Roads damaged within one month of construction in Mussoorie
Mussoorie, July 22
The damaged roads in and around Mussoorie that were repaired barely a month ago have given way, leading to emergence of potholes all along the road, revealing the nonchalant attitude of the PWD.

No solution in sight to problem of worn-out Chakrata Road buildings
Dehradun, June 22
The issue of dismantling dilapidated buildings on Chakrata Road has once again been pushed to the back burner.

Dehradun, July 22
Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (P) is holding the party convention in the month of October this year and not on July 25 on the party foundation day.

It has been a norm since year 1979 when UKD was established that the party convention had been held once in two years on the party foundation day to elect the new president of the party. This year, too, elections for the post of the president of UKD (P) are to be held. The opponents of the present president, Trivender Singh Panwar, are blaming him for defying the traditions of the past many decades to buy more time for his election.

General Secretary of UKD (P) Shishupal clarified that the party amended the constitution whereby they decided not to hold party convention strictly on July 25. Hence, they chose October this year when it became easy for the party members to reach for the meeting from various parts of the state, which generally became problematic during monsoon season. The detractors, however, are not buying the theory anyways.

District president, UKD (Akta), NK Gusai, said:" Trivender Singh Panwar has broken the tradition of the past 32 years by announcing the party convention in the month of October. He does not seem to be prepared for election for the position of president; hence, he postponed the date. He is insecure and incapable leader, who is playing with the ethos of the party."

Friend-turned-foe, party patron Kashi Singh Aeri, too, lambasted Panwar, saying he did not know what he was doing and it would be later that he would realise his folly. The way he was trying desperately to stick around to his position by keeping all the big leaders of the party at bay during the election, he said, he would not be successful in his tactics for long.

Another stalwart of the party, former president BD Raturi, who has joined another faction of the party, floated by former state minister Diwakar Bhatt, known as UKD (D), said: "Our party is celebrating the foundation day by holding a convention on July 25. We want all the splintered factions to come together to forge a mighty and united UKD, but Panwar does not seem interested in our endeavours. Just by postponing the date, he cannot ensure victory for himself. "Insiders also indicated that Panwar's move to hold the party convention beyond July 25 could be his ploy to gauge the activities of his rival factions in their respective conventions and formulate his next plan of action accordingly to better his chances of winning the position of president once again. 

Dehradun, July 22
Nearly 75 per cent of the samples of different items collected by the Society of Pollution and Environmental Conservation Scientists (SPECS), a Dehradun-based NGO, from 46 places on the Char Dham routes have been found to be adulterated.

The SPECS had also collected 919 food samples with the help of trained volunteers in May and June. Of this, 706 samples have been found to be adulterated. It has also been found that there is no iodine in salt and toxic chemicals have been found in vermilion (sindoor). These chemicals are very harmful for skin and can cause blisters, itching, rashes, pigmentation and at times serious dermatological disorders.

The samples were taken from the Badrinath-Kedarnath route and Gangotri-Yamnotri route. The material, including dry fruit, desi ghee and dry fruits, offered by devotees at temples is also of poor quality. Ranipal and tinapol has been found in Elaichi dana. Dr Brij Mohan Sharma, secretary of the SPECS, who conducted the survey, said although Uttarakhand considered tourism to be its economic backbone, the results of the testing had proved that there was serious doubt and lacuna in the tourism aspirations and approach.

"In the state's tourism policy and practice, the most important pillars, food and boarding, stand largely ignored. What we are offering to the pilgrims and tourists is sheer third-class food and boarding," argues Dr Sharma.

He said this high level of adulteration found in such small places was a matter of concern, as nearby villages were completely dependent on these small markets for their daily needs.

The SPECS has been conducting this type of study on the Char Dham yatra routes since 2005.

Mussoorie, July 22
The damaged roads in and around Mussoorie that were repaired barely a month ago have given way, leading to emergence of potholes all along the road, revealing the nonchalant attitude of the PWD. The PWD had carried out an exercise to repair the roads a month ago but most of the patch work has peeled off due to use of substandard material.

The potholes have re-emerged in the areas where the patch work was done and the old road beneath it has resurfaced once again.

The monsoon rains have revealed the shoddy construction work and use of substandard material at the road from Gandhi Chowk to Kingcraig petrol station, where the potholes are telling the sordid tale of apathy shown by the department towards the people of the town. Most of the roads that were dug up by the Peyjal Nigam to lay sewage pipeline project were filled hurriedly by PWD with the mud debris and concrete. The gaping holes have also reappeared at the road near Library Bazaar on The Mall Road as the mud used to fill the road has shifted due to the heavy showers.

