Harish Rawat reviews works at disaster-hit Narendranagar
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 3
Chief Minister Harish Rawat today reviewed reconstruction works at disaster-hit Narendranagar town in Tehri district today. He directed officials to ensure that the quality of work was not compromised. The Chief Minister said there would be no dearth of money and also made it clear that the after the allocation and utilisation of the money, a social audit would be conducted.

He ordered that the roads must be made free of potholes by March 15.

The Chief Minister said work on reconstruction projects whose foundation stones were laid on February 9 and 25 should be speeded up under the Project Implementation Unit and after taking the approval from the local MLA.

He asked officials to invite tenders for roads under the PMGSY, Asian Development Bank and the Public Works Department within seven days.

He said for 140 projects in the state, Rs 30 crore had been provided so far. Work on 59 projects had already started.

The Chief Minister said to complete reconstruction projects at the earliest, approval right had been given to the SDMs for projects up to Rs 1 crore, the DMs for up to Rs 5 crore and to the Commissioner-level official for projects up to Rs 10 crore.

He announced that he would travel to all disaster-affected areas by road.

The Chief Minister ordered that repair work on 251 damaged drinking water schemes be completed by the month-end.

He asked officials of the Electricity Department to make available extra transformers at the SDO level so that faulty transformers could be replaced when the need arose.

The Chief Minister also announced the construction of Harkhi drain on the Jaakh-Dobra road, release of funds for the repair of the Bharpoor canal in Pratapnagar, a stadium in Muni-ki-Reti, upgrading of Dabarkhal High School to the intermediate level and a plan for a sewer line and garbage disposal in Narendranagar.

MLA Dinesh Dhanai drew the Chief Minister’s attention to the bad state of the New Tehri-Zero private road. The CM directed the DM to take necessary action.

The Chief Minister said the government had implemented the Right to Public Services Act and responsibilities had been assigned to the officials. No shortcomings in this regard would be tolerated. He said voluntary land consolidation be started in at least one village of every block for which an officer would be designated.

The Education Department had sent 20 proposals to the government out of which the government has sanctioned the construction of four school buildings. Chief Education Officer Dinesh Chandra Gaud said these four schools were in Aachrikhunt, Naagraajdhar Nagun, Jakhidagar and Bedhdhaar. A sum of Rs 1 crore would be given to encourage the Gram Sabha doing the best work.

On the occasion, residents of Daur village and the Pratap Nagar area met Chief Minister Harish Rawat and shared their problems with him. Local MLA Subodh Uniyal extended his gratitude to the CM for visiting his constituency.

Among those present at the meeting were MLA Pratapnagar Vikram Singh Negi, Chairman of the Bhagirathi River Valley Authority and District Congress president Kirti Singh Negi, DM Yugal Kishore Pant and PWD officials.

Disaster-hit Myani village yet to receive relief
Ajay Ramola
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, march 3
The disaster-affected people from Myani village under Nainbagh tehsil in district Tehri are yet to receive relief and compensation from the Government even after over eight months since the natural calamity that struck in Uttarakhand. Many of the people whose irrigated fields were destroyed or damaged due to the road that caved in on their fields in Myani village are angered at not receiving any compensation despite tall claims made by the government of providing them relief even after eight months of the disaster.

The affected people lamented the fact that the Congress-led state government instead of providing them adequate compensation for the damage to their fields appeared to be busy in internal party conflicts and preparing for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections rather than on ensuring the welfare of the disaster victims.

The Badrigad-Banchaura-Badeti road was damaged during the disaster last year and the new road was cut out from the irrigated fields of villagers from Myani as an alternative arrangement by PWD.

The villagers, Hukum Singh,Vikram Singh, the outgoing gram pradhan Rajesh Sajwan,Rakesh, Surat and others informed the media that back then the DM had assured them of adequate compensation for utilising their irrigated fields for linking the damaged road but they have not received a single penny in the form of compensation even after eight months of the disaster, creating a livelihood problem in the process.

The villagers also lamented the fact that the work done on the new road constructed here was of substandard nature and had resulting in several vehicles being caught in the quagmire created by incessant rain leaving the commuters stranded for several hours here.

