Haridwar, October 12
The Shiromani Guru Singh Prachar Committee held a meeting here today to chalk out the future strategy regarding their demand for land at Har-ki-Pauri to construct Gyan Godri Gurdwara.

A three-member committee from the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee visited the site to collect data, documents, material as proof to furnish it before the administration to strengthen their claim for the gurdwara land.

Held at Nanakpura Ashram, the meeting warned the state government against playing with the sentiments of the Sikh community. The proposal of the government to allocate land at some other place for the construction of the gurdwara was not acceptable to them, the leaders said, adding that the state government was trying to change the historic-religious significance of the place. The committee members reiterated their determination to build the gurdwara at the very place where at present the Uttaranchal Bharat Scouts and Guides regional office was situated.

Speaking to The Tribune, national president of the committee Inder Jeet Singh Chug said the committee had been making efforts to get the said piece of land allocated for the construction of Gyan Godri Gurdwara since 2005 and was trying to bring all Sikh organisations on one platform to push the demand.

“We urge Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank to allocate that land by vacating the Bharat Scouts office as it holds immense religious significance to the Sikh community,” he said. Simultaneously, Chug urged the Sikh community to have patience in this regard and not take law into their hands as taking decisions as well as holding talks with respective authorities was under the purview of their organisation.

Meanwhile, the investigating committee that visited the site comprised Jathedar Tarsem Singh, Gurutchar Singh and Harmendra Singh. This team also visited Nanak Bada at Vishnu Ghat which comes under Udasin Akhada.

Jathedar Tarsem Singh said on the request of the committee and several Shri Guru Singh Sabhas spread across the country, a detailed report would be put before the committee meeting, not disclosing anything publicly.

Other committee members were Baba Bachan Singh, Kamaljeet Singh Chug, Paramjeet Singh Sarna, Kulwant Singh Sobti, Ranjeet Singh Kalda, Manjeet Kochad, Harvinder Singh Ladi, IS Batra, HS Chaddha, Yodhbeer Singh, DS Kochar, TS Singh and SP Singh.

Dehradun, October 12
Governor of Uttarakhand Margaret Alva today emphasised on the need to train volunteers capable of launching relief and rescue operations during natural calamities.

Stressing on the need to train ex-servicemen and volunteers of the Red Cross, Alva said only trained volunteers and voluntary organisations could respond in a time-bound fashion providing immediate relief following breakdown of civic amenities, including roads, electricity, drinking water and health facilities, in the event of a disaster.

The Governor, who is also the Chairperson of the Uttarakhand state unit of the Indian Red Cross Society, expressed these views while chairing the annual general meeting (AGM) of the society organised at the Raj Bhawan

She said the greatest challenge now lay in providing succour to victims of the recent natural disaster caused by unprecedented rainfall in the state. The Governor said the Red Cross once again emerged as the greatest benefactor by providing immediate relief to those affected by the natural calamity.

"Following this, the need of the hour is to rehabilitate the affected families that do not have the means to brave the approaching winter", she said.

The Governor said the Red Cross Society was making arrangements to provide woollen blankets and clothes and daily need items as per local requirements to the affected people on priority basis. She said it was highly important to extend support to the government in this endeavour and ensure people's participation by converting it into a public campaign.

The Governor said, “There is no dearth of funds at any level for carrying out this important activity", she said.

Besides laying emphasis on Mother and Child Welfare programmes, the Governor directed the Health Secretary to present a work plan for operationalising Red Cross Society centres in remote and tribal areas of Nagthat, Baluakot and Chamba, under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

She also gave directives to operationalise a campaign to cover BPL families under the National Rural Health Insurance plan and sensitise them in respect of the benefits of the plan's provisions. The Governor said the Red Cross building which had been built with the cooperation of various organisations and the government, would be made into a multi-purpose facility.

At the meeting, Dr IS Pal, General Secretary of the Uttarakhand Red Cross Society, presented a report of proceedings of the last AGM held on October 5, 2009, for confirmation.

