Uttarakhand wetlands yet to get identity in international map
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 1
As Uttarakhand celebrates World Wetland Day tomorrow, the wetlands in the state struggle hard to get an identity for themselves in international wetland map.

Theme of this year’s World Wetland Day, “Wetlands and Tourism - a great experience,” holds much importance for Uttarakhand. Most of the wetlands in Uttarakhand are in a state of neglect with little effort to get them in an international wetland map. The only solace has been the Asan Wetland that is recognised as a conservation reserve and important bird area of the country for migratory birds.

But for Asan Wetland, too, it’s quest to achieve Ramsar site status has so far found little takers. The Ramsar site status for Asan will put this wetland on international map apart from ensuring it an international cooperation for the conservation efforts and wise use of this wetland and its resources.

Bombay Natural History Society's "Potential and Existing Ramsar sites in India" authored by Asad R Rahmani and M Zafar-ul Islam had strongly advocated Ramsar site status for Asan Barrage, asserting that the wetland qualified for three of the key criterion that could ultimately lead to Ramsar status for Asan. These include this wetland-supporting threatened ecological communities, apart from supporting 1 per cent of the individuals in a population of one species and sub species, and also regularly supporting as many as 20,000 or more waterbirds. But Uttarakhand Forest Department has so far failed to get international recognition of Asan.

Asan's significance, an important bird area, has also been backed with the fact that being with location in the north-western part of the country, it serves as a key halt for Trans-Himalayan migratory birds and receives waterfowl migrants that are rare elsewhere. Such waterfowl includes black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis and Great Crested Grebe P. cristatus.

Dhananjaya Mohan, bird scientist at Wildlife Institute of India and a senior IFS officer who had prepared a wildlife management plan for Asan Wetland, admits that a lot still needs to be done to get a better recognition for Asan. “Uttarakhand Forest Department has taken some initiatives to ensure Asan Wetland conservation gets international recognition,” he observed. 

Poll code ties CM’s hands
Khanduri to discuss issue with Election Commission
Neena Sharma
Tribune New Service

Dehradun, February 1
With counting of votes to the January 30 elections to take place on March 6, the continuation of the model code of conduct imposed since November 2011 in the state has Chief Minister BC Khanduri all worked up.

The Chief Minister is viewing it as a major hindrance in carrying out development work in the state.

“The long spell of the model code will prevent us from carrying out works in the state. Since the counting will be held only on March 6, the model code of conduct will continue to be in place. This means the government will not be able to take up any work in the state. We will shortly discuss the issue of the model code of conduct with the Election Commission of India,” said BC Khanduri.

The model code of conduct was imposed in the state in November in view of the January 30 poll. However, Uttarakhand electoral officials specified that the model code of conduct was imposed to provide a level-playing field to all.

“The Election Commission can revoke the model code of conduct even though counting has not taken place. It is for the Election Commission of India to take the call. There is no ban on carrying out work under the continuing schemes,” said Radha Raturi, Chief Electoral Officer.

Prior to the elections when the model code of conduct is imposed, the entire official machinery in the state comes under the control of the Election Commission of India and the services of these officials are taken for updating the electoral rolls and enrolling new voters. Later their services are used for the conduct of poll.

“During this period the work in most departments comes to a standstill. In a small state like Uttarakhand which is already facing shortage of officials, the work on continuing schemes takes a back seat,” said a top official.

Significantly, the BJP government’s track record has not been up to the mark as far as achieving targets under the annual plan is concerned. Under the annual plan, it had just about managed to spend only Rs 3,000 crore from a total of Rs 6,400 crore sanctioned for this financial year. The opposition Congress had even raised the issue during the elections.Development Projects

Since the counting of votes will be held on March 6, the model code will continue to remain in place. This means the government will not be able to take up any work. We will shortly discuss the issue with the Election Commission of India.

— BC Khanduri, CM

Cong tops poll code violation list
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 1
A total of 124 cases of poll code violations were reported in the state during the Assembly elections and the highest number of cases was lodged against the Congress.

