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Ganga canal: Uttar Pradesh violating SC order, state Reorganisation Act
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Overnight rains wreak havoc in Mussoorie
UKD factions fail to field candidates against CM
Crime on the rise in US Nagar
Suspended BSP leader weighs options
POLITICAL DIARY
Srinagar Medical College sans facilities
State govt insensitive to disaster victims: Bhatt
RAIL BUDGET
Demand for train to Mussoorie from Doon
BJP demands quashing of CM’s nomination papers
Two-day workshop for teachers
Bypoll: Congress appoints coordinators for Doiwala
Women still discriminated against, says UMA chief
Leopard kills man
Leopard fear
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Ganga canal: Uttar Pradesh violating SC order, state Reorganisation Act
Haridwar, July 6 The Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department has violated the status quo order of the Supreme Court on construction, expansion and other works on the Ganga canal in Haridwar. The order was delivered on October 29, 2013, on a petition filed regarding the transfer of properties to Uttarakhand. Notably, the UP Irrigation Department has been carrying out expansion work on the Mayapur Link Scrap Channel on the Ganga canal in Haridwar for the past few months. No prior consent was taken from the Uttar Pradesh government and the construction work began in the canal area, which falls in Uttarakhand. This is said to be in violation of the apex court order. The Supreme Court order says maintenance work could be carried out by Uttar Pradesh on properties that it manages on the soil of Uttarakhand according to the Uttar Pradesh-Uttarakhand Reorganisation Act 2000. Newly elected Haridwar parliamentarian Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has taken up the issue and demanded that the expansion work be stopped immediately. Nishank said it was a matter of concern that even the Secretary of the Uttarakhand Irrigation Department and the Haridwar District Magistrate did not know as to what construction work the UP Irrigation Department had undertaken on the Ganga canal at Mayapur. “This is in violation of the UP-Uttarakhand Reorganisation Act 2000 and also of the Supreme Court directives, which emphasised on mutual consent of both states, but in this case no permission has been sought from the Uttarakhand government,” said Nishank. He added that if the work was not stopped immediately, he would be forced to take up the issue with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat and his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Akhilesh Yadav as Uttarakhand would get no benefit out of this expansion work. Also, the retaining and safety walls in the colonies near the Ganga Canal are getting damaged due to the expansion work carried out by the UP Irrigation Department. Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department Sub-divisional officer Veer Virendra Singh Yadav said they had apprised the Uttarakhand Irrigation Department officials about the project, which would benefit lakhs of farmers in Uttar Pradesh and provide additional drinking water to people in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. He said the project was for the betterment of the people, as it would increase the capacity of the Ganga canal from 10,500 cusecs to 13,500 cusecs. This would help make potable water available for Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. Meanwhile, Swami Chinmayanand has objected to tree logging and damage to the local ecology owing to the UP Irrigation Department move to expand the Ganga canal. Purushottam Sharma, Executive Engineer, Uttarakhand Irrigation Department, said every now and then the UP Irrigation Department carried out construction work or closed the Ganga canal during Dashera in the name of cleaning it. This, he said, hurts the sentiments of devotees as barely any water is released at Har-ki-Pauri for devotees and teerth purohits for rituals. The local units of the BJP, the Congress and the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal have resented the monopoly of the UP Irrigation Department. Manoj Tiwari, divisional president of the BJP, said a major portion of the Kanwar patri was damaged due to the construction work, but the stretch was still to be restored. The Kanwar fair would commence a week later. Earlier too, they had handed out a memorandum to the officials concerned in this regard but to no avail, he added. Uday Ram Semwal, UKD central secretary of the labour cell, said they opposed further construction work on the Ganga canal falling in Uttarakhand. The 272-mile Ganga canal built by the British in 1854 under Colonel Probey Cautley originates from Haridwar in Uttarakhand. Still, its control is in the hands of Uttar Pradesh. |
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Umbrella sellers do brisk business as heavy rain lashes Mussoorie
