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Cong high command picks Arya
BJYM celebrates J&K amalgamation
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Guv sends relief material for disaster-hit areas
Govt halts DMC drive against illegal hoardings
Chaotic scenes on Clock Tower issue
Jaunsari Vignettes open window to Jaunsar Bawar life
Programme on afforestation begins
MCD men to check adulteration of sweets
DM asks officials to release certificates
Don’t make Nainital concrete jungle:
Experts
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Cong high command picks Arya
Dehradun, October 26 It was a fight between all stalwarts of the state Congress who are eyeing the Assembly elections and the position of the Chief Minister, in case the Congress again comes to power. However, the Congress high command has reposed faith in Yashpal Arya, a known protégé of former Chief Minister ND Tiwari from the Kumaon region. According to party observers, the non-controversial image of Arya and the election results of the 2009 Lok Sabha elections tilted the scales in his favour despite opposition from Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Harish Rawat, a political heavyweight of the state Congress. It was in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections that the Congress after 1985 could win all five Lok Sabha seats from Uttarakhand. Moreover, it was after a gap of more than a quarter of a century that Dalits and Muslims again voted for the Congress in the Terai region that paved the way for a Congress landslide in the state. Even after the formation of the state in 2000 and in the first-ever Assembly polls and later in the 2007 Assembly polls, Muslims and Dalits had sided with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The BSP that won seven seats in the 2002 Assembly polls had increased their tally by one seat in the 2007 Assembly polls. It was only after Arya was made president of the state Congress that the Muslim-Dalit combine votes were overwhelmingly in favour of the Congress. Arya by organising Dalit sammelans in various parts of the state was also partially instrumental in bringing them back to the Congress fold. The party high command probably did not want to disturb the winning formula by removing a Dalit from the post. Interestingly, being a non-controversial leader, Arya had also got the support of three of the total five Lok Sabha MPs, namely Vijay Bahuguna, Satpal Maharaj and KC Singh Baba. To counter Harish Rawat, these leaders had thrown their weight behind Arya. It was a setback for Harish Rawat who wanted to have his own man as the state party chief in the runup to the crucial Assembly elections in which he would be the strongest candidate for the post of the Chief Minister if the Congress wins. It was Harish Rawat who worked tirelessly for the Congress win in the first Assembly elections in 2002, but missed becoming the Chief Minister by a whisker. It was his bete noire ND Tiwari who was sent as the choice of the party high command much to his chagrin. With Arya again firmly in the saddle, the internal rivalry amongst Congress stalwarts will intensify in the runup to the coming Assembly polls. Re-nomination of Arya hailed
Congress leaders of the state have hailed the re-nomination of Yashpal Arya as President of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee. Suryakant Dhasman, a senior Congress leader, in a statement said the re-nomination of Yashpal Arya would rejuvenate the party in the state. He said Arya, being a humble leader of the party, had been able to maintain his contacts with the downtrodden of the state. Dhirendra Pratap said Arya would take the party to greater heights for the ultimate benefit of people of the state. |
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BJYM celebrates J&K amalgamation
Dehradun, October 26 Former MP of the BJP Bachchi Singh Rawat also remembered the sacrifices made by defence personnel in the country’s fight against militancy in Kashmir. He said, “The nation needs to be united against the separatists forces. The pseudo-secular forces are also responsible for the sorry state of affairs in Jammu and Kashmir”. BJYM leaders took out a rally expressing their solidarity with the pro-India people of Kashmir. The rally was led by BJYM leader Bhupendra Kandari.
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Guv sends relief material for disaster-hit areas
Dehradun, October 26 The relief material includes essential items like 200 blankets, 50 packets of rations containing 5 kg rice, 5 kg wheat flour, 1 litre edible oil, 1 kg sugar, 0.5 kg of tea leaves, toilet and washing soaps, along with 100 sarees. The relief material also includes woollen garments, bed-sheets, shoes and utensils for women, children and men. Meanwhile, students of the Whalen Girls School also sent 57 large packets of woollen garments to the Governor who is also the Chairperson of the Uttarakhand unit of the Red Cross Society. The relief items are meant for distribution in the disaster-affected areas of the state. The students apprised the Governor that they intended to deliver a cheque, collected as a group activity, to the Red Cross Society. The Governor said the material sent by the students would be distributed through local volunteers of the Red Cross Committee in the affected areas. She also expressed her gratitude to the students of Welham’s and other organisations, including the All- India Women's Conference, for their assistance. The Governor also informed that apart from the efforts launched by the state government to rehabilitate families rendered homeless in the recent natural disasters, she would also establish contacts with the Ministry of Environment and Forests regarding the same. Ranjeet Singh Verma, Chairman of the Indian Red Cross Society, along with other office-bearers, Dr Pushpa Manas and Ravindra Kala of Bharat Scouts and Guides, representatives of the Resident Welfare Association, Clementown, students and staff members of the Welham Girl School, were also present on the occasion organised at the Raj Bhawan.
