uttarakhand civic polls
Civic bodies' staff to be under Lokayukta, says Agarwal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 19
Chairman of the Uttarakhand Congress Coordination Committee for the civic bodies' elections Dinesh Agarwal said today that the Congress was committed to ensuring transparency in the working of the civic bodies in the state.

Addressing a press conference here, Dinesh Agarwal said the Congress-led state government was committed to ensuring transparency in the working of the civic bodies. He said civic bodies’ employees would also be brought within the ambit of Lokayukta to make them more accountable for their work.

He claimed that the Congress would emerge victorious in the civic bodies' elections. The party was making all efforts to improve infrastructure in urban areas. He said even law and order situation had improved under the Congress rule. Agarwal said the government had sanctioned five flyovers in Dehradun to improve traffic scenario. He said further efforts were being made to improve civic amenities in the capital city.

Meanwhile, Agarwal refuted that there were any differences in the Congress rank and file over the elections, particularly in Dehradun.

Senior Congress leaders Saket Bahuguna, Dhirendra Pratap, Ashok Verma and Lalchand Sharma were also present at the press conference.

Ramdev calls for bringing a change in political system
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, April 19
Yoga Guru Swami Ramdev today celebrated his 18th renunciation day on occasion of Ramnavami festival.

At a special function held at Patanjali Yogpeeth, Ramdev called on people to gear up for the change in the political system as by a single vote, one could change the ill-governance that had deeply affected the vision and development of the country.

Swami Ramdev celebrates his 19th sanyas divas on the occasion of Ram Navami at Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar on Friday. Tribune photo: Rameshwar Gaur

Yog Guru Swami Ramdev stated that in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, two issues would be most criticial, black money stacked in foreign banks and the mass corruption prevalent both in the government and in bureaucratic systems.

"A segment of rich people are ruling us, who are deep-necked in corruption. Bringing change in the system can only be brought by good governance which is in our hands. A single vote can change this trend, so people should be quite vigilant when casting their votes,” said Ramdev.

On the question of the yog guru forming his own party, Ramdev evaded the question saying that at proper time, he would make it clear whether he be floating a party. As of now, he is concentrating on generating awareness about the ill-effects of corruption and the corrupt leaders governing us”.

Swami Ramdev also stated that Gujarat BJP Chief Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Haridwar on April 26 on the occasion of launching of "Acharya Kulam" a gurukul mode of school.

"Acharya Kulam" will be a blend of Vedic and modern English education, where equal stress will be given to children in all fields be it education, sports, morality, yoga, physical fitness, personality development or co-curricular activities.

Accompanied by Acharya Balakrishan, Dr Jai Deep Arya, Rakesh Kumar, Dr Suman, Kartar Singh, Dr Jawahar Thakur, Ramdev remembered his guru Acharya Pradhyuman Maharaj, Bal Dev and Swami Shankar Dev.

Police unaware of Childline units to trace missing kids
Seema Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun April 19
It is quite disheartening that the state police has no knowledge of the existence of Childline units and funds in each district of the state. In wake of children missing from the state, the police is required to keep in touch with Childline units for the search, rescue and rehabilitation of these children. The fact came to the light when a senior Supreme Court advocate, Ravi Kant, who handles cases regarding human trafficking, enquired from the police officials during a workshop on the subject. Merely three hands raised and they too gave incorrect information saying two-three Childline units existed in the state.

The Director-General of Police, Satyavrat Bansal, however, set the record right, when The Tribune talked to him on the matter. Bansal said each district had one Childline unit.

It is a matter of serious concern as there are 1,300 children who went missing in the past three years have not been traced as yet. Whether these children have been engaged in child labour or sexual abuse is also not clear. The state police, which did not carry the search operations in different states due lack of funds, had no knowledge of several schemes enacted for the purpose.

The head of the Anti-Human Trafficking Cell and Deputy Inspector General of Police, CID, Pushkar Sailala, said that he would soon call a meeting with the representatives of Child Working Committee and Childline to ensure effective working plan in this direction.

Ravi Kant said, “The state police faces problem of fund shortage. The police does not has adequate funds for travelling to other states for searching missing children and rescuing them. But they also do not know that each Childline unit is given Rs 10 to 12 lakh for the rehabilitation of each child. This fund can be utilised by the police in coordination with Childline for travelling to other states. It can happen only if the police is fully informed about this fact.”

Kant also threw light on the other avenues available to police for getting funds. He said the department could take steps for establishing District Child Protection Society (DCPA) which can be constituted with a team of two counsellors, one social worker, one coordinator etc. The DCPA team can get different set of funds such as rescue fund, shelter fund and transportation funds.