Mussoorie, July 6 These vendors have begun increasing their stocks in anticipation of good sales this year as the Met Department has forecast more rains in the state. Umbrellas of various colours and sizes catering to every age group are available in shops in the town. These umbrellas are attracting tourists, thus allowing shopkeepers to make a quick buck. Pratap, an umbrella seller at Kulri Bazaar, said with the monsoon picking up in the state the sales of umbrellas were are looking up this year. “We have ordered umbrellas of different colours, shapes and sizes keeping in mind the market trend,” he said. He added this year the demand for small and automatic folding umbrellas was much more as compared to last year. “I am about to sell all of my old stock of umbrellas. I have already given an order for a new stock as intermittent showers are lashing the town everyday, compelling people to buy umbrellas and raincoats,” said Sanjiv, a shopkeeper at Library Bazaar. He added he was selling raincoats mostly to schoolchildren, who had not only to cover themselves but also their bags while going to school. “The demand for traditional rubber gumboots is witnessing a dip this year, as most of the students prefer more trendy-looking waterproof shoes,” said Bhim, another shopkeeper. “We are hopeful that the monsoon is here to stay for some time and with several innovative designer umbrellas flooding the market, consumers will have much more choice this season,” said Monu, another umbrella seller at Jhoola Ghar. Veena Singh, a tourist from Delhi, said they were avoiding carrying umbrellas due to scanty rain but after the overnight downpour we changed the decision and bought around 10 to 12 umbrellas for the whole group for use while in Mussoorie. The Indian manufacturers expect a 50 per cent increase in umbrella sales if the rains continue in the similar fashion this season. However, they are worried that they could lose business to cheap Chinese imports. The increase in the excise duty on raw material imported from Taiwan and China is also not helping the cause of the Indian umbrella manufacturers. The demand for a reduction in the excise duty on raw materials in the budget is gaining momentum so that the local umbrella industry, which is predominantly small scale in nature, could become more competitive and could sustain itself in the long run. |
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Overnight rains wreak havoc in Mussoorie
Mussoorie, July 6 The Mussoorie-Dehradun road near Bhatta village also remained blocked for several hours due to the mud debris that covered the road around 10.30 pm yesterday. A JCB machine was pressed into service by police station in charge Jaimal Negi to remove the debris from the road. The mud debris due to overnight rains that covered the Kempty-Yamuna bridge road left the commuters from both sides stranded for several hours. The traffic resumed only after PWD officials arrived there and removed the debris with the help of the JCB machines. The shopkeepers at Balrowganj also were distraught to see their goods damaged due to rainwater that entered their shops at night. Due to encroachment on a nullah, rainwater entered houses at Merryville Estate. Anil Godiyal, a resident of Barlowganj, said due to overflowing nullahs, another local resident Ashok nearly got washed away at Christian village last night but was saved by his neighbour. Godiyal lamented the fact that encroachments over the nullah at Barlowganj were not being removed, forcing them to live in fear, especially during the monsoon. The sidewalls damaged due to heavy rains near the house of Ramchandi Dobhal at Balrowganj poses threat to her life as the house could cave in at any given moment, he said. Rainwater also entered several shops at Kulri Bazaar. The local administration was not seen anywhere while the people suffered. SDM, Mussoorie, Ramji Sharan Sharma, who resides in Dehradun, could not be contacted despite several attempts by mediapersons. |
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Chaudhari elected president of new traders’ organisation
Haridwar, July 6 The Ganga Vyapar Mandal was formed to raise the issues and interests of poor, lower and medium level traders. Sanjeev Chaudhari has been elected as its first president while the members of the executive body will be declared in the coming days. Notably, the main traders’ organisation got divided into Jamdagni and Gulati groups, which were accused of catering to the interests of wealthy traders only. Veteran trader Suresh Prajapati called on fellow traders to join the Ganga Vyapar Mandal as it was not confined to the interests of hoteliers or malls but its prime focus was the lower and medium level traders. “Both Jamdagni and Gulati groups never came forward to support small traders like us. But when tax is levied on luxury hotels or supermarkets, both these factions get united and oppose such moves. They never oppose anti-encroachment drives or lack of basic facilities that small traders face regularly. Hence, we decided to form this outfit which is not named after any person but after mother Ganga,” said Prajapati. Another trader Tej Prakash Sahu urged traders from various parts of the city to join the new forum as it was in the interest of their community to come together and discuss and sort out their problems. Traders from Jwalapur, Ranipur, Khanna Nagar, Kankhal, Tehri Vistapith Colony, Khadkhari, Arya Nagar, Subash Nagar extended support to the new forum. They said a neutral and transparent traders’ outfit was the need of the hour. Meanwhile, Sanjeev Chaudhari urged both Jamdgani and Gulati groups to join the forum. |
