Curfew relaxed in Rudrapur till 10 pm
Tribune News Service

Nainital, October 10
With the riot-hit Rudrapur limping back to normalcy, the administration has decided to extend curfew relaxation in the town. From tomorrow onwards, curfew will be relaxed from 6 am to 10 pm. The town had witnessed communal riots on October 2, leaving four persons dead and scores of people injured.

Official sources said all educational institutions, including schools and colleges, in the town had started functioning in a normal manner. The bus service has also become normal. Earlier, some of the buses had been plying through diverted routes via Pantnagar and Ramnagar. Besides this, it has been decided that traffic movement will be allowed on two national highways passing through the town even during the curfew hours from Monday night onwards. The two highways, Rampur-Nainital and Kashipur-Tanakpur, witness a heavy movement of traffic even during the night time.

Meanwhile, there is no let-up in heavy deployment of police and other security forces in the town. The police continues to arrest people who were allegedly involved in the sparking of the riots on October 2.

The sources said the police, with the help of a special operations group, is viewing video recordings of the violence that had taken place last Sunday. It is learnt that functionaries of various political parties had allegedly played an active role in the incidents that had resulted in the burning down of several shops and vehicles apart from the killings.

Commissioner (Garhwal division), Ajay Singh Nabyal, who was asked by the Chief Minister to probe the riots, will soon submit his report in this regard. He has been carrying out the probe from a room in the inspection building of the Public Works Department at Rudrapur.

The main focus of his probe is whether the sparking of the riots was pre-planned. He has also been asked to take into account the role of officials in dealing with the situation, the relevance of the decisions taken and whether the steps taken to control the situation were adequate. The probe will also assess losses incurred in terms of damage to infrastructure in general and public property in particular.

Seven held for arson

The Rudrapur police has arrested seven persons for arson following the electrocution of a youth in the Shantipuri area on Saturday. The death of the youth in a vegetable farm had sparked of rumours and trouble in the area.

The police and the administration had acted swiftly to prevent the situation from getting worse.The matter had become sensitive following Rudrapur town having witnessed communal riots barely six days ago.

The accused were involved in torching of several hutments.Shantipuri had witnessed heavy deployment of police and Rapid Action Force over the past two days. 

Anganwari workers to go on fast
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 10
Irked over no response to their seven-point charter of demands by the state government, anganwari workers have decided to go on a fast at the ICDS Directorate from October 13. City president of the Angawari Karyakarti/Sewaika Kara chari Union Seem Singh said the government had failed to revoke its order slashing their honorarium. In protest, they would launch a fast on October 13.

At a protest rally held in front of the Secretariat today, Seem Singh said they would also organise protests in all blocks from October 10 to October 12.

Anganwari workers are demanding their appointment as supervisors, leave facility, appointment as teachers as per qualification in primary schools, PF and ESI facilities for workers and the declaration of pension facility.  

100th Birth Anniversary of Shantikunj Founder
Gayatri family plans mega fair
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, October 1O
The city of Haridwar is getting ready to host another mega fair like Kumbh, which will be one of its kind in the country. Being organised by Akhil Bharatiya Gayatri Family-Shantikunj on the occasion of 100th birth anniversary of its founder Pandit Shri Ram Sharma Acharya, the festival will be held from November 6 to 10. More than 2 crore Gayatri family activists will take part in the grand centenary celebrations. A total of Rs 45 crore budget has been specified for the celebration.

A total of 24 such townships are being bifurcated into two zones, each spread in 50 sq km area. Approximately, 42,000 volunteers have been pitched by fair organisers who will cater the people staying at the townships as well as the floating visitors.

For better dissemination of festive coverage, a state-of-the-art media centre is being put up at Rodebelwala. In case of emergency, a special disaster management wing has also been put in place ,while a 100-bedded main hospital is also being constructed. To add to this, mini-medical centres equipped with 24 hours medical staff facility will be available at all the townships.

The Head of Shantikunj, Dr Pranav Pandya said several health, transport, sanitation, food-supplies, water, electricity, fire-brigade, media, registration, computer, cultural, exhibition, music, management, lost-found cell, technical and religious ritual cells have been formed. “These all are being managed by Gayatri family members only who have come from across the country and foreign also. You will find that on our own, we are hosting a fair that is as grand as Kumbh,” said Pandya, while inviting people to follow the path of Pt Shri Ram Sharma. 

