The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	CM’s Protected Farming Scheme evokes lukewarm response Neena Sharma Tribune News Service Dehradun, May 21 With two subsidy-based polyhouse schemes already underway in the state, another scheme by the government, the Chief Minister’s Protected Farming Scheme, has evoked a lukewarm response. But officials say that the response of the farmers has been far from encouraging because such schemes are already existing and farmers are already engaged in control farming (polyhouses) under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) and Watershed Management Programme in the state. The farmers are already getting subsidy under these programmes; the introduction of one more scheme has resulted in sheer duplication. The farmers are comparing all these schemes and will only opt for another one if it has a differentiating value. In both the schemes, the farmers are being offered between 20 per cent-40 per cent subsidy, official sources said. So much so, not only is the programme running behind schedule but only 250 farmers have so far shown their willingness to avail the benefits. “The farmers are being offered subsidy even for erecting 300 sq metre and 100 sq metre polyhouses that cost around Rs 93,500. We had received around 800 applications and 250 farmers have been selected for the scheme and we are already running behind our target of setting up 4,000 polyhouses this year,” said Vinod Fonia, Secretary, Horticulture. To encourage farmers with small and marginal land holdings, the Chief Minister's Protected Cultivation Scheme was recently introduced to propagate the use of polyhouses. The government has set itself a target of constructing 20,000 polyhouses. The farmers can avail 50 per cent central subsidy under the Horticulture Technology Mission and the remainder of the amount can be made available through loans from various banks for setting up polyhouses, but the response of farmers has been lukewarm. In the first phase, the government has set a goal of building 4,000 polyhouses in the ongoing financial year. The targets for 2011-12 and 2012-13 are 5,000 polyhouses each, rising to 6,000 in 2013-14. The state government has approved an action plan of Rs 40 crore to stress on the promotion of cash crops as the main source of income for the farmer, with a special emphasis on vegetables and spices.
	Haridwar, Haldwani made Municipal Corporations Tribune News Service Dehradun, May 21 The Uttarakhand Government today announced Municipal Corporation status to Haridwar and Haldwani municipalities. Besides, the Uttarakhand Government has identified 21 cities for the Asian Development Bank civic amenities programme. At a press conference here today, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said Uttarakhand so far had only one Municipal Corporation in Dehradun and the government had now decided to make two new corporations at Haldwani and Haridwar in the state. He said the Haridwar Municipal Corporation would cater to a population of 2.5 lakh. Nishank said a total of 21 cities of Uttarakhand were being taken up under the Asian Development Bank civic amenities programme. He said civic amenities like water supply, sewerage, solid waste management and slum improvement would be taken up under the programme which would be completed by 2012. He said the government believed in making Uttarakhand slum-free and asserted that six thousand houses were to be constructed in 30 cities of the state. Responding to queries, Nishank also announced opening of a Cyber Cell at every thana to deal with cyber crime effectively. On the incident of felling of trees near Govind Pashu Vihar in Uttarakashi that involves a senior bureaucrat, the Chief Minister said he had directed the Uttarkashi District Magistrate to submit his probe report latest by tomorrow. Uttarakhand Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik, who was present at the conference, said the Urban Development Department had been working to check migration in the hills besides linking youth to employment.
