News From Uttarakhand

BANDH CALL FOR FEB 19: The Doon Udyog Vyapar Mandal has given a call for a complete bandh on February 19 to protest against the local administration's autocratic behaviour. Umesh Agarwal, president of Doon Udyog Vyapar Mandal, said that all the private establishments, shops, petrol pumps, vegetable shops, hotels, dhaba, sweet shops etc will remain closed on February 19. The businessmen have been protesting against the administration's decision to impose a ban on the entry of two-wheelers in Paltan Bazaar, ban on polythene and end of police bandobast in the Paltan Bazaar.

HIKE IN FUEL PRICES FLAYED: Leader of the Opposition Ajay Bhatt has condemned the hike in petrol and diesel prices announced by the Central Government. "The hike will have an adverse effect and increase inflation. The Central Government has been increasing diesel and petrol prices on and off and the state government should step in to bring relief to the common man," said Bhatt. He said that the Bahuguna government should reduce VAT on kerosene and bring relief from the hike announced.

BASANTOTSAV CELEBRATED AT NALANDA COLLEGE: The students of Nalanda College of Education celebrated ‘basantotsav’ on the college campus here yesterday.

HALDWANI
BUILDINGS FOR COLLEGES: The Directorate of Higher Education will try to provide all 30 degree colleges in the state with buildings. These colleges have been waiting for buildings from the last one decade. According to Director, Higher Education, Dr Mukul Pant, besides these institutions, 13 degree colleges in the state have no land. “Our priority will be not only to provide these colleges infrastructure but also accreditation from NAAC that many colleges lack,” said Pant.

KASHIPUR
HEPATITIS SHOTS: Max India Foundation gave hepatitis vaccination shots to 170 children studying at Agnes Kunze Academy today in the rest camp area. Along with carrying out vaccinations, the residents of the area were also urged to keep their surroundings clean.

RAMNAGAR
MINING IN KOSHI, DABKA: People related to the mining business expressed happiness over the Central government decision to allow mining of minor minerals in the Koshi and Dabka rivers. It had allowed mining in the Gaula and Sharda rivers last week. According to Forest Department sources, the permission has been granted for the next 10 year in both rivers. “Thousands of people will be able to get jobs once mining starts in this river as the state government has also issued a notification following the Center’s decision,” said Nishant Varma, DFO of the western division of Terai  forests.

BASANT FESTIVAL: Mythical love tales of the Kumaon and Garhwal regions were presented on the fourth day of the Basantotsav being organised at Ramnagar on Saturday. Thousands of villagers participated in the fair. “The mythical drama, ‘Surajwati’ presented by a cultural troupe from Almora was liked by the audience. It presented the tragic tale of Surajwati whose two sons died after they become victims of a conspiracy by her courtiers,” said Brizmohan Joshi, organiser of the drama.

RANIKHET
24 LEOPARDS DEAD: The number of dead leopards in this season has gone up to 24 after the carcass of a leopard cub was recovered from the Soni forest, near Ranikhet, on Friday evening. “The 1.5-year-old leopard cub having 1.60 metre height and 60 cm width died in a fight with another animal, probably a wild boar,” said Roop Singh Mehra, a forest official.

RUDRAPUR
HOUSES FOR POOR: The Nagar Palika, Rudrapur, will construct 400 houses for people belonging to the poor in the Rampura area of Rudrapur town under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission. Nagar Palika sources said, “Of the Rs 17.5 crore to be spent on the project, the Nagar Palika has received Rs 6.46 crore,” said Meena Sharma, chairperson of the Nagar Palika.

The Tribune