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Proposal to set up Coca Cola plant
CPI passes resolution against Coca Cola plant
Environmentalists opposing plant to gain popularity, says Dhirendra
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Dhasmana, Chamoli come face-to-face at vision meet
BJP mayoral candidate Vinod Chamoli shakes hands with Congress candidate Suryakant Dhasmana at
an interaction programme organised by the Rotary Club in Dehradun on Sunday.
Various bodies extend support to Dhasmana
Cong CD highlighting development out
Uttarakhand Congress spokesperson Dhirendra Pratap (third from left) releases an audio CD highlighting the achivements of the government in Dehradun on Sunday.
UKD mayoral candidate promises graft-free DMC
Uttarakhand
civic polls
Posters pasted by candidates for the civic bodies’ poll in violation of the
model code of conduct in Mussoorie on Sunday.
250 examined at medical camp
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Proposal to set up Coca Cola plant Tribune News Service
Dehradun, April 21 The Congress categorically held that Coca Cola would bring in a Rs 600 crore investment project to the state along with employment opportunities for as many as 1,000 people. He said the environmentalists, who are opposing Coca Cola, are only looking after cheap publicity and not to the concerns of Uttarakhand that urgently needs industrial development. Congress spokesman Dhirendra Pratap said West Bengal’s Singur lost the Tata Nano plant due to such propaganda. Now making environment an issue, there were people who want to make Vikas Nagar, where the Coca Cola plant is proposed to be set up in the state, another Singur. He said Coca Cola coming to Uttarakhand was in itself a big achievement for the state. He also appealed to farmers not to get misled as such investments were in the interests of the state. Pratap pointed out that a lot of politics is being played in the name of the Ganga by so-called activists who are only hindering the development of the state. Significantly, only a few days back, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd (HCCBPL) signed a memorandum of understanding with the State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand (SIDCUL) for setting up a Rs 600 crore plant for the manufacturing of non-alcoholic carbonated beverages, juices, fruit-based drinks at Chharba village at Vikasnagar in Dehradun. The company even gave a cheque for Rs 1.6 crore as earnest money and processing charges and will invest Rs 600 crore in two phases and the project will directly or indirectly give employment to 1,000 local people. Environmentalists and local villagers have started opposing the plant in Vikasnagar citing environment reasons. They argue that Coca Cola will resort to rampant extraction of underground water leading to the depletion of underground water table. They said taking into account the past experiences of other states, Coca is in habit of stealing water and even there have been cases when contamination of underground water has been reported from its sites. Interestingly, while environmentalists are dubbing Coca Cola in poor light, the company, way back in 2008, had expressed its willingness to work for the revival of Naulas, Ghadharas, Khals, the traditional water sources of Uttarakhand on the similar lines as was done in case of bawaris of Rajasthan. The company top officials, who had come to Dehradun on the invitation of the Uttarakhand chapter of the Confederation of India Industries, said they were open to any type traditional water sources conservation efforts in the state.
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CPI passes resolution against Coca Cola plant
Dehradun, April 21 National general secretary and in-charge of Uttarakhand Shamim
Faizi, who was present at the meeting, said, "Four power plants which are fed by river waters will be affected due to the bottling plant of Coca Cola. Not only the ground water will also be depleted, but the water supply to the people of the area for irrigation and drinking purpose will also be hit. The CPI demands revocation of the project." He expressed satisfaction on the performance of the CPI in the state, saying that enrolment of branch secretaries for various units of the party in the state showed remarkable growth this year. While declining to join any alliance, he said the party would strengthen its bond with other Left constituents such as the CPM and the CPI (ML). "Our bitter experience of forging a regional alliance in the past failed drastically. It is after three months, panchayat election will be held in the state. Around Parliament elections, we might trace such possibilities." He added, "It is quite clear that none of the party will get majority to form the government at the
Centre. In such a situation, the role of the Left would be interesting and critical. So we will try to send as many MPs as possible in Parliament to strengthen our position. At the moment, we are building our base in every state." He admitted that the Left too would have to change with the change sweeping across the entire world but he insisted that the Left would never leave its core ideology, welfare of working class. "The way 2 crore people of working class supported our call for two-day nationwide strike in the past showed that the Left parties are still calling the shots. If the Centre did not implement the welfare policies for the working and labour class, then we will resort to indefinite strike." While referring to the issues of the state government, he said the way large corporations exercised control over rivers in the name of energy showed that the the state government shared a close rapport with corporations rather than public. He also expressed concern over the acquisition of farmers' land. "The state government seemed to be obsessed with one-point agenda as to how to dispose of the precious agriculture land of farmers at the cheapest prices. People are harbouring resentment against grossroot resources." He said the state lagged in terms of education and health services. The other top leaders present at the two-day meeting were member, national executive, Dr Jogender
Dayal, member, National Council, Samar Bhandari and state secretary, CPI, Anand
Singh Rana.
