Repair work of Rajaji safari track begins
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 7
With heavy winter rain lashing the region, the tourist safari track that got washed away is now being restored by Rajaji National Park authorities. About 40 km portion of this track got affected, due to which tourist-gypsy safari was prohibited in the park for indefinite period till the safari corridor track maintenance was over.

Notably, a major portion of this world-famous tourist-safari track that provides glimpses of wildlife to tourists is based around a number of monsoon rivulets, which makes it muddy and soggy during the rains.

Due to heavy rainfall, 36 mm in Haridwar and 65 mm in Pauri Garhwal (Chilla Range), the tourist-safari track suffered heavily.

As per Chilla Range officer DB Uniyal, from today the repair and maintenance work has commenced following improvement in weather. It will take time before the gates of the park are again opened for the tourists.

Rivulets such as Rawassan, Ghasi Ram, Pili, Chilla Rau and Pili flow inside the park territory and are in spate whenever it rains heavily.

Ghasi Ram rivulet even disconnects Chilla range falling in Pauri from Haridwar. As per park officials, it may take at least two weeks before the park is opened once again.

Meanwhile, all the tourists who thronged the Chilla range in Rajaji National Park had to return back without taking safari inside the park as the park gates were closed.

Several domestic and foreign tourists had to be content with just clicking photos photos of elephants and café huts built at the entrance gate of Chilla range.

Gypsy safari drivers and tourist guides were also seen lazily sleeping in their vehicles with the temporary closure having a deep impact on their livelihood.

“We missed the opportunity to have a glimpse of the rich flora and fauna and wildlife in Rajaji National Park due to the dilapidated track. We hope the track gets repaired soon and we will be back to see one of world's famous parks for Asian elephant,” remaked a dejected Vani , a Delhi-based consultant, who had come with her friends.

Case of rape, murder of child solved; victim’s uncle arrested
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 7
The Lal Kuan police of Nainital district today solved the infamous Sanjana rape and murder case today and arrested the alleged culprit, Deepak Arya. Arya, maternal uncle of the victim and labourer, killed this innocent child of eight years by strangulating her after brutally raping her on July 10 last year in Bindukhatta village. Director General of Police Sayavrat Bansal announced a reward of Rs 20,000, while DIG, Nainital Range, Sanjay Gunjiyal, announced Rs 5,000 for the police team which was investigating the case and cracked it.

The salient feature of this case has been the DNA test, through which the police reached the alleged killer.

On the night of July 10 Sanjana was sleeping with her grandmother, elder sister and younger brother in one room in her house. Her father Navin Ram, chowkidar, mother and younger sister were sleeping in another room. The suspect opened the door of her room and took her away in a solitary place. He brutally raped her by biting and scratching her with nails at many places and also inflicting serious injuries on her private parts. He later killed the vulnerable child by strangulating her with her vest.

The police has recovered two pieces of her vest, slippers and hair strands.The family of Sanjana came to know of her disappearance when her grandmother got up at 2 at night and saw her missing from the room.

She woke up Naveen Ram and his wife, who found her nude andm mutilated body at some distance. By the morning, the villagers who gathered at the spot in large numbers became angry and agitated. Arya remained elusive.

The entire police machinery of Lal Kuan and Naintal reached the spot. A forensic team and dog squad too reached there. The blood samples of 57 youths of the area were sent to a CBI lab in Delhi for DNA test, out of which 49 came negative. Rest were sent again for a second test, where one of only Deepak Arya was found positive. SSP Sadanant Daate had shown promptness in solving the case after taking charge.

Huge turnout at Ranipur Trade Fair
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 7
With a change in the weather as the sun shined throughout the day today after three rainy days, a huge crowd was witnessed at the Annual Trade Fair at Ranipur. The stalls of book, khadi, kids’ items, handloom and sculptures are the most sought after. Two social campaigns, one to generate awareness among women about sexual assault and the other about the knowledge of Indian history, science and modern independence era, are also being held.

A signature campaign is also being run to press for stronger and stringent laws against those who abuse and assault women.

Trade Mahotsava organiser Ravish Puri said sculpture and handloom artists and weavers had been given special place in the fair.

The Department of Handicrafts, Handloom and Khadi has also put up its stalls at the fair. Prerna Kainthola, a visitor, said she founded the book stall very impressive. “In Haridwar, we don't have such book stores like in metro or other cities, so we have to wait for such trade fairs to buy a book of our choice,” said Kainthola.

Coordination of goals a must for monetary policy: Patra
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 7
Adviser-in charge, Monetary Policy Department, Reserve Bank of India, Dr MD Patra said today that coordination of goals was required while charting a monetary policy.“Many a time, coordination fails as growth, debt management, exchange rate movements etc have to be taken care of in the monetary policy. We need to have mutually agreed objectives while preparing the policy,” said Dr Patra, while delivering a talk on monetary policy formulation and objectives organised by Doon Library and Research Centre.

