Dehradun June 2
Mayor Vinod Chamoli met the Renewable Energy Minister, Farooq Abdullah, on his visit to the town and gave him memorandum in view of installing solar equipments worth Rs 20 crore in the town.

He apprised the minister about the preparation of Solar City Plan which is in its last leg, after which it is to be sent to the Central government for approval. He also talked about the second such plan of installing LED based streetlights on Chakrata road which is on the verge of completion.

Out of 80 poles and 160 LED streetlights, 55 poles and all street lights have been made available, and the rest of the work will also be completed in next week, he informed. He invited minister for its inauguration.

Exhibiting enthusiasm for renewable energy resources, Chamoli asked Farooq Abdullah to approve Rs 2.4 crore for the installation of 100 KW solar energy power plant to make all the three offices of MC independent in power consumption.

His other demand was to seek funds worth Rs 9 crore to change streetlights poles into LED based streetlights saying that on the maintenance of lights fixture, MC spends Rs 30 lakh every month which can be saved if they are replaced with LED based lights.

His third point was to set up solar based park lights in MC controlled public parks for which he asked for an assistance of Rs 2.50 crore.

Finally, to utilise the cattle dung from 220 milk dairies in the city with 5,000 animals, he suggested to establish a bio-bas generator with a capacity of 250 KW and asked for Rs 7.20 crore for it. He proposed MC land near Selakui industrial area, Chakrata road for the purpose.

He said all these four projects are to be handled with the assistance of UREDA Uttarakhand.

Dehradun, June 2
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has approved release of Rs 1 crore as the first installment for the Mission Mode Project for Computerisation of Commercial Tax Department scheme launched with a view to strengthening the Commercial Tax Department. The CM directed to complete the computerisation of the department within the prescribed time limit.

An official spokesperson said the Central government had sanctioned Rs 10.25 crore for Mission Mode Project for Computerisation of the Commercial Tax Department under national e-governance programme.

Under this programme, a provision of Rs 6.73 crore and the Central government has 65 per cent share and Rs 3.52 crore as state’s 35 per cent share has been made.

Since this project is under Mission Mode, and any delay in its running might cast negative effect on the activities of the department, so, the CM has sanctioned Rs 1 crore from the State Contingency Fund until necessary budget provisions are made.

The official spokesperson said the Commercial Tax Department is one of the highest revenue earning departments of the government. After computerisation of the department, more transparency, quality, and accountability in the services would be ensured. This scheme would benefit the businessmen and entrepreneurs tremendously.

An official spokesperson claimed that many services, including departmental web portal would be made online under this scheme.

These services would include renewal and cancellation of dealer registration; return e-filing, payment of the refund, and online services. After the computerisation of the department, registration of the dealers, collection of the returns, collection of taxes, inter-state trade and tax account services would be more effective and the propagation of the necessary information and guidelines to the tax payers would also be more effective and easy. 

Haridwar, June 2
With the BJP and the Congress-led UPA being in power in the Uttarakhand and at the Centre respectively, the clash of opinion is bound to happen. The allegation and counter allegations has become a norm in the state.

So, while Congress is still carrying out a signature campaign against the BJP led state government, the BJP on the other hand has compiled its signature campaign drive carried out against the Congress-led UPA alliance.

In Haridwar district alone one lakh signatures have been collected by the party unit and it mostly comprise people belonging to Haridwar and Roorkee area. Haridwar unit collected 50,000 signatures and an equal number of signatures have been collected by the Roorkee unit also.

The signature packets have now been given to party vice-president Sahdev Pundir in a party function in Haridwar wherein both the party unit chiefs of Hardiwar and Roorkee units Om Prakash Jamdagni and Rajesh Saini were present.

Terming the campaign a successful one and as a symbol of people’s protest against the UPA policies and the apathy towards the state, Sahdev said the UPA has let down the people’s aspirations and confidence they reposed in the alliance.

“Consecutively people have given the UPA a twin term at the Centre but it has failed to give people a good governance. We have got 12 lakh such signatures from state which itself shows the resentment against the Central government. We sought signature on non-performance of the UPA and its inability to govern and people’s response is striking considering the mammoth one million plus signatures,” said Pundir.

Both the district unit chiefs Jamdagni and Saini put the people’s protest on UPA’s inability to control price rise, inflation and usher development. Besides the neglect of Uttarakhand by the Congress over the issue of extension of industrial package as major points wherein the Central alliance is letting people’s aspirations down.

“Be it price rise or Naxalism the central government has failed on all corners and people’s verdict is clear they want change and BJP is the only party which can cater to the aspirations of the people as it is doing in the state remarked OP Jamdagni.

Nainital, June 2
A combined control room set up on the Tehsil premises in Nainital on May 28 to address the problems pertaining to power and water supply has received 29 complaints till now.

According to District Magistrate Shailesh Bagauli, 26 of these complaints have been dealt with satisfactorily and the remaining three complaints will be dealt with by various Gram Sabhas since these pertain to drinking water schemes falling under the purview of these bodies.

