Hotels, shopkeepers make special offers for Raksha Bandhan
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 9
With the festival of Raksha Bandhan being celebrated on Sunday, shopkeepers are leaving no stone unturned to make the ‘bond of love’ even more special by Hchurning out deals to woo the brother-sister duo.

From fancy rakhis, gifts and meals, there is something for every sibling to celebrate the day. Apart from making special meals, hotels, restaurants and cafeterias have come up with special prices for the brother and sister having a meal together.

This year, there is a twist in the rakhis too, especially for the children. Apart from the famous cartoon characters donning the colourful threads, small gadgets such as torches, guns and keyrings fitted with LED lights are also there. In fact among the most sold ones are those having characters of Doraemon, Angry Birds, Chotta Bheem, Ben Ten and Shin-Chan. The prices of these rakhis are between Rs 15-35, depending on the size and quality of the rakhi

Time to tie rakhis from 1.38 pm onwards

Haridwar: According to the Hindu calendar and astrology, the pious timing to tie the knot on Raksha Bandhan is 1:38 pm onwards tomorrow.

Jyotisharcharya Deepti Shri Kunj in Haridwar cited the presence of Bhadra Kaal on August 10 which is not considered good for performing rituals on festivals. The auspicious timing to tie rakhis will be from 1:38 pm.

Though one can also tie rakhis from 10:07 am to 11:07 am when Bhadra Puchkaal will be present.

Pandit Ram Gopal Parashar of Shri Laxmi Narayan Temple, Roorkee, said one should tie the rakhi after 1:38 pm when the time would be more auspicious.

Meanwhile, markets of Ranipur, Chandracharya square, Rishikul, Devpura, suburban Jwalapur, Shivalik Nagar, and Subash Nagar remained abuzz with customers on the eve of Raksha Bandhan today. Girls were seen buying rakhis and getting mehndi applied on their hands till late evening. Gift and sweet shops also did brisk business.

Students of Bachpan Play School celebrated Raksha Bandhan by tying rakhi threads on others wrists. They also gave impressive performances of folk and theme-based songs.

Director of the school Dinesh Kapur said through such programmes the students get to understand the concept and meaning of festivals. Principal Preeti Kapur praised the young students for making beautiful and decorative rakhis.

A rakhi making contest was organised at Parashar Educational Academy, Subash Nagar, in which students took part with great enthusiasm. School staff members Priyanka Parashar, Monika, Vaishali Chauhan, and Neena Sharma, besides parents of the students were present on the occasion.

HDA to demolish illegal buildings along Ganga
Tribune News Service

Hariwdar, August 9
The Haridwar Development Authority (HDA) in a week will start razing those illegal buildings and commercial establishments that violate the 200 metre prohibition norms from the Ganga in Rishikesh and Haridwar. This means the Sarv Dharam Ashram at Kailash gate, Muni-ki-Reti owned by spiritual guru and former Union Minister of State for Home Satpal Maharaj will also come under the HDA scanner.

As yesterday vice chairperson of HDA Harbans Chugh had visited the site and given order of its demolition, four other commercial establishments that have come up in the last year adjacent to the Ganga, breaching the 200 metre directive, will also be demolished in this drive.

As per SDM, Rishikesh, Santosh Pandey, owners of these four illegal buildings were served notice early in June to themselves demolish their structures otherwise by July the HDA will demolish these structures.

Pandey added that due to lack of availability of substantial police force,the drive could not be initiated.

But now by next week the demolition drive will begin as HDA vice chairperson has given directive in this regard.

Secretary, Haridwar-Roorkee Development Authority, Nidhi Yadav, remarked that this demolition drive will also be carried out in Hariwdar city, where several buildings have been built along the Ganga ghats, violating the 200 metre rule.

Nidhi said that already last year notices were served to the violators. Now, the HDA has written to SSPs of Dehradun and Haridwar to provide adequate security personnel during the demolition drives.

Notably, the Nainital High Court during a hearing of a public interest litigation regarding threat to the local ecology post flash floods last year, had on February 2013, directed the state government to demolish all such existing structures that fall within the Ganga’s 200 metre periphery. 

Diploma engineers’ assn threatens stir
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 9
Infuriated over callous approach of the state government for not addressing their year-long pending demands, diploma engineers of the Peyjal Nigam yesterday burnt the copies of transfer orders and threatened to launch a state-wide agitation, if the decision of transfers was not revoked.

The members first burnt the copies of the government orders pertaining to transfer orders, grade pay orders and confidential report orders and later held a meeting at the union office and criticised the management for going against the government orders, “ The government orders clearly state that the engineers with less than two years of service and those who have completed less than five years in one place would not be transferred but the management has done the opposite and gone against the government orders,” said Arun Rawat, general secretary of the Uttarakhand Diploma Engineers Association.

