Sub panels on sugar mills, caste certificates 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 16
The government today approved the setting up of three cabinet subcommittees on rationalising the issuance of caste certificates and improving the financial health of state-owned sugar mills and Uttarakhand Transport Corporation.

For rationalising the procedure of issuing caste certificates, the cabinet gave approval for the constitution of a four-member cabinet subcommittee that would give it's recommendations for making the procedure hassle free.

"A four-member subcommittee has been constituted with Uttarakhand Social Welfare Minister Surinder Rakesh, Uttarakhand Planning Minister Dinesh Agarwal, Uttarakhand Health Minister Surinder Singh Negi and Uttarakhand Dairy Minister Harish Durgapal as members.

A cabinet subcommittee has also been constituted to study the present condition of the sugar mills and suggest a road map for rehabilitating and improving the economic condition of the sugar mills that are being sustained by the generous dose of finances from the state budget.

There are six sugar mills in the public and cooperative sector being supported by the state government.

The members would include Uttarakhand Planning Minister Dinesh Agarwal, Uttarakhand Revenue Minister Yashpal Arya, Health Minister Surinder Singh Negi and Woman and Child Development Minister Amrita Rawat.

Another cabinet subcommittee has also been constituted to study the health of the Uttarakhand State Transport Corporation. The members comprise Transport Minister Surinder Singh Negi, Revenue Minister Yashpal Arya, Health Minister Surinder Singh Negi and Revenue Minister Yashpal Arya. 

Govt urged to rehabilitate villagers hit by disasters
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, May 16
The Himalayan Niti Sambad held a meeting of villagers affected by disasters at the district headquarters today and appealed to the government to implement the disaster rehabilitation policy that it had announced on August 19, 2011. “We have convened this meeting of villagers affected by disasters only to pressure the government to implement its rehabilitation policy,” said Bhuwan Pathak, convener of the meeting.

Villagers from disaster-affected areas of Munsiyari and Dharchula said at the meeting that they wanted to be rehabilitated before the monsoon as they feared another disaster in their locality during rains. “About 50 families from Jipti Garva village have been facing landslides since 2006. This has created a 50-feet wide ditch in our cultivable land, thus making it incapable of producing any type of grains. Therefore, we want to be rehabilitated before the monsoon,” said Devi Dutt Upadhyaya, pradhan of Jipti Garva village of the Dharchula subdivision of the district.

“We started meetings at the village level with a mission to gather information about the real position of the disaster-affected people of the state. We surveyed all 7,300 families living in 233 disaster-affected villages. After we get a district-wise data, we will hold a regional-level meeting of disaster-affected people in Almora on May 20,” said Pathak.

The residents of Chalma Chlaso, La Ghekla, Tankul, Syankuri and Khumti villages, which were the most affected by disasters, also attended the meeting. “We all have pleaded with the government to rehabilitate us before the monsoon this year, as we fear we will fall a victim to another disaster that could occur during rains,” said Bhana Devi, pradhan of Laghekla village in Munsiyari.

Bhana Devi said after their entire cultivable land was washed away in the 2009 disaster, the government only gave a relief at the rate of Rs 4,000 per acre, which was insufficient to sustain a family in the area.

Pathak said after having brain-storming sessions at the regional level to formulate an appropriate rehabilitation policy, the Himalaya Niti Sambad initiative would hold a meeting of organisations concerned in Dehradun on June 12 and 13. Thereafter, a delegation would meet the Chief Minister to urge him to get the decisions of the Himalaya Niti Sambad initiative implemented, besides the rehabilitation policy of the government. “We request the government to fulfil its commitment of rehabilitating all villagers hit by disasters,” said Pathak.

Van Gujjars demand rehabilitation
Tribune News service

Dehradun, May 16
A delegation of Van Gujjars from the Kalagarh Tiger Reserve and the Lansdown forest division met SK Sharma, Uttarakhand Chief Wildlife Warden, here yesterday and submitted a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna regarding the delay in the rehabilitation of 181 families of Van Gujjars residing in these forests. Brijinder Singh, a member of the Central Government Task Force on Tiger Conservation, was also present on the occasion.

The Van Gujjars said the Union government had given money for the rehabilitation of 181 families of the community living in the Kalagrah Tiger Reserve and the Lansdown forest division in 2002. However, nothing had been done in this regard.

The Van Gujjars said their rehabilitation was proposed in the Sabalpur area of Haridwar, but despite a wait of 10 years nothing had been done. They urged the Chief Minister to immediately instruct the forest officials to rehabilitate them. They also demanded that all members of 181 families identified in 2002 should be rehabilitated.

