Uttarakhand to introduce Mandi Act, reduce Stamp Duty to boost revenue

4.1.2011 (UNI) In view of the low registration of property due to tendency of property owners to avoid heavy stamp duty, the Uttarakhand Cabinet decided to amend the Indian Stamp Act to set new rates, chief secretary Subhash Kumar said here today.

Briefing the media persons after the Cabinet meeting headed by Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal 'Nishank', Mr Kumar said that according to the new proposals, the stamp duty on Release Deed has been reduced from six per cent to 0.25 percent to the maximum of Rs 1000.

The Stamp duty on Partition Deed in the limitations of local urban bodies and Industrial Development Area, has been reduced from four per cent to one per cent and maximum of Rs one lakh for the property worth up to ten crore.

For the properties of more than Rs ten crore, the stamp duty would go up to maximum of Rs three lakh.

For the property in rural areas the stamp duty has been drastically reduced from four per cent to 0.25 per cent to the maximum of Rs 25,000 without any upper ceiling for the worth of the property.

For the settlement deed the stamp duty has come down from four per cent to 0.5 per cent for the maximum of one lakh till the property worth Rs ten crore.

For the property worth more than Rs ten crore, the upper limit of stamp duty has been put at three lakh.

The state government feels that the move would arrest the growing incidents of fragmentation of the hill land, help proper documentation of the properties and also increase the revenue.

The amendments would be made in the relevant act to incorporate the provision for electronic documentation, storage and reconstruction of destroyed documents.

In another important decision the Cabinet would bring in the Assembly the proposal to form Mandi Act in the state in which private participation was also envisioned at various levels which would help contract farming and private sponsorships to boost earning prospects for small hill farmers.

The Cabinet also decided to make various committees to select contract employees in various categories, including Professors, HoD, Assistant Professor, Junior Resident Doctors among others to fill posts in Medical Colleges in Haldwani and Srinagar.

The Cabinet also proposed to launch fresh bids for Bovine Science and Technical project in Rishikesh after incorporating certain suggestions of the bidders chosen earlier. UNI

Dutch keen to trade in flowers; site finalised in Uttarakhand

India may shortly vie for world’s top exporter slot in cut and fresh flowers.

Dutch government is keen to triple India’s agro-exports, especially horticulture and floriculture products to corner a significant market share valued at billion euros in next 10 years.

Holland — world’s second largest agro-exporter — aims to retain India as sourcing base for fresh raw materials for its own agro-processing industry.

“We need good production base to source raw materials and fresh produce for processing and exports,” said Bob Heinsch, Dutch ambassador to India. Dutch firms fuelling agro-exports worth 64 billion Euros are now evincing huge interest in setting up bases in the country, he said.

Holland, a big player in cut-fresh flowers, is second only to US’ earnings from agro-exports. The country already recognises China as its ‘natural partner’ after tripling its trade with it in agricultural produce to 400 million Euros in last five years.

India’s current trade with Holland that accounts for less than 0.2 per cent of world’s farmland has already notched up to about 300 million euros in first nine months of the current fiscal. Of this, about 150 million euros worth trade is from fresh vegetables and floriculture.

A major processor and exporter of fresh agricultural produce, other than milk and cheese, Holland’s agri-exports are valued at 64 billion Euros and its imports stand at 42 billion Euros annually. This month, 25 Dutch companies backed with the government support, are hosting a joint trade expo of floriculture and horticulture producers in the capital.

“Our government had provided five million euros as support to the agro export industry to assist in framing new joint ventures and activities, a lot of them concerning technology transfer for evolving cross breeds jointly and post-harvest management are to be announced at the expo,” Dutch trade counsellor for Agriculture, Nature and Food Control, Henk van Dujin said.

http://www.mydigitalfc.com/news/dutch-keen-trade-flowers-site-finalised-uttarakhand-899

Uttarakhand cabinet approves APMC Act

The Uttarakhand cabinet has given its seal of approval to the new Uttarakhand Agriculture Produce (Development and Marketing) Act, which seeks to promote new reforms as well as private investments in the agriculture sector.

A decision to this effect was taken by a meeting of the state cabinet last evening which was presided over by Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.

Later speaking to Business Standard, state agriculture secretary Om Prakash said the new bill which is similar to the model Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act will be tabled in the state assembly in the next session to take the shape of an act.

