Rail fare hike
NSUI activists burn NDA govt effigy 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 22
Annoyed at the recent announcement of hike in rail fares, activists of the NSUI burnt an effigy of the BJP-led NDA Union Government here today.

The protesters threatened to continue their agitation if the government did not quash the hike in rail fare.

Shivesh Bahuguna, chairman of the Pradesh Yuva Congress Tehri parliamentary constituency, said the fare hike would make things difficult for a common man.

He said the announcement of 14 per cent hike in rail fare would not be tolerated by the party. He threatened to start a statewide agitation if the government did not quash hike in rail fare.

Rishan Jain, Subham Wasan, Sandeep Sharma, Chander Singh Pundir, Sumit Khanna, Sachin Upadhayay, Rohit Arora, Sunny Sharma, Deewan Singh Rawat, Sanjay Sehgal were present on the occasion.

Power cuts irk doon residents
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 22
The tall claims made by the State Power Department that no part of the state will face power outage proved useless as several areas of Dehradun continued to face power outage for hours.

The situation worsens at night as the department takes hours to rectify technical snags, forcing residents to live in hot and humid conditions.

The power outage is so frequent in some colonies that inverter batteries were completely discharged to run electronic gadgets.

Infuriated over the callous approach of the Power Department for not taking effective steps to rectify technical snags, residents lodged their complaint at the customer care centre.

Surprisingly, every electricity complainant received a same answer that power supply would be resumed in a span of two or more hours without the staff knowing the exact cause of power failure in different colonies of Dehradun.

Several areas of Dehradun witnessed power outage for hours after witnessing thundershowers on Saturday. Among worst-affected areas are Balbeer Road, Old Dalanwala, Deep Nagar, Rispana Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Kargi etc.

Speaking to The Tribune, an official spokesman of Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited, Madhusudan, said linemen were instructed to rectify technical snags soon in order to avoid inconvenience to consumers.

He said circuit normally breakdowns during inclement weather and rectifying technical snags was the only way to resume electricity in the affected areas.

Madhusudan told that transmission lines were damaged in different colonies of Dehradun during inclement weather. He said lineman carried repairing work on war footing and power supply was resumed to most of the colonies. 

Another cleanliness drive at Tapkeshwar
MAD activists remove waste from Tamsa stream
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 22
Making A Difference by Being The Difference (MAD), a group of student activists, conducted yet another clean-up drive and awareness campaign at the Tapkeshwar Temple here today.

The cleanliness drive, MAD’s 15th activity at Tapkeshwar in the last two years, saw participation of over 500 students.

In the two-hour-long drive, the students removed polythene bags and broken idols from the Tamsa rivulet, which flows along the temple.

After lifting about 300 kg of garbage in 30 sacks, the group also disposed it of in the nearby Cantonment dustbin. “We organised the cleanliness drive as we are scheduled to have a crucial tripartite meeting with the Cantonment Board officials and the Tapkeshwar Temple Mandir Prashasan,” said Himalaya Arnav Ramola, an active MAD volunteer.

Book on statehood struggle released 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 22
A book on Uttarakhand statehood struggle, written by famous poet Dr Atul Kumar, was released on Tyagi Road here yesterday. The book titled, “Ab Toa Sadko Par Aayo”, comprising 82 poems was released by Information Commissioner Rajendra Kothiyal and senior doctor JP Navani in the presence of other distinguished guests.

The book release function was organised by ‘Dharatal’ organisation. Chief guest Rajendra Kothiyal said Atul Kumar had written all these 
poems during the Uttarakhand statehood struggle in early nineties.

President of Dharatal Ranjana Sharma said the poems would take you back to the days of struggle and tell you how the people fought hard for a separate state of Uttarakhand. Institute of Technology and Management chairman Nishant Thapliyal, story writer Rekha Sharma, union leader Jagmohan and Chandrshekhar Tiwari were also present.

Harish Rawat camp still dominates state Cong
SMA Kazmi
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 22
Chief Minister Harish Rawat’s close associate Kishore Upadhaya is the new Uttarakhand Congress chief. It’s an indication that the Congress group led by Harish Rawat apparently has a complete sway over the party affairs in the state.

Despite the party’s debacle in the recent Lok Sabha polls in the state, Upadhaya’s appointment shows that the Chief Minister still commands the confidence of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi. However, the development has annoyed the faction led by former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna. Bahuguna met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and reportedly complained about the hegemony of the Harish Rawat camp in the state.

