Haridwar, February 18
The legality of Shankaracharyas is becoming a burning issue in Haridwar, specially in the wake of land allotment to certain Shankaracharyas by the mela administration for the tenure of the Maha Kumbh here.

Protests are now gaining momentum as two Brahmacharis have started an indefinite agitation against the land allotment, besides the issue taking political colours too.

Favouring Jyotish Peetha and Dwarka Peethadeeshwar Jagat Guru Shankaracharya Shri Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati Maharaj, Shankaracharya Matth’s two Brahmacharis, namely Divya Nand Maharaj and Atma Nand Maharaj have launched an indefinite agitation seeking the removal of a fake Shankaracharya camp from the Chandi Deep area.

The BSP has lashed out at the mela administration for giving land to Shankaracharyas who are not legal and are only misusing the status of this highly sacred post. Supporting the Matth of Jagat Guru Shankaracharya Shri Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati Maharaj, the BSP has warned of a major protest against the mela administration.

City general secretary of the BSP Deepak Mehra has accused the mela administration of betraying the trust of Hindus by allotting land to non-Shankaracharyas, adding to the confusion over the dignity of holy seat of Shankaracharya.

Support to the Matth has also come from the local student union. Sandeep Singh Bisht, general secretary of the student union, said the mela administration should allot land for Kumbh purposes only after consulting prominent Peethadeeshwar and religious heads otherwise “recognition” to many such fake Shankaracharyas would only hurt the sentiments of people and religious heads.

Dehradun, February 18
After a long-drawn struggle, the Aali Bedni Bagjee Bugyal Sanrakshan Samiti has finally got a shot in the arm with the Uttarakhand forest authorities conceding that the spread of drynaria mallis, popularly known as Parjeeve Bail was proving detrimental to Aali Bedni Bagjee Bugyals in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand and needed immediate eradication.

Uttarakhand Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Dr RBS Rawat, who was on a visit to Chamoli few days back, directed Badrinath Forest Division Divisional Forest Officer to remove the fern drynaria mallis from Aali Bedni Bagjee Bugyals under a pilot project taking into account its role in the degradation of Bugyals.

The development came as a big relief for Dayal Singh Patwal, President of the Aali Bedni Bagjee Bugyals Conservation Committee who has been working for the protection of these meadows for the past six years.

After a ban on grazing in 2004, sacred groves - Aali Bedni Bagjee Bugyals - in Chamoli district had been facing a threat from the fern. It has taken over the sacred forests leading to the drying up of Banj, Burash, Thunar and Kharsu trees.

The Forest Research Institute, the premier forest research institute of the country, after conducting a series of inspections had expressed concern over the spread of the fern and had recommended its immediate removal.

In contrast, the Uttarakhand Forest Department research wing had termed the drynaria mallis as beneficial to the trees and had claimed that its roots were not hurting the trees.

They even went to the extent of describing it as “bird nest fern” and claimed that uprooting the fern could be detrimental to trees in the sacred groves. In a letter submitted to the samiti, the Uttarakhand Forest Research Division had pointed that the fern was instrumental in protecting trees against any possible drying up.

“These ferns absorb rain water for long which in turn is transferred to the tree thus preventing the latter from drying up during summer,” the Uttarakhand Forest Research Division had said.

It had further held that the roots of the fern never penetrated the host tree and thus was in no way harming the latter and held that any uprooting of this fern would amount to a forest crime.

Notwithstanding the fact that the Pathology Division of the FRI had sent a two-member team confirming that drynaria mallis had spread on banj, burash, moru, walnut and salex trees. The team had categorically held the fern purely responsible for the drying up of trees in Ali Bedni Bagjee Bugyals. “The fern does not allow new branches to emerge leading to drying up of the tree,” the FRI report had confirmed.

When contacted by The Tribune after the issue got hyped in June last, Uttarakhand Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) had then assured an investigation into the matter. Now, the PCCF’s directive for the removal of the fern in few days has come as a big success.

Dayal Singh Patwal, President of the Aali Bedni Bagjee Bugyals Conservation Committee which was instrumental in highlighting the plight of bugyals, had apprised the state forest authorities of the urgency of eradication of the fern. He had repeatedly approached the PCCF Dr RBS Rawat seeking his prompt intervention.

