Another project hits green hurdle
The environment ministry has refused approval to the Rupsiabagar-Khasiyabara hydroelectric project in Pitthoragarh district, adding to the list of projects running into a roadblock. The project is located in the mid-stretch of the river and is one of the seven projects located along the river.

Wildlife institute to study impact on fauna
Dehradun, July 20
The Union Environment and Forests Ministry’s decision to entrust the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, along with the Indian Institute of Roorkie to conduct a cumulative impact study on hydro projects on the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda in Uttarakhand has once again brought to the fore the importance of faunal assessment in the conduct of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) on hydro projects.

Dehradun, July 20
Even while there are enough indications of the restarting of the Loharinag Pala project amid growing opposition by environmentalists, questions have been raised over the legality of July 22 proposed public hearing linked to another proposed project - the Devsari hydro project in the sylvan Pindar region of Garhwal.

The proposed 252 MW Devsari Hydro Electric Project on the Pindar river in Chamoli district is to be constructed by Satluj Jal Vidhyut Nigam Limited and July 22 has been fixed for the second hearing in Dewal.

It follows the 13 October, 2009, first hearing that had to be postponed after fierce resistance of the local people. They have now, under the aegis of the Bhu-Visthapit Sangharsh Samiti, even written to Vijay Sharma, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, to stop any public hearing linked to the dam in the region.

Opposing big dams in Uttarakhand tooth and nail, the Matu Jan Sangathan, which has been at the forefront over the Pindar dam issue, has termed the entire public hearing exercise as futile and just a formality to serve Satluj Jal Vidhyut Nigam Limited’s purpose.

“Neither have the people been informed about the details of the project nor are they in a position to understand its technicalities that are being presented by company officials,” Vimal Bhai pointed out.

The Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board has to conduct the public hearings. Earlier, Satluj Jal Vidhyut Nigam Limited, which is constructing the ambitious Devsari Hydro Project, had after the postponement of the first hearing registered cases of vandalism against 11 persons.

This was, however, followed by talks between company officials and villagers brokered by Pindar MLA at a Dehradun guest house. “The majority of villagers have expressed little consent over the agreement. It only looks like a farce and a time-buying tactic to facilitate the conduct of the survey,” Vimal Bhai claimed.

Matu sources also pointed out that while the proposed project is to come up in Deval, Chamoli, the advertisement for its public hearing was published at a daily newspaper published in Nainital.

Similarly, the letter regarding the public hearing was sent to all gram pradhans just a fortnight earlier i.e. on June 28. It is yet to reach these local public representatives thus clearing violating the conditions of the EIA Notification 2006.

The notification clearly states that the advertisement notice should be published in a local newspaper and that too at least 30 days in advance.

Govind Lal Shah, local Pindar MLA who had earlier brokered the talks between the company and the villagers, too looked let down.

“I am still to get information on any such public hearing linked to Devsari,” said Shah. He admitted that until and unless some agreement is reached between the company and villagers, public hearings would be irrelevant as it would only be another round of confrontation just like the first hearing at Tharalee.

Interestingly, documents like the EIA and Environment Management Plan and other papers that are in English have been kept at Gopeshwar, the Chamoli district headquarters, that is at a distance of 90 km from the affected area.

“Under such conditions, getting the finer details of these documents is almost impossible for villagers in Pindar,” Vimal Bhai contended.

“Under these violations of the letter and spirit of the EIA notification 2006, the July 22 public hearing of Devsari HEP (252 MW) is unlawful and should be stopped,” he asserted.

In a letter written to the Uttarakhand government dated February 5, 2010, the Matu Jansaghatan has appealed to the government to scrap its MoU with Satluj Jal Vidhyut Nigam Limited.

Vimal Bhai said Matu will continue to oppose any dam in Pindar and would not rest till all the cases slapped against local anti-dam activists were withdrawn and the dam shelved in larger and natural interests.

