Dehradun, December 14
The Uttarakhand High Court today asked the Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra(RLEK), a Dehradun-based voluntary organisation to file a supplementary affidavit by February 15, 2011, stating what facilities are being provided to former Chief Ministers in other states and under what law are they being provided.

Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice Barin Ghosh and Justice Nirmal Yadav while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by RLEK demanding curtailment of government expenses on former Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand, ordered the filing of the supplementary affidavit by the petitioner.

The petitioner has prayed the expenditure on security and other facilities like housing, telephone, vehicles, drivers, guards/shadow etc. provided by the state government to the four ex-Chief Ministers namely ND Tiwari, BC Khanduri, Bhagat Singh Koshiyari and Nityanand Swami amounts to over Rs 21 crore (Rs 21,79,10,626 to be exact).

This amount excludes other expenses like electricity, water, repairing and furnishing of the houses, laundry, sweepers and cleaners etc.

The government order, which made these facilities available to the former Chief Ministers of the state, was without any legislative sanction or any constitutional provision, the petitioner stated.

The petitioner further said that a huge amount was spent on former Chief Minister ND Tiwari’s personal management i.e. security personnel, clerical staff, drivers/cleaners, domestic help/servants and shadow while he was serving as Governor of Andhra Pradesh from August 22, 2007, to December 26, 2009.

The expenses on his security alone were Rs 26,05,928 from April 2007 to March 2010. He has been allotted a palatial accommodation at the Forest Research Institute (FRI).

Apart from him, Nityanand Swami, another former Chief Minister, was also provided with extravagant services in the form of personal management. An amount of Rs 51,00,228 were spent over his security from 2005 to 2010.

Both ND Tiwari and Nityanand Swami are neither Members of Parliament nor members of the state Legislative Assembly.

The state government has also allotted an accommodation to BC Khanduri, another former Chief Minister, at A-1 and A-2 Yamuna Colony after merging two bungalows, which were previously occupied by two Cabinet ministers and made into a palatial bungalow.

A huge amount was spent on its furnishing and renovation and this expense was also incurred from the state exchequer. BC Khanduri is just an MLA and just by virtue being a former Chief Minister, he is enjoying the privileges of a Cabinet minister, at the same time when some Cabinet ministers are staying in rented accommodations.

The amount spent over the personal management i.e. Officer on Special Duty, telephone, gardener, sweeper etc from April 2009 to March 2010 was Rs 3,67,197. Moreover, the amount spent over his security from April 2007 to March 2010 is Rs 10,46,364.

Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, another former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, has been allotted a government accommodation at Dehradun as a former CM and one at Delhi as a Member of Parliament at 12A, Ashoka Road, New Delhi, and this expenditure has been incurred from the public exchequer.

The amount spent on his security from April 2007 to March 2010 is Rs 19,34,667. The expenses on the accommodation and personal staff allotted to him in Dehradun are being incurred in his absence, the petition stated.

The petitioner demanding withdrawal of these facilities stated that due consideration should be given to the fact that the State of Uttarakhand has been heavily affected by excessive and incessant rain during this year’s monsoon.

In these circumstances, spending a huge amount on personal management of these former Chief Ministers is unconstitutional and is being done from the pocket of the poor.

Almora, December 14
With winters setting in, the Kumaon region has started getting signals to brace for power problems in the days to come.

Several areas across the region, particularly those in the plains, are already facing power roasting up to four hours while certain parts in the hills are also being subject to the procedure for about an hour on a daily basis. In addition to this is the constant problem of voltage fluctuation that has already seen some agitations in certain parts of the region over the past few days.

Officials admit that the problems persist and may get worse in the days to come. They admit that areas like Haldwani, Rudrapur and certain other parts of Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar are being subjected to power roasting that goes up to four hours while certain hilly parts of Almora and Nainital districts are facing cuts up to one hour daily.

The officials point out that the problems of power shortage and voltage fluctuation are an annual phenomenon. With waters frozen at the higher altitudes, there is a shortage for power generation. In addition to this, the power infrastructure also experiences heavy damages in the event of a snowfall that is visible in the form of snapping of power lines. The department is anyhow struggling to put its infrastructure in place that was devastated in the rain-related disaster during the prolonged monsoon experienced in the region.

