Second day of Assembly at Gairsain rocked by Opposition ruckus on liquor policy
Neena Sharma
Tribune News service

Gairsain, June 10
The issue of changing the liquor policy for sale (whole sale) of foreign liquor (FL-II) on the sly to benefit a top business man even when the model code was imposed for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, rocked the second day of the assembly session at Gairsain.

As soon as the House convened in the morning the leader of the opposition in the Uttarakhand Legislative assembly, Ajay Bhatt took the Harish Rawat government to task for playing havoc with the policy that would have far reaching ramifications. “The government on March 29 issued an order stating that from June 2014 the wholesale foreign Liquor policy (FL-2) would be sold only through two centres one in Dehradun and other in Udham singh Nagar. Through this order the government has stopped the transparent wholesale liquour policy. An under the table agreement has been struck by the government with the big mafia players of the country. Under the old policy the government used to get license fee from over 40 companies under the only one company will monopolize. It will also give rise to smuggling of big brands,” he said.

The opposition members then demanded that the Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal concede to their demand of holding discussion under rule 310, but he declined the request. The incensed BJP members then trooped inside the well of the House raising slogans against the Harish Rawat government and flashing copies of a local newspaper that had indicted the government.

Amid the din, the Parliamentary affairs minister Indira Hridyesh managed to complete the house business without the opposition members participating in the discussion. A total of five bills comprising of, The Uttarakhand Sanskrit Education Bill 2014, The Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014, The Uttarakhand State Legislature (Prevention of Disqualification) (Amendment) Bill 2014, The Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission Bill 2014 and Uttarakhand State Legislative Assembly (officers salaries and allowances) Amendment Bill 2014 were passed. The government also managed to pass the Rs 3818.93 crore supplementary budget tabled in the house yesterday, even as the opposition refused to budge from the well of the House.

“We wanted to participate in the discussion on the supplementary budget and even offer suggestions but the Speaker and the Parliamentary affairs minister managed to hoodwink us. While the chief minister kept on saying that our demand on discussion on 310 would be conceded, the Speaker and the minister managed to complete the important business of the House,” charged Bhatt. Interestingly former chief minister Vijay Bahuguna and Rural Development Minister Preetam Singh who were unable to make it on the first day of the assembly session yesterday managed to attend the second day of the session.

Appeal to construct a war memorial in Dehradun
Himanshu Kumar Lall
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 10
Uttarakhand does not have a state war memorial having names engraved of all martyrs, who fell in the line of duty, even though more than 13 years have passed since the state came into existence on November 9, 2000. The defence personnel pay homage to martyrs on ceremonial days at different war memorials constructed by military institutions after the name of battles since India got Independence.

The Kargil War Memorial was constructed at Gandhi Park, Dehradun, to pay homage to Operation Vijay martyrs, and military institutions like Indian Military Academy and Rashtriya Indian Military College have their own war memorials having names of alumni engraved on their respective sculptures.

Even as former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank announced to sanction Rs 1 crore to construct a state war memorial, non-availability of adequate piece of land in the capital city is hampering the department efforts to construct state war memorial for martyrs.

While stressing the need of a state war memorial, former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Maj Gen BC Khanduri (Retd) said that state government should draft a concrete plan to sanction funds to construct a state war memorial in the state in order to pay homage to those martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice of their lives in the battlefield.

He said that soldiers of Uttarakhand have always proved their worth in battlefield since India got Independence. Maj Gen Khanduri said that war memorial helps in motivating youths to come forward to join the elite defence forces of India.

Stressing on the need of constructing a state war memorial, former Director General of National Cadet Corps (NCC), Lt Gen MC Bhandari (Retd), said that a large number of retired defence personnel live in Uttarakhand, and have a sizeable presence in the Indian defence forces. He said that effective steps should be taken to construct a state war memorial having names engraved of all martyrs irrespective of their ranks and arms.

Sharing his views, former Commandant of Indian Military Academy, Lt Gen GS Negi (Retd), said that various retired defence personnel associations have been demanding to construct a war memorial in Dehradun. “A proposal was sent to the Ministry of Defence to construct a state war memorial but the project is yet to be completed due to non-availability of land in Dehradun,” he said.

Another veteran defence personnel, Lt Gen TPS Rawat (Retd), strongly opined that a state war memorial should be immediately constructed with names of all martyrs engraved on it. He said plans are in the pipeline to construct a war memorial at Garhi Cantt, but the project is moving at a snail’s pace due to non- availability of land in Dehradun.

