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Opposition raises issue of delay in road construction
Govt preparing new mining policy, says Hridayesh
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Mussoorie villagers still await road link
Presence of VIPs at Ponty's farmhouse echoes in House
Barrage on Sharda river completes 84 years
Water level in Naini Lake falls to record 6 ft
Protecting human rights imperative, says Justice Tandon
Panwar delaying vendors’ policy implementation, allege traders
Dr Udai Singh Rawat
SC, ST employees’ march to Assembly stopped midway
Maroj festival
Water panel to meet in Delhi
Five killed in mishaps
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Opposition raises issue of delay in road construction
Dehradun, December 11 Raising the question BJP MLA Surinder Singh Jena said that the government should pursue the matter of establishing the regional centre of environment and forests in Dehradun vigorously with the Centre as this would prevent delay in approval of projects which are received from the Delhi office. In reply to the query posed by the MLA, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Indira Hriyadesh said that the a high-level committee of the state government had recently held a meeting with the Centre on the issue. "Besides, two letters in May and December this year had also been written by the state government," she said. She further said that clearance pertaining to road construction measuring 40 hectares and above have to be approved by the Central Government. Taking up the issue of problems being encountered due to the mandatory provision of attaching digital maps for clearence of proposals for roads, Leader of the Opposition in the Uttarakhand Assembly Ajay Bhatt said that the provision had further halted the process of road construction. "I urge the government to ensure that the proposals are cleared within 90 days and the officials of the PWD, the Department of Revenue and Department of Forests are present during these meetings so that the proposals are approved within the stipulated period," said
Bhatt. |
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Govt preparing new mining policy, says Hridayesh
Dehradun, December 10 The minister said the new mining policy would not only address the issue of engaging the youth in the mining industry but also increase surveillance to check illegal mining. She was replying to a question asked by Congress MLA Jeet Ram and a supplementary question by Congress MLA Rajinder Bhandari in the Assembly. Bhandari put a pointed question to Hridayesh about illegal mining going on in Tehri district and how permission had been granted when there was a ban on mining. However, the minister denied that illegal mining was going on in Tehri district and assured Bhandari of an inquiry into the issue. The minister informed the House that the state government gave approval for undertaking mining in small areas while other proposals required clearance from the Environmental Impact Assessment Committee (EIA) of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. “As of now, in Uttarakhand mining and collection of minor minerals and sand is done on 88 riverbeds and of a total of 16,192.89 hectares of mining area available, mining is being carried in 7,061.55 hectares,” she said. The minister told the House that steps to check illegal mining had yielded Rs 15 crore in form of penalties.
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Mussoorie villagers still await road link
Mussoorie, December 10 Sarona is 22 km from Mussoorie. The four-km road from Karligad to Vasudhar has been completed but the remaining five-km road has not been completed due to the objection from the Forest Department, forcing more than 10,000 villages falling under the Sarona region to live a life bereft of basic facilities and in solitude. The villagers who would benefit from the construction of the road are
Sarona, Nyay Gaon, Kainkhli, Kotiyud, Domkot, Bhainswada, Timli Mansingh,
Bauntha, Nali, Naya Danda, Kedwala, Durmala, Bhimpudka, Buraskhanda etc. According to the former Kshetra Panchayat member Sundar Singh
Payal, the Sarona road was sanctioned during the tenure of the BJP government by then Rajpur MLA Ganesh Joshi, who announced Rs 1.75 crore for it in 2008, but no action has been initiated to construct the remaining road so far. The villagers are facing a lot of inconvenience due to the neglect of the officials, who have not pursued the matter at the level of the Ministry of Environment and Forest effectively. The villagers going to Uttarkashi through the Nagun-Bhavan road have to travel 30 km in order to reach
Suvakholi, whereas if the road was constructed, the distance would have reduce to only few
kilometres. The health and education facilities have also suffered due to the absence of a road much to the disgust of the villagers. There is a primary health centre in the area but due to the absence of road, no senior medical staff wants to work here as a result of which the hospital bears a deserted look. The area also has one government high school and around 10 teachers have been appointed, but they also fail to attend the school on regular basis due to the absence of road here. Sunders Singh Payal said the villagers demanded the authorities concerned to either expedite the construction of the road or upgrade the health and education facilities without further delay to reduce the suffering of the people of the area. “The villagers are also demanding to upgrade the high school to inter college as children have to walk almost 10 km through the dense forest, risking their lives to attend the school in
Mussoorie,” added Payal. The villagers also rued the fact that the condition of the road connecting Suva Kholi and Durmala via the Sarona village was also in dilapidated state. If the road was not repaired, it could lead to serious accidents. It is worth mentioning that during the tenure of former Chief Minister BC
Khanduri, the task of road carpeting was assigned to the PWD, Rishikesh division, at the cost of 3.24