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Govt halts DMC drive against illegal hoardings
Dehradun, October 26 The government has again sought a clarification on the hoarding policy that it was beyond the DMC’s preview. It may be mentioned that the DMC had formulated a hoarding policy without taking the approval of the state government and launched a drive to remove these. S Raju, Principal Secretary of the Urban Development, has sent a letter addressed to the Mukhya Nagar Adhikari (MNA). The letter states that the DMC should immediately stop the drive to remove illegal hoardings. It has asked the MNA to present a report explaining the unilateral decision taken and the officers responsible for the same. The letter also states the Doon Advertisers Association, facing the brunt of the anti-hoarding drive, had approached the Accepting the same, Vinod Chamoli, Dehradun Mayor, said they had received the letter and were looking into the issue.
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Chaotic scenes on Clock Tower issue
Mussoorie, October 26
In the morning, officials from the Nagar Palika Parishad Karamchari Mahasangh, Mussoorie, locked the offices forcefully for two hours and sat on a symbolic dharna raising slogans against nominated member Anil Goyal. They were supporting elected ward members who were opposing Goyal, the person who had exposed alleged irregularities and filed a PIL in the High Court. Palika Employees Sangh president Mahavir Rana and Secretary Chandra Prakash Badoni, along with a few others, sat on dharna on the Palika premises and raised slogans against whistleblower and nominated Palika member Anil Goyal and demanded action against him. Rana and Badoni alleged that Goyal had earlier consented on all proposals passed by the Palika, but later filed a PIL writ in the High Court, thus, revealing his dual character on the issue. They alleged that by this act the ward member, who was nominated by the government to support the Palika President, was trying to mar the reputation of the Palika by opposing all projects, including the Clock Tower construction. They blamed Goyal for bringing development works to a grinding halt. The Palika employees demanded that they be ousted from the Palika board immediately. Due to this agitation, the board meeting that was scheduled for 11 am had to be postponed and was held around noon, where elected ward members, namely Kedar Singh Chauhan, Nand Lal, Jai Kumar Gupta and Sushil Agarwal, angered by the PIL filed by Goyal and his presence in the meeting demanded his ouster. They also threatened to boycott proceedings till Goyal was removed from the board. Palika President OP Uniyal, consenting with the view of elected members, asked Goyal to leave, but Goyal refused to budge till he was given a written letter in this regard by Executive Officer (EO) Rohtash Sharma. Sharma said the ouster of any member was a prerogative of the board, in particular Palika President OP Uniyal, and he had nothing to do with it. The elected members walked out of the board room in protest and the meeting was adjourned with Goyal and Manmohan Singh, two nominated members, left on their own. Uniyal and other elected members held the meeting later in the President’s office clandestinely without informing the said nominated members. Goyal speaking to the media said certain Palika employees were siding with people against whom the PIL had been filed, thus insulting the decision of the High Court. Goyal counter-alleged that this all drama was being done to influence the case in the High Court which was against law. He also said the government had nominated him to oversee that no irregularities were committed by elected members and the Palika and he was only doing his duty. Uniyal said he had requested Palika employees to take back their strike and give the complaint in written on which the Palika would take necessary action. Palika employees had agreed to recall their strike, added Uniyal. Board meeting held at Palika President’s office
A Board meeting for discussing several proposals was secretly held at Palika President OP Uniyal’s office instead of the Board Room. One of the main agendas taken up was the tender for a ropeway. It was decided that all procedures and norms for public auction would be fulfilled. The Palika also decided on several projects which were stalled by the High Court after the writ was filed. The writ had directed to cancel the proposals of constructing shops near Super Hotel and Library Bazar, parking construction near Hampton Court and Library Bus Stand. Uniyal said the decision of the High Court would be respected in letter and spirit. Speaking on the proposal of maintaining the Spring road, Uniyal said, “If the PWD fails to deliver, the Palika will come forward to maintain and repair the road protecting the larger interest of people”. |
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Jaunsari Vignettes open window to Jaunsar Bawar life
Dehradun, October 26 The region has retained its particular cultural and political practices over the millennia, which makes it an interesting place for visitors as well as researchers. Breathtaking landscapes and equally beautiful people mark this largely unexplored region. This collection of photographs, rather than focusing on run-of-the-mill snow-capped peaks and romantic landscapes, focuses on the daily rhythms of life in the region. It attempts to present the daily grind of life in the difficult terrain, where nature still endows people with the art of living in close contact with it. This exhibition, one hopes, will kindle some interest among the city folk to engage with this region where mercurial deities still rule as kings. Lokesh Ohri started out as a business executive, but soon returned to his hometown Dehradun to teach in his family school. He also commenced work in the field of arts and folk culture, and co-founded the Rural Entrepreneurship for Art and Cultural Heritage (REACH), a non-profit organisation. His work in the field also helped create Virasat, Uttarakhand's globally known festival of the arts. His cultural interests soon translated into the call of academia where he commenced work on a doctorate at the University of Heidelberg, Germany. Here too his work focuses on border rituals and reflexivity in the Jaunsar Bawar region. He was also awarded the Marsilius Van Inghen Fellowship for Ritual Studies at Radboud University, Holland. He has co-authored the books, “Chakravuh”, “Walking with Corbett” and “Human in Khaki”, and contributed several articles to national dailies and art and heritage journals.
