Computer defects, illegal mining stalling quarrying work
Seema Sharma/TNS

Dehradun, March 5
The incidents of defects in computerised monitoring, which has been introduced in quarrying work at Song I and Song II as well as the sporadic occurrences of illegal mining have been hampering the smooth flow as well as transparency at work. It is the Forest Development Corporation (FDC) which has been carrying out quarrying work at these rivers.

Santosh Rawat, president of FDC Employees’ Association, said problems of software and hardware kept springing up because of which the work had to be stalled till the defects were removed.

Another union leader BS Rawat said the computerised machines had been customised to allow only nine tonnes of marerial in vehicles, and even if the vehicles were carrying the material above the limit, the computer was not registering the change, and hence allowed the exit of such vehicles. The anomaly in the machines were affecting the transparency as well. He also said that some of the contractors were also managing to carry out quarrying illegally after sunset with the connivance of the official staff deputed there.

The higher officials at FDC did not accept the blame of illegal mining but they did concede error in computerised machines now and then.

Srikant Chandola, Managing Director, FDC, said the computerised technique at quarrying had quite successfully minimised the human intervention and extent of wrongdoing for personal gains. He said that extra machines had been purchased and faults were corrected in minimal time period in the machines. The work was not allowed to proceed until the machines were okayed by the experts.

He, however, said people at work with wrong intentions did seek ways to turn in their favour but some measures such as the entry and exit of vehicles from the same gate at three points on the locations

and the weight of the vehicles with or without quarrying material within permissible limits measured by computerised machines had been able to bring in transparency and restraint on corruption.

The rivers were opened for quarrying in the month of October after a gap of more than 20 years. Before this the rivers had been exposed to blatant quarrying by illegal quarrying mafia.

Chandola said the quarrying at seven rivers, namely Ganges, Sharda, Kosi, Nandaur, Dabka, Song I and Song 11 and Gola in the state was proceeding satisfactorily. Out of the target volume of 1,41,000 cubic metres as permissible by MoEF to bring out from the total area of 5,333 hectares of these rivers, the corporation has been able to take out 62 lakh cubic metres quarrying material. He is hoping to meet the target by May 31, when quarrying activities in these rivers will come to an end. 

Tehri manch to oppose sewerage, water tax
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, March 5
Tehri Nagrik Manch members threatened to oppose any tax collection in the name of sewerage and water by the departments concerned at a meeting held at Community Centre in New Tehri today.

The members lamented the fact that during the earlier meeting held under the Chief Secretary in the town, it was decided that the sewerage and water tax of the residents would be waived but the departments were still busy furnishing the bills to 
the consumers which was uncalled for.

The members said they would not be paying their water and sewerage bills as a mark of protest in the coming month.

It was also decided at the meeting that a delegation comprising the eminent citizens of the town would be meeting the District Magistrate, Tehri, soon and apprise him about the whole situation.

The residents are also demanding some relaxation in the electricity bills.

President of the manch Ramanand Bhatt, Bharat Singh and others were present on the occasion. 

Focus on Kumaon seats that saw multi-cornered contests 
Rajeev Khanna
Tribune News Service

Nainital, March 5
Even as the people are keenly awaiting the results for the 70 Assembly constituencies that went for polling on January 30 to elect the next government to office, there is a special interest across Kumaon on the seats that witnessed multi-cornered contests with political heavyweights from various parties in the fray. While there are a majority of seats in the region where the possible winners have been identified, there are some seats where political pundits have been left baffled and have been unable to come out with a prediction.

The first seat in this category is that of Kaladhungi. It is a seat where Cabinet Minister in the outgoing government Bansidhar Bhagat was pitted against Congress rebel Mahesh Sharma. Also in the fray were the one of the seniormost Uttarkhand Kranti Dal (Progressive) UKD (P) leader Narayan Singh Jantwal and official Congress candidate Prakash Joshi, who is seen as a protégé of none other than Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi. The Congress had worked overtime to secure his victory. An Independent by the name of Bhupender Singh ‘Bhaijee’ and the Bahujan Samaj Party’s (BSP) Deewan Singh Bisht had further complicated the situation.

