Dehradun, July 21
Former senior BJP leader Govindacharya has strongly backed the ongoing indefinite fast by environmentalist GD Aggarwal in Haridwar against a possible re-start of the Loharinag Pala hydro power project.

Addressing mediapersons in Dehradun, Govindacharya accused both the Centre and the state government of lacking in will towards safeguarding the Ganga. “Merely by declaring the Ganga as a National Heritage River will not do. We have to work with utmost sincerity to protect the Ganga,” he said.

A firebrand swadesh brand leader, Govindacharya also took the state government to task alleging that the state government too has adopted a weak posture and had not strongly opposed the coming up hydro-power projects on the Ganga.

Referring to his organisation Bharat Vikas Sangam, Govindacharya said the Sangam would hold a nine-day convention in Gulbarga which would be attended by nearly 6,000 social welfare groups. “A total of 12,000 people are to take part in the convention. Besides, former President APJ Kalam and activist Anna Hazare also expected at the convention,” he added.

He said the country today stood on the cross roads with the issues such as agriculture security, which is a matter of prime importance. “India has to face challenges at a number of fronts and those linked to social sector must rise to the occasion.”

Govindacharya, however, arrived very late to Dehradun as the Shatabdi Express he was travelling in developed a technical snag, delaying it by two and a half hours. Govindacharya was initially supposed to address mediapersons in Dehradun at 1 pm, but could only make it to the venue at 3.30 pm. 

Dehradun, July 21
Hardy women of Mori Block in Uttarkashi district are an angry lot. When night falls, their village is enveloped in darkness, but just across the villages, in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh villages are agog with lights burning bright, a cause of deep resentment and envy for them.

Demanding power for their villages and urging the Uttarakhand government to resume work on closed power projects, scores of women came down to Dehradun today urging the state government to allow their villages to become part of Himachal Pradesh as without electricity their life was in great peril.

Forced to live in darkness, these women hailing from 1,220 un-electrified villages of Bageshwar, Tehri and Uttarakashi districts urged the politicians to stop playing politics with power projects. “We are forced to lead a hand-to-mouth existence, as our routine comes to a standstill as soon as darkness envelops our villages. My children cannot study, we cannot operate electrical instruments. It seems we are living in the dark age. What hurts us the most are the brightly lit homesteads in Himachal Pradesh. They have all facilities, while we are forced to burn lanterns to go about our daily chores. The forest authorities do not allow us to cut trees. How do we fulfil our power needs?” asked Mohini Devi, a resident of Mori village.

Demanding immediate resumption of work on the suspended power projects on Lohari Nagpala, Pala Maneri and Bhairav Ghat, the women asked the so-called leaders to allow the poor villagers access to the fruits of development. “What is our fault? Even if we sit on hunger strike, the government will not listen. But as soon as some leader with vested interest takes up the cause of the Ganga and starts hunger strike, the government goes down on its knees placating them. But no thought is spared at our plight,” said Ramwati.

Coming strongly in support of these women, Padma Shree Avdhash Kaushal, Chairperson of the Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK), said instead of bowing to politically motivated hunger strikes, the government should start work on the Pala Maneri and Bahiron Ghati, along with Lohari Nagpala Hydel Power projects, so that the mission of electrifying all villages by 2012 could be achieved.

The women took out a procession marching from the Gandhi Park to the Clock Tower.

Haridwar, July 21
Almost a year ago, a prominent environmentalist and scientist, Prof GD Aggarwal, had held an agitation in New Delhi opposing the hydro power projects on the Ganga citing the danger to the natural existence of the river. After getting a written assurance from the Central government, he had taken back his agitation. But seeing no definite action on his concerns about the Ganga, he has once again taken the agitation route, though this time in Haridwar.

Joining hands this time with him is city-based Matra Sadan saints who have long been associated with the cause of the Ganga with many of them undertaking fast for months.

Warning both the central and state governments, Professor Aggarwal said until Loharinag Pala and other related projects were halted, he would be continuing his fast. Aggrieved by the delay in action over the verbal assurance given by the central government at the Capital, Professor Aggarwal has decided to only break the agitation when the government makes a clear-cut stance on the Loharinag Pala project.

Renowned environment lawyer Mahesh Chandra Mehta has also supported the agitation, stating that the cause of saving the holy Ganga, which has religious and cultural significance for millions of Indians, should be of prime importance.

The Matra Sadan saints have demanded for government stance on the hydro power projects on the Ganga. Swami Shivanand Saraswati, along with Mahant Sharad Puri, Sadhvi Samarpita and others, are supporting Professor Aggarwal in his agitation.

