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BJP to launch statewide agitation
Ganga diversion ill-timed?
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Boosting Tourism
Govt stalls collision with MLAs
All districts to have auditoriums, says CM
Tercentenary celebrations: Thousands attend nagar kirtan
State to add 200 buses to its fleet
Bharat Nirman campaign begins today
Suicide by couple
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BJP to launch statewide agitation
Dehradun, October 20 Rawat was addressing mediapersons after the conclusion of the meeting of the state unit held to review the party’s performance in the Panchayat elections. Rawat, however, remained tightlipped on the name of the possible candidate but said that the central leadership in consultation with state leaders would finalise the candidate. When asked that whether Rawat is also in the fray, he said, "It is up to the party high command.” Whatever decision the party will take would be acceptable to him. On the issue of fielding a candidate for the seat from outside Uttarakhand, Rawat did not give any direct reply. On the coming Lok Sabha elections, he asserted that the party is ready for elections and candidates would be given tickets purely on the basis of their "winnability". Meanwhile, Rawat stated that the state unit of the BJP would launch a massive agitation in Uttarakhand from December 1 to 10 to lodge its protest against the Centre’s soft approach towards terrorism. While making an announcement in this regard, Rawat said, "Notwithstanding the recent serial blasts in Jaipur, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and New Delhi that took lives of hundreds of innocent people, the Union government is not formulating any stringent law to deal with terrorism." Rawat said that BJP activists would be staging dharnas in all districts of the state in order to press the Centre to bring some tough law in force, maybe other than POTA. Rawat also accused the Centre of adopting a pick-and-choose policy in granting central status to Garhwal University. "Kumaon University should also have been granted central status," he demanded, while informing that Chief Minister Maj Gen B.C. Khanduri (retd) has already taken up the matter with the Centre and has shot off a letter to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in this regard. Replying to a query about any possible action against those involved in anti-party activities during the recently held Panchayat elections in the state, Rawat said that an inquiry committee has been constituted to probe into the matter.
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Ganga diversion ill-timed?
Haridwar, October 20 For yearly maintenance and cleaning, the flow of the Ganga has been stopped at Har-ki-Pauri till October 27. During this period, the cleaning of ghats and bridges will be done. The Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department carries out this work. Considering the number of pilgrims who visit Haridwar, it is imperative to clean the bottom of the river and the ghats from time to time. Yet it has not gone down well with the traditionalists, purists, traders and a vast segment of society. People and organisations have come out openly venting their ire on the concerned authorities and administration, especially the irrigation department. Historically too, the diversion of the Ganga had not gone down well with the people. In 1916, the Britishers too had to sign an agreement, following massive protests, with the representatives of Hindu organisations that they will not disrupt the natural flow of the river. Paragraph 1 and 2 of Section 32 of this agreement clearly states that if the need arises, the consent of the Hindu organisations is essential. SDO K.P. Singh faced the protest of activists of Small Scale Traders Association and ‘Teerth Maryada Raksha’ outside his residence. Sanjay Chopra, state president of the traders association said, “Both Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand’s authorities are responsible for these protests as religious organisations and people had urged them not to divert the flow during the festive season.” The Devbhoomi Dharamshala Management Sabha has also urged that the diversion should only be after Kartik Poornima. Irrigation department authorities told The Tribune that apart from the regular cleansing and repair of ghats and dilapidated bridges, this process has been started keeping in view the upcoming Kumbh Mela in 2010. “During the period that the Ganga is diverted, new ghats will be made. One ghat will be 190 metre long from Mayapur bridge to Ganesh Ghat and another from Bairagi Camp bridge to Daksh Mandir will be 1,700 metre long,” said D.D. Dalakoti, executive engineer of the department. During this period, pilgrims and visitors can bathe at the Neel Dhara. The cleaning of the ghats is essential as is evident from the garbage and filth accumulated on the ghats and the dilapidated condition of the ghats and bridges. But the people here are questioning the timing of the operation. |
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Boosting Tourism
