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Hailstones damage crops across Kumaon region
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Successive govts have failed to deliver: Kunjwal
Speaker pulls up officials
Residents seek Tanakpur to Jauljibi rail line
Only 13 councillors attend workshop
Teen clinics proving to be a boon
for youth
Bandh seeking VC’s dismissal peaceful
Cabinet berth sought for Furkan Ahmed
RTO staff hold protest by wearing bands on arms
Roadways union holds 2 officials hostage, freed
Cong leaders demand party chief from Haridwar, US Nagar
CPI, NCP support Rockman, Satyam staff
Need to draft policy on power projects: CM
Mahila manch burns effigy of state govt
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Hailstones damage crops across Kumaon region
Pithoragarh, April 16 “About 300 farmers of Toli, Kante and Igara Devi villages in Pithoragarh district witnessed heavy hailstones yesterday that damaged 60 per cent of vegetable and fruit crops,” said Ranjana Mehta, sarpanch of Toli village. The fertile Someswar valley of Almora district also witnessed heavy hailstone yesterday that damaged rabi and vegetables crops, including potato, beans, cabbage, peas, onion and garlic, in 12 villages. The hailstones in the Kausani area of the Takula block damaged vegetables in Kausani and Lyasal villages, besides Doni, Savkhet, Bheta, Barsila and Kherakot villages of the valley. The sudden precipitation had hit the farmers badly, said Gopal Singh, a resident Mahra Gaon of the valley The crops were also damaged in Bageswar district, the Ganai Gangoli area of Pithoragarh district and some parts of Almora district. The affected farmers are demanding higher compensation as, according to them, the existing relief package is not sufficient to make good their losses. “The present compensation of Rs 6,000 per hectare of irrigated land and Rs 4,000 per hectare of non-irrigated land for more than 50 per cent of crop loss is not acceptable to the farmers as it does not compensate them properly,” said Komal Singh Mehta, a resident of Toli village in Pithoragarh district. Director, Horticulture, Uttarakhand, Dr IA Khan, said even the crop insurance scheme did not cover damage due to hailstones. The crop insurance cover is given to those farmers whose crops are damaged due to uneven weather like excess rain, dry weather and fluctuations in humidity, wind and temperature. Damage due to hailstones did not come under this category as the measurement of hailstones could not be done accurately, said Khan. |
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Successive govts have failed to deliver: Kunjwal
Nainital, April 16 He said, “All political parties need to think in this direction of charting out a development path for the state. Till now, the programmes that are being followed are on the pattern of Uttar Pradesh. The policies that are to be framed must take into account the distinct topography and requirements of the region.” “It is the balanced growth that needs to be given priority and special emphasis needs to be laid on the backward areas. I am not talking in terms of plains and hills but the areas that have been left out in the process of development must be given preference.” Pointing out that the progress that has been registered in the state since its inception has been an unplanned development, the Speaker said various departments in the state administration were yet to collect reliable data on various variants. “Schools have been opened where they were not required and had to be ultimately closed. Political commitments are made on several occasions but the promises are seldom fulfilled. Proper surveys need to be undertaken,” he said. He also expressed concern over the neglect being faced by the agriculture and horticulture in the state and portrayed a drastic picture if the issues concerning the two are not addressed at the earliest. Kunjwal did not spare the occasion and once again pointed out that the Congress high command did a wrong thing by denying Harish Rawat a chance to become the Chief Minister of the state. He said in a statement, “The mandate that has come is a fractured one. A man who has worked hard and is denied the opportunity is bound to feel bad. He can tolerate it once but not on repeated occasions. This is not a good practice.” |
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Speaker pulls up officials
Nainital, April 16 Referring to various water projects in Almora district, which are being executed under the Sector Wide Approach Programme (SWAP), lying defunct, he told officials of the Jal Sansthan and the Jal Nigam that such a dismal scenario points towards a serious lapse on their part. Ordering a probe into the execution of various water schemes in the Dhauladevi and Lamgarah areas of Almora by the General Manager of the Jal Sansthan, Kunjwal said action be taken against the engineers responsible for projects that have failed to supply water despite lakhs having been spent on them. He took serious view of complaints regarding the non-availability of medicines in government hospitals. Kunjwal wanted to know why people were being compelled to purchase medicines from outside when enough medicines was available in the hospitals. He has ordered