When contacted the Executive Engineer, PWD, Thatyud division, Narayan Singh Kholia, informed The Tribune that the estimate for the compensation amount for the damage incurred to the irrigated fields at Myani Vvllage had been sent to the government for approval and as soon as they received the amount it would be distributed without any delay.

Speaking on the pathetic condition of the road that was constructed by PWD he said that the National Hydropower Corporation had not prepared the DPR for the said road and the road will be repaired as soon as the DPR is completed.

CM announces new schemes, but ignores old projects
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, March 3
While, Chief Minister Harish Rawat is announcing new developmental schemes in the state prior to the Lok Sabha polls, there are several incomplete works in Pithoragarh and Champawat districts, which are lingering on from years, as the required budget for these schemes could not be released.

Out of these hung development schemes, the 35 km long metalled road, announced in 1980 by the then government, from Pithoragarh to Gangolihat via Auwalaghat is still waiting budget.“The much needed road which would have reduced distance from Pithoragarh to Gangolihat by 20 km, is still waiting budget after constructed up to 30 km from Dasaithal to Agron bend, the road could not be given finances by the respective governments,” said Prakash Pant, a social worker from Gangolihat town.

“Had the road been completed, more than three dozen villages would have been linked,” added the social worker.

In Champawat district, the projects under the Backward Areas Grants Fund Scheme of the Central Government, have not received remaining budget after initiating some work under the scheme in last financial year when the schemes were launched in the district. “ The remaining amount of Rs 12 crore needed for the completion of several projects under the scheme for 2011-12 has not yet been sanctioned by the government,” said Krishna Joshi, a former member of the district planning committee.

According to gram pradhans of several villages, due to financial crunch and non-sanctioning of required budget for the announced schemes, the administrators have started rejecting the developmental schemes, which they find not so urgent and forwarding only those schemes which have wider public connection. “ keeping these norms in mind, the district administration in Champawat district has adopted only three schemes of the disaster mitigation in the district despite a proposal for 21 schemes was forwarded by the Nagar Palika Parishad Champawat last year,” said Ramesh Chandra Pant, president, Gram Pradhan Sangthan, Champawat district.

Ashok Kumar removed as Mukhya Nagar Adhikari
Poor sanitary conditions in Doon cited reason; District Magistrate given additional charge of the post
Tribune News Service

Garbage accumulated near a bin in Dehradun on Monday. A Tribune photograph

Dehradun, March 3
The rising garbage heaps and failing sanitary conditions in the city claimed its first victim, Mukhya Nagar Adhikari Ashok Kumar, who suffered a major blow after he was removed from his chair barely two days after the Doon Valley Waste Management (DVWM) ended its contract for garbage disposal with the state government.

In what is being perceived as a measure to get hold of deteriorating sanitary conditions, owing to the lackadaisical attitude of the MNA, the officer was deposed of his charge and attached with the Secretariat as Additional Secretary (Administration).

The District Magistrate, BVRC Purshottam, has been given the additional charge of MNA. In yet another development, Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority Secretary Banshidhar Tiwari has been given the additional charge of Additional MNA, DMC.

It may be recalled that in the first week of February this year, after the financial and administrative powers of Mukhya Nagar Adhikari Ashok Kumar were snatched owing to his failure in managing the sanitation of the state capital, a massive cleaning operation was launched under the supervision of Principal Secretary MH Khan.

The move came soon after the then Principal Secretary (Urban Development) MH Khan, for the second time in a fortnight, had to personally supervise the cleaning operation launched by the DMC after getting a rap from the Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat.

While none of the officials were ready to speak on record, sources revealed that the decision was taken following the utter failure of the MNA to handle the sanitation conditions of the city and failure to solve the problems arising while dealing with the DVWM.

Secretary (Urban Development) DS Gabriyal said that the decision to remove the MNA was taken to improve sanitary conditions of the city. “The DM has been given the charge of MNA on a temporary basis until a fresh appointment is made by the state government,” he added.

Meanwhile, DM Purshottam said: “I will try my best to make the entire city clean within two-three days. It’s a herculean task and would require a lot of effort. We hope that the public would cooperate with us in maintaining the hygiene of the city.”

Giving the details of cleaning operations launched here today, Harshvardhan Mishra, the AMNA, said: “Presently we are working with the DVWM vehicles and have not removed the employees that were hired by the company for the door-to-door collection of the garbage. We have also cleared a lot of overflowing bins in the city. Hopefully the situation would be back to normal within a week.”

