Dehradun, January 9
A confrontation between the Uttarakhand government and the Centre seems imminent following the decision of the state government to take over construction of the Lakhwar-Vyasi project from the NHPC.

The state government has asked the central public sector unit to keep hands off the project. According to officials sources, the Uttarakhand government has written to the Union Government on the takeover of the project on the Yamuna.

In December, Chief Minister BC Khanduri had announced that the Lakhwar- Vyasi project would be started soon by Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited.

“We have written to the NHPC to hand over the project to us within a week so that we can start work on the project,” said Yoginder Prasad, chairman of the state nigam.

A detailed report of the 420 mw Lakhwar-Vyasi project, hanging fire for the past two decades, was completed by the NHPC two years ago after the previous Congress state government allotted the two projects to the NHPC.

The project has been on hold after the Bharatiya Janata Party government came to power following assembly elections in February 2007. In June when several Hindu outfits led by Prof GD Agarwal, an eminent environmentalist, started an indefinite fast at Uttarkashi against power projects on Bhagirathi upstream of Uttarkashi, the BJP government decided to put on hold two of its projects - the 480 mw Pala- Maneri and the 380 mw Bhairon Ghati on the Bhagirathi. But it decided to take the Lakhwar-Vyasi project in its own hands.

A few months ago it was planned that the Uttarakhand government would bifurcate the Lakhwar-Vyasi project work between the state government owned UJVNL and the NHPC. The state government proposed to give the multi-purpose 300 mw Lahwar project to the NHPC and build the 120 mw Vyasi project through the UJVNL.

Chief Minister Khanduri announced that he would hold talks with the Union Government on the issue. He was confident that after the completion of the 304 mw Maneri Bhali Phase-II project by the state government, the Lakhwar-Vyasi project would be completed by the state.

But the Uttarakhand government argued that the state government wanted to build the project to enhance power availability in the state. If the state- owned UJVNL constructed the project, Uttarakhand could retain all power. Otherwise, it would be entitled to only 13 per cent of power as royalty.

This was protested by the NHPC. The Union Minister of State for Power Jairam Ramesh wrote to the state government pleading that the Lakhwar-Vyasi project be given to the NHPC since the corporation had done various surveys and prepared the detailed project report.

Officials of the NHPC believe that the project should have been given to them since they carried out the basic project reports and undertook surveys. Also, they feel the corporation is much more capable of funding the project, estimated to cost more than Rs 4200 crore.

The Centre is ready to bear 90 per cent of the cost following techno-economic appraisal of the project and investment clearance by the Planning Commission. But now the state government has asked the Centre that the project be handed over to the state government.

“We have no information about the decision of the state government. We have completed the detailed project report (DPR) and permission from the state government is awaited. There is no official word,” Parag Saxena, chief engineer, NHPC, said.

The commissioning of 304 mw Maneri Bhali Phase-II hydro-electric project in Uttarkashi in February 2008 had come as a welcome relief for the power-starved state. The Phase-II has been hanging fire since 1989 when work on the project was halted by the then Uttar Pradesh government due to financial constraints.

The work was re-started in 2002 after Uttarakhand was constituted after a Rs 800-crore loan to the new state by the Power Finance Corporation. The project was to be completed in October 2005 but was delayed due to various technical reasons.

Similarly, the construction of the Lakhwar-Vyasi project was initially started in 1979 by the Uttar Pradesh irrigation department but was later stalled. After the formation of Uttarakhand, the state government handed over the responsibility of preparing the revised detailed project report (DPR) of the multipurpose project to the NHPC.

The Lakhwar-Vyasi project will produce 927 million units of power, besides irrigating 40,000 hectares through the East Yamuna canal, benefiting the neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi.

The project envisages a 200-metre high arch-gravity concrete dam underground the powerhouse with 2.7 km-long head race tunnels. 

Dehradun, January 9
The spectacles market in the Doon valley has undergone a sea change with the arrival of latest brands. “The spectacle market is growing fast with both young and old flaunting their stylish eyewear.

Eye-catching spectacles have become a fashion statement,” said Anand Bharadwaj, owner of Kamal Opticals.

Movie stars flaunting the latest frames and the entry of multinational brands have changed the market.

“When Kal Ho Na Ho was released, every other girl wanted a Preity Zinta look. Now, rimless frames are in with youngsters as well as the middle-aged opting for the sobre metal frames,” said Ajay Bhatt, owner of Bhatt Opticals.

