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Nanda Devi fails to beckon Dehradun, December 10 Starting from 32 tourists in 2003-04, a total of only 123 tourists visited Nanda Devi Reserve in 2007-08 compared to 1,71,394 tourists to Corbett National Park in 2007-08. The number of mountaineering expeditions to the Himalayan peaks have also shown a decline over the years. State government records show that in 2004-05, a total of 32 expeditions, 16 domestic and 16 foreign, went to various peaks of Uttarkashi and Chamoli from the Gangotri side. In 2005-06, 12 domestic and 13 foreign expeditions went for mountaineering. But in 2007-08, only nine domestic and nine foreign expeditions scaled the peaks. After the formation of Uttarakhand in 2000, the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, that was closed for the past two decades, was again opened for a limited number of tourists. “We have a capacity for 500 tourists in the summer season, but not many people have the physical endurance to go to the Nanda Devi National Park,” said Shrikant Chandola, Uttarakhand chief wildlife warden. Nanda Devi National Park and the Valley of Flowers National Park are both part of Nanda Devi Biosphere. It was on the initiative of the then Uttarakhand tourism minister Kedar Singh Phonia, who hailed from the area, that a 10-member expedition jointly sponsored by the Indian Mountaineering Federation (IMF) and the state government was sent to Nanda Devi in 2001 to study the feasibility of re-introducing adventure tourism in the area. After the report of the team, tourism was started for limited numbers but it failed to attract mountaineers and tourists. “We have not allowed mountaineers to scale peaks from inside the biosphere but they can go from from the Pitthoragarh and Uttarkashi sides from outside the biosphere,” said Srikant Chandola. A total of 83 peaks situated in the state are open to mountaineers. “The Nanda Devi West and East, Hanumangiri, Devasthanam I and II peaks are not open for mountaineering,” A.K. Banerji, a forest official, who worked in the area from 2001 to 2005, said. Moreover, entry into the park is tough and not many tourists prefer such an arduous climb. Even for scaling a peak in the biosphere reserve, the main base camp at Sarsopatal is 18 km from the boundary of Nanda Devi. Tourists are allowed to go up to Dibrugeti, 9 km from the entry point. Situated at a height of more than 7,000 ft and spread over an area of 1,600 square km, Nanda Devi National Park and Biosphere was expected to be one of the most favoured destinations for mountaineers and tourists due to its near-virgin peaks, glaciers and miles of picturesque meadows with one of the most exotic varieties of flora and fauna of the mid-Himalayas. Any human activity in the core area of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve was banned in 1982 keeping in view the threat to the precious flora and fauna of this fragile ecological region by the central government. It was felt at that time that precious animals, birds and trees, particularly found in the alpine areas, were endangered. Amongst rare animals the musk deer, blue mountain sheep (bharal), snow leopard, brown bear, marmot, mouse hare and beech martin faced extinction. The monal, snow partridge, snow pigeon and red-built chough were the exotic varieties of birds which were also threatened. Several species of trees, herbs and grasses peculiar to the region were also recklessly exploited or felled. Since, then there has been tremendous pressure from mountaineers, tourists and locals to open up the areas. But following objections by environmentalists and conservationists, the idea was dropped. Once again after the creation of Uttranchal in order to popularise tourism, the state government opened up the area in a regulated manner. The decision to create Nanda Devi Biosphere had its negative impact on the people living in its vicinity. They were prevented from entering the forest that they had been doing since time immemorial. The decision adversely affected their livelihood as earlier they would earn by working with various expeditions scaling the Nanda Devi peaks. The compensation offered to them by the Union Government did not satisfy them. Even before the formation of Uttarakhand, the local people around the biosphere reserve had started an agitation to forcibly enter restricted areas and demand their traditional right over the forests. Many villagers were arrested. They alleged that the restriction on their movement in the biosphere had given unhindered access to poachers who in collusion with the forest staff indulged in the killing of rare animals. This year, following the death of six mountaineers, four Austrians and two Indian porters in Badrinath area, the state government lodged cases of negligence against the guides with the team. “Moreover, the system of seeking permits from forest officials demotivate foreign tourists and mountaineers who have a tight schedule and equally tight budget restrictions,” said Sunil Kainthola, MD of Mountain Shepherds, a private company providing mountaineering services. He said another problem was that the locals did not allow outsiders to do the jobs of guide and porter and tourist operators unable to make big money in the given scenario were not keen to sell adventure tourist spots of Uttarakhand to the
outside world. “There is an overall decline in adventure sports like mountaineering in the state but the situation is better in the Kumoan region with some mountaineers preferring the Panchachuli peaks in the border district of Pitthoragarh,” he claimed.
