Day 1 of session
Cong MLA Makhuri elected Deputy Speaker
Walkout by Ajay Bhatt-led Opposition z 9 Bills tabled in Assembly
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 5
On the first day of the winter session today, Congress MLA from Karnprayag Anusuya Prasad Makhuri was elected unopposed as Deputy Speaker of the Uttarakhand Assembly. The Congress government also tabled the first supplementary budget worth Rs 2464.12 crore for the current financial year and nine other Bills.

As soon as the House convened in the morning session, Leader of the Opposition in the Uttarakhand Assembly Ajay Bhatt stood up, demanding discussions on the unemployment and skill development honorarium being given by the state government failing to cover a large percentage of the youth under rule 310, but the Speaker said the matter was not listed in the agenda for the day and refused to give the ruling.

This infuriated the Opposition benches, who began raising slogans against the government, and a few Opposition members even rushed to the well of the House. Amid noisy protests, the election of the Deputy Speaker was formalised.

Though Leader of the Opposition Ajay Bhatt accompanied Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna to escort the Deputy Speaker to his appointed chair, immediately afterwards the Opposition staged a walkout.

In the absence of the Opposition, the Congress government tabled nine Bills, including Private University Bill, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya University Amendment Bill 2012, Uttarakhand Transport and Civic Infrastructure Cess Bill 2012, Uttarakhand Motor Vehicles Tax (amendment) Bill and re-introduced four Bills, including Uttarakhand Cooperatives Samiti (Amendment) Bill 2012, after which the House was adjourned till 4 pm. The House also approved the agenda that came up during the business advisory committee meeting held yesterday for conduct of the House till December 10.

As soon as the House convened again in the evening, the government tabled the supplementary budget for Rs 2464.12 crore. The House would now meet on December 7.

Earlier, speaking with the media, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna criticised the Opposition for failing to follow parliamentary practices by congratulating Anusuiya Prasad on his elevation as Deputy Speaker of the House.

On the other hand, Leader of the Opposition in the Uttarakhand Assembly Ajay Bhatt said that their request to hold discussions under rule 310 on the issue of honorarium was repeatedly turned down by the Speaker.

“The government has managed to target .11 per cent (834) of the youth in the state when the total number of the unemployed youth in the state was 7,03,599. In Dehradun alone out of a total of 1,31,602 unemployed youth, the government had covered only 137 (.10 per cent of the youth),” said Ajay Bhatt. 

Security beefed up in Doon

Dehradun, December 5
To maintain peace and security during the Vidhan Sabha session from Friday, adequate police force has been deployed around the area.

Besides the policemen from Dehradun, police force from Haridwar, including two Deputy Superintendent of Police, 15 Sub-Inspectors, 5 women Sub-Inspectors, 70 constables and 14 women constables have also been deployed. Police personal from Uttarkashi have also been sent for the purpose which include 3 Sub-Inspectors, 25 sub-constables and 10 women constables. SSP Kewal Khurana briefed police personnel about their duties in the police lines. Barriers have been installed at Rispana pul, Bypass Road, Shastrinagar Haridwar Road, Prakgit Vhar, Vidhan Sabha Tiraha and Defence colony. Besides police force, tear gas squad, anti-right squad and fire tender had also been deputed.District Magistrate BVRC Purushottam said Section 144 had been imposed in the 500 metre territory around the Vidhan Sabha bhawan.

He said carrying weapons, ranting slogans, pasting objectionable posters or banners would be illegal during this time.— TNS

Protests, dharnas greet legislators
Shiksha Mitirs
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 5
The capital city was swarmed by a number of protests by angry Shiksha Mitirs, Shiksha Acharayas and political parties who thought it fit to raise their voice as Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly members met for the winter session.

After laying a siege of the MLA Transit Hostel, the Shiksha Mitirs participated in a sit-in outside the assembly.