Director, Health (Kumaon division), Dr Tara Arya to ensure that the expensive machines lying unused must be put to use. He has ordered that the doctors available in the region must be rotated in such a manner that their availability is ensured in all blocks of the region. Peeved at the performance of the Public Works Department, Kunjwal pointed out that the failure to repair damaged roads and bridges in the remote areas of the state points to the faulty functioning of the department. Kunjwal also demanded action against those engineers and contractors responsible for the poor quality of metalling of roads in the region. He said the guilty contractors must be blacklisted. He also gave directions with regard to improving the condition of schools opened under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan and pointed out that the future of children must not suffer on account of wrong policies of the administration. |
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Residents seek Tanakpur to Jauljibi rail line
Pithoragarh, April 16 A delegation of residents of this border town met the District Magistrate here today and handed over to him a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister demanding that a Tanakpur to Jauljibi railway line be announced and it also be declared a national project. “We have been demanding a railway line for the past six years as it will benefit more than 1 lakh people living in 46 villages of the district on the Nepal border, besides armed forces on the China and Nepal borders,” said Bangyal, a social worker form Jauljibi town and leader of the delegation. The residents of the town are also demanding mobile phone services in the town. Bangyal said due to the lack of mobile phone services in the town they were compelled to cross the border to avail of the facility in Nepal. “All 25 villages around Jauljibi town are now dependant on the mobile phone services available in a neighboring town of Nepal,” he said. They also demanded in the memorandum a community health centre in their area, as they could not avail of the medical facility available 100 km from the town in Pithoragarh district. “We have been demanding the opening of an LPG godown and a community health centre, besides a railway line and a BSNL tower in our area for the last six years. We have met the District Magistrate and other officials several times but neither the administration nor the government have acted on our demands. If we don’t get justice this time, the people of the town will intensify their agitation,” said Dolma Lal, another woman member of the delegation. |
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Only 13 councillors attend workshop
Dehradun, April 16 Only 13 out of total 60 councillors attended the workshop. Some tried to explain the excuses and some did not even think the need to do so. Pandey complained that the prior notice was given to the Mukhya Nagar Adhikari and all councillors should have come for the workshop. He deplored the insincerity of the councilors. The workshop was aimed at briefing councillors about the concept of the disaster management and how to use the safety or precautionary measures during the times of calamity, whether manmade or natural, to mitigate the aftereffects. The councillors have been given a pro forma to be sent to the District Magistrate where they will be deposited in data bank. The data will come handy to understand the peculiar problems of each ward and connect instant communication and pass instructions during the time of calamity. |
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Teen clinics proving to be a boon
for youth
Dehradun, April 16 The clinics sanctioned under the twelfth Five Year Plan, have now spawned clubs proving popular even in the villages. So far a total of 4 district clubs have been set up. “The teenagers are counselled on health specific issues. Hormonal imbalances that teenagers undergo can now be discussed in the quiet company of a counsellor. Several teenagers complain about their parents not finding enough time to discuss their problems,” said Dr Dr Sushma Datta, Nodal Officer, for ARSH programme and Additional Director Reproductive Child and Health Care. The adolescents are counselled on life skills, nutrition, diet and available career options. A toll free number also takes up calls of distressed teenagers. “These clinics are receiving good response, sanctioned under the 12th Five Year Plan, the first clinic was set up at Doon Hospital, served by the Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) counsellor, psychologists and other doctors,” said Dr Geeta Khanna, programme manager of ARSH.
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Bandh seeking VC’s dismissal peaceful
Dehradun, April 16 SK Sati, a teacher at the university, said the shops and public transport at Srinagar remained closed while agitators took out protest marches in different parts of the city leading to a complete shutting down of all markets there. The protest at HNB Garhwal University on its 18th day, today received support from Uttarakhand Vyapar Mandal, Bar Council Association and Nagrik Manch. They have demanded resignation of VC from the post or to sent him on vacation to proceed with the investigation on the matter.
