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State water policy on the cards
‘Smoking a fashion statement for Doon young girls’
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They care for cancer patients
At last, sufficient water for Malsi Deer Park
Dehradun Diary
Down, but in high spirits
Famous Uttarakhand poet Girda releases a book “Antarman” written by
Anand Gangola in Dehradun on Sunday. A Tribune photograph
DSL Aloevera Cricket
A batsman plays a shot in the All-India DSL Aloevera Under-16 Cricket tournament in Dehradun on Sunday.
A Tribune photograph
Climbing gaining popularity in India
Kharak wins national climbing c’ship
Adhere to journalistic ideals: CM
Veteran journalists from the Haridwar region being felicitated by Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank on the occasion of Hindi Patrakarita Diwas in Haridwar on Sunday. Tribune photo: Rameshwar Gaur
Governor’s Cup Golf Tourney
Golf tourney for caddies in October
Camp on legal awareness held
Local girls at an audition for the Miss Uttarakhand Super Model contest in Dehradun on Sunday. A Tribune photograph
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State water policy on the cards
Pant went on to disclose that the government was in the process of making rainwater harvesting mandatory for everyone who was planning to construct a new building. He said although the government order on the issue was released about three months ago, it was yet to be implemented. “We are going to incorporate it in the proposed water policy. People building new houses or buildings will have to make arrangements for rainwater harvesting by having an outlet from the roofs to an underground storage facility. Those not adhering to the government norms would be penalised and compelled to make provisions for rainwater harvesting,” he added. Talking in detail about the proposed water policy, he said as of now there were no norms pertaining to sinking hand pumps and tube wells by individuals. Such installations were being done at random by the people and this is leading to gross inequality in distribution of water, which is becoming precious by the day. He said the policy would lay maximum emphasis on recharging of natural water resources which are drying up fast. The minister said Uttarakhand received no less than 1,600 mm rainfall per year. Even in the worst times the annual rainfall was around 1,250 mm. “Even if 3 per cent of rainwater is properly stored and harvested, there would be no shortage of drinking water in the state,” he said. The minister then went on to give details about works being done by his ministry in mitigating the water problem in the state. He said a three-pronged strategy under the Sector Wide Approach (SWAP) programme was being implemented in the state in which water was being collected and conserved, supply of pure and potable drinking water was being ensured along with the Total Sanitation Campaign. The programme was being implemented by the World Bank, Centre, Uttarakhand government and village-level bodies. It aimed at providing at least 40 litres of water per day to the beneficiaries
identified under a survey conducted in 2003. According to the survey, 51 per cent villages were fully covered, 35 per cent partially covered, 12 per cent not covered and 2 per cent were not populated. Following the launch of SWAP in 2006, the mid-term review has pointed at the not covered villages going down to 8 per cent and partially covered going up to 45 per cent along with improvement in the number of fully covered villages. He said fully covered villages had also been affected by drying up of natural resources, which were now being recharged on a war footing. The minister said to improve the scenario, the government had decided to club fully covered villages with not covered and partially covered villages. He said a special rainwater harvesting drive had also been initiated in rural areas under which 157 recharge pits had been dug this year along with the setting up of 121 big tanks. Referring to the urban area, he said 31 of the total 63 urban centres in the states were being covered under the first phase of a special project aimed at ensuring proper water supply. The works are being done under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and with the
help of the Asian Development Bank.
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‘Smoking a fashion statement for Doon young girls’
Dehradun, May 30 “They start early, while still in Class X and XII. Attractive advertising by Pan Masala Company is a sure temptation. Young girls usually take to gutka chewing and then move on to smoking thinking it to be cool. The desire to ape and be part of the cool gang is inspiration enough. No checks or penalties are imposed on tobacco and gutka manufacturers who are engaged in promoting the smoking habit through surrogate advertising,” said Dr AK Dewan, Medical Director, Ganga Prem Hospice. He was speaking at a press conference held yesterday to protest against the delay in the implementation of stricter pictorial warning deferred by the government of India from June 2010 to six months. Dr Dewan said while the rest of the world was seeing a decline in smoking-related cancer cases, India did not show signs of recession in the incidence of cancer. “India spends Rs 30,000 crore annually on tobacco-related diseases which is more than what it gets by earning excise duty due to the sale of tobacco and it’s products,” added Dr Dewan.
