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Meltdown Effects: 7 industries decide to stay away
Dehradun, December 24 “Industrial units, involving investment from US and European countries have begun to shelve their plans to set up industry in Uttarakhand,” said a rather worried Gupta. It is reliably learnt that not only industries involving foreign investment are pulling out but several domestic ones have also decided to withhold their plans. SKF India, part of the AB SKF Group, the world's leading technology and solutions provider for bearings and seals, has reportedly deferred the commissioning of its Haridwar plant by over two years. Company officials say SKF's third facility planned at Haridwar in Uttarakhand has been put on hold till 2010. Likewise, owing to slowdown in the domestic market, Ashok Leyland has delayed the proposed 7 billion to 8 billion investment at its facility in Pantnagar. Apart from the economic slowdown, the “indifferent” attitude of the Khanduri government towards industry has badly affected the flow of industrial investment into the state. Gupta flayed the government for adopting a “negative approach” towards industry. “Persistent delays in allotment of land for setting up units in different industrial estates reflects the indifferent attitude of the government towards industry”, he said, adding that the state may lose investment worth crores in case the industrial units moved out of Uttarakhand due to non-availability of land. Most industrialists point out that though the special package of incentives to industrial units in Uttarakhand will expire in March 2010, the state government so far has shown no haste in laying a sound industrial base. “We are at the last leg of the package and in case there is any further delay in land allotment, more than 100 industrial units may pull out projects from Uttarakhand,” warned Gupta. Through an advertisement the State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Ltd had invited applications from industrialists regarding land allotment. Subsequently, 102 applications were received from large and medium enterprises. These are pending with the allotment committee constituted under the chairmanship of Chief Minister BC Khanduri. Though on December 22, 2008, a high-powered committee had cleared the proposals of over 100 industrial units, including those of top-notch companies like Tata Motors, HUL and Sterlite, the industrialists feel that approval is of little use unless the process of land allotment gathers speed. Sources in the industry said if the government had decided to allot land a couple of months back, it would have attracted an estimated investment of more than Rs 500 crore. However, in the changed global economic scenario now, several companies have announced to put their investment plans on hold.
Entry tax woes
The recent decision of the state cabinet to re-impose entry tax on 20 trade goods has left the industrialists high and dry. Though government officials argue that to deal with the ongoing crunch, levying entry tax is merely a precautionary measure to augment resources as and when needed, the industrialists are opposed to the decision. Kumaon Garhwal Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KGCCI) president Rajiv Ghai said: “The re-imposition of entry tax only reveals the negative attitude of the government towards industry.” The main Opposition party (Congress) has also criticised the move to re-impose entry tax (up to 5 pc) cent on 20 items, including cigarettes, petrol, diesel, electronic gadgets, cars, two-wheelers, TV sets and computers. “Entry tax will further push up inflation. It appears the government wants the entire industry to move out of the state. It is unfortunate that policies of the Khanduri government are anti-industry,” said media in charge of the Uttarakhand Congress Committee Suryakant Dhasmana. Meanwhile, with Chief Minister Khanduri giving his nod to allotting nearly 45 acres to Tata Motors in Pantnagar, the company’s plan to roll out its Rs 1 lakh Nano car has got a major boost. “We have given Tata Motors preference because it wants to roll out the first Nano from Uttarakhand”, said a government official. Tata Motors’ December launch of Nano was delayed after political problems forced the company to pull out of Singur in West Bengal.The mother plant was decided to be relocated in Gujarat but Tata Motor officials announced that the company planned to accelerate the launch by rolling out Nanos from Pantnagar by the end of the fiscal year. The company has conducted test runs of Nano protypes at Pantnagar in the past few months.
