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State integration council on anvil
Champion flays govt for “holding back” development funds
BJP MLAs protest over teachers’ shortage
CM quiet on posts for Cong men
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Disaster victims seek rehabilitation
6 bridges to be part of new road on Nepal border
Oustees resent denial of relief package
Deadline for submitting food scheme forms extended
Livelihood challenges galore for calamity-hit
Stir threat by diploma pharmacists
BSF relief work to be over soon
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State integration council on anvil
Dehradun, October 1 Home Secretary, Uttarakhand, Manjul Kumar Joshi, while announcing the formation of the council, said another function of the newly created body would be to check crime against members of the SC and ST communities and proper implementation of development schemes meant for them. Another task of the council would be to look after the development
of the border areas of the state. The Chief Minister would be the chairman of the council while the Leader of the Opposition, three ministers of the state, one member each of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha from the state and one vice-chancellor of a state university would be its member for a one-year tenure. Other members of the council would be the state presidents of all recognised political parties, the president of the Badri-Kedar Temple Committee, the president of the Ganga Sabha, Haridwar, the presidents of Gurdwaras of Hemkunt Sahib, Reetha Sahib and Nanakmatta and the president of the Guru Singh Sabha, Dehradun. The president of the State Haj Committee, Bishops of Catholic, protestants, Presbyterian churches would also be members of the council. The presidents of the district panchayats, the president of the State Minorities Commission, the president of the Uttarakhand Bar Council, two freedom fighters, the president of the State Andolankari Parishad, one retired Chief Secretary, a retired state DGP, one representative of a renowned social organisation, five eminent personalities and five mediapersons would also be members of the council. The Principal Secretary or the Home Secretary will be the member secretary of the council. |
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Champion flays govt for “holding back” development funds
Dehradun, October 1 He also challenged Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal to register his statement regarding witnessing Champion indulging in a shootout at minister Harak Singh Rawat’s residence. He denied being involved in the incident and said he surrendered before the police only as a mark of respect to the Speaker,
after he gave a statement against him. When being probed about the speculations about the probable change of guard, Chief Minister, in the state, with Harish Rawat’s name on top in the reckoning, he said regardless of who sat on the chair of Chief Minister, he would owe allegiance to anyone. Champion demanded funds to the tune of Rs 300 crore from the state government for carrying out development work in his constituency, including seven embankments. He unleashed a direct attack on IAS officers saying they had become dysfunctional in the state and would ask the Chief Minister to ''straighten them.'' He said he recently met Chief Secretary and urged him to release a portion of the disaster fund for
development in his constituency. In his aggressive demeanor, Champion also put Union Minister Harish Rawat in the dock, saying that he unduly garnered credit for facilitating approval of Balawali railway bridge connecting Bijnor , UP, with Haridwar. He gave several references to endorse his view point about making all the efforts himself to make the approval of this project possible. While referring to Harish Rawat he asked:''Should a leader of such a character who misled public, told white lies, was super ambitious be announced candidate for Haridwar parliamentary seat by Congress?'' While explaining about the grievances faced by public in his area, Champion said: “The farmers’ fields in Khanpur and Khaddar area of Haridwar are swept with bulky deposits of sand and gravel which damaged their crops. Previous BJP government siphoned off the funds sent by the Centre for other purposes. The embankments were built but with poor quality sand.” He dragged Rawat once again saying that as a MP from Haridwar, he had been overlooking irrigation and flood control plan of Haridwar district. He also did not spare Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, saying that Bahuguna announced funds of Rs 60 crore to build these embankments two months ago but did not release a single penny till date. |
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BJP MLAs protest over teachers’ shortage
Dehradun, October 1 The protesters included Harbhajan Singh Cheema, Arvind Pandey, Rajkumar Thukral, Rajesh Shukla, Pushkar Singh Dhami, Dr Prem Singh and former MP Balraj Passi. They lifted the dharna after Bahuguna assured them of looking into their demand. Later, addressing mediapersons, MLA from Rudrapur Rajkumar Thukral said Udham Singh Nagar was facing an acute shortage of teachers. "In most of the colleges, against the 13 sanctioned posts of teachers, only six are on the roll. In S Jha Inter-College, which falls in my constituency, there have been no mathematics and computer teachers for the past two years. Further, due to arbitrary transfers done by the Department of School Education, the things have worsened. Now we have no teacher to teach chemistry and English," said Thukral. BJP MLA from Kicha Rajesh Shukla said the transfers done in the middle of the session were unnecessary and should be revoked immediately. Earlier, the protesting MLAs had shown red flags to the Chief Minister during his recent trip to Rudrapur. The Chief Minister had assured the MLAs of prompt action and said he would personally take up the matter. |
