Dehradun, January 17
Uttarakhand may keep adventure tourism hopes alive, but for those engaged in this sector, the state has nothing to offer other than hassles in the form of paper work and entry restrictions.

At a convention of Adventure Tours Operators here, there were many who cited entry restrictions and tedious paper work as stumbling blocks in carrying forward adventure tourism related activities in Uttarakhand.

Adventure sports lover and well-known cricket commentator Charu Sharma, a frequent visitor to Uttarakhand, said there was so much to explore in Uttarakhand but the half-hearted efforts of the government had failed to bear fruit.

“The foremost requirement to promote adventure tourism is to create the requisite physical infrastructure. I am not saying construct five-star hotels but at least there should be proper roads for connectivity to different places across the state,” he said, adding that the state government had done precious little to disseminating information on tourist circuits and maps.

Pointing out that only a handful of Indian and foreign expeditions were organised annually in Uttarakhand, Charu said if the government took enough interest in promoting adventure tourism, Uttarakhand could be on the world map soon.

“There is a need to encourage tourists but in Uttarakhand too many security checks and harassment are keeping people away,” he said.

Charu also said the government should frame rules/guidelines for the tourists and action taken against violators. “What is happening is that tourists have to face a lot of hassles in the name of security.”

He alleged the authorities were in the habit of making tall claims on promoting adventure tourism, but did nothing concrete at the ground level.

Adventure tour operator Ramesh Wattal from Welcome Travels, who has been conducting adventure tours in almost all hill states, finds Uttarakhand “most” unfriendly.

“I have been conducting adventure tours in Himachal, Jammu and Kashmir and Sikkim with no hassles, but Uttarakhand tops in restrictions,” he said, adding that concepts like permits and inner line did not serve tourism cause.

He described the Adventure Tours Operators Association of India convention a big success. “ The convention has seen enthusiastic participation and I am hopeful that Uttarakhand will in some way benefit from it.”

Mandeep Singh Soin, MD, IBEX Expeditions, said tourism functioning in Uttarakhand needed to be streamlined as a lot of paper work involved in the conduct of tours was a major hindrance in adventure tours.

“Any tourism activity that starts with restrictions proves detrimental to the cause of tourism. Uttarakhand is bestowed with enormous natural beauty but carrying forward adventure tourism needs a smooth mechanism. “Then there is also the risk factor linked to calamities. You need an effective communication network and other rescue infrastructure in any adventure tourism exercise,” Soin said.

Contrary to apprehensions raised by adventure tour operators, Uttarakhand Chief Minister BC Khanduri, addressing a gathering at the inaugural session of the convention, said: “I don’t think anywhere in the world, such a small geographical area has so much beauty and scope for adventure.”

He further said his government was developing world-class facilities for the winter games in Uttarakhand, adding that in the last few years the government had laid special emphasis on promoting river rafting.

“Whether it is para-sailing or para-gliding, there is every type of adventure sports in Uttarakhand. There is immense scenic beauty here. We are making earnest efforts to provide the best possible facilities to tourists and good environment and encouragement for adventure sports,” he said.

Khanduri also said his government would be glad to know of the shortcomings so that corrective measures could be initiated. “Any suggestion related to the promotion of the adventure tourism is most welcome”, he announced. Uttarakhand Tourism Minister Parkash Pant said the state had done well in the tourism sector. “The number of tourists have gone up from 80 lakhs in year 2000 to 2.22 lakhs in 2008,” he said, adding that there was much more to explore in adventure tourism here.

Chief Secretary Indu Kumar Pandey said the government was in the process of identification of points in the Yamuna and the Kali where rafting could be introduced. “Till now rafting is allowed in the Ganga alone, but we intend to promote rafting by giving the go-ahead in other rivers too,” he said.

President of the association Ajeet Bajaj said they were in process of identifying new opportunities and challenges for adventure travel in India. “Our new opportunities include great new destinations, investment windows and new activities. Adventure is now an important part of corporate incentive and training programme, which is going to be next boon to our industry,” he said.

He said with the growth come several challenges and new hurdles which need to be addressed. He said most adventure travel destinations? faced issues related to shortage of human resource, safety and indemnity.

