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BJP core group decides against Nishank’s removal
Ex-VC for panel to study geological disturbances
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Nod to 4 renewable energy projects
Irrigation Dept renames designations, divisions
THDC Institute of Hydro-power Engineering
Corruption
Cong begins second phase of ‘Satyagraha Yatra”
Cong leader stages dharna
Civil Services Exam
HC dismisses 2 PILs on Maha Kumbh
Weddings
Aids Control Society to set up 109 centres
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BJP core group decides against Nishank’s removal
New Delhi, May 12 Miffed at a slew of charges of corruption against Pokhriyal, BJP top brass wanted to replace him with a more acceptable face ahead of the Assembly polls, which may be held later this year. However, the idea was dropped when some members of the core group felt that since the polls were only a few months away, a change of guard now may send the wrong signal and backfire on the party. Some top leaders said with BJP still having an edge over main political adversary Congress in the state, there was nothing to panic. But the BJP core group failed to reach a conclusion on the return of expelled firebrand leader Uma Bharti and former General Secretary (Organisation) Sanjay Joshi to the party. While the RSS is said to be keen and reportedly insisting on their return, the BJP top leadership is divided and has some reservations about the two.
— PTI |
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Ex-VC for panel to study geological disturbances
Pithoragarh, May 12 An earthquake measuring 5 on the Richter scale had recently rocked Darma valley in Pithoragarh and the adjoining Nepali territory followed by tremors for a few days. Residents of Sipu, Marcha and Tidang villages of the valley also informed about minor earthquakes in the region last week. “The news of continuous tremors of below 4 on the Richter scale in these villages is true and has also been confirmed by ITBP officers posted there,” said RS Rana, disaster mitigation officer in Pithoragarh district. Dr Waldia said it seemed that after the recent tsunami in Japan, all seismic zones of the world had become active followed by the Himalayan seismic belt as well. “It can only be known after a detailed geological study of the Himalayan belt by expert geologists in the mid and inner Himalayan regions. It can also help the governments to draft a strategy of mitigation at the time of the disaster,” said Dr Waldia. Villagers as well as security forces posted at the close Himalayan region of the Indo-China border felt tremors in and around their villages last week. Residents of Sipu, Marcha, Tidang Bon and Chal villages in Darma valley of the district today met the SDM of Dharchula and informed him of the prevailing conditions and panic among the villagers. “We want villagers to take precautions in case of any earthquake and subsequent landslides during their stay in villages during summers months,” said Abhisekh Tripathi, the SDM of
Munsiyari. |
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Scientists promote astrophysics among students
Nainital, May 12 Talking to The Tribune on the sidelines of the final day of the two-day workshop on “Astronomy: Pushing Technology to its Edge”, which began at the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) here yesterday, Sandeep Bhattacharya from the Birla Planetarium in Jaipur related that the event would be of immense importance as it would help in calculations pertaining to the distance between the Sun and the Earth. He further related, “The slight deviations of light help in the research on the most interesting topic whether we are alone in the universe”. Till now more than 300 extra solar planets have been found and many more are expected to be discovered over the next four decades. It has been established that planetary formation is not unique to our universe. There is also a debate going on, on the subject whether life evolved only on the Earth or whether it got impregnated by life-forming material from outside. The Venus transit will be best viewed from the Pacific Ocean. North America will be able to see the start of the transit, while the South Asia, the Middle East and most of Europe will catch the end of it. The transit will not be visible in most of South America or western Africa. Meanwhile, the second day of the workshop saw children being shown a video on the Venus transit. Around 60 students from 12 schools in Nainital and around participated in the event. The children were also given a demonstration on the Stellarium software by Bhattacharya and Arvind Ranade. The software presents a digitised solar map that helps people recognise heavenly bodies while looking at the sky. “Our purpose is to tell the children how astronomy helps in their day to day lives. Yesterday I told them how our festivals are connected to the phases of the moon, etc.,” said Bhattacharya. The children were to be taken out for night sky observation with the help of a telescope installed by ARIES at the Manora Peak. |
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Nod to 4 renewable energy projects
Dehradun, May 12 Sugar Cane Biogasse Energy Cogeneration Project of Luxmi Sugar Mills, Ekbalpur, Roorkee, has been accorded approval for availing subsidy from the Union Government. Approval for a provisional power purchase agreement has been given for transferring additional power to the grid. It is noteworthy that Luxmi Sugar Mills had made a proposal for setting up a cogeneration project of 20 MW capacity. Similarly, Sidheswari Paper Industry Limited, Kashipur, has been given approval for forwarding sanction of Central assistance. Sidheswari Paper Industry Limited would set up a rice husk-based 6 MW capacity biomass power generation project. The committee has also cleared the proposal of Uttam Sugar Mills, Roorkee, Haridwar, for setting up a 15-MW renewable power project. Approval for signing provisional power purchase agreement has been given it. Similarly, UREDA has been empowered to release the Central assistance received from the Union Government to Bharat Electronics Limited, Kotdwar, Pauri Garhwal. With this amount, Bharat Electronics Limited would set up off-grid solar PV power plants of 25 KW capacity. |
