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Politics over DMC
CPM condemns Cong, BJP
Yet another elephant electrocuted
Toll-free helpline for Char Dham
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UKD resents order on Army recruitment
Representation sought in Central council
Cong memo to Guv
Fire in Mansa Devi forest area controlled
10,000 BJP workers to participate in protest on April 21
Japan-sponsored training to foresters begins
Tourist spots sans cops, unsafe for visitors
Tributes paid to Dr Trivedi
Project on Gori Ganga
290 persons administered hepatitis-B vaccine
Jain Milan to hold health camp
Blood donation camp held
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Bodai hits back at Mayor
Seema Sharma Tribune News Service
Dehradun, April 15 Bodai said the hearing on the house tax policy would be held soon and so would be sanitation drive. He also talked about bringing out a fresh interpretation of hoarding policy after a thorough review of previous ones. He said on Friday, all the registered advertisers would be sent notices to remove their illegal hoardings within a week otherwise strict action would be taken against them. At a meeting held with the UNA, tax superintendents and other officials of the DMC, the MNA sent the feelers by telling them to take quick action on policy matters. On the hoarding policy, he said the MC was wrong in putting its case under 172 (J), which was meant for new bylaws under section 199-200 Understanding well that he was heading on the road of further animosity with the Mayor, he said: “I understand that new policy can only be formulated by the Municipal Board, and the present one has been nullified by state government. Therefore, I cannot sit idle till a new policy becomes clear. My job is to augment income of the corporation and meet the target of earning Rs 1 crore through hoardings. I will come up with a fresh interpretation after reviewing such policies enacted by former administrators Girija Shankar Joshi and SS Sandhu in the past”. He also rejected the Mayor’s contention that all hoardings after March 31 became illegal citing the reason of dismissal of his hoarding policy. Admitting that illegal and unauthorised hoardings were far exceeding the legal ones, he assured the meeting of arriving at some decision on that part in a few days by taking into consideration the aspects of traffic security, beautification of the city and revenue generation. Thereafter the tender process would be started. Stung by the MNA’s audacity, the Mayor said that the MNA was superseding board’s authority by formulating his own interpretation of the hoarding policy. He said: “It is only the board which can devise or change any policy, the MNA is only an executioner. If he decides about policy matters of the corporation that would directly mean of undermining board’s power. The state government is creating difficulties for itself by opting for a wrong path. If the MNA did not desist from his errant behaviour, then he would have to face the wrath of employees and public in two days”.
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CPM condemns Cong, BJP
Dehradun, April 15 He said ever since the corporation got its new status from the position of local body in 1998, it had been a victim of party politics and as a result, the public had to suffer due to a lack of public
amenities. The ambitious projects, city beautification, ownership rights to slums, widening of Chakrota road, hoarding policy, house tax, solid waste management had been pending for a long time for this very reason. Sajwan asked officers of the DMC to perform their duties without any political pressure. |
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Yet another elephant electrocuted
Dehradun, April 15 The elephant that came along with a herd near an agriculture field in the Chiddarwala area during night time tried to break open one of the lights. The elephant was electrocuted in the process. Five goats charred to death
Nainital: Five goats were charred to death in a fire that engulfed three huts near the Gadariya farm area of Shantipuri locality of Rudrapur yesterday. The cause of the fire is as yet unknown. In another incident on the Kiccha road on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, 15 families of labourers lost their meagre possessions when their tenements were burnt to ashes. The incident occurred in the Sanjay Nagar locality. Two fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the fire. Two cylinders that burst after fire led to the spread of fire. The cause of the fire that burnt all possessions of those residing in the tenements is being |
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Toll-free helpline for Char Dham
