|
|
|
|
MDDA seals illegal construction at
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Pithoragarh Zila Panchayat Crisis
Ranjana Devi
BJP’s youth wing steps up Ekta drive
Gurukul staff, students face bleak future
UPP’s 2-day convention begins
UREDA made nodal agency to sanction small solar power projects
CPM MP Tapan Sen addresses the employees of Avalon Resort in Mussoorie
on Tuesday.
Demarcate vending zones: Experts
Joint Director, Regional Centre for Urban Environmental Studies, Lucknow, Dr Urmila Bagga and executive director, National Association of Street Vendors of India, Arvind Singh address a press conference in Dehradun on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph
Three-day deadline for Jal Sansthan to clean sewerage
Diwakar faction forms working panel
Illegal Felling of Trees
AISA seeks release of Binayak Sen
CM discusses cleanliness issue with MC official
Total Sanitation Programme
Contractor fires at car over issue of filing tenders
Workers of the Samajwadi Party burn an effigy of the UPA in Dehradun on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph
|
|
MDDA seals illegal construction at Library Bazar
Mussoorie, January 18 The owners of the house alleged that the house was sealed at the behest of Wakf Board officials Javed Khan and Yaseen Mohmmad at Mussoorie. They further alleged that the two officials had also dubiously usurped Rs 53,000 from them and were demanding more in the name of the Wakf Board, despite their telling them repeatedly that the land belonged to the Nagar Palika and not the Wakf Board. The MDDA authorities, along with Nayab Tehsildar Matadin and police personnel, arrived near the masjid and sealed the alleged unauthorised construction. MDDA executive engineer SS Sharma said they had received a complaint from the Wakf Board via the SDM, Mussoorie, that an illegal construction was on. After visiting the site it was found to be true. Therefore, the site had been sealed completely and owners had been told not to construct further. The wife of the house owner Dr Ashraf Khan alleged that the MDDA had acted on the false complaint of two Wakf Board officials, even after paying Rs 53,000 as graft in the name of donation. When contacted, the two officials said all the money given by Dr Ashraf was accountable and legal as per records. Javed further said Rs 20,000 was paid to previous officials of the board by Dr Ashraf. Following that Rs 20,000 was paid by him as donation for the masjid at the Library Bazar. Javed said the outstanding rent of Rs 10,000 was also recovered in addition to Rs 2,000 as water supply arrears. Javed informed that the property belonged to the Wakf Board and no construction could be carried out without the consent of the landlord. Hence, they had filed the complaint at the SDM office. Javed also asserted that if the property was not of the Wakf Board then why did Dr Ashraf pay the said amount to the board. Javed further said the allegation of graft was baseless and untrue as they had receipts for all the amounts taken from the family.
|
|
|
Pithoragarh Zila Panchayat Crisis Chufal expresses inability to save her in the no-confidence motion Our Correspondent
Pithoragarh, January 18 “Despite my efforts, including issuing the whip to the party members of the Zila Panchayat, to save her, Ranjana has violated the party discipline by issuing anti-party statements,” said Chufal. Ranjana had issued a statement on Monday saying that she would immolate herself, along with her children, if she was ousted as the Zila Panchayat Chairperson on January 19, the day the voting on no-confidence motion is scheduled for. The BJP chief also said the BJP members of the Pithoragarh Zila Panchayat had threatened him of mass resignation if he insisted on the continuation of Ranjana as the Pithoragarh Zila Panchayat Chairperson. “I tried my best to make the members not to vote for the no-confidence motion, but Ranjana has given an edge to these dissident members after issuing the self-immolation threat,” Chufal added. Meanwhile, hectic political activity was seen in Pithoragarh district regarding the no-confidence motion. The Zila Panchayat members, who have been divided in two-three groups, remained out of the reach of mediapersons. They have said they will appear before the public during the voting process on January 19. “We have 18 Zila Panchayat members with us. By tomorrow morning, our strength will be more than 28 members and we will certainly oust Ranjana from the chairmanship of the Pithoragarh Zila Panchayat after voting for the motion on January 19,” said a dissident leader on the phone from a hidden place. Meanwhile, Ranjana said she was being pressurised to resign from the post by the state BJP chief, but she would not do so. “At present 20 members of the Pithoragarh Zila Panchayat are with me but even they are being pressurised from the dissident group. In such conditions if I get defeated in motion tomorrow, I would go by my decision to commit self-immolation along with my two children,” said Ranjana.