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Irrigation Dept renames designations, divisions
Dehradun, May 12 Research and Planning, Joshiyara, is now Research and Infrastructure, Uttarkashi, while Lakhvar Vyasi Construction Circle is now Research and Infrastructure, Haldwani. Tons Civil Construction Circle, Dehradun, has been renamed as Planning Circle, Dehradun, likewise others too have been given new names. The decision of renaming circles, divisions and positions in the Irrigation Department was taken at a meeting attended by Joint Secretary RC Loni, Head of Department, Irrigation, BK Tamta, president of the Employees Association Shekharanand Raturi at the Secretariat yesterday. The move has been made to recognise the new working pattern adopted by the Irrigation Department after it ceased to handle the civil and mechanical works with regard to hydroelectric projects, which now belonged to Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL) in the state. “The Irrigation Department was divested of all the civil and mechanical work of 10 hydroelectric projects by the UJVNL, given the difference of opinion between both of them during 2008-10. All the praphernalia of huge staff and many departments and offices became redundant in the Irrigation Department, which is why all the names, which are associated with the work of hydroelectric projects, were required to be changed,” said Ramesh Ramola, general secretary, Employees Association, Irrigation Department. The new set of titles is indicative of the transformed face of the department. BK Tamta, HOD, said: “In the past one year, the Irrigation Department has gone through an overhaul for better. It has been made a working agency and allowed to create a corporation as well. Now, our hands are full with construction work related to various government departments and education institutions. Our 35 divisions pertaining to hydroelectric work, too, have got lot of works to complete and the names have been designated as per the responsibilities allocated to them”. |
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THDC Institute of Hydro-power Engineering
Dehradun, May 12 The institute will be set up according to norms of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All-India Council of Technical Education. The MoU was signed by DV Singh, Director (Technical), THDCIL, and Dr DS Chauhan, Vice-Chancellor, UTU, here recently. The cost for setting up the institute, including all initial infrastructure, furniture, lab equipment and library, will be borne by the THDCIL. The institute will be run by the UTU in self-financing mode as a constituent college of the university. Keeping in mind the growth of hydro-power sector, it was agreed by the Ministry of Power, Government of India, that the THDCIL will meet the initial capital cost towards establishing a technical institute to impart education in various disciplines of engineering with focus on hydroelectric energy and the institute would be run by the academic body. The objective behind the setting up of the institute is to create a pool of continuously upgraded skilled set of knowledge with special thrust on construction and operation of hydro-power stations in Uttarakhand where there is an estimated hydro power potential of 20,178 MW, of which only 2,810 MW has been harnessed till now. The institute will spread over 20 acres and have state-of-the-art infrastructure, such as administrative and academic blocks, a library, laboratories, a medical room, an auditorium, staff accommodation, hostels and a canteen, etc. In line with the commitment of the THDCIL to the people affected by the construction of the Tehri Dam, 5 per cent quota of students every year will be earmarked for admissions to the eligible candidates from the families of the population affected due to the construction of the Tehri and Koteshwar Dams. The eligibility of such candidates will be certified by the District Magistrate/Director (Rehabilitation), Tehri Garhwal. The THDCIL is one of the premier profit making hydro-power generation companies in the country and has the commissioning of the Tehri and Koteshwar Dams to its credit. |
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Diwakar Bhatt takes on Uma Bharti
Haridwar, May 12 Casting aspersions on the intent of the fast by Uma Bharti, Bhatt asked her to first look into her own backyard (Madhya Pradesh) where Naxalism and other issues had not been tackled yet, despite she once being the Chief Minister of that state. Talking to The Tribune, Bhatt, MP from the Devprayag Assembly in Pauri Garhwal district, who played an important role during the statehood agitation, urged Uma Bharti to take up other issues as people of Uttarakhand needed hydroelectric projects for development, as there were scant resources for state economy to grow as well as provide employment to the youth. “We need to use water and help the youth become self-reliant in a developed state, which can be best achieved by investment in the power sector,” remarked Bhatt. Though Diwakar Bhatt, who himself participated in an agitation along with noted environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna against the construction of Tehri Dam in the nineties, admitted that he was in favour of small hydroelectric projects, which didn’t affect the local ecology or cause mass displacement of people.
— TNS |
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Corruption
Dehradun, May 12 Party president Kuldeep Madhwal passed this resolution at the party’s Chakuwala office and said they would also hold a dharna and a fast at Gandhi Park on June 4. “We will demand a fair probe into incidents of corruption and loot and the involvement of the Congress, the BJP, mafia, builders and middlemen in them by the CBI. As per the decision taken by the party on May 8 at Haldwani,” he added.
