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Pancheshwar project deadlock is over
Kashmir is bilateral issue: Gen Malik
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Rehabilitation policy for dam oustees demanded
Himalayan Bird Count kicks off
Trees Felled In Tehri
Haj panel chief sought bribe, allege employees
CPI activists lathicharged by cops at Gopeshwar on Friday. A Tribune photograph
Two houses burgled in same locality
Employees demand 6th pay panel benefits
Doon set to be solar city
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Pancheshwar project deadlock is over
Dehradun, November 14 A detailed project report (DPR) of the project that would cost more than Rs.40,000 crores would be prepared. The visit of the Nepalese Prime Minister would pave the way for the start of the much delayed project. We have made a political change in the country and are now committed to bring developmental change in Nepal —
Prachanda, Nepal PM The project proposed to be built over the Kali river in Pithoragarh and Champawat districts of the state and some parts of Nepal. The project, with 12 units of 540 MW each, would uproot nearly 80,000 people. Nearly 80 per cent of the catchment area would be in India. There are reports that the proposed height of the dam has been raised from 238 metres to 315 metres, which would make it India's highest and biggest dam. The 121-sq-km reservoir would submerge nearly 146 villages. Environmentalists and social activists are already against the project for environmental and social reasons. Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has said that he would review the Pancheshwar hydro-electric project to be built jointly by India and Nepal on river Kali flowing as a boundary between the two countries. "We have made a political change in the country and are now committed to bring developmental change in Nepal," he said. Nepalese Prime Minister today visited Tehri hydro-electric project to get a first hand knowledge about the big hydro-electric projects in the region. After getting a briefing and going around the project, Parchanda said that his Himalayan nation has huge hydro-electric potential and he has come to Tehri dam, one of the biggest in the Himalayan region to know about the feasibility of such big projects in the country. He further said that he met the engineers and specialists and was impressed with the use of modern technology and science in the making of such mega projects in his country. Prachanda also said that he was for greater cooperation with India to tap the huge hydro-electric potential of his country. Later, on his way back to New Delhi he stopped at Dehradun for lunch with Uttarakhand chief minister, Maj. Gen. B.C. Khanduri (retd) at the Jollygrant airport near here. He said that previous governments in Nepal had signed the Panchweshwar project with India and he would like to review the project. He denied that there was any hitch on the part of Nepal on the Pancheshwar project. "We will see what are the best option for us in the tapping of hydro-electric potential of the country," he added. Prachanda said that India and Nepal has historic relations and his government would like to take the ties further and seek cooperation in science and technology for the overall development of Nepal. Asked about the speculations about the relations between the two countries after Maoists came to power, he said that the relations between Nepal and India would be the best in the coming days. |
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Kashmir is bilateral issue: Gen Malik
Dehradun, November 14 “From the Indian point of view, we do not appreciate any third party mediation in the Kashmir issue,” said Gen. Malik while responding to the recent statement of Obama wherein he had said that Kashmir was a place he wanted to “devote serious diplomatic resources to figure out a plausible approach”. Gen. Malik, who was in Dehradun recently, also said he does not expect any major changes in Indo-US ties after Obama takes over as the US president. On the issue of troops pullout from Iraq, he said, “In US, majority of people want troops’ pullout from Iraq. Even the British would like to pull out their troops from Iraq. But I think it cannot be done in a hurried manner. It may take a little time after Obama assumes office.” Replying to a query regarding Obama’s statement of possible deployment of more troops in Afghanistan, Gen. Malik said the present situation in Afghanistan is very “complex” and US has to engage all neighbouring countries, including India, Pakistan and Iran, to find a lasting solution to the problem. Expressing his views on the US policy with regard to India and Pakistan, Gen. Malik said: “The clear picture will emerge only after Obama takes over as US president.” He added that the prime concern of Obama would be the current economic issues. When asked whether the arrest of Lt. Col. Srikant Prasad Purohit, in connection with Malegaon blast case, has tainted the Army, Gen. Malik said it was “wrong” to generalise the issue and “tarnish” the image of the army. “It would be unfair to portray the Army in bad light after one such stray incident,” he said, adding that he is sure that checks and balances are being put in place to ensure that such incidents are not repeated. |
