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To fell or not to fell is state dilemma
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Vintage cars to roll in on Feb 27
Women won’t take it any longer
Trade Fair
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To fell or not to fell is state dilemma
Dehradun, February 10 A total of 350 sq km of forest land has been lost to non-forestry purposes, including irrigation, roads, tele-communication, mining and drinking water projects and transmission lines. Any developmental non-forestry activity on forest land is subject to clearance from the union environment and forest ministry as it falls under the ambit of the Forest Conservation Act. While there is pressure from the people of Uttarakhand, who strongly favour relaxing stringent forest laws to ensure speedy forest land transfer needed for various developmental works, the state is gradually losing its tree cover, which is a matter of worry. The state saw speedy forest land transfers for numerous development projects in the state after it came into existence. But these projects have come up at the cost of state forests. After the inception of Uttarakhand in November 2000, as much as 11,523 hectares of forest land was transferred for mining projects, 6,208 hectares for hydropower projects, 5,007 hectares for road construction, 1,205 hectares for communication projects, 962 hectares for laying transmission lines and 496 hectares for irrigation. A total of 7,644 hectares of forest land has been transferred for other miscellaneous non- forestry purposes since the formation of the hill state. The Forestry Survey of India report for 2003-2005 had revealed reduction in the forest cover of Uttarakhand by 18 sq km, recording the state's forest cover at 24,442 sq km. A major percentage of this decline has been in Haridwar district that has seen several development initiatives. Out of the the 18 sq km decrease, there has been a decrease of 13 sq km in the moderately dense forests and a decease of 5 sq km in open forests. According to the survey, Uttarakhand's 24,442 sq km of forest cover includes 4,002 sq km of very dense forests, 14, 396 sq km of moderate dense forests and 6,044 sq km of open forests. Uttarakhand forest secretary Anup Badhawan says that for a forest-rich state like Uttarakhand, diverting forest land for non-forestry purposes linked to development infrastructure is unavoidable. But then he strongly advocats a mechanism to strengthen the process of compensatory afforestation. “We needs to develop a fullproof process which strikes a balance between developmental and conservation efforts,” says Badhawan, adding that developimng countries across the globe have done so effectively. While people may clamour for speedy development, there are few who suggest stricter means to ensure that adequate plantation of new trees is done before sanctioning transfer of forest land for non-forestry purposes. Kalyan Singh Rawat, who led the “Maiti” movement (voluntary tree plantation) is concerned over large-scale forest land transfer. “While forest area has gone for non-forestry activities, any compensatory plantation is not seen on ground. It is only restricted to papers,” he maintains. Those in government and developmental agencies are under public pressure for more developmental activities like roads, schools, colleges and hospitals in the hills. The state with 70 legislators is hard-pressed to show developmental works for popular support. But all activities come at the cost of the forest cover. The state government finds the Forest Conservation Act as the biggest stumbling block in the development of Uttarakhand. It is at pains to convince the union ministry for granting it permission to fell more trees. The state says approval of forest land transfer is a tardy and time-consuming process. The Uttarakhand Chief Minister has expressed concern over the tardy progress in development schemes, saying the Forest Conservation Act often proved to be a hindrance in development activitiessuch as roads, hospitals, tourist centres and other key facilities. The state’s mainstay, hydroelectric projects, too suffer on this account. A senior advocate dealing with environment cases, SD Pant, supports stringent forestry laws. “If Uttarakhand today has managed to safeguard its land from the growing influence of the land mafia, it is purely on account of most of its geographical area falling under the purview of the Forest Conservation Act,” says Pant. The Uttarakhand government recently constituted a high- powered committee headed by Bachi Singh Rawat, MP from Almora, which will submit a report regarding simplifying rules laid down in the Forest Conversion Act, 1980.
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Too snug for winter games
Dehradun, February 10 Apart from snow, slow pace of work to develop infrastructure at Auli are also being cited as the reasons behind cancellation of the carnival. On the other hand, president of the Winter Games Federation of India, SS Pangtey, attributes it to the approaching Lok Sabha election. “The Chief Minister did not agree to stage the games during the election period, as it would violate the Election Code of Conduct. Therefore, the Nanda Devi Skiing Carnival will now be held next year,” said Pangtey. Pangtey admitted that scant snow was a major hindrance as well. “Auli hardly had any snowfall this winter,” he said. He revealed that the snowmaking machine is yet to be installed and a lot of work remains at the artificial lake. “A pipe to take water to the lake has been laid, but repairs need to be done at most places. A second air pipe is still to be installed, which will be handy in spraying snow from the artificial lake,” he said. Pangtey, however, claimed that 90 per cent of the work at Auli has been completed. “We have removed major boulders from the slope, and some minor ones will also be removed shortly. That will complete the dressing work for the slopes,” he said. But a lift facility is yet to be installed at the new slope, which will carry skiers from the finishing point of the slope to the starting point. Preparation at the Maharana Pratap Sports College, Dehradun, is also said to be in its last leg. Pangtey was hopeful that the Doon International Carnival would be held at the scheduled time of April or May this year. Notably, Rs 102 crore was allotted for setting up sports infrastructure for SAF Winter Games at Auli and Dehradun. While a new slope for skiing, a snow gun and an artificial lake were to come up at Auli, an ice-skating rink and a swimming pool meeting international standards are under construction in Dehradun.
