Cong creates furore in Assembly
Demands probe into ‘scams’; session adjourned 
Tribune News Service

Chief Minister BC Khanduri

Dehradun, September 27
A determined Opposition Congress stalled the proceedings of the Uttarakhand Assembly demanding an inquiry into the alleged scandals involving the ruling BJP government on the opening day of the session here today.

The House was adjourned till Wednesday after repeated interruptions by the Opposition members.

As soon as the House began to settle down for the day’s proceedings, Congress members were in arms demanding a CBI inquiry into the 21 cases of corruption involving the ruling BJP.

Five minutes after the proceedings, the Congress members rushed into the well of the House supported by three BSP members. The leader of the Opposition Harak Singh Rawat urged Speaker Harbans Kapoor to allow immediate discussion on the corruption cases involving the ruling BJP government, including the alleged misuse of funds in the conduct of the Kumbh mela. Three BSP members too lent their voice to the chorus of protest against the BJP government’s misrule.

The Congress members also showed placards in the House displaying the names of various scams like financial bungling in conduct of the Mahakumbh mela, Rishikesh housing scam, 56 hydel projects allotment scam, medicine purchase scam and Chief Minister’s discretionary fund scam.

As the din continued, the Speaker was forced to call for three short adjournments and then finally adjourned the House for the day.

UKD(P) to contest all 11 seats in Haridwar dist
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, September 27
With a view to expanding its base in the plains, the only regional political party having a substantial base, the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (P) has decided to field its candidates in all the 11 Assembly segments of Haridwar district.

This was announced by party chief Trivendra Singh Panwar after the formation of the Haridwar district executive body. He directed all the aspirants to submit their applications by October 20.

Lashing out at the BJP government for failing to control illegal quarrying in the district, despite Swami Nigmanand laying down his life fighting against this illegal practice, Panwar accused Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik of being hand in glove with quarrying mafia.

“Everything is in the knowledge of Kaushik but owing to his vested interests and liaisons with quarrying mafia, the administration turns a blind eye to the illegal activity. Even the Maha Kumbh scam occurred when he was made the Kumbh mela in charge minister. Deep in the quagmire of corruption, the BJP government is only trying to fool the public by bringing back BC Khanduri in place of Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank as Chief Minister,” said Panwar.

Notably, Trivendra Singh Panwar has been quite active in Haridwar district for the past few months. Insiders point out that he wants to make inroads into the home city of his bête noire Diwakar Bhatt.

Panwar had suspended Diwakar Bhatt in January earlier this year after withdrawing support from the BJP government. In retaliation, Bhatt formed formed a separate party, the UKD (D), and suspended Panwar. Since then both the factions have been claiming to be the original UKD. The matter of claims to the original party symbol (a chair) is sub judice.

The UKD will also be starting a mass campaign from November to highlight the scams and corruption cases involving both the Congress and the BJP leaders in all the 13 districts of the state.

At the party meeting, Adesh Marwari was appointed district chief while Ishwari Rao was made general secretary. Rana Ranveer Singh, Lalit Mamgain, Uday Ram Semwal, TP Juyal, Sarita Purohit, Krishna Negi and others were inducted in the state executive committee.

3 Bills, reports of Lokayukta tabled in House
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 27
Amid the din created by the opposition parties, the Uttarakhand BJP government led by Chief Minister BC Khanduri introduced three Bills in the Assembly today.

The state government also presented the reports of the Lokayukta of the past five years along with the action taken reports (ART) on the table of the House today.

The three Bills are the Bill on annual transfer policy for government employees, on special courts and on right to public services.

The Bill on annual transfer policy will cover all employees in the state, who will now have to compulsorily render services for a stipulated period in the state’s remote areas.

The Bill on special courts envisages holding speedy trials for those caught with benami property in their possession.

While the Bill on right to public services aim to provide the common man hassle-free public services like ration card, electricity connection, driving licence and birth and death certificates within a specified time-frame.

The BJP government also presented the reports of the Lokayukta for 2006-2010 and action taken reports in a quick succession.

The BJP government had drew a flak for not tabling the reports presented by the Lokayukta. The last report was presented in 2005.

