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Homeless look to public representatives
Remarks Against MC Chief |
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Dehradun District Magistrate D Senthil Pandiyan at an awareness camp in Raipur block of Dehradun on Sunday. A Tribune photograph
Govt on food security mission to check increasing barren land
HDA assures
development in BHEL rehabilitation colony
Seminar discusses effects of climate changes on ancient caves
Admn officials visit Laveshal area
There are no shortcuts in theatre, says Ajay Malkani
Democracy must for good governance, says CM
Property worth Rs 3 lakh gutted in restaurant fire
IMA plans online exams for cadets
Soon, neonatal centres to curb infant mortality
Vans to boost blood donation campaigns
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Homeless look to public representatives
Haridwar, June 6 The agitation, that is being held under the aegis of the Hind Rashtriya Awami Hukook (HRAH) at the municipality premises for the past 35 days, is now looking up to parliamentary, legislative and municipal councillors to ensure their demand of having homes is met. Murslein Qureshi, founder of HRAH, has urged Haridwar Congress MP Harish Rawat, all nine local MLA, including BJP’s Madan Kaushik, BSP’s Mohammed Shahzad and councillors of the Haridwar Municipality Committee to look into the matter. “Public voted these representatives to power and now it’s time they live up to their expectations. We are trying at our level and they should also try at their level and if it’s done, then surely we will see that the administration-government has to bend down,” said Qureshi at the agitation spot. Terming their demand as a legitimate one, Mohammed Azeem Qureshi, social activist, said despite 63 years of Independence, millions of people in India were living a sub-standard life with no shelter which he termed as quite appalling. “India can only develop if the living standards of poor was improves. But what is baffling is that by just getting into business magazines the list of billionaires, people think India is developing. This is not right as while there may be a 100 odd billionaires, there are millions of poor at the same time,” remarked Qureshi. As per the daily schedule dozens of protestors sit on agitation, including Shashikant, Salim Khan, Yakub Ali, Savita Devi, Vimla Devi, Vidya Kashyap, Riyajuddin, Mazid Qureshi, Kamlesh, Suman, Chandrakala, Dhan Singh, Irfan Qureshi, Moinul Haq and Ramakant among others. |
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ABVP burns SDM’s effigy
Our Correspondent
Mussoorie, June 6 On the other hand, BJP Mussoorie Mandal president Roop Singh Kathait released a press note stating that MC president OP Uniyal was the first citizen of the town and the SDM had used derogatory words against him on Wednesday when he was trying to resolve a volatile situation created by a stray dog. To recall the whole event a girl from one community was severely beaten up on Tuesday when her brother hurled stones to drive away a dog rushing towards him. The matter turned ugly after the unnecessary interference of Palika president OP Uniyal in favour of alleged culprits. According to the BJP leaders, the whole matter was being given a political flavour by the Opposition and the SDM was wrong in passing remarks that “Mr President, this is not Palika, but the SDM office,” which was unfortunate. Virendar Rana, former president, Students Union, MPG College, Dharmpal Panwar, former president, BJYM, Dinesh Panwar, Gambhir Panwar, Trilok Rana, Gambhir Panwar, ABVP convener Pachwadun Ashotosh Kothari, Gajendar Singh, Deepak Nautiyal and Sagar Mahendar Pal took part in the agitation. Mussoorie MLA Jot Singh Gunsola opined that the whole issue was unfortunate and the public representatives, be it of any party, should behave in a dignified manner. He also said the agitation called by the MC staff was also beyond comprehension as it would destroy the peaceful structure of town and create unecessary tension. He said an independent inquiry should be set up to determine the fault of any individual before pointing fingers. The SDM is also a official representative of the BJP government and to start a campaign against him shows that there is no understanding between the administration and the BJP, he added.
