Vehicles continue to be parked in prohibited zones
Gaurav Talwar
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 8
The newly set up city patrol unit, which has created considerable amount of deterrence among the city residents about traffic rules, has failed to check the problem of traffic jams, mainly due to vehicles parked in no-parking zone.

No parking boards have been installed by the authorities across the city but the vehicles are still seen standing on the main roads creating chaos while the police prefer to turn a blind eye towards the menace, which causes inconvenience to everyone.

Vehicles could be seen illegally parked in places like opposite Pacific Mall, Clock Tower, in front of Raj Plaza complex, East Canal Road, Court Road, Gandhi Road, Lansdowne Chowk, Chakrata Road and many other places across the city, causing congestion on roads that results in jams.

As per official data, the city patrol unit issued over 12,900 challans for flouting traffic norms in the month of April but even such high level of crackdown has not changed the situation as far as the parking in no- parking zone is concerned.

A pedestrian said: ''Everybody goes to market in their cars and scooters and park their vehicles on the pavements and main roads and sometimes it even gets difficult to walk and cross the road. The commuters have to face enormous problems as they don't find any place to even walk.''

Virendra Rawat, traffic inspector, said: ''Whenever we find any vehicle parked in a no-parking zone, we issue challans to such errant drivers but still people park their vehicles in such places despite knowing that they might attract penalty for that.'' Each time the issue of congestion on roads is raised, the authorities are quick to blame wrong parking as the main reason behind the menace. But most city residents ask a simple question. Where is the space to park vehicles in the city?

According to the rules, the basements of all the commercial complexes should be used as parking slots but on the contrary, the basements are being used as commercial spaces in a number of complexes, which is another reason why vehicles are seen parked on the roads. Though MDDA has opened two parking slots in the city in the last one year, the situation has still not changed, as people still prefer to park their vehicles on the main road.

The authorities also claim that Doonites are reluctant to walk even short distances and want to park their cars right in front of the shop they enter, which causes congestion on already squeezed up road of the city. 

Power prices to remain unchanged
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 8
Power tariff for domestic and commercial consumers will remain unchanged this financial year as Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission (UERC) has rejected the proposed hike of 19.42 per cent by Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited. (UPCL).

The UERC has instructed the distribution agency, UPCL, to take effective steps for improving the power distribution system in Garhwal and Kumaon. The commission has also approved Rs 6.02 crore against the claimed annual revenue requirement of Rs 5.57 crore. The unchanged tariff and modified terms and conditions will be applicable from April 1.

Officiating chairman of the UERC CS Sharma said the UPCL had been instructed to submit a concrete action plan for improving the status of metering, collection system, recovery of arrears, curtailing outstanding billed amount and energy audit.

It has been told to ensure 100 per cent metering by September 30 and submit its compliance report to the UERC by October 30. Further, UPCL officials have been instructed to ascertain reasons for high meter failure and submit its report within two months of this order.

To ensure regular power supply to consumers, the UPCL has been instructed to replace obsolete existing electro mechanical meters by electronic meters by September 30. 

On Thalassaemia Day, doctors lay stress on awareness 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 8
For one and-a-half-year-old Mohammed Jeshan a visit to Doon Hospital once a month means getting himself pricked for blood transfusion. A patient of thalassaemia, Jeshan's parents have to constantly monitor his condition.

His parents, despite being advised to undergo medical tests to diagnose his condition when he was still in the womb, chose to ignore. There are around 76 thalassemic children who come for blood transfusion at the Doon Hospital.

No wonder, while observing Thalassaemia Day today at Doon Hospital, the authorities organised a small talk laying stress on awareness. The talk was attended by parents and children suffering from thalassemia.

Thalassaemia is a blood disorder passed down through families (inherited) characterised by reduced or absent amounts of haemoglobin, the oxygen carrying protein."The disorder causes iron overload, bone deformities and also cardiovascular illness, leading to death," said Dr RS Aswal, Principal Superintendent, Doon Hospital.

