Dehradun, July 21
Agitated over non-issuance of ration cards to thousands of persons living Below Poverty Line (BPL) in Haridwar, Bahujan Samaj Party MLAs today staged a walkout from the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly.

Taking up the matter during the zero hour under Rule 58, BSP MLA Surinder Rakesh said despite completion of the survey to identify BPL families, ration cards have still not been issued to them.

He said in Bhagwanpur area there were as many as 19,654 BPL families, but ration cards have been issued to only 10,975 families. “Why are rest of the BPL families not being issued ration cards? These families are struggling as they cannot procure food items at subsidised rates,” he said, while demanding a debate in the assembly on the crucial issue.

In his reply, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Diwakar Bhatt said after 1996, Central Government had not undertaken any survey for identification of the BPL families. He also said identification of BPL families and giving food items to them were two different issues.

“According to the quota that states get from the Centre, we provide food items to BPL families,” he said.

But completely dissatisfied with the reply, Surinder claimed that Bhatt was providing wrong information to the house. “The claims of Bhatt are false, as a survey for the said purpose was initiated by the Union government in 2001,” claimed Surinder, while demanding a debate on the issue.

However, when the Speaker Harbans Kapoor did not allow a debate on this issue, all the BSP MLAs walked out of the House in protest.

Another issue that came up for discussion under Rule 58 was regarding regularisation of contractual and visiting faculty being employed by the state government for higher education. Congress MLAs Karan Mehra and Manoj Tiwari said: “In 2006 and 2008, as many as 126 and 157 teachers were appointed on contract basis. Apart from them, there are 120 members of the visiting faculty. Despite fulfilling all the requirements of UGC, contractual teachers are getting Rs 8,000-10,000 per month, whereas visiting faculty gets Rs 15,000 monthly.”

Both the MLAs said these teachers must be regularised and it was the responsibility of the government to secure their future.

In reply, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Parkash Pant told the house that regularisation of the teachers comes under the purview of the State Public Service Commission and the government has no authority to do so. He, however, assured that government was concerned about the future of the teachers and would take up the matter with the authorities concerned.

Earlier in the day, MLA M Mehar questioned the Health Minister about the increase in the number of cases of jaundice and typhoid in Pitthoragarh Hospital during the past few years. He also sought the reason behind the increasing number of deaths due to these two diseases during the past one year.

In reply, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Parkash Pant, on behalf of the Health Minister, disclosed that in 2008 as many as 100 typhoid patients and 63 jaundice patients were admitted to Pitthoragarh hospital.

He said five patients of typhoid and four of jaundice died during that period. Independent MLA Yashpal Benam alleged that there was some scam in land procurement by SIDCUL.

“For setting up a power sub-station in Selaqui, SIDCUL is looking for land and it has come to my knowledge some officials are set to purchase a chunk of land at a very high price, notwithstanding the fact that land at lower prices is available,” alleged Benam.

In reply, Parkash Pant said the allegations were false as the department concerned was yet to purchase land. “The land will be purchased after taking all aspects into account and according to the requirement,” he assured the House.

Dehradun, July 21
For many, gifting immovable property during their lifetime to avoid disputes among blood relations would now be a viable option, as the government has announced a drastic cut in basic stamp duty payable in such cases.

As of now, cases related to transfer of property rights among blood relations by instrument of gift is almost negligible in the state due to higher rates of stamp duty.

“But the reduction of basic stamp duty from the existing 11.5 per cent to 2 per cent is likely to encourage more and more people to use this instrument to dispose of their properties,” said AK Pandey, additional Inspector-General, Stamp Duty and Registration Department, Uttarakhand.

The decision, however, would come into force after it is notified, which is likely after the ongoing budget session.

This significant decision announced by Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank in his maiden budget speech has largely gone unnoticed.

But experts observed that this would be a mutually beneficial decision for the government as well as people.

While the former stands to gain in terms of increased revenue, any person preferring this can avoid disputes that may arise among his or her blood relations, especially children, in case of property transfers made through the a ‘will’ or inheritance.

In the case of those other than blood relations, transferring property through gift mode would, however, attract 7 per cent basic stamp duty.

But this is also being considered a very significant decision as it has been reduced from 11.5 per cent.

The decision has brought the rate of stamp duty in such cases at par with the rates applicable on transfer of immovable property through sale deed.

Notably, stamp duty rates on gifting immovable property along with other instruments like agreement to sell, certification of sale, exchange of property and through further charge were higher than the rates of a sale deed.

But former Chief Minister BC Khanduri had last year slashed it to 11.5 per cent from the 12.5 per cent levied earlier.

Haridwar, July 21
Life in the holy city seems to be getting on track after the completion of the Kanwar yatra. Residents are heaving a sigh of relief at the end of the yatra that had thrown normal life out of gear.

With an estimated 80 lakh kanwariyas visiting the city and vehicle after vehicle of dak kanwariyas speeding through the highways and arterial roads, city life had come to a halt.

During the yatra, locals preferred avoiding the highways or staying at home and offices to avoid the heavy rush, incessant jams and arguments with the kanwariyas.

The kanwariyas have left the mela area but the spot is full of garbage. At Har-ki-Pauri, the heaps of polythene used by the kanwariyas are falling into the Ganga and polluting it.

A round around the mela zone unravels the same picture of heap and filth. The services of 600-odd sanitation workers of the municipality did not prove enough for the fortnight that lakhs of kanwariyas visited the city.

Local traders and social activists feel that there should be a ban on polythene at the Har-ki-Pauri not only during the kanwar season but around the year.

“Pilgrims and tourists need to be sensitised about the pollution that polythene causes,”said a trader at the mela zone.

