Wakf Board without CEO, important proposals hang fire
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 9
The first PCS officer, Sadia Khan, who became Chief Executive Officer of Uttarakhand Wakf Board has left the position to join West Bengal cadre on deputation. Once again, the Wakf Board is without a CEO. Till any other officer occupies the position, all important proposals will remain undecided.

Over all these years, the state Wakf Board has not been able to build its own office despite having fund of Rs 1.5 crore. Sadia sincerely pursued this issue.

Wakf properties in the state are being usurped blatantly. This proposal was to be mooted in the next meeting of the board. But till a new CEO saddles into the chair, many more such properties will be disposed off by land mafia.
— Hafizurahman, Wakf Board member

Cong announces district in-charges
Mahendra Pal, Santosh Kashyap to look after Dehradun
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 9
The Uttarakhand Congress has announced in-charges for various districts to strength the party organisation in the state.

State Congress vice-president Suryakant Dhasmana released the list of in-charges at a press conference in Dehradun today. He said Uttarakhand Congress president Yashpal Arya had appointed in-charges for various districts who would hold monthly meetings to strength the party organisation in the state.

Various district-wise Congress in-charges are Mahendra Pal and Santosh Kashyap (Dehradun); Devendra Chandra and Puskar Durgapal (Champawat), Prayag Dutt Bhatt and Bhopal Singh Bhaukuni (Almora); Vijaypal Singh Sajwan and Ramsharan Nautiyal (Tehri); Sundar Lal Muyal and Gulab Singh (Chamoli); Dr Jeet Ram and Rajendra Singh Rawat (Pauri); Vikram Singh Negi (Uttarkashi); Mayuk Mehar and Kedar Singh Rawat (Haridwar); Ram Prasad Tamta and Vimla Sajwan (Pithoragarh); Prakash Joshi (Bageshwar); Suryakant Dhasmana and Sumer Chand Ravi (Udham Singh Nagar); and Vijay Saraswat and Dhirendra Pratap (Nainital).

Dhasmana said the in-charges would also review development works in their respective districts at the monthly meetings and discuss the proposed membership campaign.

He added Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna along with Yashpal Arya would meet the Congress leaders, who had contested the last state Assembly elections, in Dehradun.

Meanwhile, on the other hand, Yogendra Khanduri, convener of the Uttarakhand Congress Task Force, has expanded the force. He said eight new members, namely Lt Gen Gambhir Singh Negi (retd), RV Gardner, Prakash Joshi, Karan Mehra, Ayendra Sharma, Shankar Chand Ramola, Dr Santosh Chauhan and Dr Lalit Tiwari, had been inducted.

Khanduri said the task force would hold a meeting at the Congress Bhawan in Dehradun on June 15 to devise a strategy in view of the forthcoming the Lok Sabha elections in 2014. He added Arya would preside over the meeting. 

Mussoorie cop ‘slaps’ IAS trainee, suspended
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, June 9
A cop on duty to manage vehicular traffic at the Kempty taxi stand, under pressure due to the weekend rush allegedly slapped an IAS probationer undergoing training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) here yesterday.

According to the Mussoorie police, the incident occurred around 9 pm on Saturday evening when IAS probationer Dr GS Samiran was returning to LBNSAA from Dehradun with other probationers.

Witnessing an unending traffic jam at the Kempty bus stand, Samiran sought from cop on duty Mukesh Rawat an explanation for the delay in traffic movement. He also told Mukesh to ensure that parked vehicles were removed. This led to a heated exchange between the two.

The IAS trainee, in his police complaint, alleged that the Mitr cop Mukesh Rawat, instead of managing traffic, behaved rudely, hurled abuses at him and slapped him. He said a local, identified as Yudhbeer Singh Kandari, pretending to intervene in the matter, assaulted him, causing injuries.

The SO, Mussoorie, BS Rawat, said the erring policeman had been suspended and booked under various sections of the Police Act. Yudhbeer Singh Kandari had also been challaned under Section 81 of the Police Act.

