Tehri Dam full to the brim, alert sounded
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 28
Asia’s biggest dam, the Tehri Dam is filled with water to the brim, courtesy heavy rains in the upper hill areas of Garhwal. As a precautionary measure, the Tehri Hydro Power Development Corporation (THDC) has started releasing excess water even as power generation at the project has crossed the 1000-MW mark.

According to sources in the THDC, the water level at the dam has touched 816.4-metre mark and thus 150 cusecs of water per day is being released into the Bhagirathi. According to the authorities, the dam water level cannot be allowed to go beyond the the 830-metre mark.

The dam has received 570 cusecs of water per day from the Bhagirathi and 1430 cusecs per day from the Bhilangana. Thus over 2,000 cusecs of water per day is being received by the dam lake.

Meanwhile, a warning has been sounded in the downstream areas as the release of excessive water from the dam could lead to a sudden increase in the level of water bodies.

In Haridwar, the Ganga level has reached the 294.3-metre mark, which is 1.70 metre below the danger mark. The Ganga level is bound to increase in Haridwar with the release of excessive water from the dam.

According to the THDC sources, the water level at the dam is rising fast. A total of 1,040 MW of power was generated today whereas the project at present has a capacity of 1000 MW. The project is generating 24.3 million units of power in excess, which is being transferred to the national grid. This power will be shared by nine states, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Uttarakhand.

Tehri Dam this months has generated a total of 570 million units of power. Four turbines with a total capacity of 250 MW each are operational and 570 cuseus of water per day is being used to run these turbines.

Hundreds take part in Nainital Monsoon Marathon
Uttarakhand cop wins event again
Tribune News Service

A couple with their child take part in the Monsoon Marathon in Nainital on Sunday. Photo: Kamal Jagati

Nainital, August 28
The weather god sided with the people of the Lake City as they ran for a cause on Sunday morning. It was only towards the middle of the prize-distribution ceremony of the Second Nainital Monsoon Marathon that the weather played truant after allowing the various events to be held amid bright sunshine.

Hundreds of people from the town and even from the nearby areas participated in the marathon the theme of which this year was “Care for the Old”. Those participating in the event were mainly women and children from the local schools. Together they succeeded in driving home the point that society needs to care for the aged. The enthusiasm among the people of the town with regards to the participation was visible since Saturday evening. On Sunday morning it was the children, including the tiny tots who have just started their schooling, who could be seen persuading their parents to rush to the field in the Flats Grounds to participate in the event. A large number of them had come dressed to participate in the costume competition on social themes. Children could be seen with their cheeks brightly coloured with slogans like “Old is Gold”. There were girls who were wearing sweat shirts with messages of environment protection written boldly on them. These messages ranged from the need to save the earth from the problems rising on account of global warning.

The competitive marathon events also saw an overwhelming response from the athletes from far and wide who had come to test their endurance and mettle while transgressing the steep heights of the marathon route. More than 1,000 participants took part in various competitive events.

District Magistrate Shailesh Bagauli said: “The event can go a long way in promoting tourism during the monsoon in Nainital and its adjoining areas”.

The men’s marathon event was won once again by Mukesh Rawat of Uttarakhand Police who went on to negotiate the 13-km stretch marked by steep ascents and descents with a timing of 48.52 minutes. He bagged the first prize of Rs 50,000 besides a trophy, followed by Neeraj Pal of Garhwal Regiment Centre (GRC) and Rati Ram Sajinai of Alwar who came in close second and third and bagged awards of Rs 25,000 and Rs 20,000 respectively besides trophies.

The women’s open marathon event was won by Kiran from Meerut while Saroj Joshi of Uttarakhand Police and Mamata Kanwal of Rudrapur came in second and third. The prize money for the first three positions in the event was Rs 20,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively.

The boys’ event was won by Rupesh Yadav of Lalkuan with Cadet Atul J Kathait and Cadet Yogesh Prakesh Nawadi of Sainik School at Ghorakhal bagging the second and third position. In the girls section, Minakshi Mer of Lakes international School at Bhimtal emerged victorious while Shehnaz Gamal of All-Saints College and Beena Arya of Government Inter-College at Bagad came in second and third respectively.

The veterans’ event was won by Naresh Kumar of Bhawali with Narendra of Muzaffarnagar and Anand Singh Mahra of Nainital coming in second and third. The competitive events were flagged off by the Asian Games medal winner and Arjuna Awardee, KM Binu, who was the chief guest at the event, and the District Magistrate.

Admn fails to rehabilitate 36 cloudburst-hit families
Villagers demand relief package of Rs 5 lakh each
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, August 28
All 36 families of Qurie-Zimia village in Munsiyari that had been rendered homeless on September 17 last year following a cloudburst, are braving the fury of the monsoon this year owing to the failure of the administration to rehabilitate them.

