has expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident.

He prayed for the peace of the departed souls and wished the injured a speedy recovery. 

Police seize country made liquor pouches
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 3
Dehradun police have seized cartons of country made liquor pouches meant for distribution in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and held two persons from different places.

The police arrested Gopi Chauhan from Indra Road and during checking and large quantity of illicit liquor was recovered from his possession. On the other hand, Kotwali police held Painter Paswan from near Shivaji Road and seized 288 pouches of countrymade liquor from him, which were packed in cartons.

Reportedly, the police have increased the night patrolling in the wake of upcoming elections due to which increasing number of illicit liquor is getting seized and dealers arrested.