Since the formation of Uttarakhand state, the Harish Rawat faction has remained dominant in the state Congress. Harish Rawat, who became the first president of the Uttarakhand Congress in 2000, led the party to victory in the first Assembly elections in February 2002. But after the electoral victory, the party high command reposed faith in veteran Congress leader ND Tewari and made him the Chief Minister of the state. Harish Rawat acted more as Tewari’s political opponent during the Congress regime from 2002 to 2007. He was made a Rajya Sabha member to placate him.

The political fortunes of Harish Rawat were revived after he won the Haridwar seat in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. He was made Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment. After the Assembly polls of 2012, Harish Rawat, who aspired to become Chief Minister, was ignored and Vijay Bahuguna was instead given the post. This annoyed Harish Rawat and his group of legislators.

However, the party high command again to placate him made him a Union Cabinet minister and his close associate Mahendra Singh Mahra was made a Rajya Sabha member. Harish Rawat also got plum portfolios for his supporters in the state government. Govind Singh Kunjwal, his another close aide, was also made the state Assembly Speaker.

The Harish Rawat faction was able to paint the Bahuguna government in black before the party high command following the natural disaster in June 2013.

The party high command finally removed Vijay Bahuguna as Chief Minister and appointed Harish Rawat in his place on February 1, 2014, ahead of the Lok Sabha poll. Satpal Maharaj, former Pauri Garhwal MP, was so annoyed with Harish Rawat’s appointment as Chief Minister that he left the Congress and joined the BJP. Later, his wife Amrita Rawat, who was Tourism Minister in the Harish Rawat Cabinet, was dropped.

With the Satpal Maharaj faction in the state Congress in disarray, the Vijay Bahuguna camp was eying the post of the state Congress chief. The position again went to a Harish Rawat loyalist. Vijay Bahuguna still nurtures the hope that he or his son will get a Rajya Sabha seat.

Rain puts a damper on Char Dham yatra
Ajay Ramola
Tribune News Servic

Mussoorie, June 22
The Char Dham Yatra could end early as the Tourism Department has recorded a fall in the number of pilgrims due to rain over the past couple of days.

According to the department, the number of pilgrims heading for Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath was around 3,000 persons per day, but with rain lashing hills for the past two days the number had decreased considerably. Around 1,500 to 2,000 pilgrims proceeding to the Char Dhams have been recorded at Rishikesh. The department cites the fear factor as the main reason for the decline in the number of pilgrims.

Ashtosh Singh from Jharkhand said they had come for the Char Dham Yatra but in the wake of reports of heavy rain they had cancelled the trip as last year’s natural disaster was still fresh in their minds. “We do not want to be caught in the rain during the yatra,” said Ashutosh.

The business community, which has pinned its hopes on the increase in the number of pilgrims, is a dejected lot. Vegetable supplier Khursheed, who owns a shop near Gauri Kund, said business was low this year due to decrease in the number of pilgrims. That had made it difficult for him to sustain his livelihood. Therefore, he was set to head homewards.

Hotel owners and shopkeepers at Badrinath are also not hopeful that the pilgrims’ footfall will pick up in the near future with the monsoon approaching.

Ramesh Nautiyal said at Jaan ki Chatti that the condition was similar at Gangotri and Yamunotri.

“We arrived at the Yamunotri shrine with less stock this year due to the ambiguity surrounding the yatra season. With no signs of increase in the number of pilgrims, the idea of stocking more supplies will be useless. Hence, we have decided to pack our bags and leave,” said Ram Singh Thapa, a dhaba owner at Gangotri.

The stalling of rafting by the district administration due to the rise in the water level in the Ganga at Shivpuri indicates that it is proceeding with caution.

Tourism Minister Dinesh Dhanai said the yatra to the Char Dhams was still on despite rain. The fear psychosis due to the last year’s natural disaster was the main reason for the fall in the number of pilgrims despite the fact that the administration was prepared for any challenge, he added.

With the Met Department forecasting more rain in the coming days, the continuation of the yatra during the monsoon is uncertain.

Spoilsport

• The number of pilgrims heading for Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath was around 3,000 persons per day, but with rain lashing hills for the past two days the number had decreased considerably.