“Though all these families are at present living in tents at a ridge near the village, these have started leaking, making them suffer this year too,” said Devendra Singh Deva, gram pradhan of the village who met the Pithoragarh District Magistrate yesterday in this regard. He further said after the incident, Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank had visited the area and assured the rehabilitation of the affected families, but not even a single family had been rehabilitated so far.

He said whenever villagers demanded their resettlement, government officials and ministers replied that their resettlement was not possible without permission of the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment.

“We had requested the government that panchayat land at Sarmoli, Malla Ghorpatta, Harkot Bunga and Suring villages is lying vacant and can be used to resettle the affected families. But the government rejected the proposal on the pretext that villagers are not ready to give this land to the victims,” said Deva.

Deva, who met the Pithoragarh District Magistrate along with a delegation of the affected villagers, alleged that the state government was not interested to help the victims

He further said there was only one primary school in the area. Before the incident, 23 students were studying there. However, now only 11 students had left. There was also a shortage of teachers in the school. “Villagers have appointed a private teacher on their own to teach 11 poor children. The government has also failed to give them uniforms under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan,” he alleged. The villagers are demanding that they be given a rehabilitation package of Rs 5 lakh each so that they can settle down at some other place and start their lives afresh.

“Before the disaster, our village was one of the top growers of rajma and potato in the Munsiyari area, but now villagers have been left jobless. When they approach ministers and officials, they only maintain that the government is mulling a law under which all victims of natural disasters will be rehabilitated and their problems will be solved,” said Devendra Deva.

Adhoiwala Boys beat Wills Youth Club
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 28
Prateek struck a brace in Adhoiwala Boys 3-1 win over Wills Youth Club in a super league match of the district football league here today.

He scored in the 22nd and 40th minutes. Adhoiwala’s Krish (51st) also chipped in with a goal. Wills Youth Club scored through Arpan (58th) via a penalty stroke after the ball was handed by a rival team player.

In another match, Akranta and Sunderwala drew on 0-0. Gypsy will play against Cantt Blue and Garhwal Sporting will face City Young in tomorrow’s super league matches.

SDMs told to inspect polling stations
Tribune News Service

Nainital, August 28
District Election Officer at Almora DS Garbyal has ordered the Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) in the district to inspect various polling stations in the areas where extensive damages have been caused by the recent rain. This is to be done to identify those polling stations that need repair or are to be set up elsewhere for the coming Assembly polls.

Garbyal has called for early inspection of these polling stations so that proposals regarding these can be prepared at the earliest. Like last year, Almora has been amongst the worst affected districts during the recent spell of incessant rain.

Garbyal, who is also the District Magistrate of Almora, has asserted that the electoral rolls must be revised by August 31, a drive for which has been started since August 17. He has underlined that all youth attaining the age of 18 by January 1, 2012, must be included in the electoral rolls.

He has further ordered that the officials keep a close contact with the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and direct them to carry out physical verification of the voters. The BLOs are also to be asked to take applications for issuing electoral identity cards from the voters who do not possess them till now.

At the same time political parties have been told to appoint their booth-level agents (BLAs) and furnish their details to the Election Office.

As per the electoral rolls published on January 5, 2011, there are 4,54,309 voters in Almora which include 2,27,840 women. There are 777 polling stations at which 530 teachers, 138 patwaris, 61 clerks, 37 gram panchayat officials and 11 others have been deputed as BLOs. Deputy Election Officer Rajiv Sah has stated that the SDMs must send across the information regarding electoral rolls as and when sought by the Election Office.

Govt Girls, Aryan Sports emerge victorious

Mussoorie, August 28
Government Girls Inter-College won their match defeating Oak Grove School by 4-0 in the ongoing six-a-side Dhyan Chand Memorial Hockey tournament in Mussoorie today. In other fixtures of senior boys, Aryan Sports defeated Ghanand Inter-College 3-1, Rama Devi Inter-College defeated Mussoorie Modern School 2-0, Yuva Club defeated Bhatta Sports Club 2-0, Aryans defeated Taj Sports (A) 6-5 in a closely contested match. Taj (B) won by margin of 2-0 defeating Ranger Sports Club and Hampton Court School defeated Manav Bharti School 4-0.

In the junior boys category, Hampton Court trounced Rama Devi Inter-College by a margin of 6 goals.

In the sub-junior category Taj Sports (A) defeated Rama Devi 3-0, Taj (A) defeated Taj (B) 7-1 and Taj(B) defeated Rama Devi 3-0. A few matches were postponed for the final day due to rain. — OC

Moravian Institute defeat Col Brown School
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 28
Moravian Institute defeated Col Brown School 3-0 on the inaugural day of the Senior Council (ICSE) Football Tournament at St Joseph’s Academy today.

