|
|
|
|
|
Bahuguna begins process of distribution of portfolios
Cong ready for civic body poll scheduled in March-April
|
|
|
Entry of Red Ribbon Express into Doon on Nov 29 doubtful
Polling for 143 mandals complete
Rs 20 lakh scam in Minor Irrigation Department comes to light
2 Nepalis nabbed with leopard skin, charas
Tug-of-war between Ajay Bhatt, Harak Singh on allotment of house
Dhanvantri Jayanti celebrated at ayurvedic varsity
Noise, air pollution levels on Divali to be monitored
Pay hike of medical teaching staff on cards
Man arrested for cheating jobless youths
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Bahuguna begins process of distribution of portfolios
Dehradun, November 12 After the state Assembly elections and distribution of portfolios of various ministers, the most sought after exercise by the ruling party politicians remains the distribution of offices of profits to elected legislators and senior party functionaries. The present Congress government could not distribute these positions to their legislators and leaders due to Sitarganj Assembly byelection and Tehri Lok Sabha byelection held in July and October, respectively, this year. It was the first elected Congress state government headed by Chief Minister ND Tewari from 2002 to 2007, which distributed such positions in bulk. More than 200 such positions of various government bodies, boards and corporations and members of various commissions and panels were given to favourites. Interestingly, during the 2007 state Assembly elections, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ran it's election campaign on the issue of wasteful government expenditure on such positions, which led them to power in the state. But after coming to power, the ruling BJP also did the same by giving such largesse to their own party legislators and senior party functionaries. After Vijay Bahuguna took over as Chief Minister following a narrow win for Congress in the January 2012 state Assembly elections, there was again pressure from various factions within the Congress to get such plum positions for their own men. To win over the trust vote and also to pacify the rebellion by Union Minister Harish Rawat, the Chief Minister made Dinesh Dhani, an Independent, as Chairman of Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam, and Muyukh Mahar, another Rawat loyalist Congress legislator, was made Vice-Chairman of the state planning board. To win over Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) legislators who supported the Congress government, while Surender Rakesh was made a minister, Sarvat Karim Ansari was made Chairman of State Housing Board. Kiran Mandal, a former BJP legislator who vacated his seat of Sitarganj for Chief Minister to enter the state Assembly, was rewarded with chairmanship of Kumoan Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) after Sitarganj poll. However, the Chief Minister had resisted pressure to distribute such offices in the first eight months of his rule, but according to party sources, the Tehri Lok Sabha byelection debacle has again brought pressure on him. Moreover, it was believed that party legislators who expected some positions but could not get these remained inactive during the Tehri Lok Sabha bypoll, leading to defeat of the ruling
Congress. With the next Lok sabha elections scheduled in May 2014, there has been pressure from all the factions to accommodate their men. Despite announcing that he would only distribute
40 such positions during his tenure, it was expected that five Congress legislators would be rewarded after Divali. The names of Anusuya Prasad Maikhuri and Rajinder Bhandari from Satpal Maharaj group, Manoj Tiwari from Harish Rawat camp, Navprabhat and Subodh Uniyal, both loyalists of Bahuguna are making the rounds. There has also been pressure from the party organisation to adjust senior party functionaries, and it was expected that the first batch of party functionaries would be given positions after the winter session of the state Assembly. |
|
|
Cong ready for civic body poll scheduled in March-April
Dehradun, November 12 The decision to give ownership rights to slum dwellers was taken at the historic Cabinet meeting held at Gairsain in Chamoli district on November 3. A large population in the cities lives in the slum or illegal colonies, having no ownership rights. The state government move, by introducing a scheme to give ownership rights on payment of certain amount, is aimed at winning the hearts of slum dwellers who would be able to convert their illegal dwellings into legally possessed houses. This would lead to appreciation of their property in case they want to sell it. On the other hand, ground-level Congress workers and coucillors have also become active in anticipation of the civic body polls. Saket Bahuguna, son of Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, who recently lost Tehri Lok Sabha byelection due to antipathy of the voters, particularly in the slums of Dehradun city and adjoining areas, has also started a campaign to involve people. The Congress hopes that the Divali gift of ownership rights to slum dwellers would neutralise the impact of inflation and removal of subsidy on cooking gas