Meanwhile, Jagatguru Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand of Dwarkapeeth sent his personal emissary Swami Dharanand to convey his support to Professor Aggarwal whose indefinite fast to save the Bhagirathi (Ganga) entered its second day at Haridwar today. Swami Ramdev spent an hour in the evening with him and offered his full support. In a letter to Sushil Kumar Shinde, Union Minister for Power, Professor Aggarwal said he had discontinued his last fast on February 19, 2009, after receiving an assurance from the ministry that work on the Loharinag Pala barrage would be suspended. Yet the government had decided to resume construction of the project without consulting him at any point in the past 17 months. “I am deeply hurt by this secretive and mischievous attitude of your ministry.”

An action committee of Professor Aggarwal’s supporters in New Delhi has received messages from Ganga devotees preparing to organise fasts and satyagrahs in different parts of India to lend support to him. “We are meeting on July 24 in New Delhi to organise action in support of Professor Aggarwal,” said Madhu Kishwar of Manushi.

Mussoorie, July 21
It seems that MLA from Mussoorie Jot Singh Gunsola has intensified his tirade against Palika President OP Uniyal on the construction of the Town Hall issue. Gunsola, taking congnisance of the news published in The Tribune on July 16 titled “Town Hall to be converted into a five-star hotel”, wrote a letter to the Urban Development Minister Minister today pleading him to stall the conversion of the Town Hall into a five-start hotel at the proposed site. He also served the copy of the letter to Uniyal at his office.

The news revealed the dubious intentions of the Nagar Palika to convert the proposed Town Hall into a five-star hotel under the garb of the PPP mode. Elaborating further, Gunsola in his letter has vehemently objected to the present plan of the Palika to construct a five-star hotel with a helipad at the site. He stated there was no need of a hotel as Mussoorie was flooded with hotels already and considering the development capacity of the town the proposal was not viable too. He also said a pristine town hall was demolished by then Palika on the grounds of renovation but it did not materialise due to unknown reasons. However, Gunsola welcomed the construction of a multi-purpose Town Hall. Gunsola added a conspiracy was being hatched by the Palika to give the said area to private players for a paltry sum in the name of the PPP mode and the residents of the town would oppose any such move aggressively. The MLA opined that the Palika should be granted permission to build the building only on the condition that it would grant locals entry in it at nominal charges for various sports and social activities and charge a nominal sum for the maintenance of the building.

The government, respecting the popular view, should stick to the construction of a multi-purpose Town Hall and nothing else.

Uniyal and Gunsola have entered into an altercation at a meeting held at the Palika recently on the issue. On the other hand, the Palika Executive Officer said the Chief Secretary at a meeting held yesterday in Dehradun had clearly stated that the Palika would construct the hall through their own funds and if need be the government would provide additional finances for the project.

The foundation stone was laid for the construction of Town Hall during the tenure of previous Palika President Man Mohan Singh Mall and ND Tiwari as Chief Minister. The task could not be completed due to unavoidable reasons. Present Palika spent around Rs 2 lakh in inviting Expression of Interest (EOI) to construct the Town Hall-cum-five start hotel. However, certain sections of the town believe that this was a mere posturing and both Palika President and MLA from Mussoorie were in understanding on the matter and were creating pressure on the government to sanction the amount immediately.

Mussoorie, July 21
A joint inspection by officials of the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) and the Nagar Palika, Mussoorie, was held at the site of the proposed Town Hall following the directions of Chief Secretary NS Napalchayal today.

According to Palika Executive Officer RP Semwal, the Chief Secretary had directed the Nagar Palika Parishad yesterday to construct parking through its own funds and assured that if need be the government would also assist it financially in the construction of the multi-purpose Town Hall/Auditorium at the site.

MDDA Executive Engineer SS Sharma, along with Nagar Palika Junior Engineer Sundriyal and draftsman S Shah, inspected the site and advised the Palika to fulfil certain guidelines prescribed by them.

Speaking to The Tribune, Sharma said this exercise was to guide the Palika on the modalities of the laws of the town.

He firmly stated that the norm of 11 meter high parameter should be adhered to while designing the Town Hall and as soon as it was done the MDDA would speed up the sanctioning process for the Town Hall in public interest. Palika President OP Uniyal was not available for comment.

Mussoorie, July 21
The Nagar Palika Parishad, Mussoorie, has served a notice on the delay in the construction of the demolished heritage Clock Tower in the town by Mumbai businessman Sanjay Narang at Landour Bazar here.