AK Chatturvedi, Arun Rawat, Yogendra Singh, PS Rawat, MS Rawat, Naveen Bisht, RK Singh, MS Panwar, Dinesh, and Yogesh were prominent among the protesters. 

Guv greets people on Raksha Bandhan
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 9
Governor Aziz Qureshi has greeted people of the state on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. In his message, the Governor said this festival was a symbol of emotions, affection and respect between brother and sister.

He said there was a greater spirit of generosity behind this festival which inspired each one of us to create an atmosphere where the social, physical and financial security of the weaker sections especially women was ensured in the society.

“If we celebrate this festival keeping this in mind, we will witness a change for the better in society,” he said. 

nanda devi raj jaat pilgrimage
Shantikunj volunteers to be deployed
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, August 9
For the upcoming Shri Nanda Devi Raj Jaat Yatra, the Uttarakhand Government has sought the help of the social-spiritual organisation Shantikunj.

The Shantikunj has been urged to provide volunteers to aid the devotees taking part in the 280-km Nanda Devi Raj Jaat Yatra, by providing food and medical facilities at important junctures during the Nanda Devi pilgrimage.

The volunteers having past experience in such causes have been selected for the yatra and are being given training by experts at Dev Sanskriti University.

Addressing these volunteers today, spiritual ideologue of Shantikunj, Dr Pranav Pandya, shedding light on the Shri Nanda Raj Jat pilgrimage, said this is held every 12 years. It starts from Nauti village in Karanprayag, passes through 12 major points, including mysterious Roop Kund, and culminates at Hemkunt Sahib in the state.

Dr Pranav Pandya added that Shri Nanda Raj Jaat pilgrimage joins people spiritually and culturally.

Coordinator of the volunteer team, Gauri Shankar Sharma, said the volunteers were trained in disaster management and had been associated with many social works in the past too.

Shantikunj co-chairperson Shail Jiji wished the volunteers on this occasion, praying for the successful completion of the Shri Nanda Devi Raj Jaat Yatra, which has been mentioned in the Skand Purana.

Diversion of Rispana demanded
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 9
Demanding the diversion of the Rispana, residents of Mothrowala village staged a protest outside the District Magistrate Office here today. A memorandum was also submitted to DM Chandresh Yadav. Led by gram pradhan Naveen Chetri, the residents gathered outside the DM office.

“Every year due to the rise in the level of the river, a large part of property and produce is lost. This year, the current of the river is heading towards the village, resulting in widespread fear among the residents. If the river is not diverted, it might lead to a massive loss of life,” he added.

Those who demonstrated included Mahesh Pandey, KR Pengwal, Durga Bahadur, Veer Bahadur, Birender Chetri, Naresh Aale, Prema Chauhan, Laxmi Devi, Neelam Thapa and Sher Bahadur. 

Biometric registration for Nanda Devi yatra begins
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 9
The government has started the biometric registration process for the forthcoming Nanda Devi Raj Jaat Yatra. The pilgrimage, slated to start from August 18, is held once every 12 years.

The yatra originates from Nauti village, 20 km of Karnaprayag tehsil in Chamoli district, after the kunwar of village Kansua inaugurates the ceremony. In a three-week yatra, the pilgrimage offers an insight to the Garhwal Himalayan culture, ethnic lifestyle and endemic flora and fauna of the region.

Nanda Devi, daughter of kings of mountains, is the spiritual Goddess for the natives of Garhwal and Kumaon region. The legend is that Nanda Devi, consort of Lord Shiva, left her village and went to the Nanda Devi Parbat. Therefore, when the yatra starts, heavy rain occurs as if the Devi is crying. 

Special probe committees formed to check land frauds 
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 9
In order to control frauds related to land and property, the Uttarakhand Governor has given approval for formation of exclusive Special Investigation Teams (SITs) in Garhwal and Kumaon ranges and Land Fraud Coordination Committees in Garhwal and Kumaon divisions.

A senior official in the Home Department said the government had observed that cases of land and property-related crimes and frauds have been on the rise in the state. A need was felt to set up a mechanism for initiating action against fraudsters, he added. Soon after the Congress government came to power, land scams were highlighted by the BJP opposition. These included sale of SIDCUL land at Udham Singh Nagar, land allocated to Tehri oustees in Rishikesh and other scams.

SIT teams in Garhwal and Kumaon range will track documents related to frauds and follow it up with FIRs filed against fraudsters. The SITs will comprise Police Inspectors-1, Police sub inspectors-4, Head Constables-8 and Constables-8.The investigation carried out by the SIT will help in speedy disposal of cases. The SIT will work under the DIG Garhwal range and DIG Kumaon ranges.

