Election likely for post of U’khand BJP president
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 29
Saddled with a long list of probable candidates for the post of Uttarakhand BJP President and consensus not in sight, the party may go in for the election, party leader Thawar Chand Singh Gehlot has said.

At the end of the marathon session held today by state in charge and general secretery (BJP central unit) Thawar Chand Gehlot, leaders comprising former Cabinet minister Trivender Singh Rawat, MLA from Chaubatakhal Teerath Singh Rawat, Mohan Singh Rawat Gaunawasi, Naresh Bansal and general secretary, Uttarakhand BJP, Dhan Singh Rawat seemed to have forged ahead in the race.

“I will hold a discussion with central leaders in New Delhi on the issue and if no consensus emerges, we will hold the election in the first week of January. We will be deliberating on the issue once again. We have to zero in on a leader who would be able to take the party to victory in the 2014 general election,” said Gehlot.

However, out of the five names, Teerath Singh Rawat seemed to have garnered support of both former Chief Ministers BC Khanduri and Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank. “By virtue of his non-controversial image, Teerath Singh Rawat has emerged as the front-runner. Though his proximity with Khanduri is well known, he has managed to garner support from Nishank,” said a senior BJP leader.

However, party sources say former Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, too, is exerting all his might to convey his choice of candidate and is solidly behind Trivender Singh Rawat.

The 2014 elections are crucial for the BJP. After winning the Tehri parliamentary seat, the party is hopeful of exploiting the anti-UPA sentiment prevailing in the state. 

Expelled party leaders to form front
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 29
Former BJP leaders, who were expelled from the party during the 2012 Assembly elections, have decided to form a front. Former BJP leaders — Kedar Singh Fonia, Shalinder Singh Rawat, Anil Nautiyal, JL Shah and Kailash — were expelled from the party and would be launching a political front.

“These leaders were expelled by the party and are free to form any political front of their choice. The party has nothing to do with them,” said BS Chuphal, Uttarakhand BJP president.

Dharchula MLA threatens stir for change in Askot sanctuary laws
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, December 29
Dharchula MLA Harish Dhami has again threatened to launch a long agitation against his own party government in the state over the non-construction of link roads and incomplete development works in the backward villages situated on the border with China in his Assembly constituency. Strict laws applicable to the area due to the Askot Wildlife Sanctuary do not permit construction work in border villages of Dharchula.

On his return from a visit of backward villages, Dhami said, “If delimitation of the Askot Wildlife Sanctuary is not done, it will be an insult to the people living in the border area of Dharchula. The people in these villages are living a life of a refugee as they are deprived of facilities like roads and developmental works due to the sanctuary. This is pathetic as musk deer is found only in the area above 9,000 feet Himalayan peaks,” said Dhami. He was talking to mediapersons after trekking 17 km from Payya-Pauri to Kanar to inaugurate a local festival.

The Congress MLA said villages like Kanar, Metli, Bhatbhata and Teejam were still backward as they neither had schools nor pucca roads. “Students from villages in the Payyapauri area have to travel 30 km to reach school, as the road constructed 30 years ago is not fit for traffic. The widening of the road could not be done due to the sanctuary laws,” he said.

“The local people have voted for me on the condition that I will ensure development of backward areas. But due to laws applicable to the sanctuary area, development has become a casualty. Though I am a Congress MLA, I’m not in a position to fulfil the assurances given to the people due to the sanctuary laws applicable to the villages as well,” said Dhami.

The Congress MLA said it seemed that agitation was the only way to highlight difficulties and issues of the people living in this strategically vital border area with China. The people in the border area are facing difficulties due to the sanctuary, which is promoting migration. “If the government does not take steps to reduce the sanctuary limits, I will launch an agitation to assert the rights of these backward villages,” added Dhami. 

New traffic system: Paltan Bazaar shopkeepers to hold secret ballot
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 29
A decision to hold a secret ballot among the shopkeepers of Paltan Bazaar was taken at a meeting on the issue of new traffic system in the market. State Congress chief and state Revenue Minister Yashpal Arya convened the meeting.

The shopkeepers of Paltan Bazaar, who are opposing the new traffic system imposed by the Dehradun police in the market, held the meeting on intervention of state Congress vice-president Suryakant Dhasmana.

