Haridwar, July 27
Blaming state Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik for the alleged Maha Kumbh fund fraud, the Congress today sought answers from the minister on the issues related with Kumbh and the poor civic infrastructure of the city exposed by the rains.

Congress leaders sought explanation regarding Rs 765 crore allocated by the Central government for infrastructure development in Haridwar.

A massive awareness rally was taken out in the city by party workers to bring to the notice of people the poor quality of works carried out in the name of the Kumbh.

Newly appointed city Congress chief OP Chauhan blamed the BJP government, specially Madan Kaushik, for betraying the faith of crores of pilgrims who came to Haridwar during the four-month tenure of the Kumbh as the Kumbh funds were bungled.

Chauhan also related the recent water logging in the city to the corruption in the works carried out by the mela administration. He said: “Just three months have passed since the Kumbh got over, but all city roads, sewer lines, nullahs and civic facilities are in a poor shape despite hundreds of crores spent in the name of Kumbh works. Is this not a betrayal of the faith of people?”

Lashing out at Kaushik, who was also the Kumbh mela in charge cabinet minister, Congress city women president Vimla Pandey said Haridwar despite being a world-renowned city was not able to sustain even light rain with every Kumbh project producing desired results in just three-four months of their completion.

“Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank hailed the Kumbh works as historic, lauded mela in charge Kaushik, but now everything has been exposed. Historic are the scandals and fraud done with the Kumbh funds,” remarked Pandey. The ongoing anti-encroachment drive was also a tool to hide the inefficiency of the local legislator and the municipality led by the BJP.

Earlier, the party workers drawn from district and city units gathered at a gurdwara situated at Laltaura from where they moved in a rally towards the BJP district party office situated at Devpura.

Citing the gravity of the situation, as in the past few days party activists from both sides had indulged in verbal as well as physical confrontation, police personnel stopped the Congress workers from reaching BJP office, but had to face a stiff resistance and finally had to use a little force to stop them. Former legislator Ram Yash Singh got injured, fracturing his hand, which further angered the Congress workers. But timely intervention by senior police officers and veteran party leaders helped defuse the tension.

Executive members of the city unit termed the use of police force as a open violation of freedom of expression. They condemned the police action claiming party workers were to protest in a non-violent manner only.

Haridwar parliamentarian Harish Rawat on the phone told The Tribune that despite the Central government releasing huge funds for the Kumbh totalling Rs 765 crore, the state government didn’t spend the amount appropriately and there was a need for a judicial probe into this matter. “I don’t seek a CBI inquiry as then the state government will again say that this is a political move. So the Chief Minister should himself order an inquiry into this matter, be it through a former Chief Justice,” said the parliamentarian.

Nainital, July 27
Lok Sabha member from Almora Pradeep Tamta has vociferously raised the issue of the establishment of a Himalayan Highway that will run across the three states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Tamta led a delegation that met Minister for Industry and Commerce Anand Sharma and has also written on the issue to Union Labour Minister Harish Rawat and Minister for Road Transport and Highways Kamal Nath.

The delegation included Major-Gen JC Pant (retd) who is a senior Congress leader, along with KC Pandey, an industrialist from Kumaon.

Having been linked to Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, the proposed highway in Uttarakhand will run from Tuni-Chakrata-Mussorie-Tehri-Srinagar-Karanpyag-Gairsain-Dwarahat-Ranikhet-Almora and Lohaghat.

In a letter submitted to Sharma, Tamta has stated, “I am writing this letter to seek your support for establishing a highway covering three Himalayan states of North India Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir called the Himalayan Highway.

“The construction of the Himalayan Highway is very critical for the economic development and promotion of tourism in the region”.

He has underlined: “The Himalyan Highway will provide much-needed economic activity in the region and also boost tourism. The will be useful for Himalayan Darshan since it will be passing through the peaks of the Himalayas from a height of 4,000 feet to 5,500 feet above the sea level”.

