Chief Secy seeks better industrial package for state
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 4
Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain has said that owing to protest against hydropower projects in Uttarakhand, 2400 MW hydropower projects had been affected in the state though clearance had been obtained for these projects.

He said that Uttarakhand was spending Rs 40,000 crore in the service of forests and environment and as the state came under special state category, it should be provided funds on 90:10 ratio like North-East states, according to press release of the state government.

Chief Secretary Jain was speaking at a meeting to discuss the annual plan 2012-13 of the state with officials of the Central Planning Commission at Yojna Bhavan in New Delhi yesterday.

He said that during the industrial package period, the industrial growth in Uttarakhand was 18 per cent, which has reduced to just 9 per cent now.

He advocated reconsidering the industrial package for Uttarakhand. He maintained that Uttarakhand had water resources in abundance, which could be the main source of revenue, but despite all possible measures taken by the government to maintain the flow of river Ganga, several hydropower projects were stalled, which has adversely affected the state's development.

Speaking on the forthcoming Nanda Devi Rajjat Yatra, he gave information about the preparation that had to be done by the state government for this 280-km-long yatra, which goes on for 22 days.

He said that it was like a Kumbh mela that took place every 12 years. The yatra went through difficult areas. He urged the Centre to allocate a special package for this yatra, scheduled to take place in the months of August and September in 2013.

Jain said that Uttarakhand shared 625 km international border with China and Nepal and the 2011 census had revealed that owing to non-availability of basic facilities, migration in large numbers had taken place in the border areas.

Describing these areas strategically sensitive, he urged the Central government to give serious consideration for developing facilities in these areas.

The Chief Secretary said that 65 per cent of the land in Uttarakhand was under forest cover, and owing to forest clearance, the speed of development works gets hampered.

He said that scientific statistics had revealed that Uttarakhand had spent Rs. 40,000 crore in the service of forest and their conservation, and received nothing in return.

He urged the Central Planning Commission to consider this fact in it's annual planning. Jain stated that the floating population increased greatly during the Char Dham Yatra season and the government had to provide basic facilities to them.

Pre-monsoon rain in Kumaon brings relief
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, July 4
The Kumaon region received pre-monsoon rain during the last 24 hours bringing relief to the residents from heat wave. The rain led to water-logging and landslides at various places causing inconvenience to passengers.

According to reports received from various places in the Kumaon region, one person died at Ghankat near Khatima yesterday when he was struck by lightening while he was working in his fields. The Terai region witnessed 10.6 mm of rainfall at Pant Nagar and about 30 mm at the Gaula basin, near Haldwani, said Dr HS Kushwaha, a meteorologist at Pant Nagar University.

Local administration sources said at various places the pre-monsoon rain caused inconvenience to the passengers plying on hill roads as well as in the Terai region. They had to wait for hours before the roads were cleared of water-logging. The rain also disrupted traffic on the Kausani-Someshwar, Thal-Munsiyari and Sour-Hairakhan roads in Almora and Pithoragarh districts, besides on the Haldwani-Ramnagar route in Nainital district.

Though it did not rain in Almora town yesterday, the neighbouring areas received 10.6 mm of rain, leading to blockade of the Haldwani-Pithoragarh road at Dharanaula for a few hours.

According to the local meteorological unit, the density of rain in Pithoragarh district was measured at 31.4 mm in the last 24 hours. The rain caused landslides at various places in the district, leading to blockade of the Munsiyari road at Thal. It also cut off Saibhat, Bui, Pato and Lilam villages situated on the Munsiyari-Milam route and disrupted the supply of essential goods to the border posts of the ITBP as the causeway constructed by the PWD at Zimight was washed away last night, said Devendra Deva, president of the Gram Pradhan Sanghathan at Munsiyari.

Hema to campaign for Prakash Pant today
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 4
After star campaigners and central leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who were deputed by the party on poll duty in Sitarganj, declined to campaign for Prakash Pant, the BJP was now banking on Rajya Sabha member and Bollywood star Hema Malini to woo voters.

Hema Malini, who had drawn huge crowds in Haridwar and other parts of the state during the 2012 Assembly elections, would be campaigning in Sitarganj tomorrow.

“We have planned two election rallies with Hema Malini in the specific areas of Sitarganj and are hopeful of receiving a good response,” said Dhan Singh Rawat, organising secretary of the Uttarakhand BJP.

Former Chief Minister BC Khanduri today campaigned for Prakash Pant, who is pitted against Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna.

