Harish Rawat reviews law and order situation
Inaugurates projects worth Rs 4.36 crore in Dharampur constituency
Tribune News service

Dehradun, February 7
Chief Minister Harish Rawat at a meeting here today reviewed the law and order situation in the state and the progress of construction work on the road leading to Kedarnath.

The Chief Minister said it was the objective of his government to make the state crime free. "Human trafficking will have to be checked in the state," he said. He gave orders for the constitution of a special investigating team to curb illegal mining and finance-related frauds. The anti-human trafficking cell and the intelligence network should be strengthened, he said.

Rawat said the police must ensure the crime graph in Hardwar, Dehradun and Udam Singh Nagar falls. "Our security system should be such that anti-social elements think twice before entering the state," he said. He added that Haridwar should have two SPs, besides an SSP.

Harish Rawat reviewed the construction work on the road leading to Kedarnath and said they had a challenge of constructing a 22-km stretch of the road from Gaurikund to Kedarnath before the portals of the Kedarnath temple were opened this summer. He gave directions for the appointment of efficient young officers for the task. He added engineers should also be made part of the project.

"The road work should be divided in several parts and an officer should be appointed for each part. The DGP should deploy senior police officers and other policemen while the Principal Secretary and the Additional Secretary to the CM should appoint administration officers and engineers," he said.

The Chief Minister said while executing the road work it should be ensured that the road was safe for tourists. "Directions have also been given to take assistance of experienced engineers," he added.

The Chief Minister also gave orders for the improvement of traffic arrangements in the state. He asked the officers concerned to chalk out a plan for the same.

A committee of shopkeepers should be made to help in the widening of road crossings. He also gave directions to plan alternate routes for demonstrations. Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar, Principal Secretary (Home) Om Prakash, Chief Minister's Principal Secretary Dr SS Sandhu and DGP BS Sidhu were present at the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister today inaugurated various projects worth Rs 4.36 crore in the Dharampur Assembly segment. He also inaugurated the Rs 50 lakh project for the construction of the boundary wall of a graveyard.

Addressing the gathering, Harish Rawat said the state government had done a lot of work for the welfare of people.

“The development of the area and welfare of people is the only way through which we can earn respect from the public,” he said.

Tackling rising crime top priority, says SSP 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 7
Ajay Rautela, who took over as SSP, Dehradun, last night, said his main priority would be to curb the rising crime and streamline the worsening traffic situation. He added he would work to strengthen police stations and increase the responsibility of the police towards public. Night patrolling and beat patrolling would be stepped up.

On the issue of traffic chaos in Dehradun, he said traffic management was a continuous process and he would take decision in this regard after understanding the situation in the city. Rautela appreciated the steps taken by his predecessor for improving the traffic situation and said all initiatives taken by the previous SSP would be continued.

“Our immediate aim is to ensure that the forthcoming panchayat elections are conducted peacefully. We will make a strategy for that in the coming days,” said Rautela.

“Give me some time to understand the problems of the district," he added.

Protesting BJP MLAs enter House with bedding material
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 7
The BJP legislators, including Arvind Pandey, who is on a fast, moved into the Legislative Assembly with bedding material today indicating that they were ready for a protracted face off. They were already sitting on a dharna in the gallery leading up to the House in support of BJP legislator from Rudarpur Raj Kumar Thukral when they decided to move into the House.

The BJP legislators said they had been forced to protest as the Chief Minister had failed to deliver on the promise regarding the Thukral issue made on the floor of the House 
yesterday.

Ajay Bhatt, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, said they had no option but to stage a sit-in as grave injustice had been done to Thukral. “Our MLA has been in hiding, as he is afraid that he would be put behind bars on false charges. The Chief Minister has let us down,” said Bhatt.

Asked why the BJP was making it a prestige issue when the matter was subjudice, Bhatt said, “Despite giving Thukral the clean chit in the Rudrapur riots of 2011, the government is purposely targeting him again by framing charges against him seven months later. He was being targeted because he was a BJP MLA,” alleged Bhatt.

Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal tried to break the logjam saying the protracted battle between the government and the Opposition had wasted the business today. “I am ready to listen to both Opposition and government but the House must be allowed to run,” said Kunjwal.

However, government officials said Thukral should surrender as he had been declared an absconder and carried a price of Rs 2,500 on his head. To get a mileage, the BJP wanted the government to step in so that the case against the MLA could be withdrawn. 

