Dehradun, June 21
Union Minister of State for Home Gurudas Kamat said there was a need for arming the police with high-technology weapons to combat crimes.Kamat was speaking as a special guest during the inaugural session of the 41st All-India Police Science Congress at the Forest Research Institute (FRI) here today.

He said being a nodal agency, the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) could play a pivotal role to meet this end. The three-day science congress has been organised by the BPRD to identify ways and means to upgrade the capacity of police forces. It is for the first time that the Uttarakhand Government has hosted this event.

The menace of terrorism, Naxalism, human trafficking and cyber crime are likely to be discussed during the event.

Earlier, Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank inaugurated the science congress. In his address, he drew the attention of dignitaries towards the security challenges being faced by Uttarakhand in
the areas bordering Tibet and Nepal.

He said there was a need to implement the national identity card scheme in the border areas. He also underlined the need of better cooperation between the police and the local people.

The CM said security agencies should maintain communication and cooperation with the people of the border areas. Nishank added that it had become compulsory to impart the IT training and other state-of-the-art techniques to the police force.

Meanwhile, state Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar, DG (Police) Jyoti Swaroop Pandey, DG (BPRND) Vikram Srivastav, ADG SK Bhagat and DIG Deepam Seth were also present on the occasion.

Dehradun, June 21
Work on the modernisation of the Uttarakhand Police might get delayed as the Home Ministry is yet to decide on the sanctioning of the modernisation budget plan proposed by the state police.

“The Home Ministry has received proposals from the police of different states for the sanctioning of funds. We will review all of them and according to the needs of the states, the funds will be sanctioned,” said Gurudas Kamat, Minister of State for Home Affairs and Communications & IT.

However, he refused to divulge information on whether Uttarakhand would be sanctioned the budget. “There are certain parameters according to which they will be given the funds,” he said.

The state police had proposed a modernisation budget plan of Rs 28.43 crore to the Centre in February. Sources said if the budget was sanctioned, it will be used in building construction, developing infrastructure, improving mobility and buying of arms and ammunition. The remaining fund will be spent on solar power equipment.

Dehradun, June 21
Annoyed at having no response from the state government to their pending demands for more rights and autonomy to the gram panchayats, the Uttarakhand Gram Pradhan Sangathan locked the Raipur block development office in Dehradun here today.

The agitators, led by Surat Singh Negi, president of the organisation, also staged a demonstration and burnt an effigy of the administration. “We sent a memorandum to the state government and staged dharnas but it seems the authorities don’t want to pay any heed to our demands,” he said.

As per the plan of the sangathan, the gram pradhans have intensified their protest and would only discontinue it till their demands, including enforcing the Panchayati Raj Act in Uttarakhand, are met.

The protesters will now demonstrate at the offices of the District Magistrates on June 27 followed by a massive dharna at Jantar Mantar, Delhi, on July 12.

The demands of the sangathan include a monthly fund of Rs 600 given to the gram pradhans for carrying out their social obligations and disposal of other issues be raised to Rs 15,000 a month along with other fund allocation and pension.

Dehradun, June 21
Industrial activity in the state has begun to harm the environment and the Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB) has ordered the closure of three defaulting industrial units under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

The board had identified 420 hazardous waste generation units (2010-2011) in the state. These included Kevin Care (Haridwar), Acme Tele Power (Pantnagar), Bosch-Chesis Eldico (Sitarganj). Most of these units began to comply with the requirements and then eight industrial units were issued closure notices.

“Out of these three units---- Gandhi Fastners, Pantnagar, Radbacs Remedies, Kotdwar, and Zaika Health Care, Roorkee--- have been closed for failing to dispose of hazardous waste under the Environment Protection Act, 1986,” said Amarjeet Singh Oberoi, Environment Officer, UEPPCB.

