Iceland expresses concern over military presence in Himalayas
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 1
Iceland has expressed concern over heavy military presence in the Himalayan region and stressed on broader dialogue among Himalayan nations.

Addressing the fourth Third Pole Environment Workshop at the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, today, Iceland's President Dr Olafur Ragnar Grimsson expressed concern over the heavy military presence in the Himalayan region asserting that it was detrimental to the region environs.

Equating the present situation to the one prevalent in the Artic during cold war days involving the Soviet Union and the United States, Dr Olafur Ragnar Grimsson said in 1983, due to cold war, a large military presence in the Artic had affected the environment of the region.

He said Iceland had then appealed to then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi seeking her role in diffusing the heightening tensions. "Subsequently, with an end of the cold war era, the military confrontation scenario came to an end in the Artic transforming it into a constructive cooperation", he said.

The Iceland President suggested for a broad dialogue among Himalayan countries. "We need to have a broad dialogue in the Himalayas so as to ensure a better cooperation among the Himalayan countries", Grimsson said.

He also held that Iceland was a friend of India and was even cooperating with China.

Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences S Jaipal Reddy asserted that climate change on the earth was a global issue while the causes of climate change could be subject of debate.

He also referred to the PM National Programme on climate change emphasising on a long-term strategy to mitigate its adverse effects. He said Himalayan glaciers ensured permanent flow in Asian rivers and stressed on conserving this glaciers.

Earlier, Department of Science and Technology Union Government Secretary T Ramasami welcomed the participants. He disclosed that the Third Pole Environment Programme had been set up in 2008 to address the implications and strategies for adaptation and sustainability faced by the inhabitations of the third police region that includes the Himalaya Tibetan Plateau. He said the region covered over 1,00,000 square kilometre of glaciers.

Anil K Gupta Director, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, also spoke in the inaugural session.

CM: Balance must between development, conservation
Will ask Centre to declare Rajaji as tiger reserve
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 1
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna stressed on the need for keeping a balance between development and environment conservation in Uttarakhand.

Addressing a function held at Dhikala in Corbett National Park to mark the 40th anniversary of Project Tiger today, Bahuguna said that villagers living around the national park would be involved in the works of conservation.

He said that he would also urge the Central Government to declare Rajaji National park as a tiger reserve. He announced that the Kotri and Dugadda forest areas of Lansdowne forest division would be a part of the buffer zone of Corbett.

Uttarakhand Health Minister Surendra Singh Negi said local villages need to be linked to Project Tiger. He stressed for promoting Corbett tourism also from Pauri district. Parliamentary Secretary, Forests and Environment, Hemash Karkwal, too, emphasised on creating job opportunities for the local villages through eco tourism. Jaspur MLA Shailendra Mohan Singhal sought setting up of a research centre for promoting environment and wildlife conservation works.

National Tiger Conservation Authority's member secretary Rajesh Gopal referred to the achievements of Project Tiger. He reminded that the at the start of Project Tiger in 1973, there were a total of 9 tiger reserves in the country, which today stands increased to 42 tiger reserves. He disclosed that India has the highest number of tigers among tiger range countries in the world.

Gopal said Corbett was known for high tiger density. He disclosed that a Tiger Conservation Plan will be formulated for Corbett so as to check tiger poaching activities in the region.

Uttarakhand Principal Chief Conservator of Forests RBS Rawat, Principal Secretary (Forests) S.Ramaswamy, Corbett Director Ranjan Mishra, senior Uttarakhand forest officers Rajiv Bhartari and DVS Khati and Wildlife Conservationist AS Negi were prominent present on the occasion.

Leopard kills woman
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 1
A man-eating leopard created terror in the Garhwal region as within a week, the leopard has claimed another life. This time leopard killed a women in Barsu village of the Ekeshwar Developmental block in Pauri Garhwal. The body of the woman was recovered by villagers later.

According to tehsildar Vishram Singh, Pankhi Devi (45) was cooking food in her kitchen late evening on Sunday when the leopard entered the kitchen and lifted Pankhi Devi by throat and dragged her to a nearby forest.

