Speaker's Election
BJP MLAs summoned to Delhi
Party doubts Cong likely to poach newly elected MLAs
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 20
Apprehensive that the Congress may resort to poaching in the election of the Speaker of the Uttarakhand Assembly and the Rajya Sabha poll scheduled to be held on March 26 and March 30, the central leadership of the BJP has reportedly summoned all 31 elected MLAs to New Delhi.

Most of the MLAs left for New Delhi in the morning after the Uttarakhand BJP was alerted about the possible designs of Congress leaders who were reportedly trying to get in touch with some elected members who had recently joined the BJP.

"These MLAs may be on the radar of the BJP as most of them have joined the BJP recently and could be susceptible to jump to the other side," said a BJP senior leader.

Party officials said for the first time, the state BJP leadership had given Assembly ticket to those who were new to the party's ideology and some of them have even got elected. There was a possibility that the Congress would try to lure these MLAs into its fold. The fractured mandate has made them susceptible to poaching," added the leader.

Confirming the movement of the elected BJP MLAs from Dehradun, BJP spokesperson Satish Lakhera said there were a number of issues before the party, including the selection of the leader of the opposition. "This issue is expected to figure during the meeting of MLAs along with others," he said.

Though the support extended by three Independents, one UKD(P) and three BSP MLAs has emboldened the Congress, much will depend on the way the legislators will vote on March 26 for electing the Speaker and later on March 27, Bahuguna will have to prove his majority on the floor of the House.

Significantly, the BJP has so far not named its candidate for the post of the Speaker. The prerogative rests with the party having a majority to field its candidate for the post of the Speaker but in view of the infighting within the Congress, the BJP is also keen to field its candidate.

The BJP has already put up its candidate for the March 30 Rajya Sabha poll from Uttarakhand after Naresh Bansal withdrew his name. BJP senior leader Anil Goyal will now face Congress Mahinder Singh Mahra.

Water Shortage
Repair pipelines before summer: ADM
Tribune News Service

Nainital, March 20
The Almora administration has started drawing up an elaborate plan to meet the challenge of water scarcity in summers. The officials of the Jal Sansthan and Jal Nigam have been asked to be on the alert to cope up with any sort of emerging situation.

Additional District Magistrate Rajiv Sah has called for repairing of faulty pipelines and hand pumps before the summers set in properly.

Referring to the water scarcity areas, he has ordered that arrangements be made for supplying water by tankers in areas where the vehicles can reach. In the remaining areas, he has called for preparing a plan for supplying water through mules.

The administration has ordered that legal action be taken against those who have encroached upon the pipelines and are drawing water illegally from the unauthorised connections.

At the lower level, all block development officers (BDOs) have been asked to contact the gram pradhans with regard to the Ekal Peyjal Schemes functioning in their respective villages.

The officials of the Jal Sansthan and Jal Nigam have been asked to chalk out a plan in the areas where they would be supplying water through tankers so that a proposal for the allocation of funds can be prepared well in advance. At the same time, they have been asked to identify spots in the water scarcity areas where hand pumps can be installed. Orders have also been given for plugging leakages in the pipelines.

All Sub-Divisional Magistrates, tehsildars and BDOs have been asked to tour the areas under their jurisdiction and gather information with regard to water availability in different parts. Officials of the Irrigation Department have been asked to undertake repair works of canals wherever needed. Sah has asked the personnel of the PWD to maintain the roads so that water supplies are not hit because of the poor road conditions.

The district education officer (DEO) has been asked to carry out a special awareness drive among school children on water conservation.

A committee has been formed at the district level to tackle the problem of water-borne diseases. Orders have been given to clean the water tanks and other sources of water in the district. A District Surveillance Control Room is also being set up to keep a tab on the outbreak and spread of water-borne diseases in the district.

The Health Department officials have been asked to keep a stock of medicines reserved for dealing with an outbreak of the diseases. The schools have been asked to carry out an awareness drive to teach students how to prevent water-borne diseases and how to maintain hygiene. The officials of Food and Civil Supplies and Health Departments have been asked to carry out surprise checks at shops selling vegetables and other perishable commodities to ensure that the consumers are not being given stale products that can lead to ailments.