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DM listens to aggrieved villagers
Dehradun, June 6 The team received 23 complaints and most of these were sorted out on the spot. Pandiyan asked the officials of Jal Sansthan to prepare an estimate of water pipelines to be laid so that water could be provided to the citizens of the area. The District Magistrate was told that due to the construction work of road all lines had been damaged and they were not getting drinking water. He said till the time new pipeline was laid, the villagers should be provided with water by tankers. He also asked the officials of Public Welfare Department (PWD) to provide him with the details regarding the non-payment of the land acquired for a road. The villagers also complained about damaged classes and lack of teacher in the primary school at Charmoli. On this, the District Magistrate asked the District Education Officer to prepare the estimate for the construction of the school premises and appoint a teacher within a week. When villagers told him that their names had not been registered for the pension scheme, he told the BDO to make sure the issue was resolved soon. He also asked the village-level officer to get the details of the girl child of the below poverty line (BPL) families and provide it to the District Welfare Officer so that they could be provided with the benefit of the Gaura Devi Kanyadhan scheme. The villagers also narrated the problem of electricity supply and low voltage. On this the official from the Electricity Department said the problem would end by August with better production of power from hydro-electric projects following rains. He also assured that the charges would be exempted while there was no electricity in the area. Pandiyan stated that if any of the villagers had constructed toilets as per the rules he would be awarded.
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Govt on food security mission to check increasing barren land
Pitthoragarh, June 6 “At present, the state is having 60,000 hectares of barren land with highest in Pauri district and lowest
in Uttarkashi district,” said Lal. According to the Director, who is on the tour of the Kumoan region, the state government has started food security mission to check this spreading barren land. Under this scheme, if any small and marginal farmer cultivates his own barren land, he will be eligible to get wages under the Employment Guarantee Scheme. He said 91 per cent farmer in hilly districts were marginal farmers. Besides, the Atal Adarsh Gram Yojana, run by the state government, also aims to develop one village in each 670 Nyaya Panchayats. Lal said the Agriculture Department was on move to prepare for monsoon and aiming at providing maximum investment in kharif crop before the monsoon start. “Barring two plain districts of the state, we have planned inclusion of 10,000 hectare of barren land for the pulses cultivation this year,” Lal added. The director informed that the foodgrain production in the state was gradually decreasing. “In 2008-09, the foodgrain production in the hilly districts was 7,48,000 metric tonne and in two plain distracts it was 10,17,000 metric tonne, which total at 17,65,000 tonne,” said Lal. According to the Director, after the success in Garhwal, the Kumaon farmers are also being linked with the Mega Food Park of Baba Ramdev in Haridwar. “The farmers of Uttarkhasi are selling their local grains like chaulai to Mega Food Park at a cost which they never expected
before,” he said. |
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HDA assures
development in BHEL rehabilitation colony
Haridwar, June 6 A delegation of the protesters met Anand
Vardhan, vice-chairman, HAD, and apprised him of the severe problems being faced by the occupants. Led by former Women State Commission chief Dr Santosh
Chauhan, the delegation was assured of basic infrastructure facilities at the colony by
Vardhan. Vardhan said the authority was quite serious and sensitive towards the problems being faced by the colony residents and said soon their problems would be sorted out by carrying out a planned and phased developmental projects in the colony. Notably, the rehabilitated residents of the colony, who were shifted here after they had given their land to the BHEL management, had been protesting for providence of basic infrastructural facilities five years back in 2005. The BHEL management had allocated land for the rehabilitated residents while the onus of providing roads, sewer lines, water, electricity was given to the
HDA. But as the years passed, the colony remained neglected and bore a pathetic look due to which the residents had to take the route of agitation. But now, with the HDA giving the green light, the residents are a happy
lot. Vimla Pandey, who led women agitators of the colony, said this had come only due to women power who had protested at the HAD office consistently and said this had to happen as they had decided that all women residents of the colony would sit on hunger strike jointly on the HAD premises. “We
protested against authorities’ biased attitude and now we are thanking
for their assurance, but we will keep a tab on the proceedings as we don’t
want further delay in developmental activities, it has been a cumulative
effort of all residents,” said Pandey while addressing agitators on
the HAD premises. |
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Seminar discusses effects of climate changes on ancient caves
Pitthoragarh, June 6 “A research work with the help of the German government is on in Uttarakhand to study the effects of weather pattern by studying these stalagmite record of the past 750 years of these caves of Himalayan region,” said Prof