The second seat being watched is the Bhimtal seat which saw the BJP denying a ticket to a sitting Cabinet Minister Gobind Singh Bisht and fielding Dan Singh Bhandari instead. Bhandari is pitted against Ram Singh Kaira of the Congress, Mohan Pal of the BSP and Independent Suresh Negi. The poll pundits have been unable to say who has the advantage.

The situation is pretty similar on the Lal Kuan seat where the official Congres candidate Haresh Singh Bora is pitted against party rebel Harish Chandra Durgapal and BJP’s Naveen Dumka. In this new constituency there has been no leader that has emerged during the poll campaign and voting.

On the Rudrapur seat there is a battle between the heavyweights from the three main parties in Uttarakhand - the Congress, the BJP and the BSP. Four-time sitting legislator who had moved from BJP to Congress

Tilak Raj Behed is pitted against BSP heavyweight Premanand Mahajan and Raj Kumar Thukral. The holding of polls under the shadow of communal riots of October 2 last year and a major impact of delimitation have sent the calculations haywire.

On the Someshwar seat, all eyes are glued to the fate of Rekha Arya, a Congress rebel contesting as an Independent who had given the BJP and the Congress a run for their money. Her presence in the media consistently for all the wrong reasons and the personal attacks launched at her by her opponents, particularly the BJP, have failed to put her on the backfoot. The poll pundits are unsure whether it will be Arya or one of her rivals Ajay Tamta of the BJP or Rajender Barakoti of the Congress who will emerge victorious.

Another seat in a similar category being watched with interest is the Garadarpur seat where former Chief Minister Narayan Dutt Tewari’s nephew Manish Tewari is pitted against an Independent heavyweight

Jarnail Singh Kali and Arvind Pande of the BJP.

Allow free supply of goods to Nepal, say Dharchula traders
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, March 5
Traders of Dharchula and their counterparts in Nepal today demanded that an Indian customs post be opened in this border town and transportation of essential goods up to a desirable quantity from India to Nepal be made legal through the town.

“Essential goods are being transported through Kanchanpur district of Nepal to Darchula town, thus affecting the business of Dharchula traders, who are dependent on Nepalese customers. The Dharchula traders are finding it difficult to do business as the Indian Customs Department does not allow the transportation of essential goods from the border bridge in Dharchula to Nepal. There is restriction on even daily purchases by Nepalese from Dharchula markets,” said Bhupendra Singh Thapa, president of the Dharchula Vyapar Mandal.

Traders of both countries demanded that the restriction on the transportation of daily need goods be eased and the Indian customs officials be instructed not to stop Nepalese from purchasing essential goods from Dharchula. “The goods we bring from mandis of the Terai region of Nepal are costlier than those available in the markets in Dharchula. It is beneficial for the common Nepalese as well as Nepal traders to buy goods from Indian markets,” said Mangal Singh Thagunna, president of the Nepali Traders Association, Darchula town.

“If the interests of the Dharchula traders are not protected by amending customs laws and allowing trade of essential goods from here, they will have no option but to move to other places for survival,” said Bhim Singh Rawat, patron of the Dharchula Vyapar Mandal.

The traders from both countries have decided that if their demands were not fulfilled, they would block the transportation of goods through the bridge in Dharchula. “We have also decided to meet the officials of the customs and police departments, Intelligence Bureau and the SSB to make them understand the difficulties the citizens of both countries have been facing due to strict customs laws,” said Thapa.

The Customs Department claims that as the transportation of goods from either country is not allowed through Dharchula border town, it cannot allow goods to be taken to Nepal without a legal licence. “If some goods of daily need are allowed by the Customs Department on the understanding that Nepal is a friendly neighbour, it does not mean that businessmen from India and Nepal will be allowed to break laws,” said Vinay Kumar, Superintendent, Customs, Dharchula.

