With Rajnath in the saddle, Koshiyari may get state chief post
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 23
The elevation of Rajnath Singh as the national president of the BJP, who is on good terms with former Chief Minister BS Koshiyari, is bound to have an impact in Uttarakhand. The central leadership is likely to come up with a candidate of its choice for the post of state party president.

With consensus eluding the election of the state BJP president, the ball is now in the court of the central leadership to announce the candidate.

Both Koshiyari and Rajnath have been close associates and party sources say it will not be a surprise if the latter singles out Koshiyari to head the party. “In the immediate scenario, Rajnath will be eyeing the Lok Sabha elections to be held in 2014 or early and will have to deliver in order to strengthen his position in the party. What better than to hand the party reins in Uttarakhand to Koshiyari, who had delivered in the 2007 Assembly elections while heading the party in the state,” said a senior party leader.

Moreover, the BJP leaders have not forgotten the manner in which Koshiyari plotted Khanduri’s ouster in 2009 with Rajnath, who was then the national president of the party. Koshiyari had threatened to resign from the Rajya Sabha in 2009 in case his demand was not met. He was then persuaded by Rajnath to relent. The resignation did not happen and instead Khanduri lost the Chief Minister’s post.

Though Khanduri made a symbolic point by supporting Teerath Singh Rawat during the filing of nomination papers for the post of the party president, he along with Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank managed to channel resentment against the choice of Koshiyari. While picking a candidate for the post of the party president, Rajnath then has a task cut out for him.

The central and state leaderships of the party had on Sunday worked overtime persuading the two candidates belonging to different factions who had refused to withdraw their nominations. The dispute over the party post had erupted after the central leadership emissaries, Saudan Singh and Ram Lal, began telling the state leaders about Koshiyari being the unanimous choice of the central party core committee.

Several BJP leaders, who were sure of Nitin Gadkari’s re-election, had begun lobbying with him but with Rajnath taking the reins of the party the situation has dramatically changed, thus making things easier for Koshiyari.

Rajnath’s elevation celebrated
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 23
The Uttarakhand BJP today celebrated the elevation of Rajnath Singh to the post of national president with bursting of crackers and distributing sweets.

Several party workers gathered at the party headquarters to mark the occasion. Among those present in the party headquarters included Urba Datt, Vinod Uniyal, Baleshar Pal, Subash Barthwal, Dhan Singh Negi and others.

The party workers also burst crackers and raised party slogans, “We are hopeful the party would emerge victorious in the 2014 Lok Sabha election,” said Urba Datt.

Promises to develop Sitarganj will be fulfilled, says Bahugana
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 23
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has said that all promises made in the past for the development of the Sitarganj area would be fulfilled by all means.

Addressing a public rally after paying floral tributes on the statue of Subash Chandra Bose at Nakuliya, Sitarganj, today, Bahuguna said efforts were being made for a comprehensive development of the state.

He said his government was committed to providing corruption-free governance and to realise it, all should work with honesty. He said persons involved in taking and giving commission would be dealt sternly.

Bahuguna said fund allocated for the development of tribal areas should be utilised strictly for those areas only. He laid emphasis on establishing textile and spice parks to generate employment opportunities.

Bahuguna also laid the foundation stones of the Sitarganj- Bijti road, volleyball, basketball and tennis courts at Rudrapur and the head regulator of Begul Canal. He said priority would be given to the areas deprived of development works so far.

He said the construction of various hydroelectric projects would begin shortly and the power situation would improve by 2013 in the state.

Revenue and Cooperative Minister Yashpal Arya stressed on vocational training and said the establishment of industrial units in Sitarganj had boosted employment opportunities. He said the state government was focusing on the establishment of ITIs and polytechnics to provide technical education to students.

Also present on the occasion were former Cabinet minister Tilakraj Behad, former MLA Gopal Singh Rana, Narayan Pal and District Congress President Narayan Singh Bisht.

Plant Gular trees to check monkey menace: ICFRE
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 23
While Uttarakhand continues to struggle from the growing monkey menace, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education has suggested to the state forest authorities to go for Gular tree plantation in it's forest areas to curb growing incursions of simians in habitations.

