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Soon, state to get radar for cloudburst forecast
No hike in salaries of DPOs
Prior to CM's visit, Chief Secy reviews development works
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Yarsa Gumba can cure HIV, claims college professor
Villagers protest for roads in Kumaon region
ICFRE chief highlights initiatives in research planning
Members of Lions, Lioness Clubs resolve to work for uplift of poor
Harak leaves for Tokyo
MLA Umesh visits Raipur
Fruit saplings to be given to farmers
Paripurnanand’s birthday celebrated
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Soon, state to get radar for cloudburst forecast
He said the installing of X-band radars in the states of Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and north-east Himalayan states was being done under the IMD modernisation phase-II programme of the 12th Five-Year Plan. He said these radars would help identity the formation of large water-carrying clouds and would also indicate the direction of the movement of such clouds. Rathore said cloudburst forecast could be made at least 2 hours in advance, which could be of great benefit for the Himalayan states. He said for a state like Uttarakhand, where cloudburst and hailstorm were quite frequent, particularly during the monsoon, X-band radars kept
much importance. Rathore said the IMD was constantly working to enhance its skills to get more accurate forecast. He said the earlier forecast mechanism based on statistical mode had been shifted to numerical mode. He said climate change was fast in the Himalayan region than other parts of the country. He said more of research work needed to be done on climate change in the Himalayas, which, he said, could not be done without observation. Another participant, Prof J Shukla from George Mason University, Virginia, and a member of the International Advisory Panel on Climate Change said cloudbursts were certainly difficult to predict as the process of formation and movement in such clouds was a speedy affair. Referring to weather forecast in Uttarakhand, Prof Shukla said Indian weather forecast models were not good, particularly in respect to a small area like Uttarakhand. Kamal Puri from the Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research, Melbourne, said weather forecast in India was certainly difficult in the absence of the necessary data and the country having Himalayas in the north and an ocean in the south. |
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No hike in salaries of DPOs
Dehradun, November 20 So much so, extremely frustrated, around 50 DPOs have already quit the job, while others are already in search of greener pastures. Since the implementation of the Centrally-sponsored MGNREGS, the government is yet to raise the salaries of the DPOs. In other states the salaries of the DPOs have been hiked according to the norms but not so in Uttarakhand. "We feel awkward raising our personal demands but at present the salaries of MGNREGP DPOs is not enough to meet the daily expenses and requirements of our families, keeping in mind the high cost price of essential items, standard of living and difficult geographical conditions prevailing," said a DPO. The Deputy Programme Officers (DPOs) are entrusted with the responsibility of implementing the Centrally-funded Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme in different blocks of the state. The chief responsibility of the programme officers is to ensure that anyone who applies for work
gets employment within 15 days. "The consolidated pay structure of these employees was fixed taking into consideration the pay of the government servants prevailing at that time during the fifth pay commission with no provision for TA or DA. We had raised the matter during our meeting with the Uttarakhand Rural Development Minister, and he had conceded our demand but the agreement was never implemented," said a DPO. The DPOs say while salaries of even computer operators with NREGS have been revised, the DPOs have been deprived of the raise. "We are being singled out as some of us went to the court objecting to the re-recruitment drive launched through non- government organisation, though we were already recruited by the state government in 2008-2009," said a DPO. Things have come to such a pass that neither is there new recruitment so that vacancies against DPO posts who had quit could be filled, nor is there any chance that salaries of the DPOs would be raised. |
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Prior to CM's visit, Chief Secy reviews development works
Dehradun, November 20 He asked the officials concerned to expedite the utility of the budget allocated and directed the District Magistrates to set time frame for expediting the utility of funds. Jain said the utility of fund in time was essential to ensure that the people were benefited from development works. The Chief Secretary said the expenditures would be reviewed every month and officials found deficient in it would be stringently dealt with. He said engineers of the Peyjal Department should maintain coordination with gram pradhans and activate peyjal committees. He expressed dissatisfaction over officials not visiting villages and not keeping themselves updated with the ongoing development works. He asked the officials of the Peyjal Nigam and the Jal Sansthan to conduct on-the-spot inspections and ensure speedy works. He directed Irrigation Department officials to complete the beautification work of Baijnath Lake at Bageshwar. The Chief Secretary, reviewing the works of Pithoragarh district, asked the officials to expedite construction works of Base Hospital, the beautification of the Chandak area and the extension work of Naini Saini Airport. He told them to prepare an action plan of the para-gliding project. Reviewing the works of Champawat, Jain told the officials to complete treatment works of the Purnagiri temple hill and Tanakpur-Jouljivi Road. He directed the officials to start construction work of Kosi Barrage at Almora, spend fund of the district deposit limit and expedite Peyjal project works. Bahuguna will hold a review meeting of all districts on Wednesday. During the meeting, Principal Secretaries Rakesh Sharma, S Raju and S Ramaswami, Secretaries Vinod Fonia, SS Sandhu and Umakant Panwar, Commissioner Hemlata Dhaundiyal and Additional Secretary Arvind Hayanki review works of their respective departments and issue essential instructions to subordinate officers. |
