Doon to be IT hub: CM
Lays foundation stone of bhavan
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 20
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has stated that Dehradun will be developed as Information Technology hub like Hyderabad and Bengaluru and efforts be made to ensure that Uttarakhand creates a special niche for itself in the IT sector.

He said better environment would be created for establishment of the industry in the state. He also said tourism facilities would be developed and efforts be made to set up an international airport with direct flight between Kathmandu and Dehradun to attract more tourists.

Vijay Bahuguna was speaking after dedicating a newly constructed SIDCUL building and laying the foundation stone of Rs 80 crore IT Bhavan at IT Park, Sahastradhara Road, here today.

He said all services and projects related to IT would be started in this building which would have the state-of-the art facilities. Bahuguna said the state government was committed to providing better atmosphere and all necessary facilities to boost the industrial investment in the state.

The government would ensure that all essential facilities were made available for entrepreneurs contributing towards industrial development of the state, he said.

He also consented for adding the name of Danda-Lakhound with the IT Park and construction of a bridge at Sahastradhara.

Planning and Information Technology Minister Dinesh Agarwal said IT had become an important step for development in the present era. The government had taken concrete initiatives to bring the state to the forefront in IT field and for this purpose, the construction of this proposed IT Bhavan would be completed within a year.

Former Chief Minister ND Tiwari said the establishment of the maximum number of IT units would help in checking migration from hill regions. He advocated taking the IT to even the remote villages in the state.

Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain said IT was the backbone of good governance and thus the government was paying special attention in promoting IT. He also said a data centre would also be set up in IT Bhavan which would help in expediting the execution of official plans and programmes.

He said sufficient space was being provided for banks in the IT Park complex so that it could also be developed as financial hub.

CM: Debt of Sitarganj people too big to repay
Vows to develop, transform constituency
Tribune News service

Dehradun, July 20
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said today that though the debt of the people of Sitarganj on him was too large to repay, he would try to pay it back by bringing in prosperity not only in the constituency but also in the entire state.

The Chief Minister, while addressing a public meeting at Tagore Nagar, Shaktifarm, said he would make whole-hearted efforts to transform the constituency. He urged the people not to give heed to rumours about land ownership rights.

Bahuguna said amendments had been made to the government order regarding land ownership rights issued on May 30 in public interest. He revealed that the circle rate had been reduced and the time frame had been increased to one year from six months.

“The circle rate has been reduced to 5 per cent from 10 per cent,” he added.

The Chief Minister said the state government would urge the Revenue Department to exempt all 900 pending legal cases related to land.

He added during canvassing for the byelection, he toured Sitarganj door to door and learnt about the problems of the people.

He said he felt floods were the biggest problem of the area and the state government would look for ways to spend Rs 1,500 crore received from the Centre for the construction of bridges, roads and parapets to mitigate flood threat.

The Chief Minister said the Centre had approved a four-lane road from Kashipur to Sitarganj and also sanctioned Rs 2,200 crore for it. He added SIDCUL at Sitarganj would be developed to generate employment opportunities for the local youth.

Bahuguna also presented land leases to Jaswant Acharya, Vaidyanath, Ramakant, Ashutosh Acharya, Prabhash Goldar and Sandhya. He also laid the foundation stones of Degree College and Polytechnic buildings at Baruabagh.

Finance Minister Indira Hridayesh said a package of Rs 2,200 crore sanctioned by the Centre was an achievement of the state government.

She added the four-laning of roads would lead to the overall development of the area.

Hold camps for issuing job cards: Harish Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, July 20
Union Minister of State for Agriculture Harish Rawat at a district level meeting of officials said every development project should be carried out in cooperation and knowledge of the people.

Harish Rawat presided over the meeting at Vikas Bhawan in Roshanabad where he emphasised on the UPA's flagship scheme Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGA).

On this scheme, the Cabinet Minister cited Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s concern regarding proper implementation of this project.

He directed the officials concerned to hold blockwise registration camps for issuing job cards to people who want to avail employment benefit from this scheme.

Emphasis was also laid on utilising MNREGA fund for constructing of ponds, embankments on river beds to control flood, cleaning and beautification of canals.

On getting several complaints of the Indira Aawas Yojana, Rawat made it clear that the money should be directly put in bank accounts of the beneficiary to avoid any controversy by duly checking the list.

“Rawat also directed officials to motivate women to form groups to avail benefit of Swarn Jayanti Swaraj Yojana", he said.

The Cabinet Minister also reviewed Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan Karyakram, various social schemes of the Social Welfare Department and related projects of the Jal Sansthan, the Jal Nigam, the Health and Zila Panchayat.

Those present among others were legislators Sarbat Karim Ansari, Aadesh Chauhan, DM Sachin Kurwe, CDO VS Dhanik, ADM Finance Alok Pandey, CMO Deepa Sharma, DFO Sanatan and DDO RS Rawat.

Instructions sought from DMC mukhya adhikari on hoardings
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 20
Additional Mukhya Nagar Adhikari (AMNA), Dehradun Municipal Corporation, Sadia Alam Khan, has written to MNA Ashok Kumar to give clear directions to her with regard to removal of hoardings from the rooftops of buildings in the city.