Through the new act, Prakash said, the government would open doors for private investors like Reliance Industries and ITC which have recently entered the agriculture sector in a big way. “We have done our job, it is now for the private players to take benefit of the proposed act,” said Prakash.

The APMC Act contains provisions for setting up private mandis, enabling contract farming and constitution of regulatory authority to ensure a level playing field between the government controlled and private mandis. Private mandis would mean cutting out extra cess like the mandi cess and other charges, reducing final costs for consumers and buyers and allowing better gains for farmers.

The move came after a sub-committee of the state cabinet last year approved the draft. An expert committee has also toured different states like Andhra Pradesh to study the act and later gave its assent. The draft of the act was gathering dust since the past three years after the then Chief Minister B C Khanduri suggested certain changes and formed a sub-committee in this regard.

The new act is expected to pave the way for the legitimate establishment of private mandis. The bulk purchase licences will also allow the corporate houses to buy directly from the farmers in the run-up to the setting up of private mandis in the state.

BS

22 killed in Uttarakhand bus accident

Dehradun, Jan 6 (IANS) Twenty-two people, including 13 children and four women, were killed when their bus overturned and fell into a ditch on the outskirts of this Uttarakhand capital, an official said Thursday.

Twelve passengers were seriously wounded and 10 got minor injuries in the accident Wednesday night near the Shiv Mandir village, seven kilometres from here.

The bus was part of a convoy of eight buses carrying tourists from Haridwar who were returning after a day's sojourn in Mussoorie.

According to an official, seven other buses returned safely to Haridwar.

The officials suspect that the driver, who escaped from the spot, was intoxicated and lost control of the vehicle.

Beautiful Places at Ranikhet

Chaubatia Gardens: *It is situated 10kms from Ranikhet and is renowned for apple orchards. Ranikhet is popular for its luscious apples, apricots, peaches and various alpine fruits. Apart from fruits one can buy fresh juices and honey from Chaubatia Gardens. Picturesque views of the snow capped peaks of the mighty Himalayan range can be seen from Chaubatia Gardens.

Golf Course: *Ranikhet Golf Course is one of the highest golf courses of Asia. Ranikhet Golf Course is a 9-hole course making it one of the prime attractions of Ranikhet. The green meadow of the golf course at such high altitude is awe-inspiring. The golf club provides membership plans for outsiders as well.

Haidakhan Temple:* Situated 4kms from Ranikhet, Haidakhan Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva made by Shri Haidakhan Maharaj who is said to be the incarnation of Lord Shiva. The splendid views of the gigantic Himalayan peaks are clearly visible from Haidakhan Temple.

Jhula Devi Temple:* Built in the 8th century, Jhula Devi Temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga. The people of Uttaranchal have strong belief in the Jhula Devi Temple and numerous bells are hung in the temple. Ram Mandir is situated very close to Jhula Devi Mandir.

Binsar Mahadev: *The artistic structure of the Binsar Mahadev Templeand its deity Lord Shiva both adds positive vibes to our mind and soul. A beautiful stream flowing close to the Binsar Mahadev Temple adds amazement to the natural beauteousness of this sacred place. Binsar Mahadev Temple is situated amidst beautiful pine and deodar trees. Apart from the temple an ashram, Binsar Mahadev also has lovely cedar forest surroundings.

Bhalu Dam: *It is an artificial small lake blessed with natural beauteousness, panoramic views of the Himalayan Mountains and placid surroundings. The small but beautiful garden nearby the dam is marvelous. The dam site is open for all the tourists throughout the year. The views of the massive Himalayan peaks are enchanting and ravishing from Bhalu Dam. It is an ideal spot for camping and picnicking.

KRC (Kumaon Regimental Centre) Museum:* KRC Museum was established inthe 1970s, this Regiment Museum showcases the history of Kumaon and Garhwal regiments. It also displays valuable treasures like Rani Jhasi's silver scepter, Chinese rifles from the 1962 war, a World War-II Japanese wireless field telephone and documents related to the Kargil War.

Beautiful Places at Ranikhet

Chaubatia Gardens: *It is situated 10kms from Ranikhet and is renowned for apple orchards. Ranikhet is popular for its luscious apples, apricots, peaches and various alpine fruits. Apart from fruits one can buy fresh juices and honey from Chaubatia Gardens. Picturesque views of the snow capped peaks of the mighty Himalayan range can be seen from Chaubatia Gardens.

