News Analysis India

Tag: Uttarakhand

  • Bridge collapses in Uttarakhand, valleys cut off

    By PTI
    PITHORAGARH: The Darma, Vyas and Chaudas valleys were cut off from the rest of the border districts on Thursday after a 48-metre-long concrete bridge was washed away following heavy rains.

    The bridge was built over the Kulagar rivulet on the Tanakpur-Tawaghat national highway, close to the Indo-China border, Dharchula Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) AK Shukla said.

    A trek route has been developed as a substitute by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for the time being, he said.

    Transshipment is being done along a 100-metre area to reach either side of the breached road, Shukla said.

    The BRO has said a Bailey bridge will be built as an alternative within five days to resume vehicular movement to the border valleys, he added.

  • Uttarakhand: Domestic consumers to get 100 units free electricity every month

    By ANI
    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Power Minister Harak Singh Rawat on Wednesday announced that 100 units of electricity will be provided free every month to domestic consumers.

    In a meeting with departmental officials, Rawat said, “There are about 13 lakh consumers in state who come under the purview of spending 100 to 200 units of electricity. Those who use 100 units per month will be given electricity free of cost. Those using 101 to 200 units per month will get 50 per cent discount.”

    The State Power Minister said that this would benefit the consumers in the remote areas of the state.

    “Although the electricity bill in Uttarakhand comes for two months, the benefit of this scheme will be given on the basis of units per month. That is, if someone gets a bill of 200 units in 2 months, then he will not have to pay any money,” he said.

    The minister further said that the consumers related to dairy, horticulture and agriculture sectors of the state, which till now used to come under the commercial category, will now be brought into the domestic category of electricity consumers.

    Talking to ANI, he said that instructions have been given to the officials to make the proposal for this announcement at the earliest, post which it will be placed in the cabinet.

  • Ajay Bhatt: Uttarakhand leader who led BJP to massive win in Assembly polls

    By PTI
    DEHRADUN: Nainital MP Ajay Bhatt simultaneously held two important offices as the Uttarakhand BJP chief and the Leader of Opposition at the time of the previous Assembly polls, and piloted his party to a massive win of 57 of 70 seats.

    The Nainital MP, who was sworn in as a Union Minister on Wednesday, has served the BJP successfully in several key positions in Uttarakhand over the years.

    The former Ranikhet MLA helped the BJP overcome the formidable challenge of wresting power from the Congress in the 2017 polls.

    The 60-year-old Brahmin leader from Kumaon had a stroke of bad luck too as he himself could not retain his own seat.

    However, Bhatt more than made up for the loss when he became an MP for the first time in the 2019 General Election, defeating seasoned Congress leader and former chief minister Harish Rawat in Nainital by 3,39,096 votes.

    It was the biggest margin with which any MP had won from the state that year and highly creditable given the fact that it was Bhatt’s Lok Sabha poll debut made against a Congress heavyweight like Rawat.

    Though aggressive as a Leader of Opposition, Bhatt’s attacks in the Assembly were always couched in dignified language.

    He always came to the House fully prepared, armed with facts and figures and never faltered during debates.

    Bhatt’s name was among the probables for the chief minister’s post in Uttarakhand whenever talks of a change of guard arose in the state.

    First, when Trivendra Singh Rawat was replaced by Tirath Singh Rawat and then more recently when Tirath was replaced by Pushkar Singh Dhami as the new chief minister.

    Born on May 1, 1961 at Ranikhet to Kamlapati Bhatt and Tulsi Devi, Ajay Bhatt lost his father at an early age and had a childhood full of struggle.

    After getting a law degree from Almora College, he had a successful career as a lawyer.

    He joined the ABVP as a student and has been in active politics since 1980.

    Inspired by senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, Bhatt was actively associated with the Uttarakhand’s struggle for statehood and the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.

    He won from Ranikhet for the first time in undivided Uttar Pradesh in 1996.

    He also became a minister in the Interim government led by Nityanand Swamy in Uttarakhand when it was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in 2000.

    He represented Ranikhet in the Uttarakhand Assembly for two terms from 2002-2007 and then again from 2012-2017.

