UERC rejects corp plea to buy 3,000 MW power
Seema Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun May 14
The demand of Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL ) submitted to the Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission (UERC) for the purchase of 3000 MW of power for the next five years has been rejected by the commission.

Sources in Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission said the UPCL in it's Annual Revenue Report did not mention requirement of this much electricity.

Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited also could not justify the need for this massive power purchase in the proposal. However, this turndown is considered as a big shock for Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited.

Insiders said if Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited went ahead and made the power purchase without taking any prior approval from Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission, it will have to face a lot of problems while putting up its report before the commission next year while justifying it's claim for further increase in power tariff.

Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited has made some power purchase for this year up to the month of July.

This includes 175 MW for Rs 1.5 crore for the month of May. Out of this, the corporation has bought 100 MW from Sri Cement, 50 MW from GMR and 25 MW from PTC group at Rs 3.80/ unit. For the month of June, contracts for the purchase for 125 MW have been sighned with GMR for 75 MW and 50 MW from Sri Cement for Rs 1 crore.

For the month of July, power of 100 MW from TATA, 50 MW from Sri Cement and 50 MW from GMR has been purchased.

In the month of August and September, the department will return 50 MW in each month to the other states from whom it had taken power through banking.

Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited is hoping to have a smooth power generation in the months of monsoons, whereby it will be able to sell power to the prospective buyers in the months of July, August and September.

It will get back this power with additional 5 per cent in the months of October, November and December.

Elephant scare in Haridwar, Rishikesh areas
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, May 14
Incidents of elephants intruding into agriculture fields, highways and areas of Haridwar and Rishikesh are still being reported regularly.

With the summer about to peak, elephants are moving towards water sources falling in residential areas. Besides rural areas, the elephants have reportedly intruded into urban areas in Haridwar and Rishikesh, thus creating panic among the people. Those living in the vicinity of Rajaji National Park and the Shivalik forest terrain are living in fear. Though the forest and park authorities have geared up, as elephants are a protected animal they have to adopt a balanced approach by taking steps to avoid human-animal conflicts.

Several precautionary measures are being adopted to check the incidents of elephants straying into residential areas and into the Dehradun-Rishikesh highway corridor. Medicinal lotion is being applied on trees uprooted by elephants in the highly vulnerable Saath Modh area. This lotion lessens the level of aggressive hormones in elephants.

Besides sampling of the secretion of elephants is being done by scientists to know the sudden violent changes in their behaviour that the people of Haridwar and Rishikesh have to bear in the past few weeks.

Signboards warning local people and tourists to be beware of wild elephant have also been put up in the Dhalanwala-Saath Modh area. The Forest Department has formed special patrolling units for this vulnerable stretch. The footprints of the jumbos are also being studied to understand their whereabouts and main route.

Forest Ranger MS Negi says more information about the activities of violent elephants is being collected and monitored. He acknowledges that human interference in traditional zones of elephants is one of the major reasons for the animal intrusion into their areas.

Meanwhile, the fear of wild elephants has also engulfed the Swargashram area falling in Pauri Garhwal district. The Swargashram area that falls in the Gohri range is abuzz with pilgrims and tourists nowadays. It is facing the threat of elephants intrusion, forcing local people to remain indoors.

Local residents have taken up the matter with the Rajaji park range officials, who have increased vigil around the area from where such incidents are being reported.

A forest employee said routine vigil by park guards had been increased in the affected areas too. The Taxi Sumo Union, has urged the forest authorities to take adequate steps to check the movement of elephants on the Rishikesh-Dehradun road that is affecting their business and causing danger to their lives.

Convener of the union Madanmohan Sharma said the incidents of wild elephants killing and intimidating people traveling in taxis need to be checked. He demanded a long term solution to the problem to ensure safety of drivers and passengers on the national highway.

Meanwhile, in Haridwar several areas like Jagjeetpur, Missirpur, Katarpur, Panjan Hedi, Pathri and Tibdi are facing the brunt of elephants’ movement. Elephants are ravaging crops, destroying walls and intimidating local people and forest guards when they try to shoo them away.

