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UPCL gets Rs 387 lakh for repair work in Garhwal
Farmer-friendly policies sought
Farmers take out a rally in Dehradun on Monday. A Tribune photograph
DM inspects Gaula Bridge site
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9 rural innovations get NABARD aid
Provide tents to rain-hit, orders
Almora DM
BJP demands suspension of Central government
Cong unable to rein in corruption, says Jamdagni
A dharna organised by the BJP district unit against the Congress-led UPA government’s failure in controlling inflation in Haridwar on Monday.
Tribune photo: Rameshwar Gaur
Aipan-making competition held
Students display their skills in making aipan on Monday.
UJVNL to start 7 hydro projects soon
ONGC steps in for girls’ education
Members of the ONGC Officers Mahila Samiti in Dehradun on Monday.
Constable suspended for slapping Army Captain
Citurgia case: HC makes strong observations
Congress burns effigy of state govt
Members of Tanzeem-e-Rehnuma-e-Millat demonstrate in Dehradun on Monday.
A Tribune photograph
Improve bus service at airport, CM urged
Urja 2010 celebrated
Four killed as car falls into gorge
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UPCL gets Rs 387 lakh for repair work in Garhwal
Dehradun, November 29 At the moment, Rs 125.4 lakh has been released out of the sanctioned amount. Similarly, for the Kumaon zone, Rs 408.6 lakh has been sanctioned as against the estimate put up at Rs 705.64 lakh, out of which Rs 227.2 lakh has been released as of now. For Dehradun, the district administration has not released any amount, though it sanctioned Rs 60 lakh as per the estimate submitted by the UPCL. “In Dehradun, we had asked for finance for repair work at Dehradun rural, central, north, south, Rishikesh and Vikasnagar. We are hoping to get the amount due for Dehradun in the near future,” said a UPCL official. Similarly, work in Chamoli and Haridwar, too, has not been completed as yet. In Uttarkashi, the entire sum of Rs 97,000 released has been fully utilised. The administration has taken somewhat more a serious note of Pauri Garhwal encompassing Pauri Kotdwar and Srinagar, where it sanctioned maximum Rs 170.39 lakh as against an estimate of Rs 203.27 lakh and released Rs 65.17 lakh by now. There are still four villages in Rikhnikhal block, two in Jaiharikhal block, one in Thalisain bock, five in Nainidanda block, where the power supply has still not been resorted as 13 KM 11 KV line was washed out in flood. For Haridwar, the corporation quoted maximum Rs 487.01 lakh, but the district administration sanctioned only Rs 65.05 lakh and released mere Rs 17.63 lakh at this stage. The other places in Garhwal, which had been listed by the UPCL in the above categories are Tehri (estimates submitted Rs 100.18 lakh, sanctioned and released Rs 12.96 lakh), Rudraprayag (estimates submitted and sanctioned Rs 53.67 lakh, released Rs 28.62). Work is still going on in Tehri, Rudrprayag and Haridwar besides Pauri. The anomaly of estimate put up and sanctioned in Kumaon indicates the difference of perception between the UPCL and district administration on the extent of damage. For instance, in case of Udham Singh Nagar, covering Rudrpur, Kashipur, Bajpur and Sitargunj, maximum estimate of Rs 256.44 lakh for repair at 61 sites was placed in Kumaon region, but the administration sanctioned only Rs 24.86 lakh approving only one site and has released the same. Comparing the similar situation to Almora, including Ranikhet, the second maximum with estimates hovering at Rs 243 lakh, the administration sanctioned the entire amount and has released the maximum of Rs 100 lakh, the maximum in both Garhwal and Kumaon till date. The corporation has been able to utilise only half the amount as yet. The district administration approved all 61 places placed in the proposal for the repair. In Bageshwar, the gap of estimate (Rs 121.99 lakh) and sanctioned (Rs 78.98 lakh) amount has narrowed down. The corporation has utilised major chunk of the released amount of Rs 48.42 lakh. In Pitthoragarh, not a single work has been completed as yet though Rs 6.72 have been released as against the estimate of Rs 24.36 lakh and sanctioned amount of Rs 8.95 lakh. In Munisyari block of Pithoragarh, power supply of four villages is yet to be restored. Remote area road blockage is being removed by BRO. Like Udham Singh Nagar, the corporation has fully utilised the sanctioned and the released amount in Naintal, which is Rs 30.01 lakh as against the demand of Rs 37.10 lakh. In Champavat, nine sites have been selected, out of which work at seven have been completed with the released amount of Rs 9 lakh, as against the estimated and sanctioned figure of Rs 22.75 lakh. The UPCL is waiting for the remaining balance of Rs 128.8 lakh to undertake the remaining work in both zones. |