Drinking water crisis in Ranikhet, Dwarahat villages
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh June 10
Villages in Ranikhet and Dwarahat are getting only 20 litres of drinking water per person daily against the requirement of 40 litres per person, as the natural sources, which generate water for these villages, have completely dried up due to the searing summer heat these days, said Jal Sansthan sources in Almora division.

The said they had declared a water crisis in 19 villages of Ranikhet, Dwarahat and Tarikhet blocks as against the daily requirement of 18.5 MLD of drinking water, these villages were getting only 8 MLD of water. “If the heat wave continues for the next one week, the remaining sources will also dry up, aggravating the water crisis in the region,” said KS Khati, Executive Engineer, Jal Sansthan, Ranikhet division.

Jal Sansthan officials said against an installed supply capacity of 12 lakh litres of water for the villages in the Tarikhet block only 3.5 lakh litres was being supplied. Almora town was getting only 7 lakh litres of drinking water from the Kosi river against the daily requirement of 14 lakh litres these days. “We have requested people not to waste drinking water as the Kosi is drying up these days,” said JCS Mehta, Executive Engineer, Jal Sansthan, Almora division.

The drinking water crisis has also deepened in Didihat town of Pithoragarh district as illegal mining is disturbing the nearby natural water sources. “If the water source near Didihat town gets depleted due to illegal stone mining going on in the area, the water generation from it will come down in the coming days, aggravating the situation. Didihat town has been facing water shortage for the last one year,” said Jodh Singh Bora, a social worker in Didihat town.

Ashish is BJP youth wing chief
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, June 10
After a three-month hiatus, the BJP youth wing has got a new city divisional president in Ashish Sharma. After getting the consent of newly elected Haridwar parliamentarian Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank,district youth president Harjeet Singh named Ashish Sharma for the city divisional president post.

Ashish Sharma replaces expelled ex-city divisional president Kishan Bajaj, who was shown the exit door by the party after he opposed naming Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank as BJP candidate from Haridwar Lok Sabha constituency.

Kishan Bajaj is considered a close aide of three- time city legislator Madan Kaushik,who too was in the party ticket race from Haridwar seat.

But as on March 15, BJP high command named Nishank as its candidate from Haridwar. Kishan Bajaj along with some party workers opposed the party’s decision, burning effigies of yog guru Swami Ramdev and Pokhriyal.

Taking cognizance of this episode Uttarakhand BJP youth president Saurabh Thapliyal had removed Bajaj from his post. As now the elections have got completed and first session of Parliament is taking place, Ashish Sharma has been appointed as city divisional president of youth wing.

Talking to media persons elated Ashish said that he will work to strengthen and expand the party base among youths. He said youths played an imperative role in ensuring win of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Haridwar MP Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.

When contacted Kishan Bajaj said that his protest was not against party but he was dejected on ticket not being given to city legislator Madan Kaushik as his candidature was also ruled out in 2009 Lok Sabha election –when the MP ticket given to Kaushik was later given to saint candidate Swami Yatishwaranand.

Bajaj added there were talks of reinstating him to the post, but now with appointment of his successor, assurances from those party leaders have fallen flat.

Divisional BJP president Vikas Tiwari ,who mentored Kishan Bajaj into party politics, said that “the decision is abiding for all of us as discipline is foremost and whatever party high command takes decision regarding Bajaj, it will be binding to all of us.”

DM lays stress on better healthcare facilities for women, children
Tribune News Service

District Magistrate D Senthyl Pendiyan holds meeting of health and social welfare department officials at camp office in Haridwar on Tuesday. A Tribune Photograph

Haridwar, June 10
District Magistrate D Senthyl Pendiyan held a meeting with the district health and social welfare officials at Mayapur, here today. He said to effectively implement health schemes for children and women care in the district, a slum colony would be earmarked to present it as a model project. He said stress should be given to provide better health care facilities to children and women.

He said one-time nutritional food woill be provided to all the expectant mothers by the health workers at all the Anganbadi centres.

“The government has initiated various health schemes to make sure both women and children remain healthy and Anganabdi centers hold a major role,” added Pendiyan. Directing health, education, social welfare and child welfare departments to jointly work in this regard, the District Magistrate said multipurpose camps will be held at block levels, where all the four departments will work together to provide facilities.

“We are holding such a camp for the first time at Bahadrabad block on June 12, where health, education, child welfare and social welfare department officials will be present. From July, these four departments will hold camps at village-level too, where they will deliver information about government schemes, projects, guidelines, procedures, eligibility, criteria and other aspects to the beneficiaries,” he added.

