MLA refutes charge of misbehaviour with mediapersons
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, June 23
First-time legislator from Ranipur-BHEL, Aadesh Chauhan, has refuted any misbehaviour with media personnel in Bahadrabad, and also denied encroaching on any property meant for community service.

In a statement Aadesh Chauhan denied having indulged in any illegal means, and instead alleged that certain private news channel reporters were maligning his image by involving his name in encroachment of a village community service chaupal.

Notably, on behalf of Chauhan, an FIR was lodged against the electronic media personnel, who were trying to film the alleged controversial property, which local people claim to be public property, built in 1946 for community service.

Spokesperson of Ranipur legislator Vipul Kumar said that some media personnel misbehaved with the people present at the venue, giving threats of dire consequences to the legislator.

Meanwhile, state chief of National Union of Journalists Sunil Pandey has expressed shock over a police case being filed against mediapersons by legislator Aadesh Chauhan. He has demanded a magistrate-level probe into this matter as the legislator and his men tried to infringe into the media's sovereignty.

Irregularities in power meters; fines slapped
Tribune News Service

Dehradun June 23
A team of Uttrakhand Power Corporation Limited has spotted many irregularities in the electricity meters of consumers in Roorkee, Haridwar and Dehradun.

During inspection, four consumers of phase-3 and 12 consumers of phase-1 were found indulging in electricity theft . A total fine of Rs 8 lakh is being deducted from them. A hotel in Haridwar too had been imposed a fine of Rs 18 lakh under the charges of electricity theft.

Ten more consumers from Haridwar had been fined with Rs 4 lakh. A flour mill was also found guilty for stealing electricity.

The department is verifying this matter. 

Additional bus depot planned for Haridwar
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, June 23
Keeping in mind the influx of pilgrims and tourists from around the world in the pilgrim city of Haridwar, Uttarakhand Transport Department is now contemplating having an additional bus depot in the city region.

This, on one hand, will ease the pressure on the existing bus depot situated in the midst of the city opposite the railway station, and, on the other, it will allow plying of separate buses on specific routes.

Hundreds of buses are plied from the bus stand with 100 being alone operated by Haridwar depot only, while buses from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu Kashmir and Punjab operate buses from the depot on a daily basis round the clock.

Informing about this to TNS, Assistant Regional Manager of Haridwar depot Kranti Singh said that they had earmarked a vacant space of the depot-run workshop and auction yard situated on the back of railway station on Tibdi bypass road.

Till date at the auction yard those buses were stationed which had crossed their on-field running time limit but now this yard will be converted into a separate bus depot in view of the increasing pressure of buses on the existing one.

For this the open stretch leading from by the bypass road towards railway colony will be closed, with a proposal in this regard being forward to the state transport headquarters.

Singh added that the outer boundary wall had been dismantled by nearby residents illegally to cut short the distance towards by the bypass road.

Local residents and those using state transport bus services have expressed happiness over the creation of a separate depot as most felt that the current bus depot was facing difficulty in accommodating hundreds of buses due to limited space as it is in the midst of the city's busiest area.

Godowns in Kumaon lack space to store extra ration
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh June 23
Interior areas of the Kumaon region can face a shortage of ration during the monsoon, as the district supply officers of these districts have not lifted the allotted quantity of foodgrains due to lack of sufficient space in godowns.

“Of an allocation of 29,795.85 metric tonnes of wheat and 21,310 tonnes of rice for Nainital, Almora, Pithoragarh, Champawat and Bageshwar districts for the monsoon months, the supply officers of these districts have lifted only 18,808 tonnes of wheat and 14,615 tonnes of rice. The remaining allotted ration is still to be lifted by them,” said NC Pant, regional marketing officer of the Food and Supply Department.

According the Regional Food Controller of the Kumaon region, though ration was allocated for these districts in April the district supply officers have not lifted the required quantity. “The extra allocation of ration was meant for the monsoon months and was to be stored in the godowns situated in remote areas of these districts. We could store ration lifted recently in the vacated godowns,” said a source at the office of the Regional Food Controller at Haldwani.

The district supply officers have said they have already stored ration for the next three months and have no space to store more quota that is being thrust upon them. “We have not only filled the stores situated at villages in the higher Himalayan region for the next three months, but also filled the sub godowns situated just below these areas so that in case of additional requirement ration from the sub godowns could be shifted and stored in these godowns,” said Tejbal Singh, District Supply Officer of Pithoragarh.

“As the department has purchased extra ration under the state pool this year, the officers at the regional office want to impose extra ration on us despite we having no capacity to store it,” said Tejbal.