Dehradun, October 12
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank made a surprise inspection at the IT Park situated on the Sahastradhara Road here today. Unhappy over the delay in the construction of the proposed Cyber Tower at the park, which has been hanging fire for the past three years, he gave directions to the officials concerned to restart the construction work immediately .

The Chief Minister directed the Chief Secretary to take necessary decisions after convening the meeting of the SIDCUL Board, so that the obstructions in the construction of the Cyber Tower could be taken care off. He said the Cyber Tower was a joint venture of SIDCUL and the private sector and it was stopped because the private sector pulled out of the project. If the private sector was willing to get out of the project, it should be allowed to do so, and either SIDCUL or the IT Department should take over the construction work.

Nishank said a target should be fixed to take the IT-related business in Uttarakhand to Rs 1,000 crore in the next two years. He also directed to fix a target of generating employment for nearly 1 lakh people directly or indirectly from the IT industry. A new IT policy would be formed shortly in accordance with the present needs.

In view of a large number of workers, especially women employees in the IT Park, the Chief Minister directed the officials concerned to open a police chowki at the IT Park for their safety. He also asked the Transport Department to make regular public transport facility available up to IT Park immediately.

The Chief Minister inspected other established units in addition to Software Technology Park in the IT Park. Assistant Director of the Technology Park TM Shashidharan told the Chief Minister that the software export business in Uttarakhand was expected to reach Rs 225 crore this year which was Rs 42 crore in 2008-09 and Rs 176 crore in 2009-10. He also said this business in Uttarakhand could reach up to Rs 1,000 crore in the next two years.

Nainital, October 12
The state government is drawing flak over the delay in providing relief to the disaster-hit people of the region. They are peeved over the fact that the ministers are going around making “cosmetic visits” to affected villages without actually ensuring that the people get the required relief.

The region has started witnessing a series of public protests on the issue with the people taking to the streets against the delay in relief works. One of such protests was witnessed in Haldwani yesterday when hundreds of people from the Gaula Par region converged on a public park to raise the issue. Speakers at the demonstration questioned the visits of a series of ministers to Nainital Collectorate where the main building was burnt in a recent fire but there had been no casualty. The speakers expressed resentment stating that the ministers had been queuing up to go to the Nainital Collectorate just to get some publicity because of a high media presence there while they had not bothered to supervise relief efforts in the villages where there had been an extensive loss of life and property.

Till date, the people are questioning the relevance of Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank’s visit to the Sukhatal area of Nainital when the entire region was hit by a series of rain-related disastrous incidents. The place had no casualty and only a few houses were submerged. The spot has witnessed encroachments on a Tal (lake) right under the eyes of the administration over the past two decades.

The protesters at Haldwani submitted a memorandum to Governor Margaret Alva through the local administration demanding that the bridge on the Gaula river that had been devastated more than two years ago be built immediately. They also demanded that a canal parallel to the one that was devastated between Kathgodam and the Gaula Par region be constructed to ensure a proper irrigation in the region.

The agitated villagers also demanded that bridges should be built on other seasonal rivers like the Sukhi, Nandhaur and Gaula rivers. They have asked for measures to check washing away of their fertile lands in floods every year. They also raised the issue of the construction of Jamrani Dam.

Another protest was carried out by residents of the Shama region of Kapkot in Bageshwar district. The agitators were protesting against the failure of the administration to ensure a proper supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to the area over the past four months.

Meanwhile, during a video conference held with the top brass of the districts on Monday afternoon, the Chief Minister asked them to ensure that people who had lost their residences in the recent disaster get shelter before the onset of winters. He also asked the District Magistrates to ensure that the relief money be paid to the victims of disaster as per the new norms within the next three days. He told the officials to get down to repairing roads and water supply schemes on a war footing.

