Ban on tourism in core tiger areas
Forest Dept yet to implement Supreme Court order
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 27
The Uttarakhand forest authorities seem to be in a fix following the Supreme Court order banning tourism in core areas of tiger reserves in the country. Though the top forest officers in the state maintain that the Supreme Court order was supreme, they are buying time to ensure its implementation on ground. Uttarakhand Principal Chief Conservator of Forests RBS Rawat, while describing the order as interim and subject to amendment, said he was awaiting formal directions from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and would not like to jump to conclusions and interpretations.

He said forest was not just a state subject as it was in the concurrent list of the Constitution and thus directions from the Union Forest and Environment Ministry was necessary.

Interestingly, on the other hand as a fall out of the Supreme Court order, the Corbett Park authorities have stopped tourism activity in the Jhirna range of the tiger reserve. The Jhirna range that falls in the core area of the Corbett Tiger Reserve is open to tourists round the year. However, Rawat in Dehradun refused to link the Jhirna range closure to the Supreme Court order and rather attributed it to the monsoon in the region.

Corbett Park officials had said yesterday the Jhirna range was being closed for tourists for the time being without specifying any reason. They said subsequent action would be taken on the third week of August when the Supreme Court would give the final directions on the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines. These guidelines propose to phase out tourism from core zones within a limited period.

Karnataka has immediately banned tourism activity in its tiger reserves, but the Uttarakhand Forest Department has so far failed to follow the court order due to concern shown by a section of political leadership in the state over a large number of people losing source of livelihood, particularly in Corbett Park if the court order is implemented.

Pauri Garhwal MP Satpal Maharaj and Ramnagar MLA Amrita Rawat have expressed reservation over the ban on tourism in the core areas of Corbett Park and have suggested a prompt legal recourse, leaving the state forest authorities in a lurch.

The Corbett Tiger Reserve, the only tiger reserve of Uttarakhand, has the highest density of tigers in Asia and 821 sq km of core area.

Curb declining female child sex ratio, says Bahuguna
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 27
Expressing concern at the falling female child (0-6 years) sex ratio in the state, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna today asked the Health Department to take steps to curb the declining female child sex ratio by installing ultrasound trackers at sonography centres.

At a review meeting of the department, the Chief Minister also announced steps to address manpower shortage in the state and suggested that contractual doctors would be given salary equivalent to the government doctors and their term of service be increased from one year to three years.

He also asked the department to introduce practical provisions in the bond arrangement that existed between the Uttarakhand Government and students who avail the government's cheap medical education scheme.

"If we are encountering problems in the implementation of the cheap medical education scheme, then we should shorten the bond period from five years to three years to make it realistic," he said, when he was informed that the five-year bond was proving to be difficult to implement.

The Chief Minister was also of the view that the fee fixed at Rs 15,000 should be raised for those students whose financial condition was better but the amount should remain as it was for students of SC/ST and BPL card holders.

In a special incentive to doctors working in remote and extreme remote areas of the state, the Chief Minister said they should be given 15 days extra leave period in the span of six months and also given additional allowance for visiting home.

Terming the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana as important, the Chief Minister said a special drive should be launched to link the poor to the scheme.

He also asked the official to simplify the health illness fund, so that all cases were discharged at the district level through the chief medical officers. The Chief Minister also gave clearance to the 104 non-emergency helpline service that would be started shortly under the National Rural Health Mission.

In a major boost to the government doctors, Bahuguna said they could be asked to work in the evenings and allowed to charge fee for their services. "This way we will be able to attract patients who prefer going to private clinics as these are less crowded," he added.Curb declining female child sex ratio, says Bahuguna.

Announces sops for doctors

• Contractual doctors to get salary equivalent to govt doctors
• Term of service be increased to three years
• Doctors in remote areas to get 15-day extra leave
• Will also get additional allowance for visiting home

Flood alert in areas along Ganga after heavy rain in upper reaches
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, July 27
Due to to heavy rain in the upper reaches of Garhwal, the lower reaches of the division have been put on alert in view of flood-like situation. A few weeks back, the water flow in the Ganga canal was 25,000 to 30,000 cusecs and it touched 1.38 lakh cusecs two days ago when heavy rain lashed the entire state.

Though this level has come down to below a lakh mark yet in view of the monsoon, an alert has been declared in the areas along the Ganga, particularly the areas which are flood prone.

