Dehradun, September 16
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank will find it increasingly difficult to decide the fate of the two stalled power projects, Pala Maneri and Bhairon Ghati phase-1 and 2 of the state government, to be built on the Bhagirathi upstream of Uttarkashi town following strong objections from Sangh Parivar affiliate - the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).

Ashok Singhal, international president of the VHP and the Ganga Raksha Manch, a body of Hindu saints, have decided to march towards the Lohari Nagpala power project being built by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) on the Bhagirathi river if the work is not completely stopped on the project by Sharad Purnima which falls on October 3.

Singhal, who was in Dehradun last week, was candid in his demand for stoppage of all power projects.

He, in the presence of the Chief Minister, voiced his demand against any power project on the Ganga.

The Chief Minister could only nod in the affirmative in front of the VHP chief. Since Nishank comes from an RSS background and is not a political heavyweight, it is believed that he will toe the right wing Hindu line on the Ganga than have his own policy on power projects.

Even former Chief Minister Maj-Gen BC Khanduri (retd), who was much more powerful, had to stop work on the Pala Maneri and Bhairon Ghati projects following an indefinite fast by Prof GD Agarwal, a noted environmentalist, in June 2008.

Professor Agarwala restarted his fast in January 2009 in protest against the construction of the Lohari Nagpala project built by the NTPC forcing the Union government to stop work.

With the Mahakumbh Mela starting in January 2010, the BJP state government headed by Chief Minister Nishank will be in no position to annoy the saints and sadhus who will be gathering in large numbers at Haridwar by this year-end.

Singhal said the announcement by the Prime Minister to declare the Ganga as the national river and the formation of the Ganga River Basin Authority comprising Chief Ministers of riparian states had no meaning unless the sanctity of the Ganga was maintained by stopping work on all hydroelectric projects being built on the river.

Amid all this, Uttarakhand finds itself at the crossroads on the issue of generation of hydropower from rivers, particularly the Ganga, as there is pressure from the right-wing Hindu groups as well as environmentalists.

The state wants to harness the hydro-power potential of its water bodies to make itself an “energy state” by allowing tapping of 20,000 MW of power in the next 10 years.

On the other hand, following a petition by environmentalists, the Nainital High Court has directed the newly formed Ganga Basin River Authority to decide the fate of the hydroelectric projects on the Bhagirathi.

The Uttarakhand government finds itself in a piquant situation on the important issue of speedy construction of hydroelectric projects that can bring prosperity to the state.

Politics has affected power projects earlier as well. The state government has had to abandon the Pala Maneri and Bharion Ghati hydroelectric projects under pressure from right-wing activists who demand that there should not be any power project on the Bhagirathi between Gangotri and Uttarkashi.

Cost overrun and inordinate delays have plagued the Lakhwar-Vyasi multi-purpose hydel project on the Yamuna near Dakpathar. The project will produce 420 MW of power on completion.

Vijay Bahuguna, MP, Tehri Garhwal, recently organised a bandh in Uttarkashi in protest against the decision of the Union government to stop work on the Lohari-Nagpala project built by the NTPC in February 2009 following the threat by environmentalist Professor Agarwal to resume his 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 National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) after work on the Pala Maneri and Bhairon Ghati projects was stopped.

Singhal said the Ganga River Basin Authority should not be a tool of politics, but an autonomous body of sadhus, saints and eminent scientists.

He said since it was a question of faith of crores of Hindus, there should not be any activity that could spoil the sanctity of the Ganga.

He also announced the formation of a group of specialists to study the negative impact of hydroelectric projects. The group will give its report before October 3 to let the Ganga Raksha Manch decide about its march towards Lohari Nagpala project in Uttarkashi district.

Singhal added that the power needs of the country could be catered to through other methods like nuclear, solar or gas-based projects. Hence, there was no need to tamper with the Ganga by constructing hydroelectric projects.

Apart from right-wing Hindu groups, environmentalists are also up in arms against these big hydroelectric projects. Led by noted Gandhian Radha Behn, common people from various river valleys protested for over a year against the damage caused to flora and fauna and their own lives through these projects in the state last year.

“The existence of rivers, including the Ganga, is threatened by the 330 big, medium and small dams planned throughout the state.

“Not only are the rivers and their ecosystems in peril, but the lives and livelihood of hundreds of villages are bound to be affected," said Dr Ravi Chopra of the People’s Science Institute, a voluntary group campaigning for better management of rivers and their eco-systems.

