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Time of India
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Letters of public are not just papers, but reflection of hope and faith': Uttarakhand CM Dhami
. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday emphasised that the letters of the public are not just papers, but reflection of hope and faith. "Today, after reading some such complaint letters, I talked to the concerned complainants. Also, I have instructed the officials to take immediate action on them. Solution is the biggest identity of the working style of our government," CM Dhami said. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, while talking to the complainants who sent letters to the Chief Minister's Office and shared their problems, has instructed the officials to take appropriate action on their issues. Karm Chand, a resident of Shergarh in Doiwala tehsil, had lodged a complaint that the irrigation canal coming to his field has broken, due to which there is a crisis of irrigation. After listening to the entire problem, the Chief Minister directed the Chief Engineer, Irrigation Department, to take appropriate action in the matter. Similarly, Major Naresh Kumar Sakllodged a complaint about private persons encroaching on his land and building a minor irrigation canal, on which Chief Minister Dhami has directed the District Magistrate Dehradun to take immediate action. Another complainant, Canal Road resident Dhirendra Shukla, has filed a complaint against the builder for harassment. The Chief Minister has asked MDDA to investigate the matter. The Chief Minister has also directed the Secretary of the Public Works Department to take action on the road-related complaint of Vikasnagar Dinkar Vihar resident Vishan Dutt Sharma. Earlier today, the Uttarakhand CM flagged off the Kalash Yatra for the Jalabhishek of the idol of Lord Surya in Kushinagar district from his official residence in Dehradun. As part of the initiative, water from around 151 sacred rivers across the country is being collected for the Jalabhishek of the Surya idol in Kushinagar. The Kalash Yatra, flagged off by the Chief Minister, includes water gathered from the holy rivers of Uttarakhand. Mahamandaleshwar 1008 Swami Santoshanand Dev Maharaj, President of the Purvanchal Mahotsav Samiti Vinay Rai, along with other committee members, were present during the flagging-off ceremony. Earlier on Thursday, in view of the Kanwar Yatra, the Uttarakhand government launched 'Operation Kalanemi' to take action against imposters who are hurting religious sentiments and duping people in the name of 'Sanatan Dharma'. Chief Minister Dhami said that many such cases have come to light in the state where anti-social elements are cheating people, especially women, by disguising themselves as seers. This, he said, is not only hurting the religious sentiments of the people, but also harming the image of social harmony and Sanatan tradition. "In such a situation, if a person of any religion is found doing such acts, then strict action will be ensured against him," he added. The Chief Minister referenced the mythological asura Kalanemi, stating that just like the demon had attempted to mislead by disguising himself as a saint, similarly, many "Kalanemis" are active in society today who are committing crimes in religious guise. Dhami further said that his government is fully committed to protecting public sentiments, the dignity of Sanatan culture and maintaining social harmony. Those who spread hypocrisy in the name of faith will not be spared under any circumstances, he said.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Murals of Doon fade amid cracks in maintenance
Dehradun: The once vibrant and colourful walls across Dehradun are now fading, with the murals painted over them in a state of neglect. Whether painted as part of beautification efforts by Dehradun Smart City Limited (DSCL) or by Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA), the condition of these paintings has visibly deteriorated. Issues of mural defacement have been reported in several areas, including Rangers Ground, Kaulagarh Road, EC Road, and Haridwar Bypass Road, among others. "In almost all areas, the murals have been defaced. On Canal Road, they were once a delight to see — now, they're an eyesore. Posters and pamphlets are plastered over them, and the colours have faded into faint outlines," said Yesh Veer Arya, a resident of the area. Locals report that several of the walls have developed cracks, and weeds have started growing out of them. "If the walls were properly maintained, the paintings could be taken care of as well. Some of these were touched up recently before the President's visit, but the rest of the city's murals remain neglected, said another resident. Residents have also questioned the quality of work done on these walls, especially as MDDA spent over Rs 80 lakhs on beautification and landscaping just a year and a half ago ahead of the Global Investors Summit. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esse novo alarme com câmera é quase gratuito em São Gonçalo (consulte o preço) Alarmes Undo "If these projects don't survive a single season, it raises serious questions about the quality of work done. First, wall paintings were done indiscriminately across the entire city, and then authorities failed to maintain them. Soon, everything will need to be redone. All of this indicates a huge dent in resources. These funds could be used for other essential development work. The projects should also have provisions for maintenance," said social activist Lokesh Ohri, a former member of the smart city board. The situation has been further complicated by the dissolution of DSCL in March. With no new funds being allocated, the projects are being handed over to various civic agencies. According to a DSCL source, the transition is expected to be completed in the coming months, after which each agency will assume responsibility for its respective area. Meanwhile, this has resulted in no one body actively taking responsibility for the work across the entire city. A spokesperson for MDDA, however, said, "Paintings and murals under our jurisdiction are being regularly cleaned and maintained. Touch-ups are done where required."
