Dehradun, June 10
After the Gajana forest felling incident, Narendra Nagar in Tehri district seems to be in the thick of a controversy with hundreds of trees felled on the land belonging to the erstwhile royal family of Tehri Garhwal. The Uttarakhand government has ordered a probe.

Thick wood forests in Chandogi area of Narendra Nagar district have been a witnessto indiscriminate felling in a planned manner. The forests are first put on fire and subsequently the trees felled to clear the land. The forest provides a panoramic view of Rishikesh and holds much real estate value.

Labourers engaged in clearing of forests in Chandogi admit in hushed tones that while they have cleared 50 ‘nalis’ of forest, another 100 ‘nalis’ are planned to be cleared soon.

They say a builder from Delhi has purchased 50 ‘nalis’ of land. Prima facie, an FIR has been lodged against Sampurnanad Joshi, caretaker of the property of the royal family at Narendra Nagar.

Taking into account the severity of the incident, Uttarakhand forest secretary Anup Wadhawan has directed a probe. “ I have directed the principal chief conservator of forests for a probe and submission of report at the earliest,” he said.

However, the forest officer, Dr RBS Rawat, said he had yet to receive a letter for any probe. He categorically said the Narendra Nagar incident was linked to civil forests and it was wrong to put the blame of the forest department. “Even in the Gajana case, while the forest department acted promptly and suspended a DFO-level officer, little action came from the revenue department,” Dr Rawat pointed out, reiterating the department’s commitment to work for protection of the forest wealth.

The Tehri district authorities, however, point a finger at the forest authorities. District magistrate Saujanya put the onus on the forest department, saying a major portion of the affected land was in the jurisdiction of the forest department. Only some trees that were felled stood on civil land.

“While an FIR has been lodged, we are investigating the matter,” Saujanya said, stressing that they were treating the matter with seriousness.

According to land records, there is confusion on 220 hectares of non-ZA category of forest land in the name of the Tehri maharaja. Naib Tehsildar Siddiqui held that the land was in the name of Manujendra Shah. However, the non-ZA land could not be sold, he maintained. But Deoprayag sub-registrar records show that the maharaja has sold 1.40 hectares to TACL, Dehradun.

The Tehri royal family had some time back sought permission from the forest department for felling a certain number of trees on their land. The application is still with the forest authorities.

It seems without waiting for the official nod, the family has resorted to felling of trees.

Sources say the family wants to sell most of its forest land in Narendra Nagar as early as possible as it fears it will not be able to hold on to the land for long. The forest department and district authorities may have buckled under pressure as the family that holds much clout in the state.

But the royal family denies these charges, saying it is only trying to protect the land from encroachers. It denies felling trees and maintains the land had been only cleared of bushes.

The incident has come as a shock after the felling of trees at Gajana in Tehri district last year. The axing of 1,116 pine trees then had shaken the Uttarakhand government. It suspended three more senior officers for large-scale felling on the outskirts of New Tehri by a private developer in connivance with forest officials.

Similarly, trees were uprooted in the Chamba fruit belt as well as another fruit belt alongside the Mussoorie-Yamunotri highway.

The Narendra Nagar incident yet again reveals the vulnerability of the forests. This comes at a time when union minister of state for forests Jairam Ramesh has called for stringent measures like strict implementation of the Forest Conservation Act to protect the forest wealth.

Dehradun, June 10
In a jam-packed Khetrapal auditorium, Indian Military Academy (IMA) Commandant Lt Gen Rajinder Singh Sujlana gave awards to the outstanding Gentlemen Cadets (GCs) of the passing-out course for spring term 2009.

In an impressive awards ceremony, Lt Gen Sujlana felicitated the GCs, who had performed exceptionally well in various fields during their training at the IMA.

During the ceremony, awards for individual excellence, rolling trophies and banners and awards for excellence in sports were distributed.

Some of the award winners included BCQM Vishal Dahiya (Parachute Regt Medal for best in endurance and physical toughness), Battalion Under Officer Raktim Das (Governor of Uttarakhand Trophy for standing overall first in academics), BCA Abhishek Rana (Rajputana Rifles Medal for being best in tactical ability, initiatve and leadership), GC Karnail Singh (IMA Medal for first in order of merit from SCO course), GC Rajat Chandra (Grenadiers Prize), GC Ravi Parkash Singh (Signals Medal), Junior Under Officer Raj Kiran Bhadauria (Brigade of the Guards Medal) and Senior Under Officer SP Deshpande (Maratha Light Infantry Medal for being adjudged best in PT).

