New Delhi, July 3
A ministerial meeting held yesterday to decide the fate of 600-MW Loharinag Pala Hydel Power Project ended inconclusively. Sources say that Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh wanted the project to be scrapped as is being demanded by activists and religious groups, while Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde spoke in favour of the project.

A three-member group of ministers, headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, was formed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to look into the issue of building hydro-electric projects on the Bhagirathi upstream of Uttarkashi following strong objections from environmentalists and Hindu saints, who want the uninterrupted flow of Bhagirathi to continue.

The group of ministers had earlier scrapped the 480-MW Pala Maneri and 381-MW Bhaironghati hydel projects being built by Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL). But on Loharinag Pala, it set up a technical committee which conducted a fresh survey of the project.

The NTPC has so far invested Rs 650-Rs700 crore in Loharinag Pala. The Centre has already indicated that the state would be adequately compensated if the project is scrapped. The hill state has been demanding that it be compensated with free power in lieu of scrapping of the hydel projects.

The meeting reviewed the study of the expert panel comprising members from the Central Water Commission (CWC), Environment Ministry, IIT and the NTPC on the possible environmental consequences of abandoning the project midway.

If Loharinag Pala is also scrapped it would be a big setback to the state government. According to reports, the state has a potential to produce 20,000 MW of power on its rivers. However, ever since the state was carved out of Uttar Pradesh except for Maneri Bhali Phase-II having 302 MW of generation, no new project could be built by the state government. Tehri and Vishnu Prayag projects were commissioned, but the state gets only 12 per cent power from these projects.

Dehradun, July 3
Agitated by the rapid hike in the prices of consumer items and fuels, members of the Jakhan Vyapar Mandal burnt an effigy of the Central government here today. Through this demonstration local traders expressed resentment by shouting slogans against the Central government.

Poonam Nautiyal, patron of the Vyapar Mandal criticized the schemes laid by the central government. He said, “Price hike on edibles has already left the common man in a quandary, but the recent increase in petroleum will surely deprive him from two square of meals indeed”.

BK Oberoi, mandal general secretary, also condemned the administration of ripping off the means of survival through the increase in basic amenities of the common public.

Also present during the protest were Sohan Lal Bajaj, president, Mohit Jaiswal, Virender Pundir, Devdutt Sati, Jeet Ram Bhatt and other members of the mandal.

Haridwar, July 3
Though Haridwar city, prior to the formation of separate Uttarakhand state in 2000, was known for its religious significance only, after the formation of the Integrated Industrial Estate (IIE) by SIDCUL in 2004, it is now also emerging as a rapid industrial hub with more than 500 industrial units operating from here.

But, despite the industrial package benefit, the facilities and infrastructure as desired by industries is not living up to the expectations. This in turn is hampering industrial prospects as well as posing a big hindrance in luring new entrants to establish their units in Haridwar.

A drive through the inner roads of SIDCUL just gives a glimpse of the pathetic condition of facilities to be provided by the government. Potholes, worn-out upper layer and no electricity in streetlight posts pose a different picture of the tall claims of the government of providing the best of the facilities in IIE-Haridwar.

The road maintenance leaves much to be desired, and despite five years of coming up of this industrial hub, the area sans a public transport system, makes commuting to this area of the city a tough one. In Roshanabad and Ranipur, there is no government transportation. The district administration headquarters, SSP office, RTO, CMO offices are situated in these areas and people have to hire private vehicles or wait endlessly for a few autos that ply in these routes

Speaking in an exclusive chat with The Tribune, SIDCUL Industrial Association, Haridwar, secretary general Sudhir Mehta lamented that despite bringing to the notice of the government authorities of the problems being faced by industrial houses here, no action had been taken forcing many companies to halt their expansion plans and resisting new entrants from setting up their plants here.

He pointed out that even electricity cuts were mostly carried out without prior information, which put losses in tens of thousands, as the work got halted for that duration.

“Medical facility is almost non-existent in SIDCUL, while in emergency cases one has to travel 15-17 km to reach civil or private hospitals situated in inner Haridwar. With no residential colony setup for thousands of employees, rent in the city has gone up manifold making a big hole on employees’ pocket, at least the government can allot us land and then we can build residential blocks at affordable cost for the workers,” he said.

Skilled technical employees is the another factor where industries are facing a major problem. With the state government emphasising on 70:30 ratio difference for employing local (Uttarakhand citizens) and outer states in recruitment process, lack of requisite technical expertise aided by a less number of technical institutes in the state, makes these companies either to compromise on qualified staff or have to recruit more from outer states violating the norm to maintain requisite strength.

