Thundershowers disrupt power supply
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 8
Thundershowers lashed the city this evening bringing much-needed relief from the humid weather to the residents. However, several colonies witnessed power outages as thundershowers uprooted trees, and snapped power supply lines at several places. The supply of potable water was also affected due to the power outage.

Though the rain stopped, it rendered several parts of the city water-logged, and roads witnessed traffic jams. Traffic was mainly disrupted on EC Road as big branches of trees broke, and fell in the middle of the road. However, the city police tried to maintain traffic but road blockades were still witnessed.

Different low-lying areas were rendered water-logged with Haridwar Road, Dharampur, Patel Nagar and several slum colonies the worst affected. Drains were overflowing and garbage was lying unattended on roads after the rain stopped.

Earlier in the day, several areas of Dehradun went without power for nearly five hours today as Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) was carrying out the work of lopping. Corporation officials said the power supply was resumed to most of the areas except to colonies where testing of lines continued till late evening.

Official spokesman for UPCL Madhusudan said mobile vans were sent to the affected areas to rectify technical snags in order to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to consumers. He added the inclement weather had adversely affected transmission lines.

Madhusudan said lopping was done on the 33 KV Bindal-Kaulagarh line under sub-station (South) in order to prevent short-circuit and disruption of supply during inclement weather. However, power cuts were enforced in Kaulagarh, Prempur Mafi, Garhi, Bajawala, Mansarawala, GMS Road, Rajendra Nagar, Vijay Park, Chakrata Road, and adjoining areas from 11 am to 4 pm. 

Water, water everywhere

• Though the rain stopped, it rendered several parts of the city waterlogged, and roads witnessed traffic jams. Traffic was mainly disrupted on EC Road as big branches of trees broke, and fell in the middle of the road
• Low-lying areas were rendered waterlogged with Haridwar Road, Dharampur, Patel Nagar and several slum colonies being the worst affected
• Drains were overflowing and garbage was lying unattended on roads after the rain stopped

60 supervisors to check garbage disposal, polythene bag use
Parwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 8
Newly appointed Mukhya Nagar Adhikari Harak Singh Rawat has appointed 60 supervisors for 60 wards of the city to check garbage disposal and use of polythene bags by shopkeepers.

The supervisors have been given challan books and based on the nature of the offence the offenders will be challaned from Rs 500 to Rs 5,000.

Rawat told The Tribune that the main reason behind the drive was to ensure that the shopkeepers keep the market areas and roads clean. “It is usually seen that shopkeepers after sweeping their shops throw garbage on the main road and it gets scattered everywhere. In fact, a lot of shopkeepers do not keep dustbins and instead thrown waste on the road,” he said.

“Guilty shopkeepers will be fined for not keeping dustbins, disposing of trash on the roads and non-payment of dues to garbage collection vehicles. Depending on the extent of offence, the shopkeepers will be challaned,” he added.

Rawat said a blanket ban on the use of polythene bags was not possible, especially during the rainy season. “However, the use of polythene bags that is less than 40 microns is prohibited and likely to attract a heavy penalty,” he added.

“It won’t be an easy task but until some strict action was taken there would not be any visible change. I have asked the supervisors to issue at least 30 challans per day for improper garbage disposal and use of polythene bags. Action will also be taken against the officials who fail to implement the ban effectively,” he added.

It may be recalled that in January the district administration had launched a drive to check the use of polythene bags. The then District Magistrate, BVRC Purushottam, had set February 20 as the deadline for the removal of polythene bags from the city. During the drive, several tonnes of polythene bags were brought to the makeshift collection point set up at Parade Ground and from there they were transported to the trenching ground for disposal. Raids were also conducted on shops located in Jhanda Bazaar, Darshani Gate, Moti Bazaar, Dhamawala, Ramleela Bazaar and Sabzi Mandi. However, the drive soon fizzled out.

Incidentally, during his tenure as Additional Mukhya Nagar Adhikari, Harak Rawat had pioneered the anti-polythene bag drive.