According to Nagar Palika Executive Officer RP Semwal, the notice was served to Narang, the builder of the Clock Tower under the PPP mode, for unnecessary delay in its construction. Narang is constructing the Clock Tower based on the theme similar to the Big Ben in London.

Narang had agreed to maintain and construct the new Clock Tower after the Nagar Palika invested Rs 19 lakh on its demolition. It is important to note that it was agreed between him and the Nagar Palika that he would also build a museum in it for the public and charge a nominal sum through entry tickets.

Narang is close friend of cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.

Narang was not available for comments. It is important to note that the new Clock Tower being constructed does not have sanction from the MDDA and other authorities and the demolition of the heritage building had angered many in the town. 

Dehradun, July 21
Along with residents of slums of the city, city president of Rajiv Gandhi Brigade Jagdish Arora, district president Jahangir Khan and city president of the Labour Cell Dinesh Kaushal held a protest before Mayor Vinod Chamoli against the failure of the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) to undertake damage-control exercises in the monsoon season.

The leaders put light on choked drains, broken roads and water-logged pits in different localities of the city.

Arora said the Orient Chowk, the biggest chowk of the city, was stinking because of profuse sewerage leakage in the area and had made it difficult for passers-by to go across it. Bringing attention to the myriad problems the slum dwellers of the Khala Paar slum on Sahastardhara Road are facing, he said 200 families of the slum colony lay awake at night because of the fear of an impending flood. They are living under the fear of the spread of water-borne diseases. He pulled up the DMC for not carrying out any medicinal spray drive and removing garbage heaps in the colony.

He alleged that garbage flowed down from the Old Suvey Chowk and the Kanak Chowk to residential colonies with the lashings of rains. In the Dallanwalla area, water remained collected up to 2 ft after every rain, he said.

The protesters included city general secretary Rahul Giroti, city media coordinator Vasim Ahmad, Sikandar Bildwan, Sandeep Dhulit and Kishan.

Pitthoragarh, July 21
As the 8th batch of Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims entered Tibet today from 17,500-foot-high Lipulekh Pass in Dharchula subdivision of the district, half of the annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has been completed as only 16 batches are allowed to participate in it every year.

“The 49 pilgrims of the 8th batch include 11 women. They braved continuous rain and snowfall at higher reaches and will now spend next 12 days in Tibet,” said DK Sharma, Manager, Tourism, Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN), the nodal agency for organising the yatra.

Sources in the KMVN said till date five batches had completed their pilgrimage and 48-member 6th batch came back at the Lipulekh Pass today from Tibet.

The 7th batch was still in Tibet and 49 members of the 9th batch left for Gala from the Dharchula base camp today.

“Nearly 400 Indian pilgrims have this year been blessed with the darshan of the holy Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva in Tibet,” said Sharma.

The yatra till date this year has been accident free barring some minor incident.

“One pilgrim disappeared into the Kali iver at Lamari when he slipped and two pilgrims, one from the 8th batch and another from the 5th batch, left the pilgrimage in between due to illness,” said Sharma.

Despite continuous rains in the Kumaon region, the yatra route is almost clear this year.

“We had identified three sensitive spots Chetalkot, Tintola and Gasku on this route but at present only Tintola has caused disturbance in the pilgrimage due to continuous landslides occurring on a 3-km stretch. We are crossing this place on foot despite having a rable track,” said the Manager of theTourism, Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam .

Dehradun, July 21
The court of Additional District Judge Mazar Sultan today let off on bail three policemen, Sub-Inspector Manoj Negi and Constables Harender and Ravinder Kumar, allegedly found involved in the thrashing of BJP MLA Raj Kumar on July 11. The trio was also absolved of charges under Section 307 (attempt to murder) and Sections 147 of the Indian Penal Code.

The incident occurred when the police stopped a vehicle of MLA Raj Kumar in the Premnagar area where it was managing a traffic snarl, which had triggered after a road accident.

The stopping of the vehicle led to a heated argument between police personnel present there and the MLA and his driver. Following which Raj Kumar was allegedly beaten up by the cops. He alleged that he was dragged out of his vehicle to the Premnagar police post by the cops and put behind bars where also he was thrashed.

Subsequently, on July 12, these three police personnel were suspended and sent to 14-day judicial remand. The policemen were arrested after a night-long drama following the beating up of Raj Kumar, ruling BJP legislator from Sahaspur Assembly segment, on July 11 night. Later, the incident created a political storm with senior BJP leaders.

The four police personnel who were suspended were namely Sub-Inspector Manoj Negi, Ravinder Kumar, Double Singh Chauhan and Harender.