Upadhayay takes charge as Cong chief
Bahuguna faction boycotts installation ceremony
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 22
Kishore Upadhyay formally took over the charge of Uttarakhand Congress president at an installation ceremony at the Congress Bhawan here today. Legislators and leaders belonging to the Vijay Bahuguan faction boycotted the function.

Upadhaya after assuming the charge said there was no factionalism in the Congress. He claimed that workers of different wings of the party were united and the party candidates would emerge victorious in the ongoing three-tier panchayat elections.

Interestingly, no senior leader and legislators belonging to the Vijay Bahuguna camp, attended the function.

Upadhayay said the party activists had been told to pull up their socks up ahead of the Assembly byelections. He claimed that Chief Minister Harish Rawat was all set to win the Assembly byelection scheduled for next month.

He denied Vijay Bahuguna was opposed to his appointment as Uttarakhand president and said their was total unity in the party. He added he would take concrete measures for strengthening the party from the grass-roots 
to top levels.

Upadhayay requested the party activists to take effective steps to spread awareness among the people about the party’s ideology and beneficiary schemes, which the state government had launched.

He said opinions of heads of different wings of the party would be considered while taking party-related decisions in the near future.

Revenue Minister Yashpal Arya, MLAs Preetam Singh, Dinesh Aggarwal, Sanjay Kapoor and party activists were present.

Film shoot leads to traffic jam near Mussoorie 
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, June 22
Locales of the Yamuna Bridge near Mussoorie were converted into the Nepal border for a film shooting.

The film titled “Yara” is being directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia. The presence of the film unit with star cast, including Shruti Hassan, resulted in a traffic jam as tourists heading for the Kempty Fall stopped to catch a glimpse of the shooting. 

tribune impact
Guesthouses found overcharging tourists
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, June 22
A team of officials from the Tourism and Commercial Tax Departments and the district administration today inspected several guesthouses in the town. It found that most of the guesthouses were charging more than the prescribed rates.

The inspection took place following a news item, “Paying guesthouse owners fleece tourists visiting Mussoorie”, published in The Tribune on June 17.

District Tourism Officer Yogendar Gangwar, who was part of the team, said during a raid on Keshav Paying Guesthouse, the team found that its owner was charging Rs 3,000 per day, which was beyond the prescribed limit. The guesthouse was also not maintaining a proper record of registration papers, which was important to run the unit, he added. Its owner was not paying tax in accordance with the amount mentioned in the guest register.

Such anomalies also came to light during raids on guesthouses on Spring Road. The Tourism Department has issued a warning to a few hotels for not displaying tariffs at their reception counters, which was a mandatory exercise for the paying guesthouses and hotels.

The inspecting team seized all documents from the guesthouses, which would now be sent to the District Magistrate.

Saurabh Tiwari, Assistant Commissioner, Commercial Tax, said six hotels and paying guesthouses were found charging more than the prescribed rates. Two paying guesthouses were running without registration.

He said the department had taken all necessary documents in its custody. After an investigation, action would be taken against the defaulters.

According to sources, the drive would continue during the peak tourist season.

Tourists and local residents have hailed the decision as, they feel, it will help check fleecing of visitors to the town. Mussoorie naib tehsildar Virendar was also part of the team. 

Throwing norms to the wind

• Most of the guesthouses were found charging more than the prescribed rates
• Have not maintained proper record of registration papers
• Have not displayed tariff at their receptions

‘Brahma Kumari mission devoted to humanitarian works’
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, June 22
Brahma Kumari Ishwariya University, devoted to social, religious, spiritual and humanitarian causes, is spread across 137 countries and has more than 8,500 branches.

This was stated by Rajyogini Brahma Kumari Meena at Devpura-based ashram here today while paying tributes to mission’s founder Mateshwari Jagdamba Saraswati.

She said Jagdamba Saraswati led a simple life and motivated women to work for society and spiritual-social uplift.

“The best tribute to Jagdamba Saraswati is that we make ourselves tread the path shown and followed by her. We need to instill feelings of spirituality, brotherhood, mutual harmony, cooperation, secularism and working for others, particularly poor. We need to realise our spiritual aspect beyond this skeleton and generate spiritual awakening within us and others,” said Meena.