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Farmer-friendly policies sought
Dehradun, November 29 As part of the Kisan Swaraj Yatra that entered Dehradun today, farmers demanded an agriculture policy that restored pride of the farmer and also addressed the issue of Food and Seed Security. “The biggest crisis facing the farmer today is of dwindling returns and shrinking land. Unless the government takes into account the plight of the farmer, there is a real fear that the agriculture land may be grabbed by builders,” said Vijay Jardhari, activist of the Beej Bachao Andolan. He said farming was no longer associated with prestige and the face of farming had changed requiring financial inputs. “While Uttarakhand has been declared an organic state, the low subsidy being offered is unable to attract farmers,” he said. Adding that though coarse grains have gained acceptability for their nutritious value, 70-80 per cent agricultural land was still under chemical fertilizer. Bijender Negi said the menace of wild animals was driving away farmers. “Either we kill them or get killed. Our crops and our lives are in real danger,” said Negi. Renu Thakur of Arpan, an NGO, said despite women playing a major role in agriculture, they were not the accorded status of a farmer. “Most of them do 90 per cent of the work, but their output is not acknowledged,” she said. She also pointed out the plight of farmers undertaking farming in higher altitudes. “People of Darma whose livelihood depends on cultivation of herbs in the forest face undue harassment from officials. It would help if this cultivation is linked with agriculture,” she said. Kavita, a social activist working for Food Rights and hailing from Hyderabad, said the issues of food security were linked with farming and if the governments protected the farmers, food security would be automatically achieved. The Kisan Swaraj Yatra was flagged off on October 1 from Sabarmati Ashram and is travelling through different parts of the country.
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DM inspects Gaula Bridge site
Nainital, November 29 He has directed the construction agency to enroll more labour, so that the work on the project could be expedited. Bagauli has instructed to prepare proper work charts to put working system in order. Visiting the site with officials of the Public Works Department (PWD), Bagauli said work on the third pillar should start simultaneously along with the work on the initial two pillars. He pointed that the bridge had to be completed before the onset of the next monsoon and the construction agency should make the work details public and should be ready for regular reviews. The agency had been given the target of building five pillars by March. Bagauli also pulled up the officials for failing to build the approach road to the Suryanala Bridge. He asked them to complete the work on the said road and repair the road within next month. He also asked the Forest Department officials to do their bit on changing the course of the nullah by taking up digging operations. A defensive state government had recently come out with an order sanctioning Rs 10.25 crore for the project, following a massive public furore that was marked by activists of the Aapda Prabhavit Jan Sangharsh Samiti agitating in Haldwani for more than a fortnight. The movement had been gaining momentum by the day with all Opposition parties and public groups extending support. The decision of the government is being seen as a major victory for the people’s movement in the area. The government while coming out with an order sanctioning the funds has called for the construction of the bridge as per the guidelines of the Centre. It has also asked Bagauli to supervise the construction and to ensure that all recommendations given by the IIT-Roorkee are adhered to while constructing the bridge. The state government has called for the execution of the project on schedule and sought a status report by the end of this financial year. The construction of the bridge on the Gaula had snowballed into a contentious issue over the past few days. Agitated over the delay in the execution of the ambitious project that lay devastated during the calamity unleashed by the rains in September, people of the Gaula Par region, along with others, had launched a massive protest that was marked by a continuing dharna by activists of the Aapda Prabhavit Jan Angharsh
Samiti. |
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9 rural innovations get NABARD aid
