Pithoragarh, May 9
“Mountains the world over provide essential sustainable resources to the people and have been helpful in sustaining humanity down the ages. For this contribution, the world community has now started paying gratitude to the mountains and the people living there,” said Prof Martin Price, Nobel laureate for peace in 2007 and Director, Centre for Mountain Studies, Perth College, Scotland, while delivering the Ninth Pandit Nain Singh Memorial Lecture here today.

Professor Price had earlier addressed a two-day International Geography Union (IGU) commission conference at Nanital on the mountainous and marginal areas of the world.

Professor Price, also heading the Unesco chair for sustainable mountain development at Perth College, said the world community first thought of the contribution of mountains while preparing the draft for the Rio climate summit in 1991.

“Thereafter, the world started thinking on the impact of mountains on the world and the communities living in mountains. This followed the recognition of the mountains for their various contributions --- for water, bio diversity, climate and finally calling the world summit on sustainable development of the mountains in 2002 in which 78 countries participated,” said the Nobel laureate.

According to Professor Price, the concept of recognising the entire world as the mountain community because of its dependency on the mountains is gaining momentum in the world today. “At present, 20 per cent people of the world live on the mountains while 26 per cent live around the mountains,” said Dr Price, adding that the rest of the population of the world should also be obliged to the mountains as it also gets other precious things from the mountains.

Professor Price, elaborating on the contribution of mountains and the people living there said that mountains the world over were not only the source of natural pure water, different medicinal herbs and sacred religious places but also formed political borders almost in every part in the world. “Being political borders, the mountains also sometimes become the place for the refugees coming from across the border,” he said.

Taking a cue from his visit to Darkot village of the Munsiyari mountains in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, Professor Martin said the farmers in the mountainous region needed to be taught not only new different skills but also the marketing methods as the farmers nowhere in the world were trained in marketing skills.

“The experience of the people of Darkot village in Munsiyari in which they are experimenting with their traditional economy will give a new idea to mix globalisation with local needs,” he added.

He further said that the globalisation could be useful in imparting new technology to the farmers of the mountains and providing bigger markets for their produce.

Before delivering the lecture, Professor Price released a souvenir on the districts of Pithoragarh and Champawat, published by Pahar, an academic voluntary organisation active in the Kumoan region.

Professor Price with the help of the video films, elaborated on the ecological degradation of major mountains in the world and said that in Switzerland the glaciers had been reduced to half of their size in the past 100 years. The Professor said that it should be a cause for concern that the mountain farmers all over the world were losing their land to developmental projects like hydroelectric projects. “In Hunza mountains of Pakistan, little water is left for farmers while farmers in Switzerland are losing their land to big dams,” he concluded.

Pithoragarh, May 9
World’s renowned geographers say that till the Himalayan mountainous region is made economically viable, migration from the region cannot be stopped. The geographers, on the last leg of their week-long tour, were talking to media persons here today.

“The local community in Munsiyari should be imparted with the new tool of eco tourism as has been done in Indies, Alps and Alaska mountains by their respective governments,” said Keith W Bosak, Assistant Professor of nature- based tourism in the University of Montana, USA. Professor Keith, who is at present, working in the Niti valley of Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, citing the experience of the Niti valley, said that eco-tourism was taking a good shape in that valley and would benefit the locals.

Dr Walter Leimgruber, Emeritus Professor in the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, suggested that the locals in Munsiyari were exhibiting a good example of using local products for the global market. “But these people need to be provided with concrete economic incentives so that global markets could help them,” said Professor Leimgruber.

Prof Ruth Kark from Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel, made a point on the hardworking women of this part of the mountains. “The work load on the women in Himalayas should be reduced as the world over, the male worker works equally with women partners unlike this region where the whole load of economic activities is put on women,” said Professor Kark.

Prof Asylbek A. Aidaralive, President of National University of Kyrgyzstan, cited how his country faced the problem of poverty and how the climate change was affecting water supply. He called for the preservation of water resources in the Himalayas.