Dehradun, October 20 Executing the idea conceived about three years back, the government will construct 32 helipads in the 13 districts of the state. "We are going to have helipads at each district headquarters and important places including famous centres of religious and industrial importance. Besides connectivity, the long-term purpose is to promote tourism and facilitate rescue operations including medical aid to the people up to the remote hills," said additional secretary Vinod Sharma while talking to The Tribune here today. To be completed by 2010, the project will help overcome the problem of accessibility to the risky mountainous terrain as well as tap the tourism potential to the maximum extent. Home to the world famous pilgrims centres like Hemkunt Sahib, Badrinath and Kedarnath, the state, which is witness large numbers of pilgrims from all over the country as well as from abroad, will be able to save their time and in the process bring more revenue to the state coffers. Notably, the pilgrims constitute the major chunk of the tourists' flow into the state. "In the long term, the helipad facility having hanger, lounge, waiting rooms will be opened to the private air carriers," added Sharma. Besides tourism, the helipads dotting almost every part of the state are expected to give a boost to its industrial centres at Sela Qui, Rudarpur, Sitarganj, Pantnagar and Hardwar. The government has planned to have helipads at or near these centres. At the same time, opening up the state's skies to helicopter transport is expected to be a big catalyst for employment generation for the local population at the places having this facility. The state’s policy planners believe that the air-connectivity over the next decade will be one of the key factors in the development of the state having more than two-third of its geographical area as mountainous terrain.
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Govt stalls collision with MLAs
Dehradun, October 20 Earlier, during the Congress government led by N.D. Tiwari, the legislators were debarred from heading these committees and cells. By Khanduri government has now paved the way for giving these posts to party legislators and ruling Bharatiya Janata Party leaders. Since Khanduri took over the reigns of the state in March 2007, party legislators have been unhappy for not getting any position. As many as 28 legislators even approached the party high command complaining against the functioning of the Chief Minister. During the previous Tiwari regime, more than 200 such positions were given to party legislators and leaders. This became a political issue in the February 2007 assembly elections and was exploited well by the BJP. On assuming power, Khanduri had decided against creating such positions. However, following pressure from party leaders, he placed 40 senior leaders on such positions. Yet the legislators remained unhappy. Now, by removing 23 advisors to various departments like tourism and agriculture from the purview of office of profit, the Chief Minister has paved the way to placate disgruntled party legislators. The decision has been criticised by the Congress. “The Chief Minister owes an apology to the people of the state for doing the same thing that he campaigned against during the last assembly polls,” Suryakant Dhasmana, a senior Congress leader said. |
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All districts to have auditoriums, says CM
Dehradun, October 20 After laying the foundation stone of a multipurpose auditorium of the department of culture at Hardwar bypass road near Rispana bridge here today, Khanduri asserted that in order to spread the glorious culture of Devbhoomi of Uttarakhand all over the world, multipurpose auditoriums are a must. Appreciating the initiative taken by the department of culture, the Chief Minster said, "Now, the emphasis should be on early completion of the work so that the auditorium could be utilised for constructive purposes.” Addressing the gathering, minister for tourism and culture Prakash Pant said that because of a shortage of land, the auditorium will have a seating capacity of 275. He added that at the state level, an auditorium to accommodate 25,000 people would be constructed. He also said that at the district headquarters too, auditoriums having seating capacities of 275 persons would come up. Culture and tourism secretary Rakesh Sharma informed that the work of the auditorium would be completed within 18 months. He also stated that the auditorium would cost Rs 1.87 crores, adding that in Garhi Cantt, an auditorium with a seating capacity of 1000 persons would be set up soon. |
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Tercentenary celebrations: Thousands attend
Dehradun, October 20 Criss-crossing prominent roads of the city, the kirtan culminated at the Chukkuwala campus.It was accorded a warm welcome at Shiv Mandir, Sadashiv Mandir and the Garhwal Mandir. Nirmal Singh, president of Gurdwara Sahib Chukkuwala, Pritam Singh, Ravinder Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, Pritpal Singh and Kulwant Singh Anand were among those to participate in the nagar kirtan. At Gurdwara Sri Guru Amardas at Luniya Mohalla a “Guru Manyo Granth” conference was held. Bhai Balraj gave a discourse on the holy granth. Bhai Awatar Singh Nanaksar recited shabad, which was much appreciated by the audience.
