New Delhi, 2 Jan 2007

Uttaranchal, the hill State parted away of Uttar Pradesh in November 2000, has been changed into Uttarakhand from January 01, 2007, Sahara Samay sources said.

The renaming comes into effect with the President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam giving his assent to a bill adopted by the Parliament in the just concluded winter session.

The State had come into being along with Jharkhand, carved out of Bihar and Chhattisgarh from Madhya Pradesh respectively by the erstwhile BJP-led coalition which had named it Uttaranchal despite a sizable section favouring the name Uttarakhand.

The Chief Minister N.D. Tiwari welcomed the move and described it as a New Year gift to the state people. He said that government has ordered to change the name of Uttaranchal from all sign boards across the state.

The Uttaranchal Assembly had passed the renaming bill in October and later the Union Cabinet had decided to bring the bill in winter session of the Parliament, which was widely cheered in the hill State.

News Source: http://www.saharasamay.com

New Delhi, 05 Jan 2007

Tehri Hydro Development Corp has moved the Supreme Court challenging Uttaranchal High Court`s judgement asking it to enhance compensation to people affected by the Tehri Hydel power project.

A division bench of Justice H K Sema and Justice P K Balasubramanyan has issued notice to the state government asking for explanation for additional compensation to oustees, who had already been given alternative land and accommodation.

The land acquisition act was being used as “bonanza by oustees just to get inflated prices for their lands despite they being given plots/flats”, THDC said in its petition.

Enhanced compensation would put the company`s financial condition in doldrums, which would face difficulties in carrying out the development work, the petition filed through counsel D K Garg said.

The cost of the 2,400 MW power project had increased from its estimated Rs 5,000 crores due to providing alternative land and other facilities, it said.

The court had earlier observed that rehabilitation and support to rebuild their livelihood was of primary issue as the Tehri power project would submerge 37 villages, partially affect 88 villages and the old Tehri town.

The entire Tehri township and surrounding villages were acquired under the act for construction of Tehri dam project at confluence of rivers Bhagirathi and Bhilangana in the state.

News Source: http://www.zeenews.com