Golf Course: *Ranikhet Golf Course is one of the highest golf courses of Asia. Ranikhet Golf Course is a 9-hole course making it one of the prime attractions of Ranikhet. The green meadow of the golf course at such high altitude is awe-inspiring. The golf club provides membership plans for outsiders as well.

Haidakhan Temple:* Situated 4kms from Ranikhet, Haidakhan Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva made by Shri Haidakhan Maharaj who is said to be the incarnation of Lord Shiva. The splendid views of the gigantic Himalayan peaks are clearly visible from Haidakhan Temple.

Jhula Devi Temple:* Built in the 8th century, Jhula Devi Temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga. The people of Uttaranchal have strong belief in the Jhula Devi Temple and numerous bells are hung in the temple. Ram Mandir is situated very close to Jhula Devi Mandir.

Binsar Mahadev: *The artistic structure of the Binsar Mahadev Templeand its deity Lord Shiva both adds positive vibes to our mind and soul. A beautiful stream flowing close to the Binsar Mahadev Temple adds amazement to the natural beauteousness of this sacred place. Binsar Mahadev Temple is situated amidst beautiful pine and deodar trees. Apart from the temple an ashram, Binsar Mahadev also has lovely cedar forest surroundings.

Bhalu Dam: *It is an artificial small lake blessed with natural beauteousness, panoramic views of the Himalayan Mountains and placid surroundings. The small but beautiful garden nearby the dam is marvelous. The dam site is open for all the tourists throughout the year. The views of the massive Himalayan peaks are enchanting and ravishing from Bhalu Dam. It is an ideal spot for camping and picnicking.

KRC (Kumaon Regimental Centre) Museum:* KRC Museum was established inthe 1970s, this Regiment Museum showcases the history of Kumaon and Garhwal regiments. It also displays valuable treasures like Rani Jhasi's silver scepter, Chinese rifles from the 1962 war, a World War-II Japanese wireless field telephone and documents related to the Kargil War.

Golf Ground, Ranikhet

Golf in Uttarakhand has an altogether different appeal to the players. The Golf courses in Uttarakhand are built amidst the green meadows of Himalayas. The major golf sites are at Nainital and Ranikhet.

Golf in Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand has always lured people with its lush green surroundings and vast Himalayan range. The mountains and rivers of Uttarakhand have offered some very tough challenges to the adventure freaks. But there is more than adventure sports to the state, which is more subtle and gentle. Golf, one of the most favored past time of men, globally, has a very strong presence in Uttarakhand . For a Golf lover, Uttarakhand is a paradise. The Golf courses worldwide are known for there green meadows, surrounded by small lakes and small elevations on ground. Picture it all in middle of Himalayas, where the geographical variation is provided naturally. The Golf courses in Uttarakhand have incomparable beauty. Surrounded by mountains, fruit orchards and snow capped hill tops, the Golf courses here are also famous as tourist destination, apart from being favorites of professional players. The Golf courses in Uttarakhand are naturally very picturesque and can give a tough time to a golfer.

Major Sites

Upat Golf Course, Ranikhet : The Upat Golf course is situated 6 Km from Ranikhet. The 9 hole Golf course is said to be the best managed Golf course in India. Upat Golf course is generally used by army-men, but is also open for general public, on payment of a small amount. It is one of the most challenging courses in the world where one can enjoy the ethereal beauty of the course with the changing seasons. This is currently one of the best maintained courses in the country. Many Golf championships are held on the Upat Golf Course

Raj Bhawan Golf Course, Nainital : The Raj Bhawan Golf Course in Nainital has been in use since 1926. Sir Malcolm Halley, the then governor of United Province, found the place suitable for Golf and the golf course was designed and constructed by the British Army engineers. Spread over an area of 50 acres, and set on an altitude of 1932 M, the ground is a masterpiece, covered by soft grass and surrounded by fruit orchards. The 18 hole golf course is amogst the finest in India. The Golf course is built near the Raj Bhawan, residence of the former governors of United Province.

Golf Ground, Ranikhet

Golf in Uttarakhand has an altogether different appeal to the players. The Golf courses in Uttarakhand are built amidst the green meadows of Himalayas. The major golf sites are at Nainital and Ranikhet.

