Parties demand prompt rescue operations in Ukhimath
BJP rushes team to assess damage Janmanch seeks postponement of Tehri byelection
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 14
Political parties and organisations have expressed shock and grief over the Ukhimath cloudburst seeking prompt relief and rescue operations.

While the ruling Congress has expressed shock over the incident, the opposition BJP has rushed its team to Ukhimath for assessing the damage, another political party, the Uttarakhand Janmanch, has sought the suspension of the Tehri parliamentary election.

Uttrakhand Garhwal MP Satpal Maharaj has expressed shock over the Ukhimath cloudburst incident. Maharaj asked the Rudraprayag district administration to take the assistance of helicopters from private companies for swift conduct of relief operations.

He said as roads in the Ukhimath area had been completely destroyed, helicopters services were the only option left to evacuate the victims. Satpal Maharaj even talked to the Rudraprayag district authorities on the phone for providing immediate medicines and food to the affected people.

On the other hand, a team of senior BJP leaders in Uttarakhand led by their state president Bishan Singh Chufal left for Ukhimath from the state capital this afternoon.

Senior Uttarakhand BJP leader and leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Ajay Bhatt, former ministers Mohan Singh Rawat and Khazan Das and former Kedarnath MLA Asha Nautiyal were part of the BJP team. Chufal said the team would stay in Ukhimath for four days and assess the damage besides meeting the victims.

Uttarakhand’s former Chief Minister BC Khanduri too has expressed grief over the loss of human lives in Ukhimath. Khanduri has asked the state government to ascertain the number of deaths in the incident and provide immediate relief to the affected. He also asked for prompt distribution of medicines and food packets to the affected villages.

Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand Janmanch has sought the suspension of the Tehri Parliamentary bypoll from the Union Election Commission. Uttarakhand Janmanch general secretary Rajan Todariya said the entire Garhwal hills were facing the wrath of the rains with the Ukhimath cloudburst was the latest of such rain-linked mishaps.

“Under such circumstances, there was no point in the conduct of the Tehri byelection”, Todariya pointed out. He said the government machinery needed to work on relief rather than go for elections.

Guv expresses grief

DEHRADUN: Governor Aziz Qureshi has expressed grief over the loss of life and property in the cloudburst which occurred in Kimada, Giriya, Sankhuri and Mangoli villages in Ukhimath tehsil of Rudraprayag district today.

He appealed to the rescue teams and public to make efforts to help those affected by the disaster. As the chairperson of the state Red Cross Committee, the Governor called upon all members of the committee to devote themselves actively to rescue and provide relief to those affected by the disaster.

Critical care ambulance on VIP duty
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 14
The cardiac and critical care ambulance procured by the Health Department for ferrying patients in critical condition from Doon Hospital to higher centres is now being pressed into service to form part of the VIP entourage.

The state-of-the-art ambulance procured by the Health Department at a cost of Rs 60 lakh follows the fleet of the Governor whenever he tours the city. On other occasions, when a VIP visits Dehradun, the ambulance is attached to his fleet. For the past two days, the cardiac and critical care ambulance has been part of the Dalai Lama’s entourage.

The utility of the state-of-the-art ambulance contains all necessary equipment required to stabilise the condition of a heart patient. Its purpose is served best when it is used to carry critical patients to higher centre such as Jolly Grant. We have just one ambulance of this nature. If it is used often on the VIP duties, then patients would suffer,” said a senior doctor.

The ambulance is equipped with an ECG machine, ventilator, oxygen cylinder, stretcher, electricity, water, BP instrument, operation tools, suction machine, cardiac monitor and other necessary equipment. It also comprises of an independent medical personnel comprising a cardiologist, anesthetist, nurse, driver and helpers.

Water level of Sharda touches danger mark
Red alert sounded in Banbasa barrage area
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, September 14
A red alert has been sounded in the Banbasa barrage area, Tanakpur, of Champawat district as the water level of the Sharda river has touched the danger mark following heavy rain in the area.