Now, he has set July 17 as the deadline for a complete ban on the use of polythene bags by shopkeepers and customers. At a meeting with members of the Dehradun Beopar Mandal, it was decided that the offenders would be challaned once the deadline is over.

Govt failed to publicise Char Dham Yatra: Dhanai
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 8
Tourism Minister Dinesh Dhanai today admitted that the state government failed to effectively publicise the starting of the Char Dham yatra post-natural disaster last year, thus severely affecting revenue generation.

Dhanai told mediapersons here that several crores spent on the publicity campaign launched after the disaster and before the beginning of Char Dham yatra this year had failed to bring desired results.

“We had organised special public campaigns in various parts of the country regarding the yatra being safe. However, the plan did not yield much result as several cities were left uncovered,” he added.

“We have asked for Rs 20 crore from the state government for undertaking positive national-level outdoor publicity of the state post the June disaster. Until and unless a strong message about the state being safe for tourists is sent to the world, the situation will not change. This year, only 2.34 lakh pilgrims had registered for yatra, the lowest in the history. Usually by this time, 22 lakh pilgrims visit the Char Dhams,” said Dhanai.

Giving details of the recent meeting held with Union Tourism Minister Shripad Yaso Naik, Dhanai said we had requested the Centre to increase the timeframe for the Centre-sponsored tourism projects. “The timeframe for the completion of these projects is two years. Given the tough geographical terrain of the state and the workable period of mere 4-5 months in a year, we proposed the extension of deadline to 4-5 years,” he added.

“We have also requested for a change in the release of funds by the Centre for such projects. For tourism projects in plains, the first instalment should comprise of 80 per cent funds and the remaining in the second and final instalment. Similarly, the funds should be released in three instalments 20-60-20 for the projects in hilly areas of the state,” added the state Tourism Minister.

“We have proposed the setting up of a tourism university so that residents can be trained as per the huge tourism potential of the state. Based on the lines of Goa-based National Institute of Watersports, an institute for technical training should be opened at Tehri and Rishikesh,” said Dhanai.

Minister clueless about tourism activities

• Dinesh Dhanai appeared to be completely clueless about the happenings on the tourism front in the state. Whenever questioned about any undergoing project or the Char Dham yatra, he was seen consulting officials from the Tourism Department. On being repeatedly questioned about various issued pertaining to the department, an irritated minister said; “I don’t know anything. It has been hardly two months since I have been given this ministry.”
• An independent MLA from Tehri and part of the Progressive Democratic Front (PDF) was inducted into the Cabinet and appointed as the Tourism Minister in May. The move came soon after the then tourism minister Amrita Rawat, wife of BJP leader Satpal Maharaj, was unceremoniously sacked from the post following the Congress debacle in the General Election in the state.

Railway Budget derails hopes
Tribune News service

Dehradun, July 8
The first Railway Budget of the Narendra Modi government presented in the Lok Sabha today largely ignored Uttarakhand and caused disappointment among the people. The sole solace came for the state in the form of a weekly train between Ramnagar and Agra and the inclusion of the Haridwar station as one of the stoppages for a proposed tourist train originating at Rameshwaram down south. A survey for a railway line to ensure better Char Dham connectivity has also been proposed.

Having denied any representation in the Union council of ministers, Uttarakhand got another shock today as the first Railway Budget of the Modi government had virtually nothing to offer to the local people.

No new daily train was announced for Uttarakhand despite the Railways proposing to introduce 58 new trains, including five Jansadharan trains, five premium, six AC express, 27 express and eight passenger trains in the country. While the state badly needs better train connectivity, it got just one weekly train in form of the Ramnagar Agra weekly express. The train though is aimed at ensuring better connectivity to tourists interested in visiting the Corbett National Park in Ramnagar. A large number of visitors from abroad visit Taj Mahal in Agra and most of them are also interested in wildlife tourism.

As part of strengthening rail tourism, a tourist train is proposed to start from Rameshwaram that will also cover the pilgrim city of Haridwar in Uttarakhand. This train will cover pilgrim and tourist places like Bengaluru, Chennai, Ayodhya, Varanasi and also Haridwar.

