Kanwarias told not to proceed beyond Rishikesh
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 6
The state government has requested the Kanwarias that due to the prevailing situation and the resultant damage to roads, they would not be allowed to procced above Rishikesh. The state government has requested the neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal to inform the Kanwarias from their respective states about the prevailing conditions in Uttarakhand and inform them not to venture into the hills.

Om Parkash, Home Secretary, said the state government due to disaster would not be able to provide any facilities to the Kanwarais.

He further said the people of the state await Kanwar Mela every year but due to unprecedented situation in the state, the roads had been damaged and there was danger of further floods and landslides due to rains.

More than six million Kanwarias used to descend upon Uttarakhand every year to fetch Ganga waters. The Kanwar Mela would start from July 22 and continue till August 5.

Kanwarias were even going up to Gangotri to get water. However, due to the ban imposed by the Uttarakhand government, the Kanwarias had to contend with Haridwar and Rishikesh.

Rishikesh Nagar Palika members complain to DM against chairman
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 6
A delegation of 12 members of the Rishikesh Nagar Palika met District Magistrate, Dehradun, BVRC Purushottam and complained against chairman of the civic body Deep Sharma that he refused to recognise them as members and did not let them participate in the board meeting. Sharma even got proposals cleared in their absence.

Purushottam said he as the controlling authority of the Nagar Palika recognised them as its members. He also allowed them to exercise their rights as the members of the Nagar Palika.

Manish Sharma, who led the delegation, said 12 of the 20 members were sworn in by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate on June 6 while the remaining eight were administered oath by the Chairman. Deep Sharma refused to recognise those who were administered the oath of office by the SDM. He asked them to first ‘legally’ become the members of the Nagar Palika by taking oath from him and only then they could attend meetings.

BJP councillor Harish Rawat said the members could be sworn in only once according to the Uttar Pradesh Nagar Palika Act. It is not for the first time that the SDM had administered them the oath of office, he did the same even during the last tenure of the civic body.

In the newly constituted Nagar Palika, of the total 20 members 10 were women. Kavita Shah, a member, said she had no information who could administer them oath. Amid confusion they went to the SDM, who completed the formality. She complained that the chairman did not let them attend the first meeting of the working committee and the Nagar Palika Board. He allegedly got proposals cleared in their absence which he could not do as he did not have the majority and the quorum in the House, she said.

The District Magistrate heard them patiently. He said, “People have elected you. You are constitutional members of the Nagar Palika. No one can deny you your position and rights which come with your election. Hence, you are free to exercise your rights with full confidence.” He also got a photograph clicked with them.

District Magistrate refuses monetary help to DMC
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 6
Displeasure of District Magistrate (DM) is proving costly to Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) . DM, BVRC Purushottam refused Mukhya Nagar Adhikari (MNA) any monetary help from the Disaster Relief Fund and asked him to arrange funds from sources of DMC.

MNA, Ashok Kumar, today admitted that the proposals rejected were of two crore. This includes damage to ten roads at Rs 89.9 lakh, fencing in Bindal and Rispana for Rs 50.69 lakh, wall construction around Kabadi Bazar of Rs 58.63 lakh and Shanti Vihar Gobindgarh drain repair at Rs 13.63 lakh.

The District Magistrate said he would disburse assistance from Disaster Relief Fund to departments who had no means of raising funds on their own. He clarified that since DMC had all the means to generate revenue from its sources, he would not help the department with funds from his own. Referring to Section 35 and 36 of Uttar Pardesh Nagar Palika Act 1916, he said Municipal Corporation had been directed to become self-reliant.

According to insiders, the District Magistrate is miffed with DMC for being sloppy about avenues available to it for income generation and letting them getting wasted. Not only this, the sheer reason that DMC has liability of Rs 5 crore to pay upset him further. In order to shake up DMC of its slumber, he had asked them to put their acts together and become independent in meeting their own requirements.

Base reconstruction work on task force suggestions: Tamta
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, July 6
Reacting on the Uttarakhand reconstruction plan announced by Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, Almora MP Pradeep Tamta said the process of reconstruction based on the recommendation of the task force headed by GB Mukherji should be undertaken in Himalayan states in a new perspective as the Prime Minister told the NDC in his inaugural address. The task force was formed by the Planning Commission after the 54th National Development Council meet in year 2007.

