Mussoorie, June 17
The extremely fragile eco-system with rich forest reserve near Kempty falls, 13 km from here, is under attack due to rampant dumping of debris by building contractors in connivance with the forest authorities. The activity could endanger fauna and flora of the region if remedial measures are not taken soon.

The dumping is going on due to construction boom on the Mussoorie-Kempty Road despite Supreme Court and the Ministry of Environment’s strict direction on use of land in the eco-sensitive areas such as the Mussoorie-Kempty road.

Lack of any suitable dumping ground in Mussoorie or nearby has also forced the builders to use the forest area around Kempty as the convenient dumping site without giving thought to its larger environmental implications.

The Tribune has also learnt that the dumping carries on at night. The debris are dumped on the downhill slopes damaging Oak trees and other rare species of shrubs and herbal growth in Civil Soyam or reserved forest area around Kempty Falls. More than two dozen Oak trees have already either dried up or damaged due to the slicing of bark that occurs with every dump thrown down the slopes. The contractors stop the work during the day time.

Local villagers feel the debris would also create problems for them in the coming monsoon months as with the rainfall the mud debris would find way on roads leading to traffic jam. Ramesh Panwar, a villager, said that the nexus between the builders and the forest department is not only damaging the environment but also affecting the livelihood of the villagers as the debris would also choke the sources of perennial springs affecting the livelihood of the villagers residing downhill. During monsoon, the debris would also reach the fields and damage crop.

However, the Kempty division forest ranger Jawahar Singh Tomar, speaking to The Tribune, informed that forests in the region have suffered due to large-scale dumping and the builders have not sought any permission for dumping from the Forest Department. The department has already video-graphed the dumping activity being carried out near Kempty and sent it to the senior officials for further action.

He also said that two challans have been served and fine of around Rs 30,000 imposed on the contractors, builders and the owners of the newly constructed resort and hotels. 

But according to the revenue official (patwari) of Kempty HM Nautiyal said that the builders have not stopped dumping in the area. The fine levied on them has also not had any fruitful impact on the illegal activities which on in full swing in the name of development.

Such illegal activities around the Kempty Fall area also undermines the efforts of the Union Ministry of Agriculture’s Rainfed Area Authority whose pilot study project began this year. Dealing with fringe forest management, the project is in progress in six villages. It concerns ecological, water, food, livelihood security and sustainability of the villages.

Environmentalists believe that if the continuous attack on the fragile eco-system by the builders regarding which forest department, local administration and revenue officials were also aware is not stopped, the whole exercise of pursuing the pilot project with the Central government funding was a sheer waste of time and money.

Dehradun June 17
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and BJP president Nitin Gadkari inaugurated Nirmal Gangotri Mega Tourism Circuit Plan and expansion of UREDA at Gangotri today. They also participated in Sparsh Ganga campaign and inspected various arrangements at Gangotri and met public as well.

Gadkari said, “We require to protect the Ganga from pollution as the holy river is not only our religious and cultural heritage but the basis of our life as well. We need to keep our religious places clean and provide better facilities and should encourage participation of local people and private sectors in the development works with newer techniques.”

Nishank said, “The state government has taken the first step to make the stretch from Gangotri to Ganga Sagar pollution free by starting Sparsh Ganga Campaign in which 1.60 lakh youth have already joined their hands.”

He also talked about promoting Char Dham on the lines of Vaishno Devi temple by saying, “The state government has begun many projects to maintain the sanctity and grandeur of Char Dham temples wherein we have started Nirmal Gangotri Mega Tourism Circuit plan under this, all kinds of amenities will be provided at Gangotri and Harisil. The rights of priest community will be safe guarded.”

The Chief Minister directed Principle Secretary, Commissioner and District Magistrate, to hold a dialogue with the priest community and passed on instructions to Irrigation Department to complete construction work at the ghats. The PWD was also instructed to complete the route from Jangla to Mukhba.

Vice-chairman, Char Dham Vikas Parishad, Surat Ram Nautiyal and project officer of Sparsh Ganga Campaign Prabhakar Badoni were also present.

