Satpal, Harish Rawat lock horns over TPS Rawat’s support
SMA Kazmi
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 22
The results of the state Assembly elections are still far away as counting of the votes would be done on March 6, but two senior state Congress leaders are squabbling over the possibility of support to be taken from the Uttarakhand Raksha Morcha (URM) led by Lt Gen TPS Rawat (retd) in case the Congress falls short of majority.

The controversy over the support of Rawat was raised by his one-time mentor and Pauri Garhwal MP Satpal Maharaj. He categorically stated that there was no question of seeking support of Rawat or re-inducting back into the Congress fold, as he was a “traitor” for the Congress.

He charged that Rawat deserted the Congress after the 2007 Assembly elections and quit his seat for BC Khanduri to enter the Assembly after joining the ruling BJP. Satpal Maharaj stated that there was no place for people like him in the Congress who had betrayed the party and its workers in the past.

Interestingly, Harish Rawat, Union Minister of state for Agriculture, Food Processing and Parliamentary Affairs, joined the issue by defending TPS Rawat. He said TPS Rawat was a retired army officer who had been a Congress minister and his support could be sought in case he wins his seat in the elections. He further stated that even if he fails to win the seat, the state should benefit from his experience.

The war of words between the two senior leaders is also seen as an attempt to assert themselves in the post-poll scenario in the run up to the counting of votes as both of them are aspirants for the post of Chief Minister, if the Congress party gets a mandate to rule the state.

TPS Rawat, a former Director-General of Assam Rifles, was brought into politics by Satpal Maharaj to counter the influence of BC Khanduri, particularly in the Garhwal region. Khanduri and Satpal Maharaj are arch political rivals hailing from Pauri Garhwal.

TPS Rawat won the first Assembly elections and became the Tourism Minister in the NDTewari government in 2002. He again won his seat in the 2007 Assembly polls and was an aspirant for the position of Leader of Congress Legislature Party (CLP). However, the Congress high command decided to prefer Harak Singh Rawat. Unable to reconcile with the Congress politics, TPS Rawat joined hands with Khanduri and won the Pauri Garhwal Lok Sabha seat against his political guru Satpal Maharaj in the 2008 byelections when Khanduri quit his Parliamentary seat to enter the state Assembly.

Amid the controversy between two senior Congress leaders, TPS. Rawat, attacking Satpal Maharaj, stated that such decisions about support of any political party is decided by the party high command and not by an individual. 

 Rs 119 crore for 12 flood-control schemes
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 22
Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Food Processing and Parliamentary Affairs Harish Rawat has said the Centre has sanctioned Rs 119 crore for 12 flood-control schemes in the state.

In a statement issued today, Rawat, who represents Haridwar Parliamentary Constituency of Uttarakhand, said the sanctioning of funds would help the state go for immediate flood-control measures. The flood-control schemes to be taken up with the fund include Bhogpur, Banglanala, Nehrugram, Miyawala, Sundarwala and Dulani River flood control schemes in Dehradun and Ganga River flood control scheme in the Rishikesh region.

Rawat further held that as a part of the agriculture research, Union Government plans to set up a flower research directorate and has asked the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttarakhand to identify land and sent a proposal to the Centre for the same. Rawat said he had also written to the state’s Principal Secretary urging him to identify a suitable land in Haridwar and adjoining areas and sent an immediate proposal to the Centre. He said establishment of directorate would lead to the promotion of floriculture in the state. This will also generate employment.

He said the Union Sports Minister had provided Rs 26 crore for rural youth sports in the state. He said a total of 2,250 gram panchayats and 29 block panchayats in the state would be the main beneficiaries. The amount would be mainly utilised for the development of sports stadiums apart from generating sports infrastructure in the rural areas, he added. 

 PF scheme for daily wage earners restored
Tribune News Service

Dehrdun, February 22
Lt-Col Ganga Singh Rawat (retd), president, Uttarakhand Poorva Sainik Evam Ardh Sainik Sangathan, said the Uttarakhand Poorv Sainik Kalyan Nigam had restored the Provident Fund scheme (PF) of daily wage earners and ad hoc employees.