The state president of Uttarakhand Shiksha Mitir Mahasangh Lalit Dwivedi said the government had been sitting on their five-point charter of demands.

"Some of our demands include raising of honorarium and fixed it at Rs 22,000 per month, completion of department of elementary education examination (DElEd) by 2013 and relaxation for those shiksha mitirs who have 10 years experience in the NCTE examination," said Dwivedi.

The members said their talks with Uttarakhand Education Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani were still on and they would be meeting the Chief Minister shortly. There are around 4000 Shiksha Mitirs in Uttarakhand who are teaching primary classes.

Shiksha Acharya

Demanding that they should be absorbed in the cadre of Shiksha Mitirs, the Shiksha Acharyas owing allegiance to the Shiksha Acharya Uttar Pradesh Sangathan organised a sit-in outside the Vidhan Sabha.

"We have been demanding absorption in the Shiksha Mitir cadre of Shiksha Acharyas teaching at EGS (centres set up under the Education Guarantee Scheme) in 2008. But the government has failed to concede to our demand," said Zail Singh Rawat, president of the Shikshsa Acharya.

He said in 2008, the EGS centres were shut by the then government and the Shiksha Acharyas had become jobless.

"In order to adjust the Shiksha Acharyas as Shiksha Mitirs, the government had passed an order in 2010, calling for absorption of the Shiksha Acharyas in the Shiksha Mitir cadre. They were to be absorbed according to the reservation policy, seniority and qualification of the Shiksha Acharyas. But the government did not absorb all Shiksha Acharyas, especially those who were not able to complete their graduation by 2010," said Rawat.

He said they were demanding that the remaining Shiksha Acharyas who had completed their graduation after 2008 also should be absorbed.

Sidelights 

‘Powerhouse’ goes powerless

The Uttarakhand Assembly was today plunged into darkness after the power supply system developed a fault. It took some time before power could be restored but by the time Speaker of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly Govind Singh Kunjwal called for adjournment of the House at 11 am.

As soon as the House convened, the electricity went off even as Chief Minister Vijay Bahauguna, Leader of the Opposition in the Uttarakhand Assembly Ajay Bhatt, Uttarakhand Parliamentary Affairs Minister Indira Hridayesh and Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal and the members of the Legislative Assembly were getting down to business.

Later, a deeply embarrassed Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr SS Sandhu said the Assembly building had recently shifted to a new generator facility that was not put on trial.

MLAs gheraoed

It was a bad day for most of the MLAs who came face to face with the fury of agitating Shiksha Mitras who laid a siege of the Transit Hostel located at Race Course.

The agitating Shiksha Mitras softened their stand only after the Uttarakhand Education Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani decided to hold talks with the members.

The siege of the Congress and BJP MLAs resulted in most of them reaching late for the winter Assembly session.

During the adjournment of the House, some of the Congress MLAs trooped around the Chief Minister to convey to him the important issues plaguing their constituency. The Congress MLA Harish Dhami even pointed out to the Chief Minister that the siege of the assembly and the Transit Hostel may happen once a while in Dehradun but his constituency people were angry due to lack of development in the region. 

Sit-in for Gairsain as capital by UKD (D)
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 5
Demanding that Gairsain be declared the permanent capital of Uttarakhand in the ongoing winter session of the Uttarakhand Assembly, members of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Democratic) today held a sit-in outside the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly in support of their demand.

The member said the government should make the declaration about Gairsain in the ongoing session of the assembly.

"We are also performing buddhi shuddhi yajna so that the government gets sense and concede to our demands," said DK Pal, general secretary (central organisation), Uttarakhand Kranti Dal.

Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand Rajya Nirman Senani Manch also organised a sit-in outside the assembly in support of their demands. Their demands include the status of the Uttarakhand Rajya Nirman Senani be conferred on those who participated in the Uttarakhand statehood agitation and all active statehood agitators be given reservation and other facilities be extended to statehood agitators.