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Programme on afforestation begins
Dehradun, October 26 He said the FRI had been organising training programmes for the personnel and recollected its role in restoring greenery in the Mussoorie hills. Col HRS Rana, Commanding Officer, 127, Eco-Task Force, Territorial Army, requested the officers and jawans of the personnel at all eight battalions to carefully learn the latest plantation techniques from the FRI scientists for proper execution in field. Manisha Thapliyal, Senior FRI scientist, Silviculture Division, and Dr Ombir Singh were also present at the inauguration.
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MCD men to check adulteration of sweets
Dehradun, October 26 The MCD will be collecting samples from urban areas, while the Health Department wll be visiting rural areas. When the drive was taken during Janmashtmi in August, all shopkeepers had opposed the same stating that the drive should not be carried out during the festive season, but no agitations have been reported so far. Dr Singh said during the festival season, the shopkeepers faced a shortage in supply of dairy products forcing them to use adulterated ingredients. Such drives were being carried out to keep a tab on the use of adulterated ingredients, which could have harmful long-term effects for the human body. — TNS
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DM asks officials to release certificates
Dehradun, October 26 The DM passed the orders after visiting various departments, including finance section, complaint section etc in the Collectorate premises to see the working here today. He asked the officials to deal with the complaints on a regular basis. The DM also maintained that those found indulging in irregularity with the work would be punished. |
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Don’t make Nainital concrete jungle:
Experts
Nainital, October 26 In his address, cabinet minister Bansidhar Bhagat said there was a need for a detailed study and analysis of the Himalayan zone in which Uttarakhand is located. Referring to Nainital, he said in case there was damage because of seismic activity, its main cause would be excessive construction. The minister called for active involvement of geologists, engineers and the intellectuals from related fields in framing long-term strategies. The minister was visibly annoyed at the organisers for having such events at places that inaccessible for the common man. He said such programmes should be held at a venue where maximum number of local public could come and give their valuable suggestions and the ones that had the potential for being implemented could be utilised by the organisers. The minister also drew the attention of the gathering to the large-scale construction in Nainital which had taken place in the recent times. He pointed out that the hills had only a limited capability to retain weight. Assistant Professor of the Department of Geology of Kumaon University PC Pant said: “We have got a chance to learn from this recent rain-related disasters. We have been surveying the disaster-hit areas and have come across some important facts like the disaster has affected mostly the back of buildings”. Professor Pant said he was told to survey the Almora campus of the university and it was found that the disaster had badly hit the buildings there. He drew the attention of the participants to the nullahs and storm-water drains across Nainital built during the British era and pointed out that such timely steps taken decades back had provided a very efficient drainage system to the Lake City. He asserted that the collection of water on account of permeability of earth surface can lead to slip of the rock structure. District Magistrate Shailesh Bagauli said the administration planned to have detailed deliberations over the sensitivity of the geological and geomorphological aspects of the town. He said a detailed study of the topography was important to save the people and the town. |
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The re-nomination of Yashpal Arya as President of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee by the party high command is seen as a watershed in the history of the Congress in the state. Amid heavyweights, the Congress high command has preferred a Dalit leader who is considered meek and weak, but non-controversial.
The Bharatiya Janata Yuwa Morcha (BJYM) celebrated the amalgamation of Jammu and Kashmir to India by organising a function here today.Chief guest Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said Kashmir was an integral part of India.
Governor Margaret Alva today flagged off truck loads of relief material meant for distribution in areas affected by the recent natural disasters in the
state.The relief material that was collected under the leadership of Rakesh
Dhawan, coordinator of the All-India Women's Conference and life member of the Uttarakhand Bharat Scouts and Guides, would be distributed in Badgal Bhatt and Deoli villages of
Almora, with the assistance of the Bharat Scouts and Guides.
Jaunsari Vignettes, a collection of photographs by Lokesh Ohri picked from a vast collection clicked over a period of several years during his travels in the Jaunsar Bawar region of
Uttarakhand, is on display these days. Situated in the north of Dehradun district, Jaunsar is a distinct cultural region, with human settlements lying within narrow valleys along the Tons river.
