Dehradun, March 8
The state BJP Government in the course of its four-year tenure, which it completed today, has stumbled from one crisis to the other, including change of guard in 2009 during the period.

After defeating the Congress in the Assembly polls of February 2007, Major-Gen BC Khanduri (retd) took charge as the Chief Minister with the blessings of the Central leadership of the party, but soon started facing rebellion from the party legislators led by former CM and senior party leader Bhagat Singh Koshiyari.

Khanduri started on a positive note to rein in the bureaucracy and provide better governance, but soon started facing an internal crisis. The progress on the development of hydroelectric infrastructure was hampered as the state government had to cancel its proposed project on the Bhagirathi river, following an agitation by the right-wing Hindu group that demanded that the sanctity of the Ganga should be maintained.

Even the Centre was pressurised to cancel its 600-MW Lohari Nagpala project on the Bhagirathi river. Later, the Union Environment Ministry declared the entire 135-km stretch of the river from Gangotri till Uttarkashi as an eco-sensitive zone.

The biggest political set back for the ruling BJP came with the results of the Lok Sabha elections in 2009, when the party lost all five seats of the state to the Congress.

With pressure from the rebel legislators within the party mounting, the party removed Khanduri and made Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, who was Health Minister in the Khanduri cabinet as the CM in June 2009.

Since then, Nishank has been trying to put things under control as the state government entered its last year in office. But his tenure has also been marked with controversies starting with the allotment of the small hydroelectric projects to such people and companies having no prior experience in the power generation. He wriggled out of the controversy by cancelling the allotments, as the issue went before the Nainital High Court.

Again, his government came under intense pressure on the change of land-use pattern of an industrial land to residential at Rishikesh. As the Opposition Congress tried to exploit the issue politically by alleging corruption, the state government was hauled up in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Nainital High Court. The state government that had been pleading that it only carried the orders of the Board of Infrastructural and Financal Reconstruction (BIFR) in the matter had to again cancel its decision.

It pleaded in the court that the officials misled it on the issue. On the directions of the court, the state government has appointed a one-man retired judge of the high court to probe the role of bureaucrats. It has not been the end of the woes for the state government, as the petitioner in the case has moved the Supreme Court.

With the Assembly elections round the corner, CM Nishank has tried to take the initiative and exploit the issue of rising prices against the Congress-led Union Government by starting the Atal Khadyann Yojna, promising to give cheap rations to Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Above Poverty Line (APL) families in the state.

Moreover, he has been mobile and visiting each and every district of the state to create a rapport with the common people and also activate the local administration to implement the various welfare schemes.

On the positive front, the Emergency 108 services started by state BJP Government in the state bereft of basic health facilities in the hills has been a success with thousands benefiting from it. Nishank claimed credit for the successful completion of Maha Kumbh at Haridwar in 2010 and the SAF Winter Games.

He had also been claiming that the growth rate of the state had climbed to 9.4 per cent per annum, as compared to the national average of 7.4 per cent. The per capita income has also increased from Rs 14,000 in 2000 to Rs 56,000 in 2010.

He also claimed that the state had done well in financial management and been appreciated and rewarded by the Planning Commission.

On the political front, Nishank had been able to consolidate his own position in his party despite opposition from his detractors within the party. He also tried to take the fight in the Congress camp by alleging discrimination against the state BJP Government by the Centre, whether it was extension of the industrial package for the state, financial assistance for the natural disaster in August 2010 or banning hydroelectric projects and declaring eco-sensitive zone in Uttarkashi.

“We have been getting tremendous support from common people. I am sure we will return back to power in the coming Assembly polls. We are prepared,” he claimed. However, his detractors within the party and outside disagree with him.

“The BJP Government has been a disaster. Corruption has thrived, development works have come to a halt as the state government could not even spend the allocated funds and unemployment has increased. They should remember that industrial growth was started by the previous Congress Government,” charged Uttarakhand Congress chief Yashpal Arya.

Dehradun, March 8
Taking a dig at the launch of various plans, policies and publicity campaigns stirred by Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, the Uttarakhand Parivartan Party (UPP), while ridiculing him, called him ‘goshna mantri’ (announcement minister) in a party meeting here today.

Turning the tables on his tall claims, the UPP accused his party of indulging in wide-scale corruption and furthering anti-people agenda in the state.

Various speakers termed both the successive governments of the BJP and the Congress as agents of mafia, builders, black hoarders, businessmen and big hydro-dam projects prospering in the state. They said, these parties were usurping whatever was left in the state by seizing power again in 2012. They called upon the people to help their party in defeating both these parties. The party also lent their support to the anti-corruption movement started by Swami Ramdev against the Congress and suggested him to target the BJP as well for being an equal accomplice in money laundering scam in the foreign banks.

City convener of the party Kuldeep Madval informed of the decision of the party to expose the anti-public lobbies through a campaign that would begin on the martyrdom day of Shaheed Bhagat Singh on March 23 and culminate on the kranti diwas dedicated to freedom fighter Vir Chander Singh Garhwali in Gairsain in April. 

