IATO members to apprise Tourism Dept of problems, suggestions
Seema Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 29
Members of Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) working from within and outside the state have decided to send their problems and recommendations to the Tourism Department of the state. IATO members have been ignored by the department from the very beginning but now these recognised tour operators have decided to take the initiative on their end to improve the current dismal scenario of tourism in the state.

While sharing his take on the issue, Managing Director (MD), Garhwal Adventure Private Limited, and Chairman of Uttarahand Chapter of IATO KP Sharma said: “The time has come for the Tourism Department of the state government to chalk out a transparent policy for rural as well as adventure tourism while giving preference to the untapped areas in Garhwal and Kumaon, deviating from already developed tourism villages around Haldwani.” He also stressed on floating an adventure and rural board to lay clear guidelines regarding proper planning, training and identifying villages for the purpose.

He rightly hit at the very sensitive issue of migration from the far-reaching border villages, saying: “ Modal tourism clusters having 6 to 10 huts equipped with clean rooms, good food and a couple of shops selling handicrafts could be developed in Garhwal and Kumaon region. Under this the local youth can be given required training in tourism-related activities under the scheme Hunar Se Rozgar Tak started by Central Government and loans under Veer Chander Garhwali Yojna launched by the state government.”

He is also of the opinion that the land lying waste in picturesque locations in villages can be taken on lease from panchayats or individuals for a stipulated period where the owners would also be lured with the twin benefits of fixed rent and a job.

The adventure activities are always prone to accidents at the hands of untrained tour operators and can spread a wrong word for the rest of the fraternity and doomsday for adventure tourism. MD, Trek Himalayas, Nilambar Badoni, has recommended to constitute a committee of experts in this regard to prepare proper rules and organise training modules for the tour operators with the collaboration of Tourism Department.

Delhi-based tour operator Manmohan Rawat said the Tourism Department must come up with an updated website, services available, restrictions and addresses of recognised tour opeators along with contact numbers for helpline.

The lack of coordination and mutual trust between Forest and Tourism Departments has badly affected the growth of tourism in the state.

MD, Ibex Expeditions Private Limited, Mandeep Singh Soin, has urged both the department to work in tandem with each other and also to inform the tour operators much in advance before enforcing any restrictions or change in rules as they book package tours months before.

71 species identified at bird-watching camp
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 29
Seventyone different species of birds were identified at a three-day bird-watching camp that concluded at Maheshkhanin in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand today.

Organised by the eco-tourism wing of the Forest Department of Uttarakhand, the camp was aimed to generate awareness about birds amongst forest personnel and rural tourism practitioners and to develop bird watching skills. Ashish Kothari, a renowned conservationist from Pune-based NGO Kalpavriksha, and Suniti Datta, researcher from Wildlife Institute of India, conducted the camp. The participants spotted koklass pheasant, ultramarine flycatcher, maroon oriole, black-faced warbler, mountain bulbul, cukoo and nine species of woodpeckers. Kothari was amazed at the bird richness and rated it as one of the five best forests in India where he had watched birds.

The bird watching camp had 24 participants. These included eight forest guards from Nainital Forest Division, three nature guides, five hoteliers and eight villagers. Participants visited various forest habitats in areas adjoining Maheshkan Forest Rest House and attended lectures on bird identification and behaviour. Renowned photographer Aup Shah made a slide show presentation on "Birds of Uttarakhand." Copies of field guide "Uttar Bharat ke Pakshi" was distributed to all local participants and field staff. Vijay Bahadur, Deputy Director, Ecotourism, coordinated the camp. Lalit Mohan Rayal, ADM of Nainital, distributed certificates to the participants at the conclusion of the camp.

Maheshkhan is amongst the 25 destinations being promoted in Uttarakhand by the ecotourism wing of the Forest Department. Apart from the heritage Forest Rest House, which recently completed 100 years, the ecotourism complex has six bamboo huts and a dining hall. Overlooking the Forest Rest House is Tagore Point, the place where Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore penned some poems for his Nobel prize winning masterpiece Geetanjali. This spot is now a major attraction for visitors, particularly Bengali tourists.

Beef up security around industrial units: DM
Tribune News Service

Nainital, April 29
District Magistrate in Nainital Nidhi Mani Tripathi has ordered that security be beefed up in areas where industrial units exist in a cluster in the district. Speaking at a meeting of the Zila Udyog Mitra on Saturday afternoon in Haldwani, Tripathi said that the police officials must enhance patrolling in this area to inculcate a sense of security amongst the industrialists and the employees working there.

