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Ramnagar to be developed as ‘Paryatan Nagri’
The logo of the Corbett National Park on its platinum jubilee.
BJP asks Defence Ministry to come clean
Badrinath, Gangotri yatra suspended
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Ex-MP declines Chufal’s offer
Teachers: Need to upgrade elementary schools
Poornanand’s fast enters 10th day
BJP: Play up achievements
Declining demand, disease affect Agrakhal ginger farmers
UKD (P) stages dharna over domicile certificate issue
Workers of the UKD hold a dharna in Dehradun on Monday. A Tribune photograph
Notification on Food Safety Authority delayed
All set for Devi Dhura fair
Television artiste Praveen Kumar at the Multan Jot Mahotsava in Haridwar on Monday. A Tribune photograph
MP urges Centre to extend facility to Kumaon
Landslides block Tanakpur temple road
A library for students preparing for competitive exams
New agriculture policy draws flak
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Ramnagar to be developed as ‘Paryatan Nagri’
Ramnagar, August 8 The announcement was made at a function organised to mark the Platinum Jubilee of the park held at a newly constructed auditorium in Ramnagar town on Monday. Nishank said the state government had planned to further strengthen van panchayats and provide various economic avenues to the residents of these panchayats. There were 1.5 lakh to 2 lakh people residing in these van panchayats. One of the plans was to help women develop nurseries so that the plants could be sold elsewhere, he said. He further stated that the government planned to develop Nakshatra Vatikas and Nav Graha Vatikas across the state. These vatikas would have plants signifying every astrological sign and planet. Nishank declared that funds from various sources would be pumped into Ramnagar to develop it into a global tourist destination. “We want tourists to come here but we also do not want to overburden the national park,” he said. Ironically, Ramnagar is a place that lacks several basic amenities like parking places. At the same time he chose the occasion to attack the Central Government for not paying any green bonus to the state. He claimed that the state alone was supplying oxygen to the tune of Rs 40,000 crore. “Instead of paying the green bonus, they are categorising us as an eco-senstive zone. I want to ask where do they want to shift us,” he said. Nishank also used the opportunity to put the onus on the Forest Protection Act, 1980, for the lack of development in the state. “For every little thing we have to seek clearance from the Forest Ministry,be it laying water pipelines, harnessing hydro power or making roads. The Act is a major hindrance in the development of the state,” he said. The programme was organised by the Forest Department. Artistes from the Parvatiya Gramin Vikas Samiti came up with an interesting musical presentation on the issue of environmental conservation. Prior to this, a flame was handed over to Nishank by a patrol party of Forest Department personnel who had carried it over a distance of 135 km from the Kalagarh Range symbolising their commitment to preserving the park. Chief Wildlife Warden Srikant Chandola said the park came into existence on August 8, 1936. He chose the occasion to reflect on the patience and sacrifice of the people residing in the vicinity of the park and their contribution to environmental conservation. While Chief Minister Nishank was attending the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the park, a group of van Gujjars waited for an opportunity to meet him outside the gate of the venue. The elderly van Gujjars had come from the Kalagarh Range to once again make a request for being relocated. These van Gujars were Muslims. “We have just been getting promises of being relocated all these years. We want to lead a safe life away from the threat of animals at a place where our children can get education and we are a part and parcel of the mainstream society,” said Wazira. His associate, Ilmuddin, said,“ We just want to greet him by garlanding him and putting forward our plea. The police has not allowed us inside. They are asking for the invitation card which we do not have.” The van Gujjars had waited for close to four hours. Finally, two of them did get an opportunity to hand over their written request only after officials saw that the issue had drawn the attention of mediapersons. |
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BJP asks Defence Ministry to come clean
Tribune News Service
Dehradun, August 8 BJP Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Vijay has condemned the alleged barbaric act of the Pakistani troops in “beheading” the two Army men on the Kupwara border recently. In his statement issued here today, Tarun Vijay said, “The Union Defence Minister should explain the circumstances in which they were beheaded.” The bodies of Havildar Jaipal Singh Adhikari of the Kumaon Regiment hailing from Haldwani and sepoy Devender Singh from Didihat tehsil, Pithoragarh district, were brought home on August 7 and cremated with full military honours. However, Army officials accompanying the bodies requested their kin to see their faces as they had been badly mutilated due to a direct hit from mortar fire. The coffins in which the bodies were brought were not even opened. However, later it was alleged that the two Army men who were going to lay an ambush ahead of “Temple” post in Furkiyan Gali in the Kupwara sector were attacked by a group of Pakistani troops on July 31. Both the soldiers died in the gun fight and Pakistani troops allegedly beheaded both soldiers before escaping back. Tarun Vijay said the Indian Government should take up the matter with the Pakistan Government as the alleged barbaric act by the Pakistani troops was against Geneva Conventions. He further said the government should register a case against Pakistan in the International Human Rights Commission and the War Crimes Tribunal and the culprits be punished as done in Bosnia. He also announced to give Rs 10 lakh each to install the statues of the martyr soldiers in their native places at Pithoragarh and Haldwani.