"Owing to heavy rain in the area for the past 24 hours, the water level of the river has crossed the mark of 1 lakh cubic meter per second, forcing us to close the bridge on the river and sounding a red alert in the barrage area,” said Jadish Srivastava, a barrage attendant. Transportation to and from Nepal from the bridge had also been suspended.

He said the administration, on the request of the barrage authorities, had appealed to the people living near the barrage to vacate the area as the flow of the river was increasing. However, he said the residents had refused to do so. “Last night, the water level of the river was measured at 1.19 lakh cubic meters per second, which is above the danger mark,” said the attendant.

Meanwhile, the Batnagar area on way to Purnagiri had been temporarily closed, causing difficulties to pilgrims.

Hike in diesel price triggers protests
Political parties demand rollback of decision
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, September 14
Mass outrage was witnessed across the district today over the Centre’s decision of hike in diesel prices and selective subsidy on domestic LPG cylinders.

Political and social organisations are expressed their anger over the decision by staging protests.

A meeting was held by the city unit of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Progressive) at its camp office where party leaders said the hike was unfair and the one which demonstrated the anti-common man policy of the Congress government.

Central secretary, labour cell, Uday Ram Semwal, said the subsidy cap on the domestic LPG cylinders limited to only six cylinders was making mockery of the common man.

“If the government can provide subsidy on six cylinders then it can also provide subsidy on six more cylinders as a single family needs at least one cylinder per month. Similarly, hike in diesel prices will have a bearing on the farm, industries, trade and essential commodities,” said Semwal.

Youth wing chief Lalit Mamgain also cornered the BJP for trying to gain political advantage from this hike.“The UPA government is providing waivers, facilities and concessions to multinationals in retail, insurance, air transport or telecom, but is not providing subsidy to common man on domestic cylinders. It has failed to control inflation and now it has aggravated public woes by putting cap on the number of LPG cylinders and Rs 5 hike in diesel,” said Mamgain.

The BJP also staged protests at various places. The Mahila Morcha condemned the action of the government, demanding an instant roll back of the hike.

District secretary of the morcha Sanjana Sharma said the UPA was anti-poor.

BJP activists led by district chief of the BJP unit Sushil Chauhan burnt effigies of the Centre. He said the decision would ouster the Congress from power.

CPM and CPI activists also held separate meetings calling on the hike as a way to cater to capitalists and cartel of multi billionaire oil companies only.

RC Dhiman, veteran communist leader, said during the rule of UPA-I, communist parties never allowed the Congress to dictate oil price rise, otherwise then also such a price hike would have been witnessed.

Samajwadi Party also staged a protest with its city unit secretary Kazi Chand urging other parties to form a third front under SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav so as to ouster the anti-poor Congress from the Centre.

In a statement, Bahujan Samaj party leader Mohammed Shahzad also condemned the price hike saying that government should have eluded the subsidy cap on LPG to the BPL families, minority and SC/ST families.

Protest by Left parties

DEHRADUN: The CPI and the CPM here today burnt an effigy of the Central Government in protest against the hike in the diesel price and the fixing of the quota of LPG cylinder. Speakers alleged that the Centre had crossed all limits of decency by leaving the public at the mercy of black marketeers. The protesters included Left leaders Surender Singh Sajwan, Mahipal Singh Bisht, Indu Naudiyal and Anant Lakh Raj.

People differ on animal sacrifice in Kumaon
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, September 14
The concept of animal sacrifice in the local temples was supported and opposed in the Kumaon region today as people representing all four sections (Khams), traditionally attached to the temple of Kotbhranmari Devi, took to streets in the Garur market of Bageshwar district.

They were supporting the animal sacrifice, while the people of Berinag in Pithoragarh district decided not to sacrifice male buffaloes in the Tripura Devi temple.

"Administrative officers are misrepresenting the court's view on the matter and trying to divide the locals," said Shiv Singh Bisht, a BJP leader who is the organiser of the procession.

