CM assures Uttarkashi people of uninterrputed power supply
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 18
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has assured the people of Uttarkashi district of uninterrupted power supply and approval of various development programmes for the district.

Bahuguna, while addressing a public meeting at Azad Maidan in Uttarkashi today, said process had been going on at the state-level to include Bhatwari, Dunda Tehsil and several other places of the Chinyalisoud area under backward area and bringing the people of these areas under reservation for the Other Backward Castes (OBC). The matter is being reviewed by the State OBC Commission.

He said as soon as the government receives reports from the Commission, it would take appropriate action in this direction.

Bahuguna said the state government, in keeping with its commitment to develop border and backward areas, had decided to constitute a separate Rs 50 crore fund for the same. “The state government is giving special attention to the speedy development of far-flung backward areas and welfare programmes,” he asserted.

The Chief Minister, while describing Garsain as the core centre of people’s sentiments and symbol of backwardness, said a Cabinet meeting would be held there on October 2. He said it would be the government’s effort to reach the remote areas and ensure speedy development. He said a committee would be formed to mull over the inception of new districts and ensure better administrative set up in those districts. “There is no place for politics when it comes to the welfare of the general public,” he added.

Bahuguna observed that hydro power projects were necessary for the prosperity of the state but not without maintaining an incessant flow of rivers and ensuring the protection of the environment.

He said everyone should think in a practical way and cooperate with the state government. Revealing that a federation was being constituted for marketing facilities for the farmers, he said this would benefit the farmers in a great way. Underlining the necessity of establishing industries in the hill region, he said investors were being requested to set up training institutes to produce skill labourers for the industries at the local level. In a bid to generate employment opportunities in the state, the investment of Rs 20,000 crore in industrial sector was proposed, he said. He said quota system would be introduced to fill the outsourced government vacancies.

Bahuguna, responding to various demands put up by the public representatives on the occasion, assured them to fulfil their demands in a phased manner. Also present on the occasion were area MLA Vijaypal Singh Sajwan and former MLA Kedar Singh Rawat and other Congress leaders.

Villagers throng Munsiyari, Dharchula to extract miracle drug
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, May 18
Himalayan meadows in Munsiyari and Dharchula subdivisions of Pithoragarh district are abuzz with activities nowadays as a large number of people from nearly 60 villages of the two subdivisions have reached there to dig out precious miracle drug ‘Yarsa Gumba’ (cordyceps sinensis). Yarsa Gumba is a caterpillar fungus, which is known for its aphrodisiac properties world over, and its trade has reached nearly Rs 15 crore at the international level in the last 10 years.

“This fungus is used in the Chinese medical system for its aphrodisiac qualities and mainly purchased by the Chinese people from villagers of India or Tibet,” said T. Sambandhanam, District Forest Officer (DFO), Pithoragarh.

According to sources, more than 1,200 persons from 40 villages of Dharchula subdivision and about 1,100 persons from 15 villages of Munsiyari are camping in the high Himalayan meadows of Rajrambha, Panchchuli and Chipla and meadows of Darma and the Johar valley. “Villagers will remain there up to July till the arrival of the monsoon as the caterpillar fungus could not be extracted during the monsoon due to its vulnerability to rain,” said Dungar Singh, a resident of Bona village in Munsiyari subdivision, who is the only one left in Sosa village after all his family members had gone to collect the miracle drug in the high meadows.

The DFO said the extraction of the drug could be udnertaken only by the panchayats for which permission from the authorities concerned was necessary. “In this district we have only panchayats in the Munsiyari region, which are authorised to extract Yarsa Gumba, the forest panchayat from Dharchula are still not authorised to dig it,” said the DFO.

He added the villagers who had gone to unauthorised forest or van panchayat land to dig the drug were being identified and would be punished if they violated law. “We have no reserve land above 5,000 feet and all meadows belong to the forest panchayats. The villagers can dig out the drug if they have the requisite permission,” said the DFO.

According to the villagers, every family collects nearly 250 to 400 grams of Yarsa Gumba every year and this fetches them nearly Rs 70,000 during April, May and June every year. “The collection of this miracle drug started late this year as it continued to rain till the first week of May and the meadows remained under snow,” said the villager.