  • Uttarakhand government moves Supreme Court against HC order staying Chardham Yatra

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Uttarakhand government on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court against the High Court order staying the Chardham Yatra while reversing a state cabinet’s decision to open it partially for residents of three districts from July 1.

    The state government said that the Uttarakhand High Court committed an error in not appreciating that the livelihood of a significant portion of the population living around the Char Dham is dependent on the Yatra.

    It said that the High Court has “wrongly” stayed the part of the state cabinet order dated June 25, with respect to conducting restricted Chardham Yatra, only for a fixed number of pilgrims residing in three districts of Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi where the respective Char Dhams are located.

    The State government said that the present COVID positivity rate (between June 15 to July 2) in the concerning three districts are — Chamoli-0.64 per cent, Rudraprayag-1.16 per cent and Uttarkashi-0.75 per cent.

    The four holy shrines dedicated to Hindu gods and rivers — being Badrinath Dham, Kedarnath Dham, Gangotri Dham and Yamunotri Dham are situated in Garhwal region of the State and lakhs of devotees visit these shrines every year during the Chardham Yatra, which commences from April uptill November.

    It said that pursuant to the COVID-19 pandemic, many PILs were filed before the High Court seeking various directions against the state government to take measures for controlling spread of the pandemic.

    “In the said batch of PILs, the High Court kept passing directions pertaining to Char Dham without any pleadings or submissions made by the respondents,” the plea said.

    It said that the due to the second wave of pandemic, the state government on May 3, has suspended the Chardham Yatra for 2021 while allowing the rituals and Pooja of the deity at each Dhams to be conducted by the respective priests/Dham management from 7 AM to 7 PM.

    “It is submitted that the State, stands aggrieved with only the paragraph of the impugned interim order, vide which cabinet decision dated June 25, 2021 regarding opening of restricted Chardham Yatra in first phase, has been stayed,” it said.

    The appeal said that in another paragraph of the order, the High Court has directed the chief secretary of secretary tourism, to inform the court whether live streaming of the rituals of Chardham has commenced or not, on the next date on July 7.

    That the decision whether live streaming of rituals of Char Dham can be done or not and if it can be done then in how much time – has to be taken by Board, whose chairman is the chief minister of the state.

    It sought setting aside of the June 28 order on the ground that none of the PILs before the High Court have sought suspension or cancellation of Char Dham Yatra-2021 and the cabinet decision of June 25, was also never challenged before the court.

    On June 28, the High Court has besides staying the cabinet’s decision on Chardham Yatra has expressed dissatisfaction with the state government’s arrangements for pilgrims and tourists during the Yatra amid the COVID pandemic.

    Rejecting the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the state government for the yatra, the high court had said they were just a copy of the guidelines issued during the Kumbh Mela.

    The high court has observed that it is more important to save everyone from the Delta Plus mutant of coronavirus rather than being considerate towards the feelings of a few.

  • BJP forced to change Uttarakhand CM twice due to curse of priests: Temple body

    By PTI
    UTTARKASHI: The BJP had to replace its chief minister in Uttarakhand twice due to a “curse” of priests as it failed to dissolve the Devasthanam Board, said the Gangotri Mandir Samiti on Tuesday.

    The joint secretary of the temple body, Rajesh Semwal, said the BJP won’t be able to return to power in the state next year if it did not dissolve the board.

    Constituted during the chief ministership of Trivendra Singh Rawat, the Devasthanam Board is mandated to run affairs of 51 temples in Uttarakhand.

    The priests of the Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines are on a relay fast for several weeks, demanding dissolution of the board, which they see as an encroachment upon their rights.

    “The BJP had to give three chief ministers in four-and-a half-years due to the curse of priests.

    If the party does not learn from the experience and its new chief minister does not dissolve the Devasthanam Board soon, the curse of priests will not let the party form government in 2022,” Semwal told reporters here.

    Earlier, soon after taking over, former chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat had announced during the Kumbh Mela that the temples will be removed from the board’s control and the decision to create the panel will also be reconsidered.

    But Rawat had to step down last week before he could keep his word.

    He was replaced by Pushkar Singh Dhami.