Oppn stages a walkout
Asks CM to withdraw cases against Rudarpur MLA
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 7
The BJP today stalled the proceedings of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly demanding that Chief Minister Harish Rawat shall deliver on his promise of initiating action to take back false cases lodged against BJP legislator from Rudarpur Rajkumar Thukral. The opposition MLAs walked out of the House and staged a dharna in the gallery.

As soon as the House convened, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Ajay Bhatt, said the Chief Minister had promised in the House to ensure an amicable solution to the issue. “We had also reciprocated by extending full support to the government and allowed the House to run yesterday. But the Chief Minister has reneged on his promise,” said Bhatt.

Bhatt said the Chief Minister was trying to build his image and had made a false promise yesterday. Soon, the BJP members led by Arvind Pandey moved towards the well of the House and staged a sit-in there asking the Speaker to take a favourable decision.

Later, the opposition MLAs led by Arvind Pandey, Rajesh Shukla, and Harbhajan Singh Cheema walked out of the House and sat on a dharna in the gallery leading to the House and refused to participate in the proceedings. This forced the Speaker to adjourn the House four times. The Opposition refused to budge from its stand and boycotted the remaining proceedings in the evening as well.

In the evening several notices were brought by Congress MLAs under rule 58, including one by Cabinet Minister Harak Singh Rawat demanding that the term of the managing committee of Horticulture University be extended till the ongoing session. However, several notices brought by the Congress MLAs were taken up in the absence of the Opposition. Instead of Monday, the House will now reconvene on Tuesday.

Budget development-oriented: Cong
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 7
State Congress spokesman Surendra Kumar stated in a press statement issued here today that the the Budget 2014-15 aimed at the inclusive growth and targeted the overall development of minorities, Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes and women.

Surendra Kumar said Chief Minister Harish Rawat's experience was amply reflected in the development-oriented budget presented in the Assembly yesterday. Kumar also appealed to the Opposition to play a constructive role in the development of the state.

Meanwhile, the Dehradun Mahanagar Congress has welcomed the Budget presented in the state Assembly yesterday. At a meeting of the Mahanagar Congress today, Senior vice- president of the Mahanagar Congress Deep Vohra said the Budget was development oriented. He said by reiterating its commitment to set up a Punjabi and Urdu academy, the Harish Rawat government had shown its resolve to work for minorities.

AAP concerned at shortage of LPG cylinders in Haridwar
Party activists raise issue with District Food and Civil Supplies Officer 
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 7
The district unit of the Aam Aadmi Party has raised the issue of the shortage of domestic and commercial LPG cylinders with the Food and Supplies Office. A delegation of the party met District Food and Supplies Officer Mahendra Singh Bisen at the tehsil-based department office today.

Led by district coordinator JP Baduni and ex-councillor Dinesh Joshi, the delegation pointed to the long queues at all gas outlets in the district despite the department claiming that there was an adequate supply of LPG cylinders.

Baduni also raised the issue of delivery charges being taken from the consumers who on their own bring empty cylinders to the agency outlets and carry back filled cylinders on their own.

"Home delivery is not being done properly but gas agencies are taking home delivery charges from the consumers who bring LPG cylinders on their own to their outlets. More than Rs 14,000 are being collected this way by the gas agencies every day. On an average, 1,000 consumers fetch LPG cylinders from the gas agencies in the city daily," said Baduni.

Dinesh Joshi also demanded regular checking of stocks, registers and weight of LPG cylinders by the department. The AAP activists also raised the issue of irregular distribution of ration at fair price shops. They demanded a complaint-cum-suggestion register at the public distribution office. Mahendra Singh Bisen assured the AAP activists of taking stringent action against violators and sought a week's time. 

Forest Dept directed to look into man-animal conflicts near Corbett
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 7
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Indira Hridayesh today said that the Department of Forest had been asked to look into the issue of increasing number of man-animal conflicts in villages near the Corbett National Park. The BJP MLA from Landsdowne, Dilip Singh Rawat , had raised the issue in the Assembly yesterday and demanded immediate solution to the issue.

Rawat had said that villagers near the Corbett National Park were being denied compensation for the destruction of their crops by animals on the pretext that these areas were part of the Pauri division.

"Forest officials continue to harass people and have imposed strict guidelines in the name of protecting to animals. The villagers can't use of drums to save their crops from animals as these have been banned by forest officials around the park," said Rawat.

Similarly, BJP MLA Malchand also raised the issue of goats and sheep being infected with a disease in the Mori block of Uttarkashi and urged the government to send veterinary experts to prevent the spread of the disease. "Goats and sheep are the prized possession of villagers in Mori block and according to estimates around 150 of them have been hit by the disease," he said.

DM tells officials to spend pending funds
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 7
District Magistrate BVRC Purushottam has instructed officials of various departments to spend pending funds of the current fiscal year.