Zawya
02-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: Communications Committee Puts Conditions to the Approval of Government Communications and Information Systems (GCIS) Budget
The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies has put conditions on the adoption of its budget vote report on the Government Communications and Information Systems (GCIS). The committee's conditions have been forwarded to the Standing Committee on Appropriations in terms of section 10(5) of the Money Bills Amendment Procedure and Related Matters Act 9 of 2009. This decision was taken on the basis that the committee felt that the 2025-2030 strategic and 2025/26 annual performance plans of the GCIS as well as the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) lacked clarity and measurable targets. The committee also believes that the GCIS' five-year strategic plan is misaligned to the government's Medium-Term Development Priorities. The strategy refers to the need to move to evidence-based communication without outlining what impact it will have on the country's drive for inclusive economic growth and job creation, and how such will be measured. The committee stands against a spray-and-pray approach to development communication which has no attendant measurable targets and cogent monitoring and evaluation framework. As part of its conditions to the Minister in the Presidency, the committee wants GCIS to, among others, come up with a policy or legislative instrument that is going to ensure alignment, coherence and results-based measurement framework within government communication system. The Chairperson of the committee, Ms Khusela Sangoni Diko, said: 'The committee is recommending approval of this budget with a proviso that within the course of twelve months there is legislative reform to ensure that there is a policy instrument that guides government communications.' Ms Diko further said that GCIS needs to fast-track reform on the laws that govern MDDA, Brand South Africa and government media spent. The committee also wants GCIS to provide quarterly performance reports on the implementation of the government communication policy framework. These conditions extend to GCIS' entity, the MDDA, which must provide clarity on how the it is going to be moving community radio stations to self-transmission. The committee also called on MDDA to provide a fundraising strategy with clear measurable targets. The GCIS budget will be debated under vote 4 on Friday, 4 July 2025, in a mini plenary of the National Assembly at the Good Hope Chamber from 13:00 to 15:00 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
Zawya
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Communications Committee Invites Comments on Candidates Shortlisted for Interviews to Fill Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) Board Vacancies
The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies is inviting members of the public to comment on the nine candidates shortlisted for interviews to fill two vacancies on the Board of the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA). The shortlisted candidates are Dr Lario Malungana-Mantsha, Ms Melanie Roy, Dr Natalie Skeepers, Ms Chantel Manuel, Dr Rofhiwa Mukhudwana, Ms Sithembile Nkosi, Ms Moipone Malefane, Ms Onkgopotse Phala, and Ms Sandika Daya. Their abridged profiles are published on the Parliament website using this link: The process of filling the two vacancies on the Board of the MDDA is done in terms of section 4(1)(b) of the MDDA Act. Members of the public who wish to comment on the candidates have until the end of business on Tuesday, 8 July 2025. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Joshimath lessons ignored: Rs 6,200cr Doon–Mussoorie elevated road may trigger another ecological disaster
Dr Rakesh Kapoor, a former special secretary to the government of Himachal Pradesh, is a geologist and an expert in integrated waste management The environmental casualties in Uttarakhand are now perhaps part of life. We haven't learnt lessons from the 2013 Kedarnath tragedy—Rishiganga, Joshimath, and Silkyara are happening repetitively. Cloudbursts and landslides have become common features. From hills to plains, the story is the same: unplanned growth, projects being conceived and implemented without envisioning the fear of environmental catastrophes. The proposal to widen VIP Road from Dila Ram Chowk to Raj Bhawan, taking a toll of 3,000 trees, and the proposed road from Rishikesh to Dehradun have been partially stalled only after thousands of citizens and environmentalists gathered to protest. The fire has still not been extinguished, but a new controversial chapter of an elevated road from Dehradun to Mussoorie—to cut travel time for tourists entering the hill state from Delhi-NCR and Western UP—has been opened. Even after a casual gaze at the proposal, it is clear that it has been mooted only with the aim of minting money through contracts. Because even today, the agency is not clear about who will finance and execute the proposal. It has raised more questions than it has answered on vital issues concerning environmental degradation, rehabilitation, and the