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Three floors of a hotel destroyed in fire
End manual scavenging in six weeks, SC tells Haridwar DM
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SSA fails to improve quality of elementary education
NGO concerned over hardships faced by disaster-hit villagers on Mountain Day
Prices for sugarcane varieties announced
Dept of Ayurveda, Ayush, Yoga fails to implement Central schemes
Prepare for poll, Samajwadi Party tells cadres
Philanthropist Sunny Singh dead
Legal awareness camp for students
Students want wine shops removed
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Three floors of a hotel destroyed in fire
Dehradun, December 11 According to Chief Fire Officer CS Jeena, the fire is understood to have been caused by a short-circuit inside the electrical panel board on the second floor. The board had a massive electrical paraphernalia such as the UPS system and a big inverter, which caught flames. Overloading due to operation of the central AC system in the hotel rooms appears to be the reason behind the short-circuit. He said since the wooden ply was covering the walls of all the rooms up to 8 ft and also the staircase and electrical boards, the fire went on spreading wherever it came into contact with wood within a short period. It engulfed all the furnishings and fully damaged the electrical wiring as well on these three floors. The fire could be controlled after around four hours by the Fire Department team. The responsibility lay on the management and employees of the hotel. Jeena said: “The hotel was equipped with all the resources to control the fire during such a calamity but, sadly, the management and the employees of the hotel showed utter negligence and rushed for safety on seeing heavy smoke billowing out of the second floor. They did not use any fire control gadget lying in the hotel to extinguish the fire, which went on spreading out and damaging things in its way.” He also held the airtight AC system of the hotel responsible, which did not let out any space for ventilation. Owing to this, the smoke continued to rise further through all the upper floors, which, too, gradually caught fire. He said the first priority for the fire teams was to rescue people. They rescued a girl and a couple stranded on one of the floors by installing a makeshift staircase close to the window. Some were rescued through the fire exit, the passage meant for emergency. |
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End manual scavenging in six weeks, SC tells Haridwar DM
New Delhi, December 11 A Bench comprising Justices Swatanter Kumar and Madan Lokur directed the DM to take action after personally visiting the places, mentioned in a PIL, which still had dry latrines requiring manual scavengers
for maintenance. In an affidavit filed in the SC, the DM had denied the PIL petitioners’ assertion that the district had at least 174 manual scavengers and 937 dry latrines despite the abolition of the practice through a central law. As the petitioners safai karamcharis and others challenged the DM’s assertions, the Bench had asked them to submit photographs of dry toilets with addresses which they did today. The Bench had also asked the DM to be present in the court today. The SC would be compelled to take action against the DM if he again tried to mislead the court, the Bench clarified in its order. “This is a matter of human dignity. This kind of attitude can’t be tolerated,” the Bench told the DM. The court also warned bureaucrats against having any misconceptions about the judiciary. “Civil servants think courts are meant for paper work and nothing else” and as a result tried to file meaningless affidavits, the Bench remarked. Pointing out the affidavits secured by officials from some of the scavengers cited by the PIL petitioners, the Bench noted that some of them had said they were not carrying the night soil on their heads. Did this mean that they were carrying it in their hands and not heads, the Bench questioned. The DM would have done better seeking time from the court to end the practice in the district, instead
of spending his time in proving the PIL petitioners wrong, the Bench remarked. The PIL has sought a court directive for the implementation of the central law on the abolition of manual scavenging across the country, but today’s hearing was restricted
to Hardwar. |
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Nidhi Shukla seeks dismissal of Amarmani’s mercy petition
Dehradun, December 11 Politician Amarmani Tripathy had been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Nainital High Court after being found accused in the Madhumita Shukla murder case that took place in 2003. Amarmani, on October 12, just before the completion of 90 days of judgment of the Nainital High Court, filed a mercy petition with the Governor. Addressing the press here today, shortly after submitting memorandum with the office of the Governor, Nidhi said she had asked the Governor for an opportunity of a hearing to put forward the concerns of aggrieved party before any decision is taken on the Amarmani’s mercy petition. In the memorandum submitted by Nidhi to the Governor, she referred to the brutal murder of her 20-year-old sister in 2003, whom she said was also an eight-month expectant at the time of the murder. Nidhi said Amarmani was a mafia mobster and an A grade history sheeter. She said she, along with her family, had been struggling to get justice for the past 10 years, sacrificing the carrier of the entire family. Referring to the entire case history, Nidhi said the mercy petition moved by Amarmani was bereft of the actual facts and was contrary to the principles of natural justice and thus liable to be dismissed. Nidhi also revealed that she had completed a book, ‘Meri Behan Ki Hatya’, which is based on the life of her deceased sister. She
said the book would be in stores in January. — TNS |
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SSA fails to improve quality of elementary education
