State imposes entry tax on vehicles
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 31
The Uttarakhand government has issued an order levying entry tax on all vehicles registered outside the state while entering Uttarakhand from today.

A similar entry tax is being charged in Himachal Pradesh and southern states. The tax will be levied at 13 entry points in Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Champawat districts.

Besides, the Uttarakhand Government also plans to bring the Uttarakhand Transport and Civic Infrastructure Cess Bill for levying entry tax in the Assembly. But before bringing the Bill the government has issued the order.

“We expect revenue of around Rs 200 crore annually from the entry tax. So far, vehicles entering Uttarakhand from other states do not have to pay any fee, but this is expected to change from tomorrow,” said Radha Raturi, Secretary, Finance.

The tax will be imposed on all classes of automobiles, both private and commercial. The tax for private vehicles has been fixed at Rs 30, for goods carriers between Rs 30 and Rs 60, for vehicles carrying passengers between Rs 20 and Rs 60 (depending on the carrying capacity of the vehicles). These rates are expected to be revised by the government depending on the prevailing circumstances.

In Dehradun, the tax will be levied at three places, including Asha Rodhi and Kulhal. While in Haridwar such points include Narsain, Chidiyapur and Bhagwanpur. While the tax will be collected at Kashipur, Jaspur and Rudrapur in Udham Singh Nagar, it will be levied only at Kotdwar in Pauri district.

While experts said the imposition of the tax would no doubt bring revenue, the government would have devise schemes to waive taxes during the tourism season to spur tourist traffic.

The imposition of the tax is also expected to impact the sale of cars in favour of the state as there has been a tendency to get vehicles registered outside the state to save on registration tax. However, experts said with the introduction of a uniform VAT, prices of cars across the country were more or less the same.

TAXING TIME

The tax for private vehicles has been fixed at Rs 30, for goods carriers between Rs 30 and Rs 60 and for vehicles carrying passengers between Rs 20 and Rs 60 (depending on the carrying capacity of the vehicles).

WB to fund phase II of watershed project
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 31
With the help of World Bank, the Uttarakhand Decentralised Watershed Development Project (Rural) Phase II will be launched in 550 gram panchayats in 10 hill districts at a cost of $140 million.

A delegation of World Bank, led by Ranjan Samantre, discussed the project with Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna at the Secretariat here today.

Bahuguna emphasised upon strengthening the Watershed Management Directorate for the successful execution of the project. He directed Secretary, Watershed, Bhaskaranand to resolve all problems that would come while executing the project on a priority basis.

The phase I of the project had concluded on March 1 this year. On the request of the Uttarakhand Government and the Centre, World Bank has approved phase II of the project. Out of $140 million, $100 million would be provided by World Bank, $30 million by the state government and $10 million would be paid in the form of beneficiary contribution.

The seven-year project would cover a total of 3 lakh hectares and would be executed by gram panchayats under the Watershed Management Directorate.

Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister DK Kotia, Project Director, Watershed Management Directorate, Vinit Pangtey and BP Gupta and members of World Bank were present on the occasion.

Given before Tehri bypoll, govt withdraws relief on petrol
Now fuel costs Rs 2.65 more in state
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 31
After the relief on value added tax (VAT) on petrol provided by the Congress government before the Tehri Lok Sabha byelection, the state government has again secretly imposed it, forcing the people to pay more and in turn drawing flak from the opposition parties.

The petrol price has been hiked by Rs 2.65 per litre. A litre of normal petrol will cost Rs 71.66 and premium petrol will cost Rs 79.65 per litre.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna claimed that even after withdrawing relief given in VAT on petrol price, the cost of petrol in the state would remain lesser compare to other states.

Bahuguna claimed that the relief had been withdrawn only on petrol price and not on diesel price. He maintained that even after withdrawal of relief in VAT on petrol price, it would remain cheaper by Rs 2.50 as compared to Uttar Pradesh.

"This is because VAT on petrol price is comparatively lesser than other states here. In Uttarakhand, VAT on petrol is 25 per cent whereas in UP it is 26.55 per cent, in Punjab 30.25 per cent and Madhya Pradesh 28.75 per cent," he said and added that the withdrawal in relief would incur a revenue of Rs. 80 crore per annum to the state government.