The first hearing on 13 October, 2009, had to be postponed after fierce resistance by local people. Then, Satluj Jal Vidhyut Nigam Limited, which is constructing the project, had registered cases of vandalism against 11 persons

Dehradun, July 20
A leopard that got injured in Maldevta, on the outskirts of Dehradun, was today administered medical assistance.

As per the reports, the leopard has got paralysed.

Villagers at Sherki Gaon near Maldevta found an injured leopard lying on the road yesterday. The matter was brought to the notice of forest authorities.

The three-year-old leopard that had injury marks on the nose and claws was kept at the Raipur range forest office and administrated treatment by a team of veterinary officers. Meanwhile, wildlife officials did not rule out the possibility that the leopard received injuries after falling from a height.

The doctors could refer the wild cat to the Pantnagar Veterinary Hospital if it did not show signs of improvement.

The DFO Mussoorie sources pointed out that a fall could have led to spinal injury leading to paralysis.

Dehradun, July 20
Members belonging to the Uttarakhand Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti held a dharna at the Gandhi Park in protest against the Uttarakhand government’s decision to establish Uttarakhand Ayurvedic University at Rishikul (Vidyapeeth Brahmacharya Ashram) in Haridwar.

JP Pandey, president of the samiti, said the land located in heart of the city at Rishikul was used for holding culture fairs, meetings and other activities. Once the government acquired the land, these activities would come to a halt.

“Moreover, if the government is really interested in setting up an ayurvedic university, it should be located in the hills. While Dehradun and Rishikesh have one each ayurvedic colleges, Haridwar has three and there is no need to set up another university within 70 km of distance,” he said.

They also said at least three District Magistrates between 2007-2010 in their reports had said under the UP Charitable Endowment (Extension of Power) Act 1950 it was impossible to transfer land for establishing ayurvedic university. In the revenue records the land was registered under Kumbh Mela Area Land Utilisation. In 1977 the then government had dismantled 100 shops that had come up in that area.

Later, the members marched from the Gandhi Park and handed a memorandum addressed to the Governor stating their main demand.

Dehradun, July 20
The Faculty of Education, ICFAI University, Dehradun, organised a seminar on “Changing Paradigms of Teaching - from Motivator to Mentor” today.

The seminar was presided over by Prof GP Shrivastava, Vice-Chancellor of the university. Eminent persons from the field of education invited to the seminar were B Gill, Principal of Heritage School, Greg Mann, Principal of Carman Residential and Day School, and J Chatterjee, Principal of Doon Global School, Dehradun.

The guests were welcomed by presenting a sapling as per the university norms of promoting environment conservation among one and all. The dignitaries lit the traditional lamp, “Samayi”, after which the proceedings of the seminar began.

Dr Dillip K Giri, Principal of the Faculty of Education, made the welcome address and spelt the aims and objectives of the university.

Making the inaugural address, Professor Shrivastava stressed the importance of adopting the latest trends in education and developing a mindset that was flexible to the need of the hour.

The welcome address was followed by a key note address by Dr Seema Agnihotri, faculty member, who highlighted the changing trends of education and its current status. “Paradigm shift in education” was another sphere that Dr Agnihotri laid stress upon.

B Gill, Principal of Heritage School, deliberated on the new pedagogy that was being introduced in the school curriculum. She also stressed the importance of moral values and ethics that formed the very basic ethos of the profession in shaping the young minds of tomorrow. She cited examples from her own life which not only made her nostalgic about the moments but also kept the audience spellbound.

Greg Mann was at his humorous best during the seminar and was very well received by students, specially during his interactive session. He laid stress on imparting learning through experience rather than forced learning which, according to him, is quite detrimental to the overall growth of an individual child. He advised the prospective teachers to take up teaching profession as a challenge to reckon with and with dedication, commitment and sincerity. “India is the land of immense potential and calibre and both could be tapped equally by being a worthy teacher and student,” he added.