He further said in chalking out a policy, the balancing of multiple objectives was vital.

Patra said the adjusted effective policy interest rate that reacts to non-food manufacturing inflation and related macroeconomic activity appears best suited to Indian conditions.

He also talked about the multiple indicator approach for drawing policy perspectives, operating procedures, money market interest rates, call rates and exchange rate movements. 

Tiger’s carcass recovered from Rajaji park
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 7
In a day of wildlife-linked developments in Uttarakhand, the body of a tiger was recovered from Rajaji National Park whereas a poacher was apprehended from another protected area of Corbett National Park in the state. The body of a tiger was recovered from Gohri range of Rajaji National Park.

Director of the park SP Subudhi revealed that the tiger looks to be around four years of age and had dimensions of 2.8 mt length and 1.1 mt tall. However, SP Subudhi ruled out any foul play. He disclosed that all body parts of the tiger were in tact and there was no sign of external injury, although the exact reason of death will be known from the postmortem report. He apprised that a carcass of wild boar was also found in close vicinity.

Meanwhile, services of Wildlife Institute of India are being sought to identify the tiger through the park’s earlier camera trap records. The development came as a rude shock to Rajaji Park authorities as the park only has a few tigers and sighting tiger in the park is very rare.

On other hand, in distant tiger famous Corbett National Park, a poacher was today apprehended by the park authorities. The poacher is alleged to be involved in Bijrani range tiger poaching incident last year. Ramnagar resident Malkhan alias Riyasat was nabbed by Corbett authorities today along with wildlife trapping equipment. He was supposed to have confessed to his involvement in the Bijrani poaching case during interrogation.

Only a few days back, Corbett authorities managed to arrest infamous poacher Dariya, allegedly involved in a number of poaching cases in and outside the Jim Corbett park.

Police awaiting court order to take DNA test in rape case
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, February 7
Udham Singh Nagar district police has been awaiting a court order to take DNA test of the culprits in a rape case at Kashipur, which took place four days ago. The rape victim has been shifted to Susheela Tiwari Hospital at Haldwani for further treatment, DIG Sanjay Gunjiyal told media persons today.

“We are waiting court’s orders to take a DNA test and other forensic tests in this case to gather more solid evidence so that the police could file a strong case in the court,” said the DIG, while talking to the media at Kiccha.

According to the police, four culprits, including the house owner and his son, where the victim used to live as a tenant, have been arrested for the crime. “For better treatment and security reasons, the victim has been shifted to Susheela Tiwari Hospital at Haldwani from a private hospital in Kashipur today,” said the police sources.

According to the FIR lodged with Kashipur police, the victim, who used to work in a shoe factory near the Kashipur town , was invited by the suspects for a birthday party where they allegedly raped her after making her unconscious by giving her a toxic cold drink. “The victim was brutally injured and several wounds were visible on her body,” said police sources at Kashipur.

The 22-year-old woman, resident of Ahmednagar village of Gadarpur town in US Nagar district, is married and was separated from her husband after 6 months of her marriage at a group marriage ceremony in Rudrapur two years ago. “As her father is languishing in jail in a murder case and the mother is jobless, the woman worked in a shoe factory. She was raped by the persons who were known to her and she had faith in them,” said the police official, quoting the FIR lodged with the Kashipur police.

Good crop of vegetables, fruits expected
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, February 7
The Horticulture Department has been expecting 30 per cent more growth in fruits and vegetables compared to that of last year in the state as the rain this week added to moisture which will result into good flower and fruit.

“Good rain this week has added to the humidity to the soil due to this rain which was more than expected but was required and timely,” said Dr IA Khan, Director of horticulture in the state.

According to the Director, the growth of new plants and flowers in the grown-up plants in temperate regions of the state will benefit with this rainfall and snowfall.

“The flowering in apple and peach plants, besides other temperate fruits, will be more than 30 per cent than that of last year as these threes have got sufficient chilling and humidity requirements this flowering season,” said the Director.

Strict ban on keeping animal body parts in labs
Punitive action against schools, colleges violating order
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, Febuary 7
Schools, colleges and other institutions that have put prohibited wildlife species as specimens in their laboratories will now have to face stern action with Uttarakhand wildlife authorities planning to start a campaign against all such institutions.

In a letter to Chief Conservators of Forests, Garhwal and Kumaon, and heads of all protected areas of the state, Uttarakhand Chief Wildlife Warden SS Sharma has directed them to promptly gather all information regarding presence of any body parts of prohibited wildlife species in the laboratories of both government and private schools, polytechnics and other institutions.

