eUttaranchal - Uttaranchal Uttarakhand News

eUttaranchal nominated for 2nd Indian Digital Awards

eUttaranchal — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:02:32 +0000

eUttaranchal.com has been nominated among the top 5 finalists websites for the 2nd Indian Digital Awards under “Best Multi-Utility Website” category. Other competing entries in this category include In.com, Sulekha.com, MyDala.com and quickdesignsigns.com. The winner will be announced on 18th Jan 2012 in an award ceremony being held at Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

The awards are being organised by Internet And Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) - the only specialized industry body in India representing the interests of online and mobile value added services industry.

The IAMAI is a not-for-profit industry body registered under the Societies Act, 1896. Its mandate is to expand and enhance the online and mobile value added services sectors. It is dedicated to presenting a unified voice of the businesses it represents to the government, investors, consumers and other stakeholders. The association addresses the issues, concerns and challenges of the Internet and Mobile economy and takes a leading role in its development.

RITES appointed new consultant for Naini Saini Airport

eUttaranchal — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 06:41:26 +0000

RITES has been appointed as the new consultant for expansion and modernisation of Naini-Saini airport in the hilly Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand.

RITES will now prepare a fresh DPR of the airport project which will be expanded for the landing of ATR 42 aircraft, top officials on Monday said.

The move follows the government’s decision to cancel its agreement with Stup, a company which had earlier been appointed as consultant.

The government-owned Uttarakhand State Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (USIDCL), which is the nodal agency for the development of the airport, had recently decided to invite fresh bids to appoint the consultant. Prior to it, USIDCL had appointed Mumbai-based Stup as the consultant and agreed to payRs 3.51 crore as the consultancy fees as being demanded by the firm.

Stup backed out after the government tried to renegotiate on the consultancy fees. After the consultant backed out, the government cancelled the agreement also. RITES will charge a consultancy fee ofRs 1.46 crore.

An investment of Rs 56 core is proposed for expanding and strengthening the runway, upgrading other related operational infrastructure and terminal facilities at the Naini Saini airport, which had not been operational for years now. The official said the airport might experience a cost overrun due to the high inflation in the country.

The USIDCL invited bids in 2008 for hiring a consultant but the process hit roadblock on technical grounds. After canceling bids twice, Stup was chosen as the new consultant last year when fresh bids were invited.

“Actually the process of the construction of Naini-Saini airport began in 2002-03 but due to various factors it has failed to take off,” said the official.

News Source: Business Standard

SAI to build hockey stadium in Uttarakhand

eUttaranchal — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 06:33:12 +0000

DEHRADUN: The Sports Authority of India (SAI) is all set to built an astroturf stadium for hockey and separate sports centers for judo and boxing in Uttarakhand.

The move follows after discussions between SAI director general Desh Deepak Verma and state chief secretary Subhash Kumar on Tuesday, an official statement said.

News Source: TheTimesofIndia

Medical college and university to be set up in New Tehri

eUttaranchal — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 06:30:46 +0000

Dehra Dun. The Uttarakhand government today sanctioned a medical college and a university for New Tehri, and also gave nod to develop the Tehri reservoir as a tourism hub. Decisions to this effect were taken by Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar after holding talks with agitating Congress leaders from Tehri, party MLA Kishore Upadhyay said here. New roads and a drinking water scheme for the area was also sanctioned, Upadhyay, an MLA from Tehri, said. Barring a few issues, most of the demands of the Tehri region have now been accepted by the government, the MLA said. Upadhyay early this year had resorted to a fortnight-long fast on these issues.

The government has sanctioned a new university at Padshahithaur and a degree college for Dhauldhar area of Tehri district, Upadhyay said. It will also upgrade four other colleges, he said adding the government has also decided to utilise Rs 250 crore, which was sanctioned by the Centre, for the purpose of development of the Tehri reservoir as a major tourist attraction. The people have also asked the government to provide passage from Tehri Dam for the residents of Pratapnagar and other nearby areas after the submergence of bridges and roads in the Tehri reservoir. “A deadlock still persists on the passage from Tehri dam,” Upadhyay said. He said the government has also agreed to sanction 22 kms of new roads for better connectivity in Tehri region.

News Source: IBNLive

Khanduri announces sops keeping Uttarakhand polls in mind

eUttaranchal — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:51:14 +0000

Dehradun, Nov 9

Setting his eye on the upcoming Assembly polls, Uttarakhand Chief Minister B C Khanduri today made a slew of announcements including 5 per cent interest subsidy on education loan and free travel for all girl students in state transport buses.

