Dehradun, March 8
On the completion of three years of rule by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank expressed satisfaction at the pace of developmental works undertaken by his government.

Talking to mediapersons here today, he said one of the biggest contributions of the BJP government during the past three years was the introduction of 108 Emergency Ambulance services that had made a significant change as far as health and emergency services in the mountainous and far-flung areas of the state.

“Since the introduction of the services, nearly 1,40,000 persons have been taken the advantage. More than 50,000 pregnant women were taken to the hospitals from the remote areas and 1,250 children were born in emergency ambulances,” he added.

In the hydro-power sector, Nishank said the 304 Maneri Bhali Phase-II Project was commissioned and hydro-power projects worth 950 MW were allocated during the past three years. Similarly, he said despite the delay by the Central government in extending the industrial package of the state, many big industrial houses had either come to Uttarakhand or upgraded their original facilities.

He said Ashok Leyland would be manufacturing one lakh bigger vehicles from its factory at Rudrapur every year, while Hero Honda had upgraded its two-wheeler facility at Haridwar. “Hero Honda by incorporating the world’s best technology has started manufacturing a motorcycle every 17 minutes beating the world record of 19 minutes set earlier,” he added.

He said his government had initiated a number of developmental schemes in almost all sectors.

However, he said he was disappointed by the behaviour of Opposition parties in the state assembly. “It is perhaps the only state where the ruling party is challenging the Opposition for debate on anything, but they are not only shying away but creating unnecessary ruckus in the assembly,” he added.

Mussoorie, March 8
Palika President OP Uniyal to hide his failures of the past 20 months in Mussoorie blamed local MLA Jot Singh Gunsola for stalling development projects carried out by his board in a press conference called at the Palika premises.

Uniyal informed the media that the board had started several development works like eco-tax, construction of Town Hall, stadium at Bhilaru, sewage line, housing, widening Gandhi Chowk, beautification of Ghora Stand etc.

For the benefit of people of the town, unnecessary bottlenecks were being created by the local MLA due to ulterior motives.

Uniyal said eco-tax was imposed by his Palika to use the money for environmental issues and construction of Kolhukhet barrier. A separate account had been created for only this purpose which had not been spent yet. It was proposed that tourists would be provided with environment friendly carry-bags and safe dinking water.

Speaking on the issue of allotment of 32 bigha land to Sri Sri Ravishankar for creating a mini-university near Hussain Ganj, he accused MLA Jot Singh Gunsola of creating unnecessary hurdles. He informed that land was provided to the Art of Living organisation unanimously by the board a few months back in which poor students would be imparted education. And so the fears allayed by MLA that the MPG College would lose its accreditation were unfounded. On the contrary the land was being used for only education purpose in accordance with Garhwal University norms.

He also said the Clock Tower at Landaur Bazar had been leased to Sanjay Narang, a high-profile businessman from Mumbai, for renovation and establishing a museum under PP mode and talks were on to lease Town Hall to him and several other parties.

He also said the MLA, Mussoorie, raised hue and cry over sewage pipeline project a few days back. The widening of Gandhi Chowk had also been stopped by the MLA. The government had agreed for housing at IDH for BPL families. He said individuals halting the development projects should be brought in front of people of the town.

Uniyal also informed that the MDDA had been directed by the authorities to sanction the site plans within six months of application.

Later, Uniyal facing a barrage of questions failed to respond on using the eco-tax amount for the construction of Kolhukhet barrier and not for the purpose designated.

When asked about the leasing land under the PPP mode and indiscriminate increase of entry fee for such projects namely Company Garden, aquarium where locals were also paying entry fee irrespective of the agreement with Palika, he said local interest would be kept before signing any MoU.

Congress ward members Sushil Kumar, Nand Lal, Jasbir Kaur, BJP ward member Jai Kumar Gupta and others were also present. 

Nainital, March 8
The Kumaon region is witnessing a spurt in anti-liquor movements these days. On Sunday, a large number of women belonging to various social organisations held a protest against the sale of alcohol from mobile vans in the Basauli area of Almora.

The women held a march from Divisthan to Basauli and finally to Inakot.

They also demanded that the auction of liquor vends be scrapped for the next financial year. At a meeting at Inakot, the women assailed the government for failing to check the sale of alcohol from mobile vans in the Basauli areas, despite people protesting against it at repeated intervals. They threatened to launch a mass agitation if the government did not take immediate steps to check the growing alcohol consumption in the region.

