EC recognises Trivender’s party as original UKD
Withdraws political party status in Uttarakhand to it
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 2
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has registered the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (P), and not the other factions that had also contested a claim, as the actual UKD.

Elated at the decision, the members of the UKD (P) today burst crackers and distributed sweets on the office premises.

The ECI, however, withdrew the recognition enjoyed by the UKD (P) as a state party in Uttarakhand. The party shall now be a registered as an unrecognised political party. The party failed to fulfil the conditions to become a recognised state party, which includes having three MLAs or eight per cent votes in state Assembly election.

Party president Trivender Singh Panwar tried to project the decision of the ECI as that of public, whereas the fact is that public that had giving poor response to his party in every election.

The sole party MLA and state minister, Preetam Singh Panwar, has also maintained a sizeable distance with the party and was not present on the celebratory occasion today.

Panwar shrugged off the question about indifferent attitude of Preetam Singh Panwar and withdrawal to the state government.

He announced of removing the letter P from his party’s name saying that since his party was the actual UKD, he would use the title in its entirety.

He said the decision of the ECI had removed the confusion prevailing over the number of factions of the party whereby each claimed to be the real and original UKD. He said, he would also shun the party’s cup-plate symbol accorded by the ECI before the state Assembly election and would rather apply for the original symbol of chair for the UKD.

In its report, the ECI also gave the provision that the party will be entitled to seek concession available under the symbols order in the mater of allotment of the chair symbol to its candidates.

Excited about gaining an edge over his rivals, he announced a statewide bandh over the issue of permanent residence, caste certificate and Gairsain as the state capital on January 10.

President of other major faction UKD (J) BD Raturi did not consider the decision of the ECI a major victory for Panwar, saying, “There are 800 registered but unrecognised political parties in the country and many in the state itself. Panwar has lost the public confidence, which is what matters a political party.”

He said their party lost out in the battle for the party title before the ECI because the party did not field any candidate in the state Assembly election and their party president and another MLA had decided to fight on the BJP ticket, symbol and flag.

In contrast, the UKD (P) fielded its 41 candidates in the election. Nevertheless, no matter what, Panwar has certainly managed to score over his rivals with the ECI’s decision to entitle his party as the actual UKD.

Farmers to be given high-breed seeds 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 2
In a bid to ensure increase in crop production, farmers will be given high-breed seeds in the state. Students of the Pantnagar and Bharsar Agriculture universities will be deputed as technical experts to assist farmers.

Efforts will be made to improve crop production through cluster demonstration, seed distribution, plant security programmes, agricultural security equipment distribution, training programmes and water harvesting.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the executive committee of the State Food Security Mission chaired by Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain at Secretariat here today.

Jain laid emphasis on using modern technology to increase crop production and taking services of agricultural experts.

Principal secretary, Agriculture, Omprakash, said there had been an increase in the crop production in the last year, while the agricultural land had decreased from 7.91 lakh hectares to 7.41 lakh hectares. In 2009-10, 5, 91,016 MT rice was produced which was 20.78 quintal production per hectare. The production increased to 5, 93,873 MT in 2011-12 which was 21.20 quintal per hectare.

The wheat production had increased from 8, 29,319 MT to 8,78, 373 MT which is 23.79 quintal per hectare. He said at present the estimate demand of wheat was 5.50 lakh MT as against 1.01 crore population.

Meanwhile, 5.94 lakh MT rice was being produced in the state. Similarly, the total demand of wheat in the state was 8.50 lakh, while 8.78 lakh MT was being produced. This means that both rice and wheat were being produced in surplus as against the demand.

Omprakash said the target of production had been set with estimated 1.12 crore population till 2017-18. The demand for the wheat would increase to 6.20 lakh MT and production would be 6.50 lakh MT.

Similarly, the estimated demand of rice would be 9.30 lakh MT and 10 lakh MT would be produced. He said the road map had been drafted accordingly.

He said, “The objective of the Food Security Mission is to increase the production of rice and wheat in selected districts. The aim is to improve the fertility of the soil and generate employment opportunity. Pauri, Haridwar, Almora, Pithoragarh and Udham Singh Nagar have been selected for rice production, while Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri, Tehri, Almora, Nainital, Pithoragarh and Udham Singh Nagar for wheat. The criterion for the selection of districts has been pegged at crops production in 15,000 hectares,” he said.