Provide permanent structures to nomadic children: CS
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 5
Chief Secretary Subash Kumar today asked the Education and Forest Departments to set up child friendly schools and 72 education centres for 2853 Gujjar (nomadic tribe) children who live in the forests.

At the working committee of Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan held today, Subash Kumar asked Principal Secretary, School Education, Om Prakash, and Forest Secretary SS. Sandhu to resolve the matter of providing permanent structures for these children so that they could continue with their studies. These children reside in Dehradun, Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar and Pauri.

In another decision the Education Department has already issued orders for filling of 2873 posts through Uttarakhand Poorav Sainik Kalyan Nigam (UPNAL). Chief Secretary Subash Kumar also informed that approval had been given for filling of posts at Kendriya Balika Vidyalya at Khanpur (Haridwar) and Chakrata (Dehradun). The posts of warden, teacher, data entry operator and others would be filled through UPNAL. 

Alleged misbehaviour with Chief Medical Superintendent
Doctors, paramedical staff go on strike 
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, March 5
Doctors of the district government hospital and other government-run medical institutions went on strike today demanding the arrest of a BJP leader who had allegedly misbehaved with and assaulted Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) AS Rawat.

The protesting doctors and the paramedical staff also met SSP, Haridwar, Pushkar Sailal over the issue and demanded the registration of a case and the immediate arrest of the BJP leader, Rajesh Lakheda.

Lakheda had allegedly created a ruckus at the CMS office two days ago, demanding that the dues of his wife, who works in the district hospital, be paid immediately. He tried to pressure the CMS and threatened him with dire consequences in case his wife was not paid the dues immediately. When the CMS told him that the delay in dues payment was because of the official process, Lakheda threatened him and created commotion there along with his supporters.

He also assaulted the CMS and as a result the latter fainted. The CMS was admitted to Doon hospital.

Today, the doctors and the paramedical staff held a protest at the General Hospital and raised slogans against Lakheda, demanding his immediate arrest. They refrained from work for the whole day.

Meanwhile, the SSP said the police was looking into the incident seriously and the guilty would be punished as per law. A case has been registered against Lakheda and his 20 supporters. The police has conducted raids on Lakheda’s house and other places but failed to apprehend him.

Ashtang yog session a big draw 
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Rishikesh, March 5
The International Yoga Festival is underway with various interactive sessions being held at the Parmarth Niketan ashram.

Foreign delegates are also being apprised of the cultural-spiritual aspect in which enthusiastic participation is being witnessed.

Be it chanting of ragas, devotional music rendition or different asanas, foreign delegates are getting an insight of the Indian culture.

Raga Kirtan by Vaiyasaki Das and Kaisori followed by satsang by Radhanath Swami and Sadhavi Bhagwati Saraswati left the whole auditorium in religious atmospheres where yoga seekers were asked to put up questions impromptu.

Questions such as ‘Who am I? What is karma? What is God and theories of Karma-Bhakti posed by foreign yoga practitioners were answered by spiritual gurus in the interactive session.

Another session of Kundalini Sadhna with Gurshabd Khalsa, Ashtang primary classes by Deepika Mehta, a special Pranayam class by Brahmachari Vishwapal Jayant and Sukshma Yoga by Swami Yogananda also witnessed a large number of participants from more than 30 countries.

Similarly Yoga Nidra and focusing on chakras by Pujya Sadhvi Abha Saraswatiji were also discussed by most of the delegates who remarked that with this festival they had got a much deeper understanding of yoga as well as inner self, giving strength, confidence and grace to their personality.

The IYF is not only witnessing foreign yoga practitioners but also from India a large number of yoga seekers coming to seek the mind-body-soul fitness and also to benefit from the presence of saints and visionaries that were giving lectures in this festival.

