Despite High Court orders, purohits, traders oppose temple renovation 
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, October 31
A section of teerath purohits, Ganga Sabha office-beares and traders is once again opposing the renovation and colouring of the ancient Shri Ganga temple at Brahma Kund at Har-ki-Pauri. The Shri Ganga temple, which is also known as King Man Singh Chatri, is the only temple at Har-ki-Pauri that has not been cemented, painted and renovated for the past 16 years.

The temple belongs to the city-based literati Kamal Kant Budhkar’s family. It faces opposition from a segment of teerath purohits, Ganga Sabha office-bearers and traders whenever the Budhkar family tries to renovate or refurbish it.

Notably, the teerath purohits in 1997 had filed a case in the Allahabad High Court against the Budhkar family for constructing a room in the temple and renovating it.

The high court had sought help from the Indian Archaeological Society in this regard and after the formation of a separate state of Uttarakhand in 2000 the matter was referred to the Nainital High Court. The Nainital High Court had allowed construction and renovation work at the temple after taking into account the reports of the ASI and the Haridwar Development Authority.

As the renovation work at the temple started this week, teerath purohits, Ganga Sabha office-bearers and some BJP activists objected to it and forced labourers to leave the place.

Though Kamal Kant Budhkar showed the high court orders to the protesters, the latter did not relent and forced the labourers to leave the temple. Today, Budhkar met senior police officials and apprised them of the high court directives. Meanwhile, more policemen have been deployed at the temple.

Ganga Sabha president Ashok Tripathi said the matter was still pending in the high court and hence the Budhkar family could not be allowed to renovate the temple.

He added that the temple had been facing a legal dispute for the past 16 years and they would also move the Supreme Court on the issue.

“We will not allow any work, whitewash or construction at the temple site till the Supreme Court gives its order in the case. Status quo should be maintained at the temple site as has been done for the past 16 years. We will oppose any construction work on the temple premise,” said Ujjwal Pundit, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Teerath Yuva.

Budhkar said theHigh court had allowed renovation work at the temple. “We started renovation and maintenance work at the temple as the Ganga canal was closed at present. But once again some people are trying to create hurdles as they fear the temple will draw more devotees and tourists in comparison to other temples at Har-ki-Pauri,” he added.

Meanwhile, AS Negi, SHO, City Kotwali, said the work at the site had been stopped and the police had started investigation in the matter. A copy of the high court order had also been sought.

The SHO said no one would be allowed to take law in his hands. He urged both parties to resolve the issue amicably in the larger interest of the people. 

GMVN regularises services of 175 workers
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 31
In a pre-Diwali bonanza, Managing Director of the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) Rajesh Kumar has regularised the services of 175 employees, who have been working with the organisation for over two decades.

Of these, 93 are from grade three and 82 from grade four. The DM has also given festival bonus to 619 employees involved in tourism-related jobs and 880 employees have been given ex-gratia allowance.

The employees’ union had been demanding the regularisation of the services of the staff for long and also organised several demonstrations and protests in the past.

The MD said, " The services of almost all the employees have been regularised. Bonus and ex-gratia has been given to them by the management as well. Employees had been facing a tough time post the disaster as they could not get regular salaries. But they reposed faith in us and kept working without any complaint.”

The MD said he took up this issue with the state government on several occasions. GMVN Employees' Union chief Purushottam Puri thanked the MD and other higher officials for making these announcements.

Union members and employees celebrated the occasion and burst firecrackers on the GMVN premises.

17 villages to celebrate Diwali without power 
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, October 31
Over 17 villages in the Kumaon region will celebrate Diwali without electricity this year as these villages have not been electrified so far due to the reasons cited as 'commercially unviable' by the electricity department. Erecting power lines to these villages will not be beneficial as fewer families reside in these villages, power corporation engineers said

According to the sources, the corporation has electrified 6,930 villages out of 6,947 villages in the region.

“These villages could not be electrified even under Rajiv Gandhi electrification scheme as these do not meet the commercial standards. Only one or two families live in these villages. So it is is commercially unsuitable for us to electrify these,” said NS Tolia, engineer concerned with the Rajiv Gandhi rural electrification scheme.

Most of these villages are situated in Almora, Pithoragarh and Bageswar districts. "In Pithoragarh district the number of such villages, where only one family resides, is four. These are Jagura, Akholia, Larigubar and Majiakanda in Munsiyari subdivision. In Bageswar district the non electrified villages are Jankuri, Aamjhaju and Amoli, whereas in Almora district, Dhaniakande, Syaltad and Kalibashali villages could not be electrified as these have less than five families living there,” said sources in electricity department.