Kotlia. According to the paper presented by Prof Kotlia in the workshop, these Himalayan caves have deposits of variation in petrography and stavle isotops in the North-Indian Himalayan region and provide a high record of paleo climatic changes in the past 750 years. “While the deposition of calcite from 1,480 to 1,900 suggests a wetter and cooler ice age, the precipitation of aragonite from AD 1250 to 1480 and after 1900 AD is the indication of drier and warmer conditions the region has passed through is depicted in the formation of these caves said Professor
Kotlia. “Out of studying these stalagmite caves of the Uttarakhand region, the geologist has come to conclusion that in India the summer monsoon might have varied slightly between 1250 to 1780 AD. “These geological proofs indicate that after 1780 AD to the period onwards weaker monsoon might have occurred in the year 1800 and 1920 AD, respectively,” said Professor
Kotlia. Elaborating the different colours find in these stalagmite caves, Professor Kotlia said it showed the positive correlation with the estimates of changes in the temperature of the northern hemisphere during the past 1000 year. The whiter colours indicated the higher temperature, while the darker colour the lower temperature during the formation of these caves over the past 1000 years. |
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Admn officials visit Laveshal area
Nainital, June 6 The team discovered that with the electrification and connection of Sirmauli Nyaya Panchayat with the rest of the world with a road, amenities like Mother and Child Welfare Centre, aanganwadi, fair-price shop, telecommunication setup and Animal Husbandry Centre are available to people as per the parameters of the Atal Adarsh Gram Yojana. District Magistrate Shailesh Bagauli has now asked the people of the Nyaya Panchayat to donate land for the construction of a panchayat bhawan so that a proposal for the construction of the building can be sent to the state administration at the earliest. The people of the region complained of non-availability of chemicals and pesticides following which officials of the Agriculture Department were told to make the said things available at the Krishi Nivesh Kendra in the region. Residents of Dankanya village approached the officials with the problem of water conservation, the efforts for which have suffered a setback with the washing away of the high-drum scheme launched by the Minor Irrigation Department. Bagauli has now asked the officials concerned to present a proposal with all details for the fresh construction of a high-drum so that a proper water supply can be maintained for the residents. The officials were also asked to submit a proposal for construction of a lake at a distance of 1 km above Laveshal. He said this project would be executed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA). He also ordered that another small pond would be constructed by the Minor Irrigation Department from its own resources. Bagauli promised that a survey would soon be got conducted to mitigate the problem of drinking water in the area. He asked the people of Gairali Latwal to make a proposal under the Sector Wide Approach Project (SWAP) to solve the problem of water in their area. He also called for fresh proposals for construction of a school building in the village and a cement concrete road from the school to the main road. Bagauli said once the proposal was received, appropriate money would be sanctioned for the purpose.
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There are no shortcuts in theatre, says Ajay Malkani
In fact, after giving up commerce subject for good, Ajay went to Delhi and the National School Drama (NSD) embraced him wholeheartedly. So much so, even after passing out, Malkani conducts workshop for the NSD as a visiting professor. In Dehradun, to conduct a workshop in association with Abhirang Academy, Ajay will have his hands full from June 21, teaching students the finer points of acting and stage production. He told The Tribune that interest in theatre had to be kindled among people of small towns and villages. “My faith in small towns was restored when I began interacting with theatre enthusiasts from Dehradun this morning. I usually tell the new entrants that they ought to have an alternative arrangement as theatre alone will not sustain them and there is no short cut in theatre. It is a long drawn out process, but once you get the hang of the medium, there are no limits to what you can actually do,” he said. As we globalise and at one level homogenise, it is a difficult proposition to hold the attention of viewers. In that sense the challenges before theatre are far too many. So how does he evaluate the theatre scenario in the country. “I reckon people may not be drawn towards this medium if it lacks appeal. At the same time, one has to admit that there really is no money in theatre. Expect for tickets and sponsorships, we have still not devised a system that can keep the theatre movement afloat. It is the individual efforts and certain organisations efforts that have kept it going,” he stressed. Based in Ranchi, Ajay has his own theatre group called Yuva Rang Manch that is engaged in theatre activities for the past 25 years. He has directed 45 plays and is a regular performer and the play titled “Ulgulan Ka Ant Nahin” was the longest running play that was even viewed by former President of Indian APJ Abdul Kalam. Commenting on the different streams and movements that have been part of the theatre movement, he said, “There are different streams and movements in theatre. Where will we be if Habib Tanveer and BM Shah had not come up their own versions of theatre. In effect these strong currents evolve from society one has to keep one’s ears to the ground”. The 15-day theatre workshop is expected to promote theatre and instill values of democracy, justice, fair play, a sense of responsibility and consciousness towards environment and society among new entrants. Two experts from NSD Lokender Trivedi and Govind Singh Yadav will also be conducting the workshop.
