Page 46 - Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand govt signs agreement for Yamunotri ropeway's construction

The Uttarakhand Tourism Department on Thursday signed an agreement with two private firms to construct a ropeway to Yamunotri, situated at a height of over 10,000 ft in the Garhwal Himalayas. The agreement between the department, SRM Engineering and FIL Industry Pvt Ltd was inked in the presence of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and state tourism and culture minister Satpal Maharaj. The ropeway to connect Yamunotri with Kharsali, where Goddess Yamuna is worshipped during winter, will be 3.38 km long, an official release said. It will be a mono cable detachable ropeway with a capacity of carrying across 500 people in an hour. To be built in accordance with European standards, the ropeway will spare devotees the trouble of trekking for 2 to 3 hours to reach the temple, Dhami said, adding they will traverse the distance in the ropeway car in just 10-15 minutes.

Uttarakhand HC orders action against violence during paper leak protest

The Uttarakhand High Court on Tuesday ordered strict action against all those who created violence during an agitation in Dehradun by unemployed youths against recruitment examination paper leaks. "It appears that the mob agitating against paper leak resorted to violence. No matter what the issue, it cannot be used as an excuse to resort to violence, destroy public property, or create public nuisance," a division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Alok Kumar Verma observed. "The petitioner has a fundamental right to protest in a peaceful manner after obtaining proper permission from the administration. Therefore, we reject the demand for action against the police. We direct the government to take appropriate and strict action against all those involved in violence or arson," it said. The order came on a petition demanding a CBI probe into recruitment exam paper leaks and action against police personnel who resorted to lathicharge against ...

Residents of 'unsafe' buildings in subsidence-hit Karnaprayag to be shifted

Chamoli's District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana has ordered the evacuation of people living in "unsafe" houses in subsidence-hit areas of Karnaprayag to safer locations. Khurana, who visited the affected parts of the town, including Bahuguna Nagar, Subhash Nagar and Upper Bazar on Sunday, said some of the buildings have become quite uninhabitable. Around 30 buildings in Karnaprayag have developed cracks and eight of them are absolutely unsafe, he said. Like Joshimath, Karnaprayag has also been in the grip of a land subsidence problem for more than a year Officials have been asked to shift the people living in such houses to safer locations, Khurana said. Those who choose to live in houses on rent will be paid the rent amount for six months, the DM said. Crack metres have been installed in the houses to find out whether the existing cracks are widening and new ones developing, he said. "It was a preliminary first-hand examination carried out on Sunday during which I visited the ..

India, Uzbekistan begin two-week military exercise in Pithoragarh

The armies of India and Uzbekistan on Monday began a two-week military exercise in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh with an aim to enhance operational interoperability. The fourth edition of joint military exercise 'Dustlik' commenced in Foreign Training Node in Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand). Forty-five soldiers each from Uzbekistan and the Indian Army are participating in this exercise which is aimed at promoting positive relations between the two sides, the Indian Army said. The Indian Army contingent comprises troops from an infantry battalion from the Garhwal Rifles Regiment. The first edition of the exercise was held in Uzbekistan in November 2019. "The 14 days long joint exercise would focus on joint counter-terrorist operations in mountainous and semi-urban scenarios under the UN mandate and will include field training exercises, combat discussions, lectures, demonstrations and culminate with a validation exercise," the Army said. "Both sides will jointly train, plan and execute a ser

Investments in Uttarakhand creating new employment opportunities: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said large-scale investments in the hills of Uttarakhand are creating new employment opportunities for the state's youth who earlier had to migrate to big cities in search of livelihood. "This is the Amrit Kaal of unprecedented opportunities for the country's youths." the prime minister, who was virtually addressing a Rozgar Mela to distribute appointment letters among assistant teachers here, said. "Teachers have to play a big role in preparing them for the new century according to the new education policy," he said. The prime minister also described teachers as a medium for big change. "Large-scale investments in the infrastructure sector in Uttarakhand are not only boosting connectivity to remote villages but also creating new employment and self employment opportunities for youths near their homes so the state's youths return to their villages," Modi said.

Investments in infra sector to ensure Uttarakhand's youth return home: PM

Big investments are being made in the infrastructure sector in Uttarakhand to ensure that the state's youths return to their villages, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday. The prime minister, who was virtually addressing a Rozgar Mela to distribute appointment letters among assistant teachers here, described teachers as a medium for big change. "They have to prepare the youths of the state for a new century as per the new education policy...," he said. Large-scale investments in the hill state's infrastructure sector are creating new employment opportunities for youths nearer their homes, he added.

Uttarakhand: Chamoli DM inspects landslide-affected areas in Joshimath

The District Magistrate said that the buildings which have developed excessive cracks due to landslides should be evacuated and shifted to safer places

Uttarakhand govt approves relief package including rehabilitation policy

The Uttarakhand government has approved a relief package including displacement and rehabilitation policy for the residents affected by cracks in houses and land subsidence in Joshimath.

Uttarakhand approves compensation for people in land subsidence Joshimath

The Uttarakhand Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval to a policy for compensation and permanent rehabilitation of the affected families and people in land subsidence-hit Joshimath. It approved a one-time financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to people who were running shops or businesses in rented accommodations rendered unsafe by the disaster. The approval to the proposed policy was given at a meeting of the state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Secretary S S Sandhu told reporters. The cabinet also approved the State Millet Mission, which will facilitate distribution of one kilogram of millet to each family through the Public Distribution System under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana and serving of Jhangora and Manduwa (a type of millet) in mid-day meal at schools, Sandhu said. A total of 52 decisions were taken by the cabinet including approval to a strict anti-copying law brought through an ordinance, increasing the retirement age for Ayurvedic college ...

