Almora historical jail to be made national heritage site
Tribune News Service

Nainital, February 28
State Governor Margaret Alva has stated that the historical jail in Almora will be made a national heritage site and all facilities will be provided to the inmates. She stated this while inspecting the district jail at Almora this morning.

Alva emphasised the need to develop an open prison for women inmates. The Governor met the inmates at the prison during the visit and gave a patient hearing to their problems. She directed the officials to start vocational programmes for them and encourage them to undertake self-employment.

She enquired about the quality of food being provided to them along with other facilities and directed the officials to pay special attention on these aspects.

The Governor asked the officials to prepare a list of the inmates who have spent more than 14 years behind bars, are aged and sick so that the issue of their release can be taken up at a meeting with jail officials and government representatives later.

She also suggested that the issue of setting up fast-track courts in the jail itself for the early disposal of matters pertaining to undertrials could be taken up with the Chief Justice of the High Court in accordance with the directions of the Supreme Court in the matter.

During the inspection, Alva called for the creation of a jail-visiting committee and the preparation of a jail manual. She underlined that the said committee should have more than 50 per cent women members and the other members should come from the media fraternity and from among officials working in the social sector, politicians and the District Magistrate.

Alva said she had undertaken the inspection of all seven jails in the state and solutions would be found to the problems that she was noticing.

She said Rs 50 lakh had been approved for the preservation of the Nehru ward in the Dehradun jail and money would also be sanctioned for preserving the Nehru ward in the Almora jail following a meeting with the officials of the Archaeological Survey of India.

The Governor further said she would take up the matter of repatriating prisoners from Uttar Pradesh to their parent state with her counterpart.

She said special efforts needed to be made to preserve the historical jail in Almora, where several freedom fighters, including the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, had been lodged.

The jail had come into existence in 1872. She also called for a special programme for preserving the historical documents lying in the jail as a part of the records.

She has ordered Principal Secretary (Home) Utpal Kumar Singh to prepare a report in this regard so that steps can be initiated for improving the condition of the Almora jail.

During the visit, Alva went around the hospital functioning on the jail premises, the women’s ward and other wards.

She expressed her concern over finding a large number of inmates involved in cases of dowry harassment and called for spreading more social awareness on the issue.

Later, the Governor visited the sub-jail at Haldwani and ordered that free legal assistance be provided to those women prisoners for whom non one is coming forward to help.

She ordered that the patients suffering from diseases like tuberculosis and cancer be kept in a separate ward.

At present, there are 527 inmates in the Haldwani sub-jail that include 26 women and 37 youths.

The Governor pointed out that since there are more inmates than the carrying capacity of the prison, steps be taken to shift the convicts to the Sitarganj open jail and other jails.

Treat poll day as paid holiday: EC
Tribune News Service

Nainital, February 28
The Election Commission of India (EC) has stated that the day of polling be treated as a paid holiday for the employees.

In a statement issued from New Delhi, the EC has stated that it had issued instructions to the Chief Secretaries of the states of Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and the Secretary to the Government of India, the Ministry of Personnel, the Public Grievances and Pensions, the Department of Personnel and Training on January 10 inviting their attention to the provisions of Section 135B of the Representation of the People (RP) Act, 1951, which provides for the grant of paid holiday to the employees on the poll day.

This clarification from the EC becomes important in the light of several representations coming from various employee organisations in Uttarakhand that January 30, the day polling was held in the state, be treated as a paid holiday.

The EC has reiterated that the above mentioned Section of the RP Act, 1951, requires that all establishments and shops, including those which work on shift basis, shall be closed on the poll day in the constituency where a general or by-election is to be held. However, there may be cases where a person is ordinarily resident of the constituency and registered as an elector, may be serving or employed in an industrial undertaking or an establishment located outside the constituency having a general or by-election.

“It is clarified that in such a situation even those electors, including casual workers working outside the constituency concerned, would be entitled to the benefit of a paid holiday extended under the Section 135B(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. For example, the voters in UP will be entitled to get a paid holiday from their employers even if their location of employment is in Delhi or any other state,” the EC has pointed out.

Daily wage and casual workers are also entitled for a holiday and wages on the poll day as provided in Section 135B of the RP Act, 1951, the EC has said.