Vinod Tiwari, District Supply Officer of Champawat district, said he had received the full quota of ration till August and distributed foodgrains for June and July to ration card holders of the district. We had urged the consumers to take the ration quota for August also. “We are doing this as we have no extra capacity to store more ration in the godowns,” said Tiwari.

However, the Regional Food officer is not convinced with the answer of the district supply officers and wants to send ration to the godowns situated in the interior areas. The state Food Minister has asked him that why the ration meant for distribution last year is still lying in these godowns though new quota has arrived.

“For the time being we are accepting the answers of the district supply officers that they do not have enough space to store extra ration allocated to the districts in the godowns, but if a problem of ration shortage happens during the monsoon in these districts, these officers will face punitive action,” said the Regional Food Officer at Haldwani.

Storm drainage system awaits construction
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 23
Faced with paucity of funds for implementing the long-pending proposal for storm drainage system in Dehradun, Peyjal Nigam is now banking on provisions of funds under phase II of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) that is yet to take off.

With no money to spare for the ongoing JNNURM works under way in the city, the cash-strapped Peyjal Nigam’s only hope seems to be the second phase of the JNNURM as and when it is announced.

Neither the government nor other agencies have come to the rescue of the nigam and the storm drainage system continues to be in future tense. The Detail Project Report (DPR) prepared by a New Delhi agency may now only be taken up under the phase II of the JNNURM.

“Where is the money to construct the 550 km long drainage system, as it is we have been unable to make complete payment to the New Delhi-based agency that prepared the DPR. Only 30 per cent of the amount has been paid. The cost of the DPR has now gone up to Rs 462 crore,” said SC Pant, executive engineer, Peyjal Nigam.

Significantly, another monsoon season would go but not without heightening the discomfort of the residents of Dehradun, who were witness to the flood fury of 2010 caused mainly due to the inundation of low-lying areas in the absence of proper discharge of rain water.

Meanwhile, some objections were also raised about the DPR by the in-house Peyjal Nigam committee but the authorities say these were minor technical glitches that could be removed once the DPR was accepted under the phase II of the JNNURM.

Once the storm drainage system proposal is implemented in the city, the water logging areas earmarked in the DPR, comprising Sabzi mandi in Majra, ISBT Turner Road, Rajeev Nagar, some part of Prince Chowk, Darshanlal Chowk Clock tower, Ekta Vihar, Rajpur Road and Engineer Enclave are expected to get relief.

Need to renovate, modernise old power projects: UJVNL chief
Tribune News service

Dehradun, June 23
All old hydropower projects in Uttarakhand will be strengthened to increase their capacity under the renovation, modernisation and uprating (RMU) scheme so that more electricity could be generated.

Uttarakhand Jal Vidhyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL) Chairman Subhash Kumar said he had a detailed telephonic conversation with Union Energy Secretary P Umashankar in this regard today.

Kumar said the Union Energy Secretary had consented to renovation, modernisation and uprating of the Chhibro Khodri, Dhalipur, Dhakrani, Kulhal and Tiloth-Maneribhali phase-I projects located in Uttarkashi. He said at present 20,290 million units of power was being generated from these projects and after the renovation work additional 250 MU would be generated.

Kumar apprised the Union Energy Secretary that for the renovation, modernisation and uprating of these projects, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Power Finance Corporation and German Company KFQ in 2005 and the project worth Rs 600 crore was prepared, but no progress was made since then.

He said he had discussed the matter with the Union Energy Secretary and the latter assured him to get the project approved from the Finance Ministry.

Kumar told him that when no works on the hydropower projects were going on the Ganga and the Bhagirathi, it had become necessary to renovate and modernise the existing projects in the state to meet the power demand. The Union Secretary also assured Kumar of a loan of Rs 600 crore in easy installments for these works. 

Togadia opposes power projects on Ganga 
'Move will hurt Hindu sentiments'
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 23
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) International general secretary Praveen Togadia has strongly opposed construction of hydropower projects on Ganga river in Uttarakhand.

Interacting with mediapersons on the sidelines of the conclusion of VHP workers' training camp in Dehradun today, Praveen Togadia said hydropower projects on Ganga were totally unacceptable to Hindus worldwide due to the religious importance of the river. He fully backed those opposing construction of hydropower projects on the Ganga.

Advocating maintaining the flow of Ganga water, he said the hydropower projects on the Ganga would disturb it's natural flow, thereby hurting the religious sentiments of the Hindus. He said the VHP would oppose tooth and nail any efforts to obstruct the flow of the Ganga.

Earlier, addressing the VHP activists from Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, Praveen Togadia accused the Congress-led Centre of resorting to Muslim-appeasement policies. He said Congress had always used Muslims as a vote bank. He said Hindus were getting marginalised in the country and stressed on the need for Hindus to stand unitedly against Congress-led Centre.

