Insulated cables to replace high tension power lines
Project to be completed by December
Seema Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 11
Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) is going to replace the general high tension (HT) and low tension (LT) power lines with insulated aerial bundled cables (ABC) over a distance of 2115 km in various parts of the state. The project is to be completed by December this year.

Out of this , ABC lines over 1871 km will be funded by the Centre to the tune of Rs 631 crore under restructured accelerated power development reforms programme scheme. Under this scheme, 31 small towns are to be covered in the districts of the state with ABC lines.

The Centre will provide 90 per cent share of the total cost. In the remaining 244 km area, the state government will instal ABC lines. The plan is to take loan from Power Finance Corporation.

Earlier to this, the department had also installed ABC lines over 340 km in some parts of Haridwar, Ladour, Vikasnagar and Haridwar. Under this new project, Dehradun will be included. Some more pockets of Vikasnagar, Rishikesh, Uttarakashi and Srinagar will also be taken up besides the 10-km stretch in Pauri and Tehri.

Elated with astounding results where incidents of power pilferage could be effectively controlled with the use of these cables, Executive Director, UPCL, Anil Kumar, said:'' The major problem of power thefts has reduced drastically with the installation of ABC lines in those areas where these were installed earlier. People who were stealing power by taking unauthorised connections, popularly known as katia connection, from the general power lines are unable to do so now.'' The insulated material coated over ABC lines makes it virtually impossible to use it for katia connection. Since the cases of power theft come mostly from rural areas, in the second phase, the department is going to cover rural pockets as well in the targeted districts.

The expenditure over time consuming exercise of pruning trees will also not be required for ABC lines. ''The trees near high tension/low tension wires are pruned before monsoon each year because their branches can lead to short-circuits or power breakdown and even snapping of lines. The ABC cables are immune from short-circuit if these come in contact with trees or winds. The department will be able to save time, money and utilise its staff for better purposes,'' said Kumar.

He also added that the incidents of people dying of electrocution by coming in contact with HT/LT lines would also stop. In Dehradun city itself, there are many residential areas where multi-storey houses have been built under the LT/HT lines, flouting regulations framed in this regard. Several incidents about death due to electrocution have been happening quite frequently. The project has come as a boon for the people of these localities.

BHEL ventures into defence sector To make field guns for Army
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, April 11
Public sector undertaking Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited is venturing into defence sector in view of the growing competition in traditional power equipment market.

BHEL will be producing field guns for Indian Army, though already BHEL is manufacturing 76 mm guns for Indian Navy.

This was stated by Executive Director, Heavy Electricals Equipment Plant (HEEP), Virendra Pandhi, while divulging the Ranipur-Haridwar unit annual turnover details.

“Defence sector is the one which we are eyeing in the coming years as major investment and research area. Talks are on with Indian Government, Ministry of Defence and Army, as progress is made, we will inform the media in the coming days,” said Pandhi.

While Executive Director OSD Prakash Chand said that due to changing scenario in the power sector, increasing competition and tough market conditions in the coming years are quite challenging for BHEL's Haridwar unit.

''Yet ,we are confident that with our strategic initiatives, proper positioning of our products, work culture and innovation we will overcome these challenges.

''We are going to shift our focus on making our products more cost effective and resorting to aggressive marketing-advertising-pricing mode,'' said Chand.

On the last fiscal year turnover, Chand stated that it stands at Rs 6520 crore, which has surged by 20 per cent in comparision to previous financial year.

Tax before profit is also pegged at Rs 925 crore with 65 crore being earmarked for Research and Development only.

BHEL has also become the first company in India to indigenously manufacture super critical grade components and 5 steam turbine modules. Turbo generators of 660 MW Super Critical Thermal sets were successfully manufactured at HEEP for the first time, bringing BHEL into a select club of super critical set manufactures in the world.

''HEEP also has orders worth Rs 15,610 crore and it is quite a proud moment for us that this very year we got elevated to the Maha Ratna status from Nav Ratna,''said VS Narayana, Managing Director of Central Foundry Forge Plant (CFFP).

In the area of Intellectual property rights (IPRs), HEEP, Haridwar, has registered an all-time high 35 IPR applications, including 21 patent and 14 copyrights with the patent office, Govt. of India.

Pollution Control Research Institute (PCRI) of BHEL is also contributing in the area of Pollution Control & Environmental Studies in a big way. This year it has received orders from UPRVUNL, Maruti Suzuki, IOCL, Hero Honda, THDC etc for carrying out environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and monitoring studies.

Arrangements in place for annual exams
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, April 11
Elaborate arrangements have been made for the annual examinations to be conducted by Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal Central University at all centres at the affiliated colleges in Haridwar. The B.Com exam began today while BA and B.Sc exams commenced yesterday.