SIDCUL offers aid to cops for traffic management
Tribune News Service

Nainital, May 16
Entrepreneurs from the State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttaranchal (SIDCUL) hub in Rudrapur have assured all help to the police and the administrative authorities in streamlining the traffic in the area.

At a meeting held on Tuesday in Rudrapur, members of the SIDCUL Entrepreneur Society told District Magistrate Brajesh Kumar Sant and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nilesh Anand Bharne that they fully supported the initiatives of the administration and the police in making the traffic management more strong and providing more security to the labour force and ordinary citizens.

Vice-president of the society Ajay Tewari told Sant that the society would bear the costs involved in closing the unrequired cuts on the divider between SIDCUL to Indira Chowk along with decreasing the size of the crossroads.

He asked the District Magistrate to get the technical proposals for these works prepared by the Public Works Department (PWD) and forward these to him. He pointed out that the local municipal body must come forward to maintain and beautify the crossroads.

Bharne disclosed that Rs 3 lakh was required for repairs of 12 CCTV cameras that had been installed across the town to keep an eye on anti-social and criminal elements.

He said mohalla-level vigilance committees were being set up from Khatima to Jaspur to keep a check on criminal activities. He said 10,000 identity cards were to be printed for members of these committees.

Tewari gave an assurance on getting the CCTV cameras repaired and the cards printed.

Bharne further related that there were plans to install CCTV cameras even in the industrial area and the staff at the police post in the SIDCUL area would be increased.

He further stated that more barricades would be erected in the area and checking would be intensified.

Compounding Camp at IIT Niranjpur
Nod to regularise 42 illegal constructions 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 16
The Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) held a compounding camp at IIT Niranjpur today to consider the cases of illegal construction today wherein 42 cases were approved for regularisation of Sector 8 of the city.

The authority has divided the city under various sectors.Out of these, 33 cases were regularised on the spot only by depositing Rs 33 lakh in the authority fund.

Another camp is proposed to be held in Sector 1 on May 23 and Sector 2 on May 30. Only the residential premises measuring up to 500 sq metre will be considered for compounding whose land use had been approved under the Master Plan. Those who are interested will have to deposit an application, documents related to land ownership and Khatauni, four copies of the map and mention of the illegal part in the building.

It is on the direction of state Planning Minister Dinesh Aggarwal, the MDDA has begun the compounding campaign to regularise illegal constructions by depositing a fee which vary according to size and category. Secretary, MDDA, YK Pant, said, “The unauthorised residential colonies or commercial buildings will not be regularised under these compounding camp. It does not come under the purview of the MDDA. It is only where the owner has constructed the house in MDDA-approved colonies but did not get the map of the building approved or deposited the required documents or constructed an additional portion without the approval of the MDDA will be considered.”

He said such a camp was held before the state Assembly elections. Earlier too, very few compounding camps were held and that too after an intermittent period. Owing to this, many such cases had piled up for consideration. Now, the MDDA has launched this campaign where each month, a sector will be covered out of total eight sectors.

The area under these sectors are Dehra Khas, Ajabpur Kalan and Ajabpur Khurd in Sector 1; some portion of Ajabpur Kalan, Kedar Pur, Badripur and Mothrowala in Sector 2; Clock Tower, Harra Wala, Bala Wala, Miya Wala and Nathan Pur in Sector 3; Kulhan Karanpur, Gujrana Mansingh, Kirsali and Amwalatarta in Sector 4; Raipur Mafi, Dhak Patti, Jakhan

and Malsi in sector 5, Hathi Barkala, Dobhal Wala, Kaula Garh and Bagral Paltan in Sector 6; Paltan Bazar and Laxman Chauk in Sector 7; Prem Nagar, Arcadia Grant, East Hope Town, Kanwali and Niranjan Pur in Sector 8.

State to promote religious tourism to create jobs
Tribune News service

Dehradun, May 16
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said that the state government would promote religious tourism in the state so that employment opportunities would be generated for the local people.

Chief Minister Bahuguna was addressing a programme organised by Himalayan Minority Committee at his residence here today. He said that the state government was serious towards the welfare of minority communities in the state.

He said that the government had launched several welfare schemes to connect them to the main stream of development and had constituted a separate ministry for them. Jamyuk Lokse of Tibetan community described constitution of a separate minority ministry by the present Congress government as laudable decision of Chief Minister Bahuguna. Hemkund Sahib trustee Narendra Jeet Singh Bindra said that after Bahuguna took over as Chief Minister, the infrastructure development had speeded

up around Hemkund Gurdwara and the pilgrims had started reaping benefits from it.

