Nishank slams govt for violating panchayati norms
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 12
Former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank slammed the Congress-led Bahuguna government for taking undemocratic and unconstitutional step by handing over the three-tier Panchayati Raj system to the state bureaucrats.

“There is provision in the Panchayati Raj Act of continuing the existing political arrangement even after term of the elected representatives has ended. But fear seems to have gripped the government and it has paved way for the appointment of District Magistrates, Sub Divisional Magistrates and Additional Block Development Officers (ADOs) as administrators till the time elections are not announced,” said Nishank at a press conference here today.

He accused the government for undermining the ksehtra panchayats by not releasing Rs 35 lakh meant for development activity and stopping fund allocations meant for panchayats under the 13th Finance Commission.

Criticising the Chief Minister for spending crores on publicity, Nishank said these funds could have been used for helping the persons affected by natural calamity.

He also accused the government for going back on its promise of issuing a white paper on the efforts launched by the government in the aftermath of the natural disaster. “The people of Uttarakhand would like to know about the funds received from the Government of India (GOI) and how they are being spent. The state government should also give details about the payment made to the private companies whose helicopters were used for ferrying stranded pilgrims. But the government has failed to do so,” he said. 

Gangolihat Nagar panchayat sans office, funds
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, October 12
Even six months after the constitution of the Gangolihat Nagar Panchayat its members had to sit in the house of its chairman to pass a proposal to take an office for the civic body on rent.

Khima Nand Joshi, Executive Officer of the Gangolihat Nagar Panchayat, said yesterday the urban body was awaiting funds from the State Finance Commission for its infrastructure needs, development and non-plan activities.

“We have two sources of finances — the State Finance Commission and revenue collected through local taxes. Neither bylaws have been framed for revenue generated nor the State Finance Commission has given any funds so far,” said Joshi.

He added on the advice of the government he had selected an office for the urban body to be taken on rent. But the plan could materialise only after the State Finance Commission releases funds.

“The Urban Development Minister had assured us at a meeting last month that the State Finance Commission would release Rs 20 lakh each to all newly formed urban bodies of the state for their infrastructure needs. We are still waiting for the money,” said Joshi.

“Seven posts of employee, including five sanitation workers, sanctioned by the government for the urban body are still to be filled by means of outsourcing,” said the Executive Officer.

He added the nagar panchayat board had passed the proposals for the construction of toilets and parking lots, installation of streetlights in the town, a garbage disposal facility and the purchase of a vehicle for the civic body but these could not materialise in the absence of the requisite funds. 

CII submits proposals to govt on micro enterprises  
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 12
The Uttarakhand chapter of Confederation of Indian industry (CII) has submitted its recommendations to the Uttarakhand government on the proposed Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).

Elaborating on CII's recommendations submitted to the state government today for its forthcoming MSME policy, Rajiv Berry, past Chairman, CII Uttarakhand State Council, welcomed the government's move. He said MSMEs with their geographical spread play a key role in distributed regional development. They are also drivers of employment creation. He added that in a hill state like Uttarakhand where only a few pockets are suitable for large enterprises, MSMEs and specially MSEs can play a key role in driving development in the hills.

Elaborating on what the ''spirit'' of the forthcoming MSME policy should be, Berry said that CII strongly recommends that the policy should follow the key principles of facilitator role for the government, consultative and a partnership approach with the industry, strong focus on development of supporting infrastructure, both physical and soft infrastructure, cluster development, focus on enhancing competitiveness and recognising excellence.

The recommendations in line with the above principles make detailed suggestions on addressing key challenges faced by the MSMEs, including availability of land at competitive rates, finance and keeping pace with technology changes to remain competitive in an increasingly globalised economy. CII is of the view that while MSMEs need to be provided fiscal incentives, like in most of the other states, they also need to be provided infrastructure support.

The CII has also suggested that the synergies should be drawn from the mega industrial policy in terms of focus sectors and promotion of vendor parks. Some of the suggested focus sectors include the traditional sectors like auto and auto components, food processing, FMCG, IT, sunrise industries of defence and electronic system design and manufacture. The recommendations were finalised at the consultative meeting of the CII Uttarakhand's MSME panel.

Seminar on new engineering trends 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 12
The Quantum School of Technology organised a seminar on “The Recent Advances in Mechanical Engineering" in which 42 papers were presented. Speakers from IIT-Rookree, IIT-New Delhi and GB Pant Engineering College, Pauri, shed light on new trends in mechanical engineering.

The conference was guided by an international advisory committee, comprising Professor DP Garg from USA, Professor Albrecht Eiber from Germany, Professor Sohan Sarin from the Netherlands, Professor Subhash Rakhaja from Canada and Professor Gopinath Chattopadhyay from Australia.

Professor RC Bahl, former Vice-Chancellor of Baddi University, and other guests of honor at the conference emphasised the role of engineering technologies such as "nano technology" and "robotics" in national development.