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CM quiet on posts for Cong men
Dehradun, October 1 ''The high command has been apprised of the situation and decision has to be taken by the organisation and the high command,'' said Bahuguna. However, it is believed that sooner than later, the government may award around 12 ministerial posts to senior Congress leaders and those in line, including former minister Tilak Raj Behad, Congress leader Sarojini Kanitura and Vivekanand Khanduri. Several other leaders are also exerting pressure on the government to announce these posts latest by Diwali. Meanwhile, in order to curb migration, the Uttarakhand government would shortly undertake large-scale recruitment drive and has also started the process of regularising ad-hoc employees in the state who have unbroken service of 10 years in the government. ''The decision was taken at the last Cabinet meeting. The large scale recruitment drive would provide around 40,000 jobs and recruitment would also be undertaken in the State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) to be set up in state, for which the go-ahead has already been given. A committee has also been constituted to decide the cut-off date for fixing the service term for ad-hoc employees,'' he said while speaking with reporters. |
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Disaster victims seek rehabilitation
Pithoragarh, October 1 They demanded that the Tawaghat-Sobla route in Drama valley, which was damaged in the disaster and was yet to be repaired, should be opened temporarily. “This will help the residents of lower valley villages in Darma to move to their winter houses,” said AS Rokaya, who led the delegation today. The minister gave an assurance to them that the route would be opened in a fortnight. He said the government was looking for land to rehabilitate the disaster-hit victims. After the scrutiny of land papers, the rehabilitation process would start. “It is important to make sure that the land acquired is revenue land. After that confirmation, the process to allocate plots to the victims will begin,” said the minister, while talking to mediapersons here. The minister said he had come to the district to meet the disaster victims in Dharchula and Munsiyari blocks and enquire about their needs. “Today, I will meet the victims putting up at relief camps in Dharchula and Munsiyari,” said the minister. Meanwhile, the Pithoragarh administration said the PWD had opened the Munsiyari-Milam route for trackers and local villagers. However, a section of the villagers are still disappointed. They said routes to several villages beyond Tawaghat in Darma valley were yet to be opened. “At present, 50 villages are yet to be linked to the main route in Drama valley," said Rokaya, a zila panchayat member from the valley. |
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Indian, Nepal Army Chiefs visit troops undergoing joint military
training
Pithoragarh, October 1 "Both the generals interacted with the participating troops for about three hours before taking off for New Delhi at 2.45 pm,” said an Army press communiqué released yesterday. The fifth Indo-Nepal combined military training exercise, which aims to train troops in counter-terrorism operations as well as enhance defence cooperation and military relation between two countries, is being undertaken by the troops in the cantonment terrains here. The combined training of the troops of the two neighbouring countries would help strengthen cultural and historical relations between the countries and take bilateral relations forward, said the communiqué, quoting General Singh’s address to the troops. The training began on September 23 and will last till October 6. “An infantry battalion from the Indian Army and an equivalent strength from the Nepal Army are taking part in this exercise,” said the press release. The exercise is based on an agreement signed during the meeting of the seventh India-Nepal bilateral consultative group on security held earlier. “The initial joint exercise focused on jungle warfare and counter-insurgency operations while this exercise is focusing on counter-terrorist operations in mountain terrains and aspects of disaster management,” said an Army source. |
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6 bridges to be part of new road on Nepal border
Pithoragarh, October 1 "Our engineers are working on the DPR to find its viability. The final report will be submitted to the department," said a state PWD engineer, who along with his team is working on the report He said they would submit the final DPR on this road to the department in a week after which the report would be sent to the central government for final approval and release of budget for the construction of this road which has strategic value as it is being constructed on the Indo-Nepal border. "The road will benefit 34 border observation posts of the SSB and thousands of the villagers at the border," said a PWD source. According to the DRP submitted to the PWD by the nodal agency, the road along river Kali will have six bridges at Bhawanigar, Chalthi, Lohawati, Pancheswar, Tales war and Oglagar. "Besides these six big bridges, the road will have two tunnels -- one at Pancheswar and another at Taleswar near Jhoolaghat, which will have 150 m and 20 m span, respectively," said the source. According to sources of DPR preparing agency, the construction cost of the road has been estimated at Rs 825.20 crore at present . "The road will cross through 35 hectares of reserve, 65.85 hectares of civil and 5.04 hectares of forest, clearance for which is likely to be given by December," said the source. |
