Kumaon reels under water shortage
Schemes yet to be implemented
Tribune News Service

Nainital, April 5
Several parts of the hilly terrain in Kumaon are reeling under water crisis. A large number of water schemes and handpumps lying dysfunctional have added to the woes of the common people, particularly those residing in the rural areas.

The worst affected districts with regard to water scarcity are Almora, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh.

According to sources areas like Paparseli, Kasar Devi, Khatyadi, Dhaula Devi, Danya, Bhainsiyacheena, Takula, Salt, Dwarahat and Bhikiyasain are facing major problems on account of the handpumps lying dysfunctional. People say that that there are around 200 handpumps in these areas that are not functioning and water continues to be a mirage for the people residing in such villages. The women in these villages are having a tough time fetching water from the natural sources where, too, the flow is reducing as the summers set in.

Officials of the Jal Sansthan say that efforts are on to get the handpumps repaired and the task would be completed soon. The district authorities had recently chalked out a blueprint to deal with the water scarcity in the district. As per the plan, arrangements are being put in place to supply water by tankers and even mules.

In case of Bageshwar, the worst affected areas continue to be Bangchyuri and Jethai villages. Reports appearing in the local media suggest that the people are being compelled to fetch drinking water from as far as 2.5 kilometres.

The villagers say that the Painsiya-Jethai-Bangchyuri water scheme has been lying shut for more than a year. The villagers had recently met the District Magistrate on the issue seeking its revival. At the same time they have also demanded an early completion of the Sary-Jethai scheme the proposal for which has been submitted under the Sextor Wide Area Approach (SWAP) scheme.

The people say that they have to make a beeline at the water sources right from four in the morning. They have pointed that they are unable to provide enough water to the domestic animals which is causing a lot of problems.

In Pithoragarh district, the district administration has set up a control room to address the water woes. New proposals have been sent to the state administration for upgrading the old schemes and starting new ones to meet the water requirements of the district.

Contingency measures to tackle crisis
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 5
With the summer season setting in, an acute water crisis has hit several parts of Uttarakhand forcing the Jal Sansthan to prepare contingency measures for 526 areas, where tankers may be pressed into service.

Of the 550 rural habitation with water schemes, at least 400 are crisis-prone. In the urban areas, 124 habitations are crisis-prone.

The Jal Sansthan has started the day-to-day monitoring of water supply and has not ruled out persisting local problems responsible for disrupting water in some areas even in April.

With the ever-increasing demand for water putting pressure on the existing water resources, a large number of areas in the state have already begun facing water shortage. Though a good rainfall last summer and better management efforts have considerably improved the availability of water, keeping in view the increasing demand for water, the Jal Sansthan has earmarked 30 areas in Tehri, Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Pauri, where water may be supplied through tankers.

In the Kumaon region, a total of 59 areas have been earmarked for the similar exercise. In 12 areas of Nainital and in 14 areas of Pithoragarh, tankers or mules may be pressed into service to supply water.

"Owing to limited recharge and an alarming decline in the watertable, particularly during the summer, several rural and urban areas face an acute water crisis. To tackle such a situation, we have made a contingency plan," said DD Dimri, Chief General Manager, Jal Sansthan.

The problem of inadequate water supply in areas that fall in the upper region can only be overcome through a sustainable urban water management. "There are areas in Dehradun that may be facing water shortage due to local problems. The digging work at times damages the existing pipes. This may temporarily disrupt water supply," said SK Gupta, Secretary (administration), Jal Sansthan.

suicide By student
YC, NSUI protest outside school
Had heated exchange of words with probe team of Education Department
Tribune News Service

Haldwani, April 5
The issue of a Class VII student resorting to suicide by shooting himself in Haldwani after he was failed in two subjects has raised several questions about the functioning of educational institutions in the region.

The foremost question being asked by every citizen is that how come the boy was failed in mathematics and sciences when the norms prevent the schools from doing so till they reach senior classes. The issue is also being probed by the Education Department and a preliminary report based on a probe carried out by a three-member team has been submitted to the office of the District Education Officer (DEO). Sources say that the role of the school has been found to be questionable.