Dehradun, January 17
The Uttarakhand Chief Minister BC Khanduri has asserted that no place other than Uttarakhand is better for adventure tourism. After inaugurating the 7th Annual Convention of the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India at Institute of Hotel Management yesterday evening, Khanduri said, “I don’t think that any place in the world with such small geographical area has so much beauty and scope for adventure.”

The CM further said state government is developing world-class facilities for winter games in Uttarakhand, while adding that in the last few years the government had laid special emphasis on promoting river rafting. “Whether it is para-sailing or para-gliding, there is every type of adventure sport available in Uttarakhand with immense scenic beauty as well. We are making earnest efforts to provide best possible facilities to the tourist, good environment and encouragement for the adventure sports activities. It will not only be good for others but for our own interest as well,” he said.

Khanduri also said that they would be extremely happy to know the shortcomings and about lack of facilities, so that corrective measures could be initiated. “Any suggestion related to the promotion of adventure tourism is most welcome,” he announced. Earlier, in his speech Uttarakhand Tourism Minister, Parkash Pant said state has done well in the tourism sector. “The number of tourists have gone up from 80 lakhs in the year 2000 to 2.22 lakhs in 2008,” he said, while adding that Uttarakhand is simply heaven and there is so much to explore in adventure tourism here.

Chief Secretary, Indu Kumar Pandey said government is in process of identifying points in Yamuna and Kali river, for starting river rafting there. “Till now, rafting is allowed in Ganga only but in coming time, we intend to promote rafting by giving a go ahead for rafting at some points in other rivers also,” he added.

Dehradun, January 17
Travel writer Hugh and Mussoorie resident Ganzterm, terming adventure tourism as tourism of the future, emphasises on strict implementation of rescue and safety norms while carrying out any adventure activity.

Interacting with The Tribune on the sidelines of Adventure Tour Operators Convention here, international travel writer Hugh Ganzter said adventure tourism was the future of tourism in India.

“India has a big population of the young and this restless population wants to go in for tourism linked to adventure,” says Ganzter , a local resident. He says the younger generation has a higher sense of curiosity. “Even if a glacier recedes, a youngster wants to see it receding,” he says.

He, however, favours strict implementation of rescue and safety norms for adventure tourism, referring to a recent incident in Australia where a boy was killed in a freak rafting accident.

Ganzter wants constitution of a special force to look into the safety aspect linked with adventure tourism.

A senior citizen, Ganzter says even among the elderly there was a perceptible tendency for “soft adventure.” “For many, life now begins at 60 and with retired people having better health and financial status, their inclination towards soft adventure is growing.

As of rising environmental concerns linked to adventure tourism, the travelogue writer suggests slow amalgamation of adventure tourism with eco-tourism. “With increasing environment concerns, adventure tourism must slowly merge with adventure tourism in order to flourish,” he points out. 

Dehradun, January 17
Vijay Bahuguna, Member of Parliament from Tehri Garhwal, has blamed the BJP state government led by his own cousin brother, Chief Minister BC Khanduri (retd), for neglecting the tourism potential of Tehri Lake formed after the completion of Tehri dam.

Vijay Bahuguna, a senior state Congress leader, lamented that despite being in office for nearly two years, the present state government led by Khanduri has failed to draw up a comprehensive tourism plan for the vast lake.

“The lake provides tremendous potential to give a real boost to the economy of the region but the state government has failed even to acknowledge it,” Vijay Bahuguna said.

He said that while people have bought land on the periphery of the beautiful lake, the state government has failed to initiate any developmental scheme.

“I am sure that if the state government invites private partnership in developing the periphery of the Tehri Lake, investment of not less than Rs 10,000 crore could be attracted. It can help in a complete changeover of the economy of the Tehri district that has suffered in the past and also by the ill effects, like displacement and rehabilitation, of the hydroelectric projects,” he said.

Vijay Bahuguna suggested that the state government should immediately form a Tehri Lake Development Authority with the Chief Minister as its head. A ring road on the periphery of the lake should be made. The state government could tie up with the Tehri Hydroelectric Development Corporation (THDC) or even with the Union Tourism ministry for the planned development of the lake and its surrounding areas, he opined.

“International experts who helped in drawing up plans for the development of such famous lakes like that of Geneva should be consulted and all that can be done in private-public partnership,” Bahuguna said.

