Rs 8,500-cr state Plan fixed
Montek: State has done well in picking up pace of development
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 23
The annual Plan of Rs 8,500 crore for the year 2013-14 for the state of Uttarakhand was finalised at a meeting between Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Vijay Bahuguna, held in New Delhi.

In his comments on the plan performance of the state, Ahluwalia said the commission was fully aware of the infrastructure deficit in the state and constraint in meeting the cost of infrastructure development. He said the state needed to further encourage private sector participation in infrastructure development. Improved infrastructure would help the state in fully tapping the potential in sectors like tourism while catalysing economic activity in all regions of the state.

Ahluwalia further said that despite development constraints, the state had done well in picking up pace of development. Although, it is still not on a par with the national average on human development index, noticeable improvements have been registered in various segments. Achievements in education and health sectors were specially appreciated. Members of the commission pointed out that the states could helped the Central Government in improving the efficiency of the Centrally-sponsored schemes by pointing out problems in implementation. They said suggestions from the state would help in timely corrections and help in reaching targets.

The Planning Commission recognised the relevance of developing the Tehri Dam area as an international tourism destination and asked the state government to give a full presentation on the project so as to evolve a plan to fund this project.

Chief Minister Bahuguna said the industrial package given by the Central Government for 10 years from 2003 to 2013 was prematurely withdrawn in 2010, which as adversely affecting the industrial development. He also requested for a special grant to provide adequate facilities to the tourists/pilgrims as the state had dual responsibilities of facilitating a population which is three or four times the population of the state. Creating civil amenities for tourists/pilgrims was an extra burden on the state's limited resources, he said.

Drawing attention to the problems being faced in the development of physical infrastructure, he said more than 200 villages were situated at vulnerable points. Re-settlement and rehabilitation of these villages needed huge resources. He said more than Rs 500 crore would be required to relocate and rehabilitate these villages before disaster struck.

In order to remain an attractive location for further investment, the state government had to support the creation of an attractive industrial and social infrastructure. He said infrastructure development through public private partnership was being encouraged. To fast-track PPP projects, a new policy had been approved and 12 projects were being successfully implemented in the PPP mode. Another 57 projects were in the pipeline. The investor-friendly policies initiated by the government had resulted in the investment of more than Rs 35,000 crore and would generate employment for 2 lakh persons.

The Chief Minister sought the Planning Commission support in getting green bonus for protecting forests and compensation for power projects stalled due to environmental clearances. He said despite constraints, the state was well set to achieve the growth rate target for the 12th Plan. Agriculture would continue to be the focus of development strategy as over 60 per cent population is dependent on this sector.

Doon DM to hear UKD (Panwar) case tomorrow
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 23
A delegation of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Panwar), led by president Trivender Singh Panwar, today asked District Magistrate BVRC Purushottam and Additional District Magistrate Harak Singh Rawat to expedite a decision on the contentious party factions.

Following their request, Purushottam advanced the date of hearing of both the contending sides to Saturday. Earlier, it was fixed for June 7. Panwar is demanding the eviction of his opponent Kashi Singh Aeri who was elected president in the party convention here three days ago. The convention was boycotted by Panwar and his supporters.

The faction led by Trivender Singh Panwar contended that a law and order situation could arise if the matter was not resolved soon. Hence, the district administration must hear both sides soon.

The ADM asked for time to go through the documents and said he was awaiting the report of the local investigation unit in the matter. However, on the direction of DM, he later fixed the hearing for May 25.

The supporters of Trivender faction have been holding a dharna on the road outside the party office since yesterday. A minor scuffle took place between women leaders Promila Rawat and Usha Sharma, representing both the factions.

Earlier in the day, general secretary, Shanti Singh said, “If the district administration did not attend to our grievances at the earliest, we have the right to register our protest through democratic manners of dharna, bandh or chakka jam etc,”

The Panwar group said it would not enter the party office until Aeri and his supporters were not ousted from there.

Harak Singh Rawat has received documents from both the sides. While Aeri has given evidence to prove that his election was constitutional, Panwar has submitted documents to prove that the election was illegal.

Aeri has said he would abide by the directions passed by the district administration. He said he had directed his party members not to indulge in any scuffle with the Panwar group, despite provocation.

