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Power politics weakening projects
A traditionalist to the core
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Standing tall, still
Kumaon Engg College renamed
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Power politics weakening projects
Dehradun, August 31
Cost overrun and inordinate delays has plagued the Lakhwar-Vyasi multi-purpose hydel project on the Yamuna near Dakpathar. The project would produce 420 mw of power on completion. Vijay Bahuguna, MP from Tehri Garhwal, gave a call for a bandh in Uttarkashi in protest against the decision of the Union Ggovernment to stop work on the Lohari-Nagpala project built by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) since February 2009 following the threat by environmentalist Prof GD Agarwal to resume indefinite fast. “Politics should not determine the fate of power projects that are essential for the development of our nascent state. The Chief Minister should come out with a policy on power projects,” said Bahuguna. The Uttarakhand Government had taken over the Lakhwar project from the NHPC after work on the Pala Maneri and Bhairon Ghati projects was stopped. Interestingly, while projects undertaken by state agencies are getting delayed, the Uttarakhand irrigation department has decided to set up a separate power corporation to build hydro-electric projects in the state. Two key hydel projects have been allotted to the department. The department has submitted a proposal to the state government in this regard that will be put before the cabinet for approval. Senior irrigation department officials are hopeful that the proposal will be passed by the state government, paving the way for the department to play an important role in the construction of hydro-electric projects. Senior irrigation department officials say since the department manages the hydro-electric projects and barrages, they are capable enough to undertake construction of hydro-electric projects that are multipurpose in nature, also catering to the irrigation needs. With a corporation of its own, the department hopes to get more contracts in the near future to develop hydel projects. The state has 20,000-30,000 mw of hydropower potential. After the creation of Uttarakhand in November 2000, hydro-electricty is seen as a major area of development. Only 3,000 mw has been tapped till date. The Uttarakhand Government has allocated Arakot Tyuni (81 mw) and Tiuni Plasu (72 mw) to the irrigation department. Earlier, the department was also involved in the construction of the second phase of the Maneri Bhali project on the Bhagirathi upstream of Uttarkashi but delays and charges of irregularities prevented the state government from considering one of its own department for the job. Now, once again the state government has reposed faith in its irrigation department which is busy preparing a detailed project report (DPR) of the two projects. The 72-mw Tiuni Plasu is being developed on the river Tons, a tributary of the Yamuna in Tiuni area of the hilly Uttarkashi district. The run-of-the-river project will have three units of 24 mw each and generate 273.67 million units (MU) of power at 90 per cent availability. The head race tunnel of the project will be 4.3 km long. The 81-mw Arakot Tiuni will come up on the Pabar river, a tributary of the Yamuna in Purola area of Uttarkashi district. The project will have three units of 27 mw each with a 11.08-km-long head race tunnel. It will produce 404 MU of power. But the major worry for the state government remains the Lakhjwar Vyasi project that has been much delayed. The cost of the project was estimated at Rs 141 crore only when envisaged in the seventies. But now it has shot up to Rs 4000 crore. The state government awarded the project to its the Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam last year but there remain several hiccups with various works done by various agencies since the project was started in 1979. An amount of Rs 247.64 crore has been spent on the project. The construction on the project began in 1979 and came to a halt in 1997, mainly owing to inadequate funds. The National Hydro Power Corporation has sought a claim of Rs 75 crore from the nigam for preparing the detailed project report (DPR) and other works. The project is likely to produce 852 million units of power besides irrigating 40,000 hectares through the East Yamuna Canal. Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi will be the beneficiaries of the project. The project will also help generate 75 million units of extra power from downstream projects like Kulhal, Dhalipur and Dhakrani during the lean period by virtue of its vast reservoir.
