Cong, UKD flay rail fare hike
Tribune News Service

Haridwar/dehradun, June 21
Various parties today expressed their outrage over the NDA government decision to hike rail fares by 14.2 per cent and organised demonstrations and protests in Haridwar.

The protesters made a mockery of the pre-Lok Sabha election campaign slogan of the BJP “Achche din aane wale hain”, saying it seemed the good days were meant only for 
the rich class.

The Congress activists staged a demonstration at the Alaknanda-Birla Ghat. They said the common man would suffer the most as besides the rail fare hike, the increase in freight charges would lead to increase in the prices of essential commodities.

Sanjay Chopra, a senior Congress leader, said the railways was a mode of transport used by the poor and common man. “The matter of concern is that the 6.5 per cent hike in freight charges will result in inflation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had attacked the previous UPA government on the price rise, but now he was himself working to fuel inflation,” said Chopra.

JP Baduni, district convener of the Aam Aadmi Party, said it was ironic that while the air fares were falling, the rail fares were rising. “The issue of black money has taken a back seat. Burdening common man had become the main agenda of the 
previous UPA government and now the BJP-led NDA government was also working in the same direction,” he added.

The Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) demanded an explanation from Railway Minister Sadanand Gowda on the Rishikesh-Karan Prayag railway line. Uday Ram Semwal, senior UKD leader, said as roads get blocked due landslides in hill districts, the railway line project could prove to be a boon for the local people, pilgrims and tourists.

“Former Minister of State for Railways Satpal Maharaj, who has joined the BJP, should work to get the work on the project started. People living in hills are waiting for railway service on this route. It 
has been two years since the foundation stone for the project was laid but nothing had been done,” added Semwal.

Move anti-people, says Congress, NSUI

The local unit of the Congress held a protest here today against the rail fare hike announced by the Central government.

Congress workers led by Deep Vohra, vice-president of the Dehradun Congress, held a protest at Kishan Nagar Chowk and raised slogans against the Union government for raising rail fares. They said the Narendra Modi government had betrayed the people of the country by taking this decision.

Vohra said, “The NDA government has burdened the common man by hiking the rail fares and has broken its promise of bringing better days. The Congress demands immediate rollback of the decision.”

The National Students Union of India (NSUI) organised a protest at Ashley Hall against the decision of the Central government. The party workers said this steep hike in rail fares would lead to an increase in the prices of essential commodities, thus affecting the common man.

CPI (M) for hike rollback

Terming the recent hike in railway fares as a cruel blow to the public, the local chapter of CPI (M) has strongly condemned the move and demanded the reversal of the move.

District Secretary Comrade Surendra Singh Sajvaan said the unprecedented hike in railway fares by the Modi government to the extent of 14.2% across all classes and 6.5% hike in freight charges was strongly condemned.

“This is a cruel blow to the working people, who have been victims of relentless price hikes during the Congress governments’ misrule. Instead of bringing the common man some relief as promised in his election campaign, the Modi government has put a huge burden on frequent travellers,” Sajvaan said.

He added the increase in freight rates would have a cascading impact on the prices of essential commodities that are transported by rail across the country.

 Decision to hit tourism, say hoteliers
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, June 21
The tourism industry, which is facing a crisis due to a drastic fall in the number of tourists following the natural disaster last year, has termed the rail fare hike as detrimental to the economy of Uttarakhand.

Hoteliers and small traders say the tourism industry, which saw a mass exodus of tourists from Uttarakhand after the natural disaster, has been trying to stand on its feet this year but with the hike in the rail fare it expects a lesser 
number of tourists to visit Mussoorie.

The business community in Mussoorie says most of the tourists visiting the state travel by train and the fare hike will affect their holiday budget and force them to defer or cut short their stay at the tourist places.

Sandeep Sahni, president of the Uttarakhand Hotel and Restaurant Association, said the rail fare hike would be welcome if the government uses the additional revenue generated from it for improving facilities. But if it had no such plan, the whole exercise was meaningless.

Roop Singh Kathait, president of the BJP Mussoorie unit, said the NDA government took the decision with an intention to bring the economy of the country back on track, reduce fiscal burden and achieve the mission of upgrading railway facilities and introducing bullet trains.

 DM pays surprise visit to govt offices
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 21
Newly appointed District Magistrate Chandresh Yadav today conducted a surprise check of various government offices and found several anomalies, including missing nameplates and designations.

Yadav instructed the officials concerned and said the nameplates along with departments and work handled should be placed at the earliest so that the people were not harassed.

“The task assigned and completed will be entered in computer daily and the details will be sent to the District Magistrate’s office. It is important for all officials to learn computer and the NIC will organise a special training course for them,” he added.

Government officials Sonika, Pratap Shah, Girish Gunwant, Lalit Narayan Mishra, Raman Lata and Ajay Goyal accompanied the District Magistrate during the surprise check.

 54.1% voting in second phase of panchayat poll
Tribune News Service

Women stand in a queue outside a poll booth at Meeti Beri in Dehradun during the panchayat polls on Saturday. A Tribune photograph

Dehradun, June 21
The panchayat elections in the second phase in 12 districts of the state passed off peacefully today with a 54.1 per cent voter turnout reported till 3pm. Under the panchayati raj system, the elections were held for 20,907 posts of member of 2,638 gram panchayats in 31 development blocks.

“The elections were peaceful with no untoward incident reported from anywhere. The overall voting percentage in the state was 54.1 till 3 pm. Though the voting will end at 5 pm, those standing in the queue will be allowed to cast their vote after the time also,” said Suberdhan, State Election Commissioner.

