Dehradun, September 10
Keeping growing public resentment in mind, the Uttarakhand government has halted construction at the 330 MW Srinagar hydro-project in Uttarakhand.A high-level committee has been constituted to probe the construction works. The panel will be submitting its report within 15 days.

There has been widespread resentment over the construction of the Srinagar hydro project as the famous Dhari Devi temple will be submerged in the reservoir of the dam.

Uttarakhand Power Secretary Umakant Panwar held that while the project has not been shelved, it has been halted only to save the Dhari Devi temple from inundation.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Mahila Vikas Samiti, Sanyukt Uthan Samiti and other organisations had been strongly opposing the construction of the Srinagar project at the cost of the Dhari Devi temple. They had been agitating for the past 100 days.

On the other hand, those working on the project expressed strong resentment over any move to shelve the project.

The locals, working with the JBK company, staged a blockade on the main Rishikesh -Badrinath highway. While burning the effigy of the Chief Minister, they said that they would lose employment in case the project was withdrawn.

Expressing strong opposition to state government’s move to halt the Srinagar project, Congress leader Narendra Pundir said the party would not tolerate its shelving. He pledged support to the locals who were supporting the dam.

The locals today also held a protest march that was attended in large numbers. They also criticised the state BJP government for bringing the Srinagar project to a halt.

Meanwhile, regional force the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal extended support to the agitation of the locals in support of the Srinagar Dam. The UKD has recently taken a categorical stand opposing the shelving of any hydro project in the state.

Dehradun, September 10
Activists of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal led a torch procession from the Gandhi Park to Shahidi Sthal via Paltan Bazar today demanding that work be restarted on the banned hydropower projects.

Leading the procession, the party’s district president, Omi Uniyal, said that both the Congress and BJP were playing dirty party politics in view of the ensuing Assembly elections in 2012. “This is badly affecting the interests of the people of Uttrakhand, he said.

He added that the UKD would not accept this and would continue to fight for the rights of jal-jungle-jameen (water, forests, land) of locals and get the ban on these hydroprojects - Pala Maneri, Bhairon Ghati and Lohari Nagpala - revoked.

City president Bahadur Singh Rawat said that if these hydroprojects are not restarted, then the UKD would start an aggressive movement throughout the state for which the Congress-BJP governments at the Centre and state, respectively, would be responsible.

Prominent ones who participated were vice-president Virender Bhatt, general secretary NK Gosai, city general secretary Pramod Dhobal and women president Pramila Rawat.

Dehradun, September 10
According to the latest report (April 2009-March 2010) released by the Department of Eco-Tourism, there are four wildlife sanctuaries out of a total of 16 marked permissible for tourism, which have registered zero footfall and zero revenue in these years.

Principal Secretary, Tourism, Rakesh Sharma informed that these wildlife sanctuaries were not meant for tourism activities and were confined purely to wildlife protection purposes till now. But their names in the list of wildlife sanctuaries considered for tourism was kept keeping their future prospects in mind, he added.

Deviating drastically from Rakesh Sharma’s view, Rajiv Bhartari, Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Eco-Tourism Department, said, “Two of these four - Askot Wildlife Sanctuary at Pitthoragarh and Vinog Wildlife Sanctuary at Mussoorie - had been authorised for tourist activities.

“They were provided a rate list for entry to be charged from tourists, but the authorities working in these wildlife sanctuaries were neither maintaining any record of tourists coming in nor charging any entry fee, at least in the knowledge of higher-ups.”

In case of the other two wildlife sanctuaries - Asan Conservation Reserve at Chakrata and Jhilmil Conservation Reserve - Bhartari said that his department had written to the state government to arrange for the very basic system to initiate tourist activities there.

“We don’t need anything except the gates for the entry and exit of tourists in the sanctuaries and a few staff members to maintain the record and a close watch on the tourists,” he said.

Bhartari also endorsed the view that these wildlife sanctuaries were fit cases for the promotion of tourism in the state. “These sanctuaries are beautiful in every sense. The surroundings are scenic and picturesque replete with verdant nature and brimming wildlife which is why they have been included in the list.”

He said he would mobilise the Chief Wildlife Wardens of these sites to take effective steps to increase tourist activities in the areas.

Bhartari also sought an inquiry into Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, which despite registering increasing footfall of tourists, has almost remained static in revenue collection.

Surprisingly, this sanctuary which was nil in terms of tourism and revenue collection till 2002-03. These picked up subsequently in 2003-04 by registering 581 Indian and 96 foreign tourists and a collection of Rs 1.66 lakh.

The number of tourists has risen to 1,620 domestic and 343 foreigners from April 2009 to March 2010, but the revenue has not gone up.

If this was not enough, the figure had dipped in 2007-08 to a mere Rs 90 lakh, whereas footfall

showed an increase with 1,359 tourists. The revenue was low in 2008-09 as well collecting Rs 1.03 lakh with footfall of 1,528 tourists. No action has been taken in the past eight years to check this trend.