Significantly, while the allocation of funds for railway projects in the Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir has been increased substantially, Uttarakhand is nowhere in the picture. For the Northeast, an outlay of Rs 5,116 crore has been earmarked for projects in 2014-15, which is 54 per cent higher than the allocation last year.

Similarly, the Budget calls for the completion of the missing link between Banihal and Katra in Jammu and Kashmir but Uttarakhand fails to find a place in its scheme of things as far as expansion of railways in hill areas is concerned.

The Budget, however, proposes to hold 18 surveys for new lines in the country. A survey to ensure rail connectivity to the Char Dham shrines also finds mention among the surveys announced. 

Expenditure shy

• The sole solace came for the state in the form of a weekly train between Ramnagar and Agra and the inclusion of the Haridwar station as one of the stoppages for a proposed tourist train originating at Rameshwaram down south.
• The Ramnagar Agra weekly express is aimed at ensuring better connectivity to tourists interested in visiting the Corbett National Park in Ramnagar
• A survey for a railway line to ensure better Char Dham connectivity has also been proposed

CM unhappy, leaders toe party line
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 8
Chief Minister Harish Rawat today expressed unhappiness over the Rail Budget and said the callous approach of the Union government was evident as it did not sanction even a single rail project for Uttarakhand.

He expressed concern that the proposed Rishikesh-Karanprayag, Tanakpur-Bageshwar-Doiwala-Rishikesh, Roorkee-Devband railway projects were completely ignored in the Budget. He said the Union government should sanction the Ramnagar-Chaukhutia rail line in order to ensure overall development of the state.

Rawat said the Centre should strictly draft policies to lay rail lines in higher areas of the state in order to ensure overall development of the state. He demanded funds for completing pending rail projects in the state.

Meanwhile, politicians in Uttarakhand stuck to party lines while interpreting the Railway Budget. The Congress termed the Budget disappointing for Uttarakhand, while the BJP called it development oriented that addressed most of the concerns of the state.

The BJP welcomed the provisions of the Railway Budget terming it as people friendly, while the Congress described it as directionless and disoriented. Suryakant Dhasmana, vice president of Uttarakhand Congress, said the Budget was very disappointing, particularly for the state. “The Budget has failed to even allocate funds for the earlier sanctioned railway projects in the state. It is strange that people voted for the BJP overwhelmingly and elected its all five MPs, but still the Narendra Modi government completely ignored the state in the Budget,” he added.

State Congress spokesman Shilpi Arora said the Centre had befooled the people of Uttarakhand and completely ignored the state in the Railway Budget. “It is a failure on the part of the five MPs of the BJP to convince their government at the Centre to ensure better provisions for Uttarakhand in the Railway Budget,” she added.

Congress state media in charge Surendra Kumar said, “The Centre has insulted us by completely ignoring the state in the Railway Budget. It has allocated no funds even for previously sanctioned Ramnagar to Chukhutia and Tanakpur to Bageshwar railway lines, which have now been left in the lurch.”

On the other hand, Ajay Bhatt, Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, welcomed the announcement in the Budget for laying of a railway line for the development of the Char dham circuit. “This will bring in more tourists to the region and will result in strengthening the economy of the region.

The start of a tourist train from Rameshwaram to Haridwar and the weekly Ramnagar to Haridwar train will promote tourism in the state. The start of bullet trains at the national level was a welcome decision,” he said.

Haridwar MP Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank described the Railway Budget as pro people. He said, “The announcement in the Budget regarding a survey for a new line for the Char Dham shrines has come as a big achievement for Uttarakhand. This will facilitate the Char Dham pilgrims.”

CPI (ML) Garhwal secretary Indresh Maikhuri said the five BJP parliamentarians from Uttarakhand need to explain to the people why the state was ignored in the Railway Budget. He said, “The Railway Budget while talking about development in backward hill regions of the country has failed to mention Uttarakhand.” He even took the Congress to task saying even the previous UPA government failed to address the railway demands of Uttarakhand even though the party had been in power in the state for nearly one decade.

Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Panwar) spokesman Manmohan Lakhera too accused the Centre of ignoring Uttarakhand. He said the Budget had failed to provide any train from Dehradun to the southern and western parts of the country.

Cong activists campaign for injured Harish Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, July 8
With injured Chief Minister Harish Rawat recuperating at the AIIMS, Delhi, and also fighting the byelection from Dharchula, a group of party activists have decided to go to Dharchula for his election campaign.

Most of them have never been to this sleepy hill town. But considering that the CM is unable to campaign personally for the byelection, the activists feel that Rawat has given them so much as a Haridwar parliamentarian and now as CM that they should repay him for his generosity.

Led by veteran party leader Vinod Kamboj, these activists riding on bullets today started their ride to Dharchula with a huge support from party activists in Haridwar.

Vinod Kamboj listed the works being carried out by Harish Rawat as Haridwar MP, particularly as a volunteer during floods in the recent past in Haridwar district, where Rawat visited many villages, distributing relief material to affected people braving the flood water.

“Now he is recuperating at the hospital, so he can’t campaign at Dharchula. To boost his campaign, we decided to go to Dharchula and campaign till July 21 when the EVMs will register voters’ choice. We know the Congress has good penetration and party cadre in Dharchula as it’s Harish Rawat’s home district of Almora. Yet we want to give a message to party workers and people of Dharchula that what Harish Rawat does mean to us,” said Kamboj, on a specially decorated motorcycle.

As the cavalcade of party workers passed through various points of the city, people cheered the bike-borne Congress campaigners.

This group will reach Dharchula tomorrow evening by covering a distance of 300 km. It has packed essential commodities as well as election campaign material on the specially modified bullets.

City Maha Nagar president OP Chauhan appreciated the initiative of youth party workers, saying that such enthusiasm and dedication was the hallmark of loyal party workers on whose shoulder the Congress has been standing since 1885.

Adventure tourism brings life back to Milam village
After 52 yrs, youth creating employment opportunities for themselves
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, July 8
After 52 years, the social and commercial activities have kick-started at Milam village, the last village of the Johar valley on the China border in Munsiyari subdivision.

Youths are now helping trekking groups, who visit the Milam glacier every year. “Our forefathers left the village to earn livelihood after the India-China trade ended in 1962, but after 52 years we have found employment in the shape of adventure tourism,” said Digvijay Singh Rawat, a youth, who has opened a restaurant at the village to cater to the need of trekkers, who visit the village on their way to the Milam glacier.

He said of over 500 families, which had left the village in the search of livelihood after the trade ended in 1962, about 40 have come back. “Some of them have created employment opportunities for themselves by catering to trekking groups while others have started growing rare Himalayan herbs,” said Rawat.

He said after the work on the Munsiyari–Milam road gets completed, the village would be fully vitalised, though the mode of the economy would be different from what it was before 1962. Before 1962, the village was totally dependent on the trade with Tibet, he added. Milam was said to be the biggest village of the Johar valley before 1962 and was a residence of over 500 families which were totally depended on the trade with Tibet.

After the trade from Tibetan’s Gyanima Mandi ended, villagers shifted to other places in search of livelihood, said Rawat.

“Milam village is coming back to life as economic and social activities are increasing in the village. Retired officers are also coming to live here, though for the summer only. This is a good sign for the village. It shows that given the available facilities, the villages close to the border with China will regain its old glory one day,” said Devendra Singh Deva, another youth.

Restaurant owner found dead in Mussoorie
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, July 8
A youth was found hanging at the restaurant he owned at Kulri bazaar here today.

The police rushed to the spot and took the body into their possession and sent it for a postmortem. The police have started investigating the case.

The deceased, identified as Sohan Rawat (30), was the owner of Mirchi restaurant and a resident of Villenick Cottage near Kasmanda Palace.

