Experts want govt to check pollution of Ganga
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 23
Citing the Central Pollution Control Board’s recent report which indicated that the bio-oxygen water-level in the Ganga river was close to 8 points, and in 100 ml of Ganga water, the bacteria had reached an alarming level, a group of experts from various fields have demanded instant intervention from the government to check this pollution level in the holy river.

Forming Citizens Council, these experts cited various pollution, environmental and ecology impacts that are hampering the sanctity and purity of Ganga, which has utmost religious-spiritual significance for billions of Indians.

Ushering support to the ongoing tapasya mode of agitation by Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand, alias Professor Guru Das Aggarwal, Dr Vijay Verma, chief of this council, termed the tapasya agitation as noble, which is being done for larger interests of the people only as otherwise in the coming decades, Ganga will lose it’s purity content.

Professor Chandan Ghosh, head of the National Disaster Management, pointed out that even for bathing purpose, the water of Ganga in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar is not safe, “while we all drink Ganga jal in a religious way.

“Pollutants in Ganga are resulting in various skin allergies, gastroenteritis, diarrhoea, typhoid and many other ailments. But be it politicians or religious gurus, they all make tall claims, but in reality concrete efforts are lacking, which one can easily gauge by seeing the flow of Ganga these days,” said Ghosh.

Alleging some political outfits were putting hurdles in Aggarwal’s agitation, member of National Heritage Conservation Prabhu Narayan said that when it comes to hosting of Maha Kumbh fair, all akhadas and religious gurus prominently take part in he holy dip or shahi snaan. But now when it comes to save-the-Ganga campaign, they lack vision and seem to be oblivious of the condition of the river.

Terming the martyrdom of the late Swami Nigamanand, who was on 100-day fast for the cause of the holy Ganga as an exemplary step, Ashish Gaud, general secretary of the council, said the government, religious organisations, ashram heads and common people should awaken to the cause and take steps to purify the holy river.

The council also extended it’s support to Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati, Swami Avimukteshwaranad, Swami Gyan Swaroop, Matra Sadan founder Swami Shivanand and other social activists involved in the save Ganga movement. 

Depts pulled up for not utilising funds
Tribune News Service

Nainital, February 23
Champawat District Magistrate Ashish Joshi has pulled up the officials of various departments for having failed to utilise the money sanctioned to them for carrying out developmental activities under the district plan.

At a review meeting held at Champawat yesterday, Joshi pointed out that departments like Alternate Energy, Small Village Industries, Urban Development, Swajal and Irrigation had not even utilised 50 per cent of the money sanctioned to them.

He has ordered the officials of the departments to expedite the functioning of their departments and ensure that the money allocated to them is put to proper use. He has set a deadline for February 29 for this purpose.

At the same time, Joshi has asked the officials to make use of the money provided under the Central and state-sponsored schemes by March 15. He asked the officials to take keen interest in carrying out developmental activities across the district.

At the same time, the District Magistrate has ordered the officials of the Revenue Department to speed up the revenue collection and achieve the target set for the current financial year.

He has also ordered the early disposal of cases pertaining to the violation of the Motor Vehicles Act and laws pertaining to explosives.

In a meeting attended by Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs), Tehsildars and other revenue officials, he laid emphasis on disposal of cases pertaining to the violation of the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes Act. He expressed his displeasure over the pendency of payments to be made to banks and telecommunication establishments.

BHEL demolishes illegal structures on its campus
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 23
A Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) team demolished illegal structures constructed on its campus at Keshav Kunj today. JCB machines were used in the anti-encroachment drive as many families had constructed concrete houses and shops.

Though the encroachers had sought time to leave the area, the BHEL team demolished the structures. Some of them urged the BHEL team to stop the anti-encroachment drive for a fortnight as examinations of their children were nearing and the winter would also be over by then, but the former cited orders from the higher authorities to carry out the drive.

As the news about the demolition drive spread, politicians reached Keshav Kunj. Social activist Vimla Pandey met BHEL officer JB Singh along with the affected families and nearby colony residents in this regard. JB Singh gave the encroachers time till April 10 as by then the school examinations would be over. He warned them that if they did not vacate the area by the stipulated time, BHEL would evict them forcefully.

Sushma Sehgal, a local resident, said they would leave the area before April 10.

