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Traders condemn VAT surcharge hike
Will take up industrial package issue: Deshmukh
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank presents a bouquet to Union Heavy Industries and PSU Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh at Pantnagar on Friday. |
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Cong alleges corruption in power sector
Congress leaders at a press conference in Mussoorie on Thursday. A Tribune photograph
Members of various trade unions hold a dharna at Clock Tower in Dehradun
on Friday. A Tribune photograph
CM for improving revenue from parks, sanctuaries
Thousands join campaign for homeless
Women Cong chief to launch membership drive
Sarojini Kantura, newly appointed president of the Uttarakhand Mahila Congress (right) addresses the media in Dehradun on Thursday. A Tribune photograph
Govt defers VAT hike to April
Woman commits suicide
Police team gets security tips
Members of the Mahila Morcha Sangh hold a protest against rising inflation at the Clock Tower in Dehradun
on Friday. A Tribune photograph
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Traders condemn VAT surcharge hike
Haridwar, March 5 Traders want a rollback of the VAT and put it as a blow on their interests, as it will directly affect their trade. Traders from the district are holding meetings regarding the hike and are contemplating of ways to pressurise the state government to reverse the decision. City Traders Union chief Suresh Gulati told The Tribune that on one hand the government says that it is trader friendly while on the other hand it takes decision which directly hampers traders’ interests. “We are not going to sit back and will take agitation route if the government doesn’t pay heed to our demands,” said union treasurer Tej Prakash Sahu. Another major union the Shiv Ganga Vyapar Mandal too is not happy with the VAT hike and is trying to make all associations come under one roof to stir their movement. In a meeting, the association lashed at both the centre as well as the BJP-led state government for not able to control the price rise. “Aspirations of people are put on hold by political parties and instead of controlling inflation, respective governments are taking decisions which, in turn, only increased it,” said madal secretary Gopal Pradhan. Not only traders, but common man also is not happy with the hike. Already reeling under the burden of high inflation and high price rise of essential commodities, consumers too aren’t happy with the government’s decision regarding change in the VAT rates. Meenakshi Bisht, a BHEL resident and a homemaker, says that if the government continues to increase everything, which is of daily usage, then how will the prices come down. She says that whether in central government’s budget or state government’s there is no respite for the common man. While HoD of economics, SMJN College, Dr SK Batra says that opposition of traders is not right as the VAT effect will be on consumers, who buy the products. “The real opposition should come from the consumers’ side, they have to pay the increasing rate while traders margin doesn’t get affected,” said Dr Batra. Though state Economic and Tax Consultation Committee head Pankaj Sehgal states that the hike as a right decision which is imperative. He terms the VAT hike in the interest of the state only and points out that this will improve the revenue exchequer of the state. According to Sehgal, the hike from 4-4.4 per cent and 12.5-13.5 per cent in the state is in the long run beneficial to the state only and will improve the flagging financial condition of the state. “The government takes decisions keeping various aspects in mind and this decision is taken in a larger interest of the state and its people,” added Sehgal. |
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Will take up industrial package issue: Deshmukh
Dehradun, March 5 Inaugurating the Ashok Leyland Plant in Pant Nagar, Deshkmukh said he would take up Uttarakhand concerns with senior officials as the state did need industrial concessions taking into account adverse geographical conditions of the state. He said his ministry was committed to the industrial development of the country and believed in keeping development far above from the party politics. Earlier, Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has urged Deshmukh to increase the period of special industrial package for the state. He said the rising unemployment leading to migration from border villages was a matter of urgent concern. Hinduja Group chief Srichand Hinduja said the Ashok Leyland Plant would be completed with a period of 27 months. He said the plant would be producing 17,000 big vehicles per year, which would be gradually increased to 75,000 vehicles. He said the Hinduja Group had big investment plans for the state. He also said the group would also be rendering engineering courses for the local youth apart from actively participating in environment conservation initiatives. Parmarth Niketan head Swami Chidanand Saraswati said the new industries being set up in Uttarakhand would provide a large employment opportunities to the local youth. State Industries Minister Bansidhar Bhagat, Twenty Point Implementation Committee’s vice-chairman Harbhajan Singh Cheema, Congress MP Vijay Bahuguna, BSP MLA Premanand Mahajan and top officials of the Hinduja Group were present on the occasion.
