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assembly in session
Govt fails to give satisfactory
replies to queries in House
Corporates must focus on social responsibility: NGO
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Speakers stress on planned development
Fill vacant reserve posts in govt jobs, demands samiti
REC gives Rs 2 crore for rehabilitation works
Tanakpur-Bageshwar rail link
3-day international meet begins at fri
Firoz murder mystery solved, 2 arrested
Girl found hanging at orphanage
Suspects to undergo polygraph test
CFGD conducts drive to oppose admn’s move to occupy park space
BP.Ed, MP.Ed educated
attempt to gherao MLAs
Teachers protest marking attendance twice a day
Champion seeks inquiry into purchase of land by Forest Corp MD
Shakti Kapoor looking forward to strong negative role
Dr Joshi seeks public referendum on new development projects
Health Dept issues notice to nurses
Ex-servicemen organise foundation day
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assembly in session
Dehradun, January 20 Before tabling the new Lokayukta Bill, the House was first informed about the Uttarakhand Lokayukta Bill 2011 which was passed by the Uttarakhand Assembly on October 31, 2011, and approved by the President of India, becoming the 27th Amendment Bill. Having first announced the Lokyayukta Bill (2011) passed during the erstwhile BJP government becoming the 27th Amendment Bill, the Uttarakhand Parliamentary Affairs Minister Indira Hriyadesh then sought permission for tabling the new Uttarakhand Lok Ayukta Bill. Soon the Opposition erupted in an uproar charging the government for committing harakiri. “What is the government doing? They have murdered the first Bill before it could even take shape and have now laid ground to deliver another Bill, when they could have brought in amendments in the 2011 Bill,” said Bhatt. He said that the government should have made its intentions known on the first day of the Governor’s Address but they kept everybody in the dark. “The new Lokayukta is not strong enough to curb corruption. The government has brought the Act to protect the corrupt,” he said. Soon the Opposition trooped inside the well of the house, disrupting the proceedings of the House. Later speaking with mediapersons, Leader of the Opposition Ajay Bhatt said that the Opposition was successful in nailing the government on several issues. “We got able support from the treasury benches. The way the Congress MLA Pranav Kumar Champion raised the banner of revolt against his own government clearly indicates that the Bahuguna government is not functioning as a well oiled machine,” he said.
The new Bill
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Govt fails to give satisfactory
replies to queries in House
Dehradun, January 20 While intervening in the matter pertaining to the mining on rivers Yamuna and other rivers with bigger lots (above 5 hectare) for which government agencies Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) and Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation (UFDC) had failed to taken permission from the Ministry of Environment and raised by the Congress MLA Navprabhat, the Speaker directed the government to immediately take steps so that the permission could be granted. Raising the issue during the question hour, Navprabhat expressed amazement at the lethargy of the government. “The government agencies like the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam and the Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation (UFDC) had failed to procure environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports of Yamuna and other rivers for undertaking river bed mining since 2006. This was helping the private players to mine illegally in government controlled areas,’’ said Navprabhat. The leader of the Opposition in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly Ajay Bhatt was again on his toes, demanding setting up of an inquiry into the matter. “What is the task force doing when illegal mining is going on? We demand an immediate inquiry into the matter,’’ said Ajay Bhatt. Another inquiry pertained to the issue raised by the Congress MLA Pranav Kumar Champion in which the Speaker directed the government to present the report to the House within three months and also directed that the officer be attached to some other place so that the inquiry does get affected. On the other hand the Speaker also directed the government to inquire if the hill roads being constructed in the state were following the norms laid down by the Central government. His intervention came after the BJP MLA Surinder Singh Jena said that the hill roads were not being constructed according to the norms laid by the Central government. “Instead of constructing 7-metre wide roads, in some places the width was 9 metres,” he said.
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Corporates must focus on social responsibility: NGO
Haridwar, January 20 Keeping this in mind, a conclave on corporate social responsibility was organised today by NGO Bosco Net, which caters to the economically weaker section by providing free education for poor children, at a city hotel. Director of the NGO MC George emphasised on the need for targeted social responsibility from the corporate world, keeping in mind last year's natural disaster. George pointed that the corporate sector based in the integrated estate of SIDCUL in Haridwar could tremendously contribute and utilise this corporate social responsibility. While Harendra Garg, chairman, SIDCUL Manufacturers' Association, Haridwar, urged the corporate sector to openly contribute to the society by corporate social responsibility, as the government was giving them various sops and concessions already. Press Club of Haridwar district president Sanjay Arya urged the corporate sector to contribute to the flash flood victims in the districts of Uttarakhand. Traders' Association office bearer Om Prakash Jamdagni said with the setting up of an industrial estate in Haridwar, the area had seen vast development, both industrial and infrastructure wise. He urged government to provide single window facility and other necessary services to the industry. The conclave also dwelled upon the meaning, legalities mandates of CSR and impact of it on the business process and how Bosconet could help the industry on implementing the corporate social responsibility in a focused manner.