Her shouts were heard by villagers who followed the leopard.

The leopard fled but by then the woman died due to grievous injuries on her neck.

Forest officials were informed and they too rushed to Barasu.

This is the second incident of man-eating leopard's strike. On March 27, a 6-year-old girl who was playing in the courtyard of her house in Baghyani village was attacked by a leopard and took her away. The half-eaten body of the girl was later found by the villagers.

Gram Pradhan of Barasu Dhanpat Singh has requested the Forest Department to set up cages to catch the leopard. 

CM announces scholarships for children of Van Gujjars
Provides pension for those above 60
Assures the community protection of interests
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 1
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna today announced scholarships for children of Van Gujjars, besides providing pensions to elderly Van Gujjars, who are above the age of 60.

Addressing a gathering of Van Gujjars on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Project Tiger at the Pakhro Forest Rest House near Kotdwar in Pauri district, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna assured to protect the interests of Van Gujjars.

He also handed over to the Van Gujjars a copy of the order which says that no Van Gujjar would be troubled or harassed in the state. The order also held that 181 Gujjar families of Sonanadi Sanctuary in the Corbett region would be rehabilitated in the Chidiyapur range of Haridwar Forest Division. He asserted wherever the Van Gujjars would be rehabilitated, they would be given all facilities.

Bahuguna said the Van Gujjars had played an important role in conservation of forests and wildlife in the state and looking after their welfare and development was a priority with the government. The CM said that UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was also of strong view that the Van Gujjars should be given all possible facilities and support.

The CM said significant progress had been made by Project Tiger. He also went to Morghatti, Dhikala and Sonanai Sanctuary and spoke to Corbett officials regarding the Van Gujjars.

Uttarakhand Health Minister Surendra Singh Negi said Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna was the first Chief Minister of the state to reach out to the Van Gujjars and work towards redressing the long-standing problems.

Negi said Van Gujjar community today faces several challenges with the issue of rehabilitation from outside protected areas being of primary importance. He said it was unfortunate that even in the modern day world, Van Gujjars are devoid of basic amenities. He asserted that Van Gujjars had an important role in protecting forests.

Honorary Wildlife Warden Corbett present Brijendra Singh asserted that Van Gujjar community needs to be given proper rehabilitation. He also suggested linking Van Gujjars with Special Task Force.

Principal Secretary (Forests) S. Ramaswamy, State Wildlife board member Prerna Bindra, Bharat Singh Rawat and District Magistrate Chandresh Kumar and a large number of conservationists were present on the occasion. Chief Wildlife Warden SS Sharma coordinated the proceedings. 

MDDA allots shops on Dispensary Road to traders occupying outlets illegally
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 1
Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) officials today allotted one shop each to 13 shopkeepers who had their shops in a narrow lane in between shopping complexes on Dispensary Road and Tehsil Crossing. These shopkeepers had shops on Nazul land for several decades. As per the direction of the state government, they were allotted 13 shops on the second floor of the shopping complex on Dispensary Road.

Each shop is uniform in size of 10 sq metre. These shopkeepers who were illegally occupying these shops are happy to get new ones free of cost. However, it has been made clear to them that those who had shops of lesser area will have to pay the cost of extra land in the new shopping complex. A shopkeeper said: “We have no issues with MDDA over allotment. We have been given new shops in the plush multi-storey shopping complexes in lieu of old and worn-out shops. What else could we have asked for?” Another said they never hoped for justice in this matter as they were few and had little land in comparison to 80 shopkeepers on the Dispensary Road area, who are also being rehabilitated.

He thanked the state government for considering their genuine case.

After this gallery portion got razed, the area between

the shopping complex and tehsil premises will become obstruction free.