Charging that the entire Tehri parliamentary constituency has been neglected for the past 50 years, Bahuguna said that the attitude of the BJP state government has also been indifferent to the problems of displacement, connectivity and rehabilitation faced by the people who suffered due to Tehri project.

“Not even a single officer from the state came to Tehri when Union Power Minister along with parliamentary committee on power visited Tehri in February 2008 and had given a new package of Rs 149 crore.”

“The state government, which has been crying hoarse about discrimination by the central government, could only spend Rs 80 crore out of that,” blamed Bahuguna.

The Congress MP was happy that his efforts bore fruits and Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde would be laying the foundation stone of the country’s first dedicated college of Hydroelectric engineering at Bagghi village near Tehri on January 23.

The college to be set up with an investment of Rs 50 crore by the THDC will offer courses in all aspects of hydroelectric engineering.

On the next general elections, Vijay Bahuguna exuded confidence that his party would do well. “We more worried about the “Congress sabotage team” than the opposition BJP,” Bahuguna said while referring to the factionalism within the Uttarakhand Congress. 

Dehradun, January 17
People of Uttarakhand may have to face total blackout, as employees of the three state power corporations on Thursday threatened to observe indefinite strike if the government fails to honour assurances given to them regarding revision of pay scales and other demands.

As the deadline of the earlier statewide strike notice expired on Thursday, the authorities fearing an unprecedented situation invited the committee for negotiations at the state secretariat.

In the marathon meeting between a delegation of the committee and the authorities led by the state power secretary PK Sarangi, the government promised to take a positive decision regarding all their demands within a month.

Although the deliberations were held cordially, the assurance did not seem convincing enough to make the leadership of the employees drop the plan of total strike.

After the meeting, chief coordinator of the committee KR Kashyap announced that they would start an indefinite statewide strike from the intervening night of February 24-25 if the government backed out again after a month.

“We are giving the government one more chance. We have just got assurances in the past but no concrete decision was taken regarding acceptance of our demands,” he said.

Representing around 10,000 employees of Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited, Power Transmission Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited and Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited, the joint coordination committee of their officers and other employees had on December 23 given a notice to the state power authorities that they would boycott work across the state on January 15.

This was to be followed by complete strike that would have led to blackout in the state from the intervening night of January 27-28.

The power secretary confirmed that they have assured the committee members of a decision within a month. The authorities agreed that major anomalies existed in the time scale in certain type of posts. “A decision will positively be taken within a month after the demands are studied by the respective board of directors of these corporations. We have also agreed to review revision of pay scales of their employees separately,” he said.

The committee has been insisting that their case of pay revision should be reviewed separately as these are different from other state employees.

Dehradun, January 17
The state government shifted a dozen IAS and three PCS officers, yesterday evening. Principal secretary, medical education, Vijendra Pal, will now hold the charge of principal secretary, public complaints.

Secretary, tourism, youth welfare and sports, Rakesh Sharma, has been given charge of secretary, technical education. Secretary to the CM, Shatrughna Singh, has been given additional charge of secretary, housing, agriculture, excise and food and civil supplies. Dr Ranvir Singh was relieved of his charge of food and civil supplies department.

Secretary, general administration and language, Rajiv Chandra has been given additional charge of the food and civil supplies department. Secretary, rural engineering, Dr Dilbagh Singh has been given additional charge of labour and employment. Dr Rakesh Kumar has been relieved of his charge of protocol. Additional secretary, urban development, R. Meenakshi Sundaram, has been given additional charge of project director, ADB-funded urban development project. DM, Udham Singh Nagar, SS Rawat has been given additional charge of director, mandi.

Secretary labour and higher education Anjali Prasad has been relieved of her charge and given additional charge of culture, religious affairs and religious tourism. PS Kutiyal has been relieved of his charge of director, mandi. Additional Secretary Arvind Singh Hyanki has been relieved of his charge of labour department, but will continue to hold charge of additional secretary, PWD. He has also been given charge of additional secretary, estates and state estate officer.

Meanwhile, there has been a reshuffle in the police department as well. IG Garhwal Range Ashok Kumar has been transferred as IG Kumaon Range. DIG Kumaon SS Negi has been posted as DIG Training, Police Headquarters, Dehradun. IG, Law and Order, MA Ganapati will be new IG Garhwal Range. No one has yet been appointed as IG, Law and Order. 