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UKD factions fail to field candidates against CM
Dehradun, July 6 While the Airy faction of the UKD has extended support to Chief Minister Harish Rawat in Dharchula, the UKD (Panwar) has failed to field a candidate from the seat. Though the Panwar faction alleges that its candidate was denied a chance to file his nomination papers from the Dharchula seat on the pretext that he turned up late, analysts doubt the intentions of the party. Those following the UKD closely question the motives of both factions of the party. The UKD (Airy) initially had announced to field its president Kashi Singh Airy as candidate from Dharchula. It then appealed to other parties, including the BJP, to support Airy as the joint Opposition candidate against Chief Minister Harish Rawat. But the party changed its mind and decided to extend support to Rawat. While both UKD (Airy) and UKD (Panwar) also contesting from the Doiwala and Someshwar Assembly seats, they have failed to field candidates in Dharchula. UKD (Airy) president Kashi Singh Airy said his party’s support to Rawat in Dharchula was solely aimed at giving development a chance in the state’s backward hill districts. He said their party had extended support to Harish Rawat and not to the Congress. “We are not in favour of the Congress, but we have given the Chief Minister a chance to usher in development in the state’s backward hill districts,” he said. He even argued that there was nothing new in UKD (Airy) extending support to a Chief Minister who is contesting the byelections to enter the state Assembly. “We had supported ND Tiwari in Ramnagar seat in the 2002 byelections, BC Khanduri in Dhumakot in the 2007 byelections and Vijay Bahuguna in Sitarganj Assembly seat in the 2012 byelections,” Airy said. UKD (Panwar) president Trivendra Singh Panwar alleged that their proposed candidate from Dharchula seat, Gopal Singh Mehta, was deliberately denied the chance to file his nomination papers. “Our candidate Gopal Singh Mehta was prevented from filing his nomination papers even though he reached the tehsil office in time,” he alleged. Panwar said their party would definitely oppose Congress candidate Harish Rawat and BJP candidate BD Joshi in Dharchula. It would support a candidate who is strong enough to give a fight to both these parties, he added. He maintained that there was no question of supporting Harish Rawat directly or indirectly in Dharchula. |
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1,500 forms sold for 680 seats in SMJN College
Haridwar, July 6 Shravan Nath Math Jawaharlal Nehru College is an institution of repute in the city’s periphery. College principal Dr Navneet Kumar Ghildiyal said this was the first time in the recent past that the number of forms sold was double the number of allotted seats. He added at present 680 seats were available. “BA has 340 seats, B Com 160, B Com (private) 80, BSc (Mathematics) 60, and BSc (Botany) 40. As many as 1,500 forms have been already sold, while the last day for purchasing admission forms is July 15,
he said. Ghildiyal cited good academic results in the past few years as the reason for the rush of admission seekers. Various students of the college have got admission to higher classes in the country’s noted institutions. He said due to the rush, the cut-off marks would surely
go high. Former students’ union president Varsha Dhanik said SMJN was probably the only college providing quality education in the city area. She added the college management should consider raising the number of seats by at least 10 per cent to ensure the maximum of students get admission. Otherwise, many students would be forced to seek admission in private colleges or go to neighbouring cities like Dehradun and Roorkee, she added. |
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Crime on the rise in US Nagar