Hill seed corp to be set up
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 28
In the next fiscal year, the state Agriculture Department will set up a hill seed corporation from the financial assistance received under the Centre’s Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.

Uttarakhand is expected to receive a total of Rs 140 crore under the yojana for the next fiscal, a part of which will be utilised to form the corporation.

Chief Secretary Subash Kumar said the department was expected to spend Rs 35 crore on Animal Husbandry, Rs 15 crore on Horticulture, Rs 50 crore on Mandi Parishad and the remaining Rs 40 crore would be spent for other agricultural activities. The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana was initiated in Uttarakhand in 2007.

Priests oppose move to create trusts for Jageshwar, Purnagiri temples 
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, February 28
The move of the state government to constitute trusts to manage two leading temples in Jageshwar and Purnagiri in the Kumaon region is facing resistance from people who claim to have been associated with them for a long time. The priests in Jageshwar were the first to raise the banner of protest.

The priest community in Jageshwar, in a letter written to the District Magistrate, Almora, has said the traditional rights of all people associated with the temple have been authenticated by contemporary laws.

“The priests have been protecting the temple since ancient times and if a trust is constituted to look after its affairs, the interests of local communities will affected,” said Kailash Bhatt, a priest of the temple who has written to the District Magistrate.

The Jageshwar temple complex situated near Almora town belongs to the seventh century and comprises 124 temples. The local priests have been traditionally performing prayers there and looking after its affairs.

The priests have threatened that they will launch an agitation if the government does not shelve the move to constitute a trust for the Jageshwar temple. “The priests have been looking after the temple for centuries even without any financial aid from the government. But they will lose their rights if a trust is created. The government move will also affect the source of livelihood of their children from the temple,” said Puja Pandey, sarpanch of Bhartola village where the temple complex is situated.

Meanwhile, priests have also started opposing the government move to create another trust to manage the affairs of the temple in Purnagiri on the lines of the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board at Katra in Jammu.

“We have been given the rights of priesthood by the kings of the Chand dynasty of Kumaon. If a trust is constituted for the temple the devotees may be deprived of the services of the traditional priests,” said Mathura Dutt Tiwari, a priest at the Purnagiri temple.

The Hindu Jagaran Manch, which is leading a campaign for the constitution of a trust to look after the affairs of the Purnagiri temple, says though the devotees offer crores of rupees at the temple every year, they do not get even drinking water and toilet facilities near the complex. However, such facilities can be provided to the pilgrims if a trust is constituted for the Purnagiri temple. “After the temple becomes a trust, the pilgrims will be provided proper facilities and it could also be opened for darshan throughout the year,” said Chandra Kishore Bora, state president of the Hindu Jagaran Manch.

The locals, who favour the government move, say the rules framed for the proposed trust for the temple will not deprive the priests of their traditional rights.

“The rules framed by the district administration for the proposed trust have been given the final shape after consultations with the priests of both Tiwari and Pandey castes. It has been provided in the rules that after a trust is created the temple money will be spent for the advancement of education of Sanskrit, as suggested by the priests,” said Dinesh Pandey, a local journalist.

Journal on information, management released
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 28
A two-day long international symposium on ‘Recent advances in IT and IT management’ began at at the Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Technology and Sciences here today.

The event witnessed a large gathering of scientists, academicians, researchers and students from all over the country as well as abroad.

The conference covered topics, including data warehousing, image processing, networking and network security and mobile agent technologies.

The symposium focused on bringing awareness among students about the advances in the field of Information and Technology. The presentation and research papers presented on the occasion highlighted the role of business in IT services, e-commerce and encouraging advancements in research.

Prof SP Thapliyal, Director, SGRRITS, said, “Despite the progress in science and technology, a large number of people are still poor and illiterate. The masses continue to be unaware of the IT’s potential. A mass campaign is required to create awareness on the issue.”

He said it was the duty of technical institutions to make engineering students aware of latest technologies of international standards.

Meanwhile, a journal, ‘International journal on information and operation management’ was also released on the occasion.

Later, a cultural evening was organised on the campus. Students also presented Garhwali, Kumaoni, Bhangra and Rajasthani folk dances. 