The villagers have there own version. They attribute their plight of living without electricity to their love of the hill region that compelled them to reside in their village even if the entire village shifted to suitable places during the last two decades.

“We are being compelled to celebrate Diwali by lighting earthen lamps or candles despite the fact that we preferred living in hill villages where the state government had promised to provide all the essential facilities,” said Diwan Singh, a villager from Jagura village of Munsiyari in Pithoragarh district.

Not viable

* The power corporation has electrified 6,930 villages out of a total of 6,947 villages

* Other villages could not be electrified as these were not commercially viable

* Most of the unelectrified villages are situated in Almora, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar districts

z Power corporation engineers say erecting power lines to these villages will not be beneficial as fewer families reside there 

Welfare decisions taken for police martyrs’ kin
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 31
The State police foundation committee headed by Director-General of Police (DGP) BS Sidhu took some important welfare decisions in its meeting here today for the dependents of the policemen, who sacrificed their lives during police action in the state.

It was decided that if the family of a martyr does not get pension within six months from the death of the policemen, one member from the family will be entitled to get a job of a constable or a clerk at the police headquarter if he/she fulfils the required qualifications.

Notably, according to the current rule, the dependent of a martyr gets the job of a constable in Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) or a fourth-class employee in the police department.

The fixed time limit of five years to apply for the job in the police department in the case of the death of the policemen on duty has been relaxed. It has been decided that if the family members apply for the job even after five years from the death of the martyr, the police department will forward the application to the government.

It was also decided during the meeting that the family members of the martyrs, whose names were announced during Police Commemoration Day parade on October 21, will be given cash award during the state foundation day celebrations on November 9.

Parties differ on capital issue 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 31
As the time for inauguration of new Vidhan Sabha Bhawan slated for November 19 at Raipur is coming closer, the political parties have begun airing their views on the contentious issue of the declaration of the capital of the state.

Leaders of Samajwadi (SP) Party are not unanimous in their stand on this issue. Former state president Vinod Barthwal said, "I am steadfast on my stand that there should be two capitals in the state, just like Jammu and Kashmir. The summer capital should be created in Gairsain and the winter capital in Dehradun. The entire bureaucracy and paraphernalia should be shifted to Gairsain in summer and Dehradun in winter. This way the aspiration of both, those living in hills and plains, will be met."

Differing with the position taken by Barthwal, present state president SN Sachan said, "There is absolutely no logic in wasting so much public money in shifting the entire administration and ministry to different locations because of change in the season. As Dehradun has been widely accepted as the capital of the state so it should formally be declared as the capital of the state. This issue should be dealt with once for all."

State in charge, BSP, Ramesh Kumar Burman too supported the theory of declaration of Dehradun as the capital of the state. He said, “A lot of infrastructure has been created in Dehradun which has been taken up as the provisional capital of the state. If Gairsain is declared the new capital of the state, the same infrastructure will have to be replicated there as well. So instead of doing that, I think the mid way chosen by building a Vidhan Sabha at Gairsain is the best option.This way, the grievances of hill people can be redressed by holding periodic sessions and meetings in the premises.”

Both the factions of Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) have been vocal in demanding Gairsain as the capital of the state. Patron UKD (Aeri), BD Raturi has already announced an agitation on this issue on November 8 and reiterated his pledge not to let Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna inaugurate the new Vidhan Sabha building at Raipur on November 19.

President of the UKD (Panwar) Trivender Singh Panwar, too, said his party would would launch a statewide agitation demanding Gairsain as the capital of the state. 

Striking employees insist on govt order before calling off agitation
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 31
With both the Uttarakhand government and the office-bearers of State Employees Joint Council adopting rigid postures, the strike by the government employees is expected to linger on.

At the meeting of the office-bearers of the Council, it was decided to continue the strike. "Only if the government issues an order regarding the fulfilment of our main demand will we call off our stir. We are ready to celebrate Diwali at the Parade Ground were the dharna is on," said Pradeep Kohli, general secretary of the council.

He charged that the government was trying to befool the employees by pressing for unconditional withdrawal of the strike while at the same time affirming their support for the demand. "We are at a loss to understand who is guiding the government," said Kohli.

The government has, in principle, agreed to give three promotions\ promotional increments from the date of issuance of the government order. But the employees are demanding that this be implemented with retrospective effect. With regard to the demand pertaining to pay upgradation for which the government had sought time till December 7, the employees are in no mood to give in.