Dehradun, November 29 The projects are helping enhance agricultural income and reduce migration from villages to cities due to financial reasons. The regional office of NABARD has sanctioned a total of nine projects this year to be built by self-help groups and non-government organisations (NGOs). Taking the lead is the prototype Amaranthus Thresher that is being developed by Federation Jevik Krishi Sewa Samiti, Rudraprayag, at a cost of Rs 5.78 lakh for 90 families in three villages. This prototype thresher is expected to reduce drudgery among women. “The projects under the Rural Innovation Fund (RIF) set up by NABARD to finance new activities and ideas and innovations in farm and non-farm sectors are yielding good results,” said Pankaj Pandit, Chief General Manager, NABARD. An invasive weed eupatorium gladulosum that repulses cattle is now been taken up for the preparation of natural dye on commercial scale from by an NGO Appropriate Technolgy India (ATI), Rudraprayag, at a cost of Rs 9.96 lakh. The traditional method of bee keeping is being given a new life by the Central Himalaya and Environment Association (CHEA), a Nainital-based NGO, for Rs 6.97 lakh. “Villagers used walls for bee keeping. Now, the old practice is being revived with new technology. Apis cerana or Asiatic bee that is on the verge of extinction would be used to yield honey,” said Pushkin, Executive Director of ATI. Organic vegetable cultivation with marketing and bank linkages by NGO Sankalp Samajik Sansthan Uttarkashi has gone for Rs 6.11 lakh in which 100 farmers of 20 villages would be engaged. Though innovation is risk taking, it also results in incremental increase in livelihood. All projects are aimed at improving agricultural practices and creating models that would be upscaled and replicated elsewhere. |
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Provide tents to rain-hit, orders
Almora DM
Nainital, November 29 He has asked these officials to visit the villages that were the worst affected in the rain-related disaster that had struck the region in September. Almora was the worst affected district in the disaster witnessing massive cloudbursts and devastation caused by the Kosi river. The officials have been asked to evaluate the number of houses that are totally damaged, but are shown as partially damaged in the papers. The SDMs have been asked to provide tents to the affected families and take proper receipts from them besides taking photographs of their present place of residence for
record. Subardhan has also called for applications from people residing in rental accommodation so that they can be provided rental money as per the government decision and norms. The District Magistrate disclosed that Almora has been sanctioned Rs 29 crore for disaster-related works which is being used for rehabilitation of the victims and repairs of government infrastructure. He said tenders were being floated and work had been started in those cases where tenders have been
finalised. He had also called for tabulation of disbursement of money among the victims of disaster so that a proper account could be maintained. With the winter setting in, the victims of the disaster who did not have a roof over their head would be the worst sufferers. The rain-related disaster had led to collapse of a large number of buildings in rural areas. The flash flood in the Kosi that led to the river changing its course had also resulted in the washing off of a large number of buildings located on the banks of the river. A large number of houses had also become unfit for use as water sources had erupted from within their premises. |
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BJP demands suspension of Central government
Dehradun, November 29 Talking to the media, Puneet Mittal, City President, BJP, said it seemed that all departments of the Central government were fighting to grab a gold medal in corruption and this was the reason that every day a new issue came in the limelight. He claimed that corrupt ministers were busy filling their accounts in Swiss banks with the money of citizens. Mittal said the corruption in the Commonwealth Games that involved Suresh Kalmadi, president of the organisation, was a very shameful act and it had hurt the sentiments of citizens. The issue was still going on when came the Adarsh Society scam. The inspection was just on and entered the 2G Spectrum scam. He further said the UPA government was not able to control inflation. Tonnes of foodgrains were decaying in godowns, but poor people were not getting it. Mittal said no action had been taken against Arundhati Roy and Sayeed Ali Shah Gilani who were speaking against the country.
