Best State Award for U’khand
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 15
Uttarakhand has been honoured with the Best State Award for its consistent economic development rate by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry. President Pranab Mukherjee handed over the award to Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna at the Chief Ministers' Conclave of northern states in the 107th Session of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry held in New Delhi today.

Bahuguna, while speaking on the occasion, said, “Uttarakhand has a lot of potential for investment in tourism, health and education. Better law and order situation and abundant availability of skilled labour are attracting entrepreneurs to the state.”

He said the state government was committed to providing all possible facilities and better environment to industries. Bahuguna also announced to provide land to the PHD Chamber for its Uttarakhand office within seven days.

Bahuguna said the government was going to encourage industrial investment of Rs 35,000 crore in the state in the near future. He said several renowned manufacturing houses had shown interest in investing in Uttarakhand.

He said the Annual Plan outlay during the inception of Uttarakhand was Rs 750 crore, which had swelled to Rs 8,200 crore.

He said industrial development was must for the overall development of the state and it was the priority of the state government to take the benefits of development to people residing in remote hill areas.

Bahuguna said engineering colleges, ITIs and polytechnique colleges were being opened in hill areas so that industries get skilled human resources.

According to the report ‘Policy and Economic Snapshot’ released jointly by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and YES Bank, the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Uttarakhand is 12.8 per cent.

In the past ten years, the state's development in primary areas had been 12.2 per cent, in secondary areas it was 22.8 per cent and in tertiary areas, 20.8 per cent.

Also present on the occasion were Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Raman Singh and Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi.

Drainage plan for areas of Turner Road, ISBT

Dehradun, December 15
The Peyjal Nigam has come up a pre-fabricated RCC box drain drainage plan to address the waterlogging problem being faced in low-lying areas of Turner Road, Morowala, ISBT, Azad Colony and other adjoining areas.

Instead of constructing outlets on the sides of the roads, the fabricated boxes would be fitted below the road. The 2,032-km-long drainage plan would cost Rs 18 crore.

“In the rainy season, these areas face problem of waterlogging. We have also discussed the plan with Minister of Planning Dinesh Agarwal,” said Ravinder Kumar, MD, Peyjal Nigam.

Interestingly, the implementation of the 550-km-long storm drainage plan for Dehradun city is also pending due to the lack of financial resources.

The department has been unable to make complete payment to the New Delhi-based agency that prepared the detail project report (DPR). Only 30 per cent of the amount has been paid. —TNS 

Kedarnath delegation meets Guv Qureshi
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 15
Governor Aziz Qureshi here today met a delegation, led by Shaila Rani, MLA from the Kedarnath Vidhan Sabha constituency. The delegation put before the Governor various problems related to the lack of proper infrastructure for pilgrims at the Kedarnath shrine and urged him that roads be improved, boarding facilities be provided on the routes along with public conveniences.

The Governor told them that he was in constant touch with the state government and the Centre regarding the action plan being prepared for improving infrastructure at the Char Dham in the state.

No monitoring of funds transfer to flagship schemes
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 15
The Uttarakhand government has failed to set up an agency for monitoring the funds directly transferred by the Centre to the state for various flagship programmes. As a result, there are no checks on departments drawing funds in excess of requirement.

The grants-in-aid from the Government of India had shown an increase over the period 2006-07 to 2010-2011 (except during 2007-08). It increased from Rs 3,081 crore in 2006-07 to Rs 4,065 crore in 2010-11.

Criticising the poor financial management, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India in a new report has said as there is no single agency monitoring the funds directly transferred by the Government of India. There is no readily available data on how much is actually spent in any particular year on major flagship schemes.

It has suggested that the government observe budgetary controls to avoid deficiencies in financial management. Financial rules were flouted in the absence of an monitoring agency.

The programmes that received a major portion of these funds during 2010-2011 were Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Rs 289.81 crore (15 per cent), Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rs 258.83 core (13 per cent), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Rs 240.26 crore (12.51 per cent), National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRWP), Rs 136.41 crore (7.11 per cent) and National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Rs 96.50 crore (5.03 per cent).

Besides, the audit report also found the state government’s compliance with various rules, procedures and directives unsatisfactory, as evident from the delays in furnishing utilisation certificates (UCs). The failure to furnish utilisation certificates had affected the implementation of Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan.

