CM, MPs meet PM, seek aid for Uttarkashi disaster
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 7
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, along with state MPs Harish Rawat, Satpal Maharaj, Pradeep Tamta, Mahendra Mahra and KC Singh Baba, called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi today and updated him on the present situation of the disaster-hit areas in the state.

Bahuguna told the Prime Minister that the state government had been carrying out rescue and relief work by its own limited resources.

He urged the Prime Minister to provide financial and technical support to strengthen the disaster mitigation machinery in the state.

Bahuguna said owing to road blockages in the hill region, difficulties were being faced to transport foods, medicines and other relief materials to the disaster-hit areas.

He urged the Prime Minister to provide helicopters to rescue stranded tourists and pilgrims and transport relief material to the affected areas. Bahuguna told the Prime Minister that the calamity had caused huge damage, especially in Uttarkashi. As many as 28 persons had lost their lives, seven were missing and eight were injured. Fifty eight residential buildings, two non-residential buildings and 11 commercial buildings had damaged.

A total of 402 families had been rehabilitated in safer places and the rescues and relief works were being undertaken on a war footing with the help of the Army and paramilitary forces.

Bahuguna said due to damaged roads, LPG cylinders were not reaching the hill areas. He also urged the PM to increase the kerosene quota. The Prime Minister, expressing moral support, gave them an assurance to provide relief fund at the earliest and all possible help from the Centre.

Meanwhile, Bahuguna also called on UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and apprised her of the situation.

Sonia Gandhi told him that she would discuss the issue with the Prime Minister and urge him to provide the relief fund at the earliest.

Chief Secy monitors relief operation through video conferencing 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 7
Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain took stock of the situation in Uttarkashi, including relief operation, through video conferencing at the Secretariat here today.

The Principal Secretaries and Secretaries obtained their progress reports from District Magistrate, Uttarkashi, R Rajesh Kumar.

Jain said two helicopters had been received from the Air Force for relief operation. These choppers would take food packets from Sahastradhara helipad and distribute these in disaster-hit areas.

A team of doctors and medicines had been dispatched in helicopters to the worst-hit area of Gajauli at Sangamchatti. Jain directed the officers to arrange temporary power supply. Four inflated lights and two generators had been sent.

He said the electricity was also being supplied through UREDA. Engineers of the power department had been directed not to leave their headquarters. Around 85 villages were affected as transmission lines were damaged at several places. A Disaster Management team has also reached Gajouli.

Jain said order had been passed to dispatch five Sub-district magistrates and tehsildars for rescue and relief works. The 15-km Sangamchatti-Gajouli road had been damaged which had affected eight villages.

The Superintendent Engineer had been asked to camp there and ensure repair of the road at the earliest. The Transport Department had made available requisite vehicles at Chinyalisound and the RTO, Uttarkashi, and Tehri had been directed to provide vehicles as per the requirements.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary to Chief Minister DK Kotia, Principal Secretary, Civil Aviation, Rakesh Sharma, Principal Secretary, Health and Medical, Ranvir Singh, Principal Secretary, PWD, S Raju, Secretary, Information, MH Khan, Secretary to the CM SS Sandhu, Secretary, Transport, Umashankar Panwar, DGP Vijay Raghav Pant and other senior officers.

Arya seeks special funds for relief
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 7
Uttarakhand Disaster Management Minister Yashpal Arya has sought a special package for Uttarkashi for relief and rehabilitation work in the aftermath of a cloudburst.

Arya, who was first to leave for Uttarkashi from the government side after the cloudburst, in an informal interaction with mediapersons in Dehradun today sought a special package from the Centre for the proper rebuilding of infrastructure lost in the cloudburst and rehabilitation of victims. He said an initial estimate had put damages around Rs 500 crore to Rs 600 crore.

Arya said while Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna was meeting the Prime Minister in Delhi today, he was hopeful that the Centre would provide prompt assistance to Uttarakhand to overcome the tragedy. He added the Uttarakhand Government, on its part, had already released Rs 20 crore for relief and rescue works in Uttarkashi.

