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Cabinet renews industrial policy
Congress govt ‘firmly in the saddle’
Union minister for debate on
Article 370, common civil code
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World Bank to help restore water, sanitation projects
Berinag villagers to boycott panchayat poll
Naithani upset with poor results of govt schools
Migration from remote villages worrisome, says former Chief Secy
Officials told to take effective steps for panchayat elections
quitting smoking
Private schools fleecing students, alleges consumers’ council
Jewellery shop robbery
Lok Sabha candidates told to submit expenditure details
Ration cards issued
UPNL Chairman sacked
Nishank resigns as MLA
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Cabinet renews industrial policy
Dehradun, May 30 The Uttarakhand Ropeway Bill is expected to come up during the three-day Assembly session to be held at Gairsain from June 10. “The ropeways will help farmers to ferry their goods and dairy products to plains. There is a need to give a fillip to the ropeways that could also prove advantageous in remote areas where connectivity continues to be a problem. These will also be used at tourist spots for providing connectivity. For this reason, the government is contemplating bringing a Bill that takes into consideration the needs of the state,” said an official. Further, the Cabinet also renewed the Mega Industrial and Investment Policy 2013 for 2014-2015. The other important decisions taken included facilities to be given to retired jawans of paramilitary forces and their families on the lines of being provided to ex-servicemen; framing of rules and regulations for the Uttarakhand Yuva Dal and the Prantiya Rakshak Dal; nod to setting up of residential welfare societies in cities and their registration; Mangal Dals and Yuva Dals would be given contracts worth Rs 3 lakh without tenders; a committee comprising Cabinet ministers Indira Hirdayesh, and Surinder Singh Negi and other members would deliberate on the demands of employees of different unions; and a vigilance inquiry to be conducted on the complaints pertaining to appointments made under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan and the Rashritya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan. The residential welfare societies would be entrusted with the task of maintaining cleanliness and also making security arrangements. Separate rules and regulations would be framed for them. Other Cabinet decisions
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Congress govt ‘firmly in the saddle’
Dehradun, May 30 Addressing a press conference here today, he said there was no question of searching for safe seat for CM Harish Rawat, who was yet to get elected to the Uttarakhand Assembly after becoming CM. ''Many Congress MLAs have offered their seat to the CM and thus there is no question of searching for safe seat for CM,'' said Surendra Kumar. He said the particular Assembly seat from where Harish Rawat will be contesting would be revealed at the appropriate moment. He said the Chief Minister has
always believed in developmental politics. Surendra Kumar accused the BJP of having a nexus with the liquor mafia. '' The BJP has a long history of relationship with the liquor mafia and the party has time and again fought elections from the money of liquor mafia,'' he alleged, adding that the state government strongly believed in transparent governance. Responding to queries, Surendra Kumar said the state Congress government was firmly in the saddle and ruled out any setback to the state Congress government in the aftermath of Lok Sabha poll debacle. |
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Union minister for debate on
Article 370, common civil code
Dehradun, May 30 “I am open to holding a debate on such issues so that their pros and cons could be weighed upon and a conclusion arrived. Why should we shy away from holding a debate," said Radha Mohan while replying to a question at a press conference held here. A debate on Article 370 has started after Minister of State for PMO Jitender Singh, MP from Udhampur, said the process for repealing Article 370 had invited acrimonious reactions from Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah. Radha Mohan Singh is the second minister who has expressed views on the issue. On the issues plaguing the agriculture sector, the Union minister said it was his ministry’s priority to fast-track the decisions taken in the past 10 years and implement plans for the future. “We want to launch the Prime Minister Gramin Sichayi Yojana to meet the irrigation needs of the farmers on the lines of the Prime Minister Gramin Sadak Yojana that was started during the regime of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the Krishi Amdani Beema Yojana for the farmers to protect them from the vagaries of natural calamities,” he added. He said the Agriculture Ministry had also been tasked with formulating a plan for increasing milk production in the country. Radha Mohan underlined the plans for Uttarakhand and said the Indian Council of Agriculture and Research was keen to confer the status of a deemed university upon the Central Soil and Water Conservation Research Training Institute in
Dehradun. |
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Environmentalist Babu Ram ‘Junglee’ starts save Ganga drive