Central party leaders, including Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, BJP national president Nitin Gadkari and party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad, refused to campaign in the Sitarganj assembly segment citing prior engagements, the party enlisted Hema’s support.

Both former chief ministers Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri and BS Koshiyari have restricted themselves to holding small election meetings due to the summer heat but another former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has kept himself away from campaigning.

It is widely believed that Nishank’s support was not enlisted due to indifference of Khanduri and Koshiyari.

With several ministers in the Bahuguna government aggressively campaigning for him in Sitarganj, the BJP has lodged a protest against Cabinet ministers, including Medical Education Minister Harak Singh Rawat and Cooperative Minister Durgapal, for misusing government machinery.

Meanwhile, Pant has been wooing the Muslims in Sitarganj by reminding them of the steps taken by the BJP for the welfare of the minorities during its rule in the state.

ITBP jawans’ wives present cultural programme
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, July 4
Members of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Housewives' Association gathered under the banner of Himveer Wives Welfare Association (HAWA) at the parade ground auditorium and showcased their talent through several cultural presentations at the parade ground auditorium of ITBP in Mussoorie today.

The programme was held to mark the completion of the 50th anniversary of the force. The chief guest, vice president of the organisation, Nikhat Mehboob, inaugurated the function by lighting the ceremonial lamp.

The housewives of the jawans presented several folk dance items ranging from the states of Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Punjab etc. Gauri Sengan read out the annual report of the organisation on the occasion, displaying a sense of unity in diversity among the members. The programme was coordinated by Shikha Sharma, Madhuri Mishra and Assitant Commandent Rajeshwari Rawat jointly.

The chief guest, Nikhat Mehboob, said the sacrifice of the wives of the jawans was equivalent to jawans as they had to face the challenges of daily life in the absence of their husbands, who were serving the country. She also said that education was a must for women, and they, instead entering into any argument with each other, should approach life positively and concentrate on improving their condition by participating in several activities carried out by the organisation.

Tehsil Diwas a fiasco
No complainant turns up at Champawat
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, July 4
Not even a single complainant turned up at Tehsil Divas at Champawat district headquarters today and officers kept waiting for them throughout the day. Tehsil Diwas was organised at the district headquarters by the local administration to solve the day-to-day problems of people who fall within the district administration's jurisdiction by the District Magistrate.

“However, administrative officers solved complaints of 39 persons in Lohaghat and 31 in Tanakpur subdivisions of the district where Tehsil Diwas was organised at all four subdivisions,” said Sreedhar Babu, District Magistrate of the district.

According to the District Magistrate, the problems on which people sought the solution from the administration were land erosion, irrigation problem, power cuts, and unavailability of BPL ration cards in the areas.

“The officers were instructed to solve the problems of people and were asked to send the proposals of those problems, which have to be solved at the higher level,” said the DM.

“The non-representation of any complainant at Champawat Tehsil Diwas reflects the loss of faith among people on this administrative formality. Despite assurances given by officers present at Tehsil Diwas in the past, people did not find solution to their problems in this forums,” said Shankar Pandey, a senior social and political worker in Champawat district.

At Pati subdivision, recently elevated vice-chairman of the State Cooperative Federation Khushal Singh Adhikari chaired Tehsil Diwas and asked the officers present to speed up the pace of solution to people's problems.

“The officers will have to change the working system to find out solution to problems being faced by the people in the district,” said the vice-chairman of the State Cooperative Federations.

Bicycle rally to keep city clean and green
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 4
Advocating bicycle culture in the city to reduce traffic congestion for a green and healthy lifestyle, a contingent of 75 cyclists, led by Dr Anil Joshi, patron of the Himalayan Environment and Studies Conservation Organisation, yesterday took out a youth cycle procession in the city.

Paddling their way on bicycles round the city with placards proclaiming, “Make lanes for bicycles” and “Get a bicycle you will not regret it, if you have”, the cyclists covered a distance of 26.3 km

“It is healthy and environment friendly way of travelling. I have been doing it for more than 10 years now and want the youth to adopt this way of travelling. The master plans of the city should incorporate separate cycle lanes,” said Dr Joshi.

He said certain areas in the city should be designated exclusively for pedestrians and cyclists, especially in the congested areas. “We could do that around Darbar Sahib, schools and Doon University. People driving in cars and two-wheelers are insensitive towards the needs of the cyclists and pedestrians. In European countries, there are designated lanes for cyclists. Believe me every time I cycle around, there are curious gazes and motorists try to speed ahead of you,” he said.