‘Need to ensure better crop prices for Terai farmers’
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, January 2
There is a need to improve the crop procurement system and marketability of agriculture produces of the farmers of the Terai region of the state to maintain the agrarian identity of the area. Due to the neglect of this fertile region, the farmers are leaving farming, said a research paper presented by retired Col Pramod Sharma and AK Bhadoria.

The paper was presented at a seminar at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Lucknow, in the presence of eminent agriculture economists and Uttar Pradesh government officials.

It said land under agriculture and orchards in the Terai region was reducing due to the faulty crop procurement system of the government which is promoting high-value alternative uses of land.

According to the paper, Terai farmers were abandoning agriculture as they were not getting reasonable prices for their produces and selling their land for commercial uses as being promoted by the government. “If agriculture is promoted in the region, it could even produce surplus food for the state,” it added.

The research paper said the continuous industrial and commercial use of the fertile Terai land would not only jeopardise the food security of the state but also create environment problems in the region. It would also reduce the role of agriculture in the national GDP. “To save agriculture land in the Terai region, we need to give not only better prices for agriculture produces but also create an alternative crop procurement system in the state,” it said.

It added as the fertile land fetched better prices when used for other purposes, the prices of the land used for residential purpose had grown 9.4 times and 17 times for the land used for commercial purposes instead of agriculture in the Terai region.

“A farmer who sells his land in the Terai region for commercial purpose is today getting Rs 2.75 crore per hectare compared to Rs 15,663 per hectare of crop produced by using the best agriculture methods available,” the paper said.

It added if reasonable crop prices were assured for the Terai farmers, it would not only dissuade them from leaving agriculture, but also help in checking the degradation of eco system and avert a food crisis in the state. “We need to adopt a project like the diversified agriculture system project (DASP), which during 1988 to 2004 in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand created better infrastructure for agriculture marketing in the form of 26 km roads, 103 hats, two cattle markets and increased annual income of the farmers by 36 per cent. This also resulted in decline in poverty in villages by 21 per cent,” said the paper. 

Research paper

A research paper presented by retired Col Pramod Sharma and AK Bhadoria says due to the neglect of the Terai region, the farmers are leaving farming

Land under agriculture and orchards in the Terai region is reducing due to the faulty crop procurement system of the government

The continuous use of the fertile Terai land for industrial and commercial purposes can jeopardise the food security of the state and also create environment problems in the region

To tackle the situation, good prices for farmers’ crops is a must 

Newspaper hawkers hold candle march
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 2
Newspaper hawkers of Haridwar today took out a candle march to seek justice for the Delhi rape victim this morning.

The hawkers gathered at Jwalapur and marched up to the Jawalapur railway station to show their solidarity with the rape victim. Subhash Kumar, a leader of the Haridwar Newspaper Hawkers Association, condemning the Delhi rape incident, demanded stringent punishment for the culprits.

The hawkers demanded the constitution of fast-track courts to deal with crime against women in the country. Naresh Thakral, another hawker, said the hawkers were also agitated by the incident and wanted to express support for the rape victim. He said there was need for greater awareness in the society towards such heinous crime against women.

Meanwhile, girl students and residents of Shiv Lok Colony lit candles at the statue of Shaheed Bhagat Singh at Bhagat Singh Chowk in Haridwar city to seek justice for the Delhi rape victim. A large number of girls and women participated in the campaign. 

Utilise remaining funds by March 31, says Chief Secy
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 2
Chief Secretary Alok Kumar has directed the officials to prepare action plan to utilise the remaining funds by March 31. He also asked them to make available the detailed project reports (DPRs) and concept note for the newly proposed plans so that expected funds could be received by the state at the earliest. Jain was chairing a meeting of the special plan assistance (SPA) at the Secretariat here today.

It may be noted that the Central Planning Commission had allocated Rs 800 crore to the state under the SPA out of which Rs 300.78 crore had been recommended by the Union Finance Ministry and remaining proposals were under consideration. The Central Planning Commission had raised objection to the Rs 131.80 crore proposal of the School Education Department and PWD. The Chief Secretary directed the officials to resolve the matter and forward new proposals as per the expectations of the Central Planning Commission. It was decided that the PWD would prepare new proposals for the construction of roads and bridges damaged during natural disasters.