subsidy. The civic elections are important since the Lok Sabha elections are also fast approaching in May 2014. A victory in civic polls could give respite to Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna till the Lok Sabha elections. Forms for voters' list out from Nov 20
DEHRADUN: Radha Raturi, Uttarakhand Secretary and Chief Election
Officer, has announced that application forms can be submitted for enrolment of name on the voters' list till November 20. The Chief Election Officer said any citizen of 18-year or above whose name has not been enrolled on the voters' list of any assembly constituency, could submit the Form-6 with the requisite information of his and family members in it at the respective Tehsil
Office, Sub-Divisional Magistrates Office or District Election Office on November 20. The Form -7 could be filled for removal of name or amendments in information and Form- 8 could be filled to make photo voters identity card. The Form- 8 A could be used to transfer
voter's name from his present polling booth to another in the same constituency. She said all application forms were available
free of costs. Chief Election Officer Raturi said the forms could be submitted between November 20 and
December 5. Grievances would be resolved from December 6 to January 10, 2013. The final publication of voters list will be done on January 15, 2013. |
|
|
USFS team holds talks with Bahuguna on 'REDD plus
programmes'
Dehradun, November 12 Bahuguna later informed that an assessment for this purpose had been conducted by Union Ministry of Environment and Forests for building the institutional capacity of ICFRE for implementation of REDD plus programmes. He also informed that the ICFRE was already revising the classification of forest types in India and assessing the changes in forest types will be useful in mapping baselines and comparative carbon estimates over time. Bahuguna further told that ICFRE was also involved in REDD plus strategy development in the country and also planning to launch pilot REDD plus projects in Uttarakhand and Gujarat. United States Forest Service's delegation expressed hope for better collaboration with ICFRE in REDD plus programmes in the near future.
— TNS |
|
|
Entry of Red Ribbon Express into Doon on Nov 29 doubtful
Dehradun, November 12 While the Uttarakhand State Aids Control Society (USACS) has made preparations to receive the train coming from Moradabad, the railway authorities have said it would not be feasible to host the train due to the ongoing work at the Raiwala railway track "We have been informed by the Railways about the ongoing work at the railway station and their inability to complete it by November 29, but we have started our preparations," said PC Kapri, Additional Director, USACS. Red Ribbon Express, comprising eight coaches exhibiting educational and other material about HIV and AIDS and other communicable diseases, is to halt at Dehradun on November 29 and depart on December 3. Forty volunteers would be posted inside the train and 50 outside to take care of the arrangements. On December 1 on World AIDS Day an awareness programme is also on the cards along with blood donation camp. |
|
|
Nainital residents not in favour of high-volume crackers
Pithoragarh, November 12 “As the report of the Sahay committee, submitted in the year 1995, has not been implemented, we have sought yet another direction from the High Court instructing the Central Pollution Control Board to instal sound pollution measurement equipment in Nainital to protect the town from sound pollution during Deepawali. said Ajay Rawat, a retired Kumaon University teacher and environment activist. According to the sources related to the Haldwani office of the pollution control board, after receiving the High Court orders, they are now awaiting arrival of the equipment from the office. “Until we get resources, we cannot implement the High Court orders,” said PK Joshi, in-charge of the pollution control board office at Haldwani. According to the sources, the administration has given permission of 60 to 65 decibel cracker bursting in residential areas, while non- residential areas have been given permission of bursting maxuimum of 90 decibal sound crackers. “The 37 licence holders, who have been given permission to sell the crackers in the town, have been instructed not to sell more than the prescribed capacity crackers during Deepwali,” said Rajesh Bisht, a High Court advocate. The cracker sellers in the town have also decided to cooperate with the administration as they are selling crackers which have sounds, according to the rules set by the High Court. “Even the residents of Nainital are now opposed to the sound and air pollution as they are opting to purchase only those crackers which burst in the sky, rather than those which cause noise on the ground burst,” said Hemant Rubali, a cracker seller