March by ANMs and health activists

The Auxillary Nurses and Midwives (ANMs) and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers today took out separate marches in support of their demands and later staged a sit-in outside the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly.

The ANMs were demanding the payment of pending arrears and creation of new posts for newly recruited ANMs.

The ANMs had been on relay hunger strike for the past nine days.

Meanwhile, ASHA workers held a march and dharna in support of their one-point charter of demand.

Their demands include monthly salary to be given to ASHA workers and permanent employment.

Irrigation Dept seeks Rs 10 cr for two power projects 
Seema Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 5
The Irrigation Department has demanded a corpus reserve of Rs 10 crore the from state government to carry out preliminary work with regard to two hydropower projects, Arakot Tyuni (AT) of 81 MW and Tyuni Plasu (TP) of 72 MW. It is to be noted that since the Irrigation Department was not in a position to bear the massive costs of the construction, which would come around Rs 1500 crore. The state government has, therefore, floated a corporation, Uttarakhand Vikas and Nirman Nigam (UVNN), to facilitate funding from outside sources for the construction of these two projects. The higher officials and the employees of the Irrigation Department would do dual work, both at the Irrigation Department as well as at the corporation.

Sandeep Kumar Sharma, Yamuna chief of the Irrigation Department said: "The state government has allocated merely Rs 1 crore as the corpus fund, which is grossly insufficient. The department needs at least Rs 10 crore to start some ground work for the hydropower projects."

Manager, UVNN, Sanjay Singh, said that two years had already elapsed and one more year was likely to be consumed in securing clearance over Detailed Project Report (DPR) submitted to the Centre over AT and TP projects. Meanwhile, no preliminary infrastructure had been built under these projects so far.

President of Employees' Association of the Irrigation Department Ramesh Ramola said: "The connecting roads, offices and housing colony of the employees who work for such big projects are always built prior to the construction taken up under the project. This way precious time is saved and the work swiftly starts on the projects as soon as the Centre clears the DPR. But in case of AT and TP, the state government has done it's bit by granting merely Rs 1 crore to the corporation. The government should urgently release the money so that the construction work could start at the site."

Sandeep Kumar Sharma was of the view that the corpus amount should not only be enhanced in the corporation but should also be revised for the Irrigation Department as well. He said: " Ever since the electrical and mechanical work over all hydropower projects was taken away from the Irrigation Department and given to Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam by 2011, the huge work force of 8000 employees and 68 divisions of the Irrigation Department had lost their major chunk of revenue and work. We have been given some work like construction of schools, institutes and government offices as a working agency but lack the adequate corpus reserve to sustain the construction work consistently. If we have some cash reserve, we will not need to wait for payment of one project to supplement the expenditure over the other. The government sanctions always take a long time to clear."

Question Hour
233 villages declared sensitive
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 5
The Department of Disaster Management and Rehabilitation has declared 233 villages as sensitive ones and prone to disasters. Replying to a question raised by BJP MLA Vijay Barthwal, Uttarakhand Minister for Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Yashpal Arya said that these villages had been earmarked in 13 districts of the state.

“Pithoragarh with 71 villages has the maximum number of disaster- prone villages, followed by 49 in Chamoli, 42 in Bageshwar, 19 in Pauri and 19 in Tehri. Rudraprayag and Udham Singh Nagar have one each,” said Arya.

Allocation for pre-monsoon measures

The Department of Disaster Management and Rehabilitation had released Rs 29,43,07000 for undertaking measures to prevent disasters before the onset of the monsoons this year.

Replying to a question raised by BJP MLA Vijay Barthwal during the ongoing winter session, Yashpal Arya said that the amount was released for putting in place preventive measures before the onset of the monsoons.

The preparation included deployment of teams in 22 places well versed in tackling with any rain-related disaster and emergency. He said that the department had released Rs 1.54 crore for Uttarkashi district.