Bahuguna said the state government was launching several development programmes which would increase revenue expenditure of the government.

"An additional burden of Rs 60 crore is expected due to unemployment allowances, Rs 160 crore expected for providing 10 kg rice to APL card holders in subsidised cost, Rs 200 crore for upgradation of schools and Rs 30 crore expected for providing subsidy in LPG cylinders," he said.

Bahuguna said an additional expenditure of Rs 920 crore was expected to purchase power at a higher cost as the last year power cost was Rs 675 crore as it was purchased from other sources.

Chief Minister Bahuguna said the state government was taking all measures to improve the financial condition of the state and exploring various revenue generating resources. He said entry tax had been imposed on vehicles entering Uttarakhand from other states and special attention was being given on mining, excise and tourism.

On the other hand, Ajay Bhatt, Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, said the withdrawal of VAT concession had brought the true face of the Congress government.

"The Congress tried to hoodwink the public by announcing the concession before the Tehri byelection and stealthily withdrawn it," he said.

Delegates worried over emission of green house gases
Scientists present 64 papers at poplar conference sessions 
Tribune News service

Dehradun, October 31
The second day of the International Poplar Conference (IPC) session proceedings started with technical sessions under various themes at different venues in the sylvan surroundings of the Forest Research Institute here today.

The day’s sessions were divided into seven themes, wherein presenters from different countries, including India, deliberated on the topic pertaining to each theme. In their presentations, different scientists from different countries deliberated and discussed the advances made so far in poplars and willows. In total 64 papers were presented during the day.

VK Bahuguna, Director General, ICFRE, and Chancellor, FRI deemed university and leader of the Indian delegation, expressed hope that all the participating countries shall be mutually benefited from the presentations made during the session. PP Bhojvaid, Director, Forest Research Institute, said that new states were coming forward for planting poplar, and the technical discussions held during the day will help decide the future course of research on poplars and willows in India.

Under the theme on Environmental Application of Poplars and Willows, 14 papers were presented by scientists from Canada, Tunisia, Italy, Sweden, Germany, Turkey, USA and India. One of the major issues of global concern today was increasing levels of green house gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere and its consequence on climate change. The past few decades has witnessed a rapid change in climate, posing a serious threat to functioning of major terrestrial ecosystems. Agro ecosystem is very climate sensitive, and particularly tropical agriculture with subsistence farming systems are most vulnerable since majority of the farmers have small land holdings, and practice low input agriculture. Livelihoods and economy of farmers are affected due to lack of adequate resources, support, access to novel technologies and, thus, reducing their capacity to adapt to the changing climate.

TP Singh of ICFRE presented poplar as a climate mitigation option. Mohit Gera of India presented a paper on cultivating poplar for speedy carbon sequestration.

Loannis Dimitriou of Sweden presented a paper on impact of short rotation crops grown on agricultural land on water and soil quality. Mejda Abassi, SL Swamy, Daniel Gagnon of Canada, Ahmet Karakas of Turkey, Stefano Bisoffi of Italy, Syed Tariq of India, Georg Von Wuehlisch of Germany, Ahmet Karakas of Turkey and Shutang Zhao of China also gave their presentations.

Under the theme "Willow Diseases and Poplar and Willow Insects and other Animal Pests," eight papers were presented, one each from Italy and Belgium, and all others from India. NSK Harsh of FRI delivered on natural decay resistance variations in populus deltoides clones and age of trees. Y P Singh of FRI, India, presented a paper on infestation by bipolaris spicifera and B. setariae on populus deltoides in India. These species have wheat and grasses, as hosts respectively, which are also a part of poplar agroforestry systems. Naldo Anselmi from Italy and Steenackers Marijke from Belgium presented their studies. Archana Bagwari, KS Kapoor and Rashmi, Ranjeet Singh of HFRI, Shimla, also spoke on various aspects of poplar infestations.

Vivek Tyagi of India gave a faunistic survey of termites causing damage to poplar and their management.

Under theme "Nomenclature, Registration and Taxonomy," only 2 papers from India were presented. In this session the issue of status and distribution of willows in temperate and cold arid regions of Jammu & Kashmir was discussed by R. Banyal, while Subhash Nautiyal of FRI presented a paper on Indian poplars with special reference to indigenous species.