Dehradun, April 15 He asked the District Magistrates to conduct physical inspection of the yatra route so that loopholes could be plugged well in time before the yatra. The Chief Secretary instructed the Health Department to construct pre-fabricated toilets and asked Sulabh International to ensure that proper water and electricity supply was maintained. At the meeting, Transport Secretary S Ramaswamy said a route chart of all buses would be maintained to ensure that the buses complete the yatra in the stipulated time frame. He said 40 per cent of the privately owned buses would operate on route. Secretary Tourism Rakesh Sharma said Nodal Officers would be put in charge of solid waste management at the tehsil level. District Magistrate Saurabh Jain of Uttarkashi said the broken and narrow Bhatwari-Gangotri route was being repaired by the Border Road Organisation (BRO). District Magistrate Ravinath Raman of Rudraprayag said the administration had tied up with Reliance to provide raincoats for the yatra. These raincoats would have to be compulsorily deposited with the authorities by the yatris at the end of the yatra instead of dumping them. This was being done to prevent yatris from littering the yatra route with plastic raincoats. Last year, the plastic waste generated by the raincoats proved problematic. On the yatra route, 1,160 water units have been established, among these 472 are handpumps. The Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam was also instructed to spruce up guest houses by early May. Special instructions were given to establish streetlights on Gauri Kund route before the start of the yatra. Those present during the meeting included Subash Kumar, Commissioner Forest and Rural Development, Principal Secretary (Home) Anup Wadahawan, Secretary Water MA Khan and others. |
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UKD resents order on Army recruitment
Pitthoragarh, April 15 “This facility had been available for youths of Dharchula, Munsiyari and Didihat blocks of Pitthoragarh district, Joshimath block of Chamoli district and Bhatwari block of Uttarakhand district since 1991,” said Airy. The UKD leader said after the ministry ceased this facility for the youths of these backward blocks, he had written to Defence Minister AK Anthony, who, in response, replied that the government could not continue that facility to these youths. “Even today these backward areas witness bad school conditions and keeping that in mind the facility was given to these youths of backward areas when KC Pant was Defence Minister. There are no schools in most areas and most schools don’t have teachers, making it difficult for the youths to pass high school examination,” said Airy. Airy also opposed the construction of Pancheshwar Dam and said the proposed dam was not only against the interest of local people but also against the interest of Himalayan geology. Asked why his party condemned the Central government’s ban on two mega hydro projects coming up on the Ganga, near Gangotri, Airy said his party was in the favour of “run-of-the-river” projects and opposed to big dams in the state. |
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Representation sought in Central council
Dehradun, April 15 Dr JN Nautiyal, member of the Bharatiya Kendriya Chikitsa Sangh, said the council that regulated ayurveda had only a nominated member from Uttarakhand. “If a member is elected to the council, the problems of the ayurvedic practitioners and academic issues could be forcefully raised,” Nautiyal said. Even after the 10 years of the creation of the state no elections have been held for representatives of the CCIM. There are 900 ayurvedic doctors and 1,700 privately registered doctors in the state. |
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Cong memo to Guv
Dehradun, April 15 Memorandum read that in Kurkavala and Dudhli villages of Doiwala were badly affected due to illegal mining, which is a violation of the court’s order. Referring to the plight of slum dwellers in areas such as Keshavpur, Rajiv Nagar, Ghisarpari, Kurkavala, Jhabarawala, Bulawala and Khari Gurjar, who have been living in the area for the past 15-20 years, still have not been allocated lease land. The memorandum demanded swift distribution of lease land so that their problems could come to an end. |
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Fire in Mansa Devi forest area controlled
Haridwar, April 15 Earlier in the week, a forest fire had reached the renowned temple of Mata Mansa Devi from the forest adjacent to the Chandi Devi terrain. The flames were visible from Haridwar city and now thick smog has surrounded the whole area. Due to the intense forest fire, the area bears a deserted look in terms of flora and fauna. Fire was also reported today from other parts of the park and the park authority as well as the Forest Department are on high alert. The ropeway service to the temple has not been operating for the past fortnight due to an accident the reasons for which are being probed. In the absence of the ropeway, the administration had yesterday stopped lakhs of pilgrims from going to the temple by the hill route due to the raging infernos. Today with the flames being put off, pilgrims were allowed to visit the tem ple. Citing the enormity of the event, the Fire Department too had pitched in to help the Forest Department. From Bilkeshwar forest, the fire had also spread towards Khadkhadi forest area and had put human settlements there in danger. Fire fighters are finding it difficult to control the fire at these areas as these are spreading high on