Mahamandaleshwar Swami Sahaj Prakash Maharaj of Pawan Dham lauded the efforts and working of Brahma Kumari Ishwariya University and said it was based on simple living and 
high thinking.

He added it was one of the great centres of spiritual awakening that was lighting spiritual and humanitarian torch across the world.

A unique drive of ’70 billion’ good works was initiated in which all devotees and followers were urged to form a chain of good deeds that would ultimately bring happiness across the world and erase difficulties being witnessed by human beings.

Bharat Kumar, Suresh Kashyap, Dev, Urvashi, Rajani, Mandi, Anju, Radha, Sunita ,Tara, Mala, BK Saraswati, BK Sunita were present at the programme.

Call to fight adulteration
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 22
Dr Brij Mohan Sharma, Secretary, Society of Pollution and Environmental Conservation Scientists (SPECS), has called upon people to collectively fight rising adulteration in food products.

Delivering a guest lecture at the All India Consumers Council programme in Dehradun today, Dr Sharma called upon people to adopt day-to-day techniques to detect adulteration in food products.

He said lack of sensitisation in the society was encouraging adulterators to resort to rampant adulteration in food products in order to make money fast.

Citing an example, he said a lactometer, that costs little more than Rs 10, can help one get to know the amount of fat content in milk.

He said artificial ripening of fruits is a big challenge for the society.

Dr Sharma called for a collective campaign to check artificial speedy ripening of fruits.

Sharma pointed out that SPECS has, from time to time, been conducting survey in the markets, particularly during festivals like Diwali and Holi to check adulteration in food items.

AICC Uttarakhand office-bearers Amarjeet Singh Bhatia, Brig KG Behl and others were present on the occasion.

Nehrugram win handball titles
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 22
Nehrugram Club won the Anuradha Memorial district level handball championship in both boys and girls categories at Pavilion Ground here today.

In the boys final match, Nehrugram Club defeated RB Club 24-17 while in the girls finals it trounced DAV PG College 17-11.

Uttarakhand Congress president Kishore Upadhayay was the chief guest of the closing ceremony. He gave away prizes to the winning team. 

2nd Inter-Zonal Cricket Tournament for Blind
Cricketers lack sponsors to pursue passion 
Parwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

India Red team celebrate after winning the 2nd Inter-Zonal Cricket Tournament at Doon School in Dehradun on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

Dehradun, June 22
These players might appear like other regular players engrossed deeply in a cricket match. However, it takes a few minutes to realise that they are visually challenged. Not let down by their disability, these players are no less than anyone when it comes to following their passion.

They are participating in the ongoing 2nd Inter-Zonal Cricket Tournament for Blind being organised by the Blind Cricket Association.

The team comprising 11 players is categorised as B1 (completely blind), B2 (vision up to 3 metre), and B3 (vision up to 6 metre). While runners are provided to completely blind batsmen, a guide helps the bowler by clapping behind the batsman to understand their position. While the dimension of the field is similar to a regular match, the ball is made of plastic with small bells placed inside for guiding sound.

BCA East Zone secretary Mohammed Shahid Raza said lack of sponsors and supporters were the biggest problems faced the blind cricket. “Despite cricket being an important game played by visually impaired in India, we are not able to find sponsors and supporters. It is only during tournaments that we get some sponsorship. It is rare to find someone who supports our national team on a regular basis. What is more sad is that the mainstream cricket, which has the capability to influence the masses, does not support us in promoting the blind cricket,” he added.

For Rajender Verma (38), a B1 category player, setting a world record of a double century by a completely blind person is the biggest achievement of his life. Playing for almost 25 years now, Verma scored the double century against Pakistan during the Indo-Pak Tri-Series for Blind organised at Karachi in 2004. “Though we lost the series, my record is still unbeaten,” said Verma, a schoolteacher in Sambhar, Rajasthan.

“It is difficult to make people understand that despite our disability, we love to play cricket and do not face any problem. Until and unless the government intervenes and lends support, there is no future for the blind sports in our country,” said Verma.

For Mohammad Ishaaq the motivation to take up cricket came from his seniors in the blind school.

“Due to a wrong dosage of medicine, I was rendered completely blind at the age of six. I used to love cricket and my seniors in the school pushed me to take up the game. My wife fully supports my passion. Each player coming to the tournament has to shell out money as we don’t get any sponsors,” he added.