He said a free medical check-up will be provided to all the expectant mothers at Anganbadi centres and Village Health Nutrition Day will be observed at villages to generate awareness about the importance of nutritious food for women and new born child.

The District Magistrate also inspected the road widening project from Dev Pura square till Lal Taura Bridge.

He said with urbanisation and increase in population, it was important to increase the infrastructure capacity in the city.

Mohammed Younis, executive engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD) said as per the directions of the District Magistrate, road broadening work was being done on the Devpura-Lal Taura bridge stretch.

Chandra Mohan Singh Negi, circle officer and assistant divisional magistrate Veer Singh Budhiyal were also present during the inspection.

Garhwal university asks all to abide by court orders
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 10
After drawing flak from Nainital High Court over non-implementation of prescribed rules regarding admissions and teaching, HNB Garhwal University has given directions to the campus directors, heads of departments and principals of all the affiliated colleges of the university to follow all the orders of the court or face the heat.

In a letter addressed to the deans of schools, heads of departments, campus directors and principals of all the affiliated colleges of the university, the university Registrar, Professor PS Rana, has said that High Court of Uttarakhand has observed that the institutions under HNB Garhwal University are permitting admissions more than their permitted intake. Mandatory minimum 180 days of teaching in a year is not followed and teachers are not available in the institutions for five hours a day.

Notably, as per the directions of the High Court, the university has submitted an affidavit in the court that from 2014-15 academic session, the university will implement the orders of the court and actions like de-affiliation, debarring students from appearing in examinations and action against HOD/principal will be taken in case orders are not followed as it will be treated as contempt of court.

The university has also given strict instructions to the affiliated institutions of the university to specify the course, duration and sanctioned strength (approved seats) in their admission prospectus from the academic session 2014-15 onwards.

According to the university directions, principals, heads of departments, campus directors and deans of schools will be held responsible if 180 days of teaching are not held in the institution. Teachers are not giving their services for 5 hours a day and admissions are taken beyond capacity.

Long power cuts have Kankhal residents fuming
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, June 10
Residents of the Kankhal area here are a harried lot as they are facing long power cuts these days. Power supply was restored in Kankhal late last night with people forced to sit in open or visit their relatives or known ones in other parts of the city to get respite from the scorching heat. Local residents and BJP youth wing activists staged protests against the erratic power supply. At Chandra Charya square the activists staged a protest demanding explanation from power corporation officials.

Anamika Sharma, vice-president, women’s youth wing, said while two years ago former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna had announced to make Haridwar a power cut free city owing to its pilgrim-spiritual-tourist aspect but it remained only on papers.

Anamika said many parts of the city were facing 4-6 hrs power cut while Kankhal residents faced a 20- hour power cut.

“We will resort to agitation if in coming days power corporation and the electricity department do not provide round the clock power supply to the city,” said Anamika, while protesting at Chandra Charya square.

Residents of Kankhal also put a jam on the Haridwar-Lakshar road, complaining that neither toll free complaint helpline number of power corporation nor of local SDO is being attended.

Executive Engineer Power Devendra Kumar said due to constant heat wave conditions, demand of electricity had increased in the district.

Devendera said the department was taking measures to supply smooth power in the coming days.

As per the district magistrate office, electricity helpline number is 94120-73700 and Jal Sansthan numbers are 94120-71977 and 94129-60352.

Parents protest at CBSE regional office
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 10
The parents of class 12 students, who failed in the recently announced CBSE results, held protest at the CBSE regional office against the results at Kaulagarh Road, here today. Blaming the CBSE of not paying heed to their concerns, the parents of the students said Chief Minister Harish Rawat spoke to the CBSE chairman and requested him to recheck the copies of the concerned students, but nothing was done.

The parents led by Congress leader Vinod Chauhan, expressed shock over the CBSE result and said it was not possible that a student, who was clearing IIT examination, was getting four marks in one of the subjects in his class 12 CBSE result.

While giving three-day time to the CBSE for ordering rechecking of the copies, the parents threatened to intensify their stir if their demand was not met.

Problem unnoticed

• The parents led by Congress leader Vinod Chauhan, expressed shock over the CBSE result
• The parents of the students said Chief Minister Harish Rawat spoke to the CBSE chairman and requested him to recheck the copies of the concerned students, but nothing was done
• They said it was not possible that a student, who was clearing IIT examination, was getting four marks in one of the subjects in his class 12 CBSE result
• While giving three-day time to the CBSE for ordering rechecking of the copies, the parents threatened to intensify their stir if their demand was not met.