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They care for cancer patients
Dehradun, May 30 “To see the care begotten faces withering in pain is difficult. Most of the patients hanker for companionship and care, even when they have just a few months left to live. It is our duty to help them achieve the best possible quality of life,” said Sarojini Murthy, part of the Ganga Prem Hospice team of volunteers. But for Nani Ma, who came several years ago from England and settled down at Uttarkashi, the idea to set up a hospice at Rishikesh for cancer patients for taking care of their medical and emotional needs would not have materialised. The concept of Hospices is new in India. The trained palliative care team provides home care services to cancer patients in advanced stages. “It may just be a simple action of clasping hands of patients, but it has the power to provide comfort to an ailing patient,” said Nani Ma. Calling for the need to make the terminally ill patients wanted and involved, she said every effort should be made to make their life easy and comfortable, “so that they embrace death with quiet honesty and others around them too do not carry the burden of bereavement,” emphasised Nani Ma. No wonder then the spiritual and emotional aspect has added a new dimension to the concept of Hospice. “A doctor can take care of the physical nature of the treatment while looking after his patients. It is the emotional and spiritual support to the patient and his families that is of utmost need,” said Dr AK Dewan, oncologist and Director of Ganga Prem Hospice.
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At last, sufficient water for Malsi Deer Park
Dehradun, May 30 On the foothills of Mussoorie, the Malsi Deer Park houses several species of wild animals like leopard, deer, owls and ducks. Doonites often frequent the park, apart from a large number of tourists on way to Mussoorie. But, the absence of water inside the park has been proving to be detrimental to its fauna and turning the park into dry, rugged terrain. The Dehradun Forest Division that manages the Malsi Deer Park had dug up a bore well as a permanent solution to the water requirements inside the park. The inmates at the park suffered a lot due to a lack of water and the authorities were dependent on tank water supply to make up for the needs. That too at the end proved insufficient, taking into account the big strength of animals at the park. Animals like ducks suffered the most as the pond went completely dry during summers. “We have sunk a 40-foot well inside the Malsi Park and have already started extracting water. The new arrangement has fulfilled long-standing water needs of the park,” said Meenakshi Joshi, DFO, Dehradun. As of converting the park into a mini-zoo, the DFO said a proposal for converting the park into a medium zoo had already been sent to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA). Interestingly, the park that encompasses 35 hectares as of now, prominently has both male and female leopards, around 54 spotted deer, three barking deer, six ginni fowl, one hill goat, black buck, two eagles, two silver pheasants and a vulture. This is apart from rabbits and parrots that are in abundance at the park.
