UPA brought quota Bill to divert attention from coal scam: Koshiyari
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 11
Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member BS Koshiyari today said the UPA government at the Centre brought an amendment Bill on reservation in promotions for the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) in Parliament to divert the attention of the people from the coal scam. He, however, failed to spell out the stand of his party on the reservation issue.

“The Congress-led Central government hatched a conspiracy with its coalition partners to divert the attention of the people from the coal scam. It was quite obvious that the government would not be able to pass the Bill on quota in promotions in the ensuing din and also when most of the MPs were not present in the House,” said Koshiyari while speaking to mediapersons.

He charged the UPA government with playing divisive politics and trying to divide the country on the caste lines even though it falsely claimed to be legislating for the benefit of the SC and ST communities.

Koshiyari said the Bahuguna government too was pursuing a similar policy on the issue of reservation in promotions. “The orders issued by the Bahuguna government after the employees went on a strike in protest against quota in promotions fuelled anarchy and created social tension,” he added.

The Rajya Sabha MP said the government should have instead made efforts to fill the backlog of SC and ST posts in government jobs. “All would have welcomed the move. When the Vajpayee government came to power at the Centre, the first step it took was to fill the backlog of vacancies and over 4 lakh jobs were given to members of the SC and ST communities. We were not after cheap publicity and were genuinely concerned about the plight of the weaker sections,” said Kohsiyari.

However, the senior BJP leader failed to spell out the stand of his party on the issue that whether it would support the constitutional amendment Bill. “We will state our stand when we come to power. We will go by the Constitution of our country,” he added. 

BJP nominee visits Darbar Sahib
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 11
BJP candidate for the Tehri parliamentary seat Maharani Raj Laxmi Shah today paid obeisance at Guru Ram Rai Darbar Sahib and also met mahant Devinder Das to seek his blessings for the coming October 10 election.

Speaking on the occasion, Raj Laxmi Shah said she would highlight the failure of the Congress government in the state and corruption of the UPA government at the Centre while seeking votes for herself.

"The Bahuguna government has failed to address the problems of the people of the state. The people of Uttarakashi have not got adequate relief and the government seems to be least bothered about reaching out to the people," she charged.

She said the people of the state were fed up of the misrule of the Congress government and would give a befitting reply in the byelection. She also hit back at the Chief Minister who had earlier said the people of the Tehri parliamentary seat though were respectful towards the royal family but when it came to votes, they would always choose the Congress. "I am sure the people will vote for me," she said.

Employees continue with anti-quota stir 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 11
There was no softening of stand by the agitating members of the Uttarakhand Adhikari Karamchari Shikshak Sangharsh Morcha, who continued with their anti-quota stir.

The Uttarakhand government has already warned the employees of administrative action and marking the employees absent who did not attend office today.

"We would be willing to hold talks with the Chief Minister provided the government gives us an assurance that the interim measure of creating ex-cadre would be done away with. By carrying on with the ex-cadre, the government had gone against the High Court ruling," said SS Valdiya, president of the Uttarakhand Adhikari Karamchari Shikshak Sangharsh Morcha.

Meanwhile, the employees were prevented from organising rallies at the Secretariat, and videography of the employees was undertaken so as to keep a check on the employees joining service.

Yesterday the government had also ordered the probationers working at the Secretariat not to participate in the strike but today most of them defied orders and did not report for work.

CM mourns freedom fighter’s death

Dehradun, September 11
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has expressed grief over the death of freedom fighter and former MLA Kishori Lal Saklani.

In his condolence message, Bahuguna prayed for the peace of the departed soul and strength for the bereaved family. He said Saklani lived a simple life serving the common people and struggling for their rights. His contribution in the statehood movement could not be forgotten. Bahuguna said Saklani’s death was a big loss for the state and the void created due to his death was hard to fill. — TNS

Himalayan region ‘not suitable’ for power projects
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, September 11
The height of the mighty Himalayas is increasing at the rate of 55 mm every year. It has witnessed 5,000 earthquakes measuring one to five in magnitude on the Richter Scale in the last decade. This factor has disturbed the monsoon pattern in the region, causing cloudbursts, flash floods and frequent landslides, says Charu Chandra Pant, a well-known Himalayan scholar in the region.

Talking to mediapersons at his residence on Himalaya Day at Nainital, Pant said, “The Himalayan region is not viable for heavy hydroelectric projects, which are continuously being forced on it. The eco balance is bound to be hit if the big hydroelectric projects are thrust upon the mountains.”

