PDF flays Champion’s remarks against BSP minister
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 8
Members of the Progressive Democratic Front (PDF) comprising Independent legislators, three members of Bahujan Samaj Party and a lone Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) held a meeting and took exception to the utterances of Congress legislator Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion against one of the BSP ministers. The seven-member PDF is supporting the Congress-led government in the state.

All the seven legislators, including four ministers, Mantri Prasad Naithani, Harish Chander Durgapal, Preetam Singh Panwar and Surender Rakesh, along with Sarvat Karim Ansari, Haridass and Dinesh Dhani attended the meeting. The meeting was chaired by Mantri Pradesh Naithani, who is convenor of the group.

Later, all the members of the PDF went to Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna and expressed their resentment against the utterances by Champion against the Chief Minister and certain ministers of state.

Naithani said that the PDF was not dependent on the Congress but has extended support to the Congress government for the good of the state. Chief Minister Bahuguna assured the PDF members that he would look into the matter.

Interestingly, Congress legislator from Khanpur Assembly segment Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion has termed Uttarakhand Transport and Social Welfare Minister Surender Rakesh as a corrupt minister and demanded that he be replaced.

Later, Champion clarified that he did not say anything derogatory against anybody and only pointed towards the deeds of Transport Minister Surender Rakesh.

Champion gets show-cause notice

Congress disciplinary committee secretary Dhirendra Pratap today sent a show-cause notice to party MLA Kunwar Pranav Champion following his ''most irresponsible and anti-party outburst'', asking him to clarify his stand or face disciplinary action.

Dengue: DMC lacks fogging equipment
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 8
Despite the fact that a large number of dengue cases are being reported in the city, the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) is yet to undertake a fogging exercise to check its spread. The DMC reportedly does not have equipment used for fogging and is arranging the same from other resources. Administrative officials and councillors are busy in their petty squabbles and have failed to fulfil their responsibilities towards the public.

However, a section of the councillors who have woken up to the fact are now pressing the administration for carrying out the fogging exercise in their wards at the earliest.

Senior sanitary officer, DMC, Dr RK Singh, said: “We have started the fogging exercise. The fogging equipment has been arranged from other hospitals.” The officer said MLA from Rajpur Road Rajkumar had asked them to begin the fogging exercise from his constituency.

Hence, the campaign had begun from this belt of the city.

Councillor from Valmiki Basti Neetu said she had been pressing the officials concerned for starting the fogging exercise in his area for long, but in vain.

Another councillor, Nandini Sharma, alleged that officials were not paying heed to the demands of new councillors and were only attending to the complaints of old councillors. However, officials denied any such prejudice on their part.

Bird-watching workshop marks end of wildlife week
Tribune News Service

Brigadier and Commandant of Garhwal Rifles Vinod Raizada releases two folders on the bird species at Kotdwar, Pauri Garhwal, on Monday. — Photo: Kamal Joshi

Dehradun, October 8
A bird-watching workshop was organised by the Lansdowne forest division at Kotdwara as part of the Wildlife Conservation Week, which concluded yesterday. Commandant, Garhwal Rifles, Brig Vinod Raizada, released two folders on bird and animal species commonly found in the forests, which has been published by the Lansdowne forest division.

Divisional Forest Officer, Lansdowne forest division, Neha Varma said various activities were conducted in schools and colleges to create awareness about the conservation of forests and the environment during the Wildlife Conservation Week from October 1 to October 7.

On the last day of the conservation week, a workshop was organised for schoolchildren to create awareness among them about wildlife conservation.

A slide-show jointly presented by Neha Varma and DFO, Tiger forest reserve, Alok Varma on bird-watching was enjoyed by schoolchildren.

“We have published two folders on the birds and mammals living in the Lansdown forest division. The main aim behind publishing these folders is to educate people about wildlife wealth of their region. These folders and illustration will help the students to identify the birds," said Neha Varma.

Brigadier Raizada also awarded forest officials for their excellent work towards the conservation of forest and other related fields on the occasion.

Celebrations conclude

The week-long wildlife week celebrations concluded at the Dolphin (PG) Institute of Bio-Medical and Natural Sciences here yesterday.

A number of activities, including an awareness presentation on rhesus maque (monkey), a film show, namely ‘Dehli Safari’, a painting competition and lectures by experts, were organised on the occasion.

