Uttarakhan News Feb. 2011

Clashes at Corbett

The police fired in the air as a group of students from New Delhi clashed with local people at Bijrani gate of Jim Corbett National park at Ramnagar area of Nainital district. The Corbett administration also slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 on the students of Kanshiram College of Higher Education for violating the norms of the park, official sources said. The incident took place last evening when the students visiting the Corbett park by a jeep got down from the vehicle. Their guide Shailendra Rawat, however, asked them not to do so as it is prohibited in the park. Soon, an altercation erupted between them. It later turned into a scuffle and the students beat up Rawat. As the news spread, the police reached the spot and tried to take the students outside the park. Meanwhile, a large number of people also gathered at the gate of the Corbett park and beat up the students. When the police intervened, the mob also tried to snatch their arms. Later, the police fired in the air to disperse the mob. After paying the fine of Rs 10,000, the students left for New Delhi.

Tehri SP transferred

Uttarakhand government has transferred Tehri SP Kewal Khurana after having suspended two circle officers following a CID probe into alleged irregularities in departmental examinations for sub-inspectors in the state. Khurana has been replaced by Rajiv Swaroop as the new SP of Tehri district, police said. Satyavir Singh and Harish Kumar Verma, two COs from Tehri district, were last week transferred after an inquiry report revealed that they allegedly favoured appointment of a few policemen, who had appeared for the departmental examinations. Director General of Police J S Pandey had ordered the CID probe last month following allegations that these officers had tried to favour some policemen. The probe was headed by ACP CID Vimla Gunjyal.

Nishank defers yatra

State Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank postponed his awareness drive to highlight development works of his government ahead of the upcoming assembly election in the state. Nishank had deferred his "Vikas Yatra" in view of the ongoing visit of BJP leader Thavar Chandra Gehlot, in-charge of party affairs in Uttarakhand, to Garhwal region, state party spokesman Satish Lakhera told PTI. The yatra would now commence on March eight when the BJP government would complete four years in office, he said. "Since the timing of the two leaders -- Gehlot and Nishank -- was clashing with each other, the yatra of the Chief Minister has been postponed," Lakhera said.

An official release earlier stated Nishank would embark on the "Vikas Yatra" from Champawat on February 20. Despite postponement of the yatra, Nishank flew to Champawat and reviewed various developmental schemes and intracted with locals.

Vikas Yatra under criticism

Hitting out at the ruling BJP in Uttarakhand for its plan to take out a rally highlighting developmental measures taken by it in the state, Opposition Congress said it is a move to misguide people. "During its rule in the past four years, BJP has done nothing except indulging in corruption, scams and scandals. Now, they have planned to undertake 'Vikas Yatra' from February 20 to misguide people ahead of the Assembly polls, due in 2012," leader of the Opposition Harak Singh Rawat told reporters here. Rawat alleged the BJP government has failed to bring out any new developmental or welfare schemes. They have not been able to even implement the schemes introduced by the previous Congress government.

Seven injured

Seven people, including two women, were injured today in a post-election clash between two groups in the Sohanpurgarh village of Haridwar district, police said. Following enmity over the district panchayat elections held yesterday, two groups clashed with each other in which incidence of firing was also reported, police said. The injured were admitted to a government hospital.

Financial support to ailing journalist

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has announced financial aid of Rs 4 lakh to senior journalist and eminent author Sudhir Thapliyal for his treatment, officials said. Terming Thapliyal, author of the famous book 'Mansuri Macabre', as a legend of Indian journalism, the Chief Minister praised Thapliyal for his contribution to his profession, they said.

State bans strike by education officials

Uttarakhand government has banned with immediate effect any strike by employees of the education department. The ban will remain effective for a period of six months, educational secretary Manisha Pawar said here. The order will also be applicable to the school education board.

CM bullish on investment

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has said he is upbeat about the Tata Group making a "significant" investment to pursue new business opportunities in the state, in addition to the proposed expansion of its Pantnagar auto manufacturing plant. "I am confident that Tata Group will invest more in our state, besides expanding its existing Pantnagar auto manufacturing plant," Nishank told reporters here.

A high-level team of top officials from different Tata Group companies visited Dehradun last week as a follow-up to Chairman Ratan Tata's visit here on November 15, 2010. During their visit, they evinced interest in different sectors like power, housing, tourism and IT sectors. Nishank also said the Tata group is in the process of expanding its Pantnagar plant by raising the production capacity from 2.5 lakh units to 5 lakh units per annum. Tata produces its Nano compact car model, as well as light commercial vehicles at the Pantnagar facility. Recalling his close interaction with Tata, Nishank said he had a one-to-one meeting with Tata for nearly one-and-a-half hours, during which they discussed various issues. "Although, that was our first meeting, now we are in regular touch with each other. I am confident that a substantial investment will come from the Tata Group to our state," Nishank said. Group officials from various companies like TCS and Tata Motors last week held talks with Nishank, who wanted the Tata Group to invest Rs 10,000 crore in the hill state to create about 50,000 jobs. Top government officials had prepared a detailed investment opportunity report for the Tata Group after the November 15 meeting between Tata and Nishank. On November 15 last year, Tata visited Dehradun, where he had expressed a desire to explore new opportunities for investment in the hill state.

Tata Motors has already put up a manufacturing facility at Pantnagar at an investment of over Rs 1,000 crore. "The talks were positive and highly satisfactory and we are hopeful that we will get a positive response from Tata," said Nishank. In addition to the Chief Minister, the Tata Group officials held a separate meeting with Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar and a group of secretaries at the State Secretariat last week.