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National Development Council Meeting
Eight seismographs installed in Sikkim
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Special schools, ICT project hang fire
Traders told to return from Tibet by Oct 30
Police chowkis may be authorised to register complaints
Labourer falls from rooftop, electrocuted
Spiritual tunes on rabab leave audience spellbound
Rini wins mehndi competition at Haridwar college
KV OFD edge past SLV
Inter-College
Roundworm-infested
boar meat
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National Development Council Meeting
Dehradun, October 22 Khanduri stressed on the need for scientific valuation of eco-system services rendered by Uttarakhand. “Uttarakhand renders eco-system services to the whole country to the tune of about Rs 40,000 crore per annum”, he said, adding that there was no mechanism in place for compensating the state for the eco-service rendered to the rest of the nation. While dwelling on the hydro-electric potential in the state, Khanduri expressed concern that only about 3394 MW electricity was being generated out of the state’s total hydro-power potential of 30,000-40,000 MW. Referring to the abrupt banning of hydro-power projects in the state, Khanduri said hydro-power projects in the state were banned all of a sudden on the pretext of environmental concerns. While talking of industrial package, the Chief Minister fretted on premature and unjust reduction of industrial package by the Centre. He said this had been done while the Planning Commission on contrary appreciated the industrial progress of the state. Khanduri emphasised on the need for strengthening the Eco-Task Force in the state as it not only improved the forest cover but also generated employment opportunities for ex-servicemen. The Chief Minister also emphasised on the need for establishing airport and functional air strips in the border area with full Central assistance. “This is more so because of strategic importance of the state which incidentally shares 625-km-long border both with China and Nepal”, the Chief Minister pointed out. Referring to calamity relief being given to Uttarakhand by the Centre, Khanduri opined that the calamity relief being given to the state as per norms was grossly inadequate. |
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Eight seismographs installed in Sikkim
Dehradun, October 22 Nine scientists of the institute had visited Sikkim shortly after the quake hit the Himalayan state. This was the first team of geologists to reach quake-hit Sikkim and prominently included seismologists, structural geologists and geothermal scientists. WIHG Director Anil K Gupta yesterday disclosed that Wadia scientists would be able to share their findings after a month as the process of study had already begun with the installation of seismographs and other instruments in Sikkim. He said geologists were working round the clock to understand the size of the fault plane and other facts linked to source zone. Prof Gupta admitted that the accurate prediction of earthquakes was not feasible as of now and held that studies certainly were moving in that direction. Geophysicist at the WIHG Sushil, who is part of the team studying the Sikkim earthquake, said the scientists would also go up to the source zone to ensure a better study of quake. As part of the WIHG’s commitment to geological studies, Prof Gupta also revealed that the Wadia geologists were also looking forward to have collaboration with Iceland in the sphere of quake studies. “Wadia geologists can benefit from earthquake studies done in Iceland as scientists in that country have greatly contributed to such studies at the international level”, he pointed out. Meanwhile, G Eiriksson, Ambassador of Iceland in India, who is in the institute these days, also said he was hopeful that the transfer of Iceland’s earthquake study technology would be of great use to India. He also referred to the initiative taken by former President Abdul Kalam in ensuring close cooperation between India and Iceland towards promoting earthquake studies. Eminent geologist in Iceland and former head of the Iceland Meteorological Department Prof R Stefansson emphasised India on using more sensitive instruments to measure even weak signals. “Sensitive seismic instruments and knowing the process that precede earthquake could be of great significance in the earthquake studies”, he said. “The high-level technology formed the basis of multi-disciplinary and multinational cooperation on earthquake studies”, observed Prof Stefansson referring to the Indo-Iceland collaboration on earthquake studies. |
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Special schools, ICT project hang fire