	ITBP passing out parade held Ajay Ramola Mussoorie, May 21 A total of 131 officers and subordinate officers joined the mainstream of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) at a passing out parade held at the ITBP training grounds here today. It was the second biggest passing out parade in the history of the ITBP. The chief guest, Director-General of the ITBP Ranjeet Kumar Bhatia, was presented with a ceremonial guard of honour on the occasion. Bhatia congratulated all officers and complimented the Director on providing such high quality and professional training. Highlighting the achievements and challenges of the elite force of the country, he said the main role of the force was to safeguard the 3,488 km-long India-China border ranging from the Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Dipu-La in Arunachal Pradesh. He said the initial role of the force was restricted to the borders but over the years it had changed to internal security in disturbed areas and combating militants in Jammu and Kashmir. The force had also been inducted in Naxal areas, increasing the responsibility manifold. Later speaking to the media Bhatia said the ITBP would be undergoing major restructuring in a phased manner soon in which several thousand new posts would be created.The youth should join in large numbers as it was the appropriate opportunity to serve the country. Speaking on the issue of graft cases in the force, he said it was a matter of concern and the CBI was investigating the matter. He gave an assurance that all such cases would be dealt with firmly. The chief guest presented the citation, medals and cups to officers excelling in the training. The DIG Training Cup, indoors, was given to SI Neeraj Saroch and the Commandant (Trg) Cup to SI/Over Rakesh Bhandari. The Overall Directors Cup for the best trainee was won by SI/Over Gaurav Bisht while the Home Minister's Sword of Honour for the overall best trainee was won by AC/GD Manoj Shah. A karate team from the ITBP displayed its skills. Havildar Hemraj was given a cash prize of Rs 5,000 along with a citation for exemplary service in the force. Director of the Academy, IG MC Bhatt, thanked all on the occasion.
	Alva for proper monitoring of green funds Rajeev Khanna/TNS Nainital, May 21 Uttarakhand Governor Margaret Alva has underlined that planners need to take into account links between relocation and income generation activities of people displaced during the establishment of hydropower projects. The issue raised by the Governor at the conclave of Indian mountain states organised by the Central Himalayan Environment Association under its Indian mountain initiative programme has been at the core of the debate encircling the setting up of hydropower projects across the country. Speaking as the chief guest on the theme: “Hydropower projects in the mountain region” at the First Sustainable Mountain Development Summit-2011, the Governor said: “Hydropower projects are of late being viewed with concern because adequate attention is not being paid to environmental and conservation issues. It is claimed that the construction of big dams adversely affects hydrology, physical, biological and social environment, besides impacting livelihoods, the culture of indigenous people and ethnic minorities. Any developmental activity will certainly have some negative impact.” She qualified her statement by pointing out that, “Planners need to take into account the links between relocation and income generation activities. A review of the resettlement portfolio has found that while displaced families with good access to productive resources were able to recreate and sometimes improve their lives, others had lost their survival base and livelihoods. A major problem in the resettlement management is a lack of an appropriate institutional framework at both agency and field levels to implement rehabilitation programmes.” In a subtle manner, Alva had a clear-cut message for the government that has been making a lot of noise while demanding a green bonus. She said: “With its vast green cover, the Indian Himalayan Region, also acts as a giant carbon ‘sink’ and forms a considerably large part of the identified Himalayan biodiversity global hotspot. The state government is constantly demanding and receiving green bonus from the Centre for their protection and maintenance. There is a need for the proper monitoring of these green funds to ensure that they are utilised for the purposes they are meant for. Those directly affected by the enforcement of green area regulations, must receive a due share of these funds.” She also called for the rejuvenation of the Chipko movement in Uttarakhand. “This is the land that gave birth to the Chipko movement. But we seem to have lost its spirit. There is need to rejuvenate Chipko as a massive environmental movement and a symbol of community participation,” said Alva.
	Politicians, babus involved in scams Cong for initiating criminal proceedings Tribune News Service Nainital, May 21 The Congress has stated that it will initiate criminal proceedings against the politicians and the bureaucrats whose names, figuring in various scams, are coming to light in the state. Replying to a query, the president of the state unit of the party, Yash Pal Arya, said, “If criminal proceedings have been initiated against those whose names have figured in corruption cases at the Centre, why should those involved in corrupt practices in the state not be tried on similar lines.” Arya was in Nainital during the Satyagrah Yatra of the party that reached the Lake City on Friday evening. He further said that the Congress leadership of the state would soon be seeking an appointment from the President of India and take up the matters pertaining to the failure of the BJP government in the state led by Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank with regard to funds given by the Centre for the development of the minorities and the marginalised sections of society in the state.