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Negi: Accurate weather forecast must for state
Dehradun, November 20 Negi favoured more research in atmospheric sciences for better results. “Scientists are doing good work but more needs to done, particularly in case of Uttarakhand where incidents of cloudburst and landslide triggered by weather conditions are quite frequent,” he said. The minister said timely forecast would also save money spent on rescue and rehabilitation in the aftermath of such disasters. The minister also released “Climate of Dehradun”, a book by Dr Anand Sharma, Executive Director of the Dehradun Meteorological Centre. He also released a CD comprising of abstracts of research papers. Negi also honoured Dr TN Krishnamurthy and Dr Sikka with the Gabriel Walker Award on the occasion. Science and Technology Secretary RC Pathak said weather forecast was certainly a challenging task in a state like Uttarakhand. He, however, added that the scientists must also research on the traditional forecast system used by our elders. Pathak also released ‘Vayumandal’, journal of the India Meteorological Society. Dr Shailesh Nayak, Secretary of Ministry of Earth Sciences and president of the Indian Meteorological Society, said weather forecast was a difficult thing and called for constant efforts towards improving accuracy. He demanded strengthening of observatories and improving quality of upper air data. Dr LS Rathore, Director General, IMD, Dr Akhilesh Gupta, Secretary, UGC, and Dr PC Joshi were among those who addressed sessions on the first day of the seminar. Later Nayak also interacted with students of various schools to sensitise them about various burning scientific issues. Documentaries on Kalpana Chawla and Chandrayan-1 were also screened on the occasion. As many as 300 scientists are presenting papers in the seminar. The seminar is being organized jointly by the Indian Meteorological Society and the Uttarakhand Space Application Centre to encourage research and promote interest in mountain meteorology. |
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Yarsa Gumba can cure HIV, claims college professor
Pithoragarh, November 20 Siddiqi presented his research paper titled ‘Yarsa Gamba: Wonder drug sight against the AIDS’ at a national symposium on ‘Emerging Trends in Biological Sciences’ at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Aligarh Muslim University recently. Siddiqi said, “The compound of the element, dioxin nucleoside 2-3, which is present in the fungus, is able to finish the HIV virus in a human body and help it regain resistance by recovering blood particles. According to our research, if a patient takes 3 grams of Yarsa Gumba for 180 days continuously his body can develop resistance which he had lost due to the HIV virus.” He said, “Besides dioxin nucleoside, 108 other chemicals have been found in the drug, which is a mixture of a caterpillar and fungus and is mostly found at between 10,000 and 16,000 feet high Himalayan alpines. “The other main elements found in Yarsa Gumba are crude proteins, non-hormonal steroids, petty acids, vitamin E, B-1, B-2, B-12, besides 108 other chemicals,” he added. Siddiqui said these findings could be compiled after six years of research on the fungus which is known by different names in different countries in South Asia. “Some pharmaceutical companies have expressed their willingness to make medicines of caterpillar fungus, which is a precious drug available in the high Himalayan region,” he added. |
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Villagers protest for roads in Kumaon region
Pithoragarh, November 20 The villagers of Silingara valley of Thal area of Pithoragarh district today stopped vehicular traffic between Munsiyari and Didihat at Gochar, demanding construction of the proposed motor road from Napar to Murti village in the area. “The construction of the road, which began in 2003, has stopped at a rock, which the department concerned has not been able to crush for the last 7 years,” said Chandan Singh Mehta, organiser of the protest. The villagers left ended the protest only after an engineer from the construction agency assured them that the rock would be removed by March 31, 2013. “We have told the engineer that if the assurance is not made on paper in 15 days, we will résumé our agitation,” said Mehta. In Bhikiasain subdivision of Almora district, the villagers blocked the motor road to Almora for 7 hours, demanding filling of posts of teacher in Syaldey Degree College, making Deghat community health centre fully equipped and opening new trades in the local ITI. “The local people have been demanding these facilities for long, but neither the district administration officers nor the government has done anything to fulfil these demands,” said Radha Raman Upreti, block pramush of Bhikiasain block. As the vehicular traffic came to a halt, the tehsildar of Bhikiasain subdivision reached the spot to end the dharna. The villagers lifted the blockade after his assurances. “We have taken assurances from the tehsildar that action will soon be taken in connection with our demands by the district administration. If this did not happen, we will resume our agitation for a longer period the next time,” said the block pramukh. |
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Kashipur, Almora civic bodies lodge FIRs against UPCL