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Speakers stress on planned development
Mussoorie, January 20 The speakers stressed on the planned urban development in the mountain cities without negating the local community. Stress was also laid on regulating tourism in the mountain cities on the basis of the carrying capacity of each town. The hill town of Mussoorie was put forth as a case study for mountain cities' development and a 3D contour model was also displayed by Dutch architects Anne Fennstra and Archl during the workshop, where they highlighted the need to visualise a development module by augmenting the water, energy, waste and transport systems in a way that is conducive for a sustainable and environment friendly growth of mountain cities. The MC president Manmohan Singh Mall also shed light on the future of the mountain cities in the context of Mussoorie and said that there was need to augment the basic amenities of the town considering the floating tourist population. Thematic discussions were held in which various groups deliberated on ways to take forward the issues of waste management, planning and governance so that the mountain cities benefit from such efforts. Sushil Ramola, member Indian Mountain Initiative Forum, stressed on need to strengthen the governance and finance structures for the mountain cities. It was also decided in the workshop that conclusions derived from the case study of Mussoorie can be taken forward and shared with other mountain cities with regards to sustainable development of the Mountain cities. The speakers laid stress on need to empower local bodies through the 74th Amendment of the Constitution for better development of the mountain cities in the country. It was also felt that best innovative practices from around the country and world would be assimilated and shared among the mountain cities. A panelist Anmol Jain raised the issue of increased environmental governance due to which the mountain cities were at the receiving end in terms of basic infrastructural development slowing the development journey to a large extent. The chairperson of the workshop, former Chief Secretary of the state RS Tolia said that the main objective was to develop a comprehensive understanding of all issues around governance and governance structures, planning, architecture and land use and providing of key services to the citizens like water, waste management, transportation and other social infrastructure.
Mussoorie to have centre of Himalayan glaciology soon
The hill town of Mussoorie will be having its own centre of Himalayan glaciology soon. Dr Akhilesh Gupta, head of Department of Science and Technology, speaking on the the sidelines of the workshop on Indian mountain cities in Mussoorie, informed the media that a national centre for Himalayan glaciology will be set up at the nearly abandoned building of Survey of India at Mussoorie soon. Dr. Gupta said that this complex is not being utilised by the Survey of india, so it was decided that a national centre for Himalayan glaciology will be set up here. |
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Fill vacant reserve posts in govt jobs, demands samiti
Dehradun, January 20 Kamlesh Bhatt, president of the samiti said there were around 35,000 vacant posts in the government department under the reserved category. It is to be noted that the state government has not done any appointments for the past several years on the posts earmarked for ST/SC/OBC candidates. “Even though several organisations including the Central government departments have intervened in the matter but the state government has failed to release an advertisement for filling up of the vacant posts. In case the government fails to take any action within a week, they would launch a protest demonstration in the capital. Besides we would also criticise the government during panchayat elections,” he added. Inder Singh, Yudhveer Singh, Ram Dhobal and Attar Singh were prominent among the demonstrators. |
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REC gives Rs 2 crore for rehabilitation works
Dehradun, January 20 The Union Power Ministry had earlier planned to created a fund of Rs 2 crore with contribution from the central power sector undertakings for the resettlement and rehabilitation of the disaster affected persons and rebuilding infrastructure. DV Singh, Director (Technical), Rakesh Khare, Chief General Manager (Technical), HL Bharaj, General Manager, THDCIL, RK Arora, General Manager (CP&CSR) and NK Maurya, AGM, REC Limited, were present on the occasion. Earlier, the REC had entered into an MoU with THDCIL for a financial assistance of Rs 4 crore under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative for the construction of girls' hostel at the THDC Institute of Hydropower Engineering and Technology at Tehri. Members of the Project Implementation Committee, including Shailendra Singh, AGM, THDCIL and NK Maurya, AGM, REC, gave an approval for the release of the first installment of Rs 10 lakh. The REC will provide this amount to THDCIL soon. THDCIL is one of the premier hydropower generators in the country, with an installed capacity of 1,400 MW with commissioning of Tehri and Koteshwar Dam to its credit. It is also bestowed with the Mini Ratna-Category-I and the Schedule 'A' Status. |
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Tanakpur-Bageshwar rail link
