Dehradun, October 30
Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee chairman Anshuya Prasad Bhatt has demanded appointment of a full-time chief executive officer at the committee for a smooth conduct of its affairs.

With delays in the appointment of a full-time chief executive officer, there have been hindrances in conduct of administrative and financial works. It was also affecting matters linked to policy decision.

“I will shortly be meeting the Chief Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and seek his intervention towards appointment of CEO,” Bhatt said.

Anshuya Prasad Bhatt also disclosed the temple committee’s land at Joshimath and Ukhimath has been freed from all old encroachments.

Referring to the temple committee’s land in Dehradun, Bhatt said the committee’s land is being identified through documents and legal action will follow shortly.

He also held that temple committee plans to introduce subjects like modern education, computer in the Sanskrit Colleges run by it.

He said the works for conduct of repairs in 45 old temples in Uttarkhand will also be started shortly. Bhatt said the samiti was also working towards start of BAMS College as per Chief Minister’s wishes.

Dehradun, October 30
Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Indu Kumar Pande inaugurated the Gratuity Provident Fund (GPF) online service today at the Office of Accountant General (Accounts and Pensions) here.Speaking on the occasion Pravir Pandey, accountant general said, “All one lakh subscribers of the state can now directly enjoy the online service by surfing our website (www.agua.cag.gov.in). 

Users can easily enquire about their GPF by logging into their account numbers followed by the secret pin code.

They can also get the account slip of the transactions made.” He further added that this online facility will help transparency between the department and the subscribers.

At the inauguration, Vishwanath Singh Jadaun, deputy accountant general, also briefed up the online service of the GPF while Indu Kumar, presented his delightful view that this particular service will surely help the subscribers.

Other dignitaries presented on the occasion were Sandeep Singh, senior accountant general, Monica Verma, director, accountant general, Astha Luthra, deputy accountant general, SR Bindra, deputy acountant general, Commerce and Revenue, and Dr Devratan Bhakula, director, National Informatics Centre (NIC), Dehradun.

Dehradun, October 30
A drunkard entered a house at Indira Colony and allegedly beat up a woman. According to the police, only Ram Payari and her child were at home when Dilip barged into their house. He allegedly started misbehaving with the woman and manhandled her.

When the woman tried to save herself, Dilip abused her and beat up both the mother and child. Hearing their cries, neighbours gathered outside the house and called up the police.

Dehradun, October 30
A division bench of the Nainital High Court comprising Justice Tarun Agarwala and Justice VK Bisht has issued notices to eight departments and institutions of the Uttarakhand government to file their respective counter affidavits in response to a public interest petition filed by Bunty Chopra, a member of Citizens Action Group of Dehra Dun, demanding, inter alia, relief on several counts relating to degradation of environment, indiscriminate felling of trees in Dehra Dun and other matters.

The respondents are State of Uttrakhand and departments of Urban Development, Environment and Forests, Mussoorie-Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA), Divisional Forest Officer, Dehradun, Municipal Corporation, Dehradun, and Mayor, Dehradun, Municipal Corporation. The Centre, through the Secretary, Department of Environment and Forests, is also among the respondents.

The District Magistrate of Dehradun had not been initially named among the respondents but the division bench specifically directed Siddhartha Sah, counsel for the petitioner, to implead him also. The bench further directed JP Joshi, the chief standing counsel of the state government, to ensure that personal affidavits of both the District Magistrate and the Divisional Forest Officer would be filed within two weeks.

The division bench observed that the immediate cause for filing this petition in public interest was the felling of old trees in and around the Parade Ground, Dehradun. It was alleged that these trees had been felled without any authority of law for extraneous considerations. The bench also took notice of newspaper reports, which alleged that a contract for felling of trees was given to a contractor but all officials concerned denied having given any contract.

SS Chauhan appeared for the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun and the Mayor of Dehradun while Puja Banga represented the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority and JP Joshi, the standing counsel, appeared for other government departments. The matter has now been listed for November 9, 2009.

The Citizens of Dehradun, spearheaded by several non-governmental organisations had launched an agitation against an illegal and indiscriminate felling of trees on the pretext of widening of roads. In fact, the District Magistrate had asked the divisional forest officer to conduct an inquiry into the mystery surrounding the felling of trees in and around the Parade ground. 

Roorkee, October 30
The police has landed itself in trouble after a suspect in a robbery case, Anil Tomar, was admitted to a hospital in a critical condition.Kin of Anil alleged that not only had the police slapped a false case against him but also put his life in danger as his appendix got burst due to third-degree police torture. After his condition deteriorated, the police shifted him to the Civil Hospital.