Meanwhile Kandari told mediapersons that the IAS trainee had started the scuffle by threatening to get the uniform of the policeman Mukesh Rawat removed.

When the altercation between the two turned ugly, he intervened to save Mukesh Rawat, who was being roughed up by the IAS trainee and his friends.

Residents of the town, who are shocked at the incident, said such incidents did not augur well for the tourist town of Mussoorie. Such incidents involving cops, tourists and locals increase whenever there is heavy volume of traffic during the peak tourist season due to inadequate infrastructure.

A resident opined that bureaucrats and politicians were also to be blamed for the increase in road rage incidents in the town as they had failed to address issues of parking, widening of roads and proper arrangement for taxi stands despite several senior-level meetings held in the past few decades.

Dehradun diary
Cong in disarray as Harish Rawat faction on warpath

H istory is repeating itself in the Uttarakhand Congress. As seen during the regime of former Uttarakhand Chief Minister ND Tewari, the dominant Congress faction led by Union Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat is on a warpath again, against its own party's government and Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna.

The tirade against the government and the Chief Minister by its own legislators has greatly undermined the credibility of the state government and put a big question mark on the ability of the Congress to unitedly perform better in the crucial Lok Sabha polls slated for May 2014.

The Congress party affairs had never been smooth in the state since the first-ever Assembly elections in the state. Harish Rawat, who led the party to victory in the first Assembly polls of February 2002, was sidelined and the party high command chose to send veteran Congress leader ND Tewari to head the state government.

A sulking Harish Rawat, who was the state Congress chief then and enjoyed the support of a majority of the party legislators, had to be content with himself playing the role of opposition, even sitting on a dharna against his own state government.

The party was routed in the next Assembly elections in February 2007, paving the way for the BJP to form the state government.

After the third Assembly poll in January 2012, in which the Congress got a victory by a slender margin of one Assembly seat over BJP and formed the state government with the help of three Independents and three members of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and a lone UKD legislator, the party high command again ignored Union Minister Harish Rawat to give the reins of the state to Tehri Lok Sabha MP Vijay Bahuguna.

The legislators belonging to the Harish Rawat faction raised a banner of revolt against the decision and sat on a dharna in New Delhi. The party high command had a tough time placating Harish Rawat.

As a bargain, his supporters were given important portfolios as ministers, a Rajya Sabha seat, the position of Assembly Speaker and a Cabinet berth in the Union Ministry for Harish Rawat himself.

But with 15 months in the saddle, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna is faced with another rebellion from the Harish Rawat faction.

Although resentment has been fuelling in the Rawat camp since the very beginning, the provocation this time came with the arrest of Dharchula Congress legislator Harish Dhami, a staunch Rawat loyalist. He was facing non-bailable warrants in a criminal case from Didihat court which he failed to respond to.

The state government recommended that the case be withdrawn, but the court rejected the state government request and sent the defiant Congress legislator to judicial custody. It was only after 15 days that the Congress legislator could get bail.

Harish Dhami, who had been highly critical of the state government since the inception of the Congress government, blamed the Chief Minister for his plight.

After getting bail, Harish Dhami went all out against the state government and the Chief Minister. He alleged that nothing has been done in his Assembly segment and he threatened to resign his Assembly seat.

He even dared the Chief Minister to contest against him from his Assembly segment. Three other Congress legislators hailing from Kumoan region, namely Himesh Kharkwal, Narayan Ram Arya and Manoj Tewari, also came in support of Harish Dhami. They also charged the state government and the Chief Minister with ignoring development work in their Assembly segments.

Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna reacted calmly and said since the legislators belong to the Harish Rawat group, the Union Minister would handle him. Union Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat, who also came to Dehradun for a three-day visit, supported the contention of his own legislators.

The Chief Minister said the legislators were demanding development work in their segment as they were answerable to the people, and terming this as rebellion by a particular faction would be unfair. He also threw a spanner into the Congress puddle by advocating that election for the post of the state Congress president would be the best way in a democracy.

