Anti-encroachment drive to make Urs fair memorable

Local traders oppose the anti-encroachment drive near Piran Kaliyar shrine in Roorkee.

Haridwar, February 2
With the holy Urs at Sabir Pak Dargah in Piran Kaliyar witnessing influx of devotees from around the country and foreign shores, too, the district administration today carried out an anti-encroachment drive to make sure the congested paths leading to the holy shrine be made spacious.

As the Urs is held annually, and in view of the encroachment near the shrine and millions of devotees paying obeisance at the holy shrine, the administration carried out an anti-encroachment drive removing the encroachers who had illegally encroached on government land and market.

Heavy deployment of police personnel was done from administration side in view of the traders’ resentment. As it turned out there was a major protest from the affected trader community, which termed the administrative action as uncalled for.

Traders also alleged that the police was harassing them by evicting them at a time when the holy Urs was reaching at its peak time. They were also of the view that they were in no way hampering the Urs preparations and were just only trading.

This created a ruckus as shops got closed and to prevent any clash, additional force was called on. Superintendent of rural police Roshan Lal Sharma and circle office Kamlesh Upadhyay carried out the anti- encroachment drive and also urged traders to abide by the law as it was only for the smooth conduct of the holy fair that the administration was carrying out the drive.

Traders also apprised City Magistrate Savin Bansal of their woes and urged him to make sure the encroachment drive gets stopped.

Meanwhile, in view of providing better convenience to the pilgrims, from Railway Department special arrangements have been done.

Now 14 trains will be making their stoppage for 2 minutes each till February 10 at Roorkee railway station. Station superintendent KS Gunjyal said that if the rush of the pilgrims increases, then from higher authorities of the department permission will be sought to operate special trains during this Urs tenure.

Notably organised in memory of renowned Hazrat Syed Alauddin Ali Ahmed Sabir Kaliyari, this Urs is the 743rd one and draws devotees from around the world.

64 proxy votes in Uttarakhand which included votes of NRIs

Dehradun, February 1
A total of 64 individuals exercised their franchise through proxy votes, which included votes of NRIs, who participated in the Assembly polls that concluded on January 31.

Along with the option of postal ballots, the Election Commission had given the option of proxy vote to the service voters comprising defence personnel who could depute their close relatives to cast their votes.

For the first time NRIs, too, were given the option to vote but only 7 NRIs managed to exercise their franchise.

Meanwhile, the Uttarakahnd electoral office revised the the total voting percentage of the state and pegged it at 67 per cent in the state with Udham Singh Nagar district at 76.65 per cent, Haridwar at 74.80 per cent, Uttarkashi at 66.3 per cent, Bageshwar 61.8 per cent, Nainital 68.06 per cent, Almora 55.5 per cent, Chamoli 61.02 per cent, Rudraprayag 63.24 per cent, New Tehri 58.9 per cent, Dehradun 66.63 per cent, Pauri 58.06 per cent, Pithoragarh 62.28 per cent and Champawat 60.67 per cent.

On the other hand, a total number of 85 EVMs were replaced due to faulty operation in the state on the date of polling.

Poor poll planning blamed for low turnout in hill areas

Nainital, February 1
Lack of proper planning on the part of the elections authorities had an adverse impact on polling in some parts of the state. The election authorities failed to analyse the distinct climatic, geographical and topographical features of the state and issued instructions that prevented voters from exercising their right to franchise.

Observers say a large number of people in towns like Nainital migrate to plains or go on a vacation in January due to severe cold conditions there. This has been the yardstick for holding elections for decades. This time also a large number of local residents had gone out of the town with their families and could not cast vote in the Assembly elections. The low voter turnout in Nainital is a testimony to this fact.

Second, restrictions on the movement of even private vehicles in the areas where the elections were being held led to a lot of hardship to common people. It also prevented a large number of people from casting vote.

This correspondent came across people who were not able to reach polling booths in Nainital because they lived in Haldwani and Bhawali during the winter. Though they had valid voter cards they chose not to go out to vote as they suspected the police may not allow them to travel by their vehicles to reach polling booths.

A similar order for the closure of markets, including eating joints, also caused hardships to the people who usually had their meals outside.

The poor planning resulting from lack of proper knowledge about the topography of the state also impacted polling. For example, though some booths were located within a radius of 2 km, they were inaccessible as the voters had to travel tough terrain to reach there.

One such case is of Dabhar village in Betalghat. Reports said barely 10 per cent of the total voters cast vote in Dabhar village as they could not travel 2 km of tough terrain to reach the polling booth.

Highest percentage of voting in Pithoragarh seat

Pithoragarh, February 1
District Election Officer R Rajesh Kumar today released the final figures of voting recorded in all four seats of Pithoragarh district.

