World Wetlands Day today
State has many water bodies but not one of Ramsar site status
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 1
India may boast of 26 Ramsar site status wetlands but for Uttarakhand, that is bestowed with a large number of water bodies, Ramsar site status for any of it's wetlands is still a far cry.

World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on February 2 the world over to mark the date of the signing of the convention on wetlands called Ramsar Convention on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar. The convention aims at raising public awareness of wetland values and benefits in general and identifying Ramsar status sites across the globe. Wetlands included in the Ramsar site status list acquire a new status at the national level and are recognised by the international community as being of significant value not only for the country, or the countries, in which they are located, but also for humanity as a whole.

There are a total of 2083 wetlands in the world that have been identified as Ramsar sites. These includes 26 in India. While one or more Ramsar site wetlands exist in almost all North Indian states, Uttarakhand has none.

According to Uttarakhand Space Application Centre satellite data, as of Uttarakhand's water bodies, there are a total of 31 big lakes, 15 ox-bow lakes, 10 reservoirs and 730 tanks and ponds. Among these water bodies some are know for substantial arrival of migratory birds during winters, prominently including Asan, Tumaria, Ramnagar, Bhimgoda and Begul.

Interestingly, neighbouring Himachal has 3 wetlands of Ramsar sites status, which includes Chandertal wetland, Pong Dam Lake and Renuka wetland. Renuka wetland is not even very far from Uttarakhand's Asan wetland. But a Ramsar site status still eludes Asan wetland. More importantly, while Asan wetland is spread across 250 hectares, Renuka wetland is just 20 hectares. Similarly, Chandertal wetland is spread in only 49 hectares. This despite the fact that Asan is a conservation reserve and an important bird area of the Uttarakhand.

Avian fauna scientist at Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Dhananjaya Mohan, admits that Uttarakhand needs to further push it's case, particularly for Asan wetlands that already fall in the category of important bird areas of the country.

"It is not necessary that Ramsar status wetlands are one of finest wetlands across the globe but it is definitely the efforts undertaken by concerned countries that do count towards ensuring such a tag for a wetland," Mohan said, asserting that more efforts need to be done on part of Uttarakhand government and finally the Centre to get Ramsar status, particularly for Asan. Dhananjaya is also credited for making first ever comprehensive Management Plan for Asan wetland.

Significantly, Bombay Natural History Society's "Potential and Existing Ramsar Sites in India" authored by Asad R Rahmani and M Zafar-ul Islam has strongly advocated Ramsar site status for Asan barrage, qualifying the wetlands for three of the key Ramsar criterion.

Asan's significance has also been backed with the fact that being located towards the North West part of the country, it serves as a halt for Trans-Himalayan migratory birds and receives waterfowl migrants that are rare elsewhere.

WWF to organise bird watching, painting competition today
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 1
The WWF in assistance with the state Forest Department and Samvedi, Dehradun, will organise a bird watching and painting competition on the theme of wetlands, biodiversity and water management for school students at Asan Wetland tomorrow.

The event is part of the efforts aimed at raising awareness on importance of wetlands and biodiversity.

The WWF-India, Dehradun programme office and Samvedi have invited experts from the Wildlife Institute of India, the Forest Department and participants from Welham Boys, the Rashtriya Indian Military Academy, Welham Girls, Delhi Public School, the Purkul Youth Development Society, St Mary Convent School, Carman School Kunja and Saraswati Vidya Mandir.

According to the WWF-India, Dehradun programme office coordinator Jatinder Kaur, the WWF-India also plans to release a report on wetlands of Uttarakhand and a medicinal poster developed with financial support from the Forest Department.

During the programme planned at Asan and Rampur Mandi auditorium on February 2, retired WII professor BC Choudhury will conduct bird watching and identification, which will be followed by the painting competition.

Futher, the Centre for Environment Education (CEE Himalaya) and the Aagaas Federation, Dehradun, will also be jointly organising a world wetlands day exhibition and orientation workshop on the importance of wetlands in environmental ecosystem on Saturday at DAV Inter-college, Dehradun.

