Dehradun, December 31
The number of rape and murder cases went up in Uttarakhand in 2010. While the police managed to lessen the number of robbery and burglary cases, the loot graph registered an increase in the state this year.

Other than this, the incidents of crime related to women went up. Director General of Police (DGP) Jyoti Swaroop Pandey gave strict instructions to the police staff of all the districts to identify the crimes which were mostly committed in their respective areas and work on them to arrest the increase in the crime graph.

As per the data provided by the state Police Headquarters from the period of January 1 to December 15, the number of rape cases rose to 102 this year compared to 92 in 2009 and 74 in 2008.

The number of murder cases also witnessed a rise as 161 cases were registered in 2010 as against the figure of 141 last year. However, the state Police Department had something to boast of as the number of robbery and burglary cases saw a decline this year.

The police crime data said, 10 robbery cases were registered this year while 25 were registered in 2009 and eight in 2008. In respect of burglary, 313 and 350 cases were registered in 2009 and 2008, respectively. The number of burglary cases lessened to 275 this year. Whereas the number of loot cases rose to 145 this year compared to 130 in 2009.

In total, 8,487 cases were registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) this year. The number was 7,803 and 8,101 in 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Speaking to The Tribune, the DGP said: “The crime was average this year.”

“The most number of crime cases is reported from Dehradun, Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar. I have asked all the police stations to identify the crime mostly committed in their respective areas and work on them. They have been told to collect information regarding the crime and make a plan to work on reducing the number of crime incidents,” the DGP added.

On the increase in the number of cases related to women, he said: “Now, women in the state have become more aware and they are coming up with complaints so we really can not say that crime against them has increased.”

As per the police record, 1,268 cases of women harassment were registered in 2010 till December 15 while 1,258 such cases were reported last year and 1,237 in 2008 in Uttarakhand.

The police data said 42 women were murdered this year till December 15 while 30 such cases were registered in the past year during the corresponding period. As many as 102 women were raped in 2010. The number of rape cases was 92 and 72 in 2009 and 2008, respectively.

The abduction cases also saw an increase, as 219 were registered this year, as against 198 and 166 registered in 2009 and 2008, respectively. The number of molestation cases remained the same at 119 this year and the previous year.

Also, the incidents of chain snatching kept the cops on their toes, as 46 such cases were registered this year. Last year 21 cases of chain snatching were reported and 36 in 2008. However, the number of eve-teasing and dowry death cases saw a decline.

The eve-teasing cases declined to 209 this year in comparison to 272 and 327 in 2009 and 2008, respectively. The dowry death cases also decreased from 64 in comparison to 73 and 62 in 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Dehradun, December 31
With several private schools awaiting directions for the implementation of the provisions of the Right to Education Act, it will be interesting to see how the state government balances the concerns of the private schools, while ensuring the provision of 25 per cent reservation of seats for the students of the weaker sections.

“If the number exceeds beyond 25 per cent, a lottery system will decide the number of kids, who will be admitted to Class I. The mapping of the neighbourhood schools is underway for designating such schools that fall within a kms reach of the habitation,” said coordinator BP Nawani.

The Act calls for doing away with the selection procedure for all the classes, a core issue the private schools have, and also providing help in terms of enhancing the aptitude level of the first generation of the learners. “All these children, coming from the economically weaker sections, cannot afford tuitions, for which things have to be worked out. We have put the first draft of the rules on the Internet and are inviting suggestions from all the stakeholders,” said Uttarakhand project director, Sabhi Ki Liye Shiksha Parishad, Sowjanya.

It may be mentioned that the state governments have to work out their own requirements to implement the provisions of the Bill. If there is any violation, parents can lodge complaints at the State Council for Protection of Child Rights. Once the rules are given a go ahead by the Vidhan Sabha, funds to the tune of Rs 70 crore will be utilised for the first three months. 

Almora, December 31
The issue of shortage of wood for cremating the dead in Kumaon has started snowballing into a major political issue with the Congress workers resorting to protests over the failure of the government to address the issue.

The workers of various Congress-affiliated organisations staged a massive protest at Vishwanath Ghat in Almora yesterday to garner public support over this sentimental issue. They raised slogans against Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank-led BJP Government in the state.

The agitators went to the extreme of offering an effigy of Nishank to the stream flowing along the cremation ground. The state government was accused of being insensitive to the sentiments of the population in the area.

The officials concerned on the other hand have stated that efforts are being made to ensure a proper supply of wood at all the cremation grounds across the region. Owing to the shortage of wood, it is not being supplied for setting up routine bonfires at public places for the time being. It has reportedly been stated that with the scheduled cutting of wood starting in the Terai region soon, the problem would be over in a few days.

