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Nishank announces creation of four new districts
‘Fruits of
development must reach last person in line’
Rain continues to wreak havoc in state
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High alert sounded, Char Dham pilgrims asked to put off yatra
Two students, man drowned
Widespread support for Anna’s anti-graft drive
Street plays staged in Mussoorie areas
‘Bring CM within the ambit of Lokayukta’
CM condemns Anna’s arrest
Landslides leave over 1,500 passengers stranded
Vijay Cantt beat Gypsy Young 3-1
India has plenty of potential for growth of soccer: Expert
Congress draws flak for its silence over CAG findings
Mixed response to agrarian policy
In search of his missing son
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Nishank announces creation of four new districts
Dehradun, August 16 During his Independence Day speech here yesterday, the Chief Minister said the four districts were being created to strengthen the administrative setup in the sate. He also announced a hike in freedom fighters’ pension from Rs 6,000 to Rs 11,100 in the state. Earlier, the Chief Minister unfurled the Tricolour at the Parade Ground and inspected the parade. Recounting several steps taken by his government, the Chief Minister said the Atal Swasthya Yojana, Eco-Tourism Corporation, water harvesting and the integrated farming programme together with the new Agriculture Policy have been announced to ensure an all-round development of different sectors. He said the government would soon announce a policy for the rehabilitation of the people living in different slums and along riverbeds. Highlighting the progress made by his government, the Chief Minister said: “The Atal Chaupal programme is helping the government establish links with the ‘aam admi’ with the government. The GDP of Uttarakhand is 11.52 per cent, that is higher than the national average. We have also managed to attract a total investment of Rs 30,000 crore in the state. We have also started the Atal Adarsh Gram Yojana in 670 Nyaya Panchayats and in these villages an Atal Mini-Secretariat is being established,” he said. Nishank said 4 lakh beneficiaries had benefited from the government’s social welfare schemes. He said for an all-round development of the minorities, a directorate and madarsa board have been created and the Rahbar programme has been launched. The government will give employment to a total of 3,500 youngsters under the Ashirwad Yojana. The government’s Chirayu health programme for the students of the primary and junior schools has been aimed at monitoring their health. “In the remote areas, the government has deployed trained 2,500 remote-area workers. The 108 Emergency ambulance service has also helped in saving the lives of hundreds of mothers and babies. Now, we will be starting the boat and air ambulances in the near future,” the Chief Minister said. The Chief Minister said with the help of Gas Authority of India Limited, two gas-run power projects (350 MW) announced by his government and to be set up at Kashipur and Haridwar, once completed, would help in meeting the power demand of the state.
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‘Fruits of
development must reach last person in line’
Dehradun,
August 16 At the flag-hoisting ceremony on Monday, The Governor observed that though India had progressed remarkably since the Independence, there was a lot that remained to be done. Regarding Uttarakhand, she said the state was making strides towards development but all must resolve to work rising above personal interests and party politics to ensure that the fruits of development reached the last person in the line. A
contingent of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) accorded a salute
to the Tricolour and the Governor on the occasion. Alva greeted all the
officials and workers and distributed sweets among them.
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Rain continues to wreak havoc in state
Dehradun, August 16 In another incident, four persons were killed in an accident on the Uttarakhand-Gangotri road. In yet another incident, a youth drowned in Yamuna on the outskirts of Dehradun. Char Dham routes - the Rishikesh-Kedarnath road, the Rishikesh-Badrinath road, the Rishikesh- Gangtori road and the Rishikesh-Yamunotri road - are also blocked due to the collection of the debris. The Almora-Pithoragarh National Highway is blocked at Dhyarhi and Makrhau. Similarly, the Haldwani-Almora road is blocked at Palipul, Garampani and Chharha due to the debris. Almost all rivers in the state are swollen due to incessant rain. The Saryu in Champawat is flowing above the danger mark since yesterday. In Haridwar, the water level is Ganga is 1 meter above the danger mark. Gola River in the Haldwani region is in spate. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has expressed grief over the deaths in the Uttarkashi and Rudraprayag incidents. He has asked the District Magistrate to give compensation to next of kin of the deceased and the injured.
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High alert sounded, Char Dham pilgrims asked to put off yatra
Dehradun, August 16 Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has also asked all the District Magistrates and the police officials to maintain a high level of preparedness taking into account the inclement weather conditions. He said the Disaster Management Minister and the Chief Secretary had been directed to conduct a daily review of the situation. Further, the administration has been directed to ensure a safe passage to the passengers who are stranded on the yatra route. The Border Roads Organisation has also been directed to increase its efforts in terms of machinery and labour to promptly open the blocked roads.
