Tehri Lok Sabha Byelection
BJP may field member of erstwhile royal family
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, July 31
Uttarakhand BJP president Bishen Singh Chufal has said a member of the erstwhile royal family of Tehri could be the party candidate for the Tehri Lok Sabha byelection as the family is widely respected. “We are sending the names of three local persons to the party high command for the final decision on the candidate for the Tehri Lok Sabha byelection,” said Chufal.

Chufal was addressing a press conference during the inauguration of a new BJP office at the district headquarters here today. He said the party would enroll new members this year and after that the process of organisation elections would begin. “The process of enrolment of new members will conclude by December,” said Chufal.

The BJP chief said the Congress-led government had completely neglected disasters, especially in the border districts of the state. During the BJP regime highways used to close for not more than two or three days but this year the Pithoragarh-Munsiyari road remained closed for the thirteenth day today. “Though the UPA government at the Centre did not grant us Rs 21,000 crore for disaster management, the handling of disasters by the BJP government in the state was far better than the present Congress-led government,” said Chufal.

He added the BJP government had completed inquiries in 17 of the 56 cases against the earlier Congress government in the state, but as senior Congress leaders were involved the present government decided not to make the reports public. “We have been insisting on making public the reports of inquiries conducted by the BJP government and will continue to do so in future as well,” said the BJP chief. 

‘Media must focus on environment issues’
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 31
Dr N Bhaskara Rao, Chairman of CMS Vatavaran, today exhorted the media to take up environment issues in a more elaborate manner. “Sensitivity towards environment must be your prime concern,” he said.

Rao presided over a Media Round Table on ‘Reshaping the Future of Environmental Journalism’ during the ongoing film festival at Mathan Hall today. He described Dehradun as an inspiration for others with regard to environment. He stressed on efforts towards providing a platform to the people to discuss environment issues.

Chief Conservator of Forests, Uttarakhand, Rajiv Bhartari said the media in the state gave due importance to forests, wildlife and environment activities in its day to day coverage. “We use the media as the most important tool for generating public awareness about our programmes and strategies. The media certainly gives us adequate space,” he said.

Former professor of the Wildlife Institute of India and consultant of CMS Vatavaran Dr BC Choudhary referred to the major environment issues projected by the mass media in Uttarakhand during the last four decades. Individual cases like the Chipko movement, Tehri dam construction, setting up the Corbett tiger reserve and greening of Mussoorie were discussed.

Festival Director, CMS Vatavaran, Alka Tomar shared the analysis done by the CMS of 291 stories about environment by prominent media agencies of Uttarakhand in six months. She said the media gave prominence to environment disasters than the decline in floral and fauna.

Conservator of Forests RS Raisaily said the media should do responsible reporting by doing systematic research and analysis before publishing news.

The festival today saw screening of documentary films on biodiversity at different venues. The films catered to heterogeneous audiences of school students and industrial workers. Films on theme “Biodiversity Conservation” screened at the festival included “Bunty’s Tree”, “Shelter”, “Tiger Queen”, “What Goes Around, Comes Back Around”, “Polar Bears-Living in Thin Ice”, “Shelter”, “Rajaji-A forest by the Ganges”. 

Don’t return awards, UKM to Kaushal, Jagudi
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 31
The Uttarakhand Kranti Manch today appealed to Avadhesh Kaushal and Leeladhar Jagudi not to return their Padma Shree awards to the Union Government.

Kaushal and Jagudi have announced to return their awards on August 15 if the Centre does not reconsider its decision to re-start the construction of hydropower projects in the state that have been stopped by it.

The manch has sent a written appeal to the social activists to reconsider their decision of returning back Padam Shri awards. JP Pandey, national president, Uttarakhand Kranti Manch, said the people of Uttarakhand were totally behind Avadhesh Kaushal and Leeladhar Jagudi as hydropower projects in the state were directly linked with the well-being of the people. He said the manch also supported the immediate start of construction activities on hydropower projects that have been scrapped by Centre.

Pandey also suggested to start a statewide agitation by all like-minded organisations in support of hydropower projects in the state from November 9. "We must give some time to the Centre and then launch an agitation, the foundation day of the state", Pandey said in his letter.

Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti, the Uttarakhand Rajya Andolankari Manch and the Pahadi Morcha have, in a joint appeal, urged Avadhesh Kaushal and Leeladhar Jagudi not to return their awards to the Union Government. 