BHEL has decided to take stern action against those who have encroached upon its land. The property department of BHEL has started an anti-encroachment drive to evict illegal dwellers from its campus.

This is the first major anti-encroachment drive by BHEL in the recent past and it has created panic among illegal dwellers with many leaving the campus themselves.

Residents question sealing of properties in Nainital
LDA secy leaves the discussion halfway
Tribune News Service

Nainital, February 23
Even as the Lake Development Authority (LDA) has gone ahead with sealing five more properties in the town, the common people of Nainital have questioned the concept of sealing of buildings that have come up illegally in the town over the past few years. They have also questioned the compounding of some of the illegal structures that came up in unsafe and green zones.

Residents feel that such practises are an encouragement to the rich and powerful people who are indulging into illegal activity in the town.

The people vociferously raised these issues during the daylong interaction organised by the Uttarakhand Academy of Administration at the Administrative Training Institute (ATI) yesterday in the presence of the Secretary, LDA, Vijay Chandra Kaushal. On the very same day, the LDA authorities sealed five structures that had allegedly come up illegally in the town.

One of the persons guilty of raising an illegal structure was given a temporary respite, as his wife was not well.

The people’s opposition to the concept of sealing is based on the experience that a sealed property is often unsealed by the owner by push and pulls in the state administration. The people pointed out,” If the structure is illegal, why not raze it to the ground and be done away with it forever?”

It was pointed out that those guilty of razing illegal structures in the town prefer that the buildings be sealed, as they know that sooner or later they will be able to get the seal removed.

The resentment of the people to the concept of sealing was voiced by Chairman of the local Municipal Council Mukesh Joshi, who stated that in Nainital, the whole process of checking illegal constructions was jumbled up and the LDA had never bothered to take the local civic body or the public representatives. He questioned how was it possible that the office of the secretary, LDA, had the powers to both seal a building and to remove it.

Prof Ajay Rawat, a social activist, gave an example of a person who purchased a three-room structure and developed it into a 15-room hotel without the required permission or adhering to the norms.

Instead of punishing the guilty, the LDA had facilitated the compounding of several illegal structures, he stated.

Another social activist, Basanti Pathak, pointed out that even in the case of people cutting green trees, the guilty were allowed to get away after paying fines. Ironically, Kaushal left the discussion halfway. 

A student who leads by example
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 23
While most of the students either excel in academics or sports, Nidhi Arora, an MA economics student of Shravan Nath Math Jawaharlal Nehru College, seems to be an exception. Being a first division holder throughout her academic career till date, Nidhi has also been a state-level kho-kho player, having represented Uttarakhand in Jharkhand nationals as well as being multi-sports achiever.

This week only she secured third place in the state-level essay writing competition on teaching of Swami Vivekanand, held as part of 150th birth centenary celebrations of the great visionary.

Nidhi had topped city region in class X from GGIC Jwalapur, reclaiming the same position in class XII.She then was elected girls’ union leader at Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Satikund, Kankhal and completed her B. Ed and M.Ed from Punjab University with honours.

Wanting to make a career in teaching, Nidhi supports her family by teaching at a school in the morning shifts and then attends her economics classes at SMJN College.

She has to her credit numerous debate, essay writing, elocution, sports, quiz trophies, too, and works on the principles of Swami Vivekanand that one cannot achieve success or solace without working constantly.

Her father Subash Chand points that since early childhood Nidhi was quite dynamic, being serious in all the things and has a flame in her of contributing to society.

College principal A K Ghildiyal and lecturer K Garg point out that every time she takes up any subject, she excels in it and even motivates her fellow classmates to work harder and not waste time in futile activities. 

Achieve targets under JNNURM soon: CS
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 23
At an evaluation meeting of programmes being implemented under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renwal Mission (JNNURM), Chief Secretary Subash Kumar asked officials to achieve targets set for February and March.

The officials of the Jal Nigam while presenting a report of their department said Rs 52.68 crore had been spent for 30 tube wells and 24 pump houses. A total of 30 pump houses have to be constructed out of which 24 are complete. While work is on in the remaining six.

A total of Rs 21.86 crore has been spent. Under the sewerage system phase-2 improvement programme, a sewerage treatment plant of 20 MLD and sewerage line measuring 35.80 km has also been laid.