Dehradun, November 20 This was revealed at a meeting to review works chaired by Uttarakhand Urban Development Minister Pritam Singh Panwar at Vidhan Sabha here today. Panwar had in August directed the Executive Officers of the 16 civic bodies to lodge FIRs against the agency responsible for the developmental works. The UPCL has been found guilty of dereliction of duty and poor quality of works undertaken. The minister took serious note of the report of the third party monitoring committees regarding the progress and quality of the development works. Panwar also directed the officials concerned that the works on branch lines of sewers laid in Dehradun should be completed by December 2013. Annoyed at the delay in the execution of works by a private agency, Ms Konark Associates, the minister directed for re-tendering of the left out works. He directed the officials concerned to take care of commuters while digging trenches in roads. Radhika Jha, Secretary, Urban Development, said the laying of water supply lines would be completed by December 2012. The minister also directed the civic body officials that the works undertaken by them should be within the budget. For overspending the heads of the civic bodies and the executive officers would be held responsible. Panwar also called for initiating awareness campaigns to deter people from throwing garbage into rivers and other water bodies. He also announced to give awards to the civic bodies for good work. |
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ICFRE chief highlights initiatives in research planning
Dehradun, November 20 To improve the outcome of the research system in ICFRE, Bahuguna said ICFRE this year would put more focus on research projects that had been recasted to meet the aspirations of society, particularly livelihood and fringe forest poor people and tribals. Four research thrust areas with 35 themes had been identified for ICFRE research system. Further, two thrust areas, one for education and one for extension, encompassing four themes each had also been evolved. It was informed by Bahuguna that the ICFRE research system will tune it's research towards programme mode for optimally utilising the talent and services of the scientists with the available budget. He also released the mission document entitled “Changing Frontiers of Research Programme in ICFRE" based on XIII Research Policy Committee (RPC) 2012 meeting. The Research Policy Committee is the apex body in the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) system that prioritise the ICFRE-funded research projects of eight research institutes and four research centres of ICFRE, located in different geographical areas of the country. |
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Members of Lions, Lioness Clubs resolve to work for uplift of poor
Mussoorie, November 20 The chief guest on the occasion, MJF Lion LM
Jakhwal, and invited guest, MC president OP Uniyal inaugurated the function by lighting the ceremonial lamp. The Lions Club president, VP
Chaudhry, and Lioness Club president, Manju Jain, welcomed the guests on the occasion. The secretary of both clubs, Sunil Bakshi and Renu
Jain, respectively, read out the annual report and highlighted the achievements of the clubs on the
occasion. Anshul Mittal and Gaurav Vaish were inducted into the club on the occasion that was followed by a cake ceremony. The chief guest on the occasion, LM
Jakhwal, commended the efforts of the club and appealed to the members to proactively work towards helping the downtrodden and needy of the town. The secretary of the club, Sunil
Bakshi, said the club had undertaken in 39 social activities, which included tree plantation to arranging marriages for the poor and needy. He also said that the club members had pledged their support for further endeavours in the near future. The chief guest gave away mementos and awards to the members excelling in social activities. The function concluded with National Anthem. Usha
Chaudhry, Gaurav Garg, SK Arora and others were present on the occasion. |
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Sarvodaya Mandal backs Kunao villagers
Dehradun, November 20 Sarvodaya leaders PV Rajugopal, Suresh Bhai and Radha Bahan reached the site of dharna and pledged their support to the ongoing agitation of Kunao villagers. They said the fight for rights over land, water and forests could last long and needed struggle. Ranjit Rawat, Umaid Singh Payal, Dropadi Devi, Kamla Devi and Krishna Devi participated in
the dharna. |
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Harak leaves for Tokyo
A few years ago, Japanese had envisaged interest in the coarse grain, Mandwa, locally grown in Uttarakhand, which is said to have a high protein content for use as a baby food. However, Japanese standards could not be met. At that time, Uttarakhand had exported 10 tonnes of Mandwa. “We will be promoting wild apricot (chulu) and other locally grown foodgrains in Japan and also learn the methods adopted by Japanese in encouraging organic food,” said Rawat.
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MLA Umesh visits Raipur
Dehradun, November 20 Officials from the Uttarakhand Power Corporation, the Dehradun Municipal Corporation, the Peyjal Nigam and other departments accompanied MLA Umesh Sharma. According to Pankaj Chetri, media convener for Umesh Sharma, said the MLA will be on a visit to his constituency till December 23.
— TNS |
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Fruit saplings to be given to farmers
Dehradun, November 20 “We are in the initial stage of carrying out checks on the plants growing in 40 nurseries in Dehradun. The sprouted seeds and saplings have to be checked before they reach the farmer,” said Amar Singh, District Horticulture Officer. Spur, a popular apple variety, is commonly grown here. While Gala, Para Deluxe, Florida King, Florida Sun and Shahi Punjab varieties of pear are grown in Chakrata and Kalsi. For obtaining a good fruit size, plants need to be irrigated every week during the summer. Similarly, apricot too has become quite popular with the farmers in Chakrata and Kalsi. |
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Paripurnanand’s birthday celebrated
Dehradun, November 20 Janmanch’s general secretary Rajan Todariya said Paripurnanand Painuily had spent his entire life in simplicity He said the people of the state were suffering the most due to the “faulty” domicile policy of the state government. Industrialist Farooq Ahmed said the life of Paripurnanand Painuily was an inspiration for youngsters. CPI leader Surendra Singh Negi recalled charitable works being done by Paripurnanand Painuily for the betterment of society. |
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Dehradun, November
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Dehradun, November
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