Parliamentary panel reviews measures to save environment
Ajay Ramola

Mussoorie, July 5
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests on a five-day inspection visit reached Mussoorie today to assess the measures being adopted to safeguard environment and minimise pollution levels in the state.

The chairman of the committee, Dr T Rami Reddy, along with other members on the panel held a meeting with the state government officials at Jaypee Residency Manor Hotel here. He showed dissatisfaction at the increase in the pollution level in the Ganga and the use of polythene bags by tourists in hill towns like Mussoorie. He sought information on measures being adopted to control the pollution levels in the state.

The committee also sought information on the status of the municipal solid waste management project and was unhappy with the delay in installing the sewage treatment plants in local municipalities of the state.

State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) member secretary and Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Jairaj apprised the committee about the measures taken by the board to safeguard environment in the state. He told the visiting team that in order to keep the Ganga clean the SPCB was monitoring its water quality at around 22 locations. The monitoring points would be increased to 52 in the near future. The SPCB was also regularly monitoring the water quality at Rishikesh and Haridwar.

Jairaj said the water quality at Rishikesh and near Har-Ki-Pauri was found to be within limits of the prescribed standards for bathing. Downstream of Haridwar at Missarpur the total coli form was found to be exceeding the prescribed limits, thus indicative of untreated sewage disposal into the river.

Reddy also sought explanation regarding the delay in enforcing the solid waste management plan in the state. Jairaj said the Municipal Council of Rishikesh had applied for the authorisation for the current year and it was under consideration while compliance for introducing the door-to-door collection of municipal solid waste (MSW) as prescribed was still awaited.

He added the SPCB had issued notices to 21 urban local bodies, including in towns like Haridwar, Nand Prayag, Srinagar, Kedarnath and Karnprayag, for violating the MSW rules that was affecting the Ganga directly.

Later speaking to mediapersons, Reddy said they discussed with the state government officials the work being done to safeguard environment in the state.

He added the committee was concerned at the increase in the pollution level in the Ganga due to a high inflow of tourists and pilgrims. Therefore, the state pollution board had been directed to take the matter seriously.

Speaking about the dispute over hydroelectric projects on the Ganga, Reddy said as coal and gas resources were depleting in the country, hydropower was a viable alternative. However, a balance was required in developing such projects and environment. Dr Anup Kumar (MP), Abdul Kumar, Ravi Narayan Mohpatra, Mansukva Bhai D Baswa, Dr Ranjan Prasad Yadav, Dr Vasan Mukherjee, Dr Om Vir and others were also present on the occasion.

Haridwar still awaits monsoon showers
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, July 5
While other parts of Garhwal division are having heavy rain, Haridwar is still waiting for the monsoon rains to lash the region to give respite from the simmering summer aided by high humidity levels.

This despite the Met Department forecasting rain in the past few days and local people even resorting to prayers by performing ‘yagna-hawan.’ Dark clouds hovered over the city but there was no rainfall.

Local residents and tourists could also be seen moving towards Rishikesh-Dehradun belt to get some respite from the scorching heat and have a shower of the natural rain water.

At Raiwala, Motichur and Shyampur, dozens of vehicles of people and pilgrims and tourists coming to Haridwar could be seen to enjoy the initial monsoons.

Though agriculture fields are not benefiting due to delay in the rainy season, Ganga canal is ensuring more than sufficient water flow for irrigation purposes.

Chila power house situated in Yamkeshwar block of Pauri Garhwal district, just 7 km from Haridwar, is producing power round the clock, owing to heavy inflow of water in the Ganga canal due to heavy rain in the upper reaches of Garhwal hills.

Akhil Bharatiya Yuva Teerth Purohit chief Ujjwal Pundit, who had a few days back performed yagna, to appease rain deity, said that the impact of their prayers was already being seen as dark clouds were spread out across the sky.

He added that if it got delayed, then another religious ritual will performed as it is a matter of concern that while all other parts of Garhwal are having monsoon rains, it is only in Haridwar district that dry spell is going on.

