Power panel turns down UPCL proposal for 67.39% tariff hike
Seema Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun February 15
The Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission (UERC) has turned down a proposal of Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) for the adjustment of a recovery of Rs 640.38 crore in financial year 2013-14 by imposing a regulatory surcharge of 11.37 per cent and an overall tariff hike of 67.39 per cent on consumers.

The UPCL has claimed the past adjustment on account of the impact of expenses considering the value of assets and liabilities according to the transfer scheme executed between Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) and the UPCL and approved by the Uttarakhand government. The impact has been projected as Rs 1,581.24 crore, including the carrying cost.

The UPCL in its application has submitted that a transfer scheme for the division of assets and liabilities with the UPPCL was executed on October 12, 2003. The UERC in its previous tariff orders did not consider the value of the gross fixed assets transferred to the UPCL from Uttar Pradesh, as the state government had not notified the final transfer scheme. The UPCL has now submitted that the Uttarakhand government had approved the transfer scheme vide its order of April 27, 2012.

According to sources in the UERC, the UPCL has requested the UERC to allow the adjustments in the subsequent years by adopting a suitable mechanism as the UERC may deem fit. However, it has not submitted the notification, orders of the Central or state governments in support of its claim of adjustments and furnished no reason as to why the carrying cost claim needs to be considered. Besides, no detailed proposal for the recovery of the claim of the past adjustment on account of the impact of the transfer scheme, including the impact on the category-wise tariff, has been given by the UPCL.

Besides, the UPCL has claimed the adjustment of the past capital-related expenses amounting to Rs 1,581.24 crore, including the carrying cost till March 31 this year, from November 9 to March 31, 2011, arising out of the approval of the transfer scheme with the UPPCL by the Uttarakhand government. This arrangement was not considered by the commission earlier. The UPCL has submitted that since the recovery of such a huge amount in 2013-14 alone would result in a tariff shock to the consumers, it has proposed that the entire impact of the transfer scheme should be treated as regulatory asset to be recovered over three years along with the carrying cost. Accordingly, the UPCL has proposed a recovery of Rs 640.38 crore during 2013-14 by imposing a regulatory surcharge of 11.37 per cent to be levied on the total fixed charges and the energy charges for all categories of consumers and the remaining un-recovered amount of Rs 1,280.77 crore to be recovered over the next two financial years (2014-15 and 2015-16). This regulatory surcharge of 11.37 per cent for 2013-14 will imply another 17.09 per cent increase in the existing tariff in addition to 50.30 per cent proposed by the UPCL for 2013-14, thereby, implying an overall tariff hike of 67.39 per cent proposed by the UPCL on the existing retail tariff. The UERC has turned down this proposal of the UPCL.

Govt plans to revise medical education scheme
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 15
In order to make the students, who have availed of the government's cheapest medical education scheme, accountable, the Uttarakhand Department of Medical Education has proposed the introduction of the provision of recovery of amount incurred on them.

After it came to the notice of the government that students in lieu of availing Rs 15,000 per annum medical education programme fee were not ready to serve in the hills, the government decided to revise the scheme by introducing stringent measures for recovery of the entire amount.

“The proposal is being examined by the Department of Law as it entails empowering the District Collectors to initiate procedure of recovery of the amount, in case the conditions of the bond are not fulfilled. He will be empowered to recover the amount,” said Manisha Panwar, Secretary, Medical Education.

Besides, the department is also contemplating hiking the fee from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 per annum as the minimum fee towards acquiring a degree in medical education from the Srinagar Medical College and Haldwani Medical College.

The Rs 15,000 medical education scheme was introduced by former Chief Minister BC Khanduri who wanted to attract poor but bright students with zeal to serve in the state. However, the students came in plenty but refused to fill the bond on one pretext or the other.

In Srinagar Medical College almost all the seats (100) are being filled under this programme. In the Haldwani college only a few seats have been set aside.

"In the ultimate analysis the scheme was proving to be costly for the government as on one student the government had to fork out rougly around Rs 5 lakh. For 100 students the amount is huge and in case the students do not comply by the bond agreement, it was a sheer waste of money," said a senior doctor.

The government hopes to introduce stringent measures so that the students after completing their education begin reporting for work in the hills. It is banking heavily on passouts from the medical colleges to help in addressing the problem of manpower shortage.

