Benog Mountain Quail Sanctuary
Villagers resent eco-sensitive zone proposal
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, January 30
Opposition to the decision of the state government to carve out an eco-sensitive zone around the Benog Mountain Quail Sanctuary spread across 1,082 acres within the municipal limits of Mussoorie is gaining momentum.

The affected residents of around more than 12 villages falling under the proposed eco-sensitive zone gathered at Kempty village, near Mussoorie, under the banner of the Benog Sanctuary Hatao Sangarsh Samiti and held a dharna today. The state government has taken the decision regarding the zone in accordance with the guidelines of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest. Shopkeepers downed shutters in support of the protest.

Residents of Kanda Jakh, Kempty, Bhadraj and other villages said the eco-sensitive zone around the Benog sanctuary would spell a death knell for them as all development activities, including the construction of much-needed roads for the villages, could come to halt.

The president of the Benog Sanctuary Hatao Sangarsh Samiti, Rajesh Nautiyal, said once the zone is carved out the villagers would become permanently dependant on forest officials.

A former president of the Municipal Council, Mussoorie, Manmohan Singh Mall, also reached the dharna site and extended support to the protesters. He assured them that the Principal Secretary, Forest, had given his verbal consent that populated areas, including villages, would be kept out of the ambit of the eco-sensitive zone.

It is worth mentioning that the Central government has directed the state government to declare as eco-sensitive zone about a 10-km area around the sanctuary. However, officials of the Benog sanctuary considering the local geographical condition have proposed an eco-sensitive zone of around 2 km here.

The villagers warned the state government that if their demands were not met they would hold protests regularly. Jaipal Rana, Raipal Singh, Rekha Dangwal, Mahipal Sawan, Kishan Singh Panwar and others were also present.

Road dug for laying water pipes yet to be repaired; BJP councillors hold protest
Tribune News Service

Dehradun January 30
BJP councillors held a dharna outside the Mukhya Nagar Adhikari (MNA) office here today demanding repair of roads in the city that were dug under a project of Asian Development Bank (ADB). MNA Ashok Kumar said he had not got any written order from the state government for the repair of roads dug under the ADB project.

Councillor Amita Singh said the roads dug to lay water and sewerage pipelines under the ADB project were yet to be repaired at many places. ADB representatives and the state government had put the onus on the PWD and the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) to repair these roads but they were not doing their duty, thus putting the public to inconvenience.

Councillor Govind Mohan said accidents were happening on these roads every day but DMC officials were not bothered. The councillors are under pressure as the DMC board elections are due in the next couple of months.

Mayor Vinod Chamoli said the state government only gave a verbal reference about the PWD and the DMC undertaking the repair of these roads but did not issue any written order. Unless it received a written order, the DMC could not undertake repair work on its own.

Ashok Kumar said the ADB fund meant for road repair would be given to the PWD and the DMC for those roads which came under their respective domain. But this has to be done in writing for the DMC to start the repair work. He also gave the second option saying the DMC could begin the repair work on its own and later claim expenditure provided the state government first approves the proposal.

Gangolihat upgraded as nagar panchayat, Champawat nagar palika
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, January 30
The state government announced the upgrading of Gangolihat as nagar panchayat and Champawat as nagar palika parishad on Republic Day. Leaders belonging to various political parties have started lobbying for the chairmanship of the civic body as Champawat town has been upgraded as nagar palika parishad, said Dinesh Pandey, a social worker and journalist in Champawat town.

According to residents of Gangolihat, hectic political activity has begun in the town as the Gangolihat gram panchayat has been given the status of nagar panchayat. “Besides the present town of subdivision headquarters, seven adjoining panchayats have been incorporated into the new urban body of the town,” said Bhagwan Ballabh Pant, a BJP leader.

Pant said people from all walks of life, including political leaders and social workers, had started lobbying for the post of the first chairman of the nagar panchayat. “It will be historic achievement for anyone to become the first chairman of the Gangolihat nagar panchayat created by the government after a long struggle by the local people,” said Pant.

Besides the upgrading of Champawat and Gangolihat to towns, Rudrapur and Kashipur towns have also been given the status of nagar nigam after reducing the existing population standard for a nigam from 1.25 lakh to 1 lakh.

“In Bageshwar district, nine new gram panchayats have been added to the present 397, raising the number of panchayats in the district to 46. Four new panchayats have been added to the Bageshwar and Kapkot blocks while the Garur block has got one more gram panchayat,” said AP Singh, District Panchayati Raj Officer.

Pitroda for rapid development in health sector
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 30
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovation Sam Pitroda has stressed the need for rapid development in the field of health. Speaking as the chief guest at the 2nd convocation of the Himalayan Institute of the Hospital Trust University here today, Pitroda said, "Technical advancement in the health sector is the need of the hour. The health sector need IT-like development in the country. I would like to request the new entrants of medical courses to take up their field as a mission and consider it a social service."

Pitroda gave an example about the amazing growth of the telecom sector in India. "The telecom revolution in India began some two-three decades ago. In the old times, a consumer had to wait for many years for getting a telephone connection, but the scene is totally different. Now telephone is need of every home in the country," he said.

Earlier, the convocation began with the lighting of the traditional lamp. As many as 247 students received degrees.

Prof SK Singh, Vice-Chancellor, HNB Garhwal University, was the guest of honour. He highlighted the need of advancement in the health facilities in the hills. "The scene can change only when we can work with dedication to meet the challenge of providing high-class medical facilities in the remote parts of Uttarakhand," said Prof SK Singh.

