Nainital, January 7
District Magistrate Shailesh Bagauli has ordered the District Social Welfare Officer and the Block Development Officer (BDO) of the Okhalkanda block to investigate the matter pertaining to irregularities in the disbursement of pensions that has come to the fore.

Bagauli toured the Okhalkanda block on Thursday and it was during this visit that he was apprised of the fact that despite the identification and listing of pension beneficiaries, there was a delay in the disbursement of the pension funds.

Taking a serious view of the matter, the District Magistrate ordered the probe and underlined that the officials responsible for the delay in the disbursements would have to face action.Bagauli heard the grievances of the people residing in the region which is among the most under developed in Kumaon.

Most of the issues raised by the rural population pertained to basic amenities like education, power and drinking water.

Bagauli has ordered that the damages on the Devli-Mahtoliya motorable road being constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) be repaired at the earliest and the farmers whose lands were washed away in the recent rain-related disaster during monsoon be compensated.

He once again asked the officials to ensure that various reconstruction works be got done under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

On being told that there were people who were getting money for building houses under the Indira Awas Yojana a second time, Bagauli ordered the BDO to look into the matter on a priority basis.

Residents complained about the improper power supply across the region. Bagauli instructed the officials of the concerned department to ensure that the employees posted in the area remain at their station to address the needs of the people and anyone not doing so would face action.

On being told by public representatives from the area that the Takura-Jamrani motorable road has been damaged badly on account of the cutting by the Gaula river, Bagauli asked the officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) to prepare proposals for the repair works so that they can be sent to the state administration for approval and release of funds for executing the works.

Nainital/Pithoragarh, January 7
Transport Minister Bansidhar Bhagat yesterday faced the ire of the local people during a visit to Tanakpur when he was gheraoed by them on the issue of delay in the construction of the Sukhidhang-Danda-Meedar road. Led by villagers of Tallapal Bilaun, the agitators had been staging a dharna here since January 25.

It was only when Bhagat talked to the officials of the department concerned on the telephone that the agitators let him off.

The villagers also raised the issue of the indifferent attitude of the government towards the other issues concerning them. After handing over a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank to the minister, they marched in a procession to the office of the Public Works Department (PWD) where they locked up the main door.

The villagers have now conveyed to the district administration that if there were no progress on their demands them till January 25, they would launch an agitation at the Champawat District Headquarters.

The Sukhidhang-Danda-Meedar road will benefit more than 30 villages. “The villagers of the Tallapal Bilaun area of Champawat district have been fighting for this road for 25 years,” said Shankar Dutt Joshi, coordinator of the committee that has been formed to fight for the construction of the road.

“The case of this motor road has not been cleared fully by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India, due to which we are not in the position to start its construction,” said Bhagat, while pacifying the agitating villagers at the Tanakpur Dak Bungalow.

Dehradun, January 7
The members of Mahanagar Congress Committee, Dehradun, today submitted a memorandum to the Chief Executive Officer of the Municipal Corporation, urging him to ban the use of polythene bags in the city immediately. They also held a protest demanding attention towards the problems faced by the residents.

Lal Chand Sharma, former president of the committee, demanded the Nigam to construct a public toilet in Paltan Market.

They also sought appointment of safai karamcharis and sanitary inspectors I the city, distribute blankets to the poor, mend the vehicles belonging to the nigam as well as streetlights. 

Dehradun, January 7
In order to boost tourism in winter and provide employment to locals, the Char Dham Vikas Parishad (CDVP) has given a proposal to the Chief Minister to develop the four alternative places - Mukhva, Kharsali, Ukhimath and Pandukeshwar (Joshimath) - as the winter version of the yatra.

The deities from four dhams - Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath - are shifted respectively at these shrines for the six months of winter.

Surat Ram Nautiyal, Vice-President, CDVP, said that the CM had appreciated their proposal and they would soon chalk out plans to develop these areas by connecting these with other tourist circuits in the vicinity.

Tourism activities in the state hinge around the four dhams when these are open for the public in the six months of summer. These come to a sudden halt after the deities are shifted.

Nautiyal suggested that the alternative yatra can be developed on the lines of Char Dham yatra so that tourists continue to come for pilgrimage.

He said, “Infrastructure such as roads, electricity and accommodation can be developed at these places. This will send a strong message in and around the country that devotees can still come for Char Dham pilgrimage. This will be a big achievement for Uttarakhand.”

He added that these places offer numerous other attractions which would attract tourists. “In winter, local cultural programmes such as fairs, festivals, Pandav dance, Kaurav puja are held which will give visitors an excellent opportunity to see the culture of these places from close quarters.

“In addition, they will also get to savour local cuisine including mandave ki roti, jhangora ki kheer and dishes made of kandali,” he said.

Apart from the culture and food, Nautiyal opined that the natural beauty of snow-clad peaks and green cover at these locations would mesmerise visitors.

“In winter, there is no fear of flood and subsequent damage to infrastructure. Therefore, tourists can easily indulge in skiing and other winter sports,” he said.

Other than the Char Dham shrines, there are several other famous temples like Vaidyanath, Donagiri, Purnagiri and Lakhamandal which could be incorporated in the Char Dham circuit. The package thus prepared would be more appealing to tourists and generate employment for locals. 