Arya, who is also the minister in charge of Dehradun district, held a meeting with the representatives of the shopkeepers and Dehradun SSP Kewal Khurana. The shopkeepers opposed the system where no vehicle, including two wheelers, were allowed in Paltan Bazaar. Khurana pointed out that majority of the shopkeepers were in favour of the new system but representatives of the shopkeepers refuted his claim.

Arya suggested that shopkeepers should hold a poll among themselves to know how many shopkeepers, as claimed by the SSP, were in favour of the new system. The shopkeepers agreed to hold such a poll to resolve the issue.

Haryana tourists thrash constable
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, December 29
Tourists from Haryana beat up a traffic police constable when they were asked to park their vehicle in the parking lot and not on the road in Mussoorie today.

The police arrested the tourists and brought them to the police station for further action.

According to the police, five youths from Haryana on reaching the Library point in Mussoorie late evening were parking their Wagon R vehicle (HR BV 9979) illegally. When the police constable on duty, Pooran Singh Rana, stopped them from doing so, they got agitated, came out of the car and thrashed him.

The constable was rescued by his colleagues and the tourists were arrested. They were then brought to the police station.

The youths have been identified as Sunil Yadav, Pankaj Yadav, Arun Kumar, Vikas Kumar and Manoj Kumar.

The police has begun criminal proceedings against them.

MLA Joshi assures Mussoorie residents of road construction
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, December 29
Mussoorie MLA Ganesh Joshi assured the residents around Santla Devi near Gadi Cantt of constructing a road leading to the temple during a ‘bhandara’ function organised by the temple committee here today.

Joshi offered his prayers and sought blessings of the deity on the occasion.

The residents apprised the MLA of the absence of road leading to the temple and demanded its construction on priority basis.

Joshi, responding to the demand of the people, assured them of the road construction and also said the temple would be brought on the tourism map of the state. He also assured the residents and the devotees that he would also ensure the adequate publicity so that tourists visit the temple on regular basis.

Former Vidhan Sabha president Harbans Kapoor, Rishikesh MLA Prem Chand Agarwal, former state minister Kailash Pant, Ajit Chaudhry, Roop Singh Kathait and others were also present on the occasion.

Manpower shortage, docs’ transfers kept Health Dept busy
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 29
The Health Department spent a greater part of 2012 in trying to fix the problem of manpower shortage and drafting a transfer policy to ensure greater compliance by allopathic doctors who have been shunning duty in the remote areas of Uttarakhand. However, the efforts yielded mixed results.

As soon as the Congress returned to power in the state in 2012, it repealed the Transfer Act enacted by the pervious BJP government at the fag end of its rule. It then promised to come out with a new transfer policy, exclusively for the government allopathic doctors. Hence, in 2012 the doctors were transferred on the basis of the old policy.

But even that was not trouble free as 60 doctors refused to join duty at their place of transfer and filed writ petitions in court, forcing the government to wring its hands in despair. Now, the common refrain among the medical fraternity is “when politicians from the hill region are migrating to the plains to fight elections, why push doctors to the hill villages against their will”.

Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Pauri, Champawat, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh districts continue to face a shortage of doctors. As of now, against the sanctioned strength of 126 surgeons these districts have only 35 surgeons while against the sanctioned strength of 127 physicians only 27 are working there.

To that end, the Health Department in 2013 would be looking to find an antidote to the problem of allopathic doctors shunning duty in remote and backward areas in the hills.

In the backdrop of the refusal by the allopathic doctors to serve in remote areas, the government tried to tide over the manpower crunch by announcing hike in salary for contractual doctors. In 2012, the Uttarakhand government hiked the salaries of contractual allopathic doctors. It is now offering Rs 52,000 to medical officers with an MBBS degree, Rs 59,000 to specialists willing to serve in remote areas in the hill region, Rs 56,000 to MBBS degree holders and Rs 63,000 to specialists willing to work in extreme remote areas of the state. However, till now only 18 doctors have responded to the new government decisions.

Closer home, the Doon Hospital authorities were successful in roping in a neuro-surgeon. The government doctor decided to serve the hospital as his father too had served it in the past, though he had offers from private hospitals.

Public Private Partnership

The Health Department continued to affirm faith in the public private partnership (PPP) and announced to run around 13 Community Health Centres on the PPP mode. Fortis Cardiac Health Care in the Coronation Hospital too became functional and open heart surgeries were undertaken.

Funds, equipment mismanagement

While there has been no dearth of funds, the mismanagement of money has been rampant.

