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State spared of new taxes
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Cong protest over scams in Tewari tenure!
Capital issue: Protests in
Doon, Haridwar
Heavy rain damages 35 slum dwellings
Ranbir’s father gets threat letter
3 Model School students leave for world meet today
Blast in junk dealer’s shop; owner hurt
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State spared of new taxes
Dehradun, July 14 With estimated total budget deficit of Rs 828.22 crore, the government has announced series of schemes for various sectors, including health, education and rural development. Besides, some steps for rationalisation of taxes have also been taken. Abolition of VAT on flour, 'suji', gramflour and 'maida' are some of the important highlights of the budget. In the provisions, total expenditure for year 2009-10 is estimated at Rs 14,737.38 crore, whereas total receipts are estimated at Rs 13,909.16 crore. The estimated revenue deficit is Rs 213.44 crore, whereas the estimated financial deficit is Rs 2,070.99 crore. Notably, the fiscal deficit has doubled this year. Last year, the state had a revenue surplus budget. From the estimated total budget deficit of Rs 828.22 crore, Rs 800 crore will be adjusted from the Public Accounts to balance the budget deficit. The state government has also increased the provision for gender budget (started in year 2007-08 for women- oriented schemes) from Rs 333 crore to Rs 1,205 crore. While delivering his speech, Nishank announced that to saturate villages with necessary facilities such as roads, electricity, drinking water, education, health etc, the government would be taking up a new initiative in the form of "Atal Adarsh Gram Yojna", which would be taken up in 500 villages; one in each nyaya panchayat. For providing quality education to boys and girls of the poorest of society, the state government would be initiating "Dev Bhoomi Muskan" scheme. Free education facility for boys would be extended from Class Eight to Plus Two level in government and government-aided schools. Nishank also announced that stamp duty on agreement, without possession, would be reduced to four per cent from the existing seven per cent. Besides, additional stamp duty in the urban areas would be abolished. For women, the limit on valuation of property would be increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh for the purpose of exception of stamp duty on purchase of property. There is good news for cinema hall owners, as the entertainment tax has been reduced considerably. Considered to be the dream project of Nishank, the setting up of the Ayurvedic University in the state has also been given a nod. Government has also announced that the State River Conservation Authority would be established for making Ganga and its tributaries pollution-free. For water conservation/recharge, schemes for construction of ponds would be initiated. Besides, 2, 804 Multipurpose Citizen Service Centres will be established at nyaya panchayat level to facilitate access of information and services to the citizens up to the village level. Provision of Rs 20 crore has been kept in the annual budget as the state share for the Muzzafarnagar-Roorkee rail line, which would reduce travel time from Dehradun to New Delhi by one hour. As far as the health sector was concerned, Nishank said a nephrology and heartcare unit at Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhaya Coronation Hospital and heartcare unit at base hospital, Almora, would be established under PPP Mode. Besides establishing "Ayush Grams" for the first time in the country, the budget mentions that 18 new vehicles would be purchased under the 108 EMRI service for making it more effective. An eye institute with ultra-modern facilities would be set up in the state. Also, maternity leave for female government servants has been increased from 135 to 180 days. In order to bring the child mortality rate to the minimum level, neo-natal units would be established in every female hospital. The budget also mentions that "Nanda Devi Kanya Schemes" would be implemented for preventing female foeticide and providing economic and educational protection to the girl child. "Separate homes for street-children will be constructed. For the overall development of farming community, comprehensive district agricultural plan will be prepared. For the Maha Kumbh scheduled to get underway early next year expenditure of Rs 500 crore is expected, out of which Rs 294 crore has already been sanctioned and provision of Rs 100 crore has been kept in the budget for 2009-10," said Nishank. On the industry front, facilities under the Special Unified Industrial Promotion policy, 2008,
which would give a thrust to industrial development in the hills, has been announced. Interest subsidy scheme for small industrial units has been extended till
March 31, 2010. "A scheme for viability gap funding has been prepared to attract private investments through PPP mode for physical and social infrastructure projects, which are financially not viable but essential for development of the state. In the beginning, Rs 10 crores has been provided for this purpose," the CM announced. Discussion on the budget would be held in the assembly tomorrow. Khanduri makes an appearance
Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister BC Khanduri today attended the post-lunch session of the Assembly when Dr RP Nishank presented the Budget for 2009-10. It is the first Assembly session after Khanduri resigned as Chief Minister. Khanduri, who did not attend the session yesterday, surprised everyone by his presence during the tabling of the Budget. While BJP ministers and legislators gave a warm welcome to Khanduri, Chief Minister Nishank did not share any pleasantries with
Khanduri. |
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At a glance
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Cong protest over scams in Tewari tenure!