Pithoragarh, July 6 According to the police, Kulwinder Singh, manager of Surin Auto company at Sitarganj, was returning from the bank after withdrawing Rs 12 lakh when four youths attacked him. “The robbers fired at him and injured him when he tried to resist them,” said Ajay Dhyani, a police officer at Rudarpur. The police suspected that the criminals might have fled to Moradabad or Rampur. “We will seek the help of the Uttar Pradesh Police to nab the culprits soon,” said Dhyani. In another incident, four youths looted a couple in Bhitora village of Rudarpur town. The criminals decamped with gold and silver ornaments. “The looters beat the couple with an iron rod and injured them badly,” said Dhyani. In yet another incident, two motorcycle-borne youths snatched a handbag from a woman in Kashipur town of the district. The bag contained gold ornaments and cash. |
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Suspended BSP leader weighs options
Shahzad called a press conference today. At the last moment, he cancelled the event, with no reason cited in the press release circulated to the local media from his office. According to sources close to the leader, Shahzad is being approached by various political parties, but nothing has been finalised. Shahzad is also trying to approach BSP supremo Mayawati in Lucknow to know the reason behind his suspension. BSP Uttarakhand president Nathu Singh said Mohammed Shahzad had of late been involved in anti-party activities, apparently remaining neutral during the 16th Lok Sabha election in favour of party candidate Mohammed Islam. The latter eventually forfeited his deposit, with BJP candidate Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank winning by a record margin of 1.77 lakh votes. “As per directive of party supremo Mayawati, we have received a suspension letter from the party head office which we today forwarded to Mohammed Shahzad’s official address and to the media in Haridwar. The party believes in unity and discipline, lack of which means weakening of the party. Shahzad has lost confidence of the party high command as well as of the party workers and the public,” said Nathu Singh. Samajwadi Party state spokesperson Durgesh Pratap Singh said Shahzad was welcome to the party fold if he adhered to Samajwadi ideologue and worked as an active party worker, but all depended on his decision. Aam Aadmi Party district coordinator JP Baduni said Shahzad’s political career had not been transparent and he had been meddling with works of Zila Panchayat president Anjum Begum. The 2002 Assembly poll saw Shahzad defeating BJP candidate Dr Prithvi Singh Vikasit by over 1,000 votes. The margin increased to 10,000 votes against Vikasit in the 2007 Assembly poll. In the 2012 Assembly election, due to delimitation, he moved to Piran Kaliyar, where he lost the election to Congress candidate Furkan Ahmed. In 2009, during the 15th Lok Sabha election, he contested from the Haridwar parliamentary constituency and lost to Congress candidate Harish Rawat by over 1.40 lakh votes. Since then, his political graph has been on the decline as he lost the confidence of party workers as well as the local public, owing to his errant behaviour and undue interference in the working of Zila Panchayat.
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Fruit saplings planted as part of green Doon campaign
Dehradun, July 6 The ‘Adopt a plant’ initiative is getting excellent support from the people and the survival ratio
of plants through this campaign is more than 80 per cent. Fruit-bearing plants are being planted to maintain the environment balance of Dehradun. The
campaign has been organised in various parts of Dehradun—from Nawada, Race Course, Tyagi Road, Rajpur, Dharampur
to name a few. “The foundation is dedicated to saving the environment of the beautiful Doon valley. If every family adopts a plant and helps it grow, we will notice a far greener Doon within the next few years. We are thankful to the residents of Dehradun for taking active part in environment protection drives for our beautiful Doon valley,” said Jaya L Kumar, vice-president of the U Turn Foundation. The campaign was
coordinated by Green Force members Deepanjli Sharma, Aanchal Bisht, Arpan Singh Mian, Sanidhya Dogra, Manender Kakkar, Akash Sahu and Kartikey Kala. The foundation has also initiated various campaigns like ‘Carry your bag’, anti-polythene and cleanliness drive, and signature campaigns for enactment of the Uttarakhand Non-Biodegradable Garbage Control Act. |
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Doiwala villagers threaten to boycott bypoll
Dehradun, July 6 The villagers gathered on the main road at Gujronwali in Doiwala and announced the poll boycott. They alleged that despite their repeated requests to the district authorities for immediate repair of roads in their villages both administration and public representatives had done nothing in this regard. They said they had now decided to boycott the byelection in the Doiwala Assembly seat as a mark of protest. A protester, Rajesh Bahuguna, said the roads in Nathuwala, Balawala, Harawala, and Nakrondaand Gularghati villages were in a very bad shape, leading to frequent mishaps. He added many villagers had met with accidents on these potholed roads. Another protester Vishnu Raturi from Nathuwala village said the election had no meaning for them as no public representative had so far been able to solve their problem. He added the villagers would continue with their protest till the roads in their villagers were properly repaired. Rakesh Ramola, Gaurav Chand Ramola, Sanjay Thapliyal and Trilok Rawat took part in the protest. |