the hillsides. Wildlife Warden SB Lal told The Tribune that last night’s fire has been brought under control with the help of the crew station and there was no danger to human settlements near the fire-affected range. Quilt-making
unit gutted
Mussoorie (OC): The Fire Department of Mussoorie was caught in a difficult situation when a fire incident was reported in the Butcher Khana area at Landour today as its vehicles got stuck in narrow lanes of the area. According to fire officials, they received the information about a fire around 12.30 at a quilt-making unit at Butcher Khana. Responding to the call fire tenders were rushed to the spot but could not make an headway due to narrow and congested road in the area. The locals then tried to extinguish the fire through whatever means possible. Meanwhile, the unit was engulfed in flames in which the shop owner Mohd Yunus (50) suffered severe burns in hand and feet. He was immediately rushed to the Community Hospital and his condition was stated to be out of danger. The fire officials said prima facie the cause of fire was short-circuit and the fire aggravated due to cotton lying in the room. Police officials and 108 were also present to douse the fire. |
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10,000 BJP workers to participate in protest on April 21
Dehradun, April 15 State BJP general secretary Dhan Singh Rawat said today all party state office-bearers, MLAs and other BJP representatives would be participating in the protest in a big way. He said the rally would also witness submission of 12.50 lakh signatures to its central leadership against the rising inflation. Meanwhile, the BJP today also criticised the Congress for resorting to irresponsible statement over the Kumbh deaths. “The Congress rather being sensitive to this issue has resorted to baseless allegations,” said Satish Lakhera, party co-spokesman for Uttarakhand said. Lakhera said it was rather a matter of felicitation for the state government for successfully completion of the Kumbh. He said for a event like Kumbh, one should keep above petty
political issues. |
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Japan-sponsored training to foresters begins
Dehradun, April 15 Principal of the college Savita said the two-day training programme was being attended by 27 forest officers drawn from 17 states. He said the programme was part of the Japanese agency’s initiative to train Indian foresters and had to be carried within a time span of five years. The project titled, “Capacity Development for Forest Management and Training of Personnel”, envisages infrastructure improvements as well as improvements of course curriculum and training methodologies in training institutions for the front line forestry personnel in states. Ajay Kumar, Director (Forestry Education), spoke on the importance of upgrading the training procedure. Representatives of the Japanese agency, including Kawabe, were also present. Participants of the training programme are from the states of Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and West Bengal. The fund distribution among the participating states will depend upon the Training Improvement Plans to be prepared during the project period. The total project cost is about
Rs 225 crore. |
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Tourist spots sans cops, unsafe for visitors
Dehradun, April 15 Places like Robbers Cave, Shastradhara and Lachiwala in the state capital are always the most favourite destinations with the tourists here during the
summer season. However, a spate of eve teasing, minor scuffles and other crime incidents raise security concerns of the tourists. There is no police presence in these places, despite the fact that the tourism is one of the major earning sources of the state. These picnic spots being on the outskirts of the city with no police presence makes these unsafe. There was also a proposal of the Central government to have tourist police at such places in Uttarakhand, but it is yet to see light of the day. Meanwhile, these spots are neglected by the police and the
administration. “The Robbers Cave is such a nice tourist spot, but I don’t think that it is that safe to come here with the family, especially women,” said Rohit Sharma, a tourist. Elderly at these picnic spots, shedding light on the scenario say, there are some groups of miscreants who are always present there. They drink, have fun and eve-tease women present there. The tourists who visit the picnic spots are mostly outsiders and thus very few complaints reach the police. Even if they complain, it is not of much help since they don’t recognise the miscreants. Jagatram Joshi, Superintendent of Police (City), admitting that there is no police security at these picnic spots, said if complaints came to them they sent their police personnel to take action. |