Pantnagar farm varsity stops breeding, sale of Japanese quail
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 15
The Gobind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, has stopped the breeding and selling of Japanese quail. A schedule IV species under the Wildlife Protection Act-1972, the farming, breeding, capturing or hunting of Japanese quail is strictly prohibited under the wildlife laws. To promote poultry among farmers, the university had been promoting the Japanese quail farming for meat purposes for the past five years in gross violation of the provisions of the Act.

The wildlife division of the Union Environment and Forests Ministry, in its order dated September 22, 2011, to the forest secretaries and the chief wildlife warden of all states and UTs, had stated that Japanese quail was a schedule IV species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and thus as per the provision of Chapter III and Chapter I, Section 2 (16) and 2 (5), of the Act, Japanese quail, both in wild as well as captive breed, cannot be killed, hunted or captured.

The ministry had categorically asked all states and UTs not to issue any new licence for the farming of Japanese quails and also not to give permission for the expansion or augmentation of the existing farming facilities. However, to its utter ignorance, the university continued with the breeding and selling of Japanese quail for meat purposes and it was only after the intervention of People For Animals, Uttarakhand, that the university finally decided to stop the breeding and sale of Japanese quail.

Dean, GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Dr GK Singh said they had stopped the breeding and sale of Japanese quail and had even started the process of handing over Japanese quails at present available in the university to the state wildlife authorities.

“Initially, we started promoting the Japanese quail farming as we were not aware of any such ban on its breeding and sale. We thought such provision exists only for indigenous wild quail. But after People For Animals, Uttarakhand, informed us about the schedule IV species status of Japanese quail, we stopped its farming and breeding,” said Dr Singh.

People for Animals had been demanding a ban on the breeding and sale of Japanese quail in the university and has now even urged the wildlife authorities for immediately taking over the university’s existing stock for systematic rehabilitation.The University has a stock of 250 Japanese quails.

Privatisation of education
Primary teachers boycott work
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 15
Primary school teachers of the district today boycotted work here in protest against privatisation of education sector. Hundreds of teachers protested at the Roshanabad-based district education office today.

Under the aegis of the Uttarakhand Rajya Prathmik Sikshak Sangh, the teachers raised slogans against the move to privatise primary education in the country.

The protesters said it was a negative move and would hamper education being provided to poor students in rural areas.

District chief of the sangh Ashok Chauhan said both teachers and students would suffer due to the step. They said the current government-sponsored system of education was the best way to educate millions of children in the country.

He said in this regard, thousands of teachers from Uttarakhand would be taking part in the massive rally to be held on April 4 under the aegis of the Akhil Bharatiya Prathmik Sikshak Sangh at Ramleela Maidans, New Delhi.

“We will be taking part in the mega rally and court arrest to register our protest. Even then if the Union government goes ahead with its privatisation policy, we will take to streets and start a hunger strike,” said Chauhan.

Chief of the women cell of the sangh Neelam Bharadwaj said in all primary schools of the district, there was a total closure boycott of work by teachers.

Among others who addressed the gathering were Rajbeer Singh, Sanjay Vats, Sunil Sharma, Robin Kumar, Arvind Sharma, Kapil Chaudhari and Faiyaz Ahmed.

SP to regroup party workers in Haridwar
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 15
The Samajwadi Party, which once was a political force in Haridwar district, is almost a lost entity as far as the Lok Sabha and Assembly election results are concerned. It had won the Haridwar Lok Sabha in 2004 and had two legislators in the interim Uttarakhand Assembly in 2000 but in the Assembly elections held last year, it couldn’t even save the deposits of its candidates.

Taking this in account, the Samajwadi Party has decided to regroup its workers' base and is now holding regular party workers meeting in tehsil, block, Assembly segments and district level.

At a similar meeting held at Salempur village, new party responsibilities were given to the office-bearers.

State general secretary (Minority cell) Rao Mazid Ali, while presiding over the meeting, emphasised on the need of regaining the lost foothold in the state. Ali said with the changed political scenario both at the Centre and the state, people were looking forward for a viable option which the Samajwadi Party could provide to them.

Though making it clear that it's not easy as just a year is left for parliamentary elections, Rao Mazid urged party workers to work at the grassroot level and carry forward the party’s priniciples, manifesto and policies to the people of Uttarakhand.

“The Samajwadi Party is eyeing three parliamentary seats of Hardwar, Nainital and Tehri Garhwal in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. We had won the Haridwar seat in 2004, so there is no doubt that we can win it this time too. But for it, we need to work day and night, form party units in every village, block and tehsil, generate awareness among voters and take social and local issues on regular basis,” said Mazid.

