|
|
|
|
|
Act against forest officials for party in Rajaji park: RLEK
Bahuguna gives away awards to students, teachers
Bhati Commission Chairman resigns
|
|
|
|
Specialist resource centre project hangs fire
Harak’s appointment as TDC chief illegal: Nishank
Kumaon Cong men hope to do well in local body poll
35 roads in Haldwani being re-carpeted
Not interested in becoming state Cong chief, says Tamta
Traders to be allotted shops on April 28
Book on heritage of Doon Valley released
Sarv samaj celebrates Holi Dehradun, March 25
Holi colours sold in Doon markets hazardous: Specs
Governor greets people on Holi
|
|
Act against forest officials for party in Rajaji park: RLEK
Dehradun, March 25 This is not the first time that the Wildlife Protection Act 1977 has been blatantly violated by the Forest Department by holding a party with loud music at the Rajaji National Park. Besides, 80 to100 vehicles were also taken in the park by the officials of the Forest Department and the Wildlife Institute. “Everyone knows that some of the associated organisations of the Forest Department and environmentalists go to Dhaulkhand, which is a VIP core area, between Christmas and New Year every year in buses and cars and they disturb the wildlife with their drunken revelries and playing of loud music in violation of the Wildlife Protection Act,” a press note issued by the RLEK said. “It is ironical that on the one hand Van Gujjars, who have been living in the forests for centuries, are prohibited from using an ambulance to ferry their ill people from the forests and cycles and motorcycles to ferry milk and other essential items under the garb of wildlife protection, on the other such parties are being held. This is nothing but the colonial mindset of the Forest Department bureaucracy, which is also infamous for high level of corruption,”said Avdhash Kaushal, Chairperson of the RLEK. He demanded that SS Sharma, Chief Wildlife Warden, Uttarakhand, should lodge an FIR against the officials involved in the incident. In case he fails, Kaushal said he would request the Supreme Court and the Nainital High Court, which had always shown concern towards the protection of wildlife, to take suo motu cognisance of the event. “Otherwise, we are open to go to court against the Chief Wildlife Warden SS Sharma, Director of the Rajaji National Park SP Subuddhi and also the Chief Minister for tolerating and patronising this kind of act,” said
Kaushal. |
||
|
Bahuguna gives away awards to students, teachers
Dehradun, March 25 The function was held at Survey of India auditorium, Hathibarkala. Speaking on the occasion, he said that teachers should not only impart academic education but should also inculcate moral values in students. He said vocational education should be given to students. The CM announced that laptops would be given to students who topped in high school and intermediate examinations of the Uttarakhand School Education Council. The Chief Minister announced a reward of Rs 1,01,100 to Leela Matiyani, wife of the late famous author Shailesh Matiyani. The awards given by the Chief Minister are named after Shailesh Matiyani and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. The CM said efforts were being made by the government to construct school buildings despite shortage of resources. He said engineering colleges and polytechnics were being set up in the state. He awarded Samir Riaz, a student of class X from R.I.College, Ramnagar, and Iram Saifi, a girl student of class X11 from Poornanand Tiwari Inter College, Jaspur. They were given Rs.15,000 and Rs. 20,000, respectively, and certificates. The CM announced that they would be given laptops. Three schools were awarded the CM’s trophy for achieving good results in classes X and X11. Present on the occasion were Education Minister MP Naithani, MLA Ganesh Joshi, Secretary (School Education), Manisha Panwar, and DG (School Education) RK Sudhanshu. |
||
|
Bhati Commission Chairman resigns
Dehradun, March 25 KR Bhati today tendered his resignation to the Chief Minister. The Congress government had been taking credit for finally managing to present a report after the creation of the commission, which the BJP government had failed to do after setting up an inquiry commission into the 56 scams that took place during the tenure of former Chief Minister ND Tewari. The first report tabled by KR Bhati became controversial after the BJP lashed out at the Chairman for working under the government pressure and failing to provide chance to the persons named in the report. Ironically, today Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna himself announced the resignation of KR Bhati from the commission. “He telephoned me today to announce his resignation. He was hurt by the charges levelled against him by the Opposition, which had cast aspersions on his integrity and had expressed his inability to head the commission,” said Bahuguna. The Chief Minister said that now retired IAS officer Sushil Chander Tripathi had been appointed as the Chairman of the commission and he would conduct inquiry into the other cases and