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Time running out on mela works
Assan awaits its winged visitors
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Experts work towards effective forecasting
Three held for stealing phone batteries
Scooter rally focusses on ecology
Mahila Morcha protest
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Time running out on mela works
Haridwar, September 8 It is yet uncertain if the administration will be able to provide better facilities and comfort to crores of people that will throng Haridwar during the three-month-long of the Kumbh period. Already, aspersions are being cast on the quality of the works. Now, Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank too is alarmed at the poor quality works and the fact that projects shown as completed on files are in reality in the initial stages. The gravity of the situation can be gauged from the fact that on-the-spot impromptu inspection by the CM resulted in suspension of executive engineers of various departments. Reports say, the bureaucracy and working agencies tried but in vain to dissuade Nishank from inspecting the sites where work is on. The CM has confessed that the Kumbh works are lagging behind and special monitoring needs to be undertaken if these are to be completed on time. For Mahakumbh, “mela administration” has been constituted with IAS Anand Vardhan heading the charge. A total of 14 departments and working agencies are carrying out Kumbh- related projects. These are the Irrigation Department, PayJal Nigam, Rajkiya Norman Nigam, Jal Sansthan, Ganga Pollution Control Board, Power Corporation, Public Works , Rajaji National Park Authority, the police, Haridwar Development Authority, Northern Division Ganga Canal-Roorkee, Uttar Pradesh Setu Nigam and Forest Department, Haridwar. Among these nodal agencies, the highest number of projects are with the Irrigation Department (23) and Public Works (22). Till date, out of a total of 128 projects, only nine have been completed. This makes the mela administration task a gigantic one. The deadline for completion of permanent works is October 31, just 53 days away. The Mahakumbh is to start in 100 days. After much dilly-dallying between the state government and the UPA-led central government, finally the central government last month granted Rs 400 crore for mela works. Now with the slow pace of works, questions are being raised whether the amount will be spent or will the funds lapse. Mela Officer Anand Vardhan to dispel all doubt, claimed: “By October 31, all permanent works will be completed, barring the roads. All works are moving at the right pace and there is enough time for the temporary works which are to be taken up just prior to the start of the mela.” Till date, approximately Rs 29,421 crore have been sanctioned with departments being allotted Rs 17,500 lakh. The total amount spent by these departments is about Rs 12,000 lakh. Considering that little time is left for the mela, one wonders if the entire amount of Rs 400 crore will be utilised by the mela administration. There are several works and projects that have yet to kick off. Now on, Commissioner (Garhwal) Uma Kant Pawar will camp in Haridwar till the Kumbh works are finished. Also, the CM will personally monitor the Kumbh works. He has directed Urban Minister Madan Kaushik, who is also legislator from Haridwar, to review works every fortnight by holding a meeting of the departments concerned. Haridwar parliamentarian and Minister of State in the Union Cabinet Harish Rawat describes Mahakumbh as one of the biggest events of the world and says that the central government is willing to give more funds if needed. But he also cautions the state government that mere funds will not do, their apt utilisation is of utmost importance. So is the quality of mela works. Residents have begun to come out openly against the working of the mela administration and the agencies. They have organised the gherao of the Chief Minister, Harish Rawat, district magistrate R Meenakshi Sundaram and municipal chairman Kamal Johra. Now they are thinking of confronting officers of nodal agencies at the work sites, seeking explanation in case of any irregularity, be it delay in work, use of inferior material or work hampering the movement of local people. “Sewer lines recently laid are leaking, new roads have potholes filled with rainwater. The mela administration and the state government woke up to the situation after months that too when the CM visited city colonies and people perturbed by corruption and delay in works protested. “There is a total chaos and work is visible in files alone,” alleged Mohit Navani, vice-president, Youth Congress. With the suspension of three XENs for laxity in mela projects, fear is palpable in all working departments. It is hoped that constant monitoring by the CM, ministers, the principal secretary and Garhwal commissioner will speed up work and the state will be able to successfully hold the
Mahakumbh.
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Cong sees misuse of funds
The Congress has demanded a CBI inquiry into the discrepancies in the Kumbh
budget.
In a press note, city Congress chief OP Chauhan and former minister Dr Sanjay Paliwal alleged that local legislator Madan Kaushik and mela officer Anand Vardhan had connived to misuse the Kumbh funds. Lauding the Chief Minister for undertaking inspection of various work sites and taking action against erring officials, the Congress leaders said it was strange that the state ministers Madan Kaushik and Diwakar Bhatt who had their residences in Haridwar were oblivious of the commotion on account of Kumbh projects.