However, the matter over demolition of 80 shops on Dispensary Road has now been put off till the civic polls come to an end in the city. In a day or two, the model code of conduct is going to be enforced in the state. Keeping in view the polls, MDDA has postponed the demolition process on Dispensary Road. The allotment of shops in the shopping complex was completed three days ago. Under this, 66 shopkeepers have been accommodated on the ground floor and 14 on the first floor. Those shopkeepers who have their shops on the ground floor on Dispensary Road created a hue and cry on getting shops on the first floor in the new building, but since the allotment was done through lottery, they could not blame MDDA for lack of transparency. Vice-Chairman and secretary, MDDA, silenced them by referring to Government Order, whereby they had to adhere to the allotment done through lottery.

According to the plan, these shops were to be dismantled in a couple of days, but keeping the model of conduct into consideration, the matter has been put in cold storage, but only for a month. Till that time, MDDA officials are hoping the construction work to get completed in the new shopping complex. The shopkeepers would also get time to do the interior work as per their requirements. The demolition process in Adat Bazaar is going on in full swing.

Poachers killed 60 elephants, 95 tigers in 15 years
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, April 1
Poachers killed 60 elephants, most of them tuskers, 51 leopards and 95 tigers in the Jim Corbett Tigers Reserve region in the last 15 years, sources in the park said.

They said three elephants, including one tusker, had been killed in the tiger reserve area this year while two poachers had been arrested. The two elephants died due to electrocution and pneumonia.

“We arrested two smugglers and recovered a haul of ivory worth Rs 4 lakh in the international market yesterday, while the search for the kingpin of the gang and another accomplice was on,” said JP Singh, SDO of the Terai western forest division, Kashipur.

Most of the deaths of elephants occurred during the period 2008-9 when 11 elephants fell to poachers or were killed in accidents due to encroachment in their habitation. “We are mostly concerned about the deaths of tigers and leopards but do not care about the loss of elephants,” said JP Singh. 

Road to Gangotri shrine in a dilapidated condition
Ajay Ramola

Mussoorie, April 1
The Nagun-Bhavan-Uttarkashi road leading to the Gangotri shrine is in a dilapidated condition due to the negligence of the Public Works Department (PWD), thus belying the tall claims of the government regarding preparedness for the char dham yatra.

The road is full of potholes and has not been repaired, thus endangering the lives of the commuters. The PWD is relaying the road on a 3-km stretch starting from the Almas bend. The road had given way at several places allegedly due to the use of substandard material. The dilapidated road posed a threat to the lives of the commuters plying between Uttarkashi to Dehradun.

Local residents and tourists also resent the poor condition of the road. They say the road is important for the char dham pilgrims but has not been repaired due to the lackadaisical approach of the PWD.

It is worth mentioning that around Rs 12.80 crore was sanctioned by the BC Khanduri government in 2008 for this road but nothing was done. MLA, Dhanaulti, Mahveer Singh Rangad said the road was important not only for the char dham pilgrims but also acts as an important link to several villages of the surrounding area. However, it had not been repaired despite repeated reminders.

He added around Rs 18.62 crore had been sanctioned for the widening and maintenance of the road but the PWD was sleeping over the matter.

Executive Engineer, PWD, RK Jain said technical bids for the remaining work had been invited and the work on the road would begin soon. He added that the re-carpeting of the road was in progress and it would be completed within 15 days.

Mystery shrouds engineer’s death

Mussoorie, April 1
An electrical engineer of a private company was found dead under mysterious circumstances in his rented accommodation at the Glen Gown estate, near Library Bazaar, here today. The deceased has been identified as Deepak Mohapatro (26) of Odisha.

The body has been sent for post-mortem. According to the police, Deepak had been living in a rented house in the Glen Gown estate. He did not report for duty today, following which his colleagues reached his room and found it locked from inside. They knocked at the door repeatedly, but after getting no response, they broke open the door and found his body half naked with his legs charred. A chair in the room was also found half burnt. They reported the matter to the police. — OC

Delhi tourist falls into pit, injured
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, April 1
A tourist from Delhi was severely injured when he fell into a pit while he was watching the view of the Doon valley near a hotel in Mussoorie.