Earlier this month, both Nainital and Almora had witnessed protests on this issue. The issue had first came to light about 20 days ago when the relatives of four deceased had to wait for hours at Chitrashila Ghat in Haldwani before they could cremate their dead. The cremation ground at Haldwani is the most prominent as people from the adjoining areas prefer to cremate their dead there. On an average 10 or 15 bodies are consigned to the flames at this ground daily and a truck full of wood barely last a day and a half there.

The officials had then stated that the consumption of wood at the cremation ground in Haldwani had increased and there had been a decline in the cutting of trees in the region. With appropriate wood not readily available in the region, the wood for cremation was being acquired from Roorkee. The officials said additional trucks had been pressed into service for the purpose.

It is now being hoped that with the fresh cutting of wood scheduled to begin in January, things would be sorted out. In Almora, a large number of people, led by the Congress leaders, had approached the local administration with a memorandum on the issue. They are still alleging that the problem has persisted for more than a month and despite regular reminders to the officials, nothing has been done to address the issue.

Haridwar, December 31
Years after hundreds of farmers in Haridwar gave away their agricultural land for the industrial expansion of the public sector major Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), many of them have not been fully compensated till date.

Perturbed by the lackadaisical attitude of the BHEL management, the aggrieved farmers have been on agitation for the past one week to press for the compensation package and other related demands. They were also demanding that the unused land of the BHEL be allocated to them for the agricultural purposes to meet out their daily needs.

Under the aegis of the Kissan Sangarsh Samiti, these affected farmers have been on agitation from the past four years, but no action has been taken so far. This time the samiti has chosen the BHEL main administrative building gate for agitation, which is gaining media coverage, as earlier they had been protesting at Roshanabad, 15 km from the city. To register their complaints, the affected villagers have been sitting outside the gate on daily basis, trying to catch the attention of the BHEL management officers.

Lashing at the delay in the displacement policy of the BHEL management, chief of the KSS Balwant Ram Chauhan said despite years of agitation, repeated complaints to the management and district administration, nothing concrete has been done, but for meagre assurances.

Chauhan said they have discussed this issue several times with the officials concerned. The company has also not provided provided jobs to their kin in the Ranipur unit of the BHEL, which was promised prior to their displacement.

While founder of the agitation samiti Massom Aligada has warned of carrying out the agitation till their demands were not met. The agitators are also running a signature campaign. BHEL’s HR Department official stated that the right demands of the aggrieved farmers were being looked into and the company had adhered to its policy. “Displaced families were given due compensation as per the criteria,” he said. 

Dehradun, December 31
With intense cold winds hitting the city, more and more people thronged the National Handloom Expo today at the Parade Ground to buy hand-knitted woollens and blankets.Unlike branded woollens that are high on cost in the city markets, the Jaipuri blankets exhibited in the expo are catching attention of the visitors. The Jaipuri blankets are available here in vibrant colours in the range of Rs 600 to Rs 5,000.

“We are here in Doon to display our art form for the second time. The response has been above average, as people prefer handloom items,” said elated Rajesh, one of the salesmen at the Rajasthan stall.

Uttarakhand stalls, too, are attracting the customers. “We are from Chamoli district and have socks, shawls and cardigans made out of pure sheep wool. Our team of 20 artisans travels to various exhibitions and is gaining recognition for creating genuine products,” said coordinator of the self-help groups Radhika Negi. “I purchased handloom socks from the expo and loved it for its warmth and quality,” said Neha, a customer. 

Dehradun, December 31
The People for Animals have sought action against Sub-divisional Magistrate, Thalisain Pauri, alleging criminal assault on its representative at the ‘behest of the SDM’.

A complaint to this effect has been sent by member secretary, People for Animals, Uttarakhand, Gauri Maulekhi to the Pauri Garhwal SP.

In her complaint, Maulekhi has alleged that one of their representatives Pankaj Pokhriyal had been deputed in Patti Chauhan in Thalisain block of Pauri Garhwal on December 27 and 28 to observe and report whether the High Court order related to the sacrifice of animals was being observed.

The administration, too, had prior knowledge that buffalos were likely to be slaughtered and Thalisain SDM Himalaya Singh Martolia accompanied by patwari of Patti Chauthan Girish Chandra Gaur and Kanungo BP Juyal, too, reached the spot on December 27.

However, instead of stopping the killing of the animals, as ordered by the High Court, the local officials were mute over the killings. Instead, the three officials allegedly prevented Pankaj Pokhriyal from proceeding towards the temple, where the sacrifice was to be made and pointed him towards a wrong direction.