The forest-dominant state of Uttarakhand has been facing a formidable challenge in the form of rising monkey menace. While this menace has been the main reason behind why villagers in the hill areas were abandoning agriculture, even in urban areas monkeys have come in conflict with humans. The issue has been the poll plank of parties in the state in recent times.

Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education’s Director General VK Bahuguna has suggested that Uttarakhand Forest Department should take to plantation of Gular trees in the forest areas of the state. “Undertaking plantation of Gular trees in forest areas can be a very credible option to check growing monkey menace in the state, and availability of Gular fruits can limit movement of monkeys within the forest areas,” Bahuguna pointed out.

Gular’s fruits are liked by simians and even birds, and being from the ficus family, come up easily. Gular comes up naturally even in a variety of environments as it keeps the trait of natural regeneration. Gular’s fruit is considered full of nutrition. The raw fruit is even used as a vegetable, and the ripe one, being sweet and full of pleasant aroma, is taken like any other fruit.

Significantly, Gular tree species are found in Uttarakhand but it's numbers have declined substantially in recent times. In very close proximity to capital Dehradun, a locality is still known by the name of Gular Ghati due to the once heavy presence of Gular trees in the region.

Bahuguna, asserted that Gular trees, that were fast vanishing from the forests, was a matter of urgent concern and a factor behind monkeys taking to crops as their feed and coming into direct conflict with humans.

Uttarakhand forest authorities on their part have time and again come up with numerous plans to counter monkey menace but were still to get success. State wildlife authorities in the state had once formulated monkey rehabilitation centres near temples and other Hindu religious institutions so as to ensure that monkeys did not venture into residential areas. Even now state forest authorities are contemplating setting up two monkey centres, one in Garhwal and the other in Kumaon divisions, where monkeys can be kept for the time-being and sterilised and then left in the wild forests. But these efforts have met with little success. Interestingly, some boarding educational institutions, particularly in the capital Dehradun, had even hired the services of lagoors to keep monkeys away from their campuses. Langoors by nature are more aggressive and do not let monkeys come close to them. But the solution to the problem still evades the state Forest Department.

However, planting Gular trees has it's own set of challenges. Plantation of Gular trees can ideally be undertaken through cuttings and not seeds, and it certainly needs a better soil. The state Forest Department has been nevertheless laying emphasis on planting other fruit tree species during monsoons as part of their routine plantation in forests but was yet to undertake any Gular species-specific plantation in a big way.

Construction of Vyasi hydropower project to begin next month
Tribune News service

Dehradun, January 23
The construction work of Vyasi Hydropower Project will begin in the month of February and of Lakhwad Project in May. A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL) chaired by its Chairman Subhash Kumar here yesterday. The meeting was held to discuss issues related to land transfer for various projects.

It may be noted that 4.036 hectare land had been acquired for Kaldigarh project. Kumar directed the officers to prepare a proposal for revised projects and forward them to Divisional Forest Officers and Nodal Officer, Forest Department, should forward it to Union Ministry of Forest and Environment (Central Zone), Lucknow, by February 27, 2013. In all 2.161 hectares land had been acquired for Asiganga- I project. This project was in it's last phase of completion when it’s D-tank, trench wear, power duct, power house, switchyard and side store were damaged in a cloudburst. Permission has been sought to construct these damaged structures in a nearby forest land.

Kumar said a total 2.302 hectares of reserved forest land had been acquired for Asiganag -II project and 2.934 hectares of land was to be acquired for Swarigad Project. He said that some objection was raised by Union Ministry of Forests and Environment (Central Zone) Lucknow, which has been resolved. He directed the officers to submit the land proposal to the Divisional Forest Officer, Uttarkashi, by January 24, 2013, and by January 25 it should be tabled in the office of Nodal Officer, Forest Department, Dehradun.

He said .9875 hectares had been acquired for under-construction 3.5 MW Limchagad Project at Uttarkashi and additional 3.288 hectares more was to be acquired. Representative of Nodal Officer, Dehradun, said that four complaints had been received against the proposal, which would be resolved in 4 days. Kumar said 9.975 hectares was to be acquired for the proposed 24 MW Bhilangana 2-A Project at Tehri district.