It is being pointed out that the grading system that has been introduced under the Comprehensive Continuous Evaluation (CCE) pattern along with the Right to Education (RTE) prevents the schools from doing so.

The second question being raised is that why was Anupam failed and not sent for remedial classes and that too despite the fact that his attendance in the school had been more than 95 per cent.

The issue of the 13-year child shooting himself with a revolver belonging to his father after he had gone into depression once again underlines the need for parents and teachers to identify and treat the symptoms of stress that are visible. Psychiatrists point out that the children do show symptoms which are often ignored on account of the continuing race for outperforming each other.

Questions are also being raised on the conduct of parents. In this case, it is being pointed out that Anupam’s father Nand Kishore should not have kept a loaded revolver at home and that too within the easy reach of the child.

The incident has led to an outcry over the functioning of schools in the region. Aiming to politicise the issue, some Youth Congress members and activists of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) staged a protest outside the Doon Public School and had heated exchange of words with the probe team of the Education Department. The NSUI activists later clashed with some senior functionaries of the student’s union at MBPG College and their followers.

The police investigating the case has also pointed out to the need of parents spending more time with their wards and encouraging them to take up physical activities like games while weaning them away from television, internet and video games that are a highly individualistic exercise. The managements of other schools and the teaching fraternity of Haldwani have mourned the death of the boy.

UP to give Rs 1,000 cr to U'khand as pension arrears
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 5
Uttar Pradesh will give Rs 1,000 crore to Uttarakhand as part of pension arrears. Further, UP will also transfer 21 hectares of land on the Delhi-Haridwar National Highway 58.

This was agreed at a meeting between Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna and UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav held at Lucknow today. In a half-an hour meeting, the two decided to solve the long pending issue of pension arrears. It was agreed that UP would provide Rs 1000 crore to Uttarakhand as part of pension arrears. This payment will be done through instalments.

Both Chief Ministers also decided to transfer prisoners. While those of UP in Uttarakhand jails will be shifted to their state, similarly, the prisoners of Uttarakhand in UP too will be sent to the hill state. This will help family members of the prisoners who have to travel long distances to meet them.

Following the request of UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, it was decided that Uttarakhand will leave adequate water for the Ganga to ensure enough availability of water.

The meeting also decided to hold a Chief Secretary-level meeting to decide on other pending issues. It was also decided to hold a joint meeting of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi and work for a collective workplan for tourism development. 

Satpal meets CM over protest against VC
Tribune News Service

Dehradun April 5
Satpal Maharaj, Pauri Garhwal MP, updated Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna about the stir that had started at HNB Garhwal University, while students and the staff continued their strike demanding the dismissal of the varsity's Vice Chancellor from the post for his alleged involvement in the fraudulent process of administrative work.

Maharaj told Bahuguna that while he was on his tour to Garhwal, members of the Uttarakhand Vishwavidhyalaya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti shared their grievances with him and exhorted for his assistance in the issue.

According to Satpal Maharaj, "Bahuguna listened to the matter carefully and was of the positive opinion. He has invited protesters to come and discuss the issue with him for a conducive conclusion to their agitation."

The protesters have alleged the involvement of HNB Garhwal University's Vice Chancellor, Professor S K Singh in the fraudulent appointment against the vacant five posts of Assistant Registrars and Public Relation Officer, retrospective sessions of B.Ed. courses, forged marks sheets of a professor along with the irregularities in the admit cards and mark sheets of students.

Plea to set up astrology varsity
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, April 5
At the 13th All-India Astrologers' Convention, which commenced today at Kankhal, Haridwar, astrologers from from around the country mooted the demand for having a specialised astrology university in the country where authentic study of this age-old subject is imparted to the students.

Being held at Shri Maharshi Parashar Jyotish Research Centre, the two-day convention is witnessing astrologers from different states of the country as well as from host Uttarakhand.

