Dehradun, January 4
“State ex-servicemen will be given their due respect, attention and cooperation as their contribution is limitless,” said Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank at Bijapur Guest House while exchanging New Year wishes with ex-servicemen circle members.

Asserting the need for their constant support, he said for the development of the nation it was essential that defence personnel should be given attention. “State’s defence personnel time and again have proved their merit and carved a special place on the map of India. For the betterment of our soldiers and as a mark of respect, along with medals, pension to widows has been granted for life,” he said.

However, the Chief Minister said plans to construct a residential complex and guest house were in the pipeline. Moreover, facilities of computer classes would be provided to enhance computer knowledge under employment schemes.

The members also requested the Chief Minister to establish a memorial in the name of defence personnel who had laid down their life for the sake of motherland. Present at the occasion, along with the Chief Minister, were members of the circle and MLA Ganesh Joshi.

Dehradun, January 4
In keeping with the 73rd and 74th amendments, the decentralisation of power has begun to take place with the Peyjal Nigam and Jal Sansthan entrusting water schemes to the villagers under the sector-wide approach of Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Mission.

A total of 26,812 habitations have been covered under the programme in the state. Now, the villagers are in charge of maintenance, billing, metering and water supply in their villages, with the role of Uttarakhand Jal Nigam and Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan changing from service providers to becoming facilitators.

“The SWAP programme envisages an integrated approach to water supply, sanitation, health and hygiene. A cell has been created called the Sanitation Water Supply Mission (SWSM) for overseeing, while third-party monitoring is also carried from time to time,” said PC Kimothi, Secretary, Appraisal, Jal Sansthan.

In rural sector, sanitation is a major problem. Therefore, water supply and sanitation are being tackled together. It remains a major cause of concern as 70 per cent of the diseases are caused due to water.

“Villagers in Uttarakhand will no longer have to turn to authorities for repair and maintenance of their water supply schemes. Now they will have to plan and conceptualise all schemes. They will no longer come to us with their complaints and will also keep accounts of the same,” said Kimothi.

In Pauri district, 34 villages have been given six schemes. In Chamoli 18 villages will have seven schemes, in Tehri 28 villages have 14 schemes, in Uttarkashi 45 villages have 39 schemes, in Nainital 10 villages have six schemes, in Almora 18 villages have seven schemes, in Bageshwar 22 villages have 14 schemes and in Pithoragarh five villages have three schemes. 

Nainital, January 4
Parliamentarians from Himalayan states are in the process of constituting a platform or a forum so that demand for a special policy for the hill states can be raised more vociferously. This was stated by Lok Sabha member from the Almora constituency Pradeep Tamta during a telephonic talk with The Tribune.

Tamta said parliamentarians of various Himalayan states from Jammu and Kashmir and right up to the North-East had held meetings at an informal level to draw a consensus on the formation of such a forum. The proposed forum would be known as Parliamentary Forum of Himalayan States. “The character of the hill states is totally different from the rest of the country. Their needs are special and these must be addressed in a special way. For example building 1 km of road length in the hills is as good as constructing 10 km of road length in the plains,” he said.

Talking in the context of climate change, he said it was the hill states that were acting as the lungs of the nation with zero carbon emissions. The developed world should compensate these states for their contribution in reducing the carbon emissions. Hence, the hill states deserved to be given special economic and development packages for maintaining their respective forest areas. A proper action plan was the need of the hour for the hill states of the country, he added.

Tamta has also stated that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had a positive stance for making a Himalayan Action Plan. The MP also hit out at the failure of Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank-led BJP government in the state to bring about development in the state.

“They have failed on every front. The present government has reversed some of the initiatives taken by the previous government led by its own party man BC Khanduri. For example the present government has once again started giving work to the Uttar Pradesh Nirman Nigam whereas the Khanduri government had decided to stop giving it any work since there were indigenous bodies in Uttarakhand that can execute those works. I demand that Nishank come out with an explanation for this decision,” Tamta said.

He has also accused the BJP government of failure to create a conducive atmosphere for industrialisation in the state.

Nainital, January 4
Ordering the stoppage of payments to contractors executing the works of the ADB unit of Public Works Department (PWD), Kumaon Commissioner S Raju has called for a proper evaluation regarding the quality of the job done before the payments are made.

He has asked them for a proper evaluation of the construction of the road between Betalghat and Bhatrojkhan.

