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House tax rates revised
Capital Issue |
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Governor, CM send Gurpurb greetings
Protesting ABVP activists ransack institute
Hoardings on roofs to remain
Delay in master plan boon for land mafia
Probe begins into felling of trees
Teachers threaten to launch agitation
Book exhibition opens
State body to seek BCCI affiliation, says Chetan Chauhan
...Also believes lot of cricket left in Dravid
Former Test player and present United Cricket Association-Uttarakhand’s President, Chetan Chauhan addresses press conference at Dehradun. Tribune photo by Vinod Pundir
Two drowned in canal
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House tax rates revised
Dehradun, November 12 The development assumes significance keeping in view that house tax in Dehradun city was last revised during 1999-2004. For the newly added 12 villages, house tax is still to be ascertained. Significantly, the house taxation policy, approved on the second day of the DMC board meeting, benefits old houses, while new houses will have to pay more, even as the process entails an increase of the tax from 10 to 15 per cent. Those houses which have been in existence for more than 20 years will get concession to the tune of 40 per cent of the tax paid. Similarly, houses 10 years old but built not more than 20 years back, will get a concession of 32.50 per cent in the tax. Apart from this, the width of the road in front of the houses will also be considered to determine the quantum of tax. The meeting decided on a 25 per cent rebate for slum dwellings. Mayor Vinod Chamoli said the new policy was historical as it virtually did away with the mercy assessment system. He said it was seen that influential individuals would get away paying little as house tax while the others had to pay more. It was decided to levy an additional 30 per cent tax on houses resorting to sub-letting. The municipal corporation at present earns Rs 3.5 crore by way of house tax, which is a major source of income. After the tax revision, an earning to the tune of Rs 7.8 crore is expected. Another major issue that came up as part of the meeting agenda was fixing taxes on handcarts. It was decided to allot place in each ward to check the movement of handcarts.The house was informed that as many as 1,350 carts were registered with the Dehradun Municipal Corporation whereas on ground 10,000 carts were doing business in the city. Ther meeting decided on a charge of Rs 10 per handcart and ensuring councillor’s recommendation and police verification for plying of the cart. In case of ice cream carts, the house decided to make ice manufacturers accountable for verification of their labour. Most councillors expressed resentment over the rising number of carts, terming these as hindrance in the smooth flow of traffic. Similar apprehensions were raised on overloaded rickshaws. |
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Capital Issue
Dehradun, November 12 The party is organising dharna at all the district headquarters to mobilise support for its proposed plan to gherao the Chief Minister BC Khanduri on November 14 at Gauchar. Addressing the protesters, member of the state unit council Jeet Singh said their party would not betray the people of the state on the issue of having Gairsain as the capital of Uttarakhand as done by the Congress and BJP governments. The capital of a hill state must be located in the hills instead of plain area like Dehradun, he added. The state secretary Samar Bhandari accused the state BJP government of ignoring the sentiments of the people on the issue, as it was one of the key demands during the statehood movement. The fast unto death started by the party since October 21 on the issue would continue till acceptance of their demand. To achieve this, he appealed to left parties and like-minded progressive forces active in the state for their support to force the BJP government to make its position clear on the issue. |
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Governor, CM send Gurpurb greetings
Dehradun, November 12 In his message, Joshi has said, "On the auspicious occasion of the birth-anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, I convey my heartiest greetings and good wishes to all my fellow citizens. Guru Nanak Dev’s message of truth, contentment, compassion and love is an abiding source of inspiration for all.” The Uttarakhand chief minister, Maj. Gen. B.C.Khanduri (retd) has also greeted the people on the eve of Guru Nanak Jayanti and Kartik Purnima. Khanduri stated that the teachings of Guru Nanak are still relevant and spread the message of brotherhood, peace and harmony. |
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Protesting ABVP activists ransack institute