Dehradun, October 22 The Uttarakhand Government, based on the model of the Central Government’s Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, had proposed these schools named after Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Abhinav Vidyalaya. These co-educational residential schools for Classes VI-XII are to be built on the PPP mode, but after inviting expression of interest, there has been no forward movement. Sources claim that the recent bureaucratic reshuffle has led to the project being given a cold-shoulder treatment, so much so that the process of floating the request for proposal has been delayed. Even the land has not been cleared for building residential areas in more than two schools. According to the expression of interest (EOI), the private partner is expected to set aside 50 per cent seats as open and 50 per cent for government seats that could be reserved for students belonging to the Economically Weaker Sections and backward communities. These schools are to be established at Sumari Bhardar in Rudraprayag, Gairsain in Chamoli, Dwarikhol in Uttarkashi, Amsarkot in Bageshwar and Tumaria in Udham Singh Nagar Districts. Similar is the fate of setting up information communication technology (ICT) systems in 500 schools across Uttarakhand on the PPP mode. The Education Department is not pushing the project vigorously. While the project will be funded by the Central Government, the state government will be providing schools and the private partner the software and equipment. The systems are to established in Nainital, Almora, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, Udham Singh Nagar, Champawat, Pauri, Chamoli, Haridwar, Tehri, Uttarkashi, Dehradun and Rudraprayag. |
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Traders told to return from Tibet by Oct 30
Pithoragarh, October 22 “Initially, we had given them an ultimatum to return from Tibet by October 20, but it has now been extended up to October 30, the final date of closing of the Lipulekh pass as the traders had sought some more time,” said Abhishek Tripathi, SDM of Dharchula and designated trade officer. According to the trade office, 17 traders and 10 helpers are still in Tibet who have been asked to return with their purchases. “This year we have issued 215 trade passes, including those for helpers, for this five month-long trade, 190 traders have done their trade with their Tibetan counterparts and rest are expected to return soon,” he said. “The administration has already extended the trade period for one month from September 30 as the fixed time for the trade is June to September,” said the trade officer. According to the Meteorological Department, the high Himalayan valleys have witnessed medium to light snowfall in the second half of the October on the 22-km-long route downwards from the Lipulekh pass.” |
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Police chowkis may be authorised to register complaints
Dehradun, October 22 At present, complaints can only be registered at police stations. Though in the city it’s not difficult to go to a police station, in the hilly areas it is a difficult task as chowkis are situated at a distance of 30-40 km. There are a total of 137 watch and ward chowkis in the state where a compliant cannot be registered and only grievances are heard. The police wants to upgrade them to reporting chowkis. There are 113 reporting chowkis in the state where an FIR can be lodged. DGP Jyoti Swaroop Pandey said the proposal had been sent over two months ago. As soon as they received a notification, watch and ward chowkis would be authorised to lodge complaints.
— TNS |
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Labourer falls from rooftop, electrocuted
Haridwar, October 22 Such was the impact of the hoarding that the labourer Ravindra, resident of Laksar, fell from the rooftop and came in contact with a high-tension wire passing just
a metre away from the hotel. Due to the high-voltage shock, the worker got severely injured falling on the ground. But the owner of the hotel didn’t come out after the incident and for more than 20 minutes the injured labourer remained on the road bleeding extensively. Seeing this, some people took the injured in an autorickshaw to district hospital where his condition was termed serious by doctors. |
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Autumn fest ends with torch procession
Pithoragarh, October 22 Uttarakhand Parliamentary Affairs Minister Parkash Pant was the chief guest on the valedictory function. “A variety of cultural programmes by the local school children and teams from outside had been enthralling the audience all six days of the festival which has organised in the town after a gap of two years,” said Rajendra Singh Rawat, chairman of the Nagar Palika Parishad. “The 33-ft-long torch of local deity Sam has been the attraction point of the day. The torch, made of local inflammable fibres, has been brought in a procession by devotees of the Ram Mandir area of Berinag subdivision of the district, who offered this torch to the Sam Devta, which resides in a cave which is as long as the torch is,” said NB
Pandey, organiser of the torch procession. “The main attraction were stalls put up by various department at an exhibition by the Uttarakhand Handloom Corporation named as “Handloom Expo”, having more than 40 shops selling the handloom products of the state,” said Rawat. The minister, in his valedictory address, emphasised on the promotion of the local culture and craft, adding that the government had started helping local fairs and festivals only to promote these crafts. The autumn festival in Pithoragarh had been successful in this direction, said Pant. Besides various cultural programmes, a number of sports events, including body building competition, boxing competition and a number of programmes related to women, were also organised in this festival. “We became successful in promoting the talents prevalent among schoolchildren in the district through this festival as we set the stage free for the schools to give performances,” said the chairman of the Nagar Palika