Dehradun, July 14 Immediately after the start of the second day of the Budget session of the Assembly, Congress MLAs, led by Dr Rawat, rushed to the well of the House and raised slogans against the BJP government. The Congress legislators termed the state government as “a government of scams”, without having any idea that the CAG report mentioned scams and irregularities to the tune of Rs 400 crore for years 2003 to 2007 when the Congress was in power and ND Tiwari was the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. Yesterday evening, the CAG report for Uttarakhand for the year ending March 31, 2008, was released. The report had a detailed account of various alleged financial irregularities of several government departments. The Congress legislators, who were also provided a copy of the report, didn’t even bother to read the report. This was amply clear today as Congress MLAs kept shouting in the House on this issue. Following the uproar created by the Opposition, the House had to be adjourned several times. Later, speaking to mediapersons, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank today minced no words in flaying the opposition, particularly the Congress for not allowing the House to proceed smoothly. “As per rules, the CAG report is not debated in the House. The report is tabled and then sent to the Public Accounts Committee headed by a member from the main Opposition party. “After verifying the things mentioned in the report, the Public Accounts Committee, having representation of all party members, submits the report back to the government. “Thereafter, the report is tabled in the House but even then, it is not debated upon,” he said while venting his anger on the Congress for wasting the precious time of the House on the issue. Quoting page 45 of the CAG report, Nishank said that the Rs 6.75 crore scam pertaining to the Forest Department happened in 2004-06 when the Congress was in power. Giving more examples of the scams mentioned in the report, Nishank disclosed, “The scam of the 46.34-km Chakrata-Lakhmandal road that was laid at a cost of Rs 7.02 crore but developed cracks and potholes within a year pertains to March 2003. “Similarly, the 2-km Niranjanpur-Shimla bypass road was sanctioned in March 2003 at a cost of Rs 1.25 crore. The project was completed in 2004 and a year later, the road was nowhere to be seen. In the inquiry, it came out that the design of the road was faulty.” He added that it was ridiculous that Congress leaders were accusing the BJP government for the scams reported during their tenure. Give me my fund, says Yashbir
Opposition legislators also indulged in heavy sloganeering over the problem of water scarcity and power cuts in the state. Taking up the issue of non-disbursal of Rs 20 lakh to each legislator, MLA Chaudhary Yashbir said, “As announced by the Tourism Minister that Rs 20 lakh will be given to every MLA for developing local tourism in his/her constituency, I have so far not got even a single penny.” |
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Capital issue: Protests in Doon, Haridwar
Dehradun, July 14 The protesters, who were against the Dixit Commission’s decision to favour Dehradun over Gairsain as permanent capital, asserted that from the early days of the statehood agitation during undivided Uttar Pradesh, Gairsain had always been favoured as most suited for the state’s capital. Even the Kaushik committee formed by the then UP government to look into the feasibility of a separate hill state had favoured Garsain. Bhuvneshwari Kathait, a demonstrator, said that by making Gairsain the permanent capital, the aspirations of the hill people would be fulfilled. Another protester Nirmal Bisht said that backwardness in hill districts could only be eradicated if the capital is located in the hills. The members also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister. Haridwar: The Uttarakhand Sanyukta Sangarsh Samiti staged a protest here against the Dixit panel report that disfavoured Gairsain as the permanent capital of the state. Samiti members raised slogans against the commission report and burnt its copies as a mark of protest terming it as a decision taken in Dehradun’s AC rooms. Terming it as a mockery of the 85 lakh residents of Uttarakhand, state agitationist and central secretary of the samiti JP Pande said that the report intended to kill the aspirations of the people of the state. “The fight for the separate state in erstwhile Uttar Pradesh was for the development of hill areas. Dehradun was easily accessible even in UP days so Gairsain has to be the capital of a predominantly hill state,”