The winners of various competitions were also honoured on the last day today.

JCB machines pressed into service to clear garbage
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 8
The Dehradun Municipal Corporation has swung four JCB machines into trenching ground to resolve the problem of garbage accumulating in dustbins of the city since the last four days. However, today garbage was lifted from many pockets of the city.

Senior sanitary official, DMC, RK Singh, said: ''Since the garbage had been piling up for the last four days, it will not be possible to clear all that in one single day. It will approximately take three more days to clear the backlog and come back to the routine clearance of garbage.''

Mayor Vinod Chamoli visited the trenching ground and gave instructions to employ extra JCB machines at the site. His response to the inconvenience people of the city faced in the wake of accumulation of garbage had been quite delayed. He said: ''The DMC administration is not functioning at all. This is the reason the sanitation condition has reached this alarming level. Just a couple of months ago, I dealt with a similar situation as both the DMC officials as well as the Doon Valley Waste Management (DVWM) officials were not ready to employ JCB machines at the trenching ground to clear the garbage on the road. They were least bothered about the garbage heaps lying strewn all over the city.''

He said Mukhya Nagar Adhikari (MNA) had ordered construction of the road ahead of the trenching ground, which he did not follow, because of which the problem cropped up once again.

The MNA was on leave today. RK Singh said as soon as the piles of garbage were cleared on the kutcha road leading to the trenching ground, the road would be properly carpeted and vehicles would be able to ply smoothly on it. To keep a check on the persistent nuisance of DVWM vehicle drivers throwing garbage on the trenching ground road and creating unnecessary blockage, he said, he would deploy a supervisor to monitor the movement of the vehicles on the road.

Children’s nature and environment festival held
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, October 8
A children's nature and environment festival was held at Thatyur in Tehri Garhwal district under the aegis of Titli trust in association with Prakritik Paryavaran Avam Madhumakhee Shodh Sanstha, Bangsil, to mark Wildlife Week festivities. The event was supported Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC).

Around 150 students (classes V11 to 1X) from 7 schools, Junior High School, Jogiyada, Sri Guru Rama Rai Public School, Degree College, Kiran Jyothi Siksha Sadan, Kanya Madhyamik Vidyalaya and Saraswati Vidya Mandir from Thatyur and Government Inter Colleges from Bangsil and Bhuwan, participated in the event.

The event included essay-writing and poster-making competition with nature and environment as the theme. The students also participated in a nature quiz, skit competition and a lok geet competition. The themes for the skit competition were ''Pahadi Kheti ko Bachao (Save hill agriculture)'' and ''Jungli Janwar ko Bachao (Save wild animals). The theme for the lok geet (local song) competition was nature and environment. Kanya Madhyamik Vidyalaya and Kiran Jyothi Siksha Sadan stood first and second, respectively, in the skit competition. In the lok geet competition, Kiran Jyothi Siksha Sadan and Kanya Madhyamik Vidyalaya from Thatyur stood first and second, respectively.

Shri Virendra Pundir, a local social worker and DFO, Mussoorie, Dheeraj Pandey, distributed prizes to the students. The DFO, Dheeraj Pandey, commended the efforts of trusts such as Titli for organising such programmes in the rural areas of the state.

Nainital autumn festival okayed, to be held from October 23
Would help in the revival of tourists
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, October 8
Suspense prevailing over the organisation of the autumn festival in Nainital was cleared today, with the district administration deciding to organise the festival from October 23-26 after consultations with traders, hoteliers and other tourist professionals of the town.

The meeting, which took place under the chairmanship of District Magistrate Arvind Singh Hyanki today, decided that the committees constituted to organise the festival would have to submit their reports before October 15 so that arrangements could be made for the festival.

The meeting, in which local MLA Sarita Arya and chairperson of Nagar Palika Parishad Shyam Narayan took part, has decided that it would help in the revival of tourists in the town to have autumn festival this year.

“The festival will attract tourists to the town,” said Kamal Jagati, spokesman of the Hotel Owners Association of Nainital.

However, volunteers linked with the Uttarakhand Lok Vahini, Aam Aadmi Party and some government employees' organisations are opposing the organising the festival in Nainital this year on the points that it will open Pandora’s box for other towns in the state and the government will have to spend lakhs of rupees for these festivals across the state and it will affect the amount being given for the reconstruction of infrastructure to the disaster-affected areas of the state.