At the same time she has ordered that the frequency of interaction between the industrialists and the administration be increased and a meeting of the Udyog Mitra be convened on a monthly basis.

She has directed the General Manager of the district Industries Department Trilok Singh to ensure that officials of concerned departments are present in these meetings so that issues pertaining to the industrial development can be resolved on the spot.

Durig the meeting instructions were given with regard to writing a letter to the Social Welfare Officer for procuring land for setting up a chamber office of the industries on Bareilley Road.

The District Magistrate ordered the officials of the Health Department to prepare a roster of various industrial areas and organise health camps for the labourers and provide free medicines to them. She aso asked the officer of the lead bank in the district to ask the banks to adopt a positive attitude towards forwarding loans to entrepreneurs for setting up industrial units.

On the issue of water supply to Kamluvaganja industrial area, she directed the officials of the Jal Sansthan to do the needful and ensure that potable water is supplied to the area at the earliest.

Trilok Singh provided those attending the meeting an update of the facilities extended by his department to the industrial units.

Tripathi once again pointed that the process of inspection and giving a no-objection certificate to the industries must be expedited.

Budget session to be smooth: Speaker
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, April 29
Uttarakhand Assembly Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal said here today that the Assembly would not face any disturbance from the Opposition during the coming Budget session as he would talk to each member of the House to take part in discussion during the session.

"The government will not face any problem in the Assembly. As a single largest party, it has an edge over other parties in the Assembly and it is being supported by other parties," said the Speaker.

The Speaker, who was talking to the media here during his brief stay in the town, said he wanted the Assembly to become a House of fruitful discussion for the welfare of the poor masses of the state.

"In the last 12 years , no significant work has been done in the interest of the poor living in the remote areas of the hills. No policy for the development of the state has been taken by the respective governments", said the Speaker.

The Speaker emphasised that the facilities of education and health should be provided to hill people on a priority basis as due to lack of these two essentials, the people from hill areas are fleeing to metro cities or nearby towns.

"The hill region has no scope for industries as various laws become obstacles on the way, but we can make the hill towns hub of education and health services to attract the beneficiaries from across the country," said the Speaker.

Hans Foundation steps into ‘Clean Ganga’ drive
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, April 29
The Hans Foundation, managed by Bhole ji Maharaj, has now decided to plunge into ‘Clean Ganga’ drive. The foundation is credited with carries numerous social works in 22 states.

Mata Mangla Devi, founder member of the foundation from Pauri Garhwal, said in view of the pollution being inflicted on the Ganga, they had decided to take up this social cause. For this, she said, they were getting constant help from environmentalists, scientists and social organisations. They have already earmarked in Rani Rau and Pathri Rau in Haridwar where sewerage treatment plants will be constructed. More of such plants will be constructed in future.

The foundation, which is presently spending Rs 200 crore in various educational-health projects in the state, is now contemplating starting of mid-day meals in schools for poor children.

The foundation has also distributed mobile ambulance vans in hill districts of Pauri Garhwal, Pithoragarh under Hans Karuna Swasthay Yojana and has recently opened several hospitals, medical-care centres in states of Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar West Bengal and Rajasthan.

Managing Director of foundation Sweta Rawat told the TNS that they work with local resources, people, organisations and likeminded people so that the projects they carryout provide the best solution to the local problems. She added that they were working towards bringing tribesmen to the mainstream and also to provide basic amenities like water to rural folks.

Notably, Bhole Maharaj is brother of former Union State Minister for Railways and current Pauri Garhwal parliamentarian Satpal Maharaj. When questioned by the TNS, Bhole Maharaj refuted any thought of venturing into politics on lines of his brother saying, “We are best at doing social work and want no distractions in our way.”

Unscheduled power cuts irk residents of Haridwar
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, April 29
The daily power cuts, ranging for hours in various shifts, have posed problems not only for the local residents but also for hoteliers, dharamshalas, ashrams and rest houses as the tourist season has just started and power unavailability is hampering in providing good services to the pilgrims.

With three shrines out of four- Yamunotri, Gangotri and portals of Shri Kedarnath - which opened yesterday, the much awaited pilgrim tourist season has begun, and with Shri Badrinath shrine opening tomorrow, there will be an increased influx of devotees thronging the pilgrim city to move towards Garhwal hills, where these shrines are nestled.

But repeated unscheduled power cuts have created resentment among them as already rising temperatures are making it quite difficult during power cut hours.