in the town. |
|
|
Polling for 143 mandals complete
Dehradun, November 12 "We have to cancel elections of six divisions after the reports of rigging. Similarly, elections in Rampur, Rudrapur and Purola have not been held," Urba Datt, BJP leader, said. According to the constitution of the BJP, 50 per cent delegates elected from the mandals nominate the office-bearers for the different districts, who in turn nominate the president. After these organisational elections, the party will focus on electing the party
president. — TNS |
|
Rs 20 lakh scam in Minor Irrigation Department comes to light
Dehradun, November 12 In gram panchayat Khera Gairel village Minor Irrigation Department officials presented the expenditure to the tune of Rs 10 lakh on the purchase of water pipelines which were never bought. The matter also reached before the Irrigation Department as well. It is not for the first time that the Minor Irrigation Department has been found embroiled in such a controversy. Earlier too, officials of the department had been showing the construction of water channels in various parts of the state which were found nowhere on the ground when inspection was done. In the Jaunsar Bawar region, the information was also sought from Minor Irrigation Department officials under the Right to Information Act. The officials evaded the information owing to which the state Information Commission imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 on them. It was under the Bharat Yojana scheme that two projects of constructing water channels in the Mudhola region of Tyuni, which come under the Jaunsar Bawar region, were handed over to the Minor Irrigation Department. In Beelong Khera village, officials gave the details regarding the construction of a channel and Rs 10 lakh spent on it. Later it was found out that the channel, shown constructed, was already built by the Irrigation Department. Gram pradhan of Kohla panchayat, which is situated closer to Beelong Khera, complained about the matter to the headquarters of the Minor Irrigation Department. Even in Khera Gairel village, the officials had connected a water pipeline with an old connection instead of buying 2,500 metre water pipe of 2.5 mm length and claimed Rs 10 lakh for the pipe. The higher officials of both Irrigation and Minor Irrigation Departments refused to say anything on record about the matter. However, sources alleged that officer Ranjit Kumar, who is conducting an inquiry into the matter, has confirmed the misuse of government money on a large scale in the matter. President of the Employees Association of the Irrigation Department Ramesh Ramola said, “Unlike the Irrigation Department, counter checks are not conducted at each step in the Minor Irrigation Department, hence frauds are committed. The budget which was earlier released to the Irrigation Department now divided with the Minor Irrigation Department. Our association has been demanding the merger of the Minor Irrigation Department. But the Minor Irrigation Department is resisting the demands.” The committee set up by former state Irrigation Minister to hold parleys between officials of both departments to work out a merger formula hardly convened any meeting. The minister too did not bother to check the progress in this matter. |
|
2 Nepalis nabbed with leopard skin, charas
Pithoragarh, November 12 “The youths, Govind Shahi and Harish Singh, residents of Darchula district of Nepal, had taken these goods from Nepal and were looking for the man whom the delivery had to be handed over in India,” said police sub inspector at Dharchula Thana Aashis Rathor. According to the police team, the recovered goods are worth Rs 11 lakh in the international market. “A case under the Wildlife Protection Act and the Narcotics Act has been registered against the culprits. The police is
trying hard to know about the Indian connection of these smugglers,” said the police team in charge. |
|
Tug-of-war between Ajay Bhatt, Harak Singh on allotment of house