Taking credit of the move, he said it was they who had raised this issue when they got to the know that the nigam had separated daily wagers and ad hoc workers from the PF membership.

Rawat was informed today that the PF scheme had been restored. The employers would have to send the nigam an application in this regard only then they would avail this benefit, he said. 

 Losar a low key affair in Mussoorie
Tibetans celebrate Losar as New Year 
Ajay Ramola

Mussoorie, February 22
The Tibetan Community of Mussoorie celebrated Losar, Tibetan New Year, in a subdued fashion today in the wake of atrocities committed by the Chinese regime on the people of Tibet.

The Tibetans here, adhering to the appeal made by prime minister-in-exile Sangay Lobsang of not celebrating Losar, the members took part in religious and spiritual activities only without any fanfare to express solidarity with Tibetans suffering under alleged Chinese repression.

The community members gathered at the Buddha temple early morning to offer prayers and light butter lamps in memory of their brethren who had sacrificed their lives for the cause of Tibet. Following that, the members also tied the religious flags at the sacred Dalai Lama Hill at Happy Valley.

Head of the Mussoorie Tibetan Women Congress Kalsang Dolma said the festival of Losar was equivalent to Diwali celebrations in India for Tibetans, but due to the repression of the Chinese regime, the community members have decided not to celebrate it.

She further said the atrocities committed by the Chinese government on the Tibetans were increasing, leading to the violation of human rights. She appealed to the international community to support their cause and speak out against the violence being caused by autocratic Chinese regime.

The community has decided not to indulge in any entertainment activity attached with the festival this year as a form of protest.

 Tanakpur to Jauljibi road survey restarts
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, February 22
The new survey of the strategically significant Tanakpur to Jauljibi road on the Indo-Nepal border has started again by PWD engineers after 20 years as the Central Government has approved the new budgetary allotment for the construction of this road.

The road, sanctioned by then UP Government in 1993, had become a victim of confusion over the proposed Pancheswar Dam as the final nod for this joint Indo-Nepal venture would have changed the alignment of this 150-km-long road along the river Kali.

“After constructing 16 km from Tanakput towards Champawat and 12 km from Jauljibi towards Jhoolaghat, the department had to abandon the construction due to uncertainties on its alignment,” said Gokarn Singh Pangti, Superintendent Engineer of the PWD third division, who is now surveying the road work.

According to a PWD engineer, the road will be wider than last alignment as they have planned 12-metre wide road compared to 6-metre wide assigned in the last survey.

“If given nod to construct the road, four divisions of the PWD will be involved in the work. The two divisions stationed in Champawat district will construct 90 km of road whereas rest of the road will be constructed by Askot and Pithoragarh divisions of the state PWD,” said the PWD engineer. 

 140 personnel to be deputed for counting
Tribune News Service

Nainital, February 22
The election machinery in Champawat district has started training the 140 personnel who would be carrying out the counting of votes on March 6 in the district.

District Election Officer (DEO) Ashish Joshi underlined that no one would begin the counting till the orders were given by the returning officer. It is only after the orders are given by the returning officer that the personnel involved in the job will break the seal of the electronic voting machines (EVMs).

Joshi underlined that the results would be printed and handed over to the returning officer. Once the round-wise tabulation was complete, the result would be compiled for all Assembly constituencies, he said.

Joshi state that the Micro Observers will have to ensure that the total votes counted match the corresponding figure of the control unit. He said if any of the counting agents of the contestants want to see the results again, they should be shown the same so that they are convinced and satisfied. He also said the counting of the postal ballots would be done first.

He has asked the contestants to contact the returning officer if they have any doubt regarding the counting of votes.

The in charge of the election management in the district, Dr Anurag Aggarwal, provided the trainees the details about how the counting is to be done and what paper work is required. He said the personnel should contact the returning officer if they come across any error. He also advised them not to interact on personal terms with the contestants and their agents.