A discussion was also held on flood control works at Udham Singh Nagar, Haridwar and other districts, construction of hill track for drivers’ training in Dehradun by the Transport Department, construction of tennis court, basketball court and jogging track by the Sports Department at Parade Ground, various drinking water projects, construction of fire station building by the Home Department at Almora, animal shelter at Dehradun and a medical college at Haldwani.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, Planning, S Ramaswami, secretary, Peyjal Nigam, S Raju, secretary, Rural Development, Vinod Fonia, secretary, Irrigation, Subardhan and other senior officials.

BJP joins protest for resumption of quarrying in Gola
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 2
Demanding resumption of quarrying in the Gola river, the BJP came out in support of traders today and staged protests at Lalkuan in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.

The BJP accused both Congress-led Central and State governments for delaying in quarrying in the Gola river of Uttarakhand, asserting that the livelihood of a large number of people were directly linked to quarrying activities in the river. The BJP accused the state government of doing little to ensure resumption of quarrying in the Gola river.

The BJP Lalkuan mandal president, Ram Singh, said the BJP would continue with the protest till quarrying was resumed in the Gola river. He said there were the Congress government both at the Centre and Uttarakhand but still the state government had failed to resume the quarrying.

Submitting a memorandum addressed to Uttarakhand Governor Dr Aziz Qureshi, the protesters sought his intervention urging him to take up the matter with the state government.

Meanwhile, unemployed youths in Lalkuan also burnt the effigy of state Congress government alleging that the state government instead of giving jobs to the people was making them jobless. 

Shiksha Bandhus stage dharna
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 2
Demanding regularisation of services, Shiksha Bandhus staged a dharna outside the Uttarakhand State Education Directorate in Tapowan, Dehradun, today.

The protesters, under the aegis of the Rajkiya Shikshak Sangh, sought immediate regularisation of their services as per service rules 2011. They alleged that Shiksha Bandhus who had joined before November 1, 2001, have already put 10 years of service but were yet to be regularised. They alleged that there was a large-scale resentment among Shiksha Bandhus because of delay in regularisation.

Vijaypal Singh Rawat, Bijrendra Singh Negi, Ramesh Painuily, Ram Singh Chauhan, Vaibhav Kumar and Shailendra Kumar were prominent among the protesters.

Mussoorie needs long-term plan to avoid water crisis
Ajay Ramola

Mussoorie, January 2
The ever increasing requirement of drinking water in Mussoorie due to coming up of residential and commercial complexes could result in an acute water crisis if no long term plan is framed.

Mussoorie town spread across an area of 64.25 sq km is a prominent tourist destination of the state and provides much needed revenue to the government. The town with a residential population of around 42,078 persons, 500 registered and non-registered hotels along with several important government installations and schools of international repute has an unending demand for water throughout the year.

The floating population of tourists of around 50,845 also raises the demand for water in the summer. The Mussoorie Water Supply Scheme was initiated in 1908. The Murrey pumping house was the first to be constructed in 1908. The Mackinon pumping house came up in 1913 while the Bhilaru pumping station was built in 1925. After Independence the Government of India also upgraded the Murrey pumping unit in 1962. In 1971, another unit was established at Jinsi. The latest upgrading exercise was carried out in 2003 from Dhobhi Ghat, thus increasing the water supply to some extent.

According to Mussoorie Jal Santhan officials, at present the town has 29 man-made reservoirs having a capacity of around 2,908,060 kilo litre. There are three reservoirs at Gun Hill Point, three at Radha Bhavan and two reservoirs are reserved for emergency with a storage capacity of 24,635 kilo litre. Around 2,000 commercial connections and 1,069 residential connections are registered with the Jal Santhan and they use water on daily basis.

GP Gairola, Executive Engineer, Mussoorie Jal Sansthan told The Tribune that during the tourist season the requirement of drinking water rises to around 14.42 million litre per day (MLD), but at present only 7.67 MLD was available. Hence, there is a shortage of 6.75 MLD. “In such a condition the Jal Sansthan is forced to ration water, especially in the summer by providing supply only for a few hours in the morning and the evening. This practice draws flak from the residents every year,” he added.

The hoteliers too suffer during the summer and are forced to transport water in trucks from various springs such as Dhobi Ghat, St. George Tank. The water from this sources are usually polluted with detergents and other chemicals used by washer men, thus jeopardising the health of tourists.

According to Mussooire Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) officials, rainwater harvesting was mandatory for commercial and residential houses, but the rules were not being followed properly. If water was used judiciously pressure on the regular drinking water supply in the town could be reduced.