The examinations are being conducted at Shravan Nath Math Jawaharlal Nehru College, Samrat Prithvi Raj Chauhan Postgraduate College and Chinmaya Degree College for Sciences.

Principal of SMJN College Dr Sunil Kumar Batra said more than 400 students appeared in the examination on the college premises today. Flying squads and internal checking squads have been deployed to check use of unfair means during the exams.

Examination in charge at Chinmaya Degree College of Sciences Dr PK Sharma said the administration was requested for police deployment to ensure a peaceful conduct of exams.

Fifteen students did not appear in the examination in the three colleges on the first day yesterday while 20 students missed the exams today.

In Roorkee, colleges affiliated with HNB Garhwal University, namely BASM PG College, KLDAV College and SSDPC PG College, reported 56 students not taking the BA (Drawing), B.Sc (Zoology) and B.Com papers.

Meanwhile, the student union of Uttarakhand Sanskrit University has demanded starting of new courses from the coming academic session. A delegation of student representatives met Vice-Chancellor Prof Mahavir Aggarwal and submitting a memorandum in this regard. 

Uttarakhand, HP to jointly work on Kishau Dam Project
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 11
Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh will work together on the Kishau Dam Project. It will now be a joint venture. A meeting was held at Shimla today between Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain and Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary Sudripta Roy, where it was decided that the two states would prepare a Special Purpose Vehicle on the basis of which they would work together on the project.

Himachal Pradesh has demanded that 90 per cent of the total cost be borne by the Central Government. Uttarakhand would also stress on this.

This project would benefit Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and the remaining 10 per cent of the cost would be borne by these states. 660 MW of electricity will be produced by this Rs.7193 crore project, which will provide irrigation to 97,076 hecatres and 619 MCM of drinking water.

The SPV will be prepared in a week's time and within the next 15 days, an MoU will be signed at Dehradun between the two states in the presence of the CMs of both states.

UJVNL Chairman Subhash Kumar, Infrastructure Development Commissioner Rakesh Sharma and Principal Secretary (Power) SS Sandhu expressed their views at the meeting.

Jauljibi residents to boycott poll if telecom tower not installed 
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, April 11
Residents of the Nepal border town of Jauljibi have threatened to boycott the coming parliamentary elections if the proposed mobile tower will not be installed in their locality soon, sources said.

The residents of this town have started an agitation for the demand since 1910, but have received nothing except assurances. “We have been repeatedly cheated by respective governments of the BJP and the Congress on the matter of installing a mobile tower in our locality before March 2013, but even after the March has passed, the proposed mobile tower has not been installed,” said Leela Bangyal, president of the Mahila Samiti in the town.

Bangyal said the government installed towers at Dharchula and higher valleys of Drama to facilitate residents there after changing the norms that prohibited such acitivity on the China and the Nepal border. “Only residents of the Baram valley are bereft of the communication facility due to apathy on the part of the officers concerned,” he said.

“If the government fails to instal the tower at Jauljibi time, the residents of the Baram valley and Jauljibi town will boycott both parliamentary and panchayat elections,” she said.

Leopard kills woman

Dehradun: A woman was mauled to death by a leopard in the Dwarhat area of Almora district, official sources said on Wednesday. The incident occurred at Mirai village of the district yesterday when 45-year-old Panuli Devi was alone at home, they said.

When her husband returned from duty in the evening, he did not find her. A few hours later, he saw her half-eaten body in a wheat field nearby, the sources said. Her face and neck bore marks of the leopard's paws, they said.

Jawan from Pithoragarh village martyred in Sudan
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, April 11
Thousands of people thronged the Naini Saini airstrip as the body of Nand Kishore Joshi, who was one of the five Indian soldiers killed in southern Sudan, reached here in an Indian Air Force helicopter from Bareilly today.

Joshi, a jawan of 6 Mahar Regiment, and four other Indian soldiers were part of the UN peace keeping force in southern part of Sudan when they were killed in an ambush by rebels three days ago.

Joshi, 32, was a resident of Barabe village situated on the Nepal border in Pithoragarh district. He is survived by his widow, a son and parents.

Later, Joshi’s body was cremated at Rameshar Ghat with full military honours. The officials of the civilian administration and a large number of villagers attended the funeral. 

FRI centre at Ladowal to be built in 2 years
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 11
The Forest Research Institute’s (FRI) proposed centre at Ladowal, Ludhiana, in Punjab will get completed within two years.

According to Dr PP Bhojvaid, Director, FRI, who, along with other senior officials of the institute, visited Punjab on April 9 and participated at a meeting to discuss the modalities of the centre, disclosed that the centre, proposed to come up at Ladowal, would be in 7 acres whereas the covering area of the proposed building of the centre would be around 1 lakh sqft. He said the building would be constructed at a cost of Rs. 21 crore and the construction work be completed within two years.