The aim of the proagramme was to sensitise students and teachers about the the need of saving the wetland and its conservation.

World Wetlands Day is held on February 2 every year to celebrate the 1971 adoption of the convention on wetlands in the Iranian city of Ramsar. This year is being celebrated as International Year of Water Cooperation.

Malsi Deer Park may be derecognised
Authorities fail to act on irregularities revealed at park
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 1
In a major setback to the state forest authorities, the Central Zoo Authority is mulling to derecognise Malsi Deer Park in Dehradun for failing to act on irregularities revealed at the park.

BS Bonal, member secretary, Central Zoo Authority, in a letter to the office of state Chief Wildlife Warden, expressed concern over the complacent attitude of the state wildlife department towards irregularities revealed at Malsi Deer Park in Dehradun.

The Uttarakhand team of the People For Animals had visited the park a year back, revealing a number of irregularities. The PFA subsequently submitted its finding to the CZA. The park was grossly understaffed and the visitors could be seen trying to provoke the animals, feeding them through the gaps in the cages and even trying to poke them with sticks.

Further, all cages barring those housing leopard were found without stand off barriers meant to prevent the visitors from getting too near to the enclosures. As a result, in some cages the mesh had been pulled out from corners in an attempt to feed or physically touch the animal, subjecting them to injury and stress. The park did not have enough signboards nor was there any biologist or education officer on duty to prevent such occurrences, as has been provisioned by the Recognition of Zoo Rules 2009.

The PFA further revealed that two rescued owls of rare species were found confined in small parrot cages measuring not more than 20 inches in height each, giving them no space for free movement, exercise or expression of natural behaviour.

The park has no crisis management plan nor any mock drills conducted to cope in the event of a natural disaster, animal escapes, disease outbreaks and strike by staff. As per the guidelines provided by the CZA, such strategies have to be made, practised and reviewed regularly. Most importantly, the park has not bothered to engage a full-time veterinarian even though it keeps a total of 156 animals. The PFA, apart from revealing irregularities, had also made suggestions for the improvement in functioning of the park.

Chairperson of the PFA Maneka Gandhi had brought the deer park irregularities to the notice of the CZA. The CZA had further sought explanation from the state wildlife authorities, asking them to submit a factual status report. But the state wildlife authorities did not respond to the CZA’s concern. “It has been over a year and there has been no response from you and if the reply is not received within seven days, we will be forced to de-recognise the Malsi Deer Park under Section 38H of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972,” BS Bonal, member secretary, CZA, said in his letter received today in the office of the Chief Wildlife Warden.

Matter of concern
All cages barring those housing leopards were found without stand off barriers meant to prevent the visitors from getting too near to the enclosures. As a result, in some cages the mesh had been pulled out from corners in an attempt to feed or physically touch the animal, subjecting them to injury and stress. The park did not have enough signboards nor was there any biologist or education officer on duty to prevent such occurrences, as has been provisioned by the Recognition of Zoo Rules 2009.

CM meets Industry Minister
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 1
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna today called on Union Industry Minister Anand Sharma at Udhyog Bhawan, New Delhi, and discussed the issues pertaining to Uttarakhand in proposed National Manufacturing Policy with him here.

Later, in his informal interaction with mediapersons, Bahuguna said special consideration ought to be given for hill states like Uttarakhand in the National Manufacturing Policy. Stating less availability of land in the state, he asserted that relaxation should be given in the set criteria.

Also present on the occasion were Resident Commissioner SK Mattu, Principal Secretary, Industry, Rakesh Sharma, Additional Secretary, Industry, SC Nautiyal, and officers of the Ministry of Industry.

Power employees go on strike on Feb 11
Generation, distribution to be affected
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 1
The joint unions of employees and officials of three wings of the Power Department today decided to go on indefinite strike from 10 at night on February 11 in support of their demands. President of these joint unions JMS Rauthan said the state government was trying to do away with time-scale promotions, which take place after first nine, then 14 and 19 years of services. He said this system which had been prevailing since 1977 was being curbed, which was a blow on the interests of the workforce working in these corporations of Power

Department. He also added that despite several reminders and protests, the state government had preferred to brush away this issue and hence the employees and officials had decided to hand over the machines in working condition at night on February 11.