District status for Khatima

Uttarakhand Revenue Minister Yashpal Arya today said that the government had received demand for declaring Khatima as a new district and the matter had been referred to the District Reorganisation Commission, which is examining the proposals for new districts. 

Residents hold protest, seek recarpeting of Kotdwar road
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 5
Demanding recarpeting of the road linking Kotdwar and Ramnagar, residents of Kotdwar district led by former Kotdwar MLA Shailendra Singh Rawat today held a demonstration near the Vidhan Sabha in Dehradun.

The residents who staged the protest under the ageis of the Kandi Road Banao Sangarsh Samiti alleged that they were suffering a lot due to delay in recarpeting of the Kotdwar-Ramangar road as this would considerably facilitate vehicle movement between Kotdwar and Ramnagar.

Kotdwar-Ramnagar road popularly known as Kandi road is an un-metalled road that goes from inside Corbett National Park and villagers have been using this road for long. But the wildlife conservationists have been opposing recarpeting of this road taking into account adverse the impact on wildlife.

A large number of Kotdwar residents participated in the demonstration.

Better facilities for Kedarnath pilgrims in the offing
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 5
Better facilities will be provided to pilgrims visiting the Kedarnath dham in the coming season.

Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain chaired a meeting to discuss the issues related to basic infrastructure development at Kedarnath and its adjacent places in which several decisions were taken, including deputation of doctors in Gourikund Hospital on the basis of one month roster and ensuring availability of life saving medicines there.

A decision was taken to provide medical services on the 14-km walking route to Kedarnath.

The operation of mule service will be systemised and bio-gas plant be installed at Gaurikund for sanitation. Pits will be dug in various places for the treatment of solid waste management and roads from Gaurikund to Kedarnath will be widened by 4 to 6 metres.

The decision was also taken to take action against encroachments taking place at Kedarnath. Security measures be taken for the safeguard of the wild animals during air services.

It was also decided to upgrade Rambada and Kedarnath police chowkis.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary Civil Aviation Rakesh Sharma, Principal Secretary Planning S Ramaswami, Secretary Religious Affairs RC Pathak, Secretary Panchayati Raj RK Sudhanshu, DM Rudraprayag Dr Neeraj Khairwal and other senior officers.

155 food samples fail test
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, December 5
Most of the food samples collected by officials from across the state in the past 18 months have been found adulterated.

According to a report released by the Food and Drugs Testing Laboratory, Rudrapur, out of the 949 samples tested in the laboratory in the past 18 months, 155 failed the test.

“A total of 1,151 food samples had been received by the laboratory from across the state. Of these, 949 were tested. However, 155 samples failed the test,” said JR Dhyani, a testing officer in the laboratory.

Dhyani said the samples included milk, milk products, spices, pan masala, pulses, edible oil and packed juices.

Administrative officer, US Nagar, RS Kathayat said action had been taken against the defaulters under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Ancient places of Champawat to be on tourist map
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, December 5
Kumaon Commissioner Dr Hemlata Dhaundhiyal has said the places of tourist significance in Champawat district will be linked with tourist circuit of the region once the airstrip at Naini Saini in Pithoragarh district to be in operation.

Talking to mediapersons, after taking a meeting of government officials in Pithoragarh and Champawat districts, the Commissioner ordered the officials concerned to prepare a work plan on the proposal.

“We have selected ancient tourist places of Ritha Sahib, Devidhura, Vanasur Fort in Lohaghat, Avot Mount temples of Champawat and Purnagiri in Champawat district to take under tourist circuit to attract the tourists from the country and abroad,” said Dr Dhaundhiyal.

The Kumaon Commissioner also said to keep natural diversity of the region intact, the administration had proposed a Mahaseer protection park in the Saryu river which flows in Pithoragarh and Champawat districts.

“We are also mulling in the direction to increase the adventure tourism activities in the Mahakali river, which flows on the Indo-Nepal border in these district,” said the Commissioner.

