Dehradun, April 22
Proper management of solid waste has been a recurring problem in Uttarakhand and after delays three cities — Dehradun, Nainital and Haridwar — have finally taken steps for a credible integrated waste management system (ISWM).

In Dehradun, SPML (Infrastructure) will manage waste while in Nainital A2Z company has been selected for the management and implementation of solid waste schemes under the Jawarharlal Nehru National Urban Rural Mission (JNNURM). The central government’s share in the project is 80 per cent and the state government’s 20 per cent.

Waste generation in Dehradun is 235 metric tonnes per day, in Nainital 38 metric tonnes per day and in Haridwar 213 metric tonnes per day. The project aims to achieve 100 per cent compliance through collection of waste at source in a segregated manner. “These cities have a huge potential for growth and face the problem of a floating population that includes tourists who descend on these areas in the yatra and holiday seasons,” said Nidhi Mani Tripathi, Additional Secretary, Urban Development.

The selected companies would be responsible for collecting organic and non-organic waste from door to door within the limits of the Municipal Board/Corporation and transporting it to the plant where it would be converted into manure using scientific methods. The corporation would have the right to impose a penalty in case of the company’s failure to carry out implementation as per the standards. In Haridwar, the project had got delayed after a BJP leader holding cabinet rank in the Nishank government had protested against the idea of levying collection charges on consumers. The matter was finally sorted and now the financial bid would be floated in the coming days.

The project cost for Dehradun is pegged at Rs 23.74 crore, for Nainital Rs 8 crore and for Haridwar Rs 23.53 crore. The Ministry of Urban Development has selected 65 cities in the country for basic infrastructure development, including sewage, water supply and roads.

Haridwar, April 22
While the Supreme Court had set June, 2011, as the deadline for implementation of the National Street Vendors Policy in all states of the country, a few state governments have taken steps in this regard while many seem to be showing no interest which has irked lakhs of street vendors and hawkers.

Now, the sole representative of this unorganised sector, the National Association of Street Vendors (NASVI), has taken the agitational route and will be holding rallies, programmes, mass awareness drive and conventions to pressurise the reluctant state governments to implement the national policy in their respective states.

As such, Uttarakhand has been chosen the first state by NASVI where from today a two-day national convention of the association members is being held. It was inaugurated by Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Harak Singh Rawat here.

Acknowledging the fact that the current Uttarakhand Government has failed to even take initiative as per the directives of the apex court, Rawat assured the delegates from the various parts of the country that he would be raising this issue in the upcoming state Assembly session so that thousands of street vendors in the hilly state benefited from the national policy.

“The government should not only protect interests of big corporate houses but also assure that the fundamental rights, social security and the right to livelihood of this poor segment whose condition is quite bad in Uttarakhand are taken care of,” said Dr Rawat.

Citing a model draft bill complied by NASVI named Street Vendors (Protection and Promotion of Livelihood Bill 2011), Ranjit Abhigyan, programme manager, New Delhi chapter of NASVI, told The Tribune that urban street vendors formed an important segment of unorganised sectors and this Act could be taken on as a basic module by respective governments which could lessen the delay in formulating the draft bill. As onus is on the state to provide right to adequate means of livelihood as enshrined in Article 14, 19(1), 38(2) and 41 of the Constitution, government should make sure that the national policy is implemented within the time duration, he added.

The convention passed a resolution of working towards the cause of street vendors in all the states simultaneously as a part of which rallies will be carried out, including the one to be held in Haridwar tomorrow, to pressurise the state government to implement the National Vendor Policy by the end of June this year.

Uttarakhand Street Vendors association chief Sanjay Chopra said while the governments of Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, New Delhi and others had started the process or either formed task forces to implement the policy, the Uttarakhand Government is quite reluctant to do so. He said in Uttarakhand, particularly in its hilly regions, the street vendors/hawkers are a viable, low-cost solution for people to cater to their daily needs as they get the consumer goods at their doorstep. But, owing to pressure from big industrialists, the BJP Government seems to be derailing the process.

Dehradun, April 22
The World Heritage Site, Valley of Flowers National Park in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, is facing a fresh challenge with killer plant Polygonum rapidly off setting the floral composition of the valley.

One of the richest biogeographic zones of India, Valley of Flowers is carpeted with some 500 flower species, including the elusive brahmakamal, the cobra lily and the Himalayan blue poppy. The valley forms one of India's most unusual protected areas. Declared a National

Park in 1982, the Valley of Flowers stretches over an expanse of nearly 90 sq km, an area which has steadily gained in popularity.

In the recent years, a species identified as Polygonum has grown manifold, taking over a total of 600 hectares of land in the valley even as Nandadevi Biosphere authorities are failing to come to any logical conclusion to deal with it.