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Cong alleges corruption in power sector
Mussoorie, March 5 Agarwal said the state government during Khanduri’s tenure as the Chief Minister had announced several such projects to create an urja pradesh, but under Nishank the situation had worsened with the rotating of cuts being done by Urja Nigam for 6-12 hours, due to which innocent people of the state were suffering immensely. He asserted that the situation would worsen with the onset of summer. He said the state government was misleading people by announcing project of 1 KW for the locals, who could only ignite two bulbs, and on the other hand bigger projects were being sold to big players from Punjab and Haryana, who in turn were reselling the projects to inexperienced agencies. He demanded that a complete account of the agreement reached till now in power sector be disclosed in public so that they could judge it accordingly. He said the government had failed in both production and distribution of power in the state miserably that had brought Urja Nigam on the verge of bankruptcy. He lamented the fact that less than 36 per cent of the allocated fund had been used so far in the current fiscal year and development had been stalled due to lack of funds. The government in the name of public private partnership mode was selling prime land to private parties at minimal sum which was deplorable. Agarwal said all these corruption charges would be investigated when the Congress once again regained power in the state under Mission 2012. Mussoorie MLA Jot Singh Gunsola at the same press conference criticised the state government and said the bureaucracy had got out of hand, thus was taking decision on its own accord. He also criticised Mussoorie Palika president OP Uniyal for transferring prime land under MPG College to an organisation firm establishing an educational institute without knowing the consequences. He said according to the bye-laws, the said land could not be transferred to any party and, if done, the college would lose its recognition, thus jeopardising the future of students and teachers. Gunsola also said Uniyal was working unilaterally in taking such decisions without consulting public representatives.
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Businessmen block road against rising prices
Dehradun, March 5 Addressing the protesters, former Congress minister and INTUC Uttarakhand president Hira Singh Bisht said an employee with private sector was earning four times more than a government employee. He also said the labour laws were being flouted in the country and a culture of appointing contractual employees had taken over in all government departments. Sundar Lal Uniyal said the labourers had always suffered. He accused both the Central and Uttarakhand governments of doing a little to address the concerns of the working class. He said committees for ensuring minimum salaries to employees of tea garden, hatcheries and other small-scale industries were yet to be constituted. CITU state president Virendra Bhandari said the inflation had reached all-time high in the country and it was the working classes, which were the ultimate sufferers. He said the Essential Commodity Act was least seen in implementation while the public distribution had completely failed. He said the adverse effects of reforms were very much visible as several departments were failing to pay salaries to their daily wage and contractual employees. CITU, AITUC, BMS and INTUC members prominently participated in the protest. 90 protesters booked
Dehradun: The police booked 90 members of the Uttarakhand Trade Union for reportedly jamming the road at Clock Tower for half an hour here today. The members were protesting against non-fulfilment of their long-pending demands. The police registered a case against 90 members under Sections 147 and 341 of the IPC. |
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CM for improving revenue from parks, sanctuaries
Dehradun, March 5 He also called opening of interpretation centres at the national parks and sanctuaries to ensure sure-sort sightings of the wild animals. The issue of road linking Garhwal and Kumaon that transverse through Corbett also came up for discussions during the board meeting. The Chief Minister entrusted Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Srikant Chandola to actively pursuing the matter at the Supreme Court so as to ensure better road connectivity between Garhwal and Kumaon, which, he said, was very much needed. On increasing cases of man-animal conflict, Nishank also sought hike in compensation amount for wild animal attack victims. He also expressed concern over increasing leopard attack cases in the state. Among other prominent issues included the issue of migration of people from the border areas also discussed in the meeting. He said people living in periphery of the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Nandadevi Wildlife Biosphere and Govind Pashu Vihar should get livelihood opportunities. The meeting was attended by Uttarakhand Chief Wildlife Warden KL Arya, Anti-Poaching Cell head Paramjeet Singh, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Srikant Chandola and other wildlife officials.