The tourist suffered severe head injuries and was rescued by local residents who rushed him to nearby government hospital where is undergoing treatment for his injuries.

According to the police, tourist from Delhi Krishan Kumar, 47, who was here with his family, was watching the panoramic view of the Doon valley near a hotel on the Mall Road. Krishan Kumar fell into an open pit, while trying to avoid a bus coming from the front. He received serious injuries on head and other parts of the body. An ambulance was called and he was rushed to the hospital where he is undergoing treatment.

Residents, blaming various executing agencies for leaving the pit open, said the Mall Road had been dug up on several places and the pits were left unattended due to which such incidents in the town were on the rise. MC officials said they would fill up the pits within 24 hours to avoid such incidents in near future.

Nine cops transferred

Dehradun, April 1
Transfer of nine DSP-rank officers was made effective from today. They have been transferred to different districts against the vacant posts of DSP. Inspector, Intelligence, at Pauri Garhwal Jagdish Chand Yadav has been transferred to Dehradun.

Deputy Commandant, 40th PAC Battalion, Haridwar, Harish Chander Sati has been transferred to Dehradun. Jaya Baloni, posted in the PHQ, has been retained in Dehradun. Deputy Commandant, India Reserve-II Battalion at Haridwar, Bachan Singh Rana has been transferred to Nainital. Mithilesh Kumar Singh, DSP, has transferred from Uttarkashi to Nainital. Deputy Commandant, 40th PAC Battalion, Haridwar, Mahender Singh Rawat has been shifted to Uttarkashi.

DSP, Pauri, Manoj Kumar Katyal has been sent to Haridwar. Chander Lal Titliyal, who was with the CID, Haldwani, has been moved to Pauri. Ramesh Chand Joshi has been transferred from Tehri to Udham Singh Nagar on his request.— TNS

Officials told to release financial approvals of schemes
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 1
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna today directed senior officials of various departments to release financial approvals of the district and state-levels and Centrally-funded schemes for all departments by April 15.

He said a Rs 25,329.84-crore budget had been passed for 2013-14.In this budget, adequate money had been provided for public welfare schemes. He said a plan of action for implementing them was also in place.

He directed senior government officials to ensure all administrative and financial approvals were given in time, so that the benefits of the schemes could reach the people.

Very few furnish details about arms licences despite govt order
District Magistrate admits laxity
Seema Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 1
The district administration which had fixed deadline of February 28 for those who possessed licensed arms in the district to provide detailed information about their licences to the district administration under Arms License Act, 1962, Section 54, has comfortably forgotten about it.

Only 2,500 out of a total 23,000 such licence holders have furnished the required details till date. The threat of cancelling the licence by district administration has not worked at all.

When District Magistrate BVRC Purushottam was asked about it, he admitted laxity on the part of district administration in the matter and said:''The district administration has given enough long rope to the arms licence holders in the district. It is only when we would actually cancel the licence of some that they would move and do the needful in this regard."

BVRC Purushottam said he would await the time line of the model code of conduct in the wake of civic polls to get over to take any action in this regard.

''I have seen people do not come forward easily on mere directions passed on any order unless harsh action is taken against the offenders. In case of polythene ban, too, when the district administration started imposing the heavy penalty and issuing challans, they fell into line. Some kind of penalties would be issued on the arms licence holders who failed to comply with the given order.''

The lack of information about the gun/revolver owners in the city on the part of district administration shows how ill- prepared the officials are in this grave matter. It has become easy for people to get licences for the arms in the city by using influence of some higher-ups. Many incidents where people were arrested for brandishing weapons or using them in committing crimes have come to light. The SSP, too, had given a statement in the past about reviewing the arms licences given to people. No sincere steps were taken.

The district administration took this task quite lightly in the beginning itself. Initially, it was given to Additional District Magistrate Harak Singh Rawat. Then it was passed over to Joint Magistrate but none could take forward the matter.

Now the matter has again been handed over to Harak Singh Rawat, who said he would ensure that the issue would be taken to its logical end.