The minister pointed out that his ministry would also ensure proper utilisation of funds and would send a team of senior officers to supervise the rehabilitation work. He said any complacency in the rehabilitation work would not be tolerated. All reconstruction activity would be done under the supervision of a team of experts.

Arya said seven villages in Uttarkashi were still isolated due to damage to roads and other infrastructure. He added help from the Army had been requisitioned for dropping relief material through helicopters. The availability of medicines and foodgrains was also being ensured. “A team of doctors is also being sent to Uttarkashi for prompt medical assistance to the affected people,” he added.

The minister said work was already on to restore power and potable water pipelines in the Uttarkashi region. He added he would visit Uttarkashi again shortly to take stock of the progress in the relief work.

Units promised regular power suffer big losses 
Seema Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 7
Around 49 heavy industries of the state, which come under ‘continous power’ category as they pay 15 per cent extra for their total consumption to Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) in order to get non-stop supply, have not got continuous power supply since July 30 ever since the Northern Grid collapsed. Each industry of this lot is suffering losses to the tune of several crores on account of deficient power supply on an everyday basis.

UPCL officials, who are making all possible efforts to purchase electricity from the open market to meet the burgeoning power demand in face of scant availability in the state, are consoling these industrialists. Chief General Manager (Commercial), UPCL, Anil Kumar, assured that regardless of the power situation in the state, they would give unhindered power supply to industries falling under the ‘continuous’ category.

Director, Finolex Cables, Pravin Ahse, said his industry was incurring losses amounting to Rs 3 crore every day. He said: “It requires heat for 6 to 7 hours to melt plastic in the initial stages, which is then coated over bronze material to make cables. If the electricity trips in between, which is happening often these days, the whole plastic material gets condensed and does not stick over bronze. The entire produce is going waste these days.”

Prakash Papnai, owner of Prestige Cooker industry, said he was bearing losses to the tune of Rs 5 crore daily. He said the hundreds of workers working for his factory sat idle, waiting for electricity supply to resume and sustain for a longer stretch. The petrol pumps have run out of diesel and are not in a position to lend it to the industries on the scale of their demand. Papnai brushed away the option given by UPCL officials to industrialists to try open access, which means power purchase from markets through bidding process on a day-to-day basis, terming it quite expensive and unreliable.

Power supply had been disrupted for 4 to 6 hours every day for these 49 industries. Sanjay Singh, another industrialist from Roorkie, who came to discuss the issue with UPCL officials, said many industries were even thinking of buying diesel generators. But keeping the power demand of these industries in consideration, each diesel generator of that capacity would cost not less than Rs 3 crore, he said. Singh, who had partnership with two more associates, said he was ready to buy the generator but not his other two partners. Anil Kumar, however, assured him that industrialists under ‘continuous category’ would not require to buy diesel generators as the department was giving them top priority in the supply of power. He said the other hundreds of industries of 'non-continuous' category had agreed for time-bound roistering, whereby power supply would be snapped from 6 pm to 11 pm.

No lesson learnt from disasters in 11 years
900 families affected, yet none shifted to safe place
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, August 7
Though more than 900 families of 51 villages in Pithoragarh district have been hit by disasters in the last 11 years, not even one of them has been shifted to a safe place. The Almora district administration has finalised 135 proposals of land to be allotted to disaster victims at various places of the district.

The third death anniversary of 43 villagers, who died in La and Jhekla villages of Munsiyari in 2009, was observed in the district today. A landslide washed away the entire village of La on August 7, 2009.

According to information, though 1,050 families of 14 most disaster-sensitive villages of the district had abandoned their homes to move to safe places, not even one family had been given land for rehabilitation. “Instead of shifting the affected families to a safe place, we have given money to them for the repair of their houses,” said RS Rana, district disaster management officer.

Of the 900 affected families, 400 had been given Rs 50,000 each for repair of damaged houses in the district since the formation of the state. “As natural disasters are happening at a different place every year, we are not in a position to declare any particular place unsafe,” said Rana.

The villagers affected by natural disasters had expressed resentment over the government apathy towards their misery. “Though we have got a meager amount for the reconstruction of houses, we need land to settle down,” said Bhawana Devi, gram pradhan of Dafa village in Munsiyari subdivision. Dafa is listed as a sensitive village.