In this regard under the aegis of Rashtriya Dharamshala Suraksha Samiti, a delegation protested at the executive engineer's office of the Power Corporation.

Vikas Tiwari, general secretary of the samiti, said that Haridwar is both a religious and tourist place where people from the whole country and foreign shores throng for religious-spiritual as well as tourism purposes.

But unscheduled electricity cuts during the very commencement of the Char Dham pilgrimage season is posing inconvenience to the pilgrims as well as local people.

Tiwari added that Haridwar should be declared a power-cut free zone as it was during the erstwhile era of Uttar Pradesh. Demanding this, the samiti members also handed over a memorandum to the Managing Director of Uttarakhand Power Corporation.

Among others who sat in protest included Mahesh Gaud, Shiv Kumar Sharma, Sanjay Sharma, Gaurav Bharadwaj, Ramesh Bhai Thakur, JP Tiwari, Prem Chand Sharma, Leela Ram, Pannu Bhai, Vishnu Goswami, Neeraj Pant and Rajendra Gaud.

Minister directs officers to resolve civic problems
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 29
State Planning and Sports Minister Dinesh Aggarwal held a public forum in Sevlakalan in the city where he gave directions in regard to problems related to poor roads, water, electricity, pension and property disputes to the officers of the concerned departments, who were present on the occassion.

He directed officers from PWD and Asian Development Bank agency to complete the repair of roads in time. He directed District Supply Officer to streamline gas supply. Executive Officer of PWD was

instructed to present an estimate of expenditure on the bridge in Chanderman.

Similarly, the directions were also passed with regard to problems related to drinking water and sewerage. The officers of social welfare received applications for old-age pension and widow pension. Tehsildar Shalini Negi disposed of the cases on the spot. 

Naithani’s assurance to jal nigam union members
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 29
State Minister of Drinking Water Mantri Prasad Naithani assured to resolve all the problems put up by the members of Jal Nigam Sansthan Mazdoor Union before him on the concluding day of two-day 5th convention held in the city today.

Naithani said it was sad the field employees of these departments had to struggle for their every little demand and when they resorted to protest, legal cases were registered against them. He said he would consider their genuine demands, which include the inclusion of field employees in the regular structure, revocation of ban on the employment of the dependents of the deceased employees and raise in the salary grades and allowances of fourth class employees.

State secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist) Vijay Rawat said that the policies of World Bank and IMF were badly affecting the interests of workers of organised and unorganised sector against which they had to wage a long battle.

The general secretary of CITU, Virender Bhandari presided over the function. 

Sachin deserves Bharat Ratna, says Ramdev
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, April 29
Terming cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar's feat more deserving for Bharat Ratna, Swami Ramdev again expressed apprehension on the Central Government's decision in recommending his name for the Upper House of Parliament in Haridwar today.

Speaking at the launch of his nationwide youth-orientation programme titled Yuva Bharat Sammelan, Swami Ramdev said Sachin Tendulkar was the best example for the today's young generation, but the UPA government had failed to realize this by not honouring him with Bharat Ratna.

He added that instead the Congress wanted to take political mileage out of this step (Rajya Sabha appointment), as it wanted to divert the public attention from its numerous-historic scams and pro-capitalist approach.

"Everywhere there seems to be corruption, be it within the government or in the bureaucracy which has maligned the image of the country. But on issue of black money, this government is mum as most of the money stacked in foreign bank accounts belongs to them only" said Ramdev addressing hundreds of youth at the convention which is a part of Ramdev's "Bring back black money" drive.

Urging youths to come out of their luxury lifestyle by giving some time for their motherland, he made it clear that be it independence movement or Jan Lok Pal, every time youths had played a pivotal role. He also pointed out that when youths and women power came together the tyrant corrupt governance of this government would diminish in no time.

On the recent controversy erupting out of his alliance with Anna Hazare, Swami Ramdev said there was no rift between his team and Anna Team and instead questioned: "You should ask those who break out such baseless stories. Anna and Ramdev were, are and will be together as our agitation is not an individual one but for the whole country.

Bulletin on telemetry in wildlife science
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 29
The Environment Information System (ENVIS) centre of the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India has come up with a bulletin on ‘Telemetry in wildlife science’.

The bulletin has revealed that around 47 wildlife species have been studied so far through telemetry in the country, a system based on modern communication technology, involving highly expensive process of usage of imported collars and sensors.

