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Tom Alter protests demolition of Mussoorie Clock
Tower
Rains compound power woes of Kumaon
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CM wants powerhouses to be modernised
Cong women to gherao state Secretariat
UKD minister takes U-turn over stand against govt
Voter list for Assembly segments released
Contractual docs oppose move to fill posts through panel
Northern Railway union members submit memorandum
Gorkha Democratic Front celebrates Founder’s Day
Ex-IT Asst Commissioner gets bail
Two held for leopard skin trafficking
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Tom Alter protests demolition of Mussoorie Clock
Tower
Mussoorie, September 16 He arrived at the site adjacent to the Clock Tower at 10 am, along with supporters, and offered floral tributes by garlanding the portrait of the old Clock Tower. In a written statement given to the media, Tom said, “The chimes of the Clock Tower used to echo across the valley and tell the time”. His supporters were of the view that residents of the town had questioned the decision of the Nagar Palika to demolish the heritage Clock Tower that was built during the British era, but the Palika entered an agreement with Mumbai-based businessman Sanjay Narang under the PPP mode. According to the agreement, the Palika had already paid Rs 19 lakh for the demolition and Narang was committed to reconstruct the tower based on the design similar to Big Ben in London within a stipulated period. But no construction work has been initiated despite repeated reminders to the Palika. Eminent local historian Gopal Bhardwaj said there was no need to demolish the heritage Clock Tower as it had been renovated by the Mussoorie-Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) a few years back. Moreover, no clearance site map of the tower had been sought till now by the Palika. Bhardwaj said the Palika was not the owner, but the custodian of the town, including the heritage Clock Tower. Later, SDM Manoj Kumar and Palika Executive Officer Rohtash Sharma also reached the site to persuade Tom to abort his sit-in, but he refused to budge. Later, Narang also arrived at the site of protest and informed Tom and other protesters that work would begin from September 21 onwards. He also directed his workers to begin the measurement at the Clock Tower site after which the sit-in was called off. Senior Citizen Forum president RS Mishra said it was a victory for the town, but unfortunate that a person like Tom Alter had to sit in protest for the cause. Palika President OP Uniyal termed it as a political gimmick at the behest of MLA Jot Singh Gunsola and former Palika President Manmohan Singh Mall as they had always created bottlenecks on the work initiated by the Palika. Mishra, Gopal Bhardwaj, ward member Nand Lal, Virendar Rawat, Sanjay Goyal, Ashish Sharma, Pankaj Agarwal and Sandeep Goyal also sat on dharna in support of Tom Alter. Sacking of workers condemned
Trade Union leaders were out in large numbers in support of NGO CLEAN workers who were terminated without any notice today. The CLEAN workers alleged not being served notice and that Mumbai-based businessman Sanjay Narang was behind this move, as he instigated certain Woodstock members who were in the committee of CLEAN and decided to dissolve it last month. They said Narang was bent upon destroying the poor by making them jobless and incorporating workers from Maharashtra. They raised the slogans “Narang bhagao, Mussoorie bachao”. Mussoorie Restaurant and Hotel Association leader Shoban Singh Panwar said no new worker would be allowed to carry on work in Woodstock and the Cantt area. According to CLEAN Manager Ashok, the society CLEAN has been dissolved and ceases to exist from today. |
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Rains compound power woes of Kumaon
Nainital, September 16 According to reports, the power crisis is a fallout of the damage caused to a tower of the 220 KV power line coming from Baikanthpur in Bareilly to Kamluvaganja in Haldwani. The tower located near Kitcha was damaged by a streak of lightening on Wednesday, plunging the region into darkness. Although as an alternative arrangement the power supply to the region as been restored through a 132 KV line coming from Bazpur, the problem persists on account of excessive load on it. This will result in the power cuts over the next three or four days. Officials say efforts are being made to bring the supply to normal at the earliest. Officials say the normal supply can be resumed within two days provided the weather is clear and the repairs are done without any hindrance. It is learnt that the load shedding would have to be done during the peak hours and the industrial production in the industrial areas in Rudrapur, Kitcha and Sitarganj are likely to suffer. Even otherwise, a large number of areas in the region are facing unscheduled power cuts primarily on account of the rains and the repair works being done in different parts. The town of Nainital saw members of Tallital Vyapar Mandal blocking the traffic on the Nainital-Haldwani road on Wednesday night in protest against the unscheduled power cuts daily going on in their area for over a month. The traffic flow on the road could only be resumed after an assurance came from the Sub Divisional Magistrate. Meanwhile, two children died from measles in the Madkot area of Pitthoragarh have come in. A team of health officials has been rushed to the area. In addition to this, two more deaths have been reported from Sultanpur Patti in Udham Singh Nagar and a bordering village of Uttar Pradesh. The two deceased, Shafiq and a three-year-old girl, have died from high fever. There are also reports of 11 fresh cases of dengue received at the various hospitals of Haldwani and Ramnagar. Media reports say till now more than 140 cases of the dreaded disease have been reported in the region.
