Kumaon police to install surveillance cameras
Tribune News Service

Nainital, August 12
The police in Kumaon is all set to improve the surveillance infrastructure across the region as a major deterrent to those inclined to carrying out criminal activities here.

According to the newly appointed DIG (Kumaon Range) Amit Sinha,”We are moving towards installing IP

cameras at several places. There is no reason why this cannot be done as it will help maintain a vigil over large tracts of area without the police having to move around.” He said these cameras were both cost effective as well as reliable.

An Internet Protocol camera, or IP camera, is a type of digital video camera commonly employed for surveillance, which, unlike analog

closed circuit television cameras, can send and receive data via a computer network and the Internet. Although most cameras that do this are webcams, the term "IP camera" is usually applied only to those used for surveillance.

He further stated, “This does not mean that there will be no police around. We will do our job but this will be a value addition to make it more effective.”

He pointed that the border between Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh was highly porous. “There are 56 points in Udham Singh Nagar district alone from where one can cross over to the other state. This is in addition to the 12 main roads that are frequently used for vehicular movement. Hence, surveillance has to be improved,” Sinha said,

adding that there had been reports of people having committed crimes in one state and then moving into the other for lying low.

He said the new pattern of urban growth also required an improvement in the infrastructure for maintaining vigil. “For example, there are a large number of people employed in various industrial units. Since housing in Udham Singh Nagar is expensive, they have to reside in localities that are close by but are located in Uttar Pradesh. We have to keep an eye on them also.”

He said the pattern of crime in the hilly terrain and that in the plains of the Kumaon region was distinct and had to be dealt with in a different manner.

Water Supply to Colony
Admn’s bid to end stand-off between developers, villagers
Tribune News Service

Nainital, August 12
The district administration in Nainital has stepped in to try to act as a mediator for ending the stand-off between the developers of the Army Housing Colony and villagers at Khurpatal.

The area of Khurpatal has been witnessing a stand-off on the issue of the former tapping the underground water for supplying water to the residents of the proposed colony. The villagers, on the other hand, have been opposing the tapping of the underground water sources.

A meeting on the issue was held here on Friday under the chairmanship of District Magistrate Shailesh Bagauli, who decided that a meeting be held with the residents of Khurpatal on the issue. He has asked Gram Pradhan Sunita Devi to convene an open meeting on the

issue of supplying drinking water to the colony from the Khurpatal Drinking Water Scheme. He said that besides the members of the Gram Sabha, officials of the Jal Sansthan and the Jal Nigam and officials at the block level would also be present at the meeting.

At the same time Bagauli also ordered the officials of the Jal Sansthan and the Jal Nigam to carry out a survey in the area with a view to identifying other sources of water for supplying drinking water to the colony. He has stated that if the people of the village agree to the

proposal, a new tube well can be sunk at Khurpatal and the supply of water from this could be managed by the Jal Nigam and the Jal Sansthan as per the parameters set for it.

At the same time he has also ordered that geological surveys be done on the bypass and the Khurpatal area. Bagauli has said that if there is an agreement on the sinking of the new tube well, connections from it can also be given to villagers residing in Jaguda and around thus ending their problem of water scarcity.

Inquiry begins into ‘illegal’ possession of land

Pithoragarh, August 12
Kumaon Commissioner Kunal Sharma today initiated an inquiry into the alleged possession of 23 hectares at the Chandak hills near the town by land mafia. The land belongs to the Leprosy Mission. “After the state government instructions, a probe has been initiated into the alleged illegal possession of land,” said Kunal Sharma while talking to mediapersons here today.

According to official records, the land belonged to Leprosy Mission which had abandoned the place in 1996 after they found no leper to treat and rehabilitate in the area. “On the basis of complaints filed by keepers of the mission that a politically influential land mafia is making an illegal construction on the land of the Leprosy Mission, a probe has been ordered by the government,” said the Commissioner.

He said if any illegal construction was found, it would be demolished. Residents of nearby villages who claim to have donated the land to the mission in 1882 demanded that if the mission’s purpose had been completed, the land should be returned to these villages. A delegation of villagers also met the Commissioner in this regard. — TNS

Public document on state core issues released
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 12
Uttarakhand Janmat, a public document on the core issues of Uttarakhand, was released here today. The document will be handed to the leaders of all the political parties of Uttarakhand in the run up to the Assembly elections.

Releasing the document, eminent environmentalist and Padma Vibhushan recipient Sundar Lal Bahuguna said the issues linked to the Himalayan region were still to be resolved. He said Uttarakhand had been into existence for the past 10 years but the role of the common man in development had been minimum.

Padma Shri recipient Anil Joshi too referred to the core issues concerning Uttarakhand. He said the issue of rising unemployment and rights of villagers over water, land and forests were still to be restored.

