State is heading for power crisis in winter
Anupam Trivedi
Sat, Jul 11 04:15 PM
Needing 900 million units of electricity after the summers, the Uttarakhand Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL) consumers in the state are likely to face an acute power crisis during the winter season. The situation could arise from the failure of UPCL, which is responsible for electricity distribution in Uttarakhand, to save 'electricity' during the current season. UPCL seems to be in a fix about finding out 'workable solutions' for the looming crisis. Not that there aren't any power problems in the state right now. At one point of time the demand and generation ratio for electricity doubled, leading to an increase in the duration of power cuts. With the arrival of the monsoon, power production in the state increased, saving the situation from getting worse. "We are generation 2,550 million units against requirement of the same number of units," Jagmohan Lal, Chief Managing Director (CMD) of UPCL told HT on Friday. Lal said the state was not in a position to save a single unit. "UPCL had borrowed 150 million units from the New Delhi-based company BSES. We have already returned 50 million units and by the end of September we will have to return the remaining units," the CMD said. He clearly said Uttarakhand was not in position to do any sort of 'power-banking' with other states this year. Last year, things were different. The state had banked 360 million units with states like Gujarat, New Delhi, Haryana and Punjab. The savings came in handy during the winters last year when the hill state was facing an acute power crisis. "During winters, we asked for reverse banking from Punjab and BSES. We have returned the power we'd borrowed from Punjab," the CMD said. UPCL expects the demand to touch the 900 million-unit mark by the winters.
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Sunday, July 12, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Ministers take charge with promises
Ministers take charge with promises
Anupam Trivedi
Tue, Jul 7 02:15 PM
The council of ministers in the Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank's Cabinet took charge on Monday after they were allocated portfolios late on Sunday evening. The mood was clearly reflected on the face of ministers while taking charge at Vidhan Sabha building. In the changed political scenario, Nishank has elevated many in their positions, while clipping the wings of a few ministers. Diwakar Bhatt, a cabinet minister from Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, was aghast at the Urban Development portfolio being taken away from him, which he was holding in the B.C. Khanduri's cabinet. "This is politics, although I worked lot in understanding Urban Development but now it is no more with me," said Bhatt. He added his priority would be making food and civil supplies department more effective. "We are planning to set new guidelines for kerosene distribution system in the state." Irrigation minister Matbar Singh Kandari apart from retaining his earlier portfolios has additionally got minor irrigation and social welfare. He, however, wants to focus on settling issue of distribution of assets with UP irrigation department. It is learnt that UP at present holds right over the irrigation department properties in Uttarakhand. "Uttarakhand High Court has recently given verdict in our favour. We have in the meantime filed 'caveat' in Supreme Court requesting the apex court not to give any decision without hearing our version," said Kandari adding that Uttarakhand would appoint top advocates to back state's case. The old horse of the BJP looked somehow happy with the allocation of portfolio. On the first floor of the Vidhan Sabha building, Cabinet Minister Bishan Singh Chufal said "my top priority is to make Uttarakhand forest save from fire. I have asked officials to make full proof scheme for the same". Chufal also claimed that he would turn state transport corporation from loss making
unit into profit making corporation. The chief minister has elevated Bishan Singh Chufal as he has been allocated two important portfolios - transport and forest. Chufal has also retained all those departments, which he was holding in the B.C. Khanduri cabinet. Senior cabinet minister from Kumaon, Prakash Pant was busy taking meeting with the officers of Drinking Water department. Nevertheless high profile tourism department has been taken back from him. "It is not a good thing," said one of Pant's supporters expressing dissatisfaction over distribution of department. Agriculture Minister Trivendar Rawat who has also holds horticulture department hoped that the combination between both agriculture and horticulture would help in taking agro sector to new heights.