The eight units were issued closure notices were Dhama Industries (Haridwar), Concord Drugs, Roorkee, Risabh Valvelen, Haridwar, Hail and Hearty Pharmaceuticals, Rudrapur, Gandhi Fastners, Pantnagar, Radbacs Remedies Kotdwar, Auto Parts, Sitarganj, 
and Zaika Health Care, Roorkee.

According to the UEPPCB, the identified 420 units emit 16,000 metric tonnes per annum of hazardous waste.The compliant units have entered into an agreement with Bharat Oil, Continental Petroleum and Ambuja Cement for waste treatment and disposal.

“Industrial units can only store hazardous waste for a period of 90 days beyond which they are liable for action under the Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Act (P), 1986.

In 2009-2010 the UEPPCB had identified 374 industrial units.The maximum number of units were in Udham Singh Nagar (96). In Haridwar there were 67 and in Dehradun 42.

Dehradun, June 21
CT Young and Doon Valley scored wins in their respective matches here today in the ongoing 60th Lala Nemi Dass Memorial District Football League held at the Pavilion grounds.

Doon Valley beat DMK 2-0. Balwinder Singh (26th minute) and Rahul Negi (25th) were the stars in the win of Doon Valley. DMK failed to score any goal in the match.

In the second match, CT Young blanked Bajrang Club 3-0. Manish (14th), Nitin (48th) and Pradeep (65th) were the scorers for the winning team. Bajrang Club failed to counter the moves of the rival team.

Tomorrow, Doon Challenger will face Balaji and Doon Star will play against Akranta.

Dehradun, June 21
To press for the fulfilment of their four-point charter of demands, the Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers today held a demonstration outside the Secretariat.

Earlier, the ASHA workers, owing allegiance to the Uttarakhand Asha Swasthya Karyakarti Union, gathered at Gandhi Park and then marched towards the Secretariat. But, they were stopped by the police near the Secretariat.

Later, Shiva Dubey, president of the Uttarakhand Asha Swasthya Karyakarti Union, submitted a memorandum to the official concerned to be forwarded to the Chief Minister and the Health Secretary.

The main demand of the ASHA workers is revocation of a government order slashing their honorariums. “According to the last government order, the ASHA workers were entitled for an honorarium of Rs 600 in the rural areas and Rs 200 in the urban areas for a month for carrying out deliveries but the government later slashed it to Rs 350 in the rural areas and Rs 100 in the urban areas,” said Dubey.

Haridwar, June 21
Though Twenty20 cricket has become a craze, veterans of the cricket sport feel that despite the game generating huge profits, this format is quite harmful for budding cricketers.

Veteran-cricketer-cum coach Inder Mohan Barthwal pointed out that in Test cricket, temperament as well as long hours of practice were required but nowadays in T20 the players became stars instantly, but they failed when they face Test conditions.

Citing T20 superstars like Yusuf Pathan, Murali Vijay, Kieron Pollard, Shahid Afridi, Barthwal said these players seemed great in T20 where they got to perform on pitches conducive to batting. “But when these players have to play swing during the five-day long Test in varied playing conditions, there technique and skill is on the wanting side. So, Test and 100 over one-day matches should be given more focus,” said Barthwal who has captained the BHEL national team.

Currently coaching school students, Barthwal has prohibited T20 cricket for them till they attain the age of 17 years. He feels that time of their age is to hone their skills, particularly in the technical aspect.

The chief of the Cricket Association of Haridwar Neeraj Kumar and Jymkhana Cricket Club founder MP Sharma, who are organising the cricket coaching camp, say they felt at an early age, emphasis should be on technique and honing of skills and they were organising this camp keeping that in mind.

“Initially, I used to play pull and hook shots in first few overs but now I am concentrating on playing swing balls with emphasis on the technical aspect. I also do feel that T20 is better when we have made a mark in the longer version of the game,” said Tanishq Uniyal, a student undergoing training at the camp.

