Dehradun, July 22
In a major jolt to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state government, Uttarakhand Governor BL Joshi has refused to give his assent to two important decisions of the government. The Governor has sent back a proposal to give one-year extension to cooperative societies in the state. The state Cabinet has decided to give such extension to the cooperative societies that had completed their term. The file was sent to Raj Bhawan for approval.

In another case, the Governor has sought the logic behind appointing another Information Commissioner by the government. The state government recently decided to appoint Ajay Setia, a Delhi-based television journalist, as the fifth Information Commissioner of the state.

Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand Congress Committee has welcomed the decision of the state Governor to turn down the proposals of the state government. “The action of the state Governor to send back the decisions of the state government clearly indicate that these decisions were unjust and politically motivated at a time when the Assembly elections are a few months away,” said Yashpal Arya, President of the Uttarakhand Congress.

However, both the decisions of the state government were mired in controversy. Leader of the Opposition Harak Singh Rawat, who by the virtue of being the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly was a member of the committee which was formed to select the new Information Commissioner, has refused to attend a meeting of the committee chaired by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.

He had questioned the decision of the state government to appoint a fifth information commissioner. He argued that in a small state there was no need for such a large number of information commissioners as it would put extra burden on the exchequer.

However, the state government selected Setia as the new Information Commissioner and sent his file to the state Governor for his approval.

Meanwhile, Harak Singh Rawat met the Governor and lodged his strong protest against the appointment of the new Information Commissioner and the extension to the cooperative societies.

Rawat argued that the state BJP government on coming to power in 2007 had reduced the time period of the elected cooperative societies from earlier five years to two years. He charged that since the elections to these societies were held in 2005 and these were valid till 2010, the state BJP government with an ulterior political motive reduced the time period of the societies to two years.

The next elections were held in July, 2008, and the tenure of these elected societies expired on July 10, 2010. He further charged that the state government again gave one-year extension to the office-bearers of the cooperatives societies so that the BJP members elected to these societies could enjoy their offices. He said the tenure of the present cooperative societies had expired on July 10, 2011.

He told the Governor that at the time of reducing the tenure of these societies, the state BJP government on the floor of the state Assembly had argued that the five-year period was too long for such cooperative societies and there was need for only two-year tenure for the office-bearers.

Dehradun, July 22
In the wave of urbanisation, the picture postcard villages of Uttarakhand may soon become a thing of the past. As many as 33 villages have either been abandoned or lost to urbanisation. This was indicated by the provisional population totals of rural and urban areas of Uttarakhand which were released today.

According to the previous census record, in all there were 16,826 villages in 2001 and in 2011 the total number is 16,793. “In all 33 villages have either been lost or have merged into the nearby towns due to urbanisation taking place in the state,” said Snehlata Agarwal, Director, Census Operations.

Even the percentage of the population living in the rural areas has declined. In 2001 it was 69.4 per cent while in 2011 it is 69.45 percent. However the state has shown a robust growth, which stands at 41 per cent in the urban areas and 11 per cent in the rural areas (2011).

The districts of Bageshwar and Uttarkashi continue to remain rural at heart. In the district of Bageshwar, 96.50 per cent of the population continues to live in the villages followed by 95.81 per cent in Rudraprayag, 92.6 per cent in Uttarkashi, 89.98 per cent in Almora, 88.63 per cent in Tehri Garhwal and 85.69 per cent in Almora.

Agarwal said while the migration pattern needed a careful study and would be taken as a subject for future study, the data revealed that in Uttarakhand the process of urbanisation was on the right track. The rural population continues to show movement towards towns,” she added.

The pace of urbanisation in 2011 stands at 30.5 per cent, showing an increase of 4.88 per cent, while it was at 25.67 per cent in 2001.

The district of Dehradun is fast marching towards urbanisation as 55.90 per cent of its population inhabits urban areas. Dehradun is the only district where urban population is exceeding rural population, followed by Nainital district where 38.94 of the population lives in rural areas.

“In Dehradun, certain areas like Majra, Raipur, though witnessing semi-urbanisation, continue to be governed by panchayats. These continue to be deprived of basic facilities and will pose a challenge to the planners. As such they will have to devise ways to extend facilities to semi-urban areas,” said Indu Kumar Pande, former Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand.

