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Gas agencies fleecing city consumers
Dist Basketball Association releases calendar |
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Bagasudhar college building on verge of collapse
Uniform a thing of past at GMVN office
Shahid Jatin Gulati Memorial Chess
Doon Civic Blues
Nainital diary
Seminar held on Right to Education Act
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Gas agencies fleecing city consumers
Dehradun, August 7 Though after a series of agitations in rural areas people have started getting LPG delivery at home, people in urban areas are still grappling with the problem. Despite paying the home delivery charges, they have to fetch cylinders from the agency. If a person visits the godown of an agency to get a cylinder he has to pay Rs 390 but the agency authorities charge Rs 398, including the home delivery charges. Consumers complain that even after 21 days of booking the agencies are not able to deliver LPG cylinders at their homes. If they complain about the same to the owner of a gas agency he never takes action against the erring personnel. Moreover, they create troubles for them in the next booking. Thus we have no other way but to pay the extra charges. The city is facing a shortage of LPG though the agencies claim that there is no such scarcity. According to the data, the agencies have not received the LPG supply from July 22 to August 2 due to the Kanwar Yatra and incessant rains. Every consumer requires at least 9.100 kg of gas. Only 2,70,000 cylinders have reached the city this year against a requirement of 4,92,840 domestic LPG cylinders and around 6,917 commercial LPG cylinders. Talking to The Tribune, MS Visen, Food and Supplies Officer, said there was no shortage of LGP cylinders in the area nor have they received any complaint regarding extra charging by the personnel of gas agencies. It is only a few of the dealers who create problems. “We do carry out raids to check the sale of cylinders on the black market and if we get any complaint we act immediately,” he added. While RN Bhatt, Senior Supply Officer, said they do get complaints and send those to the respective agency owners. They were supposed to take action against the erring personnel. But, if they failed to do so then the department took action against them, he added.
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Dist Basketball Association releases calendar
Dehradun, August 7 The calendar for the second half of the year was worked out during a meeting of the district association held at Welham Girls’ School on Friday. The district association will organise a 15-day Pre-Youth State Championship Coaching Camp for the district boys’ and girls’ teams 15 days prior to the State Youth Championship. The boys’ and girls’ teams of the district will participate in the 8th Uttarakhand State Youth (U-16) Basketball Championship to be held at Rishikesh and Hardwar. A basketball rules clinic on “FIBA-New Rules Changes and Interpretations” will be held at Welham Boys’ School at 4.30 pm on August 20. District basketball referees’ examination for test and promotion cases will take place on August 21 at 7 am at Welham Girls’ School. The district association will host the 15-day pre-sub-junior national coaching camp for boys and girls from August 31 to September 14 on behalf of the Uttarakhand Basketball Association for the 38th Sub-Junior National Basketball Championship to be held in Lucknow from September 16 to 23. Around 15 such events will be organised by the district association till December.
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Bagasudhar college building on verge of collapse
Mussoorie, August 7 The roof of the building has been damaged to such an extent that students have been forced to study in the open and during the rainy season their studies are affected to a great extent. More than 355 students have been enrolled in the school, the building of which was constructed around 40 years ago. No government has ever thought of repairing the building. The anger is brewing among the parents of the students who have been raising their demand for the immediate renovation of the school building for a long time. Their pleas to the administration and the Education Department have fallen on deaf ears. The vice-president of the Parent Teacher Association, Budhi Singh Pundir, and Gram Pradhan Beena Gusain say the department has been informed about the condition of the school repeatedly but no action has been initiated in this regard so far. District Block Education Officer Bhagwan Das said the proposal had been sent to the government regarding the renovation of the building but he was not sure about the when the project would begin. When this correspondent tried to contact the state Education Minister, his Personal Assistant Tikam Singh said the minister was attending a meeting and would be available after 30 minutes. But when he was rung up again, the call was not attended.
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Uniform a thing of past at GMVN office
Dehradun, August 7 The uniform code, which was introduced by the former Managing Director, BVRC, Purushottam, also went haywire with his unceremonial exit a year ago. So has the camaraderie which came along with the sartorial strictness. Vice-president of employees association SP Pant said, “All the employees, be it male or female (suit-dupatta) used to adhere to the uniform code, including our own MD and other higher officials of the Nigam. We all felt like a strong team, a professional one. But now ever since former MD Purushottam had left, gradually every one became casual about the uniform code and no one even objected to that either, he said.” The employees also complained about the unavailability of winter uniform. Surender Bahukhandi, manager of a GMVN tourist resthouse, said, “The department gave us two pairs of summer uniform but not the winter uniform. We all could have gone on sticking to the uniform code, had we got the winter uniform even after MD’s resignation. In such a scenario, we had no other option left but to wear the casual clothes in winter. Once the code derailed, it did for good.” GMVN employee Poonam Devi also expressed desire to get back to the uniform days. “Due to office uniform, we never had tension of buying a variety of clothes to wear at office. It saved a lot of unnecessary expenditure. Then this psychological complex that someone is wearing better or expensive clothes also did not come our way. Almost all of us now wish that the uniform code should once again be brought on the premises.” Additional General Manger, Commercial, DS Panwar, said, the direction regarding the uniform code had to come from the Managing Director. “Since MD is still new, he is learning about the functioning of the GMVN and will take his time to decide on the uniform code, only if it is brought up to his notice intensely by the employees.”