In the Jagjeetpur area, villagers and students of four schools falling on the highway have reported sighting elephants regularly. The movement of the tuskers has raised security concern among the parents and the school managements as a large number of students travel on this route in three-wheelers and auto-rickshaws.

As a result, the authorities of DAV Centenary School and Shiv Dale School are taking precautionary measures, particularly in the morning.

Divisional forest officials say the department has alerted its employees and have urged local people to inform them about the elephant movement in the area.

Silent march by special BTC trained teachers
Tribune News Service

Teachers take out a silent procession in Dehradun on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Vinod Pundir

Dehradun, May 14
Intensifying their stir, the special BTC trained teachers again took out a silent march in the city to draw the attention of the government towards the plight of two teachers who had yesterday received injuries during the lathi charge by the police.

The special BTC teachers marched through the city carrying placards, condemning the police action.

“Both Ramesh and Umesh were were seriously injured during the lathi charge, but the government has not come forward to hold talks with us,” said Harshita Sharma, president of the district of the Special BTC teachers' Association.

The trained teachers have also started a sit-in near Hindi Bhavan and will continue to hold marches to press for their demand of permanent jobs in schools.

Green march on June 5
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 14
To build awareness about the need to possess an environment development indicator, a green march will be held under the aegis of the Himalayan Unity Movement (HUM), a save Himalaya drive, on June 5, Environment Day.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, Dr Anil Kumar Joshi of HUM said the green march would be led by students of different schools of Dehradun. “The march will be led by the students as we want the next generation to raise consciousness among the public about the need to preserve the environment. We need to protect our forests, our land and our environment and what better than to involve the younger generation to lead the movement,” said Joshi.

Joshi, who is also the patron of the Himalayan Environment Studies Conservation Organisation (HESCO), has been advocating the need to focus on making an indicator that does not present bland figures about the economic progress of the country but tries to map progress by assessing the quality of air, trees and water.

Along with the schools, various non-government organisations are also expected to participate in the march.

100 forest fires reported in state this year so far
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 14
As many as 100 incidents of forest fire have been reported in the state this year so far. With the summer month of June still to come, the occurrence of more such incidents cannot be ruled out.

Besides reserve forests, protected wildlife areas and non-forest areas have also been affected in the forest fires.

The first incident was reported from the western circle of the Forest Department on April 5, when a total of four forest fires took place in the Terai east forest division.

The western circle is the worst affected this season. Half of the incidents this year have taken place in this circle only. Eight fire incidents were reported on April 20, six on May 1 and 11 on May 2.

The Corbett Tiger Reserve and the Rajaji National Park have also started witnessing forest fires. Fourteen incidents have taken place in the Corbett so far. Six fire incidents were reported in the Kalagarh range of Corbett on May 10 and five in the Bijrani and Sarpudali ranges on April 17.

The latest incident in Corbett was reported in the Sonawadi range on May 13.

Four incidents have also been reported from the Rajaji National Park. Two incidents were reported in the Kansro range on May 10 and two in the Haridwar range on April 15. Shivalik and north Kumaon circles of the department have also witnessed minor forest fire incidents.

Uttarakhand Chief Conservator of Forests KS Samant said officials had been promptly responding to such incidents. He said the department had made all necessary arrangements and was constantly working to raise awareness among rural people to check forest fires. “As part of an awareness drive, seminars comprising participants from Mahila Mangal Dals, Van Panchayats and other village-level public representatives are also being convened in villages falling in the periphery of forests, as they are among the first to encounter a forest fire and can play an important role in checking such incidents,” said Samant. According to a survey, 2,826 hectares were destroyed in the state in the last year’s forest fires.

Govt employees found absent across Kumaon
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, May 14
The district authorities yesterday conducted surprise checking at government offices across the Kumaon region on the orders of the Chief Secretary and found a large number of employees absent from duty.