Uttarakhand Congress President Yashpal Arya said the dreams of the state agitation martyrs were still to be fulfilled. Senior Congress leader Suryakant Dhasmana said political strength lay in the hands of the people and appealed to them to choose only those candidates in the elections who kept a sense of commitment towards the welfare of the people of the state.

The public document has made special focus on a water policy, forest policy, land policy, panchayats, education and health.

The issue of attacks by wild animals on villagers, rising unemployment and excise policy have also been touched upon in the document.

MP seeks allocation of gas for Kashipur power plant
Rajeev Khanna/TNS

Nainital, August 12
Pleading that the Union Government address the power concerns of Uttarakhand on priority, Lok Sabha member from the Nainital constituency KC Singh Baba has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to immediately allocate natural gas for the power plant being set up by a private party in Kashipur, first for testing and then production.

In a letter sent to the Prime Minister’s Office, Baba has stated, “ I request your good self and the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGOM) to kindly consider the immediate allocation of natural gas to the power project first for testing and commissioning and then for continuous operations so that it may add valuable electricity to the grid....” He also requested the Union Government to consider addressing the power requirements of this “climate- sensitive hilly state of Uttarakhand in a long and sustainable way”.

He said, “ In my constituency M/s Sravanthi Energy is developing a gas-based power plant at Kashipur in two phases of 225 MW each. I understand that the first phase of the plant is now complete and it is ready for commissioning. The second phase of the project (225 MW) is likely to be commissioned by February 2012; both these phases of the project are set to be commissioned within the 11th Plan and shall contribute 450 MW to the (national gas) grid.”

Baba had earlier also written to the Prime Minister on December 20, 2010, drawing his attention to the power needs of Uttarakhand and seeking his support for an appropriate long-term solution. In his present letter, while appreciating the efforts of the UPA government for taking the initiative of creating a national gas grid and pipeline infrastructure across the country and capacity building of 62,000 MW during the 11th Plan period, he expressed his concern that due to issues pertaining to fuel linkage India may fall short of the target.

“I had brought to your kind notice the grim power situation in Uttarakhand. Even after 10 years of its formation, it still remains a power-deficit state. Since there are issues with some of the large hydel projects which were to come up in the near future and the small self-identified hydel projects, power production is unlikely to meet the demand in future too,” he said.

The letter to the Prime Minister states that “coal-based power projects not being an option due to environmental and transportation issues, gas-based power plants are the only option for mitigating the power demand of the state. He said, ”M/s GAIL India is laying a pipeline which will go to Kashipur and Rudrapur in my constituency covering major industrial areas of Kumaon.The pipeline is now almost nearing completion and will be in a position to transport the gas to these areas very shortly.” 

Five of family killed in Jaunpur cloudburst
Ajay Ramola

Mussoorie, August 12
Five members of a family were killed and one was injured when a cloudburst triggered flash floods that devastated a cattle shed at Moldhar-Sain village in Jaunpur block of Tehri Garhwal district, 50 km from Mussoorie, today. Around 15 cows, three buffaloes, three sheep and one calf buried in the mud brought along by water from higher areas. According to the villagers, the tragedy struck around 2.30 am last night. Madan, a villager, who was sleeping in a nearby shed, after hearing half-buried Shanti’s frantic calls for help, rushed to the spot and pulled her out. She was rushed to the Thatyur Hospital where the doctors referred her to the Doon Hospital today.

Dhanaulti SDM Nasir Khan was the first to reach the site of tragedy, much before the disaster management team arrived there. The other five members of the family could not be rescued and their bodies were pulled out of the debris after a struggle of more than two hours.

As the family belonged to the Dalit community, the SDM found that the people from other castes were not showing any interest in giving shoulder to the bereaved members of the family. The deceased have been identified as Gobru (65), Meela (11), Gobru’ daughter, Babita (19), Manjit’s wife, Urmila (13), Gobru’s daughter, and Bhartu (50), Gobru’s son-in-law from Seera village. The Gobru family is survived by two sons who were inconsolable after seeing the bodies.

Disaster Management Minister Trivendar Singh Rawat, along with Education Minister Khajan Das, reached Bangsil village and expressed their condolence to the grieving members of the family. Rawat announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh to the dependants of the deceased and Rs 50,000 as relief to the injured. He also directed the administration to release the compensation today itself. Khajan Das announced that the surviving members of the family would be provided new houses under the Atal Awas Yojna.

Earlier, villagers, who were angry at the delayed arrival of the disaster management team, gheraoed the two ministers at Bangsil village. They demanded that the bodies should be handed over to the surviving members without conducting any post-mortem on those. The Education Minister directed District Magistrate, Tehri Garhwal, Radhika Jha to hand over the bodies after conducting the panchnama. The villagers were also angry with the Disaster Management Minister as he, along with DM Radhika Jha, preferred to wait for the bodies at Bansil village, 5 km from the disaster-hit village. Earlier, the road leading to the village had to be cleared of mud so that the disaster management team could reach the spot. The team found it difficult to carry the bodies on their shoulders as most of the rivulets were in spate. The MP from Tehri Garhwal, Vijay Bahuguna, state Congress vice-president Jot Singh Bisht and senior BJP leader Rajesh Nautiyal, have offered condolences to the bereaved members of the family.