present his report within six months. Sushil Chander Tripathi had earlier headed the commission set up by the state government to implement the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission. Report a pack of lies: Nishank Challenging his indictment by the Bhati Commission, former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank today termed its report on irregularities in Terai & Seed Development Corporation as a "pack of lies." He alleged that the report was prepared under the Bahuguna government's pressure to malign the previous BJP government headed by him in the state. "The Bhati Commission's report is one-sided and has been prepared under government pressure to tarnish the image of the previous BJP government," Nishank told reporters here. Rubbishing the probe panel's findings, the former Chief Minister asserted that the appointment of Hemant Dwivedi as the chairman of the corporation by his government was in accordance with provisions and the commission was wholly unjustified in questioning its legality. Rejecting the commission's contention that Dwivedi was a non-official person who could not be appointed as head of the corporation as per provisions of the TDC Act, Nishank said he was one of the directors of the TDC and was eligible to be made its chairman after buying a mandatory share of Rs 5000 in the corporation, which he did. Citing Sections 111(A) and 114 of the TDC Act, the BJP national vice-president said Dwivedi's appointment was as per provisions and its legality couldn't be questioned. — PTI |
||
|
Specialist resource centre project hangs fire
Dehradun, March 25 The centre envisages providing facilities of audiometry unit for deaf and dumb persons, IQ testing unit, a physiotherapy unit and services of a clinical psychologist so that the persons with different disabilities could receive all facilities under one roof for which allocations of Rs 56.95 lakh was already made by the Central Government. The specialist resource centre was to act as a referral unit and comprise an occupational therapist, an audiometry expert, a speech therapist and a clinical psychologist fulfilling norms and qualification according the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI). The disinterest of Doon Hospital ensures funds remaining idle since 2009, but also the disabled persons have been denied the right to better testing and rehabilitation facilities. "The resource centre fell prey to the frequent changes at the level of the hospital and Director General of Health and Family Welfare. After Rs 56.95 lakh were released by the Central Government, I immediately wrote to the then Principal Superintendent of Doon Hospital to start the centre by allocating two rooms. The Principal Superintendent expressed his inability and suggested shifting it to Coronation Hospital. It was after the intervention of the Director General Health that again the process was started," said BR Tamta, Commissioner Disabilities. Interestingly, along with the initial fund allocation, the Central Government had expressed keenness to allocate more funds, once the resource centre took The sound-proof audiometry unit and IQ testing unit using international standard testing equipment could have benefited parents What Doon Hospital now has is a District Rehabilitation Centre that is using the existing physiotherapy unit and services of a psychologist almost rejecting a bigger unit that would have been of great help to the disabled persons. "The unit in incomplete as it cannot cater to the persons with different disabilities. We will have to look at the issue afresh so
|
||
|
Harak’s appointment as TDC chief illegal: Nishank
Dehradun, March 25 "Never in the history of the state have rules and regulations been twisted. The minister has not only usurped the post of chairman, TDC, meant for a government official, shareholder and member of GB Pant Nagar University but also suspended the inquiry pending against former company secretary of the TDC," said Nishank at a press conference today. He said the BJP government had taken action against company secretary RK Nigam for misappropriating funds to the tune of Rs 51 lakh. "The officer should have remained suspended but the first thing the minister did after joining the office of the TDC chairman was to bring him back on the same position," said Nishank. Taking strong exception to the manner in which Uttarakhand Agriculture Minister Harak Singh Rawat had announced the tabling of the Bhati Commission report and registering of cases on the basis of the report, Nishank said, "The minister is in a habit of going against the prevailing rules. In the middle of the Assembly session, he made these announcements," said Nishank. He said it was strange that the Bahuguna government did not detect the anomalies prevalent in the appointment of Harak Singh Rawat, who has become the chairman of TDC. A minister could not become the chairman of the TDC. He should either be a state government official, a shareholder, farmer or from G B Pantnagar University. Therefore Harak Singh Rawat's appointment was illegal, said Nishank. Nishank said he was giving 15 days to the Bahuguna government to wind up the Bhati Commission report as it was biased and based on fabricated stories twisted to serve the government agenda. "The Bhati Commission report is a pack of lies hurriedly drafted to serve the government agenda. The report did not take into account of Article 114 of the Companies Act of Uttarakhand Seeds and Tarai Development Corporation (TDC) Ltd," he said. |