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Two students, man drowned
Pithoragarh, August 16 Both students were returning home after participating in the Independence Day programme at their school. The bodies have not yet been traced,” said DS Garbayal, District Magistrate, Almora. In another incident, a 52-year-old man, a resident of Dhanar village in the Chaukhutia area, was swept away in a local rivulet while trying to cross it today. “The body of Gopal Singh was found by villagers,” said the DM.
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Widespread support for Anna’s anti-graft drive
Dehradun, August 16 Spokesperson for the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Diwakar), Sunil Dhyani said: “We extend our support to the Lokpal Bill draft prepared by Anna Hazare and denounce the way the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre is adopting to thwart his movement against corruption.” President of the UKD (Panwar) Trivender Singh Panwar, who observed a fast in front of the Vidhan Sabha, said sending Anna Hazare to judicial custody on the issue of corruption had once again refreshed the memories of the Emergency imposed in the country when Jayprakash Narayan was also jailed for raising his voice against the Congress government. General secretary, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Surender Singh Sajwan said: “Everybody has freedom to air his views in a democratic setup, despite a difference of opinion. Therefore Anna Hazare’s arrest is an attack on the democratic forces and the Centre will ultimately have to pay a price for that.” The district unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal also held a rally in the city in Anna Hazare’s support. Bhajan Singh Kala, secretary, said: “The pubic has woken up against the miasma of corruption engulfing the country. They support Anna Hazare and are ready to go to jail if the government continued to protect the corrupt.” Abhishek Bhandari, district president of the Student Federation of India, called it a suicidal step by the Congress government. General secretary of the All-India Trade Union Congress KR Kashyap said: “The Centre is implicating those who are questioning it on corruption in false cases, and treating them as its personal enemies. It is setting an example for other state government to follow. By doing so, the government itself is driving the last nail in its coffin.” Manoj Dhyani, convener, Uttarakhand Rajya Niraman Sainani Sangh, who held a rally from Hindi Bhawan to the Secretariat as part of its campaign, “Bhrashtachar Mitao -Uttrakhand Bachao”, has demanded the immediate release of Anna Hazare. Haridwar: Hundreds of people thronged streets to support Anna Hazare in his agitation against corruption. Throughout the district, Anna Hazare’s workers of different bodies held rallies, peaceful protests and carried out mass awareness drives braving the heavy downpour, that is continuing in the region since yesterday. At the Chandracharya chowk, the activists of the India Against Corruption organised a campaign in support of the Jan Lokpal Bill where information was disseminated about the Bill draft prepared by the representatives of the civil society and the one to be tabled by the Centre in Parliament. Youngsters and students too took out a rally through the streets of the city raising slogans against the Centre for arresting Ann Hazare and other civil society members like Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kezriwal. At Dev Sanskriti University, a mega convention was held in the morning to extend support to Anna Hazare’s drive for a strong Jan Lokpal Bill. Head of the university Pranav Pandya urged students to make sure neither did they adopt corrupt practices nor give bribes to officials.
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Street plays staged in Mussoorie areas
Mussoorie, August 16 The march was taken out from the Gandhi Chowk to Picture Place during which the participants raised slogans against the Centre and in support of Anna Hazare. The protesters demanded a strong Jan Lokpal Bill instead of the government version to be tabled in Parliament. They burnt an effigy of the corruption at Picture Palace under the banners of the Sarvabhavantu Sukhina and the Society for Civil Opinion, The activists of the Rashtriya Seva Dal staged street plays at Kandikhal, Nainbagh and Thatyur villages with the message of need for a strong Jan Lokpal Bill. The activists said they supported Anna Hazare’s demand for a strong Jan Lokpal Bill in order to remove corruption from the country.
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‘Bring CM within the ambit of Lokayukta’
Dehradun, August 16 When it was brought to his notice that the office of the Chief Minister was deliberately kept out of the purview of the Lokayukta and the decision was taken during his tenure as Chief Minister of the state, he said: “Then this aspect was not brought to light, but certainly the Chief Minister should be open for scrutiny”. The former Chief Minister expressed these views while addressing a press conference here today. He also remained non-committal on the level of corruption prevailing in the state during his tenure and the incumbent Chief Minister’s tenure. Coming out in support of social activist Anna Hazare, Khanduri said he would not hesitate from lending his support to a similar movement, if launched in Uttarakhand. “Though corruption cannot end in a day, in the interest of Uttarakhand, I am willing to lend support to anybody who launches a campaign to weed out corruption,” he added. He said tomorrow, he would take out a march from Shivaji Dharamshala to the Parade Ground. He was critical of the treatment meted out to Anan Hazare by the Centre and criticised the highhandedness of the Congress government.
