Dehradun, July 14
The Virender Dikshit recommendations favouring Dehradun over Gairsain and other cities as permanent capital of Uttarakhand has stirred a hornet’s nest.

While many back Dehradun as permanent capital, there is a clear opinion in favour of a capital in the hills.

Set up on January 11, 2001, the Dikshit Commission was constituted to decide on permanent capital for the state after the then Nityanand Swami interim government failed to reach a decision.

During its eight-year-long working with as many as 10 extensions, the panel finally submitted it’s report on August 17 last. the report was tabled in the state assembly on July 13.

The commission has favoured setting up the state capital in the Nathuwawala-Balawala belt on the outskirts of Dehradun city.

From the very beginning, Gairsain, Ramnagar, Kashipur and Rishikesh areas of Uttarakhand were under the consideration of the Dikshit panel which after considerating all pros and cons finally decided in Dehradun’s favour. The commission that took assistance from the School of Planning and Architecture and the remote sensing data found the Nathuwawala-Balawala region most suited for building the state capital taking into account all parameters needed to meet the needs of the capital.

Connectivity, safety and space availability certainly goes in favour of this region. The commission has suggested the acquisition of as many as 500 hectares in the Nathuwawala- Balawala belt that includes Nakronda, Harrawala and Kunwawala apart from Nathuwawala and Balawala areas.

A permanent capital has always been a sensitive issue and the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal has always advocated Gairsan as permanent capital, putting it on top of its party agenda.

The UKD think-tank that vouches for Gairsain says that as the region lies in the hills and is located between Garhwal and Kumaon, it is a fit case to be made Uttarakhand’s capital.

UKD Dwarahat MLA Pushpesh Tripathy has made it amply clear that his party will continue to back Gairsain, adding at the same time that is was not binding for the state government to go by the commission’s recommendations.

Gairsain that was in contention for capital status lost due to lack of proper connectivity. Air, Rail and even road connectivity was not found of the levels needed for any state capital.

Ramanagar was rejected for the purpose as any such exercise would have resulted in loss of big chunk of cultivable land as was also found in the case of Tea Gardens from East Hopetown till Harbanswala in West Doon.

In case of Indian Drugs and Pharmaceutical Limited Township, it was found that the area did not have ample space. Similarly, for Kashipur the commission took into account as many as 24 villages but it woud have involved loss of large traqcts of fertile land.

But then even making Nathuwawala- Balawala belt as permanent capital of Dehradun will pose several challenges. The entire exercise calls for acquisition of 500 hectares which certainly will not be easy.

Dehradun has already been in the thick of anti-land acquisition agitation and any such step is likely to further bring people into a clash with the establishment. And even if acquisition does take place, uprooting as many as 5,000 people will be a herculean task. There is already a simmering discontenton the issue.

Nathuwala pradhan Surendra Bhandari has categorically held that while villagers have no problem utilising barren land for setting up a capital, but they will not allow acquisition of fertile land.

While the issue of permanent capital still seems far from over, the two major political parities, BJP and Congress, have never been clear on their opinion on the subject. Both have desisted from coming openly in support of either Dehradun or Garisain as permanent capita.

Many among them favour continuation of Dehradun as permanent capital but they too avoid coming on record. It is still to be seen how the two parties react to the report. For the UKD, that has been fast slipping into political oblivion, the issue has charged up its cadres again.

Led by Party president Dr Narayan Singh Jantwal, the party’s top office-bearers staged a Dharna at Gandhi Park on Monday in favour of Gairsain.

While the Dikshit Commission has finally completed the arduous task and placed its verdict before both the people and the adsministration, it may still take some time before the political leadership in the state comes to any conclusion.

Till then, the issue will continued to be debated.

Mussoorie, July 14
One wonder shrub with lots of goodies is the blackberry, locally known as the ‘Kaala Hissar’. Blackberry (Rubus Fructicosus) is a perennial shrub and can be seen around moist shady slopes all over the mountains.

Apart from the juicy sweet berries that ripen during July-August, the blackberry shrub is of high medicinal value - right from the root till the tip of the leaf.

The shrub has a cluster of stems, which are not thicker than a finger but are very strong and thorny. It is adorned with tiny pinkish white flowers in June and homes the nests of the Bush Thrush. The leaves are a good source of vitamin C and rich in organic acids.

The dried leaves boiled in water are known cure diarrhea and stomach inflammations caused due to summer heat and eating disorders. The same syrup is also beneficial for curing mouth and throat inflammations.

The berry itself, which turns red to black when ripe, is a rich source of vitamin C and has antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal properties. It is a favorite among children and the birds of the mountains.

The womenfolk also enjoy the berry as “energy pills” while working in the terraced fields and collecting fodder in the jungle. The “Kaala Hissar” has found a place in the folk songs of Uttarakhand as well.

The root of is a hot favourite among men folk of the hills for very obvious reasons - it is a vital ingredient in the preparation of delicious homemade wine, which is a very good appetiser and digestive agent. This is in addition to the “mellow high” that it provides.

The roots are boiled in water with other ingredients and the evaporation process leads to formation of the wine.

Blackberry, being a thorny shrub, is also used for fencing kitchen gardens.

Unlike its cousin raspberry, which grows in summer and is soon plundered by children and the birds, the blackberry is less exploited owing to heavy rain, thick fog cover and overgrowth
of the ground vegetation during the season when it grows.