Beeline for BJP ticket
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 1
Though there is still some time before the BJP high command finalises the first list of the candidates for the 2012 Assembly elections, several aspirants have started making a beeline for the party ticket.

As indicated by the Uttarakhand BJP, the party high command is banking on the private survey report for selection of the candidates, it will be a tough call for the party. Along with the sitting MLAs, several new aspirants are also keen to try their luck this time round.

According to party sources, from the Mussoorie Assembly seat, Maharani of Tehri Tika Shah is a new aspirant likely so also Ganesh Joshi, sitting MLA from Rajpur.

Though he lost the last assembly elections senior leader Tirath Singh Rawat has also made claims for Chaubatia Khal seat.

Since the 2012 elections would be held in the aftermath of the new delimitation and reorganisation of the Assembly constituencies, some of the sitting MLAs, too, are on a lookout for new constituencies.

In Dehradun district, too, after the reorganisation exercise, chances have brightened up for new claimants. According to party sources, sitting MLAs from Rajpur and Doiwala are looking for alternative seats. The Agriculture Minister and MLA from Doiwala is expected to lay claim on the Raipur seat. After the reorganisation exercise, a large chunk of Doiwala areas have been incorporated into the Raipur Assembly seat. Ganesh Joshi, too, may lay claim on the Mussoorie seat, say party sources.

Further on, the Dehra Khas seat, along with sitting MLA Harbans Kapoor, BJP spokesperson Vishwas Dawar, too, is in the race. The names of new entrant Rishi Raj Dabral for Raipur and Naresh Bansal for Dharampur seats are also doing the round (These seats are in Dehradun district).

Sitting MLA from Srinagar Brijmohan Kotwal is also eyeing the Pauri seat after it was declared reserved according to the new delimitation. On the other hand, sitting MLA from Thalesain and former Chief Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal and Chief Minister BC Khanduri are also looking for alternative seats after their seats (of the last Assembly elections) - Thalesain and Dhumakot - had lost their identity in the new delimitation.

Kedar Singh Fonia, sitting MLA from Badrinath, is also in the race along with Rajender Bhandari, sitting MLA from Nandprayag, as this seat no longer exists after the delimitation.

Assembly Poll
Bhatt’s removal may hit BJP prospects
Tribune News Service

Nainital, December 1
With the Assembly elections nearing, the removal of Shanti Bhatt as Chairperson of the Haldwani block has come as a dampener for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Bhatt, who was supported by BJP members, was removed on Wednesday evening following a no- confidence motion against her in which all 33 members who had voted out of a strength of 40 cast their vote against her. Her removal has come following a political drama that had continued over the past more than two months. This is for the first time that a Chairperson has been removed in this manner in the Haldwani block. Senior vice-chairman Lakhan Singh Nigaltiya will be the acting Chairperson till a new one is elected.

Bhatt has had a political career spanning over two decades. According to reports, she has now shown her inclination to contest the Assembly elections from the Lalkuan constituency on party ticket. It was in the first week of November that the Uttarakhand High Court had quashed the stay put by the Nainital District Magistrate on the no-confidence proceedings initiated against Bhatt.

The court had asked District Magistrate Nidhi Mani Tripathi to start proceedings with regard to the no-confidence motion within 24 hours of receiving the court order.

It was on September 19 that 25 regional panchayat members, led by Sandhya Dalakoti, had approached the District Magistrate with a proposal of no confidence against Shanti Bhatt.

After preliminary investigations into the matter by the District Panchayati Raj Officer (DPRO), October 18 had been fixed as the day of voting on the proposed no-confidence motion.

Meanwhile, Bhatt had submitted a letter to the officer of the DPRO on October 12 claiming the support of majority members. Investigations had revealed that there were signatures of seven members on both the letter of no confidence as well as the one in favor of Bhatt. This had been followed by Tripathi having stalled the meeting scheduled for October 18 at the last moment and ordering a probe into the matter by the Chief Development Officer (CDO). This decision of the District Magistrate had been challenged by over 24 members of the regional panchayat.

200 bottles of liquor seized
Tribune News Service

Excise officials with the seized illegal English liquor in Haridwar on Thursday. Tribune photo: Rameshwar Gaur

Haridwar, December 1
Excise Department officials today seized a consignment of English liquor that was being brought from Haryana here today.

A total of 200 bottles were seized, which were being brought in a car by two persons.

On seeing the excise team at Dhanaurri village, two persons stopped a car and ran away from the spot. On checking, 12 caskets of wine bottles were found which were legal for sale only in the Haryana region.

Excise Inspector Rekha Juyal said the consignment was probably meant for delivery in Haridwar and the upper regions of Garhwal.

She further added that the department had beefed up its vigil in the region and more impromptu raids would be conducted.

Meanwhile, activists of the Teerth Maryada Raksha Samiti have also urged the department officials and the district police chief to check all city entry points.

