BJP men protest over coal scam
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, August 31
BJP activists today organised a protest march against the Congress-led UPA government’s coal scam.

Party workers gathered at Arya Nagar where they were addressed by youth wing leaders. They also burnt an effigy of the UPA government.

Youth wing leader Ujjwal Pundit cited recent coal scam where even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had been under scanner. He said the PM was shying away from giving satisfactory explanation and its Cabinet ministers were embroiled in numerous scams.

“First the Centre fooled public by giving fake assurance on Jan Lokpal Bill to the Anna Hazare-led civil society members and is now keeping silent over the PM’s suspicious role in the coal scam. The government has crossed all limits as far as corruption is concerned while development has taken a back seat,” said Pundit.

City youth wing secretary Vikas Tiwari demanded resignation from PM Manmohan Singh on moral grounds and questioned why the government was sleeping until the CAG, vigilance or via RTI scams involving Cabinet Ministers are brought to light.

“Five years of the BJP led National Democratic Alliance under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee were scam-free and development spree was visible both in rural and urban areas. But it is corruption that has been dominating during the UPA rule,” said Tiwari.

Other wings of the BJP will also be staging protests as part of a week-long daily protest by the party in the district.

Power corpn staff hold protest
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 31
Members of four employees' associations of Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) staged a protest on the corporation premises today, demanding an increase in the pay scale after every 9-14-19 years.

These associations were Uttaranchal Power Engineers' Association, which was led by president JS Rothan, the Power Lekha Association, led by general secretary DC Dhyani, the Uttarakhand Urja Kamgaar Association, led by general secretary Suresh Verma, and the Uttarakhand Power Junior Engineers' Association, led by president GN Kothiyal.

Rothan said, "The old employees of the power department are getting an enhanced pay scale after nine, 14 and 19 years of their service. However, this arrangement has been changed to 10-18-26 years, known as the Assured Career Programme, which is not acceptable to us."

He demanded that class III employees should also be included in the cadre of the corporation. They were not getting benefits like other employees in the corporation. He also demanded to lift the ban on departmental promotions.

He said the provision of the employees' provident fund must be converted into general pension fund, so that all corporation employees who retired after July 19, 2010, could get the pension benefit.

Work on Haridwar stadium likely to be over by Sept-end
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, August 31
Haridwar will soon boast of a state-of-the-art stadium at Devpura. It is being constructed by the Haridwar Development Authority (HDA) and the work is expected to get completed by the end of September. However, it may take another two months for the stadium to get ready for the events.

Though the stadium was inaugurated in 2009 and the work was scheduled to be completed last year, due to a delay in the release of the budget and laxity by the HDA, it is going on at a snail’s pace.

Talking to TNS, secretary of the HDA Girdhari Singh Rawat said the work was nearing completion and the nodal agency for the construction work—Uttar Pradesh Nirman Nigam—had been directed to adhere to the deadline of one month.

Rawat accepted that there had been a delay in the construction work but said the quality of material, design and facilities would make up for the delay.

Veteran player Inder Mohan Barthwal said the stadium would benefit a large number of players from Haridwar, who, earlier, had to face difficulties in the absence of a standard outdoor stadium.

“Now, players can practise and hone their skills in different games, particularly athletics, at the stadium. Earlier, they had to seek the permission of the BHEL-owned stadium authorities to practise there or had to travel 15 km to reach the Roshanabad District Sports Stadium, which is also in a poor condition,” said Barthwal.

Meanwhile, the sports cell of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (P) has demanded that the stadium be named after legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand.

HAD officials said they were considering various names, including Dhyan Chand, for the stadium and would brought it to the notice of Sports Minister Dinesh Aggarwal.

CPI (ML) activists protest against ‘corruption’ in Pithoragarh
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 31
CPI (ML) activists today staged a dharna at the Pithoragarh district headquarters against corruption.

Led by Jagat Martoliya, Pithoragarh CPI (ML) district secretary, CPI (ML) members alleged that the nation today was facing the challenge of corruption. The CPI (ML) members alleged that both Congress and BJP were hand in glove in corrupt activities at the Centre.

They also alleged that both BJP and Congress governments in Uttarakhand had engaged in large scale corruption. The activists also submitted a memorandum addressed to the President to Pithoragarh Additional District Magistrate BL Rana.

CS wants Panchayati Raj System strengthened
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 31
Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain has laid emphasis on strengthening the Panchayati Raj System. He said that capacity-building training needs to be imparted to panchayat and local unit representatives. He also asked the officers concerned to chalk out plans as per the local needs. Jain said that Rs1 crore each had been given to Tehri, Chamoli and Champawat districts for capacity-building purpose. He was chairing a high-level meeting of backward region grant fund (BRGF) here today.

Chief Secretary Jain, observing that training was essential to strengthen the Panchayati Raj system, said that an effective module should be drafted and training given through professional experts. He also stressed on imparting capacity-building training to members of the district planning committee and disseminating information about planning and projects to them. He directed the officers to train capable persons in agriculture and animal husbandry for extension of agriculture and multi-tasking. He said that local engineering could also be developed.