Dehradun, July 22
With the state Assembly elections nearing, the state government seems to have woken up to the neglected and almost forgotten Bhagirathi Nadi Ghati Vikas Pradhikaran (BNGVP), which was formed in 2005. It has announced the preparation of a master plan for the development of the area.

The pradhikaran (authority) had been formed at the behest of the Supreme Court to chalk out plans for the welfare of residents who were displaced due to the setting up of Tehri Dam.

The vice-chairman of the BNGVP BD Raturi said: “The BNGVP was to roll out plans for the generation of employment, tourism-related activities such as angling, boating, training to youth in the hospitality sector, the protection of the environment and the welfare of the residents. However, nothing has been done.”

Raturi said: “The SC had asked the government to give 20 per cent of the total cost of the 12 per cent share of free electricity it gets from the Tehri Power House to the BNGVP for its welfare schemes, but it has not been followed. Every year, the government passes the budget for the BNGVP. This year too it has allocated Rs 2 crore but only on papers as not even a single penny has been given to it. We have neither the project nor the money.”

The area that is to be developed under the BNGVP stretches from Devprayag to Gaumukh and comprises eight Vidhan Sabha segments, two districts, two zila panchayats, 10 blocks and 1,522 gram sabhas.

“We have now hired a Delhi-based company, Consulting Engineering Services Private Limited, to prepare the plan,” said Raturi. 

Haridwar, July 22
The decision of the management committee of Shravan Nath Math Jawaharlal Nehru (SMJN) College to abolish the students’ union elections has not gone down well with students.

The students, especially girls, have come out in the open against it. They maintained that in the absence of the elections, there would be no organisation that could help solve their problems and demands.

To break the deadlock on the issue, a meeting of the college management and students was called, but no one came from the management’s side. Irked, students closed the gates of the campus and began a protest, describing it as a deliberate attempt by the management to justify its decision .

Last week, the college management had taken a decision not to conduct the students’ council elections from this session, citing indiscipline, violence and misconduct by council representatives as the main reasons. However, the decision has not gone down well with students. Following this, all students’ outfits have joined hands and formed a joint forum, the “Student Agitation Committee”, to fight on this issue.

The forum comprising the ABVP, the National Student Federation of India (NSUI), and the Student Federation of India, has been holding protests against the college management for the past one week. A signature campaign is also being carried out to pressurise the management to withdraw its decision. Girl students have also extended support to the demand.

Mahima, a student, said the management had taken this step without even taking their views. “Our protests will continue till the management withdraws its decision. We all are united and will also take freshers into confidence,” said Shakti Tyagi, a former college union president. 

Dehradun, July 22
Experts say the declining population of male and female children (0-6 years) in Uttarakhand is an indication that both the urban and rural population is keen on limiting the size of the families.

The provisional data of Population Totals of rural and urban children in the age group of 0-6 years reveals that as compared to 2001, the overall population of children in the age group of 0-6 years has shown a negative trend at (-)31188. In 2011 there has been a decrease of (-)2.9 per cent. “Though it would be too early to jump to any conclusion but one has to evaluate the effect of family planning programmes and accessibility to better health facilities on the declining population of children,” said Indu Kumar Pande, Chairman of the one-member committee on water and former Chief Secretary.

According to the provisional data in 2011, as compared to 2001, in the rural areas the total decrease is (-)3.2 per cent and in urban areas (-)1.5 per cent .

The overall population of female children in the state in the age group of 0-6 years as compared to 2001 has recorded a decrease of (-) 23008 in the female population and (-)8180 in the male population.

Similarly, the rural areas, too, have reported a negative trend, with the population of male children in the age group of 0-6 years at (-) 47783 and the population of female children at (-)56103 in 2011.

However, in the urban areas as compared to 2001 , the male and female child population (0-6 years) has witnessed a positive increase of 39603 and 33095, respectively.

Haridwar, July 22
The magnitude of the Kanwar Mela in Haridwar can be gauged by the fact that the business of garments worn by Kanwariyas is a staggering Rs 70-crore affair. Months before the commencement of the fair, traders start filling their stores with the items relating to the Kanwar Yatra.

Kanwariyas wear saffron T-shirts and shorts and traditional dhoti-kurta. They carry a small sheet known as “Ram Nami Chaddar”, which is used while taking rest during the yatra.

