Man dies as cold wave intensifies in Kumaon
Trains, buses running late due to heavy fog
Tribune News Service

Nainital, December 14
With the cold conditions increasing by the day, the residents of the Kumaon region have started experiencing the hardships that come with every winter.

The cold is learnt to have secured its first victim in the form of amiddle-aged man, whose body was recovered from a train on Tuesday at Kathgodam. The man, who is yet to be identified, is around 55. His body was found when the wagons of the train had been taken for washing. He was wearing three shirts, one over the other. A ticket from Manakpur to Central Kanpur was recovered from his pocket.

It is being assumed that he might have succumbed to the cold.

The traffic movement in the region has been severely affected on account of fog. Most of the trains arriving in the morning are behind schedule. Even the buses that arrive at Haldwani from long distance destinations like Delhi, Dehradun, Chandigarh and Ludhiana are arriving two to three hours late on account of the fog.

The transport authorities say that there has been a dip in the roadways passengers over the last few days. It has been decided that if there are less passengers for the buses going on a single route, they would be accommodated in a single bus instead of plying more than one vehicle on the route.

The number of passengers has particularly fallen on the route to Delhi. This route has been experiencing fog for almost a fortnight now.

Meanwhile, the administration at various places has started making arrangements for lighting fires at prominent public places so that people out of their homes can keep themselves warm during the bitter cold evenings and nights.

Merger of UKD’s two factions ruled out
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, December 14
Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Diwakar) leader Kashi Singh Airy ruled out the possibility of unity among the two factions of the UKD before the elections. Both the factions have charted their own ways.

The fight for the election symbol between two factions and the alliance of the UKD (Diwakar Bhatt faction) with the ruling BJP showed that the two are widening gaps between them,” said Airy.

Addressing a press conference, the senior leader the UKD (Panwar) said his party was willing to contest for all 70 Assembly seats in the state if the third front does not come into existence. “If the third front comes into existence, the party can leave 35 seats for the other front partners,” said Airy.

According to him, the final meeting to form the third front is likely to be held on December 25.

Commenting on the recent party meetings of the BJP and the Congress, the senior UKD leader said the parties were using state money earned through corrupt means on hiring choppers and aeroplanes to influence the common man.

The recent conclaves of these parties, in which the state helicopters and chartered aeorplanes were used in a big way in the district, showed the tendencies of the parties to influence the masses,” said Airy.

BJP plans conventions to woo women
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, December 14
Eyeing women votes, the BJP will hold conventions in all five parliamentary constituencies wherein the party’s big leaders will take part.

To ensure women votes, which are more than 45 pc of the total votes in the state, the party is forming women-specific policies.

The first convention will be held in Dehradun falling under the Tehri Garhwal Lok Sabha constituency on December 17 and the next day, it will be held in the Ranipur Assembly segment of Haridwar.

Apprising about this, Kusum Kandwal, national the executive member of BJP Women cell, said the national chief of the women wing Smriti Irani and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri will be the chief guests in all these conventions.

She added that more than 5,000 women activists of the cell will attend these conventions which will also be held in all Assembly segments of the respective parliament constituencies.

Demanding a major share of ticket from the party high command, state secretary of the women cell Poonam Jha said the condition of women, particularly in hilly districts, was pathetic and by having women representatives, their condition could be bettered.

Jha, a strong contender from the Ranipur segment, mentioned various women-specific beneficiary schemes run by the Khanduri government and stressed on the need for replicating the 33 pc reservation in panchayats in the state assembly too.

“We want to mobilise women activists as well as women voters by holding these conventions. Certainly, we will give major consideration to the candidature from women activists,” said Teerath Singh Rawat, chairperson of the Disaster Management Committee and a close aide of Khanduri.

Youth Congress to target Cabinet Minister Kaushik during campaign
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, December 14
As part of a strategy to corner heavyweight state Cabinet Minister Madan Kaushik in his home Assembly of Haridwar (city), the Youth Congress has decided to target the minister in all its election-related programmes.

This is being seen as a deliberate attempt on the directions of Uttarakhand Youth Congress chief Anand Rawat, who is the son of Haridwar parliamentarian Harish Rawat.

This strategy, while on the one hand ensures that the BJP legislator goes on the back foot in his Assembly seat owing to the “Maha Kumbh” corruption scam and several other charges, on the other it will ease the political future of Harish Rawat in the district.

Currently, only Kaushik holds a major political penetrative base in Haridwar, and Congress planners want to give a major blow to the BJP’s stronghold Assembly segment.

The Youth Congress in its election-related rallies, agitations, media briefings and padyatra is targeting Madan Kaushik and asking local people to put questions to the legislator and BJP activists the about Kumbh scam.

Youth Congress city chief Ravish Bhatija told The Tribune that Kaushik had hurt the religious as well as local sentiments of the people by misusing the Rs-755 crore Kumbh fund, instead of spending it for successful holding the mega fair.

“We are asking residents themselves what they view about the Kumbh scam and the lacklustre development works being done from the Budget. The then Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Kaushik, who was Maha Kumbh mela in charge, had claimed odoing historic work prior to the commencement of the fair, but nothing has changed “said Bhatija.