said Pandey. Criticising the long time and amount spend on the commission, central president of samiti Dhirendra Pratap said, “The committee took nine years to table its report and Rs 70 lakh of the people’s money was spent on it, yet it is catering to politicians and bureaucrats with utter disrespect to the hill people,” said
Pratap. Commenting on the report’s objections to making Gairsain the permanent capital, he said, “Even Shimla has all these problems but isn’t it a state capital?” Earlier, the protesters burnt the Dixit Commission report and send a memorandum to the Chief Minister and Justice Birendra Dixit. “A hill state should have its capital in the hills. Most people living in plains don’t have an idea how difficult and undeveloped major hilly districts of Uttarakhand are,” said Afzal Alvi, a statehood agitationist. At Lakshar, statehood agitationists and samiti members staged a protest with the city head of the samiti Dharam Pal Bharati describing the report as a sign of discrimination against the hills in a state where 12 districts are hilly. Present at the agitation were district head of the USSS Samsher Khan, Mira Raturi, Shah Nawaz Khan, Sonu Sardar, Lal Chand Kashyap, Farman Ali, Mathura Supal, Manju Rawat, Shivi Rawat, Vimla Negi
among others. UKD rips copies of Dixit report in assembly
Agitated over the Dixit Commission report, which has rejected Garsain as the site for the permanent capital, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) legislator Pushpesh Tripathi today tore the copies of the report in the Uttarakhand Assembly. He announced that recommendations of the report were not at all acceptable to the UKD. “We have nothing to do with this report. The UKD wants the permanent capital in Garsain and will not compromise over this issue,” he said while adding that the party will chalk out the future course of action on the issue soon. |
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Despite threat, medicos refuse to budge
Haridwar, July 14 The doctors alleged that they were threatened with dire consequences if the strike was not taken back and protested against the autocratic behaviour of Director Health. Junior doctors of the college are seeking Sixth Pay Commission benefits and are on strike since the past eight months. However, they have taken back their agitation several times after assurances from the college management or administration. But this time, the doctors refuse to budge as one among them, Kapil Vats, had to be taken for medical treatment after he fell unconscious during the hunger strike. Two other doctors, Dinesh Kumar and Praveen Kumar, are on a hunger strike now and have stated that they would not give up till their demands were met. Jitendra Kandpal, representative of the striking doctors, alleged that people accompanying the Director Health threatened them of dire consequence if the strike was not taken back instantly. “We are fighting for our rights but the college management’s as well as the state government’s attitude is autocratic. When it comes of their salaries and perks they need everything, but in our case they are reluctant,” said Kandpal. Meanwhile, principal of the college Pradeep Bharadwaj said he had apprised the state government of the students’ demands and the final decision rests with them. Accompanying the two doctors on hunger strike were Diwakar Tripathi, Raj Pal Singh, Sanjay Kumar, Ravi Rai, Nisha Verma and Vishwajit Manjhi. On the other hand, due to closure
of the OPD, patients, especially those coming here from far-flung areas, had to face a lot of inconvenience today. |
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Heavy rain damages 35 slum dwellings
Mussoorie, July 14 Slum dwellers living near Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy, Garhikhana, Chappankot and Bala Hissar have been the worst affected. As many as 35 slum dwellings were badly damaged due to the landslides caused by the heavy rain that has left behind a trail of destruction. The downpour at Mussoorie started around 5.30 pm yesterday and continued till late night. Sundar Lal Tamta, a resident of the Chappankot slum below the MDDA parking at Gandhi Chowk, said that the overflow of a ‘nullah’ here caused landslides causing debris and water to flow into their houses. “The roof of my house caved in. My small children and me have been rendered homeless,” he said. Several rickshaw pullers and daily-wage labourers have been badly affected by last night’s rain. Meanwhile, OP Uniyal, chairman of Mussoorie Nagar Palika, visited the affected localities. He said that although the Nagar Palika did not have any provisions for providing any relief to the affected people but he would try to get their applications forwarded for consideration by the SDM. “I have assured all affected people that I will help them get applications submitted to the SDM and other relevant authorities,” Uniyal said. The officials state that the present situation has been caused by the choking of ‘nullahs’ and culverts. According to Uniyal, Rs 3-4 crore was required to compensate those affected as well as to take up repair works of the ‘nullahs’ so that such incidents do not recur. |