The police authorities did not suspect any foul play and termed it as a case of suicide prima facie.

Senior Sub-Inspector RS Kholia said the family came to know about the death of Sohan only after they started looking for him early in the morning today as he did not return home from the restaurant last night. He was found hanging inside the restaurant premises, said Kholia.

He further said the police were yet to ascertain the motive behind the death.

The police have handed over the body to the family members. The police will be able to throw more light in the case only after receiving the postmortem report tomorrow. 

SIT attaches property of Sangwan’s brother-in-law
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 8
A special investigation team (SIT), with the help of the Delhi police, attached the property of brother-in-law of absconding Congress leader Pradeep Sangwan, after he failed to surrender before the SIT in the sensational blackmailing case involving Sangwan and his former female employee.

After getting orders from the Dehradun Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court, the SIT today reached the house of Ajay, brother-in-law of Pradeep Sangwan, in Delhi and attached his property.

The SIT has accused Ajay of facilitating a deal between Pradeep Sangwan and the victim woman for weakening the rape case.

On the complaint of the victim woman in April, a rape case was registered against the Joyland Water Park owner, Pradeep Sangwan, at the Rajpur police station. The woman accused Sangwan of physically assaulting her for last two years.

During the investigation, the team claimed that the complainant was trying to extort money from Sangwan in lieu of changing her statement in front of the magistrate against the accused to weaken the case. The SIT also revealed that Ajay facilitated the deal between Sangwan and the woman.

Later, a separate blackmailing case was registered against the woman and Ajay was made a co-accused in the case. The woman was arrested on the charge of extorting money from the accused to settle the case. 

Law takes its course

• The SIT on Tuesday reached the house of Ajay, brother-in-law of Pradeep Sangwan, in Delhi and attached his property
• It accused Ajay of facilitating a deal between Sangwan and the victim woman for weakening the rape case
• The team claimed that the complainant was trying to extort money from Sangwan in lieu of changing her statement against the accused to weaken the case

Mayor reviews development works
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 8
Mayor Vinod Chamoli reviews the ongoing work of underground drain being constructed in the Turner Road-Mothrowala area for the outlet of rainwater here today.

Expressing satisfaction over the ongoing work, Chamoli said the drain would be ready by the end of September. “Once completed and functional, the drain will resolve the severe water-logging problems faced by the area residents. The underground drain is almost 3-km long and being constructed jointly by the PWD and Dehradun Municipal Corporation,” he added.

RO, ARO boycott work
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 8
The agitated review officers (RO), assistant review officers (ARO), and computer operators have started boycotting work in support of their year-long pending demands. The agitators have threatened to intensify their agitation if the state government does not accept their demands.

Angry over the callous approach of the state government, the agitators under the banner of the Uttarakhand Secretariat Review Officers Union started a two-day agitation here today.

Speaking on occasion, Deepak Joshi, general secretary, Uttarakhand Secretariat Review Officers Union, expressed concern that a memorandum highlighting their demands was submitted many times to top bureaucrats and government representatives but to no avail.

He said their demands included sanctioning of 16 different sections, filling vacant posts, timely promotion of ARO, etc.

Yukta Singhal, Manoj Kumar, Anil, Prakash Uniyal and others were present on the occasion.

Expedite Parade Ground work: Agarwal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 8
Sports Minister Dinesh Agarwal held a meeting with the senior Sports Department officials here today to review the ongoing works for the development of sports in Dehradun district.

He gave strict directions to the officials to expedite the ongoing works across the state and asked them to make sure that the agencies involved in the construction of sports infrastructure in the state completed their respective works within stipulated time without compromising the quality.

While reviewing the ongoing construction work at Maharana Pratap Sports College in Dehradun, the Sports Minister gave instructions to the officials to expedite the process of laying of synthetic trek for the athletes.

However, he reprimanded the officials for the slow pace of construction work at Parade Ground. He said the Sports Department was going to sanction Rs 5 crore for the completion of the ongoing works at Pavilion Ground and Parade Ground. 

