Financial Liabilities
State facing financial crunch, CM to Pranab
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 1
Uttarakhand Chief Minister BC Khanduri today met Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi to apprise him of extreme financial crunch the Uttarakhand Government has been facing owing to non-settlement of pension liabilities between Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand from November 9, 2000, to March 31, 2009, after the partition of UP, according to a press note issued by the state government here today.

As per the records of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, under the ambit of the mutual agreement between the successive state governments, the government of UP was to release a payment of Rs 1,545.98 crore to Uttarakhand in respect of the pension liabilities. The government of UP has not given any commitment for making the entire payment to Uttarakhand during the current financial year. Instead it has just made a provision of Rs 500 crore in its budget for the current financial year towards the liabilities.

“Out of a total allocation of Rs 500 crore, Rs 200 crore has only been released to the government of Uttarakhand,” Khanduri explained to Pranab Mukherjee. Further, Khanduri pointed out to the Finance Minister that an inordinate delay in the settlement of liabilities had forced the government to borrow substantial funds from the market at a considerable cost. As per records, borrowings by the government of Uttarakhand amount to Rs. 700 crore in the current financial year.

As a matter of fact, pension payments from the government of Uttar Pradesh formed the government of Uttarakhand’s scheme of financing of the Annual Plan for 2011-12. This is in consonance with the approval of the Planning Co mission. Any shortfall on this account is most likely to jeopardise state finances, claimed a state government press note.

Keeping in view of the facts, the Chief Minister made a fervent appeal to the Finance Minister that immediate balance payment of Rs 1,345.98 crore to the government of Uttarakhand by adjustments from the short release of “Normal Central Assistance” to the government of UP would help Uttarakhand.

Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee was seemingly convinced about the financial constraints being faced by Uttarakhand due to pension liabilities. He assured Uttarakhand of all possible assistance to the state as per state government officials.

Damaged road concerns Munsiyari farmers
10,000 quintals of potato yield await lifting
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, October 1
Nearly 10,000 quintals of potato produced by farmers of the Munsiyari region in this district is waiting to be lifted, as the road linking the area has not been repaired after it was damaged during the monsoon this year.

“The Munsiyari region produces 10,000 quintals of potato every year. The potato is mostly produced by 400 farmers of more than 24 villages between Madkot and Bona. These villages are linked with a 25-km-long road, which has been damaged during the monsoon, but has not been repaired yet,” said Jay Dev Singh, District Horticulture Officer, Pithoragarh.

According to villagers, the farmers of the region have not harvested the potato crop as it gets damaged in the absence of an immediate transportation to the market.

“According to our estimate the potato crop costs Rs 2.16 crore if sent to the market at the prevailing rates of potato from the hills,” said Chandra Singh Koranga, a potato producer from Tomik village.

“We have not harvested the crop after the road got damaged in the monsoon,” added Koranga.

According to information, the road is badly damaged due to debris and has been washed away at many places. The road is used by the farmers every year to send their produce to the mandis of Haldwani and Pithoragarh.

“We will be forced to carry our produce on horse back and ponies and it would add to our costs,” said Nain Singh Rawat, a potato farmer from Bona village.

The District Horticulture Officer (DHO) says the 5,000 quintals of potato meant for the seed and grown by 150 farmers of the Munsiyari region has not been affected by the road blockade.

“At present, we are cleaning the surroundings of our farm at Bona and thereafter the produce will be sent to our godowns at Seraghat to be distributed among the farmers,” said Jay Dev Singh, the DHO.

When the PWD engineers of the divisions concerned were contacted by this correspondent, about the condition of the road, they agreed that the road was damaged.

“We have already sent an estimate to the government to repair the damaged road, under the head of disaster damages repairing. As soon as the estimate gets the approval, we will start the repair work on the road,” said Anand Singh Bisht, an engineer of the PWD.

Water Adventure Tourism Around Tehri Lake
BNGVP moves at snail’s pace on master plan preparation
Seema Sharma/TNS

Dehradun, October 1
Tourism Adviser to the Chief Minister Prakash Suman Dhayani’s suggestion to officials of the Bhagirathi Nadi Ghati Vikas Pradhikaran (BNGVP) on the preparation of a master plan so that the Tourism Department could go ahead on its project of development of water adventure tourism around the Tehri Lake and the acquisition of forest land appears to have little effect on the BNGVP and the department.