Vice-Chancellor, HIHT, Dr Vijay Dhasmana delivered the welcome address.

PFA seeks Corbett park Director’s resignation
Jotirmay Thapliyal/TNS

Dehradun, January 30
The People for Animals (PFA) Uttarakhand has sought the resignation of Director of the Jim Corbett National Park Ranjan Mishra after the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) confirmed that the animal skin recovered from a camping site of poachers in the core zone of the Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve on May 24, 2012, was that of a female tiger.

The PFA from day one had been asserting that the animal skin recovered from the camping site of poachers in the Corbett Tiger Reserve was that of a tiger. However, the Corbett authorities had repeatedly denied it. Significantly, the state wildlife authorities had been in the denial mode ever since the PFA alleged that poachers were active in the Corbett parks and they had repeatedly targeting tigers in the recent times.

Gauri Maulekhi, member secretary of the PFA, referred to the sequence of events and said the skin recovered was that of a tiger. “Initially this recovery was not even documented and then repeatedly denied that the skin was that of a tiger. However, upon our insistence the Corbett park Director, Ranjan Mishra, had to send the skin sample to the WII for a DNA analysis on June 2, 2012. The sample was analysed and a report was sent to Mishra on July 3, 2012. But the contents of the report were not revealed and thus no case for poaching was registered by the Corbett park authorities. What is most shocking is that the Chief Wildlife Warden, Uttarakhand, too claimed ignorance of the report,” Maulekhi said.

He sought Mishra’s immediate removal from the post of Field Director, Corbett Tiger Reserve, saying it had been proved that he (Mishra) was a threat not only to the sanctity and security of the park but also to the image of the Forest Department.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Wildlife Warden SS Sharma refuted the charge that the state wildlife authorities wanted to hide the WII findings. He said he himself had been waiting for the report anxiously, a copy of which he received a couple of days back.

Sharma initially tried to put the blame on the Corbett park authorities for the delay but later defended them saying the latter was awaiting the second DNA report from a Hyderabad laboratory. This led to delay in revealing the contents of the WII report, he added.

Housing facilities likely for doctors
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 30
To make hill posting attractive for government doctors, the Department of Health and Family Welfare is contemplating providing housing facilities for doctors in selected towns of the state.

A total of Rs 250 crore has been earmarked for the construction of houses at Ram Nagar, Haldwani, Haridwar, Kotdwar, Vikas Nagar and Dehradun.

There has been a dearth of houses for government doctors who have to make to do with rented accommodation.

"The accommodation facilities near the hospitals are very important as doctors can attend to emergency cases with ease. We are planning to build houses and temporary accommodation in distant places so that doctors do not face problem of accommodation," said SS Negi, Health Minister.

As of now, limited accommodation facilities exist for doctors even in Dehradun.

Sixth economic census to focus on rural enterprises
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 30
For the first time the focus of the sixth economic census under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, to begun from February 15 in Dehradun, will also be on gathering data on rural enterprises, for which a separate form (form 6c) has been assigned.

While the census would be gathering entrepreneurial data of all economic enterprises, for the first time ever, the focus will be on enterprises employing as less as eight people, and this will even include handicraft activities and small-time vending activities.

“A separate form will be used for enumerators to gather data on these activities, which would give interesting data. The artisan communities are making a huge contribution to the economy and their activities need to be mapped. In fact rural enterprises continue to sustain several households in the villages,” said Getanjali Sharma, Economic Statistics Officer, Dehradun.

RTI activists stage dharna
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 30
In protest against the rules and regulations framed by the Uttarakhand Government to put curbs on the Right to Information Act, activists staged a peaceful dharna outside Gandhi Park here today.

The members, led by Dr BP Maithaini, said several clauses in the rules and regulations were aimed at making the Act defunct and toothless.

He said they would continue to put pressure on the government to take back the rules and regulations. “These were framed without taking the activists and the people into confidence. The Act has so far helped in empowering the common man,” said Maithani.

Earlier, the activists also met government functionaries to hold talks on the issue, but without any visible success.

Atul Sharma’s book on childhood memories released
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 30
Atul Sharma, who has been credited with writing some 30 books, released another book in the series, “Wah Re Bachpan”, in the city yesterday. Senior BJP leader Ravinder Jugran, folk singer Narender Singh Negi and noted photographer Kamal Joshi were present on the occasion.

Sharma said his book contained childhood memories of many known as well as common people of the city. He added he always remembered his childhood incidents with fondness and felt that others also related to them like him.

He said his book was full of anecdotes depicting naughtiness, affection, innocence, intelligence and many other such streaks. He reflected upon the childhood the children had these days and said the childhood in his time was more playful than in the present times when children spent more time with hi-tech gadgets rather than with their friends in the open in fresh air.

Science, Tech Youth Festival from Feb 24
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 30
The Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST), Dehradun, will be organising the second state-level Science and Technology Youth Festival-2013 under the theme “Uttarakhand- A Modern Science State” from February 24 to 28 at the Department of Biotechnology, Kumaon University, Nainital.

According to Prashant Singh from UCOST, Dehradun, around 130 youth participants, including boys and girls from 13 districts of Uttarakhand, will attend the meet under the guidance of their respective district UCOST coordinators.

Different science and technology-based competitions and expert lectures, interactive and brain-storming sessions will be the integral part of this festival.

Prashant Singh disclosed that universities, colleges and institutes had been invited to send the nominations of two undergraduate and postgraduate students to their respective district UCOST coordinator from their head of the institution.