Meanwhile, the district and police administration appeared to be in a relaxed mood after the successful completion of the Kanwar yatra.

An unofficial meeting of all officers related to the mela was held yesterday at the SSP office. Today, a community dinner was hosted for administration, police, media, representatives of various organisations as a thanksgiving gesture from the administration.

SSP Sanjay Gunjiyal gave credit of the violence-free and smooth completion of the yatra to the joint effort put in by the mela officers, police and religious organisations. 

Dehradun, July 21
Alleging financial irregularities in the DAV (PG) College, the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activists today locked the main gate of the college. No teachers or students were allowed to enter the college.

Parishad activists are adamant that they would carry out an indefinite closure of DAV (PG) College unless the state government takes over the college management.

The parishad had claimed that the college management was resorting to various financial anomalies.

Later, ABVP leaders held a press conference in which they accused the college management of selling off the college’s property.

They alleged that the management has removed all records that revealed details about late Puran Singh Negi who had donated land for the construction of the college.

Ravinder Singh Negi, one of the descendants of Puran Singh Negi, alleged that the college had large properties at various places in the city which could have been developed into hostels and playfields by the college administration for the betterment of the college and its students.

On the contrary, he alleged that the college administration had sold most of them.

He further held that according to Puran Singh Negi’s will, the management was not allowed to sell the property donated by him.

Ravinder demanded that the state government should intervene and to take the college administration in its hands.

He expressed anger over DAV (PG) College’s decision to remove all records of Puran Singh Negi from the college. He said that the college should maintain the records that give details about Puran Singh and his activities.

Jitendra Rawat, state vice-president, ABVP, said that for many years, the college has not filled vacant posts claiming that they were short of funds.

But he claimed that the college management has a large amount of funds at its disposal. 

Dehradun, July 21
Aspiring medical students made a beeline at the Director General Office to participate in the UPMT, MBBS and BDS counselling. The counselling was presided over by Dr PL Joshi, DG Health, additional secretary NK Joshi, director health CP Arya and joint director Bharat Kishore.

The counselling is underway for admission to Uttaranchal Forest Hospital Trust that has 100 seats (the break up is through UPMT-85 seats and 15 seats through all-India quota). Veer Chander Singh Medial College Srinagar has 100 seats (85 through UPMT and 15 seats through all-India quota).

Sri Guru Ram Rai Medical College that also has 100 seats (65 seats through management quota and remaining through UPMT). Seema Dental College, Rishikesh has 100 seats (50 through UPMT and 50 through management quota)

For Uttarakhand Forest Trust Medical College Haldwani 33 seats are left, while for Veer Chander Singh Garhwali Medical College 58 seats are left out of 85, while all the seats are vacant at SGRR Medical College and Seema Dental College.

Shir Naryan Swami and Uttaranchal Dental College are barred from conducting counselling as they have not received letter of permission from the medical council. 

Dehradun, July 21
Understanding the problems being faced by common public due to the increased prices of vegetables and pulses the Wholesaler Dealer Association in the city has decided to sell pulses at wholesale rates.

Since Monday, the sales of pulses at affordable prices, at two prime shops here, are attracting people’s attention and providing some sort of relief to them.

“Insufficient rains in the region have led to less production which increased the prices of pulses, raising unnecessary financial burden on common man.

However, to provide customers concession so that they don’t stop eating healthy food and to balance the demand and supply, the Wholesaler Dealer Association decided to sell pulses at a wholesale rate,” said Anil Goyal, owner departmental store.

The pulses available in these stores are chana, rajma, urad, moong, malka and arhar, which are being sold at a difference of Rs 5 to Rs 10 as compared to the price in the market. “Since we have started selling pulses at nominal rates the response has been excellent and on Monday itself around 200 people visited our store,” said Goyal.

“I am happy that at least these stores are selling pulses at a lesser rates. The original prices are exceptionally high forcing people to consume in lesser quantity as well as depriving them of the required nutrients,” said Alka, housewife.

Meanwhile, seeing the good response the shopkeepers have planned to sell pulses at nominal rates for another month.

Dehradun, July 21
1/5 Gorkha Rifle registered a 3-1 victory over Pachva Doon at the ongoing District Football League, here today. Pachva Doon showed great skill and endurance to penetrate the 1/5 Gorkha Rifle defense on a number of occasions. Pachva Doon’s forward made an excellent move from the right to the defenders of 1/5 Gorkha Rifle. But they failed to earn a goal.

1/5 Gorkha Rifle was on counter attack in the 13th minute of the match but its forward hit the ball over the bar. Gorkha Rifle was on the attack again in the 20th minute but its forward failed to take advantage of the opportunity. At the end of the first half both teams were locked at 0-0.

In the second half, 1/5 Gorkha Rifle outplayed Pachva Doon by scoring three goals at consecutive intervals. 1/5 Gorkha Rifle scored their first goal in the 43rd minute through Jap Ben Ale to take a lead in the match. Vikash scored the second goal for his team a minute latter to make it 2-0. Pachva Doon managed to score a goal in the 52nd minute of the match to reduce the lead making it 2-1. Jap Ben Ale scored his second goal in the 69th minute to make it 3-1 for 1/5 Gorkha Rifle.

In the second match Garhwal Boys team registered a 3-1 victory over Junior Cantt team. For the Garhwal Boys Nitin scored the first goal in the 23rd minute of the match to take the initial lead in the match.

Four minutes later Mohit scored another goal for his team to make 2-0 before half time. In the second half Junior Cantt team scored their first goal of the match through Arjun to make it 2-1. In the last minute of the match Akash scored the third goal for his team to make it 3-1.