The BNGVP is going on at a snail’s pace. As per the rules, unless the BNGVP comes up with a master plan with clear demarcation of land, including the forest area, no construction activity can take place. But unauthorised houses are emerging in the zone. The BNGVP which came into existence in 2005 has not been able to prepare the master plan, as it was not provided funds for the task. Only in 2011, when Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank made an announcement for the master plan, the files began moving.

BD Raturi, vice-chairman of the BNGVP said, “We have just completed the formality of handing over the job of the master plan to a Delhi company.It will take at least three years to complete its work. Nevertheless, we have asked the Tourism Department to send its sectoral plan to us regarding Tehri water adventures which will be assimilated in our master plan.”

On the other hand, Joint Director, Uttrakhand Tourism Development Board, AK Dwivedi, said the department had long ago sent its sectoral plan to the BNGVP. He also seemed least bothered about the delay in the preparation of the master plan and said, “When the BNGVP did not lay any rule, there is no question of flouting it. Therefore, we are proceeding with our project at a quickened pace with the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation. We have also acquired some land around the THDC and will have more in the near future.”

He further added, “Even if the master plan is implemented at a later stage, then as per the provision in the Tourism Act whereby the department is liable to pay some amount to pay as penalty for such cases, we will also do the needful.”

He, however, gave a piece of advice to the BNGYP saying, “The way unauthorised construction is mushrooming in the Bhagirathi river zone, it requires to be checked. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to remove these at a later stage. The harm will be done by that time.”

Double delight for BJP workers
Celebrate Khanduri’s birthday and appointment of Nishank as party vice-chief
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, October 1
BJP workers had two reasons to celebrate the day today. First, it was the birthday of Chief Minister Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri and second, the party high command appointed former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank as vice-president of the party.

The district BJP office at Devpura was abuzz from morning as no one wanted to remain behind in expressing happiness and proximity with the new CM, while the Nishank faction were a bit laid down till noon, but as soon as the news came of his elevation as party vice-president, they too came out in open distributing sweets and extending wishes.

Sushil Chauhan, district party chief, addressed party workers conveying wishes to Khanduri, who turned 77 today. He said the party was progressing well under the able leadership of the trio of Khanduri-Koshyari and Nishank and would retain power in the upcoming Assembly elections.

“We wish him (Khanduri) a long healthy life aided with success in political field in future too. Every party worker is behind him, so is the public as a national party leader of his stature has a successful stint as a Union Cabinet Minister” said Chauhan, who himself is in the midst of controversy owing to his criminal background.

Later, distribution of fruits was done by party workers at government hospital apprising the patients of the significance of the day and their purpose.

At Madan Kaushik’s Khanna Nagar residence, soon after the news of Nishank’s induction in the party national executive came, Nishank loyalists seen in a happy mood.

A party district unit office-bearer close to Nishank remarked that the appointment as the party’s vice-chief didn’t mean that he would loosen his grip in the state politics but will be helpful in proving to the high command that he was a loyal party worker and in future would surely regain his lost post.

Ramlila begins in Pithoragarh
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, October 1
Pithoragarh’s Ramlila that is famous for its classic ragas began on Thursday. It started with Ganesh Puja followed by Narad Moh, said Jagdish Punera, secretary of the Ramlia Committee in Pithoragarh.

“The staging of Ramlila in the Kumaon region is more than 150-year-old. For the first time, it was staged at Badrashwar in Almora in 1860,” said Shiv Charan Pandey, a veteran member of the Ramlila panel. 

Demand to set up transport hub in Pantnagar
Tribune News Service

Nainital, October 1
Industrialists in Udham Singh Nagar have taken up the issues of poor condition of roads, frequent power cuts and waterlogging with the administration. At a meeting held with administrative officials at the Collectorate yesterday, industrialists demanded that these issues needed to be addressed at the earliest. They also raised the matter pertaining to the repair of the Bhakhra bridge near Gadarpur.

A major demand raised by industrialists at the meeting was to develop a transport hub in the State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttaranchal (SIDCUL) area of Pantnagar.

Additional District Magistrate Vijay Chandra Kaushal, who was chairing the meet, has ordered PWD officials to take up the matter with the General Manager of the District Industries Centre BR Arya on behalf of District Magistrate BVRC Purshottam.