A few months back, the Uttarakhand Lokayukta, Justice MS Ghildyal (retd), had mentioned to the Governor that the reports prepared by the Lokayukta were not tabled after 2005.

The action taken reports also mention the allocation of land for setting up a permanent office of the Lokayukta and its employees. The Lokayukta had made this demands in 2009.

A total of 17 Bills have now become Acts after the Governor gave her Assent.

No plan to provide cheap power to IT Park units
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 27
As of now the Uttarakhand government has no plans to provide cheap power and the zero power cut facility to the industrial units set up in the vicinity of the IT Park in Dehradun.

In a reply to a question raised by Pritam Singh in the Uttarakhand assembly today, the Chief Minister, Major-General BC Khanduri (retd), who also holds the charge of Industry Minister, said the government had no plans to declare the IT Park located on the Sahastradhara road (Dehradun) “as a zero power cut area nor it will provide cheap power to the industrial units.”

In a reply, the Chief Minister also said a total of 67 acres has been set aside for the IT Park. As of now the proposals of 22 industrial units have been cleared, out of which five industrial units have been established. Eight industrial units are under construction.

Besides, 14 acres has also been allocated for establishing an IT residential colony for the employees working at the park.

The Chief Minister said after the proposal to develop the IT Park as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ for IT activities) failed to take off, the Government of India had denotified the area in January, 2011, and it was now being developed as an IT park. He said a power substation and two water pump stations had been set at the park.

Damaged water schemes

The Water Resources Minister, Prakash Pant, said a total of 1,063 water schemes had been damaged in the recent rain-related incidents in the state. He was replying to a question raised by Sher Singh Gadiya of the BJP about the total number of water schemes that had been damaged due to the torrential rains.

Voter lists

Replying to a question raised by MLA Mayukh Mehar whether persons hailing from Nepal had been included in the voter lists, the Election Minister, Prakash Pant said so far not a single name of persons hailing from Nepal had been found to be enlisted in the voter lists, especially in Pithoragarh. He, however, said the Election Commission could enlist the names of persons hailing from Bihar through a simple procedure provided their names do not figure or have been struck down in the electoral list of their home state.

Panchkarma units

The Health Minister said a total of 44 panchkarma units had been established in the state and 88 posts had been set aside for hiring panchkarma assistants. The question was raised by Congress MLA Jot Singh Gunsola.

OBC list

Social Welfare Minister Balwant Singh Bhoriyal said the National Commission for the Backward Classes had rejected the demand to include members hailing from the Gamri Dichili and Visht regions of development block Chinyalisayur in the OBCs list. Though the members have been demanding for the same.

Most Atal Adarsh villages sans facilities
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, September 27
The ambitious scheme of the state BJP government, particularly of former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, to set up Atal Adarsh villages as a model for rural development in the state has proved to be a nonstarter in most of the selected areas.

The residents of these selected Atal Adarsh villages have now started agitating against the non-fulfilment of the promise of providing them with minimum 16 facilities. The residents of three Atal Adarsh villages have written to the district administration for the provision of these facilities promised to them under the scheme.

“Our village has been declared a Atal Adarsh village but not even a single facility has been provided to us. The proposed road to the village, work on which started two years ago, has not been completed yet and the students study in the open as the damaged primary school has not been repaired till date,” said Chanchal Singh Mehta, a villager of Naval Atal Adarsh village in Gangolihat block of the district.

According to the villagers, under the scheme, the Nyay Panchayat headquarters were supposed to work as a model of village administration. “Even doctors visit the hospital only three days in a week,” said Chanchal Singh Mehta.

The Atal Adarsh village of Pukhraura in the Bungachina area under Pithoragarh subdivision is also crying for the facilities promised under the scheme. “Our village is facing an acute shortage of potable water. Besides, there is a shortage of teachers in the primary school at the village. It also lacks medical facilities,” said Deepak Singh Negi, pardhan of the village.

“We have sent a detailed project report (DPR) of the road to the Atal Adarsh village of Nayal to the government but it has not yet been approved,” said Bishan Lal, Executive Engineer of the Berinag division of the PWD.

The same answer is given by the development-related officers of the district when they are asked about the delay in the provision of other essential facilities to these village. “We are constructing water tanks in the Atal Adarsh villages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee scheme (MGNREGA) to provide potable water supply to the villages. As soon as these tanks are constructed, the water problem in these villages will be solved,” said JC Pant, District Development Officer, Pithoragarh.

“Out of 64 Atal Adarsh villages in the district, 39 have been provided with all facilities prescribed under the scheme. The deadline for providing the facilities to the other villages has been extended to October 31 from March 31,” said Pant.

“Most of the Atal Adarsh villages face the problems of poor road connectivity and water shortage. Since these facilities can not be provided quickly, we have extended the deadline for their provision which is likely to be extended further,” Pant admitted.

Thousands pay obeisance at Narayani Shilla Temple
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, September 27
On the occasion of Chaturdashi of Shraadh Paksh, thousands paid obeisance at Narayani Shilla Temple today at Mayapur.

Narayani Shilla is a rare temple where special rites are performed for the peace of the souls of forefathers round the year but during Shraadh, people from the country come here to make sure that rituals are performed for providing salvation to the deceased souls.

While for the past 15 days since the Shraadh commenced, the rites had been performed at Narayani Shilla daily.

Dozens of shillas (small temples) are made on the temple premises in which, it is believed, the wandering souls of the deceased reside.

Today on the concluding day of Shraadh, anyone who doesn’t know the date of expiry of his relatives can perform rituals. So since morning itself, thousands had performed rituals after taking a bath in holy Ganga at the Naryani Shilla temple.

At noon, hawan was performed while mass food, Brahmbhoj, was organised by people performing rituals on Amavasya.

Later, in the evening lighted earthen lamps(diyas) were floated in the Ganga river.

Meanwhile, more than 5 lakh people took a dip in the Ganga at Brahamkund, Har-ki-Pauri, and adjacent ghats of Malviya Deep, Alaknanda, Birla, VIP, Prem Nagar, Rishikul, Gobindghar, Kushawrat etc on Amavasya.

DM forms task force

Haridwar, September 27
With the issue of illegal quarrying in the Ganga riverbed in Haridwar district gaining national status after the death of late Swami Nigmanand who died after being on fast for 100 days, the district administration seems to be taking serious steps in this regard.

Now, newly appointed District Magistrate D Senthyl Pendiyan has taken up on priority illegal quarrying being carried in the Kumbh Mela notified zone.

Pendiyan has formed the task force which will be headed by Sub-Divisional Magistrate Harbeer Singh. He will be aided by Circle Officer and a representative each from the forest and quarrying departments.

“This is a matter of concern that while 19 licences for quarrying have already been cancelled in the district so far, owing to the laxity on the part of the administration mass scale quarrying is continuing in the prohibited areas. Any such laxity will be dealt with strictly,” Pendiyan told the administrative officials while reviewing a meeting on quarrying. — TNS

Governor bats for welfare of poor kids
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 27
Uttarakhand Governor Margaret Alva has said adequeate funds will be made available to implement schemes for the welfare of the deprived children. She was addressing a general body meeting of the state Childrens’ Welfare Council here today.

She said she was always keen to help implement viable proposals for the child welfare. Expressing concern about the children identified with serious illnesses during health camps, she said members of the council would have to come forward to help such children.

A group of five members was formed during the meeting on the initiative of senior vice-chairperson JC Pant to monitor the welfare activities. A group of 10 members was also formed that would visit Bal Bhawan every Sunday morning.

The Governor expressed gratitude towards the organisations and individuals who had been helping in the treatment of the seriously ill children.

She specially thanked Vijay Dhasmana, director of the Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust, who was present at the meeting.

She said more than acquiring funds, it was important that the funds available should be utilised properly. She expressed serious concern at the growing trend of female foeticide in the state and stressed the need for running a widespread awareness campaign againt it.

The Governor said posters, slogans and paintings made by children should be used effectively by the council to attract the attention of people towards the issue of child welfare.