Golf in Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand has always lured people with its lush green surroundings and vast Himalayan range. The mountains and rivers of Uttarakhand have offered some very tough challenges to the adventure freaks. But there is more than adventure sports to the state, which is more subtle and gentle. Golf, one of the most favored past time of men, globally, has a very strong presence in Uttarakhand . For a Golf lover, Uttarakhand is a paradise. The Golf courses worldwide are known for there green meadows, surrounded by small lakes and small elevations on ground. Picture it all in middle of Himalayas, where the geographical variation is provided naturally. The Golf courses in Uttarakhand have incomparable beauty. Surrounded by mountains, fruit orchards and snow capped hill tops, the Golf courses here are also famous as tourist destination, apart from being favorites of professional players. The Golf courses in Uttarakhand are naturally very picturesque and can give a tough time to a golfer.

Major Sites

Upat Golf Course, Ranikhet : The Upat Golf course is situated 6 Km from Ranikhet. The 9 hole Golf course is said to be the best managed Golf course in India. Upat Golf course is generally used by army-men, but is also open for general public, on payment of a small amount. It is one of the most challenging courses in the world where one can enjoy the ethereal beauty of the course with the changing seasons. This is currently one of the best maintained courses in the country. Many Golf championships are held on the Upat Golf Course

Raj Bhawan Golf Course, Nainital : The Raj Bhawan Golf Course in Nainital has been in use since 1926. Sir Malcolm Halley, the then governor of United Province, found the place suitable for Golf and the golf course was designed and constructed by the British Army engineers. Spread over an area of 50 acres, and set on an altitude of 1932 M, the ground is a masterpiece, covered by soft grass and surrounded by fruit orchards. The 18 hole golf course is amogst the finest in India. The Golf course is built near the Raj Bhawan, residence of the former governors of United Province.

Dunagiri

History:

Dunagiri has been known over millennia as Drongiri. Dunagiri is the modern apbhransh or the colloquial version of original name Drongiri or Dronagiri.

Dunagiri has a distinctive importance in cultural history of our nation. Ancient history related to Dunagiri tells us right from very early times it was the favorite spot of Rishi-Munis of India who had established their ashrams here. Ashram of Garg Muni was at Dunagiri after whom river Gagas is named. It is said the river Gagas originated due to the effects of the austerities of Garg Muni. Sukhdev Muni’s (son of sage Ved Vyasa) ashram was also here, now known as Sukhdevi (within walking distance of Dunagiri Retreat). In the epic Ramayan, during Treta Yuga (prior to 3100 BC), when Lakshman was hit by the arrow of Ravan's son Meghnad (celestial arrows even had names - this one was called shakti-baan) , Hanuman saved his life by bringing divine herbs from this mountain which was then known as Drongiri or Dronagiri. During their period of anonymous travel, the Pandavas of Mahabharata took shelter at Dunagiri. Pandukholi is the place at Dunagiri where they stayed for a period of time. Pandav’s Guru Dronacharya did tapasya (devout austerity) at Dunagiri. Kalanemi rakshas (a malignant spirit) tried to terrorize the Rishis-Munis here.

Dunagiri is mentioned in Manaskhand of Skandpuran. Dunagiri Devi is described as Mahamaya Harpriya (Manaskhand, 36.17-18). The distinctive qualities of Durga at Dunagiri as shul-hasta, mahishasur-ghatini, sinh-vahini are described. In Manaskhand, Dunagiri Devi is also referred to as Vahyamati which identifies it with its Vedic roots. In Vedic times Durga was known to be a form of Agni.

In Creation, one can wonder if the element of Shakti is primary or that of Shiva? Is it right to emphazie Prakrati or should it be Purusha? Is it to be known as feminine or masculine? Questions of such nature are answered in Shwetashwetupanishad in the context of Dunagiri’s twin peak-heads. In fact, this Upanishad is believed to have been inspired/composed at Dunagiri itself. The fourth chapter of Shwetashwetupanishad, pondering on divinity, takes inspiration from Dunagiri’s twin natural peaks (one can see the twin rock pieces inside Dunagiri temple as well). Hence Manaskhand of Skandpuran bestows Dunagiri with the title of Brahm-parvat (Divine Mountain).

Among all the Shakti temples of Kumaon, Dunagiri is counted amid the most ancient ‘Sidh Shaktipeeth’. It is counted amongst the primary ‘ugra’ (intense) ‘peeths’. This shaktipeeth in its essence has been influenced over time by Shaiva, Vaishnav and Shakt practices.

Dunagiri

History:

Dunagiri has been known over millennia as Drongiri. Dunagiri is the modern apbhransh or the colloquial version of original name Drongiri or Dronagiri.