Under the theme on "Harvesting and Utilisation of Poplar and Willow," 14 papers in which 3 from Italy, 1 from Belgium and the rest from India were presented. The paper on poplar as bio-fuel was presented by Lakshmi Tewari, India, in which she emphasised the need to proper pre-treatment as the lignin content makes the biomass more recalcitrant towards hydrolysis. Gianni Facciotto, Italy, presented a paper on attitude to plywood production of six new poplar clones. The mechanical characteristics of the plywood obtained from different poplar clones were studied. Sadhna Tripathi of India presented a paper on performance of treated poplars in Indian climatic conditions. A paper on extraction and utilisation of natural dye from poplar bark on pilot scale and their use in textile industry were presented by Rakesh Kumar from India.

Chemical utilisation of populus deltoides for developing leaf protein concentrate was discussed by Lutful Haque Khan, Joris Van Acker from Belgium, Laura Rosso of Italy, Vineet Kumar of FRI and BS Mandal. Facciotto Gianni of Italy presented a paper on short rotation coppice (SRC) crops in Italy. Gulshan Ahuja, Vasudha Singh and HP Singh also presented their papers.

Under the theme on "Genetics, Conservation and Improvement of Poplar and Willow Wood," 15 papers, in which one each from Nepal and Sweden and two from China and the rest from India were presented. The issues of molecular markers, micro and macro propagation, genetic variability, clonal performance and genetic gain were deliberated by Sajad Ahmad Gangoo, Sanjeev Thakur, Bikram Singh, PK Pandey, NB Singh, JP Sharma, Rajni Sharma, Ajay Thakur and HB Thapa from Nepal and Jagdish Singh.

Almir Karacic from Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden, made a presentation on the swedish poplar network, developing the Internet-based tools for reporting data, communicating knowledge and sharing the experiences among

All participants.

Guo Shu Ping from China presented papers on “Genetic Improvement of Populus Davidiana”. Meng-Zhu Lu from Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing and China proposed a model describing the molecular features of secondary vascular system (SVS).

Health scheme smart card to be used for PDS
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 31
Uttarakhand is all set to offer Public Distribution System entitlements with the Rashtriya Swasthya Beema Yojana (RSBY) smart card. The popular annual health cover scheme for the BPL and non-BPL card holders already underway in the state.

The scheme under smart card will not only help in bringing transparency in the PDS, but also ensure a saving of more than Rs 100 crore every year by the use of the card for PDS.

The proposal will be discussed at the upcoming Cabinet meeting and once approved the Department of Health will carry an additional folder in the RSBY smart card dedicated to the entitlements under the PDS.

“As the RSBY scheme is successful in Uttarakhand, the Central Government has now suggested that we should bring the PDS entitlements along with the RSBY so that the existing RSBY smart card could be used for the other scheme as well. The use of a single card for two schemes is aimed at plugging loopholes in the PDS and also saving money," said a senior official.

Recently, the state government had also agreed to increase the Centre's initiative to increase the memory space of the smart card to 36 kilobytes. The state government through government insurance companies is implementing the annual health cover scheme covering around 3.50 lakh beneficiaries.

The individual and family members are covered under the scheme that allows them to access diagnostic and other medical procedures in selected government and private hospitals.

Mindful of the scheme not being able to achieve desired results, initially, the Department of Health may introduce it on a trial basis in some districts of the state.

“If successful, the scheme will prove to be a turning point for the RSBY smart card holders. They will be able to swipe these cards at the PDS shops as well. But much depends on the existing PDS systems and it's level of modernisation. Even if the existing fair price shops have not been upgraded (automated), the minimum wherewithal they should possess is a system where the cards could be swiped,” added the official.

20 dengue cases reported from Ranikhet
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, October 31
After admitting four more patients to a private hospital in Ranikhet subdivision of Almora district, the number of total dengue patients in the area has reached 20.

“The total number of dengue-affected patients, admitted by the hospital, has reached 20 in SN Hospital and Heart Centre at Ranikhet. Out of these patients, some have left after getting treatment. Four newly admitted patients are being treated by doctors in the hospital,” said SN Sriwastawa, a doctor of the hospital.

According to hospital sources, the first dengue case was admitted in the hospital three weeks ago.