Prof Donald F Lynch, Professor Emeritus in the University of Alaska, USA, said that even the mountain people of Alaska migrated to the western coast of America. “Migration does not indicate weaker economic opportunities, the locals from this part of the Himalayas can also prosper by migration by learning the new techniques for their traditional economic activities, using the benefits of globalisation,” he added.

The geographers have come to participate in a week-long-seminar-cum excursion season organised by Kumaon University, Nainital, and sponsored by the International Geography Union (IGU).

Nainital, May 9
The police across the Kumaon region has started gearing up for the tourist season ahead, which is expected to witness a large number of people from across the country and even abroad.

IG (Kumaon Range) RS Meena had recently convened a meeting in this regard here, which was attended by various officials and representatives of various public forums.

Various decisions were taken at the meeting, but their pace of implementation is slow till now. However, the IG has asked officials to expedite the process. New boards mentioning the speed limit for driving on roads are being put up across Nainital.

Meena had recently told TNS that additional force had been sought in the region so that tourists did not face any hassles. Besides, he has ordered regular checking at various points.

When pointed out that there is hardly any checking by the police and there is no police presence on the stretch from Haldwani to Nainital, he said the checking would soon start.

Police officials have also been asked to start making use of breath analysers and book those driving while being drunk. “We will also be checking the problem of rash driving. There will be a drive to check youngsters driving without helmets,” he said. A large number of youngsters, particularly in Haldwani, have lost their lives in road accidents on account of rash driving.

It was also decided at the meeting that police personnel would not be availing leave during the tourist season unless it was an emergency case.

Pithoragarh, May 9
Despite 15 mm of rainfall in three days in almost all parts of the region, there seems to be no respite from the prevailing water crisis in the Kumaon region.

In Pithoragarh town, where a water-lift scheme, which had been commissioned in 1979 when the population of the town was 25,000, has been unable to cater to the present population of nearly one lakh.

“Whereas the town needs 135 million litres of potable water daily for its one lakh people, we can supply only 65 million litres as the pumps in the existing Ghat pumping scheme have become very old,” said DK Mishra, Executive Engineer, Jal Sansthan, Pithoragarh.

“Not only Pithoragarh town, but other emerging towns of the district are also facing a water crisis. In the border town of Dharchula, 8,000 population of the town is getting only 0.78 million litres of water per day, while the town of Didihat, which needs 1.28 million litres of water per day, is getting only 0.27 million litres of water per day,” said DK Mishra. The towns of Gangolihat and Berinag are getting water half their need.

In Lohaghat town of Champawat district, women have to travel more than 2 km to fetch water from a natural source. “The women of Barakot village have to travel 2 km to fetch water. They have to wait for their turn for hours as residents of other villages are also dependent on the same source. The reservoir of a water scheme for the area, which was constructed some years ago, has gone dry,” said Revti Tiwari, a resident of the village.

In the Lamgara area of Almora district almost 20,000 people of 40 villages are facing an acute potable water crisis. Six water schemes catering to these villages have been lying damaged for the past one year. “In this season of marriages, the villagers are fetching water on the back of horses and mules from distant areas and they have to pay for this service,” said Jeevan Pandey, president of the Lamgara Vyapar Mandal. “The Jal Sansthan has sunk three hand pumps in the Lamgara area but they are throwing up polluted water,” he added.

Pandey said the officials of the sansthan were saying that they were waiting for approval to the reconstruction plans for the damaged schemes.

Dehradun, May 9
A nationwide “Run against Corruption” being organised in the state by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) commenced from Uttarakhand today. A large number of people reached the state capital by bus to take part in the run.

Anurag Thakur, president of the BJP youth wing, while addressing the media at a press conference, said that was a nationwide run and would be held in every city and state of the country, and it started from Uttarakhand today”.