— TNS |
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Cong begins second phase of ‘Satyagraha Yatra”
Nainital, May 12 Talking to The Tribune on the sidelines of the yatra, state unit president of the party Yash Pal Arya flayed Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank for “misguiding” the people of the state and levelling allegations against the Centre for not meting out proper treatment to Uttarakhand. Arya asked Nishank to come clean on the utilisation of funds provided to his government by the Centre. “The government has failed miserably to utilise funds provided by the Centre for various development schemes and is now trying to wriggle out of the situation by shifting the blame on the Centre. We want to know where the money received over the last four years from the Centre was put to use.People must be told how much they simply surrendered on account of their failure to utilise the funds for public good,” said Arya. He also attacked Nishank for levelling the same allegations in Delhi just a little time after the Planning Commission approved a large outlay for the state. The Congress has also been attacking the Nishank-led government on the issue of employment. “Development and employment generation have come to a halt after this government took over,” Arya charged. He also questioned the Chief Minister for making a series of populist announcements for which the government had no money to spend. |
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Cong leader stages dharna
Dehradun, May 12 He also demanded that regular water supply be provided to the distant areas of the Lansdowne Assembly constituency. The Subdivisional Magistrate of Dhumakot took Dhirendar Pratap to the Chief Secretary. The Congress leader submitted a memorandum of demands of the residents of the Dhumakot Assembly constituency. |
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Civil Services Exam
Haridwar, May 12 Talking to The Tribune from New Delhi,
Pooja, who lives with her parents at BHEL Colony, attributed her success to planned study, positive attitude and efforts and encouragement by her parents. “Despite being a girl, I never felt my upbringing was different in any way. These things go a long way in making you determined to give back to your family,” said
Pooja, who has worked for two years in Tata Consultancy Services. Though hailing from Kashmir, Pooja’s family has settled in
Uttarakhand. She wants to make girls from the hilly regions of the state aware about civil services so that they can to be part of the bureaucracy and change the living conditions of the women in hills. Her father Surendra Hali is
AGM, Commerce Department, in BHEL and mother a teacher in a Centre School. “Pooja wanted to make it to civil services and even left a coveted job to carry out her pursuit. Now, she has achieved what she has always wanted to,” said Indu
Hali, her mother. |
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HC dismisses 2 PILs on Maha Kumbh
Dehra Dun, May 12 Hearing two PILs, a two-judge Bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice Barin Ghosh and Justice Sarvesh Gupta at Nainital dismissed them observing that they are not maintainable, said Uttarakhand Advocate-General SN Babulkar. The court said under Article 151 (2) of the Constitution, the competent authority or tribunal must take appropriate action on the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report,
he said. The PILs were filed in the High Court on the basis of the CAG report, which has said that wasteful, avoidable and unauthorised expenditure of nearly Rs 43 crore was done during the Maha Kumbh mela. The CAG report will be sent to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for examination, said
Chandrashekhar Upadhyaya, officer on special duty for the Chief Minister. —
PTI |
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Weddings
Dehradun, May 12 At a recent meeting the representatives of Bongadi, Kuroli, Kankrari, Thalan, Manpur, Dhanpur, Kishanpur and Sara villages banned the use of disc jockeys, loudspeakers and liquor and expressed concern that they were becoming the cause of fights at weddings. Hari Singh Gosain, Kankrari village head, said overspending on weddings also put a burden on poor families and the panchayats’ decision would give relief to them. It had also been decided that a fine would be imposed on families which did not comply with the decision, Gosain said, adding the amount of fine would be decided later. Bhatwari Subdivisional Magistrate Dharm Sattu said the decision by the panchayats of the area was a welcome step as it would not only minimise ostentation but also increase harmony and brotherhood among villagers.
— PTI |
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Aids Control Society to set up 109 centres
Dehradun, May 12 In all 109 new centres (Facility Integrated Centres) are proposed to be set up in districts where HIV positive cases are on the rise or new cases have been reported. As of now the number of HIV positive cases in Uttarakhand stands at 3,394 (2010-2011) while 47 standalone ICTCs, along with 19 Facility Integrated Centres are functional in the state. “We have set up 19 centres and some more are proposed to be set up. These centres will be looked after by a nurse, technician and an anganwari worker. The whole staff would be trained to carry out tests and hold counselling sessions with the patients established at the CHCs and PHCs,” said Dr PC Kapri, Additional Director, USACS. The Uttarakhand Aids Control Society has also set up toll free number 10977 for HIV patients. They can get all the information about the disease through this helpline. He said at the ICTCs, a person is counselled and tested for the HIV. The main functions of an ICTC are conducting HIV diagnostic tests, providing basic information on the modes of HIV transmission, promoting behavioural changes to reduce vulnerability to the disease and care and treatment services. |
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Language norm for recruitment
Dehradun, May 12 Central general secretary Ashif Ali said: “Earlier, the CM had cancelled the same GO saying it was done out of mistake. But now he has started the appointment procedure as per the same cancelled order. The state government should immediately revoke it else it will have to bear serious
consequences.” |
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