“It will be a challenge to convert the complaints into FIRs and cross-check grievances before considering them as formal complaints,” said an official in the Department of Revenue.

At the same time, Land Frauds Coordination Committee would be formed in Garhwal and Kumaon divisions. The committees would be presided over by Garhwal and Kumaon Commissioners respectively.

The other seven members will comprise IG (Stamp Registration), Additional Commissioner, Principal Conservator of Forests of divisions concerned, Vice Chairman of development authorities concerned, Chief Executive Officers of respective Municipal Corporations and SP. The committee will examine cases pertaining to frauds put forward by the government, by head of departments or brought directly before the committee.

To check land frauds, various other measures are also being considered by the government, including putting up an effective land management system online which would take middlemen allowing citizens to examine the land registry out of the equation. 

anti-quarrying drive
Revenue Dept staff seek police cover 
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, August 9
As illegal quarrying is continuing on a large scale in the district, Revenue Department employees have demanded police cover during anti-quarrying operations.

A demand in this regard was made during the concluding session of a programme of the Revenue Collection Employees’ Union at the BHEL community centre today.

Revenue employees said the quarrying mafia many a times attacked them so they should be provided police cover. In case it’s not possible, the revenue employees suggested that they should be given arms and ammunition.

Divisional coordinator of the union Balbeer Singh Rawat said due to tough geographical conditions, particularly in eleven hill districts of the state, the government should provide additional facilities to the revenue employees.

Balbeer proposed the provision of hill allowance, type-2 houses, separate uniforms for winter and summer seasons and extension of all service benefits to those contractual employees who were made permanent last year.

State president of the union, Gobind Singh Negi, read out a 15-point demand letter, urging the state government to take-time bound steps with regard to their demands. Dinesh Lakheda, general secretary of the union, said the revenue employees played a pivotal role in curbing illegal quarrying as the state had the revenue police set up where patwaris play a dual role of police and revenue officers.

Revenue union office-bearers also decided to meet Yashpal Arya, Minister for Revenue in Uttarakhand. Rajendra Prasad, Sunder Lal,Dharm Pal Singh, Narendra Bagdi and others were also present at the occasion. 

Horticulture Dept to frame norms for removal of dead trees 
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 9
If you to visit government-owned orchards in Uttarakhand, you are sure to spot stumpy trees and you may blame horticulture officers for the failure to remove the dead trees.

People can urge the Horticulture Department for the removal and pruning of fruit trees but in the absence of a clear policy, a district horticulture officer cannot remove them.

However, breaking the morass, the Department of Horticulture has decided to frame a policy in this regard. “We are in the process of framing guidelines for all kinds of trees that have lived their life or are struck by some disease. In the absence of a policy in this regard, DHOs do not know what to do with the dead trees,” said Dr Ranbir Singh, Principal Secretary, Horticulture.

Further in several gardens, the Department of Horticulture is grappling with the diseased fruit trees that are required to be removed. “We will constitute a committee comprising horticulture officers and experts to suggest on the replacement of the trees,” said Dr Ranbir Singh.

Once the guidelines are framed, it would also pave way for the rejuvenation of old government orchards that have several old trees. “In the areas where there are old apple orchards, these guidelines will help us in preserving old trees,” said Dr BS Negi, Director, Horticulutre Mission, Uttarakhand.

Kranti Day celebrated in Pithoragarh 

Pithoragarh, August 9
The anniversary of August kranti day, the day when Mahatma Gandhi gave a call for Quit India Movement on August 9, 1942, was celebrated in Pithoragarh district today. The main function was held at nagar palika parisha hall in Pithoragarh town , where several dependents and widows of freedom fighters were honoured.

“We have prepared a memorandum on the day to be presented before state government in which dependents of freedom fighters have demanded that second generation of national freedom fighters be given pension on the lines on which the freedom fighters were given pension, besides the demand of pension for second generation of freedom fighters. We have demanded travel concession and construction of guest houses for dependents of national freedom fighters,” said Rajesh Mohan Upreti, general secretary of Swatantrata Samgram Senani Uttaradhikari Sangathan. — OC

New panchayat members sworn in
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 9
Newly appointed panchayat members of the Raipur development block were sworn in at the district collectorate today.

District Magistrate Chandresh Yadav administered the oath to block president Beena Bahuguna and others, including Ashwini and Vinod Juyal. Later, addressing the gathering, Sports Minister Dinesh Aggarwal said the newly appointed members should fulfil the promises made to the public.

“There should be no politics in development-related works. The state government is working towards strengthening the gram panchayats,” he added.