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Rehabilitation policy for dam oustees demanded
Dehradun, November 14 The petition under the stewardship of Uttarakhand Nadi Bachao Abhiyan (UNBA), signed by people from different walks of life was submitted to the district magistrate today is to be forwarded to the chief minister. The petitioners allege that the government has so far not initiated a resettlement and rehabilitation policy programme for the families who are going through great deal of hardships due to occurrence of slope subsidence in October 2007. “Not a single family has been resettled after subsidence occurred in October 2007, it is now over a year and still no rehabilitation and resettlement programme has been announced,” the petitioner stated. Expressing grave concern at the state affairs prevailing, the signatories to the petition have demanded that the government initiate suitable measures to mitigate the sufferings of the displaced people. “Twenty five families are homeless and have been living in tin sheds, caves and at relative’s homes for a year. Women and children are worst sufferers. They are still undergoing immense emotional trauma,” informed Chicu Lokgariwar, a signatory. Further the UNBA alleged that the Project developer Jaiprakash company has given Rs 80 lakh for resettlement and rehabilitation then also no effort has been done to do the same. Demanding justice for the villagers of Chaanyeen village, the demands of UNBA petition include ensuring resettlement of homeless families of Chaanyeen families in permanent homes with access to all natural resources, carrying out a comprehensive survey of the mountain slope to asses the slope stability of the area and a comprehensive resettlement and rehabilitation policy in the state for the people displaced due to hydro-power projects.
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Himalayan Bird Count kicks off
Dehradun, November 14 The massive four-day bird count exercise is being undertaken in six river valleys of Uttarakhand, with 12 teams taking on as many as 27 trails. A CD comprising songs on birds, composed by Mahotosh Maithani, was also released on
the occasion. Welcoming the bird count, MLA Munna Singh Chauhan said such initiatives were of much importance for bird-watchers. He said while the state has maintained rich bird biodiversity it is sad that the cases of poaching are on the rise. Chief conservator of forests planning, STS Lepcha, said the Great Himalayan Bird Count was of immense importance, as it would help the state in gathering the base line data of avian fauna in the state. Founder trustee of ARCH Prateek Panwar said the aim of the bird count was not only to provide useful baseline information about birds in the region, but also to promote Uttarakhand as a premier avifauna and eco-tourism destination. He said the count would also help in generating awareness about the importance of birds and evaluating their habitat health. Sixtyfive persons, including bird-watchers from Delhi, Bangalore and other parts of the country, are participating in the count. The prominent trails include Puroala-Nauri-Jarmola and Jarmola-Sandra-Thadiyaar stretches in the Tons forest area; and Jankichatti-Yamnotri-Barkot, Agoda-Dodital, Kempty, Bhatwari-Dyara, Deoparayag-Kharsara-New Tehri, Augustmuni-Kakaragaad-Guptkashi, Pauri-Khirsu-Shrinagar and Gopeshwar-Mandal stretches. The teams would re-group in Dehradun on November 17 on the conclusion of the count. The valedictory function would be presided over by Uttarakhand principal chief conservator of forests R.B.S Rawat. Prominent trails: Puroala-Nauri-Jarmola and Jarmola-Sandra-Thadiyaar stretches in the Tons forest area; and Jankichatti-Yamnotri-Barkot, Agoda-Dodital, Kempty, Bhatwari-Dyara, Deoparayag-Kharsara-New Tehri, Augustmuni-Kakaragaad-Guptkashi, Pauri-Khirsu-Shrinagar and Gopeshwar-Mandal stretches |
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Deputy ranger, forest guard suspended
S.M.A. Kazmi Tribune News Service
Dehradun, November 14 Earlier, hundreds of trees were felled by the developer Virender Singh alais Pappu Sajwan in connivance with forest officials on his private land in Tehri district. Forest secretary Anoop Wadhawan today went to Tehri to look into the matter. He said no one found guilty would be spared and announced the suspension of the two forest officials. Interestingly, senior forest officials and their close kin are having plots in the colony being developed by Virender Singh Sajwan. “There are three types of illegalities. Firstly, trees were felled on private land, revenue land and forestland that are being determined. Secondly, hillside has been cut for a road. Lastly, forest officials and their kin have bought lands in the proposed colony. We will look into all the issues and order appropriate action,” said Wadhawan.