Pithoragarh, January 20 They blamed the Union Government for cheating them by making false promises for sanctioning the Tanakpur-Bageshwar railway line after an assurance last year. “We have been cheated by the Union Government, public representatives from the state and by the Central Government as despite the assurances to begin the survey and construction work on this long required railway line, nothing was done so far,” said Gusain Singh Dafauti, president of the samiti. According to the agitators, from the last 10 years they have been demanding to link Bageswar town with railway line at Tanakpur. He said they had earlier agitated in local towns of the region, held hunger strikes in Delhi and carried protest march as well. But, the Union Government did not respond positively towards the need of the local people of the interior parts of the Kumaon region, who are bereft of the key transportation facility. “This time we have decided to take this fight till we get concrete work done on this line,” he added. The agitators also threatened that the movement will be carried to the state-level and a samiti will be organised at all levels in the state. |
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3-day international meet begins at fri
Dehradun, January 20 Bhojvaid said carbohydrates that stood as largest biomass on earth must be utilised in an ecologically and environment-friendly manner. He called upon scientists and entrepreneurs dealing with carbohydrates to adopt a greener approach. Prof Ghanshyam Chauhan from Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, spoke on the importance of modern day bio-medical research. He underlined the need for more studies on carbohydrates to control various diseases. Several accomplished rese-archers were also honored at the function. Dr AJ Varma from National Chemical Laboratory was presented with lifetime achievement award, Dr G Murlikrishnan from Central Food Technological Research Institute was presented with excellence in carbohydrate research, Prof Rekha Singhal from Mumbai was presented with Merchant Memorial Award and Dr Vineet Kumar from Forest Research Institute was presented with Dr HC Srivastava Young Scientist Award. Dr PL Soni, ACCTI Advisor presented a report on the journal: Trends in Carbohydrate Research, published by the organisation. |
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Firoz murder mystery solved, 2 arrested
Dehradun, January 20 According to Senior Suprintendent of Police (SSP), Kewal Khuranna, “The joint team of Rajpur police, homicide cell and special operation group (SOG) were invlolved in the investigation and on the basis of the CCTV footages, call details and other information, the team have arrested two persons, Roopak and Ankush for their involvement in the case.” However, the police are claiming that apart from Roopak and Ankush, five other assailants are wanted in the case and police are carrying raids to nab them. They have been identified as Digpal alias Bobby, Sunil, Deepak, Kuldeep and one more. The police claimed that the conspiracy to kill Firoz was made by Digpal, who had a criminal past, as he had doubt on Firoz of having illicit relations with his wife. The SSP said Digpal, who also had a house in Doon Vihar but keep travelling outside due to business related work, had asked Firoz to vacate his house in Doon Vihar, which Firoz denied to do so. Digpal along with his other friends made conspiracy to kill Firoz. “Five cases are registered against Digpal in different police stations in Uttar Pradesh, whereas two cases are against Deepak,” said SSP Kewal Khuranna. During interrogation, both Roopak and Ankush told the police that Digpal shot Firoz whereas they were asked to wait on the gate along with other four, the police said. Firoz Ali was shot dead by a group of unidentified assailants on January 15 night after breaking into his house. The attackers allegedly entered his house looking for a person namely Rahul who was supposedly the neighbour of Firoz. |
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Girl found hanging at orphanage
Dehradun, January 20 Reportedly, the staff of Sneha Sadan got a shock in the morning when they found Laxmi, student of class 10, hanging from a ceiling fan. Later, the police reached the orphanage home after being informed about the incident. Meanwhile, the police did not find any suicide note from the spot and are investigating the case from all possible angles. It is to be noted that Laxmi came to Sneha Sadan some 4 years back after getting orphaned. Previously, she also stayed at another branch of Sneha Sadan in Lucknow. The staff of the orphanage home has told the police that Laxmi was last seen around 9 pm on Sunday night along with other girls living in Sneha Sadan. The police have not been able to find the motive behind the alleged suicide and are planning to question a few people in the case. |
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Suspects to undergo polygraph test
