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300 disaster-hit villages remain cut off
Fresh rains trigger landslips, woman washed away
Govt lacks willpower to handle relief work: Khanduri
Haridwar police goes strict against quarrying
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Jauljibi market traders want ropeway link to Nepal
Centre’s nod sought for Mansarovar yatra by helicopters
One arrested for fraud in Mussoorie Cooperative Club
BSF adopts 9 villages of Rudraprayag
Security sought for people of scientific temper
Volunteers play ‘Bagwal’ with stones, shun fruits
Mitti Bhedi residents to be shifted
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300 disaster-hit villages remain cut off
Dehradun, August 21 At least 300 villages continue to remain cut off from the rest of the state due to the lack of road connectivity. A total of 423 roads in the four-affected districts are still blocked while 55 water projects are awaiting temporary restoration. According to the state government, of the 247 drinking water projects, 180 (out of 200) in the Garhwal division and 12 (out of 47) in the Kumaon region have been restarted. Work is on to re-start the remaining 55 projects. Out of the 2,293 blocked roads, 1,870 are functional again. Work on reopening the remaining 423 roads is on. Due to the disaster, 4,200 villages are cut off with no road conncectivity. Though 3,900 villages have been reconnected, work to link 300 villages to roads is still under way. Out of the 3,758 disaster-affected villages, electricity has been restored in 3,741 villages. Kedarnath continues to be inaccessible. However, traffic movement has been restarted on Rishikesh-Kedarnath NH till Silli and the Ukhimath-Gopeshwar and Tilwada-Mayali-Guptkashi roads is open for transportation. A total of 18 roads are blocked in the district due to debris. Work is on to rebuild them. Karnaprayag-Ranikhet-Kathgoadam, Gopeshwar-Ukhimath, Karnaprayag-Pokhri and Simli-Narayanbagad roads are open for transportation. In Chamoli district, a total of 63 roads, including Rishikesh-Badrinath NH in Maithana, Gopeshwar-Pokhri road in Hafla, Narayanbagad-Tharali and Nandprayag-Ghat roads, are blocked. In Uttarkashi district, Chinyalisaur-Suwakholi-Mussoorie-Dehradun, Uttarkashi-Dohtari, Dharasu-Badkot and Damta-Dehradun roads are open for transportation. Rishikesh -Gangotri NH in Nalupani and Rishikesh-Yamunotri NH in Kalyani are still blocked. |
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Fresh rains trigger landslips, woman washed away
Dehradun, August 21 In Sensari village of Tehri district, a 55-year-old woman, Prema Devi, was working in her fields last evening when a cloudburst washed her away along with the patch of land where she was working, Disaster Management and Mitigation Centre (DMMC) sources here said today. A search is on in the area to find the woman, they said. Landslips caused by overnight rains blocked the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway at Maithana in Chamoli district, Rishikesh-Gangotri highway at Nalupani and Rishikesh-Yamunotri highway at Kalayani in Uttarkashi district, sources said. Moderate to rather heavy rainfall has lashed various parts of the state since last evening, with Ranikhet in Almora district receiving the maximum-- 48 mm of showers -- followed by Haldwani in Nainital, which got 44 mm rainfall, the MeT department said. Badkot received 30.2 mm of rainfall whereas Dehradun was lashed by 22.3 mm of showers, it said. According to a MeT forecast, rain and thundershowers are likely to occur at a few places in the state in the next 24 hours, with a possibility of rather heavy showers at isolated places.
— PTI |
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Govt lacks willpower to handle relief work: Khanduri
Khanduri was talking to this correspondent on the conclusion of his visit to the disaster-hit areas of the Kumaon region today. He said the government had been a total failure in dealing with the situation as its administrative machinery had been completely indifferent to the misery of the disaster-hit people. “The indifferent attitude of the government has made officers involved in the relief and rescue work irresponsible towards the needs of the local villagers, who suffered the disaster,”
he added. The former Chief Minister said the state and Central governments had failed in fulfilling the basic needs of the disaster-hit people as they could not assess the situation correctly. “Had the Central government alone made a right assessment of the situation, the relief and rescue work would have started much earlier and the lives of hundreds of pilgrims and local villagers could have been saved,” he added. Khanduri said the condition of roads was worst in the Garhwal region and the government was still not able to reach villages beyond Srinagar. “The condition of roads in the state is very bad in every corner of the hill region and still the government is making big claims about the relief and rehabilitation work,” he added. He blamed the Central government for the sorry state of roads in the state. He said roads built by the BRO had not been maintained for at least two years as the Union government had not sanctioned any budget to the agency. Khanduri said the delivery of relief material through helicopters for a long time was mere eyewash as roads and track routes were needed for supplying relief and enabling the villagers to avail of essential items. “How the government that has failed to connect the affected villages even after two months of the catastrophe can claim of winning on the front?” he quipped. |
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Haridwar police goes strict against quarrying