According to Tamta, the task force headed by Mukherji divided the Himalayan states into four colours, based on their multi-dimensional nature. "Out of these four colours, white colour reflects snow, blue rivers, green colour forests and brown reflects soil," said Tamta.

Thus, the panel covered the diverse nature of the Himalayas and emphasised on addressing the region considering these factors.

"Even in the recent disaster, all these factors have come into consideration. If we address only some of them while going to reconstruct the region, and leave other factors unaddressed, we cannot get the results for long time,” added Tamta.

The Almora parliamentarian said during his four-year tenure as Member of Parliament, he had witnessed disaster every year and had seen people of his constituency coping with the disasters while the government only played a token of presence.

“The villagers are still trying hard to cope up with the disasters of La Jhekla, Kapkot, Qurie Jimia villages in which they have not only lost their earning members and the coming generation, but also their fertile land,” said Tamta.

According to Tamta, after the formation of a seperate state of Uttarakhand, the government had been assuring the villagers of resettling them while the government had no land available with it for resettlement of the villagers.

"In such a condition, the state government should seek land in the Terai area and form a land bank there instead of seeking land in hill portion of the state. The Terai region has enough land to settle the disaster-hit villagers only if the land laws are strictly implemented," said Tamta.

The methods of constructing roads and buildings in hill portion of state have been playing havoc with human settlements as environmental factors were not taken into consideration.

"The rivers which were considered as life givers have now turned into life takers due to the present developmental policies and methods," said Tamta.

"The sensitive zones in the upper himalayan region should not be touched from any angle of construction as these regions should be protected as source of himalayan rivers,'' added Tamta.

According to Tamta, while constructing essential electricity schemes and essential construction, blasting technique should be fully avoided and a worldwide hunt for appropriate geochronology and methodology should be launched by the state to get suitable technique for the construction which does not harm in future.

“If European countries can keep the environment of their respective regions intact, why can’t we get development done without harming the environment,” said Almora MP. 

Max Hospital attracts foreign patients
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 6
The premier health care facilities offered at Dehradun- based Max Super Specialty Hospital are attracting medical tourists from across the globe, including patients from Iraq, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and USA.

Max Institute of Neuroscience, Dehradun, is a leading institute of neurosciences in India that has captured everyone's attention and has become a huge contributing factor to the rise in popularity of medical tourism in Dehradun.

Established under the aegis of Director Dr AK Singh, it is a centre of excellence dedicated to provide specialised neuro care services to patients all over India and those coming from abroad.

Most of the international patients are approaching the institute for their neurological ailments. Skilled surgeons at the instutute have performed some of the most advanced and challenging neurosurgeries, including complicated brain tumours like craniopharyngiomas, posterior third ventricular tumours, posterior fossa tumours, complicated spinal fixations, TNTS (Trans Nasal Trans Sphenoidal Endoscopic Surgery) and other endoscopic brain and spine surgeries, benign intracranial hypertension and spinal tumours.

The institute renders superlative services to international patient care and has, therefore, carved a niche in the health tourism sector.

“Dehradun is located in the lap of nature that provides a perfect atmosphere for healing of neurosurgery patients. With an evident boom in medical tourism, we have a lot of foreign patients approaching us,” said Additional Director, Max Institute of Neurosciences, Sanjeev Dua.

Authority to assess gross environment product
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 6
The state government yesterday said a nodal authority would be set up under the Ministry of Environment which would give due emphasis to the gross environment product along with the gross domestic product as an indicator of the growth and prosperity of the state.

This transpired during a meeting between Dr Anil Joshi of the Himalayan Environment Studies and Conservation Organization (HESCO) and Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna. Joshi said the Chief Minister agreed in principle to set up a nodal authority for giving due importance to the gross environment product.

He added Uttarakhand was the first state to take a significant step towards ecological and environment preservation.

Future of 2 lakh students hangs in balance
Several school buildings washed away or damaged in flash
floods
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 6
Several school buildings in Uttarakhand have either been washed away or damaged in the recent rain-induced natural disaster, jeopardising the future of around 2 lakh students, who will now have to complete the greater part of the academic session learning under the open sky or rented buildings.