Dehradun, January 20 “We have got the permission from the court to conduct the test in Delhi in the next couple of days,” Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Garhwal Range, Amit Sinha said. Meanwhile, the police have also collected the DNA samples of some 62 persons to match the forensic evidence collected from the body of the victim girl, who was brutally murder after being raped in the first week of the month. Requesting anonymity, one senior police officer told The Tribune, “We have got some leads but still they are not enough to make a first arrest in the case but the police are hopeful of arresting the main culprit.” The Tribune has learned that family members of the victim are under cloud of suspicion and even senior officials are accepting unofficially that someone close to the girl’s family committed the horrible crime. Investigating officers in the case are even claiming that family members of the deceased are contradicting their own statements and hiding facts from the police. However, the police are claiming that the forensic evidences collected from the girl’s body are pointing towards that the crime was committed by one person and the reports of it being a gang rape is not true. It is to be noted that the Chief Minister and DGP have given directions to the police to take swift action in the case and arrest the culprit at the earliest. It is pertinent to mention here that DGP BS Sidhu even met the CBI director recently to seek help in the investigation. |
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CFGD conducts drive to oppose admn’s move to occupy park space
Dehradun, January 20 They informed the local residents that the administration was planning to occupy the park space for widening the road and the proposed felling of trees to serve the purpose. The district administration under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission was planning to widen the road by acquiring land from the Gandhi Park and the Parade Ground to widen the Lansdowne and Globe Chowk crossings. Most of the people were upset with the proposal. Rathi Agnihotri, a regular morning walker at the Gandhi Park, for the last 25 years, said it was unbelievable that the government was planning to take land from the park for widening the road. She asserted that the administration should rather work to increase the Gandhi Park area. She said both the Gandhi Park and the Parade Ground should rather be joined and converted into one continuous park to cater to the growing population of the city. The park visitors also signed a petition meant to oppose the government’s move. Dr Nitin Pandey, Chief Coordinator of Citizens For Green Doon, said as part of the awareness drive, they will take out a rally in Dehradun that will start from the main gate of the Gandhi Park on January 26. He appealed to the citizens to participate in the rally that was aimed to protest the administration’s move to take land from the Gandhi Park and the Parade Ground. Himanshu Arora, Sonia Pandey, Anjali Bhatia, Vineet Panchi, Ruchi Sing Rao and Prateek Panwar actively participated in the drive.
It is unbelievable that the government is planning to take land from the park for widening the road. The administration should rather work to increase the Gandhi Park area. Both the Gandhi Park and the Parade Ground should rather be joined and converted into one continuous park to cater to the growing population of the
city. |
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BP.Ed, MP.Ed educated
attempt to gherao MLAs
Dehradun, January 20 During their protest, they claimed that the government was not paying heed to their demand though they had been protesting for more than 200 days in Dehradun. It is to be noted that they have been demanding a permanent post of physical training teacher in the government schools and the BP.Ed and MP.Ed should be given appointment on those posts. They demanded that ministers should put their matter in the Cabinet otherwise they would be forced to intensify their protest if the government did not address their concerns. During the protest, Rajiv Semwal, Jeevan, Umesh Rawat, Naresh, Harish Joshi, Vimal Tomar ,Trivendra Rawat and Prakash Joshi were also present. |
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Teachers protest marking attendance twice a day
Dehradun, January 20 They gathered at the office of Devendra Bhasin, Principal of the college. It is to be noted that the college students have been protesting against the implementation of the Rashtriya Ucchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) and privatisation of DAV PG College by merging it with two other colleges. The teachers today joined the students in the ongoing protest and raised slogans against the college management, calling it authoritarian. — TNS
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Champion seeks inquiry into purchase of land by Forest Corp MD
Dehradun, January 20 Raising the issue during question hour, Congress MLA Pranav Kumar Champion today demanded a vigilance inquiry into the alleged purchase of private land by the MD of Uttarakhand Forest Corporation without taking approval from the governing body of the corporation. “Efforts were on to purchase costly land for which the dates for the opening of financial bids was to take place on January 9, when the corporation has enough land of it’s own,” said Champion. He said that such a move would have resulted in a loss of Rs 100 crore to the government. “ I demand a vigilance inquiry into the incident and the suspension of the official so that the inquiry could proceed smoothly,” said Pranav. Losing no opportunity, the Opposition benches too lent support to the MLA by demanding a vigilance inquiry and decrying the government for failing to take action . In her reply, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Indira Hridayesh said that the government had already taken action by directing the Chief Secretary Subash Kumar to initiate an inquiry. “The Uttarakhand Forest Corporation cannot buy private Dissatisfied with the reply, Champion again demanded a vigilance inquiry and went to the well of the house to lodge his protest. The Opposition members, who too trooped into the well twice, soon followed him. Lending weight to the matter the Leader of the Opposition Ajay Bhatt also demanded a vigilance enquiry and even urged the government to suspend the officer till the time the inquiry was on. “The government should give a commitment that the inquiry would be completed within a specific time period,” said Bhatt. Sensing the gravity of the situation the Speaker then directed the government to present it’s report within three months to the House and also directed that the MD of the Uttarakhand Forest Corporation be attached to some other place so that the inquiry could go on smoothly. |