According to information received from various district headquarters, it was decided to call explanation from the absent employees as to why their one day’s salary should be not deducted for their absence without sanctioned leave. “We have issued orders for the deduction of one-day salary against 98 employees who were found absent during the checking at various offices in the district headquarters and its sub-divisional offices in various towns,” said Nidhi Mani Tripathi, District Magistrate, Nainital.

Besides 98 employees found absent in Nainital district, 183 were absent at various sub-divisional offices of Udham Singh Nagar district. “We have sent a report about the absentees to the District Magistrate concerned,” said Richa Singh, Tehsildar, Sitarganj.

“All employees posted at the office of the District Horticulture Officer in Pithoragarh were found absent when the inspection team reached there at 11 am yesterday. More than 12 employees were found abstain at other offices in the district. Workers were also found absent at the offices of BDO, Executive Engineer (Irrigation), the District Hospital and the District Industries Office. A report has been sent to the District Magistrate for further action,” said Anil Shukla, SDM, Munsiyari, who headed the inspection team.

In Almora, District Magistrate Akshat Gupta found at least 10 employees absent from duty. The situation was serious at the Women’s Hospital where six employees handling important jobs were found abstain. “We have sent a report carrying the names of absent workers to the higher authorities for further action,” said Gupta. 

Doon DM deducts pay of absentees
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 14
District Magistrate BVRC Purushottam has deducted a week’s salary of employees found absent from duty in their respective departments.

Purushottam said all officials and employees must reach their offices in time, so that the benefits of welfare schemes and policies could reach to the public.

He had directed officials to carry out surprise inspections in government departments. During inspection, ADM Harak Singh Rawat found 35 employees of the Power Department absent from duty, two in Employment Exchange whereas ADM (Finance) Jharna Kamthan found 25 employees absent from duty in Vikas Bhavan and the Social Welfare Department.

The SDM, Sadar, found six employees absent in the Regional Transport Office, 8 in the District Supply Office, five in the Block Development Office (BDO), Raipur, one in the BDO in Vikasnagar, three in the child development office, five in Tehsil, Chakrata, eight in Doiwala and three in the BDO, Chakrata.

Protest against BSP MP’s remarks on ‘Vande Matram’
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, May 14
Activists of Rashtriya Hindu Manch today staged a protest against Bahujan Samaj Party's parliamentarian Shafikur Rehman for offending national song “Vande Matram”.

Rashtriya Hindu Manch activists condemned Rahman's remarks on “Vande Matram”, terming them as derogatory and uncalled for.

A protest was also organised by the activists in which Shafikur's effigy was burnt at Khanna Nagar Colony.

Mukesh Bhardwaj, district chief of the Rashtriya Hindu Manch, sought an apology from MP Rahman and questioned his patriotism towards India. He said “Vande Matram” was the national song of India for more than 66 years and it was sung by every Indian, instilling a feeling of nationalism.

But Rahman’s derogatory remarks about “Vande Matram” had hurt the feelings of billions of Indians.

Tarun Bansal, district executive member,demanded stern action from parliamentary board and also from Bahujan Samaj Party against Shafikur Rehman’s indecent remarks on the national song.

Bansal said that such an action from a parliamentarian had not gone down well with the people and could fuel communal riots, too, in the country, for which Rahman was only to be blamed.

Our group right in using UKD’s name, says Airy
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, May 14
Senior leader of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) Kashi Singh Airy has said his group is fully authorised to use the name of the party for the convention to be held on May 19 and 20. His group was the genuine UKD as most of district presidents of the party were with him, he added.

“Those who want us not to use the name of the UKD have not passed any resolution in the meeting of the real executive committee of the party before opposing the convention in a letter written to the Election Commission. Thus, their contention is bogus,” said Airy while talking to this correspondent here today.

Airy said the UKD was not the personal property of anybody and thousands of people of the state had struggled to form this party. “It is childish for anyone to stake claim on its name like patent,” said the UKD patron.

“The entire executive committee and district bodies are with us. We are holding the general body meeting in Dehradun on their support. Whatever mooted or passed at the general body meeting on May 19 will be final for the UKD,” said Airy.