crore, but no action has been taken in the past four years. Mohan Singh Negi, a former Kshetra Panchayat member, said the lack of road connectivity was affecting health and education in the village. They had to remain bereft of new drinking water or housing projects proposed by the state government. The villagers said if the road was not completed soon, they would be forced to take to streets for their basic right to live with
dignity. Mussoorie MLA Ganesh Joshi said the file for the construction of the road was still pending with the Government of India for approval. He also said he had raised the question on the said road in the Assembly and would create pressure on the state government to act on priority basis on the issue. He also said the funds for the three-km road construction from Durmala to Sarona had been sanctioned and the work would begin soon. |
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Presence of VIPs at Ponty's farmhouse echoes in House
Dehradun, December 10 As soon as the House convened in the morning, Ajay Bhatt raised the issue and said even the national and international media had extensively reported about it. It had resulted in adverse publicity of the state. “I call upon the government to inform the House if there was any truth in the matter, they need to be exposed as it was affecting the morale of the people of the state. Even the Cabinet minister had raised the issue, but the Chief Minister had ignored it. We would like to know on what basis the Chief Minister had given a clean chit?” said Bhatt. He later urged the Speaker to hold discussion under Rule 310 but the Speaker gave a ruling for holding discussion under rule 58. BJP members also raised the issue of filling of backlog vacancies for SC and ST employees under collective notice while its MLA from Ghansali Bhim Lal Arya staged a dharna at the well of the House after his notice was not taken under rule 310. |
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Barrage on Sharda river completes 84 years
Pithoragarh, December 10 “The barrage, which helps running the 41.5 megawatt capacity hydro project at Lohiahead, provides water to irrigate 2,20,800 acres of land of UP from Pilibhit to Rai Bareilly”, said RP Yadav, an officer with the Sharda headwork at Banbasa. According to the officer, the British explored this foothill base to irrigate land in UP districts and appointed engineer Anderson in 1856 to provide irrigation facility in the Tarai areas of UP. They started construction on it. “After the initial construction work, the work has to be stopped due to the first Indian freedom struggle which broke out in 1857,” said the officer. “The work was finally resumed by Sir Bernard in 1918 after the first World War was over and completed it in 10-year time with the help of 25 labourers and engineers,” said Yadav. The Sharda headwork, which is still owned by the UP government, has the capacity to bear a weight of 6 lakh cubics metre water per second. “Besides releasing 1500 cusecs metre water to adjoining Nepal according to an agreement, the barrage provides 11,500 cusecs water to farmers in UP district for irrigation purpose,” said the officer. |
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Water level in Naini Lake falls to record 6 ft
Pithoragarh, December 10 At present, the water level of the lake is 6 ft than the standard level of 12 ft. During the corresponding period last year, it was 4 ft. “The water level of the lake used to remain 12 ft till January every year. However, with the depleting water level, not only local residents but geologists are also worried,” said Jitendra Tripathi, an executive engineer of the PWD and in charge of the records of Naini Lake. Tripathi said earlier, this situated was witnessed in 1978, when the water level of the lake had gone down below the standard level due to scanty rainfall. Dr Bahadur Singh Kotalia, a geologist at Kumaon University, Nainital, said: “Tubewells installed in the catchments areas of this lake are drawing 19 lakh litres of water daily and its effect could be seen on Naini Lake.” NS Bisht, an engineer, said this was for the first time after 1978 that the exit gates of the lake were not opened this year, as the water level did not reach above the level of 12 ft. Tripathi said if the condition remained the same, the Nainital Lake Development Authority would have to consider taking water from the feeding rivulet. “We will also have to increase rain harvesting in the town,” he added. |
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Protecting human rights imperative, says Justice Tandon
Haridwar, December 10 Speaking as chief guest at the seminar, Justice Rajesh Tandon termed safeguarding of human rights as imperative, which are part of the Fundamental Rights provided in the Constitution of India. Justice Tandon called for awareness among people, particularly downtrodden, poor and the suppressed, about their rights. It was the state's duty to provide these to them. Chief spokesperson of the Human Rights Welfare Association Rajni Kant Shukla said that on this very day in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the universal declaration of human rights, which has become a universal standard for defending and promoting human rights. Every year on December 10, Human Rights Day marks the adoption of this universal declaration. Social activist Uday Ram Semwal said that this year's Human Rights Day theme was 'Inclusion and the right to participate in Public life.' He called on political class, bureaucracy and those in power to work for the safeguarding of the Fundamental Rights of the citizens. “Everybody has the right to have their voice heard and to have a role in making the decisions that shape their communities. Each one of us should be able to choose those people who will represent us in all governance institutions, to stand for public office, and to vote on the fundamental questions that shape our individual and collective destines,” added Semwal. Among others who addressed the seminar included Mahant Lalitanand Maharaj, Captain Tarun Sighal, Surendra Singh Virk, Gulshan Arora, Sanjay Patil, Tej Singh, Pradhan, AR Khan, Rishipal Tomar and Noor Alam. Human Rights Day celebrated