A total of 29 cases were lodged against the Congress, 23 against the BSP, 21 against the BJP and 38 cases against Independents in the state, according to the state electoral office.

Udham Singh Nagar district topped the list with a total number of 39 cases, followed by 19 cases in Pauri, 16 in Dehradun and 16 in Haridwar.

Four cases were registered against Cabinet Minister Madan Kaushik, who fought the elections from the Haridwar Assembly seat, while thre cases of violation were registered against the sitting BSP MLA from Sitarganj (Kumaon) who was in the fray from the same place.

In Dehradun, 170 notices of poll code violation were sent to the candidates and the maximum cases of violation took place in the Rishikesh Assembly seat.

Nainital town polled only 47 pc votes
Tribune News Service

Nainital, February 1
The poll machinery in Nainital has carried out a scrutiny of those polling stations where the poll percentage exceeded the average by 15 per cent or those stations where 15 per cent less voters than the average recorded came out to cast their votes.

The scrutiny was carried out in the presence of the three observers for the district, Vijay Vardhan, Captain Ramesh Krishna and Prem Kumar Jha along with District Election Officer (DEO) Nidhi Mani Tripathi.

In the Nainital Assembly segment 55 per cent polling took place and more than 70 per cent of polling was recorded at eight booths. There were 11 booths where less than 40 per cent poling took place. The diaries of the polling staff maintained at these booths were scrutinised in detail.

Tripathi has informed that all the 815 polling parties in the district had reached Haldwani and all the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) had been kept safely in the strong room that has been sealed.

Nainital has emerged as a constituency where the polling percentage went down. Although known for not polling very high since Independence, this time the poll percentage was recorded at 55.69. The lowest polling had been recorded in the constituency in 1980 when the figure had stood at 36.50.

While all the other Assembly segments in the district, namely Lal Kuan, Kaladhungi, Haldwani, Ramnagar and Bhimtal recorded a high polling percentage, the constituency of Nainital itself proved to be a disappointment for the poll machinery.

Analysed in detail, it has come to light that the rural areas of the constituency polled more than the main Nainital town, which is known to have more literate and politically conscious residents. The town had

polled only 47 per cent votes. Most of the booths in the town had worn a deserted look on the day of the polling.

64 proxy votes in Uttarakhand
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 1
A total of 64 individuals exercised their franchise through proxy votes, which included votes of NRIs, who participated in the Assembly polls that concluded on January 31.

Along with the option of postal ballots, the Election Commission had given the option of proxy vote to the service voters comprising defence personnel who could depute their close relatives to cast their votes.

For the first time NRIs, too, were given the option to vote but only 7 NRIs managed to exercise their franchise.

Meanwhile, the Uttarakahnd electoral office revised the the total voting percentage of the state and pegged it at 67 per cent in the state with Udham Singh Nagar district at 76.65 per cent, Haridwar at 74.80 per cent, Uttarkashi at 66.3 per cent, Bageshwar 61.8 per cent, Nainital 68.06 per cent, Almora 55.5 per cent, Chamoli 61.02 per cent, Rudraprayag 63.24 per cent, New Tehri 58.9 per cent, Dehradun 66.63 per cent, Pauri 58.06 per cent, Pithoragarh 62.28 per cent and Champawat 60.67 per cent.

On the other hand, a total number of 85 EVMs were replaced due to faulty operation in the state on the date of polling.

Poor poll planning blamed for low turnout in hill areas 
Rajeev Khanna
Tribune News Service

Nainital, February 1
Lack of proper planning on the part of the elections authorities had an adverse impact on polling in some parts of the state. The election authorities failed to analyse the distinct climatic, geographical and topographical features of the state and issued instructions that prevented voters from exercising their right to franchise.

Observers say a large number of people in towns like Nainital migrate to plains or go on a vacation in January due to severe cold conditions there. This has been the yardstick for holding elections for decades. This time also a large number of local residents had gone out of the town with their families and could not cast vote in the Assembly elections. The low voter turnout in Nainital is a testimony to this fact.