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Landslides
Dehradun, August 8 Landslides struck the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway at several places, including Govindghat, disrupting traffic. The Rishikesh-Yamnotri National Highway had also been hit by landslides in the Chhatanga area, official sources said here. The yatra to Gangotri remained suspended for the second consecutive day as the landslides that hit the Rishikesh-Gangotri National Highway at Sainj in Uttarkashi district yesterday have not been cleared so far. Fresh landslides had also hit the highway at Helkugad and Netala, the sources said. PWD, BRO and police personnel are working round the clock to clear the debris and reopen the road to traffic. Administrative teams have been sent to the affected areas to take care of the stranded pilgrims. Meanwhile, light to moderate rain continued to lash most parts of Uttarakhand with Uttarkashi receiving the heaviest rainfall at 84 mm, followed by Bhatwari (72 mm) on way to Gangotri temple during the |
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Ex-MP declines Chufal’s offer
Dehradun, August 8 Party sources say at a meeting between General Rawat and BJP state chief Govind Singh Chufal held yesterday the latter had even offered to make him the chairman of the Uttarakhand Sainik Kalyan Parishad, but the proposal was rejected by the General. “We met him yesterday and held a long discussion with him. The front formed by him is apolitical. For now, we would like to wait and watch,” said Chufal. Meanwhile, the second rally of the Uttarakhand Raksha Morcha will be held on August 14 and it is expected to be attended by retired officers of the Army and the Central Government. “There is anger among people that the governments all over the country are oblivious to the problems of the common man. I am not hankering after any post, I am confident that I can win a seat without the support of any party,” said Rawat.— TNS |
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Teachers: Need to upgrade elementary schools
Dehradun August 8 A large number of teachers associated with the federation gathered here from all across the state and discussed the issues which they were confronting at their respective places. They also listed down their problems and proposed the improved teaching methods in their curriculum to the state Education Department. Addressing the meeting, J B Bahuguna, president, said, “The elementary schools in the hilly areas are deprived of the appropriate number of teachers and various other welfare schemes started by the government. The government should introduced the modern teaching aids by implementing the playway method into the curriculum. Also the teachers of elementary schools need to be upgraded and enhanced through proper training, effective educational policy and its further practice,” he added. The eminent speakers of the convention were Professor G B Joshi from Uttrakhand Open University and Professor K B Bhedori from HNB Garhwal University. |
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Poornanand’s fast enters 10th day
Haridwar, August 8 As per the ayurvedic doctors who carried out a medical check-up of the agitating swami, who is on indefinite fast demanding the initiation of a CBI probe into Swami Nigmanand’s death and a ban on quarrying in the region, has lost more than 2 kg. Earlier, when the administration offered to get Swami Poornanand examined by the district hospital staff, he refused the same, accusing the district medical staff of conspiring to eliminate Swami Nigmanand. But, when the administration tried to find a mid way by sending ayurvedic or Yunani doctors to the ashram for carrying out the check-up, the Matri Sadan representatives agreed
to it. Meanwhile, Swami Poornanand reiterated that he would only end the fast when his demands are met by the government. Swami Shivanand Saraswati, head of the Matri Sadan ashram, situated at Jagjeetpur village, has asked the state government to make sure that all the formalities are adhered to while paving the way for an immediate start of the
CBI probe. Meanwhile, units of the district Congress continue to extend their support to Swami Poornanand’s agitation. The office-bearers of different units sit by Swami Poornanand at Matri Sadan daily. Uttarkahand Congress chief Yashpal Arya, along with vice-chief Brahamswaroop Brahamchari, also visited Matri Sadan and assured its members of the party’s support for their noble cause. Telu Ram, Youth Congress representative for the Haridwar parliamentary seat, termed the laxity by the BJP government in initiating the CBI probe as a deliberate attempt, as there was a nexus between certain BJP leaders and the quarrying mafia. |
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BJP: Play up achievements