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Shahid Jatin Gulati Memorial Chess Tribune News Service
Dehradun, August 7 Earlier, the Padma Shri recipient, Dr Anil Kumar Joshi, and senior Congress leader Suryakant Dasmana were present during the inauguration of the championship, which was organised to mark the 29th birth anniversary of former CRPF Deputy Commandant Jatin Gulati, who laid down his life fighting the Naxalites in Chhattisgarh in June last year. Gulati, a resident of Karanpur, had served the BSF from 2005 to 2009. Later he joined the CRPF and was the Deputy Commandant from 2009 to 2010.
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Doon Civic Blues Sonika Bhatia Tribune News Service
Talking to the Tribune, the area councillor, Arun Balmiki, said a lot of works, including the construction of roads and drains, had been done in the area and some were under process. “The main problem I have been facing is a lack of communication with officials of other departments. They never ask us where a particular work has to be done. I have written many times to the MDDA regarding the beautification of parks, but to no avail,” said Balmiki. He said: “A transformer has been installed in the area to solve the problem of power fluctuation. Besides this, beneficiaries of various schemes have also been issued ration cards, widow cards, pension cards and various other cards,” he said, adding that, “I have also helped providing the benefits of the Kanya Dhan Yojna to more than 40 persons of my area.” On the other side, Ashok Chanchal, a local resident, complained of poor condition of roads and drains in his area. “During the monsoon, it becomes difficult for us to move out of our houses due to waterlogging. Drains are also in bad shape and emit foul smell.” Kamlesh, another resident, rued the parking problem in the area. “Our area has become a transport nagar, as all heavy vehicles remained parked in front of houses,” she lamented.
She said earlier, the MC had installed a dustbin in the area, but as it had been taken away, people throw all waste on the roads. Naresh Kumar grumbled about unhygienic conditions in his area. “Safai karamcharis do not come regularly. Though they are being paid by the authorities, they ask for money from residents also. We have brought this matter to the notice of the councillor also,” he added.
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Mirth at the cost of politicians, officials
POLITICIANS and officials in Uttarakhand have by now acquired a dubious distinction of shooting their mouths off not realising that they are making a laughing stock of themselves before the public. It is a well-known fact that these politicians can go to any extreme to get some publicity in the dailies. The latest example in this series was witnessed by the people of Kumaon on live television coverage of a book release function that was attended by Governor Margaret Alva. The Governor had released a book entitled “God is a River” by Mona Verma. Not having read the book and thinking that it has something to do with the rivers of Uttarakhand, Congress leader Harak Singh Rawat went on to give a long speech on the water resources of Uttarakhand, the sacredness of the rivers, issues related to tapping of river waters for hydro power and other purposes. Little did the leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly know that the book had nothing to do with the riverine wealth of Uttarakhand and is actually a collection of stories depicting the trauma of the Partition which the people had to bear. The Governor too could be seen smiling through his speech. The people of Kumaon recently had yet another opportunity to laugh their heads off, thanks to the statement given by the new Minister for Forest Resources Gobind Singh Bisht who was reportedly addressing personnel of the Forest Department recently. The minister had gone on to suggest that the Forest Department should take to planting fruit trees on the forest land while undertaking the afforestation activity. The logic being given by him was that the fruit trees would serve a dual purpose. Besides providing the much-required green cover, they would also provide food to the animals like monkeys, langurs and elephants thus preventing their visits to the human inhabited areas. It is reported almost on a daily basis that the incidence of man-animal conflict in the region is on the rise with monkeys, langurs and at times elephants becoming a menace for the humans. But the solution given by the minister has turned out be something with great entertainment value that has left the people expressing cynicism while discussing the statement given by him. “What more can you expect from them? They are talking through their hats all the time. Do you think the animals will allow fruit trees to bear ripe fruits? Will a few banana trees desist the elephants from turning to human settlements? These people who are unfortunately our representatives at the top level need to be given some basic education” is a common refrain that can be heard from the people on this issue. About a year back, Kumaon had witnessed yet another minister demanding that he should be given an opportunity to inaugurate a post-mortem house so that he may get some publicity. Things had not ended here as the minister had gone on to not only inaugurate the post-mortem house but had created a scene demanding the presence of a pandit over there. More recently, an example of such phenomenon came from the issue pertaining to trapping or killing of the man-eater tiger in the Jim Corbett National Park and its vicinity. The rationalists were shocked to read in the local media that some officials had come up with the bright idea of deploying sniffer dogs to trace the wild cat. People could be seen laughing their heads off at various eating joints when they had pointed, “Whoever thought a dog will counter a tiger. Don’t they know that the dogs get so scared on smelling the wild cat that they are ready to flee for their lives.” The people, meanwhile, are awaiting the next such episode so that they can get some comic relief at the cost of the politicians and officials of the state as majority of them have let the masses Meena’s tips for Kumaon