Dehradun, November 12 The protestors also broke the windowpanes of the institute and the visibly terrified students of the institute went below the tables, in order to save themselves from the wrath of the ABVP members. Interestingly, heavy police force was present at the spot but no one bothered to stop the ABVP activists from damaging the institute property. Notably, on the issue of illegal Bangladeshi migrants in India, the ABVP had given a bandh call for closure of all educational institutes in the state on November 12. Subsequently, yesterday, district magistrate Amit Negi issued an order directing all government and private educational institutes not to open on Wednesday. DM had stated that orders of closure were issued in order to ensure that students and their parents do not face any problem. Though special directions were issued to the cops to remain alert and ensure that no violence takes place, but today morning, the ABVP activists in groups went to different areas and forcibly got educational institutes closed. Meanwhile, ABVP State Secretary Ramesh Gadiya expressed his ignorance over the incident. “Our protest was peaceful and I have no report of any of our activists indulging in any sort of violent activity,” he claimed, while speaking to The Tribune. The Congress leaders have strongly condemned the state government and the district administration for supporting the bandh call given by the ABVP and issuing orders for keeping the educational institutes closed today. In a statement issued in this regard today, senior Congress leader Suryakant Dhasmana “forced” bandh by the administration is extremely shameful. “By supporting the bandh and using the state government machinery for the success of the bandh is nothing but murder of the democracy,” he alleged, while adding that people and students have to face a lot of trouble on account of the bandh. Meanwhile, founder president of the Nehru Foundation for Youth Development Jitendra Chauhan has also flayed the ABVP for damaging the institute. He demanded immediate action against the ABVP for allegedly indulging in hooliganism. |
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Hoardings on roofs to remain
Dehradun, November 12 There has been much of concern over hoardings being put atop rooftops. Despite being a source of revenue for both the corporation and the owner of the house, the rising number of illegal hoardings has been a cause of concern among the citizens keeping in mind the security concerns. There is a big apprehension that the decision of the Municipal Corporation, Dehradun, to renew the license of these 90 hoardings will also facilitate all illegal hoardings to stay. Interestingly, while a section of councilors strongly opposed the hoardings on the rooftops terming them as threat of safety, there were councilors who termed it as a major source of revenue earnings. Significantly, the apex court had some time back in one of its directives linked to the Delhi Municipal Corporation had come up strong reservation over the rooftop hoardings. |
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Delay in master plan boon for land mafia
Dehradun, November 12 Interestingly, the plan should have been in place several years back after expiry of the previous plan in 2001. The keenness on part of the association stems from the fact that the CM did not spell out any time frame for the implementation of the plan. “Its absence is leading to unplanned development of the capital city. It is a boon for the land mafia as well as the corrupt officials who have turned a blind eye to illegal constructions all over,” alleged the association’s president RP Sangal here today. The issue of master plan is hanging fire for long despite reports of all formalities having been completed. The association alleged that around 75 new constructions in the city are illegal. And this could allegedly not be possible without the consent of the concerned officials. “Everybody is hearing for long about imminent implementation of the plan. We want to know why the government is inexplicably sitting on it,” asked DS Rana, executive member of the association. As illegal constructions are flourishing at the cost of long-term planned development, equally glaring fallout is the loss of revenue to the government. “For instance, in Nathanpur area near Mussoorie bypass, thousands of houses have come up on the agricultural land. Since these are illegal, the government lost revenue worth crores in terms of development charges,” added Rana. The association alleged that land use in the case of influential parties is permitted without delay while small plot holders are made to wait endlessly on one pretext or the other. “The case in point is the upcoming Mall opposite Naini Bakery on Old Survey Road,” alleged association general secretary GL Arora. This regulatory instrument is all the more imperative due to unique geographical location of the Doon valley. Due to this, there is no way the city can expand horizontally to meet the increasing housing needs. |
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Probe begins into felling of trees