Announcing a total of 28 decisions taken by his government, Khanduri said a 5 per cent interest subsidy for a maximum of five years on an education loan upto Rs 10 lakh for pursuing higher education by children, whose parents are permanent residents of the state and whose annual income is not more than Rs 3 lakh, will be given by the government.

All girl students would travel free in the buses of state transport corporation within the state, he said.

The government has also decided to give an award of Rs 50,000 to each student, who are permanent residents of the state and selected for professional and technical courses at IIT, IIM, NIT, NDA, IMA and medical colleges, Khanduri said.

The scholarship amount given to the students belonging to families of retired soldiers has also been doubled to Rs 24,000 per annum from the existing Rs 12,000 for engineering and medical education and to Rs 20,000 per annum from Rs 10,000 for PhD students.

A new mining and quarrying policy would be implemented this month to stop illegal mining and to preserve the environment as well as increase the state’s revenue, he said.

The amended industrial policy would come into existence this month for expeditious establishment of industries in Uttarakhand, he said.

‘Dev Bhoomi Jan Sewa Kendras’ would be established at block and tehsil headquarters for delivering public services under the Right to Service Act, Khanduri said.

He also announced that a work plan would be prepared for regularisation of illegal dwellings in urban areas.

The amount under the Vir Chandra Singh Garhwali Paryatan Swarozgar Yojana being operationalised by the tourism department has been enhanced to Rs 10 lakh from the existing Rs 5 lakh, Khanduri said.

The CM said 100 polyhouses, a protective structure used for growing high value agricultural products, would be set up in each of the 13 districts for which the government would give a grant of 30 per cent.

A policy would also be formulated this month to provide various facilities to the retired paramilitary force personnel and their families, he said.

News Source: IBN LIVE

Sonia Gandhi to lay foundation stone for Rishikesh-Karnprayag Railway Line

eUttaranchal — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:37:07 +0000

UPA chairperson and AICC president Sonia Gandhi will lay the foundation stone of the proposed 125 kms Rishikesh-Karanprayag railway line in Uttarakhand on November 9. The foundation stone will be laid at Gochar in the Garhwal hills.

Earlier, the foundation stone was to be laid on November 5, but as the AICC president will not be able to reach Gochar on the said date because of earlier commitments, the date was postponed. Gochar, incidentally, has the largest flat tract in the region, and is also used for the landing of choppers during emergency.

Meanwhile, there is a lot of excitement in the state over the laying of the foundation stone, for railway lines just touch the peripheries of this infant state. The railway stations, which are at the entry of the state include Dehradun, Kotdwara and Rishikesh, which hardly serve even a miniscule percentage of the hill population.

Cutting across party lines, political leaders of various hues admitted that November 9 would be a red letter day in the history of the state, when the foundation stone for the railway line is laid. Incidentally, this day also happens to be the statehood day.

Meanwhile sources in the Railways said that new technique would be used in laying the railway line, which would pass through low and middle Himalayas and not actually traverse the higher reaches. Some of the technology that has been used in the Beijing-Lhasa railway line is likely to be incorporated in this railway line, they added.

They said that the railway line would be laid by the Railway Development Corporation Ltd and would also generate employment at the local level for the unemployed youth of the region.

News Source: Hilly News

Uttarakhand govt tables Lokayukta Bill

eUttaranchal — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:23:27 +0000

The Uttarakhand government on Monday tabled in the Assembly the Lokayukta Bill bringing under its purview the Chief Minister, ministers and government servants, including IAS and IPS officers, and with a provision for punishment extending up to life imprisonment.

Chief Minister B.C. Khanduri tabled the “Uttarakhand Lokayukta Bill, 2011” in the Assembly as the session resumed after a month-long recess.

Soon after taking over as the Chief Minister on September 11 this year, Mr. Khanduri had announced to bring a stronger and an effective Lokayukta Bill within two months.

Lower judiciary will be covered under the Lokayukta while judges of the Uttarakhand High Court will not come under its purview.

Former Chief Ministers, former ministers and retired officers will also be under purview of the Lokayukta.

The Bill envisages that for any act of corruption, the punishment shall not be less than six months of rigorous imprisonment and may extend up to imprisonment of ten years.