Editors of the bulletin and scientists at the Wildlife Institute of India K Sivakumar and Bilal Habib asserted that telemetry had certainly helped overcoming the earlier system of manually tracking the animals and marking their locations on a map, which was a long-drawn process with a number of restraints. Today, platform terminal transmitters fitted on animals can send signals to satellite for subsequent storage and retrieval of data at ground stations.

telemetry studies, as the name suggests, involve the usage of collars and sensors as means to generate information on wild animals rather than obtaining the same through traditional means. The telemetry has made easier the daunting talks of studying wild animals in their natural habitats.

The bulletin dwelt on length how telemetry has helped the studies of mammals with frequent movements. It has also proved extremely useful in studying snow leopard.

It also has a case study on how the radio telemetry assisted in the study of elephants in the Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand. The studies on lions in India, radio telemetry study of tigers in the Kanha Tiger Reserve, usage of the GPS collars to understand leopard movement in a human- dominated landscape in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, the application of radio telemetry for studying ecology of Indian wolf and radio telemetry study of sloth bears and wild boar in India are some of the case studies that are part of the bulletin. Satellite telemetry in birds and amphibians has also found much importance in the bulletin.

Significantly, the bulletin also has articles from the leading manufacturers of telemetry equipments. However, the ENVIS bulletin admits that telemetry was still much underutilised in the country, especially in wildlife conservation for various reasons. The bulletin was recently released in Delhi by Dr K Kasturirangam, member, ENVIS.

Candlelight march by residents, bereaved parents
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, April 29
The residents and parents of a 26-year-old woman from Mussoorie, who succumbed to her burn injuries on the April 26 morning at Dehradun in an alleged dowry case, took out a candlelight march and sat on dharna against the Dehradun police for not arresting the husband and his family even after registering the case under Section 304 of IPC today.

The residents in large numbers gathered at Library Bazaar and lit candles in honour of the deceased woman, Kiran Kanaujia, who died after burn injuries at Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi on 26th morning after her parents failed to meet dowry demands.

The residents condemned the incident and demanded immediate arrest in the case so that justice is provided to the bereaved family of Kiran Kanaujia. They further said that if their demand was not met, they would corner Sports Minister Dinesh Aggarwal, who will be visiting Mussoorie tomorrow. The bereaved parents of the woman planned a protest against the visit of the minster to stop him from attending various programmes tomorrow till their demands were not met.

Set up nurseries for new varieties: Naithani
Tribune News Service

Nainital, April 29
With the aim to prevent seedling losses during transportation, State Agriculture Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani has called for an establishment of nurseries for new varieties of plants developed by the scientists at the Gobind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology in remote villages.

He stated this at the inaugural session of 42nd annual group meeting of the All-India Coordinated Sorghum Improvement Project of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), which began on Pantnagar University premises today.

He also said researches needed to be conducted on traditional crop varieties like Mandua, Jhangora and Kandali, which were found in abundance but were not fully harnessed.

Present on the inaugural function along with Nathani was his cabinet colleague Harish Chandra Durgapal, Minister for Small Scale Industries, Labour and Employment in Uttarakhand. Vice-Chancellor of the university, Dr BS Bisht, assisted the dignitaries.

In his address, Durgapal said, “It is a matter of deep concern that the industries producing different products of sorghum are getting benefited, but the actual farmer producing the crop in his fields doesn’t get anything.”

He further underlined, “Like sorghum, we must find out other good alternatives of forage crops.”

Sorghum is cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. The species are native to tropical and subtropical regions.

A total of 16 books were released by the dignitaries during the inaugural session.

Senior scientist Dr SK Dutta said sorghum should not be looked at as a value-added crop in the main agenda of 12th five year plan.

“Right varieties should be made available to the right people in the right amount at the right time,” said Dr Bisht. He also said the sorghum production had been doubled since Independence but it was still not enough.

A senior functionary of the ICAR, Dr JV Patil, presented the annual project report and said India ranked first in producing sorghum in the world. Its 53 varieties had been developed at national level and 60 varieties by different states.

Dhasmana promises development under Cong rule
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 29
Rajpur Block Congress Committee held a convention on the subject of ‘Role of Public Representatives in Regional Development’ in the city today, where state vice-president of Congress Suryakant Dhasmana castigated BJP for its poor administration and assured people of all-around development of the state under Congress rule.

He said when Congress handed over the reins to BJP in 2007, the state was in profit with a revenue amounting to Rs 700 cr, whilst this time when Congress received the reins from BJP, the state revenue was plunged into losses of Rs 13 crore. The biggest challenge for the state government was to ward off bankruptcy and power shortage, he said.