Dunagiri has a distinctive importance in cultural history of our nation. Ancient history related to Dunagiri tells us right from very early times it was the favorite spot of Rishi-Munis of India who had established their ashrams here. Ashram of Garg Muni was at Dunagiri after whom river Gagas is named. It is said the river Gagas originated due to the effects of the austerities of Garg Muni. Sukhdev Muni’s (son of sage Ved Vyasa) ashram was also here, now known as Sukhdevi (within walking distance of Dunagiri Retreat). In the epic Ramayan, during Treta Yuga (prior to 3100 BC), when Lakshman was hit by the arrow of Ravan's son Meghnad (celestial arrows even had names - this one was called shakti-baan) , Hanuman saved his life by bringing divine herbs from this mountain which was then known as Drongiri or Dronagiri. During their period of anonymous travel, the Pandavas of Mahabharata took shelter at Dunagiri. Pandukholi is the place at Dunagiri where they stayed for a period of time. Pandav’s Guru Dronacharya did tapasya (devout austerity) at Dunagiri. Kalanemi rakshas (a malignant spirit) tried to terrorize the Rishis-Munis here.

Dunagiri is mentioned in Manaskhand of Skandpuran. Dunagiri Devi is described as Mahamaya Harpriya (Manaskhand, 36.17-18). The distinctive qualities of Durga at Dunagiri as shul-hasta, mahishasur-ghatini, sinh-vahini are described. In Manaskhand, Dunagiri Devi is also referred to as Vahyamati which identifies it with its Vedic roots. In Vedic times Durga was known to be a form of Agni.

In Creation, one can wonder if the element of Shakti is primary or that of Shiva? Is it right to emphazie Prakrati or should it be Purusha? Is it to be known as feminine or masculine? Questions of such nature are answered in Shwetashwetupanishad in the context of Dunagiri’s twin peak-heads. In fact, this Upanishad is believed to have been inspired/composed at Dunagiri itself. The fourth chapter of Shwetashwetupanishad, pondering on divinity, takes inspiration from Dunagiri’s twin natural peaks (one can see the twin rock pieces inside Dunagiri temple as well). Hence Manaskhand of Skandpuran bestows Dunagiri with the title of Brahm-parvat (Divine Mountain).

Among all the Shakti temples of Kumaon, Dunagiri is counted amid the most ancient ‘Sidh Shaktipeeth’. It is counted amongst the primary ‘ugra’ (intense) ‘peeths’. This shaktipeeth in its essence has been influenced over time by Shaiva, Vaishnav and Shakt practices.

Districts of Uttarakhand

• Almora
• Bageshawar
• Champawat
• Chamoli
• Dehradun
• Haridwar
• Nainital
• Pauri
• Pithoragarh
• Rudraprayag
• Tehri
• Udham Singh Nagar
• Uttarkashi

Districts of Uttarakhand

• Almora
• Bageshawar
• Champawat
• Chamoli
• Dehradun
• Haridwar
• Nainital
• Pauri
• Pithoragarh
• Rudraprayag
• Tehri
• Udham Singh Nagar
• Uttarkashi

Lakes of Uttarakhand

1. Arwa Tal
2. Baghani Tal
3. Bedni Kund
4. Bekhar Tal
5. Beni-Tal
6. Bhimtal
7. Brahm Tal
8. Chorabari Tal
9. Deoria Tal
10. Devi Kund
11. Gohna Tal
12. Hemkund Sahib
13. Jhola Tal
14. Kagbhusand Tal
15. Kashni Tal
16. Kedar Tal
17. Nandi Kund
18. Naini Lake
19. Nanak Sagar
20. Nag Kund
21. Parvati Lake
22. Roop Kund
23. Rishi Lake
24. Saptrishi Kund
25. Seven Lakes
26. Satopanth Lake
27. Shasra Tal
28. Sup Tal
29. Tarag Tal
30. Vasuki Tal

Lakes of Uttarakhand

1. Arwa Tal
2. Baghani Tal
3. Bedni Kund
4. Bekhar Tal
5. Beni-Tal
6. Bhimtal
7. Brahm Tal
8. Chorabari Tal
9. Deoria Tal
10. Devi Kund
11. Gohna Tal
12. Hemkund Sahib
13. Jhola Tal
14. Kagbhusand Tal
15. Kashni Tal
16. Kedar Tal
17. Nandi Kund
18. Naini Lake
19. Nanak Sagar
20. Nag Kund
21. Parvati Lake
22. Roop Kund
23. Rishi Lake
24. Saptrishi Kund
25. Seven Lakes
26. Satopanth Lake
27. Shasra Tal
28. Sup Tal
29. Tarag Tal
30. Vasuki Tal

Glaciers of Uttarakhand

Banderpoonch Glacier - A glacier at a height of 4442 metre. Banderpoonch Glacier is 12 km long and located at the northen slopes of Banderpoonch Peak, Banderpoonch west and khatling peak.