Govt directive to improve contractors’ functioning
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 28
In order to bring accountability in the functioning of contractors, undertaking works under the Uttarakhand Urban Sector Development Investment Programme of the Asian Development Bank, the government has asked the officials of the Urban Development Department to insert a clause in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for action against contractors who fail to deliver on time.

The MoU will to be signed for the second phase of the programme in the next fiscal.

While chairing a meeting at the Secretariat today, Chief Secretary Subash Kumar said for the next fiscal, when the second phase of work totalling Rs 400 crore would be taken up, such a clause would be helpful in the delivery of work and also for initiating action against the erring contractors.

He said so far Rs 90 crore out of a total of Rs 220 crore had been spent under the programme for laying of water and sewerage pipes in select towns.

However, he expressed satisfaction with the progress of the work, especially in the past four months, due to regular inspections.

Out of a total of 120 sewer lines, 32 km sewer lines have been laid. He said in Dehradun, water pipes, covering a distance of 60 km, have been laid and the remaining five kilometre area would be covered soon.

These lines are now providing water to seven zones and 50 neighbourhoods. The 50-km road has also been laid. In Nainital, water pipes covering a distance of 15 km have been laid.

Further he said a cell had been created to tackle with the problems being faced by the citizens due to the programmes underway. The citizens can lodge complaints at the department’s website or call at 0135 2640671. He said the action would be initiated within three days.

National Science Day 
Students told to follow path shown by Nobel Laureate CV Raman 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 28
Uttarakhand Council for Science and Technology (UCOST) today observed National Science Day in the state capital of Dehradun.

At a function held at the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, Dehradun, Rajendra Dobhal, Director General, UCOST, laid stress on the importance of National Science Day for promotion of science in society. He said the day was all more important for schoolgoing students to inculcate within them an inclination towards the science subjects.

Former Vice Chancellor of HNB Garhwal University AN Purohit said climate change had its negative effects and its harmful repercussions were being felt across the globe. He exhorted young students to follow the path shown by Nobel Laureate late CV Raman.

Director, Indian Institute of Petroleum, MO Garg, spoke on ozone depletion. He called for promotion of afforestration schemes in the country. ONGC’s Executive Director Shailendra Dutta said the nation today had growing energy needs due to increasing population followed by rampant industrialisation. He emphasised on the need of oil and gas conservation.

Senior Scientific Officer DP Uniyal disclosed that UCOST had also organised programmes at district levels. He said the council plans to hold science promotion programmes with ONGC in the future also.

Dr Prashant Singh, Dr OP Nautiyal and Dr Sarita Khandka were other prominent participants at the National Science Day function.

Meanwhile, the Geodetic and Research Branch of the Survey of India, Dehradun, also celebrated National Science Day today.

The National Survey Museum on the Survey of India campus was opened to the people. Established in 1927, the museum houses some of the rarest and old instruments which were used for surveying and cartography. It also has handwritten letters, manuscripts and instruments used by Sir George Everest.

An essay writing competition was also held. A large number of schoolchildren participated in the competition. A number of films entitled “Tracing the Arc”, “A Millennium Steps” and “Survey of India” were screened for the students. UN Mishra, Director, Geodetic and Research Branch, Survey of India, Dehradun, coordinated the proceedings. 

Students have gala time during union week celebrations
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 28
On the fourth day of the DAV (PG) College Union Week, a kavi sammelan was organised here today. Amid merriment, students had a gala time in the presence of poets and stand-up comedians, including Gajender Solanki, Dr Poonam Verma, Dr Vishnu Saxena, Dr Balbir Singh, Jagpal Rathi and Vipin Pandey.

The chief guest for the day was N D Tiwari, former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, accompanied by Pushkar Singh Dhami, senior BJP leader, Pramod Yadav, social worker, and Naresh Bansal, state treasurer, BJP.

Students from various departments gathered at the venue and shared moments of laughter when Gajender Solanki lampooned on the present political scenario.

Besides setting a perfect comic timing, the poets also sang songs and entertained the crowd.

The famous song titled “Koi Pagal Kehta Hai, Koi Deewana kehta hai” remained the highlight of the day.

Youth festival at Sanskrit University
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 28
Mahavidyalyas, vidyalayas and other institutions affiliated with Uttarakhand Sanskrit University participated in the annual youth festival held on the university campus here today.