Cong objects to BJP leaders visiting Balkrishan in jail
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 31
The Uttarakhand Congress has taken a exception to state BJP leaders repeatedly visiting yoga guru Ramdev’s aide Balkrishan, who is in Dehradun district prison in a fake passport case.

Congress workers led by Mahanagar Congress president Deep Vohra burnt an effigy of the BJP and raised slogans against it at Ashley Hall Chowk today. Addressing the gathering, Vohra said it was a matter of disgrace that BJP leaders like former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank were visiting the Dehradun district prision to meet Balkrishan.

He said the BJP had always played the communal card and today had come in aid of people who had scant respect for the laws of the country. Arun Chamoli, Mohan Joshi and Devendra Kaur were prominent among the protesters.

46 contractual sanitation staffers go on strike
Demand payment of pending wages of eight months
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, July 31
With just two days to go for the festival of Raksha Bandhan, the city wears a bad look as 46 contractual sanitation employees of the Municipal Corporation have launched an indefinite strike on the MC premises in support of their demands. Permanent class IV grade employees have also extended their support to the agitation.

The employees, who were recruited in 2008, are demanding the payment of pending wages of eight months. Women sanitation workers have also joined the agitation demanding bonus for the festival of Raksha Bandhan, which is given every year. They are also demanding time-bound payment by the first week of every month.

Agitating employee Poonam Valmiki alleged that corporation officials were making the sanitation employees stay in the office beyond the duty timing and were not even providing basic amenities to them.

The Employees’ Union of Uttarakhand has also come out in support of the agitating staff. State general secretary of the union Tankar Kaushal said if required, all employees would boycott work and lock the MC office.

Meanwhile, activists of the Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha have flayed the MC authorities for having failed to take steps to maintain sanitation in the city.

During a meeting at Dharmshala at Shiva Moorti chowk, the activists said even after the completion of the Kanwar fair, sanitation in the city was not up to the mark and the ongoing strike by the staff had worsened the condition.

Satish Semwal of the morcha sought the intervention of the district administration in this regard.

Ex-MLA Munna Chauhan hints at joining BJP
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, July 31
Former MLA from Chakrata and president of the Uttarakhand Janwadi Party Munna Singh Chauhan today hinted at joining the BJP in the near future.

Talking to mediapersons in Nainital today, Chauhan claimed that he would play a vital role in the coming Tehri byelections. “Whether I contest the elections myself or campaign for someone, it is sure that I will play a vital role in the bypoll,” he said.

He said: “Seeing the present state of politics, I have decided to join either the BJP or the Congress. However, my first choice will the BJP.”

The former MLA said he was holding discussions with his party workers across the state and the decision would be taken after the consent of all.

Meanwhile, chief of the state BJP Bishen Singh Chufal, while talking to mediapersons here, mentioned the names of Munna Singh Chauhan and Vinod Chamoli among the probable party candidates for the bypoll. “The party wants to give due respect to senior leaders of the state who express their faith in the party. Munna Singh Chauhan is among such leaders,” said Chufal.

Tomato prices may go up again
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 31
In the next three months, from August to October, the price of tomato may range between Rs1,000 and Rs 1,300 per quintal at farm level, showing a marginal increase in September than previous two months. This forecast has been made by agricultural economists of Pantnagar University, based on research.

At the university, a sub-project of the World Bank-sponsored National Agriculture Innovation Project (NAIP) Establishing and Networking of Market Intelligence Centres in India is under operation. One of the objectives of this project is to make price forecasts of selected agricultural commodities well in advance of sowing and during harvesting.

The research team of the university conducted a market survey of Haldwani market, a major market for hill tomato in Uttarakhand, and analysed the wholesale price data prevailed for the last 22 years in this market.

Taking into account the results of the econometric analysis, traders' views and the present rainfall situation, the team forecasts that the prices of hill tomato at farm level will be ranging from Rs 1000 to Rs 1200 per quintal during August and September while it may increase to Rs 1050-1300/qt in October.

The scientists have advised farmers to sell tomato upon harvest.

Major tomato growing states of India are Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Karnataka, West Bengal, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh which together accounted for about 82.20 per cent of India's production during 2008-09.

Tomato is a major vegetable widely produced throughout the Uttarakhand where it is grown both in the hills as well as in the plains. Nainital, Dehradun, US Nagar and Haridwar are the four major districts producing tomatoes and constitute about 63 per cent of the total production in the state.