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CM condemns Anna’s arrest
Dehradun, August 16 In an interaction with mediapersons here today, the Chief Minister said it was beyond anybody’s comprehension as to why someone would oppose any non-violent peaceful agitation against corruption? He said from the Central government’s behaviour on the Anna Hazare episode, it appeared as the nation was fast moving in the direction of the Emergency.
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Landslides leave over 1,500 passengers stranded
Pithoragarh, August 16 “We are in touch with the Almora District Magistrate regarding making arrangements for the stranded pilgrims. Labourers have been sent to the spot to remove the debris,”said MC Joshi, District Magistrate (Pithoragarh). Most of the roads linking the district headquarters to other subdivisions have been closed due to the landslides. “PWD work force and BRO officials are making all efforts to restore traffic at the earliest. Arrangements to essential commodities to the stranded passengers are being made by the administrations of both Almora and Pithoragarh. We hope that the roads will be opened by tomorrow if the weather improved,” said Joshi.
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Vijay Cantt beat Gypsy Young 3-1
Dehradun, August 16 The first match played between Wills Youth and Sunderwala Boys ended in a tame draw. However in the second match played between Vijay Cantt and Gypsy Young, Vijay Cantt defeated Gypsy Young 3-1. For Vijay Cantt, the breakthrough came in the ninth minute when Ankur scored the first goal followed by Balam who scored the second goal in the 13th minute and Shubam scoring the third goal in the 15th minute.
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India has plenty of potential for growth of soccer: Expert
Mussoorie, August 16 Yogesh said he was here in assisting the association with his inputs on the ways to develop football in the country. He has been living in India for the past 15 years and has observed that there is a plenty of talent, passion and interest for the game, he added. Yogesh was of the view that with right approach terrific players could be produced in India. He intended to offer his services completely free so that the nation could become a soccer force in the international arena. He said it was not worthwhile to compare the development of soccer in the two countries as the US was an industrialised nation where education system and sports infrastructure were completely different from that of India because the latter was still a rural nation where the need for developing infrastructure still existed. In India, the system of nutrition and the outlook on balance between sports and education is different compared with the US, therefore the same yardstick cannot be applied here. The approach towards the development of the game in India has to be different, he added. Elaborating his plan for the development of the game in India, he opined that players had to spend 10,000 or 12,000 hours on football till the age of 15, following that they had to attain skills of mastering the ball, then speed, agility, insight, technique and in the later stage tactics. If this is done the quality of players and the game will improve. He said there was no dearth of good coaches and if time and money was spent on the football it could become a major sport in the country.
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Congress draws flak for its silence over CAG findings
Nainital, August 16 The silence of the BJP is obvious since it is the ruling party but that of the main Opposition party, the Congress, has led to a disillusionment among the people giving credibility to the aspersions that the two are working in tandem. A major reason for the Congress’ silence is that the report that was released on May 9 this year, covers the period between 2005 and 2010. During this period both the Congress and the BJP were in the driving seat in the state. “Party politics apart, my contention is that if the CAG reports on the 2G scam and the Common Wealth Games (CWG) can become an issue in Parliament why not the findings of the CAG on Uttarakhand. Why do the mainstream parties ignore the state and turn a blind eye to what is happening here,” says lawyer and social activist Avtar Singh Rawat. In the very first chapter on disaster management, the CAG, while referring to the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF), has stated that the state had received Rs 499.43 crore against which Rs 472.21 crore was spent during the five years. The report categorically states: “The performance audit of Disaster Management showed state government’s lackadaisical approach and lack of commitment in the implementation of the important aspects of disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness. The state government, in the wake of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, is yet to frame the guidelines, policies and rules. The State Disaster Management Authority has been virtually nonfunctional since its inception.” The report goes on to add: “The state government failed to ensure the incorporation of disaster prevention in the development process of the state as envisaged in the Act. In the absence of critical infrastructure such as trauma centres, the affected population could not be given immediate medical attention, depriving them of basic medical facility. Assessment of structural and non-structural safety of school buildings and identification of necessary mitigative action was not included in the school safety programme, leaving 30 per cent of the school buildings unattended.” Besides other anomalies, the report also points that Rs 41.77 crore was sanctioned from the CRF on “inadmissible construction works” in violation of the norms of the scheme. Attacking the two political parties, state secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Vijay Rawat said: “There is no difference between the two parties (the Congress and the BJP). It all comes to the core issue of sharing the loot. There is no policy difference between the two right up to the national level. It is in this context that the formulation of a broad based third front with the Left parties at its core becomes more relevant.” Senior politician and bitter critic of the two mainstream parties Munna Singh Chauhan, while talking to The Tribune, said: “It is true that the funds from the Central pool have not been utilised properly. The core question here is that of not having a clear-cut strategy to address the concerns of the people regarding disaster. On one side the BJP is attacking the Centre and the Delhi government on the issue of CAG while on the other the Congress is quiet in the state where major irregularities have been pointed out in context of the Maha Kumbh and other issues. It is really unfortunate.”