Tamta pointed that the previous Congress government in Uttarakhand under ND Tiwari had taken up this issue with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh during the last tenure of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and considering the importance of this Himalayan Highway, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) had accorded an approval in principle for the same.

He also submitted a letter from the PMO addressed to the Secretary, Road Transport and Highway, to Sharma.

Considering the importance of the construction of the highway, Tamta has requested the Commerce Minister to take up the issue with the Union government.

During the meeting other issues relating to Uttarakhand were also discussed. Pant brought out the importance of development of Pithoragarh airport from tourism angle as well as from the defence viewpoint keeping in mind the region sharing border with China and Nepal.

The minister spoke about the issue with the Secretary, Civil Avaition, and directed him to take up the development of Pithoragarh airport on priority basis as a national project.

Sharma also promised to take up the matter with Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel.

Dehradun, July 27
A large number of youngsters joined the Congress party here today. The new entrants were welcomed into the partyfold by Mahangar Congress leader Harish Virmani and Leader of Opposition Harak Singh Rawat.

Addressing the gathering, Rawat said the youth of the country was inclined towards the Congress due to its progressive policies. He said the Congress kept a rich 125-year-old history and had always been development oriented, much above the politics of class, caste, creed and religion. He also asked the youth to work for bringing the Congress to power in the 2012 Assembly elections.

Mahanagar Congress President Harish Virmani said youngsters were the strength of any party and said the Congress was very fortunate that youth in such a large number were joining the party.

Ravi Suri, who led the youth joining the party, said he kept full faith in the policies and programmes of the Congress. He also said he had been greatly influenced by Youth Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Congress leader Vijay Singh Chauhan compered the proceedings. Yamunotri MLA Kedar Singh Rawat, Devendra Singh Sethi and Shivesh Bahuguna were also present on the occasion.

Dehradun, July 27
On taking formal charge as the Director General, Medical and Health, Dr HC Bhatt today said the satisfaction of poor patients who come seeking medical treatment at government hospitals would be accorded the highest priority.

He said poor patients who visited government hospitals should go back satisfied, without spending a penny from their pockets. “I will soon be issuing instructions to each and every doctor to prescribe medicines with generic names only. Action will be taken against the doctors as per service rules who are found prescribing medicines without generic names. We will also ensure that generic medicines are in full supply at the hospital,” said Dr Bhatt.

Dr Bhatt was elevated to the post of the DG after a court case came in his favour. Underlying the implications of his elevation, Dr Bhatt said rules and procedures were sacrosanct and every effort would be made to follow them in their true spirit. “Nobody is above rules and those using political connections to circumvent rules will not be tolerated,” he emphasised.

While coming in support of the nurses’ demand for the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission and other demands, Dr Bhatt said nursing was an important pillar of medical services. “It is they who look after patients day and night and the satisfaction of nurses is of utmost importance,” said Dr Bhatt.

A delegation of Uttarakhand Nurses Service Association, led by president of the association SK Singh, Secretary Anjana Bhowmick, office-bearers Laxmi Punetha and Daljit was assured that their problems would be taken up at the government level.

Dehradun, July 27
In an embarrassment to the Uttarakhand government, Dr CP Arya, officiating Director General (DG), Medical and Health Services, had to vacate the chair for Dr HC Bhatt, 11 years his senior, who took over as DG, Health and Medical Services, today.

With the High Court ruling coming in his favour, the government had no option but to willy-nilly comply by the order, relieving Dr Arya of his charge and promoting Dr Bhatt. A classic case of political clout having precedence over seniority and merit, Dr Arya was made officiating DG, Health and Medical Health, after the retirement of the DG, Health, Dr PL Joshi.

Though Dr Arya is 11 years junior to Dr Bhatt and three other doctors, comprising Dr Sudhanshu Bhauguna, Director, Doon Group of Hospitals, Dr AP Mamgai, Director, National Programmes, and Dr Manorama Bhauguna, Director, Kumaon, with senior most being Dr HC Bhatt and eligible for the post of DG, Health.