Excise Dept incentives for IMFL retailers
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 3
The Department of Excise has announced several incentives for the retailers of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), including allowing the sale of beer in shops selling country liquor. It has also ensured 10 per cent guaranteed sale for the locally produced wine under the Uttarakhand Liquor License Rules for the excise year 2014-2015.

“There has been a perceptible increase of 18 per cent in the consumption of IMFL during the excise year 2013-2014. It has boosted the overall excise revenue collections for the ongoing year. For this reason, we have incorporated several incentives, including 15 per cent minimum guaranteed duty (MGD) for IMFL, for 2014-2015,” said Additional Secretary, Excise, Vinay Shankar Pandey.

“Those setting up beer factories in the state will be given incentive to set up single beer outlets in each district of the state by depositing Rs 1 lakh as earnest money per outlet,” said Pandey.

For the excise year 2013-2014, the department is expected to achieve a target of Rs 1,270 crore against the target of Rs 1,150 crore by March-end. This is nearly 10 per cent more than the target of 2012-2013. The department had earned a revenue of Rs 1,117 crore during the period. For 2014-2015, it has fixed the revenue collection target at Rs 14,000 crore.

To boost the local wine industry that uses local cereals and horticulture produce like apple and potatoes for the production of wine, the department has decided to offer 10 per cent guaranteed sale of the produce from the producers. “We had announced the winery policy last year so that farmers through value addition could utilise the horticulture produce - apples, potatoes and local cereals (mandva and jhangora) - for making wine. However, it received lukewarm response. But for the new excise year, we have introduced the guaranteed sale incentive,” said Pandey.

Students agitated over not receiving exam forms
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, march 3
The private students from MPG College are an agitated lot as they are forced to run from pillar to post to receive the examination forms due to apathy of the Sridev Suman University in Mussoorie.

The students from National Students Union (NSUI) held a meeting in this regard at the MPG College today and demanded from the college administration to provide the private students examination forms without any further delay or they would be forced to take to streets.

The students complained that the Sridev university forms for private students are distributed from the post office but the students had to return empty handed as they were not available there, which is creating unnecessary problems for the students from the far-off villages enrolled in MPG college.

The NSUI town general secretary Ritesh Rawat further said that the students had to travel to Dehradun to get the forms which was not only cumbersome exercise but an expensive one too.

He demanded that the college administration should talk to the Sridev Suman University officials and ensure that the forms are available to the students on priority basis.

The college administration when contacted said that they had informed the university officials about the lack of forms in the college, who had assured to resolve the problem soon.

Cant Blue drub Dehra Eleven
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 3
Cant Blue Football Club thrashed Dehra Eleven 5-0 in a match during the 22nd Narang Gurung Zics Memorial Football Tournament here today. Sunil Adhakari remained the top scorer for Cant Blue with four individual goals in the match. He scored in the 2nd, 30th, 45th and 55th minutes. The other goal was scored by Atit Rai in the 12th minute of the match.

In the second match, Wills Youth Club defeated Escodus Football Club 3-0 with Prakash scoring two goals in the 24th and 30th minutes. Jagjeet stuck the third goal for Wills Youth in the 50th minute.

Tomorrow, two matches will be played. Khalanga Boys will clash with Gorkha Boys and Khukri Eleven with Balaji Boys.

Shiwalik win football match

The Shiwalik Football Club defeated JA Boys in the inaugural match of the 22nd Narang Gurung Zics Memorial Football Tournament that started on the Mahindra football ground in the cantonment here yesterday.

The match went to a tiebreaker with both teams scoring one goal each in the normal allotted time. In the 11th minute of the match, Arpan of JA Boys scored a brilliant goal for his team. But within a few minutes, Sumit of Shiwalik scored the equaliser in the 17th minute.

No team could score any other goal and the match was decided in a tiebreaker. In the tiebreaker, the Shiwalik team defeated JA Boys 6-5.

Almora shut down as locals demand better health services
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, March 3
On the 13th day, Almora remained closed courtesy protests and residents continuing with their dharna at the district hospital, here on Saturday. People from various organisations gathered to demand improvement in the lacklustre medical services being provided across the district.