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Haj panel chief sought bribe, allege employees
Dehradun, November 14 Khalid Khan and Amina Bano working as chowkidar and peon at the committee office here alleged in writing that the chairman Shamim Alam demanded Rs.2 lakh each from both if they wanted to continue their jobs. Both said they belonged to poor families and can’t afford to pay him such a big amount. Amina has three children and her husband is jobless as he is suffering from spinal injury. Both alleged that Alam was involved in corruption. He had obtained fake educational degrees and also remained in jail on account of this. When contacted, Alam dismissed the charges as baseless. “Both were temporary workers. They were caught red-handed by the executive officer of the committee N.K. Sharma as they were watching indecent on the official computer during office hours,” he alleged. Alam also claimed that he was away in Mumbai for official work at that time. But Sharma had brought the incident into his notice and took action against both as per rules, he said adding that both had presented their case before him but were told that Sharma was competent authority to take such action.
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4 CPI workers hurt in lathicharge
Dehradun, November 14 The police resorted to use of force when the party workers, led by the joint secretary of the state CPI unit Anand Singh Rana, gheroaed the minister Ajay Tamta who had come to inaugurate the traditional cultural mela at Gauchar. About 300 protesters gheraoed Tamta for around half-an-hour and police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse the mob. The gherao was part of the protest plan by the party demanding Gairsain as the permanent capital of the state. Later, Tamta assured the protesters that the government would table the report of Dikshit Commission in the state assembly and a favourable decision would be taken. Earlier, the party had announced to gherao Chief Minister B.C. Khanduri who was to inaugurate the mela, but could not do so due to the visit of Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dhal Parchanda. Meanwhile, state CPI secretary Samar Singh Bhandari said the injured included the state executive and council members Ravinder Jaggi and Deepak Bhatt. Condemning the police action, he said they would not be cowed down by such repressive measures. “We will continue the protest till our demands are met,” he said.
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Two houses burgled in same locality
Haridwar, November 14 Notably, the modus operandi of the thieves in both cases appears to be the same. The first theft took place in the house of Vimal Kumar Awasthi at street No. 1. The owner works as assistant manager in a bank and had left for Kanpur five days ago to attend his father’s last rites. The second theft took place in the house of Dr. Rakesh Kumar who also was out of station since the past few days. B.S. Rana, investigating officer, said both thefts took place simultaneously and the probability of involvement of the same gang cannot be ruled out. |
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Employees demand 6th pay panel benefits
Dehradun, November 14 In a memorandum addressed to Sushil Chandra Tripathy, chairman pay committee, Uttarakhand, the employees alleged that the state was trying to cut into benefits recommended by the Sixth Pay Commission for the state employees. The employees also threatened to intensify the agitation if their demands were not addressed at the earliest. While announcing a series of gate meetings from December 1 to 14, the Council has decided to hold a rally on December 15. |
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Doon set to be solar city
Dehradun, November 14 The MC has been rendered a nodal office status for the purpose. The MC in consultation with other state governments would be preparing a master plan over a period of two years for the programme. |
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Former chief of the Army staff Gen. V.P. Malik (retd) has said that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan.
“From the Indian point of view, we do not appreciate any third party mediation in the Kashmir issue,” said Gen. Malik.