Addressing the GCs, Lt Gen Sujlana said that valour, glory, firmness, skills, generosity and steadiness in battle are the duties of a soldier.

“IMA develops skills, helps built character and finally produces vibrant, confident and skillful young leaders who are ready to sacrifice their life for the sake of the nation,” he asserted.

He appreciated the GCs for voluntarily choosing the noblest of all professions.

Lt Gen Sujlana added that he was happy that the cadets had voluntarily preferred a life which would be physically and mentally demanding.

“Army is a way of life not just a job or a career. It demands the highest standards of selflessness, courage, integrity, loyalty, camaraderie and will power,” he asserted.

“Whether it was external invasion, internal disorders or insurgency, for the past six decades, the Indian Army has proven to be most dependable,” Lt Gen Sujlana told the gathering. The Commandant also spoke about the secular image of the Indian Army. Stressing on the secular tradition of the Indian army, he said, “Remember the code of a warrior - I am a warrior; defending the nation is my dharma.

“I will like to convey to the GCs not to make liquor consumption a habit. Liquor has to be consumed in moderation. And the same applies to smoking as well,” said the Commandant .

He exhorted the GCs to imbibe the qualities of sincerity, benevolence and wisdom in them.

He also said that it is extremely important for the officers to adapt to the language of the troops as early as possible.

On this occasion, Lt Gen Sujlana also released the IMA Journal for the spring term

The women’s reservation Bill has taken a political hue with Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh and Sharad Yadav expressing opposition to the proposed legislation. The Tribune staffer Sandeep Rawat spoke to women in Haridwar on the issue. This is what they had to say

Certain parties are adopting an anti-women stance because they think man has the first right to power. When 50 pc reservation was given to women in panchayats, then too there were apprehensions. Women have showed their prowess in managing panchayat affairs and will do so in state affairs too

— Santosh Chauhan, former state Women’s Commission chief

Equal representation of women is imperative if India has to move forward. We want 50 pc reservation and we have the ability to govern better than our male counterparts

— Vimla Pandey,Mahila Utpidan Samiti

We celebrate Women’s Day/Mother’s Day, but when it comes to power, we are treated as secondary. If Mulayam fears women politicians, why back Jaya Prada as MP?

— Jaya Adlakha, Womens Degree College

You cannot expect these leaders to work for woman welfare when they hold are biased against them and look down upon them as inferior beings

— Shikha Ohri, student

Haridwar, June 10
Activists of the Congress women cell today burned the effigies of Mulayam Singh Yadav and Sharad Yadav and raised slogans against the two leaders for their “derogatory remarks” on women in Parliament during discussion on the women’s reservation Bill.

Led by former state women commission chief Santosh Chauhan, the activists gathered at Bhagat Singh Chowk. From there they moved towards Chandracharya Chowk in a procession raising slogans against Mulayam Singh, Sharad Yadav .

Meera Raturi of the Uttarakhand Kranti Manch and ward members Karuna Sharma, Yashoda Rani, Rama Chaudhari, Suman Aggarwal, Babita Dandriyal, Meera Raturi, Usha Sarkar, Saroj Kapil, Veena Kapur, Subadhra Arya, Usha Dhiman, almati,Kalavati, Shankutla Gupta, Harmit Kaur, Kamaljit Saini, Nirmal Talwar, Rameshwari,Jyoti, Jayanti Devi, Sunehra, Subhadra Aggarwal, Dayawanti and Suman Devi participated in the protest.

Dehradun, June 10
‘Be different, be among the best’ is the motto of ‘Promise’, an organisation engaged in the overall development of young students. In ‘Promise’ unlike any tuition or a coaching centre, children come once a week to see their mentor where on a one-to-one basis they counsel them.

They give students tailor-made assignments in science, mathematics and social studies.

The assignments are based on the books that are followed at school. Revision is the key and what ever is taught to the children is being revised and instilled into their memory.

Children are made to go through the memory practice exercises.

Along with academics, social problems are also tackled at the institute.

Personality development, workshops on topics like time management, leadership, etiquette and grooming, overcoming shyness, table manners, net etiquette, social events, public speaking, positive thinking, handling your parents, apologising like a superstar and more such intriguing topics are done in small groups of about 15 to 20 children.

The counselling of the parents also takes place once a month. “Summer and winter workshops are regularly held for regular students.

“Maximum exposure is given to children through camps, activities like yoga, dance, English accent training, Vedic maths, guitar, art and craft, creative writing etc,” said Shagun Kapoor, centre head, Promise.

Promise tries to give exposure to the children for building their overall personalities along with academic excellence.