The following informed commentary by Devesh Pant on the government’s decision to privatise hydro plants throughout Uttarakhand should arouse concern and action to thwart the “colossal” sell out of Uttarakhand’s patrimony at fire-sale prices. To the Editor, The Garhwal Post, Sir, Today’s front page news should arouse every Uttarakhandi. Selling off Uttarakhand’s Hydro-Power houses is [...]

Become part of the openoffice.org community and vote for Dehradun! By Rajiv Rawat Garhwal Post February 17, 2007 As the state election campaign enters its final days, another poll is being held in the cyber world to determine the venue of an important information technology conference later this year. Dehradun is one of three cities [...]

Garhwal Post, February 8, 2007 For Congress and the BJP, politics has very much been a family affair in Uttarakhand. With so many ties binding their top leadership, it is no small wonder that the region has seen so many of the same names and faces in election after election. The following are a few [...]

By Rajiv Rawat Garhwal Post, February 2, 2007 Democratic renewal has yet to be broached by any political party in the current elections, yet it is perhaps the only thing that can bring the whole exercise to a satisfactory conclusion. As a keen observer of the current state elections, analysing the current explosion of previously [...]

12-1-2007: Update from Matu Peoples’ Organisation Pipalkoti-Vishnugad HEP Second Public Hearing: Another fake exercise Project Name: Proposed Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project (444MW) River: Alaknanda (Chamoli Distt.) Uttarakhand Agency: Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) Attached photos (17-10-06) were taken by Mr. Priyabrata from LIFE(A collective of lawyers working on Environment issues) who attended the public hearing. On [...]

People from over 60 exisiting and forthcomming hydro-power project areas in Uttarakhand are coming together to discuss the issues related to energy projects development and the potential community strategies development in village Aungi, Near Maneri Dam (15 km from Uttarkashi) on the 27th and 28th of January. The process has been facilitated by AME, LIFE [...]

By Rajiv Rawat Garhwal Post, December 31, 2006 And so as the New Year dawns, Uttarakhand has finally come to be. Perhaps not in the way most expected or even would have wanted, but alas, nothing is predictable in politics. With the President’s assent to the State Alteration of Name Bill, the five-year-old promise of [...]

By Rajiv Rawat Garhwal Post 21 December 2006 Recently I had the good fortune to visit Nainital for the first time. The town was wonderful surprise. Naini lake itself seemed quite clean and a far cry from the grim warnings of its imminent demise I heard until recently. Traffic was regulated on the Mall Road, [...]

By Rajiv Rawat Garhwal Post, November 23, 2006 State Formation Day, the CII “Uttaranchal” Fair, and the Uttarakhand Mahotsav have come and gone from the desert scrub of the once lush Parade and Rangers’ Grounds. The glossy pamphlets and display tables of the various state agencies were impressive. Even more stunning was the incredible talent [...]

By Rajiv Rawat Garhwal Post, 9 November 2006 It is fortuitous that I begin my regular biweekly column for Garhwal Post on the sixth anniversary of the foundation of “Uttaranchal.” As a resident of the US and Canada in the 1990s, I sought to do my small part for the Uttarakhand Andolan, but always felt [...]