CM kicks off ‘Suraaj’ yatra
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, October 16
For the moment everything seems to be going right for Chief Minister BC Khanduri as was reflected from his day-long Haridwar tour where he addressed a 10,000-strong crowd kicking off his statewide ‘Suraaj’ yatra.

A massive outpour of party activists and public at the rally venue in Pherupur village put a smile on the face of Khanduri who gave the message to public and party workers that on the issue of corruption and accountability his government would be dealing with strictly.

Addressing the gathering, he thanked the overwhelming support of the crowd seeking their blessings to make sure that he did those work, which the public wanted.

Elaborating that during his first stint as Chief Minister, he had started various developmental schemes that now are instrumental in development of the state, Khanduri said despite just a few months left for the Assembly elections he would work round the clock to ensure that development reached every part of the state.

Lashing out at the Congress for giving shelter to corruption both within the party and the government, former Union Cabinet Minister for Highways said despite public opinion in favour of a strong Jan Lokpal Bill, the Congress-led Central Government was trying all means to delay the passing of the Bill.

“I am for a strong Jan Lokpal Bill as corruption has deep-rooted in our system and society. We need to eradicate this menace otherwise our country will move backwards only for which sole blame will be on the Congress, which has become a family party” said Khanduri.

On his ‘Suraaj’ yatra, Khanduri emphasised that the mass development works done in the tenure of the BJP government during Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance and the current Uttarakhand Government would be brought to the knowledge of voters, as BJP governments did just in five years what the Congress failed to do so even in decades.

“Mission 2012 will surely be accomplished as fair governance and mass developments are the USP of the BJP government” added Khanduri.

He also listened to the woes of the people giving necessary orders to the officers concerned for redressal of complaints and later moved to Kotdwara, Pauri Garhwal as part of his hectic 13-district visit in the build-up to the forthcoming Assembly elections. 

 Khanduri-Kaushik rift comes to fore
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, October 16
The rift in the BJP came to the fore during Chief Minister BC Khanduri’s Haridwar visit today.

Madan Kaushik, who is the legislator from Haridwar and has been in all the three cabinets of the BJP governemnt in the state, two of BC Khanduri and one of Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, now seems to be losing his hold in the party. This was evident on numerous occasions during Khanduri’s visit, who is now banking on his anti-corruption drive, didn’t give much preference to the controversial Cabinet minister.

At one such occasion when the Chief Minister’s entourage was leaving the CCR Towers, where Khanduri held three meetings with the administrative officers, media and the district party leaders, Kaushik, who was sitting in the Chief Minister’s car, was asked to get off the car midway. Khanduri, on realising that state party chief Bishan Singh Chufal was in the other car, immediately asked the driver to stop his car and asked Kaushik to vacate his seat for Chufal.

An embarrassed Kaushik then asked Chufal to sit beside the Chief Minister. When Chufal tried to talk to Kaushik, he angrily went towards his official car.

This step is being seen as a makeover attempt by a clean image Khanduri to distance himself from Kaushik, who has been accused of irregularities in the Kumbh funding and has courted controversy during his tenure as Education Minister.

Even during a press briefing, when The Tribune questioned Khanduri that if former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank had to resign due to the Kumbh scam then why not Kaushik, who was appointed by Nishank as minister in charge of Kumbh, should also be asked to resign, Khanduri seemed to be on the back foot.

“I don’t need any CAG report or accusations. If there is any such thing then the law will take its own course. Why should I or him (Kaushik) explain to you,” said Khanduri.

Earlier at the party workers’ meeting, an RSS activist Sandeep Mehta created ruckus in front of the Chief Minister as he accused Kaushik of allotting plots on government land to his relatives.

He also submitted documents of an alleged illegal work being done under the directions of Kaushik.

Another setback for Kaushik came as former chairman of the Haridwar Municipal Committee Kamal Johra accused the Urban Development Minister of putting hurdles in carrying out development works during his tenure.

Later at a felicitating function for Sanskrit students organised at Bharat Mata Mandir on the occasion of the 81st birth anniversary celebrations of Shankaracharya Swami Satyamitranand Maharaj, Kaushik preferred to sit at a distance from Khanduri. 

  Nishank govt worked well, says Koshiyari

Pithoragarh, October 16
Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, Rajya Sabha MP and head of the state BJP election campaign committee for the coming Assembly elections in Uttarakhand, claimed that although the previous Nishank government in the state was working well on all fronts, in order to function better the BJP high command had changed the leadership.

“The party hopes to gain two-thirds majority under the leadership of Chief Minister BC Khanduri in the coming elections as the Nishank government worked excellently in improving the PDS system in the state by introducing Atal Khadyann Yojana, which has improved the minimum food security prospects of the poor people of the state,” he said.