"Awareness plays a major role in case of thalassaemia. Owing to ignorance, patients often do not opt for such diagnosis and end up transferring faulty genes to their offsprings,'' added Dr Aswal.

On the other hand Dr Sujata Sinha, technical expert, birth defects, said that if either parent is thalassemic, then there are 25 per cent chances that their progeny will have the disorder as well. ''In such cases, it is better to prevent the birth of such children. It is therefore essential that their parents opt for screening, even termination of the pregnancy if required," she emphasised.

On the occasion matron Anjana Bhomick said that when she had joined the government service as a young nurse, several deaths occurred due to the non-availability of blood. ''I then implored my students and colleagues to donate blood at least once a year. We have come a long way since then and Doon Hospital is well equipped and is providing free blood transfusion facility to such patients,'' she said. 

Centre to fund weather warning system for state
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 8
At a Cabinet meeting today, matters pertaining to the measures taken so far for the smooth conduct of the Char Dham Yatra and review of the rehabilitation and reconstruction work under way in the disaster-affected areas figured.

The Uttarakhand government has already positioned two companies of State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) at critical points on the yatra route.

Further the PWD was asked to complete the road work that is still pending.

The Department of Health and Family Welfare was also asked to set up two more health check-up points for the Char Dham Yatra, especially on the route leading to the Kedarnath temple.

As the Uttarakhand government has decided to provide free langar to the pilgrims, the Department of Food and Civil Supplies was asked to allocate foodgrains for this purpose so that there is no shortage.

Further, the Cabinet was also informed about the Central Government’s decision to strengthen the weather system in the state.

Meanwhile, a Rs 116 crore would be allocated to the state by the Centre for establishing early warning system in the state.

At a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar, which was also attended by Director, IMD, LS Rathore, stress was laid on strengthening the weather system.

The IMD has agreed for installing three Doppler radars, 75 rain gauge meters, five micro rain radars, four compact radars, 75 weather stations and helicopter supported weather system.

“We have been asked to select the place where these equipments would be installed. Soon our team would be undertaking a survey,” said Subhash Kumar, Chief Secretary, Uttarakhand. 

British High Commissioner meets Harish Rawat
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 8
Sir James David Bevan, British High Commissioner, met Chief Minister Harish Rawat here today.

Sir James David Bevan showed keen interest in the sustainable development of Uttarakhand, particularly in the field of conservation and preservation of water bodies, rivers, the treatment of hilly slopes and disaster management.

Harish Rawat assured him of taking care of issues related to these projects.

He said Uttarakhand would adopt modern technology and provide support to the British government in this regard. He also thanked the British High Commissioner for taking interest in the sustainable development of Uttarakhand.

Guv appreciates officials for successful polls
Tribune News service

Dehradun, May 8
Governor Aziz Qureshi congratulated all citizens, voters and officials, who were related with the election process for the peaceful conduct of polling in the 8th phase of 16th Lok Sabha election in the state.

He said it was a matter of pride that there had been a high percentage of polling in the state, despite the difficult topography in the hilly areas. He also said a large number of young voters, who exercised their franchise, indicated that the future of democracy in the country was bright.

The Governor expressed appreciation of the efficient management done by the Chief Election Officer and her team for conducting peaceful and fair polling in the state.

Candidates relax after gruelling poll season
Parwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 8
After being on their toes for the last several months and batt\ling the gruelling season of elections, the much-needed breather has finally come for the candidates contesting from various constituencies, as they took it easy today.

Holding meetings with party workers, catching up with relatives and friends, spending quality time with families and pursuing their hobbies were on the priority list of these Lok Sabha aspirants.