“We have written to the Governor that in the situation under which the state is passing through, celebration is unfortunate as the amount meant for these could be diverted towards the cause of reconstruction of infrastructure in disaster-affected villages,” said Rajiv Lochan Shah, leader of the Uttarakhand Lok Vahini.

Denied electricity for 40 yrs, villagers to boycott LS poll
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, October 8
Irked by the daily exhaustion of travelling 5 km to recharge their mobile phones due to lack of electricity in their village, residents of Chauragoonnth and Silyorigoonth villages in Pati block of Champawat district have decided to boycott the forthcoming Loka Sabha elections.

The villagers, in a memorandum given to the district authorities, said that their entire generation has passed by, asking to the government to connect their village with electricity. "We had started demanding electricity when the community radio sets used to play in our village and are still demanding today when the mobile sets need daily recharging," said Shivnath, a village leader.

The villagers said whenever any candidate visited their village, they put only one demand: of getting them electricity connections. But despite assurances by every politician in the last 40 years, they could not got electricity connected in their village.

"Today, we have to travel 5 to 7 km daily to Brakot and Chagethi villages of the neighboring Almora district to recharge our mobile sets," said Shivnath.

The villagers said that the concept of making Uttarakhand as 'urja' pradesh, as claimed by the successive governments after the creation of the state, has been belied. "We have been cheated by both the Congress and BJP as despite high claims by their representatives, both could not electrify our village," said Shivnath.

Minorities being well looked after in state, says Bindra
Tribune News Service

Uttarakhand State Minority Commission chairperson Narendra Jeet Singh Bindra shares the dais with other dignitaries at a workshop in Haridwar on Tuesday. — Tribune photo: Rameshwar Gaur

Haridwar, October 8
Uttarakhand Minority Commission chairperson Narendra Jeet Singh Bindra stated that the state government was doing a commendable job in providing beneficiary and welfare schemes to the minority communities. He was speaking as chief guest here today at an awareness workship organised by Uttarakhand Minority Welfare and Wakf Development Board at the town hall.

Citing numerous schemes run for the poor, BPL and minority women, Bindra said that via National Minority Development and Finance Corporation and state government-run Minority Welfare and Waqf Development Corporation, loans were being provided for employment, education, setting up small-scale business units and for professional training.

Pointing that the condition of minorities in the hill state was better in comparison to the other states, Bindra said that minority communities needed to be aware of these beneficiary schemes as it had come into light that very less per centage of the targeted people availed benefits of these welfare schemes.

He also called on for mutual brotherhood, communal harmony and peace among different sections of society as the recent Muzaffarnagar riots had shown once again that communal harmony was imperative for any society to live and develop freely.

The Social Welfare Officer, Haridwar, said that in the financial year of 2012-13,Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna had initiated Maulana Azad Education Finance Foundation Scheme, which is providing up to Rs 5 lakh loan to students for higher education in foreign countries.

After completion of the education tenure or getting job ,the beneficiaries falling in the age group of 18-35 years under BPL category will be provided interest-free loans.

GMVN hotel renovation begins on orders of MD
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 8
Managing Director, Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN), Rajesh Kumar, has given the go-ahead to resumption of renovation drive of Hotel Drone, which was discontinued by former MD Pankaj Pandey. The balconies of all 100 plus suites are being dismantled and given a fresh makeover. The old and staid yellow colour of the exterior which reminds one of government departments will also be painted into a beautiful green hue with a dash of white colours in pattern.

It was Pankaj Pandey who salvaged Drone from going into private hands, when the employees clamoured to be given last chance to make the hotel profitable. In one year’s time, around 70 rooms have been renovated with a remarkably economical expenditure of Rs 35 lakh.

Manager, Hotel Drona, DS Negi said: ''Not only 70 rooms, but bar of the hotel, including the big verandah and parking space outside the reception of the hotel, too have been given a new facelift. An old dingy store room has been converted into an art gallery.''

He said the huge gallery outside each room had become worn out and could crumble down any day. Now new galleries would be made in such a way that would add more space to the rooms these are attached with.

Since the galleries would no longer have concrete walls covering it from all sides but a grill-like structure, the guests will now have an interesting place to sit, feel the fresh air and watch the road ahead of the hotel.

Negi said the yellow paint on this huge building would also be replaced with refreshing green and white colour,a trademark colour of the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam tourist rest houses.

