STUP appointed consultant for Naini Saini airport

The Uttarakhand government has appointed Mumbai-based STUP Consultants (Pvt) Ltd as the consultant for the expansion and modernisation of Naini Saini airport in the hilly Pithoragarh district and has agreed to pay Rs 3.51 crore as the consultancy fees.

An investment of Rs 46.25 crore is proposed for expanding and strengthening the runway and upgrading other related operational infrastructure and terminal facilities at the Naini Saini Airport, which was not operational for years now.

Uttarakhand State Infrastructure Development Corporation, the nodal agency for the development of the airport, invited bids in 2008 for hiring a consultant but after a roadblock, STUP was chosen last year.

Objections were raised over the consultancy fees. But the civil aviation department pleaded the fees of Rs 3.51 crore be paid in the wake of high inflation.

Uttarakhand's mining policy comes under scanner

The Uttarakhand government’s mining policy has come under scanner following its decision to issue licences to private players in the sector despite a ban in the eco-sensitive Himalayan zone.

At the centre of controversy is a Haldwani-based company which has been given a mining licence in the hilly Bageshwar district, considered to be highly fragile and prone to landslides.

The decision has led to a lot of resentment among the Opposition, which is now seeking a review of the whole policy. The issue also came up in the state assembly, which was adjourned today amid uproarious scenes with the Opposition members alleging that the private companies were being given licences for mining in the eco-sensitive areas in gross violation of stringent environmental norms and without any proper clearances from the Centre.

The Opposition members claimed that Haldwani-based Great Himalayan Minerals and Chemicals limited was issued the licence for mining in 14.5 sq km area in Kukroli area of Bageshwar district that too without calling any tender process.

Later, parliamentary affairs minister Prakash Pant denied any favouritism in the mining policy.

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U'khand integrates infrastructure with finance department

Principal Secretary Finance Alok Jain today took over as the new infrastructure commissioner of Uttarakhand in a major administrative reshuffle.

This is being seen as the government’s attempt to integrate both infrastructure and finance departments in the hill state, where a series of infrastructure projects had hit the roadblocks. "It is good that the two departments would be held by one person as finance is the major component of the infrastructure projects," a top official said.

Prior to the new reshuffle, the post of the infrastructure commissioner was traditionally held by additional chief secretary. With the transfer of Ajay Kumar Joshi to Nainital where he will be holding the post of the Director General (DG) Administrative Training Academy (ATI), all the three posts of additional chief secretary have been shelved.

After the transfer of Joshi to Nainital, Subhash Kumar, another additional chief secretary Subhash Kumar of 1977 batch, has been made the new Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand. Kumar would replace N S Napalchyal, who took voluntary retirement one-and-a- half month before the expiry of his extended tenure on October 31 this year. Napalchyal has now been nominated as first principal advisor to the state planning commission. He is also being tipped as the next chief information commissioner of the state.

Joshi, who stands no 2 in the All India ranking of 1977 batch list, was transferred to Nainital in what was being seen an apparent attempt by Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank to clip his wings since he was hot favourite to become the chief secretary. Joshi has now challenged the move in the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).

In yet another move, S K Mattoo, who was also serving as additional chief secretary, has been shifted New Delhi as chief resident commissioner. Principal secretary irrigation P C Sharma would be the new revenue commissioner.

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U'khand to develop bus-stands

After setting up the first ISBT at Dehra Dun, the Uttarakhand government has decided to modernise roadways bus stations in 11 cities and develop four of them under PPP mode in the first phase.

The bus-stands at Kashipur, Ramnagar, Rudrapur and Srinagar towns would be developed on PPP mode where an investment of Rs 29 crore is proposed. A decision to this effect was taken by a meeting of the state cabinet which was presided over by Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank yesterday. Later, seven other bus stations would also be developed.

After the meeting, Additional Secretary, Transport, Vinod Sharma said all the four bus stands would be given to a private developer with a 25 years lease on build, operate and transfer basis. All the new bus-stands will have facilities like hotels, office space, parking and dormitories. The government will get a lease rent of Rs 49 crore from developers

Uttarakhand govt abolishes water and sever taxes

Dehra Dun, Feb 17 Uttarakhand government has abolished the water and sever tax in the state, official sources today said.

A notification to this effect was issued last weekened, they said.

Now onwards, the consumers would have to pay only water and sever charges.

The government has also waived off the arrears of taxes amounting to Rs 24.11 crore due on the consumers of the state.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan has urged the government to compensate for the amount which it was getting as water and sever tax.
Source: PTI

Corbett, Rajaji opened for tourists

DEHRADUN: Tourist flow to the Corbett and Rajaji national parks resumed today after the forest guards deferred their agitation in the wake of assurances given by the Uttarakhand government to look into their demands which include hike in their wages.

"Corbett and Rajaji National parks are opened for tourists. The talks are on between Forest Minister Vanshidhar Bhagat and forest guards to resolve their problems. The government is considering their demands sympathetically," said Forest Secretary Anoop Badhavan.

Uttarakhand Forest Guards Federation locked the gates of Corbett and Rajaji National parks on their opening day yesterday causing much difficulty to the tourists and wildlife lovers coming from different parts of the country.

The two national parks reopen for tourists on November 15 every year after remaining closed for monsoon season.

India's oldest national park, Jim Corbett, which is known for tigers and Rajaji Park, known for Asiatic elephants, attract lakhs of tourists every year.

The forest guards are demanding that they should be promoted as forester after their 14 years of service and then as deputy ranger after 24 years of service. Among other things they are also seeking pay grades as per the recommendations of Sixth Pay Commission. There are 2,118 forest guards in Uttarakhand.

Maya Mohan Kandwal, president of the federation, said they have deferred their agitation on the assurance of government and if the talk fails, they would again be forced to take to streets.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Earth/Corbett_Rajaji_opened_for_tourists/articleshow/3721416.cms