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Byelections give Congress hope of securing majority in Assembly
SMA Kazmi Tribune News Service
Dehradun, July 6 If it manages to win all three seats, it will get a simple majority of its own in the state legislative Assembly. The Congress got a thorough drubbing in the Lok Sabha elections held in May and lost all five seats to the BJP. Two of the newly elected MPs Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Ajay Tamta from Haridwar and Almora, respectively, were state legislators earlier. They have vacated their Doiwala and Someshwar Assembly seats, necessitating byelections. On the other hand, Chief Minister Harish Rawat is also supposed to enter the state legislature by July 31, according to the constitutional provisions. Looking for a safe seat, he got Harish Dhami, Congress legislator from Dharchula in Pithoragarh district, to resign from the Assembly. It was in the Dharchula segment that the Congress took a good lead against the BJP in the recent Lok Sabha elections. Hence, Harish Rawat decided to contest the byelection from the Dharchula seat. Meanwhile, ground realities indicate that the Congress could perform better in these byelections. If the party manages to win all three seats, it will get a majority in the state Assembly on its own. The Congress has 33 legislators in a house of 70 and is dependent on the support of the seven-member Progressive Democratic Front (PDF) comprising three Independents, three members of the BSP and the lone UKD legislator. Party leaders are hopeful that the Congress candidates stand a better chance of winning since the euphoria of Narendra Modi as witnessed during the Lok Sabha elections is on the wane as the BJP-led Central government has failed to check the price rise. The party believes that Chief Minister Harish Rawat would easily win from the Dharchula seat where the BJP has pitted a Congress rebel BD Joshi against him. In anticipation of his fighting the byelections from Dharchula, Harish Rawat has already taken a number of steps for the development of the area. However, there would be a tough contest on the Someshwar (reserve) and Doiwala seats, which are both held by the BJP. In Someshwar, the Congress managed to win over Rekha Arya, a popular BJP leader and gave her the ticket to fight the byelection, while the BJP has fielded Mohan Ram Arya, an experienced leader. There will be another tough contest on the Doiwala seat, which was vacated by Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank. The Congress has pitted Hira Singh Bisht, a former Uttarakhand minister who lost to Nishank in the 2012 Assembly poll, against BJP candidate Trivendra Singh Rawat. However, intense infighting among senior BJP leaders for the party ticket for their favourites could impact the performance of the party. Moreover, the party cadre, who was highly motivated during the Lok Sabha elections, seem less enthusiastic this time. It is possible that the Assembly byelections could reverse the fortunes of the Congress in the state. A ray of hope
The party believes that Chief Minister Harish Rawat would easily win from the Dharchula seat where the BJP has pitted a Congress rebel BD Joshi against him. In anticipation of his fighting the byelections from Dharchula, Harish Rawat has already taken a number of steps for the development of the area. However, there would be a tough contest on the Someshwar (reserve) and Doiwala seats, which are both held by the
BJP. |
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50 students get free check-up at Indiresh Hospital
Dehradun, July 6 Additional Medical Superintendent of the hospital Dr VK Bihari said under this special health awareness programme, students of all schools of the district were provided the facility of free health check-up. The students on the individual level could avail of this facility by showing their identity cards while in a group they could do so on the basis of letters from their principals. Dr Bihari said during the health camp the children were found suffering from dental problems, underweight, pimples, vision problems and anaemia, especially among girls. Teachers of SGRR Public School Annapuna Nautiyal and Sunita Jugran praised the hospital for its efforts and said this was a unique initiative. “Children have come to know about their current health status, what is a balanced diet and the way of leading a healthy life,” they added. The doctors also provided them with tips for leading a healthy life and a ideal lifestyle. It is worth mentioning that the Chief Education Officer, Dehardun, has already informed the principals of various schools about this free health check-up facility being offered by Shri Mahant Indiresh Hospital. |
