Dehradun, February 4
In spite of being the widest area of the city and falling under three boards of administration, Clement Town is still trying to dig up an active and responsible representative to deal with its civic amenities. All three managing bodies, the Gram Panchayat, Municipal Council and Cantonment Board, are unable to provide civic relief to the locality. The dwellers of the locality have been raising a hue and cry over the menace of dumping of garbage in the open.

Honorary Capt SS Rana (retd), a resident of Clement Town, said: “A huge heap of garbage has led to a crisis in the area. The waste littered around has attracted monkeys from the adjoining Rajaji National Park. These often intrude the residential area in the search of food.

This is not all, the animals injured two kids near St Mary’s School and destroyed the flora and fauna there. While on one hand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank is initiating to promulgate the anti-plastic law in the state soon, on the other the state capital is replete with huge piles of garbage”.

Like Captain Rana, there are many complainants who are facing problems due to the irregularity in cleanliness exercise on roadsides. Rotten household residues, spilling garbage on the roads, fowl smell and swarm of flies and animals, this is a regular scenario at the most posh locality of the city, Clement Town.

The area is flooded with retired Army officers and was once known for its serene, calm atmosphere. But, it is now sited with debris beneath every tree and bush. Junk, mainly polythene bags and wrappers of edibles, clog the drainage lines. A regular maintenance and cleaning of the infrastructure in the area has become history.

Another resident of the locality, Honorary Captain Bhandari (retd) is quite annoyed with the casual attitude of the administration toward the civic amenities at the locality. He said: “It is disgraceful to see such an atrocious stature of the stacking trash that awfully spills on the roadside during my morning walk.

Morning is the time when people go outside to take fresh air, kids heads for their schools and people offer prayers. But, eventually ends up looking the appalling condition of the roadsides. The garbage often blocks the sewerage.”

“Many parishads and pradhans have taken charge, but nobody has actually taken active participation in eradicating this menace. During every election, contesting candidates pay visits door to door promising the masses fulfilment of their demands. Moreover, they give hefty assurance of meeting with the consensus but have failed to provide hygiene and sanitation to the masses,” he added.

When talked to Gram Pradhan Sarita Gurung, she said the pradhan gets minimum facilities and funds from the government like her other counterparts of the Municipal Corporation. The limited grants restrict her from providing the maximum civic amenities in the locality. Still, she assured to contribute the masses with her full support and assistance.

An official of the Cantonment Board, on the condition of anonymity, said: “The dumping areas are cleaned up regularly, but perhaps it is noticed that wrapping the trash in a polythene bag, tying a knot and tossing it out of the kitchen window is the simplest and the regular way. Most of the people dump garbage from their houses that often gets stuck on poles and electricity wires. To the utmost, the heap of putrid compost ends up being diet of many animals leading them with illness, and frequent deaths.”

“I personally make a plea to the general public to kindly lend a hand of cooperation to the administration. Then only the society will be able to look better and breathe better,” he added.

Sanjay Gupta, municipal councillor, said he represented the largest ward in area. Daily cleaning in the area was a cumbersome and lengthy task. He made a plea to the public for keeping their localities clean as a measure of hygiene and sanitation. Infringed outflow of the domestic wastes could be constrained by the cooperation of the masses itself. He also promised to clean up the mess spilled up in front of St Mary’s School once in a week or if not possible then twice a month.

“The police cannot do much unless there is a complaint by an individual. No complaints were made to the police last year,” said Abhinav Kumar, SSP, Dehradun.

“I think in many cases these MMS were made with personal consent. Later, they could have fallen into the wrong hands.

“There will always be an investigation if an MMS was made under duress and then used for exploitation. But first, a complaint should be registered so that action can be taken,” said the SSP.

Surprisingly, no case has been registered individually or by the institutions where many of these incidents have taken place making the law-enforcing authorities helpless in the tide of advancing technology that allows an individual unbridled power to play havoc with the lives of students.

The cases are usually sent to the cyber cell of the Special Task Force in Dehradun and action, such as banning of sites, can be taken under the provisions of the anti-pornography laws.

Dehradun, February 4
Lead author of Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) NH Ravindranath today sounded caution regarding biodiversity risks linked to forests due to climate change.

Addressing the United Nations World Food Programme workshop entitled “Building Resilience against Climate Change to ensure Livelihood and Food Security in Uttarakhand”, Professor Ravindranath said the climate change was proving detrimental to country’s flora and fauna and held that a one-third to two thirds of forest biodiversity was at risk due to it.