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Environmentalists opposing plant to gain popularity, says Dhirendra
Mussoorie, April 21 Dhirendar told mediapersons at Congress Bhavan here that the claims being made by the environmentalists that the Coca-Cola plant at Vikas Nagar would lead to decrease in the water table and result in a drinking water crisis were unfounded. “They were just trying to gain cheap popularity by raking up the issue unnecessarily,” he said. He added that the Congress-led government was committed to the development of the state and providing employment by bringing in corporate houses in order to stop migration. Some environmentalists were unable to digest the idea of such rapid development of the state. Dhirendra also lambasted BJP MP from Tehri Raj Lakshmi Shah for her statement that Congress ministers had indulged in rampant corruption during the distribution of the Uttarkashi disaster relief funds termed it as preposterous. He challenged Raj Lakshmi to furnish proof publicly of even on case of corruption against Yashpal Arya. On the contrary, Dhirendra said the BJP was the party which did not believe in democratic functioning and stalled the proceedings in assembly for five days after the Bhati report highlighting corruption during BJP regime were tabled in the recent assembly session thus revealing the double faced character of BJP. Dhirendar said the Congress would win the maximum seats under the able leadership of Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna. He also appealed to people to vote in a large number in favour of the Congress candidates. He said the people instead of voting for tainted BJP candidate for MC president’s post OP Uniyal in Mussoorie would chose Congress candidate Manmohan Mall this time round for the post of president. Later former MLA from Mussoorie Jot Singh Gunsola released the manifesto of the Congress prepared by the city party unit outlining the development works that it would carry out if voted to power in the MC elections. Gunsola said the Congress had prepared a roadmap in form of a 24-point programme for the development of the town. Employment for the youth, housing, parking and a corruption-free council would be the mainstay of the Congress in the MC elections. The Congress also pledged to restore the glory of the town. The manifesto also talked about opening a homeopathic clinic, relaxing norms of MDDA for residential construction. Developing tourist destinations also figured in it. Local Congress unit president Bhagwan Singh Dhanai, Javed Khan, Sandeep Sahni, Rajat Agarwal, Gaurav Agarwal, Satish Daundiyal and others were present on the occasion.
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Dhasmana, Chamoli come face-to-face at vision meet
Dehradun, April 21 Taking part in the deliberations, Congress mayoral candidate Suryakant Dhasmana pledged to push for implementation of 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution to empower civic bodies in the state. "I will not hesitate to put pressure even on the state government for the implementation of these amendments as local bodies are an important part of our three-tier democratic system", Dhasmana pointed out. He also assured them of a verification drive in Dehradun to keep a check on the entry of anti-social elements. He said the city would be a better place for senior citizens and women to live in if he was voted as Mayor. BJP mayoral candidate Vinod Chamoli on the other hand referred to his achievements as the sitting Mayor of Dehradun. He asserted that he had been instrumental in widening of Chakrata Road, the issue that had been in the lurch for the past many decades. He said he had also facilitated widening of as many as 16 crossings in the city to ease traffic congestions. The programme ended with queries put up Rotary Dehradun central members. Interestingly, while Congress candidate Suryakant Dhasmana preferred to reply to the queries, BJP candidate and sitting Mayor Vinod Chamoli made a hasty exit before the start of the question-answer session. Rotary Dehradun Central president SS Sirohi, Piyush Mittal and Mukund Madhav were prominent among present at the meet.
