Dehradun, March 16
The present developments in the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD), the regional party that had spearheaded the statehood movement, indicate that the outfit is now heading for a split.

The issue of fighting the Lok Sabha elections with or without their alliance partner, BJP, has exposed the fault lines in the regional outfit.

Notably, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal is a partner in the BJP-led government headed by BC Khanduri. Diwakar Bhatt, a senior UKD leader, is a cabinet minister of Civil Supplies and Urban Development in the government.

There are two power centres in the Dal: one led Diwakar Bhatt and the other by former party chief Kashi Singh Airy. Both have diametrically opposite views on the issue of their alliance partner.

While Bhatt was made a cabinet minister by the BJP, Kashi Singh had to be satisfied with the chairmanship of a state level corporation.

The Dal has three legislators in the present Assembly. In the first ever assembly elections in the state, the Dal could win only four seats, and the number went down to one in the 2007 polls.

Now, the entire rank and file of the party, including party legislator Pushpesh Tripathi and Kashi Singh Airy, are for withdrawing support from the BJP government and fighting the Lok Sabha elections so that the political base of the party remains intact. However, Bhatt is opposed to doing any harm to the alliance partner.

Interestingly, the party had also split in the past with both Bhatt and Kashi Singh Airy drifting apart. It was only on the persuasion of the party rank and file that both these leaders patched up twice.

Meanwhile, there is a general feeling among party workers that unless they withdraw support from the BJP government, their survival would be at stake.

However, Bhatt aired different views. "This could be the opinion of some individual but it is not the stand of the party," said Bhatt.

But going by the present situation, a split within the Dal circles cannot be wholly ruled out yet.

Dehradun/Haridwar, March 16
Yashpal Benam, Independent MLA from the Pauri assembly constituency, is contemplating contesting the coming general election from the Pauri Garhwal parliamentary constituency.

Though Benam has not taken a final decision but highly placed sources said that he is considering seeking support of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) before throwing his hat into the election ring.

After the 2007 assembly elections, Benam and three MLAs of the UKD had extended their support to the BJP to form the government.

Now, after the talks between the BJP and UKD over seat-sharing failed, both parties had announced their candidates for the Pauri Garhwal constituency.

The BJP has named its sitting MP Lt Gen TPS Rawat (retd) as the party’s nominee and the UKD has announced AP Juyal as its candidate.

As per information available, the top brass of the UKD is interested in supporting Benam from the Pauri Garhwal constituency.

Benam is a popular politician in Pauri and in the last assembly elections in February 2007, he created a history of sorts by defeating two state cabinet ministers.

He had defeated the then Education Minister Narendra Singh Bhandari of the Congress and former state education minister and current general secretary of the BJP Tirath Singh Rawat putting both the BJP and Congress on the backfoot.

It is learnt that the UKD leaders are of the view that because of his strong base in Pauri, he may upset the poll equations.

Benam was the municipal chairman of Pauri town besides holding the chair of the chief of the Pauri city unit of the Congress.

He has good base in the constituency and his presence in the election battle could adversely affect the election prospects of the Congress candidate.

Benam said, “It will be good to contest the election only after withdrawing support from the BJP government. If the UKD takes back support from the BJP state government, I will also withdraw my support.”

Meanwhile, during a meeting of the UKD leaders with Benam, senior party leaders including Kashi Singh Airi had supported Benam’s stand.

“By remaining in the BJP government and at the same time fielding candidates against them will put UKD’s integrity in question.”

“Withdrawing support from the BJP government and then fighting the elections will send the right message to the public,” Airi said while adding that party will soon take the decision about withdrawal of support to the BJP.

But the recent developments have led to fissures within the UKD. The party’s candidate from the Pauri Garhwal AP Juyal asserted that there is no harm in fighting the Lok Sabha elections without withdrawing support from the state government.

Apparently annoyed with reports of UKD support to Benam. “It is really unfortunate that even after announcing me as the candidate, the party is planning to support Benam,” said Juyal.

Dehradun, March 16
All eyes are set on the Raj Bhawan at Andhra Pradesh for finalisation of the Congress ticket for the Nainital Lok Sabha seat in Uttarakhand.

While candidates for Pauri, Tehri and Almora have been announced by the Congress high command, the names of candidates for Nainital and Haridwar are not final yet.

There are many candidates in fray for the Nainital seat, which is the native seat of veteran Congress leader and Governor of Andhra Pradesh ND Tiwari.

Sitting MP KC Singh Baba, former state minister Indira Hariydesh and Rudrapur Congress legislator Tilak Raj Behad are vying with each other for the nomination.

According to party sources, a decision could not be taken since the leadership wanted to take Tiwari into confidence before selecting the candidate.

There were rumours that the party could even field Tiwari, who is a political heavy weight and can tilt the balance in favour of the Congress easily.

He had been winning the seat for long, except in 1991 when he lost. However, he can opt out of the contest due to his age and health.

But since he has a huge following in Nainital, any decision would only be taken
after consulting him.

Dehradun, March 16
The police in Nehru Colony has begun investigations into the alleged forced entry by Dehradun Municipal Corporation Mayor Vinod Chamoli into a woman’s house.

SHO Rajesh Bisht said Meena, a resident of H-78, Nehru Colony, lodged a complaint against the Mayor today, alleging that he had entered her house and thrashed her husband, threatening that they vacate the house.

Meena and her husband are tenants in the house owned
by Naresh Bhatia.