Addressing the top brass of the PWD and other departments at a divisional review meeting held at Bhimtal on Wednesday, Raju asked for early execution of developmental works undertaken by them for the current financial year.

He said the departments that had registered a slow pace of work till December must go in for a special execution drive in the first month of the next calendar year to achieve their targets.

The Commissioner also expressed concern over the delay in construction works pertaining to the health department on account of the shortage of engineering staff.

He asked the Director, Health, to ensure that all districts in the region had adequate staff and that the works should not suffer.

Addressing the officials present at the meeting, Raju asked them to solve the problems of the people on priority basis.

He said the purpose of such divisional level meetings was to take up issues that could not be resolved at the district level.

A delegation of the retrenched employees of Uttara Pradesh Digital Limited at Bhawali met the Commissioner and conveyed the concerns of the employees who were yet to be rehabilitated elsewhere.

The Commissioner asked the General Manager of Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) to make an instant proposal for solving the matter.

Dehradun, January 4
A month-long extravaganza, Khadi Utsav, came to an end here today. Artisans from far-flung areas were awarded at the closing ceremony of the trade fair by Governor Margaret Alva. The compound of the fair was jam-packed with visitors on the concluding day.

A total of 21 local khadi artisans and 77 small industrialists participated in the grand burlesque, while products worth Rs 326 lakh were sold at the mela.

The fair was the coalition of cultural performances by local artists who delivered the true colours of the state through their skills.

Alva was the chief guest at the closing ceremony. The programme commenced with lighting of the lamp followed by the welcoming speech of honourable guests.

Alva also visited each and every stall at the fair. She spoke encouraging words to women artisans who had participated in the trade fair. She said, “It’s good to see women being independent by earning their living through khadi and gramudhyog.”

She also congratulated the women for making their presence in the international market through their khadi products.

A book on “Study on Khadi Mahotsav 2009” was also released at the event. The book comprised reports on the khadi market, analysis on the mela, fashion show conducted at the fair, net sale of the exhibitors and details of the winners of the mela who were awarded by the Khadi and Gramudhyog Board.

The first prize of Rs 11,000 went to Khadi Gramudhyog Sewa Sadan, Rampur, the second prize of Rs 7,500 to Mini Food Product, Dehradun, the third prize of Rs 2,500 each was collectively won by Sugandha Gramudhyog , Dehradun, and Muskan Namkeen, Dehradun. A special award for the best seller of the fair went to Kamal Rawat of Chetriya Addikshak Udhyog, Almora, for selling khadi products worth Rs 16 lakh in a month.

Nainital, January 4
State president of the BJP Bishen Singh Chuphal has called for a Model Code of Conduct for politicians. Replying to a query related to the recent sex scandal involving Congress leader and former Governor of Andhra Pradesh ND Tiwari, he told mediapersons here on Monday, “I definitely agree that there should be a Model Code of Conduct that governs the behaviour of the politicians”.

Chuphal, however, declined that the BJP would make a political issue of the scandal involving Tiwari. “Uttarakhand is Dev Bhoomi and people understand things. We will not make this an electoral issue,” he said.

Talking about the developments in his party, he said the organisational elections and the formation of the state executive of the party would be over by January 20 and after that the executive members and other senior functionaries would be given the charge of various constituencies right up to the Nyaya Panchayat level.

Chuphal said after the election process was over, the party would be undertaking a mass public relations drive as the first step towards preparing for the next Vidhan Sabha polls scheduled to be held in early 2012.

“Our workers will be contacting people and convey their problems directly to the state government and the administration,” he said.

The party workers would also be raising amongst the public the issue of the partisan attitude of the Centre towards the state. “Issues like the reluctance to extend the industrial package, reduction in grants to the state and inflation will be taken up. These issues will form the core of our election campaign,” he said.

Dehradun, January 4
Members of the Kisan Sabha of the CPM held a protest in front of the secretariat here today against the policy of the state government to grant permission for hydro-electric projects in the state against the interests of farmers.

The members shouted slogans against the state government for harming the daily life of people through under-construction hydro-power projects. The agitated members levelled allegations on the Ministry of Environment for not keeping a check on the state’s ecological system. Digging up of underground channels, illegally chopping down of trees in large numbers and cutting of hills to connect roads have adversely affected the state.

The protesters have made a plea to the state government to immediately put a halt on the hydro-power projects that are strongly contributing to the universal issue of global warming.