Yogi teaches cops ways to relieve stress
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 8
A special one-day workshop on stress reduction and well-being was organised at the Police Headquarters here today.

Yogi Amritraj from Yog Ashram, Rishikesh, conducted the workshop and shared ways to mitigate stress with the help of Ayurveda and yoga.

To have a healthy body and mind, he taught the police officials various yoga asanas. He also gave an insight into the benefits of organic food and herbs such as aloe vera. Counting the primary reasons behind stress, Amritraj said tension, work environment, insecurity, jealousy and worry were some of the main reasons behind the increasing the stress level among youth and it could be managed with the help of yoga.

Director General of Police BS Sidhu thanked Amritraj for sharing knowledge with the police personnel. They also presented him a memento.

All senior police officials, including, The Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, Ram Singh Meena; Inspector General of Police, Training/Human Rights, Deepak Jyoti Ghildiyal; IG, Headquarters, Deepam Seth; IG, Intelligence, GN Goswami; DIG, Garhwal Range, Amit Sinha; DIG, Crime, Satish Kumar Shukla, among other officials were present on the occasion.

Massive rush for admission forms as deadline nears
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, July 8
A huge rush is being witnessed at all educational colleges these days as the deadline for the submission of admission forms for most of the colleges is July 15.

Be it Shravan Nath Math Jawahar Lal Nehru College, Chinmaya Degree College, Mahila Mahavidyalya Sati Kund, Kankhal, or Haridwar Educational College, students can be seen filling the admission forms.

Till today, 1,700 forms were sold out at Shravan Nath Math Jawahar Lal Nehru College, Gobindpuri, against 680 seats. College principal Dr Avneet Kumar Ghildiyal said as almost a week was left, more than 150 forms were being purchased on a daily basis with majority of them filling the forms on the same day.

At Chinmaya Degree College, Shivalik Nagar, 600 admission forms have been sold out. Admission nodal officer of the college, RK Chaturvedi, said for Science stream, about 400 forms had been sold.

He said the selection of candidates would be done purely on merit basis and the college management committee has formed a selected panel to ensure transparency in admission –merit-selection procedure.

At HEC College, students are seen filling admission forms in a large number, particularly in the commerce stream.

Admission forms for SDPG Girls College will be available till July 12, for BSM Degree College till July 16 and for KLDAV College in Roorkee till July 14.

400 school buildings in Kumaon on the verge of collapsing
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, July 8
Guardians of students studying in government primary schools in the rural areas of the Kumaon region are a worried lot as over 400 primary and secondary schools are in a dilapidated condition and can collapse anytime. Moreover, roads that students have to take to reach their schools are highly sensitive to rain and landslides during the monsoon. This brings to a halt the entire government education system in the area.

According to information receive, Bageshwar district has 123 damaged schools that are sensitive to rain. Over 105 primary or secondary schools in Nainital district could collapse anytime.

“There are 49 such dangerous school buildings in Pithoragarh district, 9 in Champawat, 100 in Udham Singh Nagar and 10 schools in Almora district,” said sources in the deputy director’s office in Haldwani.

“Pathways to primary schools situated in Kapkot, Pondari, Rithabagar, Harsingya, Kapkot, Karmi, Bageshwar, Rikhari, Dama, Gogina and Kotmanya and Syakot villages in Bageshwar district are in a terrible condition,” said Dan Singh, former chairman, Parents Teachers Association.

The sources said the buildings were being repaired at a snail’s pace. “The primary school in our village, the building of which was damaged in 2002, is being run from a few rooms constructed under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan. The damaged building has not be reconstructed till date,” said Govindi Devi, gram pradhan, Pali Palyal village, Gangolihat block of the district.

Comman man’s veggie ‘lengda’ prices soar in Mussoorie
Ajay Ramola
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, July 8
Residents who have turned to local vegetables over the years when the prices of other vegetables rise are in for a shock this season.

The price of fiddlehead fern (lengda), also known as “poor man’s asparagus”, has risen so much that it has also gone out of the reach of the local residents.

