New train to bring people of Garhwal, Kumaon closer
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, March 19
The new Haridwar-Ramnagar express train, which was flagged off from the local railway station at 6:45 pm on March 17, is a direct link between the two divisions of Garhwal and Kumaon.

The train has generated a tremendous response as a large number of people of both divisions of the state are enquiring about it.

It will operate on every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. From Ramnagar, it will depart at 8:35 am and reach Haridwar at 2:30 pm.

Haridwar railway station superintendent Samarendra Goswami said this train provided a direct link between the Garhwal and Kumaon divisions of the state. It would take at least an hour less to cover the distance between Haridwar and Ramnagar.

He added that the train consisted of 10 coaches, including two general compartments, one first class air conditioned coach and five sleeper compartments.

Local people as well as pilgrims from the Kumaon region are happy at the launch of the train as they could now take a holy dip in the Ganga in Haridwar and return to Ramnagar the same day.

"The train will bring the people of both Garhwal and Kumaon divisions closer. People of Haridwar can travel to the city of lakes (Naintial) more frequently, while people of Kumaon can travel to Haridwar to take a holy dip in the Ganga at the Har-Ki-Pauri more often," said Meena Bisht, a resident of Ranikhet.

Though this train was announced in the last year's Rail Budget by then Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, this year's Rail Budget presented by Dinesh Trivedi paved the way for its launch. 

 Cabinet should first agree to nominate Anglo-Indian to Assembly: Khanduri
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 19
Former Chief Minister B.C Khanduri today said that Governor Margaret Alva is in agreement with the BJP that the decision to nominate an Anglo-Indian member to the Uttarakhand Assembly should be first approved by the Cabinet.

Speaking with The Tribune today, the former Chief Minister, who came to the Vidhan sabha with senior BJP leader Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, said according to that the Cabinet should first give it’s consent to the appointment of the Anglo-Indian member. “In the case of the Congress government, the Cabinet is yet to be formed but they had already moved the file for the appointment of the Anglo-Indian member, with the aim to get support of one more MLA,” he said.

The former Chief Minister also termed the present turmoil in the Congress as unfortunate. “The things in the Congress has become too chaotic; fissures in the party would become more apparent on March 30. I think the peace being brokered in the Congress is temporary and would not last long. I do not know if they would be able to survive the vote of confidence,” he said.

On the other hand, senior BJP leader Bhagat Singh Koshiyari today lashed out at the Congress for making a spectacle of itself. “The party that cannot keep it’s house in order cannot be trusted to run the state. It is our duty to expose them,” he said. 

 State govt told to submit detailed traffic plan
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, March 19
Despite Haridwar being a world renowned pilgrim city, with millions of people thronging to take a holy dip in Ganga, there is no specific traffic plan in place.

Due to the bottleneck traffic jam, congestion and inconvenience to locals as well as visitors is a common site.

Even after 11 years of its formation, Uttarakhand lacks basic infrastructure, highways, over bridges and specific traffic plan are lacking. Now apex court has directed the state government to submit in four weeks a traffic plan that caters to the city.

Taking cognizance of the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a group of citizens, which was first dismissed by the Nainital high court, a bench of apex court judges has directed the state government to submit a detailed traffic plan within four weeks.

Talking about this, litigant Upendra Dutt Sharma said on March 15, the state government had to submit the traffic master plan but on the very date, the lawyers representing the state government sought additional time for the submission of the plan.

To this, the apex court bench of Justices Dalbeer Bhandari and Deepak Mishra granted additional 28 days to the state government to submit the detailed plan.

In addition to this, the bench also permitted the litigant to submit a report of experts on the lacunae in the master plan for Haridwar, which was declared by the state government for two cities in the state; the other being Haldwani.

“We are optimistic that the state government will submit an extensive traffic plan for the city at the earliest,” said Sharma.

