Latest news with #HaridwarMunicipalCorporation
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Unsafe paths, no security: Most Haridwar shrines mirror Mansa Devi flaws
Haridwar: A day after eight people died in a stampede at Mansa Devi temple, concerns have resurfaced over the safety of other major shrines in Haridwar, many of which struggle with overcrowding, narrow access points and insufficient crowd control. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Survivors and locals said the tragedy highlighted long-standing failures in basic infrastructure and administrative oversight. Just 24 hours after the crush, TOI visited several prominent temples to assess their preparedness and found that critical safety issues persist at many locations. At Chandi Devi temple, perched atop Neel Parvat, steep steps and a narrow approach are clogged with makeshift shops, making movement difficult for pilgrims. There were no visible security personnel to manage the crowd. The Narayani Shila temple also struggles with poor crowd management, especially during Pitru Amavasya, when large gatherings are common. At Mansa Devi, crowd control remains ineffective. The bypass route, which took on more footfall after the closure of the back gate post-stampede, is in disrepair. Unauthorised vendors still occupy both the bypass and the pedestrian path leading to the shrine. Social activist JP Badoni told TOI, "The temple management committee has encroached on land meant for pilgrims by building shops and rooms. I've raised the issue multiple times, but the administration has failed to act against illegal permanent structures, nor have they removed temporary encroachments." He added that Haridwar Municipal Corporation should reclaim its land "illegally occupied by the ropeway company" and use it to improve access for pilgrims. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In contrast, the Daksha temple in Kankhal appears better managed. It sees around 4,000 to 5,000 visitors daily, with numbers rising to over 10,000 during peak Shravan days. The temple was recently expanded. "Thanks to separate entry and exit gates and the regular presence of 10 to 15 policemen, which is ramped up to 30–40 during peak days, it is better managed than most other temples," said Mahesh Pareek, a regular visitor. In 2023, then-district magistrate Dheeraj Singh Garbyal had prepared a management plan for the temple, but it was never implemented, residents said. Encroachments are also rampant along the Har-ki-Pauri stretch, including Malviya Ghat, Subhash Ghat, Nai Ghat, Hathi Bridge, Upper Road and Bhimgoda Road. The absence of a designated zero zone in the area makes it difficult to regulate crowds effectively. Locals said key recommendations made by the Justice KK Commission after the 1997 Mauni Amavasya stampede are still pending. Social activist Ratanmani Dobhal told TOI, "Encroachments along the riverbanks near Har-ki-Pauri pose one of the biggest challenges. Entry and exit points must also be decongested." He said a comprehensive plan was needed to provide basic facilities to pilgrims at Har-ki-Pauri.
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Business Standard
7 days ago
- Business Standard
After Kanwar Yatra rush, Haridwar battles waste; Delhi hit by noise, jams
On the final day of the Kanwar Yatra on Wednesday, Haridwar witnessed a massive influx of devotees. Thousands arrived in the early hours to take a holy dip in River Ganga on the occasion of Shravan Shivratri. The fortnight-long yatra witnessed a footfall of over 40 million devotees. The huge footfall has reportedly left Haridwar grappling with huge quantities of waste. The Haridwar Municipal Corporation estimates that between 30,000 to 35,000 metric tonnes of garbage may have been generated during the mela period, according to a report by the Hindustan Times. Over 1,000 additional sanitation workers have been deployed to manage the cleanup operations in Haridwar and nearby areas. Kanwar Yatra: Devotees still arriving as others depart According to data from the Kanwar Mela control room, the pilgrim rush peaked in the final days of the yatra, the news report said. Devotees began arriving from July 11, collecting holy water from the Ganga to offer to Lord Shiva. As of Tuesday evening, most pilgrims had departed, but thousands were still entering the city even as cleanup efforts began. Kanwar Yatra 2025: Traffic, noise complaints surge in Delhi In Delhi, the Kanwar Yatra caused a spike in noise and traffic-related issues. Delhi Police received over 350 complaints in the last five days, especially after the start of Dak Kanwar, a more intense form of the yatra where pilgrims move quickly with the holy water, news agency PTI reported. A senior police official said the Southern Range received around 40 such complaints on Monday alone. In the Central Range, there were 25 noise complaints and about 50 related to traffic jams. "We are witnessing a rise in calls regarding traffic snarls and high-decibel religious processions, especially in areas like ITO, Anand Vihar, Dhaula Kuan, Mehrauli and Outer Ring Road, where Kanwariyas are passing in large numbers," the officer told PTI. Supreme Court orders hotels to display licences The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed hotels and eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh to clearly display their licences and registration certificates, as required by law. A Bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh said, 'We are told that today is the last day of the yatra. In any case it is likely to come to an end in the near future. Therefore, at this stage we would only pass an order that all the respective hotel owners shall comply with the mandate of displaying the licence and the registration certificate as per the statutory requirements.' QR code mandate under scrutiny Last year, the top court stayed similar orders issued by the state governments, which required eateries to display owners' names and details. Referring to a June 25 press release from the Uttar Pradesh government, petitioners argued that the QR code rule could lead to "discriminatory profiling". Advocate Jha, representing the petitioners, said, 'The new measures mandate the display of QR codes on all eateries along the Kanwar route which reveal the names and identities of the owners, thereby achieving the same discriminatory profiling that was previously stayed by this court.' The petition also argued that forcing stall owners to reveal their religious and caste identities under the guise of licence requirements violates their right to privacy.