Haridwar, May 30 Talking to TNS, Babu Ram said the state bird was on a threat of extinction. Citing figures of 1988, Babu Ram said three decades back, the number of Monal’s were 11,000, which was now only 2,500. “The Himalayan Monal is on a verge of extinction and it’s our duty to come forward and save the state bird,” said Ram. Interestingly, Babu Ram can imitate voices of 100 odd birds, including Monal. He has also organised ‘save Monal campaign’ in several schools and colleges of Pauri Garhwal district. “I am in Haridwar to generate awareness about the decline of the state bird as they are being hunted in large numbers,” he added. Ram Babu is also associated with the save Ganga campaign and has initiated this drive from Deo Prayag in Pauri Garhwal, the confluence of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda river, after which the river stream was named
holy Ganga. |
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World Bank to help restore water, sanitation projects
Dehradun, May 30 The additional financing, which was approved by the World Bank Board on March 4, 2014, will support the on-going Uttarakhand Rural Water Supply and Sanitation programme to reconstruct and restore RWSS projects that were partially damaged. The closing date for the ongoing project will now be extended by 18 months from June 16, 2014, to December 31, 2015. The credit agreement for the additional financing of the Uttarakhand Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) Project was signed by Nilaya Mitash, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, on behalf of the Government of India; Swajanya, Project Director, Uttarakhand Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project, on behalf of the Government of Uttarakhand; and Michael Haney, World Bank's operations adviser in India on behalf of the World Bank. The additional financing will finance the reconstruction and restoration of an estimated 2,622 damaged single village schemes and 579 multi village schemes; 3,338 individual household latrines (IHHLs), 3,328 soak pits and 41,770 metres of drains. This will help restore RWSS services for over a million rural people. As of December 31, 2013, the ongoing project has benefited nearly 1.22 million people in about 7,000 rural habitations in 13 districts. This additional financing will help restore services of damaged projects in the disaster-affected areas of Uttarakhand. The emphasis will be on building disaster resilient infrastructure. “We hope our partnership with the government will help improve the overall disaster management work in the state and prevent the loss of life and livelihood in the future,” said Michael Haney, World Bank s Operations Adviser in India. From 15 to 17 June, 2013, Uttarakhand, endowed with vast natural resources and one of the most frequented tourist and pilgrimage destinations in India, suffered unprecedented rainfall devastating the towns of Kedarnath, Rambara, Gaurikund and others. A Joint Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (JRDNA) conducted by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) at the request of the Government of India and in close collaboration with the Government of Uttarakhand, estimated the physical damage across a range of sectors and calculated the total cost of reconstruction at $ 661 million. The ongoing project in Uttarakhand is working towards a decentralised approach to delivering rural water supply and sanitation services to its people with an increased role for Panchayati Raj Institutions and local communities. Given the recent disaster in Uttarakhand, apart from restoring damaged schemes, this additional financing will also focus on enhancing the institutional capacity of the Panchayati Raj institutions to prepare for and manage the impact of natural disasters better, said Smita Misra, lead water and sanitation specialist and the World Bank's task team leader for the project. The additional financing will be financed by a credit from the International Development Association (IDA) the World Bank's concessionary lending arm which provides interest-free loans with 25 years to maturity and a grace period of five years. Timely help
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CM inspects reconstruction works at disaster-hit Kedarnath shrine
Dehradun, May 30 He also disclosed that cable car was in the offing from Kedarnath base camp to Kedarnath temple. He said survey works for ropeway from Licholi to Kedarnath was already in progress. Inspecting the construction works at Kedarnath temple, Chief Minister Harish Rawat directed officials to increase pre-fabricated huts for making better accommodation arrangements at Kedarnath. He also held that the Mandakini river flow would also be made to go in the right direction to avoid threat to human life. Cabinet Minister Indira Hridyesh, who also accompanied Chief Minister, asserted that the state government was leaving no stone unturned towards ensuring foolproof reconstruction works. Kedarnath MLA Shail Rani Rawat, Kedarnath priest community's representative Sriniwas Posti, former MP Jitendra Singh and Chief Secretary Subhash Kuamr were present on the occasion. |
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Berinag villagers to boycott panchayat poll
Pithoragarh, May 30 “Due to lack of road the residents of Adhiyali, Chama and Simayal villages have to travel 8 to 20 km to reach the nearest road head,” said Laxman Singh Rawal, convener of the Chamachaura Sangharsh Samiti. Rawal said though the villagers completely boycotted the Lok Sabha elections on May 7, the district administration had not learnt any lesson and done nothing to gather information about their problems. “We do not need to participate in any election as the government and the district administration have not even addressed our minor problem of a road link,” he said. On the other hand, the district administration in Champawat and Pithoragarh have started preparations for the elections and announced the number of voters and polling booths. “A total of 313,210 voters will take part in the three-tier panchayat elections in the district. The electorates will vote to elect 694 gram pradhans, 33 zila panchayat members and eight block pramukhs, besides 294 BDC members,” said HC Semwal, District Election Officer, Pithoragarh. In Champawat district, 170,250 voters would cast their votes in the panchayat elections to elect 313 gram pradhans, 134 BDC members and 15 zila panchayat members, besides four block pramukhs. “We have set up 364 polling booths for the panchayat elections in the district,” said KN Tiwari, Panchayat Election Officer, Champawat. |