    PTI CORR ALM RDK RDK 07061904 NNNN

  • Netizens and youth of Uttarakhand demand laws to restrict purchase of land by outsiders

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: Netizens and youth of Uttarakhand have started a movement in the state asking for restrictions on land purchase in the hill state for outsiders. Named ‘Uttarakhand Mange Bhukaanoon’ (Uttarakhand Wants Land Laws), the movement is slowly picking pace with artists, cartoonists joining and introducing innovative tactics. 

    A Twitter account by the name of ‘latiart1’ posts toons advocating the land purchase restrictions for securing the rights of local residents of Uttarakhand. 

    “There should be a law for securing the rights of the local residents. Every other hill state has such laws and now it’s high time, we should have it too. Our leaders should think about the people of the state,” says Pratiksha Negi (name changed who runs the Twitter page ‘latiart1’. 

    Named ‘Uttarakhand Mange Bhukaanoon’ (Uttarakhand Wants Land Laws), the movement is slowly picking pace with artists, cartoonists joining and introducing innovative tactics.Many are also vying for the implementation of Article 371 like northeastern states, Goa and many other states. 

    There is no prohibition on buying a property or house within municipal limits and cantonment areas of the hill state such as cities like Nainital, Mussoorie, Dehradun, Haridwar and other district headquarters. One can purchase as much land as one wants within municipal limits including any individual or organization. 

    Laws of the land prohibit buying of agricultural land over 250 square meters outside the municipal limits but that limit can be relaxed by the state government officials including the district magistrates of respective districts. Several restrictions include not allowing the selling of any agricultural land owned after September 2003 by the seller in the state. 

    Outsiders including an individual and organizations buying agricultural land in Uttarakhand can be provided relaxation under tourism policy if they have a layout of a project which will help to generate jobs for locals and revenue for the state.

    When asked about this, senior officials from the government chose not to comment. A minister who took oath with the newly sworn-in Chief Minister on Sunday said, “The new government is just settling in. We will look into it soon.”

  • Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami promises to take all his party members along

    By PTI
    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday said he would move ahead by taking all senior and junior members along as the new leader of the BJP legislature party in the state.

    His comments came amid reports that a senior leader and few MLAs were not happy with his election.

    Asked about resentment among some members of the BJP against his appointment as the CM, Dhami said: “Does anyone here look unhappy?”

    “I am young. All of them are experienced and my seniors. My party is my mother, which has given me the opportunity to serve. So, it is my responsibility to take along all the elders with respect and all the youngsters with love to take forward the state’s development work,” Dhami, a two-time MLA from Khatima in Udham Singh Nagar district, said.

    He further said that he was acquainted with every nook and corner of the state.

    “I was born into a family of soldiers at Kanalichina in the border district of Pithoragarh and studied there up to class five. Khatima on India-Nepal border is the place where I have been working. I have lived among the youth and I am aware of their problems, ” he said.

    Dhami said his government would find a solution to people’s problems with one on one interactions.

    He also said that he would try his best to rise to the expectations of the people of the state and the party leadership.

    Dhami has given promotion to all the ministers in hs cabinet.

    Accordimg to him, all of them are ‘extremely talented’ and have been promoted so they work to the best of their ability.

    “Surely, you will see its effect,” he said.

    On the stay on Chardham Yatra due to COVID-19, the Chief Minister said it was “indeed a problem but opening tourism and chardham yatra for visitors is necessary.”.

  • BJP should transfer Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath to Uttarakhand: Akhilesh Yadav

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: Taking a dig at the BJP over the leadership change in Uttarakhand, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday urged the saffron party to transfer Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath to the hill state.

    He said in this way, Uttarakhand will get rid of the ‘daily problem of leadership change’.

    Yadav was apparently referring to the change of guard in Uttarakhand after BJP leader Tirath Singh Rawat resigned as the state’s chief minister on Friday after holding the post for less than four months.

    He had replaced Trivendra Singh Rawat in March.

    Pushkar Singh Dhami was sworn in as the new chief minister of the state following his election on Saturday as the leader of the BJP legislature party.

    In Uttar Pradesh, democracy has been ‘injured’ because of the Chief Minister (Yogi Adityanath), and in Uttarakhand, democracy has become a ‘victim of instability’.