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Anupam Trivedi
Tue, Jul 7 02:15 PM
The council of ministers in the Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank's Cabinet took charge on Monday after they were allocated portfolios late on Sunday evening. The mood was clearly reflected on the face of ministers while taking charge at Vidhan Sabha building. In the changed political scenario, Nishank has elevated many in their positions, while clipping the wings of a few ministers. Diwakar Bhatt, a cabinet minister from Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, was aghast at the Urban Development portfolio being taken away from him, which he was holding in the B.C. Khanduri's cabinet. "This is politics, although I worked lot in understanding Urban Development but now it is no more with me," said Bhatt. He added his priority would be making food and civil supplies department more effective. "We are planning to set new guidelines for kerosene distribution system in the state." Irrigation minister Matbar Singh Kandari apart from retaining his earlier portfolios has additionally got minor irrigation and social welfare. He, however, wants to focus on settling issue of distribution of assets with UP irrigation department. It is learnt that UP at present holds right over the irrigation department properties in Uttarakhand. "Uttarakhand High Court has recently given verdict in our favour. We have in the meantime filed 'caveat' in Supreme Court requesting the apex court not to give any decision without hearing our version," said Kandari adding that Uttarakhand would appoint top advocates to back state's case. The old horse of the BJP looked somehow happy with the allocation of portfolio. On the first floor of the Vidhan Sabha building, Cabinet Minister Bishan Singh Chufal said "my top priority is to make Uttarakhand forest save from fire. I have asked officials to make full proof scheme for the same". Chufal also claimed that he would turn state transport corporation from loss making
unit into profit making corporation. The chief minister has elevated Bishan Singh Chufal as he has been allocated two important portfolios - transport and forest. Chufal has also retained all those departments, which he was holding in the B.C. Khanduri cabinet. Senior cabinet minister from Kumaon, Prakash Pant was busy taking meeting with the officers of Drinking Water department. Nevertheless high profile tourism department has been taken back from him. "It is not a good thing," said one of Pant's supporters expressing dissatisfaction over distribution of department. Agriculture Minister Trivendar Rawat who has also holds horticulture department hoped that the combination between both agriculture and horticulture would help in taking agro sector to new heights.
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Monday, July 6, 2009
State's power projects caught in red tape, gather dust
State's power projects caught in red tape, gather dust
Anupam TrivediMon, Jul 6 03:10 PM
The power projects undertaken by public sector companies in Uttarakhand seem to be caught in a time warp. Barring Tehri Hydro Power Corporation (THDC), no other company has completed a project in the state. The public sector companies are reportedly facing problems due to the lengthy process involved in getting forest clearances and also the lack of support from local administration and state officials. The state government has commissioned 25 hydro power projects to four public sector companies - National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC), National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVNL) and THDC. Two years ago, the government inked an MoU with SJVNL for 'run of the river' 252 megawatt Devsari hydro power project in Chamoli district, which is expected to be commissioned in 12th Plan. "However, due to bureaucratic bottlenecks, the commissioning time might get extended," a source in SJVNL said. He further said that detail project report (DPR) to get nod from government was gathering dust at state secretariat. The only hydropower project which has been commissioned by now is much talked about Tehri hydro power project of 1000 mega watts.
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Anupam TrivediMon, Jul 6 03:10 PM
The power projects undertaken by public sector companies in Uttarakhand seem to be caught in a time warp. Barring Tehri Hydro Power Corporation (THDC), no other company has completed a project in the state. The public sector companies are reportedly facing problems due to the lengthy process involved in getting forest clearances and also the lack of support from local administration and state officials. The state government has commissioned 25 hydro power projects to four public sector companies - National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC), National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVNL) and THDC. Two years ago, the government inked an MoU with SJVNL for 'run of the river' 252 megawatt Devsari hydro power project in Chamoli district, which is expected to be commissioned in 12th Plan. "However, due to bureaucratic bottlenecks, the commissioning time might get extended," a source in SJVNL said. He further said that detail project report (DPR) to get nod from government was gathering dust at state secretariat. The only hydropower project which has been commissioned by now is much talked about Tehri hydro power project of 1000 mega watts.
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Friday, July 3, 2009
ID cards project on track
ID cards project on track
Anupam TrivediFri, Jul 3 05:20 PM
With the appointment of corporate icon Nandan Nilekani as head of Unique Identification Authority of India, hopes have soared for speedy delivery of a unique identification number (UID) to every citizen. The project is aimed at improving the service delivery model for various government schemes. But officials in Uttarakhand are all the more excited, as a similar exercise has already been initiated in the hill state and a detail survey report submitted to the state government last year. "We are waiting for guidelines from the Centre after Nilekani's appointment," said Ranjan Mishra, director of Information Technology Development Authority (ITDA), an apex body of IT related services in the state. He said Uttarakhand is perhaps the only state in country which has a ready database of citizens covering every minute and major detail. Former Chief Minister N.D. Tiwari had commissioned the ambitious project in 2006 that carried out 'multi purpose household survey' covering 20 lakh families residing in urban areas of the state. "Teams of more than 350 employees carried out the survey of household falling under 63 local bodies in the state," said Umesh Babu of Macro Infotech, which was instrumental in surveying respondents. Babu said it took more than two years to complete the survey and a report was submitted in 2008. The survey envisaged creating a database that would link all government departments enabling them to take policy decision for the welfare of people under e-governance initiative. It was decided that on the next stage 'biometric cards' would also be issued to those covered under the survey. "The database carried all demographic details of respondents like property details, water and electricity connection details, driving licence, passport, PAN card and Voter ID card," said Pankaj Sah, project consultant. He added, "Photographs and biometric finger prints of all citizens above 15 years was also taken." At present, due to bureaucratic bottlenecks, the survey report and database provided to the ITDA is collecting dust but now in the fresh turn of events ITDA is hopeful of positive results.Copyright © Yahoo India Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved.
