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Missing persons: Govt may issue death certificates
Uttarakhand the challenge ahead
CM distributes relief cheques
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Boulder that saved Kedarnath temple to be preserved
400 disaster-hit villagers still await rehabilitation
Mussoorie Shaheed Sthal to be given facelift by Sept 2
MLA upset over non-utilisation of funds provided to MPG College
Rajaji park’s info officer fined
Rs 25,000
DM holds meeting to resolve LPG problem
AIR starts functioning from Prasar Bharti complex
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Missing persons: Govt may issue death certificates
But sources claim that some of the other state governments who are also extending ex-gratia aid to persons belonging to their states, who had gone missing in the June calamity, are insisting that death certificates be issued by the Uttarakhand government. ''The issue of death certificates has arisen as some state governments are demanding that these be issued. We are examining the policies framed by the Gujarat government in the wake of the Bhuj earthquake. The mid-June calamity was an extraordinary happening and certain provisions could be relaxed,'' said a senior official. So far the Uttarakhand government is still authenticating the lists of missing persons received from 18 states, though the Uttarakhand government has already received the ex-gratia share to be borne by the Central Government. Already, the Life Insurance Corporation of India had announced waiving of normal conditions of seven-year waiting period for settlement of claims in case of missing persons. |
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Uttarakhand the challenge ahead
Talking to The Tribune here, Dhirendra Sharma said Uttarakhand strength lay in its big population of ex-servicemen that resides in the state, which can now be put to use for rehabilitation and reconstruction works. “We have a population of nearly 10 lakh ex-servicemen, and services of these former Army personnel, who are well trained to work in tough conditions, can be used in rehabilitation and reconstruction works,” he said, adding that these ex-servicemen were also most suitable persons to confront pre and post-disaster challenges. Referring to disaster policy for Uttarakhand, Sharma said any policy had to be prepared keeping future generations in mind. Sharma, who has also been scientific adviser to the then President APJ Abdul Kalam, said Uttarakhand, too, needed a disaster management vision on the lines of vision 2020 as envisaged by the former President for the country. “Uttarakhand was never prepared for the Kedarnath type of catastrophe and it completely took the state authorities by surprise,” he said. He asserted that strategy planning should be 5 to 10 years in advance. “Any disaster management planning should not be done for votes but for our future generations,” he observed. Referring to the importance of energy, he said it was absurd to oppose hydropower projects in the name of environment. He said hydropower projects kept much importance to cater to the growing energy needs of the state and the country. He said hydropower had been exploited in a big way even in countries like Japan, a country prone to earthquakes. He reminded that Uttarkhand had a total potential of producing 2 lakh MW of power, which was the strength of the state. On frequent landslides affecting road connectivity in Uttarakhand hills, Sharma said tunnel-based road network was the best option for a hill state like Uttarakhand. He said tunnels were the most safe mode of connectivity and devoid of any occurrence of landslides. He also termed baseless the claim by environmentalists that tunneling put adverse an impact on the region’s topography. “In Europe, you have a big railway network through tunnels and it is one of safest means of transport,” he said. On fears expressed by some that large-scale migration may take place in the hills in the aftermath of the rain disaster, Sharma said Uttarakhand must take the challenges head-on and work to create livelihood opportunities for the disaster-affected people. Sharma favoured regulation of flow of pilgrims to Char Dham shrines. He said in the absence of adequate infrastructure, it was best to regulate the flow of pilgrims. He also stressed that transparency should be ensured in the works of rehabilitation and re-construction. Dhirendra Sharma is also the convener of the Indian Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy. He has also been chairman of the Centre for Science Policy, Jawaharlal Nehru University from 1973 to 1993. He has taught abroad in universities of Columbia, California and Michigan in the United States and in currently is Director of the Centre for Science Policy Research at Dehradun. WHAT TO DO
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CM distributes relief cheques
Dehradun, August 2 He said the state’s responsibility did not end after distributing the cheques. The government would help the victims whenever they need it. He stated the government would ensure that the affected did not face any problems in the future. He assured them that the state government was with them in their hour of need. The Chief Minister said the state has suffered heavy losses due to the disaster. “The government is making efforts to ensure that all the basic amenities reach the affected areas on time. The central government will also contribute in every possible way for the rehabilitation and redevelopment of the disaster hit areas,” he further added. Revenue Minister Yashpal Arya, Dinesh Aggarwal, MLA Rajkumar, Umesh Sharma and District Magistrate Dehradun RM Sundram were also present on the occasion. |
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Boulder that saved Kedarnath temple to be preserved