On the other hand, the Uttarakhand Parivartan Party had organised a Sharab-Siyasat-Rajasva (Alcohol-Politics-Revenue) meeting at Ramnagar, where people from various political and social organisations came under one banner to demand a check on the growing menace of alcoholism in the region. Talking to The Tribune, a senior party leader, Prabhat Dhyani, said, “Why cannot the government make liquor smuggling a non-bailable offence? Why is it encouraging the consumption of alcohol in an indirect manner?”

He said his party would organise more such meetings at Haldwani, Nainital and Almora in coming days.

Dehradun, March 8
Third day of DAV Union Week was celebrated here today. The function began with beautiful jaunsari dance and melodious songs presentation by jaunsari folk singers Poonam Negi and Deepti Chauhan.

The chief guest for the occasion was Rajya Sabha member Amar Singh, MLA Kuldeep Kumar and former president Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Umesh Aggarwal.

Addressing the gathering, Amar Singh motivated students to work towards their goals and said renovation of the college building should be done soon, for which he would surely assist the college. The Union Week will finally conclude on the March 12.

Roorkee, March 8
The Congress has flayed the state government for showing the least interest even in big projects by the Central government.

Citing an example of the alleged apathetic attitude towards the mega project of setting up of medical college complex in Haridwar district by the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), Kunwar Pratap Singh, Laksar MLA, said the project had been getting delayed because the state government was not providing the required land for unknown reasons.

The ESIC has decided to set up a state-of-the-art medical college along with a dental college/nursing college etc in the state of Uttarakhand.

“However, the land has not been allotted by the BJP government. The last letter in this regard was written by PC Chaturvedi, the then Director-General of ESIC, to then Chief Secretary of the state IK Pande on June 3, 2009. Again a communiqué, dated 4, 2010, has been sent by Chaturvedi, now Secretary to Government of India, to NS Napalchyal, now Chief Secretary to Uttarakhand, to provide the land as soon as possible for the project, but still the state government does not pay heed to the project, which will largely benefit the people of the state,” said Pranav Singh. He added that a total of 35 acres land had been required for the project, worth around Rs 800 crore, which the Congress wished to set up in Roorkee, preferentially.

“If the government does not shed its approach towards the project, the state can lose that,” alleged Pranav.

He also criticised the government for delaying the project of construction of the Aamkheri-Solani Nadi Ghat bridge, which would connect as many as 30 villages of three blocks.

Dehradun, March 8
It seems the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) has begun paying attention to public complaints against stray dog menace, as recently DMC employees were seen struggling to control a dog on the EC Road. They caught 10 dogs from various localities of the city.

It was while picking up a dog, which somewhat looked mad, an employee got bitten in the process.

Residents and shop owners of the commercial area had been fear of stray dogs. A shopkeeper said the dogs had become a virtual threat as these used to attack customers. “Despite our repeated complaints, the DMC did not take action for a long time,” he said.

Residents too were fed up of dogs swarming all over the place and a cause of persisting annoyance when they would go for walk in the morning or evening. They demanded that the DMC keep a regular check on the area

Dehradun, March 8
Annoyed by the casual attitude of the Central and state governments, PBOR ex-servicemen called up a meeting at their main office here today. The meeting was held under the presidency of PTR Shamsher Singh Bisht (retd).

The association had gathered to set up plans and strategies for the welfare of the association. The members have demanded providing ex-servicemen below officer’s rank with facilities as well as funds.

Bisht asserted that Uttarakhand Purva Sainik Nigam Limited (UPNL) was formed by the administration to render jobs to dependants (ex-servicemen who have retired after serving 25 years), but were hiring civilians too.

He has also accused the administration for slashing out wages at their own whims and fancies.

In addition to his allegations, Bisht also said projected lands for ex-servicemen in the valley was set up for Army men at the lower rank, but these lands were getting vandalised by officials.

Bisht has demanded the state as well as the Central government to look into the matter and help the association in achieving their demands.

Moreover, Bisht also said such a casual attitude would not be tolerated and required immediate action.

Chief general secretary Capt RD Shahi (retd), media coordinator Naik Arun Khatri (retd), official coordinator Subedar Yogendra Dutt Sharma (retd), Hawaldar KB Gurung (retd), Naik Vijay Jugran (retd) and others were present at the meeting.