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Tributes paid to Dr Trivedi
Dehradun, April 15 In his message sent to family members of Dr Trivedi, renowned poet Dr Kunwar Bechan recalled his relation with Dr Trivedi. “Dr Trivedi always treated me with love and affection. He was a compassionate human being, a poet of repute and a journalist of a high credibility,” said Kunwar Bechan. Another literary personality, Dr Yogendra Nath Sharma ‘Arun’ said Dr Trivedi stood for high standards of literature and his creations worked for betterment of
the society. The family members of late Dr Trivedi reached Cheshire Home and distributed juices to the children at the home. |
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300 villagers disrupt meeting
Tribune News Service
Nainital, April 15 These villagers have also sought a fresh public hearing on the issue and have termed the hearing held on June 11, 2008, as fraudulent. On Monday, media reports had said that the NTPC had overcome another hurdle in setting up the 261 MW hydroelectric project in Munsiyari, along the international border, on the Gori river, after it had signed an agreement with representatives of 16 villages situated around the project site. Now, the NTPC has got 58 hectares of private land out of the 275 hectares needed for the project. A spokesperson of the Environment Quality Monitoring Group of the People’s Science Institute, a Dehradun-based non governmental organisation working on water issues told The Tribune that the affected villagers successfully disrupted a meeting of the NTPC and an officially nominated Village Development Advisory Committee in Munsiyari. The meeting was being chaired by District Magistrate Narender Singh Negi. The spokesperson said, “More than 300 men and women including elected people's representatives, led by the Parvatiya Kisan Sabha, entered the meeting hall despite the presence of the police and administration officials. “They burnt an effigy of the state government and raised slogans against the NTPC and the state administration.” However, according to an EQMG release, Jagat Singh Martolia of Parvatiya Kisan Sabha, who coordinated the protests yesterday, charged that local politicians and contractors had attempted a sell out to earn a few rupees. He said the administration had interfered in the affairs of village panchayats as was evident in the stage-managed elections to Sarmoli-Jainti Van Panchayat. “We will give up our lives, but not our land, forests and water,” said Prahlad Singh of Paton village. For the last five years, people from several villages in Munsiyari tehsil have been protesting against proposals to build eight large and 15 smaller hydroelectric projects on the pristine Gori Ganga.A public hearing attempted on June 11, 2008, had also been cancelled due to similar protests. However, the hearing was later declared valid which is being contested by the activists. The spokesperson said that in 2009, local officials had tried to form a VDAC whose purpose was to negotiate the lowest land prices that the company could get away with. A similar meeting on July 31, 2009, also had to be abandoned due to public protests, he said.
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290 persons administered hepatitis-B vaccine
Mussoorie, April 15 People in a large number gathered on the premises of mandir to receive the first dose of the vaccine. Secretary of the organisation Rajendar Singh Bisht said on the occasion that hepatitis-B was a virus-related disease which needed immediate attention. More than 5 per cent of population was infected with it in the world. He said the organisation was assisting people in getting vaccinated in the state from time to time. He informed that vaccines for other diseases would also be administered in near future. |
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Jain Milan to hold health camp
Dehradun, April 15 Stating this today, president of the organisation Veer Sudhir Kumar Jain said blood examination would be done along with eye examination.
“We will also make arrangements for free cataract operations and distribute wheel chairs for the disabled,” said Sudhir Kumar Jain. Along with the wheel chairs, hearing aids, calipers and spectacles would also be given to the beneficiaries. |
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Blood donation camp held
Dehradun, April 15 The blood donation camp was opened for NSS, NCC volunteers and students of Graphic Era Institute. Around 150 students participated in the noble cause. The entire process of transfusion was performed under the supervision of Dr Yateesh Vashisht, Uchh Shiksha, OSD, and Dr Anand Uniyal, state liaison officer and Dr S Prakash, programme officer, NSS, Graphic Era. Other members that were present at the camp were Sugandha Sharma, Saurab Jain, Juhi, Swati and Meenakshi, who coordinated the event. |
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Haridwar, April 15
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Dehradun, April 15
Dehradun, April 15