While the government has decided to provide one-time honorarium of Rs 500 for the students affected by the floods in Uttarakhand studying in aided, semi-aided and government schools, it would be some time before the school children have access to proper classrooms, ''Around 40 schools have been completely damaged and would have to be rebuilt. As many as 230 schools have been partially damaged by the floods. In some schools the pillars have been uprooted, which may pose a threat to the students. In 24 schools mid-day meal rations and cooking utensils have been swept away in the floods. The department has estimated a loss of Rs 17 core,'' said PS Jangpangi, Director General School, Education. The maximum number of schools, around eight, that have been fully damaged are in Chamoli. The school authorities say maximum damage has been to primary and junior schools. 

Work culture suffers in DMC, thanks to political drama
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 6
Work culture in Dehradun Municipal Corporation has been affected due to politics being played between BJP, which is in majority in the corporation, and Congress, which does not leave any opportunity to browbeat BJP through administrators.

The matter regarding suspension of four employees, who on surface seemed in the wrong, has been embroiled in party colors. The members of union divided on party lines have been vitiating the atmosphere as well.

Those councillors, who sat before Mukhya Nagar Adhikari (MNA) two days ago to complain against draftsman Dinesh Khanna and his junior Chander Mohan Ahuja, were seen raising slogans against MNA and shouting in favour of these two. 

More help pours in for disaster-hit people
Tribune News service

Dehradun, July 6
Help has been pouring in for the disaster-affected people from all over the country and a sum of Rs 195.74 crore has been collected in the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

Coal India has led by contributing a sum of Rs 50 crore followed by Uttar Pradesh government, which gave Rs 25 crore. Bharat Cooking Coal Limited contributed Rs 20 crore while Haryana, Delhi governments gave Rs 10 crore each. The BSF also contributed Rs 10 crore.

Karnataka, Bihar and Tamil Nadu governments also contributed Rs 5 crore each. ONGC, BHEL, Jai Payee Industries and Jai Payee Power Ventures contributed Rs. 2 crore each. SS Rawat, Secretary to the Chief Minister, said that private individuals and voluntary organisations had also contributed to the fund. He said that contributions could be made online.

Meanwhile, a cheque of Rs 10 lakh was presented by the officials of Mazagon Docks Limited on behalf of Chairman and Managing Director RK Shrawant here today. Jitender Joshi, Chancellor of Uttaranchal University, also presented a cheque of Rs 2.51 lakh to the CM’s Relief Fund.

Central health team to visit Rudraprayag
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 6
A Central health team will now visit Rudraprayag to review the public health situation in that area to monitor the health situation in the disaster-affected district.

Earlier, the team had also visited relief camps in Uttarkashi, primary health centres and community health centres and interacted with doctors, staff and patients. Further, the Additional Secretary, Health, Piyush Singh, said that two fresh public health teams consisting of two members each drawn from NCDC and Central hospitals had reached Dehradun today to replace the first public health teams currently stationed there since June 24.

A public health team has been posted at Hardwar. As many as 36 senior residents, specialist doctors from 3 Central Government hospitals and hospitals under DHS, NCT of Delhi state government have reached Dehradun to join the CHS doctors already stationed there. A three-member team from NIMHANS, Bangalore, for psycho-social relief work has been deployed at Uttarkashi for relief work. Two such teams are already in the field in the other affected districts. The Indian Red Cross Society had deployed a two-member team from National HQ on June 19 to Uttarkashi and another team to Pithoragarh. A high-level team from the HQ has also visited the state for assessment and coordinating relief work with State Red Cross unit. 

Doctor receives ransom call for Rs 50 lakh
Cops nab 3 persons from Roorkee
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 6
A private doctor practising in Dehradun has received a ransom call. The police has put the doctor’s mobile phone on surveillance. It has also rounded up three persons from Roorkee on suspicion.

According to Dalanwala police sources, a doctor working with the Combined Medical Institute, Dehradun, received a ransom call on his mobile. The caller introduced himself as a member of notorious western Uttar Pradesh gang. He sought Rs 50 lakh from the doctor and threatened to kill his entire family if the payment was not made promptly.

Initially, the doctor took the call as a joke. But after he received a second call from the same person, the doctor brought the matter to the notice of the police.

The police immediately swung into action. After putting the number on surveillance, the police got a lead from where the call was made. The caller had called the doctor from Narson region in Roorkee. On the basis of the call location details, the police apprehended three persons from Roorkee. SSP Kewal Khurana said the matter was being pursued promptly and hoped that the culprit would soon find himself behind the bars.