Pant also advised banning constructions on riversides and all uncontrolled and unscientific constructions elsewhere in the Himalayan region.

In Almora, another Himalayan scholar, Kirit Kumar, a researcher working with the GB Pant Himalayan Paryavaran and Vikas Sansthan, Katarmal at Koshi, said increase in forest fires in the Himalayan region every year were also leading to an increase in the temperature in the region. This had disturbed the traditional system of rain in the region. “In the last decade alone Uttarakhand witnessed forest fires in 30,964 hectares of forest, almost destroying it. This had created a black carbon belt over the Himalayan sky, which helped increase temperatures in the region,” said Kirit Kumar, a climate scientist at the Himalayan institute.

The scientists studying various aspects of Himalayan life have also witnessed that in recent years due to sudden increasing temperatures in the Himalayan region, not only has the formation rate of these glaciers gone down, their melting rates have also increased. “Besides the Milam, Ralam and Gangotri glaciers of Kumaon and Garhwal regions, the minor glaciers like Namik, Hiramani and Pindari have receded fast in the last decade,” said Lalit Pant, another scholar working on the melting Himalayan glaciers for the last 40 years.

Govt not sure if 67 new docs will join duty
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 11
Though a total of 67 government doctors (specialist cadre) have been selected through the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission, the Uttarakhand government, going by the past record, is still unsure if the selected doctors would join duties.

The Uttarakhand government had advertised for 583 vacant posts and a total of 67 doctors were found eligible, including two cardiologists, three chest specialists, 11 gynaecologists and eight anaesthetists. Though the number is still less when compared to the existing vacancies, there is small consolation though that at least 67 doctors had been selected.

But going by the past record, there is a likelihood that only a few doctors would finally join duties as much would depend on the result of the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission. “Most of these doctors have also applied in Uttar Pradesh and are awaiting the results. As the service conditions in UP are much better, most of these doctors would prefer joining Uttar Pradesh as it happened in 2009,” said Dr BC Ramola, president of the Provincial Medical and Health Services (PMHS).

In fact, it is a normal practice with the doctors here who apply in both the states, and if selected, prefer joining Uttar Pradesh. “The working conditions in Uttar Pradesh are much better; besides the UP government has also decided to implement Direct Assured Career Progression (DACP), which is not being implemented in Uttarakhand, and would make the Uttar Pradesh medical services far more appealing,” said Ramola.

Thieves cut medicinal trees
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 11
Precious trees in the city are not safe from the prying eyes of thieves. The main part of the trunk of two fully grown medicinal trees were found missing at Gandhi Park this morning. Their leafy branches had been cut and thrown aside. Only the part little above the roots of the trees was visible. Mukhya Nagar Adhikari, Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC), Ashok Kumar said he would take punitive action for negligence against the security agency hired by the DMC for ensuring security at Gandhi Park. The DMC is paying Rs 60,000 to the agency, which has deputed six guards on round-the-clock duty at the park. A complaint has also been registered in this regard.

In a similar incident eight months ago, two medicinal trees were axed and stolen from Gandhi Park. An FIR was registered at that time but the culprits had not been apprehended till date.

Mayor Vinod Chamoli said, “The police has failed to arrest the culprits responsible for cutting two trees at Gandhi Park earlier. It is quite possible that the same thieves may have committed the theft this time as well, as the modus operandi was the same. Had the culprits been arrested, this incident could have been avoided.”

Ashok said the security agency hired to protect the property at the park had shown utter negligence as the guards on duty could not detect the theft. It would have taken the culprits a lot of time to cut the trees and carry them away from the park. The connivance of the guards could not be ruled out.

Councillor Vijender Pal said the DMC failed to investigate the theft case registered last time. This showed that the authorities were least bothered about the theft of trees.

Climate change has reduced wheat output by 25% in Uttarakhand
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, September 11
The changing climatic conditions have led to a fall in the production of wheat by 25 per cent and paddy by 15 per cent in Uttarakhand this year, said Prof Kirit Parikh, a former member of the Planning Commission and leading climate scientist, in Almora yesterday.

Parikh was delivering a speech on the topic “Need of minimum carbon emission for all round development” at the GB Pant Himalayan Paryavaran Aur Vikas Sansthan at Katarmal Kosi in Almora on the occasion of the 25th raising day of the institute.

“The climatic change has led to reduction in the production of main cereals like paddy and wheat by 7 per cent in the country this year. If this climatic trend continues till next decade, the nation will see migration of 10 million people in search of food and shelter by 2050,” he said.