People from various political parties and social orgnisations formed Janswasth Sangharsh Samiti under the chairmanship of veteran journalist PC Joshi for the cause, and closed the market and other business establishments protesting against the poor medical services of the town.

"It is for the first time in recent years, Almora has come under a single leadership to get better service in health facilities," said Joshi, organiser of the samiti.

The speakers who later gathered at the district hospital alleged that the state government was providing second grade medical services to the hill districts of the state. "We have decided to continue our dharna at the district hospital till the medical services of Almora and district get improved," said Yusuf Tiwari convener of Janwadi Naujawan Sabha in the district.

The leaders from other political parties and social organisations, who participated in the agitation, were members of the Aam Adami party, Uttarakhand Pariwartan Party, Bharat Swabhiman Manch, Janwadi Mahila Morcha, UKD, and othere social groups like bar association members.

CM wants developmental work speeded up
Our correspondent

Pithoragarh, March 3
Chief Minister Harish Rawat today instructed the officers in Champawat district to speed up the pace of the developmental work in the district as the sanctioned budget for the purpose could be fully utilised before the ending of the financial year.

“Surrendering the sanctioned budget will be termed as inefficiency of the department,” said Rawat while addressing a meeting of the district-level planning officers.

The Chief Minister inaugurated the newly constructed building of the circuit house in the district headquarter and laid stone for the two major schemes of the district including, road links from Champawat district headquarter to remote Manch and Tamli areas of the district and Khetikhan from Champawat district headquarter.

“The entire projects cost Rs 37.83 crore. The budgetary sanctions have been completed,” said Dependra Chaudhary, District Magistrate of Champawat.

The Chief Minister was welcomed by the Congress workers after reaching Goralchaur ground near the district headquarter.

“Though, the Chief Minister reached an hour late from the scheduled time, he was welcomed by a huge crowd as he visited the district for the first time after becoming the Chief Minister of the state,” said Mohan Ram, president of the district Congress committee.

Pak Rotarians meet Aziz Qureshi
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 3
Governor Aziz Qureshi today invited to Raj Bhavan the 30-member delegation of Rotarians from Pakistan who have been here for the Rotary International 3080 seminar.

The Governor, who is a strong advocate of rising above the differences in caste, religion, language and other dividing factors, had invited the Rotarians from Pakistan to tea. He told them that he hoped they would make all efforts to change the mentality of people who had sown seeds of hatred between India and Pakistan.

He said in both countries, more than 40 per cent of people, even after 67 years of the Independence, were struggling every day to obtain basic facilities like food, housing, education and health. He said Rotarians must show the right direction to these people who were ignorant of the evil designs of fundamentalists. Only then we could create a society which leaders like Mahatma Gandhi had dreamt of.

The Governor told the group about the natural disaster that had hit Uttarakhand in June 2013 and also how people sensitive to humanity had come forward to help the victims of the disaster. He said Uttarakhand had great communal harmony .The governor told the delegation about the various shrines of all religions which were located here. He presented each member with a coffee table on Uttarakhand and a replica of Badrinath shrine.

Govt interfering in DMC functioning: BJP
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 3
Attacking the Congress-led state government for interfering in the working of the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC), the BJP councillors said it was due to the wrong policies of the state government that the city residents have to suffer.

Addressing a press conference here today, Bhupinder Kathaith, BJP councillor, said: “The state government should understand that the municipal corporations are an independent entities and not any government department.”

“The termination of the contract between the state government and the Doon Valley Waste Management (DVWM), a private firm hired for door-to-door collection of garbage, is a clear reflection of the failure on government’s part to handle the situation and resolve the issues amicably. Neither the state government nor their officers in the DMC, especially MNA Ashok Kumar, had cooperated with the company officials to resolve their issues,” he added.

“There has been no development in the city. Even Mayor Vinod Chamoli tried his best to resolve the issues between the DVWM and the DMC, but the state government continued to interfere in the proceedings and gave false assurances,” said Sushil Gupta, a BJP councillor.

“If the government doesn’t allow the DMC to function independently, the situation will not improve,” he added.

Police arrest notorious thug
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 3
The police have arrested a notorious thug, who had duped a number of shopkeepers in the past couple of months, from the Barthwal chowk in the Patel Nagar police station area here.