Anna, Ramdev share dais
Announce to launch a joint fight against graft
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, March 20
In a bid to boost anti-graft and black money campaign, Gandhian Anna Hazare and Swami Ramdev have now openly announced their alliance in the "fight against corruption".

Both Anna and Ramdev came together on a platform at the Patanjali Yogpeeth here in Haridwar where in the presence of 5,000 women activists, both announced their fight against corruption that was deep-rooted in the system.

Yog guru Ramdev warned the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government of a nationwide movement before the monsoon session of Parliament. He said a protest would be held for the Jan Lok Pal Bill and black money issues.

Baba Ramdev added that this agitation would be much stronger, as Team Anna and Bharat Swabhiman Trust activists would carry out agitation in the country jointly.

Anna Hazare, addressing a huge public gathering for the first time after recuperating from illness, stressed on the need of having a stronger movement for the Jan Lok Pal Bill, bringing back black money, having the right to reject option and making Parliament a place for only honest public representatives.

Hazare also mooted for 50 per cent reservation in Parliament for women only as, he said, in comparison to men they were less corrupt, be it politics or social life.

Further in memory of martyr IPS officer Narendra Kumar who was killed by the quarrying mafia in Madhya Pradesh, the duo of Hazare-Ramdev will sit on a one-day fast at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on March 25.

Acharya Balkrishan, convener of the Bharat Swabhiman Trust, termed the day a historic one in India as now they would take respite only after making sure the Jan Lok Pal Bill was passed and black money stacked in foreign accounts was brought back.

On question of differences between the two mass leaders, Ramdev refuted any such claims. "We were together earlier too, be it at Jantar Mantra, Ramleela Maidan, the August 15 agitation or during the Jan Lok Pal fast observed by Hazare. It's just now we have openly joined hands to fight against the menace of corruption and those who try to shield it,” said Ramdev.

Kumaon departments ordered to streamline functioning
Tribune News Service

Nainital, March 20
The Kumaon administration has started reviewing the progress made by various departments on the development front. With the financial year about to end, the District Magistrates are chairing meetings and pulling up officials of the departments that have failed to meet the targets given to them at the beginning of the current financial year.

Taking stock of the performance of the departments under the 20-Point Programme, District Magistrate, Nainital, Nidhi Mani Tripathi asked the officials of those departments who fared poorly on the performance index to work towards improving their grades.

She laid emphasis on completing the ongoing works with regard to providing basic amenities to the poor families residing in slums.

She asked the officials to ensure that such families are provided with proper drinking water, allocated proper housing, provided proper drainage system and proper sanitation facilities. Tripathi has asked the officials to complete such tasks before the end of this month and submit a report in this regard to her office.

She was concerned about the slow pace of work being done under the Indira Awas Yojana and asked the officials to expedite the works entrusted to them. At the same time she also ordered that the work for converting temporary kutcha toilets into proper permanent structures be started immediately.

Tripathi also gave directions for meeting the amended targets set for providing foodgarins to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families before March 31.

Another area where the performance of the department concerned has been poor is the small savings under the National Savings Scheme.

Tripathi has asked the personnel of the department concerned to establish coordination with other departments and get them to deposit the money in the said scheme. She has suggested that the security taken from contractors for executing various construction tasks must be taken in the form of savings certificates.

At a similar meeting held at Almora, District Magistrate DS Garbyal has asked the officials of various departments to make it a point that the targets for the current financial year are achieved.

Garbyal has ordered that the departments that have not submitted their performance report with regard to execution of work must submit the same to the Economic and Statistical Department at the earliest.

Referring to performance under the 20-Point Programme, Garbyal has asked the officials to see that their respective departments improve upon their grades.

Expressing concern over the issue of providing water to the people in the summer months, Garbyal has asked the officials of Jal Sansthan, Swajal and Jal Nigam to prepare a blueprint for providing water across the the state. They have been asked to identify deficit areas and make arrangements accordingly. He underlined that the potability of water must be kept in mind before arrangements are made for supplying the same. He called for proper cleaning of storage tanks and chlorination of water.

