Dehradun, March 21
Man-leopard conflicts seem to be unending in Uttarakhand with fresh incidents being reported from outskirts of Dehradun. A critically injured leopard was today found in the Badowala area of West Dehradun. The forest authorities are attributing the injury to a clutch trap.

A leopard attacked a woman in the Badowala area this morning following which Dehradun Forest officials rushed to the site of the incident. Goundi Devi, the victim, was working in her fields when she encountered the leopard. The leopard subsequently entered a house.

The forest officials somehow managed to locate the leopard that had hid itself beneath the staircase of a house in close vicinity of the area. They spent as many as three hours before they could tranquilise the wildcat with a dart gun.

An official of the Wildlife Institute of India, Dr Malik, shot the the tranquiliser dart at the animal. The wildcat was then wrapped in a net and taken to the Malsi Deer Park for treatment.

“The injured leopard has been rescued and subsequently taken to the Malsi Deer Park. We have sought the service of a team of vets, who are now looking after the treatment of the wildcat,” said Meenakshi Joshi, Dehradun Forest Division Forest Officer. She did not rule out the possibility of the leopard getting injured after getting trapped in a metal snare.

Only a day ago, an injured leopard was found in the Doiwala region of Dehradun. Another wildcat on February 19 had strayed into the heavily populated Manjari Grant village in Doiwala and injured Sarjeet Singh before making an escape into the wheat fields. The forest officials had a tough time and it was only after long hours of exercise that the injured leopard could be captured. Seeing the critical condition of the leopard, it was referred to the Pantnagar Veterinary Hospital.

The worst of leopard killings in Dehradun was seen in mid-February in the vicinity of the Badowala region. While a dead leopard with its limbs chopped off was recovered, another leopard was found hanging from a tree in the Jhanjara forest area. Both cases were found to be a clear-cut case of poaching and forest officials had then even arrested a few suspects.

These growing incidents of leopard injuries are being looked as rising animosity between the human and the leopards in the Uttarakhand state. Destruction of leopard habitat in forest areas is forcing the leopards to take to human settlements and, thus, bringing them in direct conflict with humans.

Interestingly, the state Wildlife Board at a recent meeting had expressed concern over growing incidents of man-leopard conflict in the state. It had even hiked compensation for the victims. Significantly, over 20 leopards have been killed in the state this year, amply revealing the alarming levels of the situation. As many as 268 leopard deaths have been recorded in Uttarakhand during the past five years.

Pitthoragarh, March 21
The programme to clean Himalayan rivulets that ultimately merge into the Ganga, named Sparsh Ganga Abhiyan, made a confused beginning in the Kumaon region yesterday as there were no clear plans about which rivulets are given priority under the programme.

“This programme is totally a disintegrated one, and district-level officials of the Youth Welfare Department have been given full authority to identify the rivulets which are to be cleansed,” said PS Gusain, Director, Yuva Kalyan and Prantiya Rakshak Dal (PRD), Uttarakhand. The Youth Department has been selected by the government to run the programme from the district headquarters.

But despite the programme being formally launched today in all district headquarters of Kumaon, no efforts have been made to clean any nearby rivulet in the region. “We have been allocated a sum of Rs 15,000 in each block to mobilise youth, women volunteers in villages, schoolchildren and PRD jawans to clean polluted rivulets, but this meagre money is insufficient to run the programme aimed at cleaning all polluted rivulets in the district,” said NK Dwivedi, District Youth Welfare Officer, Pitthoragarh. He said more than 40 rivulets in the district which ultimately fall into the Ganga needed cleaning in under the programme. “These rivulets fall into the Ram Ganga, Gori, Dhauli, Mahakali and Saryu rivers at various places and these rivers ultimately form the Sharda river at Tanakpur which falls into the Ganga, which is known as Ghagra near Patna,” said Dwivedi.

In Almora district, the slow-flowing river Kosi and river Suyal are the most polluted and need cleaning. Besides these two rivers, eight more rivulets in and around the Almora district headquarters need cleaning. “But, today we launched an awakening campaign and action would be followed in the coming months,” said Jivan Lal, Youth Welfare Officer, Almora. He claimed that the main programme today was conducted on the Kosi banks at Hawalbagh block and in the coming months

all main rivers like Panar, Jageswar and Someswar would be cleaned by mobilising the local youth.