Chorabari Glacier - A glacier at a height of 3800 metre. Chorabari Glacier starts from its accumulation zone ( 6000 mtrs) and terminates at 3800 mtrs.

Dokriani Glacier - A glacier at a height of 3800 metre. 5 km long Dokriani Glacier flows in the northwest direction, originating from northern slope of Draupadi – ka - - Danda and Jaonli Peak.

Doongiri Glacier – 5.5 km long Doongiri Glacier extending at a height of 5150 mtrs to 4240 mtrs forms Dhauli Ganga.

Gangotri Glacier - Gangotri Glacier is a combination of several glaciers that are fed to it and form a huge mass of ice. Bhrigupanth, Kirti Stambh, Sumeru Parbat, Ratavana Bamak, Chaturangi Bamak and Swachand Bamak lie on the northeast slope of srikailash, Mana Parbat, Satopnath and an un-named group of peaks. The glacier lies within a span of 28 km and terminates at Gaumukh ( 3892 mtrs).

Glaciers of Uttarakhand

Banderpoonch Glacier - A glacier at a height of 4442 metre. Banderpoonch Glacier is 12 km long and located at the northen slopes of Banderpoonch Peak, Banderpoonch west and khatling peak.

Chorabari Glacier - A glacier at a height of 3800 metre. Chorabari Glacier starts from its accumulation zone ( 6000 mtrs) and terminates at 3800 mtrs.

Dokriani Glacier - A glacier at a height of 3800 metre. 5 km long Dokriani Glacier flows in the northwest direction, originating from northern slope of Draupadi – ka - - Danda and Jaonli Peak.

Doongiri Glacier – 5.5 km long Doongiri Glacier extending at a height of 5150 mtrs to 4240 mtrs forms Dhauli Ganga.

Gangotri Glacier - Gangotri Glacier is a combination of several glaciers that are fed to it and form a huge mass of ice. Bhrigupanth, Kirti Stambh, Sumeru Parbat, Ratavana Bamak, Chaturangi Bamak and Swachand Bamak lie on the northeast slope of srikailash, Mana Parbat, Satopnath and an un-named group of peaks. The glacier lies within a span of 28 km and terminates at Gaumukh ( 3892 mtrs).

Auli in Uttarakhand

Auli, 16 Km.from Joshimath and accessible by a good motorable road, is an ideal Ski resort with it’s slopes comparable to the best in the world. The resort is run by GMVN, which, apart from providing accommodation also organizes all facilities for Skiing. The season extends from January to March during which time skiing festivals and the national championships are held. The Auli slopes, descending from 3049 Mtrs to 2915 Mtrs are flanked by conifers and oaks which cut wind velocity to the minimum. Adding to the thrill of skiing is a 180 degrees view of Himalayan peaks which include Nanda Devi, Kamet, Manaparvat and Dunagiri.


The conditions for skiing are perfect. A 500 Mtrs long ski-lift and an 800 Mtrs long chair-lift link the upper and lower slopes and snow beaters and snow packing machines maintain the smoothness of the slopes. Skiers can enjoy almost 20 Km of virgin slopes which provide excellent opportunities for cross country, slalom and down-hill skiing events.

An added attraction is a 3.9 Km long cable car which links Joshimath with the upper slopes of Auli and moves on to gorson. GMVN provides modern skiing equipment on higher.

Adventure Sports


Skiing : GMVN conducts 7 and 14 days skiing courses at Auli and special provisions for day tourists are also available. Training is given by qualified ski instructors

Auli in Uttarakhand

Auli, 16 Km.from Joshimath and accessible by a good motorable road, is an ideal Ski resort with it’s slopes comparable to the best in the world. The resort is run by GMVN, which, apart from providing accommodation also organizes all facilities for Skiing. The season extends from January to March during which time skiing festivals and the national championships are held. The Auli slopes, descending from 3049 Mtrs to 2915 Mtrs are flanked by conifers and oaks which cut wind velocity to the minimum. Adding to the thrill of skiing is a 180 degrees view of Himalayan peaks which include Nanda Devi, Kamet, Manaparvat and Dunagiri.