 Deadline to convert nazul land into freehold ends on March 31
Seema Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 19
The deadline for the conversion of nazul land into freehold on the old circle rate of year 2000, which had been extended by the former BJP-led state government, is coming to an end on March 31.

The Opposition in the Dehradun Municipal Corporation has alleged that neither DMC officials nor the Mayor have availed the facility of the conversion of nazul property into freehold, including the DMC premises, owing to which these property can be taken over by the Mussoorie-Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) anytime.

This would mean a big loss to the DMC.

Mayor Vinod Chamoli, however, do not see any reason behind such speculations. MDDA officials, too, denied any such possibility.

However, Ashok Verma, leader of the Opposition in the DMC, referred to many such incidents in the past to prove his point.

He said the MDDA had taken over many property owned by the DMC such as Patel Park. The Pavilion Ground, another property of the DMC, had also been taken over by the Sports Authority. In this way, the DMC would keep losing its control over many properties because of the "careless attitude" of the administration, he added.

He said the DMC had spent several lakhs on the construction of its premises. But it did not get the map of the building cleared from the Mussoorie-Dehradun Development Authority.

It had also not converted it into freehold so far, he said.

On the other hand, Chamoli said the land where the DMC office had been built could not be taken over by the MDDA or any other body.

Secretary, MDDA, YK Pant said: "The MDDA does not play the role of a owner but only manages government properties just like the DMC. Parks can be maintained by the DMC or the MDDA. The land where the DMC has built its building need not to be converted into freehold."

 10,000 farmers attend kisan mela
Tribune News Service

Nainital, March 19
The four-day kisan mela that started on March 15 concluded in Gobind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology at Pantnagar on Monday with the farmers making a beeline for purchasing seeds and farm implements that had been displayed at the event.

The kisan mela was attended by more than 10,000 farmers and 130 big firms and 350 medium and small firms had put useful information on display during this fair.

The farmers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan along with Uttarakhand had participated in the event and bought seeds, planting materials, fertilizers, plant protection chemicals and farm machinery.

The major tractor brands also did brisk business and got orders of purchase from many visiting farmers.

The stall of SAME-DEUTZ-FAHR India (P) Limited, Noida, was adjudged the best stall whereas the stall of Pfizer, Mumbai, was awarded the best performing stall during the fair.

The Principal of Government Medical College at Haldwani was the chief guest at the concluding and prize distribution ceremony that presided over by the Vice-Chancellor, Dr BS Bisht, and members of Pantnagar University's Board of Management Dr SK Bhadula and K.S. Panwar.

Dr Jyala reiterated the contribution of Pantnagar University in making the country self-reliant in food production and observed that the agriculture sector was very crucial for country's economic development.

He underlined that Pantnagar University had been on the forefront in driving the economic growth and national development. He also remarked that students educated in Pantnagar University were well-respected nationally and internationally. He mentioned the name of Dr. Owais Islam Ahmad Siddiqui, an alumnus of Pantnagar University who is serving

as Agriculture Ambassador in the United States. He also appreciated the efforts of scientists of Pantnagar University and exhorted the farmers to adopt scientific and modern agriculture practices to improve their farm productivity.

Dr Bisht, in his presidential address, remarked, "We ensure to provide high quality seeds and planting materials that the farmers purchase during the kisan mela and, therefore, the participating firms should bring only quality products in this fair so as to maintain farmers' faith in the quality of this fair as well as Pantnagar University". 

 Cong RS nominee Mahra a Harish Rawat supporter
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, March 19
Mahendra Singh Mahra, Congress nominee for Rajya Sabha, has been a Harish Rawat loyalist since 1980, when the latter became a Member of Parliament from Almora. "Mahendra Singh Mahra was a natural choice because the Congress thought Harish Rawat's wife Renuka Rawat as ineligible as she had never won any election before," said a Congress leader.

Mahra's political career began in 1970. At the age of 30, Mahra was elected a member of the Pithoragarh town area committee. He later joined the Congress in 1972 on the insistence of Narendra Singh Bisht, who was then a Congress MP from the region. Bisht was Mahra's relative.