“This is the run against corruption by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre. People are fed up with rising prices of the basic commodities, unemployment and corruption in the country, which have been on a stupendous high ever,” Thakur said.

Thakur asked for a clarification from the Congress about the stakes of Kanishka Singh, who is a close aide of Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, in certain contracts of the Commonwealth Games 2010.

He said when Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru had not been hanged by the Congress Government despite the order of the Supreme Court, there was little probability that 26/11 convict terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab would be hanged.

Nainital, May 9
The administration in Udham Singh Nagar has raised the exemption being given in stamp duty on loans up to Rs 5 lakh being given to farmers till the end of this financial year. This was stated by the Lead Bank Officer, KR Pankaj, at a meeting of Kisan Bandhu held at Rudrapur. Pankaj also said that the taxes levied by the Zila Panchayat on farmers taking up fisheries have also been withdrawn.

The meeting saw the farmers taking up the issues pertaining to them collectively. They demanded compensation for the large quantities of wheat destroyed on account of fires erupting from power lines and also sought that the compensation be increased in comparison to what had been paid till now.

A senior official of the Power Department at Sitarganj related that the incidents were being probed and due compensation would be paid to the farmers as per the norms.

On the issue of payment of dues to sugarcane producers, the farmers were told that a sum of Rs 45.89 crore had been sought from the state administration and would be disbursed once it is sanctioned.

The farmers also aired their resentment over the inflated bills being handed over to them by the Power Department on the use of power at tube wells. They said the bills be determined on the basis of the horse power of the tube wells.

The farmers raised the issues of the pathetic condition of roads and bridges along with pollution being spread by various industrial units.

The Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD) CM Pande pointed out that the roads were being repaired on a fast pace. Similarly, an official of the Pollution Control Board (PCB) related that inspections were being conducted on the premises of various units and those found polluting the atmosphere or water sources were being penalised.

Additional District Magistrate Bansidhar Tewari asked the officials present to resolve the issues raised by the farmers at the earliest.

Nainital, May 9
State Minister for Women and Child Development (WCD) Vijaya Barthwal has stated that the government is establishing new anganwaris according to the needs of the population and is appointing anganwari workers simultaneously so that these centres start functioning to the optimum.

After chairing a meeting of the officials from Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar districts here yesterday morning, she related that 910 of the 956 sanctioned centres had been set up in Nainital district and appointments had been made to them. Similarly, she stated that 957 of the 1,170 sanctioned centres had been set up in Udham Singh Nagar district.

The minister has called upon the officials to get such works done under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) that can be shown as model works for other to emulate. She asked them to make use of the scheme to realise the goals of village development projects.

She asked the officials to make use of MGNREGA in execution projects pertaining to water conservation, horticulture, fodder development, herbal nursery development and vegetable production. However, later while interacting with the media she stated, “There appears to be a lack of enthusiasm with regards to the scheme in the hills as there are fewer applicants for obtaining work under MGNREGA.

Dehradun, May 9
The revenue of the Dehradun district Excise Department has almost doubled in just one month due to the ongoing marriage season. Last month, the department had received around 29 applications for a daylong bar for which they have earned over Rs 6 lakh.

Affirming the same, district excise officer TC Pant said they have issued about 259 licences for a daylong bar, including 17 for personnel parties in the district, for the last fiscal.

“The department had earned around Rs 6 lakh as registration fees for issuing licences of bar party in the district,” he told The Tribune. — TNS

Dehradun, May 9
Under the aegis of the Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore, the department of civil engineering, Graphic Era University, Dehradun, organised an expert lecture series by eminent professors on structural masonry systems, here on Monday.

The lecture was attend by students to enhance their understanding with earthquake-resistant masonry systems. On the first day, Dr MR Yogananda, MRINMAYEE, Bangalore, spoke on eco-friendly and economic alternatives that are more sustainable and cost effective in building construction.