Religious procession carried out
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, December 1
On the lines of world famous Jagannath Rath Yatra, a religious procession was carried out in the city in which thousands of devotees participated and offered prayers to the deities.

Commencing from Har Ki Pauri, the religious yatra had the idols of Lord Jagannath, deity Subhadra and Lord Bal Bhadra beautifully decorated with 
flowers.

Foreign women devotees were also seen enchanted during the religious procession.

Organised by the Swami Bhakti Yog foundation of Rishikesh-based Madhu Ban Ashram, the yatra witnessed the participation of people associated with religious organisations, institutions, traders and social organisations apart from common people.

Minor reshuffle of senior bureaucrats
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 1
In a minor reshuffle, the state government has changed some of the departments being looked after by senior bureaucrats.

Additional chief secretary Alok Kumar Jain has been divested of the charge of the Power and Alternate Resource of Energy Departments and given to Dr SS Sandhu, secretary. M Ramaswamy, principal secretary, has been given the charge of the Health and Family Welfare departments.

MH Khan, secretary, general administration, has been divested of the charge of the Watershed Management Department, which was earlier being looked after by Manisha Panwar who is on leave. Her departments would be looked after by Food Commissioner Subardhan.

Ministry approves new tourist circuit for Kumaon
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, December 1
To divert the tourist flow from the Jim Corbett National Park at Ramnagar to the adventurous route of Bhikiasain in Almora district, the Union Tourism Ministry has approved a new tourist circuit for the Kumaon region. The construction work will begin in next 20 days.

“The new tourist circuit for which the ministry has sanctioned an amount of Rs 7.43 crore will cover 200 km beginning from Mohan on the Almora-Ramnagar border to Bageshwar. It will also include the river rafting areas of western Ramganga at Bhikiasain and Himalayan view sites at Manila,” said Sunita Shah, project officer of the circuit.

The Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) had been made nodal agency for the project. Under this project, an information centre would be built at Lkukhet near Mohan. Besides this, ancient temples at Talla and Malla Manila will be beautified and a picnic spot at Deghat and a river-rafting centre at Bhikiasain will be developed.

“Despite many opportunities of river rafting at Ramganga in Almora district, the route has not been visited by tourists as there are no sufficient facilities for them enoute,” said Sunita Shah.

Under this project, Buda Kedar and Neleswar temples at Masi will also be beautified. A dormitory will be constructed at Chaukhutia. “Eighty per cent of the sanctioned amount has been released by the state Tourism Department. Tenders for the project will be floated on December 13. After this, the construction work will begin,” said Sunita Shah.

U’khand Raksha Morcha gets regional party status

Dehradun, December 1
The Uttarakhand Raksha Morcha has been accorded the status of recognised regional party by the Election Commission of India. Party spokesperson PC Thapliyal said the party would get its symbol soon.

The party has established its offices at Haldwani, Almora, Pauri, Tehri, Rudraprayag and Dehradun. — TNS

DM tells industrial units to check pollution
Tribune News Service

Nainital, December 1
The administration in Udham Singh Nagar has asked the industrial units located in the district to take measures for controlling pollution at own their level. Speaking at a meeting between officials and representatives of the industry at Rudrapur, District Magistrate PS Jangpangi asked the officials of the Industries Department and those from the State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttaranchal. (SIDCUL) to visit the various industrial areas from time to time and resolve the matters pertaining to the industry on a priority basis.

Addressing the Assistant Transport Officer Vinod Pande, he ordered that it must be ensured that the buses which have been granted permits to run inside the SIDCUL areas actually travel to their specified destinations. Most of the labour force working in various industrial units travels by these buses, and delay in their reaching the units would mean a loss in production. Jangpangi also ordered that a letter be written on his behalf to the Transport Secretary for opening an additional regional transport office in Kashipur.

He asked the officials present to regularly visit the industrial areas to address the matters pertaining to the industry. Referring to the complaints about the poor state of roads and drains in the industrial areas of Kitcha, Kashipur and Rudrapur, Jangpangi has asked General Manager of the Industries Department BR Arya to start work immediately for their restoration.

The industrialists who participated in the meeting said that the buses meant to be ferrying labourers to SIDCUL hubs were actually being run till Rudrapur bus terminus, thus causing extreme hardship to the labour force. Jangpangi has not only ordered issuing of notices to such bus operators but has also stated that stoppages and routes be clearly marked on the permits issued to them.

With regard to the buses being plied under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission

(JNNURM), he ordered that a letter be written to the Additional Regional Manager of the Roadways Department for plying these buses in SIDCUL hubs.

The District Magistrate also asked Resident Engineer of SIDCUL PC Joshi to resolve the problems arising on account of the jail premises with regard to the construction of a Central effluent treatment plant in Sitarganj.