In 1980, newly elected MP Harish Rawat nominated him as a member of the Parvatiya Vikas Parishad, an autonomous body constituted by the then Uttar Pradesh government to ensure people’s participation in the development of hill districts.

Mahra was unanimously elected chairman of the Pithoragarh Zila Parishad in 1988. However, in 1989 Mahra left the zila parishad and contested the Assembly elections successfully. He again won the Assembly elections in 1993 and 1996 from Pithoragarh, then part of Uttar Pradesh.

In the 2002 Assembly elections in Uttarakhand the Congress shifted Mahra from Pithoragarh to Lohaghat. However, he won from Lohaghat with a margin of 500 votes and became Agriculture Minister in the ND Tiwari government.

He again won from the Lohaghat Assembly seat in 2007. However, he lost from the same seat in this Assembly election.

Mahra always remained a staunch loyalist of Harish Rawat even when the latter was considered politically finished after he had lost the general elections from the Almora parliamentary constituency four times," said a senior party leader.

Mahra held several posts in the Congress and remained a member of the AICC from 1991 to 2010. He had been joint secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Congress and general secretary of the Uttarakhand Congress.

  Mahra’s nomination move to woo Haridwar MP
Rajeev Khanna/ TNS

Nainital, March 19
The decision of the Congress Party to field Mahendra Singh Mahra for the Rajya Sabha poll for one seat that falls vacant by the end of this month is expected to provide a multi-faceted respite to the party leadership in the state.

To begin with, the decision to field Mahra is being seen as a major step towards wooing senior party leader Harish Rawat, who had brought things to a political standstill in the state ever since several newly elected legislators had been camping in his support in Delhi to air their resentment over the party choosing Vijay Bahuguna as the new Chief Minister. Mahra is said to be close to Rawat and the decision to field him as a Rajya Sabha candidate on the seat being made vacant by Satyavrat Chaturvedi is a major step in dilution of the imbroglio between the factions of the party in the state.

Importantly, the decision would be a breather for the Congress leadership that has always been on the back foot for sending people from outside Uttarakhand to Rajya Sabha from the state. Besides, the Rajya Sabha members sent by the Congress till now have hardly ever been seen in the state at the political programmes of the party. In fact Harish Rawat himself and now Mahra would be the only two Congress Rajya Sabha members from the state.

The issue of Rajya Sabha members Satyavrat Chaturvedi and Capt Satish Sharma not being seen in the state has led to embarrassment to party leaders. The issue was raked up by the rival BJP to the hilt during the Lok Sabha polls held in 2009.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary and party in-charge of Uttarakhand at that point of time Bhola Pandey was cornered over the absence of two Rajya Sabha members, who had not been seen in the state since their victory.

Pandey had been on the defensive when it was alleged that even the money sanctioned to them for carrying out developmental activities in the state was not being used since they never bothered to come to the state or interact with the people here.

All that Pandey could say at that point was:" It is their misfortune. We are sad and feel ashamed at their absence. They should share the sentiments of the people they represent." The Congress Party, however, has denied that the developmental funds have not been used and has been saying that funds are being utilised through the District Congress Committee presidents.

Both Captain Sharma and Chaturvedi have been outsiders who had been sent to the Rajya Sabha by the Congress from Uttarakhand. The third Congress member from the state Harish Rawat had gone on to contest the Lok Sabha poll from Hardwar after having completed his term. He was replaced by Bhagat Singh Koshiari of the BJP. The state has a quota of three Rajya Sabha seats.

Seminar on bhasha literature concludes

Dehradun, March 19
A two-day seminar on "Redefining the nation through bhasha literature -- problems, perspectives and prospects" organised by the Department of English at DAV Postgraudate College concluded here today.

A large number of people attended the seminar. Chairman of the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission DP Joshi chaired the seminar while Dr S Farooq, social worker, and Dr Satish Ekant, Head of English Department, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar, were special guests.