The sources said some contractors had employed Nepalese labourers to exhume the fungus but the police said the entry of Nepalese labourers to the panchayat forests was illegal. “We will strictly ban the entry of Nepalese people to the panchayat forests,” said a police officer at the district headquarters.

Mostly wholesale agents from Nepal collect the produce from Indian villagers, who sell it to them at international prices. Now, the government has allowed the villagers to sell the drug on their choice provided they have the certificate that Yarsa Gumba has been extracted from authorised panchayat forests. “The villagers have been allowed to sell the drug in the open market, as they were not getting a good price by selling it to the Uttarakhand Van Nigam. But they will have to take a certificate from the panchayat concerned after paying royalty,” said the DFO.

Wynberg Allen School win hockey tourney
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, May 18
Wynberg Allen School defeated Oak Grove School 4-1 to lift the trophy in the XIV DM Swing Memorial Inter School Hockey Tournament held at Oak Grove School at Jharipani here today.

From the Wynberg Allen side, Shreyansh and Jasjeet scored one goal each in the 15th and the 60th minute, respectively, while Karan scored two goals in the 50th and the 63rd minute. Mrigesh of the Oak Grove team could score only one goal in the 10th minute.

Amritpal Singh Talwar, Secretary of the Uttarakhand Women’s Hockey Federation, inaugurated the final match.

Earlier, Wynberg Allen School, Mussoorie, defeated Aryan School 3-2 in the first semi-final today. From the Wynberg Allen side, Alan scored the first goal of the match in the fourth minute of the match while Suyash Nautiyal scored two goals in the 14th and 21th minute. Aryan School could score only two goals.

In the second semi-final, Oak Grove School (Team - A) defeated St. George’s College 4-3. From the Oak Grove School side, Shariq Ahmed scored two goals in the 47th second and the sixth minute of the match while Suhail Ansari and Arjun Singh scored two goals in the 15th and the 56th minute, respectively. St. George’s College team scored two goals in the 17th and the 45th minute and the third goal scored by Avi Tandan in the 47th minute, but it could not catch up with the host team.

Amritpal Singh Talwar gave away the trophy to the winning team. He appreciated the efforts of the school in organising the tournament. He said it was indeed a pleasure that children showed passion for hockey.

Sandip Trivedi, principal of Oak Grove School, thanked the guests and said the main aim of organising the tournament was to promote hockey and provide a platform to the players.

Suresh Kumar Bhountial, Pankaj Rawat, Kharak Bahadur Thapa and Vinod Badola were the referees of the matches.

Mr Leslie Tindale, principal, Wynberg Allen School, Krishan Kumar, headmaster, Oak Grove School, Anupam Singh, organising secretary of the tournament, Yogendra Chauhan, Pramod Kumar, Dr Atul Kumar Saxena and Gyanendra Dutt Raturi were also present on the occasion.

UKD joins women’s stir against liquor shops
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, May 18
With a mass movement against liquor going on in Haridwar district by women, the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal has extended its support.

This has strengthened the movement of the women, who have been staging several agitations for past few days against liquor shops that have opened in the residential areas.

Today at Pathri village, women under the Village Community Committee and the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal-Progressive activists staged a massive protest at these licensed liquor shops.

Terming liquor a curse on society, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal central secretary Uday Ram Semwal said the local people, particularly youths, are getting addicted of liquor owing to their proximity to the residential areas and government needed to have a specific policy regarding this.

“The Excise Department seems to be unconcerned about the negative impact these liquor shops are having on the society, be it schools, colleges, main market or even temples, dharamshalas. Liquor shops are opening which doesn't augur well for a civilized society,” said Uday Ram.

Village Community Committee chief Dr Madhu Nautiyal said women were feeling insecure due to mushrooming of liquor shops, she said even if they had to sit for the whole day outside such shops they were geared up to do so.

“The government is seeing only coffers of the state exchequer but our homes, families and personal life are getting affected due to alcohol. Alcohol consumption has drastically increased for the past few years when more than six such liquor shops have opened in the region,” said Dr Nautiyal while leading the village women.

A memorandum has also been forwarded to the Excise Minister by UKD general secretary Anil Pokhriyal.

Peetambari Devi, a Pathri resident, complained that school girls of their village felt threatened as several instances of eve teasing had come to light. She said as girls had to pass through the route near liquor shop, anti-social elements in an inebriated condition misbehaved with them for which they had written to district police officials too.