He also held that Christian missionaries were actively working in various parts of the country and asked the VHP activists to remain vigilant. He said poor Hindus were being allured to accept Christianity as their religion.

A total of 250 VHP workers from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand attended the 10-day camp.

Mass plantation drive needed, says environmentalist
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, June 23
At the opening session of the three-day farmers training programme being organised by the Nehru Yuva Gram Vikas Samiti, the experts dwelt on various aspects of agriculture.

In his address, renowned water expert Dr Ajay Joshi called on for the conservation of natural resources to utilise them for the livelihood of the people living in villages.

Dr Joshi added that as agriculture was still the main source of livelihood for more than 65 per cent of the Indian population, it was imperative to utilise natural resources to the fullest.

Emphasising the need for mass plantation drive, environmentalist Dr NC Trehan said planting trees was a must as in residential areas, green cover was fast shrinking and needed to be looked after immediately. Agriculture scientist VK Tyagi discussed points about fruits and vegetable growing so that they could be made economically viable for the farmers.

He also elaborated on dos and don’ts of growing and maintaining crops.

Agriculture Department officials also apprised farmers of various schemes, policies and programmes.

‘Urinary incontinence can be treated’

Dehradun, June 23
A press conference on urinary incontinence was held on the eve of world incontinence week here today.

Urinary incontinence, a condition in which there is a loss of bladder control and is experienced by both men and women at some point of their lives, can be cured through medicine management.

The symptoms ranging from leaking to uncontrollable wetting in adults no doubt leads to embarrassment and as a result, the problem is seldom discussed but proper medicine management can help in overcoming the condition.

“It can happen to anyone, many women leak urine after giving birth. Both labour and vaginal birth can weaken pelvic floor support and damage nerves that control the system. Women are more prone to the condition than men due to their physical condition. A survey by the Asian Society of Female Urology had put the incidence of urinary incontinence in India at 12 per cent among women,” said Dr Harendra Gupta, urologist, while addressing the press conference.

He said lack of awareness among women about the problem could lead to serious repercussions. — TNS 

Indo-China trade: Process to issue passes begins
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, June 23
The district administration has sent a five-member team to Gunji to issue passes to the traders for the Indo-China trade this year. Officially, the trade will gain momentum in the first week of July.

Pithoragarh District Magistrate CMS Bisht said the administration had decided to issue passes to tribal traders as they had been demanding this for the past many years. “We have sent our assistant trade officer Paratap Singh Kutiyal with five other members to Gunji to distribute passes,” said Bisht.

He further said passes for 18 traders and 17 helpers had already been issued from the Dharchula office and the rest of them would be issued from the Gunji mart.

The District Magistrate said the SBI had already opened its office at Gunji.

According to sources in traders’ organisations, Indian traders would start reaching the Chinese mart for this trade at Taklakot (Pulan) in the first week of July.

NCC attachment camp at IMA
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 23
State Deputy Director-General of the NCC Directorate Brig RC Dwivedi today visited the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, to inspect the NCC’s IMA attachment camp. Addressing the cadets, Brigadier Dwivedi said NCC aimed at inculcating leadership qualities among the cadets. He said a youth trained in warfare today is an asset for the nation.

He exhorted the cadets participating in the camp to take full advantage of their stay in the academy and get a close know-how about the daily chorus of gentleman cadets. “You are the lucky few as you have been selected for this camp out of 13 lakh NCC cadets from the country,” he said.

NCC Group Headquarters Group Commander Col Pradeep Kumar said the NCC as an organisation helped in inculcating a sense of patriotism among the students in schools, colleges and universities. The NCC helped the cadets rise above caste and religious considerations in service of the nation.

Camp Commandant Col Alok Pandey said the NCC cadets were staying at Siachen Battalion of the IMA and were getting training along with the GCs of the IMA. NCC Public Relations Officer Anil Verma said 120 senior cadets from 17 NCC Directorates were participating in the camp.

Two criminals arrested; 4 bikes recovered
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 23
The Rajpur police has arrested two criminals, Ravinder Singh, resident of Nehru Colony, and Ravishankar, resident of Thrali village, district Chamoli, and recovered four stolen motor cycles from them. The accused were caught at the barricade in Rajpur on a tip-off. Ravinder Singh is a hardened criminal and has been booked for stealing 4 motor cycles, committing thefts in Mussoorie and was also slapped with Gangsters Act in the year 2008.

He was also arrested by the excise police for illegally transporting a liquor consignment in Mussoorie. He was arrested by Rajpur police for stealing motor cycles in 2010 as well for which he was jailed for six months. Ravishankar joined him as a gang member.