Dehradun, October 5
A state-level glacier authority, headed by the Minister of Science and Technology and backed by scientists, will monitor the health of Himalayan glaciers in Uttarakhand.

Worried at the pace of retreating glaciers, the Uttarakhand Cabinet today approved the constitution of an authority, that will have 21 members, including scientific experts from the state and Central governments. “We do not posses any scientific data about glaciers and to what extent they had retreated or expanded and their effect on the flow of rivers,” said Chief Secretary Subash Kumar while briefing mediapersons at the secretariat.

Though the government is still framing bylaws for the authority, it has been decided that the Minister of Science and Technology will be the Chairman and the Chief Secretary its Vice-Chairman. Officials from the Department of Forest, Jal Sansthan, Peyjal Nigam, Irrigation Department, etc, will be included in the authority.

“Above all, the authority will be backed by the scientists who are experts in glaciology to be nominated by the Uttarakhand government for a period of three years. These will be picked from leading scientific institutions of the country as well as the state. We will also be taking the services of non-government organisations who will be special invitees,” said Subash Kumar. However, the Dehradun-based Uttarakhand State Application Centre (USAC) will be the nodal agency for the authority.

In another decision, the government decided to relax eligibility condition for 18,000 posts lying vacant in different departments, thereby opening promotional avenues for serving employees. A relaxation would also be given to physically challenged candidates in jobs. “The Uttarakhand government reserves 3 per cent jobs for the physically challenged. Accordingly, some seats are reserved for visually challenged, hearing impaired, etc, but many times the posts remain vacant for a lack of sufficient candidates in that category. But, to benefit the physically challenged persons, these posts will be interchangeable,” Subash added.

The government has also decided to fill senior-level teaching posts at Rishikul and Gurukul Ayurvedic Colleges through general categories. These posts are in reserved categories.

Haridwar, October 5
In a major disappointment to the public, the much-publicised Red Ribbon Express, that was scheduled to open for the public from today, went away without its official ribbon-cutting ceremony being performed. It was to be inaugurated by state Cabinet minister Madan Kaushik at the Haridwar railway station.

This train was forced to leave the station due to some Hindu outfits opposing the very concept and purpose of the Red Ribbon Express, creating a ruckus on the station late night. Eventually, the railway officials though it better to leave the pilgrim city without it being shown to public.

Activists of the Hindu Jagran Manch and the Shiv Sena claimed that the Red Ribbon Express wrongly portrayed some Hindu gods, hurting the sentiments of the Hindus deeply. Activists of the manch, on the condition of anonymity, said even the street plays that accompanied the Express programme also gave a wrong perception of our ancient culture.

“Any act or event that hurts our religious sentiments will not be allowed at any cost, even if the government or administration organises it,” said an office-bearer of the manch.

The Red Ribbon Express is a joint effort of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF), United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Indian Railways, Nehru Yuva Organisation and the State Aids Control Societies (SACS). Launched in 2004, the train displays educational material on one coach and the other two are used to conduct conference, counselling-cum-medical services and administrative-cum-kitchen, etc.

Several organisations, political parties and NGOs have in strong words criticised the opposition to the Red Ribbon Express. The Congress has termed the incident as an open blow to the right to expression and an act which is possible due to the BJP-led state government not been able to control its affiliated outfits.

The train, with doctors on board, also strengthens people’s knowledge about general health as well. Folk troupes, exhibitions and reading material are all part of the express train which has been overwhelmingly successful in achieving its goals.

Dehradun, October 5
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today too maintained a distance from the ongoing compromise efforts among Hindu and Muslim groups in Ayodhya, asserting that it was not a party to the case. However, the party yet again described the verdict as a facilitator for the construction of Ram Temple.

Addressing media persons at the state party office, senior BJP leader Murali Manohar Joshi said the Ayodhya verdict had facilitated the construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya. “We are not a party to the case and can in no way linked to any compromise efforts. But, the Ayodhya verdict has certainly facilitated the construction of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya,” Joshi said. He evaded a query put up by mediapersons as to whether the BJP would rake up the Kashi and Mathura temple issue in the near future.

Referring to the ongoing unrest in Kashmir, the former BJP president accused the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre of failing to hold talks even with those groups which were inclined to be with India.

Joshi, who visited various districts in Kumaon, reiterated the state demand for Rs 21,000-crore as relief. He said he had never seen a devastation of such quantum in Uttarakhand in his 
entire life.

He also asked the Centre for a relaxation of relief norms for hill areas. “The same relief criteria for damage to houses cannot be applied both to hills and the plains as the construction of construction vary at two places,” 
he added.

Haridwar, October 5
With various incidents and controversies surrounding the state police, with many letting down the morale of the police, Uttarakhand Director-General of Police (DGP) Jyoti Swarup Pandey, in a bid to infuse confidence and make personnel approach more focused, held a meeting of top police officials of the district at the CCR Tower here today.

Addressing the top cops, DGP Pandey said despite various difficulties and pressures, police personnel should not lose patience and act according to the situation.

“Human sentiments should be given due respect while performing duty as in this job one encounters varied types of people, situations, dangers and pressures. But adhering to the basics and focusing on solving the cases at the initial level, lessens the intensity of the disputes which is quite instrumental in lessening workload of ours (police personnel),” advised Pandey, who assumed office this July.

Pointing on the changing role of the police in the current scenario, where the police is not only a law-enforcement agency, but also dons the mantle of a multi-work agency, the vision, flexibility, and approach should also be changed as per the duty or work.