A trauma centre constructed at a cost of Rs 55.82 lakh at Vikasnagar continues to remain non-functional for the past three years due to lack of doctors and infrastructure. The area is prone to accidents and most of the time the patients have to be ferried to Doon Hospital.

Similarly, during an inspection by the health officials recently a cardiac table was found lying unused in the District Hospital in Rudraprayag.

Frequent transfers of Principal Secretaries

The proclivity of the Congress government to transfer secretaries in a few months resulted in the complete loss of direction, affecting functioning of the department. The year saw around four bureaucrats transferred in two to three months.

The government finally gave the go-ahead for the creation of a separate Directorate of Medical Education and a structure for the Food Safety Authority. 

Traders protest thrashing of sweets shop workers
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, December 29
In protest against the thrashing of two employees of a sweets shop allegedly by a policeman late last night, traders, local residents and social activists staged a protest here today. Traders have warned of a bandh tomorrow if the police did not take any action.

According to information, the incident took place late last night when a policeman, accompanied by two others, went to Brijwasi sweets shop situated at Chandracharya chowk and demanded sweets free of cost. When the shop employees, Gopal Semwal and Dhirendra, told him that they could not give sweets to him as the shop owner was not there, the policeman identified as Sushil allegedly thrashed the duo. He allegedly warned the employees of dire consequences if they reported the matter to anyone.

Traders, under the umbrella of the Chandracharya Vyapar Sangh, met SP Kiran Lal Shah today and informed him about the matter. SP Shah has assured them of prompt action in this regard.

Shop owner Uday Ram Semwal said if the police did not take any action against the policeman by tomorrow, they would block traffic at Chandracharya chowk.

Small-scale Traders' Association president Sanjay Chopra demanded the dismissal of the policeman. City Congress president OP Chauhan also sought an explanation from SSP, Haridwar, Arun Mohan Joshi over this matter.

State bird Himalayan Monal faces threat of extinction
Sandeep Rawat/TNS

Haridwar, December 29
Himalayan Monal (Lopophorous impejanus), the state bird, could soon be on the list of endangered species. Avian experts and forest scientists are of the view that special steps need to be taken to protect the bird from getting extinct.

According to the last census conducted by the Forest Department on birds, the population of Monal is on the decline in the Himalayan region.

The number of Monals in the state stands at 900, which does not present a good picture. Out of 31 forest divisions, where a bird count was conducted, no Monal was found in 17 of them. Maximum number of Monals are found in the Kedarnath forest division in Gopeshwar where the population is estimated at 360. Even though the forest officials admit that the Monal population was on a decline, they are yet to be sure of its exact number. Ranger Dheeraj Singh Rawat, Jakholi, Rudraprayag, said it was difficult to count birds as they can traverse places in no time.

Apart from Uttaranchal, Monals are mostly found in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh and in Bhutan, Pakistan, Nepal, and Tibet. There have also been a few instances where the bird was seen in Myanmar. In Uttarakhand, the pheasant is found on heights varying from 2,000-5,000 m. They exhibit clear and fluctuating altitude migration moving down as low as 6,500 ft in winter and up to 16,000 feet in the summer.

These pheasants exhibit great tolerance to snow. They can usually be seen in pairs during the breeding season, which is from April to August. They often involve in communal roosting.

Though Monal has not been declared endangered, , bird of it's close resemblance Chinese Monal has already been put on the list of threatened birds due to poaching and other anthropogenic factors.

It is to be noted that male Monals were hunted in large numbers for its crest feathers until it was legally banned. Experts attribute various reasons for the diminishing number of the pheasant. Forest scientist Dr Ritesh Joshi said, “Forest fire is the prime reason behind the declining population of Monals in the state apart from illegal killings in the high altitude areas, where it is easy to get away with the crime."The state government and Forest Department should take immediate steps to conserve the bird as apart from being the state bird, it is a beautiful avian species.

180 Sappers of Bengal Engineer Group pass out
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 29
The passing-out parade of the young Sappers of the Bengal Engineer Group and Centre was reviewed by Brig Dig Vijay Setia, Commandant, BEG, at Roorkee today.

A total of 180 Sappers passed out in the parade. It was witnessed by all ranks of Bengal Sappers posted in the Centre. Besides this, 300 students from Army Public Schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas and NCC Battalions were also invited to witness the parade.