Kumaon Commissioner Kunal Sharma had asked all District Magistrates in the region to set up such joint control room in their respective districts.

Implementing his orders, Bagauli had ordered setting up of a joint control room in Nainital tehsil of the district that became functional from May 28 and would continue to function till June 16.

For effective functioning of the control room, district level officials have been asked to be present in the control room from 10 am to 5 pm. Two wireless sets have been installed in the control room.

Bagauli has asked the personnel posted in all police stations, police posts and Forest Department posts to immediately inform the officials present in the control room whenever they come across any water-related problem.

The officials deputed in the control room have been asked to maintain a register of complaints and to inform the Executive Engineer of the Jal Sansthan. Another entry would be made in the register once the grievance is addressed. The Executive Engineer has been asked to see to it that the problem is solved on the same day of the registration of the complaint. The register would be inspected on daily basis by the Officer In-charge (Disaster Management) who would then apprise the District Magistrate on the redressal of complaints.

These developments are a fallout of the instructions of the Chief Secretary NS Napalchayal to the Commissioners of both Garhwal and Kumaon divisions to closely monitor the situation and submit a weekly report to the state administration.

At a meeting held through video conferencing about 10 days ago, Napalchayal had asked the Commissioners to ensure that the District Magistrates monitor the power and water situation daily and ensure the water supply to every area in the state. He had said the District Magistrates should set up joint control rooms in the districts where officials of the power and water departments are present round the clock to address the grievances of the people.

Nainital, June 2
The new and renewable energy Union ministry has given its clearance for the setting up of a state-level energy park in Nainital. For identifying the venue for the proposed park, the district administration has started an exercise as a part of which District Magistrate Shailesh Bagauli visited two potential sites in the Patwadangar area on Saturday.

Bagauli is learnt to have directed officials of the Uttaranchal Renewable Energy Development Agency (UREDA) to finalise the better of the two venues and prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) so that the work on setting up of the proposed park can be started at the earliest.

Bagauli has asked the UREDA officials to ensure that the chosen venue should at least have 2 to 3 acres of land available so that the expansion of the energy park can be undertaken when required in future. He has also stated that since Patwadangar is close to Nainital, the tourism potential in the area can also be tapped.

During his visit Bagauli asked the Chief Agriculture Officer to prepare a DPR for making Patwadangar a model village in water collection and conservation. He said the works related to water conservation and collection be got done under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).

He called for a detailed study of the water sources in the area and said in the area covered by forests, the Forest Department must get water conservation and collection done through NREGA.

Bagauli ordered the officials of the Revenue Department to get proper demarcation done of the premises of the Institute of Biotechnology that is being run by the Gobind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology so that a proper fire line be maintained around it. 

Dehradun, June 2
Yearnings of an artist and an environmentalist found expression today at the dance ballet performed by Odissi dancer Sharmila Bhartari and actor Tom Alter and their troupe Mohini with 12 members.

Aptly titled “Saga of Bhagirithi”, 40 minute ballet, a mixture of Odissi dance, folk lore from Uttarakhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, reaching a climax with the contemporary and popular theme “Ganga tu bhaiti kyun hain”.

The concept and direction was by Bhartari and music by Shailender.

“It is my tribute to the rivers that sustained an entire civilisation, nurturing men and women down the ages and still continue to do so in the present time. And what do we do to the rivers? Dump garbage, pollute and dirty them,” said Sharmila.

Adding that, as an environmentalist nothing hurts her most than the callous neglect of natural resources.

The poetic evocation by Tom Alter in his rich baritone voice, managed to convey the turbulence of the Ganga that takes different names as it originates from Gomukh meandering through the hills and plains.

The dancer has several performance credited to hear name, including Vasundhara, dance ballet dedicated to climate change.

Mussoorie, June 2
A dispute over barking of a dog that led to two sides indulging in a fistfight and injuries to on Tuesday turned ugly today when the trade union extended its support to the victim’s family and led a protest march against the administration and Palika President OP Uniyal for siding with the perpetrators.

According to the bystanders the dispute started on Tuesday when Shazeb son of a hotel construction worker residing near Duggal Villa was returning for home and the stray dog residing at the parking lot of Gulab Singh Kaintura started barking at Shazed who to save himself pelted stone at the dog which eluded him and struck Kaintura’s car and broke the number plate in process.

Seeing this scuffle between the Gulab Singh’s two children Sachin, Pammi and Shazeb turning into an ugly fistfight. Afroz sister of Shazeb could not resist her brother being beaten and rushed to save him but she was dealt with a blow by Gulab Singh’s sons and suffered grievous injuries on her face.

Hearing the cry of her sister the other brother Shahid reached the site and immediately took her profusely bleeding sister to the police station but police instead of investigating the matter directed the victims to get their medical done.

The dispute remain unsolved till late night as the supporters of both sides came to police station where the heated argument took place between the trade union members who were siding the victim and Palika president supporting Gulab Singh.