||
|
Kumaon Cong men hope to do well in local body poll
Pithoragarh, March 25 Congress leaders claim that after the victory of their candidates the ratio, which was 40:60 in these cooperative societies disfavoring the party, has now become 70:30 in the favour of the Congress. “We have won nearly 70 per cent seats in PACS in the region, the election which held recently, out of these the party won over 90 per cent cooperative posts in Nainital district,” said Mathura Dutt Joshi, a Congress spokesman, adding that the victory to the Congress in these societies was the result of a united party in the region. According to Joshi, the party has won 70 per cent seats in these societies for district cooperative bank delegates and nearly 70 per cent for the post of directors in these societies. “Out of the six bank delegates, two delegates of Bhesaj Sanghs and one for consumer cooperative bodies from each society, we have won 70 per cent seats all over the region,” said Joshi. According to Congress sources, the party is sure to win almost 90 per cent in the region on the posts of cooperative directors, the elections for which are scheduled in June. On the other hand, the BJP seems to have accepted the defeat in primary agricultural cooperative societies in the region as it has accepted victory in nearly 50 seats of these societies. “The cooperative elections are mostly participated by the nominated members by the state government, giving upper hand to the members of the party which is in power in the state. The BJP has won comfortable majority in these elections this time and likely to repeat 8 seats, out of 10 district chairman of cooperative banks in the state as we had last time,” said Suresh Joshi, secretary of the state BJP.
|
||
|
35 roads in Haldwani being re-carpeted
Pithoragarh, March 25 Finance Minister Indira Hriyadesh inaugurated the work at Hiranagar and said the government was committed to providing basic facilities to the people of the town. “Besides, the state government has also released the required budget for improving the drinking water facility in Haldwani town. “I have already sanctioned the required amount under the Vidhayak Nidhi for the repair of water pipes at several parts of the town,” said Hiryadesh. She later inaugurated a multi-purpose camp at Indira Nagar. She said the Congress-led government was mulling a scheme to assist poor girls in their marriages.
|
||
|
Not interested in becoming state Cong chief, says Tamta
Pithoragarh, March 25 “I am not at all interested in the post. Instead, I would like to work for Rahul’s vision for the 2014 election that will ensure the party’s return to power at the Center,” said Tamta. The Almora MP said the Congress had big challenges ahead of winning the panchayat and local body elections in the state to consolidate its position to win the 2014 parliamentary elections. He said the party cadre needed to work for that rather than lobbying for the posts. “Moreover, this is in the hands of the party high command to decide whom it wants to give command of the state to, keeping in mind its assessment of political situation in the country and state,” said Tamta. He said the recent visit of Rahul Gandhi to the state worked as a motivator for the party workers of the state. “I am among those Congressmen who want to utilise their energies in this direction,” said the Almora MP. |
||
|
Traders to be allotted shops on April 28
Dehradun, March 25 Dispensary Road would be able to take possession of shops in the month of May, as the new shopping complex is not ready as yet. The process of demolition of shops of Dispensary Road as well as Adat Bazar would begin on March 31 to widen these roads. Vice-Chairman, MDDA, RM Sundaram, said:''Ever since the government order was issued about the relocation of shopkeepers of Dispensary Road and the distribution of shops through lottery,they had begun expressing their discontent.'' He said he made it clear to the traders in today's meeting that 66 of them would get shops on ground floor and the rest on first floor. |
||
|
Book on heritage of Doon Valley released
