Dehradun, January 5
Albeit there have been frenetic efforts from various quarters, Uttarakhand still awaits its first butterfly park that would help both researchers and youngsters to study the lesser-known species of butterflies.

The department of biotechnology (DBT) at the Centre was approached to explore the possibility of creation of a Butterfly Park in the region, but the former preferred Bannargatta Park in Karnataka than sharing funds with Uttarakhand. A proposal had also come up for a park inside the prestigious Forest Research Institute (FRI) campus, followed by another proposal for creating it inside the Great Arc Park at Survey of India here. However, that too failed to take off. The state forest department had even given its consent to provide land for the purpose at Lachchiwala, near Dehradun. But the proposal could not be realised due to lack of funds.

Therefore, there is still no butterfly park in the entire western Himalayan region, which includes the states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir that have as many as 417 species of butterflies, 350 of which are found in Garhwal alone.

However, there have been some efforts on part of Uttarakhand forest authorities in the Kumaon region where a small park is being planned in Sariatal area of Naintial region. “We had initiated one exclusive butterfly park zone in the proposed Himalayan Botanic Gardens in Nainital, but it is still in nascent stages,” said senior Uttarakhand forest official Manoj Chandran, who is also a silviculturalist As many as 40 host plant species that were key to butterflies found in the region have also been planted inside this park, which is to come up in an expanse of one hectare.

A few months ago, a new butterfly specie - “Garhwal Six Ring” - was discovered in the forests of the Kedarnath Musk Deer Sanctuary in Chamoli district. As per a latest survey, 140 species of butterflies are found in this very sanctuary alone. Some of the rare sightings include species like ‘Brown Gorgon’, which was earlier only found in Northeast India. 

Dr VP Uniyal, expert in moth studies, said a butterfly park was definitely needed in the state, as it would help preserve the rich butterfly biodiversity in the region. “The state’s rich butterfly diversity certainly makes Uttarakhand a fit case for a butterfly park, but it still looks a far cry,” said Dr Uniyal, who has been into butterfly studies for long. 

“However, coming up with ideal conditions for a butterfly park is definitely challenging, as intricacies involved with upkeep of host plants, pollinators and selective breeding are easier said than done,” he added. 

A research student on butterflies, Manish Bharadwaj, said while there are a few butterfly parks in south India, but no such initiative has been taken in Uttarakhand. He opined that such a park would be a great boon for youngsters, as it would promote the study of lesser-known species of butterflies. 

Another collector of butterfly photographs, Bhumesh Bharti, said a butterfly park was the need of the hour as the state is rich in butterfly biodiversity. “A mega butterfly park on the lines of Banargatta Park can generate immense tourism prospects,” he pointed out. 

Interestingly, there have been some individual efforts but that too have been very limited. The Smetack family in Nainital has been working towards conserving specimens of butterflies. Smetack brothers - Fredrick and Peters - certainly possess some of most rare collection of butterfly specimens. There is a butterfly museum that has been constructed by Frederic Smetacek at Jones Estate, Nanital, which has over 2,500 butterflies and moth specimens and 1,100 species of insects that are found in this region. The museum continues to be a source of much attraction for both the young and old alike. However, the museum can hardly draw parallels with a butterfly park.

Scientists from the Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education (ICFRE) are also in favour of a butterfly park for the region. “Of course, any such butterfly park can come up at the initiative of the state forest department and the forestry council officials can help through their expertise,” said Jagdish Kishwan, a top official of the council. 

ICFRE scientists have been conducting studies on butterflies for long and one of the recent studies in Dehradun-Mussoorie area had revealed migration of these moths in big numbers. Notably, butterflies being sensitive species amply reflect any change of in land use. Whenever there is change in usage from forestry to agriculture or any other purpose, butterflies are among the first to migrate from the region, which makes an interesting case study. The British had been keen in conducting research on butterflies in the Western Himalayas, but not much has been done in this regard. A dedicated butterfly park would certainly be a good beginning.

Dehradun, January 5
Mussoorie experienced hail followed by sleet that almost created snow-like conditions here today; even as the higher reaches of the state remain covered with a thick blanket of snow for the third day in a row. The cold wave in Uttarakhand may intensify further with the meteorological department expecting a considerable fall in mercury during the coming days. 

Higher reaches of Badrinath, Hemkund, Auli and Chopta in Chamoli, Kedarnath in Rudraprayag, Gangotri and Yamunotri in Uttarakashi, Dhanolti and Surkunda in Tehri, Kalaimuni and Kaliyatop in Munishyari region of Kumaon, had heavy snowfall. Light rains were reported from some of the plain areas of the state.

“What Mussoorie experienced today was hail followed by sleet, which cannot be termed as snowfall,” director of meteorological department Anand Sharma said. However, there was a sudden rush of tourists to the hill town, who took it to be the season’s first snowfall.

The minimum temperature of Dehradun was on Monday recorded at 9.2 degrees Celsius, one degree lesser than Sunday’s minimum. Pantnagar recorded a minimum temperature of 4.3 degrees Celsius, New Tehri 5.4, Pithoragarh 6.4 and Mukteshwar 0.3 degree Celsius.

While mercury may plummet further, Met officials in Dehradun expect a clearer sky in the days to come. “We are expecting a clear sky ahead as the atmospheric conditions responsible for rains and snow is turning weak. We would see more fall in mercury in the coming days,” said Anand Sharma. However, he said the higher reaches of Himalayas might receive light rains or snow. 

Meanwhile, residents of Doon witnessed another cloudy day today even as cold winds lashed the city.