The district Disaster Management Department said since 1977 when a big landslide struck Tawagha village and washed away 44 villagers, as many as 355 persons had died in natural disasters in the district in the past few years.

But the position on the rehabilitation front in Almora district is somewhat better. In Almora, 135 families belonging to seven villages in Hawal Bagh, Lamgara and Bhasiachana blocks have been declared disaster affected and the district administration has recommended to the government for the allocation of 0.010 hectare to each family. “Though the sanction for the proposal is still awaited, some of the affected families have already shifted to the allotted land,” said Sumit Joshi, district disaster management officer of Almora.

Joshi said besides the three blocks of Almora subdivision, the Someswar area of the district was also sensitive from the disaster point of view.

“We have got land surveyed by geologists and they have declared it safe from natural calamities. The disaster affected villagers will be allotted land after the proposals in this regard are approved by the government,” said Joshi.

Governor cancels Roza Iftaar
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 7
Keeping in view a large number of people affected by natural disasters (excessive rainfall, cloudburst) in the hill state, Uttarakhand Governor Dr Aziz Qureshi has cancelled the proposed Roza Iftaar party at Raj Bhavan on August 16.

The money that was to be spent on the party will be sent for the assistance of the families affected by the disaster. The Governor has expressed grief and sympathy towards those whose family members have been killed in the calamity.

As the head of the state for the Indian Red Cross Society, the Governor has ensured that items of necessity and help are sent to the affected people. 

Film director Vishal Bhardwaj planning documentary on Nanda Rajjat Yatra
Ajay Ramola

Mussoorie, August 7
Eminent Bollywood producer-director Vishal Bhardwaj is planning to make a documentary on one of the revered religious festivals of Uttarakhand, the Nanda Rajjat Yatra.

Vishal Bhardwaj, during his brief visit to Mussoorie, said that he had been fascinated with the events unfolding during the Nanda Rajjat Yatra as it passed through most photogenic locales of the world. Therefore, he was contemplating to make a documentary on the yatra scheduled for 2013 so that it could be showcased to the audience worldwide.

He plans to complete all the necessary arrangements this year so that there is no hindrance in the shooting of the documentary.

Bhardwaj, speaking on the ways to develop the state into an important film shooting destination, said that the government should try to formulate a policy conducive to film making. The government should try to create a single-window system for all kinds of shootings and relax taxes on the film- making processes so that film-makers were encouraged to come in the state for film shooting.

Speaking on his forthcoming venture, Bhardwaj said his film “Matloo Kaa Bijlee Kaa Mandola” directed by him will be on the silver screen very soon. Another film “Ek Thee Daayan” was scheduled to be released this year.

Later, Abhishek Chaubey, the writer-director of “Ishqiya” fame, accompanying Vishal Bhardwaj in Mussoorie, speaking about his forthcoming venture said that he was in the town to complete the writing work for the sequel of “Ishqiya” titled “Dedh Ishqiya”. Abhishek was also of the view that the town was perfect for the creative writers as it provided the right kind of peaceful environment to complete their work without any disturbance.

Speaking on the cast for the sequel, he informed the media that Vidya Balan was no more in the film and he was still searching for another artiste who could do justice with the role. Both Vishal Bhardwaj and Abhishek Chaubey are staying at the house of close actor-friend Tenzing Neema

Not in race for state Cong chief’s post, says Satpal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 7
Uttarakhand Garhwal MP Satpal Maharaj today denied being in the race for the post of state Congress president.

In a statement issued today, Satpal Maharaj categorically denied that he was in the contention for the post of Uttarakhand Congress president.

He pointed out that the incumbent Uttarakhand Congress president Yashpal Arya had ensured landslide victories for the party in the 2009 parliamentary and the 2012 Sssembly elections.

“Even the coming Tehri Parliamentary byelection will be contested by Congress under the leadership of Yashpal Arya”, he said.

Maharaj said he had no intention to become party president, nor had any such plans for the future.

AIDS patient dumped by family in Doon Hospital
Need felt for homes for terminally ill patients
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 7
The family of a 60-year-old AIDS patient has dumped him at Doon Hospital, bringing to light the absence of homes for terminally ill patients in Uttarakhand.