Udham Singh Nagar is amongst the most industrialised districts of the state. Some of the known names in the area of automobiles and consumer durables have their production units in the district.

Survey to check migration from hill villages
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, December 1
To find out the reason behind the increasing migration from hill villages to cities, the state government would conduct a survey in all districts of the state from December till January 15 next year, said AB Joshi, District Statistical Officer, Pithoragarh.

The survey will be conducted in three development blocks and five urban bodies of each district with the help of the state Labour Department. “The survey will focus on finding the backward areas from social, economic and infrastructure point of view,” said Joshi.

In Champawat district, the survey will be conducted in the district, Pati and Lohaghat blocks, especially in the villages adjoining the Nepal border to find out why the villagers from these areas are migrating in a large number. “In Champawat district, where only one doctor is available for a population of 46,000 and out of 656 revenue villages, 311 are without roads and 221 have no availability of drinking water. The survey will help finding out the solution to the problem of migration,” said DS Nagarkoti, statistical officer, Champawat district.

People rejoice at upgrading of urban bodies
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, December 1
The people of Pithoragarh and Champawat towns are rejoicing at the upgrading of their urban bodies as both bodies have been upgraded to the ‘A’ grade Nagar Palika Parishad by the state Cabinet recently.

“The government order will reach their respective offices by the first week of December,” said Rajendra Singh Rawat, Chairman of the Nagar Palika Parishad, Pithoragarh.

Pithoragarh, which was once a subdivision of Almora district, emerged as a town in the second half of the 20th century when the then UP government declared the town a notified area under the Town Area Act 1914, in 1957.

After the sub-division got the district status in 1960, the town had been given the status of Nagar Palika after the inclusion of 15 villages in 1968 increasing the area of the town from 3 square kilometre to 9 square kilometre.

”The population of the town from last 30 years has been continuously on the increase making it from the C grade Nagar Palika in 1971 to the B grade in 1979,” said Rawat.

“With the elevation of the Pithoragarh Nagar Palika Parishad from the grade B to A Grade civic body, the state government has made the body viable for more funds to upgrade the civic amenities in the town which has a population of 70,000 today from 27,756 in 1991,” said Rawat.

The Champawat town area, which has been upgraded from the Nagar Panchayat to the Nagar Palika status, had started its journey from 1972 when after including five nearby revenue villages, the town was given the status of the Nagar Panchayat from the Notified Area Committee (NAC) status having only the population of 500 at the time.

Matra Sadan chief urged to end fast
Administration efforts fail as Swami refuses plea
Tribune News Service

District administration officials persuade Matra Sadan founder Swami Shivanand to end fast in Haridwar on Thursday. Tribune photo: Rameshwar Gaur

Haridwar, December 1
On the seventh day of the hunger strike being carried by Matra Sadan Ashram chief Swami Shivanand, the district administration carried out a series of meetings to make sure the saint gives up his agitation.

Though it seemed of no avail, as Swami Shivanand categorically stated that till he gets a copy of government notification regarding “a total ban on quarrying on the Ganga riverbed in Haridwar” he would not even think of giving up his agitation.

Haridwar Senior Superintendent Pushkar Sailal and Subdivisional Magistrate Harbeer Singh in went to Matra Sadan in Jagjeetpur village to persuade Swami Shivanand to give up his agitation.

Both the administrative officials cited administration’s constraint and cited the steps being taken by them regarding the illegal quarrying. But the saint refused to intake even a single grain till the government totally prohibits the quarrying in the region, which is affecting the sanctity of the holy Ganga and ecology of the river bed region.

After more than half an hour talks, SSP Sailal assured Swami Shivanand that they would be apprising the Chief Minister of the matter and urged him to cooperate with the administration.

The administrative official duo also assured Swami Shivanand that they would be presenting the matter to the Central Environmental Ministry for its guidelines and suggestions.

Shivanand also expressed his displeasure on Chief Minister BC Khanduri and state revenue cabinet Minister Diwakar Bhatt’s pro quarrying statement, which will only propel quarrying mafia activities in the region.

Notably, Swami Shivanand has been sitting on an indefinite fast since November 25 against the quarrying being done on the Ganga river bed, particulary in the Kumbh mela zone.

Earlier in the morning, SDM Harbeer Singh along with ADM SM Nautiyal had also visited Matra Sadan, holding talks with Swami Shivanand and ashram activists. Both the administrative officials had then urged the saint to break his fast in view of the sensitivity of the quarrying issue, which he politely declined.

In a medical checkup of the agitating saint, a dip of 2 kg in his weight was recorded, while blood pressure and pulse rate were found normal.

On the allegations of Prakash Jha, father of his disciple Late Swami Nigamanand, Matra Sadan chief termed them as malicious and totally uncalled for. He said Jha was a suspended government employee and if he had guts, then he should come up with solid evidences to support his allegations.