The conditions for skiing are perfect. A 500 Mtrs long ski-lift and an 800 Mtrs long chair-lift link the upper and lower slopes and snow beaters and snow packing machines maintain the smoothness of the slopes. Skiers can enjoy almost 20 Km of virgin slopes which provide excellent opportunities for cross country, slalom and down-hill skiing events.

An added attraction is a 3.9 Km long cable car which links Joshimath with the upper slopes of Auli and moves on to gorson. GMVN provides modern skiing equipment on higher.

Adventure Sports


Skiing : GMVN conducts 7 and 14 days skiing courses at Auli and special provisions for day tourists are also available. Training is given by qualified ski instructors

UKD expels cabinet minister

The Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) on Tuesday expelled its lone cabinet minister Diwakar Bhatt, following a difference in opinion over the party's decision to withdraw support from the BJP-led government in the state.

"The party had suspended Bhatt for indiscipline on January 1 and had sought an explanation from him in three days. The party has now decided to expel him for life long, as he did not respond," UKD president Trivendra Singh Panwar told reporters.

Bhatt, the UKD MLA and Food and Civil Supplies Minister in BJP government had voiced against the party's decision to pull support from government last week.

The UKD, which has three MLAs in State Assembly, withdrew support from BJP government on December 27, 2010.

Cold wave continues to grip North India

People continue to shiver from the freezing cold wave in North India on Wednesday.

In New Delhi, the temperature recorded this morning was 4.4 degree Celsius as against the 3.7 degree Celsius -the lowest this season on Tuesday.

As per reports, the cold wave is expected to continue till January 7.

In Jammu and Kashmir, Leh registered a low of minus 20 degrees Celsius, even though the minimum temperatures across the region appreciated by several degrees.

Other parts of the Kashmir Valley saw night temperatures also appreciating. The Gulmarg skiing resort recorded a low of minus 9.2 degree Celsius, which was 2.5 degrees higher than Tuesday.

Qazigund, the gateway town to the Kashmir Valley near the Jawahar Tunnel recorded a temprature of minus 8.4 degree Celsius, while Kokernag in Anantnag District witnessed a night temperature of minus 7.5 degree Celsius.

In Punjab and Haryana, minimum temperatures dropped sharply. Hisar recorded a low of 2.7 degree Celsius, down two notches.

In Rajasthan, capital Jaipur recorded a lowest temperature of 2.1 degrees Celsius, six notches below normal.

In Uttarakhand, a severe cold wave alongwith fog and frost threw the normal life out of gear at many places.

The MET Department predicts that weather will clear during next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the Gangotri Highway has been re-opened after a bout of heavy snowfall whereas around 20 tourists belonging to Delhi and Kolkata, who were struck at Harsil, have gone back after the opening of the route. (ANI)

Biting cold, fog to stay for now

LUCKNOW: The cold wave conditions continued unabated in UP on Tuesday. While Churk in Sonbhadra was the coldest in the state with 0.6 degrees Celsius, Agra was freezing at 1.2 degrees Celsius followed by Varanasi at 3 degrees Celsius and Lucknow at 4 degrees Celsius. Though minimum temperatures in most of the places were 3-6 degrees below normal, it was the drop in day temperatures and a foggy morning which were more uncomfortable for the people. The weatherman has predicted no significant change in the conditions on Wednesday. However, a warning of ground frost has been issued for the west UP districts.

State meteorological director J P Gupta said that the northwesterly winds coming from snow-clad mountains are responsible for the biting cold in the state. "No significant change in the temperatures is likely in the next few days. Foggy conditions would also continue," he predicted. On the other hand, while agency reports said that the severe cold wave claimed 13 lives in different parts of the state during the last 24 hours, taking the toll to 40 this winter, the state administration did not confirm any death. Instead, office of the relief commissioner denied deaths due to cold as reported in media on Monday.