Astrologers are dwelling upon the ways to make astrology closer to the people as well as add to it the scientific-arithmetic aspect as it is not a mere a guessing art but is derived from scriptures of Vedas.

Noted astrologer Pandit Vipin Kumar Parashar, in his address, put forth the demand of having a separate astrology university that caters to development of this art in India as well as globally. To this all the participating delegates agreed, and in view of delay in this process, decided to form a private astrology university in Haridwar only.

Pandit Parashar elaborated in detail about the three branches of astrology - Siddhanta (Indian astrology), Samhita (Mundane astrology) and Hora (predictive astrology).

He also predicted the various events that will be of importance politically,socially and nitty-gritties of the ongoing Hindu New Year (Vikram Samvat 2069).

Pandit Sumit Mishra, Sub Editor of renowned astrology annual book ‘Ganga Panchang’ pointed to the cheap publicity methods being used by many fake astrologers to gain personal mileage and earn money.

He said that this is doing harm to the astrologers who have laboured hard for years to gain this knowledge. This is also damaging the art of astrology more.

Various other veteran astrologers also condemned making of astrology a business or fooling people by creating pre-enacted television advertisements where talk is not of art of astrology but more of the charisma of the so-called astrologers, who portray themselves as key to all the problems.

The convention primarily dwelled on five topics namely - how will this year be for the whole country, impact of the sun on planet earth, why astrological methods fail sometimes, impact of celestial positions and how to draw common man closer to astrology so as to remove his problems and guide him towards religion, morality, work ethics and salvation.

On the sidelines of the convention, free ‘kundli’ analysis is being done by participating astrologers, drawing people in large numbers.

Tomorrow, on the concluding day, Vinod Giri Maharaj of Siddeshwar Temple, will launch a new edition of annual astrology book ‘Ganga Panchang,’ which is compiled by a team of renowned astrologers.

Among other renowned astrologers who are participating include Dr KPS Mudgil, Dr Vinayak, Dr Girija Shankar Shastri, Pt Rakesh Bandhu, Pt Diwakar, Dr Ram Bhagwan Malhotra, Krishan Kumar Ojha, Pt Vishnu Sharma and Shiv Kumar Sharda.

Rockman, Satyam Auto staff hold dharna
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 5
Along with 300 workers of Rockman Industries Limited (RIL), 200 regular workers of Satyam Auto Component Limited (SACL) also sat on dharna at Parade Ground today. Both these companies are subsidiaries of Hero Auto Group and are based at Haridwar.

Jitender Singh, worker of SACL, said they had been demanding a significant raise in their monthly salaries, which had been static at Rs 5,500 for the last four-and-a-half-years. He said they had a talk with the Additional Labour Commission and management in January but instead of working out any solution, the management hardened its stance and fired nine workers from service in that month. Sixteen more were suspended and 5 terminated on March 21 on intensifying their demand.

He said they met the District Magistrate, Dehradun, on March 30 and sat on dharna on April 1 but were pressurised to leave it midway after the administration enforced Section 144, which continues till date. They have also been prohibited to hold any dharna within 300 metres area around the factory premises at Haridwar. They wanted to hold a rally up to the secretariat but the police has threatened of imprisonment if they dared to do that.

Singh said besides raise in pay-scales, now they wanted those co-workers who had been either suspended or dismissed to be taken back in the company fold. Their salary of 8 days, which the management had deducted on their joining the all-India strike held on March 28 for one day, must also be paid back. He stressed that the management had been ruthless towards them, because of which instead of deducting their one-day salary, they deducted the workers' 8-day salary on joining one day strike called by labour unions throughout the country.

Jewellers’ agitation on
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 5
Seeking abolition of excise and custom duties, jewellers in Uttarakhand continued with their protests today.

Jewellers from all over Uttarakhand gathered at Dehradun and staged a maha rally. The rallyists criss- crossed over all prominent roads of Dehradun before culminating their rally at the district headquarters office.