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Vintage cars to roll in on Feb 27
Dehradun, February 10 Already flagged off from Kanyakumari on February 7, the rally would be reaching at the house of George Everest
Hathipaon, Mussoorie on February 27. Held at the initiative of Kalypso Adventure, a Kochi-based adventure tourism company, the rally has participation from as many as dozen teams and has active assistance with UK-based adventure travel company
ROARR. General Manager, Kalypso Adventure, Cdr Sam T Samuel told The Tribune that this car rally is retracing the great Survey of India undertaken to map the Indian subcontinent and to determine the exact shape of the earth. This 2,500 km inch perfect mega survey began in 1802 and took about half a century to complete. Cdr Samuel disclosed that to relive some aspects of the 19th century event, the participants will be camping at four locations enroute - Dindigul (Tamil
Nadu), Hampi (Karnataka), Kaddam Dam (Andhra Pradesh) and Pachmarhi (Madhya Pradesh) while covering as many as 10 states -
Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh,
Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Uttarakhand.
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Women won’t take it any longer
Dehradun, February 10 According to the information provided by the commission, the number of complaints regarding mental torture was 185 in the state between April 2007 to March 2008. “No longer hesitant, women are now increasingly coming to us with their problems. Despite women taking the maximum workload in the hills, they do not get their due,” said Raj Rawat, chairperson, State Women’s Commission. “The hours of hard work at home are not monetarily compensated and when they demand it, they are tortured. The woman’s economic dependence on her husband makes her vulnerable,” she added. “There have been several cases when men after losing their jobs begin harassing their wives,” said Raj Rawat. The commission data shows that from Dehradun, there were 65 complaints regarding mental torture, from Haridwar 35, from Pauri Garhwal 9, from Chamoli 6, from Udham Singh Nagar 35, from Nainital 16, from Pithoragarh 5 and from Almora 6. While the number of complaints of domestic violence were 40, those of physical torture 47 and property disputes 36. Citing a case of a 70-year-old woman from Mussoorie who had approached the commission for a quick divorce, “It appeared that the woman had been enduring physical and mental abuse right thorough her married life.” “Her husband did not give her any money for her monthly and household expenses and tortured her, when she demanded it. After counselling the husband, the matter was sorted out, but it was an uphill task explaining to the husband the need to give some money to his wife, despite the fact that all her needs were being looked after,” explained Sharda, secretary, State Women’s Commission. Cases of harassment for dowry are showing an upward trend in the state. In Dehradun, the total number of complaints that the commission took up were 119. From Haridwar, the figure was 70 while it was 78 from Udham Singh Nagar.
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Trade Fair
Dehradun, February 10 “I belong to the Shah Pashmina Society of Srinagar, and since the past 10 years I am into shawl business, which is our family business,” said Shafiq Ahmed Shah. The 156-year-old shawl is named as ‘Old Kani Jamawar’ and was made by Assan Shah of the Shah Society, who took long six years to create this classic piece. “He was the father of my grandfather,” claimed Shafiq Ahmed Shah. The colour combination, intricate handwork and the fineness of the wool make it a rare piece. “Though now a days we have got ample of colour combination and design, this kind of work makes it an antique piece. And I will always preserve it for its uniqueness and never sell it to customers,” said Shafiq Ahmed Shah. Pashmina shawls are made out of sheep wool, found in extreme cold temperature in ladhakh. “Ladhakh sheep is very rare and is found in almost minus 50°C,” said Shafiq Ahmed Shah. The family of Shafiq Ahmed Shah has taken extra care and precautions in preserving this rare art. We have used no preservatives, but as woolen is pro-insect bite so after every 20 days expose it is to fresh air. Moreover, we hang it in a dry place and always use a cotton bag for travelling purpose. Plastics and naphthalene are big threat to Pashmina shawls and should be avoided,” he said. However, with variety and quality, the price of original Pashminas starts from Rs 4,000 and depending on the level of embroidery it even can cost a lakh or two.
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