 Illegal construction on the rise in Nainital
Courtesy lack of coordination among various departments
Tribune News Service

Nainital, February 22
Lack of co-ordination among various departments and institutions is primarily responsible for the rampant illegal construction that has taken place in Nainital over the last few years.

This was pointed out by several speakers at a stakeholders' consultation workshop held at the Administrative Training Institute (ATI) on Wednesday.

The workshop had been organised by the Uttarakhand Academy of Administration as part of a study undertaken on promoting good governance in the Nainital Lake Region Special Area Development Authority (NLRSADA).

The study is being conducted by the Human Settlement Management Institute, Housing and Urban Development Corporation, New Delhi.

The reason why the study has been undertaken is that the NLRSADA has not been able to perform as per the desires of the people of Nainital.

The main issues that came up in the discussions pertained to the growing rate of illegal constructions and encroachments in the catchment area of Naini Lake, delay in approvals, Public Interest Litigations (PILs), a situation of no fear among the encroachers and displeasure of residents of the city in general.

It was pointed out that the reasons responsible for all this were lack of co-ordination between the authority and other line departments, lack of sufficient manpower, no distinct communication with the people, lack of participation of different stakeholders in planning and decision making and no effective punishment system.

Most of the citizens who spoke during the day-long discussion expressed desire that those indulging in carrying out illegal constructions must be punished and the example should be set by the authority by taking action against the powerful persons who were carrying out such acts without any fear of law.

The Chairman of the Municipal Council Mukesh Joshi pointed out that a large number of houses had come up without their maps being sanctioned by the authority. He pointed out,"The authority has failed to maintain any co-ordination with public representatives and the local civic body. There is a lack of transparency in its functioning.

He pointed out that the entire phenomenon of sealing of illegal structures was a farce as the person whose property was sealed knew that there was scope of getting relief.

Joshi demanded that the 73rd and 74th amendments to the Indian Constitution needed to be implemented as they could help in checking such activities by the local civic bodies.

Secretary of the authority Vijay Chandra Kaushal advocated that the bylaws needed to be studied and implemented across the town. He disclosed that since 1989, 692 cases of illegal construction had been registered. He said out of these, 280 structures came up in the unsafe zone, 48 in the forest area and eight near the lake. While nine properties had been sealed, an equal number had been demolished. He stressed on the need for collective action to check the illegal construction in the town.

Bare facts

* Lack of coordination between the authority and other departments

* Shortage of sufficient manpower

* No distinct communication with the people

* Lack of participation of different stakeholders in planning and decision making

* No effective punishment system

 Burglary bid at SBI branch in Roorkee
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, february 22
Burglars tried to rob a branch of the State Bank of India in Roorkee Cantt. The burglars broke into the bank during early hours over the weekend. They used gas cutters to cut locks and entered the strong room but failed to break open the safe and loot cash.

According to the police, when the bank guard opened the door of the bank at 10 am on Tuesday morning he found things scattered and also noticed a hole in a wall.

Branch Manager Gaurav Pathuri reported the matter to the police and a case was registered at Civil Lines police station, Roorkee.

The police informed mediapersons that the CCTV cameras at the bank had recorded the movement of the burglars, who broke into the bank by making a hole in the outer wall. Kamlesh Upadhya, Circle Officer, Roorkee, confirmed that the police had lifted fingerprints from the bank and collected other vital clues.

 UKD (P) activists protest against ‘Save Ganga’ campaign
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 22
Activists of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal-(Progressive) today held a protest at Matri Sadan here against the save Ganga campaign of Prof GD Aggarwal and tried to cross barricades put up by the police.

Led by UKD-(P) president Trivendra Singh Pawar, party activists from Dehradun and Haridwar districts began their protest march from Sati Kund, Kankhal, towards Matri Sadan. They raised slogans against Aggarwal and asked him to look at the Ganga in Uttar Pradesh where it was polluted.