Besides this, he said the department could also get funds under Ujjawala scheme run by the Centre government. Under this scheme financial support is given at each level, including rehabilitation of children. Kant said it was important for the police to know where to send children for rehabilitation.

He said, in Andhra Pradesh where 8,000 children went missing last year, as many as 7,500 were recovered in the same year. In West Bengal only 10 per cent of the 3,000 missing children could be traced. It all depends on how effectively the state police investigate the cases, Ravi Kant added. 

Ignorance of funds available

The police faces problem of fund shortage. The police does not have adequate funds for travelling to other states for searching missing children and rescuing them. But it also does not know that each Childline unit is given Rs 10 lakh to 12 lakh for the rehabilitation of a child. This fund can be used by the police in coordination with Childline for travelling to other states. It can happen only if the police is fully informed about this fact.

Maintenance of heritage sites need of the hour: Expert
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 19
Dr S Maiti, Superintendent, Archaeologist Chemist (Hyderabad), said the changing environment was posing several challenges for the conservationists.

“Our monuments are under threat from rapid urbanisation and increasing population. There are several places where ancient monuments are located in the densely-populated areas and human intervention cannot be ruled out. The task before the archaeologists and the conservationists is to ensure that not only these monuments get preserved for the posterity, but also their authenticity is maintained without altering their natural forms,” said Maiti. He was delivering a lecture on World Heritage Day yesterday at the Archaeological Survey of India (Science branch).

He said after UNESCO, in 1972, took upon the task of defining the world heritage sites and monuments, the campaign to protect them had reached great urgency.

Dr Narinder Singh Rana, Deputy Commissioner, Central School Organisation (Uttarakhand), said the beauty of our ancient monuments was unsurpassable. “These are man-made and produced as a result of hard labour which cannot be replicated through the use of modern technology. They also shed light on the value system that may have been the hallmark of a particular culture,” said Rana.

Science branch director KS Rana said awareness about the monuments and cultural sites should be imparted among the youth. While Dr Lalta Prasad, director, State Archives, said the archives could prove to be a vital source of information for the researchers and students.

The team from KV No.1, Salawala, won the quiz competition, while the team from Gorkha Military inter-college came second. 

Bowla-Nandprayag power project to get approval in May
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 19
Chairman of the Uttarakhand Hydropower Corporation Subhash Kumar today met Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna and informed him that 300 MW Bowla -Nandprayag Hydropower project would be approved next month and the formalities for 37 small hydroelectric projects were being completed.

The Chief Minister directed him to have the bidding for the project in June-July and for the 37 small projects in December. He said timely completion of the project and quality should be ensured and there should be transparency in bidding and other procedures.

Recently, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh have decided to work jointly on 660-MW Kishau Dam project. Besides this, 330-MW Dhauliganga project, Gauriganga project, 300-MW Lakhwar and 120-MW Vyasi Hydropower projects have already been approved by the Central Government.

The corporation is constructing five small hydroelectric projects, Kaliganga -1 (2x 2MW), Kaliganga 2 (2x3 MW), Sobla 1 (2x4MW), Madhmaheshwar (3x5 MW) and Kaligaad (2x4.5 MW). Power production has started at Kaliganga 1. Kaliganga 2 and Sobla 1 will begin production in December . Madhmaheshwar and Kaligaad will be completed in March 2015 and December 2015, respectively. 

5 families of landslide-hit village shifted
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, April 19
Five families of Khairkhet village in the Bhaisiyachana block of Almora district have been shifted to a safe place after the village was hit by a landslide and shooting stones on April 11. The district administration officials have been told to rehabilitate the families permanently at a safe place, disaster management office sources in Almora said.

Sumit Joshi, district disaster management officer, Almora, said Khairkhet village, which was hit by a landslide in September, 2010, had become weak and its land suddenly starting breaking on April 11 this year. The District Magistrate immediately ordered the affected families to be shifted to a nearby high school, said Joshi.

He said the District Magistrate had approved plots for each affected family at a new place and they were likely to be rehabilitated there permanently before the monsoon as soon as the Forest Department clears the proposal.

However, 42 families of Buradhar village in the same block, which were hit by a massive landslide in 2010, are still awaiting permanent rehabilitation. The district administration has earmarked 42 acres at Sangari village near the disaster-hit villages for the rehabilitation of the affected families, said Joshi.

According to the sources, the government has issued a new order making it easy for the district administration to avail of forestland for the immediate rehabilitation of disaster-hit families. The rehabilitation process will not be hindered by the Forest Act from this year if a disaster hits the district during the monsoon.

Ram Navami celebrated with fervour
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, April 19
The city of Haridwar was swept in a wave of religous fervour as the festival of Navratra and the birth of Lord Rama Chandra was celebrated across the district.