Addressing the officials of the Asian Development Bank and Public Works Department (PWD) that are engaged in maintenance and construction of roads, he said that the two have keep the roads in working condition. While asking the ADB officials to repair the Badichina-Bhoraghat road, Garbyal told the PWD officials to lay special emphasis on keeping the drains and culverts on the roads clean. He ordered that a proper drainage system be put in place in Pataldevi and NTD areas.

Tanakpur—Jauljibi Road
Private firm tasked with preparing detailed report
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, March 20
The construction work on the 150-km strategic Tanakpur-Jauljibi road, along the border with Nepal in Pithoragarh and Champawat districts, may start in near future as a private construction company has been given the work to compile a detailed project report of the road, PWD officials said here today.

The Union Home Ministry had proposed the construction of the road to ensure proper guarding of the Nepal border, said the sources.

“The company concerned has been asked to prepare a detailed project report and do paperwork to obtain forest clearance for the 138-km stretch of the road from the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment. The clearance is still to be obtained,” said Gokarn Singh Pangti, Superintendent, PWD, Pithoragarh division.

The PWD officials said as environment clearance for a 12-km stretch of the road from Tanakpur to Thuligar had been obtained from the ministry concerned, the work to make it double lane was in progress.

“We have warned the company of a penalty if it fails to prepare the DPR of the road in the stipulated time. The construction of the road has already been delayed by 18 years as it was proposed by the Uttar Pradesh government headed by Mulayam Singh Yadav in 1994,” said Pangti. He was addressing engineers at a meeting held in this connection in the district headquarters today.

A PWD engineer said once complete the road would connect more than 150 border villages in Pithoragarh and Champawat districts to main roads. It would also enable the Seema Suraksha Bal and paramilitary forces guarding the Nepal border to patrol remote areas.

“As the Union Home Ministry had sanctioned the road, its officials call meetings every second month to take stock of the progress on the project. We hope that after a detailed project report is prepared, forest clearance for the 138-km stretch of the road will be obtained by next six months,” said the PWD engineer.

The sources said the Centre had sanctioned Rs 500 crore for the construction of the road.

2 killed, 10 hurt in accidents
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, March 20
Two persons, including a woman, were killed and 10 others injured in three accidents in the district in the last 24 hours, sources said here today. A JCB driver, who was working on the Madkot- Munsiyari road, was killed after the JCB machine fell into a 100-metre gorge when he was trying to cut a portion of a steep hill for the road. “The driver, Tahir Hussein, was cremated after a post-mortem,” said Manoj Kumar, revenue sub-inspector of the area.

In another accident at Batuli on the Pithoragarh-Almora road, a 20-year-old woman was killed while a youth was injured seriously when their motorcycle fell into a 150-metre gorge. “The motorcyclist lost control over the bike while giving a pass to a vehicle coming from the opposite direction at a sharp turn near Batuli and it fell into a deep gorge. While Bhawani Devi (20) was killed, Dhirendra Singh Gunjiyal was seriously injured. Both were residents of Dharchula in Pithoragarh district. They were going to Almora when the accident occurred,” said Ila Giri, SDM, Dhaula Devi block, Almora district.

In the third incident, passengers of a jeep travelling from Pithoragarh district to Berinag had a miraculous escape when the vehicle skidded off the road and rolled down into a gorge, but was caught in a tree near Thal town. This saved the jeep from falling into the Ramganga. However, nine persons were injured.

“Had the jeep not got entangled in the tree, it along with the passengers would have fallen into the Ramganga river,” said NS Jeena, a revenue officer of Didihat subdivision.

Chakrata Road
Shopkeepers not to register shops in PWD’s name
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 20
Shopkeepers of Chakrata Road are not ready to give registry of the demolished parts of their shops in favour of the PWD as directed by the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) to them. The shopkeepers are insisting on getting the registry of the demolished portion in their names only.

MDDA officials have created unrest once again by issuing the fresh order.

A group of shopkeepers, especially freeholders, have once again united to protest against it.

President of the Freehold Traders Association of Chakrata Road Virender Rawat said, “The entire Chakrata policy has been faulty from day one. So we can’t surrender our interests by giving the registry of the demolished shops in name of the PWD. We will lose everything with that. The new shops have been given to us in lieu of the demolition but who knows the Congress government may start the allotment once again. Until everything becomes transparent, we cannot take the risk of handing over the registry documents of our shops to any wing of state government.”