At a meeting held here today, the DM asked the officials to complete formalities related to the release of tenders for development works in villages before the model code of conduct is implemented in the wake of the Panchayat elections.

“Projects that have been stalled or damaged due to the last year's catastrophe should be started immediately. The departments concerned should submit their requirement for the funds and other grants as required by them,” said the DM.

Rain, snowfall across state, cold wave intensifies 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 7
The state on Friday received light to moderate rainfall, resulting in cold conditions across Uttarakhand. However, met officials hope for some respite from cold tomorrow.

A day after Basant Panchami, it was another rainy day in the state. The rain that started last evening continued throughout the day. Some of the higher reaches also received snowfall.

According to Dr Anand Sharma, Executive Director, Meteorological Centre, Dehradun, while rain was witnessed all over the state, the improvement in weather was expected by tomorrow with only two per cent of geographical area of the state expecting light rainfall in the next 24 years. He said weather would remain dry in the rest of the state.

In Dehradun, residents woke up to a rainy day. From 8.30 am till evening, 16 mm of rain was recorded. Most of the people remained inside houses.

Mercury plummets in Kumaon region

Pithoragarh: People in the lower areas of the Kumaon region are facing intense cold conditions due to rain and heavy to moderate snowfall in the higher reaches.

According to the weather department, the temperature came down following rain in the morning and snowfall in the higher reaches of Kalmuni, Khaliatop, Munsiyari in Bundi, Chiyalekh, and Gunji in Vyans and Rungling Top in the Chaundans valley of Dharchula subdivision. "As the snowfall is still continuing, we have issued an alert on the border posts close to the China border," said Kedar Singh Rawat, an ITBP officer.

According to information received from Munsiyari, the temperature of the town has dipped below 0°C. "We are facing severe cold conditions for the past 24 hours and the main road to our town from Pithoragarh has blocked due to snowfall at several places, hindering the supply of essential goods," said KN Joshi, a hotelier from Munsiyari.

Champawat also received snowfall for some hours today. Though the snow melted immediately, the temperature in the town reached the freezing point. "The minimum temperature, which was at 13°C on Wednesday, reached 0.5°C on Friday," said a weather department spokesman at the district headquarters.

Agricultural scientists have said the rain and the snowfall were good for the rabi crop. "Rain is required at this juncture as the crop needed water to dissolve fertilisers," said RK Singh, a scientist at Pantnagar University. 

RKM demands sewer, water taxes waived
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 7
The Rashtriya Krantikari Manch (RKM), a social outfit, has demanded waiver of taxes on water and sewer and free water supply as is being given by the Delhi government.

Founder of the RKM Ambrish Kumar denounced the hike in sewer tax on houses, ashrams and dharamshalas and said Haridwar was situated on the banks of the Ganga, yet residents of the city were being forced to pay high water and sewer taxes. The rise in sewer tax should be rolled back and finally waived.He demanded that people of Haridwar should be exempted from water tax, and poor people be provided potable water free of cost.

He added in Delhi all domestic consumers having a metered connection get 20 kilolitres of water free of cost with no water cess or sewerage charge.

“We will resort to an agitation in Dehradun if our demand is not met. Millions of pilgrims throng Haridwar during the Kumbh fair and the Central government gives a budget for these fairs. Hence where is the need to hike sewer tax in the name of maintenance. The Jal Sansthan is provided funds by the Centre to lay sewer and water pipelines,” said Kumar, a former city legislator.

Ambrish said local politicians and bureaucrats are inefficient, corrupt and devoid of vision as despite the fact that hundreds of crores of rupees were allocated for Haridwar for the Kumbh mela, not even 50 per cent of the funds was utilised properly.

CM forms panel to solve employees' issues
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 7
Chief Minister Harish Rawat has constituted a committee headed by Cabinet minister Indira Hridayesh for solving the concerns of state employees.

Harish Rawat, who met a delegation of state employees under the aegis of the Rajya Sanyukt Kramchari Parishad here today, said the committee would also have senior trade union leader Hira Singh Bisht as its member, besides representatives from employee unions and a social welfare organisation.

He said his government was committed to working for the welfare of the state employees. Harish Rawat said his government would abide by all agreements done with the employees earlier. 

Roadways drivers intensify stir 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 7
Drivers of the Uttarakhand Roadways further intensified their agitation today and stopped operations of all buses being operated from rural depots in the state. They had halted the operations of AC and deluxe buses two days ago.

