Nainital, August 9
Laying emphasis on making the Atal Adarsh Gram Scheme in the state a success, Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has asked the officialdom to work on a war footing for providing all basic amenities to the villages chosen under the scheme over the next two month.

Nishank interacted with the top brass of all districts in the state through video conferencing. The conference, which was earlier envisaged to be held every month was held today after a big gap of almost three months.

He has asked the District Magistrates to conduct surprise checks at the village chosen under the scheme. He said the officials doing their job properly must be rewarded while those not delivering on time must be brought to task.

Taking a stock of the utilisation of funds available under the state Plan, district Plan and Centrally sponsored schemes, Nishank asked the officials to ensure that the money was used to the optimum and well in time. Referring to the non-utilisation of funds made available under various heads for the last financial year, he asked the officials to make use of the money over the next two months.

Nishank was particular in asking the officials to furnish regular reports on the developmental works being done in their districts and warned that there should be no discrepancy in the information provided to the state administration.

Laying emphasis on strengthening the disaster management infrastructure in the state, the Chief Minister ordered that roads should not be allowed to remain blocked for long on account of natural disasters like landslides or flooding, etc.

Referring to the various schemes started by the state government, he asked the officials to ensure that pensions and other emoluments were disbursed to the beneficiaries well in time. He also asked Chief Medical Officers to monitor the utilisation of funds made available under the National Rural Health Mission of the Centre.

Taking stock of the law and order situation, Nishank asked the top brass of the Police Department to work towards bringing down the crime graph and maintaining a constant vigil on the activities of suspected anti-social elements in society.

The marathon meeting continued for more than three and a half hours. Nishank stressed teams of officials at district levels touring the rural areas and addressing problems of the people on the spot. He was particularly appreciative of the district administration of Almora for working in this direction.

Dehradun: Nishank has expressed displeasure over the fact that only Rs 320 crore has been spent against a balance amount of Rs 603 crore in April. He directed the officials concerned for spending the balance amount of previous year by the end of September.

District Magistrates, Superintendents of Police and other senior district-level officers apart from Chief Secretary NS Napalchyal participated in the meeting. 

Haridwar, August 9
Renowned yoga guru Swami Ramdev came to the streets today to offer support for the saving of the holy river Ganga that is fast getting polluted as well as being confined into tunnels in the name of development. Swami Ramdev also sat on a symbolic agitation at the Shankaracharya Chowk, along with other saints, urging people to join hands in saving the Ganga which has immense religious and mythological significance for billions of Indians.

The agitation held under the aegis of the Ganga Raksha Manch saw a large number of saints participating under one banner to step up the movement in saving the natural flow of the Ganga as well as maintaining its sanctity. Support was also lent to the ongoing agitation of noted environmentalist Prof GD Aggarwal at Matra Sadan.

Professor Aggarwal is for the past three weeks on hunger strike demanding the closure of hydel electric projects on the Ganga river.

A Buddhi-Shuddhi Yagya was also organised to sensitise the government and bureaucrats trying to project hydro-electric projects in hilly terrains of Uttarakhand adjacent on the Ganga. Demanding instant shelving of the hydel projects that posed danger to the ecology and environment, the yoga guru remarked that inviting disaster in the name of development was not acceptable and the government should maintain the sanctity of the holy Ganga. Saints also demanded unhindered flow of the Ganga as well as other related rivers in hilly districts of Uttarakhand.

Due to this agitation there was a massive jam on the national highway. Yoga guru was seen apprising people stuck in the jam about the protest cause.

Dehradun, August 9
A joint press conference was convened by president Anil Nautiyal and vice-president (VP) Raghunath Singh Negi of the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) here today to resolve all issues which led to the scuffles between Managing Director (MD) BVRC Purushotam and Negi and reinstate the 81 removed employees on September 1 with an increased interim amount of Rs 2,000 in their salaries from August 15.

Nautiyal also talked of preparing a fool-proof package at the direction of Chief Minister Ramesh Pokriyal Nishank to do away with the system of removing employees during the monsoon season when mining work come to a halt in the state.

“The Chief Minister has asked us to prepare a package where all temporary employees, 81 mining workers and 750 others in different departments, would be regularised at one stretch”.

Negi said the nigam had enough resources to provide regular jobs to all irregular employees and earn revenue from it. He assured of giving positive results in the next one month.