Though the patient is being provided treatment for AIDS at the hospital, his condition is deteriorating each day as he needs palliative care.

Members of the Uttarakhand Association for People Living with HIV/AIDS, who have been tending to the patient, say his family has failed to respond to their calls. “The situation is worse as a terminally ill AIDS patient has nowhere to go. He faces much stigma and discrimination. We need homes where even abandoned people with terminal illness could live and die with dignity. More than the cure, he needs palliative care. His wife and son had severed ties with him 16 years ago while his sister dumped him when he is on the death bed,” said a member of the association.

The patient was brought to the hospital by his sister in June and the staff soon realised that she had dumped him there. “We have given him medication. The hospital is not equipped to handle terminally ill patients. We have been trying to get in touch with his family but there has been no response. The patient needs special care and in his condition the presence of family members proves to be helpful,” said Principal Superintendent of the hospital Dr BC Pathak.

Though the association had raised the issue of absence of a home for terminally ill patients with the Uttarakhand State AIDS Control Society at a meeting recently, the latter had expressed its helplessness in the matter.

The society receives a sizeable budgetary allocation from National AIDS Control Society (NACO) but it has made no provision to set up a home for abandoned terminally ill patients, especially those suffering with AIDS,” said Lawrence Singh, a member of HOPE, an NGO.

8th batch of Mansarowar yatris reaches Jageshwar Dham
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, August 7
The eighth batch of the Kailash Mansarowar Yatra comprising 39 members today reached Jageshwar Dham on its way back to Delhi.

Meanwhile, the 11th batch underwent medical examination at Gunji today. However, one member of the batch, identified as Geeta Murti from Tamil Nadu, has returned from Gunji due to health- related problems. The 9th and 10th batches are still in China.

At Borkar, an ITBP officer, said: “Although the weather at high Himalayan camps is clear, pilgrims are still facing difficulties as local rivulets have swollen due to the melting of snow at peaks.”

Notorious poacher admits to killing two tigers
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 7
Notorious poacher Bhima Bavaria’s arrest could not come at a more appropriate moment with the Uttarakhand forest authorities repeatedly denying major poaching activity in the Corbett Tiger Landscape.

In his very first confession, Bavaria has confessed to killing two tigers in Uttarakhand’s Lansdowne forest division in recent years, one of which he admitted killing just a few months back. Bavaria’s disclosure has come as a setback for Forest Department that has often been on a denial mode as far as poaching activity in the Lansdowne forest division that forms part of Corbett Tiger Landscape is concerned.

In the backdrop of the startling revelation by Bhima, the state anti-poaching cell has come out from slumber and set up an enquiry into the killing of a tiger in Lansdowne division two years back. But then the enquiry has come up after Bhima’s confession, who has brazenly admitted that he has been actively conducting poaching activity in the forest areas that connect two key protected areas of the state - Rajaji National Park and Corbett National Park. Following anti-poaching cell’s directives, Conservator of Forests, Shivalik, Santosh Vijay Sharma, under whose jurisdiction Lansdowne forest division falls, too, held that all necessary details linked to killing of a tiger as confessed by Bhima were being sought from Lansdowne forest division officer.

But then the anti-poaching cell seems to be more reactionary than being proactive. Tiger conservationist Hem Singh Gehlot describes Uttarakhand's anti poaching cell as a body just on official paper. “Anti-poaching cell in Uttarakhand often works after wildlife has been poached upon whereas it should have rather acted on reducing the poaching,” Gehlot points out. He said that it was basically due to lack of network of informers that the anti-poaching cell failed to act.

Interestingly, while poaching fears have always been felt by the Uttarkhand Forest Department, lack of adequate manpower and resources has made the cell look symbolic. The cell today is just a one-man army. However, the cell head, SK Dutt, has been repeatedly seeking it's strengthening and has even submitted a proposal for it's expansion, which broadly suggested for induction of a minimum of 7 wildlife wardens into the cell, apart from other subordinate forest staff. But so far little has been done in this regard.