There were 578 UCs amounting to Rs 463.37 crore pending as of March 2011. As many as 623 UCs amounting to Rs 522.54 crore were pending as of August 2011. Of these, 172 UCs involving Rs 244.69 crore were pending for periods up to three yeras and 451 UCs involving Rs 277.85 crore were pending for more than three years.

The audit observed 16 cases of misappropriation, defalcation and theft involving government money amounting to Rs 3.20 crore up to the period March 2011, on which final action was pending. 

Critical appraisal

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India in a new report has said there is no single agency monitoring the funds directly transferred by the Government of India to Uttarakhand under various flagship schemes. There is no readily available data on how much is actually spent in any particular year on the major flagship schemes. 

Include livelihood, climate change in forest management
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 15
Dr VK Bahuguna, Director General of Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun, said the forest classification given by Champion and Seth in 1968 did not suit the renewed role of forests today and called for inclusion of issues like livelihood, hydrology and climate change in forest management.

Bahuguna was interacting with mediapersons at the Institute of Wood Science and Technology (IWST), Bangalore. He said, “The ICFRE has undertaken a study on reassignment of forest type of India with the objective to understand the impact of climate change on forest vegetation to devise a forest classification from the perspective of forest management, develop a forest classification system in line with international organisations like the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and prepare the change matrix of forest types of India.

The data colleted from more than 2,000 sites in different forests across the country is being analysed. The results obtained have shown significant changes in forest structure and diversity at many places, which may be attributed to the climate change.”

Bahuguna said the ICFRE was also conducting a study on ‘Identification of extent of forestlands in the forest fringe villages’ for the National Rain-fed Area Authority This authority, he added, was expected to set up standards for formulating strategies for development of rain-fed areas. The study assesses forestlands both qualitatively and quantitatively along the fringes of villages with respect to their ecological and productive status. The study would provide an overall picture of the villages in forest fringe areas of 275 districts across the nation.

He said soon the ICFRE would launch a project of Rs 3 to Rs 5 crore to address the livelihood issues of the tribal people living on the fringes of the forests using a viable forestry-based model. 

Cong to start membership campaign soon
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 15
The state Congress will shortly start a membership campaign in the state.

Addressing a press conference at the Congress Bhawan here today, Congress state general secretary Vijay Saraswat today said the party’s membership campaign would begin shortly in the state. He said the membership campaign would especially focus on women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and minorities. Sarsawat said the party high command also plans to bring in more and more youth into the Congress.

Saraswat also said the state party spokesperson Dhirendra Pratap had been appointed convener for the conduct of the membership campaign.

Responding to a query, Saraswat said it was wrong to blame the Congress for the increase prices of LPG cylinders. “The LPG cylinder prices were increased even when the Vajpayee-led NDA government was at the Centre,” Sarasawat said, adding that the Centre was, however, trying to increase the number of subsidised domestic cylinders for the consumers.

Pratap, who was present at the conference, revealed that the Congress would hold massive rally on December 30 in Haridwar. He said the rally would also mark preparations of the Congress for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Domicile issue: UKD (P) to protest on Jan 10 against cut-off date 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 15
The Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Progressive) has announced a statewide bandh on January 10 to protest against the November 9, 2000, cut-off date for deciding on the domicile status for the people of the state.

Addressing a press conference in Dehradun today, UKD (P) president Trivendra Singh Panwar said their party would strongly oppose this new domicile policy as it would put the very inhabitants in minority in their own state. He said the party had given a call for statewide bandh on January 10 against this new domicile policy. Panwar also disclosed that party workers will also start a gherao of MLAs from December 20, asking to clarify their stand over the new domicile policy.

He also held that the UKD (P) working committee meeting on December 24 will also decide on the future course of agitation over the domicile issue. He said a large number of people from other states had started residing in Uttarakhand in recent years.

UKD (P) president Trivendra Singh Panwar said party leader AP Juyal was heading an enquiry into the role of UKD (P) MLA and Cabinet Minister Pritam Singh Panwar in sabotaging party electoral chances in the Tehri Lok Sabha byelections.