Yaqub Siddiqui described the decision taken for the welfare of minorities as a historic one in the 12 years of the state’s existence. President of Himalayan Minority Committee MN Farooqui said that the Chief Minister was sensitive towards the welfare and development of minorities and his good governance was visible through his working style.

Also present on the occasion were Afzal Manglori, Nazma Khan, Harpal Sethi, Vivek Khanduri and Raju Bindra. 

Fire-fighting drill at DPS-Dehradun
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 16
To bring awareness about fire-fighting devices and methods to control fire, a workshop was conducted by the Fire Department, Dehradun, for the staff of Delhi Public School, Dehradun, here today.

The Chief Fire Officer CS Jeena along with his team members enlightened the staff with their knowledge and expertise. Various methods to extinguish fire were explained. Through various examples and demonstrations, the ideas were put forth effectively. The workshop was also attended by the school support and transport staff.

The workshop was also attended by school principal Sanjay K Singh. The staff took part in performing a variety of fire-fighting drills for hands on experience. 

Major scam in development works surfaces in Almora 
Tribune News Service

Nainital, May 16
A major scam pertaining to building of kharanjas (unmetalled pathways) and other development works has surfaced in the Syaldeh area of Almora district.

The works that have come under the scanner following a probe ordered by the District Magistrate pertain to those being got done by gram panchayats, Jal Sansthan, Jal Nigam and the Minor Irrigation Department along with those sanctioned under the local area development schemes approved by the local legislator at the Babaliya gram panchayat.

It has come to light that while the works in question were shown done on paper and money was paid for the same, there was nothing that was executed on the ground.

The scam has come to light following an application moved under the Right to Information (RTI) Act by one Bhagat Singh of Babaliya. A complaint made to the office of the District Magistrate had led to a probe conducted by two senior officials that have brought out the revealing facts.

Chief Development Officer (CDO) of the district SSS Pangti and the Block Development Officer (BDO) at Syaldeh have been asked to recover a sum of Rs 55,000 from Deputy Development Officer (Cooperatives) Sarvesh Kumar, who had misused the advance payment made for the construction of a kharanja in Babaliya village. The accused official had failed to initiate the work despite the money being made available to him in two instalments since March 2011.

Departmental action has also been recommended against him. The same official is also said to have been involved in a similar scam related to the construction of a kharanja on Mehrakhat-Barahkhal-Rikhaun stretch at a cost of Rs 74,000 paid since 2009. It was found that only 10 per cent of the work had been executed. In this case action had been recommended against a Junior Engineer for having approved payment to the accused of the Minor Irrigation Department.

Similarly, a payment of Rs 92,000 was made for construction of a protection wall around the house of one Shobhan Singh of Pipalgaon in 2009-10, while the cost had been Rs 76,193. The remaining money was said to be pending evaluation.

Pangti has related that a sum of Rs 1,12,000 had been misused with regard to construction and repairs of a water scheme of Jal Sansthan at Babaliya. It has been recommended that the sum be recovered from Sarvesh Kumar and the Junior Engineer in question.

A similar instance has come to light from Bharsoli where Rs 30,000 was paid for repair works in a Scheduled Caste (SC) locality and nothing was done on ground. In this case the recovery has been ordered from the then gram vikas officer Harish Prasad presently posted in Bageshwar.

Pangti has stated that if the officials fail to deposit the amount due from them in the next fortnight, a criminal case would be lodged against them.

Exorbitant Fees in Private Schools
Naithani asks parents to admit kids to govt schools
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, May 16
Mantri Prasad Naithani, Minister for Education, Agriculture and Peyjal, today met Congress workers and people from his Devprayag Assembly constituency, who were living in Mussoorie.

The minister on his arrival in the town went to the Shahid Sthal and paid floral tributes to the martyrs of the Uttarakhand movement. He was welcomed by local Congress leaders at a meeting held at a hotel here. Later speaking to mediapersons on the issue of charging of exorbitant fees by private schools, the Education Minister said sarcastically that the parents instead of complaining against the private schools should admit their children to government schools.

Naithani, when apprised by the mediapersons about the appalling infrastructure and poor quality of education in government schools, said the government would try to improve the infrastructure and the standard of education in government schools to bring it on a par with private institutions.

Naithani, who is also Peyjal Minister, while speaking on the issue of the drinking water crisis in the state, said his priority would be to introduce drinking water schemes through storage and gravity pumping, wherever possible. For improving water supply in Mussoorie, he said he would look into the prospects of reviving the pending projects such as Hardy Falls so that the residents did not face any shortage of drinking water.