India Red win

India Red won the 2nd Inter-Zonal Cricket Tournament for the Blind defeating India Green by 53 runs in the finals played at The Doon School here today.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, India Red displayed a good batting performance and scored 156 runs. Ashish Negi scored the highest 38 runs. Rahul and Sikander also played good innings of 34 and 29 runs, respectively. Budhram took four wickets for India Green.

In reply, India Green got off to a bad start and the whole team got bowled out for 103 runs.

Ganesh Bhusara made the highest 12 runs. For India Red, Rajendra Verma took three wickets while Akbar Ali clipped two wickets.

Rajendra Verma was chosen the man of the match for his all-round performance.

Surendra Agarwal, spokesperson for Chief Minister Office, was the chief guest during the closing ceremony. He gave away prizes to the members of the winning and runner-up teams.

Garhwal Star log win
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 22
Garhwal Star defeated Rising Star Football Club 3-0 in the ongoing Nemidas Memorial District Football League played at the Pavilion Ground here today.

Aman Thapa scored two goals in the 44th and 61st minute of the match while Lokesh Bist scored the third one in the 56th minute.

The second match played between Doon Valley Football Club and JA Boys ended in a 1-1 draw. For Doon Valley, Udit scored the goal in the 17th minute while Deepesh scored the equaliser in the 55th minute for JA Boys. 

City lad to attend U-19 cricket camp
Tribune News Service

Abhimanyu

Dehradun, June 22
Abhimanyu, a prodigy of the Abhimanyu Cricket Academy in Dehradun, has brought laurels to the state with his selection to the list of 25 probables for a 40-day camp at the National Cricket Academy, Bangalore.

The final national U-19 team would be selected from the among the probables. The players have been selected on the basis of their performance in the Cooch Behar Trophy, past performances and accomplishments in the U-19 Inter-Zonal Cricket Tournament at Mysore.  

Tiger reserve status to Pilibhit a boost for state 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 22
Tiger conservation efforts in Uttarakhand are bound to get a fillip with Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh getting the tiger reserve status.

Pilbhit forests, now Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, covering 726.89 sq km in the foothills of the Himalayas, hold strong connectivity with the Terai-Bhabar forests in Uttarakhand, which falls west of Pilbhit.

The Terai-Bhabar forest area form part of the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL), which encompasses 52,000 sq km that spreads from east of Uttarakhand to Bihar encompassing important protected areas and forests in India and Nepal.

With Pilibhit declared a tiger reserve, the tiger conservation efforts in the entire region would get an enormous boost. According to Dr AK Singh, team leader, Terai Arc Landscape, WWF-India, the forests of Pilibhit act as a fulcrum in the TAL, linking the Shukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve in Nepal with the Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary in India.

Further to the west of Pilibhit, there is a strong connectivity with the Terai-Bhabar forests in Uttarakhand. Besides tiger, these forests are prominently home to a rich variety of wildlife, which includes leopard, swamp deer and hog deer.

WWF-India has praised both Uttar Pradesh government and Centre for making Pilbhit a tiger reserve. The organisation has been working in the Terai Arc Landscape for more than a decade now. Its initiatives include, supporting government agencies to strengthen law enforcement, monitoring and research and working with the local NGOs to reduce human-wildlife conflicts through the establishment of effective compensation mechanisms and promoting environmental awareness among the communities and policymakers on conservation.

The tiger estimation exercise undertaken in 2013 by WWF-India and the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department revealed that around 22 to 26 tigers live in the Pilbhit region. 

PM’s brother on thanksgiving visit
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, June 22
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s brother Pankaj Modi performed rituals at Har-ki-Pauri in Haridwar today as thanksgiving for the fulfilment of the wish he had made for the success of his elder sibling. He took a bath in the Ganga, and offered it milk. He arrived in the city yesterday and his visit was kept a secret.

Earlier he had come to Haridwar before the Lok Sabha elections and performed rituals then too. However, while Narendra Modi was busy in the election campaign, Pankaj kept a low profile and remained busy praying and performing rituals for his brother’s success and coronation as Prime Minister.

Pankaj’s visit was kept a secret but as soon as mediapersons, party activists and locals came to know about his presence at Har-ki-Pauri, they headed for the ghat.

Dental surgeons use laser healing
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 22
Dental surgeons, especially in Dehradun, have switched to the laser healing therapy to relive pain and swelling that sometimes occurs in neck and head after treatment.