The Makeover

• The balconies of all 100 plus suites are being dismantled and given a fresh makeover.
• The old and staid yellow colour of the exterior which reminds one of government departments will also be painted into a beautiful green hue with a dash of white colours in pattern.
• In one year’s time, around 70 rooms have been renovated with a remarkably economical expenditure of Rs 35 lakh

Health dept suffers as policies of docs remain pending
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 8
The Department of Medical, Health and Family Welfare has been sitting on several decisions for the last one year, thanks to the apathy of the Uttarakhand Minister for Medical, Health and Family Welfare, who has allegedly failed to fast-track several decisions.

Fast-tracking of the promotion and recruitment policy of the doctors is needed so that the department could tide over the shortage of specialists.

“The file pertaining to the transfer policy for the doctors was sent to the minister for approval and it was to be brought before the Cabinet so that the transfers could take place from this session, but we do not know the outcome of the policy. Though due to the natural disaster, no large-scale transfers were carried out, the doctors need a transfer policy,” said a senior doctor.

Specialist cadre to go?

On the issue of the reorganisation of the cadre, the Uttarakhand Minister for Health had stated that the government was contemplating doing away with the specialist cadre so that uniformity could be achieved in promotions, but nothing had been heard on this issue.

Clinical Establishment Bill

The introduction of the Clinical Establishment Bill, aimed at protecting doctors from violence and ensuring accountability among private practioners, has been put off in the Uttarakhand Assembly time and time again.

“On the one hand, the government has been claiming that it wants to bring accountability among private practioners, on the other hand, no earnestness has been shown in tabling the Bill,” said Ajay Bhatt, Leader of the Opposition in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly.

Further, after the go-ahead for creating a separate cadre for dentists in 2011, the rules and regulations are awaiting approval.

These have been pending for more than one and a half years.

“Due to the absence of clearance for rules and regulations, the cadre has not taken shape,” said Dr JDS Rana, Additional Director.

The apathy is also manifested in the manner in which the Directorate for Medical, Health and Family Welfare continues to be headed by an officiating Director-General.

Works to the tune of Rs 21 crore unveiled at Ramnagar
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 8
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna yesterday laid foundation stones and unveiled works to the tune of Rs 21 crore at Ramnagar in Nainital district.

Addressing a gathering at a degree college in Ramnagar, Bahuguna said the state government was leaving no stone unturned to ensure speedy reconstruction and rehabilitation activities in the disaster-hit state. He said a total of Rs 163 crore had been distributed to victims as relief. He said within 100 days of the tragedy, the state government had succeeded in resuming the Char Dham yatra.

He said the state government would organise a state-level meeting on November 2 to address the concerns of Van Gujjars. The issue of the eco sensitive zone would also be taken up with Centre, taking into account the concerns of the affected people.

Uttarakhand Tourism Minister and Ramnagar MLA Amrita Rawat thanked the Chief Minister for announcing a large number of development schemes for the region. She put forward a charter of demands to the Chief Minister, which prominently included the setting up of a hotel management institute.

Nainital MP KC Singh Baba said the state government was committed towards the implementation of forests rights of tribals and forest dewellers.

Garhwal MP Satpal Maharaj, Nainital MLA Sarita Arya and Ramangar Municipality Chairman Mohammed Akram were among those present on the occasion. 

55% voting in elections for various posts of PMHS
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 8
An estimated 55 per cent voting took place yesterday for the elections to various posts in the Provincial Medical and Health Services Association (PMHS). The results would be announced on October 9.

On the post of president the fight is between Dr BS Jangpangi and Dr TK Pan; on the post of vice president the candidates in the fray are Dr Bipin Pant, Dr Sunil Agarwal, Dr SK Dixit. For the post of vice president (Headquarters) Dr RS Chauhan and Dr Rajesh Kumar Singh are in the fray; for the post of general secretary Dr Jeewan Singh Chufal, Dr NS Napalchayal, Dr RP Khanduri and Dr SK Goswami are in the fray; for the post of addl general secretary, Kumaon, Dr Deepankar Daniel, Dr Manoj Kandpal and Dr Pradeep Pandey are in the fray.

State election officer Dr BC Ramola said that the results would be announced on October 9. Dr Meghna Aswal, vice president (female), was today elected unopposed.