The PCCF’s directive to Badrinath Forest Division Divisional Forest Officer on February 14 for removal of the fern finally came as a major success for Patwal, who had been at forefront from 2004 to impose a ban on contractual grazing in the sacred groves.

DFO Badrinath Rahul also confirmed to The Tribune, the PCCF directive for the start of a pilot project to study the impact of “Parjeeve Bail” and subsequently for its removal.

Roorkee, February 18
Inspired by high returns to cane growers this season, the department concerned is all set to increase the area under cane cultivation in the district.

According to sources, officials are striving hard to make available new varieties to cane growers. This time, over 24 high-quality varieties of the cane have been demanded by the department from the government here and it is said to be hopeful of getting at least 20 varieties. Apart from that, the department has also proposed to provide some aid to the cane growers to encourage them for the cultivation of the crop.

A highly placed official confirmed that the government was serious in increasing the area under cane cultivation, which had been shrinking rapidly due to various problems, including delayed payments by mills, faced by the farmers.

Whereas in 2006-07 the land under cane cultivation in Haridwar district was 65,000 hectare, it had reduced to 53,000 hectares in 2009-2010. But, farmer bodies alleged that the figure was exaggerated as the real area under the cane cultivation was just around 35,000 hectares this season.

“To maintain the sugarcane belt status of the area, the arrangements have been made to provide quality seed of over two dozen new and top varieties of cane to the local farmers. The varieties include 22230, 99243, 268, 99214, 8436, 8437, 9530, 96268, 768, etc,” said RB Verma, Cane Secretary.

The official also maintained that the sugar mills here had also been asked to provide the farmers with seed of new varieties and other facilities at their own level.

Meanwhile, the cane growers too are happy to get overwhelming rates of their produce this year. “This year the rates of the crop have been touching new heights. As we faced less problems this year compared to those in the past few years, we will definitely grow sugarcane on enhanced area this time,” said Rizwan, a local cane grower.

Haridwar, February 18
Terming the claims of the BJP-led government to develop the state as Urja Pradesh as means to fill the coffers of their relatives and known ones by allotting several hydro-projects currently running in various hilly districts, the Congress has questioned the partiality in the allotment of these projects.

A protest was carried out by the Congress in Haridwar condemning the BJP government for irregularities in the various stage procedures of the projects.

“From allocation of the projects to tender process, everywhere legal process has been violated only to give benefit to the near and dear ones of party leaders and also bureaucrats,” criticised city Congress Committee chief OP Chauhan.

Party general secretary Tej Prakash Sahu pointed out that without site inspection, tenders were allotted by the government, which was a vital procedure in all such projects and one could easily gauge the rampant corruption in these projects from this only.

Demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into this matter, party vice-president Sanjay Chopra said a fair investigation would surely expose the corruption involved in this matter.

Later, the party workers burnt the effigies of the state government and raised slogans against the government for betraying the faith bestowed by public on the BJP representatives.

Among those who addressed the gathering were Lakshman Singh Pundir, Satya Narayan Sharma, JP Pandey, Beena Kapoor, Saroj Sahu, Rajveer Kamboj, Subash Ghai, Raj Bhrishi Gujjar, Madhu Kant Giri, Rajan Kaushik, Verendra Shramik, Pradeep Chauhan, Sanjay Sharma, Yashoda Devi, Suman Aggarwal and others.

Dehradun: Members of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee burnt an effigy of the state BJP government at the Clock Tower here yesterday. The Congress members shouted slogans against the state government alleging the selling of the hydro-electric project to the “mafias”.

The committee has accused the state government of malpractices. Surendra Singh Arya, state spokesperson, asserted that the government had allegedly sold hydro-electric projects in a clandestine manner and demanded a CBI probe in the issue.

Arya added that the BJP government, instead of selling the hydro-electric projects, should work to generate employment opportunities for the youth of the state.

Other association members present at the procession were Lal Chandra Sharma, MF Farooqi, Bhaskar Gairola, Sumer Chandra Ravi, Mukesh Mamgai, Ashok Verma, Ninu Sehgal and many more.

