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After rain fury, sunny Sunday brings respite
Govt departments lack coordination in disaster management
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Demand for New Mussoorie gathers steam
Hunt on for land to raise new housing projects: MDDA
DEHRADUN
diary
Polytechnic to run integrated BTech
Programme held on environment
Jackie invitational football tourney begins
City Young become Nemi Dass tourney champs
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After rain fury, sunny Sunday brings respite
Dehradun, August 1 Shiv Kumar, a resident of Morowala, lamented the alleged insensitivity of the Cantt Board administration, saying “the area was submerged in rain water a day before, but Cantt Board officials had been spreading rumours that things had become normal in the area. Instead of taking any concrete step in helping people to come out, they seemed more interested in doing lip-service”.
His neighbour Ganesh Rawat said mutual camaraderie of people came to the fore in this time of calamity. People helped in rescuing trapped people with the help of tubes, ropes, etc, and giving shelter and food to the ones whose houses got ruined in the rain fury. The victims suffered a lot of damage as many of their electrical and electronics gadgets, besides other household items, got partially or fully damaged. Water seeped into food items as well. “My laptop and TV have got damaged. Not to talk of clothes, the wood of the furniture too has swollen up,” rued Nirmala Chamoli, resident of Suman Nagar, where many houses got flooded on Saturday. Putting clothes out in the sun, Ashok Kumar said they remined awake the entire night fearing a second onslaught of rain and stayed in the neighbour’s house as their house had got broken at many places. Some political representatives were seen enquiring people about their well being. Vijay Bahuguna, MP, visited Ganga Vihar where the wall of a roadways workshop gave way for a second time in a month, Shivnagar where three houses got completely smashed when the embankment of the Bindal river gave way to the fury of rain, and other affected sites, including Gandhi Gram, Satto Vali Ghati, Sanjay Colony, New Patel Nagar and Gobindgarh. “I have written to Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank to rope in departments concerned to take effective action in containing damage in areas such as DL Road, Rispana, Rajesh Rawat Colony, Chander Road, Sanjay Colony, Mahatma Gandhi Basti, Puran Basti and Nai Basti where embankments built by the Irrigation Department have been washed away,” he said, demanding that a high-level committee for the disaster management headed by the Chief Secretary should soon be created to assess the damage and to provide compensation to the aggrieved families. The others who accompanied Bahuguna were Subodh Uniyal, PCC president, Ashok Verma, Leader of Opposition in the DMC, senior leader Vivek Khanduri, president of Congress city unit Harish Virmani and councillor Rajesh Kumar. Councillor Sanjay Kumar too visited his ward of Azad Colony and Subhash Nagar which saw some of the worst damage. He lamented the administration had been making high claims of providing relief in the city but none of them came to visit his area, leave alone the matter of doling out compensation amount to the affected. He said people still had some of the water left in their houses which they were struggling to throw out the whole day. The Municipal Corporation had dismantled 15 houses in the Subhash Nagar area on Saturday. Surprisingly group of these 20 people who came to visit the Mayor agreed to do so on their own. Vinod Kumar, resident of the colony, complained that it was not due to their encroachment but more because of the diversion of the water flow from Aasa Rodi and Niranjpur toward Subhash Nagar.
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Govt departments lack coordination in disaster management
Dehradun, August 1 A small truck carrying 15 sacks of bajri to repair the ground which is fast receding under the Bindal bridge and posing danger to the lives of dozen of houses located in its vicinity at Sattowali at the Gandhi Gram, was caught by the tehsildar of the area for flouting the ban on illegal mining. The tehsildar demanded a penalty of Rs 25,000 as per the rules to set the truck free, a condition refused by the PWD, which had sent the truck load. Surya Kant Dhasmana, Congress leader, who was supervising the disaster management work in the area called the District Magistrate and the Additional District Magistrate (Finance) to give directions to leave the truck as he said there was no point of paying hefty fine as it was not for individual cause or private work, but to partake in disaster management work mobilised by the entire government machinery. ADM (F) Vinod Suman said since a legal case had been registered against the contractor who was carrying the stolen mining material, so the administration had to work as per the rules, as the departments were also answerable under the RTI Act. He also overruled the contention that it was the governmental work for which the vehicle was carrying the material to the site. For the penalty he said, he was yet to get a copy of filed report from the police post after which he would be able to comment. Jagdish Prasad Kothiyal, Assistant Engineer, PWD, admitted that his department did not seek the prior permission from the mining department before collecting Bajri in order to avoid any delay, seeing the urgency of the situation. Dhasmana blamed the government departments for not being in sync with each other at such a critical juncture and hampering the disaster management work on inane grounds and, putting precious lives at risk. He feared that if the bridge was not amended immediately, it might collapse any time. By the time this report was filed, the vehicle remained stuck in the police post.