When asked about former Karnataka Chief Minister Yedurappa’s arrest on corruption charges, Koshiyari said by ousting Yeduyurappa, the BJP had given indications that the party was committed to eradicating corruption from the country. — OC

Villagers plan drive against govt

Pithoragarh, October 16
People of the Gangolihat Assembly constituency in Pithoragarh district will launch a drive from next month against the apathy of the BJP government towards development of their area.

“We organised a ‘chakka jam’ agitation on October 13 during which the residents of the villages that fall in the Assembly constituency blocked the Gangolihat- Berinag road for two hours,” said Narayan Ram Arya, former MLA from the area and senior Congress leader.

The 30-km stretch of road from Duni to Rai Agar that links backward villages of the area had been blocked following the landslides and the people were facing hardships due to the blockade. “Work on this road, for which Rs 17 crore had been sanctioned by the ND Tiwari government in 2005, has been stopped and amount transferred to other projects by the BJP government,” alleged the former MLA. “Not only this vital road, but many other developmental projects in the area have been scuttled by this government despite the established fact that the region of Gangolihat is the most backward one in the district,” he said.

According to the Congress leader, an engineering college had also been sanctioned by the Congress government for the region. “Many other schemes, including a lift-drinking scheme for Gangolihat town and a polytechnic at Ganai Gangoli and an IIT in the Rai Aagar area of the constituency had been sanctioned by the Tiwari government, but all these projects have been scuttled by the present government,” he said. — OC

 Kisan Mela Ends
Minister worried as land under farming shrinks
Tribune News Service

Nainital, October 16
Uttarakhand's Agriculture Minister Trivender Singh Rawat has expressed concern over the decreasing land under farming in the state.

In his address at the conclusion of the annual Kisan Mela held at Gobind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology at Pantnagar on Saturday evening, Rawat remarked: "The land under farming in Uttarakhand has been gradually decreasing. It is a matter of grave concern to the government. In spite of decreasing area under cultivation, we have been able to produce foodgrain to meet the requirement of the people. This is due to hard work of farmers and the contribution of Pantnagar scientists".

Rawat remarked that efforts were being made to improve the productivity of milch animals. In this series, embryo of milch animals had been imported from Canada and the same had been put under experimental research in institutions in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Karnataka, he said. He also underlined various policy measures taken by the state government to improve the status of farmers, especially the small and medium farmers.

The 90th Kisan Mela concluded with a function held in the Gandhi Hall of the university. Rawat, who was a chief guest, gave away the prizes to the winners of various competitions held during the four-day event. About 15,000 farmers and almost double number of visitors came to the fair. In the fair, 250 stalls, representing all major brands and corporate houses in the agriculture sector, put-up their products on display. Besides, 600 small and medium enterprises had also made their presence felt doing brisk business and enjoying the patronage of farmers. The ‘Overall best stall’ prize was awarded to M/s Action Construction Equipment Ltd., Faridabad. The State Bank of India (SBI),Pantnagar, was awarded the ‘best performance stall’ prize.

Vice-Chancellor of the university Dr BS Bisht gave a detailed account of various activities and events held during the fair. He said: “We take special measures for ensuring the quality of seeds, planting materials and other products sold by various agri-business firms in farmers’ fair so that farmers are not cheated."

He further said all the research and seed production units had arranged a special display to showcase the latest agriculture technology for the benefit of the farmers. Dr Bisht categorically stated that the university took all the necessary steps to make the visits of farmers to the fair informative and productive.

 Message on Women Empowerment
Theatrical presentation begins today
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, October 16
As part of the Central Government’s initiative to spread the message of women empowerment in the rural areas, a first-of-its-kind sound and light theatrical presentation will be organised in the state by the Information and Broadcast Ministry’s sound and light division.

A five-day state-of-the-art cultural programme will begin in Haridwar tomorrow at Jawaharlal Nehru Youth Centre, wherein the message of women empowerment, varied developmental schemes for rural areas being run by the Central Government and other agencies would be spread via sound and light theatrical medium.

Deputy director (sound and light division), Information Broadcasting Ministry, Madhu Dalela said this was in sync with the Bharat Nirman vision of the Central Government focusing more on rural areas.

Earlier, these shows were organised at Rae Bareilly, Rajkot, Amravati, Jhansi and Pune.

During the cultural show, five women from the rural areas who have done some extraordinary work in any field would be felicitated. Anjum Begum, district Zila Panchayat Chairperson, urged the women folk to visit the show. 

 UPP opens party office
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 16
The office of the Uttarakhand Pragtisheel Party (UPP) was inaugurated today by its central president Ajay Jsola in the city today.

Jsola exhibited the confidence of his party in being able to formulate the policies regarding education, health, electricity, water, agriculture, tourism etc for the welfare of the state.

He said, “The reason for the emergence of the UPP in the state is that in the past 10 years, none of the three state governments could provide basic facilities to people. Despite being rich in water resources, villagers in the hill area face shortage of water. Similarly, several villages have no access to electricity either despite the fact that umpteen hydro power projects were built in the state. The employment given to the youth is few. They have to leave their homes in hills and turn to cities in search of jobs.”