Back in the state capital, BJP candidate from Haridwar constituency and former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank intends to spend some time with his daughters, who contributed largely in his campaigning. “One of my daughters is doing MBBS and the other one is a trained classical dancer. All of us were campaigning in various areas of the constituencies and hardly met each other during the whole time. Now I wish to spend some time with my children. Also, a lot of my books are lying unfinished and I intend to unwind myself by completing them and writing some poetry,” said Nishank, who has authored more than 40 books till now.

“On Friday I have scheduled some meetings with the party workers to review the voting process and analyse the outcome. I would also meet some people from my constituency who have lended their support in the elections. The complete relaxation would come only after the results are out,” said the poet-politician.

For the sitting BJP MP Mala Raja Laxmi Shah from Tehri constituency, it is a complete shutdown from the outside world for the next two days, as she unwinds with her daughter at their Dehradun-based abode. Speaking to The Tribune, the Maharani said: ''I am taking a two-day break. I intend to stay at home and take complete rest for next two days. My daughter, who joined me in the campaigning, is here with me. I would be meeting some close family friends in the evenings and visit the temple on Friday.”

“I would be going to Delhi for two days and meeting my ailing mother-in-law and grandchildren. It has been a long time since I spent some quality time with them. The campaigning takes a toll on the personal front when you are not able to give time to the family. After that I would be going to my home in Narendra Nagar and meet my supporters,'' she said.

It seems that there is no rest for the former Chief Minister and BJP candidate from Pauri constituency Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri as he continued meeting people. Speaking on the phone on his way to the state capital, Khanduri said: “With the polling getting over, we are relaxed mentally. I have a lot of meetings lined up with party workers in Dehradun for the next couple of days. And once the results are out, the schedule would be hectic again.”

However, there is no time to relax for Anoop Nautiyal, Aam Aadmi Party's candidate from Tehri. ''We are in the process of removing the party's posters in the city. I along with some party workers are going to Varanasi and campaigning for Arvind Kejriwal who is contesting from that seat. For us the rest would finally come after results on May 16. My wife, Divya Nautiyal, contributed a lot in the campaigning and she understands how important the battle is for all of us in the party,” added the former CEO of 108 ambulance services in the state.

Good voter turnout in disaster-hit areas
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 8
Not only has the voter turnout for the just concluded May 7 Lok Sabha elections smashed the 2004 and 2009 General Election records but there has been an exceptional turnout in the hill districts that were ravaged by the natural disaster last year.

In the Tehri Garhwal constituency in terms of voter turnout, the disaster-hit Assembly segments falling under Uttarkashi performed better in terms of overall turnout of voters. In Purola Assembly segment, the total voter turnout was 56 per cent, in Yamnotri 52.90 per cent, in Gangotri, 57.40 per cent.

But the same cannot be said about some Assembly segments that fall under Tehri district. The voting percentage in Ghansali Tehri was 42.06, Pratapnagar 42.81,and Tehri Garhwal 47.69. “The Assembly segments of Tehri and Uttarkashi districts present a contrast as they were hit by disaster but voters in Uttarkashi preferred to come out and vote,” said Radha Raturi, Chief Electoral Officer . Again taking under consideration the voter turnout in Pauri parliamentary constituency, the overall polling percentage in Rudraprayag Assembly segment that was hit by disaster was 55.44, in Badrinath 55, Kedarnath 59.55, Tharali Chamoli 52. “All these Assembly segments faced the wrath of flood fury, but the voter turnout has been good. Politically, it could mean for or against the government but by and large the people have been dissatisfied with the tardy relief and rehabilitation work,” said Teerath Singh Rawat, BJP Uttarakhand chief.

Similarly guess work is also on among politicians about the nature of polling in Haridwar parliamentary constituency which clocked the highest voting percentage at 72.29. In the Assembly segment of Bhagwanpur the voter turnout was 81 per cent, Jhabererara the voter turnout was 80 per cent, Jawalapur 78 per cent, Luxar 81 per cent and Piran Kaliyar 77 per cent. ''Here in the rural and urban sectors the voters have come out in large numbers despite the fact that the farmers had to tend to their fields,” said Radha Raturi.