He added “even if India adopts power saving techniques to reduce green house emission, it can get a growth rate of 9 per cent annually. By this technique the country can ensure 20 per cent less carbon emission by 2020 of what it was emitting in 2005.”

Uttarakhand Open University Vice Chancellor Vinay Pathak was the chief guest of the programme. Pathak emphasised that the human-mountain relationship in the context of the Himalayas would have to be defined again and again. And if this was not done with a new methodology, the crisis of this great mountain eco system would persist.

Dr TS Papola, another former member of the Planning Commission and chairman of the programme, said though the Himalayas had abundant natural resources, their benefits had not reached the people living there. 

Woman commits suicide
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 11
Usha Navani, 60, resident of Defence Colony, committed suicide by setting herself ablaze in the afternoon at her residence. In her suicide note, she wrote that she was taking the step on her own and no one should be held responsible for it. She was in acute depression for a long time.

Her husband, Subhash Navani, an ex-serviceman, who is also an accountant in the Residents' Welfare Association of the area, had gone out to attend to some office work. When he came back, he found smoke billowing out of the house.

The couple lived alone after their children settled outside the city.

Money stolen

Two strangers riding on a motorcycle snatched a polythene bag carrying Rs 1.5 lakh from the hands of Tarun Aggarwal, a shopkeeper near Pacific Hotel. Aggarwal had just withdrawn the money from the HDFC bank. 

MDDA to build 10,000 houses 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 11
The state government has directed the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) to construct 10,000 houses in the next two years. Vice-Chairman of the MDDA RM Sundaram said the authority did not have its own land and hence it would take land from the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) and the Gram Samaj to build the houses.

Mukhya Nagar Adhikari Ashok Kumar, however, said the DMC would consider the project only on the direction of the state government. The construction of 10,000 houses is a big task for the MDDA. It has not delivered much on providing housing facility to the residents of the city. Whichever project it had floated, it failed due to various reasons.

Parking is another problem in the city and it has worsened over the years.

Sundaram said a survey would be conducted throughout the city to ascertain about the parking lots which were not being used or misused. A report would be prepared about it after which the MDDA would make proposals to increase the parking facilities in the city.

He also talked of shifting traders from Dispensary Road where a multi-story building for parking vehicles is coming up.

The traders would be shifted to the MDDA shopping complex near Clock Tower. Sundaram said the traders had agreed for the relocation. A school in the area had also given its consent to be shifted. The office of the Sahkarita Department would also be moved. With ample space around the parking building, the entrance towards the road would be provided from the Gandhi Road and exit from Dispensary Road.

Telling about the ambitious project of turning the MDDA premises into e-office, he said the department had taken the permission from the State Election Officer to invite tenders in this regard but the model code of conduct was in operation due to the Tehri Lok Sabha byelection. He said three companies came forward for the tenders. The department would soon take a final decision in the matter, he added.

Section 144 in Tehri areas

Dehradun, September 11
Additional District Magistrate Archana Gaharwar said Section 144 was enforced in Chakrata, Vikasnagar, Sahaspur, Raipur, Rajpur, Dehradun Cantt and Mussoorie Vidhan Sabha in wake of the Tehri Garhwal Lok Sabha byelection to ensure free and fair poll and keep anti-social elements at bay.

According to her, not more than five persons will be allowed to gather at one place and hold rally without the permission of the administrative magistrate. It will be necessary to take permission from the Returning Officer for the distribution of publicity material. Loudspeakers will be allowed only between 6 am and 10 pm. — TNS

Trust sponsors heart surgeries of two Mussoorie residents
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, September 11
Vyadhi Nidhi Kosh of the state government and Divine Light Trust has sponsored the heart surgeries of two patients from Mussoorie. Dr Sunil Sanon is the chairman of trust.

Meanwhile, another patient, who was also offered help by the trust, could not avail of the opportunity.

Suresh Nautiyal (34), resident of Bunglow Ki Kandi village in Tehri Garhwal district, and Om Prakash (24) of Kamand village in Tehri Garhwal district, are suffering from congenital heart disease. They would be operated upon at National Heart Institute in Delhi by renowned heart surgeon Dr OP Yadav on September 13.

Dr Sanon, while speaking to mediapersons, said the patients would be operated for congenital heart disease and the trust would take care of them even after the operation.

He said three patients were selected for the surgery but one patient, Mahesh, could not come as there was no one to accompany him to Delhi for surgery. He assured Mahesh that he would be given another opportunity.