Dehradun, August 8 One leader with a ministerial rank has been entrusted with the responsibility of 5-6 Nayay Panchayats where Atal Chaupals are being held. “One group has already attended the Atal Chaupals and given us the feedback, another will be going soon.,” said Govind Singh Chufal, President of the BJP State unit. — TNS |
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Declining demand, disease affect Agrakhal ginger farmers
Mussoorie, August 8 The farmers from Narendar Nagar, Khadi, Gaja, Chaka, fearing heavy losses, have completely abandoned ginger cultivation this year. The villager, Kedar Singh Chauhan, Bachan Singh and Hoshiyar Singh, while speaking to The Tribune, said the last year their ginger yield commanded good prices but this year they were not able to recover even the cost price due to the double impact of the declining demand and the disease that had ruined the crop completely. The local wholesalers are of the view that the ginger from the area commands a price of about Rs 50-7O per kg last year but due to a decline in the demand from the cities like Delhi and Dehradun the price has not gone beyond Rs 25 per kg. Earlier, the area had witnessed ginger production as high as 150-200 tons. According to the agriculture scientist and Professor at Ranichaari Agriculture Institute, Dr KP Singh, the rhizome rot disease has devastated the ginger crop in the region, affecting the yield this year. The disease spreads rapidly after the rains. The infected plants turn yellow and their lower leaves dry out. Eventually, the plant collapses. The disease is caused by the use of infected seed from the previous crop, although these may appear normal and healthy. Hence, selecting clean seed based on appearance may not be sufficient to control the disease, he added. The experts believe that farmers can avoid the disease by discarding all the seed pieces showing having cracks or rot or by dipping them in hot water at 50 degrees centigrade for 10 minutes if the incidence of root knot was high in the previous crop. The farmers should also keep the fields free from weed. Meanwhile, the farmers affected by the disease have been forced to abandon their crops and are even contemplating drastic action that could turn into a major crisis, if the state government does not take preventive steps and come to the aid of the farmers at this hour of need. |
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UKD (P) stages dharna over domicile certificate issue
Dehradun, August 8 They also protested against the constitution of a committee headed by MLA Dinesh Aggarwal which held its first meeting in Vidhan Sabha to decide about the venue for the new building of the Assembly. On the issue of domicile certificate, district president NK Gusain said their president gave enough indications at his press conference on this issue that they would not tolerate the cancellation of the requirement of domicile certificate in the state. They would now intensify their agitation until the government roll back its proposal, he added. “This proposal is a big blow on the interests of the educated unemployed youth of the state. The prohibition of domicile certificate will have serious cascading effects in the time to come. By bringing this proposal, the BJP government has once again proved that it can only chalk out anti-state policies. The UKD as usual will not let it implement and oppose vehemently through emphatic demonstration, bandh, hunger strikes etc.” Members of the UKD also raised slogans in favour of the shifting of the capital to Gairsain in Vidhan Sabha. — TNS |
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Notification on Food Safety Authority delayed
Dehradun, August 8 After the new Food Safety and Standards Regulations 2011 came into force on August 5, the notification of the structure for the Food Safety Authority of Uttarakhand was to follow but with the Commissioner away, the file too has not been taken up. Meanwhile, in another reshuffle yesterday, the Uttarakhand Government has appointed Manisha Panwar as Secretary, Health, in place of Dr Uma Kant Panwar. In his capacity as Health Secretary, Dr Panwar was appointed Commissioner of the Food Safety Authority of Uttarakhand. It is still not clear if Manisha Panwar will take over as Food Safety Commissioner. “I have taken over charge today and I have not yet read the Act. The Food Safety Authority of India is under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. In other states too, it is under the Health Department,” said Manisha Panwar. Interestingly, the lack of seriousness regarding the implementation of the provisions of the Food Safety Act can be gauged from the fact that since the Rules and Standards Regulations (2011) came into being, the government will again be appointing a new Food Safety Commissioner within a span of a few days. While the issue of transfer of food inspectors to the commission continues to remain pending. Around 50 Chief Food Inspectors as part of the erstwhile Prevention of the Food Adulteration regime have to be transferred to the newly created commission, but so far no orders have been issued. “We are totally in the dark about our status, the proposal for the new set-up was submitted to the Secretary, Health, but he is away,” said a top official. Along with a Joint Commissioner from the PCS cadre, a Deputy Commissioner (from the erstwhile Prevention of Food Adulteration Act cadre), Senior Food Safety Officers and Food Safety Officers have to be appointed. Not only is the complete food inspection and sampling in disarray but the officers are not sure if this time around they will get their salaries on time. |