Dehradun: Shalini School, Beverly Hills, celebrated Human Rights Day to promote awareness among children and foster a culture of human rights here today. Justice Rajesh Tandon (retd), Chairman, Uttarakhand Human Rights Commission, attended the programme. Principal Sumita Srivastava welcomed the guests. Shaleen, Deepti and Usha, all students of Class XI, explained about the concept of human rights and its importance. Justice Rajesh Tandon (retd) highlighted the work of the Human Rights Commission and stressed on the need for proper guarantee of human rights by all. He empowered the students by explaininging the importance of the right to freedom of opinion, expression and speech as given provided in the Constitution of the country. |
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Panwar delaying vendors’ policy implementation, allege traders
Haridwar, December 10 The traders said Panwar was deliberately delaying the implementation of the policy to benefit big businessmen. To draw the attention of the government towards their issue, the traders held a protest blowing whistles at the Municipal Corporation demanding the immediate implementation of the policy. The protesters also announced that they would stage a protest at the Urban Development Directorate in Dehradun on December 17. Divisional president of the association Sanjay Chopra said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced the National Street Vendors Policy in 2009. He added Panwar had not held any meeting to review the implementation of the Jawaharlal Nehru Renewal Scheme after he took over as minister eight months ago. The minister did not seem to be serious in this regard, he added. Bhoopendra Rajput, an office-bearer of the association, said the small traders would hold protests regularly in support of their demands and expose corruption in the Municipal Corporation. “Our demands are justified as we only want our constitutional rights and not any favour. We demand licences, identity cards, separate vending zones and speedy implementation of the National Street Vendor Policy,” said Dhruv Pathak, city coordinator of the association. |
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Rawat is Sri Dev Suman varsity VC
Dehradun, December 10 According to the order issued by the state secretary, Higher Education, Dr Udai Singh Rawat will be the Vice-Chancellor of the affiliating university for the period of three years. Sri Dev Suman Uttarakhand University was known as Pandit Deen Dyal Upadhaya Uttarakhand University during the BJP rule. Dr Rawat, a zoologist, remained deputy registrar of BHU, Varanasi, for 12 years. He also served as Registrar at Baba Bhim Rao Ambedkar Central University, Lucknow, for five years. |
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SC, ST employees’ march to Assembly stopped midway
Dehradun, December 10 The members who have been demanding quota in promotions and a freeze on meeting of Departmental Promotion Committee until the Justice (retd) Irshad Hussain report was tabled were stopped several kilometres away from the Assembly. “We will adopt peaceful methods of protest and the government will have to accept our demand,” said Karam Ram, president of the Uttarakhand Federation of SC and ST Employees. However, the issue of quota in promotions did not figure in the Assembly.
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Maroj festival
Mussoorie, December 10 The members of the Aglar-Yamuna Ghati Manch discussed the preparations for the festival in detail. It was decided that the annual festival will be celebrated on 9th January, up keeping the tradition and customs of the region. Speaking on the occasion, general secretary of the manch Bijendar Panwar said the festival was an important way to preserve the rich culture and heritage of the state.
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Water panel to meet in Delhi
Dehradun, December 10 Chairman, Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam, Subhash Kumar said the 300 MW Lakhwad project to be constructed with a budget of Rs 4,900 crore was likely to be approved at the meeting. He said all requisite formalities had been completed in this regard. After obtaining the clearance from the Government of India, the construction would start in scheduled timeframe. |
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Five killed in mishaps
Pithoragarh, December 10 Sandeep Singh (27), an Army jawan, was killed while his wife sustained injuries when their motorcycle rammed into a tree near the Jagbura bridge at Khatima in US Nagar. The woman had been admitted to a nearby hospital and her condition was stated to critical, said a police officer at the Khatima police chowki. In another incident, a 22-year-old man was killed when his motorbike was hit by a vehicle near Chatrubeta in Khatima subdivision last evening. He died on his way to the hospital. In another accident, village development officer, Berinag block, Pithoragarh, Govind Prasad Nainwal district died while members of his family were injured when the Alto car they were travelling in fell into a deep gorge at Niglat near Garampani in Nainital district. The accident took place when the driver lost control over the vehicle. In yet another incident, Rajendra (13) died after he fell into a ditch in Munsiyari subdivision of Pithoragarh. He, along with his mother, had gone a nearby jungle to collect fodder when the accident took place. Eight-year-old Naseer died when he fell into a boiling water pot on Saturday evening. Meanwhile, the Ranikhet police recovered the body a man on Sunday evening. His identity is yet to be ascertained. |
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of Environment and Forests in Dehradun and also about the inordinate delay being caused for approval of plans for road construction due to insistence by the concerned departments on digital maps.
On the occasion of World Human Rights Day, a national-level seminar was held today in Haridwar at the Press Club auditorium.
Small traders, street vendors and hawkers under the Small Traders Association today alleged that Urban Development Minister Pritam Singh Panwar was delaying the implementation of the National Street Vendors Policy in the state.