Want to be sports ambassador of India: Champion
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 11
Chairman of the Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation and Congress MLA from Khanpur Kunwar Pranav Champion today denied that he kept an ambition to become sports minister in Uttarakhand.

Addressing a press conference in Dehradun today, Kunwar Pranav Champion said while being a sportsman himself, he has always kept a concern towards sports but that does not mean that he aspires to become a sports minister in Uttarakhand, and asserted that he aimed to work for sports at the national level. “I am rather aspiring to become a sports ambassador for the country and am not interested in becoming just a sports minister in one state,” he pointed out.

Champion disclosed that Chairman of Estimates Committee in the Lok Sabha Francisco Sardinha had also joined issue with him by supporting his desire that all sports associations in the country must be headed by sportsmen, who have participated at national and international levels. He said the committee had expressed this concern over India not winning even a single gold medal in the recently concluded London Olympics.

“I had, in my Delhi dharna recently, strongly opposed sports associations in the country being headed by non-sportsmen. Now my this very concern has been shared by the Estimates Committee,” he asserted.

Referring to his brainchild, Save Tiger Conservation Mission, Champion said he was all set to visit China to further the mission. He said China was known for its tiger farming and he would now try to study it in China.

Akhil Bharatiya Shiv Sena holds march
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, September 11
The Akhil Bharatiya Shiv Sena today staged a protest march against social malpractices and rising corruption. Its leaders came down heavily on the Congress and the BJP for failing to provide good governance in the state. Organisation activists gathered at Arya Nagar Chowk from where they led a protest march to inner city roads, raising slogans against the Congress and the BJP.

Named “Jan Jagran” march, a memorandum was also submitted to District Magistrate Sachin Kurwe to be forwarded to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna over inadequate supply of ration at fair price shops, delay in delivery as well as black marketing of cooking gas cylinders and discrepancies in registration of BPL cards.

Addressing the activists, Aabaad Qureshi, district chief of the Akhil Bharatiya Shiv Sena, said the Congress government had failed to cater to the aspirations of the voters in just five-month tenure.

“Everywhere, there seems to be corruption in government departments. Not a single file moves without bribe, source or recommendation from politicians or bureacrats. Be it hilly districts or plain, all are lagging behind in development,” said Qureshi.

While district coordinator Anil Gupta raised issue of illegal liquor being manufactured and sold in the urban and rural areas with the Excise Department, the police and liquor mafia having an open nexus.

He also raised the issue of LPG black marketing, discrepancies in registration procedure of BPL cards, health cards, ration cards and even fake voter ID cards.

Among others who participated were Ravi Dutt Dhiman, Naresh Dhiman, Amar Deep, Rajev Chaudhari, Jagpal, Brahampal, Sanjay Dhiman, Irfan Ansari, Mehrban Ikram. 

Doon tops crime chart, says DIG
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 11
DIG (Dehradun range) Sanjay Gunjyal here today held a meeting with the Dehradun SSP, where he expressed concern over a rise in the cases of theft, loot and chain snatching in Dehradun and Haridwar. He said Dehradun topped the crime chart.

The DIG took the Dehradun police to task for having failed to bring criminals to book. He said professional gangs were active in both the districts. He directed officials to make a list of such criminal gangs and take action againt them under the Gangster Act, besides sealing their property under the Police Act, 2008. He stressed on maintaining a database of inter-state criminals.

He said cases related to dowry complaints should be verified properly. The counselling of couples is a must before registering any such case. The DIG added in the case of a dowry death, the police should check whether the victim had filed any complaint in this regard in the past.

20-day theatre workshop ends
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, September 11
Sponsored by the National School of Drama, New Delhi, and organised by local NGO Theatre for Education in Mass Society, a 20-day theatre workshop concluded today with the presentation of an hour-long drama “Phir Bahu Kahan Se Ayege”.

The drama, based on female foeticide, was presented by the workshop director Surendra Sharma and NSD artistes, including Ashwini Kumar Shastri.

“We have trained 52 local youth in writing, dance, mask making, music, costume designing and light designing, besides dialogue delivery,” said Surendra Sharma, director having 35-year association with theatre. Sharma said it took six days for these youth to get confidence for good performance in the theatre.

According to organisers, the workshop was also assisted by the director of the Culture Department, Uttarakhand Government and local artistes. “The district administration has also helped a lot in completing the workshop successfully,” said Yogesh Pathak, director of the local NGO, which organised the workshop. “We have organised this workshop to attract the local youth towards the culture of hills and basics of theater,” said Yogesh Pathak.