	Face of Haridwar will change: Residents Tribune News Service Haridwar, May 21 With the declaration of the Haridwar Municipal Committee as Municipal Corporation, the much-awaited demand of the residents as well as of the ward councillors has been met that will pave the way for better organised infrastructure, civic facility and development of the city. Despite the rise in population, establishment of an integrated industrial estate besides it being a world-renowned pilgrimage city, the Municipal Committee had limited powers and funds to cater to the city’s demand, but now with it being accorded the Municipal Corporation status, it’s being envisaged that the face of the city will change. During the tenure of the then Chief Minister, Narayan Dutt Tiwari, state Urban Development Minister NavPrabhat had taken the issue of forming new corporations, including Haridwar and Haldwani, which surfaced today with the state government declaring these two cities’ municipalities as Municipal Corporations. While on the one hand, local residents are happy that the Municipal Corporation will pave more development, they are also happy that they got relief from the lacklustre working of the current Municipal Committee board. This can be reflected by the fact that since coming into existence three years back, less than half a dozen board meetings were conducted with all of these marred by ruckus, chaos, internal factionism and allegations. Even the sub-panel committee elections were postponed 10 times, while all major developmental works either got delayed or were of a substandard quality which is reflected by the fact that during the hosting of MahaKumbh-2010, Haridwar municipality, which should have played a major role in carrying out Kumbh works, was given the least amount of work as a nodal agency. Even the installing of streetlights contract was taken from it and given to neighboring state’s Uttar Pradesh Nirman Nigam owing to municipalities’ ill working which evoked lack of faith from even mela administration. Welcoming the step, municipal chairman Kamal Johra said this was a welcome step as till date limited resources, manpower and funds used to come between the city’s development but now a new era of development would herald with the constitution of municipal corporation. Political parties, too, welcomed the decision, terming it as a right step in a direction where planned development of the city would take place which was lagging as Haridwar was too big in comparison with many other cities which have municipal corporation status.
	SDMs to report on losses due to rain, hailstorm Our Correspondent Pithoragarh, May 21 The Pithoragarh district administration has ordered all subdivisional magistrates in the district to prepare a report on the losses caused by the rain and hailstorm on Friday.The hailstorm almost wiped out sprouting vegetables in the Sor valley, which houses the district headquarters.It also damaged village roads at many places in the district. “We have not only asked the SDMs to prepare a report on these losses but also sent a team of geologists to the Darma valley of the district where villagers have complainted of continuous tremor shocks,” said NS Negi, District Magistrate. According to reports reaching the district headquarters, hailstones accompanied with rain lashed the Sor valley for two hours damaging newly planted vegetables. “We not only lost our fruit but vegetables too were damaged, finishing our hope of some earnings this year,” said Kedar Datt Punera ,a farmer engaged in vegetable production in a nearby village of the Sor valley . ”The Nachni area lost its connectivity as the only wooden bridge on the Jakula river was swept away in the rain. The potato crop in Namik and the wheat crop that was yet to harvested in five adjoining villages in the Basnbagar area were lost,” said officials of the district administration . According to the Dharchula tehsil administration, the heavy rain and hailstones caused a landslide on the Tawaghat-Garvadhar road on Friday resulting in the closure of the road probably for the next two days. Border Roads Organisation officer SK Nayar hoped the road would be opened to traffic before the India-Tibet border trade and the Mansarovar Yatra began on June 1. The district administration has also sent a team of geologists to the Darma valley after a delegation of villagers met the District Magistrate and complained of a sense of panic prevailing among residents of 12 villages of the Darma valley after regular tremor shocks were experienced by residents after the earthquake that hit the area on May 5. “The team will study the primary reason for these tremors and try to ascertain if these events are caused due to landslides in the Darma valley,” said the DM.