The Chief Minister’s intervention seemed to be the main reason to make both parties to present a picture of unity and solidarity of the nigam which had witnessed an ugly drama enfolding and reached to feverish pitch between both Managing Director and vice-president. But sadly the joint effort reduced to a caricature, where both leaders were seen dishing out different statements in a bid to stick to their grounds.

Before the conference, the trio, Nautiyal, Negi and Purushottam sat together for two hours to sink their differences. While giving Purushottam a clean chit, Nautiyal said in the past eight months, nigam under MD’s direction made historic decisions for the welfare of it and its employees which included of declaring departmental promotions and of giving interim help ranging from Rs 1,200 to 2,000 to 742 daily wagers. He also added that it would be inappropriate to malign the office direct manner. Negi on the other hand said he would continue to stand by his earlier stand of levelling serious charges of corruption against the MD and said Nautiyal was not familiar with that aspect of the administration. Nautiyal said all cases on both sides would be withdrawn.

The formula of assuaging egos on both sides seemed quite apparent, as the MD’s strong assertion that the date of reinstatement would not be pre-poned under pressure and would remain as fixed on September 1 was maintained. Similarly, Negi, who wanted it to be in August, was also pleased with the decision of the announcement of giving salary to the employees from retrospective effect from August 15.

Whatever the durability of the formula may be, Nautiyal succinctly deduced it saying that the warring factions gave nigam a bad name and nobody should engage in degradation of the institution.

Pitthoragarh, August 9
The Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) has only one agenda in 2012 Assembly election i.e. making Gairsain a permanent capital of the state.

This was stated by newly elected UKD chief Trivendra Singh Panwar here today. He said if the party could get 15 seats in the 2012 Vidhan Sabha elections, it would be in a position to control the government and imply its agenda of making Gairsain a permanent capital.

Panwar said after the state was created, people of anti-regional nature of political parties captured the state and started implementing anti-regional agenda to finish the local and regional identity of people of Uttarakhand.

“It is only the UKD which either in movement or in government always has tried to protect the regional identity of people of the state,” said Panwar.

He said he aimed to regain the sharpness of party prevalent in it before the creation of the state as it needed today on the same scale as what was during the movement days. “It is party’s sacrifice that the government of India was compelled to create separate state of Uttarakhand which at present is going towards opposite of the principles laid down by the martyrs of the state,” said Panwar.

Mussoorie, August 9
Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Manoj Kumar discussed preparations for the 64th Independence Day celebrations at a meeting held in his office here today. The meeting was attended by different sections of the society consisting of representatives from the Lions Club, MHA, Nagar Palika, schools, traders’ associations and various eminent citizens of the hill town.

The residents registered their complaint that English medium boarding schools showed disinterest towards the I-Day which was a day of pride for every Indian. They alleged that these schools were not interested in sending their representation in the I-Day festivities.

Palika president OP Uniyal suggested that the SDM should send a strong letter directing these schools to send their participation in some form in the parade organised on an annual basis.

It was also decided to felicitate freedom fighters and persons who have contributed to the development of the town. The final modalities were framed at the meeting.

The SDM took stock of the situation and outlined the events proposed for the I-Day celebrations. It was decided at the meeting that on August 14, the Mussoorie Sports Association would organise an open cross-country race. The prizes for all sports activities would be donated by the Mussoorie Hotel Association and refreshments would be donated by the Sant Nirankari Mission.

Uniyal stated that the main celebration on August 15 would be held at the Gandhi Chowk, Library Bazar, at 11 am. The Tricolour would be hoisted by chief guest MLA Jot Singh Gunsola. Mussoorie International School students would present patriotic songs to mark the I-Day festivities.

Dehradun, August 9
This time the gallery of freedom fighters at the function of the Independence Day held on August 15 by the state government is going to be vacant as members of the Doon Swatantarta Senanai Samiti today announced that they were no longer going to sit there as mere decorative pieces.

The samiti selected the historical day of the 68th anniversary of Bharat Chhodho Andolan (Quit India Movement) to make this announcement to give vent to their pent-up hurt and anger against the alleged inertia of the state government to meet their long-pending grievances.

