Uttarakhand Government to increase DA

Dehra Dun, Jun 25, 2010: Uttarakhand government has decided to increase the Dearness Allowance (DA) of the employees of various corporations by 8 percent to 35 percent, official sources said today.

Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank took the decision to increase the DA after a delegation of corporation employees had met him yesterday with a request in this regard.

The employees working in various state government-run corporations are currently getting DA at the rate of 27 percent, they said.

The Uttarakhand state government had recently increased the DA of its employees to 35 percent.

Source: PTInews.com

Kumaun University Nainital has declared the Result

Kumaun University, Nainital has announced the results of MA-I, 2010. The results is available on the official websites of the Kumaoun University, Nainital. Please check result at www.kunainital.in

MA-Part I resutls is available on the official website of Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttaranchal.

Uttarakhand Annual Plan 2010-11 Finalized

The Annual Plan outlay for Uttarakhand for the year 2010-11 was finalised at a meeting, here today, between Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal. The Annual Plan size was agreed at Rs.6800 crores.

Mr. Ahluwalia congratulated the State Government on successful completion of Maha Kumbh Mela. He said this historical event which requires major infrastructure development and organizational skills has been conducted in a manner that has been widely appreciated. Efforts to restore the pristine character of the sacred Ganga River as well as the ancient city of Haridwar, must be continued. He Stated that the centre and the State should work together to implement the on-going projects of the Ganga Action Plan.

He said, it is commendable that Uttarakhand is among the three special category States which have been reorganized by the TFC for prudent fiscal management, despite non-cost disabilities, in recognition of which a special performance grant of Rs.1000 crores has been provided by the TFC. Therefore, the State Government must reinforce this good track record and ensure that the fiscal deficit is brought down to 3 per cent and its total debt to 30 per cent of GSDP as early as possible.

Appreciating the efforts to place the State on sound economic path, Mr Ahluwalia said that Uttaranchal has great potential in terms of natural resources which should be harnessed to generate sustainable growth and income opportunities for the people. The State has registered economic growth with GSDP averaging over 9 per cent in both the Tenth Plan and the completed years of the Eleventh Plan. The State has estimated that, to achieve growth envisaged by the Thirteenth Finance Commission, it would require investment of approximately Rs.75,000 crore of which Rs.40,000 crore must come from private sources. Therefore it is critical that the State Government puts in place policies that enable private investment of this magnitude to materialise.

In the farm sector, the average growth rate of agriculture has been less than 1 per cent in the first two years of the Eleventh Plan. Despite large riverine network and high rainfall, only 44 per cent of the arable area is under irrigation. The poverty level is also high at nearly 40 per cent in 2004-05 and compares poorly with other hill States. It points to a need to place great emphasis on livelihood programmes, and improvement of farm productivity and income opportunities in rural areas.

There is also an uneven development between the hill districts and the plain districts of the State, with much of the growth concentrated in the latter. Bharat Nirman and other flagship programmes as well as NABARD funded programmes should be used to bridge this gap. Literacy rates in the State have shown big improvement according to 2001 census, but yet remain relatively low. The gap between female and male literacy is also quite high and it appears to be more serious in certain districts.

Briefing the Commission on the development strategy, the Chief Minister said that thrust areas of Annual Plan would be physical infrastructure including roads, bridges, power projects and drinking water. Fallow land would be brought under cultivation in hill areas for growing horticulture, herbal and organic agriculture crops. Emphasis will be on water conservations and enhancing livelihood options. Public private partnership would be encouraged in infrastructure both physical and social. He said that Uttarakhand Government has launched new programme with the objective of achieving balanced regional development and providing basic infrastructure in all neglected areas.

He said efforts are on to further improve tourism related infrastructure and to get education hub status to the State. He wanted Planning Commission’s help in restoring industrial package benefit to the State.

Transfer UP's share from Tehri to Uttarakhand

Faced with acute shortage of power, the Uttarakhand government has now set its eyes on the mega 2,400 Mw Tehri hydel project asking the Centre to transfer the 25 per cent share of Uttar Pradesh in the dam to the hill state.


During his meeting with Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde in New Delhi Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said since the Tehri project lied in Uttarakhand, the equity of Uttar Pradesh should be transferred to Uttarakhand.
Last year also, the state government sent a letter in this regard to the Centre seeking the transfer of Uttar Pradesh’s share in Tehri to Uttarakhand.


Under the provision of the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2000, there is clause under section 47(3), under which investments made before the creation of Uttarakhand should go to the state where the project is located.


Significantly, Uttar Pradesh is 25 per cent partner of Tehri project where the centre’s share is 75 per cent.
In case, the Uttar Pradesh’s equity is transferred, Uttarakhand would get nearly 250 Mw of additional power since the Tehri dam has the current capacity of producing 1,000 Mw which has been constructed with a total investment of nearly Rs 9,000-10,000 crore. Uttarakhand currently gets 12.5 percent of free power from Tehri dam.


Tehri dam comprises a 260.5 high earth and rock-fill dam which is one of the highest in the world. Under the first phase, all the four turbines (250 Mw each) of the project are in operation. Besides providing much needed power to the northern grid, the project has started imparting benefits of additional irrigation facility to 2.70 lakh hectares of land. It is also providing drinking water for 40 lakhs people in Delhi and 30 lakh people in Uttar Pradesh.

In the second and third phases, the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) is implementing 400 Mw Koteshwar dam and 1,000 Mw Tehri pump storage (PSP) plant.
The power demand in Uttarakhand is growing by 10 to 15 percent every year which has now touched to 27-28 million units this year. After failing to make headway in the hydro sector despite its tremendous potential, the government is exploring various new options to increase power in the state.

Source: Sify.com