Pawar demanded a ban on Aggarwal’s meditation. He asked the administration to ensure that the Matri Sadan ashram was not misused for agitations as hydroelectric projects in Uttarakhand were imperative due to lack of employment avenues in hill areas.

He added there was a need for a policy for hydroelectric projects on the Ganga in the state so that environment was protected along with building a limited number of small power projects.

The protesters scuffled with the police near Matri Sadan in Jagjeetpur when they tried to cross the barricades but were prevented from going in the ashram.

Uday Ram Semwal, chief of the labour wing of the party, said the Ganga was polluted in plains of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal till Ganga Sagar as unmonitored industrialisation had taken place in these states. Aggarwal and his supporters should work for saving the Ganga from pollution there.

He added the government should provide employment opportunities to the people of the state and form a high-level expert committee to ensure minimum impact of hydroelectric projects on ecology. Hydroelectric projects were imperative in the state as nuclear, thermal and solar energy options had not been found viable alternatives.

Among others, Lalit Mamgain, AP Juyal, Kamla Pandey, Rakesh Chauhan and Latafat addressed the protesters.

 BC Khanduri opposes Centre’s move to create anti-terror body
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 22
Uttarakhand Chief Minister BC Khanduri has opposed the proposed move of the Central government to set up a National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC). In a letter written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Khanduri has said the proposal is against the federal structure of the country and should be scrapped.

He stated in the letter that, according to the Constitution, law and order was a state subject and the Union government should not have gone ahead with the proposal without consulting the states. He requested the Prime Minister to call a meeting of all Chief Ministers to discuss the strategy to deal with terrorism effectively.

Khanduri said the Union government neither bothered to consult the state government nor brought the matter before Parliament. He expressed surprise over the Centre’s move and said while the intelligence agencies did not have police powers, the Union Home Ministry decided to go ahead with the NCTC proposal.

The Chief Minister said tackling terrorism was the joint responsibility of the Central and state governments and the states should have been taken into confidence on the issue. He added the Centre had already formed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) with powers to arrest and seize things and similar powers to the proposed NCTC would create confusion in the fight against terrorism.

Khanduri said parliamentary committees in the UK and the US kept a watch on intelligence agencies but there was no such provision in India. He added no developed country had given powers to arrest, seize and search to its intelligence agencies. He feared such powers to the NCTC could be misused for political ends.

 Wipro picks 52 students 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 22
Fifty two students of the SGRR Institute of Technology & Science (SGRRITS) were selected by Wipro after holding a two-day campus selection procedure on the college premises.

As many as 600 students participated out of which 130 students appeared for interview today and 52 were finally selected by a Wipro team. Wipro will give them a scholarship of Rs 23,500 for four years, group insurance of Rs 10 lakh, personal insurance of Rs 1 lakh and medical facility of Rs 14,500.

After facilitating a four-year Masters of Software degree course at BITS Pilani, the company will give them an annual package of Rs 6 lakh. These students will work in Bangalore with the Wipro group of companies.

The placement officer of SGRRITS Sanjay Sharma Pokhriyal said students from 10 IT and management colleges based in Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar and Kotdwar, which are affiliated to SGRRITS, had participated on the campus interview.

Project for forest officers implemented
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 22
In order to improve and strengthen the capabilities of in-service State Forest Service officers, the Central Academy for State Forest Service, Dehradun, and the Directorate of Forest Education (DFE), Ministry of Environment and Forest, have started implementation of a five-year technical cooperation project for the “Capacity Building of State Forest Training Institutions and SFS Colleges” with the Assistance of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) since March 2009.

Principal, Central Academy for State Forest Service, Dehradun, Ashish Rawat said six improved in-service training modules of two-week duration were developed by faculty members of the Central Academy for State Forest Service under the project.

These training courses were conducted by CASFOS, Dehradun, from July 2011 to November 2011 and 107 forest officers from all over India participated in these training.

Ashish Rawat said in order to finalise the modalities of collecting information for ascertaining the effectiveness of these training programmes, a one-day workshop would be held in Dehradun tomorrow. Various experts in the field of forestry training in country would be participating in the workshop.