The government hospital in Ranikhet has denied admitting any dengue patients. “We are testing the blood of every patient who is being admitted in the hospital for dengue symptoms, but till date no patient has been admitted in the government hospital bearing dengue symptoms,” said DS Negi, Medical Superintendent of the government hospital in Ranikhet.

The cantonment board has taken cognizance of dengue reaching Ranikhet and has started fogging and special sanitary campaign in the board area. “We have started fogging, besides sanitation of drains in the area to keep away dengue symptoms from the cantonment area.’ said PS Phartiyal, sanitation inspector of Ranikhet cantonment area.

The Leader of the Opposition in Uttarakhand Assembly, Ajay Bhatt, has demanded that the government should form a special cell to check the dengue epidemic in the state. “The patients admitted to private hospitals may not be in dengue records of the government, but if the government forms a special cell to trace the epidemic, then these patients will be registered in government records and could get cheap treatment. 

Cabinet meeting at Gairsain must decide on permanent capital: UKD leader Airy
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, October 31
Senior leader of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) and former MLA Kashi Singh Airy here today welcomed the decision of the Bahuguna government to hold a Cabinet meeting at Gairsain in Chamoli district on November 3.

He said the government move would be eyewash if it failed to declare Gairsain as the permanent capital of the state.

“It is a welcome gesture as it can prove as the first step towards making Gairsain the permanent capital of the state. But the move should be supported by a Cabinet decision to clear the way for making Gairsain the permanent capital,” said Airy.

He said the UKD had taken a decision to make Gairsain the capital of the state on the occasion of the Uttarayani Mela at Bageshwar on January 14, 1992, during the peak days of the agitation for the creation of Uttarakhand. The party had laid the foundation stone for the capital on December 25, 1992, by establishing a statue of Vir Chandra Singh Garhwali at Gairsain. “We have made it our policy to organise regular meetings at Gairsain,” said Airy.

He added the mainstream political parties were opposed to Gairsain as the capital city at that time also and some of them were even opposed to the creation of Uttarakhand, calling it a separatist demand. “These political parties had a sense of fear that if they supported Gairsain as the capital of the hill state, their politics in plains will weaken,” said Airy.

The UKD leader said Gairsain was selected by the statehood agitators as the capital of the state as it was situated at the centre of both Kumaon and Garhwal regions. “The agitation leaders wanted that the future capital should be well connected and be essentially in the hills of the state. This was only possible by declaring Gairsain as the capital as it was almost at equal distance from all districts,” he added.

Airy said Dehradun was not connected to all districts of the state directly even after 12 years of the creation of Uttarakhand. “According to a survey conducted by the Kaushik Committee constituted by the Uttar Pradesh Government on the issue, 86 per cent of the population of the state wanted Gairsain as the permanent capital,” said Airy.

The UKD leader added after Dehradun was made the capital of the state, migration from hill areas increased manifold. The successive governments showed no political will or priority to develop infrastructure and civic facilities in the hill areas of the state. “If this Cabinet meeting can give the hill areas, which constitute 85 per cent of the total area of the state, its due by taking a decision to make Gairsain as the permanent capital, only then it will be fruitful. Otherwise, it will prove to be a mere political gimmick,” said Airy.

Govt to set up separate minority welfare cell
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 31
The Uttarakhand Government will set up a separate cell for minority welfare in the Social Welfare Department to speed up the implementation of schemes launched for minorities.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the 15-point Programme Implementation Committee chaired by Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain at the Secretariat here yesterday.

Camps will be organised in all districts to make members of the minority communities aware about welfare schemes launched by the state government. It was also decided at the meeting that all madrasas would be affiliated to the State Madrasa Board. ITIs and polytechnics would be established to bring the minorities into the mainstream of society. Coaching classes for students of the minority community would be organised besides giving scholarships to them. Their participation would be ensured in all employment-related schemes.

Secretary, School Education, Manisha Panwar said anganwadi centres were being constructed in areas where there is a large population of minority communities. She said 43 centres in Haridwar and 245 in Udham Singh Nagar were being constructed while arrangements for free education and hostel facility had been made in 28 Kasturba Gandhi Girls Schools.

She said out of 2,000 girls, only 60 from the minority communities had taken admission to such schools. Panwar stressed the need to make the minority communities aware about the importance of education.