Anil is a resident of Ganeshpur locality and has been charged in a robbery case. Along with Anil, the police has also charged Bhupinder of Chondaheri village, Ravi Verma and Pankaj in the same case of robbery perpetrated on August 18 at Saket locality here.

Talking to The Tribune, Dr Kulvir Singh, uncle of Anil, alleged that the police had picked up Anil on October 27. “Yesterday, when Anil’s condition got worse, the police threw him in the Civil Hospital in a critical condition, from where we took him to the PGI, Chandigarh,” added Dr Kulvir.

However, at a press conference today, the police held that it had solved the robbery case and declared Anil and Bhupinder as accused in it.

“In fact, the police has been trying to save its skin by implicating them in the case. If Anil is one of the accused then why the police had left him outside the hospital the other day?” asked Dr Kulvir.

On the other hand, Padam Singh, uncle of another accused Bhupinder, alleged that Bhupinder was picked up by the police on October 26, saying that Anil had revealed his name during interrogation. However, Padam Singh claimed that Bhupinder had been picked up by the police before Anil was detained.

Meanwhile, SP (Rural) Ajay Joshi said the police had solved the case. “The police has arrested Bhupinder while Pankaj and Ravi are already lodged in jail in another case,” said Joshi.

Defying the allegations by the kin of the suspect, ASP Janmajay Khanduri said: “Anil has been hospitalised and the police has nothing to do with his condition. All allegations by the family are false. We would arrest him very soon”.

Dehradun, October 30
One of the accused in the Kaladungi incident, district Congress president Sanjay Negi, was today let off on bail by a courts.

His release on bail led to happiness among Congress men who conducted thanksgiving prayers at various temples, mosques and gurdwaras. They accused the ruling BJP of intentionally harassing Congress office-bearers and said a CBI probe could only bring the truth out of the Kaladungi incident.

After a BJP leader was shot dead inside a police station by a Bahujan Samaj Party leader, a mob had torched the police station at Kaladungi in Nainital, leading to the death of a policeman. Sanjay Negi was arrested subsequently.

Youth Congress leaders had also organised a bandh recently, accusing the state government of intentionally harassing Congress leaders vis-à-vis the Kaladungi incident

Congress MP from Nainital KC Singh Baba, too, had sought a CBI probe into the Kaladungi episode. Participating in one of the recent rallies in New Tehsil, Ramnagar, Nainital district, held in support of Negi, Baba had said Congress workers were being intentionally harassed in cases linked to the Kaladungi incident. 

Pitthoragarh, October 30
Over 30 Indian traders have got stranded in Tibet (China) due to heavy snowfall on their way back on a 10-km route across the Lipu Lekh Pass. They will be brought back to India via the Tinker Pass of Nepal as it is impossible to bring back the traders through the traditional route.

The traders, who were to return to India by October 25, had gone there for the barter trade across the Lipu Lekh Pass in Pitthoragarh district.

“It has decided by the Pitthoragarh district administration that these Indian traders will be brought back into the India territory at Sitapul, near Garbiyang, from the Nepal side,” said NS Negi, District Magistrate, Pitthoragarh.

This year, due to early snowfall, the Lipu Lekh Pass has more than 7 feet of snow, making it impossible for any human or animal to cross it.

Besides, the snow is fresh and is very slippery. The administration can not take the risk with the lives of the traders who are coming with loads of goods brought from Tibet,” said Navneet Pandey, SDM, Dharchula, and the trade officer.

The district administration has also ordered customs department officials deputed at Gunji, the Indian mart to shift 9 km down at Sitapul near Garbiyang on the Indo-Nepal border.

“The customs will now operate at Indian side of Sitapul till the last trader enters India,” said Pandey, the trade officer.

The district administration has also increased the period of trade for seven days in view of the ground conditions, but even after seven days extension, the trader’s entry to India from Lipu Lekh Pass will be impossible.

“The further extension of trading time will be impossible as the weather in this area is going to worsen day-by-day,” said trade officer Navneet Pandey.

Dehradun, October 30
The second round of tiger census will begin next year. The Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) had undertaken all preparations and has already completed the first level of training for Assistant Conservator of Forests-level officers who will be part of the census exercise.

Wildlife scientists YB Jhala and Dr VP Uniyal will be at Corbett on November 2 to conduct the training for the subordinate staff.

The process of tiger census in the country began with the WII starting the training programme for it.

PR Sinha, Director, WII, said the training process began with the identification of four places across the country. He said 17 tiger states will be covered.

While part of the training has already been completed in Ranthambore, the training at Jim Corbett National park will be held on November 2. In Bandipore, it will be conducted on November 10 and Kaziranga on November 17.

As many as 30 researchers have also been engaged for the purpose who will be supervising the census proceedings.