The potholes that have emerged on the road near Picture Palace, south road, are also inviting danger to the life of the regular commuters.

The residents of the Landour Bazaar rued the fact that despite several reminders, the department had ignored the genuine problems being faced by them on a daily basis.

Senior Citizen Surat Singh was of the view that the gaping holes have become a real cause of worry as during heavy rains school-going children were at risk of falling in these and injuring themselves fatally.

PWD officials said most of the repair work of the roads under their jurisdiction had to be halted due to heavy rains and any repair or construction work could begin only on clear days. In other words the residents of the town have to wait for the end of the monsoon for the repair work to begin.

Dehradun, June 22
The issue of dismantling dilapidated buildings on Chakrata Road has once again been pushed to the back burner.

Notwithstanding the precarious situation which may arise at any time following crumbling down of these highly susceptible buildings during rains, the District Magistrate (DM) has asked officials of Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) to provide either compensation or space in the newly built shopping complex, or flats to those who would have to dismantle their premises. DM Ravinath Raman said: “Those who are not included among the ones who had been compensated under the widening process should be compensated as well for dismantling their buildings. MDDA must undertake the exercise to determine the manner in which it could do so, keeping the cost of the building to be broken in mind. This task must be taken first before razing the structure.”

This new turn makes it amply clear that the job of removing the extremely vulnerable buildings could not be taken in this monsoon at least. A building had already crumbled down during the rains last month. Thankfully, no one got hurt in that. This matter of high importance has once got stuck in red tape of the bureaucracy. Much before the monsoon, any one could see the writing on the wall with regard to these buildings. But no preparation was made to bring about a solution to this. It was when the building fell down that the panic button was pressed and Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC), on the behest of the DM, announced out of the blue to dismantle 53 dilapidated buildings on Chakrata Road. The baffled shopkeepers and house owners whose properties were among these 53 buildings ran to DMC for a solution.

As it always happens, politics hung heavy over the grim reality. Mayor Vinod Chamoli assured them that their buildings would not be removed, barring a couple of those which might be too perilous to be left standing. He also arranged a meeting with MDDA vice-chairman to allow them to re-construct the old part of the buildings. VC, RM Sundaram, however, permitted renovation but restricted them not to go on with new additional constructions.

But as one can see, none of the traders or house owners has yet started constructing the worn-out parts or the building as a whole.

The frenzy which had erupted out of an odd incident of a building coming down has died down as of now. It might pick up again if any such incident takes place again, which has all the probability to happen so with a strong downpour. The indecisive bureaucracy and vote-bank politics may result in loss of precious lives.

Haridwar, July 22
Every year a unique festival is held in Uttarakhand that joins the two countries of India and Pakistan, which before 1947 partition were one.

Multan Joth Festival is being organised for more than a century. This year on July 29 this festival enters it's 102nd year in Haridwar.

In 1911, to disseminate the message of love, brotherhood, culture and peace in society, a devotee, Roop Chand, walked from Multan, now in Pakistan, to Haridwar in Uttarakhand.

Roop Chand offered 'joths' to mother Ganga after performing prayers, the legacy which was carried out later too and now has become an annual festival in the cultural calendar of Kumbh city.

From various divisions of Pakistan, devotees come to Haridwar to take part in this festival, apart from a large number of people based in Haridwar. Now the religious-cum-cultural festival has taken a huge leap, becoming one of the attractions during this period of the year.

All-India Multan Youth Organisation chief Mahendra Nagpal said that this festival had emerged as a bonhomie between the two countries, which assumes importance in view the of post-Kargil war.

"Devotees from Pakistan and India will be offering milk to the holy Ganga prior to offering lighted joths in the river, seeking blessings for people of both the countries. It is not only confined now to Multan origin but mass participation is being witnessed from across the country," said Nagpal while chalking out cultural programmes for the event.

This year various dignitaries from varied sections of society will be taking part in the Multan joth mahotsava, that includes former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Rajnath Singh, Delhi BJP chief Vijendra Gupta, former Delhi Mayor Aarti Mehra, firebrand leader Vani Tripathi, J&K BJP in-charge Jagdeesh Mukhi, BJP legislator Vijay Jolly, noted television actors Praveen Kumar of Mahabharat fame, and a host of comedy stars.

General secretary of the organisation SP Gandhi said that a large number of devotee participants had started arriving in Haridwar for this year's religious programmes, that include yagna, mass food distribution, jagran, enactment of Rasleela and sermons by renowned pundits of epic Ramayana.

A beautiful cracker show is also planned, with devotees, on the beats of dhols, chanting mother Ganga's name, followed by offering of lighted joths to the holy river.