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Cabinet berth sought for Furkan Ahmed
Haridwar, April 16 Muslim leaders of the party are accusing Harish Rawat for taking the community people for granted, as on he has been vying for all major posts for his loyalists while keeping mum over his assurance to the minority. Veteran minority party leader Rao Hazi Zameel, while addressing a party meeting of Sewa Dal activists here today, expressed their resentment over the attitude of the Haridwar parliamentarian. Rao Zameel pointed out that in the 2009 Parliamentary elections, it were the minority voters who played a pivotal role in the Rawat's record margin win. Now he seemed to have forgotten their valuable contribution, he added. Defending Rawat, his close aide Rao Affaq Khan said, “It was only due to the persistent efforts of the parliamentarian that Furkan Ahmed was given the Cabinet rank in the Bahuguna-led state government. Affaq added further that he would take the issue with Rawat to take it up with the Chief Minister so that the wishes of the minority community were fulfilled. Cornering Rawat for not living up to the expectations of the district, Kiran Singh, working women district chief, demanded an immediate inclusion of Furkan Ahmed in the Bahuguna Cabinet as he is a lone legislator from the Muslim community. Kiran said, “Why the 11th Cabinet ministerial berth be reserved for a certain party leader if we have Furkan Ahmed who will be able to look after the affairs of the minority.” Youth Congress leader Ram Vishal Deo remarked that Furkan's victory was equivalent to Harak Singh Rawat's win over Matbar Singh Kandari in Rudraprayag as Furkan defeated heavyweight Bahujan Samaj Party's legislator Mohammed Shahzad. That’s why, he said, both Furkan and voters of Piran Kaliyar should be awarded by inducting him as state Cabinet Minister. A letter has also been forwarded to Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna and Harish Rawat in this regard by the party workers. |
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RTO staff hold protest by wearing bands on arms
Dehradun, April 16 They are demanding apology from the minister for allegedly searching women staff bags during a surprise inspection of the office on April 11. They alleged that the minister also took away money belonging to four of the employees, accusing them of indulging in corruption. The RTO employees have warned that if the minister did not return the money and tender apology for searching women staff bags, they would boycott work. Accounts officer Sandhya Mishra, from whose bag the minister had allegedly taken away Rs 47,000, has decided to approach the State Women Commission if the minister did not return money. Mukesh Navani, president of the Parivahan Karamchari Sangh, said: "We have conveyed our protest to the minister through senior officials in the department and in the Secretariat. If it did not work out, we will boycott official work." Vice-president of the sangh Sanjiv Arya said the employees did not go on strike as the pilgrimage season was nearing and they did not want to play a spoilsport. Even the strength of RTO employees was not sufficient as many posts had not been filled for long. |
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Roadways union holds 2 officials hostage, freed
Dehradun, April 16 They also submitted a memorandum to Ashish Kumar demanding that the members of all transport unions be attached with the ISBT, Dehradun office, and the reinstatement of those drivers/conductors who had been expelled due to their prolonged absence from work. |
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Cong leaders demand party chief from Haridwar, US Nagar
Haridwar, April 16 These leaders say as the Chief Minister is from a hill district and undue importance has been given to party leaders close to Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Harish Rawat (most of them also belong to the hill region), it will be more of a balancing act if the party president is elected from plains. The leaders, who are opposed to Harish Rawat, cite the number of seats the Congress have won from plains to support their argument. Pradesh Congress Committee treasurer Braham Swaroop Brahamchari told The Tribune that the proposal was in sync with the feelings of the people of the plains of the state. It would also be a ‘balancing act’ as far as representation to hill and plain areas was concerned. Brahamchari, who was vice-president of the PCC in his last tenure and was denied party ticket from the Haridwar parliamentary constituency in 2009, hoped that the plain segments would be given due representation in the party organisation. Brahamchari said it was high time that the party high command considered the issue seriously and named himself and Tilak Raj Behad from Udham Singh Nagar as the candidates