Dehradun, February 18
The Gorkha Democratic Front (GDF) held a protest outside the office of Mayor Vinod Chamoli here today. Party workers were demanding construction of Shaheed Dwar on the Dehradun-Delhi national highway. The association has given a memorandum to the administration demanding the sanctioning of the land between the ISBT and the Daat Kali temple to construct the pillars in remembrance of first freedom fighter of the Gorkha community martyr Durga Mal.

Moreover, the memorandum says that the Indian government has put in a huge statue of bronze outside the premises of Parliament, Delhi, on demand of the Gorkha community that was unveiled by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, along with Vice-President Bhairav Singh Shekhawat and Leader of the Opposition LK Advani. It was in this context, the GDF made a plea to the state government to provide them with assistance.

However, the meeting with the Mayor concluded with members assuring support in finding concrete solutions to their problems. Chamoli had also assured that the proposal of building the Shaheed Dwar would be kept in front of the board and then would be sorted out amicably. 

Pitthoragarh, February 18
Kumoan Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN), nodal agency for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, will this year fully renovate all camps on track routes to this yatra which will begin from June 1 this year.

“Instead of sleeping arrangements on floors, we are providing cots to all camps for the pilgrims this year,” said DK Sharma, Manager, Tourism, KMVN.

“The expenditure of Kumoan Mandal Vikas Nigam has increased nearly Rs 15 lakh by opening one extra camp at Pangla, on the route due to the Chatualdhar landslide on February 6 last year which could not be cleared till now. The Ministry of External Affairs has increased the fee to Rs 4,500 per pilgrim this year, which will help us to compensate these losses,” said the Manager, who is in charge of the preparation for Kailash Mansarowar Yatra this year.

KMVN sources said the Nigam had written to the government of India to permit not less than 800 pilgrims this year as they have expanded the facilities at their six camps on the trek. “Keeping pace with the rising market prices if the government of India would have given us 800 pilgrims on Rs 30,000 per pilgrim, KMVN would have been comfortable with the business,” said Sharma.

Despite repeated requests by the government of India on behalf of KMVN, the Chinese authorities did not show any interest in providing modern facilities at the yatra camps in Tibet. “The Chinese have even refused to permit the advance party of KMVN which used to take stock of facilities in Tibet one month in advance, since for the past two years,” said KMVN officials.

Keeping aside last year’s arrangements of carrying pilgrims by Innova cars, KMVN this year is purchasing a mix set of buses, including big, small buses and tempo travellers. “These vehicles will be used keeping the variety of the condition of the road on this yatra up to the trek route from New Delhi from where the yatra begins,” said Sharma. 

Dehradun, February 18
The state Health Department has been asked to monitor the supply of made-in-China powdered milk products after being warned by the Food and Safety Authority of India (FSAI) about the possibility of banned Chinese products being sold clandestinely in the state.

A ban exists on the import of milk products from China that is supposed to contain harmful carcinogenic substance melamine. The advisory of January 29 issued by the FSAI to the DG (Health) has asked the authorities to undertake surveillance of infant milk, milk powder and lactose and casein-based products as these have been found to contain melamine.

These also include chocolates and candies that come from China and South Korea, containing melamine that is banned in India.

“All food inspectors in the state have been instructed to maintain surveillance and collect samples and send the reports to the FSAI. The consumers should avoid Chinese food and read carefully the information about milk products,” said GC Kandwal, Chief Food Inspector.

Melamine aids in stone formation in kidney and diseases of the urinary bladder. It is being used in powdered milk products in order to enhance the protein content for economic gains. The permissible limit for melamine is below 2.5 ppm in products consumed by adults and not more than 1 ppm in infant milk products.

Significantly, in view of the Kumbh mela extra caution is being maintained in Haridwar district, where some persons had even set up small units to manufacture ghee and sell it during the mela. 

Dehradun, February 18
Hundreds of contractual labourers of three corporations of the Energy Department came from different districts of Uttarakhand under the banner of the Uttaranchal Bijli Karamchari Sangh to protest at Urja Bhawan on the Kanwali road demanding regularisation of their services.