Local environmentalist Ritesh Joshi pointed out that as more than 14,000 trees have got cut to pave way for a four-lane highway in Haridwar, it's negative impact can be seen in the way the rain pattern is drastically getting changed in comparison to previous years during this very period.

Kanwar fair poses challenge for Rajaji park authorities
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 5
The Rajaji National Park authorities are facing tough time trying to keep man-animal conflict to a minimum and ensuring the wildlife conservation with the beginning of the Kanwar fair.

The Rajaji National Park, a major part of which falls in Haridwar district, is infamous for its man-animal conflict records.

The situation becomes more challenging during the Kanwar mela, as lakhs of people visit Haridwar, thus increasing the possibility of Kanwariyas coming into confrontation with Rajaji’s wildlife, often turning the situation alarming at times.

In an effort to minimise such confrontation, the Rajaji authorities have to be extra cautious during the Kanwar season. The authorities this year have already appointed youths from villages in close proximity of the park to man the areas where there is a possibility of such conflicts.

Further, as per normal practises during the Kanwar season, range officials at the park have been put on caution for the entire period and have been asked to be prepared to meet all exigencies.

The Rajaji officials also do not deny that many miscreants in the garb of Kanwariyas could even be carriers of wildlife contraband. According to Shravan Kumar, Deputy Director, Rajaji National Park, most of Kanwariyas who come from outside the state are not well informed about the Wildlife Act rules and thus often venture into the Rajaji park forest

Areas, intentionally or non-intentionally. “This can bring these Kanwariyas in conflict with the wildlife, particularly elephants and that’s why extra precaution is needed to deal with such situation”, he pointed out.

Kanwariyas generally have tendency to take rest along streams in forest areas and enter forests at least to attend the nature call.

Significantly, Kanwariyas, apart from taking main roads alongside forest areas of the park, also cross forest area, particular while visiting the Neelkant Shrine of Lord Shiva in the Rishikesh region.

An authority of the Rajaji National Park and wildlife conservationist, Dr AK Singh, said certainly the Kanwar season was the most challenging time for the park authorities. He asserted that it was certainly difficult to control the surging crowds of Kanwariyas, who pour in Haridwar and keep little respect for wildlife laws and rules. “The situation becomes alarming when a wild animal attacks a Kanwariya as it often leads to retaliatory action on the part of other Kanwariyas making innocent animal a bigger causality,” he observed.

Then there is also the problem of clothes and polythene left out by the Kanwariyas in the forest areas. This also causes pollution in the forest areas and needs to be curtailed. This can only be done by making Kanwariyas aware of the importance of forest conservation and the deployment of youths.

Security forces flag march in Sitarganj
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, July 5
Four companies of the ITBP along with contingents of the state police and a company of the PAC held a flag march in Sitarganj today as the security arrangements are being given a final touch in the assembly segment which is going to the polls on July 8, sources said.

According to SSP of Rudrapur NA Bharane, the district has received four companies of paramilitary force to be deployed at 18 highly sensitive and 22 sensitive polling booths of the assembly seat.

"We are deploying one company of the PAC in the areas bordering UP," said the SSP.

According to the SSP, the entire assembly has been divided into two zones and 12 sectors from the security point of view, the two zones are made at Sitarganj and Shaktifarm, respectively.

"We have deputed 12 police sector magistrates along with 12 sector magistrates who will remain mobile on the polling day," said the police officer.

"Forty polling booths will have special security arrangements, while the remaining 29 polling booths will have police guards with rifles," said the police officer.

According to the police sources, to strengthen the security arrangements during the poll, three police flying squads have also been arranged for Sitarganj, each flying squad consists of one magistrate, one police inspector and seven police constables. "These flying squads will keep an eye on the polling day and inform the police control room if any serious situation arises," said Bharane, the SSP.