Dehradun, June 17
The General Manager, Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN), UC Kabadwal, is an unhappy man these days as he has been given five additional departments to oversee on the GMVN premises besides holding additional charge as Additional Secretary in the Food Department.

It is after Rajesh Naithani, officer in charge of administration, mining, projects and ropeway, was suspended some four months ago that these additional responsibilities were shifted to Kabadwal, who has protested against the heavy load of work and has demanded that someone else shares the extra work.

Sitting amid a pile of files, Kabadwal, who shunned visitors to attend to his work, said it was getting difficult for him to manage the entire work as he was already working as GM, Tourism, in GMVN and Additional Secretary, Food, which itself was quite a demanding position.

“I have rather requested to relieve me from the position at the GMVN. But instead, I am being inundated with additional burden of four new departments under me,” he said.

He also expressed his inability to investigate the case against Rajesh Naithani. “Given my busy schedule, it is no longer possible for me to probe Naithani’s case,” he said . The process to revoke the suspension of Naithani has begun in the department as the nigam is not in a position to recruit anyone from outside and has no one who is experienced and senior enough to take over the post. Naithani was suspended for not completing the ropeway project at Uttarkashi in time and producing a shoddy quality of work that was done.

Since the project has also restarted, efforts are being made to reinstate him with a warning. Kabadwal, who is too senior in service to hold the position of the General Manager at the GMVN, is willing to move on.

President of the Employees Union Purushottam Puri though recommended his name for the position of the Managing Director, Kabadwal seems least interested. The GMVN has become a sort of punishment posting for officers who are loath to come here as the office has become a hub of internal politics, strikes, nonchalance of the state government and huge losses. As the time of Assembly election approaches near, when political leaders of all stature look for free accommodation for themselves and their men, the positions of the GMVN’s Managing Director and General Manager become troublesome.

Nainital, June 17
Despite a huge public outcry that has been going on over the last several days, there has been no respite to the people of Haldwani from water woes. The situation more or less remains the same with people having to struggle on a daily basis to procure water for their daily use. The causes of water woes are multifarious.

At places it is the inability of the administration to keep up the supply in a proper manner while elsewhere it is sheer lack of efficiency to maintain the existing infrastructure like tube wells whose motors have been burnt and need urgent replacements or repairs. The result is that people are made to spend several hours every day in search of water.

The residents of the town feel that the only way the water supply system in the town can be improved is by construction of overhead water tanks and laying down water pipelines with larger capacity.

They say that there is no dearth of water in the area but it is sheer mismanagement that is responsible for the problem. Water can be pumped to overhead tanks from tube wells and then supplied across the town. They allege that the promises made by the ministers and officials have proved hollow.

“Till now it was faulty tube wells that was cited as an excuse. Now they will be saying that on account of heavy downpours and rising of levels of Gaula river, there has been massive silting and hence the supply was bound to be affected,” said a local resident.

On Thursday, the crisis further worsened in the town with yet another tube well motor being burnt. This time it was the tube well in Line Number 17 locality that went out of order. Six days back it had been the tube well that stopped working in the Dahriya locality.

The areas near Vanbhoolpura have been reeling under an acute shortage for several days and the people have been resorting to agitation. These two tube wells were instrumental in supplying water to a majority of the people living in the heart of the town.

The supplies being maintained through tankers are simply inadequate. While the people are not able to get the required amount of water, they also complain of a lot time being wasted while waiting for the tankers to arrive in their localities.

Dehradun, June 17
In response to a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by an NGO, the Nainital High court has directed the Uttarakhand government to come up with an environmental indicator like the Gross Environmental Production (GEP) that monitors the ecological health at the grassroots level.

The Nainital High Court has asked the state government to provide the information to Dr Anil Joshi, patron of Himalayan Environment Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO) who had filed the PIL and is a strong proponent of ecology and economy going hand in hand.

“The state government boasts about its economic progress by releasing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data from time to time, but in my opinion it does not present the true picture at the grassroots level; that is why we are demanding the provision for the GEP,” said Dr Joshi at a press conference today.