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Various bodies extend support to Dhasmana
Dehradun, April 21 At a meeting held at Gandhi Road, office-bearers of the Uttarakhand Railways Employees Union, the Uttarakhand Rajya Nigam Karmchari
Mahasangh, the Garhwal Mandal Karmchari Sanyukt Morcha, the Peyjal Nigam Karmchari Sangh and the Minorities Welfare Front have announced support for Suryakant
Dhasmana. Uttarakhand Rajya Nigam Karmchari Mahasangh president Santosh Rawat said Congress candidate Suryakant Dhasmana keeps potential to take Dehradun on roads to development. Uttarakhand Railways Employees Union General secretary Ravi Pachori said Suryakant Dhasmana had always fought for the betterment of employees. He said Dhasmana was the most ideal person to become the Dehradun Mayor. Congress mayoral candidate Suryakant Dhasmana said the Congress had always taken all sections of society together irrespective of class and creed. He also held that the Congress government in the state was ensuring speedy development of the state. He expressed gratitude to the organisations expressing confidence and support
on him. Earlier in the day, Suryakant Dhasmana inaugurated a Congress election office at Govindgarh of
Dehradun. He also held public meetings at Maharani Bagh, Okhal Bhatta and Chorkhala localities. Congress leaders Vishal
Dobhal, Dinesh Kaushal, Mohan Kala and Madan Sharma were present on the occasion.
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Cong CD highlighting development out
Dehradun, April 21 Releasing the CD, Congress spokesman Dhirendra Pratap said the CD contained songs that mentions about the Central schemes and its benefits to Uttarakhand. He said the Congress believed in politics of development and CD does not criticise any party and also refers to achievements of the state Congress government. Responding to queries, Dhirendra Pratap refuted the BJP's charge that large-scale irregularities had taken place in the relief works for Uttarakashi cloudburst victims. "The BJP must prove charges or should not resort to making such false allegations", Dhirendra Pratap said.
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UKD mayoral candidate promises graft-free DMC
Dehradun, April 21 Lakhera said he would also ensure public participation in development projects. Hitting out at the BJP and the Congress, he said the national-level parties could never work in the interest of the state. “Their main objective is to take undue advantage of power of governance. To realise the dream of the people, we will have to strengthen a regional alternative at the state level and ensure the participation of people in it,” he said. During his public campaign, senior leaders Virender Mohan Uttarakhandi, Narayan Singh Rawat and Shashi Bhushan Bhat were also present.
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Nine candidates get notices
Our Correspondent
Mussoorie, April 21 Dangi, while talking to mediapersons, said nine Independent candidates contesting for the post of ward councillor had been served notices for violating the poll code by pasting banners and posters on public property. Dangi said some of the candidates had begun removing posters from public places.
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250 examined at medical camp
Mussoorie, April 21 Dr Jyoti Sharma, a gynaecologist from Dehradun, Dr Anudhir, Radhika Raturi, Jyoti kukreti and 10 other nursing staff provided the necessary assistance during the camp. Dr Sunil Sanon, a member of the trust, said the camp was well managed by the staff and doctors. Dr Venu Sanon, RP Pandey, Mahaveer Singh Negi, Rajni Bisht and others were present on the occasion.
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In the run-up to the civic polls, the Rotary, Dehradun Central, today organised a vision meet that was attended by both Congress and BJP Dehradun mayoral candidates.
Taking part in the deliberations, Congress mayoral candidate Suryakant Dhasmana pledged to push for implementation of 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution to empower civic bodies in the state.
The Congress today released an audio CD highlighting the development being done in the state through Central government schemes. The CD will be used for campaigning in the ongoing civic poll.
Releasing the CD, Congress spokesman Dhirendra Pratap said the CD contained songs that mentions about the Central schemes and its benefits to
Uttarakhand.
Mussoorie, April 21