    In this situation, it will be better that the BJP transfer the UP CM to Uttarakhand, so that the hill state gets free from the daily problem of change of leadership, the SP leader said in a statement.

    He also alleged that both the states were grappling with law and order problem, women security, unemployment, poor health services, among others.

    “There is a decline in the law and order situation in both the states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. No investments are taking place in the states owing to political manipulation.

    “Unemployment, inflation and corruption is also on the rise since the BJP came to power in the states,” the statement said.

    The SP chief added that women are finding it difficult to live with honour and injustice is being done to farmers in both the states.

  • Uttarakhand: Will the new CM Pushkar Singh Dhami be able to break the jinx?

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: Change of guard midway in Uttarakhand has failed to result in any desired gains for both the prominent parties- Bhartiya Janta Party as well as Indian National Congress which has governed the state since its formation in year 2000. 

    After Tirath Singh Rawat resigned as CM of Uttarakhand ending his 115 days in the office, shortest tenure of any Uttarakhand CM, Pushkar Singh Dhami carries big challenge of breaking the curse.

    Yogesh Kumar, Dehradun based political analyst said, “Any ruling party which changed the CM mid way has failed to win upcoming state assembly elections. It will be an interesting thing how the youngest CM breaks this curse.”

    After first CM of the state Nityanand Swami died in 2001 after 354 days in the office, Bhagat Singh Koshyari of the BJP was made the CM who remained in office for 122 days till 2002.

    The BJP lost state assembly elections to Congress in year 2002.

    In March 2002 Narayan Dutt Tiwari of Congress became CM of the state who was the only CM to complete his tenure and remained in the office till March 7, 2007.

    Interestingly, only one out of total 10 Chief Minister’s in the hill state have completed 5 years tenure in the office. Except late ND Tiwari (2002-07), not one CM has completed their five-year tenure. 

    Dhami happens to be the 11th CM of Uttarakhand. 

    In March 2012 Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri of the BJP took charge as CM who was removed by the party after 2 years 111 days to bring in Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ to gain the lost ground of popularity.

    Later, in September 2011 Nishank was removed after 2 years 75 days in the office and Khanduri was brought in for upcoming elections due just six months. 

    The BJP suffered defeat by slim margin of one seat and Congress was able to form the government with the help of other MLAs including independents in 70 member state legislative assembly. 

    In year 2014, central leadership of Congress decided to remove Vijay Bahuguna to bring in Harish Rawat. Later in 2017, Congress suffered humiliating defeat by the hands of the BJP.

    The BJP got 57 seats in the state assembly leaving Congress with just 11.

    Dinesh Mansera, another analyst based in Haldwani of Nainital district said, “Though the historical trend says no ruling party has benefitted by the change of guard mid way in Uttarakhand but we should wait and watch. The new CM has big challenge ahead- to win Uttarakhand for the party and himself. This is his make or break moment which will define his and party’s future in the state.”

  • Pushkar Singh Dhami to be new Chief Minister of Uttarakhand

    By Online Desk
    The Uttarakhand BJP legislature party met on Saturday afternoon and elected Pushkar Dhami as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, a day after Tirath Singh Rawat resigned.

    Central observers Narendra Singh Tomar, D Purandeswari present at BJP meet to elect new Uttarakhand CM.

    Pushkar Singh Dhami, MLA from Khatima constituency, is set to be the 11th CM of the hill state.

    45-year-old Dhani is two times MLA from Khatima. Said to be close to the former CM of Uttarakhand and Governor of Maharashtra Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Dhami also headed Yuva Morcha of the BJP.
    — Vineet Upadhyay (@VineetTNIE) July 3, 2021

    Earlier, The Congress hit out at the BJP leadership, saying instead of ushering in development, it has thrown Uttarakhand into political instability and betrayed its people by repeatedly changing chief ministers.

    Embattled Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat late on Friday night submitted his resignation letter to Governor Baby Rani Maurya, marking the end of his rather short tenure.Confirming his resignation, Rawat later said, “I resigned to avoid a Constitutional crisis that arises due to Sections 164 and 151 of the Representation of the People Act 1951.”

    (With agencies inputs)