Dehradun, March 8
Terming the BJP rule in the state as full of scandals, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Harak Singh Rawat today announced to institute a CBI inquiry into various alleged scandals of the present BJP Government within three months if the Congress came to power in the state after the forthcoming Assembly polls.

“The present BJP Government will be answerable to the people of the state. Those who looted the public money will be punished and sent to jail,” he added.

Harak was talking to mediapersons on the fourth anniversary of the BJP Government in the state. “The present BJP Government rule has been utter disappointing, as various scandals rocked the state during the period,” he said.

He charged that the state government had failed to even utilise half of the budget money allotted during its regime in the last four years. “All the developmental activities have come to a standstill as neither they have the will, nor knowledge to run the administration. It is really funny that while the public has been suffering, the BJP leaders, including the CM, have been making tall claims about their achievements,” said Harak.

He further said the CM has been taking credit for starting the 108 emergency services that was a Central scheme and has been running in 13 other states.

He said the health facilities in the state have been in a shambles, including the situation in the Srinagar Medical College that was conceived by the previous Congress Government. “All the schemes started by the previous Congress Government for the welfare of the minorities have been stopped by the BJP showing its ugly communal face. Similar is the fate of the other schemes for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes,” he alleged.

Harak demanded that since the Centre had doubled the remuneration of the anganwari workers, the state government should also double their pay in the state. 

Nainital, March 8
Women from remote areas came forward today to express views on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which flies in the face of the tall claims being made by the government and the administration on its ‘successful’ implementation. Women from remote areas had gathered today at a public hearing organised by Mahila Samakhya at the Flats Grounds here today.

The MGNREGA is a flagship programme of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre and its implementation in the state has been marked with allegations of gross mismanagement and harassment of the people for whom it 
was introduced.

Speaking at the event, Mahila Samakhya chief in Nainital Basanti Pathak pointed out that there were numerous examples that go on to show that the implementation of MGNREGA in the region was marked by gross violation of the norms. It is a boat without rudder. She said the conditions had gone from bad to worse in certain areas since the scheme was implemented in 2008.

One of the participants, Munni Bisht underlined that women of the area had done their bit for making the programme a success and ensured their participation in the scheme, but they just got harassment in return. She pointed out that there had been instances that gram pradhans went on to lock up their job cards in office almirahs and women had to forcibly obtain these.

She said there had been gross irregularities in the maintenance of must-roll registers, which were not kept at places of work. She also pointed out that in certain cases pertaining to the remote Okhalkanda region, the wages were paid after a delay of several months. She disclosed that there had been instances of job cards being made of even seven-year-old children in Ramnagar.

She also said surveyed registers were found to be in order in only two out of the 56 gram sabhas. It was also pointed out that the women had not been given work for the promised 100 days of a year and they were given the most difficult of the jobs that required intense physical labour on several occasions.

The speakers from Pauri, Uttarkashi and Udham Singh Nagar further echoed the facts presented by Munni and said the conditions in their respective areas were quite similar. A representative of the administration said steps were being taken to rectify things whenever they were reported.

A case study pertaining to Pachauria village of the Kutri Gram Sabha in Khatima block of Udham Singh Nagar stated that 250 immensely poor families had been categorised as Above Poverty Line (APL).

There were several persons who had got their MGNREGA job cards made in 2007, but had not been given work till date. Two upper-caste families did get work for a week 
in 2008.

It was only in January this year that some women got work for eight days after they launched an agitation and took up the 
matter with the local administration.

A total of 95 persons, including 30 men, were given the work of cleaning of a canal under the leadership of Ganga Devi, who had opposed the execution of work by a contractor, who had been engaged by the gram pradhan.

The study said none of the people who executed the task had been paid anything and no entries had been made on their job cards. Similar other case studies were also presented on the occasion.

Mussoorie, March 8
The Mussoorie Municipal Council (MC) with the resolve to remove encroachments from the Queen of Hills continued its anti-encroachment drive that began yesterday.

The MC had announced earlier that it would start the drive from March 7, and keeping to its words, Mussoorie Executive Officer (EO) Rohtash Sharma, along with police force and administration, forcefully began the drive to remove encroachers in a planned manner on the second day too.

Encroachments were removed from Landour Bazar till Green Restaurant situated at Kulri Bazar. MC officials had confiscated plastic bags from the shops yesterday. They also destroyed illegally made brick stairs of the shops that were jutting out on the road.

The situation turned ugly today, when local shopkeepers tried to stop the drive and raised slogans and protested. The situation became tense at Kulri Bazar, and Mussoorie CO Shweta Chaubey and SDM Manoj Kumar had to intervene. After that the drive continued till Library Bazar. The shopkeepers said the administration was working in bi-partisan manner and had left alone the encroachments done by MC members.

