Haridwar, January 17
The Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited Engineers and Officers Association today held a demonstration at the Central Administrative Office here demanding implementation of the hike in salary in accordance with the Sixth Pay Commission norms.

The employees threatened to go on indefinite strike if their demands were not met. Junior engineers and officers gathered at the administrative office and staged a dharna with association leaders addressing the gathering.

The angry agitators raised slogans against the government and demanded promotion and pay hike in accordance with the Sixth Pay Commission and at par with oil sector giant ONGC.

The association chairman Ravidutt Sharma said that the BHEL management is defying the Indian government’s directions.

“In 1997, Justice Mohan committee made some suggestions regarding pay grade but BHEL management did not adhere to them due to which we are getting less pay.”

The association also demanded that pension be given to them on the lines of the Central government employees.

“This policy of promotion has been going on for years and when BHEL was only HEL. With globalisation and change in lifestyle, it is imperative to also amend pay and promotion policy,” said a visibly upset Onkaranath Avasthi, association secretary.

Among executive members at dharna were Jay Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Ajit Jetli, Kanchi Giri, Khayati Singh Rawat, Suraj Pal, SN Singh, Chandraveer Singh, Satish Kumar, Jayprakash, Nirbhay Singh, Vijay Rawat, SC Farassi and Gyan Swaroop.

Dehradun, January 17
Contrary to expectations, power situation in winter this year is more or less stable due to little increase in demand. As such, consumers in the state are unlikely to face any scheduled power cuts.

According to Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited officials (UPCL), the daily shortage of 4.7 million units (MU) is being compensated by return banking from Punjab, Haryana and Gujarat.

The corporation is receiving 3.8 MU per day from these states. As of now, the daily demand in the state is 23 MU against availability of 18.3 MU.

Since the demand has not increased much as compared to the corresponding period last year, the pressure on supply is within control.

“On the basis of the present situation, we can say that there will be no scheduled cuts. But if the frequency is low, emergency rostering may be resorted to as it happened for six days in the first fortnight of this month,” said Jagmohan Lal, director operations of power corporation.

Interestingly, the one MU increase in demand is a matter of relief power authorities as they expected it to be more.

Normally, a 10 per cent increase is projected every year, which means that it could have reached 24.5 MU for some days in this winter month.

But this has not happened. The maximum demand of this month was 23.8 MU on January 6. “It may have to do with cold conditions prevailing on the day,” said Lal.

Another relieving factor this time is the increased generation. The states own hydro-stations are generating 9.9 MU daily since beginning of this month against the target of 8 MU.

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) fixes the target on the basis of availability of water in the rivers and reservoirs for the past several years.

“The power generation has improved as compared to last year. This has happened due to Maneri-Bhali II project which has started contributing 1.5 MU daily,” said RP Thapliyal, managing director of Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited.

This will be followed by a drive against individual and private ones in whose case the meters are normally disconnected.

It is easier to realise the dues from them than the government defaulters like police stations, legislators or ministers, added sources.

Dehradun, January 17
Even while a large amount of research is done in the country on forestry, research outcomes hardly reach grassroots level and only a few benefits trickle down to farmers, said Dr RV Singh, ex-director, General Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education.

Addressing the delegates at the workshop “Extension Strategies in Forestry Research” here, Dr RV Singh told the delegates that research work due to varied reasons has failed to reach the grassroots level.

“Researches could only be of significance if its results, in some way, benefits the target groups and makes the desirous impact on farmers,” Dr Singh said.

He said he had come out with a compilation of research work done in the past 20 years and found that its implementation on the ground had been minimal due to the lack of extension policy.

Earlier, Padma Bhushan and environmentalist Chandi Prasad Bhatt, while seeking people’s participation in research, emphasised on people-oriented research.

“While formulating research priorities, the problems of women should also be given due consideration,” he observed.

Bhatt, however, expressed happiness on the effective implementation of Van Vigyan Kendra Scheme.

Dr Jagdish Kishwan, director general, ICFRE, spoke on the efforts undertaken by the council through the Van Vigyan Kendras towards dissemination of research work.

He said 22 Van Vigyan Kendras have been established across the country with the help of the state Forest Department while nine more are in the pipeline.

Decentralisation of research, involvement of farmers, making them more field-oriented and ensuring that research works get converted into usable technologies were some of key suggestions that emerged in the course of deliberations at the workshop.

The workshop conducted by Directorate of Extension, ICFRE, was aimed at evolving extension strategies in forestry research for the eight institutes located in different eco-geographical regions. Representatives from eight institutes of ICFRE participated at the workshop.