"Multan joth mahotsava is one of it's kind in the world as two countries get united on spiritual-religious level, which has a bearing on the relations of the people of both sides.

DESPITE the state government getting more comfortable with a thumping victory of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna in the Sitarganj assembly byelection, the feud within the party has failed to subside.

While, the confidence level of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna was high after his victory in Sitarganj, his detractors within the party are also working overtime to make things uneasy for him.

Harak Singh Rawat, a senior leader who himself was a contender for the post of Chief Minister after the assembly elections and then demanded a position of Deputy Chief Minister, was inducted into the Bahuguna Cabinet and was given the agriculture portfolio.

Harak Singh Rawat had remained unhappy after the elections after being ignored and was unsatisfied with the portfolio given to him. He had been demanding a better portfolio and had been lobbying with the party high command on the issue without any success.

Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Food Processing and Parliamentary Affairs Harish Rawat, who had also revolted against the party decision to appoint Bahuguna as Chief Minister, had also lent his support for the cause of Harak Singh Rawat. He had given statement stating that Harak Singh Rawat being a senior party leader should be given a better responsibility and portfolio.

However, things changed after Vijay Bahuguna scored a historic win in the Sitarganj byelection consolidating his position in the party as well as the government. Regarding pressure exerted by Harak Singh Rawat to get a better portfolio, Chief Minister was candid in stating that Harak Singh Rawat should approach the party high command and if the party asks him, he will provide the portfolio of his choice to him. The statement by the Chief Minister shows that he is in control and started exerting himself.

Chief Minister Bahugun reportedly rebuked Ganesh Godial, a Congress legislator from Pauri Garhwal, when he tried to exert pressure on him to get the District Magistrate removed. The event led to Ganesh Godial who is a close associate of Satpal Maharaj, Pauri Garhwal Lok Sabha MP and supposedly in the Bahuguna camp, getting furious and joining hands with legislators belonging to the Harish Rawat camp.

On the day of presidential polls, Ganesh Godial went to vote with the Harish Rawat camp. However, according to Bahuguna, there has been pressure on him to get postings and transfers. But he affirmed that he would not allow himself to be bullied. But before matters could become worse, there was reapproachement between Chief Minister Bahuguna and Ganesh Godial.

Another challenge for Chief Minister Bahuguna in the coming days would be to win the Tehri Garhwal Lok Sabha seat which he will be vacating on July 23. Bahuguna who won the Tehri seat in 2009 Lok Sabha polls has to resign after his victory in the Sitarganj assembly byelection. He will resign from his seat in New Delhi on July 23. While, the Congress has to look for a candidate for the seat, Bahuguna would like to have his own choice on the seat.

It is rumoured that Sudha Bahuguna, wife of the Chief Minister, could be the choice of the Bahuguna family who would not like anyone else to contest the seat. However, the Harish Rawat camp is not going to make it so easy for Bahuguna.

Two candidates namely Kishore Upadhaya, former Congress legislator from Tehri, and Shoorveer Singh Sajwan, a former party legislator and minister, are also trying to get party nomination from Tehri. But it was believed that Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna would be able to have his say on the seat.

(By SMA Kazmi)

Dehradun, July 22
Planning Minister Dinesh Agarwal planted a neem sapling as part of a plantation drive at the Ward No. 38 Race Course park here today.

He said people should understand the importance of the conservation of greenery. The minister said: "It is our responsibility to ensure that the forest cover in the state is maintained at all costs. We should rather work to enhance it,” he said.

U-Turn Foundation president Hemant Kumar said they were organising plantation programmes at various parks of the city. Race Course councillor Ganesh Barathwal was also present. A total of 50 saplings were planted at the park.

Dehradun, July 22
On the second day of the workshop yesterday on the issue of declining child sex ratio in the state, participants were brought face to face with the grim reality in Uttarakhand through personal experience of a woman from Udham Singh Nagar.

Narrating her experience, Phulwati said she was a victim of violence perpetrated by her immediate family and husband just because she was not able to conceive. This allegation was not based on any medical evidence. The torture and agony compounded further when her husband sold her off to another person. "I was forced to sign the divorce on a Rs 10 stamp paper. My miseries ended when I met members of a women's group,Sabla," she said. She is now fighting a legal battle against her husband with the support of Sabla. On the occasion a short film titled 'Asthitva ki Talash' made by Sanjay Singh on the issue of disappearing daughters from society was also screened.

Dr. Sabu George discussed the census report in the context of the declining sex ratio in Uttarakhand extensively. The overall sex ratio (0-6 years) of Uttarakhand is 886 girls against 1000 boys, which is way below the national data of 914 girls against 1000 boys, according to census 2011.

The workshop was jointly organised by Jankaravan and Action Aid.