Pouring his heart out, samiti general secretary PK Khatri said the nerve-raking incidence of a combine suicide of a son of the freedom fighter and his daughter-in-law before the office of District Magistrate, Haridwar, and then slitting of wrist by his grandson had not been able to move the obdurate state government. He also stressed that even in the meeting held on July 7 convened by the Home Secretary, their demands were left pending and despite having knocked the CM’s residence thrice, they were neither given time nor appointment.

“We are already in the fag end of our lives. The state government is ignoring and insulting us at this age through its bureaucrats which is why we had to make this hard decision of boycotting the state function on August 15. Nevertheless, we will certainly go on the invitation of other organisations as we have all respect for this great day and the Tricolour. Only we will not attend the function presided over by the Chief Minister,” said Khatri.

Besides, they have also decided to hold a convention of all freedom fighters and their families on September 11 to allegedly expose the corrupt practices of the state government in public.

The function was attended by Budhi Prakhash, acting president, Mul Chand Gupta, founder president, besides several freedom fighters. 

Dehradun, August 9
The Citizens for Green Doon, in association with the People’s Science Institute (PSI) and various other environmental groups, observed ‘Quit India Day’ as ‘Quiet Uttarakhand Day’ here today. Activists staged a demonstration to call upon all companies making hydroelectric projects in Uttarakhand to quit the state at the Gandhi Park here in the evening.

Addressing the media, Dr Nitin Pandey said the river that had quenched thirst for centuries was now itself in danger of becoming extinct due to the excessive dam building. He said if all approximately 736 dams proposed by the state government were made, there would be no river left except at Rishikesh and Haridwar. Putting the Ganga into dark long tunnels was a criminal act and to generate power the government should go in for solar and wind energy.

“Building dams on the river destroys the heritage of Uttarakhand leading to displacement of thousands of people and is detrimental to wildlife in the jungles around the river and to the dense marine life in the river as well. Building dams will also cause colossal environmental damage and ultimately lead to the disappearance of the river,” said Himanshu Arora, one of the activists.

Sonia Pandey, Ruchi Singh Rao, Jaya Singh, Rita Bhalla, Lt Col Pushpa Bhandari (retd), Hema Phulera, Ira Chauhan and Krishna Sharma were present during the demonstration.

Dehradun, August 9
The recent announcement of the Cabinet to create a corporation, Pariyojana Evam Vikas Nirman Nigam Limited, has infused new energy and enthusiasm in the Irrigation Department which had for long been waiting for it. The biggest roadblock to move forward on two new big hydro projects, 81 MW Arakot Tuni and 72 MW Tuni Plasu, costing Rs 1,000 crore, has now been cleared with this announcement. Now the Irrigation Department can manage funds from national and international banks/financial agencies to build the projects.

Always ruing about financial crisis, which became acute after Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited one by one took back control of mechanical and civil maintenance work of all its hydro-power projects from the Irrigation Department, given to the indifference deepening in both departments, the department was left without much work and resources. It was to pacify their concerns to give work to its idle-sitting large-skilled manpower and solve the issue of its sustainability, the state government had given independent charge of building, running and earning from these hydro projects to the department. The cabinet approval of the corporation was the only hurdle to start working on the projects.

BK Tamta, Head of the Irrigation Department, said, “Our first step will be to restructure the layout plan for the projects with regard to the number of manpower needed”.

As per the cabinet decision, out of 150 employees, 145 will be drawn from the Irrigation Department in the beginning. Tamta said as the project progressed the number of the staff would go higher.

As per the former HOD, AB Pathak, the department was also open to avail services of retired and experienced Irrigation Department employees on deputation for these projects in future, which would spare the department the additional baggage of regularising the daily/ad hoc workers. Option to employ experts from private, too, was not ruled out.

Tamta reserved his decision on it as of now.

According to sources, the department is also planning to create a legal cell to glaze over the legal nuances related to the project. It will also study the functioning style of the corporations created in the past such as the Drinking Water Corporation, so they will be able to study their modus operandi in the matter of taking loans from international agencies on minimum interest. Tamta said he would consider the best options to lead the projects further.

According to him, it would take almost a year to go through the basic formalities before project could actually begin on the site. In totality, the project would get ready to start operating in the next five years, he said.

The site has been earmarked at Kalsi, 185 km from Dehradun, at Yamuna-Tons river. Both projects will be created in close vicinity of each other.

