Dehradun, January 11
Greater scaup stands majestic amidst Siberian migratory birds flocking the Asan wetland in Uttarakhand these days even as the arrival of winged guests continues to pick up with season entering its peak phase.

A pair of diving ducks was spotted by a group of bird watchers led by Dhananjaya Mohan, Wildlife Institute of India’s scientist, a few days ago. “The sighting of greater scaup (nomenclature aythya marila) has been very rare in Asan with one or two sightings recorded in the past two decades,” claimed Dhananjaya Mohan, an expert in avi-fauna studies. He has been engaged in a study of migratory birds at Asan for the past many years. Mohan has been frequently visiting Asan for a long time and is also credited with having prepared its first-ever comprehensive management plan.

Another noted recording of migratory birds’ presence at Asan these days is grey-crested grebe, with a few of its pairs revealing their distinct identity at Asan amidst Ruddy Shelduck that continues to outnumber all other birds in the wetland.

Popularly known as surkhab, ruddy shelduck, whose presence holds much significance to Asan, continues to outnumber other birds. Like previous years, common teal, red crested pochard, little cormanant, mallard can been seen in significant numbers at the wetland.

The last Asan waterfowl census had recorded an average of 6,762 migratory birds while 2008 winter census recorded 6,517 birds. In the winter of 2007, as many as 5,210 birds were sighted at Asan.

Uttarakhand’s Yamuna circle forest officials, under the guidance of their Conservator BP Gupta, have come up with as many as four eco huts to promote eco tourism in the recent years. Two hides for bird watchers and an equal number of artificial lakes on either side of the dam and camping sites and track routes have also been created at a safe distance from the barrage. This all has been done with the aim of promoting conservation and attracting tourists alike.

While Asan has recorded a few cases of bird hunting in the past, the Yamuna circle authorities never take chances during the migratory birds’ season. “We hold regular patrolling at the wetland and also ensure that the visitors, particularly children, do not disturb birds in any manner,” said BP Gupta, Conservator, Yamuna Circle.

“A close monitoring of movement of migratory birds is also done and any unwarranted movement is closely observed as a precaution to any possible outbreak of bird flue,” Gupta added.

Meanwhile, 444 hectares of Asan Wetland continues to face the silt problem. The water portion of Asan is shrinking fast due to deposition of silt. “While land-water ratio at Asan has witnessed drastic changes. At present, the ratio stands at 40-60, which is quite alarming,” says Satpal Gandhi, another birdwatcher, who has been monitoring Asan for the past 15 years. “Earlier, the land mass and water ratio stood at 25-75 per cent,” he added.

Asan, an important bird area of the country is one of the two conservation reserves existing in Uttarakhand and holds much importance from both tourism and conservation points of view.

Dehradun, January 11
Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests (independent charge) Jairam Ramesh has announced that his ministry was contemplating introduction of wildlife cadre in the Indian Forest Services (IFS), beginning this year.

Addressing a meeting of the Doctorate Indian Forest Services in Dehradun yesterday, Jairam Ramesh said with the growing importance of wildlife, his ministry was mulling a separate wildlife cadre for Indian Forest Services officers and hoped starting it within 2010 itself.

The minister said there was a general tendency of mismatch in the nature of work being performed by IFS officers. “There are many IFS officers who have undergone training in wildlife, but are working in managerial works like administration and vice-versa”, he said, pointing out that the inception of such a cadre would lead to specialisation of works in wildlife.

Ramesh also amply hinted that he favoured science-linked people heading science institutions rather than those from general administration services. “At the advent of my ministry, first few of the secretaries were eminent scientists but this soon got replaced with people from administrative service down the line,” he said. “Even take the case of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, it is not essential that an IFS officer who comes to the council on deputation should be a PhD degree holder, which, of course, is strange for a research institution like ICFRE,” he added.