|
|
|
BJP’s youth wing steps up Ekta drive
Haridwar,January 18 So, from distributing the Tricolour and going from home to home and making aware people of the nefarious designs of terrorists to weaken the country with insurgency in various states, the activists are enthusiastically participating in various activities in the city. Led by state secretary Jagmohan Bisht, the youth activists, in one voice, demanded that stern laws be made and applied in sensitive J & K in view of the Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, so that people of the affected state stopped living in fear that they had been doing for the past several decades. Bisht voiced that the message of unity among Indians against terrorism via the peace journey would be a befitting reply to terrorists as in no way terror would be acceptable to Indians. The youth activists are also taking on door-to-door campaigning, apprising people of the need to support the peace rally which would conclude with the flag hoisting at the Lal Chowk by BJP national chief Nitin Gadkari. District chief of the Yuva Morcha Naresh Sharma said party activists in large numbers from the distirct would be participating in the Ekta Yatra.
|
|
|
Gurukul staff, students face bleak future
Haridwar, January 18 They fear that the university management may have to face strict action by the Ministry of Human Resources and Development and the UGC for its lackadaisical attitude to the new UGC regulations. Though a meeting of Gurukul University trustees was held in this regard in Jalandhar, Punjab, the employees say an emergency meeting should be called by the end of this month so that instant action can be taken regarding the implementation of the regulations. A meeting was held on the university campus in which the employees and the student representatives took part. They dwelt on the situation and decided to pressurise the university management to take the immediate steps to ward off action by the Centre and the UGC. Prof BD Joshi stated it’s a matter of concern that the last senate meeting was also held on this topic and by June only we would have adhered to the regulations but due to a lackadaisical attitude of the university senate members nothing substantial had been done. Dr Pradeep Kumar Joshi said the venue for the senate meeting should be changed from Jalandhar to Haridwar and it should have only one agenda from when the regulation would be applicable in the university. It’s high time that we make sure that the regulation is adhered to otherwise another stringent action may be taken against the university by HRD Minister Kapil Sibal. College Student Union chief Manish Chauhan said the future of hundreds of students hung in balance as the university had not come out with an effective time-frame decision regarding the implementation of the regulation in the university. Indecision on the matter is affecting their studies as well as the image of the century-old educational institution. Among others who showed concern on this mater were Prof Vinod Sharma, Vijaypal Shastri, Mahavir Yadav, Yashpal Rana, Randhir Singh, Bhagwan Dev Pandey, Sangeeta Vidyalanakr, Dwijendra Pant, Gyanchand Rawal, Jasbeer Singh Malik, Ambuj Sharma, Gyan Parkash Shastri, Shrawan Sharma and student leaders.
|
|
UPP’s 2-day convention begins
Nainital, January 18 On the opening day of the convention, the party leadership resolved to commit itself for working towards securing the interests of the ordinary people of the state and opposing the handing over of the precious land resources of Uttarakhand to the land mafia and the builders’ lobby. Talking to The Tribune from Ramnagar, Uttarakhandi said, “Our party has demanded that all the land that has been handed over to the land mafia, builders and sadhus at throwaway prices be taken back by the government and redistributed amongst the poor and landless people of the state irrespective of their caste and religion.” He said the party had declared its support to the marginalised and poor people of the state. The party also discussed the issue of unemployment in the state and the continuing process of emigration from the hilly regions. The party has sought that barring the posts meant for the Central services, all other employment avenues be used for giving jobs to the domiciles of the state. It has also attacked the government for charging heavy amounts for holding exams and interviews against various vacancies in the government sector. The party was formed on the eve of the last Parliamentary poll. The erstwhile Uttarakhand Parivartan Abhiyaan (UPA or campaign for change in Uttarakhand) after making “some effective political interventions even as the process of synergising the process of socio-political change in the state has been going on” got converted into the UPP.