Acting on a tip-off, the police team conducted checking at major markets in the Patel Nagar area and arrested Amit Kumar when he was sitting in his car. He was allegedly on the look out for another prey.

According to the police, Amit Kumar hails from Jalandhar in Punjab and has been living in Kaulagarh since the last couple of months.

The police are claiming that Amit Kumar used to identify shops where owners are elderly persons or women and then he used to get friendly with the shop owners before stealing valuables from there. The police were getting constant complaints from the shopkeepers in the Patel Nagar area and other parts of the city as well of a person who comes in his car and lifts valuables from the shops in a professional manner.

Reportedly, shopkeepers from Kargi Chowk, Shimla Bypass, Nehru Colony, Dharampur and Rajpur Road had become victims of Amit Kumar in the past.

Meanwhile, the police have also recovered a huge amount of valuables from his possession, which he had stolen from various shops, especially in the Patel Nagar area.

Smart thief: The police are claiming that Amit Kumar used to identify shops where owners are elderly persons or women and then he used to get friendly with the shop owners before stealing valuables from there.

Anna, Mamata's rally in Doon on March 13
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 3
Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will participate in a rally in Dehradun on March 13. Actor Mithun Chakraborty, who has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha as a Trinamool Congress candidate from West Bengal, will also attend the rally.

President of the Mamata-Anna Campaign Committee Vinod Singh said, “Eight teams have been formed in Uttarakhand to look after the arrangements. Jantatra Morcha workers have been asked to make the rally a historic and success.”

Vinod Singh said during the rally, Anna Hazare would make his stand clear that why he choose to support Mamata Banerjee instead of his former protégé, Arvind Kejriwal. He claimed that over 40 AAP members had left the party and joined the Anna-Mamata front.

Bhopal Singh Chaudhary, state coordinator of the Jantantra Morcha, said they would soon announce candidates for five Lok Sabha seats in Uttarakhand.

He also made it clear that the candidates would contest on Trinamool Congress ticket though the selection of candidates would be done under the supervision of Anna Hazare.

Battery-operated rickshaw drivers strike work

Haridwar, March 3
The newly introduced battery-operated eco-friendly rickshaw operators went on a day’s strike today, due to which commuters were a hassled lot. Under the aegis of Maa Bhagirathi Battery Rickshaw Chalak Welfare Association, an agitation was held at Devpura, outside the city magistrate’s office. The members demanded licenses, registration by ARTO and fixing of routes.

President of the body Raja Chanhcal said despite repeated requests, no heed was paid to the demands by the assistant regional transport association.

Protesters also alleged that drivers of diesel-run Vikram autos tried to physically intimidate many battery-run rickshaw operators, as a result of which they were not feeling safe to operate across the city. The union demanded police action against the offenders, so that battery-run rickshaw operators could run freely in the city.

Meanwhile, support from various quarters has been pouring in for battery-run rickshaw operators.

Sanjay Trival, district traders union, organisation secretary, said while Vikram autos charged hefty fares and led to pollution, battery rickshaws were eco-friendly and a popular mode of transportation for the local people, pilgrims and tourists. — TNS

Admn tightens noose around hostels
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 3
District Magistrate BVRC Purushottam has instructed officials to conduct checks on private hostels running in the Arcadia Grant area of the city. The move comes a week after residents of Shyampur village lodged a protest against private hostels after a hosteller mowed down a villager with his speeding car. The DM said the district toursim development officer, along with the SHO of the area police station, would conduct a thorough check of private hostels. "The officers would check whether the hostels are being run by the owners themselves or their representatives. In case the owner is not found, the hostels will be sealed and action will be taken against the owner," he added.

Issuing a warning to hostel owners, the DM said a movement register would be maintained which would carry the details of every person visiting the hostel. "Also the owners should ensure that none of the occupants is allowed to go out or stay out of the hostel after 10 pm. In case any hosteller is found guilty, the hostel owner will also be held equally responsible for the same," he added.

BJP to govt: Clarify stand on sale of nomination papers

Dehradun, March 3
The spokesperson of the Uttarakhand BJP Prakash Suman Dhyani has demanded that the Congress government should come clear on the issue of amount being collected by the government on the sale of nomination papers for election of district panchayat, ksehtra panchayat, pradhan and members of gram panchayats.