The nine-day long Navratras concluded with the breaking of fast on Navami. The birth of Lord Rama was also celebrated with gaiety and fervour in the pilgrim city.

Devotees thronged temples, ashrams, Braham Kund, Har-ki-Pauri, Ganga ghats to take a dip and perform religious rites. The shrines of Mata Mansa Devi, Mata Chandi Devi, Maya Devi, Sureshwari Devi, Daksh Maha Devo temple, Kankhal, Mata Vaishno Devi, Mata Shakumbari Devi were also thronged by devotees in large numbers.

Some devotees had broken their fast yesterday on the occasion of Ashtami and others who had observed fast yesterday, broke it today, after offering food to young girls.

On the occasion of Ram Navami, devotees performed special puja at temples of Lord Rama with the singing of bhajans. Shri Ram kathas were also performed at temples and homes. Followers thronged Shri Ram Mandir, Shri Tulsi Manas Mandir Bhoopatwala, Saptsarovar, BHEL, Jwalapur, MahaDev temple Kankhal, and the other temples situated across the district all day long.

Conference on teachings of Koran today
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 19
Jamiatus Salam Al Islamia will organise ‘Paygaam-e-Kuran’, a one-day conference on the teachings of Koran, at Azad Colony here tomorrow.

Addressing the media here yesterday, Mufti Rayees Ahmed Kasmi, managerm Madarsa Jamia Atusislam, said the conference would be attended by various Muslim intellectuals from north India.

Mufti Habibur Rehman Kherabandhi from Deoband, Maulana Habibur Rehman Shahi Imam, Punjab, Dr Aziz Burney and Governor Aziz Qureshi will be among the prominent speakers at the conference.

He said the issues like communal harmony and the evils prevailing in the Muslim community would be discussed. A cultural programme will also be organised Shahr Quazi Maulana Mohammed Ahmed Kasmi was also present at the newconference.

Name primary schools after freedom fighters, martyrs: Naithani
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 19
Uttarakhand Minister for Education Mantri Prasad Naithani yesterday asked Education Department officials to name primary schools in Uttarakhand after freedom fighters and martyrs, who laid down their lives in Kargil.

Naithani while chairing a meeting of the Education Department told the officials to get on with the task of naming schools after freedom fighters and Kargil martyrs to instil a sense of nationalism in children.

He directed the officials to ensure the students of primary schools received free books for the new academic session. “We have asked the State Council of Education Research and Training to meet with our demand,” he said. 

Free toilet plan to cover 50 per cent population
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, April 19
Over 50 per cent of the total families of the country will be brought under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan, or free toilet scheme, by constructing over 10 million toilets with an estimated expenditure of Rs 4,620 crore in the 12th Five Year Plan, Promila Gupta, Director of Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan, said at Nainital today.

Promila Gupta, who reached Nainital to take part in a seminar on the topic, told mediapersons that better implementation of sanitation programme was the responsibility of states. The Centre had already sent directions in this connection to the states and sought change in the behaviour of people to take benefits of the sanitation programme. “For that, we have decide to spend a sum of Rs 100 crore on awakening programmes on sanitation,” said Gupta.

The Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan director said over 28,000 villages in the country had been declared as Nirmal Villages, but some other villages were also existent in the country which had achieved full sanitation success but had not been declared as Nirmal Villages.

“The Government of India has decided to honour such villages from this year,” said the director.

Gang of robbers busted
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, April 19
In a major success, the district police arrested five persons of robbers' gang who were operating in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

A joint operation team of the Special Operations Group and Ranipur police station on a tip-off arrested the wanted criminals Narendra, Vijay and Binu alias Chhotu, all residents of Saharanpur, and Sandeep and Sartaj, residents of Puranpur, Haridwar, from Kirby Chowk at SIDCUL, while they were trying to flee the area 
late last night.

In May last year, the accused looted a Jwalapur resident of Rs 9,50,000. Hardcore criminal Narendra was wanted in a murder case of a BHEL DGM Dal Chand, who was killed in broad daylight in 2009.

On November last year, the accused had looted Ashu Tyagi of Rs 3, 74,000 at Dawa Chowk, Ranipur, when he was going home after drawing money from a bank.

Briefing the media, Senior Superintendent of Police, Haridwar, Arun Mohan Joshi said looted money had been recovered from the accused and Narendra investing it in a cyber café.

Narendra had procured four computer monitors, related equipment like UPS, battery, inverter other accessories, three motorcycles and a countrymade revolver.

While Kiran Lal Shah, city police chief, stated that in view of the major success, Inspector General, Law and Order, along with Deputy Inspector General, Dehradun range, has rewarded the joint police team with Rs 10,000 and Rs 5, 000.