Referring to a number of posts lying vacant in his ministry, Ramesh said he would definitely like to see IFS officers working on issues of climate change as part of his team, as they could be an asset to his ministry in any climate change-linked negotiations. He also held that it was certainly due to capacity of certain IFS officers that while certain state forest departments were doing excellent work in National Forestry Informatics others have failed to reach that levels.

Also talking of Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management And Planning Authority (CAMPA), he said while Rs 11,000-crore fund would be gradually transferred to states in the next four years, the real challenge now lays in monitoring it. “It is very important to ensure that it is being utilised for the purpose for the restoration of forest cover, for which it is meant,” he observed.

Earlier in the day, the Union Minister inaugurated an INSAT uplinked micro meteorological tower installed on the Forest Research Institute’s campus. A part of FRI-ISRO climate change study programme, 13-metre tower will measure and model physical and biological process that control mass and energy exchange between tree canopy and atmosphere. It will help understand the mechanisms controlling the flow of carbon dioxide, water and energy to and from the landscape across the spectrum of time and space scales.

While such towers have been used in agriculture fields, it is for the first time that micro met tower has been used in forestry sector and signals the beginning of the start of behavioural studies in forestry. Coming up at a cost of Rs 20 lakh, the tower is fitted with sensors and stands amid seven-year-old pine plantation on the sprawling Forest Research Institute campus.

Dehradun, January 11
With the beginning of pre-board examinations from today, the state Education Department is geared up to work towards the final preparations of the board examinations. Depending on the performance in the pre-board examinations, students will be bifurcated in above-average and below-average categories.

However, the department follows strict norms and has asserted that in case students do not sit for the pre-board examinations, strict action will be taken. According to officials of the department, pre-board examinations are considered very crucial from the point of view of the board examinations. Therefore, the pattern has not been changed. They also feel that the pre-board results can give students as well teachers an idea that what more has to be done for the board examinations.

Keeping in mind the future of weak students, provision of extra classes will also be there. State Education Director said weak students would be given extra attention so that they were well prepared for the board examinations. And strict action would be taken in case of leniency and lack of focus towards these examinations.

Dehradun, January 11
With just a few months left for bachelors and masters examinations to start, students in a large number are thronging bookstores to purchase guidebooks for the last-minute preparations. Whether its BA, MA, LAW, BCom, MCom, MSc or BEd, various guidebooks or popularly called “kunjis” are available to ease the burden and help students to pass with decent marks.

Harish Kumar of Harish Bookstores said, “Now as only two months are left, students in a large numbers are demanding it. Guidebooks published by Chitra and Mansi publications are selling like hot cakes”.

While course books are expensive and quite lengthy to read, these guidebooks are easy to carry on pocket and ranges between Rs 25 and Rs 50 only.

Neha Singh, a student of BA at DAV College, feels that guidebooks are excellent to know the expected questions and manage the studies in a more organised manner. “Though teachers are always of the notion that guidebooks are bad for students’ career, but as we have to manage various subjects, guidebooks come as a safe and cheap option,” she added.

However, besides college goers, school students are also making a beeline for guidebooks out side thebookstores. Available in science, commerce and arts, students start purchasing it since October so that they can face examinations in a more relaxed manner. Together, Ulike, MBD and Evergreen are some of the common brands of guidebooks being sold in the market. Solved, unsolved sample papers of the past 10 years, guess papers and guidebooks are priced from Rs 100 to Rs 500. “For the past four months, students from various coaching centres and schools are asking for guidebooks. Moreover, as the pre-boards examinations have started the demand has suddenly increased,” said MM Aggarwal, owner of Aggarwal bookstore.

Dehradun, January 11
The industrial package may have done wonders for Uttarakhand that had negligible industries to begin with, but poor connectivity, red tape, unequal growth and frequent power cuts continue to act as impediments derailing industrial growth in the state that now has to prepare for the second phase of industrialisation.

Since the announcement of the industrial package, Uttarakhand has received investment proposals worth Rs 40,000 crore which are in the different phases of implementation and have been implemented.