Airy is mulling to start a contact campaign to reach out to the common people to mobilise them for the general body meeting to be organized by his group 
on May 19. 

Post offices to provide several facilities to consumers
Tribune News Service

Anand Shrivastav, Chief Managing Director, Beam, explains the e-commerce facilities at a press conference in Dehradun on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Vinod Pundir

Dehradun, May 14
Twentynine major post offices across Uttarakhand will now be providing services like mobile, data card and DTH recharges, utility payments, rail, air and bus tickets and cinema tickets bookings and e-commerce facilities.

Addressing a press conference in Dehradun today, Director, Postal Services Uttarakand, Sanjay Singh, said the Postal Department had entered into a tie-up with private entrepreneur Beam to provide a cashless financial transaction system to the consumers through post offices.

''We feel that with our tie-up with Beam, we will give people a reason to visit their trusted post office for regular day-to-day transactions as well,'' Singh said.

He disclosed that Beam is currently providing services to 100 post offices across Tamil Nadu, including air ticketing services to the consumers.

The Postal Department in Uttarakhand has entered into a revenue sharing agreement with Beam for a period of one year.

He said the tie-up with Beam would be solely based on performance of the company.

Sharing his perspective on the tie-up with Indian Post, Anand Shrivastav, Chief Managing Director, Beam, said, '' Our tie-up with Indian Post is strategic. It brings together Beam's unique digital commerce and the vast distribution network of Indian Post to give customers the convenience of performing an ever-increasing range of transactions at their neighbourhood post office.

''Working closely with more than 50,000 partners across India, Beam today is successful in reaching more than 1.4 crore customers,'' Shrivastav added.sss

Yamunotri, Gangotri temples opened for yatra
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 14
The portals of the Yamunotri temple opened at 12 noon and those of the Gangotri at 2.20 in the day for the devotees yesterday after the winter hiatus.

As many as 2,500 devotees visited the shrines on the first day.

The officials present included the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police of Uttarakashi, Rajiv Swarup.

Deputy Inspector-General Amit Sinha inspected the arrangements for the pilgrimage.

He rewarded the employees deputed there in the extreme weather situation.

Sinha briefed the police force and directed it to conduct its duties with vigilance.

Directions were issued to repair the security railing. District police officials were instructed to maintain coordination with the officials of the departments concerned.

He also held a meeting with the office-bearers of the committees of both the temples and hoped that the yatra would be held smoothly.

Briefing media persons, Deputy Inspector-General Amit Sinha said he had deputed 10 sub-inspectors, 10 head constables, 100 constables, 25 women constables, 100 Home Guards personnel, 50 PRD jawans and two platoons of PAC on the police posts, tourists centres and disaster relief centres at Yamunotri and Gangotri. 

BSF battalion for Uttarakhand approved
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 14
Uttarakhand will soon have a Border Security Force (BSF) battalion for which the approval of the Central Government has been given.

A total of 20 acres of land for the battalion has been allocated at Bullewala village in the Doiwala block. More land will be identified and formalities completed soon.

Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna yesterday held a meeting with BSF officials at the Secretariat in Dehradun.

He said Uttarakhand was located strategically as it shared international 
borders with China and Nepal. He said the BSF battalion would strengthen security and boost development.

Further, 25 acres of land on the Doodhli Road have been earmarked for the training centre of the battalion.

This is forest land and a request has been sent to the Ministry of Environment and Forests for clearance.

The BSF officials have made a proposal that they would give training at the adventure sports academy at Tehri when it is set up. The CM approved the proposal.

Police officials reshuffled in state
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 14
The Uttarakhand Governement has reshuffled some police officials in the state.

DIG (Pauri Range) GN Goswami has been transferred as DIG (CID), Dehradun.

Pushkar Singh Sailal, who was DIG (CID), will take over Goswami’s position in Pauri.

Haldwani ASP Parmender Dobhal has been transferred as Deputy Commandant, IRB II, Haridwar. Amit Shrivastav, Deputy Commandant, IRB, Ramnagar, will take charge as ASP, Haldwani.