Director, Nandadevi Biosphere Reserve, BK Gangte, under whose jurisdiction Valley of Flower falls, said the Polygonum species had certainly been a matter of concern for them in recent years due to its nature of suppressing other flower species. He said the park authorities were trying to weed out this species and had even undertaken a study in this regard. “We have come up with 30 plots to study the species and are utilising the National Park Management funds for the purpose,” he pointed out.

Gangte said the Polygonum species spread the most during the rainy season and had been there at the Valley of Flowers for quite some time. He pointed out that the researches being undertaken by several botanists were still to classify Polygonum either as a flower species or purely an exotic weed.

Some botanists also believe that the fast spread of Polygonum could be due to a ban on grazing in the valley of flowers that came into implementation almost two decades back with an aim to safeguard the floral wealth of this beautiful valley.

Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Dr RBS Rawat, admitted that spread of Polygonum was a matter of concern. He said the scientists of the Forest Research Institute and the Botanical Survey of India were already undertaking research to ascertain the causes behind the spread of Polygonum and come up with remedial measures.

Nainital, April 22
All Saints’ College, Nainital, and Army School, Meerut, emerged winners in the Lin Tail and Wag Tail categories respectively at the Surya Sailing Regatta held here on Friday.

The event was organised by the Indian Army with a purpose to popularising sailing as a sport. With Nainital being the highest sailing facility in the world amid picturesque locations, this event has been gaining popularity ever since it was started in 2007.

In the Lin Tail category, the girls from All Saints’ School finished the race clocking an impressive 44.30 minutes. They were followed by teams from Government Inter College, Nainital, and Bharatiya Shaheed Sainik School, Nainital, who secured the next two positions clocking 46.35 minutes and 47.40 minutes respectively.

The trophy in the Wag Tail category was lifted by Army School, Meerut, after clocking 46 minutes. The second place went to the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), Dehradun, with its sailors coming home with a timing of 47.10 minutes. The third place was secured by Sainik School Ghodakhal whose team clocked 53.58 minutes.

A total of nine teams participated in the event that was flagged off by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Uttar Bharat Area, Lieut-Gen SP Tanwar, on a windy morning.

The prizes were also given away by him. In his address General Tanwar complimented the children for their competitive spirit. The Surya Sailing Regatta for children was instituted by the then Army Commander, Lieut-Gen OP Nandrajog, in 2007 to promote sailing among them. He had also instituted the Army Commanders’ Cup for children.

Since then the event has been organised by the Army every year at the Nainital Yacht Club.

Pithoragarh, April 22
A two-day congregation of the tribal Rang community, living in 24 villages of Darma, Byans and Chaudans valleys of the high Himalayan region of Pithoragarh district, was inaugurated by Uttarakhand Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prakash Pant, here today. The chief guest of the function was Nrip Singh Napalchayal, Chief Information Commissioner of the state.

Inaugurating the congregation of the community which was attended by the participants from all over the country, the minister praised the community for its unique identity and capacity not to be influenced by outside cultural influences. “These pre-Vedic tribal communities have proudly kept themselves away from cultural infiltration and displayed exemplary unity as a community,” said Pant.

The minister announced that a hostel for the students of the Rang community studying in Pithoragarh town would be constructed soon as a sum of Rs 1 crore had been sanctioned for the purpose. “Besides, a community centre for the people living in Dehradun at a cost of Rs 50 lakh will also be constructed this year,” announced the minister.

He further announced that from the next year, the Chaudans and Byans valley routes of the Kailash Mansarowar Yatra would be developed on the lines of ‘Char Dham’ route in Garhwal.

Dehradun, April 22
Tyre, tube machines and material worth crores of rupees was destroyed in a major fire that broke out early this morning at MV Enterprises at Laltapad in Rishikesh. The exact reason of the fire could not be established.

However, fire officials prima facie deemed short circuit as the possible reason.

Till the filing of this report, it was not clear whether there was anyone inside the factory or not. The fire officials said they had no information of any one getting injured in the incident as of now.

According to Chief Fire Officer (CFO), Dehradun, Chandan Singh Jina, the police received the information of the fire incident at 5:50 am. Five fire tenders from Dehradun and two from Rishikesh were pressed into immediately.

It took over six hours to control the fire. The fire officials had to face a tough time during the operation as it took much time to reach the exact spot where the fire broke out.

Though the fire has been controlled, till the filing of the report, about 30 to 40 firemen were trying to douse the fire completely. It was so dangerous that the smog emanating from it, made the nearby areas dark.

The incident spread panic in the nearby factories as people ran from one place to another for cover. However, the fire officials put in their best effort to control the situation.

Nainital, April 22
In yet another instance of an attack on humans by a tiger, two women and a girl of Tedha village on the periphery of Jim Corbett National Tiger Reserve were injured when they were attacked by the wild cat this morning.

It is learnt that the women and the girl had gone into the forest area when they were attacked. Those injured have been identified as Kamla Devi, Jhupa Devi and Anjali. All three have been referred to Sushila Tewari Memorial Hospital for treatment.