Mayor Vinod Chamoli, too, took serious note of the development where a junior officer has expressed her displeasure to her senior over the way he backtracked from his stand of removing the hoardings from a premises at Prince Chowk, while she was executing his order of removing the hoardings on the venue itself. Chamoli said he would discuss the issue with the MNA.

Alam, in her letter addressed to the MNA, said that she began with conducting a survey of illegal hoardings installed on rooftops in the city and wrote to the Senior Superintendent of Police, the City Magistrate and Mayor for their support to carry out the enforcement of removal of these hoardings. She could not get the police force for Kanwar mela but still the team deputed by him tried to remove hoardings several times.

She said the campaign to remove these hoardings began on Tuesday with the police force where the City Magistrate and she herself were present with the team at Prince Chowk.

The work of cutting the iron structures of hoardings started when the representatives of the hoarding company came to stall the work.

After failing to do so, they called up the MNA on the phone. The MNA then directed the team on the phone to first carry out the survey and then conduct the job of removal of hoardings.

The team came back, leaving the work midway.

While explaining it all in detail, she asked the MNA to give clear directions to her whether to remove the hoardings or not, so that she could proceed accordingly.

MNA Ashok Kumar has been criticised by councillors and employees over his indecisive attitude and susceptibility to come under pressure of political figures in the town on the hoarding issue.

Mayor Chamoli also flayed the state government for not clarifying the matter.

He said: “On the one hand, the High Court has given orders to remove hoardings from rooftops, on the other hand, Secretary, Uma Kant Panwar, has directed not to proceed with the matter unless clear directions came from higher-ups. This matter has been reduced to a political farce.”

All-party meeting in Chamoli backs hydropower projects
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 20
An all-party meeting in support of construction of hydropower projects in Uttarakhand took place at Joshimath in district Chamoli today.

Held under the aegis of Seemant Shethra Prayiyojna Bachao Sangrash Samiti, the speakers at the meeting strongly favoured construction of hydropower projects in Uttarakhand, asserting that the power was the basis to development.

Prakash Bhandari, member of Seemant Shethra Prayiyojna Bachao Sangrash Samiti, said: “Power is the basis for development. Without it we are forced to live in darkness. With these hydropower projects starting, we are hopefull of a bright future for our children, but their closure after more than 50 per cent work was completed is a devastation.”

Speaking on the issue, Shailendra Panwar, a social activist, said: “These hydropower projects are absolutely necessary for the development of Uttarakhand and should start soon.” “Do these sadhus who live in posh airconditioned ashrams know what poverty is?” asked Dhaneshwari Devi, chairperson, Mahila Mangal Dal.

Chairperson, Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra, Avdhash Kaushal, said, “Dams are the backbone of any civilisation. These are vital for storing water for irrigation, municipal supplies and industry, generating power and flood control.” He further said: “We will not let government to stop the hydropower projects in the state. We are ready for a big campaign for the cause of people of Uttarakhand.”

He added that just the way environment was the fundamental right, development, too, is the fundamental right. We demand that all hydropower projects like Alaknanda-Badrinath, Kotli-Bhel, Peepalkoti, Dhari Devi, Bhairoghati, Pala Maneri, Lohari Nagpala, having all the clearances, should start immediately.”

Diwakar Bhatt, member of Seemant Shethra Prayiyojna Bachao Sangrash Samiti, said: “Hydroelectric power is the cleanest, cheapest, renewable, non-polluting source and gets cheaper by years; it also has the highest energy payback ratio, and is also earn carbon credit.”

ABVP has track record of violence: Dhasmana
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 20
Uttarakhand Congress vice-president Suryakant Dhasmana said today ABVP students in Dehradun had a track record of violence and their recent act of violence against National Students Union of India (NSUI) students was another reminder to this fact.

Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhawan, Dehradun, Suryakant Dhasmana said while the Congress was for an impartial probe into the ABVP and NSUI students' clash, the repeated indulgence in violence by ABVP cadres against the NSUI would not be tolerated.

He said even in 2007 during the BJP rule in the state, the ABVP had resorted to vandalism in a Rajpur Road hotel and even manhandled the hotel staff. Similarly, a policeman had lost his eye when he was attacked by ABVP members in the state some time back. ABVP had a history of violence in Dehradun, he pointed out.

Dhasmana said despite being a ruling party, the Congress did not want to pressure the police and sought a fair probe. He said false cases had now been framed against NSUI students.

Rajpur MLA Rajkumar said he had met Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna who had assured him a free and fair probe into the incident. He said some BJP MLAs were trying to pressure the police to get some respite for the ABVP students involved in the clash. NSUI president Sunil Kumar was also present.

Indian team in China for border trade
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, July 20
The six-member first batch of Indian traders today reached Taklakot, inside China, to take part in this year's Indo-China border trade. Taklakot is Chinese mart for the annual trade. The batch is led by Jeewan Singh Ronkli, secretary of Bharat-Cheen Semant Vyapar Sangathan, officials from the trade office at Dharchula said here today.

The Indo-China border trade, which resumed in the 1992, after a gap of 30 years, commences from 17,500 feet high Lipulekh pass in this part of the Himalayas.