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Cong unable to rein in corruption, says Jamdagni
Haridwar, November 29 Citing the rising inflation, coupled by several scams involving Congress-led UPA government’s ministers, BJP District Chief Om Prakash Jamdagni accused the government of encouraging corruption and having double standards with several Cabinet Ministers and party executive holders indulging in multi-crore scams. “Be it the CWG mismanagement or the recent 2G scam, the Congress high command, despite knowing about the scandals, did not take action against the culprits. “It was only when the Opposition and media pressurised them they took action,” said Jamdagni at the DM camp office, while addressing the party workers. State Minister Ram Moorti Veer said despite commendable work done by the state BJP government in view of the disaster that put the state in turmoil, the Congress-led Central government did not help the state as was desired. He pointed out that the state was not allotted sufficient disaster relief funds to make the situation worse for the BJP Government, but despite this the state CM did a commendable job with the limited resources at its disposal. The district unit also lauded historic victory of JDU-BJP alliance in the recent Bihar Assembly elections and on the completion of five years of governance of Shiv Raj Chauhan in the Madhya Pradesh government and lauded the same type of good governance in Uttarakhand by the party, since it came to power in February 2007.
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Aipan-making competition held
Nainital, November 29 The students, who had gathered at Vrindavan Public School in the Tallital area on Sunday morning, came out with innovative designs of aipan made with biswar (ground rice) and geru (red mud). One of the judges at the competition was Haripriya Sah (78) of nearby Bhimtal town. She related in detail about the need of saving the art of making aipan. “I was told about the art by my mother and grandmother. This art should be taught to daughters and daughter-in-laws, as they have to keep up the tradition,” she said. She was happy with the work done by young girls and also gave them important tips. She related that the aipan could be made as colourful as rangoli, but the traditional Kumaoni aipan has white pattern on red background. Brij Mohan Joshi said aipan had different “chaukis” for different gods and religious occasions like Shiva pith chauki for Lord Shiva, Lakshmi chauki for Goddess Lakshmi, dhali for raksha bandhan and paw for Diwali. Event organiser Rajan Lal Sah said a similar competition used to be held at the Sharda Sangh Club that ran from 1970 to 1990 in the town. Visualising the importance of the art, he decided to revive the competition once again. |
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UJVNL to start 7 hydro projects soon
Dehradun, November 29 These seven projects are Kali Ganga-1 (4 MW), Kali
Ganga-II (6 MW), Mad Maheshwar (15 MW), Kaldigad (9 MW), Assi Ganga-1 (4.5 MW), Assi Ganga -II (4.5 MW) and Dunao (1.5 MW). These projects worth Rs 350 cr will produce 44.5 MW collectively. Among these, Kali Ganga-1 at Rudraprayag and Assi Ganga-1 at Uttarkashi are almost complete and will be ready in the next few months. The others following closely are Kali
Ganga-II and Mad Maheshwar at Rudra Prayag, Kaldigad and Assi Ganga to be completed by 2012. Dunao at Pauri Garhwal will also be ready by 2013. General Manager,
SHP, UJVNL, Arvind Kumar said the sites for the projects had been selected on basis of availability of good flow of water and good fall. A detailed survey was also done to test feasibility of the projects. Both projects of Kali
Ganga, Mad Maheshwar and Kaldigad are being constructed under loan from Asian Development Bank and rest three under loan from
NABARD. Though the projects are under operation and will soon start contributing to the power generation of the state, Arvind Kumar still felt that the projects could have been expedited, if the perpetual causes of delay such as long process of taking No Objection Certificate from the Forest Department and many other formalities could be wrapped up swiftly. |
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ONGC steps in for girls’ education
Dehradun, November 29 Secretary, Cooperatives, Uttarakhand, Manjul Joshi lauded ONGC’s role in the country’s development. Earlier, patron (social) of the
samiti, Divya Pande said the ONGC had been extending full support to the project across its 26 branches in the other work centres of the
ONGC. She said the samiti was spending 75 per cent of its budget on social work. General Manager, Head Corporate Administration, Misra appreciated the efforts of the samiti for its active involvement in ONGC’s CSR work for the past few years. Samiti president Rukshana Hussain gave an account of the activities done by the samiti during the past 27 years. Material was distributed to 368 deserving students in presence of their parents, principals of the schools, teachers and invited dignitaries. |
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Constable suspended for slapping Army Captain
Dehradun, November 29 The cops had also allegedly misbehaved with the wife when she tried to intervene late last night.