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BJP likely to see change in leadership
SMA Kazmi Tribune News Service Rumour mills are working overtime in the ruling BJP circles in the state on the new political alignments taking place. The state politics of the ruling party divided between the Garhwal and Kumaon regions and Thakur-Brahmin equations was in a turmoil following a few meetings between arch political rivals and two former Chief Ministers, Major-Gen BC Khanduri (retd) and Bhagat Singh Koshiyari. All groups tried to give a spin to the meetings between the two stalwarts of the state BJP according to their own interpretations. Some optimistic among them even saw an imminent change in the state leadership as a consequence of these meetings. Both General Khanduri and Koshiyari termed their meetings as courtesy calls. But, party observers believe that there is much more than what meets the eye. Both General Khanduri and Koshiyari are arch political rivals. It was Koshiyari who first objected to General Khanduri being elevated as Chief Minister after the 2007 Assembly election victory and later fuelled dissensions within BJP legislators. He himself led the rebel BJP legislators and paraded them before the BJP high command in August, 2008, against General Khanduri. He precipitated the fall of General Khanduri by resigning from his Rajya Sabha seat that he was given by the party as a patch-up formula between the two leaders of the state. Finally, after the May Lok Sabha debacle in which the BJP lost all five Lok Sabha seats from the state, it was in June, 2009, that General Khanduri was asked by the party high command to go. Interestingly, in the struggle for power, Koshiyari failed to get the top position for himself or his own candidate Prakash Pant from Kumaon. The rivalry between the two leaders hailing from Garhwal and Kumaon regions, respectively, and belonging to Brahmin and Thakur castes has become legendary. But politics make strange bed fellows and it was believed that changed political equations with a much younger Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank at the helm of affairs, has forced the two veteran leaders to come close. Both senior leaders probably were feeling that leadership going to the younger generation could be a danger signal for them. Nishank has been playing his cards well by consolidating his position politically and there are no signs of any change in the leadership as of now. Insiders feel that the BJP high command has been facing flak over the Jharkhand fiasco and there will be no justification for change in the state leadership at a time when the Assembly elections are only one and a half years away. Struggle for power in state Cong on
The situation is no different in the Utarakhand State Congress Committee. Two main factions, one headed by Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Harish Rawat and the other earlier known as the ND Tiwari loyalists, perpetually at war with each other are now trying to capture the organisation for which elections are being held. The Uttarakhand state Congress is headed by Yashpal Arya, a protégé of Tiwari having the backing of two factions headed by Vijay Bahuguna, Tehri Garhwal, MP, and Satpal Maharaj, Pauri Garhwal, MP. Harish Rawat, having his long-awaited ambition to become the Chief Minister of state, is desperate to get rid of Arya as the state Congress chief before the crucial Assembly elections of February 2012. A shrewd politician and tactician, Harish Rawat do not want to take any risk and wants that either he himself or one of his own loyalists should head the party unit at the time of the Assembly elections as it would help him get maximum ticket for his loyalists ultimately paving the way for his elevation as Chief Minister if the Congress manages to trounce the ruling BJP. But, much to his chagrin, despite efforts by his supporters, they could not harm Arya. The Congress won all five Lok sabha seats under the leadership of Arya in May, 2009, and he has workable relations with party bigwigs. Harish Rawat, who commands the support of maximum number of party legislators even went to air their grievances in respect of the organisational polls against Arya in New Delhi, but it did not cut much ice. Congress legislators complained that they were ignored in appointing elections officials at the block level and even making voters, but in vain. State election in charge and former Nagaland Chief Minister Mukut Mithi and national general secretary in charge RK Dhawan did not find any fault with Arya. Instead legislators were found to be slack in taking interest in the organisational elections. Another important incident probably sealed the fate of the campaign of the Rawat camp against Arya happened in Pitthoragarh last month, when Mukut Mithi on a tour to oversee organisational elections was heckled by Harish Rawat supporters. His expensive spectacles and cell phone were stolen in the melee. Moreover, a successful rally by the Arya group in Dehradun as part of the 125th anniversary of the party also stole the show over their detractors.