He also wondered that despite their memorandum, the state government had not bothered to talk to them or make alternative arrangements to take charge of the works in these respective power corporations in the absence of their employees/officials. The work related to generation

of power would come to a halt at Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL). Distribution at Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) and transmission at Power Transmission Corporation of Uttarkahand Limited (PTCUL) would also stop. After holding today's gate meeting, the union would against congregate on February 4 in PTCUL premises. Managing Director, UPCL, AK Johri, however, hoped that the issue would be sorted in time and the government would not let corporation employees/officials go on strike.

UPCL may lose one month’s revenue
Seema Sharma/TNS

Dehradun, February 1
Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) has put revenue of one month at stake by delaying by one month the submission of the forecast of the aggregate revenue requirement (ARR) and expected revenue from tariff for 2013-14 to the Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission (UERC).

If the UPCL had sent its report regarding its current status of expenditure and revenue and its requirement for the financial year by December 31 before the final assessment of power tariff hike, the commission could have declared tariff hike within the stipulated period of 120 days by April this year. The effective hike would have helped the UPCL in earning extra revenue but it was now at the risk of losing one-month revenue due to its own negligence.

A higher UPCL official said they would shift the burden to the people and the tariff hike would be with retrospective effect. Thus the delayed announcement of tariff hike would not lead to losses. The UERC, however, made it clear that the UPCL would not let the public suffer due its own negligence. The UERC sources said the tariff could be charged with retrospective effect at the most for one week, which happens at times because of billing period, but not for one month.

The commercial wing of the UPCL has reported the negligence and sent its report to the UERC, leaving many loopholes and required details on December 31. The UERC sent the report back asking the UPCL to furnish all details correctly but the UPCL sent it on January 31.

UERC officials are fuming over the recklessness of the UPCL saying that they required mandatory 120 days to complete public hearing and other marathon exercises before arriving at final decision. The UPCL made blatant mistakes in its report, reflecting insincerity.

The commission had issued certain directions to the UPCL in its previous tariffs orders for compliance within a time frame. However, the UPCL did not submit the compliance report. It also did not submit the rate schedule for the revised tariff proposed by it for 2013-14 to recover the projected revenue gap of Rs 1,657 crore.

The UPCL had demanded a 44 per cent hike in tariff this year. It had asked for a raise of 55 per cent in tariffs last year but the UERC raised these only by 7 per cent. It is to be seen how the UERC treats the UPCL proposal for this financial year. 

ONGC distributes 100 blankets among NGOs
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 1
In view of the prevailing cold wave conditions in Dehradun, the ONGC, in another gesture, distributed 100 blankets to various organizations like the Missionaries of Charity (Sneh Sadan), the Prem Dham (Home for the aged) and the Bal Vikas Kendra. Sweets were also distributed to the children.

A team from the ONGC visited the organisations and handed over the blankets. The team from the ONGC was comprised of Sanjeev Sehgal, DGM (HR)-corporate administration, Anil Kumar, DGM (HR)- corporate cdministration, Arun Sood, Manager (HR) and Kamlesh Dobhal, SE (E &T)-corporate administration.

Earlier on January 25, Sudhir Vasudeva, CMD, ONGC, handed over 1,000 blankets costing Rs 4 lakh to Manorama Dobriyal Sharma, Chairperson of the NGO National Local Self- Governance Institute, Dehradun, for distribution to the people affected by the natural calamity in Uttarkashi.

Abbot Mount to be developed as tourism centre
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, February 1
The Uttarakhand Tourism Department wants to develop high terrain of Abbot Mount in the Lohaghat area of Champawat district as a wellness resort to attract tourists. The Central government has given its approval in this regard, said Secretary, Tourism, Dr Uma Kant Panwar here today.