The Indian traders from tribal areas of Kumaon high Himalayan valleys are mostly allowed to take part in the trade as, according to the Union government’s policy documents, the trade has been aimed to revive the border economy, which was destroyed after the Indo-Tibet trade closed following the Sino-Indian conflict in the year 1962.

“The Indian traders will stay inside Tibet till the last week of September and exchange Indian goods of cotton, cloth, gur, tobacco, tea, coffee and agriculture equipments with the Chinese wool, borax and Yak butter, besides the yak tail and utensils made of Chinese clay,” said Pramod Kumar, SDM, Dharchula, and designated trade officer for this trade this year.

Education suffers due to teacher shortage
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, July 20
Secondary education in Pithoragarh and Champawat districts could not get required momentum as politicians did not keep their promise to provide required staff in upgraded schools.

According to information received from Pithoragarh district, 38 middle schools were upgraded as high schools and seven high schools as intermediate colleges, but no staff was sanctioned there. While seven lecturers were required in intermediate colleges and five teachers in high schools, no deployment was made. “We have demanded 225 teachers for the upgraded schools and the government is yet to decide on the issue,” said Mukul Sati, District Education Officer, Pithoragarh.

The situation is alarming in Champawat district. Of the seven upgraded schools in the district one does not exist while one primary school has been upgraded as high school instead of middle school. “An upgraded junior school at Garslekh in the district does not exist, while another upgraded junior school at Kaligaon is actually a primary school,” said Yogesh Joshi, an activist and RTI worker.

The District Education Officer has said all upgraded schools have started new classes from September 2011 onwards with existing staff. “We have written to the Director, Education, about two schools wrongly upgraded,” said PR Kohli, District Education Officer, Champawat.

Two youths drowned in river
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, July 20
Two youths died and four passengers were injured in three different incidents in the district today.

Hem Raj Singh (30) of Thal town feared dead when his mobike fell into the Ramganga river early this morning. The youth was on his way to Berinag from Thal, said BL Verma, station in charge of Thal police station.

According to the police official, the body of youth was being searched by a rescue team in the swollen Ramganga.

In another incident, one Nepali porter died on Munsiyari-Milam track route when he fell into the Gori river at the Bugdyar camp on the route to Milam post of the ITBP this morning.

“The labourer, who was carrying the ITBP goods to Milam from Munsiyari, slipped into the river and swept away,” said Kundan Singh Pangti, contractor for the ITBP.

In another incident, four passengers injured at Gurna village on the Pithoragarh-Tanakpur road when a Maruti Alto they were traveling in fell into a gorge.

Murder accused held trying to escape to UP
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, July 20
The police today arrested Satish, who shot dead Ram Sharan, a school teacher, at Salempur village, 12 km from Haridwar city, yesterday.

Satish, a resident of Kota Moradpur, was arrested from Roorkee within 24 hours of the crime while he was trying to escape to Uttar Pradesh.

Satish confessed to the crime during interrogation. He also disclosed that he was accompanied by his friend Sachin, who was riding a motorcycle, when he shot at Ram Sharan.

SSP, Haridwar, Arun Mohan Joshi said it came to light during investigation that in 2008 Ram Sharan’s brother-in-law was also murdered at Kota Moradnagar village where Satish belongs.

Satish was one of the accused in the case and had been absconding along with Virendra, Ravindra and Nisha. The case had been referred to the Crime Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department, Dehradun, which is still investigating the case.

As Ram Sharan was fighting the case, Satish wanted him to withdraw it. But Ram Sharan was adamant not to relent. Sensing that the case was going against him, Satish along with Sachin conspired to eliminate Ram Sharan. Sachin now faces trail in two murder cases.

Meanwhile, family members, relatives and members of the Teachers Union protested at Ranipur Mod last evening demanding immediate arrest of Satish. The police started combing operations and conducted raids at all nearby regions within 12 hours of the incident. It succeeded in arresting the accused.

Meanwhile, the police today presented before mediapersons a woman who had killed her husband brutally with bricks and iron rods six days ago.

Soni, wife of Sanjay Singh, a resident of Sonia Kheda at Ugheti in Badayun district, had been absconding after committing the crime. During investigation the police came to know from Sanjay’s neighbours and relatives about Soni’s illicit relations. Though Soni refuted the charge and said it was her husband’s drinking habit that she disliked. He used to beat her up, she added.

Peyjal Nigam staff threaten stir
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 20
Not paid salaries for the past two months, the Peyjal Nigam employees have threatened to launch an agitation next month.

With no budgetary allocation from the state government, the nigam survives on centage fee that it gets by undertaking development works, but with Rs 600 crore projects and its coffers empty, the livelihood of 3,000 employees and their families is at risk.

“We will launch a stir if the nigam fails to disburse our salaries. Had we completed the pending Rs 600 crore work, the issue of delayed salaries would not have arisen,” said AK Chaturvedi, president of the Diploma Engineers Association.

Last year, the nigam employees had gone on strike demanding the status of department to the nigam and allocation of budget so that the day-to-day affairs of the nigam could be taken care off.