He also asked them to address the concerns that have been raised time and again regarding the repair of the Bhakhra bridge and roads in the Kitcha area of the district. The issue had also been taken up by farmers of the region at a meeting with the District Magistrate a few days ago.

The administration has also stressed upon the need for industrial units to recruit at least 70 per cent of the work force from Uttarakhand, preferably local areas. The industrialists have also been asked to take steps to get industrial space vacated from encroachers.

The industrialists also took up the matter pertaining to providing better transport connectivity for the workforce to reach the industrial units in the SIDCUL hubs in Pantnagar and Sitarganj.

Kaushal has asked Arya to write to the Transport Department to look into the issue and to take up the matter of issuing additional permits for private buses to address the problem.

Bageshwar Zila Panchayat chief resigns
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, October 1
Bageshwar Zila Panchayat chairman Ram Singh Koranga today submitted his resignation on the condition that it would be accepted after November 10 this year. “I have taken the decision on my own, keeping the party interest in mind,” said Koranga, who was forced to resign, citing an agreement between him and vice-chairman Vikram Shahi some 35 months ago.

According to sources, the organisation had ordered Koranga to resign from the post on September 28. “The copy of the party decision has been served on Koranga by me,” said Jung Bahadur Singh Dosad, BJP chief of Bageshwar unit. The dissidents are not satisfied with this decision which has to come into effect after two months. “The decision, which reflects power lust of Koranga over party interest, has created a situation of confusion among the workers as the worker wanted the resignation of Koranga,” said Vikram Shahi, an aspirant for the post of Zila Panchayat chairman under the agreement. 

Power cuts hit industry

Dehradun, October 1
Pankaj Gupta, President, Industries Association of Uttarakhand, feels that the industries in Uttarakhand are suffering due to frequent power cuts in the state.

In a press note issued here today, Pankaj Gupta said the power cuts initiated by Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited were affecting the production of industries in the state as the power cuts stretch over a time span of 7 to 8 hours. He said with the festive season already in progress, there was a rising pressure on industries to increase their production and the power cuts were adversely affecting their business.

Pankaj Gupta pointed out that some industries had even threatened to close their units if power cuts continued to take place in the state. — TNS

Panel formed to carry out economic census
Tribune News Service

Nainital, October 1
The Almora administration has constituted a committee to carry out the economic census to be held across the country from January to June next year.

According to District Magistrate DS Garbyal, the committee has been constituted on the directions from the Chief Secretary’s office.

The Central Government plans to conduct the sixth economic census next year as a central sector plan scheme. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation plans to carry out the fieldwork of this census during January to June in collaboration with all state and Union Territory governments.

A plan of action for the conduct of the census has been put in place and the exercise will involve the collection of data from entrepreneurial units.

Officials said data on sectoral activity of the unit, the number of workers, social group of the owner, female-owned enterprise among others would be collected for micro-level planning and policy formulations with respect to various economic activities.

The exercise assumes special significance in states like Uttarakhand that are striving to overcome economic backwardness.

Garbyal has ordered that all departments should keep their records up to date. The exercise will be carried out with the help of personnel posted in departments like Education, Revenue, Agriculture, Social Welfare, Food and Civil Supplies, Statistics etc. He said NGOs could also be roped in in this exercise.

Clash between villagers, liquor smugglers
Tribune News Service

Nainital, October 1
A clash between villagers and liquor smugglers has been reported from the Chorgaliya area of Nainital district. The clash took place in the Daula Bazpur forest of the region. Although the villagers managed to seize some liquor from smugglers, the latter fled the spot after pointing a firearm at them.

According to information, on Friday night, villagers came to know that some smugglers were trying to transport a consignment of liquor from the Raikhal forest area to the Daula Bazpur area. Nearly 10 villagers caught up with the smugglers and encircled them in the Daula Bazpur area.

The smugglers tried to flee with a sack containing liquor but their effort did not succeed. As a last resort, they pointed a countrymade pistol at the villagers and fled the spot, leaving behind the sack.

The people of the area are agitated over the continuing illegal manufacturing and trade of liquor in the forest areas of this region. They have been peeved at the alleged failure of law and order enforcing-agencies to take proactive steps towards controlling the menace despite having been informed about the activities of anti-social elements involved in the illegal liquor trade.

They have now decided that instead of approaching law and order-enforcing agencies, they would take up the matter with the administrative authorities. — TNS