The drivers are agitating for the last three days after one of their fellow drivers was assaulted by employees of the Haridwar Roadways workshop. They are demanding action against the workshop employees involved in the incident.

Meanwhile, the Roadways authorities tried to hold talks with the agitating drivers, who were demanding nothing less than action against the Haridwar workshop officials. The protesters also continued with their dharna at the Inter State Bus Terminus here. On the other hand, passengers continued to suffer in the absence of AC and deluxe buses and stoppage of buses being operated from rural depots. 

 ‘Self-study, active learning tools to manage stress’
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 7
With school examinations round the corner and students are preparing hard, the experts are of the view that self-studies and active learning can be an effective tool to manage stress during these days. Rashmi Wadhwa, a child psychologist, who runs Academic Improving and Counselling Centre said, “Students usually fall prey to nervous breakdowns, lack of concentration, stress and fear just before the examinations but little motivation, systematic approach and understanding on the part of the parents and teacher go a long way to help these children achieve better results.”

“Every child has the potential to be an achiever and this can be achieved by making learning fun, removing the pressure and stress of studies from the mind of the child and the parent,” she further added. It is believed that a large number of the students are underachievers as per their potential, which is why majority of students fall in the average category. Motivating students towards self-testing and self-assessing, bringing variety in repetition like making objective and subjective questions of the content can be helpful, says expert. 

Villagers, lawyers clash at court complex, six arrested
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 7
Farmers and lawyers clashed at the court complex in Roshanabad, 15 km from the city, today leading to tension. On a complaint by lawyers, the police arrested six persons in this regard.

Tension reportedly mounted as office-bearers of the Bar Association of Haridwar refused to take up a complaint related to some local villagers. Three lawyers were injured in a car accident last evening and the vehicle belonged to representatives of the Kissan Sangharsh Samiti.

Today, the local court gave bail to the driver of the car, which lawyers protested. Villagers raised slogans in support of the driver while angry lawyers resorted to sloganeering against the court decision, leading to tension between the two groups.

A heated argument between the advocates and the villagers turned violent and the two sides pelted each other with stones.

The windowpanes of several vehicles were broken while more than 12 persons got injured in the clash.

Surjeet Singh Pawar, SP, said adequate police force had been deployed on the court premises to prevent any untoward incident.

Chambers of lawyers were vandalised by the villagers while lawyers allegedly manhandled women accompanying the villagers. Meanwhile, the bar association has filed a complaint against unknown farmers at the local police station.

Govt increases amount of gallantry awards
Parwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 7
The state government has approved an increase in the monetary award conferred upon gallantry award winners. The increment stands for both lump sum and annuity being paid by the government. In a government order issued here today, the annuity for all gallantry award winners has been doubled while the lump sum amount was increased by 10 per cent. The annuity is the amount paid to the award winners on monthly basis as long as they alive after which the annuity is paid to their widows. The lump sum amount is paid in one go to the award winner or his family after death in form of a posthumous award. The beneficiaries of decision include Param Vir Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, Mahavir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra and Shaurya Chakra recipients.

In 2007, the then Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Maj Gen BC Khanduri (retd), had substantially increased the monetary allowance for gallantry award winners from the state. There are 1,000 gallantry award winners in the state at present.

Giving the details of the increment, Director Brig AN Bahuguna (retd), Directorate Sainik Kalyan Evam Punarvas, said while the revised amount for lump sum payment would be applicable only on those receiving award on or after February 4, 2014, the revised annuity would be covering previous awardees also. 

MC to give 2 barriers to private contractors
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, February 7
The Mussoorie Municipal Council (MC) has approved the privatisation of an eco-tax barrier at Kolhukhet and the Mall Road barrier.

MC president Manmohan Singh Mall at the monthly MC meeting held here today said both barriers required urgent repair works. Since the money required for repair works was double the income from the barriers, they decided to give these to private contractors.

Mall said with this decision the MC would be saving a large amount of money, which could be used to pay the pending salaries of its employees and development works.

Ward members appreciated the move and said it would also help check embezzlement being done by employees in the name of eco-fee at the barrier. Mall directed officials to begin the tender process at the earliest.

He also ordered the suspension of employees involved in funds embezzlement.

However, with this move the future of the contractual employees manning the two barriers has become uncertain. They would lose their jobs once the barriers were given to private contractors.

Mall also expressed concern over sub-leasing and transfer of commercial property owned by the council. He directed the officials concerned to submit a report on all such properties that had either been rented out or given on lease by the council in the town.

He said some private lease owners of shops at Kingcraig were trying to sell their units to private players for Rs 30 lakh, which was against the guidelines of the council. He asked the officials to look into the matter and stop such a practice.