Dehradun, June 21
Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited and GAIL yesterday signed an MoU for the setting up of gas-based power plants at Haridwar and Kashipur under a joint venture route.Director (Business Development), GAIL, and GP Patel, MD (UJVNL) signed the pact.

Speaking on the occasion, Patel said: “With this, the state will be able to produce 350 MW from each plant. Since the gas allocation is to be decided by the Group of Ministers, Government of India, we expect them to put Uttarakhand on top priority.”

He claimed that the state would be able to meet its requirements from energy produced through these gas plants and 972 MU produced after the repair of old hydroelectric plants in the next three years.

Uma Kant Panwar, Secretary (Power) said: “With the expansion of industrialisation, the demand for energy has trebled over the past five years. The government is determined not to let the industry and infrastructure development in the state get affected due to a shortage of energy.”

Panwar said the state faced tough challenges after all its big hydroelectric projects were closed down.

Besides these two projects, GAIL is at present executing two pipeline projects, the first is Karnapur-Moradabad-Kashipur-Rudrapur and the second is Saharnpur-Haridwar-Rishikesh-Dehradun to transport gas to consumers in the districts of Kashipur, Rudrapur, Roorkee, Haridwar and Dehradun.

Chairman and MD, GAIL, BC Tripathi gave an assurance to supplement energy and provide a supporting role in the setting up of gas plants. He said the Kashipur gas plant would be ready by August and the other at Rudrapur would be ready by December. 

Dehradun, June 21
Anil Kumar Jain, Managing Director, Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL), who has replaced Jagmohan Lal has said it is possible to ensure uninterrupted power supply in the state throughout the year.

Addressing the media for the first time on Tuesday after taking charge, Jain, who had long innings in Haryana from the level of SDO to Director Power Sector, said, the corporation was in a good position and had approximately 31.02 MU power of which 20.9 MU came from the Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL). The frequency of power is also good.

He said: “Given the present situation, the state is in a position to give 100 MW to Haryana and 100 MW to Punjab, which would be returned to it in the months from September to January, when the state faced an energy crisis, with 5 per cent extra power. The corporation also struck a deal with a Haridwar-based cement factory from which we bought 50 MW at Rs 4.45. In winter, when power generation dips, we would be able to buy power from other sources at much lower rates through a tendering process.”

Jain said the state had a demand of 1,200-1,300 MW during the peak hours against which 9,982 MU would be available to it this year in comparison to 9,243 MU last year.

Line losses, which include technical as well as commercial losses and largely known as AT&C losses, were his main concern and these would be brought down from 27 per cent to 20 per cent by 2012.

“I have asked my staff at various sub-stations to be strict with those who indulge in power pilferage. For this, I am also focusing on industries which are 60 per cent responsible for it, rather than the rural areas which account for 20 per cent of the total pilferage. We suffer a lot of losses due to the snapping of wires in forest area. We will install insulated wires in these areas in the next four or five months,” he said.

Taking stock of the dues to be paid by other departments and public to the UPCL, he said government departments were to pay Rs 600 crore, Rs 150 crore by local bodies, Rs 250 crore by the Jal Sansthan, Rs 3,000 crore by consumers and 90 per cent recovery was still due. Collectively, he said, the UPCL was running into losses worth Rs 1,400 crore. Even the UPCL was liable to pay 600 crore to Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited.

“Shortage of staff in the corporation is also affecting the efficiency of work, as there are only 4,268 employees posted against the sanctioned 6,111 posts. To fill the gap, we will soon start a process to make appointments,” he added.

He said he had directed his staff to attend the problems related to incorrect electricity bills immediately. He also accepted that the electronic meters, which had been installed outside the residences on poles and walls at quite a height, should be installed at the eye level so that the consumers could see the reading.

“If such meters get damaged due to any reason for being installed in the open, then the corporation will be fully responsible for it not consumers,” he added. On the electrification of villages, he said 550 villages, which were to be electrified, would be provided with solar-power lights by the end of March.