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Down, but in high spirits
Dehradun, May 30 In Doon to participate in a kavya goshti, Girish Tiwari or Girda, as he is popularly called, told The Tribune that he had never carried an intellectual baggage and as a result had never been tempted to commit intellectual hara-kiri. “I sing songs that celebrate rural simplicity of hills and how people go about leading lives untouched by the complexities and power brokering that is done by the rulers while sitting in Delhi and Dehradun,” said Girda. At the helm of the Chipko Movement and statehood agitation, Girda sustained the movements by providing intellectual boost through his fiery poetry. The slogans that he coined at once became a talking point for people. “We never wanted to build barriers between Lucknow and Dehradun. It was our belief that given the geographical and cultural affiliations of this part, a separate state would be at the top of our aspirations. But, we never claimed that we were superior. In fact, no culture can claim to be superior than the other. It is a fallacy and should be rejected completely. All cultures that have taken shape at riverbeds are a complete document of an entire civilisation that has come this far,” emphasised Girda. Appalled at the callousness of rulers and their proclivity to strike deals for selling water and natural resources, he lamented the lack of sensitivity and wondered if instead of genuine people power and money-hungry businessmen had taken siege of Uttarakhand. “Everything has a price and water too has been sucked from our rivers, without realising where this will lead to. Business seems to have an insatiable hunger that continues to increase every day,” said Girda. A master of simplicity, Girda combines within him the stirrings of a modern poet who is acutely aware of his surroundings and is also well versed with the traditional “swang” presentations and Holi geets that he sings with equal aplomb. Anant Gangola’s book ‘Antarman’ released
Issues that afflict the poor and the disadvantaged groups are evocatively conveyed by poet and educationist Anant Gangola in his book “Antarman” that was released today by Girda, popularly known as people’s poet. An educationist, Gangola has worked extensively with tribesmen of Madhya Pradesh. He participated in the Earth Summit held at Johannesburg in
South Africa. Gangola is attached with the Azim Premji Foundation and contributes to primary education in Uttarakhand. His poems raise several issues that provoke deep thinking. They talk of giving birth to new ideology. “Gangola’s poems speak about the rights of the oppressed and the deprived, and there is a strong belief in the power of education and how it can break barriers between the rich and the poor,” said Ramchander Chauhan, a participant who had come all the way from
Madhya Pradesh. Later, a recitation session was held in which Atul Sharma, Girdha, Surinder Pundir, Ravinder Jugran , Veena Pani Joshi and others participated. The book has been published been Adharshila Publications.
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Brave Academy, NCC in final
Tribune News Service
Dehradun, May 30 In the first semi-final match, the Brave Cricket Academy defeated the Gujral Cricket Academy by seven wickets. Brave Acaedemy won the toss and put the Haldwani team into batting. It was opener Arvind Verma with 33 runs and Prabhnoor Gujral with 39 that gave the Haldwani team a solid start. But the middle order of the Haldwani team collapsed, except Subhash Shani who scored quick-fire 32 runs in 20 balls to take the total of his team to 129 for eight wickets in the stipulated 20 overs. Ashutosh Singh was chief wrecker for the Delhi team who took four wickets for 18 runs. In reply, Delhi lost its opener on seven runs but another opener Alok verma continued to hold the fort and made 47 runs in 57 balls. Asish Verma, who came at number three position together with Alok Verma, steered the Delhi to victory with a fine batting performance of 53 runs in 53 balls. The Delhi team reached the target of 130 runs in only 18.5 overs at a loss of three wickets only. In the second semi-final match, the NCC trounced the Haldwani Colts Academy by 58 runs. Winning the toss and electing to bat, Sonipat boys made 181 for six wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Opener Pardeep Malik blasted the Haldwani bowlers with a blistering innings of 92 runs in 60 balls. He was ably assisted by Jitesh Saroha, who made 30 runs, and Nakul Nain who scored 48 runs. For Haldwani Colts, Abhinav kanaujia took two wickets for 27 runs. In reply, Haldwani Colts Academy could manage only 123 runs for three wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Both their openers went for duck. It was only Bharat Kanwar who kept the flag flying with 48 runs. Anurag Bengali was not out at 30 runs when the over quota ended. Haldwani Colts Academy lost by 58 runs. The final between Brave Cricket Club, Delhi, and NCC, Sonipat, will be played tomorrow.