Dehradun, December 11 Due to underutilisation of funds in 2006-07, an amount of Rs 239.47 crore was deducted by the Government of India in subsequent years. The audit covers the period 2006-07 to 2010-2011 in five districts ( Pithoragarh, Champawat, Almora, Dehradun and Rudraprayag) of the state. The audit criteria were to see if the SSA guidelines were followed. Pointing at the loopholes, the report further said that the General Council headed by the Chief Minister, that was to oversee the implementation of the programme, met only once in 2003 and as such there were no guidance forthcoming from the council. The SSA also suffered due to lack of infrastructure and basic amenities. Drinking water facilities were yet to be provided in 1,205 schools and toilet facilities in 59,998 schools. Only 57 per cent sampled schools had separate girl toilets and 44 per cent were found unusable. In addition 1,105 schools were running without electricity and 2,696 without kitchen facility. Further, in the natural disaster that took place in 2010-2011, out of a total of 1,040 schools that were damaged, construction work of only 485 schools had been completed. There was also shortage and disproportionate deployment of teachers in the primary and upper primary schools. Around 162 schools were without teachers and 3,510 schools were running with less number of teachers than the norms prescribed under SSA. The report also pointed out at the abnormal delay in the construction of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) for girl students belonging to SC, ST, OBC and minority communities. Beside, the objective of universalisation of education was not achieved as 8,168 children were still out of school in Uttarakhand. Interestingly, the figure projected (out of school children) by the state’s own District Information System of Education (DISE) was much higher. Also, under the Computer-Aided Learning Programme (CALP), due to delay in the purchase of computers, a total of 1,040 schools with 39,520 enrolled in 2011-12 were deprived of the intended benefits of the
programme. |
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NGO concerned over hardships faced by disaster-hit villagers on Mountain Day
Pithoragarh, December 11 In a seminar organised by NGO People’s Rights Society, the speakers said that due to the lacklustre policies of the state government, the people affected from natural disasters in the district were still to get permanent resident status after their original houses were declared unsuitable for living. “The disaster-affected people from Qurie Jimia and La Ghekla are still waiting permanent resident ststus despite been affected by natural calamities three years ago. Not only were villages fully devastated villages, villagers from Chami Metli and Toila Kanar in Baram valley of the district are still facing difficulties as they are homeless after the natural disasters hit their houses 10 years ago,” said Sunita Devi, president
of the society. District Disaster Management Officer RS Rana said that the families affected by various forms of natural disasters in the district had been rehabilitated to some level though they are to be settled permanently. “The government, in it's latest order, has given instructions that the families affected by natural disasters be given priority in sanctioning shelters under various housing schemes of the government,” said RS Rana, District Disaster Management Officer. Speakers at a meeting organised at Nachni by some local enthusiasts emphasised on surveying the Himalayan region from geological points of view to be able to take precautions against the natural disasters which affected the area frequently. “The people living on steep Himalayan slopes in Munsiyari area are panic stricken as the rains every year damage their land,” said KN Joshi, a social worker in Nachni area of Munsiyari subdivision of the district. |
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Prices for sugarcane varieties announced
Dehradun, December 11 While announcing the SAP today in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly amid protests and demand by the Opposition BJP to fix the MSP band of sugar cane at Rs 300-310, the Uttarakhand Sugarcane Minister, Surinder Singh Negi, said that the price was fixed keeping the interest of the sugarcane farmers and the sugar mills in mind. Coming after a delay of a few days of the crushing season, the minister said that the price was higher than the states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. However the Opposition MLAs hailing from the Terai region persisted with their demand and trooped inside the well of the House, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House. Today Bhim Lal Arya, BJP MLA from Ghansali, created a furore after he threatened to commit suicide if the District Magistrate of Tehri was not removed as he had allegedly refused to meet him when he was on a fast in Bhilangana. He also sat on dharna inside the well of the House after Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal refused to admit his notice under rule 310 due to procedures, but he agreed to take it under rule 58. While debating on the issue of private universities Bills, the Leader of the Opposition in the Uttarakhand Assembly, Ajay Bhatt, attacked the government for bringing Bills that were opposed even by the Governor. He also lambasted the government for bringing another amendment Bill that aims to change the name of Deen Dayal Upadhayaya University, named after the BJP leader and established during the BJP government's rule for political gains. |
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Dept of Ayurveda, Ayush, Yoga fails to implement Central schemes