Earlier, the people from all four Khams, related to the temple of Kotbhramari Devi, reached the subdivision headquarters and raised slogans in favour of animal sacrifice after reaching the Sub Divisional Magistrate's office.

"We are committed to having animal sacrifice in the temple this year, as it is part of our tradition," said Shiv Singh Bisht.

But on the contrary, the villagers of Berinag have decided that from this year, the male buffaloes will not be sacrificed in the Tripura Devi temple situated in the area.

"We have decided that local representatives along with Revenue Department workers will pass a message to villagers not to bring he-buffalo with them for the purpose of sacrifice," said Anurag Arya, the SDM of Berinag sub-division in Pithoragarh district.

Mahamandaleshwar Title
Inquiry into Radhe Maa's life at snail's pace
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, September 14
After much hype over according the Mahamandaleshwar title to Mumbai-based Radhe Maa, investigation into her life, spiritual-religious powers, achievements, property worth crores and ascetic life after attaining spiritual knowledge from religious gurus is going on at a snail's pace.

Though initially, a time limit of three months was stated by Juna Akhada office-bearers on August 4, but keeping in mind the upcoming Mahakumbh in Prayag, Allahabad, the delay seems inevitable. As all akhadas, including Juna Akhada, play a pivotal role during the Mahakumbh rituals and festivities, akhada saints probing the matter too are now busy in preparing for the biggest fair.

The 11-member probing committee led by Radhe Maa's spiritual guru Swami Panchnad has not been able to visit all states, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat and Maharashtra where Radhe Maa has been associated in her past and present life in one way or the other.

Parshu Ram Giri of the Shri Panch Dash Nam Juna Akhada said as the controversy had erupted since her being accorded the tag, to remove any suspicion or doubts, the akhada had decided to suspend her title. Investigation was going on and it all depended on the investigation committee though until she came out clean in the investigation report, she was barred from the Mahamandaleshwar tag.

Radhe Maa, who has to her credit thousands of devotees with donations accounting in billions of rupees, proclaims her to be the incarnation of Maa Durga.

Popularly known as Mamtamai Shri Radhe Guru Maa, she was born in the village of Dorangla in Gurudaspur district of Punjab where her father, who now leads a retired life, was an officer in the Punjab government.

On August 2, Juna Akhada head Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Avdheshanand Giriji Maharaj conferred on the much-hyped woman saint the coveted title amid the performance of rituals.

This function was kept highly secret. Immediately after conferring on the Mahamandaleshwar title, Radhe Maa left for Mumbai in the wee hours of the morning as per akhada insiders.

'Irregularities' in fair price shops
Samajik Sena activists gherao Food and Civil Supplies office
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, September 14
Activists of the Samajik Sena, a social outfit, here today gheraoed the District Food and Civil Supplies office in protest against the alleged irregularities at fair price shops.

They submitted a memorandum to District Food and Civil Supplies Officer S Pangti, urging him to take action against the offenders.

Led by state chief of the organisation Rana Ranbeer Singh, the activists raised slogans against the alleged irregularities at public distribution shops at Lal Dhang, Haridwar (rural), Jwalapur, Bhoopatwala and other areas of the city.

Rana Ranbeer Singh alleged that 80 per cent of the ration was going directly to commercial shops and the operators of fair price shops were getting a huge share for it.

“The ration meant for the public is being given to private shopkeepers. Even if some quantity of it is available at fair price shops, operators sell it at higher rates than prescribed by the government,”alleged Ranbeer Singh.

The activists also showed RTI applications to Pangti in which satisfactory answers had not been given in this regard.

They also raised the issue of the sale of LPG cylinders on the black market. Samajik Sena national chief Vinod Maharaj said though the Central Government had increased the price of an LPG cylinder to Rs 749 from today onwards, Haridwar residents were already paying the said amount.

BJP leader protests against poor roads
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 14
BJP leader and former Agriculture Minister Trivender Singh Rawat held a protest before the office of the District Magistrate (DM) today over lack of development works in the Raipur constituency.