Among others who protested were Kaushalya Devi, Ambika Devi, Vimla Devi, Dabli Devi, Kaushalya Devi, Jagdeesh Prasad Nautiyal and Pappu Sharma.

Potato farmers worried over lack of rain
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, May 18
Potato farmers in Champawat district are a worried lot as they witness damage to their potato crop due to drought-like conditions in the district. According to farmers, more than 20 per cent of their main commercial crop of potato has been destroyed till date in the absence of rains in the district this month. "If the farmers do not get rains within one week, more than 50 per cent of their potato crop would face the crisis of being destroyed," said MS Dhapola, District Horticulture Officer, Champawat.

According to the officer, most of the farmers in the district have sown potato crop in sandy soil this time, and due to lack of rains in the first week of the month of May, the crop in sandy soil has dried due to moisture-less conditions in the soil. “The farmers of 10 villages of Charal Patti, surrounding Champawat town, are the worst affected by this drought as the sand in these villages is without any moisture,” said the DHO.

According to the information given by weather unit established by the Central Government in Champawat district, the area under dense potato cultivation received 148 mm rainfall last year during the month of May; this year this figure has reached only 2 mm in this part of Charal Patti, said the DHO.

According to weather unit sources, last year Champawat district received 288 mm of rainfall between January and May, which was only 154 mm this year in Champawat district overall.

“We are dependent on potato crop and most of the farmers in the district run their families by selling the crop.”

Proposals for projects under District Plan discussed
Tribune News Service

Nainital, May 18
Proposals for projects to be executed under the District Plan in the current financial year were taken up for discussion at the meeting of the Zila Panchayat in Almora. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Mohan Ram Arya at the Zila Panchayat auditorium at Dharanaula on Friday.

The newly appointed District Magistrate Akshat Gupta and Chief Development Officer (CDO) C Ravishanker also participated at the meeting where a call was given to officials to work in close co-ordination so that development works could be executed in time.

The officials were also warned that laxity and compromise on the quality of the work would not be tolerated. Arya raised the issue of delay in electrification of villages which was being carried out by a private firm. Gupta has ordered that the work be completed by June 30 failing which legal action should be initiated against it.

Gupta has also ordered a probe into complaints of some pensioners not getting their pension and adulteration of milk that is being supplied in the Someshwar area. The probe is to be carried out by the CDO. Issues pertainingo shortage of teachers were also taken up at the meeting.

BJP flays 'anti-poor policies' of UPA govt
Takes out protest march, burns Cong effigy
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, May 18
Accusing Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government of failing to control rising inflation and for its 'anti-poor farmer policies,' the district unit of Bharatiya Janata Party took out a protest march here yesterday.

BJP activists, prior to the march held a meeting at party's city office where governance of Congress both at the Centre and at the state was criticised, terming it as anti-poor.

Legislator from Haridwar rural Assembly segment Swami Yatishwaranand criticised the Congress for failing to look into the woes of the poor, farmers, common man, and said the weakening of the rupee against the dollar had created panic in the Indian economy due to weaker economic policies by the alliance.

He said that be it rising inflation, surging foodgrain prices, insufficient subsidies for farmers and developmental schemes, Congress had failed on all fronts.

Women's wing cell secretary Sanjana Sharma blamed the wrong economic policies of the Congress- led UPA government, resulting in economic sliding of the country.

“Poor are not getting their allotted quota of food grains; mass corruption is being seen in public distribution shops, even mid-day meals.

Filling coffers, increasing party fund and being in media limelight seem to be the mantra of the Congress ministers” said Sanjana.

While youth leader Vikas Tiwari pointed that during BJP-led National Democratic Alliance headed by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the country witnessed an overwhelming 11 pc growth rate but today it is looming under 8.5 pc despite 8 years of UPA governance.

The activists later burnt a demonstrative effigy of Congress government at Devpura intersection.

A memorandum was also submitted to the District Magistrate to be forwarded to Uttarakhand Chief Minister regarding various issues by the district unit.

Govt seeks ONGC help to develop sports in Uttarakhand
Ready to launch projects worth Rs 200 crore
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 18
With the aim to striving towards achieving national and International standards in sports, the government has approached ONGC for its support in developing various sports infrastructures in the state.