Parishad. |
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Spiritual tunes on rabab leave audience spellbound
Nainital, October 22 The festival is being organised in the Lake City by the Sangeet Natak Akademi with the help of local cultural group Yugmanch with the purpose of promoting classical music among the masses. The evening began with a soulful performance on violin by Sanjay Kalotra. A disciple of Aleem Khan of the Delhi Gharana, he began his recital with Raag Jog. He was accompanied by Smit Tewari on tabla and the duo took the audience on a musical journey. After playing Raag Jog, Kalotra provided a taste of folk from Jammu and Kashmir. He then played a tune of a folk song of the Jammu region in Nich Pahari which was liked thoroughly by the audience. It was now time for Prabal Sharma of the Gwalior Gharana to come up with yet another masterful performance of Hindustani vocal that left the listeners mesmerised. He presented a rendition in Raag Puriya with two Bandishes in Tilwara Taal and Dhrut Khayal with the tunes set to “Sughar bano”, and “Sapne mein aaye?”. He then presented Chaturang in Raag Des. Sharma was accompanied by Kumar Rishitosh on tabla and Asif Ali Khan on sarangi. Both are among the top performers on their respective instruments with the latter having an experience of playing with the likes of Ustad Alla Rakha Khan and Ustad Zakir Hussain. The evening ended wth young Imran Khan taking to the stage and entertaining the audience with an excellent rendition of Afghani rabab, an instrument which is hardly seen in this part of the country. The lilting tunes played by him to the accompaniment of Rashid Niyazi on tabla transported the listeners to a different world. The duo started with Gat Toda on Raag Zila Kafi. They then went on to play Jod on Jap Taal. Then they moved on to Raag Kirwani. The two artistes took the audience on a tour into the spiritual world of the Sufis as they rendered spiritual tunes. Such was the power of their performance that the audience sat still on their seats amidst pin-drop silence listening to their music amid icy cold winds. |
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Rini wins mehndi competition at Haridwar college
Haridwar, October 22 Shreya and Nootan Kumari were declared first and second runners-up in this event, which saw more than 50 girl participants applying their creative designs on the hands of their compatriots. While in the Rangoli event, a total of 13 groups participated with the Gladiola group being declared by a panel of judges as the winner. Genelia and Lotus groups were jointly awarded the second prize followed by the Sunflower and Poppy groups. Earlier inaugurating the competition, chief guest Shashi Tomar lauded students for their interest in traditional events. School Principal Dr Navneet Verma said as part of the annual autumn festival, these cultural events were being organised and the college management had been laying emphasis on the overall moral development of the students. Dolly Bisht, a B.Com rangoli participant, said this was the first time that she had participated in a rangoli event and now she would be making it in her home too for the upcoming festival of Diwali.
— TNS |
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Volleyball c’ship begins
Dehradun, October 22 Doon Club defeated IIP 25-15, 32-30 to enter final. In the boys’ section, Jaswant Modern School got the better of Brahamanwala 19-25, 25-23, 20-18. City Club beat Tigers Club 25-9, 25-19 and FRI Friends Club defeated Doon Club 25-11, 25-8. Earlier, MP (Tehri) Vijay Bahuguna and Uttarakhand Volleyball Association president Awadesh Choudhary met with players. |
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KV OFD edge past SLV
Inter-College
Dehradun, October 22 In the sub-junior girls’
match, KV Hathibarkala number 1 defeated SGRR, Patelnagar 8-4. Monika and
Ruchi scored four goals each for KV. Neha and Taniya netted two goals each for
SGRR. However, in the sub-junior boys’ section, SGRR, Nehru Gram beat KV Club
8-3. Pravesh and Rohit with four goals each played a major role in the win
while Nitesh was the only goal scorer for the losing side with three goals. In
junior girls’ section, Doon Club defeated SGRR, Patelnagar 5-2. Neha and
Taniya chipped in with a goal each for the latter team while Shalini Chauhan,
Shailni Rauthan and Anjali Chauhan scored for SGGR. |
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Roundworm-infested
boar meat
Dehradun, October 22 “Though we are awaiting confirmatory reports from Ranbaxy Hospital, Mumbai, it is almost certain that they are suffering from Trichinellosis,” said Dr Harish Basera, Doon Hospital. The Directorate (Health) is planning to launch an awareness campaign in the remote villages to ensure that villagers to do not fall prey to the temptation of eating undercooked meat of any wild animal. So far, 11 persons have died and many have been taken ill after eating the wild boar meat.
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