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Soil erosion corroding farm land
Dehradun, December 24 Dr VN Sharda, director of the institute and an eminent scientist, said an estimated 5,334 million tonnes of soil was lost annually, which is equivalent to 16.4 tonnes per hectares per year. "Of this, about 29 per cent is lost permanently into the sea, 10 per cent deposited in the reservoirs and the remaining 51per cent is displaced from one place to another,” Dr Sharda said. Studies at the institute show the annual erosion rate due to rains varies from 5 tonne per hectare per year for dense forests and cold desert regions to 80 tonne per hectare per year in the Shiwalik region. Consequently, decline in the total agricultural output varies from 5 per cent to more than 50 per cent every year equivalent to about Rs 5,250 crore to Rs.8,400 crore. Dr Sharda said the Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute here and the National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Nagpur, had studied the estimated potential erosion rates for different states using the 10 x 10 km grid data. Preliminary analysis revealed that about 38.7 per cent area in the country had erosion rates of more than the normal erosion rate of 10 tonnes per hectare per year while about 11per cent area fell in thec “very severe category” of 40 tonnes per hectare per year. "Besides, informing the union government and
various
Studies suggest that appropriate soil and water conservation measures need to be adopted to prevent a decline in agricultural productivity. The loss in productivity has been observed to be higher in red soil followed by black soil and alluvial soil. The institute here has developed several models in the hills and other different regions of the country to study and suggest ways and means to check soil erosion. The findings of model watershed programmes undertaken by the institute indicate that production in the country under different agro-climatic zones can be enhanced by 150 metric tonnes following integrated watershed approach covering all sectors of agricultural development. The government has already launched massive watershed development programmes in the country under various schemes with an investment of over Rs 2,200 crore annually. "We hope the government allocates higher budget, to the tune of about Rs 10,000 crore every year, under watershed development programmes so as to treat the degraded wastelands and rainfed areas," said Dr Sharda.
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Overcoming cramps
Dehradun, December 24 Dampness is counterproductive as it prevents sweating, impeding proper functioning of the body. “Further, to brave the winter chill, warm woollen clothes become a necessity, hindering free movement of the body, further aggravating the problem with the body losing flexibility,” said Dr SK Tyagi, head of the physiotherapy department (OPD), Doon Hospital. For those already suffering from muscular and joint pains, the problem becomes acute. “Older people may even be incapacitated, unable to take up routine chores,” said Dr Tyagi. The stiffness in muscles and joints also creates physiological problems resulting in High BP, slowing down of kidney functions. “One has to protect the body from dampness and cold and at the same time take up routine exercise to keep fit to retain flexibility,” Dr Tyagi explained. Most people have a tendency to eat rich and oily food, which aggravates the problem. “Usually, to beat the cold we increase the intake of rich fried food and sweets that are high in calories and make the system sluggish. “But a low-fat diet rich in proteins with lots of citrus fruit is ideal to keep fit,” said the doctor. Besides increasing the intake of protein, Vitamin C and B complex on the advice of a doctor, physiotherapy and heat treatment to the affected body parts can provide some relief to the patient.
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At schools, it’s carols, Santa & gifts
Dehradun, December 24 A fancy dress competition with Christmas theme was organised for classes Nursery, LKG and UKG. Kamya Raj Lakshmi and Deeya Jain of class UKG were given the prize for the best Fairy God Mother. Shivam of class Nursery and Siddhant Ranjan of LKG were announced Mr. Innovative, Ashwin Yadav of class Nursery was declared Mr. Congeniality whereas Ansh
Ahluwalia was awarded a prize for best costume. A scene of Jesus Christ’s birth was depicted by the children of classes UKG to V besides, number of Christmas carols were sung. The Hawain dance performed by the girls of III to V was the main attraction of the day. In candle making competition, Sarthak Gupta of class V bagged the first prize in group B category and Abhay of class III and Siddharth of class II, bagged prizes in group A category. Prizes for art and craft competition organised by Camelin was also given. The festivity culminated with the prize distribution ceremony. Soon after which Santa came in modern style and distributed chocolates and gifts to the children. Meanwhile, keeping the spirit of Christmas alive, Greenfield School also celebrated Christmas with great fervor here today. From students, teachers to staff members and volunteers everyone participated in this grand function. Teachers were ready with colourful stall and made mouth-watering delicacies dishes like Bhel Puri, Chat, Gol-Gappe, chana jor garam, Bund Tikki, and chilled cold Drinks. They even organised various games like ‘pinning the tail’, lottery, etc for the parents and children. The main attraction for the day was fashion show by tiny tots of playgroup, nursery and KG classes. Solo performance by Aprna, Shubhang and by ex-student, Shubhan Khan added colours and excitement to the show. Last but not the least, the principal, Reena Jaggi gave away prizes for best Santa Clause dress and best stage performer.
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President of the Industries Association of Uttarakhand Pankaj Gupta said at least seven proposed industrial units have withdrawn from the state because of the economic meltdown. 
Dehradun-based Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute has warned the union agriculture ministry as well as the Uttarakhand government against the dangers of losing prime agricultural land rapidly.