Second, restrictions on the movement of even private vehicles in the areas where the elections were being held led to a lot of hardship to common people. It also prevented a large number of people from casting vote.

This correspondent came across people who were not able to reach polling booths in Nainital because they lived in Haldwani and Bhawali during the winter. Though they had valid voter cards they chose not to go out to vote as they suspected the police may not allow them to travel by their vehicles to reach polling booths.

A similar order for the closure of markets, including eating joints, also caused hardships to the people who usually had their meals outside.

The poor planning resulting from lack of proper knowledge about the topography of the state also impacted polling. For example, though some booths were located within a radius of 2 km, they were inaccessible as the voters had to travel tough terrain to reach there.

One such case is of Dabhar village in Betalghat. Reports said barely 10 per cent of the total voters cast vote in Dabhar village as they could not travel 2 km of tough terrain to reach the polling booth.

After elections, time for calculations by political parties
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, February 1
With the state Assembly elections over, leaders of major political parties have started calculations.

Both the Congress and the BJP and small parties like the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (P) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) are claiming to form the next government in the state.

State BJP chief Bishen Singh Chufal has claimed that his party will win more than 40 seats this time and form the next government.

“Considering a good image of Chief Minister BC Khanduri, the chances of winning are more for the BJP this time,” claimed Chufal.

“People are now aware of the poor functioning of Congress MPs and the failure of the Centre to check the increasing prices of the essential commodities in the state,” said Chufal

The state BJP chief further said they were hopeful of retaining all 21 seats in the Kumaon region. “As 11 seats in the Garhwal region fall in Haridwar, we are not sure about them. However, we are hopeful of winning more than 15 seats in Garhwal,” said Chufal.

On the other hand, state Congress president Yaspal Arya has claimed that the party will 20 seats alone in the Kumaon region, which is the double of the seats they had won in the last Assembly elections.

The BSP, which has main power base in the Terai region, has also high claims this time. The party has claimed that it will win 22 seats in the state.

“In the Kumaon region only, we are hopeful of winning six seats,” said BR. Dhauni,” said acting president of the state BSP.

The UKD (P) is also hopeful of winning 10 seats in the state. “ We will win the Dharchula, Dwarahat, Jageshwar, Kaladhungi, Yamunotri and Nanakmatta seats this time,” claimed Kashi Singh Airy, senior leader of the party.

Highest percentage of voting in Pithoragarh seat
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, February 1
District Election Officer R Rajesh Kumar today released the final figures of voting recorded in all four seats of Pithoragarh district.

According to the figures released by the poll officer, out of a total of 3,07,009 voters in the four Assembly seats of the district, 1,95,262 cast their votes, which has been calculated at 63.59 per cent.

“The number of male voters in all four seats is 1,51,702 and that of female is 1,55,307. Of these, 96,896 male and 99,096 female voters cast their votes,” said the poll officer.

Dharchula witnessed 66.7 per cent voting, Didihat 63.8 per cent, Pithoragarh 67.19 per cent and Gangolihat 57.93 per cent. The highest percentage of voting has been recorded in the Pithoragarh seat followed by Dharchula where out of a total of 70,035 voters, 46,956 cast their votes.

In Didihat, out of a total of 69,251 voters, 44,443 voters cast their votes. “The lowest voting has been recorded at the Chama polling booth while the Kiroli polling booth has witnessed the highest voting,” said the election officer.

In Gangolihat, out of a total of 84,799 voters, 48,304 cast their votes.

“The Devrari Pant polling booth witnessed the highest voting while the lowest voting has been recorded at the Bungli polling booth,” he said.

The Namik polling booth, Dharchula, witnessed zero polling while only one person cast vote at the Silingia polling booth,” said to the poll officer. 