The Kumaon Commissioner took a meeting of government officials in Pithoragarh district and instructed the officials to speed up the cases related to forest clearance of various infrastructural projects.

“We have taken up the issues of stalled works of development due to objection from the Askot wildlife sanctuary in Pithoragarh district and instructed the local officials to present the matters wisely before the wildlife board for these could get cleared for the construction,” said the Commissioner.

The Commissioner also reviewed the electoral list and instructed the officials to include the maximum youths who had completed the age of 21 on January 1, 2013, on the electoral list in both districts.

“To get the maximum number of new voters on the list, we have instructed the officials to start publicity campaign in schools and colleges of both districts," said the Commissioner.

Khadi industry can bring prosperity in villages: CM
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 5
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said the khadi and village industries could play an important role in making the country self-reliant as per the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi. He said khadi and village industries could prove useful in bringing prosperity to the rural areas.

Bahuguna, in his inaugural address at the National Khadi and Village Industries Exhibition 2012 at Parade Ground here today, laid emphasis on encouraging youth to work for khadi industry. He said the state government was encouraging the khadi and village industries in the state. The wool was purchased from sheep raisers at minimum support price and given to the artisans, he said. He further stated that local talents and local resources were properly utilised under the CM cluster scheme. He observed that youth could be provided employment through minimum investment in the khadi and village industries as the income reaches directly to the artisans. He hoped that the exhibition would be successful in achieving its goals.

Khadi and Village Industry Minister Harish Chandra Durgapal said the khadi and village industry could play a crucial role in checking migration from rural areas. He said besides rebate provided by the Centre, the state government had also provided 10 per cent rebate to encourage the industries. He said a separate department had been constituted for the micro, small and medium industries.

Chief Executive Officer of the Khadi Gramodhyog Board Ranvir Singh said the exhibition that started on November 30 would continue till December 16. He said the exhibition had 200 stalls from 11 different states. It was getting good response as sale of Rs 11.75 lakh had been recorded from November 30 to December 3, added Ranvir Singh.

'Black & White...' a provocative, film: Winter

Dehradun, December 5
Filmmaker John Winter, whose work "Black & White & Sex" is being screened here as a part of the Australian Film Festival of India, says his film seeks to break the stereotype about prostitutes.

"It is a provocative and confronting film about sex and sexuality with a prostitute as its central character," said Winter, who is here to attend a preview of his first directorial venture being screened as a prelude to the main festival.

The 56-year-old Australian director took two years to write and eight days to shoot the film about a prostitute portrayed by eight different actresses.

It received the prestigious Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM) award in the best experimental film category last week. — PTI

Man held with snow leopard’s skin
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 5
The police has arrested a man and seized the skin of a highly endangered species of snow leopard from his possession.

Personnel of the Special Task Force of the Uttarakhand Police came across two suspicious persons at Nathanpur here late last night. Seeing the police, the duo tried to flee. However, the police managed to arrest one of them and seized a snow leopard's skin from his possession.

He has been identified as Rajendra Bhandari. His accomplice, Deepak Negi, however, managed to flee. During interrogation, Bhandari told the police that they were taking the snow leopard's skin to Delhi for sale. The police has formed parties to arrest Negi. The skin had been brought from Chamoli district.

According to the Wildlife Protection Society of India, this is the third seizure of snow leopard's skin in the state since its inception. The first seizure was made on August 28, 2003, from Pithoragarh and the second on March 25 this year.

Snow leopard is one of most elusive wild cats. In Uttarakhand, it is reported to be found in high-altitude areas 3,000 m above the sea level.

Through pug marks, the presence of snow leopards has been confirmed in protected areas such as Nanda Devi National Park Valley of Flowers National Park, Gangotri National Park, Govind National Park, Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary and the buffer zones of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. Snow leopard sightings are very rare.

In 2006, the Central Government had initiated the Project Snow Leopard along the lines of the Project Tiger in the five Himalayan range states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. The population of snow leopard in India is estimated to be 500.