About the state of agriculture he said the government was planning to introduce a new scheme for small farmers where the issue of chakbandi would be addressed prominently. About the issue of contract farming, Naithani said the government was considering all aspects in this regard and would come out with a policy in near future.

Villagers from Kempty presented a memorandum to him and urged him to direct the Uttarakhand Rajya Nirman Nigam to complete the pending construction work of the new building proposed near the school.

Congress leader Geeta Kumain and municipal councillor Jasvir Kaur also demanded a primary and a secondary school at Bhilaru and Doodhli in Mussoorie, respectively. Jasvir Kaur also urged the minister to approve the proposal of the Vincent Hill drinking water project scheme from George Everest House to Hathipaon here.

Earlier Naithani flagged off the Lord Vishwanath Jagadishila palanquin that arrived here from Rishikesh today. After religious rituals in a temple in Mussoorie the palanquin headed for Badkot in Uttarkashi district.

The palanquin yatra of Lord Vishwanath Jagadishila is the brain child of the minister and it will travel the length of breadth of Uttarakhand in the coming days with an objective to promote religious tourism that is the mainstay of the state economy.

Sanitation drive in Nainital gets all-round cooperation
Tribune News Service

Nainital, May 16
Kumaon Commissioner Hemlata Dhaundiyal and District Magistrate Nidhi Mani Tripathi participated in a sanitation drive being carried out across Nainital town on Wednesday.

The two officials went around Tallital Daath, Fansi Gadhera and the adjoining areas, participating in the initiative that is being carried out in the lake city with the help of conscious citizens, students and the officials from May 10 to May 20.

On Wednesday it was the turn of the children from Sherwood College to carry out an awareness drive amongst the masses to keep the town clean.

Speaking on the occasion Dhaundiyal said, “The best thing about the drive is that schoolchildren are participating in it in a big way.” She added everyone would have to adopt a constructive approach to maintain the sanitation in the town so that the initiative becomes a success.

She said maintaining sanitation in the town was not only the job of the local municipality board but was a collective responsibility. She added that it is pertinent that the people of the town keep their surroundings clean. She went around giving directions on how to make the drive more effective.

Tripathi pointed that if the people of the town succeeded in maintaining cleanliness in their surroundings, Nainital would set an example for other towns and cities.

The DIG, Kumaon Range, Deepak Jyoti Ghildiyal, promised the help of the police in making the initiative a success.

An essay writing competition was held at Sanwal School as a part of the ongoing initiative that is being marked by various competitions for the children of the town. The winners would be awarded prizes on May 20, when a grand finale would mark the end of the initiative.

The emphasis of the drive is to involve the maximum number of school children so that they can take across the message of making Nainital a clean and green city.

The people on their part are coming out in complete support of the drive and groups and associations are eagerly participating in the drive.

Lt-Gen Parnaik visits Bengal Sappers
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 16
Lt-Gen KT Parnaik, Colonel Commandant of the Bengal Sappers, visited the Bengal Engineers Group and Centre in Roorkee on Tuesday and took the salute at the passing out parade. About 180 recruits completed their training to become fully trained Sappers. The parade was witnessed by 4,500 personnel of all ranks of Bengal Sappers.

Lt-Gen Parnaik is the senior-most serving officer of the group and like a father figure for all ranks of Bengal Sappers.

Lt-Gen Parnaik has been a sportsman and has represented the country in rowing in 1981, 1982 and 1983 in Asian Games. The General has also been part of the 3rd Indian Expedition to Antarctica. This is the second occasion in a row that a senior Army Commander is taking the salute at a passing out parade of Bengal Sappers. Margaret Alva, former Governor of Uttrakhand, had taken the salute at a parade a few months ago.

Lt-Gen Parnaik felicitated eight young Sappers who had excelled during training in various fields of combat engineering. He then addressed the passing-out recruits. He congratulated each of the Sappers for the crisp drill movements and an immaculate turnout.

He motivated them to always choose the right path no matter with how difficult a situation they were in and serve the motherland with pride and honour. Later Lt-Gen Parnaik paid homage to martyrs at a wreath-laying ceremony at the Bengal Sappers War Memorial. 

Healthy diet guards against hypertension: Dr Rawat
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 16
On the eve of World Hypertension Day, medical experts advocated adopting effective lifestyle measures to manage and prevent hypertension.

“A healthy diet having low salt content and rich infruits and vegetables having fibre content could act as an armour against hypertension,” said Dr Anurag Rawat, cardiologist, Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust, at a seminar on hypertension here today.

He said due to poor diet and sedentary lifestyle, cases of cardiovascular disease are rising among both the young and old population of India.