Dehradun, August 2 “We have asked the Geological Survey of India and the Archaeological Survey of India not to break the boulder but preserve it,” he said. A large rock that was stuck at the rear of the Kedarnath temple split the floodwaters flowing from upstream and protected it even when it was battered by huge boulders and debris that came down with the flooded Mandakini on June 17. Asked why the government was in a haste to start the prayers at the temple when bodies were yet to be removed, the Chief Minister said, “It is a question of faith. There are bodies still lying under the debris. Our people are doing all they can to retrieve them. The bodies have to be cremated with due respect. This task will go side by side,” he asserted. Meanwhile, around 30 followers of Rawal Bhima Shankaracharya Ling Shivacharya came all the way from Srisailam Jyotirling in Kurnool district in Andhara Pradesh to press for the resumption of the prayers at the Kedarnath temple. |
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400 disaster-hit villagers still await rehabilitation
Pithoragarh, August 2 “All families of Qurie Jimia village were rendered homeless and jobless after our houses and land on which we used to cultivate rajma and potato crops were destroyed by heavy rains. We shifted to tents provided by the administration with a hope that the government would one day rehabilitate us,” said Devendra Deva, gram pradhan of Qurie Jimia village. Devendra said after the administration took back tents they started living in tin sheds, which they had managed on their own. “Even the land on which we had erected tin sheds has come within the range of landslides, making our lives unsafe,” he said. Some residents of the subdivision have complained that even though they had lost everything in the natural disaster in June their names had not been included in the list of the disaster-hit persons and thus deprived of the benefits provided by the government. “My five-room house was washed away by the swollen river on June 17 but the local Patwari did not include my name in the list of the disaster-hit people. At the same time the names of some people who did not suffer any loss were included in the list,” said Gopal Singh, a resident of Jumma who is now living in a tin shed near his damaged house. In Bageshwar district, over 5,500 residents of 48 villages who have been rendered homeless are still waiting for rehabilitation and living outside their damaged houses. According to sources, disaster-hit people of the district have been awaiting rehabilitation promised by successive governments since 1972. “The successive governments have been assuring the disaster-hit people of rehabilitation since1972 when more than 12 persons were killed in a landslide at Karmi village and hundreds rendered homeless,” said NB Bhatt, vice-president of the Uttarakhand Human Rights Organisation. About 500 residents of Kosya Kotoli subdivision in Almora district, who were rendered homeless due to a natural disaster two years ago, are still awaiting resettlement. “We have selected some spots and sent their details to higher officials for further action,” said Manju Pandey, District Disaster Mitigation Officer. “When the government can exclude 111 villages from the laws of a wildlife sanctuary, why it cannot get land cleared to rehabilitate these people,” said Tara Chand, a senior BJP leader. |
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Drive against school vans leads to hike in transport charges
Dehradun, August 2 The drive has resulted in an increase in the monthly transport charges of school vans by Rs 600 to Rs 700. Previously, the school van operators used to charge around Rs 600 to Rs 800 per month for one child for the pick up and drop facility from home but now they have increased the charges to Rs 1,300 and Rs 1,400 per month. “It is becoming difficult for us to afford hefty monthly transportation charges. It seems we will have drop our children on our own and discontinue sending them on school vans,” said Narendra, a parent. Most of the school vans are privately owned and are being used for commercial purposes without obtaining a commercial vehicle permit from the Regional Transport Office (RTO), thus causing revenue losses to the government exchequer. The van operators are also ferrying more children than the carrying capacity, thus posing a risk to children’s lives. The police and Transport Department authorities have given two months to the school van operators to obtain commercial vehicle permits or their vehicles will be impounded for non-compliance of rules. On the other hand, the vans owners are blaming the authorities for the increase in the transport charges. “The rigid attitude of the police and transport authorities has resulted in this standoff. I think school vans should not come under the category of commercial vehicle and the government must understand that a large number of youths earn their livelihood by driving these vehicles,” Sachin Gupta, state president of the School Vans Association, told
The Tribune. “If school vans are brought under the commercial vehicle category, there will be an additional burden of Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 annually on us. We will be forced to ultimately pass on this burden to the parents,” said Gupta. On the question of overloading, Gupta said, “We are following the Motor Vehicles Act, according to which, a van can carry up to seven children aged above 12 years and around 11 children aged below 12 years. We are just following the rules and the authorities are harassing us.” The police and transport authorities are claiming that they are following the directions of the Nainital High Court, which has asked them to check overloading of school vans and auto-rickshaws. Meanwhile, the transport authorities have said school vans will be registered as commercial vehicles and they will not be allowed to operate by flouting norms. |
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Mussoorie Shaheed Sthal to be given facelift by Sept 2
Mussoorie, August 2 Municipal Council president Manmohan Singh Mall, along with an architect, today inspected Shaheed Sthal to fine-tune the modalities of renovating the site according to
the aspirations of the statehood agitators. Mall directed the architect to renovate Shaheed Sthal in such a way that the traditional culture of