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Naithani upset with poor results of govt schools
Pithoragarh, May 30 Naithani on a religious yatra to the Kumaon region said at Almora yesterday that he was concerned about the poor results shown by the government schools despite the fact that the state and Central governments were giving them more facilities. “It is shameful that the government schools have registered poor results though teachers are getting every facility. We have decided to investigate the matter to find out the actual reasons for the poor results,” he said. In Haldwani, members of the Rajkiya Shikshak Sangh met Naithani and discussed the poor results shown by the government schools in the Uttarakhand board and CBSC examinations. They said the government schools had shown poor results due to the policies of the government which forced teachers to perform duties other than teaching. According to the Rajkiya Shikshak Sangh, the teaching in these schools was disturbed for almost three months as the government had put teachers on other duties. They worked as BLO, population counters and surveyors under the government schemes. “After the mid-day meal scheme was introduced in government schools under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan, serving food to children rather than focusing on studies has become the main work of the teachers," said Sonu Mehta, a teachers' leader in Haldwani. |
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Migration from remote villages worrisome, says former Chief Secy
Pithoragarh, May 30 “To check migration from these areas, it is important that the quality of education in government schools is first improved,” he said. Tolia said villagers in order to give quality education to their children were migrating to other cities. Dr YS Pangti, former professor, Kumaon University, said inadequate number of teachers in government schools was also one of the reasons behind the migration from the region. Meritorious students were unable to get guidance to pursue higher education. To acheive their dreams, they were migrating to cities and other areas, where they could get proper guidance. Meanwhile, organiser of the Munsiyari summer festival Kedar Singh Martolia said sports and cultural competitions would start from June 1. Several groups from the Munsiyari region were expected to take part in the events. |
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Music, play mark cultural day at Doon Girls School
Dehradun, May 30 A Kathak performance started with ‘tatkar’ and ended with a celebration dance set in raag Malhar. The rhythmic footwork kept the audience spell bound throughout the performance. Surmai and Shruti at tabla and Ssavi at harmonium gave an outstanding performance. The students staged a thought-provoking play "Whose planet is it anyway" depicting the problem faced by all creatures living in water, rivers and seas and the factors behind water pollution. It invoked everyone to
come forward taking the responsibility of all that is around us and save the environment to make
the world a better place to live in. Aprajita, Savi and Shruti at maracas, harmonium and conch shell, respectively, were instrumental in giving music throughout the evening. Chairman of the school C.P Dang, Director I. Goswami, Principal Monisha Datta and Head Mistress Meeta Aswal were also present on the occasion. Dr Sekhar Raha gave away prizes to the deserving students for extracurricular activities. |
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Officials told to take effective steps for panchayat elections
Dehradun, May 30 While chairing a meeting with the officials at the collectorate campus, here today, Pandey also instructed the officials to complete all the necessary arrangements. He said strict action would be taken against those officials who fail to perform as per the desired standards. He also asked the officials to complete the arrangements at the block-level. The nodal officers
were instructed to submit the developmental report and route-chart to the additional divisional magistrate at the earliest. Pandey told the officials to inspect the polling booths and ensure basic amenities at the polling booths in the district. He said the polling parties would be departed from Asharam Vaidik Inter-College, Vikasnagar, and Guru Ram Rai Inter-College, Sahaspur, for the developmental blocks in Vikasnagar and Sahaspur respectively. He said the polling parties for Raipur and Doiwala developmental blocks would be departed from Sports College, Raipur, and Industiral Training Institute (ITI), Doiwala, respectively. |
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Omar Abdullah's effigy burnt
Dehradun, May 30 The agitators gathered at Clock Tower and burnt an effigy of Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here today. Chairman of the sabha Suresh Kumar said Abdullah was trying to create friction among different communities in the country. He said the Constitution of India was amended in 1957 to include Article 370. Kumar said the Hindus were forced to leave J&K after enactment of Article 370. Secretary of sabha, Ashok Lal, said various beneficiary schemes launched by the Union Government were not being implemented in Jammu & Kashmir due to implementation of Article 370. Among those present were Amit Tomar, Pankaj Baloodi, Rohit Maurya, Manoj Sharma, Babloo Bansal, Alok Bahuguna and Mukesh Anand.