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Oustees resent denial of relief package
Pithoragarh, October 1 The district administration said today that it had, without resistance, demolished 40 encroachments at Kumaur village. Meanwhile, former Pithoragarh MLA and BJP state general secretary Prakash Pant has opposed the demolition for not giving a rehabilitation package to the victims of the anti-encroachment drive in the town. "It is tyrannical of the state to oust people who were earning their livelihood for the last 20 years in the place for which the Pithoragarh Nagar Palika Parishad has been charging taxes from these people," said Prakash Pant over telephone from Chhattisgarh, where he is campaigning for the BJP. The minority Christian community, which has been worst affected by the drive as most of the demolished shops belonged to members from this community, has in statement said that while removing encroachments, the administration did not give any time them to remove their goods from their shops. "This anti-encroachment drive has affected more than two dozen shopkeepers from the Christian community who have constructed small shops with the permission from the Nagar Palika Parishad," said Vimal Deep Philip. The district administration authorities have said that the drive will continue at Aincholi and Rai localities in the coming days as the expansion of the highway passes through these localities. "We have been ordered to remove encroachments in the 10-km long portion from Aincholi to Satsiling on this highway," said Naresh Durgapal, SDM of Pithoragarh subdivision. |
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Deadline for submitting food scheme forms extended
Dehradun, October 1 Today was the deadline to submit the applications forms which was extended by afternoon for one week. Public, too, seemed ignorant about the revocation of compulsion of depositing affidavits about their income status, as they struggled to get stamp papers from the vendors, which was not required at first place. Vendors were making most of the situation today. Ten rupees stamp papers were selling for Rs 100 while some were not up to the mark. Still people were piling on each other to grasp one from the vendors. There was chaos all around in the DM complex today. Among those in the queue to get the stamp papers, women outnumbered others. They had tough time in getting stamp papers and hence became victims of jostling. Bina Devi said she had no option but to buy stamp paper of Rs 10 for Rs 100 as there were few stamp papers with vendors. People did not mind paying extra as they wanted to submit their forms along with affidavits by the evening. The announcement from District Magistrate to postpone the deadline by one week came by the afternoon and was not made public. However, District Magistrate did direct his employees to make the announcement in the complex through loud speakers. DM, BVRC Purushottam said, “Those who earned less than Rs 15,000 per month are eligible to avail the benefits of National Food Security Scheme. However, to not to pester public to arrange for affidavits about their income , the compulsion of having affidavits has been done away with. Later, the district administration itself will scrutinise the documents and income status of applicants from October 7 to 15.” The scheme will be formally launched on November 9. |
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Livelihood challenges galore for calamity-hit
Guptkashi, October 1 Hundreds of people died and thousands are still missing in the wake of the devastating floods and landslides in June. Among the worst-affected places were Kedarnath and Badrinath, popular pilgrimage centres. Raghubir Singh Kandwal, secretary of Grass, an NGO, said most people were looking for livelihood since the tourism sector, the primary revenue source for locals, had been badly hit. Rajinder Singh Negi, who runs a hotel in Guptkashi, said the business had been hit after the calamity. A recent report by Assocham, an industry body, said about 1,80,000 could be without employment in the Uttarakhand tourism sector in the wake of the disaster. According to Kandwal, fruit processing and making fruit juices apart from growing vegetables are among avenues that could provide livelihood for the locals. "I want to get some job after completing my class XII," said 17-year-old Nand Bahadur, who was rescued during the floods. While he managed to survive, his brother and father, who was running an eatery in Kedarnath, are still missing. Even as he grapples with personal grief, he is focused on completing his studies and find a job to look after his sister and mother. Nand Bahadur's father was the sole breadwinner for the family, which is now facing difficult times. His schoolmate, Rahul Kumar, who also witnessed the natural calamity, is looking forward to apply for a job in the Army.