Earlier, the procession was flagged off from the Rangers Ground in the morning and it ended at the Municipal Corporation, where a memorandum was submitted to Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli.

Chamoli said it would be his endeavour to convey to the government about the need to have separate lanes for cyclists. “I will convey to the government and planners about the necessity to encourage cycling as an alternative mode of travelling. It will curb pollution and even reduce traffic of four-wheelers,” he said.

Janmanch to hold agitation in favour of hydropower projects
Tribune News Service

Uttarakhand Janmanch leaders show posters in support of hydroelectric projects in Dehradun on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Vinod Pundir

Dehradun, July 4
The Uttarakhand Janmanch has decided to organise 'parvat garjana' agitation at Srinagar in Garhwal on July 8 to press for the restart of the construction of scrapped hydropower projects in the state by the Centre.

Addressing a press conference here today, Rajan Todariya, general secretary of the Janmanch, said activists would hold a 'garjana rally' to press for the restart of Srinagar, Pipalkoti and Loharinagpala hydropower projects in Uttarakhand.

Todariya said the Centre had no right to stop the construction on the projects.

He said Padam Shri Leeladhar Jagudi, Padam Shri Awadhesh Kaushal, former IAS officer Sundar Lal Muyal, Former Director of the Horticulture Department BP Nautiyal and employee leader Mahesh Dobriyal would participate in the agitation.

He alleged that the Centre was intentionally scrapping power projects in Uttarakhand and was following dictates of people like Swami Swaroopanand and Rajendra Singh, who were least concerned about the welfare of the state and its people.

The Janmanch general secretary also opposed the setting up of Inter- ministerial Committee set up the Centre to review underconstruction hydropower projects in the state. “The Centre has no right to set up such a committee which does not have a single person from Uttarakhand,” he said.

Complete power projects: Bijli sangh
Tribune News Service

Employees of the Power Department hold a dharna in support of their demands in Dehradun on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Vinod Pundir

Dehradun, July 4
Members of the Uttaranchal Bijli Karamchari Sangh sat on a dharna today and submitted a memorandum to Chief Engineer (Distribution), Garhwal region, Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL), with regard to their demands.

The members demanded completion of all stalled hydropower projects in the state. Their second demand was the unification of all three wings of the UPCL, Power Transmission Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited and Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited. Under this, the association suggested that the UPCL be designated as the holding company and the rest its associate companies, where they have one IAS officer to head their functioning as a managing director. All three wings can have a common human resource department to oversee appointment or transfer-related decisions.

Their other demands included amendment in grades of various categories on the lines of data operator, payment of gratuity as per the related Act of 1972 after retirement, appointment of staff against vacant posts of class III and IV, outsourcing to be closed down, increment in the border transfer allowance, equal pay to those employed by self-help groups and jobs to the dependents of those employees who died while in service.

Kanwar yatra kicks off
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 4
The Kanwar yatra began from today amid slogans of "Jai Bhole, Bum Bum Bhole". The weather became pleasant after downpour on Tuesday which brought relief to the Kanwariyas.

The surging crowd of devotees irritated the police initially which had made sufficient arrangements to steamline the movement of pilgrims in Haridwar and Rishikesh in wake of Kanwar yatra. Top police officials too remained steadfast on their duty to take stock of traffic arrangements and movement of pilgrims.

The police was deputed on the border and inside the pockets of Dehradun to prevent the entrance of Kanwar pilgrims in the city. The pilgrims were made to pass through barriers which were installed to ensure security. CCTV cameras have also been installed on the main crowded areas of these twin cities. Big vehicles was banned in Haridwar and Rishikesh.

Pilgrim dies as boulder falls on him
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 4
A pilgrim was killed when a boulder fell on him at Joshimath, Chamoli, today. The incident took place at 9.30 am, when the pilgrim was returning after paying obeisance at Hemkunt Sahib. Another pilgrim also sustained injuries in the incident and has been admitted to the District Hospital.

Meanwhile, various Char Dham yatra routes in the state have blocked due to rain today. Blockages were also witnessed on the Rishikesh—Srinagar highway.

According to Executive Director, Dehradun Meteorological Centre, Dr Anand Sharma, rain will continue in the state for the next 24 hours.

Dehradun experienced 34 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours. Nainital experienced 94 mm of rainfall, Uttarkashi 82 mm, Kausani 69 mm, Munsiyari 45 mm and Pithoragarh received 34 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours.