No funds for storm drainage system in Doon
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 13
Paucity of funds is coming in the way of implementing the long-pending proposal of a storm drainage system in Dehradun. As a result, people have to bear the brunt of the heavy downpour that results in flooding of houses and roads.

With rains lashing the city for several hours today, those out on the streets had a tough time navigating through the water that flooded the streets. Neither the government nor other agencies have come to the rescue of the cash strapped Pey Jal Nigam and the storm drainage system continues to be in future tense. The Detail Project Report prepared by a New Delhi agency may now only be taken up under the phase II of JNNURM.

With no money allocated for this purpose in the ongoing JNNURM works under way in the city, the cash strapped Pey Jal Nigam’s only hope seems to be the second phase of JNNURM. .

“There is no money to implement the 550-km long drainage system. As it is we have been unable to make complete payment to the New Delhi-based agency that prepared the Detail Project Report (DPR). Only 30 per cent of the amount has been paid. The cost of the DPR has now gone up to Rs 462 crore,” said SC Pant, Executive Engineer Pey Jal Nigam.

Significantly, another monsoon season would go but not without heightening the discomfort of the residents of Dehradun, who were witness to the flood fury in 2010, which was caused mainly due to inundation of low-lying areas in the absence of proper discharge of rain water. Once the storm drainage system proposal is implemented in the city, the water-logged areas earmarked in the DPR comprising Sabzi Mandi in Majra, ISBT Turner Road, Rajeev Nagar, some parts of Prince Chowk, Darshan Lal Chowk Clock Tower, Ekta Vihar, Rajpur Road and Engineer enclave are expected to get relief.

Further, the residents say the covering of canals too has exacerbated the problem in the city, as the rain water used to fall into these canals that have now been long covered.

Slow enrolment hits Direct Benefit Transfer scheme
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 13
The slow progress in the enrolment of the people on the National Population Registrar (NPR) is affecting the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme that is being perceived as a game changer by the Congress-ruled states, including Uttarakhand.

With about 60 per cent of enrolment complete so far in six districts of Uttarakhand, the May 31 deadline to cover these districts under the DBT scheme has already passed. The Directorate of Census Operation (Uttarakhand) is hoping to complete the task by the end of 2013 while the complete coverage under the NPR of all districts may well extend to the middle of next year.

The enrolment process for the DBT scheme, which is an anti-poverty programme that aims at transferring subsidy money directly to the people living below poverty line is currently underway in Bageshwar, Tehri, Champawat, Rudraprayag, Dehradun and Haridwar districts. Its primary aim is to bring transparency and preclude pilferage during distribution of funds sponsored by the Central government. The DBT scheme targets all schemes being run by the Department of Rural Development, including the Indira Awas Yojana, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and those being run by the Department of Social Welfare and the LPG cash transfer.

The slow pace of enrolment can be gauged from the fact that the process in the selected hill districts is between 20 to 25 per cent complete. In Dehradun district, enrolment of people has been done in the Cantonment area and in seven or eight wards in the city so far.

Most of these districts were not fully covered during enrolment for the Unique Identification number undertaken by the Registrar General of India. “We faced non-availability of data but now we would use the data prepared during the house listing census. The enrolment process will be undertaken in three phases so that no one is left,” said SV Ukey, Deputy Director, Directorate Census Operation (Uttarakhand).

He said the aim of the NPR enrolment was to enrol every person from the age of five years and above and provide Indian citizenship cards to everyone who is 15 years of age and above. The NPR data is likely to be used for security purpose and also for opening of bank accounts and issuing passports. The NPR is using the Aadhar software to avoid duplication.

Behind schedule

• About 60 per cent of enrolment of the people on the National Population Registrar is complete so far in Bageshwar, Tehri, Champawat, Rudraprayag, Dehradun and Haridwar districts.
• The May 31 deadline to cover these districts under the Direct Benefit Transfer scheme has already passed.
• The DBT scheme targets all schemes being run by the Department of Rural Development, including the Indira Awas Yojana and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
• The National Population Register data is likely to be used for security purpose and also for opening of bank accounts and issuing passports.

Speaker to officials: Be ready to tackle any rain-related disaster
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 13
Uttarakhand Assembly Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal has directed the Commissioner of Garhwal and Kumaon regions, District Magistrates and all other state government officials associated with disaster management to be fully prepared for any natural disaster in near future. In a communication to all the concerned officials, Kunjwal directed that since the rainy season had started and the hilly regions are prone to natural disasters, all the necessary government preparations should be in place.

He asked the PWD officials that all the men and machinery should be ready to tackle landslides, which are frequent during rains. He directed that repair of any damaged road should be done promptly so that the road traffic is not stopped. He also directed the officials of Jal Sansthan and Jal Nigam to be prepared to repair any damage to the drinking water pipelines during rains, landslides and floods. He also asked the district health officers to stock medicines for any eventuality.

The Assembly Speaker asked the District Education Officers to inspect the school buildings which are vulnerable and not safe during monsoon rains and take adequate steps for the safety and security of the students. He also directed the District Magistrates to identify vulnerable areas in their respective districts from disaster point of view.

Demolition notices: Protest against LIC, DMC
Tribune News service

Dehradun, June 13
Residents and shopkeepers of the New Cannaught Place building on Chakrata Road today held a demonstration against the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) authorities and the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) for issuing to them notices for demolition of the building.

The protesters alleged that the LIC authorities in connivance with DMC officials were out to demolish the New Connaught Place building. They said the DMC officials had declared the building as dangerous and issued notices to them in this regard.

The protesters alleged that the condition of the building had deteriorated because of lack of maintenance by the LIC authorities. The residents under the banner of the New Connaught Place Welfare Association also met Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli and apprised him about their plight. The Mayor directed the Mukh Nagar Adhikari (MNA) of the corporation to get the building examined by an expert.

ITBP officials receive Kailash pilgrims
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, June 13
On way to the base camp, Dharchula, the first batch of 53- member Kailash Mansarowar pilgrims was received ceremonially by the ITBP and erstwhile king of Askot princely state at Mirthi camp of the ITBP today.

“On reaching the KMVN tourist centre, the batch was offered lunch of Kumaoni cuisine, including local preparations of pickles, vegetables and pulses, besides appetisers and desserts made of local products,” said in charge of the KMVN tourist centre at Didihat.

“We briefed the batch mates of the difficulties of high altitude trekking and essential precautions required there above Gunji camp on the route,” said Kedar Singh Rawat, Commandant of the 7th battalion.

The 108th king of Katyuri clan of erstwhile Askot kingdom, Kunwar Bhanuraj Pal, presented a bouquet to each pilgrim and acquainted them of the tradition of old pilgrimage of Kailash and Mansarowar related with the kingdom. “We told the pilgrims that before Independence, the Askot royalty used to manage this pilgrimage beyond Didihat,” said the king.

Mandal begins ‘swaraj yatra to awaken villagers’
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 13
Advocating the rights of the villagers on their local resources, the Sarvodya Mandal has started the Jal-Jungle Jamin Swaraj Abhiyan from Charbba to Kausani.

Terming it as a swaraj yatra, Radha Bhen of the Sarvodya Mandal said that the government's decision was fundamentally flawed when it decided to give agricultural land belonging to the villagers of Charbba for the Coca Cola bottling plant without taking their consent. ''The gram sabha and the gram panchayats were not consulted when the government decided to set up a bottling plan project at Charbba. To ensure such one-sided decisions are not taken in the future, we have organised a yatra that will be held in different phases and awaken the villagers,'' she said at the launch of the yatra.

Vijay Jardhari of Beej Bachao Andolan fame said that the state was in such a hurry that it forgot that for setting up a bottling plant of this nature, permission had to be taken from the Ministry of Environment. ''The government cannot acquire the land without taking permission from the Ministry of Environment. The villagers of Charbba have already tied raksha sutras on the trees that were planted by them and which would be cut in the event of the Coca Cola bottling plant being set. We are ready for the second Chipko movement,'' he said.

On the other hand Suresh Bhai of Nadi Bachao Andolan said that both the Central and the state government's have been acquiring land and handing them down to the corporate houses little realising that they have snatched the only source of livelihood of the farmers. In the interest of the farmers, the Uttarakhand farmers should hand over the signing amount to the Coca Cola company and withdraw the decision to set up a bottling plant in Charbba, said Suresh Bhai.

After a short halt at Dehradun the members of Sarvodya Mandal then proceeded on their yatra.

Price of fine paddy likely to touch Rs 2,000 per quintal
Tribune News service

Dehradun, June 13
Farm prices of fine paddy are expected to range between Rs 1800 and Rs 2000 in the forthcoming harvesting season of paddy. This forecast has been made by agriculture economic scientists of Pantnagar Agriculture University under a research project. The World Bank- sponsored National Agriculture Innovation Project (NAIP) on ''Establishing and Networking of Market Intelligence centres in India'' is being undertaken at Agriculture Economics Department of the university. One of the objectives of this project is to make price forecasts well in advance of sowing of selected agricultural commodities and during harvesting.

The research team of the project under supervision of Anil Kumar, Principal Investigator, conducted a market survey of Rudrapur regulated market, a major market for fine paddy in Uttarakhand, and analysed the market price data that prevailed in the last 18 years in this market. The results of econometric analysis showed that market prices of fine paddy (Pusa 1121, Panjab-1, Sarbati, etc.) in Rudrapur market would be ruling in the range of Rs 1800-2000 per quintal in October, November and December 2013. However, the prices of traditional basmati paddy like Tarawadi, Dehradun basmati, Pakistani basmati, etc. would be fetching more than fine paddy. The scientists have advised farmers, who wish to take fine paddy cultivation in the current season, to decide varieties and acreage under fine paddy crop considering forecast price of fine paddy as well as other conditions.

India has the largest area under paddy in the world and ranks second in production after China. India ranks among the first top five exporters of rice and exports about 7-8 lakh tonnes, mostly to Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries, Europe and USA. India produces about 20.24 per cent of global rice production. The area under paddy in India was 44.10 lakh hectares and production was around 155.70 million tonnes during 2011. West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Orissa, Assam, Karnataka and Haryana are the major paddy-producing states in India. As far as Uttarakhand is concerned, area under paddy was 0.3 million hectares and production was 0.58 million tonnes during 2010-11. The major paddy-producing districts in Uttarakhand are Udham Singh Nagar, Dehradun and Haridwar.

No Maoist activity in Kumaon: DIG
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, June 13
Maoist activities in the Kumaon region have ended and the outlawed have no camp in the region anymore, DIG, Kumaon, GN Goswami said in Kashipur today.

Goswami, who was on an inspection trip to the town after taking charge as the DIG of the Kumaon region, quoted a report based on a recent survey on Maoist activities in the Terai region conducted by intelligence agencies. “Though, there are no traces of Maoists in the region, we along with other intelligence agencies are keeping an eye on some people who are suspected of reviving Maoist activities in the region,” said Goswami.

He added the police was keeping an eye on illegal mining in Udham Singh Nagar district which is the main reason of crimes here. “We are making a special plan to curb the increasing crime rate in Udham Singh Nagar district,” said the DIG.

Later Goswami inspected the police line and the police armory. He instructed the policemen to remain alert round the clock to curb illegal activities that promoted crime in the district.

No threat to state govt: Durgapal
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, June 13
The Uttarakhand Small and Village Industries and Dairy Development Minister and independent MLA Harish Durgapal said the state government in the state was safe and was not in a crisis, as some congress MLAs were propagating. He said all four independent MLAs were with Bahuguna.

Durgapal reached the district to review some programmes launched by district industries centre and dairy development. Talking to mediapersons, he said independent MLAs were fully with the government and had no point to resent against it. “If some congress MLAs are angry with the Chief Minister, it is the internal matter of the party,” he said.

Later, Durgapal distributed tool kits among skilled workers at District Industry Centre and said Uttarakhand government was fully aware of the problems of unorganised and traditional skilled workers in Uttarakhand.

He said the state had received Rs 7.5 crore as subsidy under the National Agriculture Development Mission. The amount was being spent for purchasing Milch animals for farmers who had adopted animal husbandry as an occupation, he added.

“We have planned to connect every rural family with milk economy and to process that milk, we are installing an Rs 5 crore milk processing plant in the state,” the Industries minister said.

He also distributed cheques for Rs 35,000 each to five mini dairy owners of the district.

Protection for Amarnath yatra pilgrims sought
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 13
Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Shakti Sena national vice president Virendra Nand Giri has sought adequate protection for the Baba Amarnath yatra pilgrims.

Virendra Nand Giri, who is residing at Geeta Bhavan, Dehradun, these days today issued a statement seeking security for the pilgrims to Baba Amarnath cave shrine in Jammu and Kashmir.

“I myself have appealed to the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and have sent him a letter seeking adequate security to pilgrims going on Amarnath yatra,” he said. He also demanded that Central paramilitary forces must be deployed in the entire yatra route. Giri has also sought adequate civic amenities for the pilgrims.

High Corut judges call on Governor Qureshi
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 13
Judges of the Nainital High Court Praful Chandra Pant, VK Bisht, Alok Singh and UC Dhyani made a courtesy call on Governor Aziz Qureshi at Raj Bhavan in Nainital today.

The Governor discussed with them about the pending cases in the High Court and the need for the delivery of speedy justice to common people.

Several other eminent people and representatives of various organisations also discussed with him about local problems. Among them was a delegation led by BS Bhakuni, Kumaon University’s Pro-Vice Chancellor, HS Dhami and CS Mathela.

A delegation of Devbhumi Vyapar Mandal led by Hukum Singh Kunwar, Haji Mohammad Shakir of Haldwani and Roop Singh Bisht, state general secretary of the Uttarakhand Ex-Para Military Welfare Organisation, Almora, also met the Governor.

Chief Wildlife Warden’s explanation sought
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 13
Uttarakhand Principal Chief Conservator of Forests RBS Rawat has sought explanation from state Chief Wildlife Warden SS Sharma for being unavailable at his office for past 10 days. The PCCF’s explanation comes at a time when recently three tiger deaths took place in Corbett and its territorial divisions.

Uttarakhand Chief Wildlife Warden SS Sharma has been unavailable both at his head office in Nainital and his camp office at Dehradun for the past 10 days without any information.

“After initially applying for leave for 25 days, SS Sharma later sought its cancellation over the phone. But still he is neither available at his head office or the camp office. If a department official, even me, goes anywhere, the information has to be provided to the department to facilitate communication in case of urgency,” Rawat said. Sharma now needs to give an explanation, he added.