He disclosed that there was a gradual shift of tree species to higher attitudes due to receding glaciers. He supported mixed species of tress in forests for ensuring temperature tolerance. Referring to climate change studies, he said the creation of large-scale monitoring plots across the country had emerged as an important mechanism to study the effects of climate change.

Dr MM Kimothi, Director, Uttarakhand Space Application Centre, Dehradun, dwelt at length upon the importance of availability of a comprehensive data before embarking upon any studies linked to climate change and explained at length regarding the usefulness of satellite technology like GIS and GPS in the collection of such data.

He also informed the delegates about the various activities undertaken by the space centre with active technical support of ISRO. Dr Kimothi disclosed that the application centre was due to release a state natural resource management atlas and a water resource atlas in the first week of March. These would go a long way in providing a data base to the state, he added.

Earlier, minister Vijaya Barathwal inaugurated the two-day workshop. She said climate change continued to pose a big challenge before mankind.

There was an urgent need to address the adverse impacts of climate change in the Himalayan states as million of people were depending on mountain area ecosystem.

The Director, Forest Research Institute, Dr SS Negi, Prof JK Sharma, head of environment section, Doon University, and Dr Asha Thapliyal from Uttarakhand Space Application Centre were prominent speakers on the first day of the conference.

Dehradun, February 4
In order to highlight latest inventions and innovations in the field of science and technology, the Second Rashtriya Yuva Vaigyanik Sammelan will be organised jointly by the Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST), Dehradun, Uttarakhand Science Education and Research Centre (USERC), Vijnana Bharti, Nagpur University and Doon University at the university from February 6 to 7.

Based on the mandate of bringing younger scientists together on a common platform so that it could help create an coordination among senior scientists, technocrats and the young scientific community.

The conference will also play a pivotal role in synchronising the social needs with the existing and forthcoming research work in the country. It will help the young scientists with concepts and fundamentals to raise the quality and level of research in various disciplines of science.

Dr Rajendra Dobhal, Director, UCOST, said the young scientists would be awarded in following three categories, Young Scientist Award, Women Scientist Award and Best Innovator Award. This conference will help young Indian scientific talent to gain recognition globally and will help showcase rare and important scientific inventions and innovations to the global scientific community, he added.

“The conference will serve as a platform to the young scientists to present their scientific inventions and discoveries to the global audience. In view of the fact that science and technology is growing phenomenally in the hill state, UCOST has been spearheading a movement of sorts to nurture and give exposure to the young scientists by hosting Science Congress every year,” concluded Dr DP Uniyal, Senior Scientific Officer, UCOST.

The focal theme of the congress is “Modern Challenges before Young Scientists of India”. The first National Young Scientists Conference - 2008 was organised by Vigyan Bharati, Haryana. UCOST this time welcomes the scientists to Uttarakhand to gain what they aspire for.

The conference will witness a congregation of scientists from across the country, who will present their papers on different disciplines of science and technology.

Dehradun, February 4
Doon Library and Research Centre organised a peace talk at MKP (PG) College here today. Eminent US activist Shailin delivered a talk on “What is the point of having war, when one has to negotiate peace afterwards”.

She exploded a myth, which has been rationalised over the years and has also been used by US President Barack Obama to pursue his war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Other dignitaries who attended the talk were Joe Chopra of Karuna Vihar, an activist for education for specially abled children, Thireesh Kapoor, a renowned photographer, and Prof Grijesh Pant, Vice-Chancellor of Doon University.

Dehradun, February 4
Members of the Students Federation of India (SFI) expressed their concern over attacks on Indian students in Australia.

They said due to the alleged racial thinking of Australians, almost every day an Indian became victim of the attack. The members added that the Australian government had a non-caring attitude towards the attacks on Indians.

The SFI also held policies of the Central government responsible as it had failed to stop these attacks. The federation would be holding a protest against the attacks tomorrow at the Gandhi Park and submit a memorandum to the district administration. — TNS

Dehradun, February 4
Governor Margaret Alva met the 15-member team of National Defence College (NDC) here today. Welcoming the NDC members to Uttarakhand, the Governor said the state kept rich traditions of bravery. She said at least one member from every family was in the defence forces.

She also apprised the team of the challenging geographical conditions existing in the state.