Uttarakhand Chapter of People For Animals too had expressed concern over the poor state of affairs of the anti-poaching cell of the state. “Uttarakhand anti-poaching cell comprises one single officer and no other staff, even resources or budget. Cases of poaching go either unreported or uninvestigated”, Gauri Maulekhi, PFA Uttarakhand member-secretary, argues. “In cases where clear evidence of poaching has been detected, the under-staffed cell does not find time to investigate,” she observed

Wildlife Crime Control Bureau had nabbed Bhima almost a week back from Gurgaon with a tiger skin.

Art of Living workshops for special kids
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 7
The Art of Living has conducted two special workshops for visually-challenged children at the National Institute of Visually Handicapped (NIVH) on Rajpur Road.

First, a three-day health and meditation workshop was conducted for children at the NIVH from July 30 to August 1. Around 200 children, aged between 8 and 15 years, participated in the camp titled ‘Bal Chetna Shivir’.

Another workshop titled ‘Youth Empowerment and Skills’ was held on the NIVH campus from August 2 to 7 and around 50 special children aged 15 to 18 years participated in it.

The workshop began with the children learning meditation and pranayam for a relaxed and stress-free mind. They were also made aware of the importance of a healthy living, cleanliness and good hygiene along with the values of caring for the environment.

“The youth learnt Sudarshan Kriya as well as meditation as it makes the body healthy and the mind calm and alert. Initially, it was a challenge to convey the teachings to these special children, but their ‘will to learn’ and active cooperation of the principal of the NIVH and special educator Brij Lal made this tough task possible,” said Art of Living teacher Manisha, who conducted the camp along with another teacher Rahul

Lovekush, aged 16, said, “The camp has given me new strength and a sense of self respect. Physically also, I am now feeling being healthy and energetic.”

Another participant Vikas, aged 15, said, “I am feeling very happy. I wish I had done this workshop earlier.” 

Research must reach people, says scientist
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 7
Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Union Cabinet Dr R. Chidambaram has emphasised on the delivery of research to the common people.

Delivering a lecture, “The Increasing Role of Science and Technology in India's Development” to the officers, scientists, Ph.D scholars and students at the Forest Research Institute, he

emphasised on the delivery of research to the common people. “The research must reach the common man so that it contributes towards the development of the country,” he said.

Dr Chidambaram narrated some major projects developed by Indian scientists. Development of the Tsunami warning system, space application projects in diversified areas, development of bio-energy system and nuclear applications for human well-being were some of the key projects being pursued by the scientists in the country.

Referring to the importance of energy, he said the development of a country depended on the per capita consumption of electricity. He said in future nuclear plants would be the only source of electricity generation and it would be safe and clean.

He also said the Central Government had formed the National Knowledge Network. It would provide knowledge of various fields to the common people. IITs and some prestigious institutes were connected with each other with this technology.

Earlier, Director General, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dr VK Bahuguna and Director, Forest Reserch Institute, Dr PP Bhojvaid welcomed Dr Chidambaram to the FRI.

Rs 1,500 cr SBI loan for Tehri corp
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 7
The Tehri Hydro-Electric Development Corporation has signed a term-loan agreement of Rs 1,500 crore with the State Bank of India and its associate banks for the implementation of 1000 MW Tehri pumped storage plant.

The agreement was signed by Deepak Sarwal, general manager (Strategic Planning), THDCIL and Manaw Prasad, assistant general manager and Regional Manager, State Bank of India, in the presence of CP Singh, director (Finance), THDCIL and Shailash Verma, general manager and regional head, corporate accounts, SBI, here today.

The total facility of Rs1,500 crore is underwritten by the SBI with take and hold portion of Rs 1,000 crore. The remaining portion of loan over and above the SBI's hold portion will be held by the associate banks of the SBI group - the State Bank of Patiala, the State Bank of Mysore, the State Bank of Travancore, the State Bank of Hyderabad.

Since the commissioning of its first project, Tehri Dam and Hydro Power Plant (THPP-1000 MW), a multi-purpose project on the Bhagirathi in 2006-07, and Koteshwar HEP (400 MW) in 2011-12, THDCIL is continuously making profit.