Amid all this din, the state government seems completely confused.

Dehradun, September 16
As the weather begins to change with a slight dip in the temperature, it is time to rejoice in the festival season and usher in the magic of Durga Puja.

The five-day festival starts from the evening of Mahashasthi and ends on Dashmi. Bengalis in Dehradun begin making advance preparations for the festival.

The oldest cultural centre, Bengali Library, founded in 1922, is the hub of cultural activities. The organisation will be marking the 87th Sharadotsav this year, from September 24 to 28.

A great deal of attention is paid towards creating life-like images of Goddess Durga that form the central theme of the celebrations. Ancient and traditional artists toil day and night to make their idols’ likeness to goddesses, and each year the theme is different from last year. However, they enjoy complete artistic freedom.

For the past 25 years, Bankim Pal, craftsman from Kumar Tuli village in West Bengal, has constantly rendered his services to people of Dehradun and surrounding towns.

His are the hands that craft maximum number of statues, sometimes 50 by the end of the season.

His clay idols of Goddess Durga annihilating Asura, along with idols of Lord Vishwakarma, Ganesh-Lakshmi and Kartikey and Saraswati, never fail to inspire awe and reverence.

The work begins after Janamashtami when a small puja is held. The mud too holds a special significance as a portion of it is collected from all major rivers of the country and then mixed with a major portion extracted from Raipur.

Bankim Pal belongs to Kumar Tuli village in Burdhwan district of West Bengal.

“After the Bengalis settled in Dehradun several years ago, they faced a daunting task of keeping alive their cultural tradition. So they persisted with the tradition of roping in the traditional Pal family members engaged in making idols since centuries. At least 70 per cent of the statues are made by the same family members. Even the dhaki (drum) beaters who perform during puja are brought from West Bengal,” said Alok Chakraborty, Secretary, Puja Samiti, Bengali Library.

Bankim’s hands are full for the past four months along with his three assistants.

He has made the verandah of the library his makeshift workplace. In Dehradun alone, his statues will adorn several pandals to be erected at Bengali Library, Hathibarkala, Karanpur Panchayati Mandir, Baliwala Chowk, Model Colony etc.

“I have just come back from Uttarkashi, where I have already crafted an idol for the Hanuman temple. Now I am concentrating on finishing the idols for the library and one that will be part of the Kanwali road pandal.

“We use mostly water colours on the idols and to give extra-effects. Ararot flour is mixed with the colours,” said Bankim. He has also been entrusted with the task of making idols of Goddess Durga for Bengali cultural organisations in Kurukshetra, Jalandhar, Ferozepur, Rishikesh, Viksanagar and Haridwar.

The thought that their work will be immersed in rivers once the celebrations are over, does not faze the artists one bit.

“By a strange logic, the practice has kept us employed all these years and has kept us afloat,” said Santopal.

The idol that will be installed at the Bengali Library is 9 ft in height. In addition 17 Vishwakarma statues are also ready to be set up at various factories. Usually the artists charge between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000 for the idols, but old association prevents them from overcharging their customers.

Over the years the cultural and religious festival has also become an occasion for earning quick bucks.

Though the activity is on a very small scale in Dehradun, those selling Bengali goods and craft see it as an opportunity to make money.

Even the library releases a yearly souvenir for which advertisements are solicited. The earnings go towards organising cultural activities for members.

Dehradun, September 16
The state government is studying the demand of elected representatives of cooperative societies to increase their tenure from the existing two years, which they say is too short to understand the overall functioning of the societies.

Cooperative Minister Bishan Singh Chaufal confirmed the government move while agreeing with the demand.

Interestingly, it was during the ruling BJP government that the tenure of these representatives had been reduced to two years from five years before the last election.

Chaufal, however, defended the government decision. He said it was done with a view to enhancing performance of elected representatives of the societies.

According to sources, it was ironical that the same government was undoing its decision under pressure from the chairpersons of cooperative societies who largely belonged to the BJP.

State Congress leaders, too, have questioned the government move on the grounds that election mandate was for two years.

They maintained that the right course for the government would be to first hold fresh elections of cooperatives and then increase the tenure.

But, the government seemed more impressed with the demand of the elected representatives who said two-year tenure was too short to understand the overall functioning of the societies.

As such, they have hardly had time to deliver. Sources said an outright rejection of the demand was unlikely due to political interests.

If not five years, the government may increase the tenure by one year as 
this would also be in line with the minimum three years’ tenure as recommended by the Vaidyanathan Committee.