Kumar said that UJVNL had proposed for three hydropower projects, Bhilangana 2-A, 2-B and 2-C. He directed the officers to maintain proper distance among all the three projects after conducting geological and geo-technical survey. He said that mutation of 40 hectares barren land at Gram Kulha and 11.9 hectares at Lakhwad had been done. 

Policemen to be honoured on R-Day
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 23
Governor Aziz Qureshi will felicitate police personnel for their exemplary services on Republic Day. Yashpal Singh, sub-inspector, STF, Harish Singh, Narender Singh and Brahm Dutt, all constables, will be honoured for saving 13 children, 11 women, 13 men from drowning in the Ganga when their residential area in the Shyampur area of Rishikesh got flooded due to excessive rain on August 16 last year.

The others who have been named for the medals include Krishanpal Singh, inspector, Durga Singh, radio inspector, Rudraprayag, Vimla Rawal, inspector, police headquarters, Achalanand Chandola, sub-inspector, PHQ, Nandan Singh, sub-inspector, Udham Singh Nagar, Vidya Bhushan Negi, sub-inspector, Haridwar, Mukesh Tyagi, sub-inspector, Dehradun, and Mahesh Joshi, PHQ. 

Dr Pant is DG, Health & Family Welfare
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 23
Dr RK Pant, Director General, Health and Family Welfare, took over as new Director General, Department of Health and Family Welfare.

Under pressure from the court, state Minister of Health and Family Welfare signed the orders this evening, paving the way for Dr Pant's formal elevation to the top post in the state.

Dr Pant, who would retire on January 31, fought hard against the government's obduracy conducting the DPC and then deliberately delaying the issue of orders.

After the retirement of Dr Pant, no DPC would be held as Dr Yogesh Sharma would be heading the post of DG after the retirement of Dr Pant.

The DPC for the probable vacant post of DG was also conducted in December last year.

Netaji’s birth anniversary celebrated
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 23
The Adarsh Bharat Nirman, a voluntary organisation involved in teaching slum children, today held a function to commemorate the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at Gandhi Park here today.

The slum children gathered on the occasion were told about the sacrifice made by Netaji Subhas Chander Bose for the country's freedom struggle. The Adarsh Bharat Nirman has been providing education to the slum children of the Lakhibagh slum colony in Dehradun. The children participating in the programme resolved to educate themselves.

Shiv Sena distributes knives among girls
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 23
As part of the birth anniversary celebrations of their founder president Bala Saheb Thackeray and also Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Shiv Sena workers in Dehradun today distributed knives to girl students as symbol of women empowerment.

The Shiv Sena workers, led by their state head Gaurav Kumar, gathered at Gandhi Park, Dehradun, and distributed knives to girl students.

Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Gaurav Kumar said the contribution of both Bala Saheb Thackeray and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was immense to the country. “While Netaji formed Ajad Hind Sena to liberate India from the British rule, Bala Saheb Thackeray formed the Shiv Sena to strengthen internal security in Independent India,” Gaurav Kumar asserted.

Shiv Sena Women’s wing Dehradun in charge Indira Singh said by distributing knives to girl students, the Shiv Sena had tried to convey to women that they were no less to their male counterparts when it comes to defending themselves.

MKP (PG) College Students Union president Mahak Sakhuja the knives distribution programme provided strength to the feminine gender.

Shiv Sena leaders Tarun Ahuja, Devendra Bisht, Satendra Yadav, Rahula Chauhan and Virendra Singh were prominent among those who took part in the programme.

Problems galore for residents of remote Munsiyari village
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, January 23
Residents of Namik village, which is a remote village of the district and situated in Munsiyari subdivision, are compelled to carry essential goods for daily use from a distance of 12 km from towns of Bageshwar district on foot. The only road which links their village to the rest of the district was damaged in last Friday’s snowfall in the area.

“Due to the heavy snowfall on the day, electricity supply has also remained disconnected in the village as poles linked with a 50 KV power project of UREDA have been uprooted out," said Tulsi Devi, gram pradhan of the village.

According to the gram pradhan, satellite phones, the only means of communication in the village, have also not been functioning since January 17, making it difficult for villagers to communicate with the outside world. “The 120 families living in the village are also facing acute water problem as water pipes have been frozen due to heavy deposits of snow. The road from Namik to Nachni market, which is the only way to the market of the village, has been covered under 5 feet of snow at several places. The villagers will soon face ration crisis,” said the gram pradhan. 