Dr Rajendra Dobhal, director, Uttarkhand Council for Science and Technology, RD Jakati, director, Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, and Dr SS Negi, director, FRI, also spoke on the occasion. Sarvesh Singhal, additional director general, ICFRE, accorded the vote of thanks.

Dehradun, January 17
A local girl, Suman Panwar, now studying at IIT Kanpur, has been bestowed a rare honour - she would view the Republic Day Parade from the Prime Minister’s box at Rajpath, New Delhi, on January 26.

Her name was forwarded by her former alma mater Kirori Mal college (New Delhi) from where she graduated in mathematics (hons) with distinction last year and was awarded a gold medal.

Notably, the government has a practice of inviting toppers to view the parade along with the PM from his box.

Pursuing M.Sc (I) mathematics from IIT Kanpur, Suman said she was surprised when she was selected for the honour and tried to downplay media attention.

“I do not know why so much fuss is being made about it, the university usually selects toppers and I happen to be one. Although I understand that I am the first mathematics topper among girls to be selected for the honour,” said Suman.

She is now waiting for the formalities to be completed from the District Magistrate’s office. Even as dwindling interest in mathematics seems to be a general trend among students pursing higher studies, in Suman’s case it was a deliberate choice.

“Even while I was in 12 standard at Carmen school in Dehradun, I was quite clear that I would not opt for a career in engineering. Instead, I went on to do mathematics (hons) from Kirori Mal College,” said Suman.

“It is a fact that very few women take up mathematics as a subject. Although there are many engineers, pure mathematics is not very popular among girls,” she added.

About her future plans, Suman is still undecided. “PhD is definitely my goal, but let’s see what happens. For now, I have another year at the IIT,” said Suman.

“We are of the firm view that if we contest alone, it could mean direct loss to the Congress,” added Barthwal.

Haridwar, January 17
With less than 15 months for the Maha Kumbh in Haridwar, the slow progress of work has put doubts over its timely completion.

The slow work by various departments invited the ire of Subhash Kumar, principal secretary to Chief Minister, who was dissatisfied with the ongoing work despite the full amount being sanctioned months ago. Subhash Kumar today had a meeting with officials of all concerned departments.

He directed the Public Work Department and Ganga Pollution Control Board (GPCB) officials to speed up their respective projects.

He also said that quality norms should be strictly checked by the nodal officers at the sites and quality shouldn’t be compromised at any cost.

He expressed his anguish at the working of the PWD. He warned the department that despite a fortnight having passed in January, the department has not spend a single penny of the sanctioned amount.

He warned them to speed up the work so that it gets completed by the year-end. Executive engineer PWD said that the department has spent Rs 600.95 lakh on the construction of the railway bridge at Purkaji Lakshar Marg.

It is part of the first instalment of Rs 1,200 lakh of the total amount of Rs 2558.88 lakh sanctioned for the project. He said work would be completed in stipulated time.

Kumar lauded the efforts of the departments who were doing timely work. He ordered Vijay Dhaundiyal, upper secretary, urban development, to release the second instalment to the departments who have spent their first instalment.

He was full of praise for efficient officers who work hard to meet deadlines. The irrigation department and Rajaji National Park have spent their first instalment.

Dehradun, January 17
At the third All-India SP Singh Memorial U-13 Cricket Tournament underway at Indian Public School Ground here, Vishwakarma Cricket Academy (VCA), Rohtak, Shah Satnam Cricket Academy, Randhir Verma XI and Amritsar XI teams won their respective matches today.

In the first match played between Delhi Wanderers and the VCA, VCA elected to bat first after winning the toss and scored 226 runs in 20 overs. Ashish made 77 runs and Raman contributed 49 runs.

Delhi Wanderers were a disappointment. The team could make only 90 runs in 15 overs. Their key players failed to deliver. It was all evident in their body language. VCA won the match by 136 runs. Raman was declared Man of the Match.

Shah Satnam Cricket Academy (SSCA), Sirsa, played against Raghubir Singh Cricket (RSC), Delhi.

SSCA won the match by 77 runs. Sagar Singh of SSCA made 56 runs from 36 balls. A spirited Ashish Dhama scored 49 off 40 balls and took one wicket. He was appropriately declared Man of the Match amidst cheering.

In another match, Delhi Eaglets played against Randhir Verma XI, Dhanbad. Randhir Verma XI won the match by 58 runs.

Man of the Match Abhinav Raj of Randhir Verma XI made 52 runs off 52 balls. He seemed in excellent form.

In the match between Kumar Club, Patna, and Amritsar XI, the Amritsar team won by a whopping 177 runs, leaving the Patna team bewildered. Marshal of Amritsar XI, who scored 110 runs, was the Man of the Match.