Having served in the Kumaon for close to 15 months, Inspector General (IG) of Police (Kumaon Range) RS Meena has bid adieu to the region. Meena’s tenure was marked by his proactive approach towards maintaining a liaison with the common people which has had a good impact in the region. He had shown an initiative to go beyond the “defined” norms of policing and taken keen interest in solving problems directly affecting the people. His keen interest in proper management of available resources during the tourist season did bear results in Nainital although the administration did not play its role up to the mark in the initiative. The law and order situation had been under control. The police had played a commendable role under his leadership during the rain-related disaster that had struck the area last year. Before leaving, Meena had pointed out that the major emerging challenges in terms of policing in the region would be to tackle the influence of the left wing extremism which was at present in a dormant stage. He agreed that initiatives on the administrative front too were required to tackle it apart from active policing. He also pointed out that the growing vehicular population in the region, particularly during the tourist season, would be another issue that would have to be tackled in the days to come and this could be done by better management of traffic and providing multi-storey parking slots. Meena described his tenure in Kumaon as highly fruitful and satisfying.
Cong on silence mode
The Congress seems to have gone into hibernation across the region. People are questioning why the party leadership has all of a sudden fallen silent on issues. There is palpable anger amongst the people for having failed to take on the Dr Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state on the issue of the High Court upholding the cancellation of 56 micro hydel projects and ordering their allocation through public auction. The Congress being the main opposition in the state has maintained a stoic silence on the issue once again giving way to the belief that the Congressmen have been raising only those issues where their personal interests are involved. Lower-rung Congress workers too are disappointed and skeptical of the role of the party’s senior leadership. Some have even cast aspersions of there being a tacit understanding with the government. Another reason for the Congress leaders going low profile is the announcement of the new Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) which is due to be announced anytime now.
Pande Hospital ailing
Like several other medical institutions across the region, the BD Pande Hospital in Nainital too seems to have fallen sick. The hospital which was once a prestigious institution is at present crying for attention. The rexin mattresses on the hospital seem to be emitting water on account of the prevalent high moisture. The wards are damp and not well lit. They just have one CFL dangling instead of proper tube lights. Of late the hospital has earned the reputation of being a referral centre on account of there being vacancies in various departments. Local residents feel that it is high time that this hospital is spruced up to meet the needs to the people of a high-profile town like Nainital. (By Rajeev
Khanna)
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Seminar held on Right to Education Act
Dehradun, August 7 As many as 66 students divided into four groups participated in the seminar. Each group along with a team leader, reporter and a moderator carried on the discussions in an The programme started with a discussion on various aspects of the RTE such as background, constitutional obligation, free and compulsory education, inclusive education, tribal education, rural education and education at the pre-primary stage. Many innovative points by budding teachers were raised during the seminar. The educators laid stress on various aspects of the RTE such as 25% reservation in public schools, 50% reservation for women teachers and the training of teachers. An emerging area discussed by the students was inclusive education and tribal education. They suggested that as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Human Resources and Development every school must have a provision for special education. The appointment of special teachers should be mandatory for each school. The valedictory function was addressed by Prof Manish Agarwal, Chairman, and faculty, Human Rights and Corporate Law of ICFAI University. Agarwal said there was a lot of disparity between theory and practice in the matter of RTE. Dr DK Giri, Dean, Faculty of Education, said the future of RTE was in the hands of teachers since they were the pillar of education.
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Dehradun, August 7
Dehradun, August 7
Kusum Bharti complained of power fluctuation and sanitation problem in her area. “Most of the times, the transformer is out of order. We have to spend many hours without power. Though we have brought this matter to the notice of the department concerned many times, nothing has been done,”
she added.