Jain laid emphasis on training people in repairing electricity apparatus and pump sets. He instructed the officers to utilise the remaining amount sanctioned under BRGF to bridge the critical gap that had remained even after completion of important tasks.

It may be noted that this project was launched in 2006-07 at Tehri, Chamoli and Champawat districts, for which an outlay of Rs. 41.85 crore was sanctioned by the Central government in 2010-11, and in the year 2011-2012 Rs 31.55 crore was sanctioned. Out of 28,352 tripartite panchayat representatives, a total of 25,838 were imparted capacity-building training, and the remaining 2514 were being trained presently. A total of 100 village level training resource centres had so far been constructed and were being computerised.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, PWD, S Raju, Principal Secretary S Ramaswami, Secretary, Panchayati Raj, AK Dhaundiyal, Secretary, Urban Development, Umakant Panwar, Secretary, Education, Manisha Panwar, and other senior officers.

Schools closed after attack on student

Pithoragarh, August 31
Demanding the security of students and banning the entry of anti-social elements in schools, the heads of all educational institutions in Almora today kept all private and government schools closed. They were protesting against the incident which occurred on Tuesday at Ramsey Intermediate College when some goons injured a student with sharp weapons, while he was sitting in the classroom.

"We have appealed to all educational institutions of the district headquarters to support us by keeping their educational institutions closed in protest, said Girish Chandra Sharma, convener of the society observing the bandh."We will also meet the District Magistrate in this matter and inform him about the situation," said Sharma.

Meanwhile, three of the four criminals have been arrested by the Almora police. — OC

Man gets life term for wife's death
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, August 31
The District and Sessions Court here today sentenced a man to life term and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 under Sections 302, 504 and 323 for killing his wife a year back in the town.

According to the prosecution, the man was sentenced on the witness of his son and daughter who were the witness of the incident.

“The culprit Narayan Dutt Joshi, a retired soldier, killed his wife over a spat after pouring kerosene on her and burning her. Besides, the son and daughter of the culprit, the prosecution has presented six other witnesses in the case,” said Ganga Singh Bafila, district government counsel ( criminal ) in the court.

Artistes to pay tributes to martyrs of police firing
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, August 31
To mark the 17th anniversary of the police firing in Mussoorie, artistes from around the state will pay tributes to those who laid down their lives in support of the demand for a separate state of Uttarakhand on September 2.

This was decided at a meeting organised under the aegis of the Parvatiya Bigul Sanstha at Shaeed Sthal today.

Eminent Garhwali singer of Uttarakhand Jitendra Panwar told mediapersons that every year artistes would pay tributes to the martyrs of the police firing in Mussoorie September 2 by holding a cultural programme titled “Swaranjali”. The artistes from all over Uttarakhand would perform on coming Sunday.

He said several short plays highlighting the problems being faced by the people after the formation of the state.

Pradeep Bhandari, Manoj Tamta, Rakhee, Reshma Shah, Arvind Negi, Sandeep Rana and others were present on the occasion.

Cong govt in state can fall any time: BJP
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, August 31
Leader of the Opposition in the Uttarakhand Assembly Ajay Bhatt claimed that any time, the Congress government led by Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna would fall as infighting and factionalism were touching a new height.

Ajay Bhatt was here to attend a religious programme at the Raghu Nath temple in Jwalapur. Later speaking to mediapersons, Bhatt termed the state government a coalition based on personal interests where the opposition had not much role as either ruling government legislators, ministers or independents were obstructing the working of the government.

The Bahuguna government had failed on all parameters. People had lost confidence in this coalition government where ministers and legislators were concerned for their interests, benefits and posts only. Voters were now in a dilemma as they had not imagined such a government in the state, while in comparison the BJP provided clean governance for full five years” said Bhatt, a legislator from Ranikhet.

Lashing out at the failure of the Congress government to handle the disaster in Uttarkashi, Bhatt said the disaster management of the government had failed miserably.

He urged party activists to take to streets regarding the ill-governance of the Congress governments in the state and at the Centre.

Legislators Swami Yatishwarand and Aadesh Chauhan assured the Leader of the Opposition that the Haridwar BJP unit was already raising these issues and reaching out to people.

Gangolihat residents threaten stir against docs’ shortage
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, August 31
Irked at a reduction in the number of doctors at Primary Health Centre from 12 to 1, residents of Gangolihat have threatened to launch an agitation if doctors were not appointed at the earliest.

“Against the requirement of 12 doctors, there is only doctor at the health centre to cater to 1 lakh population of the subdivision,” said Harendra Singh Bora, a social worker.

Bora said: “As there is one doctor at the health centre, he attends to 300 patients every day, besides managing the administrative work.”

The residents also expressed resentment over the sudden detachment of Dr BS Gautam from the Gangolihat health centre in the name of training. “After the training, the doctor will seek promotion and transfer on that basis,” said Kalyan Singh Dhanik, a UKD leader.

Gangolihat MLA Narayan Ram said Gangolihat and Berinag required 22 doctors. However, there were only two doctors at present.