Anupam TrivediFri, Jul 3 05:20 PM
With the appointment of corporate icon Nandan Nilekani as head of Unique Identification Authority of India, hopes have soared for speedy delivery of a unique identification number (UID) to every citizen. The project is aimed at improving the service delivery model for various government schemes. But officials in Uttarakhand are all the more excited, as a similar exercise has already been initiated in the hill state and a detail survey report submitted to the state government last year. "We are waiting for guidelines from the Centre after Nilekani's appointment," said Ranjan Mishra, director of Information Technology Development Authority (ITDA), an apex body of IT related services in the state. He said Uttarakhand is perhaps the only state in country which has a ready database of citizens covering every minute and major detail. Former Chief Minister N.D. Tiwari had commissioned the ambitious project in 2006 that carried out 'multi purpose household survey' covering 20 lakh families residing in urban areas of the state. "Teams of more than 350 employees carried out the survey of household falling under 63 local bodies in the state," said Umesh Babu of Macro Infotech, which was instrumental in surveying respondents. Babu said it took more than two years to complete the survey and a report was submitted in 2008. The survey envisaged creating a database that would link all government departments enabling them to take policy decision for the welfare of people under e-governance initiative. It was decided that on the next stage 'biometric cards' would also be issued to those covered under the survey. "The database carried all demographic details of respondents like property details, water and electricity connection details, driving licence, passport, PAN card and Voter ID card," said Pankaj Sah, project consultant. He added, "Photographs and biometric finger prints of all citizens above 15 years was also taken." At present, due to bureaucratic bottlenecks, the survey report and database provided to the ITDA is collecting dust but now in the fresh turn of events ITDA is hopeful of positive results.Copyright © Yahoo India Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
RTI Act getting the right treatment here
RTI Act getting the right treatment here
Anupam TrivediWed, Jun 24 03:35 PM
Uttarakhand is topping the list in playing a pro-active role in getting information using the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Data suggests that in the last four years numbers of appeals registered with the State Information Commission (SIC) have grown considerably. Since 2006 till June this year the total number of appeals registered with the SIC is 1,465. The neighbouring state, Uttar Pradesh, comes second with 45 appeals registered with UP Information Commission. In the same period 12 appeals were registered in Delhi, 1 each in Andhra Pradesh and Haryana. Two appeals were filed in Rajasthan. The commission has received 412 appeals against the replies received by applicants from various departments. Former chief secretary Dr R.S. Tolia, who is heading the SIC since its inception, attributes growing numbers of appeals as a positive sign.
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Anupam TrivediWed, Jun 24 03:35 PM
Uttarakhand is topping the list in playing a pro-active role in getting information using the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Data suggests that in the last four years numbers of appeals registered with the State Information Commission (SIC) have grown considerably. Since 2006 till June this year the total number of appeals registered with the SIC is 1,465. The neighbouring state, Uttar Pradesh, comes second with 45 appeals registered with UP Information Commission. In the same period 12 appeals were registered in Delhi, 1 each in Andhra Pradesh and Haryana. Two appeals were filed in Rajasthan. The commission has received 412 appeals against the replies received by applicants from various departments. Former chief secretary Dr R.S. Tolia, who is heading the SIC since its inception, attributes growing numbers of appeals as a positive sign.
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Hopes soar for his dream project
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Hopes soar for his dream project
Anupam TrivediSun, Jun 28 02:45 AM
ONE OF the dream projects of Chief Minister-designate Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', the much talked about international language centre mooted for promotion of various languages and local dialects seems to be dangling in uncertainty. Nishank, who also holds the language portfolio in B.C. Khanduri's cabinet, had conceptualised the idea for an international language centre. A separate wing was also created to specifically look into the progress of the project. The five employees who have been appointed in the wing located at Vidhan Sabha building have hardly any work to do. "There are no clear cut instructions about what we have to do," complained an official who wished to remain anonymous.
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Hopes soar for his dream project
Anupam TrivediSun, Jun 28 02:45 AM
ONE OF the dream projects of Chief Minister-designate Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', the much talked about international language centre mooted for promotion of various languages and local dialects seems to be dangling in uncertainty. Nishank, who also holds the language portfolio in B.C. Khanduri's cabinet, had conceptualised the idea for an international language centre. A separate wing was also created to specifically look into the progress of the project. The five employees who have been appointed in the wing located at Vidhan Sabha building have hardly any work to do. "There are no clear cut instructions about what we have to do," complained an official who wished to remain anonymous.
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