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Illegal construction goes on in Landour cantt
Resort being built on green land near Kempty
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Vacant Cabinet slot a bone of contention
Eco Tourism Map of Uttarakhand
Artist Ruby Kumar dead
Daylight robbery in Sahaspur
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Illegal construction goes on in Landour cantt
Mussoorie, March 21 On the other hand, the resident whose newly constructed site was demolished yesterday alleged that his house was targeted by the authorities under prejudice and with mala fide intentions. Bharat, the owner of the property that was demolished by the cantt authorities, said that his house was targeted on frivolous complaint and without serving any notice to him, whereas the other encroachers who had connections with the officials were let off without any action. He also alleged that encroachers have even cut several trees of rare species for plotting purpose but the officials have not intiated action against them due to unknown reasons. When contacted, vice-president of the Landour Cantt Board CP Baloni said that the authorities were lenient towards the rich encroachers on the one hand and targeting the poor residents just merely to complete formalities. Baloni also said that elected representatives did not have any say in the board meeting as the Army officials were in majority and passed the proposals to their liking. Corroborating the claims, he further said that the proposal of repair of the tennis court at Dahlia Bank, property owned by Mumbai businessman Sanjay Narang, was done without investigating the fact that no records of any such tennis court existed in the board office. He alleged that the idea behind approving such repair work was to provide leverage to the Mumbai businessman so that he could continue construction of the building that was near the Institute of Technology and Management (ITM) and required no objection certificate from the institute director before starting any work on the property. Baloni was also surprised that the ITM official who is also a member in the Landour Cantt Board was mum on the issue. Baloni also said that the cantt officials were taking advantage of the fact that most of the poor residents were unaware of the defence and cantonment laws. Speaking on the issue of mutation procedures in the cantonment area, he said that the registration of the property in the cantt area can only be done after seeking NOC from the cantt board or the defence estate office. He also lambasted the local administration for registering the properties without seeking approval from the cantt authorities. The mutation of the property in the cantt board is not possible without the NOC notice. Baloni also informed the media said that the mutation procedure has not been fulfilled on the properties owned by Mumbai businessman Sanjay Narang. But despite that he has renovated all his properties in connivance with Army officials. The residents of the area also said that they were living a life of second grade citizens in the cantonment area due to the high-handed attitude of the cantt authorities.
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Resort being built on green land near Kempty
Mussoorie, March 21 The mafia has cut several Oak trees to pave the way for the construction of the grand resort. Besides this, it is using illegally mined stones for the construction work. A JCB machine works 24 hours to dug up the area. Kempty forest ranger Neelam Barthwal said she was unaware of any such activity, but now when the issue had been brought to her notice, strict action would be taken if any such activity was being carried out against the forest laws. She directed officials to investigate the matter and submit a report to her by tomorrow. Revenue officials also could not give a satisfactory answer on how the JCB machine was being allowed to dig up the land. The area around the Kempty Falls has become a safe haven for the land mafia, who buy land from poor farmers on cheaper rates and then sell it to builders from Delhi and Mumbai at higher price. Later, they also manage to convince the builders to give the contract for the construction to them.
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Vacant Cabinet slot a bone of contention
Dehradun, March 21 Now, only one MLA could be inducted as the strength of the Cabinet, including the Chief Minister, could not exceed 12. Hectic lobbying is going on with many Congress leaders even approaching the party high command to get a Cabinet berth. Sources say Independent MLA Dinesh Dhanai, who was likely to become a Cabinet minister, was dropped at the last minute due to some reasons. They say Congress leader Harish Rawat stalled efforts to induct Dhanai into the Bahuguna Cabinet. Another opinion is that the Cabinet slot is reserved for Rudraprayag MLA and senior Congress leader Harak
Singh Rawat. Harak Singh Rawat, who has been supporting Harish Rawat, has been most vocal in opposing Vijay Bahuguna as Chief Minister. The Congress is hopeful that Harak Singh Rawat will accept the offer of a Cabinet berth as his induction will weaken the anti-Bahuguna lobby in the party. On the other hand, Khanpur MLA Kunwar Pranav Champion and Congress MLA from Vikasnagar, Navprabhat, who were initially known Bahuguna loyalists, had turned Bahuguna baiters after yesterday’s swearing-in ceremony. They were now camping in Delhi to plead their case for a Cabinet berth. Congress MLA from Jaspur Shailendra Mohan Singhal, who has been nominated Protem Speaker, is also hopeful of getting a Cabinet berth. Similarly, MLA from Peran Kaliyar Furkan Ali, who has been demanding a Cabinet berth for being the only Muslim legislator in the Congress, has been made Political Secretary to Chief Minister. Furkan supporters resorted to sloganeering during the swearing-in ceremony yesterday. Independent MLA Dinesh Dhanai too has not lost all hopes. He has been banking on other two Independent MLAs and the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Panwar) MLA to exert pressure on the party to ensure a Cabinet berth for himself. Similarly, Harish Rawat’s confidant Govind Singh Kunjwal, who is likely to be made Speaker, has been inclined towards a
Cabinet berth.
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Eco Tourism Map of Uttarakhand
Dehradun, March 21 She said it was a happy coincidence that World Forestry Day falls just a few days before the anniversary of the Chipko Movement. “Chipko Movement that took place in Lata and Reni villages in the vicinity of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve in Uttarakhand 38 years ago was a great inspiration,” she pointed out. Alva said the eco tourism map would help promote eco tourism destinations in the state and congratulated the Forest Department for having produced the map. Uttarakhand Prinicipal Chief Conservator of Forests RBS Rawat elaborated upon the eco tourism possibilities in the state. Coordinating the programme, Senior Uttarakhand Forest Officer Rajiv Bhartari disclosed that eco tourism map has been designed by ARCH trust and was third in series, the earlier ones being Chhoti Haldwani Heritage Map and Binsar Eco Tourism Map.
— TNS
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Artist Ruby Kumar dead
Kumar was in the first batch of geoscientists and engineers who joined the ONGC in 1956. Ruby had voluntarily retired in the early 1990s on the superannuation of her husband. An alumnus of DAV (PG) College, Ruby had joined the ONGC after obtaining her MSc in chemistry. She gradually rose in her chosen profession and reached the rank of deputy general manager. She was one of the first woman scientists from the ONGC to have visited the Soviet Union for a special training. It was there that she met legendry Raj Kapoor who was greatly admired and loved both by Indians and the Russians. Two of her passions were painting and gardening. Ruby was also one of the founding members of the Doon Art Society and some of her paintings were also put on display in several local art exhibitions.
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Daylight robbery in Sahaspur
Dehradun March 21 It was at 1 in the afternoon when a group of five persons came to Atma Ram, an ex-serviceman, and said they wanted to meet ‘Mataji’, Atma Ram’s wife, who claims to have supernatural powers, and attends to the personal problems of the visitors who come to seek solution to their problems. The visitors then threatened the couple with revolvers hidden beneath their clothes and tied them up with the ropes. Thereafter, they searched for valuables and stole the jewellery and cash kept in the almirah and ran, away by locking the door from outside. Afterwards, the couple managed to free themselves, climbed up to the roshandaan (window near ceiling) and called out to the neighbours, who then informed the police. Son of the couple Abhishek had gone out for work, whereas their two daughters, who had left their jewellery with the couple, were married and staying elsewhere.
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Dehradun, March 21