“I use to buy fiddlehead fern whenever the prices of other vegetables soared in the market. This year, fiddlehead ferns that use to cost Rs 10 per kg is selling at Rs 60 per kg,” said Sudha, a housewife.

Fiddlehead fern is commonly found in the watery or damp environment and they have been part of the traditional diet of local people. Due to its low price, the vegetable had become the first choice of the people in urban areas, but due to prise rise, such vegetables have also gone out of the reach of households.

“Seasonal vegetables such as bottle gourd (louki), tomatoes and potatoes are available in the market at around Rs 30, Rs 40 and Rs 30 per kg, respectively, while fiddlehead fern is costing around Rs 60 per kg this year,” said Shikha, a housewife.

Bijendar Singh Pundir, an expert in organic food, said due to ancestral knowledge, locals had been consuming fiddlehead fern since ages, but now the soaring price of the vegetable had forced them to look for other options.

Milkmen, too, are finding the situation to their liking as they pluck ferns from swampy slopes falling on their way to the market and earn a few more bucks.

However, vegetable vendors say due to a delayed monsoon, fiddlehead fern arrived late in the market this year. They believe with the monsoon picking up and the abundance of fiddlehead fern in the surrounding areas, prices would come down soon.

LPG cylinders to affluent opposed

Dehradun, July 8
Raghunath Singh Negi, former vice-president of the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam-cum-president of the Jan Sangarsh Morcha, said the Centre Government should restrict giving subsidised LPG cylinders to business tycoons, political heavy weights, and affluent class of the society.

Addressing mediapersons here today, Negi said the Centre should draft different policies for the rich, and the poor. He stressed that the government should ban giving subsidised cylinders to the affluent class of the society. He said the government should take action against black marketers. — TNS

Adhoiwala, Akranta clubs log wins
Tribune News Service

Players in action in a match in the Ram Bahadur Chettri Memorial Football tournament played at FRI grounds in dehradun on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph

Dehradun, July 8
With the help of Gaurav Sharma’s hatrick, Adhoiwala Football Club thrashed Tapowan Boys Club by 4-1 in the ongoing Ram Bahadur Chetri Memorial Football Tournament played at Forest Research Institute (FRI) ground here today.

Gaurav scored goals in 2nd, 21st and 40th minute of the match, while Ayush netted one goal in 50th minute. Man Singh scored the lone goal 55th minute of the match for Tapowan Boys.

In the second match of the day, Akranta Football Club defeated Khukri Football Club by 2-0 with Akash and Raju scoring the goals in 56th and 58th minute respectively, for the  winning team.

Two matches would be played on Wednesday. Garhwal Boys will fight it out against Sunderwala while Garhwal Sporting will play against Doon Challenger in the second match of the day.

CII welcomes Budget
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 8
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII),has welcomed the vision of the Union Government Broad to upgrade infrastructure and improve operational efficiency in the Railway Budget.

The chairman of Uttarakhand Chapter, CII, Manu Kochhar, welcomed the decision of the government for proposing to increase speed of trains to 160-200 kmph Delhi-Chandigarh, Delhi-Agra, and Delhi-Kanpur routes.

He said, “ The proposal to start Mumbai Central-New Delhi Premium AC Express is a major move, as it connects the national capital with the financial hub of the country.This will cater to an overall industrial growth in the northern region.” 

Rao Academy win by 138 runs
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 8
Rao Cricket Academy won the inaugural match in the Tanush Cricket Cup 2014 by defeating Sai Grace by 138 runs at Tanush Cricket Academy here today. Batting first, Rao Cricket Academy made brilliant 238 runs with Kiran playing a wonderful knock of 116 runs. Ashish and Sumit also played small cameos and helped their team mount a fighting total.

In reply, Sai Grace got off to a good start with both openers Hishra and Rahul making 36 and 27 runs, respectively. But they lost frequent wickets in the middle overs and the whole team was bowled out for 90 runs. For Rao Cricket Academy, Kiran and Rishab took 4 wickets each.