Although the officials claim to have restored supplies through alternative means, there are still several poles and transformers that need to be repaired and put in place.

However, the silver lining emerging in the prevalent scenario is that if the power grid installed at Chandok in Pitthoragarh district becomes functional and starts getting power from the power project at Dhauladevi in a few months as per the expected schedule, the problem of voltage fluctuation and power supply, at least for the hill regions would become a thing of the past.

Officials explain that right now there is a supply line coming from Bareilly that is serving the entire region right up to the Pittoragarh district. With the Chandok arrangement beginning, not only would there be two channels of supply for the region but the total dependence on Uttar Pradesh would also be over. In the Chandok grid arrangement, the supply would be coming upwards down unlike the supply going up from Bareilly.

Officials say the problems aired by the villagers around Dhauladevi over laying of cables and towers has been sorted out and the work is now moving ahead in the desired direction.

Haridwar, December 14
With billions of rupees already spent on various projects and plans to clean the holy Ganga from pollution and more in the pipeline and with not much impact, saint community now has taken up the holy Ganga cause.

Under aegis of the Akhil Bhartiya Akhada Parishad, a conference ‘Ganga ki pavitrata and aviralta’ was held in this regard at Gauri Shankar Gaushala in Chandi Ghat, Haridwar. The conference was attended by a large number of saints belonging to varied saint community organisations.

Presided by Shri Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Swami Hans Devacharya Maharaj, representatives from political parties, social organisations and environment conservationists participated in the forum.

Jagadguru said there was a need of a strategy to maintain natural and unhindered flow of the holy Ganga and a mass awareness rally will be organised from Haridwar till Gaumukh.

On the contentious issue of carrying out quarrying in the Ganga bed, Jagadguru supported the scientific and measured quarrying, as it was imminent for unhindered flow of the Ganga.

While Shree Dakshin Kali Peethadheshwar Shri Mahant Kailashanand Brahamachari Ji Maharaj said quarrying was being done since ancient times and as the Ganga was self-purifying, it’s the responsibility of saints and also the people to work for the cause in a joint effort.

Pointing that the sewerage treatment plant was not sufficient, head of Rishikesh-based Parmarth Niketan Swami Chidanand Muni urged the noted saints to dwell on saving the holy Ganga. “Development is an essential process, but displacing people is not the right option,” he said.

Swami Gyanesh Kumar of Himalayan Stone Crusher said the Ganga was cleaned by scientific methodology of quarrying work, which was not polluting the river water, but was aiding in its natural flow. Akhila Bharatiya Akhadar Parishad national spokesperson Baba Hatyogi said development was also essential, but no one should be adversely affected due to it.

Dehradun, December 14
A delegation of the Uttarakhand unit of Helpage India today called on Governor Margaret Alva at the Raj Bhawan here. The delegation handed over to her a draft of Rs 85,000 collected by students of Seven Oaks School for the welfare of elderly residents of the state.

Those who were present on the occasion include chief of the Helpage India state unit Aapga Singh, Manager Pankaj Sinha, Principal of Seven Oaks School Lalit Mohan Kumar and Siddiqui. 

Dehradun, December 14
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has asked the PWD Department to complete the proposed complex at the PWD guesthouse here within six month. He said so while convening a meeting with Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli, Harbans Kapoor (Vidhan Sabha Speaker), Ganesh Joshi (MLA), Madan Kaushik (Nagar Development Officer) and other officials here today.

The Mayor apprised the Chief Minister with the widening of the Chakrota roundabout and told him regarding the shifting of the shops located there. “The Chief Minister has asked the officials of PWD Department to complete the construction of the complex within six months so that the shops could be shifted there and the work could be started,” Chamoli affirmed.

He also submitted the details regarding the tehsil chowk where structures needed to be raised for extending the same but the administration wanted to shift them somewhere near only.

Dehradun, December 14
Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli today discontinued the removal of illegal temporary structures located at the Tehsil Chowk. Vinod stated that he would soon provide a place to shift them. Earlier, he had asked to remove the same.