Drinking Water Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani during the Assembly session recently had also agreed that Mussoorie was getting only half of its water requirement. He then had informed the House that the government had proposed a Rs 1.82 crore scheme under which drinking water from the Yamuna would be provided.

Another solution being floated as an alternate to the Yamuna project is that of constructing a Lake at Kandi Ghat near the Murrey pumping station on the way to Hotel rent wood farm near Kempty.

Gairola stressed on the building of a lake in the Kandi Ghat area where water could be stored to enhance reserve and water supply to the town.

“The project has some issues to settle like a part of land on which the lake is proposed falls under Rajaji National Park. Some land is private and need to be acquired for the project. If the bottlenecks are removed only then the project could ensure regular supply of water to the town. The cost of the project will also be far less than the proposed Yamuna project,” said GP Gairola.

Ganesh Joshi, MLA, Mussoorie also visited the site recently and pledged his support for the project. He also said the land belonging to the Rajaji park could be avoided for the construction of the lake.

Grappling shortage

Mussoorie town with a residential population of around 42,078 persons, 500 registered and non-registered hotels along with several important government installations and schools of international repute has an unending demand for water throughout the year

The floating population of tourists of around 50,845 also raises the demand for water in the summer

The requirement of drinking water during the tourist season rises to around 14.42 million litre per day (MLD), but at present only 7.67 MLD is available

Drinking Water Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani had told the Assembly that the government had proposed a Rs 1.82 crore scheme under which drinking water from the Yamuna would be provided to the town

1 lakh throng Purnagiri Dham for deity’s darshan
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, January 2
More than 1 lakh devotees thronged Purnagiri Dham to get the blessings from the deity on the first day of New Year. The devotees were from India and Nepal.

“We have made elaborate arrangement for the security of the devotees, the number of which reached more than 1 lakh in the past 24 hours. They have reached the hill-top temple from India and parts of Nepal to get the blessings of Purnagiri Devi,” said JS Rathod, SDM of Tanakpur in Champawat district.

According to the SDM, the devotees had lined up from December 31 to have darshan of the deity despite bitter cold and heavy rush. The devotees still waiting for their chance for darshan of the deity.

“The administration has set up for lights at the main gate of the temple. Some devotees have also offering free food to the devotees,” said the Tankpur SDM.

Drivers without helmets challaned in Haridwar
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 2
The Haridwar police today launched a campaign to streamline the traffic situation in the city.

The traffic police nabbed a large number of two-wheeler drivers for not wearing helmets or three-riding on a vehicle. Many of these offenders were challaned by the police officials at various intersections of the city. The traffic cops also checked the documents of the drivers of two wheelers at Arya Nagar, Bhagat Singh chowk, Chandracharya chowk and Shankaracharya chowk.

Chander Mohan Singh, Circle Officer, Traffic, Haridwar, said the next effort of the Haridwar police would be to teach and inform the general public about proper parking. He said vehicles were parked haphazardly on the roads leading to unnecessary difficulties on the roads. He further said even women two-wheeler drivers were being advised to wear helmets while driving their vehicles for their own safety.

Harish opens youth festival

Dehradun, January 2
Union Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat has appreciated the role of the Yuva Mangal Dals in spreading awareness in the rural areas.

Inaugurating a District Level Yuva Mahostava organised by Yuva Kalyan Evam Pranteeya Rakshak Dal in Haridwar today, Harish Rawat said the Yuva Mangal Dals were playing an important role in spreading awareness about social issues in the rural areas of the state.

Union Minister Harish Rawat said the district had immense potential in rural sports. He stressed for frequent staging of rural sports events to tap the budding talents.

Chief Executive Office Haridwar VS Dhanik, former Haridwar MC Chairman Satpal Brahmachari and district Haridwar Congress president Chowdhary Rajendra Singh were present.— TNS 

5 Delhi youths jailed for eve-teasing

Pithoragarh, January 2
The Almora police arrested five eve-teasers in the Maulekhal area of the Salt region last night. These youths were from Delhi and they molested several women in local markets in an inebriated condition. They also tried to pull a woman into their car at Maulekhal.

They again molested women at Jalikhan, Bhawali and Kafarakhan in the Salt area of Almora district before they were nabbed by local youths, the police said.

The arrested youths were from Delhi and had come to Salt to celebrate New Year. They consumed liquor and started teasing women at local markets. However, watching them indulge in eve-teasing local youths followed their car and overtook them at a nearby market. They were handed over to the police.

The police also recovered some liquor bottles from themn and they were sent to jail. — OC