A total of 505 dropped out students had been given admission in Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar schools. A total of 240 students had benefited from the Sapno Ki Udan project. She said in all, 4,275 students were studying in 15 madrasas.

Secretary, Social Welfare, MH Khan said the Central Government had launched a scheme to ensure quality education in madrasas and the salaries of three teachers of madrasas would be as by the Central Government.

Secretary, Urban Development, Umakant Panwar, Additional Secretary, Home, Amit Sinha, Haridwar District Magistrate Sachin Kurvey and other senior officials were present on the occasion.

Meeting on civil-military liaison on strategic issues
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 31
A meeting on civil-military liaison took place at the Secretariat here today which was chaired by Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain in which issues related to Civil-Military Liaison Conference, scheduled to take place with the Chief Minister on November 9, was discussed elaborately.

Sub-Area Commander Major Gen Ranvir Yadav discussed issues related to strategically important air field, development of air strip, land transfer and other related subjects with state government officers. The state government will provide land to the Army to set up Poly Clinics for ex-servicemen at Bageshwar, Pauri, Karnprayag, Rudrapur, Uttarkashi and Rudraprayag.

The problems related to transfer of forest land will also be resolved. The state government had forwarded a proposal to obtain clearance from the Environment and Forest Ministry. The roads in cantonment areas will be repaired on a priority basis. The state government will also provide land for setting up a firing range in border districts. The land will also be made available for the Jai Jawan Awas Yojna at Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh and Haldwani under which the defence personnel would be provided low budget residences.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary Revenue Omprakash, Principal Secretary Forest S Ramaswami, Secretary Rural Development Vinod Fonia, Secretary School Education Manisha Panwar, Secretary General Administration SS Rawat and other senior officers.

Tight security for Jauljibi fair
Mela to start from November 14
Our correspondent

Pithoragarh, October 31
Elaborate security arrangements will be made at the traditional Jauljibi fair to be organised at Jauljibi town, 65 km from the district, near the Nepal border between November 14 and 20.

“We have instructed the police, Home Guards and SSB officers to keep a strict vigil on the activities of anti-social elements at the international bridge at Jauljibi from across the border who may try to create disturbance during the fair. They should also ensure that the fair finishes peacefully,” said District Magistrate, Pithoragarh, CMS Bisht after presiding over a meeting for the preparation of the fair.

Bisht said 40 stalls of various development programmes would be displayed at the mela for which the roadways would run five special buses from the district headquarters.

“We have ensured that all arrangements of security, stalls and medical facilities be made four days before the inauguration of the fair,” he added.

The District Magistrate said the stalls of various departments would display latest technologies in the sphere of agriculture, animal husbandry, seeds and welfare schemes of the government.

The Medical Department would ensure services of a mobile hospital at the fair and a 108 emergency medical van would also be available, he added.

He also issued instructions to the officers of the Border Roads Organisation to repair the road between Pithoragarh and the mela site and depute JCB machines at sensitive places on the 65 km stretch.

Sengupta sworn in HC Judge

Nainital, October 31
Justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta was sworn in as a Judge of the Nainital High Court today.

He was administered the oath by Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court Barin Ghosh at a simple ceremony here attended by other judges of the HC and members of the bar.

Justice Sengupta began his career as a lawyer in the West Bengal High Court in the 1970s and subsequently rose to become a Judge there. — PTI

3 held with bear gall bladders, leopard skins 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 31
A team of the Special Task Force yesterday arrested four smugglers and seized two gall bladders of Himalayan bears and two leopard skins from their possession.

The cost of the gall bladders and the skins is estimated to be Rs 15 lakh. The accused, Prem Ram, Inder Kumar, Lokesh Thapa and Mohit Joshi, were arrested from Kuchhery Road.

During interrogation, it came to the fore that the leader of their gang, Shivraj, Devender, was arrested on August 15 last year with a leopard skin. The gang has been active in Chamoli for long. Its members would sell the organs of wild animals in Dehradun and Nepal.

The police is trying to identify those involved in poaching and buying of animals’ organs. According to information, the Ministry of Environment and Wildlife will organise an international conference with the support of the Wildlife Trust of India, the Wildlife Institute of India and the International Bear Association in Delhi next month, where issues with regard to the protection of Himalayan brown bear, Asiatic black bear, sloth bear and sun bear will be discussed.