The condition of Jhupa Devi is said to be serious as she has suffered maximum injuries in the attack. It is learnt that she sustained injuries on her face and skull during the attack. Anjali is just 10 years in age.

Officials of the Forest Department have promised all medical aid to the injured people and have assured them of an increase in patrolling in the Sukha Strot area where the incident is reported to have taken place.

Dehradun, April 22
Another wildcat causality has taken place during a territorial struggle in Ramnagar forest division of Uttarakhand.

The body of a tigress was found in the division, which is in close proximity of the Jim Corbett National Park. Ravindra Juyal, Ramnagar Divisional Forest Officer, disclosed that the body of the tigress revealed external injuries marks on the neck caused by another tiger.

He said in all probability the tigress was killed in a fight with another tiger. The deceased tigress was around five years of age. The DFO said the exact reason of the death would be known after the coming up of the post-mortem report?

Dehradun, April 22
Uttarakhand has transferred five IAS officers in the state.

Further, an IPS officer has been appointed as Additional Secretary to the Chief Minister.

According to Joint Secretary RC Lohani, Principal Secretary Civil Aviation, Irrigation, Sanskrit Education, Higher Education and Chief Revenue Commissioner PC Sharma has been relieved of the portfolio of just Higher Education and given additional responsibility of Revenue and Disaster Management departments.

Secretary, Agriculture and Minor Irrigation, Om Prakash has been given the additional charge of Rural Development. Secretary, School Education, Manisha Panwar, has been given additional charge of Higher Education.

Additional Secretary, Chief Minister, Information Technology, Higher Education, Sanskrit Education, Alternative Energy Sources and Director, Information Technology Development Agency (ITDA), Nitesh Kumar Jha, has been removed from the post of Director ITDA.

Additional Secretary, Rural Development Finance, Atal Adarsh Gram Yojana, Ravinath Raman, has been given the additional charge of Home Director and Director ITDA. IPS officer, DIG Heaquaters, Abhinav Kumar, has been transferred to the post of Additional Secretary to the Chief Minsiter.

Pithoragarh, April 22
The workers of Peyjal Aarakshan Samiti, an organisation that has started an agitation for better drinking water supply in Pithoragarh town, caught a jeep of the Excise Department, carrying drinking water for officials from a natural spring near the town today.

The surrounding villagers were using the water from the spring in the absence of a regular supply of water through taps. “Our worker captured the jeep only to prove that the Jal Nigam in the district is not even able to supply water to the officials,” said Bhagwan Rawat, organiser of the samiti.

“It is also a case of misusing the government property for family purposes as the jeep was carrying water to be distributed among the families of the officers living in a colony near the town; besides it is a proof of failure of water supplying machinery in the district headquarters,” alleged Bhagwan Rawat. Later, the samiti workers let the jeep go with water laden in it. — OC

Pithoragarh, April 22
A person has been arrested and three have absconded in a case of firing at the house of Virendra Singh Bora, Vice-President, Pithoragarh Zila Panchayat, on Wednesday night. Bora in his FIR lodged with the police has stated that four persons fired at his house on Wednesday midnight with an intention to kill him.

“One person, who has been identified as Anand Singh, has been arrested and police is looking for another culprit named Jeevan Singh who was accompanied by two others. The firing broke the windowpanes of the house of Virendra Singh Bora,” said NA Bharane, SP, Pithoragarh. According to the police, old political rivalry seems to be cause behind the firing.

Bora has demanded protection from the police after the incident, citing that some political rivals are out to kill him. “A conspiracy to finish me is being hatched by my rivals, as despite repeated threats, I have refused to resign from the post of Vice-President, Pithoragarh Zila Panchayat,” said Bora.

Nainital, April 22
A district that has been adversely affected by water scarcity in the summer months, Almora has started bracing to deal with the situation in the current season.

On Thursday, top officials in the administration came together to prepare a blueprint for the season, which is marked by a high water demand on account of the arrival of tourists from various parts of the country and even abroad.

District Magistrate DS Garbyal has ordered Chief Development Officer (CDO) Dheeraj Singh to inspect the Victor Mohan Joshi water storage facility and order repairs wherever required so that water could be stored there. This water would be used in an emergency.

Garbyal also ordered officials of the Jal Sansthan, Jal Nigam and Swajal to ensure proper repairs and management of the water supply lines and tanks. He also directed the cleaning of natural water sources and putting of the proper quantity of chlorine in water tanks. At the same time hospitals and dispensaries have been asked to keep adequate stocks of medicines to tackle water-borne diseases.

Addressing officials of the Jal Sansthan, Garbyal asked them to undertake the repair of hand pumps that are non-functional along with pipelines and tankers. The officials were also asked to prepare a proposal for the supply of water to the remote areas by mules.