News18
27-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Blame Game Erupts Over Cancelled Mansa Devi Ropeway Tender In Haridwar
Last Updated: Haridwar ropeway tender has drawn criticism from civic leaders and the temple trust after the Uttarakhand High Court flagged safety lapses Haridwar's ropeway controversy has escalated into a full-blown blame game. Following the Uttarakhand High Court's sharp criticism of the Mansa Devi ropeway tender, highlighting procedural lapses and passenger safety risks, the Haridwar Municipal Corporation abruptly scrapped the tender on June 10. Now, Mayor Kiran Jaisal, local councillors, the temple trust, and Congress leaders are lambasting the government, accusing it of gambling with the safety of lakhs of pilgrims. High Court Halts Tender The High Court took strong exception to the tender's expanded eligibility criteria, which included firms from highways, hospitals, telecom, and metro sectors—industries that lack ropeway expertise. The court flagged serious safety concerns and a lack of transparency in the process, describing it as 'tampering with human life" Under pressure, the corporation withdrew the tender just before a final ruling. Mayor Kiran Jaisal came forward with serious allegations about former municipal commissioner Varun Chaudhari, now suspended in a separate land acquisition case. She accused him of unilaterally diluting eligibility norms after her takeover on February 7, without consulting the Municipal Board. 'Only when the submission deadline was extended was I informed," she said. Her attack directly implicates Chaudhari in manipulating tender terms. Councillor Amplifies Outrage The Shri Mansa Devi Temple Trust, led by Mahant Ravindra Puri, joined the clamour. In a letter to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Puri demanded that only ropeway specialists—like incumbent Usha Breco Ltd, which has safely run the system since 1981—be allowed in the bidding. He warned the expanded tender could imperil thousands of devotees visiting the temple. Official Response: Fresh Tender On Horizon Municipal Commissioner Nandan Kumar affirmed that the tender floated pre his February 20 appointment was under review. He pledged a fresh tender with reinstated eligibility—at least five years of ropeway-specific experience—and confirmed the corporation had acted on the June 3 committee's recommendations. Safety Vs Speed: Experts Weigh In Legal observers and ropeway experts have stressed that ropeway operations demand specialised technical know-how—unlike standard infrastructure projects. The court's intervention and committee review highlight the risks of allowing construction firms without this expertise to compete. What Happens Next? Fresh tender: The corporation has paused the current Expression of Interest (EOI)/tender and is preparing a new one with clearer ropeway experience clauses. Political heat: With multiple stakeholders, from local governance to temple authorities and opposition figures, now demanding accountability, the government faces mounting pressure to follow through on safety-first procurement. Final Take What began as a routine tender has spiralled into a fierce confrontation, revealing cracks in governance and oversight. Mayoral and council-level outrage, temple trust alarm, and judicial censure have converged in a rare moment of unified demand: that public safety—not bureaucratic shortcuts or backdoor deals—must guide infrastructure decisions. With a rewritten tender underway, all eyes are now on whether Haridwar can deliver a safe, transparent process befitting one of India's most sacred pilgrim hubs.