Newly appointed Youth Wing vice-chief Tanveer Qureshi said youths of the state faced problems of unemployment, migration and lack of government assistance which was mostly due to apathy by the respective BJP-Congress state governments.

Like in neighborhood Uttar Pradesh under the Chief Ministership of young Akhilesh Yadav, Samajwadi Party is providing good governance focusing on youths which could be replicated in Uttarakhand too, if party comes to power.

Kumaon women for setting up of fast-track courts
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, February 15
Taking part in the worldwide women uprising campaign, 'One billion rising', women in the Kumaon region have demanded the setting up of fast-track courts in the state within six months.

They have also demanded the appointment of women constables. "Gender sensibility courses should be started for state government employees," said Hira Jangpangi, convener of the Mahila Kalyan Santha, Dineshpur.

In Nainital, women staged a demonstration by forming a human chain on Mall Road. Women in Champawat and Khatima also formed human chains to protest violence against women.

“As one billion women from 160 countries are joining this protest worldwide today, this will have the long-lasting effect on the uprising of women worldwide,” said Prof Uma Bhatt, a woman activist in the region.

Women organisations also staged protests in Pithoragarh, Almora, Munsiyari and Gangolihat and submitted their six-point demand charters to the officers concerned.

Demanding immediate acceptance of their demands, members of the Mahila Samalhya and the Sajha Manchand Prerana Samaj Sewa Samiti also launched a campaign today, wherein they would send postcards to the Chief Minister daily to press for their demands.

Irregularities in BDO exam alleged
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 15
The Navbharat Sangh staged a rally in Dehradun today in protest against the alleged irregularities in the examination of the State Block Development Officers (BDO). The rally culminated with a demonstration outside the Secretariat.

Addressing the demonstrators, president of the Navbharat Sangh Hari Bhandari alleged that large scale irregularities had taken place in the State Block Development Officers examination, the results of which were announced on February 2.

Bhandari said the recruitment process in the state had always lacked transparency and accountability. Gajendra Bhandari, Navneet Gairola and Satpal Chauhan also addressed the protesters. A large number of students took part in the rally.

Film crew celebrate Valentine’s Day in Mussoorie
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, February 15
A film unit from Mumbai that is here to shoot a film titled ‘REM (Rapid Eye Movement)', a psychological thriller, celebrated Valentine’s Day here yesterday. The crew members presented flowers to each other.

Director and producer of the film Rajesh Butalia said the day celebrated love and that could be for anyone. He presented flowers to the artiste playing the lead role in the film to mark the occasion.

Butalia also said he had shot a few love scenes in the town to celebrate the day.

Lead actor Avinash Dhyani, who hails from Dehradun, said shooting in Mussoorie on Valentine’s Day was a completely new experience for him.

Speaking about the film, he said most of the star cast was from Uttarakhand. Speaking about the Valentine’s Day celebrations, he said it was a day to express love and should be celebrated with peace. “One should spread love, not hate,” said Avinash.

The film is being produced under the banner of RVB Films and the star cast includes Mausami Dhyani, Mandakani Rasotgi, Pooja and Radha Bhardwaj.

Samajik Sena demands action against Yasin Malik
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 15
The Samajik Sena, a social outfit, has demanded stringent action against chief of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Yasin Malik. Members of the outfit said he was an anti-Indian.

At a meeting held at Maiwada today, chief of the Samajik Sena Swami Vinod Maharaj said Yasin Malik, through his behaviour and statements, had supported Pakistan and he should not be allowed to enter India again.

Women wing chief Mata Chandra Kanta demanded cancellation of Yasin Malik's passport due to his anti-national activities.

“It is objectionable that a separatist leader goes to Pakistan and shares dais with Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind behind the Mumbai attacks. It is a grave matter and the Government of India should take it very seriously," Chandra Kanta added. Rana Ranbeer Singh, state chief, submitted a memorandum at the district magistrate’s office to be forwarded to the President of India.

Students examined at health camp
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 15
A special free health check-up camp for schoolchildren was organised by the paediatrics department of Shri Mahant Indiresh Hospital here today. Brig Ved Prakash (retd), medical superintendent of Shri Mahant Indiresh Hospital, said the hospital had been organising such camps in the state from time to time for the well-being of the masses. The hospital also organises such camps in the rural areas of Uttarakhand.

Head of the paediatric department, Dr SK Rana, said health problems and disorders related to stomach and dental decay were more prominent among students.

Rana said to continue with this free health camps, a special camp for paediatric patients would be organised from February 19 to 21 at Shri Mahant Indiresh Hospital.