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All set for Devi Dhura fair
Pithoragarh, August 8 The stone-throwing ritual, for which the fair is famous, will be held on August 13 at the Devi Dhura temple in Champawat district. Residents of two villages throw stones at each other as part of the ritual and many devotees are injured in the process. “Besides the 108 emergency ambulance service round the clock on the “Bagwal” day, a panel of four doctors led by Dr Nishikant will also be on duty on the day to treat the injured participants,” said Dr H S Pangti, Chief Medical Officer of Champawat. In the Bagwal fair, the local heads of villages form two groups of the participants from among the villagers and give them green signal to throw stones on each other group. “Besides four doctors, we have also deputed four pharmacists, one ward boy and two women health visitors in the fair to cater to the injured in the fair and other general patients,” said Dr RK Joshi, Deputy CMO and in charge of the medical services during the 12-day- long fair which starts on August 9. According to the mela committee, thousands of spectators from across the region are expected to reach the Devi Dhura temple to witness the “Bagwal” ritual on August 13. “We have invited more than a dozen cultural teams from all over the country, but the condition of the road to the temple remains the main concern of the administration due to the monsoon,” said Lal Singh Chamyal, Chairman of the Mela Committee. “We have also deputed a food inspector to ensure the quality of food items to be sold in the fair and have ensured adequate stock of essential medicines ,” said the CMO. |
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Multan ‘jots’ floated on Ganga
Haridwar, August 8 Hundreds of devotees filled Har-Ki-Pauri and adjacent ghats, floating the illuminated decorative “jots” on the river that enchanted everyone present here. Cine artiste Praveen Kumar of the “Mahabharat” fame was taken on a chariot with people queuing up on both sides of the road to get a glimpse of the artiste. Praveen Kumar said he was blessed as he was coming to Haridwar annually as part of Shri Multan Jot Mahotsava and was overwhelmed by mass participation of the people. Traffic snarls were witnessed on the Delhi-Haridwar national highway owing to the chariot procession and visit of a large number of devotees to the Ganga ghats. It was only after offering of “jots” to the holy Ganga river that the traffic pressure eased on the highway. |
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Piped Natural Gas
Nainital, August 8 The letter written by Pal to Reddy states: “As you are well aware that the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand consists of plain as well as hilly areas. The present pipeline project (the one being built in Kashipur) covers only the plain areas. In order to reap the benefits of technology and the development programmes of the UPA government, such as Bharat Nirman, Providing Urban Facilities in Rural Areas (PURA), it is important to provide the PNG in the hilly areas, and to begin with the habitations and towns closer or marginal to the plain areas such as Haldwani, Bhimtal, Nainital, etc, should be covered under the project. The PNG then can be provided in the far-flung areas to cover the entire region. Such an approach will make a balance in the distribution of development among the plain as well as hilly areas.” — TNS |
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Landslides block Tanakpur temple road
Pithoragarh, August 8 Since the Purnagiri fair has ended, the district administration is not serious in solving the problems faced by the pilgrims. “The wire which supplies electricity to the temple has been damaged at Batnagar,” said Chandan Singh Basnait, Executive Engineer of the electricity distribution division, Champawat. According to the temple committee, some enthusiastic businessmen of the Bhairav temple area have arranged some generators for the pilgrims and to light the temple complex, but these arrangements are proving insufficient. “Not only the temple complex, but also 400 families of Selagar village near the temple have also been living in the dark for the past one week following disconnection of electric supply to the area,” said a temple priest. The pilgrims are also facing difficulties in crossing the way at Batnagar where a 100-metre-long stretch has been damaged by debris from hills. — OC |