The rallyists rented the air with anti-Union Finance Minister slogans. They alleged that imposition of excise and custom duties on jewellers was totally unacceptable and would be opposed tooth and nail.

Check cultivation, sale of narcotics: CS
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 5
State Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar has directed for effective measure to check unlawful cultivation and sale and purchase of narcotics in the state.

Presiding over a meeting of various District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police here today, Kumar directed for excellent coordination between the police, excise, revenue, forest, social welfare and other departments to ensure timely mutual exchange of information.

He held that the Uttarakhand Police Department would act as a nodal department and would coordinate with the Central Bureau of Narcotics to check the trafficking of banned substance.

As per the Narcotics Control Bureau statistics, a total of 428 acres of land in the state is under unlawful cultivation of narcotics. Chief Secretary said those farmers who were engaged in the cultivation of narcotics must be motivated to shun such agricultural practices and take to cultivation of other crops.

Uttarakhand Excise Commissioner SS Rawat, Uttarakhand Additional Director-General of Police, Anil Raturi, and Deputy Inspector-General of Police Deepam Seth were present at the meeting.

NGO's work on rural employment hailed
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 5
Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education’s Director General VK Bahuguna today visited Shyampur village to witness the activities of Bagwan Gramodhyog Samiti, an NGO working in the field of rural employment generation through self-help groups.

The office-bearers of the samiti briefed the team about the activities being carried out by the samiti in the villages. Dr Bahuguna appreciated the activities of the samiti and held that latest research findings of the ICFRE institutes should be used by such NGOs to promote the rural development in the villages.

Bahuguna took the opportunity to disclose that a scheme will be launched with the help of the samiti to promote self-employment generation activities such as mushroom farming, vermicompost, bakery and farming of Manduwa. He also held that the NGO should concentrate on income generation along with health improvement of the communities. 

Tibetan team on eco-study tour
Teachers, students visit Woodstock organic farm
Ajay Ramola

Mussoorie, April 5
A group of 22 Tibetan students and teachers from three institutions in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh visited Woodstock School organic farm in Mussoorie under the second leg of a10-day eco-study tour today.

The eco-study tour is jointly organised by Winterline Nature Trust and the Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) School in Selakui, Dehradun, which has provided more than half the participating students.

Under the programme the team spent a half-day at Woodstock School, well-known for its progressive eco-programmes.

The Tibetan students began their Woodstock visit with an in-depth interaction with KLEEN (keeping landour environment and ecology natural), an organisation that is involved with processing and segregating non-biodegradable waste in their recycling shed near Dhobi Ghat. Following that, the team moved on to the Woodstock School’s three-tier composting pits and the Turner Organic Farm.

The senior outdoor educator and a key leader of the school’s eco-initiatives at Woodstock, Darab Nagarwalla, educated the students about the turner organic farm and how it has grown since it's inception a couple of years back. He also said that the organic fertiliser produced here is used in the gardens of the school, thus ensuring the effective use of the recycled waste produced in the school premises here.

Nagarwalla, speaking to The tribune, said: “It is always a pleasure to receive our Tibetan visitors, and particularly so since all the schools on this visit are aggressively moving from eco-theory to eco-practice. I myself visited Sambhota Tibetan School in Paonta Sahib and was delighted to see their eco-progress. We at Woodstock certainly do not claim to have a copyright on eco-knowledge and are

more than happy to share it with other students so that they also carry forward what they have learnt here”. The team will also visit Tehri Dam and other sites in the area before moving on to Rajaji

National Park and Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary, along with Jhillmil Jheel Conservation Reserve, the Gujjar resettlement village in Gaindikhatta and other spots of ecological significance.

Leopard intrudes into collectorate office
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, April 5
A leopard intruded into the district collectorate office in Roshanabad, 15 km from Haridwar, today, injuring a canteen employee.

The incident created panic among the local residents.

In the past few days, the movement of leopardshas been noticed in the region. Neeraj Kumar, the victim, sustained major head injury and is currently recuperating in a district medical hospital.