Couples with more daughters to be honoured
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, January 23
The Champawat district administration has decided to award the couples, who have the maximum number of girl children in their family, on Republic Day this year. This step is being taken to change the mindset up of the people in favour of girl child.

As the district has a sex ratio of 852 girls to 1,000 boys, protection of girl child has become important under the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Test (PNDT) Act, said Sridhar Babu Addhakhi, District Magistrate, Champawat.

The District Magistrate was addressing a quarterly meeting on the status of the PNDT Act in the district. He said the district administration had also decided to appoint ANMs and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) as whistle-blowers to locate ultrasound centres in the district where sex determination tests were being done illegally. Such activists would be given a reward of Rs 5,000 by the District Medical Officer for each case reported.

The District Magistrate instructed all three licensed ultrasound centres in the district to make available the cellphone numbers of the women who visit them for tests. “To prevent foeticide in the district, we have also decided to prepare a database of all expectant mothers in all four development blocks of the district,” he said.

Coop banks to be computerised by March
Chief Secy tells officials not to compromise on quality of development works
Tribune News service

Dehradun, January 23
Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain today stressed on crediting scholarship and pension amounts directly in the bank accounts of bona fide beneficiaries. He said that all the cooperative banks would be computerised by the month of March. He also directed that there should not be any compromise with the quality of development works just in a bid to show more expenditure, and the amount should be utilised in the right direction and in a stipulated time frame.

Chief Secretary Jain was reviewing the work of Tourism, Education, Medical, Water Supply, Urban Development, Social Welfare and Women Empowerment & Child Development Departments at the Secretariat here today.

He laid emphasis on providing money to girl students instead of giving them bicycles. He directed the officers of the Education Department to chalk out the transfer policy for teachers before the start of the new academic session. He asked officers of the Health Department to implement Clinical Registration Act for the welfare of patients.

It was apprised in the meeting that the Tourism Department had spent Rs 29 crore as against the allocated Rs 35 crore. In primary education Rs 434 crore had been utilised as against the allocated Rs 463 crore. A sum of Rs 108 crore had been so far spent in middle education from the total allocation of Rs 177 crore. In the allopathic (medical) field, out of total Rs 201 crore, Rs 115 had been utilised, Rs 105 crore had been spent on water supply as against Rs. 216 crore. Urban Development Department had utilised Rs 91 crore from the total allocation of Rs 107 crore. Social Welfare Department had expended Rs 232 crore from the allocated Rs 348 crore.

Meanwhile, out of a total of Rs 347 crore, Rs 119 crore had been utilised by the Women Empowerment and Child Development Department. All the concerned departments assured that the total budget would be utilized in the stipulated time frame.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretaries S Ramaswami, S Raju, Radha Raturi, Secretaries Umakant Panwar, MH Khan, Manisha Panwar and other senior officers.

Firms adopt 30 schools
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 23
Some businessmen of private industrial companies today adopted 30 primary government schools, junior schools and inter-colleges in the district on the suggestion of District Magistrate BVRC Purushottam.

The DM directed the District Basic Education Officer to instal new signboards in the selected schools, which should attach the name of the companies of the proprietors as well.

Three held for bid to abduct, rape minor
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, January 23
The police last evening foiled a bid to abduct and rape a minor girl near the town and arrested three local youths. The victim has been sent for medical examination. The accused have been sent them to jail.

According to the police, the incident occurred at Aincholi village when the girl was going to Tharkot village with one of her relatives. She was suddenly pulled into a speeding jeep on the Tanakpur-Pithoragarh highway by three youths with intention to rape her.

“When a passerby informed the police, the night patrolling squad swung into action immediately and overtook the jeep some 5 km from the abduction spot with three youths and the girl,” said NK Singh, police circle officer of the Pithoragarh circle.

According to the police officer, the youths have been charged under Sections 363, 366,342, 376 and 511, IPC.

“After the medical test, the rape has not been confirmed, but the police has sought remand for the culprits from the magistrate where they were produced today,” said the police officer.

DIG of the Pithoragarh range Ganesh Singh Martolia has announced a reward for the police team for acted promptly.