|
|
UREDA made nodal agency to sanction small solar power projects
Dehradun, January 18 Earlier, Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL) was giving clearance to all the projects that often made the process long and tedious. “The clearance of projects was delayed and interested parties lost patience. To shore up the prospects of the small solar power projects procedural, simplification has been introduced,” said chief secretary Subash Kumar at a media briefing today. Now, UREDA can directly process selected proposals and forward them to the Government of India that offers grant for special category states and also to districts selected under Border Area Development Programme
(BADP). Experts say that panchayats, organisations, societies and even NGOs based in Uttarakhand are expected to benefit from the decision. Besides, the Cabinet also gave a go-ahead for the implementation of the Uttarakhand Para Medical Council Act (2007) that had been lying in abeyance since two years. “With framing of the rules and regulations, the functioning of the para medical colleges will now be regulated,” said Subash. Besides, the Rudrapur Food and Drugs Laboratory was not functioning due to the absence of the bylaws for the employees, “Now, the bylaws have been framed and soon 27 posts will be filled through the State Public Service Commission,” said the chief secretary. In another decision, the government hiked nutritious diet allowance for the policemen, which would now add an additional burden of Rs 3.75 crore on the exchequer. According to the revised allowances, a sub-inspector will now receive Rs 700 in place of Rs 550, a head constable Rs 850 in place of Rs 700 and fourth grade employee Rs 750 in place of Rs 600. |
|
Left MP backs Avalon Resort staff
Mussoorie, January 18 Sen, addressing the gathering, said the struggle for the rights of the employees was a long and tireless one and it could only be achieved if the workers of the town were united. He also said maximum laws in the country were tilted towards the capitalist class and this could change only when there was a Left government in the country. He also said the employees were not demanding the sky, but the owner had resorted to retrenchment and transfer of employees. Sen said the employees had demanded only their rights under the Minimum Wages Act, but the owners of the resort colluding with the state government had locked out the resort illegally. The only way was to struggle democratically on the roads. He also said CITU was with the protesting employees and a massive strategy would be formulated soon in accordance with the regional organisation. Sen, speaking to the media, said the government, be it at the Centre or the state, was against labourers. Therefore, they were forcing labour reforms through the backdoor in connivance with the capitalist class. But in the end justice would prevail and workers would succeed in their demands, he added. Sen also said the government was introducing contract farming in the country to destroy marginal farmers and assist multinationals, so that more hoarding could take place and the capitalist class could monopolise foodgrain and resort to speculation at commodity exchange, thus benefiting the capitalists and depriving the poor from basic needs. Leaders of the agitating employees thanked the Left leader for extending support and said that they would keep on the struggle till their demands were met.
|
|
Demarcate vending zones: Experts
Dehradun, January 18 Speaking today at the state-level workshop on the implementation of national policy on urban street vendors, joint director, the Regional Centre for Urban and Environmentalist Studies (RCUES), Lucknow, Dr Urmila Bagga said inclusive planning, keeping in view the rights of vendors to propagate their trade, was the need of the hour. “Allow the vendors to work in an organised and legal way to meet the market demand at the same time protecting rights of the pedestrians,” she added. Bagga said despite the revised Street Vendors Policy (1999) of the Government of India, only one or two states had implemented it. “Though the Supreme Court and even the Fundamental Rights recognise the right of vendors, the states have been slow in implementing the policy. But in some cases, despite the absence of a vendors’ policy, cities have set up spaces for vendors. Dimapur is a classic example where five acres have been set aside for the vendors, so is in Bhopal with its vendor corners,” said
Bagga. Similarly, executive director, National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI), New Delhi, Arvind Singh said for maintaining harmonious relationship between pedestrians and vendors a grievance resolution mechanism for the violators should be set up. “The vendors have to be included in the larger scheme of things for greater harmony and peace and should be adjusted along natural markets,” he said. The workshop was organised by the Urban Development Department of Uttarakhand and sponsored by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (GOI) and Regional Centre for Urban Environmentalist Studies (Lucknow). It comes in the backdrop of the State Vendor Draft Policy prepared by the State Urban Development Department, which has to be passed by the state government.
|
|
|
Implement career progression scheme: Ministerial services assn
Dehradun, January 18 District general secretary of the association Sunil Dutt Kothari said the scheme of the Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) was implemented for all the employees, including ministerial cadre, on February 9 last year, but was withdrawn for their cadre after an order of the Finance Department, where the department also talked
of recovering the paid MACP amount. Despite repeated talks with the Cabinet Secretary and Chief Secretary, they were left with no option but to wage war once again by suspending their work on January 17, 18 and 19 and a big rally from the Gandhi Park to the Vidhan Sabha was taken out on February 15. He urged the officials concerned to take expedite action on their demands, else the association would not be responsible for the complications arising out of their protest.
|
|
|
Three-day deadline for Jal Sansthan to clean sewerage
Dehradun, January 18 “If the Jal Sansthan fails to clean the sewerage within three days, we will block the Chakrota road on January 22,” she stated. Talking to the Tribune, Shah said, “It has been more than 25 days that I have submitted the request to the executive engineer of the Jal Sansthan that the sewerage is overflowing in the Chakhuwala Mohalla and due to the foul smell the residents are facing a lot of trouble. Moreover, the residents have become prone to the diseases.” “The area falls under two wards i.e. ward No. 13 and 15 and due to the non-repair of the broken sewerages pits, the residents are experiencing various problems, but the department is not ready to take action in this regard,” she said. Shah said State Irrigation and Social Welfare Minister Matbar Singh Kandari has recently participated in a dharna against the decision of the administration to stop buses from plying from the Chakrata road towards the Clock Tower to ease the traffic congestion and has asked the administration to let the buses move, but he must think that due to his decision all the roads on this route are being chocked for the whole day and people take the route from inner roads of the Chakkau Mohalla, which further leads to problems. Thus, the entry of buses should be stopped immediately, he said.