— TNS |
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Mayor Vinod Chamoli promises beneficiary schemes
Dehradun, May 30 While chairing the executive meeting here today, the members agreed to start the collection of house tax on rental basis; revision of entertainment-tax received from cinema-halls; parking-charges for buses parked at old Raipur bus station and selecting sites for street vendors. The members agreed to start nominal parking charges for vehicles parked at the corporation campus. The board members also agreed to improve the basic
amenities, like potable-water, back-up electricity supply with the help of generators etc. Chamoli said possible measures would be taken by the MCD for improving basis amenities in the corporation campus. |
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LED streetlights in Haridwar soon
Haridwar, May 30 The Municipal Corporation has decided to light the city with the new LED lights, though they may be expensive but keeping in mind the quality and less maintenance aspect, the civic body has decided to instal them all over
the city. Mayor Manoj Garg along with Mukhya Nagar Adhikari Vipra Trivedi during a meeting of the civic body today sought suggestions from all
the ward councillors in this regard. Majority of the ward members welcomed the step, demanding additional number of LED lights in their respective wards. As per MNA Vipra Trivedi, a 72-watt LED light will cost Rs 8,200 ,having a three year warranty. Vipra on queries of some ward councillors made it clear that procurement of new LED lights will be done through open tender process as compared to last time when due to fear of lapsing of the civic body money, she had given tender to one firm. Ward councillor Anil Mishra said that the civic body should also make a separate clause regarding durability, quality and maintenance of the LED lights with the firms. He cited dozens of LED lights in non-functional conditions, despite just six months of their installation. On this MNA Vipra Trivedi stated that as these LED lights are still in warranty period,they will be get replaced ,as per the 3-year warranty period clause. Former municipal committee chairperson Satpal Brahamchari welcomed the civic body's attempt to light the city with LEDs instead of CFL or mercury lights. He stressed on maintenance and special team to inspect the street lights on impromptu basis in each of the 30 wards. |
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Nicotine replacement therapy works, testify experts
Tribune News Service
Dehradun, May 30 Studies have shown that the therapy in which chewing gum is used helps in tiding over the withdrawal symptoms that set in once nicotine no longer reaches the bloodstream,” said Dr Sudhanshu Kalra, a private practitioner, addressing a conference held to mark World Anti-Tobacco Day that would fall tomorrow. Dr Kalra said combined with a strong will power and NRT therapy, smokers can easily quit smoking. “Support from friends and family members and counselling from doctors also help in boosting the morale of the smokers who can be dissuaded from adopting the habit,” said Dr Kalra. He said due to passive smoking, non-smokers too run the risk of inhaling tobacco, for instance, if their family members or friends are smokers.
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Private schools fleecing students, alleges consumers’ council
Dehradun, May 30 Brig Behl said that the school management is also charging registration fee of Rs 1,200 per student, and security of Rs 5,000 in addition to charging a development fee of Rs 5000 from those students who are seeking admission in private school. Besides, tuition fee of Rs 10,350 is being charged from April to June. He said that fees make education costlier, which can certainly be reduced. Brig Behl demanded from the state government to take effective measures to keep a tab on such practice. |
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Police yet to make a breakthrough
Tribune News Service
Dehradun, May 30 SSP (Dehradun) Ajay Rautela said a team comprising Special Operation Group (SOG) officials was constituted after the robbery in Dehradun. He said stern instructions had already been given to the team to solve the case soon. Rautela said the team was working on all aspects of the case to solve it, and it had been sent to other states to gather clues. Three armed robbers had looted Vrindavan jewellery shop at Teg Bahadur Road near Rispana Bridge under Dalanwala police station area at gunpoint in broad daylight. The robbers took away jewellery worth lakhs of rupees before fleeing. The SSP directed police officers to take measures for preventing repeat of such cases apart from solving this case without delay.