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Demand for New Mussoorie gathers steam
Mussoorie, August 1 Employees of various government installations like the Nagar Palika, Jal Sansthan, schools and LBSNAA Academy are also of the view that without improved housing facilities they are finding it difficult to concentrate on their work. A lack of B-class town status to Mussoorie is also not helping their cause as the spiralling rents have taken the houses out of their reach. Ramesh, a government employee, says he has served in Mussoorie for a long time and now plans to settle down in Mussoorie after retirement, but due to lack of extended housing facilities here he is in a quandary. Members of the Mazdoor Sangh feel the lack of proper housing facilities has led to the emergence of various slums in the town. Trade Union leader Devi Godiyal says Mussoorie has a large labourer population dwelling in temporary structures. A need is being felt for a housing colony for them on an urgent basis to solve the problem of new slums cropping up in the town. Former Palika President Manmohan Singh Mall said enhanced housing facility was the need of the hour and it could be developed by involving all departments concerned like the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA), Nagar Palika and the administration in the process. The biggest problem faced by the town was that of demarcation of forest land. The MDDA had assured three months ago that a fresh survey would be conducted in this regard, but nothing has materialised so far. Mall also felt that a land bank should be created and housing colonies for all income groups should be built according to the master plan approved by the government, then only the housing problem could be sloved. Mussoorie MLA Jot Singh Gunsola said he had suggested to the government to initiate a housing project in Mussoorie in consultation with the department concerned. Land could be earmarked for the purpose and a beautiful housing scheme in the name of Vir Chandra Singh should be started on an urgent basis. Local historian and author of “Mussoorie Dastavez” Jai Prakash Uttarakhandi is of the view that the main sufferer in this whole milieu are people of lower and medium income groups who are forced to rent houses in Dehradun and travel to Mussoorie for work even in extreme conditions. The other fact is that corruption in departments like the MDDA suggests that only the rich and famous are able to build new houses, not the poor. He further said the survey conducted by the Palika on demarcating the forest land and non-forest land in 1966 was also full of discrepancies. It was conducted by low-rung officials and land under forest had been left as de-notified and the land without forest had been kept under the notified list. According to Uttarakhandi, the Ministry of Environment was also responsible for aggravating the housing problem in the town. The nodal officer for Uttarakhand sits in Lucknow even after the formation of a separate state and therefore is not able to monitor the situation effectively. He said the only solution to the housing problem in the town was creating New Mussoorie at the available land near the town according to the master plan. He said the land at Park Estate, Jabar Khet, could be utilised to build housing complexes for lower and medium-income groups and the government could earn by constructing flats for higher income groups. Palika President OP Uniyal said the main problem in developing housing colonies lay in the lack of coordination among various departments. He categorically stated that the Supreme Court monitoring committee had nowhere said the construction was banned in Mussoorie, but the MDDA was harassing people by quoting the Supreme Court and stalling residential plans on that basis. On the other hand, it was giving sanction to commercial houses, be it in notified or de-notified areas. Uniyal said the MDDA could buy private de-notified land and convert it into housing schemes for various income groups in Mussoorie. Uniyal said a committee had been constituted to look into the matter and was headed by the Commissioner, Garhwal. However, no meeting of the committee had been held so far. Uniyal also said the Palika had identified a few places like spring road and Jharipani where more than 50 residential houses could be constructed. The MDDA and the Forest Department had agreed to bear the expenses of the forest demarcation survey to identify the land for the construction. Uniyal said the housing problem could be solved only when the MDDA and the administration changed their mindset and think on terms of developing a land bank in the form of New Mussoorie.
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Hunt on for land to raise new housing projects: MDDA
The Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) concerned over the rising demand for housing facility is not sitting idle, contrary to the perception in the town. This was said by MDDA Vice-Chairman RK Sudhanshu.