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Assan awaits its winged visitors
Dehradun, September 8 These winged visitors arrive here from far-flung areas of the northern part of the globe, flying across high Himalayan ranges. The first batch of these birds reach the state by September end and by October-November, all major water bodies of Kumaon and Garhwal regions are flooded with them. While some of these birds stay in the state for entire winters, others make brief halts before leaving for destinations further south of the country. There are as many as 14 wetlands in Uttarakhand. While it has a wetland as famous as Assan on the outskirts of Dehradun, there are others including, Bhemgoda reservoir in Haridwar, Haripura and Bor Dam, Kalagarh, Nanakmata, Sohaswan and Tumaria Dam in Udham Singh Nagar district of Kumaon. These are apart from natural wetlands at lower elevations, including Mothronwla swamp, Gularghati swamp, Jhilmil Jheel and Banganga. The arrival of these avian guests has increased phenomenally in the water bodies in and around Corbett, particularly at Ramganga reservoir, in last couple of years. According to Gaurav from ‘Rainbow Friends’, Rudy Shelduck, Cormorant and Icebibil are prominent among the species that arrive in the Terai region. Tumaria dam, Gularbhoj, Nanak Sagar and Koshi Barrage are some of the water bodies where these migratory birds can be seen in abundance. Albeit these birds are a major tourist attraction, they also become soft targets for poachers. Those engaged in wildlife conservation in the Terai region have time and again raised concerns over their safety. “The migratory birds need to be protected,” said Dr Hem Singh Gehlot, a local conservationist. Meanwhile, this time forest authorities have planned
to increase patrols along water bodies during winters to ensure the safety of birds. “Forest guards have been told to keep a strict vigil along water bodies this time,” said Ramnagar Division Forest Officer Ravindra Juyal. Another top forest official in the region, director, Corbett, Dr Vinod Singhal, said the park takes every possible measure to ensure safer stay of the winged guests.
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Experts work towards effective forecasting
Dehradun, September 8 This was decided at a meeting of scientists of the state and central institutions as well as leading environmentalists held here yesterday under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary IK Pande. The meeting was a follow-up of a note sent to Pande on the subject by noted environmentalist Chandi Prasad Bhatt in the wake of recent landslide caused by a cloudburst in Pitthoragarh district that had claimed 43 lives. During the meeting, Bhatt stressed on identifying landslide-prone areas based on occurrence of such incidents. He said that though the data was available with different government organisations, its collection should be centralised to facilitate better coordination in forecasting the natural phenomenon. Though natural calamities could not be prevented, this way the loss of human lives could be minimised to a great extent. The experts were unanimous in their observation that an effective forecasting system should be set up in the state based on traditional knowledge and new scientific methods. Besides conducting a geological survey of the prone areas, they also deliberated on the need to establish protocol to guide governmental and non-governmental organisations and individuals working at the village level at the time of occurrence of any natural calamity. Pande said that the Centre has been requested to provide special assistance to Uttarakhand, an environmentally and geologically sensitive state. A meeting, scheduled to be called by the Prime Minister soon, will work out a policy for Himalayan states on the issue of climate change in the country. Among others, the experts of GSI, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, CBRI Roorkee, Himalayan Action Research Centre, Remote Sensing Centre, Uttarakhand Space Application Centre and Uttarakhand Disaster Management and Mitigation Department were present.
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Three held for stealing phone batteries
Roorkee, September 8 The accused have reportedly stolen as many as 24 batteries from Reliance tower, situated in the nearby village Libberheri on the intervening night of September 5 and 6. “The batteries were being taken to Delhi or Ghaziabad by the miscreants where they were intended to sell these,” said PK Rai, CO, Manglore adding that the vehicle, in which they were travelling, has also been impounded by the police. He also added that the accused were also involved in the similar case in Muzzafarnagar. The Muzzafarnagar police also reached Manglore for further investigations. This is the second incident of batteries theft in the area in this fortnight. The police also arrested three other accused 15 days ago on the similar charges.
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Scooter rally focusses on ecology
Dehradun, September 8 The rally started from the residence of Speaker, Uttarakhand assembly, Harbans Kapoor, who himself flagged it off. The rally passed through Chakrata road, Clock Tower, Survey Chowk and culminated at the Tapovan, where Harbans Kapoor and other members of the club planted saplings. Kapoor said half a century ago there was no need of fans in Dehradun and it rained heavily due to the dense forest cover. But due to increase in population and urbanisation, weather patterns have changed and temperatures have increased. He pointed out that there was not enough water in Tehri dam and other hydroelectric projects to produce electricity. He praised Scooter India for launching an eco-friendly scooter, which is noiseless and run on battery. Dr. Partap Gosain, additional secretary, Uttarakhand government, said trees should be taken care of just like children.
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Mahila Morcha protest
Dehradun, September 8 The memo sought dismissal of the Congress-led Central government holding it entirely responsible for the rising inflation. Beena Uniyal, Nandani Sharma, Meera Kathait and Savita Verma were t among those who took part in the
protest. — TNS
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