The keynote speaker for the inaugural session, Professor NK Mehta, gave an overview of advanced manufacturing methods and technology and explained how these technologies could help in improving the quality of products and increase the industrial output.

The chief guest on the occasion, Professor DV Singh, former vice-chairman, AICTE, and former director, IIT-Roorkee, appreciated the institute's management for achieving high standards of learning in such a short time. 

CSI workshop on android
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 12
The Computer Society of India (CSI), Dehradun chapter and DIT University jointly organised a two-day workshop on android at DIT University, Dehradun, on October 10 and 11.

The workshop was divided into four sessions which basically gave students a hands-on experience of developing android applications and discussing how sensors were capable of providing raw data with high precision and accuracy. The participants in the workshop were students of computer application subject in the college. The event was inaugurated by Dr Krishan Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, DIT University.

Andriod is a software stack for mobile devices that includes an operating system, middleware and key applications.

105 delegates attend global meet on food, tourism
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, October 12
A two-day international conference on food, culture and tourism concluded today at Dev Sanskriti University, Haridwar.

As many as 105 delegates, including 30 foreign delegates, attended the conference.

They presented their research papers, shared their experiences and dwelled on various aspects to promote tourism, keeping in mind the local cuisine and culture.

Speaking at the concluding session, Dev Sanskriti Univeristy Registar Sandeep Kumar said right ethics, good thinking and food habits and adhering to one’s culture could bring one nearer to a perfect human being.

The director of the Tourism Department of the university, Ashish Dahiya, said, “As we identify a university or college with knowledge, character and behaviour of its students, the same way we can relate the respective state or country with the type of tourists visiting the place.” The delegates also dwelled on food trends and safety, healthy foods, ayurvedic ingredients in Indian food, different cultures, and aspects to boost the tourism sector in the world.

Meanwhile, thousands of devotees were adhering to joint Navratra rituals at Shantikunj. Addressing the devotees, Akhil Vishwa Gayatri Parivar chief Pranav Pandya said with the help of Gayatri worship, one could bail out himself from the effects of wrongdoings of the past life.

Shail Jiji, spiritual head of the Shantikunj, said at least we could gain some power to fight against evil within and outside by devotion during the Navratras.

Cong forms IT Cell committee

Dehradun, October 12
The Uttarakhand Congress has set up an 11-member committee of the IT Cell in the state. Congress spokesperson Shilpi Arora said the committee would work under the guidance of state Congress vice president Suryakant Dhasmana, general secretary Vijay Saraswat and senior party leader Jot Singh Bisht.

Ajay Gupta, Dinesh Upmanyu, Rahul Sonkar, Tribhuwan Chauhan, Naveen Ramola, Vishal Maurya, Ashish Sharma, Nasir Hussain, Kapil Bhatia, Suyesh Rawat and Sushil Dimri are the committee members.

Shilpi said the panel would help in taking policies of the UPA government to the masses. She said the website of the state Congress would be launched on October 20. — TNS

  Luxman Chowk residents complain against encroachments

Dehradun, October 12
A delegation of Luxman Chowk Residential Society has submitted a memorandum to Vice-Chairman, Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority, against encroachments in their area. General Secretary Pradeep Duggal said: ''An unknown person is settling down people by building huts on a vacant plot on Park Road in front of Rosemount schools. 

He is also conducting commercial activities such as scrap shops and charging people on every day basis, which is completely illegal.'' He said with these people, the possibility of anti-social activities had become rife in the area. The children studying in the Rose Mount school, too, could get affected. — TNS

PFA opposes animal slaughter in festival season
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 12
People for Animals, Uttarakhand, has asked the state administration to ensure that no illegal animal slaughter takes place in the state during the coming festival of Dasehra and Eid.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary, PFA member secretary Gauri Maulekhi asked the state administration to direct its agencies that no killing or sacrifice of any animal takes place outside a registered or licensed slaughter house. She said it was generally seen during festival of Dasehra and Eid, large-scale slaughter of animals takes place outside slaughter houses, which is illegal. 

Elephants destroy standing crop in Bindukhatta
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 12
A herd of elephants has destroyed standing crop in Bindukhatta, even forcing residents to run for safety. The elephants subsequently damaged large tracts of agricultural fields.

Several such incidents have been reported in the satra acre area of Bindukhatta in the past fortnight.

Last evening, a herd of elephants forced its entry into a village. After crossing over the national highway, it entered the satra acre area of Bindukhatta and destroyed standing rice crop. It was only after the intervention of forest officials that the elephants were sent back to forests around 2 am.

One of the victims, KB Lohani, said the incidents of elephants destroying their crops had been very frequent in the recent years.

He said they lived under constant fear of elephants as they often come close to their settlements. He accused the Forest Department of adopting a lackadaisical attitude towards the payment of a compensation for the damaged crops to the affected farmers.

There have also been reports of the movement of a leopard in the region. Villagers have been demanding the installation of a cage to trap the leopard, who has killed several livestock in the region.