— PTI |
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District judge for spread of legal knowledge
Haridwar, October 1 The District Judge was speaking at a legal workshop organised by the District Legal Service Authority at Ganga Singh Rawat Intermediate College as chief guest. Kumkum Rani cited verses from an epic pointing that one should not have feeling of jealousy or hatred as this degrades one’s mental and physical personality. The District Judge also called for more such camps at regular intervals in rural areas, so that more and more people can avail benefit of these. She also stated that if anyone wants any legal info or guidance, then one can write to her via postcard or to the bar association office-bearers. A booklet by Information Department about development schemes being run by state government were also distributed at the occasion. Civil Judge Chandra Mani Rai also gave legal tips to the people present at the camp about civil, revenue, forest, chakbandi, consumer forum and other related legalities. At the camp social foundation Shrimant Shantikhilaram Lok Sanskritik Kala Samiti also gave a skit presentation on the social malpractices, dowry, female foeticide, dengue awareness and negative impact of alcohol consumption to the villagers. District social welfare officer Anurag Shankdhar shed light on the senior citizens' pension, widow pension and phsycially handicapped pension schemes provided by the government. Circle officer Jodh Ram Joshi pointed to the recent online system connecting all the 13 police stations of the district with wifi service, which will enable better policing and easier for people to lodge complaints. A plantation drive was carried out at the Captain Ganga Singh Rawat Inter College. Subdivisional Magistrate (administration) Sohan Singh Rawat, Bar Association office bearers and school staff members along with students planted saplings of medicinal and fruit variety. |
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Khanduri celebrates birthday
Dehradun, October 1 The children prayed for Khanduri's long life and also sang songs in his praise. The leaders from various political parties including Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, greeted the former Chief Minister on his birthday. Former Chief Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Mala Raj Laxmi Shah, MP from Tehri Garhwal, Ajay Bhatt, Leader of the opposition in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly, Teerath Singh Rawat, President, Uttarakahnd BJP and Ravinder Jugran, senior BJP leader also congratulated Khanduri on his birthday. |
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Stir threat by diploma pharmacists
Dehradun, October 1 In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Secretary Subash Kumar, DP Thapliyal, president of the association, said, ''The demands have not been met so far, and in case the government fails to accept our demands by November 10, we will be forced to stage an indefinite stir from November 10.'' The Diploma Pharmacists' Association members are demanding removal of anomalies existing in their pay scales, creation of posts in the pharmacist cadre of Director, Additional Director and Joint Director, more promotional avenues, transfer of pharmacists who have served for five years at different sub centres to hospitals and patient care allowance. |
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BSF relief work to be over soon
Dehradun, October 1 Kumar said the BSF had finished 90 per cent of the work. He said building trolley bridges would take some time. While addressing mediapersons here, he said in the past three months, the BSF had built four permanent bridges and work on a trolley bridge was under way. The BSF has renovated all the broken buildings in these villages of the Kalimath valley and installed 255 solar streetlights. The power supply in these villages was disrupted after the calamity. "We have renovated the embankment wall on the sides of the Kalimath Temple, which was on the verge of inundation after the river changed its course," said Kumar. He said the BSF had constructed three helipads, which were used for rescuing people stranded in the higher reaches. |
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