Addl responsibility for ombudsmen
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 10
Along with hearing complaints relating to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNREGA) Act, the ombudsmen appointed by the Uttarakhand Government have also been entrusted with additional responsibility of hearing complaints regarding Centre-sponsored schemes launched under the 13 Finance Commission and the State Finance Commission.

The government has already released a list of ombudsmen who have been selected for 13 districts. Of these, the appointments of Banshidhar Joshi for Bageshwar, Shekhar Singh Rawat for Chamoli, Om Prakash Bhatt for Pauri and Vijay Laxmi Rautela for Almora have been cleared.

These ombudsmen will also be taking up the complaints relating to development works being executed by the panchayats and under the Indira Awas Yojana and other government schemes.

“They will not be paid extra for additional responsibility. The ombudsmen will act in an independent manner as envisaged under Section 27 of the scheme,” said Om Prakash, Secretary, Agriculture. An order in this regard was issued on October 7.

The ombudsmen will be paid Rs 500 per sitting and will look into complaints from MGNREGA workers and also have power to lodge FIRs against erring government officials.

The appointment of an ombudsman is crucial for the redressal of grievances of job card holders engaged in different projects under the MGNREGA in the state and the implementation of the programme that aims at removing poverty. 

Champawat youth scouts for job
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, October 10
Owing to the lack of industrialisation, the youth of the backward district of Champawat is facing the problem of unemployment. In the wake of recession and communal trouble in Rudrapur, an industrial belt of Udham Singh Nagar district, many youngsters, who worked there, have come back to their homes in the past one week but are unable to find jobs in Champwat.

“Out of 29 industrial sheds in Champawat district only nine could give employment to 26 persons,” said GV Joshi, manager with the District Industry Centre, Champawat.

According to the manager, not even a single industrial shed has been constructed in the district in the past 11 years. “We have received 9 proposals to set up industries in the district in past 11 years but six of them were rejected on the ground of unviability while others are still awaiting clearance from the Directorate of Industries,” said Joshi.

However, the Industries Department has continued with imparting training to the future entrepreneurs under a programme for budding entrepreneurs. “We have spent Rs 21 lakh on the training of the budding entrepreneurs of the district and trained 1,900 people till date but only 251 out of them have become self-employed in the district so far,” said Joshi.

The people in the district are disappointed at the slow pace of industrial development of the district and blame the policies of the District Industry Centre, which, they allege, does not look beyond the limited sphere to motivate entrepreneurs. The district has good potential for small industries based on the raw material of potato and citrus fruits as these are produced in large quantities in the district,” said Dinesh Pandey, a journalist based at the district headquarters.

According to Pandey, more than 15,000 tonne of potato is grown in the district every year which is being sent to various nearby markets as raw material. “If this potato could be converted into chips and then packaged attractively, this can increase the income of the potato farmer in the district manifold. Citrus fruits grown in the district are either sold locally or sent to the nearby mandis,” said Pandey. He said the citrus produce could be utilised by some small or medium industry in producing pickle, sauce and jams. “I had been working in a glass factory at Rudrapur but due to lay-off in the factory I am now jobless,” said Vikash Oli, a youngster from the Khetikhan area of Champawat.

Another youth, who was injured in an accident at an industrial unit near Khatima, has also come back to the district.

Depts asked to submit estimates for next year
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, October 10
Expecting the early Assembly elections in the state, the Planning Department, Pithoragarh, has asked all departments to submit their estimates for the district annual plan for 2012-2013.

R Rajesh Kumar, Chief Development Officer, Pithoragarh, said the process of making the plan for the next year was on. “This plan will be implemented according to the Panchayati Raj Act, 2007, and the Panchayat Raj Rules, 2010, through the tri- level panchayat institutions of the gram panchayat , the block panchayat and the zila panchayat,” he said.

The district plan for the next financial year in the district has been estimated at Rs 53.84 crore, which is much higher than the district plan for the current year that is Rs 35.89 crore. “We have been asked by the State Planning Commission to sent these estimates by November 30,” he added.