Both East Ganga canal and North Ganga canal are brimming with water which is being utilised in plain regions by farmers for irrigation purpose paving hope of a good bumper crop in the coming months. A disaster management team has also been put on alert with the administration deciding to take help from the Army and the National Disaster Response Force teams during flood.

Haridwar district disaster management officer Dr Naresh Chaudhari said they were prepared for flood-like situation with arrangements in place to evacuate people from dozens of flood-prone villages in quick time to minimise human and property loss.

Chaudhari added that school, college or any other building situated on the higher reaches had already been identified where the flood-affected people will be shifted, if situation arose.

Despite the Ganga canal falling in Uttarakhand, it's operated by the UP Irrigation Department due to unresolved property dispute between the two neighbouring states.

Sub-divisional officer, UP Irrigation Department, Virendra Singh said about 10,000 cusecs of water was being released in the upper Ganga canal while similar amount was being released in the Northern Ganga canal.

A major portion of water flow at the VIP ghat barrage was also being diverted towards Neel Dhara to ensure that devotees didn't have problem in taking a bath at Har-Ki-Pauri and adjacent ghats.

DGP Pant for raising PAC, IRB strength
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 27
DGP Vijay Raghav Pant has stressed on increasing the strength of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) to make these forces more useful in maintaining law and order in the state.

Pant was holding a deliberation with officials concerned on the issue at the police headquarters here today. He directed them to constitute two new companies of the IRB-II urgently. He said the IRB-II had a sanctioned strength of six companies but at present there were only four companies.

The DGP said just like the 31st and 40th PAC Battalions, which had a women company, a similar proposal must be sent for the 46th PAC Battalion.

Pant said the process of promotion from constable to head constable, head constable to platoon commander and platoon commander to company commander must be initiated soon. Similarly, a proposal should be prepared to fill vacant posts.

The DGP said the number of traffic inspectors and sub-inspectors, who were more than the sanctioned strength, must be reviewed. The duty spots of the traffic police personnel should not be at a long distance so that their work did not get affected, he added. He also gave directions with regard to growth in work efficiency, welfare of employees and other developmental works of the PAC and the IRB.

Bahuguna govt surviving, courtesy BJP: Koshiyari
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, July 27
Former Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha member Bhagat Singh Koshiyari said here today that the Congress government in the state was surviving because the BJP did not try to topple it. “Had the BJP tried to topple the Congress government, it would have fallen by now,” said Koshiyari. “Considering infighting in the Congress, we can say the government will not last its full term,” he said.

Asked whether any Congress MLA is in touch with the BJP, Koshiyari said except Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna every Congress MLA was in touch with the BJP. “We are hopeful that a revolt either by Harish Rawat, Satpal Maharaj or Harak Singh Rawat will topple the state government,” he added.

Koshiyari said it was the misfortune of the state that it was governed by a person who did not know any of the regional dialects though he claimed himself to be the son of Garhwal. “How can the Chief Minister, who does not know about the dialects and culture of the state, respect and respond to the aspirations of the people of the state,” asked Koshiyari.

“The Congress government in the state has distanced itself from the sufferings of the common man after winning the Sitarganj seat by dubious means and Congress workers are the worst sufferers of the policy of the top state leadership of the party,” said Koshiyari.

Delegation from Thauldhar meets PCC member Mall
Demands construction of link road
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, July 27
A five-member delegation from the Thauldhar region in the Jaunpur block of Tehri Garhwal met the Pradesh Congress Committee member Manmohan Singh Mall in Mussoorie in support of their demand for connecting the block with other regions by constructing linking roads.

The delegation members apprised Manmohan Singh Mall that due to the absence of road connectivity from Jwarna, Kirangaon and Kansur to Bagyaal village and from Thangdaar to Thauldhaar, the residents were finding it immensely difficult to sell their agriculture produce in the market. The elderly were also finding it difficult to reach the hospitals due to the lack of the roads.

The lack of road in Barni village had also become a bane for the villagers. The delegation members also said they had also submitted the memorandum to the Chief Minster a few days back in this regard.

Manmohan Singh Mall after hearing the delegation said as the problem was genuine, he would raise the matter with the Chief Minister so that necessary directions could be given to the officials in this regard in order to provide relief to the affected villagers.

The Gram Pradhan from Kot Radhey Shyam Joshi, Vijay Singh Pratap Singh Negi, Surendar Singh Rana, Govind Singh Panwar and others were present on the occasion.

350 take part in BHEL seminar
Tribune News Service

BHEL officers attend a seminar to enhance efficiency in Haridwar on Thursday. Tribune photo: Rameshwar Gaur

Haridwar, July 27
As part of its internal strategy to mobilise employees, public sector undertaking Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) carried out a survey where inputs on various topics were collected.