Dehradun, January 5 
Despite the foolproof security advantages related to non-judicial stamp papers, the government continues to dither on e-stamps. This despite instances of fraudulent use of stamp papers causing a huge loss to the state exchequer.

The matter is hanging fire since April 2008 when the Stock Holding Corporation of India made a presentation to the Uttarakhand finance and treasury authorities. Finance secretary LM Pant said e-stamping was worth introducing but not much progress has been made in this direction.

“We will see next year,” he said. He said the authorities planned visiting a few states that had opted for e-stamps. “We have to first clear the inventory,” he added.

Sources said the clearance of inventory was more an excuse because a state like Delhi too had dealt with its huge inventory. The Delhi government made e-stamping mandatory in July 2008 after successful trial run. 

Besides Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka have introduced this system as an option. They too would not have been able to do so had they taken into account the inventory factor, say sources. 

Uttarakhand Area Manager of Stock Holding Corporation of India Rajneesh Singh said they had approached the government several times on the issue. “We don’t know the reasons behind the delay. All I can say is that we can implement the system within a month of the state government’s approval,” he said. 

Sources attributed the government inaction to political considerations. Licensed stamp vendors across the state are vehemently opposed to introduce e-stamping. Their delegation met Chief Minister BC Khanduri and claimed that business of 15,000 vendors would be affected. But their number is not more than 800. The decision has, however, since then deferred.

About e-stamps
It is an Internet-enabled application which eliminates the possibility of duplication of a stamp certificate and facilitates a secured system of collection and remittance to the government. 

It enables the public to stamp their documents without the hassles. The certificate of stamp duty replaces the stamp on the document. The certificate is generated by the system with a unique identification number (UIN). 

With the UIN anyone can visit the e-stamping website and verify the stamp certificate. For stamp certificates issued for registrable documents, the sub-registrar concerned can authenticate and lock the certificate in the system on registration. 

A specified local printer prints out the certificate once the e-stamping system receives the document details. 

Post-Telgi, the Government of India appointed the Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI) to suggest alternative methods of stamp duty collection.

The purpose was to an electronic method to prevent the use of paper and process related to fraudulent practices, setting up a secured and reliable system of collecting stamp duty and storage of permanent centralised record of stamp certificates issued.

IFCI invited technical and financial bids to identify a suitable and capable agency to function as a central record-keeping agency (CRA) for computerisation of the stamp duty administration system (CSDAS).

After detailed evaluation of the bids received, IFCI selected SHCIL, the largest depository participant and custodial service provider in the country.

Dehradun, January 5
Displaying exquisite handicraft items from Himachal Pradesh, Himbunkar exhibition started here today. On sale are the famous Kulu, Kinnauri and angora shawls, mufflers, caps and jackets.

"Earlier, the exhibitions were held at Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar.This is the second time that the exhibition has been organised after a four-year gap in Dehradun,” said MR Thakur, in charge of the exhibition.

“The prize of woollens depends on its design and embroidery.We have got shawls starting from Rs 300 to Rs 14,000. Pashmina shawls are expensive because they are handmade and time-consuming," said Dayaram, a weaver. The main attractions at the exhibition are warm socks, mufflers and stoles made of rabbit wool and the Himachali jacket which comes for Rs 250.

"Most of the items are made out of yak, sheep or rabbit wool and are available in a variety of colours. The response has been positive. Whenever we visit Dehradun, people here appreciate our work and creativity. We hope this year too we will do great business," said Thakur.

The Himachal Pradesh state handloom and handicrafts weaver's apex cooperative society (Himbunkar) came into existence in 1984.

"The main objective of this organisation is to provide a platform to artisans, mainly weavers. Himbunkar not only provides them raw material, modern tools and appliances, but also marketing facilities inside and outside Himachal Pradesh through retail shops, mobile vans and national and state-level exhibitions and fairs," said Thakur.

Under Himbunkar are 300 primary cooperative societies comprising artisans, craftsmen and weavers. Several of these societies are run by women.

"Himbunkar is helping us preserve our culture and at the same time providing the rural people a chance for a brighter future. Not only do we make woollens, but also elegant ready-to-wear garments, leather sandals and shoes with embroidery, Chamba handkerchiefs and silver jewellery," said Deepak, a weaver.

Roorkee, January 5
In an effort to facilitate tourists at the 'Gateway of the state', the government is all set to construct a state-of-the-art Tourist Rest House (TRH) on the Roorkee-Muzaffarnagar highway.

According to Umesh Aggarwal, chairman of Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam, a proposal has been moved to construct an advanced rest house with an estimated cost between Rs 3 to 4 crore.

The chairman said after getting the green signal from the state tourism minister Prakash Pant for the project, the issue has been put forward for further clearances.

"We need around an acre of land for the rest house, which will be housed with all modern facilities, which the tourists normally enjoy in 'A' grade hotels. The need of having such a rest house in this area has been felt from a long period", said Aggarwal.

"Tourism industry is a major source of income for the state. Construction of TRHs is also a step forward in providing all kinds comforts to the tourists, said Aggarwal while adding that there are as many as 130 TRHs (90 in Garhwal region and 40 in Kumaon region) in the state.

Roorkee, which is known as a 'education hub' of the state and for famous 'Pitanjali peeth', can be developed as a major tourist destination with all kinds of modern facilities in our rest houses here, feel the Nigam officials, who supported the decision of constructing a TRH in their board meeting last month.

A constructive outcome on the project would be there in a month or two and the work would be started immediately after, added Aggarwal.

In wake of forthcoming Kumbh mela in 2010, the government is also planning to renovate all the TRHs in the state.