Dehradun, March 25 Across the world, cities are trying to revive interest in their heritage sites and interpreting it for residents and visitors alike. This book, prepared after years of research, seeks to make the people of Doon more aware about the heritage that surrounds them in a very interesting format. It emphasises the pleasures of walking the streets and the nature trails that the Doon valley offers in great abundance. While also giving a reading list to avid Doon watchers, it makes anecdotal references to historical facts, for the young and the fun-loving. Written in easy English, the book offers the joy of history and adventure in equal measure. The book brings to light various interesting and little known facts about the Doon Valley, for instance that Dehradun competed with New Delhi in being named the new Capital of India in the 1920s.The legendary singer, Cliff Richards, spent his childhood and was baptised in the Doon Valley's St. Thomas Church. Arguably, the most famous music band, Beatles, visited Doon in 1968 and composed a song on the valley. The area around Astley Hall was so green and beautiful that the Viceroy stayed the entire summer with his family here. Heinrich Harrer, the writer of the famous Hollywood flick 'Seven Years in Tibet' was incarcerated as a prisoner in Clement Town. Hathibarkala is so called because it had banyan trees with prop roots so huge that elephants could easily pass through them. The book was released by Minister for Youth Affairs, Sports, IT and Planning, Dinesh Agarwal in a function that culminated in a walk covering the heritage precincts from Clock Tower to Guru Ram Durbar. Also present on the occasion was BVRC Purshottam, District Magistrate, Dehradun. NSS volunteers from various colleges and scholarship holders from the Department of Youth Affairs were given a unique opportunity to participate in the first youth heritage walk, referred to as the Doon Origins Walk in the book. Wearing badges declaring 'My City, My History,' the young participants were overcome with a sense of wonder, soaking in the heritage of their city. Exclaimed Sunita Singh from DAV (PG) College:''I have been in this area so many times but never realised I was surrounded by so much history.'' The highlights of this walk included heritage sites like Clock Tower, Jangam Shivalaya, Paltan Bazaar, CNI Boys' School, Jama Masjid, Dhamawala, Darshini Gate, Guru Ram Rai Durbar, Ramlila Ground and Nagalia Haveli. |
||
|
Sarv samaj celebrates Holi Dehradun, March 25
Members of the Uttaranchal Sanyukt Sarv Samaj Sangathan celebrated Holi here yesterday. They distributed sweets among each other. The party also commemorated its second foundation day. Artistes from Delhi and children of party members presented cultural programme.
President of the party Kunwar Japinder Singh said the people of the state must unite and work for the development of the state. He said Holi gave a message of brotherhood and unity. He called upon the party members to work harder to take the party to great heights. — TNS
|
||
|
Holi colours sold in Doon markets hazardous: Specs
Dehradun, March 25 “After testing, it was found that most Holi colours available in the market contain oxidised metals or industrial dyes mixed with engine oil which are dangerous for the skin. The black colour, for instance, comes from lead oxide, green from copper sulphate, silver from aluminium bromide and red from mercury sulphite. These chemicals can cause allergy, temporary blindness, renal failure, skin cancer and even paralysis. It can even prove fatal. The dangerous side effects of Holi colours can ruin the spirit of the festival,” said Brij Mohan Sharma from the Specs. He further said most colours sold in the market were metal oxide or industrial dyes. “When washed, these colours can pollute soil and water systems. They enter rivers and soil and increase pollution. Around 100 per cent toxic metals in synthetic colours and 35 per cent inorganic or natural colours were tested at the Specs laboratory. The toxicity level of the colours was very high and index is of level 10,” said Dr Sharma. He appealed to the public to be cautious about applying synthetic colours as these could harm the skin, hair and eyes. |
||
|
Governor greets people on Holi
Dehradun, March 25 Let us celebrate the festival with the spirit of brotherhood, love and cooperation by setting aside differences in order to strengthen human values in society. This alone can take the country and the state forward on the path to prosperity.”
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Classified | E-mail | |
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna today gave away awards to students, teachers and schools for achieving excellence in education at the school level.
Terming the appointment of Uttarakhand Agriculture Minister Harak Singh Rawat as chairman of Uttarakhand Seeds and Tarai Development Corporation
(TDC) Ltd illegal, former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna should cancel his appointment.
A book entitled 'Been There, Doon That?' featuring 10 walks to explore the heritage of Doon Valley was released today at the Clock Tower precincts today. The book, written by anthropologist, educator and heritage activist Lokesh Ohri has been published by the Department of Youth Affairs, Government of
Uttarakhand.
Governor Aziz Qureshi has extended greetings and best wishes to all residents of the state on the occasion of the joyous festival
of Holi. In a message, the Governor said, “Holi is a festival of colours full of happiness and joy which like the spring season gives us inspiration to make our environment pleasant and colourful.