Meena lodged the complaint at 12.30 pm at the Nehru Nagar police station while the incident occurred at 10 am.

It all started when Meena refused to vacate the house despite repeatedly pleas of the landlord. Meena, in her complaint, claimed that she had spent Rs 25,000 on renovating the house a few months back.

She wanted the money back but her landlord refused to do so. Chamoli and his supporters today turned up at Bhatia’s house and thrashed her husband.

The situation turned tense when scores of Congress activists came in support of the complainant and raised slogans against the Mayor.

Within minutes, BJP supporters also reached there and raised counter-slogans. The police prevented a clash between the two groups.

It accepted Meena’s complaint. The police, however, denied having framed charges against Chamoli and his supporters.

“The matter is under probe and charges will be framed if the allegations are found true,” said Rajesh Bisht.

Dehradun, March 16
The Health Department has launched an awareness campaign to get every birth and death registered.

At a meeting held today at the Secretariat, Keshav Desi Raju, principal secretary Health said several steps have been taken to ensure compliance and the funds allocated by the central government too are being utilised for the purpose.

He said as compared to the previous years, the registration figures regarding births and deaths in 2008 are pretty good.

“Keeping in view the geographical terrain of the state, several registrars are needed to do the job here,” said Keshav.

He proposed the appointment of sociologists and statisticians for the purpose. He said the Centre had allocated 75 per cent of the funds for the entire exercise.

The meeting was attended by V. Ramadurai, the director general registrar of the government of India.

The director general health Dr PL Joshi said 1,22,940 birth certificates were distributed by last year.

In 2008, the birth registration rate has gone up to 75.1 percent, while death registration rate is 40.08 percent.

In the year 2009 the percentage was 60 and 30 respectively. She said the district registrars evaluate the entire process of death and birth registrations at regular intervals and the issue is discussed at the registrar meetings every month.

To strengthen the reporting of death and birth incidents, ASHA health workers and principals of primary schools have been declared notifiers.

In the year, 2005-06 a total of 1,219 registrars from 11 districts got the training, while in 2007-08, 276 registrars from Haridwar and Almora districts were trained for the purpose and 1,923 ANMS also trained.

She said birth certificate is also required for school admission, for the ration card and also for the programmes being conducted under Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).

“A total of 144 doctors, 172 staff nurses and 83 pharmacists have been trained to carry forward the programme,” she said.

Dehradun, March 16
Uttarakhand Medical Health and Family Welfare Department, with the assistance of National Social Service (NSS) Scheme and DAV Inter College Dehradun, organised a ‘masters’ workshop against the female foeticide, here today.

District coordinators, University coordinators and programme coordinators of NSS participated as ‘masters’ in the daylong workshop.

NSS state public relation officer Dr. Satpal Singh said, “Masters have been recruited for the workshop from various departments at the district level, after which 200 children at every district would be trained by them so that awareness about the crime can be generated,” he said.

A street play was organised under the aegis of Kanya Jeevan Daanya Samiti, which discussed various issues related to the falling birthrate of females in our country.

Dr. Prem Lata Joshi, director General Medical Health and Family Welfare Department said, “We cannot progress only on the basis of laws against female foeticide. Regular awareness programmes for men should be organised which would help in discouraging them to opt for such an option.”

“All the recruited masters would be provided with proper medical facilities under the directions of Medical Health and Family Welfare Department,” said Dr Prasant Singh, district coordinator, NSS.

Dehradun, March 16
Lack of co-ordination between rafting companies and Tehri Dam authorities is proving risky for white-water rafting enthusiasts in the Ganga.

The dam authorities are allegedly releasing water into the river without intimating the rafting companies.

As the result of increased water inflow, the rafters find it tough to manage the raft at varying rapid speeds.

According to Dinesh Kathait, treasurer of Uttarakhand Finest Outdoor Association, “Tehri Dam authorities release water at any time of the day creating problems for rafters and for guides.

“We have intimated the tourist and the forest departments about the problem.
But both departments have clarified that the Tehri Dam authority does not fall
under their jurisdiction”.

The recent death of Sudeep Sarkar at a rafting expedition had raised questions about the safety measures being taken by the rafting companies in the state.

He was working in a Noida-based company and lost his life at Shivpuri near Rishikesh when he slipped off a raft.

“The lack of safety measures was the reason behind Sudeep’s death. It was due to shock. Our rescuers had bought him back on the raft without wasting any time. But the reason behind his death will be clear only after the medical report,” said Dinesh.

This is the not the first time such an incident has occurred. Earlier, two deaths
had taken place.

Dinesh said that the two persons, who had lost their lives during the rafting
adventure, were diagnosed with some diseases.

“We make a rafter sign an indemnity bond that clearly mentions that a person suffering with heart disease, asthma and epilepsy should not undertake this adventure sport. Despite this warning, people tend to ignore these terms and conditions,” said Dinesh.

With growing popularity of the sport and increasing inflow of adventure tourists at the rafting destinations, better safety measures are a must.

The association claimed that it provides all necessary facilities to tourists
undertaking rafting.

“We provide them with life jackets and helmet to minimise drowning risk. The guides on the rafts are provided with throw-bag and slip-line that are useful when any person falls off the raft or when the raft overturns”.

Dinesh Kathait said that the government should station an EMRI 108 ambulance near Shivpuri as the tourist inflow to the place has increased manifold.

“We will be holding a seminar on the safety aspect of white-water rafting in the first week of April. Last year, more than 300 rafting guides participated in the safety workshop,” added Dinesh.