Around 8000 medical officers are members of PMHS. In Dehradun there are around 180 doctors who are members of PMHS.

Mussoorie bypass gets new bus shelter
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 8
Chief Information Commissioner NS Napalchyal today inaugurated a state-of-the-art bus shelter on Mussoorie Bypass Ring Road.

Additional Information Commissioners were also present.

Since this project was undertaken by the Mussoorie Dehradun Municipal Corporation (MDDA), its Vice-Chairman RM Sundaram, Secretary Banshidhar Tiwari and other officials were also present.

Napalchyal said: "Visitors to the State Information Commission and other departments situated in its vicinity had been facing a lot of inconvenience in the absence of a bus shelter.

He thanked the MDDA for providing a modern bus shelter to the people.

RM Sundaram said automatic lights had been installed at the site, which would switch on at 6 pm and switch off at 6.30 am the next day. The provisions of the Information Act had also been displayed at the shelter.

The project had been entrusted to a Delhi-based company.

Lakhwad, Vyasi hydro projects cleared
Tribune News service

Dehradun, October 8
The hurdles in the clearance for the construction of the Lakhwad (300 MW) and Vyasi (120 MW) hydel projects are over, as per a government press release. After the Supreme Court order banning hydro-electric projects in the state following the natural disaster, the Government of India had sought the advice of the Law Department.

According to the legal experts, as the clearance for the Lakhwad and Vyasi (120 MW) hydel projects had been received earlier and over 30 per cent work completed, the two projects were not covered by the SC ban.

Providing this information, the Chairman of the Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam, Subhash Kumar, said clearance had been sought again because the projects had been transferred from the Irrigation Department to the nigam.

Following the advice of the Law Department, approval would be received soon. With this, work would begin again on 450 MW of power projects, he said.

Brochure on conserving Dodital released
Tribune News Service

Uttarkashi District Magistrate Pankaj Pandey releases the brochure on conserving Dodital in Uttarkashi on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Dehradun, October 8
Uttarkashi District Magistrate (DM) Pankaj Pandey toady released the brochure on conserving Dodital, brought out by the WWF India, in a function organised by the Forest Department at Uttarkashi.

He appreciated the work being done by the Forest Department and the WWF to promote eco-tourism in the Dodital. He expressed his desire to establish an interpretation-cum information centre at the Uttarkashi bus stand for creating awareness among visitors and pilgrims.

The brochure, published in Hindi and English, describes biodiversity of the Asi Ganga Valley, threats to the valley and actions need to be taken for its conservation.

The DM distributed certificates among participants of the wildlife week programmes.

Uttarkashi Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) IP Singh, Uttarkashi DFO soil Ram Asrey Prasad, Deputy Director Eco-tourism Vijay Bahadur, Uttarakhand WWF coordinator Jatinder Kaur and local tour tperators and hoteliers were present at the function.

Dasehra celebrations
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 8
Governor Aziz Qureshi here today inaugurated a cultural programme being organised by the Gorkhali Sudhar Sabha as part of the Dasehra celebrations. The Governor said the fight between Lord Ram and Ravan was still on in today's world. "Thousands of Ravans are destroying our peace and society's happiness everyday," said the Governor.

He said they should unite to fight against this evil. The Governor said the Gorkhali community had made a significant contribution in protecting the borders of the country and in several other spheres. "We must support the progress of the Gorkha community," he said.

He also released a book written by PS Karki, titled 'Nepal --- Ek yug ka ant", on the occasion.

Tehri MP Mala Rajlakshmi and MLAs Ganesh Joshi were special guests.

St George’s 1988 batch organises car rally
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, October 8
Eighteen cars of different make participated in a car rally organised by the 1988 batch of St George's College yesterday to spread a message that Mussoorie is safe for tourists. The rally was flagged off by Dehradun District Magistrate BVRC Purushottam.

The procession passed through the Macckinon Cart road, Sir George Everest, Kempty road and Zero point.

Secretary, St George's Alumni Association, Inderjit Singh Bedi, said their objective was to spread a message that Mussoorie was safe for tourists and to remove fear among them that the roads of Uttarakhand were not conducive for vehicular movement.

He said only a part of the state had been affected by the mid-June disaster. Former students, namely Gaurav Garg, Karan Chauhan, Anil Pundir, Vikas Kumar, Sikandar Khan, and Principal Bro Christopher and the faculty were present.