In Haridwar district, the Pey Jal Nigam has dug up 22 tube wells and a 98 km sewerage line has been laid. For Dehradun, Nainital and Haridwar districts , 45 buses have been bought out of a budget of Rs 16.9 crore. In Dehradun, the corporation is undertaking the collection of waste in 25 wards.

Under the JNNURM in Dehradun, a total of Rs 62.61 crore has been allocated for housing scheme for slum dwellers. In Haridwar, 96 houses have been constructed.

Construction of 1,883 houses for the Economically Weaker Section people is also underway in Udham Singh Nagar district. In Pithoragarh, 200 houses are being constructed and in Nainital 1,313 houses are being constructed under the JNNURM. 

Most primary schools lack toilets, drinking water: Report
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 23
Despite the Right to Education Act in place, most of the primary schools in rural areas continue to lack drinking water and toilet facilities. Even if some schools have these facilities, these continue to be in poor condition.

While the Act has made it mandatory that every school should have toilet and water facilities, for the state Education Department, it continues to remain a mission not accomplished.

kAccording to the Annual Status Education Report compiled by Pratham, the number of toilets being constructed in the schools has increased but the total number of toilets not usable in 2011 was 35.4 per cent and in 2010 the total per cent of these toilets was 40.9 per cent.

Similarly, the number of schools that had water facility but no drinking water available in 2011 was 12.5 per cent. And in 2010 the total number of schools that had no drinking water facility was 9.7 per cent.

Only 53.3 per cent toilets were usable in 2011. In 2010, it was 24 per cent. While 19.3 per cent of schools had drinking water facility, in 2010 it was 22.1 per cent.

Significantly the schools in rural areas have started making separate provision for girl toilets in primary schools. So much so the percentage of schools with no separate provision for girls toilets in 2010 was 47.7 per cent while in 2011 it is 14.1 per cent.

The survey also found out that 13.2 per cent of toilets for girls were locked when the survey team visited the schools. In 2010, it was 11.5 per cent. While the total number of toilets for girls not usable in 2011 was 19.4 per cent, in 2010 it was 16.9 per cent.

The total number of schools visited by the team in 2010 was 337 and in 2011 it was 297. The survey was conducted in 12 districts barring Champawat district.

‘Untrained’ PIOs leave Info Commissioner burdened with RTI applications
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 23
Absence of trained Public Information Officers (PIOs) at the lowest level to respond to first appeals under the Right to Information Act is forcing the citizens of the state to go in for second appeals with the Uttarakhand Information Commission (UIC) defeating the purpose of the Right to Information Act.

A second appeal is the last option under the RTI to get the information. If the first appeal is heard, it proves beneficial for the applicants and saves time. In Uttarakhand, due to the lukewarm response to the first appeals, the applicants are forced to approach the Uttarakhand State Information Commission (UIC) for second appeal.

While the number of second appeals with the commission has been growing with each passing day, the disinterest at the level of first appeals is putting undue burden on the 
UIC.

“For the effective implementation of the Right to Information Act (RTI), the appeals should be discharged at the level of first appeal itself but this is not happening in the state. This will make the lower bureaucracy accountable and even curb corruption. Maybe, the Public Information Officers are not well-versed with the RTI. We have been urging the state government to appoint suitable and competent officials as Public Information Officers (PIOs) in government departments,” said Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) NS Napalchayal.

Lack of training is one of the reasons as the officials concerned are not trained to handle appeals under the RTI. While the Information Commission has mandate to discharge appeals, the training part rests with the government and it has been reluctant to provide training to officers under the RTI.

“Most of the designated Public Information Officers (PIOs) are inexperienced. They cannot be expected to discharge the role of appellate officers, except for the Revenue Department,” said Dr BP Maithani, RTI activist.

Soon after the Act was implemented in the state, secretary-level officials were appointed as PIOs, but later the position was downgraded to the level of section officers.

“If juniormost officials are appointed as PIOs, they are bound to be thwarted in their efforts to collect information by their seniors,” said Maithani.

While the UIC in Dehradun received more than 1 lakh applications under the second appeal, the appeals received under first appeal by various departments were less than 2,000 during this financial year. 