According to the figures released by the poll officer, out of a total of 3,07,009 voters in the four Assembly seats of the district, 1,95,262 cast their votes, which has been calculated at 63.59 per cent.

“The number of male voters in all four seats is 1,51,702 and that of female is 1,55,307. Of these, 96,896 male and 99,096 female voters cast their votes,” said the poll officer.

Dharchula witnessed 66.7 per cent voting, Didihat 63.8 per cent, Pithoragarh 67.19 per cent and Gangolihat 57.93 per cent. The highest percentage of voting has been recorded in the Pithoragarh seat followed by Dharchula where out of a total of 70,035 voters, 46,956 cast their votes.

In Didihat, out of a total of 69,251 voters, 44,443 voters cast their votes. “The lowest voting has been recorded at the Chama polling booth while the Kiroli polling booth has witnessed the highest voting,” said the election officer.

In Gangolihat, out of a total of 84,799 voters, 48,304 cast their votes.

“The Devrari Pant polling booth witnessed the highest voting while the lowest voting has been recorded at the Bungli polling booth,” he said.

The Namik polling booth, Dharchula, witnessed zero polling while only one person cast vote at the Silingia polling booth,” said to the poll officer. 

SC notice to Forest Ministry on power projects

Dehradun, January 31

The Supreme Court of India issued notice to Union Ministry of Environment and Forest and National Hydro Power Corporation on two hydroelectric projects named Kotli-Bhel 1A (195Mega Watt) and Kotli-Bhel 2 (520 MW).

The Supreme court verdict follows Sept 14, 2010, National Environment Appellate Authority (NEAA) decision to dismiss the appeal against the environment clearance of these two projects filed by Vimalbhai, Rajendra Singh Negi, Trilok Singh Rawat of Matu Jansangthan, an NGO working against construction of big dams in the Uttarakhand region.

Subsequently, NEAA order was challenged in Supreme Court by Matu Jansangthan and Dr Bharat Jhunjhunwala.

Hearing the appeal against the order of NEAA, the Supreme Court Bench of Justice DK Jain and Justice Anil R Dave issued notice to Ministry of Environment and Forest and National Hydro Power Corporation.

Interestingly, despite various environmental and social issues which remain standing unanswered, a very significant cultural area is also under the threat of submergence in these two projects. These dams are proposed on Bhagirathiganga and Ganga.

Kotli-Bhel 1A (195Mega Watt) is proposed on Bhagirathiganga. The making of a 17-km-long reservoir would amputate Ganga from its last free stretch near the holy confluence of Alaknandaganga and Bhagirathiganga, known as Deoprayag. After Deoprayag, it flows as Ganga. This proposed project is just after the two big reservoirs of Tehri dam and Koteshwer dam. The area is also very much landslide prone. It is important here to note that in 2010 monsoon, the office of project proponent NHPC itself collapsed, which was nearly half a km from the proposed dam site.

Further, another proposed Kotli-Bhel 2 hydroelectric project (520 MW) consists of a 32-km-long reservoir which will submerge the holy Deoprayag. The reservoir is supposed to stretch till the Bhagirathiganga and the Alaknandaganga. This is how a triangular reservoir will come up around the Deoprayag. The old Badrinath Marg for pilgrims will also get submerged in the process.

“We will fight the battle both on ground and at the Hon'ble court to obey our duty towards our national river Ganga and its inhabitants,” asserted Vimalbhai, convener, Matu Jansangthan.

Senior advocates Raj Panjwani with Anitah Shenoy, Ritwik Dutta and Rahul Choudhary represented the petitioners before the court.

Ex-Army man's body recovered from canal

Dehradun, January 31

The body of an ex-Army man was recovered from a canal at Basant Vihar area here today, the police said. The body of Ranjit Singh (65) was found in the canal by some children playing in the area, they said.

Singh's family told the police that he had left home on Sunday evening for attending a marriage party. The police has registered a case in the matter.

Son, nephew nabbed for murder

The Kotwali police have arrested the son and nephew of Avtar Singh (65) at the Chukhan area of Dehradun on Tuesday for his murder.

Bablu alias Naresh (30) and Manish (30) stabbed the deceased to death on Monday night. According to Kotwali SI Rajkumar, “Bablu, the son, stabbed his father Avtar following a dispute over property. His cousin Manish helped him in the crime. Police have arrested both of them in the early hours of Tuesday.”

Meanwhile, retired Army personnel Ranjit Singh (65) from Ambiwala was found dead at the Vasant Vihar tea estate on Tuesday morning.

According to police, Singh went to attend a cocktail party at a friend’s place on Sunday night and did not return to his residence on Monday. Locals found his body at the tea estate and informed police.