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A library for students preparing for competitive exams
Haridwar, August 8 Oxford Library, situated at the Chandracharya intersection here, is a unique private library having 10,000-odd competitive examination books ranging from engineering, BSc, MSc, computer science to medical subjects. Founded by a retired PWD engineer, Vijay Kumar Gupta, this library was established in 1998 with Gupta investing his gratuity fund in buying space and books for the library. This library provides books to the students who are preparing for competitive examinations but find it tough to buy all
the books. If the educational record of a poor student is found brilliant, with recommendation from teachers, the library even provides books to him free of cost and without charging the membership fee. As the motive of Gupta behind setting up this library was to make sure that no diligent student was deprived of books in his or her ambition to prepare for
higher-level competitive examination. As Gupta recalls: “In the early nineties there was no coaching institute or tutorial available for higher competitive examination in Haridwar. My children faced quite a problem as there was no one who can guide them nor was there any book store which had such books. I thought there should be one roof under which children of not only Haridwar but also of the nearby areas can have access to such books. But, as money was a constraint I had to wait till retirement to establish the library”. Apart from having membership the fee for which is barely a few hundred rupees per year, students can also get these costly books on rent paying a paltry sum. Books are sold at the very price the publishers charged from the library. Seeing Gupta’s commitment towards young students his two colleagues RD Aggarwal and HK Sharma also provide their services at the library daily. The three are retired engineers of the Public Works Department. Falguni Jaitly, who has been utilising services of the library for a long time, termed it as a blessing as a few years ago there was no sign of even higher education books in the city, forget competitive coaching. “I have been a member of the library since I was in Class XII and have benefited immensely cracking engineering entrance test. Almost all those who can’t afford costly books or don’t get these in the city can get these here at Oxford Library and we all thank Vijay sir who thought of our requirement,”
Falguni added. Though last year’s monsoonal floods damaged around 1,000 books, all those books have been repurchased by Gupta. Gupta, who keeps a low profile, has got no assistance or even felicitation from the state government or any other organisation. However, he has
no qualms. “It’s the love, appreciation and hard work of students which motivates me. Besides, when they have made it big in the education field those are golden moments for me. I established this library only with the aim that students of Haridwar don’t have to face problems in pursuing their higher education dreams,” said Gupta, from whose library 400 students
are benefited. |
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New agriculture policy draws flak
Dehradun August 8 “The real objective behind formulating the agriculture policy is to impose the GAIT treaty and unequal conditions of the World Trade Organisation on poor countries. To achieve this, the BJP government has devised those policies which are suffused with liberalisation, privatisation and commercialisation. This is the process whereby the facilities given to the farmers are being removed to bring about a way for their further exploitation,” said Konswal. Under this policy, the public investment would go down further. Reduction in subsidy on manure and foodgrains, abolition of the Public Distribution System based on allowance related to cheap ration, eradication of a system which promoted development of new equipment and seeds and relegation of support price too dealt a big blow on the agriculture system in the state, he said. |
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To mark the occasion of the Jim Corbett National Parkcoming into existence 75 years ago, Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has announced that Ramnagar will be developed as “Paryatan Nagri”.
The announcement was made at a function organised to mark the Platinum Jubilee of the park
Dehradun August 8
The district unit of the UKD (Panwar) staged a dharna on the first day of its seven-day programme in protest against the move to revoke the creterion of domicile certificate for admissions to various courses in the state in front of Vidhan Sabha today.
They also protested against the constitution of a committee headed by MLA Dinesh Aggarwal
Haridwar, August 8