A total of 1,650 factories (medium to small) have set up shops in Uttarakhand. “After the creation of State Industrial Development Corporation Limited (SIDCUL) six government industrial estates have been developed.

“Haridwar, Pantnagar and Sitarganj industrial estates are attracting huge investments. So also the pharma city at Selaqui (Dehradun), IT estate at Dehradun, where most of the companies are in the last stage of development as they have to avail the package. Because there was shortage of land, 44 private industrial estates have also come in different parts of the state. Incentive was given to private players who had more than 30 acres of land,” said PC Sharma, Principal Secretary, Industries.

In addition, 12 mega projects are underway with no restriction on acquiring land provided the players come up with Rs 50 crore or more investment.

But experts say Uttarakhand needs to have a viable industrial policy that continues to attract investment irrespective of the package that would in any case expire in 2010.

“There was no economic activity in the state, we have made a good start. Now we need to focus on strengthening our core competencies. Package or no package, they have a shelf life and will expire one day, in any case. Over a period of time we need to develop competitive advantage over other states by strengthening our infrastructure by building roads and highways,” said Vibha Malhotra, Director and Head, Uttarakhand Confederation of Indian Industries.

Accepting that companies began flocking in only after 2004, SC Nautiyal, Additional Director, Industries, said all that changed after major industrial houses Tata and Bajaj set up shop here.

“The thing going for Uttarakhand is that ancillary units have come up. As a result an automobile hub has been created in Uttarakhand. Besides, Uttarakhand has attracted maximum investment among the states that are offering industrial packages. Companies like Nestle, Wipro and Hindustan Lever are on an expansion spree,” said Nautiyal.

Despite the optimism expressed, there are problems galore, for starters there is a demand for stress developing freight corridor, “Uttarakhand is land locked. Freight connectivity can not only boost industries, but also tourism activities. It can bring respite from choked traffic on highways by developing the eastern freight corridor linkages can be established with Saharanpur and similarly if rail head is built at Haldi it can be linked with Pantnagar industrial estate,” said Vibha Malhotra.

So also is the issue of frequent power cuts with supply differing from season to season and the poor compliance of the single-window system for easy and quick clearances.

“ The sentiments of industrialists are pretty low here. The power scenario becomes bleak in winters. We have been urging the government to improve power supply and distribution as the transmission and distribution losses are quite high. In the past two years very few companies have shown interest in setting up shop here. As the attitude has considerably changed, they need to make the system IT enabled by introducing transparency,” said Pankaj Gupta, President, Industries Association of Uttarakhand, Dehradun chapter.

Haridwar, January 11
The seven-day NSS camp of PB Muncipal College ended with students showcasing their cultural and theatrical skills. For the past seven days, the students had carried out various activities and programmes under the able guidance of NSS officers. Meanwhile, the NSS camp of SMJN College got under way today. The students cleaned the Ganga and adjoining ghats.

Dehradun, January 11
The excellent bowling by Ravi and Abhimanyu helped the ACA team register a 152-run victory over Contender Club here today.

The ACA team piled 256 runs in its 40 overs. Opening pair of Chand and Abhimnayu contributed 40 runs in the first six overs of the match. Abhimanyu scored 57 runs off 71 balls, hitting six fours in his innings. Another opener Chand scored 14 runs. After a good start, first down batsman Ravi Negi further increased the run rate. He made 19 runs, but could not continue for a long. After Ravi, Vipin came up with a well made 36 runs. It was the lower order batsman Mod Afzal who scored a magnificent 51 off 57 to help his team reach the target of 256 runs. For the Contender Club, Nitesh and Deepak claimed two wickets each.

In reply the Contender Club managed to score 104 runs off 29 overs. The team began poorly in the match, loosing both the openers for 9 runs. First down batsman Mahendra and Apoorva too could not do much for the team and were out for one and six runs.