Poor demand of bamboo goods forces craftsmen to leave occupation
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, February 23
The traditional cottage industry using local bamboo (Ringal) in Munsiyari villages is gradually dying due to the non-availability of raw material, lack of market and changing life style of the villagers. “One of the reasons for the bad condition of the cottage industry is that villagers are leaving agriculture and the craftsmen involved in the industry make only agricultural accessories. The craftsmen are not getting sufficient orders as the farmers in nearby villages are moving to other occupations,” said Aan Singh Rokaya, a zila panchayat member from this tribal area.

Seventy-five families of Ringal craftsmen, belonging to the Scheduled Castes category, are based in Bharigara, Dugdhar, Lag and Chami Bhainskot villages in the Malla Bhainskot area of Munsiyari and they have been involved in the occupation since centuries. These people traditionally used to make agricultural accessories and other household goods for the farmers in exchange of cereals. “As the villagers started using plastic goods in daily routing, the market for the handmade bamboo goods has fallen sharply,” said Moti Ram, a resident of Chami village in the Talla Bhainskot area.

Moti Ram said traditionally they used to go to Kalamuni forests to collect bamboo for making accessories and household goods for the farmers. “The goods included bamboo carpets and umbrellas and sacks for storing grains for farmers and their children. But as the life style of the villagers has changed, these goods are now not in much demand. This has deprived the craftsmen of their source of income,” he said.

The craftsmen said the Forest Conservation Act of 1980 dealt a severe blow to their occupation as it prohibited them from going to forests for collecting bamboo. “Now, we have to obtain a permit to collect Ringal from the forests and even then only a meagre quantity of bamboo can be extracted, thus making it difficult for us to make a living,” said Harak Ram, a resident of Bhauri Gara village in Munsiyari subdivision.

“We have to spend two days in Kalamuni forests to collect raw material and bring it home. Only two or three bamboo baskets can be made in a day and that fetches only Rs 50 a basket. The craftsmen are thus deprived of even minimum wages,” said Harak Ram.

The craftsmen are now willing to leave the occupation as they cannot their livelihood from it. “Twelve the 75 families in the bamboo goods industry have left the occupation and more are willing to leave. Due to the negligent attitude of successive governments in the state, the Ringal craftsmen have not got enough support to carry on with the occupation. The fall in demand of bamboo goods have made it difficult for these craftsmen to support their families,” said Gopal Ram, a craftsman from the Malla Bhainskot area of Munsiyari subdivision of the district.

Nepal help to be sought to nab wildlife smugglers
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, February 23
Help from forest officials of Nepal will be taken in nabbing wildlife smugglers who are operating from inside Nepal at the Indo-Nepal border, Pithoragarh Divisional Officer DTG Sambandham said here today. “We have talked with the forest officer of Dharchula district of Nepal recently and we will hold talks on the issue in the first week of March,” said the DFO.

This statement of the DFO came after a team of special task force of UP last night raided the premises of some suspected wildlife smugglers in Dharchula at Indo-Nepal border in this district and tried to link the incident of seizure of tiger skins in Najibabad in UP last week. “The team came to raid the premises after four leopard skins were also seized from Pithoragarh two days ago,” said the DFO.

According to the sources, the joint teams of UP STF and wildlife crime control bureau found new linkages of the wildlife smugglers on the side of Nepal and Tibet.

Vice-chairman of State Forest and Wildlife Advisory Council Anil Baluni said that the Forest Department was contemplating to send a letter to CBI in this connection to help the state in nabbing the wildlife smugglers operating inside the state and near its international borders. “We have identified the smugglers who are sitting on Indian side or neighboring Nepal and operating for the traders sitting in Tibet, as the use of bones and skins of tigers and leopards is practised in Tibetan system of medicine and ceremonies ,where the Tibetans dress in tiger skins,” said Anil Baluni.

“We can check the wildlife smuggling from UP and Uttarakhand only if we could control the operational routes of the trade from the state borders,” added Baluni. 

Science exhibition on school campus
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 23
The students of Children’s Academy organised a science exhibition on the school campus here today. The exhibition was inaugurated by Dr J B Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Navodya Vidhyalaya (retd). A large number of children from other schools and their parents visited the exhibition and appreciated the endeavors of the students and teachers of the Children’s Academy.