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Shivalik house wins dance competition
Dehradun, May 30 Vindya and Aravali secured third and fourth positions. Music teacher Deepak Thapliyal and dance teacher Neera Kaushik received plaudits for training the students well in the traditional art of folk dances. Upasana Rayal was the chief guest. Director Arpit Panjwani and principal Veena Sahni also received congratulations from the chief guest. |
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Lok Sabha candidates told to submit expenditure details
Dehradun, May 30 “After June 15, expenditure observers would scrutinise the details submitted by the candidates and based on that, the final report will be sent to the Election Commission of India,” she added. |
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Ration cards issued
Dehradun, May 30 She has said ration card holders belonging to the below poverty line and above poverty line categories will get 35 kg and 15 kg of foodgrains, respectively, under the food security programme from June. Raturi has added instructions have been given to the district supply officers to give ration cards to the beneficiaries under the food security programme.
— TNS |
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UPNL Chairman sacked
Dehradun, May 30 Lt Gen Badhani's sacking was on the cards following his differences with Ex-servicemen Welfare Minister Harak Singh Rawat over some appointments made by the latter. He was sacked on Harak Rawat's recommendation to CM Harish Rawat. Meanwhile, Raghunath Singh Negi, Chairman of the Jan Sangharsh Morcha, condemned the state government decision to remove Lt Gen Badhani from the post of UPNL Chairman. |
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Nishank, a former Chief Minister, submitted his resignation to Govind Singh Kunjwal, Speaker of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly. Kunjwal said the Election Commission of India would be informed about the vacant seats for holding byelections. Earlier, Ajay Tamta had resigned from his Someshwar Assembly seat after he won the Lok Sabha election from Almora. — TNS
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Governor’s Cup Golf Tournament takes off
Dehradun, May 30 The Governor said the aim of organising this annual tournament was to give Nainital a special identity as a splendid tourist destination. He said the Raj Bhavan golf course was an excellent place for golfers and this tournament had established this fact. He said seeing the growing popularity of this golf course and this tournament, it was now being considered that various events like invitation cup, gold cup, women golfers' tournament, amateur cup and international tournament should be organised here. He said a golf tournament will also be organised during the Sharadotsav. He said the membership for the golf club would be reopened on his initiative and priority would be given to locals interested in golf. A golf coach would also be appointed. More than 130 players are participating in the three-day event. Of these, 38 teed off today. Among them were one woman, 86-year-old Harendra Singh, three super senior players and four junior golfers. All players played 18 holes today. Of them, 20 best grass players will play in the finals. Players from various states of the country will be familiarised with the culture of Uttarakhand at the cultural programme to be held on the Raj Bhavan premises this evening. Present at the inaugural session were Justice BS Verma, secretary to Governor Arun Dhaundiyal, Kumaon commissioner AS Nayal, DM of Nainital Akshat Gupta, SSP Vimmi Sachdeva, ADCs to the Governor Major PPR Chaudhary and Dr YS Rawat, Golf Captain Colonel (retd) SC Gupta, CMO Nainital Dr Upreti, senior officials of PWD and other departments. |
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ONGC win by 157 runs
Dehradun, May 30 Batting first, ONGC scored 375 runs for the loss of 4 wickets. T Kohli scored an unbeaten 104 runs for ONGC. Chasing the target, the UPCA had scored 99 runs for the loss of 5 wickets at the end of 16 overs when rain disrupted the match. The UPCA was given a revised target of 272 runs in 22 overs. However, they could score only 115 runs and thus lost the match by 157 runs. In the second match, Haryana Police defeated Uttarakhand X1 by 5 wickets. Guru Nanak team, Doon Hawks enter hockey finals
In the first semi-final in the boys category, Guru Nanak team defeated Oak Grove team 3-2 in the six-a-side super hockey league tournament held here on Friday. In another semi-final, that was played between Doon Hawks and Stadium Trainees, Doon Hawks comfortably won the match 2-0. |
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The Mega Industrial and Investment Policy 2013 renewed for
2014-2015
Dehradun, May 30