At the time of retirement of Dr PL Joshi, all four doctors were Additional Directors, while the only thing believed to be working in favour of Dr Arya was that he was already promoted as Director, while the remaining four were Additional Directors.

As per Department of Personnel guidelines, in order to be eligible for the post of DG, one has to be a Director. But after Dr Bhatt went to court, the government was forced to set up a Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) under the direction from court that completed the entire exercise within a month in July this year. Confident of his position on seniority, Dr Bhatt benefited a great deal by seeking recourse to court.

The latest incident is a lesson for the government too. Instead of unnecessarily meddling with the appointments at the highest level, it would be better served if rules and procedures are followed.

Now, in an apparent climb down, Dr CP Arya who was officiating as DG, Health, for the period of 10 months will now be back as director administration, as this is the only post lying vacant after Dr Bhatt became DG, Health.

Nainital, July 27
Swollen rivers of the region have led to the drowning of five more persons, including three children, who had gone out to take their goats for grazing. According to information, four of these deaths were due to drowning in the Dhela river, while one person drowned in the Ramganga river.

In the first incident, three children from Sarvarkheda village, near Kashipur, who were out with their goats on the outskirts of the village, drowned on late Monday evening while attempting to cross the Dhela river. The three have been identified as 12-year-old Danish, 11-year-old Rashid and 10-year-old Rani. The two boys got trapped in a rapid while trying to rescue Rani who had fallen into the river.

In the second incident, Jaypal Singh of Kachnal village was washed away while he was trying to cross the same river. He was returning on his bicycle after attending a feast at Ramjeevanpur village on late Sunday night when the incident occurred.

Meanwhile, Anand Singh of Nevalgaon in the Salt area of Almora was drowned when he attempted to cross a swollen Ramganga river on Monday.

Incessant rains throughout Tuesday have led to the further swelling of the rivers in the region.

Herb Yarsa gumba

“The Chinese national has been detained in Almora and further investigations about his links with the local traders of the herb are being investigated,” said the SP.

Five-year-old raped in Lal Kuan

Nainital: An incident of a rape of a minor has come to light from the Lal Kuan area of Nainital district.

According to information, the five-year-old victim was lifted from outside her hut in Nagina Colony where she was sleeping. Accused Sanjay Srivastava allegedly carried her towards the rail tracks and raped her. He also allegedly tried to kill her by strangulation, but seeing a group of people approaching him, he fled from the spot.

The 36-year-old accused was a resident of Bhagwantapur village in Pilibhit and had been residing with his father at Lal Kuan. He was working as a labourer.

The victim has been admitted to the Base Hospital in Haldwani and efforts are on to nab the accused.

Sales Tax official held for graft

A senior official of the Sales Tax (ST) Department has been nabbed by personnel of the Vigilance Department at Kashipur while he was allegedly taking a graft of Rs 15,000. According to information, the Vigilance Department had been approached by one Mohammed Yakub of Jaspur, timber trader, with the complaint that two senior officials had been seeking a graft from him.

A trap was laid and Abhay Kumar Pande was nabbed, while the second accused managed to flee. The accused is said to be working as an Assistant Commissioner. He has alleged that he has been framed in the case as he was pressurising a group of traders to pay taxes.

Man arrested for enticing girl

Dehradun: A man in his mid-30s was booked for allegedly having sexual relations for about three years with a 17-year-old girl of Mothrowala by enticing her. Accused Laakhan has been arrested.

The police said the accused had been living in rented accommodation with her family in the house of the victim’s family. He runs a shop there and is a father of two.

The police said the girl who was being enticed by the man might have realised the wrong and informed her parents who lodged a complaint with the police.

The police has registered a case under Section 376, Indian Penal Code, in the Nehru Colony police station. The police will send the girl for a medical examination for further course of action.