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Doon Valley, Garhwal Sporting win
Dehradun, July 14 In the first match, Doon Valley outclassed Little Star 2-0. Doon Valley players looked out of touch in the initial 15 minutes of the match and allowed their opponents to make some strategic moves from the left. Gaining back their rhythm, Doon Valley struck the first goal in the 28th minute through Nikunj. In the 30th minute, Doon Valley came close to scoring but its forward failed to take advantage of the opportunity. At the end of the first half, Doon Valley led 1-0. In the second half, Doon Valley increased its lead by another goal. Doon Valley took control of the proceedings early in the half and created many good moves to put pressure at the Little Star’s defence. They succeeded in increasing their tally in the 58th minute of the match to make it 2-0. It was Amit for the Doon Valley team who scored off a header. In the second match, Garhwal Sporting registered a thumping 5-0 victory over Uttarakhand Tiger. Garhwal Sporting played impressive football throughout the match. In the 15th minute, Garhwal Sporting scored their first goal through Tenzin. In the 28th minute, Garhwal Sporting launched another attack as their forward took a powerful shot at the Uttarakhand Tigers’ goal only to be saved by Uttarakhand Tiger’s goalkeeper. In the second half, Garhwal Sporting came with a better strategy to further its lead by four goals. Their second goal came in the 51st minute of the match through SP Joshi. Barely six minutes later, Garhwal Sporting scored again with Akash to make it 3-0. Akash scored the fourth goal for the team in the 63rd minute. The fifth goal for the team came in the dying minutes of the match through
Mohit. |
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Ranbir’s father gets threat letter
Dehradun, July 14 Police sources said, Ravinder Singh received the letter at his Ghaziabad residence signed by one GC Rautela of Majra area in Dehradun. He had lodged a complaint with the police in Baghpat, his native village. The letter is said to have been written with regional overtones and stated that Ravinder Singh and his family have targeted the Uttarakhand police by mounting political pressure on the Uttarakhand government. The letter warned them not to come to Uttarakhand or they would face dire consequences. Police sources said that as the letter was received at the Ghaziabad address, it will be the Ghaziabad police that probe the matter. |
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3 Model School students leave for world meet today
Dehradun, July 14 Gulshan will participate in the 100m, 200m and long jump in the intermediate division (girls). She is presently in standard VIII and had earlier won a gold medals in 100m where she clocked 16.18 sec and in long jump, where she covered a distance of 3.08m. She bagged a silver medal in discus throw where she covered 13.95m in the junior category at Ludhiana. Sanjay Kumar will participate in 100m, 200m and long jump in the junior division category at the championship. He had won a gold in Ludhiana in the 200m event. Gaurav Singh will participate in 100m, 200m and javelin throw in the senior category at the championship. Gaurav Singh hold the national record in B-2 javelin with a distance of 34.41m and in 200m, clocking 26.63 sec at Ludhiana. |
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Blast in junk dealer’s shop; owner hurt Dehradun, July 14 The police recovered four live mortars from the shop. At 9.45 am, a blast rocked Lakhibagh area, causing panic. The police rushed to the spot and took Sunil to Doon Hospital but he was shifted to the CMI and then Jolly Grant when his condition turned critical. The police conducted a thorough investigation and took the services of the dog squad. Had the mortar’s blasted, it would have been a major tragedy.
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