The Nanda Devi National Park and the Gangotri National Park are other two examples, which also had zero tourist inflow and cash collection till 2003-04, but these picked up subsequently.

The Gangotri National Park which started with 6,844 tourists in 2003-04 had an amazing footfall the very next year with 41,985 visitors and a revenue of Rs 5.62 lakh. This site too has confirmed a downfall over the years with the latest figure at 18,775 tourists, but revenue remained up at Rs 15.92 lakh in 2009-10.

This indicated to a low in the satisfaction level of tourists, but the high fee structure gave a smile to the state government.

Strange is the pattern described by the Govind Wildlife Sactuary which had 3,843 tourists and a revenue of Rs 2.78 lakh in 2004-05. There was a sharp reduction in footfall (2,015 tourists), but a huge leap in revenue of Rs 19.56 lakh.

In the current year, the graph has come down to 1,675 tourists with a revenue Rs 18,000. A lack of clear-cut policy of developing infrastructure and revenue structure has emerged as the major cause of this anomaly between tourist inflow and revenue.

The biggest attraction among all wildlife sanctuaries - the Corbett National Park - has documented a somewhat lower number of tourists, but high revenue, thanks to the fee structure.

The Park, which has the best record of having an increasing flow of tourists, has a growing tally of 45,019 Indians and 4,293 foreigners and revenue Rs 46.43 lakh from 1996-97 to 1,93,892 Indians to 8,757 foreigners in 2008-09 with revenue of Rs 306.38 lakh.

The scene turned a bit dismal in the current year (2009-10) in terms of tourists inflow -1,89,988 Indians and 8,217 foreigners - but bright for revenue that was still increasing at Rs 444.54 lakh, registering the maximum revenue among all.

The Rajaji National Park, which is the second-most popular wildlife spot among tourists, has done well after 2004-05 with tourists inflow taking a sharp upward movement from 4,851 from that year to 18,891 in the current slot. The revenue has been increasing over the years with the current collection of Rs 27.16 lakh.

As per the latest record from April 2009 to March 2010, 8,52,850 tourists, including domestic and international tourists, visited these 12 wildlife sanctuaries or Parks and gave the state a revenue of Rs 608.6 lakh.

The state government needs to analyse the factors responsible for tourist inflow falling in the specific wildlife sanctuaries/Park and take appropriate action.

Nainital, September 10
Having initiated conservation and beautification activities in Nainital and Naukuchiatal, the Lake Development Authority (LDA) has now drawn up an ambitious plan aimed at beautification of Sat Tal and Khurpatal.

The LDA plans to develop proper shorelines of these lakes located in close proximity to Nainital and make proper pathways to them.

Talking to The Tribune, senior functionary of the LDA CM Sah said, “Both lakes are visited by a large number of tourists. We intend to beautify the two without disturbing the ecology.

“There will be a minimum use of cement concrete as it would be used only for the pathways.”

He added that the LDA plans to give a new look to the area where there are shops near Sat Tal. “We want to do away with the present setup and instead develop a shopping area on the lines of Delhi Haat.

“We want to set up the shops in a such a way that the view of the beautiful surroundings is not hampered in any way for the visitors.”

The two places are extremely popular with the tourists, particularly those coming from abroad. Ironically, till date, there is no proper approach to Khurpatal. Sat Tal, on the other side, is in need of proper maintenance.

Set among dense forests of oak and pine trees, Sat Tal is one of the few unspoilt and unpolluted freshwater biomes in India. These lakes are known for the presence of migratory birds.

These are home to a few camps being operated mostly by local people catering to tourists looking for outdoor vacations.

Sat Tal has been under heavy environmental degradation for sometime as extensive deforestation, dumping of waste, uncontrolled urban growth of the catchments and nearby forest is harming the ecology of the area. This has led to a fall in precipitation, decrease in the number of plant and animal species and rapid drying up of perennial springs.

Khurpatal is located at a distance of 12 km from Nainital on the Kaladhungi Road. With its crystal clear waters, it is an ideal getaway. The area is also known for its vegetable farms.

Sat Tal is an interconnected group of seven freshwater lakes. During the British rule, the area had a tea plantation, one of four in Kumaon at that time.

Dehradun, September 10
The two-day voluntary blood donation camp that was organised at the ICFAI University campus in association with the IMA Blood Bank, Dehradun, concluded here today.

Organised and managed by student volunteers of the university, the blood donation was carried out in smooth manner.

All donors were given certificates of donorship by the IMA Blood Bank which will entitle them to procure free blood from the IMA Blood Bank for use by them or for their kin. In addition, donors were also presented mementos by the blood bank.

Dr SC Deorani, Prof Prafulla Dash, Registrar, and Prof Loveraj Takru, Director, IBS, spent time with the students and lauded their efforts.

Col Arora (retd), MD, IMA Blood Bank, presented a memento to the ICFAI University for their valuable contribution towards blood donation by their students, faculty and staff.