To analyse the results of the survey, a seminar was held today at BHEL where higher management worked with the heads of the respective department on the outcome of the survey.

Virendra Pandhi, executive director of the Heavy Electrical Equipment Plant (HEEP) unit said the company needed to get out of conventional norms in order to sustain the growing global marketing competition for which the survey was carried out.

Central Foundry Forge Plant (CFFP) in charge SVS Narayana said a company could only grow when it maintained coordination between highest officials and lower employees.

Narayana termed inputs from employee valuable as according to him.

More than 350 officials of the HEEP and CFFP took part in the seminar the final report of which will be send to the BHEL headquarters.

Thousands offer namaaz in Haridwar
Tribune News Service

Hariwar, July 27
On the pious days of Ramzan, thousands of rozedaars offered namaaz on Namaaz-e-Jumma at mosques here today.

At Jama Masjid in Jwalapur, thousands of devotees offered namaaz while the mosques at Bada Masjid, Kotarwan, BHEL sector-1, Subash Nagar-situated Idgah, Chowk Bazar-situated Shahi Mosque, Masjid Darjiyan, Masjid Ghosiyan, Maidaniyan, Ghosian Mosque, Kassaban, Ahbab Nagar, and other mosques, namaz was offered by devotees in large numbers.

The rural areas having a sizeable Muslim community like Laldhang, Roshanabad, Laksar, Ibrahimpur, Dhanauri, Anneki, Sultanpur, Pathri, Ferupur, Katarpur, Missirpur, Jagjeetpur, Jasaddpur, Bodahedi, Gadowali, Dhanpura, Badshahpur, Saray and Mohammedpur also witnessed a large number of rojedaars offering namaaz today.

The Municipal Corporation had carried out special drive to cleaning areas around the mosque on the occasion.

NGO team to meet Bahuguna today
Ajay Ramola

Mussoorie, July 27
Members of the NGO, the Friends of Uttarakhand, who are involved in raising the development issues related to the hill town of Mussoorie, will meet the Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna in support of their demands on July 28 in Dehradun.

This was said by the Friends of Uttarakhand convener Vinod Uniyal at a press meet organised in Mussoorie today.

Vinod Uniyal said they would discuss with the Chief Minister the development issues related to the town, housing, parking and development and conservation of the tourists destination.

Uniyal has filed a PIL highlighting various corrupt practices in which Municipal Council president and executive officer Rohitash Sharma were allegedly involved. He demanded a CBI inquiry against Sharma.

The members of the organisation Manmohan Singh Mall, Tara Chand, Sandeep Sahni, Rajat Agarwal and others were present on the occasion.

NSUI delegation meets SSP Garg
Demands action against ABVP members
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 27
A delegation of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), led by Swati Negi, today met SSP Neeru Garg and demanded action against ABVP members who often indulge in violence in the city.

She alleged that they were being supported by senior BJP leaders, including Harbans Hapoor, Ganesh Joshi and Prem Chander Aggarwal.

Negi alleged that ABVP members were harassing businessmen and traders in the city and extorting money from them.

She also accused some members of the ABVP of opening fire on NSUI members near the IMA premises recently. She urged the SSP to initiate action against them.

Negi said if the police failed to do anything in this regard, they would launch an agitation.

On the other hand, SSP Garg said most the ABVP members involved in violence had been arrested. She also warned the NSUI members not to reciprocate with violence.

On Negi's demand to provide security to girl candidates and voters during the students' body elections, the SSP directed the officials concerned to deploy PAC women constables on the college campus.

11 public relations officers reshuffled
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 27
Four Assistant Directors, four District Information Officers and three Additional District Information Officers have been reshuffled in the Information and Public Relations Department.

Assistant Director Hansa Brijwasi has been transferred to the Information Directorate headquarters in Dehradun from Raj Bhawan, Yogesh Mishra has been transferred to the Dehradun headquarters from Udham Singh Nagar, Harsh Mohan Ghildiyal has been sent to Raj Bhawan from Uttarkashi and Bhagwan Singh Ghildiyal has been transferred to the Media Centre, Vidhan Sabha.

District Information Officer Deepak Joshi has been sent to Nainital from Almora, Padmadutt Pandey to Udham Singh Nagar from Nainital, Nitin Updhayaya to the State’s New Delhi Information Centre from Chamoli and Malkeshwar Prasad Kailkuri has been sent to the Chief Minister Publicity Unit from Dehradun.