Dehradun, November 12 Interestingly, the road for which permission was granted to cut 40 trees was built from the discretionary fund of Tehri legislator Kishore Upadhaya. District magistrate Sojanya today sent the additional district magistrate (ADM) and the chief development officer (CDO) to the spot to inquire into the matter. “I had sent the officers to the spot to inquire into the matter and to count the number of trees cut. We will take action after the inquiry,” she said. Similarly, the state principal chief conservator of forest R.B.S Rawat today taking cognisance of the reports ordered a departmental inquiry into the alleged felling of trees. He said action would be taken if any illegality were found. Meanwhile, Virendeer Sajwan refuted the allegations. “There was proper permission for building the road and to cut 40 trees but not more trees were felled,” he said. Kishore Upadhaya, Congress legislator from Tehri, told The Tribune that a request from residents of Gajana had come for building a road. “Being the local legislator, I had given a sum of Rs 1 lakh from my discretionary fund two years ago. I have no idea about cutting of trees,” Kishore said. |
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Teachers threaten to launch agitation
Dehradun, November 12 They have also threatened that if the state government did not meet their demand, they would be forced to go on indefinite strike. “Teachers belong to special class and it is derogatory to pay them in the same level of the state employees,” said Shobha Ram Saini, president of the samiti. In the Fourth and Fifth Pay Commissions, the employees and teachers were given similar pay scales as given to the central government employees and teachers. But, the present state government, while implementing the Sixth Pay Commission, has failed to do the same. Sanjay Chauhan, secretary, the URSSS, said if their demand was not met, they would go on strike. The State Primary Teachers Union, Madhyamik Sikshak Sangh, Rajkiya Sikshak Sangh (Karnail Group), Uttaranchal Madhyamik Sangh and Senior Basic Sikshak Sangh participated in the protest. |
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Book exhibition opens
Dehradun, November 12 The National Book Trust of India - an autonomous organisation under the ministry of human resource development of the government of India - has organised the exhibition and principal secretary health Keshav Desiraju inaugurated the proceedings. Hindi, Urdu and English books are available at discounted rates at the exhibition. |
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State body to seek BCCI affiliation, says Chetan Chauhan
Dehradun, November 12 Speaking at a function organised by the UCAU after election of its office bearers here, the cricketer turned politician categorically said a lot of hard work laid ahead of the office bearers to prepare necessary groundwork to promote the game and infrastructure in the state to the level required for recognition from the BCCI. “I should make it clear that we should not be sure of getting the BCCI affiliation at this stage. We can claim it on the basis of the mandatory groundwork to be done in the coming three years”, said Chauhan. He said the BCCI would grant affiliation after it is completely satisfied about the claim made by any association. For this, the BCCI has appointed a committee, which thoroughly verify the claim of any association before taking the decision. There were cases related to affiliation pending in courts, he added. Addressing the mediapersons, he said next three-year period would be crucial for the UCAU. It would have to focus on expanding its reach to all districts and groom the budding and promising cricketers right from the village level. “Our association will organize U-15, U-16 and U-17 inter-district tournaments twice a year. And the selected players will be groomed for playing at the national and international level,” he said. He emphasised on equal importance of promotion of the game at the school and college level. Meanwhile, election observer Anil Khanna announced names of the state BJP minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, Chetan Chauhan, Manmaohan Sood, former international umpire, S.K Bansal and Amit Kapoor as chief patron, president and vice-presidents, respectively. Other office bearers included Rajender Pal, Sanjai Gusain, Avnish Verma, Swatantra Mishra, Sanjai Rawat, Deepak Mehra, Mukesh Panthari and H.S Rawat. Executive members included S.N Bhatt, S.P.S Negi, J.S Bisht, Veraj Bisht, Kuldeep Batola, Manoj Gusain, Gangmohan Rothan, Karn Bora and Shan Singh Negi.
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Two drowned in canal
Dehradun, November 12 According to the Raipur Police Station officials, both Kishore and Thapa were auto rickshaw drivers and were having some get-together with their friends at a place near Pump House in Raipur. “Kishore slipped into the canal and Thapa jumped to save him but both of them drowned”, disclosed cops. A postmortem will be conducted. |
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Dehradun, November 12
Dehradun, November 12
Dehradun, November 12
Dehradun, November 12
Dehradun, November 12