He said Uttarakhand was an ecologically sensitive zone, therefore, development indicator must also reflect growth of environmental components especially forest, water, soil etc.

“For stating periodical growth of natural resources, i.e. forest, water and soil within the state, there is a need for some strong indicator as is done for the economic growth of the state through the GDP,” added Joshi.

In the petition, the organisation had demanded that the Uttarakhand Government be asked to release data about dried-up water resources, quality of jungle, levels of air pollution, degradation of soil, etc. “According to the report provided by the Dehradun-based Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute (CSWCRTI), soil loss is taking place at the rate of 40 tonne per hectare per year. People living in the ecologically sensitive areas will like to know what measures the state government has taken to prevent soil erosion. With the GEP, we will be able to get the complete ecological report of the state,” asserted Joshi.

He said similar PILs would be filed in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, North East and other states. 

Mussoorie, June 17
Even as the country observed the 154th death anniversary of Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi on June 17, very few would be aware that the graves of two foreigners, one Australian sympathiser and the other British Colonel, who played important roles in the war of Jhansi, are in the cemetery situated on the Camels Back road here.

Local historian Gopal Bhardwaj says it is a mere coincidence that mortal remains of two important persons of the British era with contrasting roles lie in a cemetery at Mussoorie. John Lang, Australian Journalist, novelist and barrister, fought several cases on behalf of Indians whereas Lieut-Con Hugh Fraser fought against the Rani of Jhansi and both played important roles in her killing in 1858 during the first war of Independence.

Bhardwaj says John Lang was a great sympathiser of the Indian cause and had the rare opportunity to pay a visit to Rani Lakshmi Bai before her death.

Quoting from the book titled “Wanderings in India: and other sketches of Hindostan” by John Lang, Bhardwaj says On March 7, 1854, the British issued a gazette dissolving the state of Jhansi. The Rani of Jhansi had heard about John Lang’s acumen as a barrister and invited him through a letter to Jhansi with an objective to consult him about the possibility of getting the order for annexation annulled, or reversed.

Accepting the invitation, John Lang embarked on the journey to Jhansi and found out that the boy whom the King had adopted was only six years of age and Rani Lakshmi Bai was to be the regent, and the boy’s guardian till he attained 18 years of age. This was no small matter for a woman of that rank to give up such a position and become pensioner even on 6,000 pound.

John Lang advised her that the Governor General had no power to restore the country and recognise the claim of the adopted son, without a reference to England, and that the most prudent course for her to adopt would be to petition the throne, and meanwhile draw a pension of 6,000 pounds a year, under protest that it was not to prejudice the right of the adopted son.

John Lang further mentions in his book: “At first she refused to do this and rather energetically claimed: Main Jhansi Nahin Dungi. I then pointed out to her as delicately as possible, how futile would be any opposition and told her the truth that a wing of a native regiment and some military artillery were within three marches of the place; and I further impressed on her that the slightest opposition to the advancement would destroy every hope and in short jeopardise her liberty. I did this because; she gave me to understand that people of Jhansi did not wish to be handed over to the East India Company”.

After this advice, John Lang departed from Jhansi.

Colonel Fraser from Bengal Engineers was Fort Commander at Agra and under the command of Sir Hugh Rose attacked Jhansi in March 1858. The war continued for about two weeks. Rani escaped and reached Kalpi and from there to Gwalior where a fierce battle broke out once again. Colonel Fraser, along with the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars battalion was able to slay the Rani of Jhansi at Kotah-ki Serai near the Phool Bagh area of Gwalior on June 17, 1858.

Colonel Fraser, who was injured badly in the war and suffered from heat stroke, retired to the cool climes of Musoorie where he died a few months after the death of Rani Lakshmi Bai on August 12, 1858. The inscription on the garve bears testimony to this fact.

John Lang too had stayed in Musoorie for a long time. He wrote for “Moffusilite”, a paper that was published from Meerut. He died in 1864.