Nagesh scored two goals in the win. He struck in the 30th and 40th minutes. Afrid netted the third goal of the winning team in the 48th minute of the play. In the second match, St Joseph’s Academy won by 2-1 against Selaqui International School.

Abhishek (40th) and Arya (45th) were the scorers for the winning team. Mohit chipped in with a goal for Selaqui. Aruan School also got past Carman School, Premnagar 1-0 with the effort of Sajid (45th).

In another matches, Seven Oaks drew with Cambrian Hall 1-1 and Doon School drubbed The Presidency International School 6-0.

Badminton tournament starts

Dehradun, August 28
The All-India IPSC Badminton Tournament started at Pestle Weed College, Dehradun, here today. As many as 122 teams of 22 renowned institutions from all-over India arrived to participate in the tournament. Chief guest was Deepam Seth, Deputy Inspector General, Garhwal Range, who inaugurated the tournament. While addressing various teams, he stated that sports and sportsman spirit build such a strong character in students that it keeps them guiding them on the path of success throughout their lives.

He expressed desire to see many more players of the repute of Prakash Padukone and Saina Nehwal and wished the players good luck.

Informing about the tournament, Prem Kashyap, Principal of the school, said, “Around 40 matches will be played every day under three categories that is under-14, under-17 and under-19 during the tournament.

Under-14 (Boys)

Singles: The Doon School V/s DPS RK Puram Winner Vansh Agarwal (The Doon School) The Doon School V/s DPS RK Puram Winner Shashwat (The Doon School) Lawrence School V/s Sainik School, Rewa, Winner Amit (Sainik School)

Under-17 (Boys)

Singles: BRCM Public V/s The Doon School Winner Kabir (Doon School)

BRCM V/s The Doon School Winner Siddharth (Doon School)

Sainik School Rewa V/s Vallabh Ashram Winner Jil Makalin (Vallabh Ashram)

Sainik School Rewa V/s Vallabh Ashram Winner Mihir (Vallabh Ashram)

Daly College V/s Lawrence School Sanawar Winner Harsh (Daly College)

Daly College V/s Lawrence School Sanawar Winner Aditya (Lawrence School)

Daly College V/s Lawrence School Sanawar Winner Aditya & Prasanjeet (Lawrence School)

Under-19 (Boys)

Singles: DPS RK Puram V/s Daly College Indore Winner Rishab (Daly College)

DPS RK Puram V/s Daly College Indore Winner Shrawan Mantri (Daly College) Lawrence School Sanawar V/s Welham Boys Dehradun Winner Gokul (Lawrence School) Lawrence School Sanawar V/s Welham Boys Dehradun Winner Anirudh (Welham Boys) Pestle Weed College V/s BRCM Winner Randhir Yadav (Pestle Weed College) Pestle Weed College V/s BRCM Winner Krishna Thakral (Pestle Weed College) Mayo College V/s Birla Public School Vidya Niketan Winner Siddharth (Mayo College)

Mayo College V/s Birla Public School Vidya Niketan Winner Ashish (Birla Public School) Mayo College V/s Birla Public School Vidya Niketan Winner Siddharth & Aditya (Mayo College)

Under-14 (Girls)

Singles: DPS RK Puram V/s Scindhia Kanya Vidyalaya Winner Sana Gujral (DPS RK Puram) DPS RK Puram V/s Scindhia Kanya Vidyalaya Winner Seema (DPS RK Puram)

Under-19 (Boys)

Singles: DPS RK Puram V/s Scindhia Kanya Vidyalaya Winner Aparajita Prashad (DPS RK Puram)

DPS RK Puram V/s Scindhia Kanya Vidyalaya Winner Sanghamitra Chandra (Scindhia Kanya Vidyalaya) — OC

Rawat’s exit bad omen for BJP?
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 28
The exit of Lt-Gen TPS Rawat (retd) is bad news for the Uttarakhand BJP, preparing to face the elections next year.

This is not a good sign because Rawat is likely to win many seats, albeit his exit may set off an ominous trend for the BJP, with several other dissatisfied leaders waiting in the wings to switch sides. There were ample hints thrown in by the former BJP leader and MP during his rally yesterday in Srinagar that several leaders from the BJP had approached him and they would be joining him shortly.

Though not a mass leader, Rawat has so far managed to build a successful case for himself. He was let down by the political parties and had now taken the fight to clean the Aegean stables of corruption that is rampant in Uttarakhand.

In a brazen show of strength yesterday in Srinagar, the General once again cocked a snook at the BJP, forcing the party to take a tough line and expel him. While the party managers took a tough stand on his case and his associate Rajender Bhandari, it remains to be seen how far the BJP will go. Several leaders from the BJP like Ratan Singh Ghunsola, a former chairman of the Tehri zila panchayat, and Dr Rakesh Kunwar, who is member of the BJP working committee, were also present at the rally.