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Climbing gaining popularity in India
Dehradun, May 30 Here to participate in the championship and winners of national and international championship, Praveen MC and
Shivalanga, hailing from Bangaluru, said by far Bangaluru, the City of Gardens, had the best climbing sports facilities in the country. “Pune and Mumbai are also coming up with the facilities, but we are lucky that we have two walls installed at the Kanterva Stadium, where one can practise for long hours,” said Praveen MC, who aspires to build a rescue team and is already part of Outback India and Manav Adventure Sports that organises climbing activities. Both were inspired by Spiderman’s exploits that they usually watched on television crawling walls with ease. The climbing comprises speed run, usually done on a 15-metre wall that tests the stamina of the participant,
bouldering, a test of technique and stamina and finally lead climbing that is all about power and endurance. To give boost to the sport, talks for its inclusion in the Olympic Games were also discussed by the International Olympic
Associations. Praveen, who was a winner of bronze medal at the Asian X Games in 2008 held in South Korea, was even called up by the Mangalore authorities to assist them in the black box hunt of the Air India aircraft that crashed recently. “But before I could reach there, the next moment news came that the black box was found and my chances of lending a helping hand were ruined,” rued
Praveen. In fact, he has even trained the Kolkata Special Police Force and the Indian Army. To be on top of the game he says that fitness is the key. “It can only be gained through running and then followed up by weight lifting,” stressed
Praveen. While Shivalanga, who won a silver medal in 2008 in South Korea, alongside climbing, is pursing bachelor’s degree in management and teaches kids rock climbing. “It is my passion, as long as I remain fit I will continue to participate in the sport. We have a year-long calendar, consisting of national and international events,” said
Shivalanga. Expressing satisfaction with the way the ITBP taking a lead in organising the event, he said: “At the moment walls are only present at the IMA and the
ITBP, once other organisations chip in more people will join in,” he stressed. Climbing sport is increasingly being used by corporate houses to distress their executives. The walls made of fibre and wood are used as simulators by mountaineers and rock climbers before they embark on actual climbing.
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Kharak wins national climbing c’ship
Dehradun, May 30 Aziz Shaik of the West zone stood second, while Praveeen CM stood third. In all, 62 participants took part in the event that was held at the ITBP camp. Dr Rakesh Kumar, Secretary of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, rewarded the winners. Kharak Singh walked away with Rs 10,000, while Aziz was got Rs 7,000 and Praveen CM Rs 3,500. The championship was organised in an association with the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) and Manav, a New Delhi-based non-voluntary organisation. ITBP DIG Devinder Singh said efforts were on to hold the championship regularly so that the sport gained popularity. The highlight of the championship was participation by three speech impaired participants who were exposed to climbing for the very first time.
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Adhere to journalistic ideals: CM
Haridwar, May 30 The Chief Minister was attending a Hindi Patrakarita Diwas function held at a posh city hotel. Underlining the fact that Hindi journalism had treaded a major leap in the past few decades, specially with local editions, Nishank himself being a Hindi journalist and noted poet, urged the youth entering the field of journalism to follow journalism ethics and side with the truth always. While Gurukul Kangri University Vice-Chancellor Prof Swatantra Kumar focused on the role of the press during the national movement and the way it brought a revolution in the entire India that played a pivotal role in country getting independence. At the function, the Chief Minister honoured several eminent senior journalists lauding their effective role in shaping the society when print media was the only form of communication and dissemination of news. Media students who scored highest marks in their respective colleges of Haridwar were also honoured with citations by the CM. At the convention, orators spoke on the achievements and challenges that Hindi journalism was facing and urged Hindi journalists to take forward issues related with the fraternity. Present at the function were all members of the Press Club of Haridwar, eminent citizens and scholars of journalism courses.
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Arnav bags gold medal in swimming
Haridwar, May 30 Arnav Vats, 15, has made the district proud by winning the first position in the Uttarakhand Swimming Championship which is being held at Haldwani in Kumaon division. He made it into the finals in two events of the competition: Group A 50-metre free style and 100-metre free style. Arnav won the 50-metre style in a personal record time bagging the gold medal, while in the second event just missed the gold with few seconds and had to content with the silver medal. With this win Arnav will now represent the state in the forthcoming national meet to be held in Bangaluru in July. Speaking on his achievement, an elated Arnav said the feeling had still not sunk in that he had won the gold and would represent the state in the national championship. He owed his success to his parents’ constant motivation and guidance of swimming coaching staff. While as soon as news spread of Arnav making into the national championship people thronged his
house. Arnav’s school, Delhi Public School, management in a press statement has expressed happiness over their student making the school’s name proud.