NSUI city leader Ravi Babu Sharma sought an explanation from Kaushik in this regard, saying “he should answer our queries, otherwise in our door-to-door campaign, we will inform the voters about his misdeeds.”

The Youth Congress anti-Kaushik drive seems to be working as when district BJP chief Manoj Garg was questioned on the various scam charges levelled against the minister and on removal of Nishank from the state’s premier post, Garg evaded the question, saying “he will comment on other issues, barring this (scam charges on Kaushik).”

Need to do more for SCs, STs, says BJP
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, December 14
The BJP has felt that the people of the state are inclined towards the party, claimed Suresh Joshi, general secretary, of the party.

According to Joshi, the party needs to work more for the Schedule Castes, Schedules Tribes and minority fronts.

According to the BJP general secretary, the ticket for party candidates will be finalised by the last week of December for which the sequence of meetings will take place from December 20 onwards.

The party has appointed 70 observers for all seats in the state and their report on the positions of ticket seekers will also influence the decision of the party high command,” said Joshi.

Weavers want carding plant upgraded
Functioning hit due to lack of trained staff
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, December 14
The 5000-odd weaver community of tribal Bhotia people is facing difficulties as the lone carding plant situated at Dharchula has become outdated due to old machines, insufficient trained staff and fractured building of the plant. The leaders of tribal community in Dharchula have written to the government that the carding plant should be upgraded and a new building be constructed for it as it is a vital part of the tribal weavers’ life.

“The carding plant, established in 1970 by the Industry Department, is outdated, and lack of sufficient trained staff is also affecting its functioning,” said Ashok Singh Nabiyal, a leader of the tribal community.

According to Nabiyal, the plant is used to card the wool imported from Tibet through Indo-Tibet trade every year. “After the process of carding, the wool is cleaned and dyed before giving it to the weavers, who use it to make woollen goods of various uses, such as shawls, carpets, pullovers and bedding outfits, which are sold in India as well as in Nepal by the tribal people,” said Nabiyal.

According to Nabiyal, the building at which the plant is at present housed is slowly sliding towards the river Kali, which flows through the town. “Due to the dismantled roof, the weavers feel insecure working there and have in the past written to the government to construct a new building for the plant,” said Nabiyal.

“Even the trained staff is not sufficient in the plant. We are somehow working to fulfil the need of 5000 weavers with the help of group D employees,” said Dayal Singh, in charge of the plant.

“This time we have made our intention to change the situation before the Assembly elections in the state and will mobilise the weavers to attract the attention of the state government towards the carding unit,” said Ashok Nabiyal,who is also chairman of the Dharchula Nagar Palika.

Promote industry in hills: Alva
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 14
Interacting with a delegation of the Confederation of Indian Industry, Uttarakhand Governor Margaret Alva said the immense natural beauty of Uttarakhand was still unexplored from a tourism perspective.

To promote tourism, focus had to be on infrastructure, basic amenities and proper showcasing, she added. On hill development, she pointed out that while the industry needed to be promoted in the hills, adequate safeguards for environment conservation should be put in place as the Himalayas were ecologically very fragile. She suggested that the focus should be on micro enterprises based on tourism and value addition in agriculture.

Leading the delegation, Dr S Farooq, Chairman, CII Uttarakhand State Council, concurred with the Governor that micro and small enterprises had to be the key for industrial development in the hills. Sharing the CII’s views on hill development, Dr Farooq said the amendments to the hill policy for promoting the industry in the hills were a welcome move.

On the issue of promoting tourism, Lovelena Mody, past chairperson, CII, Uttarakhand, suggested the setting up of Special Tourism Zones to promote tourism in an integrated and a planned manner in the state. Community engagement and environment conservation should be the two guiding principles for tourism projects in the state, she emphasised.

Some other issues discussed at the interaction were linking of Uttarakhand to the eastern freight corridor and setting up of gas-based power plants.

Dr Farooq also presented the Governor CII reports - Investment Climate in Uttarakhand, Development Strategies for Hill Districts of Uttarakhand and Concept note on Special Tourism Zones.

Also present on the occasion were Rakesh Aggarwal, vice-chairman, CII Uttarakhand State Council, Rajiv Berry and Sandeep Jain, Director Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals.

District Plan
DM tells officials to utilise funds by Jan

Nainital, December 14
Almora District Magistrate DS Garbyal has expressed unhappiness over the failure of various departments to utilise the funds allocated under the annual district plan for the current financial year.

At a meeting held at Almora on Wednesday, he asked the officials to ensure that the money is utilised within the next one month with regard to the tasks for which it had been allocated.

He said till now the utilisation of funds stood at 67.95 per cent of the approved funds to the tune of Rs 37.38 crore.

He also pulled up the officials of those departments where the fund utilisation has not even touched the 50 per cent mark. These include the Agriculture, Horticulture, Jal Sansthan, Jal Nigam, Irrigation and Women’s Welfare Departments.

Expressing annoyance at the functioning of the Jal Nigam and the Jal Sansthan, Garbyal said the failure to utilise the allocated funds on their part showed their disinterest towards their work. He has asked them to work in close coordination and execute the jobs entrusted to them.