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Haridwar land scam: Civic body to move court to cancel sale deed
Haridwar: The Haridwar Municipal Corporation (HMC) said on Wednesday that it plans to initiate legal proceedings to cancel the sale deed of a 2.3-hectare plot it had purchased near a garbage dumping site in Sarai village following a change in land's use from agricultural to commercial, inflating its value considerably, leading to a land scam in which several govt officials were allegedly complicit. HMC officials met newly- appointed district magistrate (DM) Mayur Dixit on Wednesday and are now seeking legal advice from the district govt counsel. "We discussed the matter with the DM and are consulting the district govt counsel for legal advice. The sellers' bank accounts have been frozen so far. If necessary, we will move the civil court to cancel the sale deed," Haridwar municipal commissioner Nandan Kumar told TOI. DM Dixit added, "A meeting is scheduled on Friday to discuss the matter further. Action will be taken accordingly." District govt counsel (revenue) Vijay Pal Singh said, "A sale deed can be canceled either by mutual consent or by filing a suit in civil court. In this case, a suit will be filed in the senior division civil court. The process takes time, and the aggrieved party can appeal to the high court after the civil court proceedings." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Keep Your Home Efficient with This Plug-In elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo Following recommendations by a probe committee, Haridwar district magistrate Karmendra Singh, formerly the HMC administrator, was suspended by the govt on Tuesday, along with IAS officer Varun Chaudhary, who was municipal commissioner when the deal happened. SDM Haridwar Ajayveer Singh, a PCS officer, senior finance officer Nikita Bisht, senior personal assistant Vicky, registrar kanungo Rajesh Kumar and chief administrative officer of Haridwar tehsil Kamaldas were also suspended. The roots of the alleged scam date back to Sept 2024, when farmers from Sarai village approached HMC with a proposal to sell their land, citing its proximity to the garbage dump and unsuitability for agriculture. The proposal was swiftly approved by the then-SDM, and by Nov 2024, the land was purchased by the municipal corporation. The transaction was finalised through three separate registries, with the land sold by Jitendra Kumar, his wife Suman Devi and his brother Dhanpal Singh. Following the launch of an official inquiry in May, the administration froze the sellers' bank accounts. Dhanpal died during the probe. Investigation revealed that the use of the land was hurriedly changed from agricultural to commercial just before the sale, causing the circle rate to spike from Rs 6,000 per sqm to Rs 25,000 per sqm. This inflated price was allegedly facilitated by govt officials involved in the deal in exchange for kickbacks from farmers. Meanwhile, social activists have demanded urgent registration of an FIR in the matter. Activist JP Badoni told TOI, "The matter should be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation and an FIR must be registered immediately. The farmers should be questioned to identify the main conspirators behind the scam."
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Haridwar locals struggle to sell properties near waste site where civic body bought land at inflated rate
HARIDWAR : The alleged scam involving the sale of a 2.3-hectare plot next to a garbage dumping site in Sarai village has left locals stunned. Villagers were shocked to learn that the Haridwar Nagar Nigam purchased the land for Rs 54 crore, even as they themselves struggle to sell their properties, despite slashing prices, due to the foul odour and polluted air from the dumping site. Action has been taken against 12 officials, including Haridwar district magistrate (DM) Karmendra Singh , sub-divisional magistrate Ajayveer Singh and the then commissioner of the Haridwar Municipal Corporation . The alleged scam centres on the conversion of the land's use from agricultural to commercial, inflating its value from Rs 15 crore to Rs 54 crore. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has issued directions to cancel the sale deed and recover the payment made to the farmers whose bank accounts have been frozen. Ironically, the same farmers who secured the inflated rate had previously been unable to find buyers due to the site's proximity to the dumping ground. The facility has made daily life difficult for residents, especially when it comes to arranging marriages for their children. Residents are furious that despite repeated promises by the municipal corporation to manage waste properly, garbage continues to pile up at the site. That the same corporation is now embroiled in the scam has only deepened public anger. A resident, Lakshmi Devi, told TOI, "Before the dumping ground, we were happy. The entire village was living a good life, but now it is like living in hell. Our relatives shy away from coming to our homes, and we are facing difficulties searching for a groom and bride for the young ones. Somehow girls find grooms, but no one is ready to marry the local boys. Garbage burns continuously, and old people and children are facing breathing problems." Many residents are desperate to relocate, but efforts to sell their properties have failed. Local resident Rahul Kumar said, "We do not want to live here. Many have moved to other areas and are living in rented accommodation, while others are trying to sell their property but no one comes forward due to the dumping ground, even at very low prices. We are surprised how the municipal corporation bought land at a commercial rate." For now, villagers are left to endure the stench and pollution as the case unfolds.