So, whether big corporate houses like Indian Tobacco Industry (ITC), Hindustan Lever Limited, Kirby, Mahindra & Mahindra, Hero Honda or small units, every industrial unit in Haridwar-SIDCUL is facing these problems.

As per industrial sources, three major industrial companies are packing up their units from Haridwar. Though it’s more to do with non-extension of the industrial package to the state, the above mentioned problems do have an impact on their arriving to this decision.

“If this attitude by respective authorities continues, it will have a negative impact on industrial production, working environment and the very motive behind establishing an industrial setup in Haridwar. “The administrative, governmental and local authorities should instantly take cognisance of this situation, as it’s we who are giving revenues in millions to the state, but in turn are getting only apathy,” said Mehta.

Nainital, July 3
Threats of action coming from the top brass of the state government and the administration against lax officials on a daily basis do not seem to be working in the state.

This became evident once again when 11 officials were found missing from their offices during surprise raids conducted by City Magistrate Shirish Kumar in 
Haldwani yesterday.

Kumar went from one office to another to see how seriously the officials took their job. He went to the offices of various departments that are entrusted with the job of maintaining basic essential services like power, food and water supply.

After the report of his visits to the 10 offices was compiled, it was found that 11 of the 211 officials had been missing from their seats, while 17 were on leave.

The report has been sent across to District Magistrate Shailesh Bagauli for recommending appropriate action against the guilty. It is expected that the erring officials will be issued notices for their absence and their wages for the day will be deducted.

Residents of Haldwani have been complaining of official apathy with regards to the power and water crises over the past three months. Besides the problem of unscheduled power cuts, they are getting very low voltage power supply in several areas.

Despite instructions coming from the top to address the complaints on priority, the officials have the tendency of not responding to phone calls of people. This has led to the popularity of the government taking a plunge.

Mussoorie, July 3
The demon of the Autumn Festival 2009 tender scam has resurfaced once again in Mussoorie. Responding to the complaint filed by various social organisations, namely Alaknanda Vikas Samiti and Parvitaya Bigul Sanstha, SDM Manoj Kumar, who was assigned the investigation of tender scam, committed during the Autumn Festival 2009 which was inaugurated by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, clearly implicates the Nagar Palika of financial embezzlement amounting to Rs 30 lakh.

In his detailed report, submitted to the administration on June 5, 2010, the SDM clearly states that a scam was self evident in the tender procedures adopted by the Palika to provide unsolicited benefit to one event management firm from Dehradun.

The report clearly outlines that Nagar Palika Parishad, Mussoorie, decided to organise the Autumn Festival from November 3 to 9, 2009, for which President OP Uniyal was authorised to expedite the festival tender procedures/quotations through a proposal No. 803 passed unanimously at the Board meeting dated October 27, 2009, in which the decision was also taken to allocate Rs 30 lakh for the Autumn Festival 2009.

A festival committee was formed through a proposal UR-15-778 dated September 29, 2009, of which ward member No. 11 (Doodhli) Jasvir Kaur was announced as convener of the committee. Following this, EO, Palika, RP Semwal called for tenders/quotations vide advertisement publication in two newspapers, one local weekly on October 16, 2009, in the last date of acceptance of tender being October 28, 2009. But due to reasons unknown, the tender call advertisement could not be published in the local weekly. Added to that, the tender notice was published in a Hindi national daily on October 18, 2009. The same advertisement was published in another local weekly in haste on October 20 again. The ad clearly mentioned that any event management firm or society interesting in conducting the autumn festival should have five years minimum experience, but the two quotations did not comply with it.

The sealed quotation/tenders were invited till 3 pm on November 28, 2009, along with FDR/CDR worth Rs 2 lakh which were to opened by 4 pm same day. The anomaly in the tender process began from here, instead of opening the tenders at 4 pm the same day they were opened on November 29, 2009, at 11 am.

Only three tenders applications of PVR Films, TR Art Event and Sinmit communication were received, but the applications of PVR and TR Art Event were cancelled as they failed to submit experience letter and deposit earnest money of Rs 2 lakh. Only Sinmit Communication had submitted the experience certificate and FDR. However, it was found in the investigation that the FDR submitted by Sinmit Communication was not in their name, which was not in accordance to the law.

Festival committee convener Jasvir Kaur approved the tender of Sinmit Communication worth Rs 28.72 lakh which received the stamp of approval from Palika President OP Uniyal. The agreement was reached between Sinmit Communication and Nagar Palika on Rs 100 stamp paper without being notarised by any official. Palika also failed to act according to Uttarakhand Procurement guidelines 2008.