Tributes paid to Indira Gandhi, Sardar Patel
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, October 31
People from all walks of life today paid tributes to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and first Deputy PM and Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on their 29th death and 138th birth anniversaries, respectively.

Several functions were organised in the district to remember the contribution of the two leaders in paving the way for a resurgent and strong India.

The District Magistrate, Nidhi Pandey, paid floral tributes at the portrait of Indira Gandhi at the Roshanabad-based District Collectorate office.

A programme was also organised at the Congress office, Birla ghat, where Congress workers paid floral tribute to the duo. Congressmen who were associated with Indira Gandhi also narrated their experiences with her. Discussions were held on Indira Gandhi’s visit to Haridwar in the 70s.

The Haridwar city Congress unit chief OP Chauhan also remembered the Iron Lady. Anju Dwivedi, a member of the Women's Congress Committee, said Indira Gandhi never compromised with development and her slogan ‘Door drishti-pakka irada’(greater vision strong commitment) stand applicable in today’s time too.

“Indira Gandhi shared a close relationship with Haridwar. Whenever she faced any trouble or political tribulations, she would visit her spiritual guru Maa Anandmayi in the pilgrim city. She had a lot of regard for this pilgrim city,” said OP Chauhan.

The organisational secretary of the city Congress unit, BS Tejiyan, said despite being a woman, she ruled the nation as the Prime Minister for 15 years and gave the slogan of ‘Garibi hatao’, which connected her to the masses. Veteran party activist Ishwari Devi said Indira Gandhi showed the entire world the dexterity as well as capability of women in political arena.

Meanwhile, tributes were also paid to the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 138th birth anniversary.

The unification of 500-odd semi-autonomous princely dynasties in a single democratic Indian set up by Sardar Patel was lauded.

Congress party workers as well as social activists remembered the pivotal role and stature of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Among those who offered tributes were Shyam Puri, Chaudhari Daljet, Vahavir Ruhila, Naeem Kureshi, Om Prakash Sharma, JP Pandey, Anita Goswami, Manoj Giri, Ambika Pandey, Poonam Bhagat and Kiran Singh.

DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand Congress Committee on Thursday observed the 29th death anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as Rashtriya Sankalp Diwas. The Congress also remembered Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on the occasion of his 137th birth anniversary. Garlanding the portrait of Indira Gandhi at Congress Bhawan, Uttarakhand Congress president Yashpal Arya said the Late Prime Minister always believed in harmony and peace. She stood for her principles and even had an inkling that there were forces, who might assassinate her but that did not dither her in following her path of betterment of country.

Senior Congress leaders, Hira Singh Bisht, Suryakant Dhasmana, Lal Chand Sharma and Shankar Chand Ramola were among prominent who remembered the two leaders for their contribution towards building of India.

Rafting expedition flagged off
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, October 31
Shyam Singh, IG, Sahastra Seema Bal (SSB), here today flagged off the longest-ever rafting expedition on the Kali river from Jauljibi in Uttarakhand to Patna in Bihar. The expedition being organised by the SSB has 60 jawans, five officers and four junior commissioned officers in five rafts.

According to SSB sources, the jawans from almost every battalion of the force are taking part in the expedition, which will be known as Mahakali expedition up to Tanakpur and Sharda expedition from Tanakpur to Baharaich and thereafter Ghaghra expedition up to Chapra in Bihar as the rivers are known by these names in these places. “This all-India level expedition will be welcomed by SSB units present by the riverside up to Bihar and it will reach Patna on November 14,” said Subhash Singh Negi, leader of the expedition.

The purpose of the expedition is to boost the morale of the SSB jawans, who guard the Nepal border in unfriendly conditions at several places, besides to prepare them for water patrolling on the border.

School celebrates annual day
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 31
Flyfot Public School celebrated its 8th annual day with fervour and gaiety here today. Mantri Prasad Naithani, Education Minister, was the chief guest on the occasion.

Naithani said it was important for educational institutes to emphasise on academics not only in class but outside also. He congratulated the management of the school for the exceptional work done. Performances by students of pre-primary class were the main attraction of the day. They presented the welcome dance and left everyone spell-bound with their performances. Students of senior classes participated in orchestra and choir performances.

The theme of the annual day this year was “One World, One Love, One Community”. Ajeet Rana, director of the school, said, “We chose this theme as it reminds us to resolve our differences and know that we are all on this planet together. We can’t do it alone.”

At the end of the function, students were given awards for their overall achievements in the last one year. The principal of the school, Ruchika Rana, congratulated the staff for their continuous efforts and thanked the dignitaries for attending the function.