Jaydeep Chatterjee spoke on CBSE’s Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) introduced in all its affiliated schools. He highlighted the development of overall traits of a child. With the help of a power-point presentation, he cleared the queries and doubts raised by students on different issues of the CCE. Apart from this, he emphasised the demeanour of teachers in residential schools where students come from varied backgrounds.

The seminar concluded with a memento-presentation ceremony. All resource persons were given mementos by the Registrar, ICFAI University, Dehradun. Other dignitaries present on the occasion were Pro-Vice Chancellor SC Deorani and Deans of various departments.

The vote of thanks was proposed by Dr David M Domingo. The programme was coordinated by Dr Seem Agnihotri, Prof Sarita Negi, Prof Anjali Bhatia, Prof Poonam Verma Rana, Prof Archana Thapliyal, Prof Ravi Kant Mishra and Dr David M Domingo, all faculty members, ICFAI University.

Dehradun, July 20
Responsible for doling out money to the poor, the District Social Welfare Office has unfortunately no building to call it’s own and is running on borrowed infrastructure.

The department conducts most of its business from four cramped rooms, including a lobby, generously loaned by a government school and is located in one corner of the city.

In fact, such has been the fate of the office, when budgets and layouts for a majority of the departments and offices were planned, there was no mention of the Social Welfare Office.

The cramped existence is even taking a toll on the functioning of the office, especially when some old records have to be checked. Only the clerks’ mental agility and remembrance can help retrieve a particular file.

Due to paucity of space and proper furniture to house the files, the clerks are forced to dump these wherever conceivable space can be created.

The office also proves out of way for most beneficiaries. For first-timers it is indeed an onerous task locating the school adjacent to the Rispana river near the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority ( MDDA) colony.

The absence of arrangement ensures that a particular record cannot be retrieved in a single day, and for widows and the disabled, the inaccessibility of the office is all the more troublesome.

“Since the creation of the state, the office has been on the move. We were temporarily housed on the Laxmi Road, but soon shunted out to this place,” said Ram Avatar Singh, District Social Welfare Officer.

It is believed that the Social Welfare Department was forced to vacate the Laxmi Road premises, after a ministerial rank holder of a state, in the absence of any office, forcefully occupied the premises two years back.

The Social Welfare Office had to move ut lock stock and barrel.

Scarcity of space is acutely felt in the city, more so after it became a temporary capital. The authorities have to work overtime to house district as well as state departments, but the lapse on the part of the district authorities to overlook the need of an office that runs several social welfare schemes is all the more glaring.

Haridwar, July 20
There was hardly any respite for residents of the Kumbh city, which almost remained submerged for two days, as intermittent drizzles that continued till afternoon turned into heavy downpour by evening, aggravating their woes.

Removal of encroachments was the norm of the day from the administrative side to make up for the huge laxity on its part. Besides encroachments, at certain spots residents had put slabs to block nullahs, the main cause of accumulation of rain water in many parts of the city. At Ranipur Mod, which has been the most affected area, an anti-encroachment drive was carried out amid heavy security.

While anti-encroachment drives at Lal Taura, Tibdi Colony have already been carried out, residents accuse the administration of being apathetic towards the problem, saying that these have not come in a day. Despite resistance from vendors, the administration carried out the drive with residents too coming in support of the officials.

Residents of Railway Colony today too felt the rain fury as reports of damage due to rain poured in from the area. Station Superintendent Samarendra Goswami said apart from the signal system, electricity had been restored in the station and mud cleared.

The Ganga is overflowing near the danger mark.

Meanwhile, traders have demanded compensation for their losses from the administration, blaming it for the water-logging.

Dehradun, July 20
The state capital police has failed  to make any headway in the murder case of six-year-old Mahvish whose body was found in a nullah near the Inamulla building.

Though the case is being given the “first priority” by the police, it is biting the dust on finding the motive behind the killing. Even Tahira, mother of the victim, couldn’t give any clue to the cops behind the murder of the baby.