Sadhvi Bhagwati asked foreign yoga practitioners that they were now contemplating of holding a similar yoga festival in foreign land too in view of the immense benefit from yoga and the mass popularity of this ancient Indian art.

Touring Pak nationals celebrate Holi in Haridwar
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, March 5
In a unique spectacle, Hindus from neighbouring Pakistan celebrated Holi with fervour here today. More than 30 Pakistan nationals, including women, girls and children, who are on a pan-India visit, are at present camping in Haridwar.

Though the festival of colours is a few days away, the Pakistan group decided to celebrate it today. A special Holi function was organised by sarpanch of Jagjeetpur village Pushpha Devi for the visitors.

As the news about the presence of Pakistan nationals spread the local people converged on the venue of the function. There was a festival-like environment.

Raj Kumar, a resident of Sindh province in Pakistan, told this correspondent that the tour had been organised by a group of people from Sindh and Punjab.

He added a proposal was mooted to organise a tour of families from different cities of Pakistan, as the tour would enable them to know each other, besides getting a chance to see India.

Pooja, a science student of a Sindh college, praised the warm welcome accorded to them in Haridwar. She said they felt being at home. She added it was not possible to play Holi openly in Pakistan as they were doing here though the spirit of the closed-door celebrations was much the same.

Pooja said Bollywood films and Indian television soap operas were popular in Pakistan, though they were not allowed to comment on terrorism in their country.

Pushpha Devi said some touring families had their roots in North India. As we were to welcome the Pakistan nationals at Sabir Sahib Urs in Piran Kaliyar, Roorkee, we decided to hold a befitting reception for them.

Kailash and Akshay, residents of Sindh and Punjab, respectively, said before this tour they did not know each other, but now they had become good friends. The tourists were dejected that due to visa restrictions they could not visit the neighbouring temple city of Rishikesh. They would now move to Indore in the final leg of the tour.

Notably, last year too people from Pakistan had come here to immerse the ashes of their dear ones. Devotees from Pakistan come to Roorkee in Haridwar district every year to pay obeisance at the Piran Kaliyar dargah.

‘Munsiyari most suitable for paragliding’
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, March 5
Thomas Adrian, a Swiss citizen adventuring in India through paragliding for the last 14 months, reached Pithoragarh today to see the possibilities of paragliding in and around the district headquarters.

“During my stint of paragliding adventure, I took paragliding sorties at Kochi in Kerala, Chamba in Himachal Pradesh, Sopore in Jammu and Kashmir and Bangalore in Karnataka and finally Munsiyari in Uttarakhand, and I found Munsiyari the most suitable of all,” said Adrian.

“At 22 places in India where I took my para sorties, only Munsiyari gave me an adventure of more than 2 hours. I took off from Batul Dhar and landed at Barnia across the river Gori,” said Adrian. 

Miscreants take away tractor-trolley with illegally mined material 
Tribune News Service

Nainital, March 5
In yet another instance of antisocial elements putting the law and order-enforcing authorities on the back foot, some elements managed to flee after seizing a tractor-trolley released by force from the personnel of the Forest Department.

It is learnt that officials had seized the said tractor-trolley during a series of raids conducted in the basins of Kosi and Dabka rivers near Ramnagar for checking illegal mining. The tractor-trolley with the illegally mined material was being taken to Ramnagar when the officials were attacked. The miscreants not only drove away the tractor-trolley but also took away a motor cycle belonging to a Deputy Ranger. The motor cycle was later found abandoned at an isolated place.

The tractor-trolley had been seized from near the Kalusiddh area. The persons accused in the crime have been identified as Anees Kaliya and Shahid Hussain. Officials say that another tractor-trolley had been seized from near the Gularghatti gate.

This is the second such incident to have been reported from the area during the last one week. Towards the end of February some persons had not only beaten up the personnel of the Forest Department but had also fled with a rifle belonging to one of them. The incident had come to light from Bannakheda area near Bazpur while the miscreants were being checked from carrying out illegal chopping of trees.