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Thousands join campaign for homeless
Haridwar, March 5 With thousands in Haridwar living without permanent roof, the campaign is drawing a lot of attention. Mohammed Murslin Quereshi Awami Hukook president is making people join in the movement. “Thousands being homeless here is a blow on Indian democracy and various schemes run by central and state government,” said Quershi. He further remarks that crore are affixed for the Rashtriya Awas Yojna for providing shelter to the needy but it seems only in paper or benefits the affluent ones only. Recently a massive rally in Jwalapur was conducted in support of the cause which saw hundreds of people, including women participating from different communities. Now, the party activists are planning to start indefinite fast if government doesn’t takes any positive action on their demand.
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Women Cong chief to launch membership drive
Dehradun, March 5 Addressing a press conference yesterday, Kantura said women residing in the villages had to be brought to the Congress fold. “We will be launching a drive shortly in the 13 districts of the state, side by side organise camps to educate women about political issues,” she stressed. Calling upon the women to fight for their rights, she said that they have to fight together so that the common goal of political empowerment is achieved. Further to mark International Women’s Day on March 8, special camps would be held by the party for women looking for economic empowerment. On March 6, the party will hold a rally against the anti-people policies launched by the
BJP. |
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Govt defers VAT hike to April
Dehradun, March 5 The government had recently made these announcements ahead of the budget session that is to take place on March 8. The hike was to come into effect from March 1 but now citing taxation problems the government has deferred the decision to April 1. Opposition parties had questioned the move and had had even threatened to hold protests against the hike. “The decision has only been deferred to a later date when the issues of taxation are resolved,” said a top official. With depleting revenues and burdened with payment of salaries to the employees, the government had announced a hike in VAT in order to mop up a revenue of Rs 125
crore annually. |
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Woman commits suicide
Dehradun, March 5 The police was informed of the matter by the family and in-laws of the deceased. The incident happened last night when the woman was alone in her room. The in-laws after hearing her cries shifted her to the hospital. The couple had got married 15 years ago and had two children with the marriage. The woman often used to be unhappy due to the harassing of her in-laws, told the police. The family of the deceased alleged to the police that the husband, the mother-in-law and the sister-in-law used to harass her mentally that forced her to take such a step. The police has registered a case under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code at the Dalanwala police station. |
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Police team gets security tips
Dehradun, March 5 After the demo, the force was also given feedback on their practice session by Anil Raturi, IG (Intelligence). Raturi spotted the shortcomings and gave them suggestions on how to improve on the training. “This is part of our regular practice and is being done to improve ourselves considering the threats to our internal security. The training will continue in future as well,” the IG told the mediapersons after the demo. The police said the team had been trained to deal in any sort of tough conditions. They were given training in hills as well as plain areas to get equipped with the task very well. |
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BJP women hold protest against Centre
Dehradun, March 5 Around 50 members of the morcha staged a dharna in the Ghanta Ghar area and even inconvenienced commuters. “We are protesting as once again the Union Budget has proved to be useless and non-favourable for the aam admi. Amid rising expenses it’s becoming difficult for the commoners to live a peaceful life,” said Nandini, general secretary of the morcha. Protesting against the policies of the Centre, the members raised slogans and demanded that prices of the basic commodities should be curtailed immediately.
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Dehradun, March 5
Mussoorie Congress MLA Jot Singh Gunsola and Laxman Chowk MLA Dinesh Agarwal in a press conference at a hotel in Mussoorie alleged that the
Nishank-led BJP government was selling all major power projects at a paltry sum to inexperienced players for monetary gains. He also demanded a CBI inquiry into the nepotism and financial bungling going on in the power sector of the state.
The newly appointed president of Uttarakhand Women’s Congress Sarojini Kantura said today that her priority would be to launch an aggressive membership drive in the villages in order to bring rural women to the Congress fold. She would also pressurise the party leadership to provide for 33 per cent reservation for women in the party structure and also in the ticket distribution during the assembly election.