Panwar told mediapersons after visiting the mountain top that eco-log huts and a spa would be developed on the hilltop. “The rest of the land available with the government on the hilltop will be used as an organic farm to cultivate organic herbs for the treatment of tourists under the ayurveda and Panchkarma medical systems,” he said. “The Union government has approved Rs 5 crore for the purpose,” he added.

Panwar later told mediapersons in Pithoragarh district that the state government had got Rs 4.58 crore from Asian Development Bank for the development of a track route from Pithoragarh to Chandak and the preservation of old forts of the district. “The serene hilltop of Chandak will be developed as a tourist place by introducing flower cultivation around it and erecting recreation and amusement facilities for children on the temple campus,” said the Tourism Secretary.

Finance experts give advice at investor awareness seminar
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 1
The PHD Chamber in association with Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) organised an investor awareness seminars in Dehradun today. The experts of finance gave presentations, reviews and different aspects of stock market activities, trading and settlement systems, debt market, dematerialisation of shares, risk management, general safeguard and do's and dont's for the investors.

Harbinder S.Sokhi, an expert from BSE, gave presentations on the historical evolution of BSE and stock exchanges in India. He spoke on the importance of analysing company performance before investing in the share market and about different investment products in general and how to plan a secure investment.

“Tax saving schemes like RGESS (Rajiv Gandhi Equity Saving Scheme), an initiative of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, was introduced wherein new entrants in equity market as investors are encouraged by giving them tax benefits," Harbinder Sokhi said. “The RGESS is primarily for the new investor having an annual income of less than or equal to Rs 10 lakh,” he added.

The session was followed by a question and answers session. The public expressed a lot of interest by fully engaging the presenters and experts in the sessions. The co-chairman of PHD Chamber, Uttarakhand, Virendra Kalra, Resident Director, PHD Chamber, Uttarakhand, Anil Taneja, Chairman, Institute of Charted Accounts of India, Ravi Maheshwari, Circle Head and DGM, Punjab National Bank, PK Gupta, Director General of Dev Bhoomi Mnagement College RS Raina were some of the panellists.

Dalits, minorities facing neglect: Sonkar
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, February 1
President of the Mussoorie Dalit Minorities Sangharsh Morcha Sunil Sonkar said today that the government was neglecting the dalits and minorities in the state. He was speaking at a meeting of the community members here.

Showing his resentment at the failure of the state government to enforce the high court’s directions on the issue of domicile certificate in the state, Sonkar said due to this lackadaisical approach, the dalits and minority community were facing immense problems in the state. He further said the dalits and minority communities, originally from plains and residing in the state since ages, were at the receiving end due to the failure of the state government in enforcing the clear directions given by the high court on the domicile certificate issue here. He also said the respective governments had been using the dalit and minorities as a mere vote bank to serve their own vested interests, sidelining the burning issues of dalits and minorities.

He also said now the dalit and minority communities would no longer be fooled by the false promises of the present state government and if their demand of treating the dalits and minorities with respect in the state by enforcing the directions of the high court on the domicile issue, the morcha would be forced to launch a massive agitation in near future.

Secretary of the morcha Satish Kumar said the state government should issue a government order so that they were able to receive the domicile certificates without any delay.

He further said the insensitivity of the state government was visible from the fact that instead of giving land to poor people, it was evicting them from the land meant for them. The members of morcha warned that if their demands were not met within a specified time frame, they would be forced to launch a massive agitation.

He appealed to every member from the affected community to gear up for a massive movement over the issue if the government pays no heed to its justified demands.

Vice-president Umar Deen, Kamil Ali, Ram Kishan Rahi, Gagan Kanojia, Fransis Xavier, Pankaj Kumar, Rajesh Goswami, Rajesh Sharma, Sudhir Mittal, Rajkumar, Gagan Kanojiya, Naresh, Vikas, Roshni Devi, Julafkar, Raju Thapa and others were present on the occasion.

Garbage disposal plant to be set up at Sarai village
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 1
A garbage disposal plant will set up at the Sarai village, which will be aided with latest garbage disposal facilities.