On the issue of houses for slum-dwellers, Mall said 40 flats would be constructed near the Civil Hospital as there was no land available for construction anywhere else in the town.

The remaining flats would be constructed according to the Paudi model, wherein the identified slum-dwellers would be given cash to construct their flats near Chiffon Court.

He said the MC would seek the remaining funds for the construction of the houses for slum-dwellers and begin the work within five to six months.

Anuj Gupta, a ward member, alleged a section of MC employees was harassing people while issuing birth and death certificates. Mall directed the officials concerned to resolve the matter. The meeting also approved the construction of sidewalls around the compactor machine and earmarking of the place near the bypass to dump garbage.

Other proposals approved at the meeting included the construction of a CC road from Aswal's house till Mohan's hose at Hussain Ganj, the repair of a sidewall and toilets near the Rajmandi bypass and the construction of another CC road from the UPSMDC temple to the Dhuman Ganj Chasket safety wall.

Ward members also raised the issue of increasing drinking water stand posts at Bhiladu, the Mackinon pump house and the Tehri bus stand. Jal Santhan officials assured the ward members of looking into the matter. Mall directed the officials to speed up the revenue collection process in the town, so that they could continue with development works.

He directed them to send notices to various non-government and government institutions so that house tax was collected in time. Mall asked the officials to start the door-to-door garbage collection service. Ward members Ramesh Bhandari and Jasvir Kaur and executive officer PS Rawat were present on the occasion.

63 complaints received at DM’s janta darbar
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 7
A total of 63 complaints were received at the fourth janta darbar organised at the Tehsil office here today.

While nine problems were solved on the spot, Haridwar District Magistrate Nidhi Pandey assured the remaining complainants of solving their problems within a fortnight.

The complainants also brought to the notice of the District Magistrate that a section of government employees were demanding bribes for doing their work. She told them to file their complaints in written.

Earlier, at the third janta darbar at Roshanabad on February 3, the DM had solved 22 complaints on the spot.

Chief Development Officer Vishnu Singh Dhanik, Mukhya Nagar Adhikari Vipra Trivedi, SDM Sohan Singh Negi, District Social Welfare Officer Anurag Shank Dhar, District Development Officer SS Sharma, District Agriculture Officer JP Tiwari and CO police Rajesh Bhatt were also present on the occasion.

Need steps to ensure Rajaji
Park is safe for elephants
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 7
Despite several zones of the Rajaji National Park being made a tiger reserve buffer zone, there is need to take preventive measures to ensure the park, which is the original habitat of Asian elephants, is safe and secure for jumbos. Last week a 32-year-old female elephant died after a conflict with a tusker in the Dhaul Khand range of the park, which has close to 400 Asian elephants. On December 25, 2013, an elephant was electrocuted in the Tibdi forest range of the national park when it came into contact with illegal power cables installed by nearby slum-dwellers.

Earlier a male elephant was found dead in the Chidiyapur range under mysterious circumstances.

In July an elephant was seriously injured after it fell from a mountain terrain in the Khanpur forest range. It later died due to injuries. A calf succumbed to injuries on February 3, 2013. It got separated from its mother and was shifted to the Chilla range in Pauri Garhwal district for treatment. On January 13, 2013, two elephants were crushed under the Jan Shatabdi Express near the Khadkhadi forest line.

Girish Bhadri cricket tourney from Feb 12
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 7
The 6th All-India Uttarakhand Girish Bhadri Memorial Cricket Tournament will begin from February 12 .

Fourteen teams from across the country will be participating in the tourney.

It is being organised by the Ajabpur Young Star Cricket Club and the matches will be played in three grounds, Ranger College Ground, Tanush Cricket Academy and Abhimanyu Cricket Academy.

The winning team will be given a cash reward of Rs 1.25 lakh and the runner-up Rs 75,000. 

6 killed in mishap

Dehradun, February 7
Six people were killed and six others sustained serious injuries when Sampark Kranti Express rammed into their utility vehicle at an unmanned level crossing on Bilaspur Road in Rudrapur this morning.

The victims were on their way to attend a wedding at Nanakpuri Tanda. — TNS

One arrested on sexual assault charge
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 7
The Raipur police have arrested one person for allegedly enticing and sexually assaulting a minor girl. He was sent to jail today.

Accused Amir Mirza was known to the victim’s family. According to the father of the girl, Mirza enticed his daughter and took her along with him. He said Mirza was married and was still trying to have a relationship with his minor daughter.

On the other hand, the Raipur police say that they have started investigation in the case and are questioning a number of persons to get to the bottom of the case.