With a wide range of spectacles in the market, one can pick up branded as well as non-branded ones. The latest are the plastic and rimless frames which are available in bold colours like black, red and blue. “Expensive brands like Gucci, Levis, Vogue, Rayban, and Hugo Boss start from Rs 4,000 whereas the non-branded starts from Rs 300. The general public prefer non-branded ones whereas those with money and style opt for either a Gucci or a Hugo Boss,?” said Anand Bharadwaj.

“Now-a-days the trend is for bold thick side frames and quality lenses. Being anti-glare, durable and light in weight, people are showing greater interest in branded lenses. Students who wants to be trendy order for duplicates of Gucci and Levis,” said Ajay Bhatt.

Women in the city are opting for contact lenses. “We have got contact lenses of Bosch and Lomb and Freshlook and 80 per cent of our clients who opt for contact lenses are women. Since lenses are difficult to maintain, these are preferred for indoor work or attending functions.

“Coloured lenses in shades of blue, gray and honey are mostly picked by youngsters for the sake of fashion,” said BS Chauhan, a salesman at Mahawar Opticals.

“We have got the latest brands in the market and my clients are mostly businessmen or office-goers who prefer high-end brands like Gucci, Prada, Hugo Boss. Mont Blanc, the most expensive branded frame, is in vogue,” said Deepak Khanna of Khanna Opticals. He was happy that business was flourishing.

Dehradun, January 9
Like a juggler, Dr RK Jain, a renowned cardiologist and medical entrepreneur, switches between two roles.

Hailing from a middle-class family engaged in supplying ration stocks while based at Chakrata, studies were always important. “It was my middle- class upbringing that ensured that I pursued higher studies. So I went on to complete my medical degree and then specialisation from Agra,” informed Dr Jain. He loves to call himself a doctor by default.

Little wonder then he takes both praise and criticism by his patients philosophically. “There is so much at stake and all doctors understand that.

The expectations of people are high and we cannot let them down. But at times we are held responsible for things that are beyond us” said Dr Jain.

Dr Jain spearheaded the setting up of a hospital in Dehradun in 1999 named Combined Medical Institute that has proved a boon for patients.

“We decided to take this big step as the patients were forced to go to Delhi or Chandigarh for treatment. The private initiative is a 110-bed multi-specialty hospital providing primary, secondary and tertiary health services.”

The hospital provides round-the-clock emergency services and has emerged a major trauma referral centre for the state.

Dr Jain is dismayed at the poor medical manpower in the state. “There is no advanced cardiac surgery, well-equipped surgical units or radiology treatment.

There are no super-specialty doctors either. Cardiologists able to perform invasive surgery can be counted on the fingertips,” he said.

In fact manpower problem is all pervasive. “The country is reeling under manpower crisis and the problem is not in the planning stage, but has to do with economics. Doctors in Uttarakhand shun hill postings because they are offered paltry sums. Substantial sums need to be paid to attract talent.”

Aware that money plays a major role in attracting and retaining talent, he has followed the principle in his hospital: “ I give my doctors freedom to earn but they have to be at just a call away whenever patients need them at the hospital,” he said.

Dismayed at the lack of research being undertaken at premier medical institutes, Dr Jain said: “The institutes have nothing to show by way of research. We have to get out of the self-imposed rut and stop relying on American or British research results.”

Dr Jain has several projects to carry forward at his hospital. “We plan to set up a comprehensive cancer unit and upgrade the invasive cardiology unit.”

A recipient of Padma Shri in 2008, Dr Jain said one did not work to get an award. “All satisfaction comes from making patients whole.” 

Dehradun, January 9
A total of 13 mobile health clinics (vans) equipped with diagnostic facilities-ultra sound, X-ray machine. auto analyser and ECG facilities-which were to be sent to 13 districts of the state have remained unused at the Central Medical Store Depot (CMSD) for the last 10 months.

The state heath department could not press them into service due to shortage of radiologists and technicians.The ultrasound and X-ray equipment in the mobile clinics cannot function without competent radiologists and technicians.

Each of the ambulances came as part of the World Bank-funded Health System Development Project that wound up operations in 2005. Each district was to get one ambulance so that patients in remote parts could avail medical facilities at their doorstep.

The programme could not take off due to shortage of radiologists needed to man the ambulances. So acute is the shortage of manpower that a plan to involve government pathologists and technicians employed at district hospitals and the CHC and PHC could not take off. The health department then decided to involve agencies and NGOs to provide manpower.

“We are in the process of finalising the agencies/NGOS at the government level after shortlisting these and studying the terms of reference after which the letter of acceptance will be sent. It will take some time before the mobile clinics begin rendering services,” informed the director-general of ealth, Prem Lata Joshi.