Dehradun, January 17
Former minister in Uttar Pradesh government and three times BJP MLA Rajender Shah (55), who died in a road accident at Rainpur, Ranipokhri in Dehradun on Thursday evening was cremated with full state honours at Purnanand Ghaat, Muni Ki Reti, near Rishikesh.

People from all walks of life attended the cremation ceremony.

While trying to save a pedestrian at Rainpur crossing, Shah’s car lost its balance and rammed into a tree, yesterday evening. Shah was rushed to Jolly Grant Hospital where he was declared brought dead. Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister BC Khanduri today went to Race Course residence of Rajender Shah to pay his tributes. Rajya Sabha MP Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, Agriculture Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, state BJP president Bachi Singh Rawat, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Harbans Kapoor, Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee president Yashpal Arya and former Rajya Sabha MP Harish Rawat expressed grief over the demise of the former minister.

Shah won election from Mussoorie assembly constituency for first time in 1991. Thereafter he won elections from Mussoorie assembly constituency in 1993 and 1996. Shah also remained state minister in the Uttar Pradesh government. Shah was very active during the agitation for a separate state of Uttarakhand.

However, after the formation of the state, BJP denied ticket to him in 2002. Following this, he contested election from Rishikesh assembly constituency as an independent candidate but lost. 

Dehradun, January 17
Renowned cricket commentator Charu Sharma today came down heavily on the state government for failing to create any cricketing infrastructure in Uttarakhand during the past eight years.

Expressing deep regret over the lack of facilities for playing cricket in the state, Charu said it was extremely unfortunate that the government was not bothered about budding cricket players from the state.

Charu, who was in city to attend a convention on adventure tourism, said: “There is no cricket stadium in entire Uttarakhand that has been created by the government. Such negligent attitude towards one of the most popular games in India is really sad. It is certainly not possible to excel in cricket without having proper facilities and most importantly the stadium.”

Charu also said the state has immense cricketing talent but the problem is that budding players are not able to practice due to lack of infrastructure.

“It has been eight years since Uttarakhand gained statehood, but successive governments have miserably failed to set up even a single cricket stadium in the state,” he rued.

In absence of any cricket stadium, players are forced to practice on the streets. During the past eight years, budding cricketers have launched several agitations for a cricket stadium but to no avail.

When asked why Uttarakhand was not able to get affiliation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Charu squarely blamed the state government. “How can the state expect to get affiliation without having a single cricket stadium in the state,” he pointed out.

Due to lack of BCCI affiliation, Uttarakhand has no representation in major domestic tournaments. Instead, the state is attached with the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA). Due to this, talented players from the state are not getting opportunities to play at the state-level and can only do so for the Uttar Pradesh team.

Dehradun, January 17
Stepping up eco-tourism efforts, the Uttarakhand forest authorities have spruced up a century-old rest house at the picnic resort of Lachhiwala. Set up by the British way back in 1884, the rest house, that has two suites with a study, drawing and dinning facilities overlooks the picnic resort.

Spread over five hectares, the Lachhiwala resort falls midway Dehradun and the twin cities of Rishikesh and Haridwar, thus making it a popular resort for picnicking.

Tourists, mostly from Delhi, Punjab and Haryana, find thick forests amid water bodies ideal for holidaying. There are many who come for short sojourns to Dehradun’s sylvan surroundings and Lachhiwala certainly is high on their priority.

The forest authorities have come up with a series of measures towards upgrading facilities at the rest house. Water harvesting has been introduced as also solar water heating system.

“We have been laying much emphasis on eco-tourism. Lachhiwala being located in close vicinity of Dehradun Rishikesh and Haridwar attracts tourists in big numbers,”says BD Singh, Sub Divisional Forest Officer, Rishikesh.

As many as 1,80,000 tourists visited Lachhiwala falling in the Song Two Forest area during 2008. The forest authorities earned Rs 14,881,46 from tourists utilising paddleboats, canteen and photography services there.

The authorities have put up nominal charges of Rs 500 per suite during the peak season and Rs 300 for other days.