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Wrong about rights The state authorities maintain that there are nominal cases of rights violations. Besides, the state does not meet the norms laid down by the Supreme Court on the matter following a PIL by former DGP Prakash Singh. “We have to go by the Supreme Court guidelines for creation of a state commission,” said JP Joshi, joint secretary (home). But social organisations are not ready to buy the argument, saying that rights violation do take place but in the absence of a commission, these go unreported. “Several persons from Haldwani, Bageshwar and Almora (all in Kumaon region) have been locked up in jails for being allegedly involved in anti-national activities (Maoist). “Others have been detained as they are believed to be supporters of the movement, because the state government believes that there is a possible threat from them as in neighbouring Nepal the Maoist have captured power,” said Rajender Dhasmana, president of the People’s Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), Uttarakhand Chapter. In this connection, the PUCL is fighting for the release of Prashant Rahi, a journalist from Dehradun. “He has been in jail for the past 11 months and bail denied to him,” Dhasmana pointed out. He said over 12 persons were on the radar of the state police, creating panic among the youth of border areas. “During our visit to the areas, we met several families who said they were apprehensive that some more people would be arrested,” Dhasmana said. That the state compares better than most other states on the human rights front, especially when compared with Uttar Pradesh, is the argument put forward by the government that has invited the wrath of social organisations. “The conditions in Uttarakhand are vastly different from Uttar Pradesh. There were violations during the creation of the state. People have still not got justice and now hundreds have been uprooted from their villages where ever dams are coming up. This development policy pursued by the government is certainly not bringing about sustainable improvement in the quality of life of the people,” argued Sunil Kainthola, an activist. The right to self-development is multi-dimensional incorporating civil, political, economic and social rights for the full development of the individual and protection of his dignity. Most governments ignore the right to education and nutritional security for all-round development of its citizens. The human rights is an expansive term and only awareness among the people can ensure that children do no go without food and shelter. “Several government schools remsain without basic facilities like clean drinking water,” says Kanchan Chaudhary Bhatacharjee, former DGP of Uttarakhand now representing the state at the National Human Rights
Commission.
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Adding colour to lives of Haridwar residents Haridwar, December 10 Organised by the art department of Delhi Public School, Ranipur, more than 45 artists showcased their talent. Encouraged by the response to last year's exhibition, the organisers this time invited eminent artists not only from Uttarakhand but from other states too. "This year we added drawing and sculpture in the exhibition. We don't charge entry fee from artists and have decided to award the best paintings," said Ashok Gupta, in charge of the exhibition. Artists used acrylic, water colour, pen & ink, pencil, oil and wax colour in their creations. Haridwar city is not used to to such art exhibitions but the rush at the venue indicated that people had great interest in these. "This is the first time I watched an art exhibition in the city and I can tell you it is comparable with the exhibitions held in art galleries in Delhi,"claimed Deepika Gupta, a Delhi-based consultant. But the artists, elated at the response of the viewers, felt that the state did not do enough to promote artists. "It's a biased attitude. If the government can afford rest houses for politicians and government officers in every nook and corner of the state, why then can’t a few art galleries be opened where artists can display their creations," says Vasudha Kharakwal, an artist from Pithoragarh. Similar were the views of other artists who argued that as the younger generation didn't get to see such exhibitions, they did not get interested in this discipline and those who did venture into this field faced financial and other hurdles. "I liked all major creations, specially Har-Ki-Paudi, Radha Krishna, Ganga In Monsoon, Dancing Ganesha, landscape and sculptures made of glass fibre, stone and cement," said Pooja Negi, a Class XIth student. Though most local people didn't know of the intricacies of the paintings and sculptures, the appreciation and interest they expressed made many artists happy who were more than willing to explain to them about their creations. "I think people wanted to know more about the art and many told me that they had made paintings but without a platform and exposure, these were confined to their homes," said Pooja Panwar, whose painting “To Produce” got critical appreciation. The artists awarded for their works were CM Bahukhandi, CM Mishra, HC Gahtori,Pramod Verma and Richa Kamboj.
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Ex-minister demands more funds for stadium Dehradun, December 10 In a press release issued here today, she appealed to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Maj. Gen. B.C.Khanduri (retd), that a stadium at Haldwani of international standards should be constructed at Haldwani. She further said that the previous Congress government in the state had conceived the idea of construction of an international stadium at Haldwani with a view to encourage sports, business and tourism in the region and to bring players of international and national level to Uttarakhand. She claimed that such a stadium would in turn put Uttarakhand on the world map. Indira said that a token sum of one crore rupees and 36 acres of land was given by the previous government but it was not adequate to built a stadium of international standards. She appealed to Chief Minister Khanduri who would be going to Haldwani for the earth breaking ceremony of the stadium on December 12 to allocate more funds for the stadium. The former Minister who hails from Haldwani requested the Chief Minister to make more budget provision for the project. “A sum of Rs 200 to 250 crore and nearly a hundred acres of land would be required. I appeal to you to make a stadium of international repute,” she said. Indria also suggested outsourcing the work to get the required money for the project.
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Candle march for Mumbai victims Mussoorie, December 10 Members of Bar Association, Rotary Club of Mussoorie and various social and political organisations participated in the candle march which was organised from the court premises here to the Shadid Sthal. A two-minute silence was observed Shadid Sthal to pay homage to those who had lost their lives in the attacks. Those present on the occasion included J.S. Gunsola, the local MLA, Rajendra Panwar, president of the Bar Association, Alok Mehrotra, Shailendra Karanwal, Nitish Aggarwal, and Deepak Gupta.
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Dehradun, December 10