At the camp, 406 units of blood were collected. Last week, IBS, a constituent of the ICFAI University, had contributed 50 units to the IMA Blood Bank through the Alpha Foundation, a social arm of the university working for uplift of the poor.

The camp was coordinated by Col SK Jairath (retd), CAO, and supported by Manish Mehta, Assistant Registrar of the university, with 20 student volunteers headed by Ali Mahdi. The IMA Blood Bank team was headed by Bhardwaj, Dr Amit Agarwal and Amit.

Mussoorie, September 10
In a triangular contest for the Municipal Post Graduate (MPG) College students council poll in Mussoorie, the NSUI emerged victorious by winning the maximum seats barring the seat of general secretary that went to the ABVP. The Aryans Group could not even open its account.

Sandeep Panwar from the NSUI defeated his nearest rival from Aryan, Ashish Raunchela, by a margin of 70 votes.

The NSUI created a sort of a hat-trick by winning the coveted post of president for the third time in a row. The ABVP had to comfort itself with the post of general secretary.

On the other posts, their candidates stood third as the Aryans Group, showing better performance, came second at most posts.

The polling began early morning and lasted till 2 pm amid tight security. The counting began at 2 pm and went up till 7 pm.

Sandeep Panwar secured 287 votes whereas Ashish Raunchela of Aryan Group could muster 217 votes, Ashok Nautiyal from the ABVP stood third with 214 votes.

For the post of general secretary, Parvesh Kumar saved the face for the ABVP winning by a margin of 78 votes. He polled 404 votes defeating the NSUI candidate Rajesh Chandra.

The NSUI bagged other posts by a wide margin. The voters flocked to the college from far and wide villages despite inclement weather.

Jubilant NSUI workers celebrated with a victory procession on the Mall Road and exploded firecrackers. The involvement of the senior politicians with kind and cash was also seen in these polls.

The Aryans Group is fast emerging as a better alternative for the students against the organisations controlled by national parties. Aryan candidates fared better than the ABVP in most of the seats.

Dehradun, September 10
Anshul Chawla, a son of an auto rickshaw driver, believes that his hardships, diligent endevours and faith in God made him the winner of Student Council Election 2010 at Uttrakhand's biggest college, DAV PG College. Clad in simple blue shirt and black pant shares a glimpse of his life and forthcomings with The Tribune during a tête-à-tête.

How much has your life changed after winning the students council election?

Well, now people know me as a representative of students as well as of the college. Earlier, I was just like any other student of the college but now, I am a face of youth at DAV PG College.

Why did you join ABVP?

I've been supporting Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarathi Parishad (ABVP) since four-five years as the party has always worked in students' interests. The party doesn't believe in clichéd tactics of fake assurance to the voters but genuinely serves in favour of students and I think accumulating maximum votes in the students’ council elections says rest of the story.

How far will you be able to fulfill the aspirations of all the students who may not have supported you and may not agree with the policies of ABVP?

Before being a party's representative, I am a student of this college and I am very well aware of the problems and shortcomings that every individual student faces in every academic year. Therefore, I believe in working for the students who showed faith in me and made me win the contesting election with big margin.

Do you think, coming from a non-political background and less influential family will affect you in your service?

No, not at all. I am dedicated and passionate towards my job. Being a representative of the college, I've the responsibilities to work in students' interests and my seniors will help me in setting the directions for my forthcoming duties.

What are your priorities after being elected as president of the biggest college of Uttarakhand?

First of all, we will work towards improving academic environment in the college, work in the interest of students, will also keep a check on all malpractices within the campus and to improve infrastructure in here.

What has ABVP done in the last three -four years during its reign and what will you do for the betterment of the students?

During our tenure we had successfully made new toilets and girls common room in the college campus. This is not all, the college that faced the problem of potable water earlier, is now also working on constructing tube well to solve the problem once for all. We had made new parking area, auditorium and constituted placement cell for the college with strength of around 30,000 students.

What are your plans for the college? Do you plan to spruce up the dilapidated infrastructure of the college?

The ABVP party in the year 2005 had exposed the scam to the tune of Rs 50 lakh involving the malpractices linked to admissions and examinations. I, also pledge to continue the same work initiated by the party with full dedication and devotion. Other than this, we are planning to get the college building renovated and white washed, specially the auditorium. We are also planning to expand the infrastructure according to the strength of the college.

How much have you spent on the entire election procedure?

As per the recommendation set up by the Lyngdoh Committee, we have performed the entire election activities within the limit of Rs 5000. While for expenditure, including placing banners, hoardings, refueling vehicles and others during the canvassing were entirely funded by the supporters and party members themselves.

As the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) backs the ABVP, so what support have you got from the ruling state party during this student council election?

It is true, that both the BJP and the ABVP share similar ideology but have different identities. We have our own office at Karanpur and are working independently without being offered with any assistance (financial) by the state ruling party during the student council elections.

Anshul Chawla, President of College Students Union Election 2010, DAV PG College is pursuing Masters in Arts (History). He graduated from DAV PG College while completed his schooling from Shri Guru Ram Rai School, EC Road.