Youths between the age group of 17 and 21 years are recruited and put through a rigorous training curriculum of two years wherein they are taught the basic skills of weapon handling, field craft and physical conditioning followed by training in field engineering skills. The recruits are also trained in respective trades before they become fully trained combatant soldiers of the Bengal Engineer Group. The passing-out parade marks the culmination of rigorous hard work and awakens the soldier to the responsibilities that lay ahead of them.

During the review of the parade, the Commandant felicitated the soldiers who had excelled in various fields of combat engineering. The Commandant addressed the parade and congratulated the Sappers.

The passing-out parade was followed by a series of cultural programmes by the school students. The students were made to visit Group Museum and various training area of the centre. Lecture on the officer entry scheme in the Indian Army was conducted and a motivational movie was also screened for the students at Hajipir Auditorium.

The Commandant mentioned, “The purpose for inviting the students on this occasion was to motivate the young students to join the Army. The aim was to showcase the life of a soldier and to make them aware of the devotion, dedication and sacrifice a soldier makes for his motherland."

Maulekhi alleges irregularities in Corbett Tiger Reserve
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, Dec 29
The Uttarakhand People For Animals (PFA) has alleged large-scale irregularities in Corbett Tiger Reserve. Addressing a press conference here today, member secretary of PFA, Uttarakhand Chapter, Gauri Maulekhi, alleged large-scale administrative breakdown in the reserve.

Maulekhi alleged that park rangers were now managing the canteens. “There is no accounting, not even a system of bills, no license to serve food, no transparency and no standards maintained. This is a net loss to the park,” she said, adding that the Corbett earlier received a revenue of Rs 55 lakh per annum through tender for the canteens at the rest houses and now their had been a fall in the revenue also, as this arbitrary system of running canteens had engaged the rangers and its staff in a full-time money-making activity.

Further, she held that garbage disposal at the rest houses was absolutely appalling. “The park that claims to be running on eco-tourism guidelines has no means of segregation of garbage and the rubbish is dumped behind the canteens where monkeys and other animals are being introduced to the new diet of rotten processed food,” she stated. She said this had led to a shift in the behavior and diet of monkeys and had given a rise to conflicts. Maulekhi also alleged large-scale consumption of alcohol inside the Corbett and accused the park authorities of doing little to curb the menace.

Two PCS officers set for promotion to IAS cadre

Dehradun, December 29
Two Uttarakhand Provincial Civil Services (PCS) officers are in line for promotion to the IAS cadre in 2013 after a meeting of the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) was held in New Delhi yesterday. The PCS officers in line for promotion are VC Rawat, Vijay Dhondiyal and Harbans Chugh. Out of the three, only two will be promoted against the two sanctioned posts pending for 2009.

As the PCS officers had gone to court, the government had put on hold promotions. As the government is facing an acute shortage of officers due to the retirement of several IAS officers, it decided to hold a DPC meeting for the two vacant slots.

In 2013, IAS officers due for retirement include Vibha Puri Das, Ajay Joshi, SK Mattoo and Vinita Kumar. Meanwhile, the DPC meeting for seven sanctioned posts for 2010 and four sanctioned posts for 2011 is due. —TNS

Funds meant for road construction unused
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 29
Despite tall claims made by the government for giving top priority to road construction in the state, funds earmarked for the construction of roads continue to remain unused.

In the absence of forest clearance for 339 roads, amount sanctioned to the tune of Rs 497.35 crore has remained unused in the state from 2009 onwards.

In 2009-2010, road work on 207.16 km road amounting to Rs 74.67 crore to provide road facility to 73 villages could not take shape as the Uttarakhand Rural Road Development Agency had submitted false certificates, the Auditor General pointed out in its report.

Funds to the tune of Rs 229.16 crore against 142 works were found blocked due to the absence of proposals by the departments concerned.

Besides this, 34 proposals pertaining to road construction were passed in violation of the Forest Conservation Act 1980 and expenditure incurred there worth Rs 15.13 crore proved unfruitful.

NSS launches awareness drive
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 29
Volunteers of the National Service Scheme (NSS) of Government Inter-College (GIC), Nalapani, launched an awareness drive at the Nanoorkhera village here today, laying stress on the importance of vaccination.

The volunteers also uprooted weed in the village. They collected polythene bags thrown alongside village roads. Principal of the college PK Sharma referred to importance of the organisations like NSS in the social welfare activities.