Complete work with transparency, speed, foresight: CM Dhami in Uttarakhand

The Chief Minister instructed to cross-verify the newly made ration cards in a proper way and to make those who are really entitled according to the standard

Avalanche near Vishnuprayag hydel project in Uttarakhand; no casualty

An avalanche occurred on a hill slope near the Vishnuprayag hydro electric project in Uttarakhand Sunday evening, officials said. There was no damage to life and property, Chamoli District Disaster Management Officer N K Joshi said on Monday, adding that such avalanches are normal in the Himalayas. A mass of snow slid down the mountainside close to the 420 MW hydel project's barrage site following the avalanche. The barrage is close to the Badrinath National Highway and a few hundred metres down the Khiron river, which is considered one of the most dangerous tributaries of the Alaknanda river.

103,730 candidates appeared for Revenue Sub-Inspector Exam in Uttarakhand

The Revenue Sub-Inspector (Patwari/Lekhpal) Examination-2022 was conducted "peacefully" on Sunday amid tight security at various examination centers across the state, the official said

To promote tourism, Uttarakhand CM to stay at a homestay in with locals

In a bid to promote homestays in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami will be staying tonight in the house of locals at Rawat Village of Pauri Garhwal district

Anyone found cheating in exams will be given life imprisonment: CM Dhami

Taking a strong stand against the alleged recruitment scams and paper leak cases, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said that those who will cheat in examinations will be given life imprisonment

Joshimath sinking: Mental health issues add to trauma of displaced

Insomnia, anxiety, depression and crippling uncertainty about the future. As days pass into weeks and the cracks in their town widen and deepen, hundreds of people displaced by land subsidence in Joshimath and forced into relief camps are battling a range of mental health problems, say residents and experts. With no end in sight to the crisis, hundreds of others in Uttarakhand's fragile mountain town still lucky enough to be at home are frantic with worry about when not if they too will have to move into government-run shelters, hotels or just leave town. The land subsidence event last month has had an impact on everyone. The major symptoms among affected people are insomnia and anxiety," Dr Jyotsana Naithwal, a psychiatrist from AIIMS Rishikesh deployed at the community health centre (CHC) in Joshimath, told PTI in a phone interview. She is part of the team of three trained psychiatrists and one clinical psychologist deployed in the town of over 20,000 people to help people battl

Waste management infra inadequate on pilgrim tracks of Uttarakhand: NGT

The National Green Tribunal has said there was "serious failure" on the part of the Uttarakhand administration in waste management across the pilgrimage tracks of Kedarnath, Hemkund Sahib, Yamunotri and Gomukh. The tribunal was hearing a petition claiming large-scale unregulated violation of environmental norms along the four pilgrim tracks. Noting that a committee constituted earlier by the NGT had submitted a factual report after undertaking site visits, a bench comprising Chairperson Justice A K Goel said the report acknowledged that "infrastructure for waste management is inadequate". "Equine excrement, solid garbage, and plastic waste were observed on and around the tracks and in the valley and soak pit toilets were overflowing with waste or the toilets were not working," the bench, also comprising judicial members Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, along with expert member Afroz Ahmad, noted. It said that according to the report, during peak hours, there was

Govt to bring anti-copying law soon; youths shouldn't be misled: CM Dhami

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday appealed to the youth not to let themselves be misled by anyone saying efforts are on to ensure that recruitment examinations are held in the state in a transparent way. "We are soon going to bring the strictest anti-coyping law in the country. It will be ensured that use of unfair means in recruitment examinations stops completely and they are held in a transparent manner. We will see to it that no injustice is done to the youth," Dhami said. Unemployed youths had staged a dharna and demonstration here on Wednesday demanding a CBI probe into irregularities in different recruitment examinations held by the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission. "Our government is making decisions in favour of the youth. We have granted reservation to our sisters and daughters in government jobs. Everyone's interest will be protected. My request to the youth is that they should not allow themselves to be misled by anyone," he said. The state

Future of youth in Uttarakhand secure in hands of CM Dhami, claims BJP

The ruling BJP on Thursday asked the youth of the state here not to worry about their future, saying it is secure in the hands of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami who is taking steps to root out corruption. "The youth have no reason to worry about their future. It is safe in the hands of the Chief Minister who has sought to know the status of vacancies in different government departments. Thousands of recruitment opportunities await the youth," state BJP media in-charge Manveer Chauhan said. "The Congress had grown a tree of corruption. The chief minister is trying to root it out. The youth should have patience and wait for the announcement of bumper vacancies by different government departments," he said. The party asked them to focus on their studies and prepare themselves for the competitive examinations to build their future instead of resorting to agitations under the influence of anyone. Unemployed youths staged a 'dharna' here on Wednesday demanding a CBI probe into ...

Budget's provisions for development of clean energy to benefit U'khand: CM

He said that the budget, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been prepared with the concept of overall development of the country

Uncertainty in Joshimath as residents await permanent rehabilitation

It has been more than a month since Bharti Devi left her home which was damaged due to cracks after the soil began sinking in Joshimath in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. Now the septuagenarian spends half her day near her now-abandoned home which she misses regularly and other half at the sub-divisional office, hoping to receive some positive news about their permanent rehabilitation. Bharti Devi is currently living in a temporary relief camp at an abandoned army barrack. She was among the first families of Joshimath whose houses became uninhabitable after the land-subsidence situation began aggravating. "The land beneath our home began to sink on January 2 and by the very next day our house had become uninhabitable. All this happened suddenly," she said. "We and nearly half a dozen neighbouring families picked up whatever we could from our homes and took refuge in a nearby school which was closed at that time. But now it has been opened and we have been ousted from there as well