Dehradun, January 7
Alleging mental harassment due to the protests by Managers and Supervisors Association of Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) against her promotion, a woman employee of the Nigam has approached State Women Commission (SWC). The employee, Babita Badola, a receptionist, was promoted to the post of Regional Manager, GMVN, six months ago.

B.D. Petwal, president of the employee association of the Ngam, denied having made any such remarks against Babita.

Denying allegations, GMVN vice-president Raghunath Singh Negi, who is opposing the manner in which Babita was appointed, said, “It is only a matter of fair or unfair selection. The inquiry is complete though it is yet to be made public.” “All such selections are likely to be cancelled,” he claimed.

“If the decision after the inquiry is against me, I’ll go to the High Court and obtain a stay order,” she said.

The association had alleged irregularities in the selection process in the appointment of Babita and nine other employees.

The then Managing Director of GMVN, BVRC Purushottam, had been removed from his post and the matter was handed over to Principal Secretary, Tourism, to conduct an inquiry.

Badola said, “I approached SWC as I could not afford the expensive and the long court procedures. Moreover, I feel justified in being promoted as I have done three years hotel management course from a government institute in Almora in 1994 and worked with GMVN for 15 years. I was harassed because I am a woman. There have been times when employees with lower qualifications were promoted before me but no one protested.”

For past two years Badola has been fighting against alleged out-of-turn promotion of a telephone operator. 

Dehradun, January 7
The distance between Kuthalgate and Doon Hospital may be few km, but for the passengers travelling in the ill-fated bus that met with an accident on Wednesday night, it proved too long to cover. The non-availability of prompt medical care proved to be fatal for some of the victims.

Twenty-two passengers lost their lives on the spot due to excessive bleeding and 19 were brought to the Doon Hospital for treatment.

A trauma centre strategically located on the highway could have been of immense help, especially a lower-level trauma centre that can provide care and stabilisation crucial for patients suffering traumatic injury.

“Most of the patients were brought dead to the hospital. Though we are equipped to handle emergency and accidental cases, precious time was lost in ferrying the patients from Kuthalgate to the Doon Hospital,” said Dr KC Pant, Senior Physician, Doon Hospital.

After announcing the construction of 16 trauma centres, the Uttarakhand Government has been unable to make them functional.

Besides, lower-level trauma centres are required between Dehradun and Mussoorie, Dehradun and Haridwar and Dehradun and Chakrata. None have been proposed so far.

A severe indictment by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has failed to wake up the government. The CAG had said that after spending money on trauma centres, the government had failed to run these, especially the one located at Gopeshwar on the Char Dham route.

A trauma centre is a hospital equipped to provide comprehensive emergency medical service to patients suffering traumatic injuries. “Trauma centres came into existence out of the realisation that traumatic injury is a disease process unto itself requiring specialised and experienced multidisciplinary treatment and specialised resources,” said Dr Pant.

Accidents and natural disasters continue to visit Uttarakhand on a regular basis, but sheer passivity seem to dominate the authorities’ response.

Soon, this accident too will become a distant memory with no lessons learnt at all.

According to a survey, 29,344 accidents took place and almost 75 per cent of these proved to be fatal last year. In addition to this, the incidence of accidents on the hilly track increases during the yatra season.

Experts said that the Emergency 108 ambulances have only a small role to play. The ambulances alone cannot replace hospitals or trauma centres, they add. 

Dehradun, January 7
Chairman of District Planning Committee and District Social Welfare Minister Matbar Singh Kandari today asked all the officials to work towards development of the district and highlight any irregularities in execution of the projects.

He was speaking during a seminar organised for the nominated members of District Planning Committee here today.

He asked the district forest officer to ensure that the agriculturists are able to obtain permit to take away dry wood and are also allowed to cut fence of their farms.

“Immediate action should be taken on such applications by farmers,” the minister said.

He demanded immediate compensation to the villagers who are affected due to animal attacks.

During the meeting Zila Panchayat Raj Adhikari M.M.Khan apprised the members about the 73rd constitutional amendment. 

Haridwar, January 7
People from all walks of life have come out to express solidarity with the families of the Mussoorie accident victims. Traders association organised a candle march in the evening today.

In special prayers organised by the Ganga Sabha, earthen lamps ‘diyas’ were immersed in the Ganga after the ‘Ganga aarti’ yesterday evening.

The youth wing of the BJP headed by its city head Naresh Sharma also offered prayers on Ganga ghat by immersing flowers and diyas. Local MLA Madan Kaushik, district magistrate R. Meenakshi Sundaram, city Congress-BJP unit leaders Om Prakash Jamdagni, O.P. Chauhan visited the affected families.

Several organisations like Uttaranchal Panjabi Mahasabha have decided to cancel the Lohri celebrations. The Mahasabha also observed two-minute silence in memory of the accident victims.

ADM Ranveer Singh, city magistrate R. Shreedhar Babu, SP (City) Dr Kiran Lal Shaw, SP (Rural) Roshan Lal, ASP Janmayjay Khanduri, CO Pankaj Bhatt and other officials also observed two-minute silence.

The whole day tribute offering as well as shocked people were seen discussing of the accident at offices, tea stalls, intersections and reading newspapers to know more about the accident related news.