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Democracy must for good governance, says CM
Dehradun, June 6 Presenting the resolution, Nishank highlighted the rule of law, democracy, consensus, institutional reforms, accountability and transparency for good governance. He emphasised the need to strengthen the Panchayati Raj system to ensure development at the grass-root level. He also stressed upon the need for police modernisation for internal security. “Accountability and transparency in the bureaucracy was also imperative for good governance,”
he added. Earlier, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj appreciated the strenuous efforts of the Uttarakhand government for ensuring the successful conduct of the Maha Kumbh 2010 at Haridwar. It could be taken as a success story for good governance, she added. She also appreciated the road map prepared by the Uttarakhand government for developing sopts of pilgrimage, tourism, Ayush and herbal sectors, according to a press statement of the Uttarakhand government. |
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Property worth Rs 3 lakh gutted in restaurant fire
Mussoorie, June 6 Fire Officer RL Sharma said, “After receiving information, we reached the spot and found the restaurant at Baba Bhawan engulfed in flames. Earlier, fire tenders faced difficulty in putting out the fire. We sought the help of Garhwal Jal Sansthan officials and the hydrant nearby was opened to assist the fire tenders. Fire brigade was pitched in for fire control and finally we were able to extinguish it”. According to witnesses, the fire started when the flames of the candle engulfed the garbage lying nearby inside the restaurant which was collected by brother of the shop’s owner, Shyam, who is mentally challenged and resides in the restaurant. Shyam was sleeping when the incident occurred. The fire officials presume that the property worth Rs 3 lakh has been gutted in the fire.
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IMA plans online exams for cadets
Dehradun, June 6 The portable software has been put on display at the End of Term Indoor Club exhibition-cum-competition that will be underway till June 11 at the central foyer, Chetwood Hall of the IMA. “This is a good project and we can plan it out to have it,” said Lt Gen RS Sujlana, PVSM, AVSM, VSM Commandant of the IMA, during the inauguration of the exhibition while appreciating the cadets for their work. Four gentlemen cadets Anubhav Pant, Shekher Kumar, Ashish Pandey and Raghunandan Singh have developed the software in six-month time. “The online conduction of the examinations will most probably take place from the next session,” said Anubhav. “We are ready with our project and after the exhibition we will send it for the approval. It will save a lot of time and will enable the exam paper setter to add, subtract, delete and edit subjects,” said Major Prashant Saxena, officer in charge of the project.
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Soon, neonatal centres to curb infant mortality
Dehradun, June 6 At the meeting of the national programme chaired by Health Secretary Dr Uma Kant Pawar, the budgetary allocations and other new schemes were evaluated. Dr Pawar asked the officials to run the Rashtriya Swasthya Beema Yojana on a mission mode and suggested that the department should start awarding the districts that achieve targets. For 2010-11, Rs 203.66 crore had been allocated which was 15 per cent more than last year. The department would also start the ASHA Ghar Yojana, night-halt centres, for ASHA workers. |
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Vans to boost blood donation campaigns
Dehradun, June 6 Joint Director Meenakshi Uniyal said the department had received the vans that would give a boost to the blood donation campaign in the hilly remote areas. The three districts of the state comprising Pauri, Chamoli and Srinagar will be linked with the District Doon Hospital that will function as a central hub.While the Indian Medical Association (IMA) blood bank, too, will act as a hub for undertaking blood donation campaigns at Haridwar, Uttarkashi and Tehri. The van for Nainital district will also be deputed at Udham Singh Nagar, Haldwani and Kashipur. The Almora district van will be utilised for blood donation camps at Pitthoragarh.
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"The caves in Uttarakhand which are the centre of worship of various mythological deities as they exhibit the imaginative shapes of these deities, are mainly remains of changed weather patterns during last 1,000 years,” said Prof BS
Kotlia. Well-known geologist of the Himalayan region, Prof Kotlia was delivering his speech at a seminar on Landslides and Environmental Degradation in Himalayan Terrains, which entered the second day today.
Dehradun, June 6