As in Almora and Pitthoragarh, the rivulets have not been identified for cleaning in Champawat. The Lohawati river, besides Gandak and Nagin rivulets, are most polluted. “These are slow-flowing rivulets near the headquarters town which are most polluted and need cleaning,” said Shankar Pandey, a social activist in Champawat district. In Bageshwar, the Sparsh Ganga Abhiyan was run on the Saryu and Gomati rivers which are most polluted ones, according to Dipti Joshi, Youth Welfare Officer, Bageshwar. “We have identified more than eight spots around the Saryu river in Bageshwar and four spots in Kapkot block from where this river originates and in the following months, the Sparsh Ganga Abhiyan would be concentrated on these spots,” said Dipti.

PS Gusain, Director, Yuva Kalyan and PRD, Uttarakhand, said the campaign would continue till the polluted hilly rivulets were cleaned with ultimately giving the Ganga a clean look. “This time each of the 95 blocks in the state have been given an amount of Rs 15,000 only to start this campaign at district headquarters, but in the following months more youth and women groups, volunteers and Gram Panchayat worker will be mobilised,” claimed Gusain.

Dehradun, March 21
Agitated members of the state Junior High School Teachers Federation called a meeting yesterday at their office in support of their demand for regularising their salaries according to the Sixth Pay Commission.

They raised their voice against the lethargic attitude of the state government in the implementation of increment in the salaries of the Junior High School Teachers.

Representatives and leaders of the federation had given their memorandum to the Education Minister.

In their memorandum to the authority, the federation had mentioned the demands of increasing the hike in income as per the Sixth Pay Commission. Regularising the posts of the teacher, transfer orders of teachers and promotion orders of awaiting members were apparently their major issues that were primarily put forth in 
the notification.

The administration has given an assurance to the agitators that the federation has strictly mentioned in their memorandum not to open any new junior high school till the decision of the administration meets consensus.

State president of the federation Yashwant Singh Negi, Subhash Singh Chauhan, Satish Ghildiyal, Uday Pal, Shamshad Ansari and other members of the federation were present in the meeting. 

Dehradun, March 21
Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank met Prof Paul R Bras, a famous Professor of political science from Washington University, at Bijapur Guest House here today. During the course of the meeting, Professor Paul discussed the development plans of small states.

Dr Nishank also informed on how people of Uttarakhand had developed in various facets after the state was formed in 2000. Further elaborating on the specialities of Uttarakhand, he said the state was famous for its tourism and rare quality of herbs, having special medicinal properties.

He also talked about the Vision 2020 plan and the services of the 108 Ambulance for the betterment and development of the state and its people.

Chief Secretary NS Napchayal was also present at the meeting.

Dehradun, March 21
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank today said agriculture-based horticulture could be key to prosperity in Uttarakhand.

The Chief Minister was addressing the inaugural session of three-day National Symposium on Conservation Horticulture being organised by the GB Pant Nagar University of Agriculturein Dehradun.

Nishank said the Pant Nagar University had played a key role in the Green Revolution and held that the institute was capable enough to guide the state in the sphere of horticulture.

He said Uttarakhand kept a big potential for horticulture and asked varsity officials to help the state in achieving its horticultural targets.

Nishank also released a number of books on horticulture. Dr HP Singh, Deputy Director-General, ICAR, and Pant Nagar University’s Vice-Chancellor Dr BS Bisht were also present on the occasion. 

Dehradun, March 21
Sal House swept the 800-m event winning the first three positions on the penultimate day of the Ninth Annual Sports Meet of Forest Research Institute (FRI) University here today.Nandan, Arshid and Pawan, all of Sal House claimed the first, second and third position, respectively, in the 800-m race.

While in the girls’ 800m, Shipra of Teak House got the first place. Gagandeep of Pine House and Anjali of Teak House stood second and third, respectively.

Sal House also showed its supremacy in the 200m as Nandan of Sal grabbed the top position in the race. Saurabh and Adwin Murmu, both of Pine House, finished second and third respectively.

While in the girls’ 200m, Anisha of Teak House got the first place. She was followed by Mousami and Shilpi, both of Pine House, for the second and third place, respectively.