Various markets offer the Kanwar Yatra merchandise. Pantdeep Bazar, the government authorised market for the Kanwar fair in Haridwar, is thronged by a large number of Kanwariyas for here they get these items at reasonable rates. The markets at Har-ki-Pauri, Malviya Deep, Upper Bazar, Moti Bazar, Jwalapur and the shops along the Kanwar stretch also sell these items.

According to traders and market analysts, the clothing for Kanwariyas and the other related accessories is a huge business in Haridwar as the trade crossed Rs 50-crore mark last year. This year the number of Kanwariyas is set to cross 1 crore mark and the business is expected to reach the Rs 80-crore mark.

Normally, the T-shirts have the images of Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati and Lord Ganesha or the prints of ‘Om’. These cost around Rs 40-75 per piece while shorts come for Rs 50-80 per piece. Dhoti-kurta is available for Rs 100-130. The average cost of the full dress worn by a Kanwariya is put at Rs 90 and multiplied by minimum 80 lakh Kanwariya visiting Haridwar the total business stands at Rs 70 crore plus.

Many Kanwariyas immerse their older Kanwars and clothes in the Ganga and the trend of wearing new Kanwariya outfit is considered auspicious.

Chief of the Haridwar Traders Association Kailash Keshwani said the trade during the Kanwar Yatra was of huge proportions though only the Kanwariya dress is bought by pilgrims. Though the traders selling the items relaing to the Kanwar Yatra are quite happy, the other traders don’t seem to be pleased. The reason being that Kanwariyas tread for days carrying the Kanwar so they don’t buy any other item throughout their pilgrimage.

Dehradun, July 22
The Uttarakhand Government is making all efforts to provide basic amenities, including electricity, drinking water and toilets, to all government schools.

At a meeting held at the Secretariat today, which was headed by Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar, a progress report on the project work was presented by subordinating officers followed by a discussion with senior officials of various departments.

It was decided that officials of the Education Department, along with the district officer, tehsildars and officials of the Power Corporation and the Drinking Water Department, would ensure that all schools be provided with basic amenities.

The Chief Secretary has directed the Water Corporation to provide alternative facility of drinking water to 114 schools located in the remote and higher altitude areas. The department’s accomplishment of facilitating 472 schools with the supply of drinking water was also appreciated during the meeting.

According to information, a fund of Rs 13 crore to be spent on this project is awaiting the government nod. Under the guidance of the RTE Act, managing committees comprising school staff and parents have already been constituted in every school.

Arvind Sigh Hayanki, Additional Secretary (Drinking Water) said 795 schools situated in the rural areas of the state did not have toilets. Of them, 295 schools had been granted funds for its construction. MC Upreti, Additional Secretary (Power), said 10,526 schools would soon have power supply.

The project director, Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan was also present.

Haridwar, July 22
Post-Mumbai serial blasts, the Uttarakhand police is taking no chances during the ongoing Kanwar Mela in Haridwar. While 12,000-odd Kanwar police personnel have been deployed on the entire Kanwar stretch, in view of the massive inflow of Kanwariyas whose number has crossed 12 lakh till date, the police is extra vigilant.

On one hand special emphasis is being laid on intelligence gathering while on the other strategies like the highway traffic plan, route diversion and the deployment of senior officials at important locations are being planned to manage the yatra peacefully.

Garhwal Range Deputy Inspector General Deepam Seth inspected the arrangements and working of the Kanwar police at Har-Ki-Pauri, Kanwar market, Kanwar stretch and other important locations here today.

He also held a series of meetings with the Kanwar police officials taking stock of the proceedings of the six days of the Kanwar Yatra and gave specific instructions to them regarding the Dak Kanwar (Kanwar on wheels) beginning in the coming days.

Accompanied by Senior Superintendent of Haridwar Police Kewal Khurana, Mela police chief Kiran Lal, ASP Nivedita Kukreti, CO Pankaj Bhatt and the respective station house officers, Seth stressed instant dissemination of intelligence inputs.

“Now, the toughest phase of the Kanwar Yatra is to begin when almost 80-90 lakh Kanwariyas will be thronging Haridwar within a week. Till date the Kanwar force has done a credible work and we are geared to continue the good till the last of the Kanwariyas leaves the city on July 29,” said Seth.