“The case is being given the first priority. One thing is sure that the murder was not done to following any old  dispute. But we are unable to find out the motive for killing the girl even the medical report couldn’t help much,” Superintendent of Police (City) Asim Srivastav said.

The SP also pointed out that though the police had registered a case of murder prima facie, it could be accidental as well. “The medical report stated that she died of cervical break. It may a possibility that she may have died after falling,” Srivastav added.

The police said they were questioning the persons whom Tahira suspected.

“She doesn’t directly allege anyone behind the killing and has only indicated that these persons could be involved. In these sorts of circumstances, we cannot put somebody behind bars just to satisfy her. It is a matter under investigation, and only after that we can do something,” said a police officer.

Life hasn’t been easy for Tahira whose husband Margoob was also murdered one and a half year ago over selling of flesh of animals, the business he used to do. In that case, three persons were granted bail after the six months of imprisonment. 

Dehradun, July 20
Eleven Star snuffed out a spirited challenge of the Cantt Blue 3-2 in the District Super League at the Police Lines here today.

Dipen scored two goals for the winning team.

He netted the goals in the 30th and 32nd minutes. Whereas Satya (40th) scored the crucial goal of the match after the two teams were 2-2. Roshan’s two goal (6th and 22nd) efforts for the Cantt went in vain.

In another match, Shyam took the advantage of extra time and scored in the 72nd minute to help Willis Youth beat Gypsy 1-0.

Sports Hostel and Yankies will play the first match tomorrow and Vijay Cantt will face Uttarakhand Police in another match.

Doon Star register 1-0 victory over Sunderwala Boys

A single goal effort by Nitni Saini helped the Doon Star get past Sunderwala Boys 1-0 during the Lala Nemi Dass District Super League on the Pavilion Ground.

The match saw tough competition from both the sides however Doon Star managed to prevail over its rival. It was an early goal of Saini in the fifth minute of the match that show his team the way to victory.

No goal came in the second half despite the repeated efforts of the Sunderwala Boys and the team had to face a narrow defeat.

Dehradun, July 20
The Pandit Dindayal Upadhaya Yuva Vichar Manch honoured Arun Singh, Karitkey Joshi and Kartikey Sharma who brought laurels to the country and the state at the Singapore Open Shooting Championship.

BJP state general secretary Suresh Joshi, Jyoti Prasad Gairola and Rajpur MLA Ganesh Joshi gave mementos and garlanded the three shooting stars.

Arun Singh won individual gold and team gold medals at the centre fire event. He won team silver medal in standard pistol and bronze team medal at the air pistol event.

However, Kartikey Joshi and Kartikey Sharma won bronze and silver medals. 

Dehradun, July 20
The Seventh Uttarakhand State Annual Athletics Championships (boys and girls) will be organised on August 7 and 8 at the Maharana Pratap Sports College, Raipur, by the District Athletics Association.

President of the association Sandeep Sharma said a total of 70 events would be played in eight different categories, including u-14, u-16, u-18 and u-20. One athlete can not participate in more than two events.

During this state championship, the best performers will be selected for the North Zone Junior Athletics Championships, which will be held in Amritsar on August 21 to 23.

All athletes should bring their original date of birth certificate. Those who have passed Class X can bring their high school certificates and those who haven’t can bring the municipal record.

Sharma said the arrangements were made in such a manner so that maximum participation could be witnessed. Boarding and lodging facilities for players would be borne by the organisers.

The association is expecting about 30 athletes from big districts and about 300 in total at the competition.

The events, which will be held during this state championship are: Under-20: 100m, 200m, 400m, 1,500m, triple jump, 3,000m (girls) 5,000m (boys), long jump, shot put, discus and javelin throw.

In the u-18 category and the u-16 category, all above events will be organised except triple jump.

In the u-14 category, only 100m, 600m, long jump, shot put and high jump will be played.