The science models, depicting rainwater harvesting system, reflect action, irrigation in agricultural fields, battery-run cycles and other related inventive creations drew attention of the visitors. The junior students also displayed charts made by them on nutritional diet.

Khanduri to meet Power Minister today
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 23
Uttarakhand Chief Minister BC Khanduri will meet Union Minister for Power Sushil Kumar Shinde on tomorrow to discuss the pending issues of transfer of assets and liabilities against investment made by erstwhile Uttar Pradesh and 25 per cent equity of UP in the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) to the successor state Uttarakhand.

By virtue of Section 47(3) of the UP Reorganisation Act, 2000, Uttarakhand has a legal and equitable claim on the 25 per cent equity at present held by UP in the THDC, according to a press note issued by the state government.  

Shooting competition at RIMC concludes 
Tribune News service

Dehradun , February 23
The three-day shooting competition at Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) concluded here today. The overall trophy was won by Pratap section. Shooting in RIMC had a modest beginning in 2001. From that time onwards, RIMC has produced eminent shooters like Cadet Anshul Bansal, who won a silver medallist in pre-nationals conducted at Agra. Cadet Ashish Tiwari also bagged a silver medal in the nationals and received the Chief Of Army Staff Commendation Card.

The shooting competition was held in two categories:.22 rifle prone and .177 air rifle. A total of 40 shooters took part in the competition this year.

The following were the results in .22 rifle prone: Gold - Cadet Chetan Kumar (195/300); silver - Cadet Anil Verma (194/300); bronze - Cadet Ligang Kobing(192/300).

Most upcoming shooter - Cadet Shivakant (102/300).

In the .177 air rifle: Gold - Cadet Rajat Tripathi (287/400); silver - Cadet Mani Shankar Raj(285/400); bronze - Cadet Md. Salman (284/400).

Most upcoming shooter - Cadet Mridul Rawat.

The overall section positions were as follows: 1st- Pratap(1826) and Ranjit(1824); 3rd - Shivaji(1789);

4th - Chandragupta(1603).

According to the scores, Pratap section was awarded the trophy.

An exhibition match was also held in which Cadet Ravi Pathak got the best shooter in air pistol and Cadet Gourav Kumar got the best shooter in air rifle. The chief guest for the occasion was Brig Gyanodya, who is presently commanding the Garhi Brigade in Dehradun. In his speech, he praised the efforts of the cadets and complimented the high standard of shooting. He wished the cadets to excel further in future.

Col Pankaj Kumaria, Commandant, RIMC, thanked the chief guest for spending his valuable time with the cadets and encouraging them.  

Fines imposed on traders for cheating consumers
Tribune News Service

Nainital, February 23
Surprise checks by the personnel of the Department of Weights and Measures in the vegetable market of Mangalpadav area of Haldwani have led to revelation of large-scale irregularities.

It has been found that a large number of retail traders had not procured the weighing scales and weights issued by the department and had been using the faulty ones, thus cheating the consumers on a large scale.

On Wednesday afternoon, when the checks were carried out by the personnel of the department, the vegetable sellers scrambled for cover. However, the officials went ahead with imposition of fines on those found to be indulging in the wrong practice.

The sellers organised themselves and went on to create a scene at the official premises of the department. They demanded that the fines imposed on them be withdrawn and appropriate weights and weighing

scales be allocated to them against the routine payment for the same.

They said that the department was trying to harass the vegetable sellers.

The officials of the department have made it clear that there would be no withdrawal of the fines and the law would take its course in the matter. It was related that the department had been receiving regular complaints of irregaularity in weighing by the vegetable sellers over the last several weeks.

The officials have stated that similar checks would be carried out in other markets of the town over the next few days

4 snake charmers held
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 23
The Dehradun Forest authorities, in assistance with volunteers of the Endangered Flora and Fauna on Earth Conservation Team (EFFECT), today arrested four snake charmers from the Asharodi area of Dehradun forest division and seized two small civets and two mongooses from their possession.

On interrogation, it was revealed that while one snake charmer was residing in Sapera Basti Mothrowala, the rest of the three were residing in Rispana Sapera Basti, Dehradun. The four admitted poaching of the civets and mongooses from the Asharodi forest area.

Forest Department sources revealed that the role of these snake charmers in other acts of poaching in the region cannot be ruled out.