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Srinagar Medical College sans facilities
Dehradun, July 6 Last Friday, a 64-year-old patient, who was suffering from brain atrophy, was sent to Doon Hospital from Srinagar Medical College for treatment. “The patient has been admitted to Doon Hospital and has been diagnosed with brain atrophy. Several patients are sent to us from Srinagar Medical College for treatment,” said Dr NS Bisht, a senior physician. According to former principal of Srinagar Medical College, it began functioning in 2007 and its referral rate was 5 per cent in 2009. The referral rate rose to 25 per cent in 2010 and 70 per cent in 2014. The emergency records of Doon Hospital suggest that around 700 patients were referred by Srinagar Medical College to Doon Hospital in 2013. Doctors in the medical college say several facilities like dialysis, mammography, colour doppler have been discontinued in the college due to a shortage of doctors and paramedical staff. “When all these equipment were installed in 2007, doctors were sent for training at Jolly Grant Hospital. But most of them have been transferred. As a result, these machines are lying idle,” said a senior doctor in Srinagar
Medical College. Further, the Department of Medical Health and Family Welfare did not give approval to the installation of an MRI machine because it felt it would needlessly put a financial burden on the government. “The proposal was put up before the government in 2009, but it was junked and since then no body has shown any interest,” said the doctor. Now, patients requiring an MRI scan or those suffering from neurological disorders are referred to Doon Hospital. While patients flock to Doon Hospital, Srinagar Medical College is losing credibility. Alarming situation
According to former principal of Srinagar Medical College, it began functioning in 2007 and its referral rate was 5 per cent in 2009. The referral rate rose to 25 per cent in 2010 and 70 per cent in 2014. |
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State govt insensitive to disaster victims: Bhatt
Dehradun, July 6 Bhatt also expressed concern over the collapse of an under-construction bridge in Uttarkashi in which a labourer was killed. He said the bridge on the Asiganga river was being constructed at a cost of Rs 3 crore. He alleged the incident had exposed the government’s insincerity towards the rebuilding exercise
in the disaster-hit areas. Bhatt alleged substandard construction material was being used in such projects. He flayed the government for delaying a probe into the incident. He also accused Chief Minister Harish Rawat of giving wrong information in the nomination papers filed by him for the Assembly byelection from the Dharchula seat. |
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U’khand hopeful of getting due share this time
Jotirmay Thapliyal Tribune News Service
Dehradun, July 6 The railway network in the state is limited to the plains of Dehradun and Haridwar and the Terai belt of Kumaon. It is also poorly managed. The successive governments at the Centre have never given due attention to the state. Dehradun, which is the state capital, is connected with its nearest station at Haridwar by a single track. The Dehradun railway station too lacks proper infrastructure. The state is poorly connected to both west and south India. There is no direct train to Mumbai and other western parts of the country. In 1996, Satpal Maharaj, the then Union Minister of State for Railways, had laid the foundation stone of a new railway track between Dehradun and neighbouring Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh) at the Dehradun railway station. However, the project is yet to be initiated. A train between Dehradun and Saharanpur would have been of great benefit for the people of the state as it would reduce the distance between Dehradun and Delhi. At present, an express train takes more than four hours to reach Saharanpur from Dehradun. The other major proposed project for Uttarakhand has been the Rishikesh-Karanprayag railway line. Except for sanctioning of funds and some stone-laying ceremonies, nothing has been done. Rajiv Sharma, a Dehradun-based entrepreneur, said the Ministry of Railways should pay attention to Uttarakhand also. He said if the laying of a new railway line was proving to be a tardy project for the ministry, it could at least put the available infrastructure to the optimum usage. “At least, better connectivity from Dehradun to other parts of the state must be ensured”, he added. Sushil Sati, a resident of Dobhalwala in Dehradun, said there was only one Shatabdi train being operated from Dehradun and that was for Delhi. “Dehradun has a large number of Central Government offices where people people belonging to other parts of the country also work. They are totally dependent on the rail network to visit their hometowns,” he added.