Haridwar, August 21 The SSP said if any complaint of inaction came to his notice, strict action would be taken against the guilty officials. After the meeting, police officials carried out an anti-quarrying drive in their respective areas, which instilled fear into quarrying mafia. During the drive, police officials of Kotwali impounded two dumpers and two tractor-trailers involved in quarrying on Ganga embankments. Similarly, the Ranipur and Roorkee police impounded one tractor-trailer each. Meanwhile, social activist Murali Manohar has demanded that quarrying be allowed on Ganga embankments, as a total ban on the activity has led to exorbitant cost of building materials. On the other hand, another social activist, P Baduni, welcomed the step, but said had the drive initiated by the police earlier, quarrying mafia would not have been able to operate in Haridwar easily. Matra Sadan Ashram chief Swami Shivanand also hailed the decision but said the nexus between quarrying mafia and administrative police officials was needed to be investigated. |
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Jauljibi market traders want ropeway link to Nepal
Pithoragarh, August 21 Pithoragarh district administration sources say that the letter, which has been sent by the Pithoragarh District Magistrate to his counterpart in Darchula district of Nepal, has been referred by that officer to the higher authorities for perusal. “Until the proposal gets the approval of the Home Ministry of Nepal, the reconstruction of washed away bridge cannot be started,” said source from the chief district office, Darchula in Nepal. The Pithoragarh District Magistrate, Dr Neeraj Khairwal, said that he had written a letter to his Nepal counterparts immediately after the bridge washed away on June 17, but the Nepal officers have informed him that they sent the letter to their officers only after the villagers of Jauljibi town of Nepal mounted pressure on them. “If the Nepal Government approves the demand of the construction of a suspension bridge at that place, we are even ready to send our technical team to assist the Nepal engineers,” said the District Magistrate, Pithoragarh. Shopkeepers of Jauljibi say that their business had gone down to zero after the bridge broke as their 90 per cent of their clients comes from across the Kali. “Nearly 300 Nepalese students, who used to come daily to study at schools in Jauljibi, have had to live permanently at the Indian town after the bridge was washed away,” said Leela Bangyal, a social worker based at Jauljibi. Social workers and businessmen in Jauljibi say that if the construction of the bridge across the Kali river at Jauljibi gets delayed, the long settled market of Jauljibi will gradually scatter as the businessmen will have to look for alternative avenues of livelihood. “The only solution is that the market be linked by a trolley till the bridge is remade,” says Leela Bangyal. lost bridge
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Centre’s nod sought for Mansarovar yatra by helicopters
Pithoragarh, August 21 According to Nigam sources, the proposal sanctioned by the state government, has been sent to the External Affairs Ministry for its perusal. “We hope that the ministry will give us permission to run at least two batches by helicopters,” said Deepal Rawat, Managing Director of the Nigam. According to Nigam MD, the applications of the pilgrims , have come after the track route was cancelled by the ministry on the grounds that the condition of track routes beyond Dharchula base camp was in not in a good shape. “We have applied only for two batches this time, if the ministry will require, further batches can be sent by helicopters in the months of September and October first week. The centuries-old Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, which was resumed in 1981, after 1962 Indo-China war, could not take place this year completely as after the visit of first batch, remaining batches had to be cancelled due to heavy rains and damage to track routes beyond Dharchula base camp. |
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One arrested for fraud in Mussoorie Cooperative Club
Mussoorie, August 21 However, one of the members, in order to “usurp” the club, locked its office and took the keys along with him last year. Later, a complaint was registered against seven persons, of which one person, identified as Amar, was arrested by the Mussoorie police last evening. In charge, Mussoorie police station, RP Sati said the matter was being investigated. The other six persons named in the complaint are still at large. Two held for assaulting SI
Dehradun: Two persons have been arrested on the charge of assaulting a sub-inspector at Patel Nagar on Monday night . They have been identified as Mohit and Ashish, both residents of Landour Mussoorie. According to the police, Mohit and Ashish parked their vehicle on the road near the Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) after which Sub-Inspector Aman Chaddha asked them to park their vehicle at the parking space. However, they assaulted the Sub-Inspector, Aman Chaddha, and fractured his finger. The locals intervened and saved the sub-inspector and the culprits were handed over to the police. |
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Hotel Workers’ Union honours two longest serving committee members
Mussoorie, August 21 Mall, bidding farewell to the two leaders, said they had played an important role in the union and worked for the interest of workers. President of the union RP Badoni said RP Gaud had been serving the union since 1988 and participated in several worker movements in Mussoorie for which they would always be remembered. On the occasion, Badoni urged the MC chief to get the office building of workers at Kulri bazaar renovated. Mall gave them an assurance that he would try to meet their demands within a period of six months. |
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BSF adopts 9 villages of Rudraprayag
Dehradun, August 21 The BSF has also opened a maternity centre at Kotma village in Rudraprayag to help pregnant women of the region. Apart from other staff, Dr P Hema Bindu, a BSF doctor, has been deployed in the village. The BSF personnel on August 18 also conducted a massive plantation drive in Guptkashi as part of its environment conservation initiative. The drive was held in memory of the rain-disaster victims. Chaumasi, Jaltalla, Jalmalla, Biyukhi, Khunnu and Kotma are some of the most devastated villages adopted by the
