Dehradun, July 22
The death of seven villagers while they were trying to protect the forests from forest fires in Pauri Garhwal district and the insensitivity of the state government towards the plight of the families of these ‘environmental martyrs’ rocked the Uttarakhand assembly here today.

Seven persons of Gagwar village near Pauri town in Pauri Garhwal district were burnt to death while trying to douse forest fires on May 1.

While five persons died on the spot, two others succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. One person is still undergoing treatment in the hospital.

There was a lot of hue and cry and the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government announced the grant of Rs 1 lakh to the family of each victim.

Amrita Rawat, former Uttarakhand power minister and Congress legislator in her written question had demanded to know whether the state government has any plans to give government jobs to the next of kin of the eco-warriors.

Uttarakhand Forest Minister Bishan Singh Chauphal in his written reply stated that the families of the deceased have been paid Rs 1 lakh each and there was no provision for government jobs to the next of kin of the deceased who are not in government service.

Perturbed over the reply, Amrita Rawat called the attention of the House towards the plight of the families of the deceased who were poor villagers.

She said that these brave men were trying to avert forest fires and doing a great service when they were caught in the inferno and burnt to death.

She asked if the state government remained so insensitive in such cases, who would come forward to save precious forests and wildlife.

Amrita Rawat said that Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, who hails from Pauri Garhwal district, had visited the families and assured them help.

She urged the state government to provide jobs to the next of kin of eco-warriors. Chief Minister RP Nishank was not present in the House when the issue was raised.

Uttarakhand Forest Minister said that the names of these persons have been referred for the National Indira Gandhi Environment Award by the state government.

Dehradun, July 22
Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) today began their relay hunger strike at the DAV (PG) College demanding an inquiry into the sale of the college property by the management. The ABVP workers disrupted college working for the 10th day in succession on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, scores of ABVP activists gathered outside the college premises under the state vice president of ABVP, Jitendra Rawat. They raised slongans against the management.

Rawat said, “Our demand is simple we just want the Chief Minister should order an inquiry into the sale of college property. We also want the college management should also give details about remaining college properties.”

He further said that ABVP activists have decided to continue their agitation unless and until any action is taken in this matter.

Reacting to the agitation, other student organisations have expressed their reservation over the issue. Former general secretary of Aryan Group, Sushil Naudiyal said, “To fight against wrong is fine, but to launch a fight at the cost of students’ interest is wrong.”

Naudiyal alleged the indefinite closer of college has hampered all college activities even the sale of prospectus has been stopped, which caused lot of inconvenience to the students.

On the other hand, different student organisations have expressed their dissatisfaction over the agitation terming ABVP protest as illogical and against students’ interest and have warned to resist it, if it carries for a long.

SFI, Aryan Group and NSUI have criticized ABVP in strong terms, saying that the protest it is causing greater inconvenience to the students.

Student Federation of India (SFI) pointed fingers at both NSUI and ABVP workings. District vice-president of SFI, Pankaj Singh alleged that both ABVP and NSUI are disrupting college’s smooth function for their on good.

He said, “NSUI who is pursuing its protest to appoint a new principal to the college had forcibly called lock out in the college on a number of occasion.

“Now, ABVP has called for an indefinite closedown for the college premises, thereby derailing college working. All this is uncalled for by the students.”

Dehradun, July 22
Even a year after it’s launch the state government has failed to appoint any accounting firm for evaluating financial accounts of 108 EMRI emergency ambulance services.

While the state government has been more than benevolent in funding the 108 Emergency Ambulance Services, no independent evaluation of the accounts of EMRI have been done so far, despite the scam that unfolded.

EMRI officials in Dehradun said, 95 per cent of the costs of the ambulance continue to be borne by the state government that goes towards the operating expenditure and the capital expenditure.

Since the launch of the services in the state questions have been raised about lack of transparency regarding it’s finances. But it has been either ignored by the ambivalent posturing of the health department or brushed aside with a single liner that the ambulance was providing good services.

In the aftermath of the Satyam scam the ambulance did experience upheavals, however, the officials at the Dehradun based office said that after the GVK Company took over the uncertainty regarding the future of the EMRI has all but settled. It is believed that the GVK would be continuing with the previous arrangement. “The GVK Company would be financing the leadership aspect of the services that includes salaries of top management and the software in use, said Anoop Nautiyal, chief operating officer GVK EMRI.

In Uttarakhand EMRI is running 90 ambulances with four of them stationed in Dehradun with a total of 650 associates. However, there is a rampant dissatisfaction among the over stretched and over worked middle-level staff members employed with the emergency ambulance services 108 mainly due to poor salary packages. Several of them have resigned in the recent months.

The drivers make 8-10 rounds in a day working for poor remunerations. The ground staff stationed at different parts of the state, manage with makeshift arrangements.