Dr Nitish Kamboj, a private practitioner, who provides this facility at his clinic, said, “The treatment is a boon to diabetic, cancer and cardiac patients."

Laser therapy or photobiomodulation is the application of laser light to the area of the body that has been injured or damaged. In contrast to high-power surgical laser that is designed to cut tissues. This therapeutic laser has beneficial photochemical and photo biological intreactions that can reduce pain and swelling and help in increasing blood circulation and improve healing.

“With this therapy, we can take care of jaw pain and accidental injuries, which lead to edema and pain," added Dr Kamboj. 

RTI Club seeks CBI probe into mining scam

Dehradun, June 22
The RTI Club has expressed concern over rampant illegal mining in Uttarakhand and demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the mining scam that came to light in February this year.

Dr DP Maithani, president of the club, said the alleged Rs 22 crore mining scam in the State Forest Development Corporation made headlines but the government did nothing to stop the illegal activity.

To expose those involved in the scam, the government should ask for a Central Bureau of Investigation probe or order the state vigilance department to conduct an inquiry. “Despite tall claims made by the government, illegal mining in the state is going on unabated,” said Maithani.

Reportedly, a mining scam to the tune of Rs 22 crore was exposed in the State Forest Development Corporation in February which triggered widespread protests. — TNS

8 coming after casting vote in panchayat poll killed in road mishap
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 22
Eight persons were killed and five injured when the jeep they were travelling in plunged into a gorge on the Kirkhu-Musaasu road in Chaubattakhal in Tehri district on Saturday.

They reportedly had gone to Musaasu to cast their vote in the panchayat elections and the accident occurred when they were on their way back. All of them were from Chaura village in Tehri district. Among the eight dead, five were women.

According to the police, 14 persons of Chaura village travelled to a polling booth nearby to cast their vote in the panchayat elections. When jeep driver Mahesh went in the polling booth to cast his vote, somebody sitting in the vehicle switched its gear. That set the jeep moving and it hurtled down into a 150-metre ditch.

A relief and rescue operation was initiated and the injured were pulled out. They were taken to Kotdwar for treatment. Tehsildar Chawan Singh Rawat said the rescue operation was carried out with the help of local villagers and the bodies were sent for a post-mortem to Patisain and Kotdwar.

Devotees seek Shankaracharya’s blessings
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, June 22
Devotees of Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati sought his blessings at his ashram at Kankhal here yesterday.

The Shankaracharya arrived at his ashram yesterday. Since then, saints, devotees and common people are visiting him to seek his blessings. Several saints, akhada representatives and common people in a large number also paid visit to the ashram.

Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati is the head of the Jyotish Peeth at Joshimath and the Dwarka Peeth at Dwarka. These two muths were established by Adi Guru Shankaracharya.

Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati had played an active role during the Indian independence movement and was sent to prison twice for his active role in the Quit India Movement. In 1950, he renounced the world under the guidance of Swami Brahmanand Saraswati and inherited the title of ‘Shankaracharya of Dwarka’ in 1982. He had been opposing rampant construction of hydropower projects on the Ganga and its tributaries in Uttarakhand.

Journalist recounts Kedarnath tragedy 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 22
“Tum Chup Kyon Rahey Kedar”, a book on the Kedarnath catastrophe written by TV journalist Hridayesh Joshi was released in Dehradun today.

Travel writer Bill Atkin released the book and said through his work Hridayesh had tried to bring the plight of the Kedarnath disaster victims before the entire world. He said, “One needs to learn from the disaster. They are not new to Uttarakhand and we cannot say with surety that they will not recur.”

Padmashree Prof VP Dimri said Uttarakhand has a long history of disasters. The people of this region will strongly overcome even this tragedy. He stressed on scientific rehabilitation and reconstruction in the disaster-affected areas.

Former Vice-Chancellor of Garhwal University SP Singh said he strongly believed that any infrastructure activity in the fragile Garhwal Himalayas should take environment factors into consideration.

Hridayesh recalled his stay in Kedarnath after the disaster last year while covering the region for stories. He said the plight of the disaster affected people moved him a lot and he decided to chronicle these events.

Information Commissioner Prabhat Dabral, Aam Aadmi Party leader Anoop Nautiyal, and educationist Rajnish Juyal were present.