|
|
|
Diwakar faction forms working panel
Dehradun, January 18 Bhatt also accused president of the other faction of the UKD Trivender Singh Panwar for creating confusion by still acting as the president of the party despite his expulsion. Bhatt informed that the new working committee created in the convention would last for two years. Attacking
Panwar, he said, “Trivender Singh Panwar and some other leaders were misusing the name, symbol and flag of the party and were holding new programmes every day. This is not only unethical, but also criminal as it is creating confusion.” In the day, a group of party members led by former president of the party BD Raturi met BJP president Bishan Singh Chufal at his residence and gave him a letter about the appointment of Diwakar Bhatt as the president of the party. Chief spokesperson of the party Satish Semwal, general secretary Lalmani Semwal and other leaders DK Pal, DN Todriya, Ved Uniyal Shivanand Chamoli, Rampal Rawat and others were in the delegation. |
|
Illegal Felling of Trees
Haridwar, January 18 Remarking that such illegal acts on large scale will not be tolerated at any cost in the pilgrim city, Kaushiik, who is also local legislator, directed the district administration to make sure the land mafias involved in such incidents and people who help them were booked. He also pointed that prima facie involvement and laxity of the forest officials concerned was evident and action should be taken in that regard. District Magistrate R Meenakshi Sundaram has been told to look into the matter to make sure that in the future such acts were not repeated. On this matter, Sub Divisional Magistrate Harbeer Singh said the trees at the parks, where plotting has to be done, would be earmarked .
— TNS
|
||
|
AISA seeks release of Binayak Sen
Dehradun, January 18 Addressing the protesters, state secretary of the All-India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) KK Bora said, “Sending Dr Binayak to the prison means that human rights are under threat”. State secretary of the CPI Samar Bhandari said the national democracy was symbolism of the modern law and its rights. It was shameful to punish the one, who was always ready to help the poor. Editor of Yugwani Sanjay Kothiyal said Dr Binayank should be released soon or else it would lead to a feeling of anarchy. Surinder Sangwan (CPM), Vijay Gaur (writer), Dr Jitender Bharti, Yatin Kala (president, AISA, Dehradun) Pawan Nautiyal (secretary, AISA) and Hamaad Farooqi (theatre artiste) were present on the occasion.
|
|
CM discusses cleanliness issue with MC official
Dehradun, January 18 On this the CM asked him to take the charge and check that the filth was removed from the city on a regular basis. Other than this, to review the cleanliness drive in the district, Dehradun District Magistrate (DM) Sachin Kurve also visited the Parade Ground, Buddha Park, Race Course, Bhandari Bagh and other areas. He was accompanied by the deputy executive officer and the health officer. Aggrieved with the filth all over, he asked officials to ensure that the cleanliness drive was taken every day. |
|
Stop salaries of erring employees, says DM
Tribune News Service
Nainital, January 18 At a meeting held at Rudrapur today, Dr Purshottam ordered that the terms and conditions applicable prior to 2008 be applied for the distribution of benefits under the Indira Awas Yojana. He ordered the verification of people residing on lands other than those belonging to the Forest, Irrigation and Public Works Department (PWD) over the past 12 years. He said these people should be given priority for the distribution of houses under the scheme. He asked programme director DD Pant to write to all the tehsildars in this respect.
|
|
Contractor fires at car over issue of filing tenders
Dehradun, January 18 As per the police, Dabbal Singh had come to meet another contractor, whom he knew, at Badowala. Both alleged to the police that the other one was stopping his tender from being filed. The two had an argument over some issue and they started fighting. However, another contractor ran to his car and Dabbal shot at his vehicle. The arrested man is a Gram Pradhan and also runs Sangam Construction Company.
|
||
|
SP workers burn UPA’s effigy
Dehradun, January 18 He said the petrol prices had escalated to Rs 60 from its basic rate of Rs 18.50, which was a big blow to the general public. He compared the petrol rate to that of neighbouring countries and found it to be maximum in India. He held chairperson of UPA Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh responsible for formulating anti-poor policies and accused them of banking upon the poor population of the country only to garner votes during the election time.
|
||
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Classified | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Chufal expresses inability to save her in the no-confidence motion
Dehradun, January 18