He further said 50 per cent of the allotted money under the district, state and centre plans for the current financial year had been spent by the departments till September this year. “We have asked the departments concerned to submit their estimates for the remaining budget of the current financial year under various heads,” he said, adding that if these estimates would not reach on time, the early announcement of the elections would affect the district plan for the current and the next year.

The meeting that was presided over by the DM also emphasised on giving priority to 14 development points set by the Chief Minister and giving top priority to Atal Aadarsh villages in the district, he added.

Student loses foot in mishap

Dehradun, October 10
An MSc student of SGRR PG College reportedly lost her left foot when it came under a moving train at Dehradun railway station today.

According to the police, Nitika Gupta, a native of Ranipur, Haridwar, was trying to board the train for her house after attending the college when she accidentally slipped and her foot came under the wheel of the train, which had just moved.

The GRP shifted her to Government Doon Hospital where she is being treated. Her right foot has also got minor injuries in the mishap. The police said her condition is out of danger. — TNS

Names for Cong executive panel announced
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 10
The much-awaited list of the executive committee of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee had been announced by the All-India Congress Committee (AICC), according to party sources here today.

State Congress president Yashpal Arya has also confirmed that the names of the executive committee have been announced.

The executive committee of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) was delayed due to infighting within the state Congress. After Arya was re-elected the president of the state Congress, the nominations for the executive panel were delayed due to a “pressure” by various leaders and their groups to include names of their men in the executive committee.

The new executive will have six vice-presidents, Ram Sharan Nautiyal, Shanti Juvantha, Subodh Uniyal, Mahender Pal, Furquan Ahmed and Ravinder Singh Bisht.

Mantri Parsad Naithani, Muyukh Mehar, Kedar Singh Rawat, Prayag Dutt Bhatt, Rajpal Kharola, Santosh Kashyap, Virender Singh Bisht and Vijay Saraswat will be general secretaries. Brahmswarup Brahamchari will be the new treasurer.

The committee also have 16 other members, including five MPs and special invitees. 

Govt to provide free coaching to aspirants
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 10
The state government is all set to provide free coaching for entrance examinations of engineering, medical and other professional courses to students studying across the state.

This ambitious and innovative project under the public-private partnership (PPP) will be carried out at all district headquarters, including Government Girls Inter-college, Gopeshwar and Government Girls College, 
Haldwani.

With this, students of far-flung areas will also be able to get career counselling and free coaching for entrance to professional courses.

The state has also decided to set up five Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Abhinav Vidyalayas at Uttarkashi, Udham Singh Nagar, Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Bageshwar. These schools will provide free residential education to the selected students.

Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar, while reviewing the progress of projects being undertaken under the PPP mode, said today that bids of 14 projects to the tune of Rs 1,150 crore would be completed by March 2012.

Under this, four projects (Rs 563 crore) of the Tourism Department, three (Rs 90 crore) of the Transport Department, four (Rs 188 crore) of the School Education and three (Rs 309 crore) of the Health Department would be completed by March 2012.

He directed the officials concerned to give impetus to the projects so that its benefit could be provided to the common man. Stressing on sorting out the impediments coming in the way of the implementation of the projects, he said coordination among departments should be ensured.

He said 91 projects to the tune of Rs 4,916 crore under the PPP mode would be carried out in the state. “Under it, eight projects to the tune of Rs 170 crore are operational, agreements have been signed for seven under-construction projects of Rs 481 crore, the bidding of nine projects of Rs 732 crore has been completed, 28 projects worth Rs 847 crore are under the bidding process and 39 projects of Rs 2,686 crore have been conceptualised,” he said.

Tanker runs over 2 women

Nainital, October 10
An old woman and her daughter-in-law were killed when the motorcycle they were riding was crushed by a tanker near the Gadarpur area of Udham Singh Nagar district. The person who was driving the motorcycle managed to escape with minor injuries. An irate mob went on to thrash the driver of the tanker before handing him over to the police.