There has already been talk of a change in the state Congress leadership on the principle of one man, one post. The present incumbent Yashpal Arya is also a minister in the Vijay Bahuguna ministry.

The opinion of Harish Rawat that election should be held for the post of state president has caused a flutter in the Bahuguna camp. It has been maintained that state presidents are nominated with the consent of party president Sonia Gandhi, and Harish Rawat, by advocating election has challenged her decision.

On the outburst by the Harish Rawat camp legislators, Chief Minister Bahuguna wants to take the fight to the party high command. Rawat has said the Chief Minister should listen to the grievances of the legislators in Dehradun and attempt to push the issue towards the party high command to escalate the matter.

Insiders believe that the attempt by the Chief Minister's camp to undermine the position of Harish Rawat in the Haridwar Lok Sabha constituency has forced him to go all out against the Chief Minister. The Harish Rawat camp says thousands of notices have been issued to petty power defaulters, which has alienated a large number of people from the Congress, much to the annoyance of the local Congress MP.

Already, the Congress leaders are skeptical about the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and the present situation would create further trouble for the party.

Interestingly, Harish Rawat has said there was no danger to the state Congress government and he has been acting as a “pain killer” for the party legislators, but practically, he and his group would inflict more “pain” on Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna in the coming days.
— SMA Kazmi

Chief Secy inspects sites of proposed flyovers
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 9
Chief Secretary Subash Kumar yesterday conducted a surprise inspection of the main roundabouts of the city where flyovers would be constructed. The District Magistrate, Dehradun, BVRC Purushotam, accompanied him.

The Chief Secretary inspected the Bhandari Bagh site where a proposed railway over-bridge once constructed would help in diverting traffic headed towards Kargi and, thereby, ease congestion.

Subash then inspected the Baliwala site where a flyover is proposed to be constructed at a cost of Rs 30.40 crore and Ballupur Chowk where a flyover would come up at a cost of Rs 34 crore.

He asked the officials concerned of the construction agencies to prepare the logistics for the flyovers by July 31.

The Chief Secretary also directed the District Magistrate to deal with the cases of land acquisition at his end. He asked the officials of the construction agencies, namely the PWD and the EPIL, to work in tandem and hold meetings twice a month so that problems being encountered could be solved immediately.

A sum of Rs 12.18 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of the Bhandari Bagh flyover in the first phase, while Rs 14.44 crore has been sanctioned for the Baliwala bridge. 

Kedarnath valley shutdown to protest copter service
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 9
After objection by the Uttarakhand forest department, residents of Kedarnath valley have also resented helicopter services to Kedarnath being provided by private companies on account of its adverse impact on the environment.

The entire Kedarnath valley will be observing a closure tomorrow. According to Badrikedar Mandir Samiti's Gaurikund chairman Kulanand Goswami, the private companies are flouting all rules and resorting to numerous flights to Kedarnath. He said rampant landing and take-off, that too in close proximity to Kedarnath, is causing an adverse impact on the fragile environment of the region.

Kulanand Goswami disclosed that traders at both Gaurikund and Guptkashi will keep their business establishments closed tomorrow. He sought immediate cancelling of licences to private air companies. It is noteworthy that the Uttarakhand forest authorities had some time back objected to landing and take-off of helicopters in Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary. Forest authorities said frequent movement of helicopters was proving detrimental to the wildlife of the sanctuary.

Helicopter service to Kedarnath has been quite popular with pilgrims from other parts of the country and abroad, who avoid taking to the compulsory 14-km arduous trek route to reach Kedarnath from Gaurikund due to the absence of a metalled road.

Aam Aadmi Party protests rice quota reduction
Tribune News service

Dehradun, June 9
Members of the Aam Aadmi Party yesterday burnt an effigy of the state Congress government in protest against its decision to decrease the quota of rice for ration card holders and increase its price.