Anna’s Uttarakhand yatra ends in Nainital
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, May 23
Social activist Anna Hazare has said the emergence of political families is fatal for the Indian democracy as these families take authoritarian decisions after remaining in power for generations.

Addressing a large gathering at Nainital during the last leg of his ‘jantantra yatra’ in Uttarakhand, the social activist alleged that after Independence, the Englishmen were replaced by ‘black sahibs’ who were exploiting their own people which had resulted in corruption and pushed the common Indian into difficulties.

“Tainted members of Parliament have become a symbol of this rampant corruption,” said Anna.

Attacking the political system, Anna said every political party is based on donations given by industrial houses which, in exchange, take huge benefits from these parties when they come into power.

“This donation system has become a means to make white the black money earned by these industrial houses,” alleged the social activist.

After completing his yatra in Uttarakhand, he would resume his movement in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh to mobilise the youth who would become a beacon of political and social change, he said.

“After the jantantra yatra, we will organise a jan sansad in September this year where the strategy to root out corruption in the country will be discussed,” said Anna.

Pant: Govt dependent on public accounts money, borrowings
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, May 23
The present Congress government in the state has become highly dependent on public accounts money and market borrowings to meet it's expenditure of popular announcements, alleged Prakash Pant, former Cabinet minister and BJP general secretary here today.

''As the non-plan expenditure is in the loss range of Rs 14,000 crore in the state, all popular announcements of the government are being met from either through market borrowings or public accounts money,'' said Pant.

Addressing a press conference in his home district after arriving as BJP secretary for the first time, Pant said that due to non-increase in government's resources in the state, the government has depended on public accounts money to meet even the expenditure on the accounts of the allowances for unemployed youths and ration subsidy announced by the government to become popular. There are no other resources to meet this sudden expenditure. ''If at any stage, public accounts head needs more money than left by the government in it, the SBI might take stringent action to block the withdrawal,'' said Pant.

“On the other hand, the speed of plan expenditure utilisation is very slow in Congress government's more than one-year tenure as it could spend only a sum of Rs 4497.10 crore during 2012-13 financial year against release of Rs 6328.80 crore from the accepted budget of Rs 8977.35 crore for the said period,” he said.

According to the BJP leader adopting the face-saving devise on budget utilisation, the government's plan machinery withdrew a sum of Rs 2400 crore under plan budget in one month's time from February 28 to March 31 during last financial year.

He said the non-plan expenditure of the Congress government is increasing rapidly as it now stands at Rs 15,419 crore from Rs 12,000 crore in nearly one year's time of Congress government. “The provision of non-plan budget in the state has decreased by Rs 1,000 crore as the Central Government has released only Rs 280 crore against its promise of Rs 1,500 crore under additional Central assistance fund,” said Pant.

Kaulagarh residents take up issue of poor roads with DM
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 23
A delegation of Kaulagarh residents, led by BJP city circle president Vinod Sharma, met District Magistrate BVRC Purushottam here today to take up the problem of bad roads in their area.

Sharma said the roads in the Kaulagarh area were in poor condition for the past two years and no efforts had been made to repair them.

He said when the residents approached the officials concerned earlier, they were told that the roads had not been repaired as it would have to be dug up again to lay sewer pipes. However, the sewer-laying work had also not been carried out. Residents were living a miserable life owing to this, he said.

Vinod Sharma said commuters were facing a tough time driving on the damaged roads, which could cause a major accident.

He also demanded the setting up of a sewerage treatment plant in the area. Vinod Sharma urged the DM to direct the Payjal Nigam to lay sewer pipes as well as set up the plant in the area at earliest. The DM called up the officials concerned in the presence of the delegation only and directed them to take swift action on the two issues.

BJP nominations

Dehradun, May 23
The central BJP has nominated former Chairman of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission Suresh Rathore as national secretary of the BJP Central Scheduled Caste Morcha and former chairperson of the State Women’s Commission Sushila Baluni as member of the national working committee of the BJP Mahila Morcha.