EO Rohtash Sharma said the encroachment removal drive was a result of the meeting held between traders and the MC earlier in the week in which it was decided that traders’ cooperation was solicited to keep Mussoorie clean and free from encroachments. He said the drive would continue and be a regular feature this summer season.

Sharma said fine would also be imposed on using plastic carry bags in the town from March 15 onwards. A sum of Rs 100 as fine would be collected from the user, Rs 500 from the shopkeeper and Rs 1,000 from the wholesaler.

Some traders questioned the absence of Mussoorie Traders Association leaders from the scene. Bharat Kumain, a trader, said it was unfortunate that at this hour of need the traders union newly elected body was absent despite their suffering since yesterday. Association president Rajat Agarwal said as he was busy with some personal matters and was not in town. But he was of the view that MC Council President OP Uniyal was targeting only the shopkeepers, whereas it was decided in the meeting that first street vendors would be removed and after that the shopkeepers would be given time to clear their encroachments.

Agarwal also raised the question of the encroachment done by the MC itself which was not being removed, such as at the Hawa Ghar.

Mussoorie SDM Manoj Kumar speaking to media said any form of encroachment on the road would not be tolerated. He also said he had directed the officials to mark the encroached area with red paint so that traders could rectify it themselves. And if they failed to do so, from next week the administration would remove it forcefully.

Residents of the town have welcomed the move and were of the view that shopkeepers had encroached into the road with their goods leaving no room for pedestrians’ movement.

Pithoragarh, March 8
There will be no auction of space for temporary shops to be set up during the Purnagiri fair, which begins from March 21 this year. The land, which used to be earmarked for the purpose, belongs to the Forest Department and no non-forest activity could be carried out on the forestland.

“Earlier, the entire expenditure on the fair used to be met through the money collected from the auction of space for temporary shops. But, the last year we had to lose Rs 25 lakh, which we used to earn from the auction of space for shops, as due to the court orders we could not auction the space on the land that belongs to the Forest Department,” said Prema Pandey, Chairperson of the Champawat Zila Panchayat.

“The Chief Minister, during his recent visit to the district, had sanctioned only Rs 10 lakh for the fair, from which Rs 5 lakh has been received by us,” she said.

According to the Champawat Zila Panchayat, this year they are banking on the district administration and the Police Department of Champawat for a smooth conduct of the fair.

“We will not set up temporary tin sheds for the VIP visitors and these visitors will be lodged in official rest houses by the district administration, and the police will arrange for the parking lots at the venue as we do not have land for the same,” said Prema.

According to sources in the Champawat District Administration, incense sticks will not be lit in the temple this year. “The lighting of incense sticks at the temple has been done away with as a precautionary measure to prevent any incident of fire during the fair,” said Champawat District Magistrate Pankaj Pandey.

“As regards the security arrangements during the fair, the SSB will have the main role to play as it will guard international border at Thuligar. At other places, the police and the PAC, in assistance with the PRD jawans, women police constables and water police, will handle the security,” said Panday.

Dehradun, March 8
Around 250 youngsters from different colleges of the city joined the Uttarakhand Student Federation (USF) of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) today. President of the USF Hemant appointed Pawan Rai as the acting president of the youth wing.

Expressing his views on the occasion of the International Women’s Day and on the role of youth in bringing about decisive change in the society, he said, “Women and youngsters had played significant roles in the fight for the formation of our state. The youth who are brimming with superb energy not only show enthusiasm in coming forward to cast their own votes, but also encourage others to do the same. The percentage of youth living in India is increasing with each passing year, which counts for their presence as a decisive factor in swinging the fate of political parties vying in elections. We too are heavily banking upon their contribution in the ensuing Assembly elections”. —TNS

Dehradun, March 8
A delegation of jewellers met SSP Ganesh Singh Martolia seeking swift action in last night’s incident in which four unidentified bikers robbed two jeweller brothers Gaurav Rastogi and Vikas Rastogi at gunpoint of cash and jewellery worth about Rs 15 lakh outside their house in Jakhan Kanta.

The jewellers said if in two days the persons involved were not arrested, they would shut down all shops of the Jakhan market.

The SSP exuded confidence of cracking the case within two days.

Gaurav told The Tribune that he and his elder brother Vikas closed their shop at Jakhan at 9:15 pm on Monday night packing the cash, jewellery and other items in two bags.

Then carrying the bags they left on their bike for their house at Jakhan Kanta. However some distance away from their home, a man on a bike overtook them.

On reaching outside their home, they found three unidentified men and the biker standing there. As soon the men saw the two brothers, they pounced on them. Two of them pointed a pistol on the duo and snatched the bag.

The miscreants then tried to kick start the bike of the brothers, but failed to start it. Following this all four rode on the single bike they had come on and fled from the spot, Gaurav said.

Later, after receiving information, the SSP, along with other officers, rushed to the spot. The police informed all police stations to carry out checking operations, but the miscreants couldn’t be traced.

Cops also got a sketch of the robbers made by the two brothers and showed them pictures of several Uttar Pradesh’s criminals to identify. However, no headway could be made.