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CM wants powerhouses to be modernised
Dehradun, September 16 Pawar said the BOD approved a Detailed Project Report (DPR) of modernisation of Khatima powerhouse which would cost Rs 216 and yield 80 MU after modernisation. Besides this, the DPRs of Chibro (240 MW), Khodri (120 MW), Dakrani (33-75 MW), Dhalipur (51MW), Kulhal (30 MW), Tiloth (90MW) were also approved. These projects would augment power production by 250 MU with an expenditure of Rs 800 crore. Pawar said since these projects were quite old, modernisation was required. He added that these projects would continue to provide adequate production for 35 years after their makeover. The BOD also assessed the DPR of ADB and NABARD funded small projects. |
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Cong women to gherao state Secretariat
Haridwar, September 16 Specific responsibilities have been given to women party executive members to ensure larger women participation in the protest with door-to-door campaigning being done in this regard. Elaborating about the women district unit plan city Congress Women Cell president Vimla Pandey said women workers will lay special emphasis on the problems of rural, semi urban areas as it will give the right message to the BJP government that people are not happy with their governance and they have lost confidence of women of the state. In another such meeting, Mahila Kisan Congress state president Poonam Bhagat lashed out at Nishank’s government terming it as a total failure in its one-year tenure putting the wheels of development on standstill. Poonam said if one compared the developmental works being done by the BJP government with the previous Congress government in the state, one would find that the amount of developmental works done in BJP's three-year term are not even 10 per cent of what Congress government did in its first three years. A management committee has been formed comprising Asha Saini, Manjula Pokhriyal, Ranjana Sharma, Renu Paliwal, Archana Sharma, Manorama, Sawita, Poonam Kaushik, Saroj Sahu among others.
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UKD minister takes U-turn over stand against govt
Dehradun, September 16 The presence of Bhatt activated the rumour mills regarding the UKD’s probable exit from the state government, given to their vociferous clamour against the closure of hydro power projects while decrying the BJP government along with the Opposition Congress for sitting over the matter. But, none of that happened, as Bhatt, taking a U-turn from party’s stand on its alliance partner, gave it a clean chit on every issue. Be it corruption charges or hydro projects, he stood by it. “Every political party in power has to bear corruption charges levelled by the Opposition. It becomes serious only when these are proved,” he said. On the issue of hydro projects, he said: “The state government has asked the Centre to compensate it with free power of 2,000 MW and relief for scrapping its mega power projects. If the Centre is not reciprocating, it is not the BJP, but the Centre which is at fault”. For taking a different stand, he said: “I am speaking in my capacity as a part of the government. It is the UKD president who will give the party’s stand”. President of the UKD Trivender Singh Panwar condemned raising the water level of the Tehri Dam from 820 m to 830 m, which jeopardised the lives of villagers living close to the dam. He reiterated his party’s stand that he was in favour of small hydro-power projects which did not need massive work of rehabilitation of people, and added that the party had constituted a committee comprising experts, environmentalists and geologists who would study the under-construction, stalled and proposed hydro power projects and give its report in a month’s time. He added that the way the party was able to thwart the ban on Srinagar hydro power project, it would do so on other big hydro-projects also with vehement opposition. Meanwhile, its hunger protest against the closure of hydro power projects in the state, which entered its 20th day, reached the next stage as the UKD has decided to hold a protest rally at the Vidhan Sabha on September 22.