After more than five hours of an intense rescue operation, the leopard was tranquilised and later caged. It was done jointly by Forest Department officials and experts at Rajaji National park.

According to the information, they saw the movement of the leopard in the wee hours of the morning in the Roshanabad area, which is adjacent to Rajaji National Park.

It is believed that from this protected park area, the leopard would have lost his way, intruding into the residential area and then hiding in the canteen.

Neeraj got injured as the leopard tried to escape from the canteen room, which the injured employee tried to lock from the outside. It took more than an hour for the crackdown team to spot the leopard. When the animal was spotted, the door was closed with heavy furniture.

A wildlife expert team then tranquilised the leopard, putting him in a covered cage. It was then taken to a medical centre.

Sub-divisional Magistrate Harbeer Singh, whose residence is just a few km away from the spot, said the administration would be holding talks with the forest administration to make sure that intrusion of wild animals in the residential area is controlled.

Later in the evening, the leopard was left in the Rajaji National Park by the park authorities. Tibdi forest range officer Mahendra Singh Negi said vigil had been increased in the residential areas falling in the vicinity of the park boundary. 

Mining on Gaula rivered ends

Haldwani, April 5
Mining operations on the Gaula riverbed came to an end today as the permission, granted by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, was over. The ministry had granted the permission for quarrying to be done till April 7 but since April 6 and 7 are government holidays, it was decided by the authorities to bring the operations to an end on Thursday.

Quarrying had been carried out from 11 gates on the Gaula riverbed and officials say that the quantitative target set for mining of material has been achieved.

Commercial mining aimed at sending mined material to the stone crushers had ceased on Wednesday while those with rights permit were allowed to carry out operations on Thursday. As many as 6,215 vehicles were involved in transportation of the mined material from the Gaula riverbed to the various destinations.

However, transporters have expressed resentment over mining being allowed only for three days in April. They say that they have had to incur heavy losses as they have paid the taxes for the entire month apart from getting fitness certificates for their vehicles. Mining operations had been carried out for the last five and a half months on the river bed. Thousands of families earn their livelihood from the mining operations on the Gaula riverbed. — TNS

Kabir Bedi, Ajitabh in Nainital
Tribune News Service

Nainital, April 5
A reunion of former students of the 1961 batch of Sherwood College was held here today.

Many eminent personalities, including filmstar Kabir Bedi and Ajitabh Bachchan, younger brother of Amitabh Bachchan along with others arrived here.

Talking to mediapersons, Kabir Bedi and Ajitabh bachchan recalled their student days in the prestigious college.

“It is a memorable event to catch up with old school friends and emotions could not be described in words," commented Kabir Bedi. Many events have been lined up in the school in the two-day reunion event.

Sarla Behn remembered
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, April 5
The 112th birth anniversary of Katherine Mary, Mahatma Gandhi’s British disciple and better known as Sarla Behn in the state, was celebrated today as Vishva Bandhu Divas. Congress MLA from the Pithoragarh seat Mayukh Singh Mahar was the chief guest on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, Mahar said the people of the hill state needed to follow Sarla Behn’s teaching as she was the first social worker who empathised with the grievances of the hill people, especially the hill women. “The state needs to follow the ideals of Sarla Behn as her creative works have paved the way for the future planners,” said the chief guest.

Katherine, who was born to rich parents in England in 1901, came to India in 1932 and became a disciple of Mahatma Gandhi, who gave her the name Sarla Behn. After remaining with Gandhi for eight years, Sarla Behn started a campaign to empower women and save the environment at Sewagram. She reached Kumaon in 1941 and later established an ashram to empower the hill women at Kausani in Bageshwar district. “She helped freedom fighters during the freedom struggle and was jailed by the British, “said Sharada Bidushi, a disciple of Sarla Behn and organiser of the programme.

Sarla Behn, who later settled at Dharamghar near Berinag in Pithoragarh district, has written 22 books on the topics of environment, women empowerment and conservation of forests.