On Sunday afternoon Satnam Singh of of Bazpur was going to Manunagar village situated on the state border with UP along with his wife Manjit Kaur and daughter-in-law Simran Kaur. They were going to participate in a condolence meeting. Just as they were crossing Gadarpur, their motorcycle was run over by a tanker that was transporting chemicals. The accident took place in the middle of the Main Market in Gadarpur. Both women died on the spot. The driver of the tanker has been identified as Gopal of UP. — TNS

Work on Rishikesh-Karanprayag railway line to begin soon: MP
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 10
Congress MP from Pauri Garhwal Satpal Maharaj has said that work on the Rishikesh-Karanprayag railway line will soon be inaugurated by United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

In a press release issued here today, the MP said he had approached Sonia Gandhi during the Air Force Day function held recently to get her consent for inaugurating the important railway line in Uttarakhand. He said Sonia Gandhi had readily agreed to his request. The 125-km-long Rishikesh-Karanprayag railway line was sanctioned by former Union Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee and a sum of Rs 4,295 crore was also earmarked in the Railway Budget for the same.

He said work on the project, which was earlier entrusted to the engineering wing of the Northen Railways, would now be undertaken by the Railways Development Corporation.

He further said the corporation had been given a time frame of five years to complete the railway line that would have 12 railway stations, 81 tunnels and a 65-meter-high rail bridge.

Flaying the BJP for taking credit for the project, Satpal Maharaj said the people of the state were aware of the fact that who had initiated the move for a railway line up to Karanprayag.

Satpal Maharaj, who is also the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence said, such projects were of national importance and political parties should not indulge in petty politics on the issue.

BJP campaigning to go hi-tech
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 10
In order to enhance it’s reach among the voters, the Uttarakhand BJP will use social media, e-mail and mobile messaging in the 2012-Assembly elections. “To provide wider coverage to the election campaign of the national and state leaders, the BJP would use Youtube to upload the videos of the leaders so that voters and party workers in different assembly constituencies could remain in constant touch with the electioneering,” said BJP National Spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman at a media workshop for BJP party workers held here today.

The BJP party workers were also given lessons on handling the media till the elections and to spread awareness among voters about the work undertaken by the BJP in the last five years. They would also spread awareness about the three Acts that were recently passed in the Assembly.

BJP President BS Chufal, Chief Minister BC Khanduri and senior leader BS Koshiyari, who is also the Incharge of the BJP election campaign, and former Chief Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank also addressed the party workers. “The BJP will also appoint conveners in 70 constituencies who will coordinate with the MLAs in keeping abreast with the day-to-day movements of the BJP state and central leaders once the election campaign starts,” said Deepti Rawat, BJP spokesperson.

Besides, Chief Minister BC Khanduri will also begin his election yatra from tomorrow and will visit each district. The yatra will end on October 30.

The BJP will also form 11 teams that would ascertain the popularity of the leaders in the before-distributing party tickets.

Between November 1 to November 19, a total of 88 sammelans of youth, women and SC/ST cells will be held in the districts. These will be followed by sammelans in the 70 assembly constituencies, to be held from November 20 to December 10. 

Party blames Centre for lack of development
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 10
The national spokesperson for the BJP, Nirmala Sitharaman, today held the “directionless” UPA government responsible for the lack of development in the Uttarakhand.

She said a lack of clear directives from the Centre in matters pertaining to environmental clearance for road laying resulted in these not being built at all. “In the absence of infrastructure the investors have remained unwilling to invest in the state and this in turn has led to a decline in job opportunities in the state,” Nirmala said.

While addressing a press conference here today, Sitharaman also blamed the UPA government for discontinuing the industrial package given to the state without citing explicit reasons for the same.

“The BJP government, under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had granted the special industrial package to the hill state till 2013 but the UPA government ended it in 2010 for no apparent reason,” said Nirmala.

She said the five MPs from the Congress also failed to pressurise the UPA government and had failed the people of the state.

Training her guns on the UPA and the ministers involved in various corruption scandals, the BJP national spokesperson said the government was shielding the ministers by not acting against them. Maran is facing heat over the allocation of 2G spectrum during his tenure as Telecom Minister and the Opposition has demanded his removal from the Union Cabinet, she added.

“The Congress government is protecting the ministers who are facing investigation and the BJP government will expose the government’s ‘misdeeds’ during BJP leader Lal Krishan Advani’s Rath Yatra which is being taken out for good governance and clean politics. The yatra will pass through 100 districts and by the time it concludes a strong atmosphere would be created against the UPA which would come handy for us to put pressure on the UPA during the winter session of Parliament,” she added.

While Nirmala blamed the lack of connectivity on the Congress, she was evasive on the role of the local administration and state government in providing infrastructure to the people of Uttarakhand.