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Voter list for Assembly segments released
Dehradun, September 16 The ADM mentioned that the list was available for public view at the District Election Office, tehsil office and all polling booths here. |
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Contractual docs oppose move to fill posts through panel
Dehradun, September 16 The commission had recently advertised for posts of contractual ayurvedic doctor who would work at allopathic hospitals, but this has not gone down well with ayurvedic doctors working in remote and remotest areas of the state hospitals since a decade. “Taking under consideration our exemplary track record and services, as an incentive they should have regularised us. Most of us cannot apply for these posts as we are already over age and the State Service Public Commission has taken 22 years to advertise these posts. They should keep the posts of contractual doctors out of the purview of the commission,” stated Dr MS Rawat, president of the Uttarakhand Ayurvedic- Homoepathy Doctors (Contractual) Federation. The doctors also submitted a memorandum of demands to the Director, Ayurvedic and Unani Services, Uttarakhand, . Meanwhile, coming in support of contractual ayurvedic doctors, Rajeev Mahrishi, spokesperson for the Uttarakhand State Congress Committee, has criticised the government decision to advertise the posts of contractual ayurvedic doctors through the State Public Service Commission without following prescribed rules and regulations.
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Northern Railway union members submit memorandum
Dehradun, September 16 Jagind, who was on a surprise inspection of Dehradun railway station, was gheraod by the union members demanding to debar outsourced Class IV employees from cleaning the Railways property and working of such agents that contract out such employees in surplus. The union has also threatened to block trains and go on strike if their demands are not met by the administration. The agitation was conducted under the aegis of Hari Om Singh, branch president and Ugra Sen, secretary of the union.
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Gorkha Democratic Front celebrates Founder’s Day
Dehradun, September 16 The programme began with chief guest Mohan Adhikari, social worker, lighting the lamp. Accompanying him was Karki, former IAS officer, as the guest of honour. The programme was a conglomeration of cultural dances, songs and traditional art. Moreover, damsels in traditional attires and jewellery performed a Nepali folk dance which was appreciated by one and all. Not only people from the Gorkha community, but also others enjoyed the cultural event which was followed by a grand Nepali feast. Also members of the party were honoured for their achievements throughout the year.
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Ex-IT Asst Commissioner gets bail
Dehradun, September 16 The CBI court rejected his bail application, but later his bail plea was accepted by another Sessions Court. Suman has been on the wanted list of the CBI in regard to the misuse of his official authority to facilitate an organisation to collect funds. He had allegedly constituted an organisation in the name of his housemaid to misuse his office powers to garner funds for the same organisation. The CBI had charged him for stealing official documents from the Income Tax office. Later on, the CBI team that was probing a case of misuse of his powers against him had got issued an arrest warrant. Since then Suman hadn’t turned up in the court during the trial of the case. However, on Wednesday he surrendered before the court himself. |
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Two held for leopard skin trafficking
Dehradun, September 16 The operation carried out last night had the participation of the Wildlife Protection Society of India and anti-poaching cell of the Uttarakhand Forest Department. Arrested poachers are Surbir Singh, a resident of Buraswa Mohalla, and Rajendra Singh of Dabragon Chakrata. Three skins of leopard that included a full-grown leopard, a cub leopard, a skin of leopard cat and a bear ball bladder were confiscated from their possession. The also seized a motorycle and two mobile phones from them.