who could shoulder the organisation responsibility. Former chairman of the Haridwar Municipal Corporation Pradeep Chaudhari said the good performance of the party in plains needed to be taken into consideration while taking a decision on the Uttarakhand party chief post. Pauri Garhwal MP Satpal Maharaj, whose name is also doing the rounds for the post, stated in Haridwar recently that the party high command would take the decision in this regard. Suggesting anybody’s name publicly was not appropriate, he added. Maharaj said the hill-plain issue should not be given much importance as all districts of the state required equal development. From the Harish Rawat camp, names of Rajya Sabha member Mahendra Singh Mahra, who had lost the last Assembly election from Lohaghat, and Pithoragarh MP Pradeep Tamta were doing the rounds. Though many party leaders felt that considering the factionalism in the party, present president Yashpal Arya should be given a third term. Former president of the Women State Commission Dr Santosh Chauhan said under Yashpal Arya the party won five parliamentary seats in the state and performed well in the Assembly elections to return to power. The Congress also won the highest number of seats in the Haridwar zila panchayat elections early this year. Hence, Arya should be given another chance this time too. |
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CPI, NCP support Rockman, Satyam staff
Dehradun, April 16 Members of these organisation burnt the effigy of the state government and then gave a memorandum to Additional District Magistrate Vinod Suman in this regard. President of the Uttarakhand Parivartan Party PC Tiwari said, “The way the workers were dealt with by the police must be condemned in the harshest words. The negation of the basic requirements and demands of these workers by the management are a matter of grave concern.” Samar Bhandari, state president of the Communist Party of India, said, “The state government is trying to quell the agitation of workers which cannot be accepted.” Convener of the Uttarakhand Bankers Association Jagmohan Mehndiratta demanded strict action against the officers who ordered violence and forceful imprisonment of the workers and the managements of the companies who compelled workers to go on protest. Savitri Uniyal, convener, Nationalist Congress Party, also advocated for the fulfilment of all justified demands of the workers and reinstatement of the dismissed or suspended workers.
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Need to draft policy on power projects: CM
Dehradun, April 16 He said Uttarakhand had kept a potential of producing 27,000 MW power, whereas only 3,600 MW power was being produced. He said despite having enormous potential, the state was depended on external resources for power. Bahuguna further said it was wrong to stop the construction of hydroelectric projects midway just on the basis of religious beliefs. He said only experts could decide on technicalities like water discharge, the maintenance of the continuity of flow of river and other factors. Bahuguna further said as far as hydro power projects were concerned, the Centre should also prepare a universal policy for all Himalayan states. He said a fix percentage of power should be given to the states for the development of the area where projects were being constructed. Almora MP Pradeep Tamta stressed on drafting a long-term policy on hydro power projects taking into consideration water conservation. — TNS |
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Mahila manch burns effigy of state govt
Dehradun, April 16 Convener Padma Gupta said it was deplorable that the state government was looking for land in Selaqui and many other places to build Vidhan Sabha Bhawan when it knew that Gairsain was the obvious choice to shift the capital.
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Haridwar MP Harish Rawat has failed to fulfil promise made to the people to get a Cabinet berth for the MLA elected from the Muslim-dominated constituency of the district. The party leaders from the Haridwar segments are now pressing for a full-fledged ministry for Furkan Ahmed, parliamentary secretary to Chief Minister Vijay
Bahuguna. Furkan is the lone Muslim legislator of the Congress from Haridwar district.
Employees of the Regional Transport Office (RTO) today lodged a protest against state Transport Minister Surender Rakesh by wearing black bands on their arms. However, they did not strike office work and the protest was silent.
Members of the Uttarakhand Roadways Employees Union held Additional Regional Manager, Finance, Sarita Gulati and Additional Regional Manager, Hills, RP Bharti hostage in their office till they were given a letter by General Manager, Uttarakhand Transport Corporation, Ashish Kumar inviting them for talks on their demands on Tuesday.