Dehradun, June 17
Akranta Club and Gypsy XI won their respective matches in the Lala Nemi Dass Memorial District Football League played at the Pavillion ground here today.In the first match Akranta Club with the help of a hat-trick by Parveen Rawat defeated Tapowan XI by 5-0 in a one-sided match. Parveen Rawat scored in the 4th, 14th and 33rd minutes. Manoj Bharatwal scored two goals.

In the second match, Gypsy XI defeated Shivalik Club by 3-0. Sunil scored two goals for Gypsy XI in the 14th and 33rd minutes.

Pithoragarh June 17
In a tough contest, victorious Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala team entered the final of the All India Football Tournament here today. The Kapurthala team defeated District Sports Team, Benaras, by 6-5 in a penalty shoot out after both the teams were tied at 2-2 goals within the stipulated time of the match.

Both the teams were goalless at the end of the first half. In second half, the Benaras team scored one goal which the rival team equalised immediately. It was followed by another goal by the Benaras team. But the Kapurthala team was quick to restore parity again. Later in the penalty shoot out, Kapurthala team won by 6-5.

The first match of the day was won by Garhwal Heroes, Delhi. The Delhi boys emerged a comfortable winner, defeating Youth Football Club, Tamil Nadu, by 8-2. Vivek, who scored five goals, emerged hero of the Garhwal Heroes. 

Dehradun, June 17
The Centre has provided financial assistance to strengthen and establish Panchkarma centres at eight ayurvedic chikitsalyas in the state.

The Central Government has allocated Rs 42 lakh for each ayurvedic chikitsalya, out of which Rs 37 lakh will be utilised for construction and upgradation and the remaining amount will be utilised for procuring equipment. These eight ayurvedic chikitsalayas are located at Majra, Jhajra (Dehradun), Barkot (Uttarkashi), Badaa (Pithoragarh), Kotdwar (Pauri), Narender Nagar (Tehri), Muni Ki Reti (Rishikesh) and Chamba (Tehri).

“The funds provided by the Central Government will go a long way in giving a fillip to Panchkarma treatment which we want to popularise in the state,” said Dr DK Sharma, Joint Director, Ayurveda (Directorate Ayurveda and Unani Services).

The Department of Ayurveda has already decided to establish a separate Panchkarma cell to give a boost to Panchkarma studies and treatment in the state.

The cell will not only oversee the expansion of services by upgrading the existing infrastructure in the districts, but also promote correct practices for the treatment.

“Not only will the Centres help in the cause of Ayurveda but the dilapidated buildings in which most of the ayurvedic chikitsalyas are housed, too, will undergo improvement and expansion,” said Dr Sharma. Two Panchkarma units are functioning at Dehradun and Uttarkashi. A 25-bedded hospital at Uttarkashi is attracting a considerable number of patients. The Directorate is providing training to the doctors. Last year, around 24 doctors had undergone training at Vaidya Ratan Centre in Kerala. It was a centrally funded project that had helped doctors familiarise with the Kerala Panchkarma treatment.

Dehradun, June 17
Forest Research Institute (FRI) Director SS Negi has exhorted the farmers to take to the cultivation of bamboos in a big way.Addressing a valedictory session of a six-day exposure tour-cum-training programme on bamboos for the Uttar Pradesh farmers here in the FRI, Dr Negi said the training programme had proved to be of tremendous help to the farmers in getting necessary information about bamboo. He talked about the importance of bamboo in everyday life and also the role of bamboo mission in development.

The Course Director, Dr BK Pandey, explained about the training programme. He emphasised on the role of bamboo for rural development. Bhupendra Sahu, one of the farmers from Mahoba, said after attending the training programme at the FRI, several of his misconceptions about bamboo had been removed.

Dr Veena Chandra, scientist, FRI, coordinated the proceedings. A total of 26 participants from Mirzapur, Bareilly, Sonbhadra, Renukut, Obara, Allahabad, Mahoba, Lalitpur, Chitrakut, and Saharanpur participated in the training programme.