Members of the party reached Lansdown Chowk here and after a vociferous protest burnt the effigy. Former district convener of the party Sanjay Bhatt said the state government had raised the price of the ration rice from Rs 6 per kg to Rs 8.45 per kg.

He said if a ration card holder bought 5 kg of rice, he had to shell out Rs 43 though the actual rate was Rs 42.25. With 20 lakh ration card holders in the state this amount would be Rs 15 lakh per month. Bhatt alleged that this amount would end up in the pockets of “corrupt” officers.

He added that the government had further “punished” the poor ration card holders by withdrawing quota sugar.

Minister hurt in road mishap

Dehradun, June 9
Uttarakhand Food and Civil Supplies Minister Pritam Singh was injured in a road mishap on the Purola-Mori road in Uttarkashi district during early hours today. He is out of danger and undergoing treatment in a Dehradun hospital. Sub Divisional Magistrate, Uttarkashi, RK Pandey said the mishap took place at the Rama bend on the Purola-Mori road about 110 km from Uttarkashi town around 11 am.

The minister was on his way to address a meeting of Congress workers at Purola when his car collided head on with another vehicle. He sustained injuries on head and legs. After initial treatment at an Uttarkashi hospital, Pritam was airlifted to Dehradun for better treatment. The scheduled meeting was subsequently called off. Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has sought the details of the treatment given to the minister. — TNS

NCC cadets have their stint as traffic managers 
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, June 9
Around 22 NCC cadets from Rama Devi Inter College chipped in with the traffic police to help them in traffic and crowd management during the weekend rush in Mussoorie yesterday.

The cadets helped the police by assisting the tourists and enforcing traffic laws at busy points of the town here.

Aetashaam Ahmed, one of the cadets, said it was a new experience for him to control the traffic and he realised the importance of the traffic police during the day. He added that for cadets like him, it was a learning curve, making him more aware of the traffic rules.

Prince, another cadet on duty, said volunteering for traffic management helped him become a more responsible citizen and obey the rules. He added that he was motivated to join the police force after the stint.

Police station in charge BS Rawat said the department had sent intimation to all colleges, asking them to send their NCC cadets during the peak tourist season. Around 300 cadets from various colleges had volunteered to help the police on different days during the season, of which these 22 students turned up and completed the job yesterday.

The NCC in charge of the Rama Devi College said the exercise would help in making the students aware of the traffic rules and become responsible citizens of the country.

Indian traders can’t import Tibetan animals 
Central govt nixes proposal for quarantine centre
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, June 9
Indian traders will not be allowed to import animals from Tibet through the border trade this year as the Central government has turned down a proposal of opening a quarantine centre at Indian Mart at Gunji to medical examine the animals, said Dr DC Gururani, Chief Veterinary Officer, Pithoragarh.

“Keeping in mind the demands of tribal traders, who take part in the trade since it was resumed in 1991, we had sent a proposal to the Central government for a quarantine centre at Gunji. The state government had already sanctioned Rs 25 lakh for the centre but the Central government turned down the proposal citing lack of basic facilities like road and electricity,” said Gururani.

The Indo-Tibet border trade is scheduled to commence next month. “Barring the proposed centre, other preparations for the border trade with China this year are being made,” said a source in the district administration.

Though Indian traders had been importing animals like sheep, yaks and mules from Tibet through this trade, the Central government banned it years ago citing international laws on import of animals without quarantine testing on the border. “A big establishment comprising residential buildings and veterinary experts is needed at the quarantine centre to medically test imported animals for diseases or infections. Such a centre has facilities to keep animals for 15 days for tests,” said the veterinary officer.

The traders, who take part in this trade, say that the animals formed the largest part of their trade with their Chinese counterparts in Tibet as they need animals not only for wool but also for transportation and sacrificial purposes. “If traders are not allowed to import animals from Tibet, the trade will become a half-hearted affair for them. Tibetan animals play an important part in the economy of the tribal traders who reside on the China border,” said Padam Singh Raypa, a veteran trader.