In the rarest of rare cases, the punishment may be extended up to life imprisonment.

The Lokayukta will consist of a chairperson and five members with a scope of increasing the number to seven as per the need and requirement.

Uttarakhand Schools in Top 10 Boarding and International Schools in India

eUttaranchal — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 05:48:33 +0000

Uttarakhand Schools in Top 10 Boarding and International Schools in India

As published on the Times of India (14 Sept 2011), in a survey of top schools in India, Uttarakhand emerged as a leader in Boarding Schools, Day Schools and International schools in India.

About the Survey
Some of the best schools in the country may be the ones which involve parents, look after the special and diverse needs of children and constantly work on the professional development of teachers. Going by these parameters besides others, The Shri Ram School (Delhi and Gurgaon) has been declared as the best day school in the country in a recent survey conducted by C-Fore.

The annual survey, commissioned by Education World magazine, was conducted across 16 cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh and Lucknow.

There are 4 boarding Schools and 1 International School from Uttarakhand in Top 10

Boarding Schools in Uttarkhand in Top 10
2. The Doon School, Dehradun
3. Welham Girls School, Dehradun
7. Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun
8. Sherwood College, Nainital

International Schools in Uttarakhand in Top 10
1. Woodstock School, Mussoorie

Top 10 Day Schools, Boarding Schools, International Schools in India

Khanduri sworn in as 6th CM of Uttarakhand

eUttaranchal — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 06:12:24 +0000

Major General (retd) BC Khanduri was sworn in as sixth chief minister of Uttarakhand on Sunday. Governor Margret Alva administered oath to 77 years Khanduri who became chief minister for the second time after Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) decided to remove Ramesh Pokhriyal.

Khanduri asserted that BJP would win assembly polls which are scheduled in less than six months time.

“There is less time left and I am hopeful that BJP will win polls” he said after taking over as CM at Rangers Ground in capital.

Interestingly Khanduri repeated all eleven faces of Nishank cabinet including Diwakar Bhatt from Uttarakhand Kranti Dal and Rajendra Bhandari an independent.

Earlier Khanduri was unopposed elected as the leader of BJP legislative party in a ‘tense’ meeting that lasted for 45 minutes at Bijapur Guest House. Outgoing chief minister Nishank proposed name of Khanduri as the leader which was seconded by cabinet minister Matbar Singh Kandari amid the presence of central observer Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Nishank who tendered his resignation to governor before coming to meeting said that he would readily accept any responsibility.

“I have given my time to party and I look forward to serve in any capacity” said Nishank.

Meanwhile the BJP election in charge for Uttarakhand Rajnath Singh maintained that Nishank was not removed owing to graft charges.

“The change has been made as a part of BJP poll strategy” Singh clarified.

News Source: Hindustan Times

Har-ki-Pauri to turn shoppers’ paradise

eUttaranchal — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 07:48:41 +0000

In a bid to boost tourism, especially religious tourism, the Uttarakhand Tourism Department will set up a Himalayan Haat on the lines of Dilli Haat in Haridwar city.

The Union Government has allocated a sum of Rs 5.92 crore to the State tourism department for the project. The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, on its part, had convened a meeting with Haridwar district officials and Tourism Minister Madan Kaushik in Haridwar on Thursday and conducted an on-site visit.

A beautiful Himalayan crafts centre and food court would be constructed opposite to the famous Har-ki-Pauri in Haridwar. The Union Government has also sanctioned a sum of 5.41 crore for the construction of modern toilets and changing rooms in the 2.5 km vicinity of Har-ki-Pauri.

At the entrance of Har-ki-Pauri, the board will build a main gate at a cost of Rs 58.34 lakh. The giant gate was earlier supposed to be built on the national highway but the National Highway Authority of India has rejected the proposal outright. To cope with traffic and beautify the surroundings, the Union Government has agreed to donate Rs four crore for the construction of six parking lots including Dhobi Ghat and Chandi Ghat.

As many pilgrims are unable to listen to the ganga aarti, the tourism board plans to install high-quality speakers so that anyone in the 2.5 km stretch can hear the ritual take place and there is no rush to occupy a spot near the actual proceedings.

The objective of the Himalayan Haat is to promote the Uttarakhand handicrafts industry and State cuisine. Spread over 5-6 acres just outside the security tower, the project will also give a chance to from different corners of India to showcase their products.

News Source: The Pioneer