She said experts from various fields should be made life members of the council. The Governor directed the council’s general secretary that the mention of members and organisations, assisting the council, must be made in the annual report of the council.

Cops make students aware of traffic rules
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, September 27
The traffic police in Haridwar is not banking on challans only to curb traffic violations, but it is now focusing on schoolchildren to make sure that not only they but also their parents follow the traffic rules properly.

Despite a number of drives against traffic violators, aided with strict penalisation, traffic violations in the city, particularly by the youth, are not getting under control. In the past 10 months, penalties worth Rs 1 lakh have been imposed on the violators.

The newly appointed SP (Traffic), Dr Kiran Lal Shaw, has launched a mass awareness programme in schools where children are being apprised of the traffic rules and penalties imposed for their violations.

Interactive sessions are being held in a majority of the schools as just by slapping a fine of Rs 100 or 200 was not serving the cause. Till students themselves don’t realise their mistakes such penalties are meaningless, said Dr Shaw, who is the first police officer to take charge of this maiden post created in Haridwar district owing to an immense traffic pressure.

From the benefits of wearing helmet, seat belts, having a proper driving licence, adhering to speed limits, avoiding triple ride and bike stunts to taking the other safety measures, the students are told in detail about the traffic rules. Students also take a pledge that they will make sure the members of their families too don’t violate traffic rules.

Founder of Shivedale Public School Swami Sharad Puri appreciates the initiative taken by the traffic police. He pointed out that many parents made enquiries about the drive.

The SP (Traffic), along with Traffic Inspector Devendra Dabral, is contemplating having more such sessions in schools.

Also on-field training will be given to students in order to give them a first-hand experience of the tough duty the traffic police personnel perform at intersections and other points.

BSP leader, supporters create ‘ruckus’ in hospital, booked
Tribune News Service

Nainital, September 27
A leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and 20 others have been booked for allegedly resorting to violence and causing a hindrance to the functioning of Sushila Tewari Memorial Hospital in Haldwani.

The incident has brought to the fore a lack of security in government hospitals, where kin of patients and politicians have been “attacking” doctors and resorting to violence the moment there is any casualty.

According to information, on late Sunday night, BSP leader Raisul Hasan and 20 of his supporters allegedly damaged the equipment and manhandled personnel posted in the blood bank of the hospital. They were demanding the issuing of blood for a patient without having completed the required formalities.

Irked, employees of the hospital struck work on Monday morning, causing inconvenience to patients. The matter was resolved only when Hasan and his supporters were booked, although they have denied resorting to any vandalism or violence and have counter-charged that blood bank personnel were in an inebriated state.

Officials at the hospital said though there was a full-fledged police post on the hospital premises, there was no attempt to check such violence. Booking such persons did not not make any difference as they were free after a few hours and came back to the hospital to create more nuisance, they added.

Meanwhile, another incident of violence by Youth Congress activists was reported from BD Pande Hospital, Nainital, on Monday after the death of a woman.

They accused doctors of having mishandled the case and getting a post-mortem examination done. The Health Department has denied that there was any carelessness in handling the case and said a post-mortem examination was done in medico legal cases.

Official held on bribe charge

Nainital, September 27
A Vigilance Bureau team has arrested an official of the Entertainment Tax Department for allegedly taking a bribe from a cable operator at Rudrapur in Udham Singh Nagar district.

According to information, Hemant Prakash, who runs a cable network in Kashipur, had approached the Vigilance Bureau’s office in Haldwani with a complaint.

He said he had to pay Rs 10,020 as entertainment tax every month, but owing to some financial problem, he could not deposit the same for the months of June, July and August. He had approached the Entertainment Tax Department for getting the tax waived, but an inspector, identified as Hemender Singh Rautela, allegedly told him to pay Rs 15,000 as a bribe for getting the tax waived.

Following this, the VB carried out investigations and found the charge correct. Later, a team was constituted that laid a trap on the Collectorate premises in Rudrapur. The complainant met the accused and after deliberations, he agreed to pay the latter a sum of Rs 11,000 as a bribe. When he allegedly paid the amount to the accused, the team caught him red-handed. — TNS