BSF. |
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CM releases postage stamp on Nanda Devi Rajjat Yatra
Dehradun, August 21 Although, Nanda Devi Rajjat Yatra which was to start from August 29 to September 17 this year has been postponed due to natural disaster in the state. However, Nanda Devi Rajjat is an important spiritual and cultural event of the state,. It is also known as the “Mahakumbh of Himalayas” and is observed after every twelve years. The yatra festival stretches for three weeks and cover Chamoli, Pithoragarh and Almora districts. The traditional puja of Nanda Devi and the Rajjat Yatra involves seeing off Nanda Devi to her in-laws home, the abode of Lord Shiva. |
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Security sought for people of scientific temper
Pithoragarh, August 21 “The brutal killing of Dr Dabholkar, who had devoted his life for scientific causes and making people aware about finding scientific logic behind any act to make their lives more logical and thus prosperous, is a warning to other activists in the country who are spreading scientific awareness with passion,” said Dr Ashok Pant, scientific adviser of PAHAL, voluntary organization which is working in the hill state in the field of scientific awareness. PAHAL activists and volunteers today gathered at its office in Pithoragarh district and paid tributes to Dr Dabholkar and pledged to take inspiration from his works and scientific awareness being carried out in the superstition-ridden region of Uttarakhand. PAHAL sources said the traditional social order gives birth to superstition fanatics, who make the work of logical workers hard in society. “Till that point, all logical and scientific workers should be given protection by the government,” said Dr Pant. |
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BSNL employees launch stir
Dehradun, August 21 The employees gathered at Windlass Complex in the morning and threatened to launch the agitation in all district headquarters of BSNL in the state. According to the employees’ union, after the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission anomalies had arisen in the salaries of the employees and the government must take steps to remove these. It said non-executive employees should be given salaries according to the E-1 band. They also demanded restoration of leave encashment and medical allowance on leave travel concession. The employees threatened to intensify their stir if the government did not meet their demands immediately. |
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Volunteers play ‘Bagwal’ with stones, shun fruits
Pithoragarh, August 21 “The traditional 'Bagwal', which was witnessed by thousands of people, including state Education Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani, former Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Kosiyari, Bhimtal MLA Dan Singh Bhandari and temple committee patron Laxman Singh Lamgaria, lasted 10 minutes,” said Satish Joshi, a local journalist, who also received injuries in the stone-throwing spree of volunteers. Joshi said as soon as the temple priest blew the conch to start the stone war, as planned, some pears were thrown by some volunteers initially, but soon the scene changed and stone-pelting started. “The stone-pelting lasted 10 minutes, resulting in injuries to 18 persons,” said Joshi. The Champawat district administration had made elaborate arrangements to initiate 'Bagwal'with fruits, thus doing away with the centuries-old tradition this year, but all the arrangements came to nought as the volunteers preferred stones to flowers and fruits. “Even the VIPs who had been invited by the Mela Committee to witness the historic change in 'Bagwal', were of the opinion that tradition should not be totally abolished,” said the journalist who witnessed the festival as a news cameraman. tradition wins
The Champawat district administration had made elaborate arrangements to initiate 'Bagwal'with fruits, thus doing away with the centuries-old tradition this year, but all the arrangements came to nought as the volunteers preferred stones to flowers and fruits. |
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Mitti Bhedi residents to be shifted
Mussoorie, August 21 According to MLA Mussoorie Ganesh Joshi the government through a GO passed yesterday has finally settled the matter by directing its officials to relocate the affected 72 families from Mitti Bhedi area which has been acquired by the Indian Army to the five acres land under Kholukhet Village Panchayat near Mussoorie. He further said around five acres of land had been earmarked in lieu of the land at Mitti Bhedi. The Indian Army was given the acquisition of the land for military purpose at Mitti Bhedi and following that the Army was pestering the residents by serving notice of eviction, instilling fear among them. The residents thanked Joshi for assisting them in rehabilitation. The women tied Rakhi on Joshi’s wrist at his residence. Shanti, one of the residents was of the view that this is the best gift any women could be given on Raksha Bandhan. Ganesh Joshi speaking to the Tribune said the residents of Mitti Bhedi who had been living under the fear of being evicted at any given moment but with the new government order of relocating the land under Kholukhet village Panchayat the villagers are now relieved and can live with ease. He also thanked the government for resolving the matter in favour of the residents. |
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MNREGA workers continue agitation
Dehradun, August 21 They said the government was totally insensitive towards their genuine concerns and raised slogans in favour of their demand. They threatened to teach the state government a lesson in the coming parliamentary
elections. Deepa Saklani, Manglesh Badoni, Rajendra Nautiyal, Chandra Mohan Khanduri and Savitri Devi took part in the
dharna. |
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Pithoragarh, August 21