Alarm bells in BJP camp following heavy voting in Uttarakhand
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 1
The high percentage of polling in the state Assembly elections, particularly in Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar districts comprising 20 Assembly seats out of 70, has set alarm bells ringing in the ruling BJP government, which was hopeful to be back to power in the state.

The plain districts of the state with its sizeable population of Dalits, Sikhs, Muslims and those who are settled from Uttar Pradesh never had a stronghold of the BJP.

Udham Singh Nagar district had a polling percentage of 77 per cent while Haridwar recorded 75 per cent polling. It was believed that the higher polling percentage points towards an anti-incumbency vote. In the 2007 Assembly poll, these two districts returned eight legislators of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The party had six legislators from Haridwar and two from Udham Singh Nagar district. In the first-ever Assembly poll held in 2002, the BSP had five legislators from Haridwar and two from Udham Singh Nagar district.

However, the trend was reversed in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections when the Congress won all five Lok Sabha seats and did exceedingly well in the Assembly segments of these two districts.

One of the major factors that tilted the balance in favour of the Congress was shifting of senior Congress leader Harish Rawat to the Haridwar parliamentary constituency where he won comfortably after his native Almora seat was reserved.

Harish Rawat, who has been nurturing the Haridwar constituency, has been a front-runner for the post of Chief Minister in case the Congress gets majority. His influence will have a bearing on the outcome of the Assembly poll in Haridwar district.

Complaint Against Tehsildar
Addl DM told to hold probe
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 1
A delegation of the State Government Vehicles Association met District Magistrate Dileep Jawalkar today and complained against Tehsildar Shalini Negi for allegedly ill-treating its members on Assembly election duty. Jawalkar ordered Additional District Magistrate Vinod Suman to hold an inquiry into the matter.

The delegation said if Jawalkar did not take any action against the officer concerned, they would lodge a complaint with the Chief Election Commission.

Sandeep Maurya, general secretary of the association, said, “Tehsildar Shalini Negi showed reluctance whenever we asked her for petrol or diesel for our vehicles for performing election duty. She even abused some of our colleagues. Besides, she told the staff on poll duty to park their vehicles at the collectorate and did not oblige the drivers when they asked her for petrol and diesel. The drivers were also infuriated over parking of their vehicles on the premises of the collectorate as they were responsible for any damage caused to the vehicles there.”

Sunil Kumar, a member of the delegation, said in January and during the elections they were not provided with food or lodging though several of them had come from outstation.

The District Magistrate heard the delegation patiently and asked the ADM to look into the matter. The delegation, however, was not satisfied. “Senior officers may not take action against a fellow officer. So if nothing concrete is done in the matter, we will take up the issue with the CEC It is an issue of honour for all of us,” said Maurya. Shalini Negi did not respond to phone calls.

‘Kidnapped’ boy’s body found in UP river
Tribune News Service

Nainital, February 1
The body of Rahul (9) who had gone missing from Rudrapur has been found in the Kalyani river in the Bilaspur area, Rampur (UP). The incident has sent shock waves across the area.

According to information, the body was first noticed by a local woman who reported the matter to the police. It has taken the body in its possession. The deceased was later identified as Rahul of Rudrapur, who had gone missing on January 22.

It is learnt that the deceased’s parents had received a call demanding a ransom of Rs 7 lakh on Monday evening and the caller had agreed to release the boy on a payment of Rs 1 lakh.

The boy had gone out to play on January 22 and not returned home since then. After searching for him in the locality, his parents had accused Bhairav of Preet Vihar locality of having kidnapped him.

The police had taken the accused in custody. However, there was no trace of the boy. The residents of Rampura had even staged a demonstration on January 25 seeking his early detection.

In view of the sensitivity of the matter, heavy police force had been deployed at various places in Rudrapur town. He has been cremated after a post-mortem examination at Rampur. 