Convener of the programme Prof HS Randhawa welcomed the delegates to start the session of the seminar today. Dr Avdhesh Kumar Singh, Director, School of Translation Studies and Training, IGNOU, New Delhi, was the key speaker of the event. He enlightened the participants about the significance of "bhasha" literature for bringing in revolution in India. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Meeta Shukla, Head of English Department, DAV Postgraduate College. — TNS

 NSUI volunteers gherao Principal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 19
Agitated over the non-disbursal of SC/ST scholarships to students for the past three years, volunteers of National Students Union of India (NSUI) gheraod Principal of DAV PG College Devender Bhasin here today.

They have accused a member of the staff of the college of involvement in the misappropriation of allocated scholarships for students by the Social Welfare Department.

According to Bhasin, the scholarships to students for this year have already been given. Those who did not fulfil the process of seeking the scholarships properly have been left out. “The irregularities in giving the proper bank account numbers has led to the inconvenience of the student scholarships,” he added.

 Implementation of food safety Act discussed
Tribune News Service

Nainital, March 19
The implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, was discussed threadbare by the hoteliers and restaurant owners of Nainital yesterday. The discussion followed an awareness training session on the Act that was imparted by a team of experts from a private company, CQM Techno.

Prominent hotelier SM Sherwani pointed out that the Act must not be allowed to become a vehicle for inspectors to blackmail the hotel and restaurant industry. He said the government must be realistic when it comes to the the implementation of the stringent law. He called for the rationalisation of the norms.

However, another prominent hotelier from the town, Pravin Sharma, said the Act was a good beginning towards providing quality food stuffs to the consumers in the country. “Now one can get quality foodstuffs being used in Europe and America. It would definitely be beneficial for the generations to come,” he said.

Dhananjay Pande of the CQM Techno pointed out that despite the Act having come into effect in 2006, its implementation began in August last year.

When asked about the implementation aspect, he said, “The government has moved ahead in this direction. Committees have been set up for the purpose and proper awareness is being generated on this front.”

He said the two sections that had not been covered in terms of pinning of responsibility under the Act were the farm producer at the initial level and the end consumer. He said the Act was being implemented by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

It was related that the Food Safety Act, 2006, replaced no less than eight Acts with regard to various food safety measures. It is a comprehensive Act.

Comparing it to the Prevention of Food Adulteration (FPA) Act of 1954, it was pointed out that while the PFA had multiple authorities checking only adulteration, the FSSA had a single authority working on safety. Secondly, under the FSSA, it was the monitoring surveillance that had replaced inspection and control aspects of the PFA. Lastly, under the FSSA, there would be a full time district officer and Food Safety Officer under the FSSA.

Sharma also said there were stringent fines and punishments for the violators of the FSSA.

 Fulfil promises made to Punjabi community, Cong reminded
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 19
Convener of Uttarakhand Punjabi Kranti Morcha Japinder Singh, in a press conference held in the city today, reminded Congress of fulfilling it’s promises made to the Punjabi community before the Assembly elections to build Gyan Godhari Gurdwara at Haridwar and give second status to Punjabi language.

He said the senior Congress leaders such as Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, state Congress president Yashpal Arya and Harak Singh Rawat had given word to him on the eve of Gurpurab to build Gyan Godhari Gurudwara and making Punjabi as second language of the state.

Singh also demanded to give fair representation to the Punjabi community while considering candidates for the Rajya Sabha seat from the state.

 Kashipur resident run over by truck
Tribune News Service

Nainital, March 19
A 21-year-old woman identified as Deepika Arora, a resident of Subhash Nagar locality, Kashipur, was killed when she was run over by a truck near Gandhi Ashram on Station Road.

The accident took place when she was returning home after getting her cellphone repaired. In another accident, Naresh Kumar of Narkheda village was killed when his motorcycle was hit by a truck near the barrier dividing Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. The pillion rider sustained serious injuries.