Rashid Sharfuddin is SelaQui’s new headmaster
Tribune News Service

Rashid Sharfuddin, the new headmaster of SelaQui International School, interacts with mediapersons in Dehradun on Tuesday. A Tribune Photograph

Dehradun, June 10
Former house master and history teacher of The Doon School, Rashid Sharfuddin, joined SelaQui International School as its new headmaster, here today. Sharfuddin had a 12-year stint at The Doon School and at the age of 35, he was one of the youngest headmasters in the country. Rohit Pathak, director of the school, introducing the new headmaster.

He said Rashid Sharfuddin did his schooling from St Xavier’s School, graduation from St Stephen’s College, Delhi, and master’s in History from the University of Delhi.

He said he also hold a degree in School Management and International Education from the University of Bath, United Kingdom. Om Pathak, chairman of the school, gave good wishes to the new headmaster as he carries the school legacy ahead.

Sharfuddin said a boarding school like SelaQui was in the best position to provide meaningful education to children. He said his priorities include a makeover of pastoral structure at the school and provide inclusive education aimed at providing morally upright and responsible citizens of India.

Decision to form state paramedical council hailed
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 10
Suryakant Dhasmana, Uttrakhand Congress vice-president and patron of Paramedical Workers Welfare Society, has welcomed the state government’s decision to form a state paramedical council to register paramedical degree holder students in the state. He said that the council would prove extremely beneficial to improve status of degree holder students, once it started functioning in the coming days.

Addressing media persons here today, Suryakant Dhasmana, patron of Paramedical Workers Welfare Society, said that the society had submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Harish Rawat and other officials to form a paramedical council a few months back.

“Considering the plight of paramedical degree-holder students, the Chief Minister has instructed officials to draft terms and conditions for forming the council in the state,” he said.

Dhasmana said that owners of private pathological laboratories, and medical institutions would be now bound to give minimum salary to lab technicians, and other paramedical degree-holder students against their services, once they register themselves in the council.

Among those who were present were Ranveer Singh Bisht, Bhanu Pratap Chauhan, Laxman Singh Negi, Ashish Chand Khali, Rajmohan Negi, Parmatma Painyuli, Gautam Raturi, Dhanveer and Anoop.

Consumer council: Prepare well to meet monsoon fury
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 10
The All India Consumer Council has urged the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority and Dehradun Municipal Corporation to come together and prepare the city to receive the monsoons without the problem of waterlogging. Elaborating further, Brig. K.G. Behl (Retd.), president of the council, said that the state capital witnesses problem of waterlogging every year during the monsoons. “The issue can be resolved only if MDDA and DMC come together and work towards resolving the problem,” he added.

“The present drainage system in the town is incapable of tackling the heavy rains witnessed during the monsoons. Water gets accumulated in many places, resulting in traffic jams and inconvenience to the pedestrians. It is so because there is no proper connection of different drains made for the purpose. Moreover, the drains remain choked as a result of which the rainwater gets accumulated and enters the adjoining shops and houses, causing a lot of damage to the belongings of the people and shopkeepers,” said Brig Behl (retd).

“Both MDDA and DMC should join hands and get all drains checked up to ensure that they are in good shape and not blocked. Also, the drains should be well connected so that water does not stop anywhere or enter places around,” he added.

Demand to ensure adequate water supply
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 10
A delegation of residents from different colonies met Mayor of Municipal Corporation of Dehradun, Vinod Chamoli, against acute shortage of potable water in colonies. They demanded to construct a new tubewell in order to overcome the shortage of potable water in localities.

The delegation was led by former councillor-cum-BJP vice-president (Mahanagar) Babita Sahotra Vohra here today. A memorandum was submitted to Mayor Vinod Chamoli and demanded to take effective steps to overcome the problem of shortage of potable water in the colonies.

She said that residents living in Indira Colony and Valmiki Basti are facing acute shortage of potable water, and are traversing several kilometers to quench their thirst. The residents lamented that shortage of potable water has become graver after a tubewell was damaged.

The delegation demanded to construct a new tubewell at an abandoned public toilet. According to them, the executive engineer of Jal Sansthan has submitted letter to officials demanding to provide land to construct the tubewell.

Rajendra Agarwal, Pravesh Gautam, Sanjay, Mamta Chettri, Nirjala Devi, Sushil Kumar, Guddi Devi, Yogeshwar Prasad, Surendra Pal, Shashi Thapa, Girish Gairola were present.