A DMC team also demolished the garage near Raipur bus stand, which was built a few days back. Executive officer HR Rawat said the structure was illegal and was built on the Municipal Corporation land. The owner kept on ignoring its demolition. — TNS

Dehradun, December 14
On occasion of the golden jubilee celebration of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Northern Regional Centre, principal chief conservator of forests, Uttrakhand, Dr RBS Rawat emphasised on need to carry out research on man-animal conflicts.

While encouraging scientists, he also ensured his assistance to the Forest Department. Scientists and eminent guests delivered lectures on their respective theme. Dr Arun Kumar spoke on biodiversity profile of Uttarakhand, Dr Kailash Chandra shared his views on insect biodiversity of India, while Dr Khushwaha gave lecture on geo-informatics and wildlife modelling.

However, ZSI officer C. Radhakrishna declared establishment of molecular lab for scanning electron and a microscope lab. Additional director and officer in charge, ZSI, PT Bhutia gave away prizes to the winners of painting and quiz competition conducted earlier for MSc students.

Dehradun, December 14
The Municipal Board, Rookree, employees yesterday called off their 10-day long strike here. The strike had erupted after exchange of verbal abuse and manhandling of an employee of the Municipal Board by the BJP ward member.

The strike was called off after the intervention of DM R. Meenakshi Sundram. Meanwhile, the employees have categorically mentioned that they would not clean the area of those who had initiated the ugly scene till they apologise and a case was registered against them.

ADM Ranvir Singh Chauhan assured the employees of action against the culprits. Earler, the DM held a meeting with the employees at Roshnabad, along with the officials concerned and convinced the employees to call off their strike.

Mussoorie, December 14
Protesting Avalon resort employees expressed their anguish at non-compliance with the directive, which was given by the Assistant Labour Commissioner to the management in a meeting held recently in Dehradun. This was stated at a press conference held by Avalon resort staff here today.

Hotel Karamchari and Restaurant Association president Sobhan Singh Panwar informed the mediapersons that the Labour Court had given clear instruction to the management to maintain status quo till the meeting scheduled for December 15 was not held. Despite such directions, the resort management ousted around 12 employees and defied the court’s orders.

Sobhan Singh further said all norms and labour laws have been violated. The trade union leaders also said they have been sitting on dharna from the last 30 days. Sobhan Singh warned the management that if their demands were not met soon, they would resort to massive protest campaign.

“The employees will burn effigy of the management at Picture Palace on December 15 and all hotel workers will shut down their work for three hours on December 22. All union leaders will court arrest at the Mussoorie Collectorate on December 24, will block all main crossroads of the town on December 26 and will lock the gates of Avalon on December 28 if their demands are not met,” he said.

The business community of the town is wary of these announcements and is of the view that if this deadlock continues the trade will suffer on News Years eve.

Haridwar, December 14
State Assembly Speaker Harbans Sanjeev released former Indian Air Force flight engineer, Doon International School lecturer and a BHEL employee Sanjeev Kumar’s book on holy Ganga in Dehradun yesterday.

Meanwhile, BHEL executive director Devendra Kumar Mody released Sanjeev’s book ‘Trickles of Life’ today. Terming the occasion as a matter of pride for the company and city people, Mody said in the current scenario society needs humanity and peace, as in the fast-paced life we seem to have forgotten these aspects that were the basics of life. An elated Kumar termed the thoughts in the books as derived from life’s varied facets and thanked everyone associated during his course of writing.

Managing director (HR) Vimal Kumar, BHEL city administrator Rajeev Bhatnagar, KS Bhandari, all other officials and unit employees felicitated Sanjeev.

Dehradun, December 14
To cope with the problems and other requirements of people belonging to various communities of Uttarakhand, 17 big and small communities of the state have formed an organisation, named the Uttarakhand Sarv Samaj Sangathan, here today.

The formation of the association was made publicly at a city’s hotel while its leadership has been handed over to Harish Narang, coordinator.

While addressing the media, Narang said: “The sangathan has been formed with the aim of providing assistance to people who have been hassled in the name of domicile certificate. Such demands of identity cards are causing problems at the time of recruitment.”

The sangathan has also demanded from the state government to publish a notification of withdrawal of regional dialects such as Garhwali, Kumaoni and Jaunsari from the recruitment criteria for the Class IV grade employees in Uttarakhand.