The situation became tense and PAC had to be called in after which some semblance returned.

The trade union leaders Aslam Khan, RP Badoni and Mussoorie Public Karamchari Union president Sunil Kumar cornered the station in charge and created pressure to lodge a complaint immediately, but when the report was not lodged the altercation began once again leading to verbal insult between Palika president and the trade union leaders.

Trade union leader RP Badoni also alleged that police station in charge MC Joshi also threatened to use firearms to calm the situation if need be further angering the
union members.

The trade union members left after the case was registered and returned today morning in large numbers leading a protest march in form of rally till the SDM office against the partisan attitude of the police and Palika president OP Uniyal.

The two parties were summoned at BY Manoj Kumar SDM Mussoorie at his office where the small time politicians could not resist from entering into heated verbal exchange. Uniyal also joined the fray and the situation became explosive once gain forcing the SDM to recall PAC immediately.

The verbal argument nearly turned to exchange of blows between Palika president OP Uniyal and Trade Union leader and the SDM Manoj Kumar had to warn OP Uniyal that this was not the Palika Board room. SDM Manoj Kumar diffusing the situation assured the victim’s family that he would himself investigate the matter on priority basis.

Nainital, June 2
The BJP-led state government has once again held the Centre responsible for the foodgrain crisis in the state meant to be distributed through the Public Distribution System (PDS) to families living the Above Poverty Line (APL).

Senior Cabinet minister Prakash Pant has expressed dismay over the “lackadaisical attitude” of the Centre on the problem being faced by the state.

According to Pant, there were 17,75,494 APL families residing in the state. He said till March 2007, the state was being provided 8,339 metric tonne of wheat and 17,664 metric tonne rice which roughly amounted to an average of 35 kg of foodgrains for every family in the APL category.

He charged that after this period, the quota of wheat had come down to a mere 2,766 metric tonne of wheat and 2,324 metric tonne of rice.

This had substantially brought down the amount of foodgrains that could be given to the APL families through the PDS.

The minister said there was no problem in the distribution of foodgrains to the families falling in the category of the below poverty line (BPL) and the Atyodaya Scheme. He said there were 3,46,099 families covered under the BPL category and 1,50,852 families covered under the Antyodaya Scheme.

Hitting out at the Centre with regards to cutting down on the quota of the foodgrains meant for the APL families he said, “We have been constantly writing to the Centre on this issue but to no avail”.

When asked about the Centre’s response to the said communication being sent from the state, he said, “Every time they say that the things would be set right but nothing has happened so far. We are regularly contributing to the Central pool and the Food Corporation of India and despite this the treatment we are receiving is not satisfactory. We fail to understand why the Centre is having this type of attitude towards the state”.

This issue has been raised by the state government repeatedly at various intervals. It was raked up the BJP even during the last parliamentary elections. The Congress has failed to counter these allegations in the public domain till now. It is likely to gather further momentum as the state heads towards Assembly polls in early 2012.

Mussoorie, June 2
A painting exhibition of eminent artists and head of the Art Department of Doon School Aloke Tirtha Bhowmick titled “Human mind” started at Jaypee Residency Manor Hotel, Barlowganj, here today. The exhibition will be conclude on June 11. According to Bhowmick, popularly known as Dada, his endeavour is to depict the vital state of the modern human mind through the art of lines and colours that finds itself torn between the innocence on one hand and mechanisation which compels him on the other. 

The whole work deals with this endless trap into which man has led himself and is a sincere effort to remind him once again of his fundamental human nature which, if overlooked, would lead to nothing but a messed up society. Dadasaid he had been doing research on human mind and was in consultation with various medical experts on the subject.

He said the problems of a modern mind were manifold. Speaking on female as main focus in his paintings he said nari’s (woman) mind was soft compared to men, thus contained more sensibility which he had tried to show through the fluent strokes of his brushes.

He further said the medium for the paintings was acrylic on canvas and the use of bright colours was deliberate as these succeeded in creating the feeling of hope which was much needed for the complex and stressful mind in present times.

Bhowmicke was of the view that the paintings would be successful in reviving the human feelings which were being lost in this materialistic age. The exhibition will also traverse on theory of action generated through conscience and not external command. Dada also stated that the exhibition would succeed in highlighting the undercurrent of violence, ruthlessness and hatred present in the complex mind.

He also said the nature had always inspired him and his paintings were influenced by the Himalayas. He was optimistic at the art and painting scene in India and said the patrons were buying the original art at handsome prices but more needed to be done in this regard by the state government.

Bhomick was educated at Shantiniketan, Partha Bhavan School and Kala Bhavana (Art College) of Visva Bharti University in West Bengal. He has won several national and international awards and participated in more than 100 group art exhibitions around India and abroad since 1986.

His collection have been displayed at Lalit Kala Academy and Jawaharlal Kendra, Rajasthan. He is also secretary of Doon Art Society and member of Lalit Kala Academy.