Dehradun, May 23
Come summer and several districts of Uttarakhand become parched. With the ever-increasing demand for water and depleting groundwater sources, a large number of areas in the state are being supplied water through tankers. Though a good rainfall last summer and better management efforts have considerably improved the availability of water, 29 places in Kumaon and five places in Garhwal still face an acute shortage of water this year.

“In Kumaon, last year 59 areas were provided water through tankers while this year the condition has considerably improved and in all 20 places are being supplied water through tankers. While in Garhwal, last year a total of 253 areas were facing a water crisis, now only five places are being supplied water through tankers,” said DD Dimri, Chief General Manager (CGM), Jal Sansthan.

In Uttarakhand, a major part of water supply comes through groundwater. Owing to limited recharge from a scanty rainfall and alarming decline in water table, particularly during summer, several rural and urban areas face an acute water crisis. “Of the total 63 urban local bodies in the state, 59 local bodies fail to meet the requirement of 135 litre per capita per day of water. A reorganisation and upgrade plan with an estimated cost of Rs 546 crore has been submitted to the government,” said Dimri.

In the urban areas of Dehradun, both the quantity as well as quality aspects of groundwater need special attention. The problem of inadequate water supply in areas that fall in the upper region can only be overcome through a sustainable urban water management. “The piezometric head of the deeper aquifers must be maintained by recharging these adequately through a large number of rooftop rain water harvesting structures in urban areas,” said SK Gupta, Secretary (Administration) Jal Sansthan.

In Pauri Garhwal district, four mohallas in rural areas are being supplied water through tankers. Last year, 40 mohallas in the rural areas faced an acute water shortage. In Pithoragarh, the number of places that faced water shortage last year was eight, but now the problem is being faced in three mohallas only. In Didihat, six mohallas are being provided water through tankers. In Nainital, Haldwani and Ramnagar a total of 11 mohallas are facing a water crisis and are being supplied water through tankers.

Nainital, May 23
The Administrative Training Institute (ATI) has something unique to offer to residents of Nainital these days. It is a small but impressive exhibition showcasing the various facets of life in the 11 Himalayan states of the country.

The exhibition is an event organised along with the ongoing Indian Mountain Initiative programme of the Central Himalayan Environment Association (CHEA) that has experts from across these states deliberating on various issues related to sustainability in the Himalayas.

The pictures offer a breathtaking view into the diverse world of various cultures and living patterns in the different states right from Nagaland in the east to Ladakh in the west. They also depict the strong martial traditions in these states which their residents are very proud of.

There is a wonderfully clicked picture of a Naga warrior in his grandeur. His costume and the “Dao” in his hand speak a lot about the resilience and the power of the people of the state. Another very interesting picture is about the traditional sacrifice of a male buffalo in the Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand.

These pictures go on to show the different festivals in different states. There is a picture of the Chholia dancers of Kumaon and the masked dragon dance that is the highlight of the Ladakh festival.

A picture that gives a satirical message about the plight of women in the hills while men folk tend to have it easy is among the most

appreciated by the viewers.

It shows a group of women carrying heavy loads on their heads while the men folk are busy playing cards. It underlines the fact that life in the hills revolves around the efforts of women.

Along with the photographs, organisers have provided a peep into the village life of the higher reaches in Kumaon. They have put on display various articles that were and are still being used in daily lives in the remote areas of the region.

It is a delight to watch an intricately weaved sieve from leather. There are also wooden containers in which rarefied butter or ghee was kept at home.

Ironically, these containers possessed by mothers-in-law are big while those meant for their daughters-in-law are small. There are also on display the utensils that were used for manufacturing liquor at home and to collect it. On display are small air bags that are used to make the fire flare up in hearths.

Dehradun, May 23
Besides loss to human life and property, the floods triggered by the rains last year drove away prospective investors who wanted to set up units in the state. The impact is all too visible in fewer number of proposals that the Industries Directorate has received by the prospective investors who are keen on setting up micro and small-scale industries in the state.

Under the Special Integrated Industrial Promotion Policy (2008), which has been aimed at encouraging micro and small-scale industries, the state managed to attract an investment of only Rs 70 crore in 2010-2011 while in 2009-2010 the investment was to the tune of Rs 117 crore.

The policy has been adopted by the state to encourage small and micro industries in the hilly and remote areas of the state. “We had received very good proposals during 2010-2011 but the rains and then the ensuing floods upset all our plans. The investment this year has been considerably reduced to Rs 70 crore, though initially the proposed investment was to the tune of Rs 249 crore. But most of the proposals could not see the light of day as floods in July and September all cross the state last year proved to be a deterrent. Most of the prospective investors withdrew their plans,” said GC Pandey, Deputy Director of Industries, Directorate of Industries, Uttarakhand.

Manufacture of corrugated boxes, plastic bottles, agriculture implements, etc, are being promoted under the policy. It has managed to provide employment to 2,738 people in the state and also developing entrepreneurial skills among them.

“There is a huge opportunity in the pharmaceutical and fruit and vegetable processing sectors. We have been asking prospective investors to invest in semi-processing and pharmaceutical units, but they think it is not suitable and are demanding that subsidy benefits be extended in the hills,” said Pandey.

The Kalsi area of Dehradun district, which is hilly too, is being showcased as a potential area where small processing units could be set up.

Dehradun, May 23
In the backdrop of felling of a number of trees near the Govind Wild Life Sanctuary in Uttarkashi district, District Magistrate, Uttarkashi, is awaiting the Sub-Divisional Magistrate inquiry findings before submitting her final report to the state government.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank had ordered prompt submission of the probe report for taking action.