Haridwar SSP Pushkar Sailal and the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Dr Sudha Rani Pandey, were the chief guests.

The programme began with the lighting of a lamp by the chief guests which was followed by ‘Saraswati Vandana’. Students also presented skits and folk dances.

The programme was organised by the students’ welfare union. The prize distribution function was also held.

Students of Partha Sarthi School, Khadkhadi, also presented patriotic programmes.

Meanwhile, a three-day annual festival began at Mahila Mahavidyalaya (PG) at Kankhal today. Various activities were held on day 1.

The college Principal, Dr Geeta Joshi, urged the girls to take part in such events for their overall personality development.

90 college students visit ecological park in Dhanaulti
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, February 28
Ninety class X students of the Government Inter College, Gorakhari, situated in a remote area of the Jaunpur block in Tehri Garhwal district, visited Ecological Park at Dhanaulti and Jawahar Aquarium in Mussoorie for the first time under the Rashtriya Madhyamaik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).

Besides enjoying the panoramic view of the Himalayas, the students learnt about various plant species, which are available only with the forest department. Deputy Ranger M Gairola apprised the students of Dhanaulti eco park.

“The park was established by the Mussoorie Forest Division in collaboration with the local community with an objective to preserve the pristine, untouched environment and provide source of income to the community of the area,” said Gairola.

The students also gained knowledge about various types of plant and animal species preserved in the park. They also visited the yoga centre and green house.

The Deputy Ranger also discussed about climate change and laid emphasis on planting more trees to mitigate the effect of climate change on the environment. He also motivated the students to work on establishing more of such eco parks in the area near their school. The students also collected several plants for the further research in their school labs.

The students pledged that they would visit the park during of monsoons to plant a tree in their names.

The students later visited Jawahar Fish Aquarium and learnt about marine life.

Sangeeta, a student, said it was her first visit to the park of this kind. “Now we will try to form an eco-park of this kind in the Naag Tibba area at our place to contribute towards environmental preservation,” added Sangeeta.

The head of the study group, Dr Uday Gaur, said, “The students learn more in natural setting than in laboratories,” added Gaur.

Rs 2.5 cr tax recovered from 2 schools
Tribune News Service

Nainital, February 28
Coercive action on the part of the Income Tax (IT) Department has led to the recovery of about Rs 2.5 crore as tax dues from two prominent schools and an industrial unit in Nainital.

Commissioner of Income Tax (Kumaon) SC Aggarwal pointed out that the amount was realised from the Sherwood College, All Saints’ College and Natural Fragrance Limited.

He said dues were also being realised from the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN).

The IT Department is also in the process of realising the dues from 35 assess who have to pay Rs 10 lakh or more to the department. “We are giving them some time following which we will proceed as per the provisions of the Income Tax Act against them,” said Aggarwal.

The department has undertaken a special drive to ask the major tax assesses to come forward and pay their advance tax on time.

Under the said drive, Aggarwal and some other senior officials of the Kumaon circle met some traders, restaurant and hotel owners, travel agents and other entrepreneurs of Nainital today.

The officials told them to not only pay their advance tax but also pay the self-assessment in advance.

He related that the department was mulling serious action against those who desist from paying the advance tax.

He said delay in the payment of advance tax often hampered the meeting of collection target for the current financial year.

Cellphone use banned in vote counting centres
Tribune News Service

Nainital, February 28
The use of mobile phones in the hall where counting of votes would be held on March 6 would be prohibited. This was stated by Nainital District Election Officer (DEO) Nidhi Mani Tripathi during a training session for the personnel who would be involved in the counting exercise.

The counting of the votes for the six Assembly constituencies falling in Nainital district would be held on the premises of the MB Post Graduate College in Haldwani.

Tripathi told the officials that they would be reporting for duty at 6 am and the counting would start at 8 am. She said the postal ballots would be counted first and it is only after this that the electronic voting machines (EVMs) would be opened for the counting of the votes. She also said for the counting of votes for every Assembly constituency, 16 tables would be set up.

Chief Development Officer (CDO) Dhiraj Garbyal told the trainees that before the counting of votes, the sealed EVMs would be shown to the contestants and their counting agents. The points related to the counting procedure were explained to the officials during the training. They were asked to refer to the returning officer in case of any doubts.