Alva, CM express grief

Dehradun: Governor Margaret Alva has expressed grief at the loss of lives and property in the cloudburst and the deaths of laboureres in Tehri district.

The CM has also expressed grief over the deaths in the two mishaps. The CM also ordered for the immediate release of ex gratia to the kin of the deceased.

15 cows, 3 buffaloes, 3 sheep and one calf also perish

Rs 1 lakh ex gratia grant for kin of deceased and Rs 50,000 for injured announced

Disaster Management Minister Trivendar Singh Rawat and Education Minister Khajan Das unable to reach the site; wait for the bodies in Bangsil village

2 labourers killed as cave collapses

Pithoragarh, August 12
Two labourers were killed while four escaped unhurt when the cave in which they had taken shelter to protect themselves from rain collapsed in the Pati block, Champawat district.

Anil Shukla, Tehsildar of Pati subdivision of Champawat district, said the bodies of Shyam Singh (35) and Laxmi Devi (40) had been retrieved from under the boulders by revenue officials with the help of villagers.

Meanwhile, the 9th batch of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra that was returning from Tibet after completing pilgrimage, had to change its route due to the closure of the Sirkha camp route. The pilgrims had to take another route through Kulagar to reach the base camp at Dharchula. “Owing to heavy boulders blocking the road, the batch reached Dharchula after a delay of six hours,” said BR Arya, in charge of the base camp, Dharchula. Sources said due to landslides at Kulagar, contact with nearby villages of Tawaghat, Khet, Chirkila, Pangla, Mangti and Garvadhar had been cut off for five days. “Though the BRO has engaged a bulldozer to remove the debris, landslides are continuing,” said Aan Singh Rokaya, a Zila Panchayat member from the area.

The road from Thal to Munsiyari also remained closed for five hours after a land slide at Rati Gar. — OC

Govt clears design of medical college

Dehradun, August 12
After finalising the design of Doon Medical College last month, the Uttarakhand Government today okayed the design of Almora Medical College.

While chairing a meeting today, Chief Secretary Subash Kumar said the medical college would be built in consonance with the principles of hill architecture.

Work on the college to be built on 42 acres and costing Rs 400 crore would take off as soon as the name of the construction company is finalised.

Chief Secretary Subash Kumar said that besides utilizing 17 acres on which the Almora Base Hospital already exists, an additional 25 acres would also be taken over that is located at a distance of 6 km from the Base Hospital. As the existing Base Hospital would be upgraded to a medical college, the Chief Secretary said that the construction work would have to be taken up in a manner that it did not disturb the routine functioning of the hospital. At present the hospital had 200 beds that would be upgraded to 500 beds.

He said that a total of 100 MBBS students would be admitted in the first year and these students would have to pay a yearly fee of Rs 15,000. — TNS 

Leprosy Programme
Panel to ensure optimum use of funds
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 12
Evaluating the National Leprosy Control Programme, District Magistrate Sachin Kurve yesterday constituted a team for the optimum utilisation of the funds allocated for the programme under way in the district.

The team comprising the Deputy Chief Medical Officers, Dr VS Tolia and Dr RS Rawat, District Social Welfare Officer Anurag Shankhdhar and a medical officer from Raphael Home has been entrusted with the task of utilising Rs 6.50 lakh for the leprosy programme. The head of the district leprosy programme, Dr SK Shah, said this year, a total of 16 leprosy patients had been identified in the state.

One held with stolen truck
Tribune News service

Haridwar, August 12
A truck ferrying goods of a multi-national company (MNC), which went missing yesterday from the SIDCUL area in Haridwar, was recovered by the police along with the two accused who had allegedly stolen the vehicle.

On a tip-off from an informer, the Ranipur police found the truck at the BHEL barrier (no. 6) while the goods were being unloaded from it at a rag picker’s shop. Seeing the police team, the accused tried to flee. One of them was nabbed while the others escaped taking advantage of the darkness.

The police recovered the stolen vehicle along with the material worth Rs 1.5 lakh. The arrested person, Julfikar of Jamalpur, runs a big shop of secondhand items. He, along with his accomplice Sandeep Kumar, also a resident of the same area, was hiding the stolen material at the shop.

According to the driver of the vehicle, Charmal Kumar Sharma, he had parked the vehicle just near the gate of Hindustan Lever Limited yesterday and gone to have breakfast at a nearby eatery when two persons overpowered him took the truck away.

Superintendent of Police (City) Kiran Lal Shaw said: “Fearing the heightened police vigil, the accused thought it better to unload the goods at Zulfikar’s shop so that they could sell these later.”