Focus of the state police chief was mostly on trying to make the state police more public friendly with emphasis on more intense beat policing system which is quite successful in controlling as well as stopping criminal activities.

“Only focusing on crime after it has happened will not do. We have to make sure order comes before law. By that we have to be in touch with the public, representatives, informers to stop the crime before it happens and also make sure that cases are amicably resolved, This will help in lessening the burden on us and judiciary too.”

Adding further, Pandey cited an example of a recent Supreme Court order wherein a rapist pleaded to the court for settlement with the rape victim as he felt mentally and socially he had been severely hurt due to his indecent act. To this, the rape victim was offered a piece of land and the apex court allowed the settlement which ended the case proceedings that had been going on for several years.

At the high-level meeting present were Senior Superintendent of Police Sanjay Gunjiyal, Commandant fourth PAC Anant Shankar Takwale, Commandant IRB KL Swaroop, Superintendent of City Police Dr Kiran Lal Shaw and other police officials of the district.

Haldwani, October 5
The disaster-hit area of Kumaon, particularly the Terai belt, is in the grip of dengue following the devastating spell of rain that lasted for more than a month in the region till a few days back. The worst-affected areas continue to be Haldwani, Ramnagar and Lal Kuan. However, the authorities claim that they have managed to tackle the disease effectively on the treatment front, but at the same time they agree that a lot needs to be done on the preventive side.

Although media reports are putting the dengue cases in the region well beyond 400, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) DS Garbyal says that till last Saturday 353 cases had been reported in the region and there has been only one casualty.

Garbyal says that out of these 353 cases, 285 have been discharged. He said a large number of these cases are from the neighbouring areas that fall in the adjacent state of UP.

“This goes to show that people in adjoining areas too have developed confidence in our treatment facilities at Haldwani. Of the total cases, 51 have been from Uttar Pradesh. Similarly, people from adjoining districts in Kumaon are also availing treatment from us. There have been 18 cases from Udham Singh Nagar, three from Champawat, two from Almora and one from Pithoragarh. The remaining have been from Nainital district,” he pointed.

Fortunately, there have been fewer cases reported from Lal Kuan that had earned the reputation of being a dengue-infested area till last year on account of large cases being reported from there annually. This has largely been possible because of timely preventive actions taken by the health authorities.

A hospital has been set up in the Railway Colony that has been functioning right through the rainy season with two doctors posted there and examining at least 20 to 25 persons on a daily basis.

Health Department officials have also started an awareness campaign in different parts of the district asking people not to let water stagnate near their surroundings and maintain cleanliness. While this has worked in Lal Kuan, the regions of Ramnagar and Haldwani have reported a higher incidence of dengue this year.

Health officials point out that while they have been trying to make people aware of the threat of the disease, the other departments like those responsible for maintaining sanitation, proper maintenance of public places have not pitched in. With the result Ramnagar has reported maximum number of dengue cases in the entire Kumaon this year.

The installation of platelet transfusion facility at the Sushila Tewari Memorial Hospital has helped the authorities in combating the threat. The hospital authorities were quick to establish separate wards for treatment of dengue patients and doctors have been working round the clock making optimum use of transfusion equipment to treat people. In fact, the hospital has emerged as the most effective centre for providing health care during this period.

However, people residing in the interiors are still battling the threat of outbreak of water-borne diseases with the supply of chlorine tablets and bleaching powder which the administration claims to have provided to them. There is an extreme shortage of doctors in remote areas of hill districts.

Dehradun, October 5
The Personnel Below Poverty Rank (PBOR) Association has registered their strong protest against the prejudice shown toward the Army officers of honour ranks and threatened to go to the court for justice against it.

In a meeting held at the Shahid Duga Mal Park, association president PTR Shamsher Singh Bisht said after serving for a long tenure, some soldiers were elevated to the rank of Captain by President Pratibha Singh Patil owing to their exceptional record of service and bravery and they were given all facilities given to the officers of this rank. “To our shock, the facilities related to the CSD have been ceased for these elevated ranks from July 7 onwards. Now the stature of these Honorary Captain has been reduced to the level of JCO. This way, the officer who gave these orders has disregarded the orders of the President. We want an action against him in the Supreme Court where we will also demand to set things rights as they were before,” he said.

Presiding over the gathering, adviser to the association Capt Satya Bahadur Khatri said he served for 32 years for the country in the Army and was recognised with the officer rank, but this new order had insulted his services and loyalties. He demanded action against those behind it.

The other patrons of the association Capt SS Rana, central vice-president Capt IB Kshetri, Garhwal in charge Capt GS Rawat, media-in-charge Arun Khatri were also denounced the directive.

Dehradun, October 5
Leading biologist of world fame GB Schaller called for integrated approach to deal with the rising man-animal conflict in the state.

Addressing a workshop as part of Wildlife Week celebrations here today, Schaller said an integrated approach was the sole solution to address the growing man-animal conflict in the state. He also called for forest management policies taking into account a period of 100 years. “The human population should also be included in the forest management issues so as to make them more effective on ground,” he said.

Earlier, Principal Chief Conservator of the Forests Dr RBS Rawat introduced Schaller to the gathering. He said it was a great opportunity for the state forest authorities to have the presence of a biologist of international stature in the state to participate in the World Wildlife Week celebrations.

State Chief Wildlife Warden Srikant Chandola said the man-animal conflict stood as the biggest challenge before the forest authorities in Uttarakhand. He said the forest officials from time to time took efficient measures to minimise the man-animal conflicts.

Senior forest officials, members of voluntary organisations and a large number of schoolchildren participated in the workshop.