the hill region is preserved through its design. The MC president, who is also a senior Congress leader, said the renovation work would be completed by September 2. Mussoorie MLA Ganesh Joshi reiterated his commitment to see a grand Shaheed Sthal in place before September 2 and said the tender process for the work would start from August 11. He said once completed, people would appreciate the new design given to Shaheed Sthal. Joshi said all efforts would be made to provide a unique Shaheed Sthal building. Statehood agitators have welcomed the move, but are of the view that a cultural and historical centre should also be built here, so that tourists could have an inside look on the ways and customs of the
hilly people. The Shaheed Smarak Samiti comprising members from the Congress would be overseeing the project and ensure that Shaheed Sthal is renovated within the stipulated time. |
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Shantikunj volunteers help in relief work
Haridwar, August 2 A team of Shantikunj disaster management wing is on an inspection of the flood ravaged villages. The institution will also take care of free education for children of the flood affected families. The team has inspected more than two dozen flood affected villages. The worse affected villages are Bada Gangdaspur, Gangdaspur, Sherpur Bela and Sherpur Manda. The Disaster Management Cell in-charge of Shantikunj, Gauri Shankar Sharma, said Shantikunj volunteers have already carried out relief aid in the hill districts of Uttarakhand. It was now focusing on lower regions of Garhwal division. He said thousands of people have been provided ration, clothing and other relief material. "For this specialised houses will be made with inputs from the engineers of the Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee. As soon as the state government gives permission, we will make these houses in the specified areas given by the state government or district administration," said Chinmay Pandya, pro Vice- chancellor of Dev Sanskriti University. "Free education and books will also be provided by the Shantikunj volunteers till normalcy is restored in the flood affected areas in Lakshar,” added Pandya. The Shantikunj activists have also carried out relief operations in the neighbouring border villages of Uttar Pradesh namely, Sitabpuri, Naya Gaon and Mazlispur. Shantikunj has distributed five trucks of fodder with 24 additional trucks being dispatched to these affected villages. |
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MLA upset over non-utilisation of funds provided to MPG College
Mussoorie, August 2 Ganesh Joshi speaking to the media during a meeting with local officials held at his residence today said that he had made arrangements for the upgradation and construction work of computer labs, lavatory for girls, classes etc from fund amounting to Rs 80 lakh at MPG but the college administration had been unable to use the funds for the assigned purpose even after their release six months back, which is really unfortunate. Ganesh Joshi said that the college could have received a facelift if the funds were used in the stipulated time period but it had not been done so far due to unknown reasons. He further said that he had also requested the Municipal Council which manages the college to intervene in the matter and expedite the work before the money lapsed due to non-use in the near future. On the issue of beginning treatment work at the disaster- affected landslide zone near Company Garden, Ganesh Joshi summoned the forest range officer HC Mandola and enquired about the progress. Mandola, responding to the query of the MLA, said that a treatment project around Company Garden amounting to Rs 82 lakh had been prepared and was being sent for the approval of Government of India. The Karli Gad treatment project had been estimated to be around Rs 160 lakh and the proposal had been sent to the Government of India for approval. Ganesh Joshi directed the officials to speed up the process so that people could live without the fear of landslide in the area. Speaking on the need of housing project in Mussoorie, he said that the MDDA had earmarked the place for constructing a housing colony but the clearance from the Forest Department was still awaited. Ganesh Joshi also said that he was working tirelessly to solve the problems of Mussoorie but was facing problems as his party was not in the government. However, he reiterated his commitment towards the people of the town and assured that he would work for the benefit of the people here tirelessly. |
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Rajaji park’s info officer fined
Rs 25,000
Dehradun, August 2 Member secretary of the People for Animals, Uttarakhand, under the Right To Information Act had sought details, including on the spot inspection of the Latana eradication programme of the Rajaji National Park, in February this year. HK Singh, deputy director of the park, who is also its Public Information Officer, had rejected the application on the ground that one could not be allowed inspection according to the RTI Act provisions. Maulekhi subsequently approached the commission. Chief Information Commissioner NS Napalchyal held that under the RTI Act one had the right to inspect any work and thus imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on HK Singh to be deducted from his salary. |
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DM holds meeting to resolve LPG problem
Dehradun, August 2 Sundaram told the gas agency operators to streamline their management so that the consumers do not face any difficulty. The agency operators that provided LPG supply to Rajiv Nagar, expressed their helplessness, saying that they were unable to meet the demands of the area. He said it was the responsibility of the gas agencies to provide home-delivery to the consumers. The Officer in-charge, Indian Oil, assured that around 4,000 consumers of Rajiv Nagar colony would be shifted to other gas agency so that they get cylinders. |
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AIR starts functioning from Prasar Bharti complex
Dehradun, August 2 The stone of the Prasar Bharti complex on the Bypass road was laid in 2007. However, delays due to the lack of budgetary allocation and flooding, as the site is located on the riverbed, led to the project missing several
deadlines. — TNS |
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Dehradun, August 2
Dehradun, August 2