Lachhiwala continues to enjoy priority status among schoolchildren. “Located close to Dehradun city, Lachhiwala surroundings are safe for picnics, particularly for schoolchildren”, said Jaybir Singh, a teacher.

While there have been several mishaps at the Shastradhara resort with several water bodies, Lachhiwala has seen none with forest officials keeping tabs on the Song river stretch.

Roorkee, January 17
It seems that the Uttarakhand government is least bothered about the core element of the state’s emergency medical system - the trauma centres.

Albeit the building of the trauma centre, constructed at a cost of 69 lakh, at the government hospital is ready since three months, it is still awaiting staff and advanced equipment.

A visit to the Government Civil Hospital here reveals the sorry state of affairs of the newly built trauma center - empty rooms sans medical equipment and locked doors.

Dr RP Badoni, chief medical superintendent, said due to shortage of medical staff, the trauma centre, whose proposed budget is as much as three crore, could not be started yet. “Against the 31 sanctioned posts for doctors, the hospital has only nine. This shortage has overburdened the existing staff, which is forced to perform all types of duties including OPD, VIP duty, emergency, post mortems etc. In such situation how can we spare doctors to start the trauma centre?” questioned Dr Badoni.

The 100-bedded hospital caters to around 300 new patients, besides old patients, whose estimated figure is over 600 daily, he added.

He, however, admitted that the trauma centre was badly needed, as patients, mainly accident cases, need medical help that can be provided by only such 
a centre.

“In absence of the trauma centre, we have to refer emergency cases to Doon Hospital or some other places, which leads to the loss of precious time that can prove fatal in some cases,” said Dr Badoni.

“There is a dire need for a trauma centre with immediate effect as two main national highways - Delhi-Dehradun and Delhi-Haridwar - cross the city. Many serious accident cases come to us every now and then. So one can well imagine the importance of a such a centre here,” said Dr Badoni. When asked why important equipment including MRI machine, CT scan, digital x-ray machines etc are not installed in the centre yet, the CMS said when there was no staff to handle them there was no use of installing the machines.

“The centre needs around 10 specialists, including a neuro-surgeon, an orthopaedician and a dental surgeon. In addition, staff nurses, lab assistants and ward boys have to be appointed. As soon as we get the required staff, the trauma centre would start functioning,” said Dr Badoni.

Dehradun, January 17
Uttarakhand Chief Minister BC Khanduri on Thursday presented a cheque of Rs 2 lakh to Sandeep Mishra, the Border Security Force (BSF) officer who lost his eyesight after getting seriously injured in an encounter with ULFA terrorists in Assam.

Sandeep Mishra was hit by five bullets during a gunfire against ULFA terrorists in Tinsukhia district of Assam on December 13, 2000. He lost his eyesight after the incident.

After getting training in computers, Mishra, serving as Assistant Commandant in the BSF training school at Tanakpur, has been training other blinded soldiers. He was awarded the Presidents Medal for bravery in 2004.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the state as well as the country would remain indebted to Sandeep Mishra for showing exemplary courage and dedication. — TNS

Dehradun, January 17
Shiksha acharyas held a protest in front of the Uttaranchal Secretariat here yesterday to demand absorption as shiksha mitras.

“For one year, we have been fighting for our rights and till now, only 900 shiksha acharyas have been absorbed as shiksha mitras. As many as 1,757 shiksha acharyas are unemployed and unaided,” said Purn Singh Rana, state president, shiksha acharyas.

The protesters, in anger, even climbed on the barricade in front of the secretariat and shouted slogans against the government’s laid-back attitude towards shiksha acharyas.

Kajan Singh Chauhan, treasurer, Rajkumar, media in charge and Matbar Singh Rana, adviser, were present on the occasion. 

Mussoorie, January 17
BJP is initiating to form the Vyapar Mitra Samitis at the district and state level in Uttarakhand to resolve the problems and difficulties being faced by the traders. This was informed by JD Sharma, state co-cordinator of Vyapar Prakosht (Traders’ cell) of BJP yesterday.

Sharma said the BJP government in the state was quite concerned about resolving the difficulties being faced by the traders and therefore was taking steps in that direction. “Vyapar Mitra Samitis will act as a bridge between the government and the traders and will provide a platform to the traders’ problems and take put them before the government,” Sharma said.