This new order can lead to many more complications. Anil Bisht, another shopkeeper, said almost all shopkeepers had been given new shops of small size in lieu of their shops which were demolished on Chakrata Road.

He said they would demand registry of equal area for the newly allotted shops. It was up to MDDA officials to decide how to compensate the shopkeepers for the difference in the area, he added.

New office-bearers of INTUC welcomed
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 20
Members of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) welcomed Twinkle Arora and Hafiz Akram Qureshi, newly appointed city president and state secretary of the association, respectively, at a daylong convention here today.

Addressing the gathering, state president of INTUC Dinesh Sundriyal said, “INTUC is an active association that has been functioning for the labour class for almost 65 years. It encourages togetherness and brotherhood among its members to become strong activists.”

“We welcome our two new members to the association and congratulate them on becoming the part of a development-oriented union. I hope they will prove to be an asset and strong foundation for INTUC,” he added.

He also appreciated the initiative of the women helpline started by Deepali Mahal, state president of the women wing of INTUC, and exhorted other members to work for the welfare of people.

Raj Kumar, MLA, Rajpur, was the chief guest on the occasion while Bimla Manhas, Rajeev Mahrishi and Imrana Parveen were special guests.

Women made familiar with family planning methods
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 20
To outreach women in the comfortable space of their communities for family planning counselling, a day-long seminar on promoting injectable contraceptives, Dimpa, was organised by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) here today.

A large gathering of married women from various walks of life attended the seminar with keen interest. They shared their experiences and concerns on various issues related to family planning methods. The seminar advised women on family planning methods.

Addressing the event, Sanjeev Vyas, programme director, Dimpa, said: “Studies have shown that the use of effective spacing methods by married women is very low in India. The reason behind it is barriers such as embarrassment, peer family pressure and low level of knowledge.”

“We, through such seminars, aim at helping women overcome these barriers and provide them comprehensive information on various family planning methods so that they can choose the method best suited to their needs,” he added.

Drivers, conductors hold protest
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 20
In protest against the proposal to made compulsory a refresher course from the Institute of Driving Training and Research for the renewal of driving licence, members of the Driver-Conductor Union of Dehradun staged a demonstration in front of the Transport Office today.

Union president Satish Kumar said to get driving licence, the authorities had already made compulsory getting a certificate from a driving school. There was no need for further refresher course for the renewal of licence. The move only aimed at harrasing drivers, he alleged.

He said they had written to the Transport Commissioner and the Principle Secretary (Transport) in this regard in February as well as March 10, but they had not released any order to withdraw the proposal. He further said if the authorities failed to withdraw the proposal by April 5, they would intensify the agitation.

Senior citizens on tour to Shimla, Renukaji
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 20
A three-day heritage tour to the Renukaji temple and Shimla organised by HelpAge India for senior citizens was flagged off here today by Dr GD Goel, a former president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Dehradun.

Prasanna Kumar Debata, cluster coordinator, Mobile Medical Unit (MMU), AYUSH, said the tour would cover the Renukaji temple and the Renuka lake, Sankat Mochan Mandir, Tara Devi temple, Governor House, Mall Road, Church, Jakhu Devata, Army Museum and other places. “The senior citizens will enjoy the beauty of nature in Shimla,” he added.

Dr Madan Gopal Joshi, Mudit Dabral, Subhash Chand, Bishan and Krishna Avtar Mishra from HelpAge India were present on the occasion.

Tripen Rawat chief of hotel employees’ union
Ajay Ramola

Mussoorie, March 20
The Hotel Guides and Employees Union elected its executive body unanimously at the annual meeting held in the union office today.

Tripen Singh rawat was elected president while Chaitram was elected secretary. Mahavir Prasad Badhani was elected treasurer while Vijay Singh Kathait was elected for the post of vice-president. Anusuya Prasad Uniyal and Balbir Singh Rawat were declared joint secretaries in the elections here.

The newly elected executive body of the union assured the members that it would work in the larger interest of the workers and raise their issues in the appropriate forum effectively.