In Lucknow, maximum temperature was 16.6 degrees Celsius, 6 degrees below normal. The minimum temperature was 4 degrees Celsius, slightly above the 3.6 degrees Celsius recorded on Monday. People woke up to thick dense fog, which kept the day temperatures down. While Agra recorded maximum temperature of 13.2 degrees Celsius, 9 degrees below normal, Bareilly recorded maximum temperature of 15.5 degrees, 7 degrees below normal. Similarly, maximum temperature in Varanasi was 15.4 degrees Celsius, 8 degrees below normal and Allahabad recorded 13.7 degrees Celsius, which was 7 degrees below normal.

However, in comparison to the Gangetic plains of UP, the temperatures were higher in hill stations like Shimla and Dehradun. While the maximum and minimum temperatures in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, were 14.1 degrees Celsius and 4.6 degrees Celsius, respectively, the same for Dehradun in Uttarakhand were 19.1 degrees Celsius and 6.3 degrees Celsius, respectively. The plains of Rajasthan also reeled under cold wave conditions, with Jaipur recording 15.8 degrees Celsius maximum temperature and 2.1 minimum temperature. Delhi was no different with maximum and minimum temperatures of 14.7 degrees Celsius and 3.7 degrees Celsius, respectively.

TOI

Upper Ganga Canal highway project may begin soon

After much delay, the proposed eight-lane Upper Ganga Canal Expressway (UGCE) in western Uttar Pradesh may finally move towards getting the award of concessionaire.

The 212-km expressway flanking the Upper Ganga Canal is proposed from Sanauta Bridge in Greater Noida to Purkazi on the Uttar Pradesh-Uttarakhand border. Last year, the financial bidding process was put off several times due to variety of reasons, including investors’ lack of interest and environmental issues.

However, things seem to be positive this time round with the state government hoping to get the Request for Proposal (RFP) documents from bidders by January 31.

The government is making minor changes in the RFP document, since a new land acquisition and rehabilitation policy had come into force since September 2010.

“The process of making the minor changes in the document is on and the bidding process is likely to be completed this month,” a senior UP Expressways Industrial Development Authorty (Upeida) official told Business Standard.

A pre-bid meeting was held last month, in which the representatives of the prospective concessionaire had participated. Six companies, including Reliance and Jaypee are in the fray after qualifying the preliminary bid stage.

While, the main UGCE would measure 150 km, the link roads are likely to measure another 45 km. Besides, a link road of about 25 km is also proposed to be built in future.

The cost of the proposed expressway is estimated in the region for Rs 8,000 crore and it will take about three to four years to be completed. Besides, hydropower projects would be undertaken alongside to generate 32 megawatt (Mw) at a cost of Rs 400 crore.

Upeida is the lead agency for this Design Built Finance Operate Transfer (DBFOT) project, while IL&FS Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (IIDC) is the consultant.

The state irrigation department owns all the necessary land for the expressway, which would help in faster completion of the project. The expressway would be on 35-year lease to the concessionaire, while the commercial land at strategic locations along the route would be on lease for 90 years. The expressway will boost the industrial and economic development in the region and the farmers will find it easier to make their produce reach the national capital faster.

BS

Uttarakhand to reduce stamp duty to boost revenue

In view of the low registration of property due to tendency of property owners to avoid heavy stamp duty, the Uttarakhand Cabinet today decided to amend the Indian Stamp Act to set new rates, chief secretary Subhash Kumar said here today.

Briefing mediapersons after the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal, Mr Kumar said that, according to the new proposals, the stamp duty on Release Deed had been reduced from six per cent to 0.25 per cent to the maximum of Rs 1000.

The stamp duty on Partition Deed in the limitations of local urban bodies and Industrial Development Area has been reduced from four per cent to one per cent and maximum of Rs one lakh forproperty worth up to Rs 10 crore.

For properties of more than Rs 10 crore, the stamp duty would go up to maximum of Rs 3 lakh.

For property in rural areas the stamp duty has been drastically reduced from four per cent to 0.25 per cent to the maximum of Rs 25,000 without any upper ceiling for the worth of theproperty.

For the settlement deed, the stamp duty has come down from four per cent to 0.5 per cent for the maximum of one lakh till the property worth Rs ten crore.

For property worth more than Rs 10 crore, the upper limit of stamp duty has been put at Rs three lakh.

The state government feels that the move would arrest the growing incidents of fragmentation of the hill land, help proper documentation of the properties and also increase the revenue.

The amendments would be made in the relevant Act to incorporate the provision for electronic documentation, storage and reconstruction of destroyed documents.

NNN