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A traditionalist to the core
Dehradun, August 31 Here in Doon to receive the prestigious Shalinder Samman, Joshi emphasised on the need to preserve Uttarakhand’s innocence. Favouring selective entry for producers keen to shoot in the state, Joshi feels that in order to preserve the beauty of the state, certain places need to be kept out of bounds. “I am in favour of restrictive entry. The innocence of a small town will be lost forever if crew from Mumbai was to descend there; it would be blatant interference in the the daily life of our people and their traditions,” he says. Quick to admit that it was his songs that brought him popularity, he says: “Though I started writing poems at age 17, it was only when these were set to music that people
started noticing my works. I did not approach people for work but after my first work with Shuba Mudgal ‘Ab ke baras,’ things took an altogether different turn,” He said. Joshi believes that a demanding audience can bring in the best in
people and force producers and lyricists to come out with good work. “At times I am surprised at the utter lack of awareness that the media displays while evaluating a piece of work. One has to remember
that nothing in art can be black or white,” says Joshi. Calling for an art institute in Uttarakhand that can hone the talent of young artistes, Joshi says: “It can do wonders to aspirants as there is no dearth of work for talented artists,
but right attitude and training is a must.” Having built a rapport with the likes of AR Rehman and Aamir Khan, he says: “I believe that relationships
have to be built beyond work; a dialogue has to be struck some-where and it is sure to see you
through turbulent times.” On his association with the Rural Entrepreneurship in Art and Cultural Heritage (REACH) that plans to rope him in as brand ambassador, Joshi says he is willing to work in any
manner provided due respect is accorded to state culture and heritage.
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Standing tall, still
Dehradun August 31 Asia’s tallest pine tree - 60.65 metres long and 2.50 metres in diameter - fell after a storm a few years ago. However, it has been preserved at the very site by Yamuna Circle forest officials, who despite meagre departmental resources have even created a mini-museum that has become a major tourist destination. The tree, locally known as ‘Chir’, fell in May 2007 after a fungus Ganoderam appalnatum had already weakened it. Forest Research Institute officials made frantic efforts to save the tree, but failed. However, after it came down, Yamuna forest authorities decided to preserve the tree, which was once even awarded by Union Forest Ministry because of its length. Yamuna forest officials sent a proposal to Uttarakhand tourism department for preservation of the tree, but after getting little support decided to go ahead on their own. “After the tourism department showed little interest, we decided to use our own budgetary resources and turned the site where the pine tree had fallen into a museum,” said BP Gupta, Chief Conservator of Forest,Yamuna Circle. The tree now lies close to Tyuni Nogaon road and tourists who come for rafting in Tons River, which is located closeby, often visit the museum as well. The Tons Forest Division has the reputation of being one of thickly forested areas of Uttarakhand. Apart from the fallen pine tree, it houses Asia’s tallest living Deodar tree that is 48 metres in length and 8.25 metres in diameter. This tree has an estimated age of 400 years. An ‘Ambu’ tree in the region - 50 metres in length and 3.35 in diameter - was awarded by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in 1995 as the tallest tree in Asia.
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Kumaon Engg College renamed
Dehradun, August 31 The Chief Minister made the announcement on the occasion of fifth death anniversary of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal leader from the Kumoan region. Nishank, who was away in Delhi interacted over the telephone with MLA Pusphesh Tripathy, son of late Vipin Tripathy. He also described late Vipin Tripathy as an able statesman and a mass leader. “Tripathy’s contribution to the society and the cause of the hill people will be remembered for a longtime,” Nishank said. Meanwhile, Nishank has expressed grief over demise of literatteur and senior journalist Pitambar Dutt Deorani. While expressing his condolences to the bereaved family members, Dr Nishank recalled Deorani’s contribution in enhancing the literature in the region. He said the state had always been home to eminent literary personalities and Deorani has been one of them.
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A pine tree in the Tons Forest Division of Uttarakashi district in
Uttarakhand, which has long been dead, continues to be source of tourist interest, courtesy the forest authorities.
Asia’s tallest pine tree - 60.65 metres long and 2.50 metres in diameter - fell after a storm a few years ago.
However, it has been preserved at the very site by Yamuna Circle forest
officials, who despite meagre departmental resources have even created a
mini-museum that has become a major tourist destination.
Politics has affected power projects. The state government has had to abandon the Pala Maneri and Bharion ghati hydro-electric projects under pressure from right-wing activists who demand that there not be any power project on the holy Bhagirathi river between Gangotri and Uttarkashi. 
It is with the great intensity that lyricist and ad man Prasoon Joshi responds to issues that he feels are in the interest of the state and its culture, still worried about the smells and sights of small towns that he feels be preserved and protected.