National Defence College Faculty officer in charge Major-Gen Anjan Mukhrjee, Tour Coordinator Brig Shokeen Chauhan, Commander BS Alhuwalia and Brig Gurumukh Singh were part of the NDC team.

The NDC team also handed over a memento to the Uttarakhand Governor. 

Dehradun, February 4
Humour and wit were well portrayed by students of the Sai Institute of Paramedical and Allied Sciences in the form of “Tamasha - Gadhe ki Baraat” at Sai Kala Manch here today. The play was an adaptation from a Mararthi play written by Hari Bhai Wadkaokar that represented the hillariously knitted production revealing the dramatic development in the opportunism, blind ambitions and self-serving nature of the privileged.

The play portrayed the issues of poor people forgotten by the superior sect of the society, making them poorer.

Devendra Bhasin, president of the Media Advisory Committee, was the chief guest of the event. He appreciated the efforts of the manch and the sensitivity of the students to select such a social issue.

Other guests present at the programme were Harish Arora, Chairman of the Sai institute, Dr harma, Dean of the institute, Dr Aparna Singh, Registrar, and Dr Sandhya Dogra, Principal of Life Sciences. 

Dehradun, February 4
NIIT registered a six-wicket victory over Graphic Era at the 58th District Cricket League at Survey Stadium here today.

Batting first, Graphic Era scored 180 runs in 35 overs. First-down batsman Amit scored 31 runs and Varun made 51 runs. For NIIT, Bhagat picked up three wickets and Amit Thakur took two wickets.

In reply, NIIT reached the target in 33 overs. Uday Rana and Deepak made 40 runs each. Sunny scored 38 runs. For Graphic Era, Varun picked up three wickets while Abhishek took one wicket.

In the second match, the Secretariat team registered a two-wicket victory over Petroleum Institute. Petroleum Institute scored 175 runs off 35.5 overs. Deepak scored 59 runs and Imran Khan scored 41 runs. For Secretariat, Rajeev Negi and Ankit took four wickets each.

Chasing 176 runs for victory, Secretariat team achieved the target with two wickets to spare. Lalit was the leading scorer with 47 runs off 52 balls. Vikas Rawat scored 32 runs.

Haridwar, February 4
Laying stress on the need for sports in one’s life, specially among children and youth, Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said sports makes one healthy and also inculcates team spirit.

He was speaking in Haridwar at the inauguration of the All-India Junior Ranking Prize Money Badminton Championship. The championship will be played at the badminton hall in the City Sports Complex near Bhalla Intermediate College.

The meet is being organised by the Uttaranchal State Badminton Association. Vice- Chairman Pankaj Sehgal said that it was a privilege to host a national-level championship in Haridwar.

He said that local players would benefit immensely with this championship. He added that the championship would be played as per international rules and norms and all participating state teams have arrived in Haridwar.

The organising committee comprises Vice-Chairman Sanjay Gunjiyal, SSP, Haridwar, who urged police personnel and common people to take part in sports according to one’s preference and age.

Dehradun, February 4
The New Star Club registered a 115-run victory over Uttarakhand Youth today at the Suresh Chand Goyal Memorial Cricket Tournament under way at Matawalabag here.

Sohail was the star performer with 43 runs off 27 balls hitting eight fours. Sohail’s knock helped his team pile up 191 runs.

Opener Garry played a fine knock of 37 runs off 20 balls to set the pace of the innings. Sanjay made 14 runs and Shalender contributed 17 runs.

Many runs came in the form of extras as the Uttarakhand Youth team gave away 40 runs as extras. For Uttarakhand Youth, Manoj took three wickets while Babbu bagged one wicket.

Chasing the target of 192 runs, Uttarakhand Youth were all out for 76 runs. Deepak was the highest scorer with 17 runs while Sagar and Girish made 10 runs each.

For New Star Club, Aslam claimed three wickets and Azad, Abhijeet and Zunaid took two wickets each.

Meanwhile in the second match, IEL registered a nine-wicket victory over Izhrul-uloom Club.

Batting first, Izharul-uloom made 99 runs. Javed was the highest scorer with 28 runs while Arvind made 20 runs. For IEL, Sandeep took four wickets, Pawan claimed three and Rohit took two wickets.

In reply, IEL reached the target with ease. Rohit scored 56 runs. Girish and Pavas made 12 runs and 18 runs respectively. For Izharul-uloom Club, Yusut took one wicket.