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Mixed response to agrarian policy
Dehradun, August 16
President of the council Bachi Ram Konswal said the uniform land such as the one in Lakholi village is a rarity in hills. Therefore to talk of giving incentives on consolidated farming is merely hogwash, he added. Calling the new policy as a copied version of the NDA government’s agricultural policy of 2003, he said: “The budget allocation for agriculture is contracting each year. GAIT which opened import and export on 1,429 banned articles has proved to be detrimental to farmers. The reduction to the tune of 300 per cent in subsidy, be it for manure, seeds, etc, has made farming a losing proposition. Then by giving a prominent role to private players in the agriculture sector, the state government is encouraging exploitation of the farmers.” Vijay Rawat, secretary, CPM, strongly advocated the inclusion of measures such as Minimum Support Price and establishment of local markets, which, he felt, were sorely missing in the agrarian policy. He said: “The markets where farmers can sell their produce should be located within a 5-km radius from his village. Much of farmers’ produce rot or go waste for the want of nearby mandis. This system will also check migration from villages.” He also demanded protection of the crops and produce from monkeys and boars. Rawat sought the attention of the government to land reforms as well. He said: “There is an imminent need to protect the fragmentation of the farming land. The surplus land should be given to tillers. Similarly, it is the time that the state government gives ownership rights to 1,50,000 Dalit peasants and the Rai Sikh who had been doing farming in Udham Singh Nagar since the Partition.” Founder of the Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation (HESC) Anil Joshi also stressed simple and pragmatic solutions, which would protect the declining agrarian sector in the state. He harped on the need to give the responsibility of contract farming to villagers themselves. |
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In search of his missing son
The family will be visiting Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh , Goa and Maharashtra and, possibly, Chennai for this operation. Ryan Chambers, an Australian youth, went missing from an ashram in Rishikesh on August 24, 2005. The Chambers family is visiting India for the fourth time to look for their missing son. Besides making their own efforts, the family plans to meet the local police and government officials appealing to them to help find Ryan. Jock will be arriving in India on August 21. On his tour Jock says, “We will be conducting a 10-day search in Rishikesh. After visiting Dehradun, Haridwar, Badrinath, Indore, Pune, Goa, Shimla and Kulu/Manali we will return to Rishikesh. We are realistic, but miracles do happen. Someone knows something. Hoping something comes out of the visit.” Ryan and his Adelaide friend, John Booker, were backpacking in India in 2005. On August 24 Ryan disappeared mysteriously, leaving all his belongings, including his passport and money, in the ashram room. The family is taking the help of the Internet in the search for Ryan Chambers. They have hosted a website dedicated to the search, www.ryanchambers.in. Besides this they have posted information on many travel websites. "Thousands of people have visited our appeal about missing Ryan on www.indiamike.com. Many unknown people have become our friends and they are providing us moral and practical help," Jock said. The Australian High Commission in India occasionally approaches the Uttarakhand police seeking the latest information about the missing Aussie youth. The Uttarakhand police in its letter said: “A joint team was formed to search for the missing youth in 2005. The team visited hotels, dharmshalas of the local area and likely spots of the bordering districts, but failed to find the missing youth. A thorough search is going on currently to look for Ryan Chambers.”?
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Dehradun, August 16
Dehradun, August 16
Dehradun, August 16
Dehradun, August 16