The state has proposed for various projects worth Rs 200 crore, including construction of international-level sports academy at Suddhowala (Rs 100 cr), development of City Park-cum-Indoor Stadium at Sahastradhara (Rs 50 cr) and upgradation of Parade Ground, Pavilion Ground and Sports College (Rs. 50 cr).

Chairman and Managing Director, ONGC, Sudhir Vasudeva, has assured of all possible cooperation in this direction.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna placed the proposal before the ONGC CMD Vasudeva, who met him here yesterday.

He said that the Central Government too had extended assurance to assist in developing sports infrastructures in the state. He said that Union Sports Minister had inspected the places where sports infrastructures were proposed to be developed.

On the behest of Chief Minister Bahuguna, the ONGC CMD agreed for the construction of night restrooms for homeless women at Dehradun for Garhwal region and at Haldwani for Kumaon region. Meanwhile, Chief Minister, welcoming the proposal of CMD for ONGC’s participation in construction of hydropower projects approved by the Union Environment and Forest Ministry, directed the concerned officers to hold a meeting of both the parties. Bahuguna apprised Vasudeva of the state government’s plan to establish a thermal plant outside the state at an appropriate location to meet the power shortage existing in the state. Bahuguna, responding to the request of Vasudeva, approved shifting of women polytechnique institute from ONGC premises and allocated 5 acres land for the institute near Technical University. He also gave the nod to the ONGC’s proposal for the beautification of historic Clock Tower and the area between the Clock Tower and Chakrata Road. ONGC CMD agreed to the proposal of Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna to provide financial assistance for a badminton tournament hosted in memory of former student union leader, the late Himanshu Naithani.

Five of iron smuggling gang nabbed
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, May 18
In a major success to the district police, five members of an iron smuggling gang were nabbed with six tonne of iron material that was being ferried on a truck here yesterday.

The accused, Saddam, Parvej, Kurban of Pathri village, and Asadh and Mahfooj of Jwalapur, were involved in a major theft on May 10 at Rawli Mehdood shop of iron merchant Anil Kumar.They had looted eight tonnes of iron material from the merchant shop after injuring securityguards. A case was registered against the culprits under Section 395 at Ranipur police station.

As part of investigation, three special teams were formed with the help of special operations group.

On a tip-off, a joint Ranipur police and SOG team raided several hideouts at the Bhagwanpur locality where on a godown of Kalu Kabaddi, these five accused along with 6 tonne iron material were nabbed, which they were trying to ferry on a truck. The accused later revealed that Kalu Kabaddi had masterminded the plot which they executed.

Later as per their confessions, the police had recovered several iron plates, batteries and related material from a bungalow on the Bahadrabad national highway. In view of the cracking of the case, Senior Superintendent of Police Arun Mohan Joshi has assured cash prize to the investigating team.

Guv okays reorganisation Commission
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 18
With the Governor giving approval for the constitution of District Reorganisation Commission, the Uttarakhand government has gone ahead and cancelled the government order issued by the BJP government on the creation of four districts and also disbanded the post of Chief Revenue Commissioner.

“With the formation of the commission, the government order issued by the BJP government for the creation of four districts comprising of Didihaat, Kotdwar, Ranikhet and Yamountri now stands cancelled,” said Om Prakash, Principal Secretary (Revenue).

Besides, with the creation of board and revenue and nomination of Subash Kumar as Chairman of the board, the post of the Chief Revenue Commissioner too has been disbanded.

Soon after the creation of the state in 2001, the Uttarakhand government had created the post of the Chief Revenue Commissioner, who was an IAS official of the rank of Principal Secretary.

But with the creation of the Board of Revenue that requires official of the rank of Chief Secretary to head the post of the chairman, the post of the Chief Revenue Commissioner has also been disbanded.

Subash Kumar heads the post of the Chairman of the Board of Revenue.

Satpal demands Central varsity in Kumaon

Dehradun, May 18
Uttarakhand Garhwal MP Satpal Maharaj has demanded a central university in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. Taking part in a discussion in the Lok Sabha today, Satpal Maharaj said Uttarakhand had only one Central University which was located in Srinagar, Garhwal, and thus the Kumaon region was being deprived of quality education. He said people had to travel a long distance to get education in a central university. He suggested that a central varsity could be set up in Ramnagar or Pithoragarh regions. — TNS