District Magistrate Hemalata Dhoundiyal yesterday said the SDM was investigating the matter and be submitting his report to her shortly. She, however, did not commit herself to any deadline given by the state government to her for submission of the probe report.

The probe has been the fallout of a large scale felling of kail trees near the Govind Wild Life Sanctuary done at the behest of a senior IAS officer constructing his bungalow in the area. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Dr Uttarakhand Chief Wildlife Warden SK Chandola had expressed concern over the incident and sought an explanation from the Govind Wild Life Sanctuary’s forest officials.

On the other hand, social activists have pointed out that while the local residents of villages in the area near the sanctuary are not allowed to access facilities like power supply due to the protected status of the area, the authorities are trying to protect a senior IAS officer responsible for axing trees for construction of his bungalow.

Nainital, May 23
To promote eco-tourism in the vicinity of Nainital, the Forest Department has developed a cactus garden and a bamboo hut at Botanical Gardens on Kaladhungi Road. These two facilities were inaugurated by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Dr RBS Rawat, today.

The newly developed cactus garden displays a unique collection of rare and beautiful cactus plants. This is the first of its kind in Uttarakhand and is housed in a transparent geodesic dome that has been engineered to gather the maximum sunlight while protecting plants from frost and harsh weather conditions.

With about 90 cactus species collected from various places, this garden definitely offers exclusive and enchanting experience to visitors.

The newly constructed bamboo hut provides rest and stay to visitors in a serene and scenic environment away from the hustle and bustle of city life. This bamboo cottage provides a unique experience to visitors and helps popularise bamboo as an alternate construction material which is cheap, eco-friendly and likely to provide employment opportunities for the locals as well.

Rawat expressed hope that in the next decade, many bamboo constructions would come up at various tourist destinations in the state.

He said people were being trained in the art of construction with bamboo as the mainstay of the building unit.

The Himalayan Botanical Gardens was developed in 2005 at a distance of 5 km from Nainital.

It houses a rich collection of rare and endangered medicinal plants, orchids, ferns, cactus, trees and aquatic flora of Uttarakhand. It endeavour to conserve its biodiversity and natural heritage while providing research opportunities to scientists as well as a platform for education and learning to students. It is also a centre for eco-tourism offering a number of attractions to tourists oriented towards the nature. 

Dehradun, May 23
The misgiving about HILL Electronics Corporation Limited (HILTRON) being closed down seems to have subsided as the corporation has been entrusted the task to develop a software for the mid-day meal scheme where it will collect the mobile numbers of the principals of the schools concerned, students of these schools, transporters to carry grains and attach these through a server, whereby it will cross check the efficacy of the entire project on a daily basis.

State Project Director Saujanya confirmed handing over of this project to HILTRON though the officials of the corporation are yet to get written orders about it.

The management of HILTRON is quite apprehensive at this stage, given by the past records whereby it has been given such projects at the infancy level and withdrawn later on after they became successful, and passed on to private companies.

According to the sources, HILTRON was given the project of providing computers, manpower and computer training to the students when Uttrakhand Open University was started, but after the entire set-up was established, the project was withdrawn from it. Similarly, its services were roped in for Sarv Shiksha campaign where it prepared the data and trained manpower in computers. This project, too, was handed over to private operators afterwards. In other instances, too, such as in introducing the e-ticketing system in Uttrakhand railway or computerisation in sales tax depots, the corporation burnt its hands likewise.

Sources say that the reason behind adopting such repeated tactics by the alleged bureaucrats in these government departments/ agencies was to minimise the risk in the very beginning, as in case the private parties failed to give desired results in the initial phases itself, the government departments fear audit questioning. But once the system is put in place and the people concerned learn the techniques, then they do not hesitate in pulling out the projects from HILTRON and give them to the private parties to pursue “their own vested interests”.

Unless and until HILTRON does not get funds and government order regarding mid-day meal scheme, they prefer to remain tight-lipped about it. As sources claim that in the past one decade, Rs 70 lakh given to it as IT communication provider, Rs 3 crore for computerisation under Smart School Scheme and Rs 2 crore for Lok Seva Ayog were taken aback after the money kept lying with HILTRON for 1.5 years, waiting for a nod from the bureaucrats concerned.

Kashi Singh Aeri, founder leader of Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Trivender Sg Panwar faction) and former Chairperson of HILTRON asked the state government to be sincere in its approach toward HILTRON and not to indulge in mere pretences in announcing of projects and later retracting them. Aeri had been in the forefront in sharing the alleged backdoor manoeuvering by the bureaucrats in shutting down the HIlTRON with mediapersons.

Dehradun, May 23
With a view to putting a check on money laundering and terrorist financing, the Uttarakhand Government will be monitoring the functioning of non-government organisations (NGOs) which are running on paper only.

This was decided at a meeting chaired by Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar with senior officers of the Home Department, the local intelligence unit, the Intelligence Bureau and the Reserve Bank of India.

It was decided at the meeting that the formation of a review committee in respect of the NGO sector was a must. The Chief Secretary observed that a coordination mechanism with NGOs at the state and district levels should be developed. He directed that a list of NGOs should be prepared and those NGOs identified which were functional on paper only.

In this reference, he said, it would be suggested to the Union Government that a list of NGOs should be given to the state government from the ministries allocating funds direct to the NGOs. The state government would see if the funds released for the purpose were being utilised or not, he added.

Despite the fact that there was no case of financing of terrorist activities in the state, he directed that strict vigil should be maintained on the flow of foreign money under the Foreign Currency Regulation Act. Better coordination and exchange of information between the Union Ministry and the state governments was necessary for checking antinational activities, he added.