For the past several years, the BJP “extortion to ultra-nationalism” and the slogan of “party with a difference” have been so deeply entrenched that a sizeable population of the ex-servicemen permanently dropped anchor with the party. It helped the party when former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee handpicked former Chief Minister BC Khanduri to head the Highway Ministry in his government.

The BJP’s popularity among the ex-servicemen was at its peak when Khanduri became the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. But that did not last long. With Khanduri made to eat a humble pie and now Rawat’s expulsion, the BJP’s monopoly over ex-servicemen vote bank stands challenged. It is some irony then that the party that magnified the Kargil war to garner votes, suddenly finds itself in a damage control mode, fearful of the impact that the exodus of Rawat would have on its vote bank.

It is a matter of irony that while Khanduri is playing his cards close to his chest, even as he hopes to rule the state once again, TPS Rawat, while openly defying the party has put himself in top gear.

Steps to check outbreak of water-borne diseases
Tribune News Service

Nainital, August 28
The administration in Almora has started taking steps to check the outbreak of water-borne diseases in the district. District Magistrate DS Garbyal has ordered the officials of the Health Department, Jal Sansthan and the Jal Nigam to ensure that the residents of the town get proper drinking water.

He has made it clear that the administration has been apprised of the fact that contaminated water is being supplied from various water tanks and pumping schemes across the district. This can lead to an outbreak of water-borne diseases like diarrhoea.

Garbyal has instructed that the officials must undertake a drive for cleaning all the tanks and other sources of drinking water. The officials have been asked to make the required use of medicines for cleaning them and undertake on-the-spot inspections for the purpose.

The officials have been asked to furnish a report to the office of the District Magistrate regarding the measures taken by them by the end of this month.

Over the past few days, the residents of various localities and the villages have reported that the water being supplied to them is contaminated and poses the threat of an outbreak of diseases.

FRI team studies mining impact in Bellary

Dehradun, August 28
Following the Supreme Court’s order, a team of Dehradun-based Forest Research Institute scientists has studied the impact of mining on the environment in Bellary district of Karnataka.

The team that is slated to return to Dehradun on August 30 will be briefing the FRI Director about the findings following which the report will be submitted to the Supreme Court.

The Green Bench of the Supreme Court had recently recommended sending a team of scientists to visit the mines in Bellary district to study the impact of mining on the environment. Six scientists mostly from the Ecology and Environment Division of the FRI are part of the team.

As part of the study, the FRI team in Bellary visited various mining companies and studied the level of pollution in areas where mines had been functioning until mining was banned in the district by the Supreme Court recently. It also later held deliberations with various stakeholders.

Director, Forest Research Institute, SS Negi, in Dehradun held that the FRI team had completed its task at Bellary and was now on its way back to Dehradun.

He said the team was expected to reach Dehradun by August 30 morning after which the detail of the findings would be known. He said the report of the finding was to be submitted to the Supreme Court. — TNS

Gyan Godhari Gurdwara Issue
SPGMC to step up stir

Dehradun, August 28
The issue of reconstruction of Gyan Godhari Gurdwara at its original place at Har-ki-Pauri in Haridwar and distribution of seats either among the Sikh contenders or those who represented the interests of the Sikh community remained the focal points of the discussion by the members of the Sarv Pradesh Gurdwara Management Committee (SPGMC) at a meeting held in the city today.

To consolidate the massive Sikh presence in the state and conserve their 27 historical religious sites, they also decided to constitute the Uttarakhand gurdwara management committee. All the willing Sikhs or those who believed in Sikhism would be given free lifetime membership of the proposed SPGMC. District head offices of the committee would be established in the main cities of the state for the purpose.

Addressing the media after the meeting was over, national general secretary Inderjeet Singh Chugh said they would no longer tolerate the BJP-led state government’s nonchalance over the Gyan Godhari Gurdwara issue. Nor would they settle for any other piece of land somewhere else. He talked of intensifying their agitation on this issue. “In the first stage, the Sikhs, under the aegis of the respective district units of the organisation would submit memorandums to this effect to the District Magistrates to be forwarded to the Prime Minister and the President of the country. In the next stage, they would meet the Chairperson of the UPA, Sonia Gandhi, in September. In case even that did not work, then we would congregate in the largest possible strength at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, in protest,” he added.

Others who were present on the occasion included national vice-president Jitender Bir Singh, Jasbir Singh Gambhir, state president Harvinder Singh, media in charge Kamaljit Singh, Harvinder Kaur Shergill, Davinder Kaur and Harbans Singh. — TNS