Again in the Almora reserved parliamentary constituency, the voting percentage in Almora has been highest at 59.1 but in the disaster-hit Dharchula it has been 48.63 per cent. Overall Almora recorded the lowest voter turn out in the state.

Assembly seat Polling %

Purola 56

Yamnotri 52.90

Gangotri 57.40

Rudraprayag 55.44

Kedarnath 59.55

Tharali Chamoli 52

Security forces guard EVMs
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 8
Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used during the Lok Sabha elections in Dehradun district on May 7 have been kept under tight security in a strong room at Maharana Pratap Sports College in Raipur. The poll results for the region will be announced on May 16.

SSP Ajay Rautela said, "All electronic voting machines from the district are being kept in the strong room at the Sports College and a three-tier security ring is in place for the security of the EVMs.”

He added CISF, PAC and district police personnel had been deployed in the three-tier security with the first tier being guarded by CISF, second by PAC and the district police deployed in the third and the last security ring.

Meanwhile, the Sports College at Raipur has been turned into a fortress with security forces guarding the compound 24x7.

Party offices wear deserted look
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, May 8
A day after the polling, all major political parties election offices wore a deserted look, as both candidates and party workers took a break from the hectic election campaign for past few weeks.

The Congress’ main election office at Devpura was found locked, with a few party workers were spotted at the office. But, they too left immediately as they saw locked doors.

When contacted city Congress president OP Chauhan said for the past month, party candidate Renuka Rawat, Chief Minister Harish Rawat, party leaders and activists were busy in the campaigning and after the polling they would be taking a rest.

Though, he added that the Devpura election office was a rented one and not regular party office, so some party workers may had locked it but would be opened by the evening.

While at Chetan Jyoti Ashram, Bhoopatwala, the Congress candidate sought blessings of saints, held a meeting of party workers about the polling pattern and feed back of polling booth agents.

Renuka exuded confidence from the high percentage of polling claiming that she would win by at least 60,000 votes.

The BJP's main election office at Ved Ashram though was open, but barring few odd party activists, who had come to meet Haridwar Rural legislator Swami Yatishwaranand, owner of the ashram, were spotted.

As ashram employees informed that Swami Yatishwaranand would arrive in the evening, these activists too left the office after taking water.

City Legislator Madan Kaushik when contacted was outside the city for some family work, while BJP candidate Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank was also not in Haridwar.

The Aam Aadmi Party office situated along Ganga river ghat near Lal Taura bridge was still budging with activities.

AAP candidate Kanchan Bhattacharya along with her husband was in a relaxed mood at the office, holding discussions with party workers on the polling day activities.

AAP volunteers, who had come from other parts of the country, were also seen going back to their homes, with Kanchan thanking every one of them for their support. The Samajwadi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party and Uttarakhand Kranti Dal offices at Maharishi Valmiki Square, Shivalik Nagar and Rishikul did not have the workers in their offices.

61.7% polling in Mussoorie Assembly segment

Mussoorie, May 8
Around 61.7 percent polling was recorded in the Mussoorie Assembly segment for the Tehri Lok Sabha constituency that concluded peacefully, yesterday.

The polling percentage in the Mussoorie Municipal council consisting of 29 booths was reported to be around 51.7 per cent, said Sonika, ADM Dehradun.

The polling in Mussoorie town began on a slow note as only 11 per cent votes were polled until 9 am. The percentage increased to around 21 per cent around 12 noon that increased to 46 per cent until 3 pm. The pace of polling was picked up in the evening with the percentage going up to 51.7 per cent in Mussoorie.