According to PFA, when Pokhriyal continued to move towards Masa temple, the SDM called out to the Patwari and the Kanungo to prevent Pankaj for visiting the temple. The Martolia SDM also threatened to kill him. On SDM’s instructions, his subordinate also searched Pokhriyal for any camera.

Maulekhi has in her complaint urged the SP, Pauri Garhwal, to cause the lodging of the FIR against the three officials for their acts of criminal intimidation and other applicable criminal offences.

Dehradun, December 31
Vice-President, Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN), Raghunath Singh Negi, today bid adieu to the passing year by bringing out some more old issues, such as mining, shortage of LPG, whopping expenditure on legal cases and callous attitude of the higher officials in the GMVN.

Addressing the media here today, Negi said the Congress in the state had joined hands with Centre on mining. The Central Government refused to give NOC in 24 cases. Since the mining has come to a halt in the state, the level of rivers has risen, which could prove to be disastrous during heavy rain. “The ban on mining has resulted in loss on two fronts. The agriculture is getting affected, and the second the government is losing revenue earned through house tax, as the construction of houses has slowed down due to rising prices of building materials.

He criticised the Ministry of Environment and Forest, saying that the ministry should be well aware about the provisions of the 1979 Act, according to which it is essential to extract minerals from the riverbed otherwise it can affect the agriculture. He said: “As per the notification of September 13, 2006, there is no need to take an NOC for mining on an area up to 5 hectares from the ministry, something which the GMVN had been following since 2001. But, despite that the nigam was not given permission to do mining on small patches. Because of this, the nigam incurred a hopping loss of Rs 13 crore.”

He once again flayed the Centre for being prejudice in the matter of gas supply. He said: “We get only 30 per cent or 35 per cent of gas supply. The entire hill area of the state is facing an acute shortage of LPG. The women are seen standing in long queues on the roadside. Even business in our 32 gas agencies has reduced to the half.”

Negi also picked up the issue of spending a big sum on paying fees to advocates who showed propensity more to lose cases than win. “Till date, the GMVN has paid 50 lakh to advocates. Hand in glove with the officials, they could win only 17 out of 138 legal cases, lost 58 and the rest of the cases are pending in the court. In 2003 only, of 52 cases, we won only five cases and lost 40. Such a revelation is embarrassing for us.” Negi condemned the top officials for remaining absent from their offices for several days at a stretch.

Dehradun, December 31
For forest-predominant Uttarakhand, year 2010 will certainly go down as an year of achievements.A major success for the state Forest Department came with the release of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority Fund (CAMPA). An instalment of Rs 5 crore of CAMPA was put to use by the Uttarakhand Forest Department, which helped the department get additional funds for its flagship programmes.

Mukhyamantri Harit Yojana continued to be high on the agenda for Uttarakhand foresters. It was for the first time under the scheme that 14 lakh tree saplings were distributed free of cost to various institutions as part of the Forest Department’s plantation drive.

A lot of emphasis was laid by the Uttarakhand Forest Department on strengthening the 12,000 van panchayats this year, courtesy the Chief Minister. A unique concept that reveals the Uttarakhandi people’s age-old relation with the forests, van panchayats were in a sorry state of affairs for quite some time.

The Forest Department not only initiated redrawing boundaries of these van panchayats, but also assisted them in strengthening their financial condition.

Another major achievement was the start of the Bay Leaf Project in the Badrinath Forest Division. Under the project, villagers were encouraged to go for bay leaf (tej patta) cultivation which resulted in increasing their income at least four times.

After long years of study and policy making, the Forest Department finally succeeded in signing a memorandum of understanding for the utilisation of perul to manufacture various products.

Perul has been the major reason behind rising incidents of forest fires. Under the leadership of the incumbent Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, there have been efforts towards the utilisation of perul. This year proved to be a success in this regard.

As part of the public consultation exercise vis-a-vis Forest Rights Act's implementation in Uttarakhand and western UP, a committee, jointly instituted by the Union Environment and Forests and Union Tribal Ministries, held a consultation in Dehradun in May. The committee expressed its concern over the slow progress made by Uttarakhand towards implementation of the Forest Rights Act in the state.

The state, as a result of the Forest Department’s initiative, succeeded in holding the International Centre for Integrated Mountain and Development’s (ICIMOD) board of Governors’ meeting in Mussoorie, a big achievement by any standards. The ICIMOD represents all the Hindukush mountain range countries.

After the success of the Dhanolti eco-park, another eco-park at Almora was established. Public participation at the Almora eco-park was ensured leading to the creation of livelihood opportunities for the local population.

On the man-animal conflict front, human and wildlife casualties continued in 2010. As many as six persons died in leopard attacks, two were killed by elephants and a person was mauled by a tiger in 2010. As many as three tigers, 49 leopards and six elephants died in the same period.