At the meeting, Garbyal asked the officials to make preparations for the formulation of the district plan for the next financial year. He said the plan would be formulated according to the recently issued guidelines from the office of the Secretary (Planning Department).

Garbyal said the plan for the next financial year would be drawn aiming at generating more employment avenues and ensure the economic development of the residents of the district.

He added that emphasis would also be laid on increasing the production from land, animals, small and cottage industries. It would also be ensured that the return proceeds go to the marginalised sections of society.

Garbyal also stated that more emphasis would be laid on improving water storage and conservation. — TNS

Sangathan seeks judicial rights for panchayats
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 14
The Uttarakhand Pradhan Sangathan has sought judicial rights for panchayats in the state as being provided in the neighbouring state of Himachal Pradesh.

At a seminar held here today, sanghatan president Surat Singh Negi accused the Uttarakhand Government of doing a little to empower panchayats in the state.

He said while panchayats in the neighbouring state of Himachal Pradesh were enjoying judicial rights, the panchayats in Uttarakhand lacked the same.

Chandra Singh, a former bureaucrat, said the panchayats had weakened considerably every since the judicial rights had been withdrawn from them. The sangathan has sought the restoration of these rights. He said there was a lack of commitment on part of political parties towards the strengthening of the panchayats. DP Uniyal, a senior journalist, said the panchayats must prepare a charter of their demands and submit the same to political parties in the run-up to the Assembly elections.

SD Petwal, an educationist, said it was strange that the government had failed to empower the panchayats.

Dwarika Prasad Bijalwan, Suresh Chandra Sharma and several other pradhans from various parts of the state attended the seminar.

Keeping Khairna-Almora stretch open a
tough task for govt
Tribune News Service

Nainital, December 14
Keeping the Khairna-Almora stretch of the national highway open round the year has emerged as one of the biggest challenges for the government led by Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri who has a reputation when it comes to the subject of building roads and highways.

What to talk of the monsoons when there are frequent landslides, the road has witnessed a series of rock and mudslides over the last 15 months when it witnessed a massive rain-related disaster. These slides have been taking place during all seasons and been posing a grave risk to the life and property.

At present also, the stretch lies closed for more than a week when yet another massive slide was witnessed near Jaurasi. People who had visited the site say, “During rain, the water seeped inside the hill causing the slide at a gradual pace. Now we can have boulders coming down like cluster bombs anytime.”

District Magistrate at Nainital Nidhi Mani Tripathi had once again made a visit to the site a few days back. She has ordered that a survey should be carried out by the experts in geology and a report be submitted to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) at the earliest so that a long-term solution could be found to the recurring problem.

Tripathi has also ordered that NHAI officials should be present while the survey is being conducted and the repairs are carried out.

The survey has started in the area. Initial reports carried in a section of the media suggest that two faults at a little distance in a single hill have been instrumental in causing frequent slides.

The experts are also mulling the possibility of constructing an alternative road on the left bank of the Kosi river. However, the final decision will be taken only after the survey is completed and reports are analysed by the experts.

People recount that till September 2010, this stretch of the road between Khairna and Almora was a driver’s delight that was converted into a nightmare for a traveller after the rain-related disaster had struck the area.

As of now, the traffic to Almora is moving through an alternate route via Ramgarh and Nathuakhan. Some vehicles are also going via Ranikhet.

MoU signed
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 14
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Sri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences and University of Kansas (United States of America) as a part of the student exchange programme.

The MoU was signed between Dr SK Ghildiyal, Principal of the institute and Dean, Dr H David Wilskon, MD University of Kansas.

Later, Mahant Devender Das of the institute inaugurated the international symposium on ‘Recent advances in clinical disorders’. Das said the exchange programme would help the students of the institute access facilities at Kansas University.

Space workshop for students
Tribune News Service

Nainital, December 14
As many as 70 students from various schools located in Lucknow, Delhi and Nainital are being provided a rare opportunity to observe the phenomenon of geminoid meteo shower at a workshop that is being organised by the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) in collaboration with COSMOS Safari at its Manora Peak facility.

A spokesperson for ARIES has stated that it is during the two days of December 13 and 14 that geminoid meteo showers are visible and the timing of the workshop was worked out in a manner so that the students could get a first-hand experience of the phenomenon besides a peep into the cosmos with the help of the instruments available at the observatory.

The workshop was inaugurated by the Director of ARIES, Prof Ram Sagar, who underlined that organising of such events helped in giving a direction to the young minds that had an insatiable quest for learning new things. A leading physicist of the country, Dr Atul Gurtu, was also present on the occasion.

Man run over by car
Tribune News Service

Nainital, December 14
A resident of the Peerundawar area near Ramnagar was killed after he was run over by a car.

The deceased has been identified as 60- year-old Narayan Singh Sajwan of Udaypuri Chopda village. He was moving on foot in Tanda mallu village when he was hit by a car.

Such was the impact that he crashed into the car after breaking through the windscreen. He was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. The police investigations are on in the matter.