State reels under power cuts
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 5
Various parts of the state reeled under power cuts and low voltage yesterday. According to an official press note of Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL), the rural areas of Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar faced power cuts up to 2.30 to 3 hours while in hill areas, Kashipur, Roorkie and Haldwani power cuts up to three hours were witnessed. Sitarganj facing byelection, however, was little fortunate with only one hour cut while steel industries faced the maximum 4.30 hours power cut lasting from 7.30 pm till midnight.

A day before too power cuts were imposed throughout the state. The availability of power remained at 31.30 million units (MU). Though the demand for electricity decreased from 34 MU to 32.89 MU, power cuts could not be avoided on Tuesday owing to the gap between demand and supply.  

Woman jumps before train, dead

Dehradun, July 5
Pushpa Devi, a mentally challenged woman (35) and resident of Bhandari Bagh, committed suicide by jumping before a speeding train at Nehru Colony on Tuesday night.

Her husband Mahender Singh, who is a sub-inspector with the Excise Department at Roorkie, told the police that Devi used to threaten many times to commit suicide.

On the fateful day, she again threatened him after which he too said she could go ahead. She went to railway lines near Nehru Colony and jumped before Amritsar Express and died on the spot. Later, when she did not return home, he enquired from police stations and hence got to know of the incident. — TNS

Cong, BJP bring in stalwarts, film stars to campaign in Sitarganj
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 5
On the penultimate day of the election campaigning for Sitarganj byelection, the BJP campaigning had film star and Rajya Sabha member Hema Malini and BJP stalwarts from Uttarakhand, throwing their might behind BJP candidate Prakash Pant.

While Hema Malini managed to attract a decent crowd for Pant, she managed to hold only one election rally in Sitarganj against the two rallies planned for her earlier. “Her helicopter was denied permission to land; as a result she was not able to hold the first rally, but her second rally was quite successful,” said Mukesh Mahindra, BJP spokesperson.

Amidst high voltage campaigning by film star Hema Malini, former chief ministers and Uttarakhand BJP stalwarts B.C Khanduri, B.S Koshiyari and Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, too, spoke against the ills plaguing the Bahuguna government during at their election meetings.

Both Khanduri and Koshiyari held small meetings in Sitarganj and they are expected to return tomorrow.

Ramesh Pokhriyal made his first appearance in Sitarganj and flayed the Bhauguna government for reversing several decisions taken by the BJP government. “The Congress government's tenure has so far been focused on tainting the track record of BJP. The Bahughuna government has been complaining about empty coffers and holding the BJP government responsible, but it has so far failed to explain to the people why the concessional industrial package was withdrawn in 2010. The withdrawal of the package had driven several companies out of Uttarakhand,” said Nishank at a rally.

On the other hand, film star and Lok Sabha member from the Congress Raj Babbar was a perfect foil to Hema Malini as he managed to strike an instant rapport with the people of Sitarganj.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Harish Rawat too canvassed for him at a rally along with Uttarakhand Agriculture Minister Harak Singh Rawat. 

RTE benefits elude orphans, special kids
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 5
Strict rules and low awareness about the Right to Education Act provisions for free admissions to orphans under the 25 per cent quota are preventing a large number of orphan and physically challenged children in Uttarakhand from seeking admission in private schools.

In the last academic session, only 44 orphan children got admission to private unaided schools in Uttarakhand while only 53 physically challenged children got admission to these schools.

Though the Uttarakhand Government is compensating private schools for admission of children under the 25 per cent quota, the orphan children are unable to produce documents.

“The Act mandates parents’ income certificate, caste certificate etc. How are orphan children going to get these unless there are school associations and organisations willing to support these children who want to take the benefits of good education. Besides, most orphans do not know that they too are eligible for free admission in the Act,” said Gajender Nautiyal of Sri Bhuvneshwari Mahila Ashram, an NGO.

Equally, the lottery system under which 25 per cent of the seats for children are allocated seem to be loaded against physically challenged children.

“Certain percentage of seats for the physically challenged children should be allocated separately so that they are not left out. As of now, whoever's name is picked in a school’s admission lottery, whether he/she is an OBC, an SC, an ST or physically challenged, will get a seat there,” said Aditi Kaur of the Mountain Children’s Foundation (MCF).