Additional District Information Officer Geeta Joshi has been sent to Bageshwar from Almora, Ranjeet Singh to Almora from Bageshwar and Bhuwan Chandra Tiwari has been transferred to Chamoli district from Nainital.

Vanmahotsava celebrated
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 27
The Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun, today celebrated Vanmahotsava. Chief Guest, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education's Director General VK Bahuguna, along with FRI's Director PP Bhojvaid, planted a rudraksh sapling.

In his brief address, VK Bahuguna said rudraksh tree held much significance in the Hindu religion as it was connected to Lord Shiva. He said the tree was also useful in the Ayurveda system of medicine.

VK Bahuguna also laid importance on sensitisation in the society towards environment conservation. He said the success of Vanmahotsava programme finally depended on the citizens.

Director, FRI, PP Bhojvaid, referred to the history of Vanmahotsava and held that the then Union Forest Minister Kanhaiyalal Munshi started Vanmahotsava in 1950 with an aim to promoting tree plantation.

UP govt anti-Dalit, says BSP leader
Tribune News Service

Mohammed Shahzad

Haridwar, July 27
Former BSP leader in the state Assembly Mohammed Shahzad today termed the demolition of a statue of party national president Mayawati in Lucknow as a proof of anti-Dalit mindset of the Samajwadi Party (SP).

Shahzad demanded the dismissal of Akhilesh Yadav-led SP government in Uttar Pradesh saying it was working with an intention to reverse every decision of the Mayawati government and suspend all developmental works started by it.

In the presence of a number of party activists, Shahzad said the statue demolition was a conspiracy to defame the Bahujan samaj and make it feel discriminated against.

He also talked about various criminal and corruption cases reported in the past few months since Akhilesh Yadav took over as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. He demanded a fair and time bound probe into the incident and action against the culprits who had hurt the sentiments of the Bahujan samaj.

Haridwar Zila Panchayat chairperson Anjum Begum too condemned the Lucknow incident. Party activists across the district, including Mangalore, Lakshar, Narsain, Bahadrabad, Laundaura and Khanpur, staged protests against the incident.

Livestock count enumerators to be given training

Dehradun, July 27
District Magistrate Ravinath Raman gave directions to depute enumerators for the 19th National Livestock Count which will take place between August 22 and September 30. He said training would be provided to the enumerators on the premises of development blocks or in the Dehradun Municipal Corporation.

The Chief Development Officer has been deputed as the co-coordinator officer and chief veterinarian officer as nodal officer. The District Magistrate has been nominated as the overall in charge of the programme.

Raman said the enumerators would be deputed by the Child Development Department, the Rural Development Department, the Forest Department and the Dehradun Municipal Corporation. He said all these departments must send the list by earliest so that the training part could be started soon. — TNS

Don't return awards, CM to recipients
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 27
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has appealed to Leeladhar Jagudi and Avdhesh Kaushal not to return their Padma Shri awards on the coming August 15 as the state government too supports hydropower projects in Uttarakhand.

Bahuguna said he was in constant touch with the Centre and had strongly put forward the state’s case before both PM Manmohan Singh and Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.

Bahuguna said he was hopeful that the PM would keep in mind the concerns of Uttarakhand while taking any decision on hydropower projects in the state.

“The final decision on hydropower projects was still to come and I appeal to both Leeladhar Jagudi and Avdhesh Kaushal not to surrender their Padam Shri awards in protest”, said Bahuguna.

Dharna by Team Anna members

Mussoorie, July 27
A one-day dharna was held by members of Team Anna at Shahid Sthal near Jhoola Ghar in Mussoorie in support of the movement against corruption carried out by Anna Hazare and its team today.

The members also presented a memorandum to the Prime Minster through the SDM, Mussoorie, to introduce the Lokpal Bill to curb corruption in the monsoon session of the Lok Sabha.

Team Anna supporters said the corruption had set in deep into the system and the time to fight it at every step had come in the country.

Bijendar Panwar, the leader of the movement here, said that India was once called the land of plently but due to corruption it had lost its status and it was important that the citizens should make an effort to revive its old glory by supporting Anna Hazare and its team who were sitting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi in support of their demands. — OC

Car falls into gorge, 2 hurt

Mussoorie, July 27
Two persons sustained injuries when a Maruti car fell into a gorge near Lakshman Puri on the Mussoorie-Dhanaulti-Chamba highway yesterday.