It is clearly stated under the chapter 4, rule No. 50 (3) that from the date of publishing the tender/quotation release, minimum two weeks time should have been given for consultancy to the applicants and under the same chapter for works of more than Rs 15 lakh the expression of interest should have been quoted in the website of the department and in English and Hindi newspapers under Section 5/1 of the financial book of the state government so that the spirit of competition is kept alive, but the Palika, flouting all norms, published the ads 11 days before the commencement of the event in only one national daily and a local weekly with limited circulation.

Apart from this, EO Palika RP Semwal should have called tenders notice for the amount more than Rs 10 lakh but only a quotation was invited for the said work going against the guidelines of the government. The quotation which were to be opened on October 28, 2009 were opened on 29, defying the rules under Uttarakhand Procurement Guidelines 2008 and that too despite the rule no. 54 clearly stating that any proposal/tender, quotation should be opened on the same day.

The SDM Mussoorie clearly implicates the Nagar Palika, Mussoorie, for indulging in financial embezzlement of Rs 30 lakh in the invitation of the quotations/tenders and bypassing the rules laid down by the government. He also goes on to say that serious financial irregularities have been committed I organising the autumn festival 2009.

Pradeep Bhandari and the members of Alknanda Vikas Samt said it was evident after the report that Palika had indulged in misuse of funds.

However, Uniyal seems less perturbed with the investigation report and said the Autumn Festival 2009 was conducted honestly and added to that the amount spent on it was less than the previous years and still people were pointing fingers at Palika. According to the Urban Development, Director the investigation on same matter has been done twice and action will be initiated after the report is presented to the Principal Secretary. 

Pitthoragarh, July 3
Hem Chandra Pandey, who is said to have been killed by the Andhra Pradesh police, along with Maoist leader Cherokuri Rajkumar, on July 2, was not involved in any Maoist activities in his home district of Pitthoragarh as per police records.

“Hem Chandra Pandey was a Leftist activist and involved in the programme of CPI (ML) three years before and after that he left the district and his wherabouts were not known,” said Nilesh Aanad Bharre, SP, Pitthoragarh.

The Pithoragarh police chief said during the past three years when Pandey was not present in Pitthoragarh, no information about his any activities done else were received by them.

“We have only information with us that Hem Chandra Pandey was a Leftist activist,” said the SP. 

Dehradun, July 3
To impart the awareness of yoga and natural resources to stay healthy, DHAD Publication released a book, “Yoga and Natural Hygiene”, by Dr Radhakrishnan Uniyal at Tasnia Bhawan here today.

Sunder Lal Bahuguna, leader of the Chipko movement and environmentalist, was the chief guest on the occasion. He, along with Sudarshan Kumar, President of the Uttarakhand Yog Avum Prakartik Chikitsalya, launched the book.

While addressing the gathering, Bahuguna said in the fast-paced life, stress was mounting up causing various diseases in people. Wrong eating habits, unplanned diets and non-regularised daily routines are the main causes that are cause tension in every one’s life. People should practise yoga to maintain a healthy life.

“Yoga is not any ancient knowledge. With time it is becoming a necessity of life and the reason why the publication, the writer and all of us have joined hands to enlighten people about usage of natural resources for staying healthy and in good hygienic conditions,” said Sudarshan Kumar.

Mussoorie, July 3
The state government has nominated a 10-member advisory committee to deal with identification problems faced by andolankaris in Dehradun district through an order passed on May 25. Anil Godiyal and Gambhir Singh Panwar have been nominated from Mussoorie.

Godiyal thanked the state government for formulating the committee to look at all issues related to andolankaris at district level. Godiyal and Panwar also thanked the state government, especially Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Ravinder Jugran, for their nominations.

Godiyal speaking to mediapersons said the committee had been formed to expedite the pending issues of the identification of andolankaris in transparent and fair manner. Panwar also said the formation of such committees showed the intention of the Nishank-led government that it was seriously concerned about the problems of andolankaris. The duo also reiterated the commitment that they would work for the andolankaris through the committee.

Dehradun, July 3
On the sudden death of state agitationist Chandra Shekhar Bijalwad, the state Agitationists Federation organised a condolence meeting to pay tributes to the deceased at Kachahari Road here today.

A large number of statehood agitationists from different districts had gathered to pay homage to the valiant member of the movement.

Pradeep Kukreti, district president of the federation said, “Bijalwad’s death is a loss to the state as well as to the country.

He was an active member of the federation whose absence will always be felt among the other members”.