Nevertheless, he assured that Congress government would come out of the mess and bring in wholesome development to the state.

Member of Legislative Assembly Raj Kumar thanked the public for supporting him in winning the Assembly election and assured them that he would always be ready to serve them.

City Congress president Lal Chand Sharma  said that the state had seen development whenever Congress ruled over it. 

Rudrapur riots: Cases against 19 persons

Dehradun, April 29
Uttarakhand's Udham Singh Nagar district court has directed registering of cases against 19 persons, including a BJP MLA, for their alleged role in the Rudrapur roits, which resulted in deaths of 4 persons.

Riots had taken place at Rudrapur on Oct 2, 2011.

District Udham Singh Nagar was directed for registering cases against 19 persons, including incumbent BJP MLA from Rudrapur Raj Kumar Thukral. Congress and BSP leaders are also among these 19 persons. — TNS

First National Youth Summit
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 29
The first National Youth Summit of Uttarakhand was organised by iCARE India in association with the Tula’s Institute here yesterday.

The theme of the summit was ‘Vision 2020-Vision for Developed India and the Contribution of the Youth’. The summit included a conference paper competition for engineering and law students and an essay writing competition. It also involved plenary sessions and deliberations by eminent personalities of Uttarakhand.

Besides prof DS Chauhan, Vice-Chancellor of Uttarakhand Technical University, who inaugurated the session, Harbans Kapoor, former Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha, and Ganesh Joshi, BJP MLA from Mussoorie, were present at the function.

The winners of the conference paper competition were judged by Omar Khan, Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK), Dr Rajesh Bahuguna, Dean, LCD, Surat Singh Negi, a former president of the Bar Council, Dehradun, Dr VL Mony, Associate Dean, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES).

The winners of the conference paper engineering competition were judged by RS Mehr and JP Tomar.

Sean Southey, Executive Director, PCI, adjudged the winners of the essay writing competition

Dr Kusum Arunachalam, Samarjeet Singh and Amrit Burrett also addressed the session.

Yudhishter Puran Singh, founder and CEO of iCARE-India, said it was a privilege to be working with such highly professional individuals.

MC Oppn Leader submits memo to Principal Secy
Alleges irregularities in the functioning of the corporation
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 29
The Leader of the Opposition in the Dehradun Municipal Corporation, Ashok Verma, submitted a memorandum to the Principal Secretary, Urban Development, at the Secretariat on Friday, alleging irregularities in the functioning of the corporation.

He said contractors were not taking part in the tender process owing to the increased price of construction material. Owing to the delay in the tender work, development works had hit badly, he added.

Verma also mentioned about the areas which face waterlogging during the monsoon. He demanded that measures be taken in advance to avoid such problem this season.

He further demanded the payment of the stamp duty which the state government had not given to the DMC so far.

He said house tax should also be implemented, according to the old system, on those 18 gram sabhas which were now within the purview of the DMC . Verma mentioned about the issue of "substandard" material bought by DMC officials and sought a probe into the matter by an independent agency.

He also demanded a probe into the functioning of the solid waste management project taken up by an agency deputed under the JNNURM. Verma said the project had failed to cover the sanitation work of the entire city.

Workshop against corruption
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 29
Bhrashtachar Nivarak Samiti organised a day's workshop in Uttarakhand's capital Dehradun today.

Chief Guest, former IAS officer Chandra Singh, called for collective efforts to curb rising corruption in the country and Uttarakhand in particular. He lauded Bhrashtachar Nivarak Samiti for it's role in making people aware about menace of corruption.

Earlier, chief patron of Bhrashtachar Nivarak Samiti PS Bains said the committee had been organising workshops at various parts of the country and motivating general masses to stand against corruption. National secretary of Bhrashtachar Nivarak Samiti A S Som too asked the people to oppose corruption tooth and nail. A large number of people were present on the occasion.

Top leaders skip BJP meeting
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 29
The meeting of the Uttarakhand BJP to take stock of the defeat in the 2012 Assembly elections proved to be a damp squib with senior party leaders abstaining from the meeting and angry party office-bearers demanding action against a section of leaders who had a hand in the distribution of ticket.

With former Chief Ministers BC Khanduri and Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank abstaining from the meeting, it was left to the Uttarakhand BJP chief BS Chufal to pacify the office- bearers.

"The meeting was inclusive. We will again hold a district-wise assessment meeting of the party's performance and then hold a meeting after the entire exercise is over," said Chufal.