The booths at Barlowganj recorded around 66 per cent of polling while Kulri witnessed around 40 per cent turnout. The fate of BJP sitting MP from Tehri Lok Sabah Mala Raj Lakshmi along with Congress candidate Saket Bahuguna, Aam Aadmi Party candidate Anup Nautiyal and several others is now sealed in the ballot boxes. — TNS

AAP sets an example for other parties to follow
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 8
Ending their campaign on a positive note that would teach a lesson or two to the other political parties, the Dehradun chapter of Aam Aadmi Party took out a poster removal drive called ''Parivartan'' to restore the state capital's beauty marred by the recent elections and campaigning.

Lead by their Tehri constituency candidate Anoop Nautiyal, a large number of party workers removed the party posters and other publicity material from the walls in different parts of the city.

Elaborating further, Nautiyal said that the drive was aimed at making the city beautiful. ''During the elections, it is the city and its walls that take the maximum toll. Every political party and candidate paste the posters and bills to promote themselves. However once the elections get over, nobody removes these posters from the walls that continue to deface the city,'' he added.

''We had decided in advance that once the elections were over, we would be removing every poster, hoarding and any other publicity material from the city. In fact we would like to invite other political parties to join us in this initiative towards a cleaner city,'' said the former CEO of 108 emergency ambulance service in state.

Qureshi honours volunteers on Red Cross Day
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 8
On the occasion of Red Cross Day, Governor Aziz Qureshi honoured workers/volunteers of Red Cross and representatives of other organisations who helped in rescue and relief efforts in the natural disaster which hit Uttarakhand last year.

Expressing tributes towards Henry Dunant, founder of Red Cross, the governor said that Red Cross was not just an organisation but a world wide movement which served suffering humanity. He said youth should become more aware and interested in it. The governor made a call for a blood donation campaign through Red Cross and said that a blood bank could be started which would provide blood free of cost to helpless and poor people.

The governor specially referred to and appreciated the contribution made in blood donation by the members of the Pantnagar branch of Red Cross. The governor also released “Humanity in Action”, a book prepared by Red Cross, on the basis of the natural disaster of Uttarakhand. He expressed gratitude on behalf of the people of Uttarakhand towards the governor of Andhra Pradesh and the head of the Andhra Pradesh Red Cross Society for giving financial assistance of Rs.70 lakh during the disaster.

Earlier, general secretary of Uttarakhand Red Cross Society Dr.I.S. Pal gave a welcome address. Ranjit Singh Verma, Chairman of Red Cross Managing Committee gave the vote of thanks. 

Jal Sansthan resorts to roster ing for water supply
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, May 8
Jal Sansthan officers in Pithoragarh have resorted to the roster system for supply of drinking water in various localities of the town as the availability of water has reduced to a mere 4.5 million litres per day (MLD) against the requirement of 12 MLD.

CM, Khanduri meet injured bus passengers
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 8
Chief Minister Harish Rawat today met passengers, who were injured in a bus accident near Saknidharm, Devprayag in Tehri district, at the HIHT Hospital, Jollygrant, and the Government Hospital, Rishikesh. He instructed the hospital authorities to provide best possible medical care free of cost to them.

He also enquired about the details of the injured passengers.

Rawat told mediapersons that the state government had instituted an inquiry to ascertain the cause of the accident. He said the injured passengers would be provided free medical facilities.

The Chief Minister announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to next of kin of the deceased and of this Rs 1 lakh each would be provided out of the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and by the state Transport Department. Health Minister Surendra Singh Negi accompanied him.

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister BC Khanduri (retd) visited the Himalayan Institute Hospital, Jolly Grant, near here, today and met the persons who were injured in a bus accident on the Rishikesh-Badrinath road.

Khanduri expressed grief over the tragedy that claimed 13 lives and assured the injured of all possible help. Later he met the doctors treating them and enquired about the extent of injuries suffered by the survivors.

A Guptakashi-bound Uttarakhand Roadways bus fell into a ditch while its driver was negotiating a sharp turn in the Saknidhar area of Devprayag on the Rishikesh-Badrinath route yesterday. While 13 persons were killed several were critically injured.