According to the State Election Commission, the voting percentage in various blocks of 12 districts was: Bhatwari block (Uttarkashi) 58; Dunda (Uttarkashi) 63; Thauldar (Tehri) 45.60; Jaunpur (Tehri) 60; Pratapnagar (Tehri) 46.5; Jakholi (Rudraprayag) 52.30; Gairsain (Chamoli) 49.63; Karnprayag (Chamoli) 65; Pokhri (Chamoli) 57.16; Didihaat (Pithoragarh) 58.72; Dharchula (Pithoragarh) 43; Munsiyari (Pithoragarh) 47.5; Jaspur (Udham Singh Nagar) 62.20; Kashipur (Udham Singh Nagar) 64; Bajpur (Udham Singh Nagar) 60; Garud (Bageshwar) 60; Lohaghat (Champawat) 49.63; Barakot (Champawat) 48.39; Chaukutia (Almora) 46.40; Dwarahaat (Almora) 46.60; Tadiketh (Almora) 51.10; Kalsi (Dehradun) 71.50; Sahaspur (Dehradun) 53.37; Ramnagar (Nainital) 58.50; Kotabag (Nainital) 56; Betalghat (Nainital) 60; Dugadda (Pauri) 50; Yamkeshwar (Pauri) 53.40; Dwarikhal (Pauri) 64.40; Ekeshwar (Pauri) 66.45; and Jehrikhal (Pauri) 65.

A total of 2,847 polling centres and 3,523 polling booths were set up for 
the elections.

  Ex-Doon Cong chief wants ticket from Doiwala seat

Dehradun, June 21
Former District Dehradun Congress president Mahendra Singh has staked claim for the party ticket from the Doiwala seat for the Assembly byelection scheduled for July 20.

Mahendra told mediapersons in Dehradun yesterday that he had been active in the Doiwala area for the past many decades and hence was the right candidate for the Congress from the seat.

He said the Doiwala seat was mostly agrarian and he had been working closely with farmers. He added he had also been a member of various sugarcane farmers committees in the region. “By allotting me the ticket from the Doiwala seat, the Congress will be honouring farmers,” he asserted. — TNS

  Restaurant issued notice

Mussoorie, June 21
A team of the Food Safety and Standard Authority, Uttarakhand, inspected eating joints and shops in Mussoorie yesterday and issued a notice to a restaurant owner for flouting the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

District Food Safety and Standard Officer Rachna Lal along with other team members reached Mussoorie and inspected several hotels and restaurant on the Mall Road. She found unhygienic conditions in Kalsang, a famous Chinese restaurant near Rialto cinema, and served it a notice. The inspecting team found substandard oil and spices being sold in some shops and collected samples of food items being sold by street vendors on the Mall.

The team also inspected several hotels on the Mall Road, near Picture Palace and Landour Bazaar and directed them to maintain hygienic conditions in their kitchens to avoid any punitive action. — TNS

 Panchayat poll a turf war between clans
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, June 21
The ongoing panchayat elections in the state have not only become a battlefield between different clans living in same villages in the Kumaon region, but they are also attracting migrant families to their villages to enlist their names as voters to ensure the victory of their candidates belonging to their clans.

One such example is Maroli village in Champawat district where, according to the 2001 census, the population count was 400, but the number of voters has now risen to 810 during this panchayat elections.

“Villagers, who had migrated to far flung areas of Tanakpur, Lohaghat, Jhoolaghat and Pithoragarh town to earn their livelihood, have returned to their villages for the panchayat elections and got their names registered in the voters’ list,” said Jiwan Giri, a village development officer.

Giri said Maroli village had a population of 516 in 2001 and had further reduced to 400 in the 2011 census due to migration of villagers. “Though the population in the village has reduced in the last 10 years, the total number of voters’ in the village has risen to 810 this time,” said Giri.

According to sources, many villagers are taking interest in the panchayat elections and have registered themselves as voters. It is evident from the fact that while the total number of voters in Champawat district in the recent Lok Sabha elections was 1,70,358, it stands at 1,79,288 for the panchayat elections.

India Yellow drub India Blue by 6 wickets
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 21
India Yellow registered a 6-wicket win over India Blue in the ongoing second Inter-Zonal Cricket Tournament for the Blind at The Doon School here today.

After losing the toss and batting first, India Blue scored 209 runs in 20 overs with Hitesh Patel scoring the highest 68 runs followed by Swapnil, who scored 46 runs.

For India Yellow, Balmukund took two wickets. In reply, India Blue chased down the target in 16.5 overs at the loss of four wickets. Deepak Malik played a brilliant knock of 70 runs in 46 balls. He was adjudged the man of the match.

In the second match, India Red defeated India Green by seven-wickets. Batting first, India green scored 119 runs with Surjeet Ray scoring 33 runs. In reply, India Red easily achieved the target at the loss of three wickets and won the match by seven-wickets. Ashish Negi scored the highest, with 40 runs.

Doon Eagle win football match

The Doon Eagle football club defeated BSC Boys 2-1 in the ongoing Nemidas Memorial District Football League played at Pavilion Ground here today. For Doon Eagle, Anuraj scored a goal in the 40th minute 
while Rajat scored the second goal in the 52nd minute of the match. Akshay scored the lone goal for BSC Boys in the 29th minute.

In the second match of the day, the Yamuna football club defeated the Graph football club 2-0. Akshit scored the first goal in the 15th minute while Sanju scored the second one in the 29th minute.