Dehradun, October 12
The 12-day extravaganza, “Uttarakhand Saras Mela 2010” concluded impressively at the Parade ground here today. On the concluding day, Rakesh Kumar, secretary, Rural Development, felicitated Self-Help Groups (SHGs) that performed well and had maximum sales during the trade fair.

Among the 335 SHGs from 21 states, Lakshmi (SHG), Uddhamsingh Nagar, bagged the overall trophy, followed by Megh (SHG), Ernakulum, Kerala, at the second position, while Madhurima (SHG), Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, was adjudged third. Interestingly, this year, the mela made an outstanding business of over Rs 1 crore.

However, among 150 and above participating SHGs from Uttarakhand, the overall trophy for securing the first position went to Mahila Jagriti (SHG), Yamkeshwar, Pauri Garhwal, for exhibiting the craft work of the state.

Saras Vipnan Kendra, Munsyari, Pithoragarh, was declared second, while Jhumadhuri (SHG), Lohaghat, Champawat, stood third.

In other best category awards, Muskan (SHG), Dehradun, was declared the winner. The best quality award went to Pauri Garhwal district’s Jai Jwalpa (SHG), while Bhola Nath (SHG), Bageshwar, was adjudged the best brass manufacturer.

During the prize distribution ceremony, the chief guest thanked all crew members of the organising committee and felicitated Project Manager, Prabhakar Bebani, Sales Head (Marketing), Ravikant Pandey, and Event Manager, Sharad Sundriyal.

Dehradun, October 12
The Uttarakhand Information Commission today observed the fifth anniversary of the implementation of the Right To Information (RTI) Act in the country. At a function held to mark the occasion in Dehradun, the Uttarakhand Information Commission honoured several journalists, representatives of non-government organisations and RTI experts for commitment towards the promotion of the RTI Act in Uttarakhand.

Chief guest at the function, Dr Girijesh Pant, Vice-Chancellor, Doon University, said the introduction of the RTI in India had been historic and it had led to the beginning of introduction of transparency in governance.

He said it was a matter of honour that Uttarakhand had made a mark in the country in effective implementation of the RTI Act.

Pant, in particular, referred to the efforts of Uttarakhand Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), Dr RS Tolia, for his keenness towards the cause of the RTI.

Dr Girijesh Pant prominently honoured PP Maithani, Geeta Gairola and Upendra Arora for their contribution towards furthering the cause of the Act.

In his concluding remarks, Dr RS Tolia, CIC, said entire Asia had appreciated India’s commitment to the RTI. He said India stood like colossus among all countries of the Indian sub-continent, as countries like Bangaldesh, Nepal and Pakistan were nowhere in picture vis-à-vis any such Act. Information Commissioner Vinod Nautiyal was also present. Later, Dr Tolia also laid the foundation stone of the new State Information Commission building at Ring road, Ladpur, Dehradun. A budget of Rs 2 crore has been allocated for the purpose.

Dehradun, October 12
Agitated members of the Hotel Workers Union and Zilla Chai Bagaan Mazdur Sabha, Dehradun, staged a protest in favour of their demands at the Gandhi Park here today. A large number of union members participated in the dharna. To press for their demands, the agitators also took out a rally up to the District Magistrate’s office.

The protestors gave a memorandum to the Chief Secretary (Labour), Uttarakhand government, mentioning their demands to revise the minimum pay of its members while regulating the new pay slab for its existing labourers.

Dehradun, October 12
More than 300 students from various schools of the city today visited the General Post Office (GPO) here on the occasion of World Post Day.

The National Postal Week kicked off from October 9 and will continue till October 15.

As part of celebrations, around 300 students of Doon Cambridge School, Guru Nanak Girls Public School and a few other schools visited the GPO.

“We showed them how the work is carried out here,” Dilip Singh Rana, Senior Post Master, City, said and added,“We also told them how letters dropped by people are gathered and distributed, as also the delivery mechanism of Speed Post and Money Order and other sundry services.

He said a drawing and letter writing competition would be held tomorrow.