Dehradun, May 9
Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar yesterday started his tour of Garhwal division by inspecting several roads. He suspended a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Amaltas Gram Panchayat of Tehri district for being absent at a meeting.

The Chief Secretary visited Lambgaon in Tehri and heard the problems of the local people at the Public Works Department Guest House.

He directed the officers concerned for putting up a barrier on the Syansu Bhainga Chodhar road. He directed them to complete the construction of the Nagun Bhawan road at the earliest. 

Haridwar, May 9
With tomorrow being the polling day for the affiliation elections of the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) unions, the union leaders were employing every method to lure the prospective voters.

From door-to-door canvassing to rallies to show strength, the whole BHEL township and adjacent colonies of Ranipur, Jwalapur, Roshanabad witnessed a flurry of electioneering. Notably, the affiliation elections are the most prestigious poll in the public sector undertaking.

The union, which will poll the maximum percentage of votes, will officially take up the labour issues with the company management.

There are 14 unions in the fray. All the unions, be it Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), BHEL Majdoor Kalyan Parishad, CITU, HMS, Workers Trade Union or the Heavy Electricals Workers Trade Union (HEWTU), all were trying to lure voters while at the same time making it sure cross voting didn’t take place from their sides.

Leading the pack was former legislator Ramyash, who was the face of labour leader in whole Haridwar in undivided Uttar Pradesh, sought votes for HEWTU, prior to a massive two-wheeler procession. Ramyash said if the union was brought back to number one position, then the problems of the labourers would be sorted out on a fast pace.

“Be it delayed arrears, ban on return test, provision of plots to applicants in the phase V or demand for facilities to the contractual employees on a par with the enrolled ones, our union will be providing all these as soon as it comes to power,” he said.

The INTUC representatives too held a massive rally, assuring the voters of a speedy implementation of their pending issues as well as permanent enrolment to the contractual or apprentice workers who have been working in BHEL for the past few years.

Heera Singh Bisht, chief of the Uttarakhand wing of INTUC, expressed hope that the union would emerge victorious.

The voting will commence early morning at 6 am and will continue till 6 pm. Elaborate security arrangements are being made with the Central Industrial Security Force given the charge.

Ashok Gupta, chief election officer, said 10 unions were in the fray after three unions opted for withdrawal and one union was disqualified for not meeting requisite norms.

Haridwar, May 9
Various religious programmes were held in the pilgrim city yesterday to commemorate the 1222nd birth anniversary of Jagadguru Shankaracharya. Saints from various akharas and religious bodies, politicians and devotees paid homage to the revered guru who inspired generations to come through his noble deeds. The saints said Adi Shankaracharya bring Indians together religiously, spiritually and culturally.

A royal procession was taken out with idols of Jagadguru Shankaracharya installed on decorative vehicles. People stood lined up on both sides of the route of the procession. Cultural artistes performed ‘ras leela’ as part of the procession.

At the Surat Giri bungalow, while addressing the saint community, Uttarakhand Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik highlighted important works of Jagadguru Shankaracharya to bring together the people of the country at a time when it was quite imperative.

He specially highlighted the establishing of four revered shrines, Sringeri in Karnataka, Dwarka in Gujarat, Uri in Orissa and Shri Badrinath Jyotirmath in Uttarakhand, by the Shankaracharya at four points of the country to protect the Sanatan Dharma.

The Advaita Vedanta philosophy propounded by the revered saint was also discussed. Maha Mandaleshwar Swami Vishweshwaranand Maharaj termed the Shankaracharya as the savior of the Hindu religion. He said when the Shankaracharya saw the nation disintegrating into various blocks, he, via religious unity, instilled fresh spirit of nationalism among the Indians.

Founder of Bharat Mata Mandir Swami Satya Mitranand and Swami Devanand also expressed their views on Jagadguru Shankaracharya.

At the Har-ki-Pauri-situated idol of Jagadguru Shankaracharya, religious rites were performed by devotees.