Significantly, while private schools in Udham Singh Nagar, Haridwar and Dehradun continue to lead in giving admissions to children under the 25 per cent quota, Bageshwar district continues to be far behind.

For compensating private schools for the admission of children under the 25 per cent quota (RTE Act), the expenditure has been calculated at Rs 1,383 per child per month to be given to schools for reserving 25 per cent of the seats for disadvantaged and physically challenged children.

Besides, Rs 1,715 per child for 235 days is being given to the children for buying uniform, textbooks and midday meals. In 2011-2012, 4,021 children belonging to the SC category, 682 to the ST category and 2,203 to the OBC category, 53 physcially challenged, 44 orphans, 114 children of widows and 67 children of handicapped parents managed to get admission.

MLA complains against BJP leaders
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, July 5
Lalit Farswan, Congress MLA from the Kapkot Assembly seat in Bageshwar district, has lodged a complaint with the Haldwani police against some BJP youth leaders who not only misbehaved with him but also beat up one of his associates while they were travelling from Lamachaur to Kathgharia in Haldwani yesterday.

“I have lodged a complaint against some youths who claimed to be BJP officer-bearers in Haldwani. They overtook my vehicle when I was travelling in it and when asked to give way they stopped their vehicle, came out of it and misbehaved with me and my staff,” said Farswan.

The Congress MLA said the youths repeatedly obstructed his way and they seemed to be doing it deliberately and in a pre-planned manner.

Ranjit Dasila, who was travelling with me, suffered injuries after he was beaten up by the youths. I have lodged an FIR with the Haldwani police, he said.

Law College alumnus honoured
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 5
Law College, Dehradun, today felicitated Anita Kumari Gangwar, an ex-student of the college and now a Civil Judge (junior division) in Uttarakhand. Chairman, Law College, Dehradun, Jitendra Joshi said Anita Kumari Gangwar had brought honour for the college. He said he was hopeful that the students at Law College would follow in the footsteps of Anita. He reminded that Law College was providing the best of faculty and other facilities to its students.

Principal Rajesh Bahuguna said the college apart from academics also gave guidance on civil services and PCS (J) examinations. He said the college had given six civil judges to the country.

College coordinator Dr Punam Rawat said Anita was a hardworking girl. “Anita has amply shown that hardwork finally pays at last”, Dr Rawat pointed out.

Anita expressed gratitude to teachers for the success. She said the excellent education which she received from Law College proved to be of an immense help while cracking PCS (J) examinations of the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission. A large number of Law College students were present. 

Doon Hospital to have project head, medical officer

Dehradun, July 5
For implementing the action on birth defects programme in Doon Hospital, the management committee has given a go-ahead for the appointment of a project head and a medical officer, who will be entrusted with the task of implementing the programme.

The project head will receive a salary of Rs 60,000 per month to be allocated under the National Rural Health Mission and the medical officer be appointed at a salary of Rs 25, 000 per month by the Directorate General, Health and Family Welfare.

“Under the programme, Rs 10 lakh has been sanctioned for setting up a separate ward for thalassaemic patients and other patients with birth defects. An immunossary system for conducting biochemical tests will also be procured by Director General, Health and Family Welfare,” said Dr BC Pathak, Principal Superintendent, Doon Hospital.

The patients will have the facilities of HPLC screening ie automated screening of newborns for sickle cell anaemia and other haemoglobinopathies, G6PD screening and TSH examination. — TNS

Punjabis' body backs CM
Tribune News Service

Dehradun July 5
President of the Uttarakhand Punjabi Sangathan Devender Singh Sethi appealed to voters to cast their mandate at Sitarganj byelection in favour of Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna.

He said the Congress had been a party which always worked for the welfare of the minorities and gave them due representation. He said the Congress constituted the Social Welfare Board, the Wakf Board, the Haj Committee and the State Minority Commission in the state.