real benefit of the project. Firstly, what is the real need for an elevated 26 km road corridor passing through part of Dehradun city? Is it just to save time for tourists from Delhi-NCR reaching Mussoorie and to attract more tourists to the Queen of Hills, especially on weekends? How much time are they going to save? At what cost is it going to be? Secondly, the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) and government either do not know or do not want to disclose the position of the land bank, ie the status of land—whether it is encroached upon by dwellers, government, forest, or private land—on which the project is to be implemented. If for a 26 km elevated road, 2,614 identified families are to be displaced, it comes out to be 100 families per km, or 1 family per 10 metres. Without assessing the implication of the plan cost—besides environmental cost assessment and its inclusion into the project cost—how is it going to be implemented? The government sources have confirmed that no proposal for providing land-for-land compensation to property owners instead of acquired land has been prepared at the state government level so far. The reported dichotomic brief of the MDDA VC in a section of the press is creating more confusion, as it envisages that the displaced 2,614 identified families shall have two options—either land-for-land or monetary compensation. When no plan has been finalised, neither the land bank nor site for allotment of land to rehabilitate displaced families has been demarcated, nor is there a Section 4 notification on land acquisition prescribed under the Act, despite it being mandatory—how will the displaced families exercise the option? Now comes a very vital point. The town of Mussoorie, during normal weekends, sees the entry of 4,000 to 5,000 vehicles, especially during the summer months, ie end of March to June, which causes traffic jams for hours together and chaotic situations often. Once the elevated road comes up, another 4,000 to 5,000 vehicles are going to be added to this lot. The town, as per reports, has parking capacity of only 2,000 four-wheelers and 1,500–2,000 two-wheelers altogether. The three new parking lots to add 2,000 to the present capacity are still hanging in the fire—either due to financial crunch or facing litigation since 2019. Now comes the most vital part of the project. The very foundation of the so-called Rs 6,200 crore project is belied by simple arithmetic. No denying the fact that even today, the Volvo buses plying between Delhi and Dehradun take just 270 to 275 minutes, despite the Dehradun–Delhi expressway not being fully operational. If you add another 60 minutes to reach Mussoorie via the bypass, anybody can reach it in 5 hours and 30 minutes even today. Even after the 26 km elevated road, traffic jams are bound to happen in the absence of parking spaces for the additional 4,000 to 5,000 vehicles entering Mussoorie. If tourists have to spend 2–3 hours in traffic jams, what's the point of arriving 30 minutes earlier? The Dehradun–Mussoorie ropeway project—aimed at finding a solution to the problem of traffic jams with just Rs 300 crore investment (which is in an advanced stage of execution as per the government's own claim)—shall not only save time, reduce environmental pollution, and add adventure to the journey for tourists, but also serve as an additional attraction. It seems more credible. The claim of making tourists reach Mussoorie in 4.5 hours from Delhi is belied by the project's design itself. As the elevated road Bindal–Rispna corridor shall land at a point near Max Hospital. Don't spread this misinformation about Delhi to Mussoorie in 2.5 hours. It will still take you about 7-odd hours with all these expressways and elevated corridors, assuming normal traffic flows. Let's take this example: you stay in GK or Model Town in Delhi and are coming to Uttarakhand: 60 minutes from your home to Akshardham, Delhi. 150 minutes from Akshardham to Asarodi, Dehradun (as claimed by the government). 30 minutes from Asarodi to the entry point of the new elevated corridors (assumed). 30 minutes on 26 km elevated corridors (once they are ready). 60 minutes from Max Hospital or Nagal in Dehradun to Mussoorie (Max & Nagal are points in Dehradun where the elevated corridor ends). You will also likely take a minimum of two breaks during this long journey. Add another 60 minutes for your breaks. The grand total is coming close to 6.5 to 7 hours. Today, without all these expressways and corridors, you are still reaching in about 7 to 8 hours. If there is just one hour of time saving, is it worth it to cut thousands of trees, create these mammoth monsters of cement, kill our rivers forever, ruin the skyline of Dehradun, and displace so many people? Why this fuss? The project is going to be an environmental and ecological disaster—besides being pound-foolish, penny-wise. We are going to add another Joshimath to the list. In Rs 6,200 crore, another hill town nearby could be developed for tourism purposes—if only that is the consideration. But it's beyond that—what we actually want and what we really need. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