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Cops deflate all tyres of illegally parked vehicles
Mussoorie, July 6 Traffic personnel reached the spot and deflated all tyres of the vehicles for violating the rules. When the owners of the vehicles came back, they created a ruckus and questioned the justification behind such act. Sachin Nayar, an affected tourist from Punjab, said they were not aware that it was a no-parking zone. No signboard had been installed at the spot. He said the police could have imposed a fine or issued challans to them instead of deflating all four tyres of their vehicles. The infuriated tourists blocked vehicular movement in the area, which led to another traffic jam. They relented only after the police arranged a mechanic to fill the air in the tyres of their vehicles. RS Kholia, assistant station in charge of the Mussoorie police, said they were forced to take the action. |
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Demand for train to Mussoorie from Doon
Mussoorie, July 6 The opening of a railway line to Katra from Jammu has rekindled the hopes among the local people, who are demanding a train from Dehradun to Mussoorie on the similar lines. Anuj Kumar Gupta, a ward member from Jharipani, said the Railway ministry should make an effort to bring a train to Mussoorie, a dream project of the British, which could not be completed in the 19th century due to a lack of technology and misappropriation of funds then. Gutpa said with improvement in technology the dream of watching a train run through the hills of Mussoorie via Rajpur was possible if the Railway Minster arranges for such a project in the rail budget to be presented on July 8. Gupta added the proposal to lay a railway line from Shenshai Ashram to Mussoorie via Jharipani was feasible and could be executed on the lines of the famous Shimla and Darjeeling railway lines. Notably, the British had begun working on the idea of bringing a train to Mussoorie with the objective of fulfilling the demand of the railway staff, whose wards were studying in Oak Grove School at Jharipani, and the soldiers, who came to Mussoorie for recuperation from their war injuries. Local historians said the evidence of such projects could been seen at Shenshai Ashram, which still has the remains of the iron angles that were to be used for the proposed railway project. The historians says in 1896, prior to the advent of the rail in Dehradun, the British had planned to lay a Haridwar-Rajpur-Mussoorie railway track. However, the residents of Dehradun vehemently opposed the project. Finally, Dehradun-Mussoorie Electric Tramway Company Limited was formed, under the Indian Companies Act, 1913, on August 23, 1921, by several Indian promoters in the project. Beltie Shah Gilani became the managing agent for Tramway Company. The plans were to link this railway track for train from Rajpur via Jharipani and Barlowgunj to Hotel Himalaya Club in Mussoorie. However, the work was never completed and the project was abandoned in 1925. Beltie Shah Gilani came to be known as “Guilty Shah” in the town for defaulting on his commitments in the project. He later ran away after the liquidation of the company. MLA, Mussoorie, Ganesh Joshi, said he had requested the northern railway to consider the proposal on
several occasions. |
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BJP demands quashing of CM’s nomination papers
Dehradun, July 6 They alleged the CM had given false and misleading information in his nomination papers and was a clear violation of the Representation of the
People Act. The BJP delegation, led by state general secretary Naresh Bansal, met Chief Electoral Officer Radha Raturi here today and submitted a memorandum to her. According to the delegation, Rawat has not disclosed movable and immovable properties owned by his first wife and children. He had also not disclosed properties, including a petrol pump in New Delhi and a bungalow on Ring Road owned by his second wife. Taking cognisance of the memorandum submitted by the BJP activists, Raturi has asked the returning officer of Dharchula to probe
the matter. Pithoragarh: The BJP has asked the state election office to cancel the nomination papers of Chief Minister Harish Rawat as he hid information about his family in the affidavit according the Election Commission rules. BJP general secretary Prakash Pant said, “Harish Rawat, in his affidavit, has hid information on his family status. There is no mention about his first wife and two sons in the affidavit. Besides, Rawat has not mentioned sources of his income as the petrol pump, Chaudhari filling station in New Delhi, owned by him has also not been mentioned in the affidavit.” Pant said a delegation of BJP leaders was on the way to Dehradun to lodge a complaint with the Chief Election Officer about hiding of facts in the affidavit by the Chief Minister. “We have submitted a written complaint to the returning officer at Dharchula and asked him to cancel the nomination papers of the Congress candidate as it has violated the election
rules,” said Pant. |
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Teenage boy crushed to death; kin try to set truck ablaze