The MLA said the government should give priority to the hill areas of the state than the plain areas while appointing doctors. “In the plain areas, people prefer going to private hospitals. However, the people of the hill areas are dependent on government hospitals due to an acute shortage of doctors at primary health centres in the remote areas,” said the Gangolihat MLA.

Start courses in environment, agriculture, Guv tells varsities
Tribune News service

Dehradun, August 31
Governor Aziz Qureshi said here today that the goal of the universities should be to provide value-based excellent education to their students.

He said new courses related to environment, agriculture and horticulture should be introduced as these would hone the skills of the local youth to enhance their employability and strengthen the economy of the state.

The Governor was speaking at a meeting of the Vice Chancellors of state universities held at Raj Bhawan here. He presided over the meeting in his capacity as the Chancellor of the universities.

Detailed discussions were held on the present status and the future of higher education in the state. Stress was laid on the need for job-oriented courses. A placement cell would be set up in every university and an internal quality assurance procedure would be put in place. All private students would be admitted only to Uttarakhand Open University.

For resolving administrative and other problems of the universities, a meeting would be held between the Chief Secretary and the VCs and other officials of the departments concerned.

The Governor said an inter-university sports and cultural event be held on February 13. He gave directions for providing infrastructural facilities to the new University of Horticulture and Forestry at Bharsar, Pauri, so that it could improve the yield of local crops and generate employment.

Chief Secretary Alok Jain, Vice Chancellor of GB Pant University Subhash Kumar, VC of Kumaon University Hemlata Dhaundiyal, VC of Technical University Dr DS Chauhan, VC of Sanskrit University Dr Sudha Pandey, VC of Doon University Dr VK Jain, VC of Open University VK Pathak, VC of Horticulture university Dr Mathew Prasad and VC of Ayurveda University SK Mishra were also present at the meeting.

Drive to locate extinct duck
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, August 31
The Forest Department will start a drive to locate the pink-headed duck, which is considered to be extinct. The hope of finding it brightened after two other species of birds considered to be extinct were spotted last year.

“The hope of finding a pink-headed duck in the Ganga basin revived after two other species of birds, ‘Jordon Karakas’ and ‘Forest Owlets’, considered to be extinct were spotted by bird conservationists in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra last year,” said Paramjit Singh, Chief Conservator of Forests, Kumaon.

“The pink-headed duck, which was seen at Mungair in Bihar in 1948-49, is considered to be extinct for the last 64 years. Though it had its habitation in some parts of Bangladesh and Myanmar, it had not been seen in any part of the world for past several decades,” said Paramjit.

According to Forest Department sources, the Department of Posts had issued a postage stamp on the two varieties of birds considered to be extinct. “The campaign to rediscover the pink-headed duck will run between Haridwar and Bihar and leading bird specialists from across the world will be invited for it,” said Paramjit.

Nishank seeks more relief for Harrawala residents
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 31
Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has urged Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna that no discrimination should be done with those affected by the widening of highway at Harrawala.

Nishank discussed the issue with the Chief Minister on the telephone and demanded that the affected persons, who were losing their lands, should be given more compensation than the prevalent circle rate.

Bahuguna assured him that no discrimination would be done with the affected people. Earlier, a delegation of the affected families of Harrawal met Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank at his residence and presented him a memorandum regarding their problems arising out of acquisition of their land for road widening.

Nishank talking to mediapersons alleged that the state government had been trying to give the Doiwala Sugar Mills under the Private Public Partnership (PPP) mode despite the fact that the sugar mill had been in profit. He said under no circumstances, the sugarmill would be allowed to be given under the PPP mode.

Genuine disaster victims yet to get relief, alleges Jan Vikas Manch
Tribune News Service

Participants at a meeting of the Uttarakashi Jan Vikas Manch in Dehradun on Friday.

Dehradun, August 31
Uttarkashi Jan Vikas Manch members in Dehradun have expressed concern over poor relief distribution works in the cloudburst-hit villages of Uttarkashi. The members have also alleged that genuine disaster victims were still to get any relief from the administration.

Presided by Durga Prasad Nautiyal, president, Uttarkashi Jan Vikas Manch, the members in particular referred to the problems being faced by the villages on the banks of Assi Ganga river in Gangori. They sought arrangement of solar lights for villagers where electricity arrangements had been completely destroyed due to the disaster.

The meeting also sought at least 10 days holidays for Uttarkashi residents working in Dehradun and other parts of state so that they could help their families in the rehabilitation works.

The speakers also demanded seeking services of international companies towards ensuring flood control measures in Uttarkashi district. They demanded that a disaster management team should be permanently deployed in Uttarkashi, taking into account the district’s vulnerability to disasters.

Mahesh Kuriyal, Pratap Singh Panwar, Ravindra Nautiyal, Ramesh Kuriyal and Purnanand Sharma were prominent participants in the meeting. Renowned neuro surgeon Mahesh Kuriyal on the occasion announced Rs 21,000 for the calamity relief fund. Kulanand Nautiyal donated Rs 21,000, Durga Prasad Nautiyal Rs 11,000 and Jananand Nautiyual announced Rs 5001 in aid of Uttarkashi victims.