SSP, Dehradun, GS Martolia has subsequently suspended the cop. The military personnel today held talks with Circle Officer Navneet Singh Bhullar demanding action against the cops. Bhullar said under the preview of the law, he would take all necessary action. The Captain, along with his wife, was coming from Arhat Bazar in his car when his vehicle was stopped by the police at Sharanpur Chowk for checking. After he produced his documents, he was allegedly slapped by a constable over some issue. The Captain complained to the SSP and the constable was suspended. |
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Citurgia case: HC makes strong observations
Nainital, November 29 The court pulled up the developers of the Citurgia land for failing to provide a proper development plan. It also made strong observations on the issue of the government allowing a private party to attend a meeting where a policy decision was taken. It also made a strong observation against Citurgia Bio-chemicals for not doing anything for the revival of the plant. The hearing again saw a battery of senior government officials attending and reporting the developments back to Dehradun on a regular basis. Sources said there is nervousness among the top brass in the government at both the political and administrative level fearing an adverse order in the case. |
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Congress burns effigy of state govt
Dehradun, November 29 They raised slogans against the government for its alleged involvement in Citurgia Biochemicals and land scams for which hearings are also on in court. The Congress party members demanded a CBI probe into the whole case. The protest was called on the direction of Congress President Yaspal Arya. Hira Singh Bisht, Subodh Uniyal, Virender Bisht, Rajiv Mahrishi and others were present at the protest.
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Jobs for Urdu teachers sought
Dehradun, November 29 He said the people from the Muslim community should be given jobs in the Police and Fire Departments. The delegation also sought allotment of cremation grounds, which had already been passed by the Municipal Corporation two years back. He said they had just a single ground that belonged to the Wakf Board. Hussain said the state government should stop bypassing the Muslim community or else they would have to come on the roads to get their rights.
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Improve bus service at airport, CM urged
Dehradun, November 29 Old people and children faced problems while travelling in these buses. He also said this affected GMVN’s image and the state government, as a lot of VIPs visited the state. The MP said nowadays low-floor buses were preferred everywhere, as these were very comfortable, but the GMVN was still using the old buses.
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Urja 2010 celebrated
Dehradun, November 29 As many as 300 students from other 13 colleges also participated in the extravagant cultural fest. A dance drama highlighting the social evils “Echo of Silence” captivated the audience, while famous rock band “Bandish” presented a colourful programme. Brig Dr Anil Sharma, Director, Students Affairs, Pro-Vice-Chancellor GC Tiwari and Inspector PC Rana,
Prem Nagar Police Station, were present on the occasion. |
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Four killed as car falls into gorge
Dehradun, November 29 As per the information received, the car (MH-09-AS-8141) lost control and fell into a deep gorge. All four occupants
died on the spot. Till the filing of the report, the names of the deceased couldn’t
be known. |
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Demanding an end to anti-farmer policies, farmers from Uttarakhand, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan today asked the government to frame a farmer-friendly policy.
While facing severe protests on the accusations of seeking bribe by a state minister in the BJP state government, the BJP district unit today staged a symbolic agitation accusing the Congress of failing to provide able governance in the country.
About 20 students from various schools of Nainital put on display their skills in the traditional art of making
aipan. A CL Sah Memorial Society School Aipan Competition was held for the first time with a motive to save ancient Kumaoni heritage of aipan and generate awareness about the dying art.
The students, who had gathered at Vrindavan Public School in the Tallital area on Sunday morning, came out with innovative designs of aipan made with biswar (ground rice) and geru (red mud).
Dehradun, November 29