Trivender Singh Rawat said ever since the Congress government took charge in the state, all developmental works had come to a halt and Raipur was no exception.

The former Agriculture Minister said the roads were full of potholes which were leading to accidents in the area.

He also criticized the government for the worsening law and order situation. The BJP leader said crime graph in the state, particularly in Dehradun, was on the rise.

Trivender Singh Rawat demanded the construction of main road linking Dehradun city to Raipur, road repair in Defence Colony and Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority Kedarpuram, the construction of Raipur-Tunwala-Miyawala road along the river, the protection for people living on the banks of the Rispana river and strict action to restrain drug peddling and increasing crime graph in the state.

The BJP leader demanded quick relief measures for the victims of the cloudburst at Ukhimath in Rudraprayag district.

Quota in Promotions
No headway in first round of talks
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 14
With members of the Uttarakhand Adhikari Karamchari Shikshak Sangharsh Morcha not ready to budge on the ex-cadre stand and the government refusing to promise anything, the first round of a meeting of striking employees with Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, who are protesting against reservations in promotions, remained inconclusive.

"We will be meeting Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna in the evening. Though there were no promises made, our meeting in the morning was positive. We lodged a strong protest against the government’s high-handed tactics to coerce employees into getting back to work and also protested against the dismissal orders issued to the employees,” said SS Valdiya, president of the morcha.

The employees were to meet the Chief Minister again in the evening for a talk.

However, the employees said they would continue with their agitation and would hold a meeting of all state employees on Sunday.

Meanwhile, government sources said to placate the employees, it had been decided to revoke the dismissal order and the government also expressed its inability to come out with a government order due to the Tehri byelection.

Special policy improves investment climate in hills
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 14
Since the introduction of the Special Integrated Industrial Policy (SIP) for the hilly and remote areas in 2008 in Uttarakhand, the investment climate in the hilly areas is on the mend with the Industries Department receiving an investment of Rs 397 crore between 2008-2011.

Amendments to the Special Integrated Industrial Policy for the hilly and remote areas brought about in 2011 have helped in attracting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the hilly areas.

"Though the all-round industrial climate in the country has been far from positive, the SIP has managed to attract some units in the hills in the past couple of years," said GC Pandey, Deputy Director, Industries.

Between 2008-2011, 3,397 MSMEs with an investment of Rs 397 crore have been set up and these have also benefited from the subsidy as envisaged in the SIP.

The amended hill policy had hiked the price preference from 10 per cent to 20 per cent in case the government purchased products from small and medium scale industries in the state. A total of 12,032 jobs have been created between 2008-2011, he said.

Before the implementation of the SIP, the total investment in the hills was around Rs 25 crore. It had increased to Rs 116 crore between 2008-2009 after the policy was introduced.

The amended policy was n case the government purchases products from small and medium-scale industries."

The government had also brought the Sahaspur and Raipur areas of Dehradun district and the Haldwani and Ramnagar areas of Nainital district in the hill category.

However, as all these decisions were taken during the rule of the BJP government, the industrialists were still awaiting for a big push as promised in the policy to set up industrial units in the hilly and remote areas, he said.

"We are still awaiting the setting up of industrial units on the lines of Pantnagar and Rudrapur. Such units will be able to empower the industrial climate in the hilly and remote areas," said Pankaj Gupta, president of the Industries Association of Uttarakhand.

MDDA official's effigy burnt
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 14
Shopkeepers of the Indira Nagar market today burnt an effigy of vice-chairman of the Mussoorie-Dehradun Development Authority RM Sundaram for allegedly trying to displacing them.

Sanjay Sharma, patron of the Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti, a body of shopkeepers, said they had cleared all payments due against their shops in 1999 to get a freehold status.

He said there was no question of displacing them, especially when Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna had also given them an assurance in this regard.

Sharma said the MDDA vice-chairman was sending builders in the market to undertake some construction. "We will fight tooth and nail against any attempt to shift us to some other place," he said.