Driving ambulances at breakneck speed in response to specific emergencies, the drivers’ days stretch into night.

Lately, there were complaints about the ambulance staff members not attending call and were even believed to have left ailing patients on the roadside.

The EMRI officials suggested that more ambulances in Dehradun, so that they could respond with alacrity instead of arresting dissatisfaction among the lower rung.

Dehradun, July 22
Taking notice of the growing number of road accidents on hill roads leading to large number of deaths every year, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank warned officials against any laxity in this regard.

Perturbed over the growing number of road accidents, Chief Minister Nishank today held a high-level meeting of the state government officials here today.

The Chief Minister blamed officials of the police, revenue and transport departments of failing to prevent road accidents.

He alleged that officials of these departments have failed to check overloading in transport vehicles and the fitness of the vehicles and other related issues.

Poor travellers have to pay a heavy price for official negligence, he said. He warned that strict action would taken against guilty officers and no laxity would be tolerated any further.

The Chief Minister asked the officers that action would be taken against all vehicle owners who are plying unfit vehicles on the road. Action would also be initiated against overloaded vehicles. “There will be a vigorous campaign in the entire state,” he added.

Nishank said that officers of the police, revenue and transport departments would be made accountable for any mishap in their respective areas.

He expressed unhappiness at the reports that condemned buses from Himachal Pradesh were being plied on the Chakrata-Tyuni road that led to an accident which resulted in the death of 10 persons on July 21 near Viskasnagar. It was reported that the bus was overloaded too.

He asked the Garhwal Divisional Commissioner to hold an inquiry and take action against the employees and officials who failed to perform their duties in checking such irregularities.

He directed the transport authorities to check the fitness of the vehicles going on the Char Dham route and ensure strict implementation of the safety guidelines.

For areas lacking transport facilities, he called for plying more government buses. Nishank told officials that under no circumstances, any accidents caused by human error would be tolerated.

He also asked officials of the PWD and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to identify landslide-prone areas and also construct parapets on the roads. Chief Secretary Indu Kumar Pandey and other senior officials of various departments were present at the meeting.

Dehradun, July 22
Promila Rawat, an activist of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD), today made a self-immolation bid outside the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly. Ever since the Dixit Commission report was tabled in the House, leaders and activists of the UKD are protesting outside the assembly demanding that Garsain be made the permanent capital of Uttarakhand.

Today also, a large number of party activists, both male and female, staged a demonstration outside the assembly.

In the afternoon, UKD activist Promila Rawat poured petrol on herself and tried to set herself ablaze.

However, timely intervention by the police foiled her attempt. Later, she was arrested by the police.

Thereafter, UKD members made desperate attempts to barge inside the assembly. Some UKD activists also indulged in a minor physical scuffle with the cops. The policemen, however, managed to bring the situation under control soon.

Meanwhile, representatives of the All-India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) also staged a demonstration outside the assembly. Addressing the protesters, Indu Naudiyal said that the main issues that had forced them to come on to the roads were increasing crime against women, issue of the state’s capital and increase in price of essential commodities.

Naudiyal added that it was a matter of great concern that dowry deaths and rapes had gone up in the recent past.

“The various laws enacted for the safety of women are not being properly implemented in the state,” she said while adding that the State Women Commission is lying defunct because members for the commission were not being nominated.

Naudiyal also raked up the matter of the permanent capital. “Except for Garsain, no other place could be made the capital of Uttarakhand,” she asserted while adding that report tabled by the Dixit Commission is not acceptable to them.

On the issue of price rise, she argued that it was very difficult for commoners to have three meals a day.

Roorkee, July 22
Some miscreants have broken the locks of Registrar Office, Revenue Department, situated close to the SP (rural), CO (Manglore) and ASP (Roorkee) offices here today. Earlier, it was claimed that a sum of Rs 1.41 lakh was stolen from the office, however, the amount was found later by the police from the office only.

The police also found a screwdriver, being stuck in the keyholes of the office’s chest. The police believed that it might be the handiwork of someone insiders. Two peons of the department, namely Rakesh Kumar and Satya Pal have been rounded up for questioning.

The matter came to light when the employees came to the office and found the locks of the main gate and the inside channels, broken.

As the incident happened in the high security zone, SP (Rural) Ajay Joshi and ASP Arun Mohan Joshi reached the spot and called the forensic experts team from Haridwar.

The officials suspected that the thieves might have stolen some important documents from the department. The police has been working on various theories to crack the case.

It is to be noted that this is not the first case of theft in this zone, which houses district courts and offices of high police officials.

Earlier, the thieves have also made such attempts by breaking the locks of office of Bar Room and other offices here. A case is yet to be registered in this connection.