The Chief Wildlife Warden has ordered for punitive action against those institutions where presence of such prohibited species was found. He has also asked these top state government forest officials to submit their reports within a week's time without any delay.

Gauri Maulekhi, co-opted member, Animal Welfare Board of India, had a month back written to Uttarakhand Animal Welfare Board authorities expressing concern over rampant collection of specimens of body parts prohibited species in laboratories at various colleges, schools and higher institutions. She has pointed out that most of these species were unlawfully purchased by these institutions.

As per wildlife laws, under Section 39 of Wildlife Protection Act, 1970, a dead animal or even a part of it's body is state’s property and a citizen, if necessary, has to seek written permission in order to keep it in it's possession.

Further, under various sections of the Act, the possessor of dead wildlife animal or any of it's body part had to submit a declaration regarding the possession, following which the Chief Wildlife Warden, after holding necessary investigations to satisfy himself, can issue ownership certificate to the owner. Any sale or purchase of dead wildlife animal or a part of it involves violation of these sections and can lead to three years' imprisonment or a fine of Rs 25,000 or both for the offender.

Sources reveal that a large number of schools, colleges and institutions of higher learning keep dead wildlife animals in their laboratories, least adhering to wildlife protection laws. 

Decision to withdraw VAT waiver on LPG cylinders flayed
Tribune News Service

BC Khanduri

Dehradun, February 7
Former Chief Minister BC Khanduri has criticised the state government's decision to withdraw VAT waiver on LPG cylinders.

In a statement issued today, Khanduri said inflation was on the rise in the country and this decision was unjustified.

He reminded that the earlier BJP state government had introduced rebate on VAT on LPG cylinders taking into account the rising inflation and its adverse impact on the common man.

“But by reversing the decision, the incumbent Congress government has shown its true anti-people face,” he said.

On the other hand, the Uttarakhand Chapter of the All-India Consumer Council has also expressed surprise at the development. "The consumers, who are already burdened with so many other hikes on different products and their home budget is already in disarray, with now have to pay more for LPG cylinder," said Brig KG Behl (retd), president, All-India Consumer Council. 

Power employees’ demands accepted but strike still on
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 7
The representatives of employees' unions of all the three wings of the Power Department today held talks with Principal Secretary, Energy, SS Sandhu, over their demand in the wake of their proposed strike from February 11. Sandhu agreed on their demands for time-scale promotions and salary upgradation, medical allowance and removal of discrepancies

in the orders passed over grade scale of Rs 5,400 and Rs 6,600.

He also approved demand of production bonus to the employees/officials of Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL). In the meeting, Managing Director of all the three wings, Uttarkahand Power Corporation Limited, Power Transmission Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited and

UJVNL were also present along with Additional Secretary, Energy.

After the talks, the representatives of the unions said that they would decide on calling off the strike only after getting minutes of the meeting, which took place today. Since they did not receive the minutes today, the clouds of uncertainty over the strike were still there.

No second instalment of funds under special plan for state

Dehradun, February 7
Amid bleak financial scenario, the Central Government has decided to stop the allocation of the second instalment under the special plan assistance fund for the time being.

Out of the Rs 8200 crore annual plan finalised for 2012-13, Rs 800 crore was allocated under the special assistance plan (SPA) for which both the state and the Central Government would contribute in specified areas . While the state is already a recipient of Rs 300 crore under SPA, it will have to wait for the final instalment of Rs 500 crore and in the interim use it's own resources for the projects that have already been started.

Most of these projects pertain to infrastructure strengthening, including construction of roads, schools etc.

Over and above, the Bahuguna government has been demanding a hefty package from the Central Government, especially to deal with the situation arising out of recurring disasters. It had even requested the government to allocate Rs 2,000 crore per year as "Green Bonus" to Uttarakhand. — TNS

Several constitutional posts still lying vacant

Dehradun, February 7
Despite the appointment of the Chairman of the State Minorities Commission, the Uttarakhand Government is yet to to fill several posts in various state commissions.

Several constitutional posts in the State Women's Commission, the Other Backward Caste Commission and the SC/ST Commission are lying vacant and the government has not shown any inclination to fill them.

After much dithering, the government appointed Narinderjit Singh Bindra Chairman of the State Minorities Commission yesterday. He took charge of the office today.

The tenure of the Other Backward Caste Commission's Chairman ended in January this year but the government has not announced the new Chairman. Here, out of a total of 14 posts, only two are filled.

Similarly, the SC and CT commission is being singularly run by the Chairman. The post of Vice-Chairman and five members are vacant.

On the other hand, the tenure of the Chairman of the State Women's Commission would end on Monday and the Vice-Chairman's tenure will end on February 11.

Besides this, even non-constitutional posts are also lying vacant. — TNS