Speaking exclusively to The Tribune, RK Sudhansu said the MDDA had already identified a few areas on private lands in Mussoorie for housing projects and plans were afoot to purchase the land. Sudhanshu, without revealing the name of the identified estates, also informed that he personally had inspected a few private estates for the housing projects and the deliberations on the purchase were on. The housing projects in Mussoorie can become a reality after the land has been transferred to the department on circle rates. Sudhanshu said the MDDA was seriously working towards solving the housing problem and would not hesitate to buy more land for the purpose according to the requirement. However, it remains to be seen that private owners are willing to sell their land on circle rates. Nevertheless, this move by the MDDA, if it materialises, will go a long way in addressing the problem of housing in Mussoorie.
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DEHRADUN
diary
Record-breaking incessant rains in the Dehradun valley on July 30 and 31 resulted in damage to property worth crores and five lives were also lost. The 364-mm rains in 36 hours not only broke the 44-year-old record of 1966, but also exposed the bitter reality of haphazard urban growth in the capital city and in the entire Doon valley and the claims of disaster management by the state administration. As it poured the whole day on July 30, the rains were particularly heavy on the intervening night of July 30 and 31 making all rivers and rivulets flowing in the Doon valley to swell. Most of the low-lying areas were inundated with water reaching dangerous levels. Flood waters entered hundreds of houses and damaged houses and household goods washing away boundary walls or embankments mostly in the low-lying areas and those near the rivers and rivulets. The heavy rains and the resultant flood waters exposed the bitter truth of encroachment on all riverbeds and embankments in the entire Dehradun city and surrounding areas. It is estimated that more than 30 per cent of the population of Dehradun city has been living in the colonies built on the beds of these seasonal rivulets and rivers. Starting from Rajpur, in the foothills of Mussoorie, a large number of illegal colonies have sprung up all along these rivers and rivulets, particularly after the formation of Uttarakhand and Dehradun becoming the temporary capital of the new state. The process of establishing such illegal colonies started with the construction of a few huts and then gradually settling in more and more people who started flocking to the city for labour and job opportunities. For consolidation of vote banks, politicians of all hues lent support and protection to these illegal settlers. According to a government survey, more than 100 such illegal colonies have sprung up in the past nearly 10 years since the formation of Uttarakhand state right under the nose of the state government and other authorities. As per a survey done by the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC), more than 12,000 encroachments are recorded on the banks of two prominent rivers namely Rispana and Bindal flowing through the city. During the earlier Congress government, former Chief Minister ND Tiwari did moot a proposal to beautify the banks of these rivers defaced by illegal encroachments on the lines of China. But, the proposal met a fierce resistance from politicians, who, along with dwellers, rallied against any move to remove them. However, nature is a great leveller and many of the houses built right in the middle of the riverbeds had to be broken to make way for the water to move along its natural course during the flood-like situation in the city on the morning of July 31. Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli led the campaign by corporation employees to demolish encroachments at Morawala village to relieve the besieged settlers. Moreover, the much-claimed preparedness of the state government in disaster management was also exposed in the entire state that reeled under heavy rains and landslides. Uttarakhand became the first state to have a separate Disaster Management Ministry after the formation of the state but nothing much was done as people of the state, particularly in the hills braved forest fires, avalanches, landslides and floods on their own. It is high time that the state government pay heed to the recurring problems of natural disasters and its mitigation in a highly ecologically sensitive state prone to disasters. Fight for Cong top post reaches climax
The fight for the post of president of the state Congress among two main factions of the party has reached its climax with most of the senior party leaders lobbying hard to get their own man in the post. The organisational elections which were more of selections than elections were completed last month. Yashpal Arya, state Congress president, remained a strong contender for renomination for the post again as rival faction led by Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment cried hoarse alleging large-scale irregularities in the elections right from the block level up to the formation of list of the members of the Pradesh Congress Committees (PCC). They held a meeting in Dehradun and decided to exert pressure on the party high command to change the PCC list and also to get Yashpal Arya removed. On the other hand, the Arya camp alleged members of the rival camp took no interest in the membership drive and the elections, although done with consensus were based on the membership. Interestingly, all five party MPs had their say in nominating their own favourites as members of the PCC. The battle for PCC membership from particular assembly segments also become all the more important for the senior leaders since Assembly elections are fast approaching and scheduled to be held in February, 2012. All senior party leaders who are aspiring to become the Chief Minister if the Congress wins the next assembly elections want their own men to be made members of the PCC from respective assembly segments. The post of state Congress chief also becomes important in this context since state party chief would also have a say in the selection of the party candidates for the assembly polls. It was learnt that the party high command was not very keen to replace Arya, the Dalit face of the party in the state, but the Harish Rawat camp is also leaving no stone unturned in their effort to dislodge him. The name of the next party chief who would lead the party into next assembly elections is expected to be announced with the consent of party supremo Sonia Gandhi this month.