CM mourns death of ex-MLA’s father

Dehradun, February 1
Uttarakhand Chief Minister BC Khanduri has expressed grief over the death of Dharmanand Uniyal, father of former MLA Subodh Uniyal. Khanduri today visited the Dehradun residence of Subodh Uniyal and expressed condolences to bereaved family members. Later, Khanduri also visited the residence of deceased local intelligence inspector Mahesh Sonkar. The Chief Minister assured all assistance to family members of the deceased inspector.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister has expressed grief over the death of Second World War participant Leeladhar Joshi, a resident of Pithoargarh district in the state. The Chief Minster said Leeladhar Joshi had shown exemplary courage in the Second World War and even recently played an important role in the development of Uttarakhand. — TNS

Tiny tots enthral audience

Haridwar, February 1
Tiny tots of Winning Edge Play School, Sati Kund Kankhal, held the audience spellbound during the 6th annual day function of their school today. Nearly 60 students participated in the function.

School Principal Vibhuti Raj Laxmi said as these children were in the growing age, it was important to provide them with good education to make them good citizens.

She said: “Be it historical pieces, folk culture or the lives of national figures, we tried to incorporate them in various cultural programmes.” A skit based on Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s life, Garhwali folk, a fancy dress competition and a quiz contest enthralled the audience. Participation certificates were also given away to the students to boost their morale. — TNS

Choliya dance fancies Korean students
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, February 1
Choliya, the marshal dance of Kumaon, is catching the fancy of South Koreans as nine students from Seoul are here to learn this folk dance, besides other Kumaoni folks. Hemraj Singh Bisht, director of a local NGO, who organised the programme, said today.

“The students of Kiang Sang National University of South Korea led by their teacher Jung Young Yang reached Pithoragarh on January 29 under a cultural exchange programme and will stay in the city till February 2,” said Bisht.

According to the director, the sword dance of Korea resembles with the Choliya dance of Kumaon that is why the Koreans are keen to learn it.

According to the programme, the Koreans are keen to learn the Kumaoni folk dances of Jhora, Chapeli and Chachri, besides the Choliya dance in five days and will prepare for the international cultural festival to be held in December this year in Seoul. “A team of selected Kumaoni Choliya dancers will also participate in that festival,” said Bisht.

“The Koreans are also shooting a documentary film on the selected Kumaoni folk dances and they will see the documentary to study the similarities of these dances with the sword dance of Korea, which developed in that country,” said Jung Yang , the teacher, accompanying the group.

Hathibarkala XI, Helax (B) club win cricket matches
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, february 1
Hathibarkala XI and the Helax (B) Cricket Club won their respective matches in the 60th Dehradun District Cricket League tournament played at the Survey of India stadium here today.

In the first match, Hathibarkala XI defeated the Modern Knight Cricket Club by eight wickets. Batting first after winning the toss, the Modern Knight Cricket Club made 92 runs for the loss of all wickets. Abhishek was the highest scorer with 32 runs. Kamal took four wickets for 11 runs. In reply, Hathibarkala XI made 96 runs for the loss of two wickets and won the match by eight wickets. Opener Girish scored 30 runs. Anshul took two wickets for 19 runs.

In the second match, the Helax (B) team trounced Shivalik College (B) by 45 runs. Batting first, the Helax (B) team scored 174 runs for the loss of 10 wickets. Haider made 66 runs while Shahshank scored 46 runs. Praveen took four wickets for 27 runs. In reply, the Shivalik (B) team was all out for 129 runs, losing the match by 45 runs. Vishal Pant was the highest scorer with 39 runs for the Shivalik (B) team. Ranjeet took three wickets for 23 runs. 

St Joseph’s Academy romp home

Dehradun, February 1
In the Dehradun Council Schools match here, St Joseph’s Academy (SJA) won by 34 runs against Marshall School.

Electing to bat first after winning the toss, SJA scored 131 runs in the allotted overs. Garvit scored the highest 34 runs. Aman and Avnish of Marshall School took 2 wickets each.

Batting next, Marshall could only pile up 97 runs losing all its wickets in the process, thereby ensuring 34 run win for SJA. Anees Shamshi scored the highest 30 runs for SJA. — TNS