Dehradun, March 8
Matbar Singh Kandari, State Irrigation Minister, who has been in the centre of controversy for instigating employees of the Irrigation Department to go on strike against the government order of handing over civil and maintenance work of Chilla hydro-electric project to Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam (UJVNL) has denied playing any active role in the whole gambit.

He said, “I am a part of the ministry and, have no business in meddling with the collective decision taken by the Cabinet and the Chief Minister. I have accepted the GO of the government”.

RP Godiyal, Sichai Vibhag Karamchari Mahasangh, Rishikesh unit which is on dharna for the past four days confirmed of getting support from the minister for their ongoing strike. But Kandari again refused of lending any support to the employees on strike and said, “It is their decision to go on strike, and if somebody speaks of my support in the matter, it is foolish”.

The sources in the UJVNL had insinuated at Kandari for playing spoilsport in prompting employees of the department to rage the controversy. The minister is also said to be instrumental in cancelling the transfer of the same project two years ago. He is considered to be backing the employees for sticking to their guns to retain the allotment of flats given for the Chilla project.

AB Pathak, Head of the Irrigation Department, steered clear of the storm saying, “The higher officials have accepted the government order, but the employees who felt hurt by the decision have gone on strike. I will talk to them to pacify their concerns”.

The minister did seem concerned about the move of UJVNL to ask for the transfer of all its projects under the department’s wing. Anxious about the Irrigation Department losing its utility, he said, “I have asked the CM to make the department a Nigam which would look after the construction of all government buildings under it. The CM is yet to give his decision on it.”

Pathak too gave his nod for giving the department status of Nigam. He said, “Once the Irrigation Department is turned into Nigam then it will wriggle out of financial mess and, easily get loans from international bodies such as the Asian Development Bank and NABARD for its projects.”

Dehradun, March 8
Auditions for the Miss North India 2010 were held at the Shiva Residency on the Rajpur Road here today. Thirtyfive contestants from the entire North India will be participating in the Miss North India 2010 contest to be held in April at Pitampura in New Delhi.

For the competition the auditions were held in Jaipur, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Barielly and New Delhi.

All participants will be groomed in Delhi and the training programme will last for 12 days.

The audition is being judged by Sagar Kakar, a well-known name in the fashion world. Meghna Naidu will grace the occasion as a celebrity. 

Dehradun, March 8
Relatives and friends of Munir Rahmad, alias Babbal, who was murdered on Saturday, vandalised the property of the Wedding Point on the Ring Road being owned by Jitender, alias Jiti, the alleged killer of their ward.

They pelted stones and smashed mirror and other property of the Wedding Point. They also shouted slogans against Jiti and demanded his arrest.

The police reached the spot, but by then the protesters had fled.

Family, relatives and friends, about hundred in number, also met Inspector General of Police (Garwhal Region) MA Ganpathy demanding the arrest of Jiti soon. They gheraoed the IGP office and raised slogans demanding Jiti’s arrest.

The IGP assured them of taking all measures to arrest the accused as soon as possible. He also told them if he was not arrested soon, the police would attach his property.

The police would also provide security to his family in view of the current scenario.

Babbal was shot at three times over a property dispute at some distance away from his residence in Nathanpur reportedly by Jiti and four gunners, who were hired by him to shoot Babbal.

The police had arrested Jiti’s driver Jaideep, who was found with one bullet fired in his stomach, the same day. The police is now questioning him in order to arrest the main accused.

Nainital, March 8
In a bizarre incident, a resident of Nayi Basti of Kashipur threw acid on the face of his wife following a tiff over a minor issue.

According to the information available, the tiff had started on Saturday night with Shammo asking her husband Shafiq what brought him back to her after he had deserted his family a year back.

Shafiq had left for Moradabad more than a year back and Shammo had been taking care of her four children, three of whom are from her previous marriage, by working as a labourer.

This had led to altercation with Shafiq abusing Shammo and then beating her up.

However, in the early hours of Sunday he allegedly threw acid on her face while she was asleep. It is learnt that Shammo’s two daughters also sustained burn injuries in the attack.

Shammo is presently undergoing medical treatment at a government hospital. Shafiq fled from the spot after the incident.