Bhojvaid disclosed that he held discussions with HS Gujral, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Punjab, and other senior officers of Punjab. During the meeting, it was also decided that a memorandum of understanding would be signed between the Forest Research Institute and the Punjab Government for the purpose of operationalisation of this centre.

Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal visited the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, last year and desired that the FRI should set up a centre of the Forest Research Institute in Punjab. He had also expressed that the design of the building of this proposed institute may be on the pattern and design of the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun.

The main thrust area of research in this institute would be agroforestry and social forestry.

MDD Secretary in charge of section related to model code
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 11
Secretary, Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority, Banshidhar Tiwari, has been made in charge of the section related to model code of conduct for Dehradun district in the wake of civic polls. The other officials who have been deputed as assistant in charge of the section

include Additional Mukhya Nagar Adhikari Sadia Alam Khan, Nayab Tehsildar, Rishikesh, and Executive Officers in Rishikesh and Vikasnagar.

District Magistrate/District Election Officer (civic polls) BVRC Purushottam said these officials had been directed to ensure strict compliance of model code of conduct. He said the returning officers must have a meeting with the candidates of political parties to inform them about the provision of model of conduct. The returning officers will be authorised to give permission about using loudspeakers on vehicles during nominations and publicity. He said the vehicles which would use loudspeakers without permission would be seized by the returning officers.

It will also be mandatory for the political parties to seek permission from returning officers before holding any meeting. He said the candidates who were found offending the regulations would be sought explanation either from the party or candidate through an urgent notice. He also directed fellow officials to arrange for videography of the meeting or procession held during the election time.

To sort out scuffles over getting permission for holding public meetings on public grounds, he said the officials must note down the names of the candidates in a register in this regard. Those who came first must be allotted space first. He said the returning officers must check the content published in the posters and pamphlets by respective political parties.

First mountain driving school for paramilitary forces
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, April 11
The first mountain driving school for the paramilitary forces started functioning in the Kosi Katarmal area in Almora district yesterday. ITBP Commandant Rishiraj inaugurated the school that would train drivers of the paramilitary forces in driving and mechanical courses suitable for the hill region.

“It is the first mountain driving school for the drivers of the paramilitary forces in the country. It will run courses to enable the trainees to drive on narrow, snowy and mountainous terrain in fog and rain during normal and disaster times,” said the Commandant.

According to sources, each programme would be for six months and over 30 personnel would be included in every course. The courses included training in driving of light, medium and heavy vehicles in the tough mountain regions and removing faults that may appear during travel. Besides, it would also teach driving of recovery vans, ambulances and tankers during disasters in the hill region, they said. 

Guv greetings on Hindu New Year
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 11
Governor Dr Aziz Qureshi has greeted people of the state and the country on the auspicious occasion of the Hindu New Year which is celebrated in various parts of the country with different names like Gudi Parva, Cheti Chand, Navreh and Ugadi.

The Governor, in his message, said “May the Vikram Samwat 2070 bring happiness, peace and prosperity in everyone’s life and enhance the feeling of brotherhood to ensure progress of the state and the country.”

Governor visits Juna Akhada
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 11
Governor Aziz Qureshi visited Juna Akhada in Haridwar yesterday.

Speaking on the occasion, he said the law of the land and the judiciary must be respected and obeyed. “It is our duty to defend our country against evil elements. We must ensure that law and order is maintained.”

Talking about the secular nature of the country, he said his ancestors had donated land for temples and 'shamshan ghats'.

The Governor recalled his visit to Kumbh at Prayag on an invitation of Juna Akhada and said it was memorable.

Mahant Premgiri of Juna Akhada, Mahamandaleshwar Kailashanand, Juna Akhada national Mahamantri Dayanand Saraswati, Darshan Singh and Satpal Malhotra were also present.

Cultural event marks arrival of Chaitra
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 11
A cultural programme was organised at the Raj Bhavan auditorium last evening to mark the arrival of Chaitra and the departure of Phalgun. Governor Aziz Qureshi was also present.

Various colours of the season were presented by young and upcoming Kathak dancer Arushi Nishank and other members of her troupe. Arushi, who is also a poet, has been staging dance performances in many countries over the past 12 years. The programme was inaugurated by the Governor by lighting the ceremonial lamp. The Governor appreciated the performance. He said the Raj Bhavan auditorium was open to artistes and writers. Tourism and Culture Minister Amrita Rawat also praised the performance.

Tehri MP Rajlakshmi Shah, Leader of the Opposition Ajay Bhatt, former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (Arushi’s father), BJP state president Teerath Singh Rawat, MLA Raj Kumar Thukral and several officials and art lovers were present on the occasion. The programme was conducted by Buddhinath Mishra.