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Harish best gross winner, Rekha lady golfer
Tribune News Service
Nainital, May 30 More than 150 participants from across the country had participated in the three-day event at the Raj Bhawan Golf Course here. They had been divided into three categories of men, women and children. The winner of ladies putting category was Hemlata Dhaundiyal, hole-in-one was Group Capt RM Saxena, max pars was Brig PS Bora and max birdies was Suresh Yadav. The winner for the longest straight drive was Sukhbinder Singh and nearest to pin was Satpaul. In the junior category, the winner was Shruv Bhalla while the runner up was Vignesh. JM Khanna was declared the super veteran golfer, while Lieut Col HK Jagota was declared the runner up in the men’s category. On the first day of the tournament, 20*4 balls teed off while on the second 18*4 balls were teed off by the participants. After the CUT selected 37 golfers, the participants teed off for the competition of nine holes.
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Golf tourney for caddies in October
Nainital, May 30 Speaking at the conclusion of the Governor’s Cup Golf Tournament here today, Alva said, “During this period, a tournament-cum-workshop will also be organised for the children, which will be followed by a small tournament”. Expressing satisfaction at the conduct of the tournament, she said this time there were more participants from other states, including those located far off like Karnataka, Maharashtra and
Meghalaya. “Even though this course is difficult, we are making every effort to improve its quality. One of the bottlenecks of this is water scarcity. This is being planned to be met from rain water harvesting, by which the course can be made greener than what it is today”. Similarly, there is a plan to upgrade the Golf Club House facility. Further adding to the settings, during this monsoon, there is a plan to plant some wild flowering bushes along the course,” said Alva. She said, “I am sure, this promotional event will help the state tourism in further expanding similar activities to provide better employment opportunities to local people and better facilities to the tourists”.
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Camp on legal awareness held
Dehradun, May 30 The camp initiated by the lighting of the lamp by chief guest Kuldeep Kumar, MLA of Vikasnagar, followed by a welcome speech of Principal Rajesh Bahuguna. Later, Dr Bahuguna highlighted the basic frameline of the held event. He said the design of a person’s protection is a shield in the hands of judiciary, but due to the lack of awareness and detailed information, people often faced much inconvenience. He said the management of the college aimed at conducting a legal aid camp to spread awareness of civil rights and liberties. The camp also had an array of question-answer rounds and queries of attendants. Chairman of the institute Jitender Joshi awarded the participants who gave right answers on the occasion. The guests of honour at the camp were Kunwar Amnindar Singh, Civil Judge, Senior Division, Bimla Negi Negi, Block Pramukh, Birendra Singh, District Panchayat member, and Sher Singh, Pradhan, Babugarh.
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32 take part in Miss Super Model audition
Dehradun, May 30 The participants tried to impress judges Ankur Verma, Director of New Looks, and Ravi Rawat, choreographer, with their catwalk and other talents like singing
and dancing. The second audition will be held next week followed by the final audition in June end. Verma said they were going to select 20 girls out of these 32 girls. Deepika Narang, Managing Director, New Looks, and Jai Singh, producer of Shanti Films, were also present during the
audition.
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A water policy for the state of Uttarakhand is in the offing. Disclosing this, Cabinet minister in charge of water Prakash Pant has stated that the draft of the policy is in its final stages and it will be soon put up on the website of the Uttarakhand government for public response and suggestions. He said the government would move towards implementation of the policy by the end of July this
year.
Dehradun, May 30
The Brave Cricket Academy, Delhi, will meet the NCC, Sonipat, in the finals of the All-India DSL Aloevera Under-16 Cricket Tournament being played here. In the semi-finals, both teams trounced the Gujaral Cricket Academy,
Haldwani. and the Haldwani Colts Academy, respectively.
Haridwar, May 30
Nainital, May 30