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Rahul asks students to join active politics
Dehra Dun, October 20 Gandhi began his three-day visit to the state today by interacting with SC/ST students in Khatima in Kumoan region and NSUI students in Ramnagar. While in Khatima, he listened to the problems of SC/ ST students, in Ramnagar he interacted with girl students of the NSUI who posed him a volley of questions. '' It is your voice, vision and intelligence that can take the country forward in the field of development...,'' Gandhi replied when asked what good the youth could do by entering politics. '' ...Only the youth can ensure a postitive impact on the country through fresh ideas and able administration....'' he said adding, ''we must listen to the voice of the youth''. He said the Congress had initiated a number of projects for the uplift of the masses. Giving an example, he said Andhra Pradesh was doing well in ensuring overall development of its people, but Uttar Pradesh lagged far behind. ''It is your duty to ask your state government what it is doing,'' Gandhi said. He said he had chosen Uttarakhand as one of his ''pilot project'' states, the other being Punjab, as elections in both states would be held by December. He said he wanted to see more and more youngsters contest elections. VHP workers waived black flags and demonstrated against Gandhi's visit to Ramnagar. — UNI
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State to add 200 buses to its fleet
Dehradun, October 20 But those willing to pay more for a comfortable journey will not have to wait that long as about seven new luxury AC coaches will start plying by the end of next month. The state has been witnessing a manifold increase in terms of passengers for the last about eight years. Since becoming a separate state, it has started buzzing with unprecedented business and commercial activity leading to greater movement of people making a departure from its image of a sleepy state known for schools and heritage buildings. As of now, Gramin Depot at the state’s capital Dehradun, which mainly runs bus service on long inter-state routes, has only 91 buses which include 14 AC coaches and 26 hi-tech ones. On a daily basis, its buses touch destinations like Delhi, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Kanpur, Dharamsala, Jammu, Jaipur, Lucknow and Faridabad. “We expect to ease a lot of pressure on the existing fleet with the addition of new buses. There is, however, no proposal yet to add any new hi-tech bus,” informed Surender Singh Rawat, MD of the corporation. Though private operators are also here to cater to the growing rush, especially between Dehradun and Delhi, but passengers tend to prefer the state-owned buses due to their far greater frequency of service. “A number of times, I decided to travel by a private bus but ultimately opted for a hi-tech bus due to their availability in the morning as well as in the evening. Their timings are more conducive to my schedule,” said Atul Mahajan, a young professional for an MNC in Delhi.
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Bharat Nirman campaign begins today
Dehradun, October 20 Tehri Garhwal MP Vijay Bahuguna will inaugurate the campaign at Manoranjan Sadan in presence of Chakrata MLA Pritam Singh, Vipul Jain chairman Mandi Samiti and Vikasnagar municipality chairman Shanti Junwatha. Uttarakhand agricultural minister Trivedra Singh Rawat, former Chief Minister Nityanand Swami and Luxor MLA Kunwar Singh will be interacting with the villagers during the course of the campaign. Aimed at creating awareness among the masses to public welfare programmes, the campaign will inform villagers on welfare schemes of the Central government like Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan, National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Right to Information Act, Forests Right Act 2006 and Child Integrated Development Services Programme. The UPA government at the Centre has been holding a series of public information campaigns in Uttarakhand, which has witnessed enthusiastic participation.
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Suicide by couple
Dehradun, October 20 Umesh Singh Chaudhary (26) and Anita (23) were found dead in a hotel room in Nagarasu last evening. The police, who were called by the hotel owner, did not turn up the whole day. Chaudhary was a resident of Nagarasu and Anita of Pokhari in Chamoli district. They had checked into the hotel on Saturday night. The police claimed it had "found" a suicide note in which the couple had said nobody should be held responsible for their death.
— PTI |
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Dehradun, October 20
Dehradun, October 20