He rued that the national parties ruling the state mooted the regional strategies in Delhi which could never be pro-state.

He stressed on the need for evolving a concrete alternative policy in commensurate with the social, cultural and geographical parameters of the state.

He said the party had the capability to devise such a policy for the state.

 Possession of Rabbits and Rats
HC quashes cases against Himalayan institute
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 16
The Nainital High Court has quashed the cases registered against Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences over possession of some rabbits and rats by the institute.

Informing of the Nainital High Court’s decision, Sushil Kaptiyal, Public Relations Officer, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, said the Nainital High Court had on Oct 10 quashed the cases registered against Dr DC Dhasmana and Dr Pratima Gupta of Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences at the Doiwala police station, Dehradun, over possession of some rabbits and rats in the institute.

Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences in its writ petition filed at the Nainital High Court had sought quashing of the cases on grounds that the institute was fully authorised to use small animals for experimentation purposes.

Earlier, the Dehradun Chapter of the People for Animals led by its member secretary Gauri Maulekhi on June 30 this year had lodged an FIR against Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences at the Doiwala police station, Dehradun, under various sections of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act 1960.

Meanwhile, Sushil Kaptiyal disclosed that certain forces were trying to start a false propaganda against Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences.

He charged the Dehradun Chapter of the People for Animals with trying to get cheap publicity by indulging in vicious campaign against Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences.

He said the institute would continue with its medical study works and service to the poor 

  Rain-hit roads repaired, opened to traffic
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 16
As many as 188 roads across the state which had damaged during incessant rain recently have been opened to traffic while the remaining 22 roads that are being repaired will be opened soon.

State Chief Minister BC Khanduri has set the October 31 deadline for resuming traffic on all blocked roads. After assuming the charge a month ago, Khanduri had issued directives to the District Magistrates to come up with work plans for the betterment of road infrastructure in the state.

According to the first phase of the work plan, all damaged roads would be cleared of the debris by October 31. In the first fortnight of December, the re-metalling of roads, particularly in the hilly areas, would be done.

The District Magistrates have been asked to ensure proper maintenance of the roads. Khanduri said funds should not be a constraint for carrying repair works on the roads.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Engineer Lalit Mohan has said that Rs 5 crore has been released for national highways and Rs 80 lakh for the repair of rain-affected roads.

He said another Rs 71 crore has been released for the maintenance of roads by the 13th Finance Commission.

  UKD (P) launches Pol Khol drive
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 16
The Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Panwar) launched the fifth stage of its Pol Khol campaign from the Vidhan Sabha chowk in the city today which will culminate on October 24.

District teams of party members will go to various cities, blocks and tehsils to apprise public about the achievements of the party and the failure of opposition parties during their successive terms in rule in the state.

In charge of the Garhwal circle Promila Rawat left for Mussoorie with a team of 18-20 women members of the party. General secretary Kender Pal left for Doiwala and senior leaders Prem Singh Negi and KD Joshi left for Rishikesh with their teams.

The teams which left at 9 in the morning will report to the district president in the evening about their visit who in turn will apprise the president of the party about the collective reports. District president NK Gusain said the president at the city block and cell level had been directed to make this campaign a success and he himself would also monitor the progress.

On this occasion, party members Imran, MS Rawat, Amit Verma, Ashish Sharma, Prashant Jakhmola, Vikas Chauhan, Aman were also present. 

  Submit fund requirement for rly projects: Plan panel

Pithoragarh, October 16
The Planning Commission has asked the Ministry of Railways to submit the requirements of funds, technical inputs and time schedule for completion of those railway projects which have been classified as strategically important by the Railways to facilitate the sources of funding to these projects. It has been informed by Planning Commission Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia to Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, chairman of committee on petitions, on latter’s demand to include certain projects of Himalayan states as national projects and include them in the 12th Five-Year Plan.

According to Koshiyari, out of a list of 14 projects in the states of Arunachal, J & K, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, submitted by the Ministry of Defence, only five projects have been found as strategically important.”

The two railway projects of Uttarakhand, Rishikesh Karnprayag, Chamoli and Tanakpur to Bageshwar have also been included on the list,” said Koshiyari.

According to the chairman of the committee, the commission has also held a meeting with the Ministry of Defence and the Railways Engineering Board to ascertain the projects.

“The Planning Commission chairman has informed the petitions committee that out of two strategically important railway projects in the state, the Rishikesh to Karnprayag rail line is under progress between Rishikesh to Karnprayag and a sum of Rs 6.61 crore has been allocated for the project in the budget of 2011-12,” said Koshiyari.

“The survey on the another railway line, 155 km-long railway line between Tanakpur and Bageshwar has been completed,” said Koshiyari quoting the letter of the Planning Commission Chairman. — OC