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Polytechnic to run integrated BTech
Dehradun, August 1 The university is contemplating commencing this course from the next academic year. The varsity and AICTE has specified the provision to the diploma holders of pursuing BTech course through lateral entry. The varsity will itself set the syllabi for this integrated course while the fees would be nominal, within everyone’s reach. The course will comprise six-year diploma in BTech (integrated). The proposal has already been given to the administration to commence with the course. According to officials concerned, earlier, only Punjab had this integrated engineering course in a deemed university but now Uttarakhand is also planning to follow the same. This integrated course will have its own advantages in the long run. The two-year diploma will help the student to conceptualise the basics of BTech course and will certainly have command over their trades in mechanical or electrical. AICTE is also considering other elements that can help in the development of the students for their future prospects in India as well as abroad.
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Programme held on environment
Dehradun, August 1 PK Khattri, who encouraged people for saving trees, chaired the programme proceedings. Prakash Pant, state’s Labour and Potable Water Minister, was the chief guest of the occasion who initiated the programme by planting trees, while AK Das, Principal of the Asian School, was the guest of honour. Dr Bimal Kant Nautiyal said, “Our committee has started the programme to plant trees in Dehradun. It is important for the youth to plant trees for their safer tomorrow”.
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Jackie invitational football tourney begins
Mussoorie, August 1 Even the thick fog cover on the ground could not dampen the spirit of the participating teams. More than 39 teams have entered and the matches will be held on league basis. The first match was ended as a goalless draw between the home teams St George’s C Vs St Georges B. In the second match, Oak Grove School defeated Aryan School emphatically by a margin of four goals. Rahul dodging two Aryan players scored the first goal in 14th minute, Sujavi (35th minute), Dharamvir (42nd minute) and Kushal (46th minute) scored other three goals and sealed the fate of the Aryan school for any sort of recovery. In the other fixtures, Mussoorie Public School defeated Nirmala Inter School (4-0). Vinayak, Passon, Mukesh and Vivek were the goal scorers for MPS. The match between Selaqui International School and Carmen School Prem Nagar ended in a goalless draw. The match played between St Joseph Academy and Col Brown ended with 1-1 draw. Earlier, chief guest, ex-student and PTI of the school V Sheperd inaugurated the tournament. He recalled his glorious days in the school and also informed that he was a part of the first-ever team of St George’s in the Jackie tournament in 1972. The match referees on the occasion were Lalit Verma and V Chamoli. St George’s School is the organiser of the tournament.
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City Young become Nemi Dass tourney champs
Dehradun, August 1 In the last league match today, the City Young got the better of Akranta 2-0. This was Rakesh Sharma who changed things. He scored both of the goals in the match. The match saw good competition between both sides however defenders of the City Young didn’t let the rival team to score any goal. However, Rakesh of the City Young managed to find the target in the 37th minute opening his side’s account. The first half couldn’t see any other goal being scored. Returning after a long break due to the welcome of the chief guest the players of both sides seemed afresh. Riding high on its solid defence which further helped the centre in great deal City Young netted its next goal through Rakesh in the 50th minute. No other goal coming in later thus the match ended on 2-0 in City Young’s favour. With this win, City Young equalised its points with Doon Star, which is 13 each. However on the basis of goal average the former was declared the champion of the league. City Young had scored 21 goals during the league against 12 goals of Doon Star. The winning and the runner-up sides were given away individual and team prizes by the chief guest in the prize distribution ceremony. Known personalities, including Hira Singh Bisht, Upender Singh Thapali and Ravinder Jugran presided over the function. They met with the players and later gave away prizes. Besides this, Amit Jain, grandson of Lala Nemi Dass, was also present. The association members, including Anand Joshi, Budhimaan Thapa, Tejpal Rawat, Mohsin Khan, Gopal Bhardwaj, Gurucharan, Nirmal Kumar and Kailsh Joshi worked hard for the success of the league.
Shining Stars
Best scorer and best forward: Rakesh Sharma of City Young Best
goalkeeper: Abhishek Rawat of Sunderwala Best half: Manoj Barthwal of Akranta Best
stopper: Lobsang of Doon Star Fair play trophy: Western Boys
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The hapless people, who went through a harrowing time in the past couple of days due to the unprecedented downpour, spent a sleepless night, but heaved a sigh of relief in the morning for having a sunny day ahead.
Mussoorie, August 1
Mussoorie, August 1