They are demanding equal pay for equal work as, according to them, when regular employees are doing the same job done by them, why aren’t they being given benefits like them.

Labourers said they were not being provided with the dearness allowance and even their wages hadn’t been increased for the past four to five years.

The Sangh members held it illegal to get the work done by contractual labouers since the Uttarakhand Power Transmission, Hydroelectric and Uttarakhand Power Corporations did not have licences to have contractual labourers.

The Sangh members also alleged that there was no employee for attending complaints in Power Corporations and private employees were doing the job. It was demanded that regular employees for complaints be hired there.

Dehradun, February 18
Assembly Speaker Harbans Kapoor has laid importance on water conservation in the wake of its increasing utilisation and diminishing water resources in the state.

Inaugurating a two-day Central Ground Water Board’s workshop on Water Management and Hydrochemistry in Uttarakhand here, Kapoor said while most of the water supply comes through groundwater, the recharge of these resources were very necessary to maintain steady water availability. He laid stress on awakening of the society towards the importance of conservation of water.

He said he was hopeful that the workshop would lead to key suggestions for state’s water conservation efforts.

Dr AK Dubey, Director of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, said it was wrong to blame everything on global warming. He said quite contrary to the notion that glaciers were retreating, there were many glaciers which were rather experiencing an increase and, thus, holding global warming responsible for the all climatic changes was not proper.

Dr Rajendra Dobhal, Chairman of the Uttarakhand Council of Science and Technology, expressed concern over very little sensitisation within the society towards water conservation.

He referred to at length on the reported contamination of the groundwater across the country. “While states like Madhya Pradesh had reported presence of arsenic in groundwater, problem of large amount of fluoride in groundwater has also been reported from various areas of the country, including Uttarakhand,” Dobhal added.

Earlier, AK Bhatia, Regional Director of the Central Ground Water Board, said the aim of the workshop was to share views and experiences among engineers and scientists towards laying emphasis on water resource management of Uttarakhand and also the chemical quality of its water.

He also called for intervention of modern technologies towards protecting groundwater from pollution. Bhatia favoured measures like metered water supply and curbing leakage in potable water pipes for furthering the cause of groundwater conservation.

Dr RP Singh, senior scientist of the board, compared the proceedings. The two-day workshop will have technical sessions, which will subsequently lead to series of recommendations. These recommendations will be useful for planners, scientists, engineers and the other stakeholders for managing this precious resource to mitigate the water problems of the state.

Apart from scientists from central institutions like National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IISR), Forest Research Institute (FRI), Central Soil Water Conservation, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology and Geological Survey of India, state departments like Jal Sansthan, Jal Nigam, Irrigation Department, Minor Irrigation Department are prominently participating in the workshop.

Dehradun, February 18
Thieves broke open the locks and shutters of a jewellery shop to steal cash and ornaments worth Rs 5 lakh at Majra in Patelnagar in the wee hours here today.

The police has rounded up the security guard who informed them of the matter first, but claimed that he was sleeping at the time of the incident. Besides him, a man who had installed the security alarm at the shop was also being questioned since the alarm did not work at the time the thieves entered.

The thieves struck at Majra-situated Kohinoor Jewellers owned by Sheikh Iqbal Hussain. Rupees 5,000 cash and the ornaments kept there were taken away.

The incident occurred between 4 am to 5 am when a group of persons broke into the shop. They broke the locks of the shutter to enter the shop. The security guard of shop said he was sleeping at that time and when he woke up he saw the shop burgled and the shutters broken.

He later brought the matter to the notice of the shop owner who informed the police.

Shahzhan Ansari, Circle Officer (CO), Patel Nagar police station, said the police had rounded up the security guard and was questioning him. She added that it did not seem feasible that he was sleeping even when the locks of the shutter were completely broken and ornaments and cash burgled.Besides, he himself happens to be the one who brought the matter to the notice of the shop owner, she said.

The CO further informed that they were also questioning the man who had installed a security alarm, which beeps if anybody breaks into the shop. The alarm worked till 12 midnight to 1 am at night, but later it did not work. The police suspects that he could also be involved in the burglary.