Undertrial
arrested
The police today arrested the undertrial, who had escaped from its custody at the District Court premises yesterday, from the Selaqui area. He had managed to give the police a slip on the pretext of going to attend a call of nature. After his fleeing, the police had sounded an alert and was raiding suspected places where he could be. The sources said he had gone to his house in the Shaspur area where he was tracked down by the cops. Undertrial Yogesh Kumar was first arrested by the police in July in an attempt to murder case. The accused who was remanded in judicial custody was locked up in the Dehradun Jail. One more case of fleeing from police custody has been registered against him. Two nabbed for smuggling
Close on the heels of recovery of a large cache of injections and syringes of prescriptive drugs from the Patelnagar area, the police today arrested two persons from a gas godown on the Thakurpur Road and recovered such 871 injections and 38 syringes meant to be sold to substance abuser. According to the police, the two would get the goods of prescribed drugs from Biharigarh and Bareilly and sell these to youth of cities. They were covering hostelers and college students to sell the items. Premnagar police chowki in charge Pradeep Kumar Rana said the accused would buy these for Rs 15 and Rs 18 and sell these for Rs 100, Rs 110 and Rs 120 depending upon the customer. The two have been identified as Mahender Singh, alias Sonu, and Pawan Raturi, both residents of Dehradun. Sonu had gone to jail after being arrested in connection with the same case sometime back. Both have been booked under the NDPS Act and have been sent to jail. The police team, led by Rana, acting on a tip-off had raided the gas godown to recover the cache.
Four held for
duping students
Nainital: The Haldwani police has nabbed four youngsters who had duped a large number of students of MB Post Graduate College of lakhs of rupees. It is learnt that three of the accused are members of the Gwal Sena, an outfit that has gained the reputation in the region for moral and social policing with its cadres reportedly taking inspiration from similar forces in Maharashtra. However, senior functionaries of the outfit have washed their hands off the accused saying that they had been shunted out from the group sometime back. The police has recovered fake stamps and receipts from their possession, along with Rs 20,000. The police says that accused Sunder Singh Nainwal, Raghuvir Singh Rawat, Dungar Singh Dholgain and Imran were involved in duping students of more than Rs 2.5 lakh. Amongst them Imran was responsible for making false stamps of Nainital Bank Limited and printing fake receipts. Victims targeted by the accused were mainly innocent students coming from remote mountainous parts of the region. The money had been collected to deposit their fee and in return they had been given fake receipts. The fraud had come to light recently when a student wanting to contest recent elections had his nomination cancelled as the fee had not been deposited against his name. When he produced a receipt of fee deposition, investigations revealed that the receipt was fake. This had led to the police registering a case in the matter and starting investigations at their level. It is learnt that this had led to panic amongst the accused and they had even started returning the money to the rightful owners. Minor
alleges rape
Mussoorie (OC): A minor residing at Oak Grove School has alleged that she was raped by an employee working in the hospital as attendant, Anoop, at Oak Grove Jharipani. According to victim, who belongs to the minority community, her mother Hasmati had gone for treatment to their ancestral home near Bareilly a few months back when Anoop, working in the same department under her mother, entered their room in an inebriated state and raped her putting cloth in her mouth and threatened her of dire consequences. As there was no adult at home she fearfully remained mum on the issue. The act was disclosed when her mother returned and found that she was pregnant. She took her daughter immediately to the Doon Hospital where she was refused treatment and later she had to get abortion in a private hospital in Dehradun. Hasmati did not report the incident to the police due to fear of the perpetrator. However, when she reported the incident to her senior, Divisional Medical Officer (DMO) YS Ataria, he forced her to change the application from rape to just physical assault and beating which she refused. According to Hasmati, since then she was being harassed and pressurised to take back her complaint.. School Principal Anurag Tripathi said he received the complaint of the victim yesterday after which he had directed the DMO to initiate an inquiry and punish the guilty. The incident came to light after mediapersons talked to the victim’s mother today. She said it was for the school to initiate FIR proceedings against Anoop Kumar. The police was unaware of the incident till the filing of the report. |
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Eminent Bollywood actor and resident of Mussoorie Tom Alter registered his protest by observing an obituary and sit-in near the demolished heritage Clock Tower which used to be an important landmark of Mussoorie. Tom, who had undertaken a vow of silence for the duration of 12 hours, also sat on a dharna at the site near the proposed Clock Tower.
Hundreds of activists of the women Congress unit will gherao the Secretariat on September 22 to register their protest against the state government’s anti-poor policies and its failure on account of providing able governance.
Specific responsibilities have been given to women party executive members to ensure larger women participation in the protest with door-to-door campaigning being done in this regard.
The Gorkha Democratic Front (GDF) celebrated its 32nd Founder’s Day with great fervour and gusto in the capital here today. A large number of people form the Gorkha community had gathered to commemorate the occasion.