Dehradun, July 6 Infuriated residents held a protest and tried to set the truck ablaze. The truck driver was nabbed and a case was registered against him. A police team, led by SP City Navneet
Bhullar, immediately reached the spot. It pacified the angry residents, who tried to set ablaze the truck after
the incident. The residents asked the district administration to restrict the movement of dumpers and trucks
during daytime. Further investigations are on into the case |
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Two-day workshop for teachers
Dehradun, July 6 Children’s Academy director Prem Kashyap inaugurated the workshop. He said academics and co-curricular activities should go simultaneously and teachers should be ready to face every challenge while teaching. Kashyap said teachers should develop measures to foster values among children. JB Sharma spoke on how to make question papers while Kiran Kashyap spoke on the importance of
question banks. The workshop ended with an open discussion round. |
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Bypoll: Congress appoints coordinators for Doiwala
Dehradun, July 6 Upadhayay said today that the coordinators would be responsible for facilitating communication between party workers
and the public. He said the upcoming byelections to three Assembly seats in the state was a challenge for them. He said the Congress’ win on the three seats would ensure stability to the state government. Upadhayay said it would also prove that only the Congress could bring about all-round development
in the state. |
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SFI holds training workshop
Dehradun, July 6 Addressing students, Satyaprakash said youths had played an important role during the freedom movement of the country. “However, these days politicians are manipulating student unions for their vested interests and guiding them to a wrong direction. The youth should understand their importance and capabilities and use them for the betterment of the nation,” he added. |
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Women still discriminated against, says UMA chief
Dehradun, July 6 Hemlata Dhaundiyal, a former IAS officer, said women of all age groups were facing discrimination. Ramindri Manderwal, a social worker, asked women to become independent. A nutritional dish-making event was also organised on the occasion. JS Arora, chairman, Baba Farid Institute of Technology, and Sushila Baluni, former chairperson of the State Women’s Commission, were the chief guests. In the nutritional dish-making event, Rajesh Kumari won the first prize, Shashi Sharma stood second while Mohinder Kapoor was adjudged third. |
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DAV students seek alms
Dehradun, July 6 They begged for alms and later purchased disinfectants, brooms, cleaning cloth and bulbs to be given to the college management. The students alleged that the college management was collecting a large amount of money by way of building fund but there was poor maintenance of infrastructure. |
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Leopard kills man
Pithoragarh, July 6 Sources said Balwant’s mauled body was found in a bush near his shop. “It was clearly visible that he was attacked and eaten by a leopard,” said KS Khati, Range Officer, Pithoragarh division. A police officer said the incident came to light when Balwant’s wife reached the shop looking for him when he did not return home. |
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Leopard fear
Dehradun, July 6 Other residents, too, have complained of sighting the leopard and accused the state Forest Department of doing little to catch the leopard. Dehradun forest official Gulveer Singh said they had already installed a cage in the bank colony and were waiting for the leopard to get trapped. He said forest guards come from time to time for patrolling in the bank colony as a precautionary measure. The leopard-man conflict has increased manifold in Dehradun. |
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Loco FC, Khukrie XI win matches
Dehradun, July 6 In the second match, Khukrie XI beat Graff Club 3-0. Sidharth,
Subham and Keshav scored one goal each for the team. |
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Under-19 football tourney from July 18
Dehradun, July 6 Subhash Sharma, convener of the tournament and district panchayat member, said 30 teams were participating in the tournament, would be held on the knock-out basis. The inaugural match would will be played between DAV Public School and Bhaichung Bhutia Football Club. Tanush cricket tourney from July 8
The IInd Tanush cup-2014 cricket tournament to be organised by the Tanush Cricket Academy is slated to start in Dehradun from July 8. Fourteen teams from Dehradun, and two teams from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, will participate. While giving information about the tournament, Manmohan Singh from the Tanush Cricket Academy said the teams from the Rao Cricket Academy, Tanush Cricket Academy, Doon Club, Royal club, Himalayan Cricket Academy, Doon Tiger etc. would take part. |
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Haridwar, July
6