Meanwhile, the cycle race competition was also organised. In the boys’ category, Parthsarthi of Pine House peddled his way to the first place.

Abhay of the same house and Ankit of Sal House finished second and third, respectively.

In the girls’ cycle race too, Primyada of the Pine House got the first place.

While Anisha Bishwasaya of Pine House and Richa Bansal of Sandalwood House got the second and third position, respectively.

Azad Butt of Sandalwood House was the topper in the boys’ javelin throw event. Pawan of Sal House got second and Mohit of Sandalwood House stood third. In the girls’ event Ekta of Pine House emerged winner while Priyanka of Sal House and Shivani of Sandalwood House were the first and second runners-up.

Dehradun, March 21
Eleven Star, Uttar Pradesh, defeated Revolutionary Cricket Club by five wickets here today during the Uttarakhand and UP Real Host Cup Cricket Tournament being organised by the Uttarakhand Youth T20 Cricket Association in Biharigarh.

Batting first, after winning the toss the Revolutionary team scored 133 runs in 20 overs at the loss of eight wickets.

Syed was the top scores for the team with his comfortable knock of 44 runs.

In reply, Eleven Club scored 136 runs in 15 overs at the loss of five wickets. Naveen Negi (55 not out) was the main scorer of the Eleven Star side.

In the second match of the day, Al-Fateh, Dehradun, posted a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Uttar Pradesh Star Cricket Club. The latter after winning the toss opted to bat first.

The team scored 75 runs in 12 overs. Raees A scored 19 runs and Raees B made 17 runsand were the main scorers for the team.

Batting second, the winning Al-Fateh team achieved the target of 76 runs in 11 overs only.

Opening pair of Javed (26) and Naushad (15) gave a good start to their team in this low scoring match. 

Dehradun, March 21
A claim made by Jamalpur farmer Harish Chandra in the Dikhli region of Corbett regarding the presence of three lion cubs in his agricultural land is keeping everyone guessing. This comes at a time when in early February a lion cub was found from Inyatpur village in adjoining Uttar Pradesh that forms a part of the Corbett circle.

With no historical records of any possible existence of lion in the Corbett region, the development has started a debate as to whether Gujarat’s pride lion had a habitat in Uttarakhand or is it among wildlife fauna being presently smuggled out through this key transit porous route to Nepal.

Wildlife Institute of India (WII) experts here rubbished such claims. “It’s impossible for the existence of a lion in the Corbett region,” said K Shankar wildcat expert at the institute. So far the existence of lions in the country is limited to Girs and any habitat at Corbett is not feasible.

But then those who have worked in the Corbett region don’t forget Pawalgarh a forest area in close vicinity of Corbett. The villages had been claiming the existence of lions in Pawalgarh. Wildlife experts negate such possibilities.

“Yes, the villagers do confirm the presence of lions in Pawalgarh, but there has been so far no scientific proof to substantiate their claims,” Dr Hem Singh, who had worked on tigers in the Terai Arc Landscape for a considerable period, pointed out.

Interestingly, there are other theories making rounds as reasons behind the presence of lions in the region. A possibility of smuggling of lion cubs out from Gir (Gujarat) and subsequently being used to carry out to Nepal through Terai route cannot be ruled out.

“There have also been historical evidences of existing of lions as skeletons of the beast has been found in the region,” said a senior forest official posted in training academy at Corbett, who also admit that smuggling of a lion cub could be a bigger possibility with presence of lion only confined to Gir in the entire country.

Dehradun, March 21
The Forest Research Institute (FRI) observed the World Forestry Day today. Inaugurating the exhibition at the institute, Director SS Negi said the FRI was playing a yeoman’s service for the betterment of the forestry across the country.

He said the FRI had been working for the treatment of drying sheesam trees that number as many as 10 lakh. Similarly, the institute was also working to study ill-effects of climate change on Nanda Devi Biosphere.

Negi also called upon scientists to use their forestry-linked inventions for the betterment of the society. He said the forestry, apart from conserving the environment, must create livelihood opportunities for others.

Schoolchildren and even commoners’ thronged the FRI campus to see the exhibition. Poster and model exhibition was also put up on the occasion.