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Shakti Kapoor looking forward to strong negative role
Dehradun, January 20 In the city to launch a housing scheme, the flamboyant Kapoor said it was the negative roles played by him that are closest to his heart. “I have successfully attempted almost every genre of acting. Even though the audience loved me doing comedy, my heart belongs to the negative characters alone. There are so many offers coming my way, but I am looking for a strong negative character for a comeback,’’ he said. Dressed in black T-shirt, denims and a brown leather jacket, Kapoor donned one of his favourites wayfarers with bright purple lenses. “The villains in Bollywood have definitely evolved over a period of time. Even heroes are seen playing the negative characters with élan. Take the case of Aamir Khan in Dhoom 3. From Shahrukh Khan to Aamir Khan, everyone is donning the negative cap.’’ From playing a baddie in films like “Qurbani,’’ “Karma’’ to the funny man in slap-slick comedies, including “Raja Babu’’ and “Andaz Apna Apna,” Shakti Kapoor has mastered the art of both the worlds. “Playing a villain is easy, but to deliver comedy is the most difficult task. I had a nice pairing with Govinda and Kader Khan. It is very difficult to bring in the right jodi that has a perfect timing and matches each other’s sense of humour,’’ said Kapoor. Upon being asked whether he would like to work again with his daughter Shradha Kapoor, the actor said: “We had a small scene in Shradha’s debut film “Teen Patti,’’ that had flopped at the box office. Post the success of “Ashiqui 2,’’ it is my turn to ask Shradha whether she would like to work with me or not. Shradha is an independent girl who likes to take her own decision. She has never consulted me for any script or before taking up any role. It iss a good thing that she prefers to learn on her own.’’ Speaking about his association with the city, Kapoor, who placed an order for 2 kg of butter toffees, said that Dehradun and Mussoorie were his family’s holiday destinations. ‘’Till my class XII, we used to come to either Mussoorie or Dehradun during every summer vacation. People say that Kashmir is jannat on earth. But I feel that it is Mussoorie that is much more beautiful,’’ said Kapoor. |
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Dr Joshi seeks public referendum on new development projects
Dehradun, January 20 Addressing a press conference in Dehradun today, Dr Joshi said the development projects at the cost of environment presently being brought to Uttarakhand keep little consent of the general masses. "Every mega development projects that comes through World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other international agencies are loan-based assistance, which the people of the state have to repay. Thus it is important that these projects are brought into the public domain," Joshi pointed out. Referring to a cement project proposed for Uttarakhand, Dr Joshi said these projects involved environmental concerns and asserted that most of the projects that have come into the state in the last decade have destroyed the agriculture land. He added the state government had not learnt any lesson from the Kedarnath tragedy. Accusing consecutive state governments of insensitivity towards the environment, Dr Joshi said the time was not far when social and environmental organisations would struggle in face of natural calamities. |
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Health Dept issues notice to nurses
Dehradun, January 20 While the government maintained that it had issued notices to the boycotting nurses, the nurses said that they had not received the notices. ''We have not received any notices and we have only heard from the media that these had been issued,'' said Anjana Bhowmick, president, Uttarkhand Nurses Service Association. Meanwhile, the nurses were hoping today that the Opposition would raise the issue of the injustice meted to them by the government by raising the issue in the House but that did not happen. A few days ago the Leader of the opposition in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly Ajay Bhatt had come in support of the nurses. |
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Ex-servicemen organise foundation day
Dehradun, January 20 Addressing the gathering, chief guest Harak Singh Rawat, Medical Education and Soldier Welfare Minister, said that the state government was always working towards the ex-servicemen of the state. “The state government has doubled the financial assistance being given to the ex-servicemen and their dependents. |
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Dehradun, January 20
Dehradun, January 20
Dehradun, January 20
Dehradun, January 20
Dehradun, January 20