The committee is effectively working on the movement that is against Byung Gaurd and Singol Bhatwadi, the construction of hydro-power projects in Rudraprayag since last month. They raised their voice against corrupt officers, politicians and contractors of the society through their protest.

District president Kamruddin, district secretary Rajender Purohit, state vice-president Surender Singh Sajwan, state treasurer Shiv Prasad Devli and others were present at the protest.

Dehradun, January 4
The police today removed 11 PWD workcharge employees, who are staging a fast unto death at Yamuna Colony in Dehradun, to thwart their strike.

After a number of dharnas and protests, these employees had forced the closure of office of the PWD in Yamuna Colony. They are demanding regularisation of their service.

Yesterday the administration had conducted the medical examination of these employees. The administration had also tried to thwart the hunger strike on Sunday, but was prevented by their other agitating colleagues.

Among the prominent workcharge employees are Iswar Singh, Ratan Singh, Ram Gopal and Pathiaram.

Dehradun, January 4
The anti-encroachment drive of the Dehradun police, which started last month, has proved to be a damp squib as squatters have again encroached upon city markets.

Be it Sunday market, Paltan Bazar or any other city market, these have become encroachers’ paradise as rehris and kiosks selling clothes and other merchandise items have blocked the roads. Besides this, shop owners keeping up their tradition have extended shops to their verandah and some even sit on the roads.

The heart of the city, Paltan Bazar, has become a choc-a-bloc road and it is very difficult even to walk. It becomes an arduous task to go on a two-wheeler on the market roads.

The police, led by City Superintendent of Police Jagatram Joshi, had started the drive on December 4 and the police had issued over 30 challans to violators.

The drive had made it easy for visitors till the winter session of the state legislative assembly as the police got busy there and the encroachers again got active. The SP had claimed that the police would tighten the noose once the winter session would be over, but nothing happened.

The SP, City, said, “We haven’t conducted anti-encroachment drives since the winter session started. We are unable to deploy police personnel on regular basis. However, we are trying to carry drives out on and off”. 

Dehradun, January 4
A three-week training programme on petroleum refining technology for chemical engineers of different refineries started today at the Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) in Dehradun.

The programme is specially designed for three weeks in which participants are from Numaligarh NRL, Manglore MRPL, Mumbai BPCL and Mumbai HPCL.

IIP Director Dr MO Garg inaugurated the programme. He described training as a two-way process and must for enhancing the knowhow on the subject. “You learn while you teach. This is how the IIP has developed itself into a one-stop shop in training,” he added.

In his keynote address, training in charge Dr AK Jain said the programme would be in the form of class room lectures and visits to various laboratories and pilot plants. This programme would give the participants depth knowledge about the petroleum refining processes.

Course Director Sunil Kumar coordinated the votes of thanks. 

Dehradun, January 4
Some unidentified persons decamped with cash and ornaments worth thousands of rupees from the Kalika Temple at Macchi Bazaar here last night.

The police claimed that nothing had been stolen and only slight damage was done in an attempt of loot.

The sources said the security guard of the temple had been rounded up this afternoon and the police was further questioning him for his alleged connection with 
the incident.

The incident came to light this morning when devotees found the property at the temple damaged and called up the police.

Roorkee, January 4
New Year has brought smile on the faces of sugarcane growers here as the rates of the cane produce have touched new heights.

Where as the early varieties of sugarcane have been fetching Rs 260-265 per quintal, the rasgulla variety is selling no less than Rs 270 per quintal at local crushers. On the other hand, the rates of normal varieties have touched the figure of Rs 245 per quintal at these crushers.

A substantial rise in the rates of jaggery (gur) has led to the increase in the rates of sugarcane. The rates of jaggery increased from Rs 2,300 per quintal to Rs 2,700 per quintal in local mandis and Haryana last week.

Farmers as well as the owners of local cane crushers fell that if the rising trend in the rates of jaggery is maintained, the rates of cane products will witness a further rise.

“The rates of sugarcane is expected to cross the figure of Rs 300 per quintal in the coming days,” said Farman, a local cane grower.

With the most of the farmers taking their produce to crushers very late, sugar mills have been facing a shortage of cane supply. In a bid to boost the supply, the mills have increased the rates of cane by Rs 10 recently, but to no avail. The mill authorities are learnt to be contemplating increasing the rates further very soon.