Dehradun, December 11 While undertaking the performance audit of Ayush for the period 2006-2011, CAG in his new report, has revealed that against the target of setting Ayush wings in 116 PHCs and 23 CHCs, funds for renovation of buildings of PHCs and CHCs could be released to only six CHCs and 26 PHCs by September 2011 despite availability of funds since December 2007. This is despite the fact that the Central Government had released Rs 4.63 crore for renovation of buildings, Rs 5.78 crore on purchase of equipment and Rs 6.25 crore for purchase of medicines etc. Further, the Directorate went ahead and incurred an expenditure of Rs 3.86 crore against the sanctioned budget of Rs 5.78 crore on Centralised purchase of equipment, furniture and stationary for all the originally proposed CHCs and PHCs. During the physical inspection it was found that equipment was lying unutilised and idle due to lack of space. Similarly, despite availability of funds the department could set up five Reproductive and Child Health Centres (RCH) to facilitate post natal and neo-natal care though it was proposed in eight district allopathic hospitals. Besides, medicines were procured for Ayush wings of non-functional allopathic dispensaries without ensuring availability of ayurvedic doctors and medical staff. The licences were issued to 18 pharmacies without consulting a panel of experts, whereas 32 licences were renewed without ensuring good manufacturing practice certificate (GMP). The CAG has also castigated the department for failing to set up Ayush grams and ayurvedic university though the work was started in 1976 due to non-availability of land. |
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Prepare for poll, Samajwadi Party tells cadres
Dehradun, December 11 Those who participated in the meeting included president of the Yuvjan Sabha, Lohiya Vahini, Mulayam Singh Youth Brigade, Chatr Sabha, Pichda Varg and Adhivakta Sabha. State president SN Sachan said, “The president of these wings have been directed to stay in close contact with their district headquarters with regard to policy and programmes of the party and also the activities undertaken time-to-time. They must feel an inseparable part of the party and contribute to it.” He also added that these people had been instructed to prepare documentation regarding party activists and the voter segment at the booth-level in wake of ensuing local-bodies election and thereafter the Parliament elections. He said they had also been instructed to quicken the membership drive. The information about the documentation will be forwarded to not only to the district concerned but the state headquarters also. |
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Rs 6.36 lakh donated to CM’s Relief Fund
Dehradun, December 11 Out of the total amount, Rs 5 lakh was contributed by the temple committee and the remaining amount by committee
staff. Bahuguna, expressing his gratitude, said the state government had done all possible to provide relief to disaster-affected people. He said several other organisations had also come forward for their help, which was laudable. MLAs Subodh Uniyal and Raj Kumar were also present on the occasion. |
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Philanthropist Sunny Singh dead
Dehradun, December 11 An alumnus of Doon School and Delhi University, Sunny, then known as Surendra Nath Singh, had joined the General Electric Company of India in Calcutta, where he lived a life of high profile westernised socialite, wining and dining in five star hotels. During the recent platinum jubilee celebrations of Doon School, his new avatar surprised many of his school contemporaries who met him after a long gap. A few years into his retirement, Surendra Nath Singh returned to Dehradun and settled at Gunial Goan near Rajpur. He gave away his western clothing, gave up drinking and smoking and grew a beard and resolved to do something to improve the lot of nearby poor village girls. He started imparting them skills in English language and elementary computing. On November 13, 2006, he started Guniyal Gaon Education Centre with just six girls. First the parents were reluctant to send their daughters since they too were also earning members by doing odd domestic jobs. But soon more and more girls started coming in and within a year or so, the centre had a strength
of 53 students. Today the centre is responsible for the education of 49 girls and takes care of their school and college education in entirety and even later on will arrange their marriages. The Guniyal Gaon Education Centre will continue to function, according to Sunny’s son Aditya Singh and son-in-law Gaurav
Malhotra. |
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Legal awareness camp for students
Mussoorie, December 11 The camp was
inaugurated by senior Civil Judge Pradeep Mani Tripathi and was attended by senior lawyers, who informed students about the intricacies of the
legal system. Tripathi, while addressing the students, said every citizen should have knowledge of the legal system and the rights enshrined in the constitution. He said the district
legal service authority was also assisting poor appellants, who did not have adequate funds to fight their cases. Advoacte Ranbir Singh highlighted the importance of the law in society. He elaborated upon
the changes that have occurred in the laws from the British period to the present times. Advocate Achna Rab spoke on the gender issues and the laws related to domestic violence against women. He told students that
if any government officer refuses to tender information about anything, they could appeal to
the higher authorities. Advocates Manoj Saili, Arun Goel and others were also present on the
occasion. |
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Students want wine shops removed
Pithoragarh, December 11 “No damage has been done to the wine shops as the owners have already closed the shops fearing damage from the mob,” said Pankaj Upadhyaya, SDM, Dwarahat sub division. The SDM reached the spot and pacified the agitators. Due to the protest, long queues of vehicles were seen on both sides of the road. “We have been demanding the removal of these shops for a long time. We have send a memorandum to the District Magistrate to remove these shops but the administration has not taken any action,” said Soni Harbola, president of the students’ union, Dwarahat PG College. The students’ union has said the administration had given 10 days to remove the wine shops. “If the administration fails to do so in next 10 days, we will resume the agitation,” said the student leader. |
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