The workshop would be attended by DVS Khati, Chief Conservator of Forests, Garhwal, P Raghuveer, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Andhra Pradesh, Dr Dharmendra Verma, Director Forest Education, training experts in forestry, academicians and Japanese experts Kawashima and Atsuko Godo and faculty members of CASFOS, Dehradun. The workshop would be inaugurated by Dr RBS Rawat, PCCF, Uttarakhand. 

 Gangolihat, Askot traders demand opening of liquor shops
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, February 22
Traders of Gangolihat and Askot have threatened to close markets in the towns indefinitely if liquor shops are not opened this year. They said in the absence of legal liquor shops in the towns illicit liquor trade had been flourishing there. “Inferior quality liquor is being smuggled into the state from Moradabad and Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh which was not only affecting the health of the people but also resulting in revenue loss to the government,” said Surendra Rawal, president of Vyapar Sangh, Gangolihat.

The Gangolihat traders have decided to close the markets on February 23 in support of their demand. They met the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) today and submitted to him a memorandum demanding that a legal liquor shop be opened in the town next month. “Illicit liquor traders are also a threat to law and order in the town,” said Rawal.

The Askot town traders are also demanding the opening of a liquor shop in the town. They have threatened the Didihat administration that if their demand was not met they would launch an agitation. “In the absence of a legal liquor shop some traders are smuggling liquor from Nepal through the Kali river during night,” said Virendra Pal, a spokesman for the Askot Vyapar Sangh.

The sale of country-made liquor was suspended in both towns following an agitation by women. The women agitated against the sale of liquor as they said liquor shops at villages were destroying their family lives. In Gangolihat, following the gang-rape of one of the agitating women activists the government suspended liquor sale six years ago.

 Founder of Scouts and Guides remembered
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 22
Kendriya Vidyalaya-2 celebrated the birth anniversary of Lord Baden Powell at Hathibadkala here today. The celebrations began with prayers, followed by flag hoisting to pay homage to the founder of the World Scouts Movement.

DP Mamgai, District Scouts Commissioner, was the chief guest on the occasion.

About 10 stalls were put up in the school campus. The title of the event was ‘Honest earning’.

The chief guest advised the students to become self reliant in life.

The school’s scouts in chage, MS Uniyal, supervised the arrangements.

Principle of the school Pushpa Kanaujiya was also present on the occasion.

 Poor fund spending delays projects
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 22
Every year poor spending under the Local Area Development Fund and the Prime Minster Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) continue to affect the performance of the Rural Development Department.

Almost at the fag end of the financial year, only 55 per cent of the funds has been spent on the execution of projects. Similarly under the Prime Minister’s Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) 40 per cent of the targets has been met.

“Under the MLALAD fund, while the approvals have been given for 90 per cent projects, work has only been executed on 55 per cent projects. Against the available sum of Rs 276 crore, only Rs 151 crore has been spent. Similarly under the Prime Minister’s Gramin Sadak Yojana, against the outlay of Rs 436 crore, only Rs 174 crore has been spent. Only 40 per cent of the targets has been achieved,” said Vinod Phonia, Secretary, Rural Development.

However, the state has shown good progress in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and the Indira Awas Yojana. 

Man found dead
Tribune News Service

Nainital, February 22
A man was found murdered near the cremation ground in the Kakrighat area of Almora district. The throat of the victim, identified as 36-year-old Joga Singh of Naugaon had been slit with a sharp-edged stone. The matter is being probed by the Revenue Police.

The incident took place on Shivratri. Some of the people returning from the fair at Kakrighat had seen the victim fighting for his life at the cremation ground.

He was unable to speak. They reported the matter to the pradhan of Naugaon who reached the spot.

They found that the veins on the left side of Joga Singh's throat and neck and been severed and the stone used in the crime was found lying nearby. They took him to a hospital in Almora where he died while being treated.

His wife Guddi Devi has lodged a complaint with the Revenue Police who are probing the matter.

The villagers have demanded that the case be worked out soon.