Responding to a query, UKD (P) president Trivendra Singh Panwar said the UKD (P), despite in power with Congress, was not in contention for any ministerial rank posts.

Cambrian Hall students felicitated
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 15
Old Cambrianite Association (OCA) today organised a felicitation ceremony for students of Cambrian Hall.

Presiding over the ceremony, OCA president Ashwini Kumar Singh, an ex-student, mentioned about his team mates and teachers at Cambrian, whom he credited with transforming his life. He, on the occasion, put an inspiring and motivational presentation about the role of the Army and the contribution of Cambrianites.

The OCA members paid tributes to the founder of Cambran Hall School, Col Shashi Shamsher JB Rana.

Principal SC Biala expressed gratitude to the OCA for conducting an inspiring show and motivating the students through their experiences.

As part of the felicitation ceremony, the OCA provided a scholarship of Rs 6000 each to class X11 students Kunal Verma and Shivani Gupta for excellent academic results. Further, a scholarship of Rs 4000 each was provided to class X students Raj Aggarwal and Meenoti Anand for their academic excellence.

Col Vijeet Tomar, Rajeev Jindal, Hemant Kochhar and Gulshan Bhatia were prominent OCA members who attended the ceremony.

CM greets ex-servicemen
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 15
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has greeted citizens and ex-servicemen of the state on the occasion of Vijay Diwas.

He said the day was observed in remembrance of those soldiers who had fought gallantly in the historical and decisive war with Pakistan. Bahuguna said the countrymen would always be proud of soldiers for their contribution and their supreme sacrifices would never be forgotten.

Jal Sansthan honoured
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 15
The Centre has awarded the Web Rattan Award to the Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan. Union Communication Minister Kapil Sibal gave away the award at a function held in New Delhi.

The Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan received the second prize titled 'Silver Icon' for online billing and online system of water connections and providing more information to the online consumers. 

Face of the week
Peak fitness vital for football players
SMA Kazmi
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 15
The Dehradun valley has remained a cradle of football from where many renowned players hailed and brought glory to the game and their city. But there is another city resident who is seen in many of the important national-level football matches and international matches played in India and abroad. He is non other than Pratap Singh Patwal, one of the three Indians who are qualified and recognised a football referees by the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA).

Pratap is a busy man as he keeps moving from one city and country to another, particularly in Asia, to conduct football matches as the chief referee.

It has been a tough regimen for Pratap to reach this position where he is not only qualified but physically and mentally competent also to conduct important football matches. A resident of Ranikhet in the Kumaon region of the state, Pratap played for his state in the national football tournament at the school level in 1984. Later, he continued his passion for the sport after joining the Indian Navy in 1989. He played for the services team but later shifted to coaching. He took a plunge after taking retirement in 2008.

“It has been tough initially but my passion for the game inspired me to take refereeing seriously. I passed the qualification tests of the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) to become a state-level referee,” said Pratap.

To conduct a match demands high degree of proficiency, mental toughness and above all, physical fitness. “In any football match, the chief referee has to run more than any player up to 11 to 13 km per match, so physical fitness is a prerequisite,” he asserted.

“I have to maintain my fitness level by performing strenuous exercises and running five days in a week,” he said.

Pratap is an elite AIFF and FIFA referee who is also on the panel of the Asian Football Federation (AFC). He has also already conducted more than 60 international matches in the South East Asian Games in 2009, the South Asian Federation games 2010 and the Asian Football Federation (AFC) tournaments at the under-16 and under-19 levels in the past three years. He was a chief referee in the final of the AFC Presidents’ Cup Football at Cambodia in May 2011. He also officiated the friendly match between Venezuela and Argentina at Kolkata in 2011.

“There is no room for mistake in a big game as the role of the chief referee is most important so one has to keep abreast with the latest in international rules and regulations. The performance of the referees, like players, is also under constant supervision,” he said.

To know the latest in the game, Pratap has been attending FIFA workshops and examinations annually. “The chief referee can conduct a match up to the age of 45 and I have still three years to go and hope to do well in the coming years,” he said.

Giving advise to the young footballers, Pratap said young football players could also become referee by applying themselves and passing the requisite physical and written examinations by the AIFF and FIFA. “After retirement from refereeing, I will be concentrating on coaching the youngsters,” he declared.