Further Sanjay Chaturvedi has been nominated national coordinator of the NGO cell. The president of the Uttarakhand BJP, Teerath Singh Rawat, said several leaders from the state had found a place in the central working committee and the central bodies of the party. — TNS

Hearing on Dhami’s bail application postponed
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, May 23
Harish Dhami, MLA, Dharchula, today again faced disappointment when the hearing on his bail application was postponed to May 28 after the Pithoragarh District and Sessions Judge proceeded on leave. The Nainital High Court had yesterday rejected his petition for allowing the judge in-charge of the District Sessions Court to hear his bail petition.

Dhami was denied bail by a Didihat court on May 18 after he surrendered before it in connection with a non-bailable warrant issued against him. He is still admitted to the district hospital due to illness. He is likely to be shifted to Didihat and sent in judicial custody if doctors in the hospital declare him medically fit.

After the hearing on his bail application was postponed from May 23 to May 28 Dhami had approached the high Court requesting it to permit the judge in-charge of the District Sessions Court to hear his petition, but the high court rejected his plea.

A Didihat court has already fixed hearing on his bail plea for May 27.

Bharatnatyam marks Oak Grove School celebrations
Ajay Ramola

Mussoorie, May 23
A Bharatnatyam performance by BN Ananth marked the ongoing celebrations of Oak Grove School in Mussoorie today.

The school is celebrating completion of 125 years in existence and festivities will continue till June 1 which is observed as the founder's day of the school.

The chief guest, PP Sharma, Executive Director, Railway Board, New Delhi, inaugurated the programme today by lighting the ceremonial lamp.

BN Ananth, paying obeisance to various deities, performed ‘Pushpanjali’ and ‘Kirtan’ in Bharatnatyam style which was much appreciated by the audience.

Following that the class XII students from the school presented a play entitled “Nastik Kanchi Ki Aasthik Batein”. The festivities will go on till June 1 when the school will celebrate it's 125th founders day.

Yesterday, a Sambalpuri folk dance performance by a cultural team from East Coast Railway, Bhubneshwar, heralded the 10-day celebrations of Oak Grove School managed by Northern Railway in Mussoorie.

The chief guest, Dr Sadhana Malhotra, inaugurated the programme by lighting the ceremonial lamp. The highlights of today’s programme were a Sambalpuri folk dance by the cultural team of East Coast Railway, Bhubaneswar, and a lively bhangra dance by the cultural team of DMW, Patiala.

The audience was mesmerised by the scintillating performances given by the folk artists on the occasion.

The team from Bhubaneswar has given various performances at Chennai, Bangalore, Delhi, Guwahati and Bhusawal. They won the third position in the Inter Railway Cultural Competition held at Bhusawal last year. They presented a beautiful folk dance ‘Rasarkeli’, which is the main dance in the marriage ceremony of Orissa. Different instruments are used in this format of dance like dhol, nisan, jhanj, tabla and flute.

More programmes are outlined till June 1 as part of the celebrations of Oak Grove School which came into existence in 1888. 

PETA to take part in Escape Festival
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 23
As part of an initiative to encourage young people to get active for animals’ welfare, the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) will be attending the Escape Festival of Art and Music 2013 to be held at Naukuchiatal in Naintial district from May 24 to 26.

“The Escape Festival 2013 is the perfect place to get young people to stand up and speak out in defence of animals,” says PETA India Youth Outreach adviser Neha Singh. Besides putting up their stall at the festival, PETA’s youth representatives will interact with youths coming to the festival and educate them about the animal rights’ issues.

They will also be recruiting youths for PETA’s highly active Street Team and collecting petition signatures to urge the Central government to pass the draft Animal Welfare Act, 2011, in the form prepared by the Animal Welfare Board of India, to ensure that anyone who abuses or neglects an animal, whether it’s a dog on the street or an animal forced to perform in a travelling show, is brought to justice,” she said.

Significantly, PETA Youth supporters include musicians Parikrama, Indian Ocean, Monica Dogra and Anoushka Shankar, who have used their art to encourage young people to get involved in one of the fastest-growing movements for social justice in the world: Animal Rights.

The festival started in May 2009 when a few musicians and like-minded people decided to get away from the daily chorus in New Delhi to spend some time at Naukuchiatal in Nainital.