The land on which the project will be build is owned by the Municipal Corporation, which is about 20 hectares, and the MC a no objection certificate has also been sought from the Central Pollution Control Board in this regard.

Executive Officer of the MC Harshwardhan Mishra said under the Solid Waste Management Project the disposal plant would be given to private firms that would make composite urea, bricks and other things.

Mishra said the plant would have separate units for organic and non-organic garbage disposal.

Notably, residents living in the vicinity of the Indira Gandhi Bridge (Chandi Ghat bridge), where garbage was disposed till date, had been opposing the dumping of garbage by the local municipal body adjacent to the bridge.

Local people had resented the dumping of garbage in this area owing to which the MC had stopped dumping garbage in the vacant land adjacent to this bridge. Since then it was looking out for a garbage disposal plant at a secluded place.

Meanwhile, a team from the Urban Development Department visited various places falling in the periphery of the Mangalore municipal body where garbage is collected and disposed of.

The team took stock of the garbage disposal process in Mangalore, taking information on various aspects.

Executive engineer of the municipal body Jagdeesh Pyarelal said the team had sought information on 13 points, which was provided to them. He added that the garbage disposal system in Mangalore was found satisfactory by the inspecting team.

This report will be submitted to the Urban Development Department and will be reviewed by department minister Preetam Singh Panwar.

Healthcare providers not reporting TB cases to govt
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 1
Despite the Union Health Ministry notice which makes it mandatory for all healthcare providers to report every single case of Tuberculosis to the government, private doctors continue to dither on the issue.

Since the Central Government’s notification issued last year and the Department of Health and Family Welfare efforts to involve the state and Dehradun chapter of Indian Medical Association, there has been hardly any reporting by the private practioners.

The Central TB Division in May had issued guidelines on how to notify TB cases through a web portal Nikshay. The notification has to be done by health providers, both in the private and public sectors, laboratories, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes. All stake holders, both public and private, would now have to notify TB cases when patients have been diagnosed or when anti-TB treatment has already been initiated to the nodal agency.

The notification said, “In order to ensure proper TB diagnosis and case management, reduce TB transmission and fight emergence of drug resistant TB, it is essential to have complete information of all TB cases. Therefore, the healthcare providers shall notify every TB case to local authorities - district health officer/chief medical officer of a district and municipal health officer of a municipal corporation, every month.”

Most patients start treatment of TB in private sector and they need to be monitored. Private doctors use irrational combinations to treat, making them drug resistant. Once the case becomes serious, the patients approach the government hospitals for treatment, said a senior official of the revised national TB Control Programme (RNTCP).

Sources claim the private doctors may not be keen to share the OPD numbers due to various reasons because it would then invite scrutiny from the Tax Department. For some it could be lack of awareness.

Till now, doctors in the private sector were free to treat TB patients on their own without keeping a record.

The officials of the Department of Health say before and after TB was declared a notifiable disease, the state's joint director (Tuberculosis) had appealed to private practitioners to report cases of TB to the government for effective management of the disease, but the appeal seems to have been cold-shouldered by them.

Nearly one in six deaths among adults aged 15-49 are due to TB. Nearly 100,000 cases of serious multi-drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) are estimated to occur in the country annually, and each MDR TB case costs more than Rs 1 lakh to diagnose and treat.

24 kg charas, leopard hides seized from two
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, February 1
The Bageshwar police arrested two persons and seized 24 kg of charas and two hides of leopards from their procession near Kapkot town last night, police sources said.

According to Bageshwar SP, on a tip-off, when the police reached the spot under the leadership of Satya Prakash, inspector, it saw two youths coming towards Bageshwar town in suspected conditions. When they were checked, the police seized 12 kg of charas from their posession besides two skins of leopards.

The youths, Tara Singh and Dham Singh, are residents of Bacham village of Kapkot subdivision of the district, said Nivedita Kukreti, SP, Bageshwar.

“The culprits have been arrested under various sections of the NDPS and the Wildlife Protection Acts,” said the SP.