Middle order batsman Ashwani and Subhash scored 17 runs and 19 runs trying to make a comeback in the match. For the ACA team Ravi Negi and Abhimanyu team took three wickets each for their side. Anand Thapa took two wickets.

Meanwhile, in the second match the Old Garhwal Sporting team defeated the New Indian Star team by 117 runs. Batting first the Old Garhwal Sporting team scored 224 runs in 25 overs. Narender scored a scintillating century for his team. He made 111 runs off 77 balls, hitting 20 fours and one six in his innings. First down batsman Arun further accelerated the run rate and scored 43 runs off 40 balls. For the New Indian Star team, Dheeraj took two wickets, whereas Laxman and Sappy took one wicket each.

In reply, New Indian Star team began on a strong note. The openers added 28 runs in 4 overs. Opener Vineet scored 31 runs, whereas Ashish scored 12 runs. First down batsman Laxman scored 20 runs. But none of the other batsman scored for the team. For the Old Garhwal Sporting team, Madan took five wickets, whereas Amit scored two wickets.

Dehradun, January 11
Last year’s winner of the District Cricket League, Abhimanyu Cricket Academy (ACA) is a strong contender for the championship in 2010 as well. The team has already won three matches at the league without trouble and will qualify to the next stage with ease.

The ACA team began its campaign this season by lifting the Beehive T-20 Cricket Trophy that was organised at Matawalabag. After it’s success in the T-20 championship, the academy is all set to achieve more this year.

One of its junior teams has already made it to the semifinal of the under-17 District League, which will be played shortly. While the seniors team is already topping its pool at the District Cricket League.

Coach of the team Manoj Rawat said, “Last year our team participated at the league for the first time. Although our children were younger compared to other team members, they performed well throughout the tournament and excelled over other teams without much trouble. All this is because of the kind of attention we give to them and the hard work they do at our academy”.

“Before every match every player is given a target. Openers have a set of tasks to achieve, middle order batsmen are given another target and other bowlers have their own goal. This is the formula of our success in any match,” said Manoj.

Interestingly, all players at the academy sit for examination through the open board giving them ample time to concentrate on cricket.

The team has begun its campaign on a positive note at the league this time around. It has registered some of the major wins at the start of the season, thereby attracting the attention of the other teams as well.

The team in their last outing despite getting out at a low score of 180 runs managed to win the match by 60 runs.

Owner of the academy, Easwaran said, “I opened the academy with the aim to provide professional training to the children and to make them competent enough to play against best players of the state”.

At the academy the children undergo 8-hour training. The training session includes developing a good fielding skill, apart from improving upon their batting and bowling abilities.

“We work on all three areas, that is the bowling, batting and fielding departments. Unless and until a team masters these, its success is uncertain,” said Easwaran.

This year, the academy has taken a step further and got in place a video analysis system at the academy, with the aim to improve the skills of their children.

This is not all, the children also get an opportunity to meet some of the well known international players from Indian and abroad to know more about the game, at the academy.

Dehradun, January 11
Trials for the senior state women’s handball team will be held at the Parade Ground on January 14. The team will participate at 38th Senior National Championship scheduled at Nagarpur, Maharashtra from January 17 to 22. The selected team members will leave on the January 14 itself.

Secretary of the Uttaranchal State Handball Association, LP Sundriyal is hopeful of doing well at the championship. “We still need to do a lot at the grassroot level with women’s team. But they are presently in good form and recently occupied the third spot at the West Zone Championship that took place at the Mumbai,” said Sundriyal.

He revealed that now the focus of the association had shifted from the senior to junior girls team. “We are planning to work systematically on developing it. Till date handball in women has lagged behind because of lack of participation of girls. But now the girls have started to show interest in the game,” he said. Speaking about senior men’s team he said, the team was doing well at the national level and had rated among the best teams. Although they were unable to capture any big tournament, the team had a bright future ahead, he added.