“In India high blood pressure affects 33 per cent of men and 30 per cent of women, making one in three adult Indians hypertensive. But equally prevailing low level of awareness about control of hypertension could prove fatal for Indians. The key to avoiding hypertension is adopting a healthier lifestyle, including a healthy diet, no smoking and follwing a healthy diet,” he said.

THDC gets award 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 16
RST Sai, CMD, Tehri Hydro-electric Development Corporation, received the prestigious Power Line Award in the category of "Best Performing Generation Company ( in Hydro Sector)" from Union Minister of Power Sushil Kumar Shinde at a function held in a ceremony in New Delhi.

The award is given in recognition of excellence and the outstanding performance by THDC India Limited in the Indian power sector in the field of hydro sector generation. The JKSPDC (J&K State Power Development Corporation) shared the award with THDCIL.

The Power Line Awards are based on the judgement of a seven-member jury consisted of distinguished and accomplished power sector personalities headed by RV Shahi, the former Secretary, Union Ministry of Power, and supported by a research conducted by Power Line magazine.

The THDCIL is a profit-making organisation. The Tehri Dam project started with the status of a project of "National Significance" during its planning stage and was successfully commissioned in spite of stringent opposition during its implementation.

THDCIL is one of the premier hydro power generators in the country.

CM helps ailing woman

Dehradun, May 16
Moved by the media reports regarding an ailing woman and her little son, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna today visited the patient in Doon Hospital here and extended her financial help.

The Chief Minister visited the woman hailing from Gairsain in Chamoli district, who is seriously ill and is being looked after by her 10-year-old son Raju. Bahuguna gave the woman Rs 10,000 from his own pocket and directed that her treatment expenses be borne from the Chief Minister's discretionary fund. Bahuguna assured the woman and her son that the best available treatment would be provided and directed the Chief Medical Superintendent to provide all medical facilities to the woman and proper lodging and boarding facilities to her son Raju. — TNS

Doon summer queen beauty contest
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 16
The Dehradun Ladies Club (West) organised a summer queen beauty contest in Dehradun today.

In the below 40 years age category, Mehak was declared the summer queen, while Reshu and Sangeeta were adjudged the first and second runners-up.

In the above 40 years’ group, Reena Jain was declared the winner while Gaurav and Radhika were declared the first and second runners-up.

In the 55 years and above, Rachna, Bhupendra and Vandana were declared winners. President of the Dehradun Ladies Club (West) Rachna Jain coordinated the proceedings of the beauty competition. 

Two Nepalese poachers held with sambhar meat, pigs
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, May 16
Two poachers of Nepal origin were arrested and fresh meat of Sambhar and five living pigs were recovered from their possession in the Khara Tak forest of the Champawat district yesterday.

Meanwhile, a leopard cub, which was rescued from poachers’ trap near Pithoragarh town yesterday, died today.

A report from the Khara Tak forest near Nepal in Champawat district stated that two Nepalese poachers were arrested along with a gun and meat of a wild Sambhar by forest officials after a long combing operation. “We had received reports that some Nepalese poachers were active in the forest, which shares border with Nepal, in this part of the division. We had alerted forest guards and they succeeded in trapping the poachers today though six of their accomplices manage to flee,” said VK Mahra, a forest official in the Champawat division.

The forest official said forest guard Bharat Singh received head injuries after one of the poachers attacked him with a stone. He said the poachers had been booked under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

In another incident, an injured leopard cub, which was trapped by poachers in the Bisabajer forest region near Pithoragarh town, died today. It reportedly died due to a cardiac arrest as it had sustained deep wounds. “The poachers had trapped the six-month-old cub for skin and bones. When some village youths spotted the injured cub in the deep forest, it had already become unconscious,” said Dr RM Nitwal, a veterinary surgeon, who did a post-mortem on the cub.

3 fraudsters arrested; 7 ATM cards recovered
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 16
The police arrested three persons, Ayush, Arif and Shakil, from Tyagi Road in the city today for withdrawing Rs 20,000 from the account of Ashima Aizaz, resident of Muslim Colony, by using her ATM card. The first two accused belonged to Rajasthan and the third one is from Haryana.

They were mutual friends and committed similar acts in Dalanwala area of the city, Delhi and Rajasthan.

The police has recovered 7 ATM cards and cash amount of Rs 14,500. The police is also investigating about the money deposited in their bank accounts.

The accused used to deviate the attention of the ATM card users by not letting them complete the process of withdrawal of the money and confusing them. They would then extend their help and in the meantime changed the ATM cards. Later, they would withdraw the money from the victims' accounts by using their ATM cards.