Dehradun, November 12 The Leader of the Opposition has already set the ball rolling by threatening to take the minister to court for not vacating the house that is assigned to the Leader of the opposition. The house in the thick of controversy is numbered R-2 located at Yamuna Colony and presently occupied by Uttarakhand Agriculture Minister Harak Singh Rawat. Bhatt has charged that according to a government order issued on September 18, 2007, two houses, R-1 and R-2, at Yamuna Colony were assigned for the Chairman of the Vidhan Sabha (Uttarakhand) and the Leader of the Opposition, respectively. “As both these posts are constitutional, it was decided two houses would be allocated to them for all times to come and would become the property of the Vidhan Sabha. More so, as it is extremely difficult acquiring houses, it was decided that these houses would become the property of the Vidhan Sabha. But far from vacating the house assigned to Harak Singh Rawat while Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, he decided to stay put. Now by encroaching upon the rights of the Vidhan Sabha and without consulting the Chairman of the Vidhan Sabha, the house has been re-allotted to Rawat, who is now the Cabinet minister,” said Bhatt. He alleged that Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna encroached upon the rights of the Vidhan Sabha and issued orders allotting the house to the Cabinet minister. “This is blatant abuse of power and subversion of a practice that was put into place by both the parties. The house is of no concern. It is propriety and practice that I want should be followed,” said Bhatt. He said that later another house (A-3) was allotted to him but it has already been rejected by the Minister of Urban Development, Preetam Singh. |
|
Dhanvantri Jayanti celebrated at ayurvedic varsity
Dehradun, November 12 He said the ayurvedic system of medicine was an efficient disease treatment system that was devoid of any side-effects. He said the auyurveda had been successful in treating even diseases of serious nature. Mishra said the university apart from rendering education in the ayurveda was also working to promote the ayurvedic system of medicine among the masses. He also spoke of future plans of Ayurvedic University. A yajna was also performed on the campus as part of Dhanvantri Jayanti, which was attended by a large of university employees. University finance controller Jagdish Chandra, registrar Virendra Dutt Maithani, Prof Shankar Kala and Dr Kiran
Badoni were present on the occasion. |
|
More join dharna at Kunau village
Dehradun, November 12 They also threatened the Rajaji Park authorities and the Dehradun district authorities of bigger agitation if the concerns of Kunau were not redressed at the earliest. Indradutt Sharma, Man Singh, Mahipal Singh Rawat and Vikram Singh Bhandari participated in the dharna. |
|
Noise, air pollution levels on Divali to be monitored
Dehradun, November 12 The board has set up three ambient air stations at Nehru Colony, Clock Tower and Raipur Road in Dehradun city. This apart from mobile vans fitted with sound-level meters that will record the noise levels at different locations across the city on the Deepawali day. Further, to monitor noise pollution levels, residential areas of Nehru Colony, the silence zones of Doon Hospital and Combined Medical Institute and the commercial area of Clock Tower have been identified. UEPPCB monitoring team member Sunil Dabral disclosed that they would be working round the clock to monitor the air and noise pollution levels on Deepawali. While the whole Deepawali night is spent in the monitoring exercise, it takes a day and more to complete the data so generated and get inferences. Meanwhile, voluntary organisations are busy sensitising society towards celebrating eco Deepawali. These organisations have been issuing appeals to Doonites to celebrate crackerless Deepwali in the interest of humans and animals of the city. |
|
Kanya Gurukul celebrates founder's day
Dehradun, November 12 Principal Savita Anand read out the annual report. She also apprised the gathering of the achievements of the students. Earlier, Kanya Gurukul girls presented a cultural programme, including Garhwali and Punjabi dances. Dr Hemlata Krishnan coordinated the programme. |
|
Pay hike of medical teaching staff on cards
Dehradun, November 12 While the rationalising of the salaries is expected to benefit associate professors and professors, such a move would drastically cut the salaries of assistant
professors. As of now, assistant professors at the medical institute are receiving between Rs 80,000 and Rs 82,000 per month while assistant professors in private medical colleges are getting Rs 73,000 per month. On the other hand, in private colleges, associate professors are getting Rs 1.20 lakh and professor Rs 1.40 lakh per month.
— TNS |
|
|
Man arrested for cheating jobless youths
Pithoragarh, November 12 He went underground after taking money from them, said circle officer PS Pangti. The police arrested him on the basis of a complaint lodged against him by a youth from Lohagaht. Pangti said when the victims asked him to return money after he failed to get them recruited into the Army, the accused gave them cheques that bounced. The Banbasa police has not ruled out the involvement of some Army officers in the scam. |
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