Dehradun, August 9
The Entertainment Department here recently filed 38 cases, in the District Court, against those who failed to submit the entertainment tax since April.

According to sources, the department has filed 137 cases against those who were found irregular in submitting tax for 2009-10.

“The department has filed 38 cases against the trespassers who did not pay the tax for May, June, July and August. Some of the cases are still pending in the court. Most of these are sought during the Lok Adalat that is held quarterly,” said SC Saxena, Dehradun Entertainment Tax Officer. On being asked what fine the offender needs to pay, Saxena said, “It is the court that decides the fine. They are charged according to the magnitude of the case,” Saxena mentioned. “Normally, these operators are fined anything between Rs 1,000 and Rs 5,000,” he said.

“The department files two to three cases every month,” he added. The department is liable to get the entertainment tax from cinema halls, cable operators and CD library license fee. “Around 60 to 65 per cent tax is collected form the cinema halls depending on the income. While the cable operators are charged Rs 25 for domestic service and Rs 50 for providing commercial service,” he confirmed.

The department also increased the licence fees recently for the CD library licence from Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000 and Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,800 per annum in the urban and rural areas, respectively.

“The department has collected Rs 2.89 crore in the financial year 2009-2010 which is less in comparison to the financial year 2008-2009 that was Rs 2.92 crore,” he said. “The amount lessen this year due the tax that was reduced up to 40 per cent last year,” said Saxena.

The department will soon be able to collect the tax from the private service providers like Tata Sky, Airtel and Videocon as they had won the case in the Supreme Court.

The three of them had approached the high court urging that it was only the Central government and not the state government that could impose tax on them.

Mussoorie, August 9
In a press conference held here, gram pradhan Pooran Singh Raunchela of Jhinsi gram panchayat, Jaunpur Block, Tehri Garhwal district, alleged that Nagendar Dangwal, husband of zila panchayat (ZP) member Rekha Dangwal, from Jaunpur was making threatening calls to him and his family and the Kempty police was siding with the panchayat member.

The gram pradhan registered his protest at the Kempty police station and appealed to the station in charge to arrest him, along with his family, and put them in a jail as that was the only safe place left in the state for him. He said his daughters were also being threatened that if their father did not mend his ways, he would lose his life soon.

Inspector in charge SK Nautiyal at Kempty said the case had come to his notice and he had called Pooran several times for clarification, but he citing a busy schedule did not meet him. Nautiyal said all were equal in the eyes of the law, be it the gram pradhan or a gram panchayat member, and action would be initiated against the perpetrators after considering all facts.

Later, the complainant informed mediapersons that Nagendar made frantic calls at night to his children and threatening them with the death threat to their father if he did not collude with them in the ongoing projects being carried out in the villages under various schemes. He said the threat calls started after the chamber for the pipeline at Tuneta village were damaged twice by anti-social elements on June 29.

Pooran had asked one Govind Singh about the missing tin sheds kept over the chamber, but the latter was not able to provide a satisfactory answer. On the contrary, he started abusing him and threatened him with dire consequences. He immediately rushed to the Kempty police station to report the matter.

The same evening, Nagendar rang Pooran up and called him for a meeting at Jodi village the next day, and when he refused, he threatened him. The complainant said the above-said persons were conspiring to kill him, but the Kempty police had not taken any action so far and this was after reporting the matter to District Magistrate on July 1, at Tehri where he also demanded a police bodyguard for his safety.

The complainant alleged that Rekha was livid at her husband not being appointed a treasurer in a pipleline scheme under a project funded by the World Bank called SWAP. The scheme was worth Rs 12 lakh. He said he was being harassed in connivance with the the Kempty police at the behest of Rekha and a senior minister in the BJP government who was shielding the acts of the member from the same party.

He also said if the administration was not sensitive towards the elected representatives like him, one could imagine the condition of the commoners under the BJP rule. He is also opposing the Ryat Power Project on the Aglar river and this is being seen as the reaction to it.

Dehradun, August 9
Two persons who had reportedly looted a Rishikesh-based family on gunpoint of gold chain and other house articles on July 18 were nabbed by the police.

The police also recovered a countrymade pistol and two live cartridges from the accused. The Rishikesh police said the two had been identified as Vinod, a resident of Rishikesh, and Arjun, native of Uttar Pradesh.

As per the police, one of the two was working while another was unemployed.