Doon School lift hockey cup
Tribune News service

Mussoorie, May 8
The Doon School, Dehradun, defeated Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), Dehradun, by a margin of 1-0 in the finals of 2nd David Inglis Memorial Hockey Tournament Cup that was held at Wynberg Allen School grounds today.

Earlier, the Doon School defeated Welham Boys to reach the finals in pool A. RIMC defeated Wynberg-Allen School in a penalty shootout. The tournament was organised as a part of the 125th anniversary of Wynberg School and in memory of former teacher David Inglis.

L. Tindale, Principal Wynberg-Allen School, presented the winning trophy to The Doon School. Angad Shergill of The Doon School won the trophy for the best scorer. Fahad Siddiqui of Welham Boys' School was declared as the best player of the tournament. The best goalkeeper award went to Bowitlung Valalrinpuia of Wynberg-Allen School.

Tindale thanked all the schools for their participation. He thanked C. Dhakpa, sports in charge of the school, and his co-staff for successfully managing the event.

U-19 cricket team gets grand welcome 
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, May 8
The under-19 cricket team that performed well in the recent cricket tournaments, was given a grand welcome on its arrival in Haridwar here today by cricket aficionados.

The team will now play Zonal Cricket Tournament in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. The Cricket Association of Haridwar organised a meet for the players programme at BHEL cricket stadia.

Cricket Association of Haridwar president Neeraj Kumar welcomed the U-19 promising players, who brought laurels to the state by performing brilliantly in various cricketing events in recent past. He said youngsters were the future of the state and country and now apart from test cricket, and one-day matches, several T-20 leagues were providing career avenues to budding cricketers.

Veteran city based cricketer Inder Mohan Barthwal,ex-captain of BHEL cricket team, said despite limited playing facilities, young cricketers were excelling in cricket professionally, which bodes well for the sporting future of the hill state.

The U-19 team players comprise of Captain Sunny Kashyap, Ankit Chaudhari, Abhinav Bisht, Gaurav Singh, Aditya Sethi, Agrim Tiwari, Akshit Meena, Amol Barthwal, Ishan Pandey, Sarthak, Piyush Joshi, Kailash Rana, Chetan Bhandari, Ishank Negi, Ankit Bisht. Team supporting staff Arun Tiwari and Pawan Pal thanked Cricket Association of Haridwar for felicitating and motivating the morale of the U-19 team players and hoped that players would perform their best to clinch the zonal league title in Meerut.

M.Tech student drowns 
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, May 8
A 28-year-old M. Tech student from Barasayat village, near Thal town, was yesterday drowned in the Ramganga river while having a bath.

According to sources, Ashutosh Pant (28) first took his grandmother to the nearby polling booth for casting her vote and later went to the river to take a bath. “Ashutosh, who had come home two days ago to cast his vote, was staying with his sister near Thal town.

He along with some companions went to the river to have a bath yesterday.

His friends later informed his relatives and the police that he did not come out after he had dived into the river,” said Mahendra Singh, a police official at Thal.

The police have launched a search operation to locate Ashutosh's body but they were facing difficulties due to muddy water in the river these days.

Man killed in accident

Mussoorie, May 8
One person was killed while three other were injured when their vehicle fell into a deep gorge on the Chamiala-Kotalgaon-Lambgaon road in Tehri last evening.

The driver of the ill-fated Sumo, Krishnanand Bahuguna (50), died on the spot. The injured, Pankaj Semwal, Kush Semwal and Anil Semwal, are admitted to a Dehradun hospital. — TNS

Bus driver booked for negligent driving 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 8
A case of negligent driving has been registered against the driver of the Uttarakhand Roadways bus, which met with an accident on Wednesday morning near Saknidhar bend on the Rishikesh-Badrinath route, killing 14 passengers while 27 were injured.

On the directions of SP Tehri, a case has been registered against the driver at the Devprayag police station.

"I have spoken to few persons who got injured in the accident and they have told me that the driver was indulged in rash driving," he said.