200 employed to keep route of Kedarnath yatra clean
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 5
Agriculture and Medical Education Minister Harak Singh Rawat today said keeping in view the rules of the High Court to keep the area clean, the number of mules on the Kedarnath yatra route had been restricted to 4,500.

“Efforts have been made to ensure cleanliness on the route after the High Court had directed the government that the yatra route was made dung-free and comfortable for the pilgrims,” said Harak Singh Rawat, while addressing a press conference today.

The district administration has taken the services of Sulabh International through which 200 cleaners have been employed to keep the route clean. “The entire arrangement is being overseen by sector officers who have been entrusted with the responsibility of keeping the area clean,” he said.

He said a composting unit had been set up for disposing-off plastic at Sonprayag and pits had been dug up to deposit the dung of the mules so that it does not fall into the river.

Rawat said the private helicopter companies had been roped in to contribute as a part of the Corporate Social Responsibility by setting up temporary water and toilet facilities for the pilgrims on the Kedarnath route. While commenting on the political situation of the state, Rawat tried to play down the aggressive posturing adopted by Congress MLA from Dharchula Harish Dhami, who had threatened to resign in case the development activity was not initiated in his area.

“He is full of exuberance and wants to do things, but they take time,” said Rawat.

He also ruled out any threat to the government’s stability in case the MLA followed his threat into action.

Cong MLA Dhami threatens to quit
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 5
Dharchula Congress legislator Harish Dhami has threatened to resign from his Vidhan Sabha seat if the state government failed to start implementing the promised development projects in his Assembly constituency within next 15 days.

Dhami was recently released from judicial custody in a criminal case by a Didihat court in Pithoragarh district. Dhami charged the state Congress government with utter failure in initiating developmental projects in remote border areas. He alleged that not even 10 per cent of developmental works as promised by Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna had been started in his Assembly segment.

He said the image of the Congress had nosedived and predicted that if the present trend continued the party would face the fate similar to what it faced in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.

Dhami threatened that if the state government failed to do justice with Dharchula people, he would resign from his seat and would fight the byelection as an Independent candidate.

Meanwhile, Dhami met Cabinet minister Pritam Singh at the Vidhan Sabha here today. Dhami, who belongs to the Harish Rawat faction of the Congress, had earlier alleged that the Chief Minister was responsible for his arrest and subsequent judicial custody.

Forest dept not a block in road clearance: Minister
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 5
About the allegations that the Department of Forests is acting as a deterrent in clearing development projects, Uttarakhand cabinet minister Harak Singh Rawat has said that there is lack of information about the actual reason for the projects getting stuck and the blame is being shifted on to the Department of Forests.

“For example, in the case of road construction, several projects that were under PWD (state government) have now been taken up under the Prime Minister Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). It takes time to restart the process from scratch and there is a delay in the shifting of projects to other departments. People get wary when there is delay of this nature and assume that it may be due to the Department of Forests not clearing projects. We need to fill up gaps by informing the people and speeding up work on the ground,” said Rawat.

He was reviewing the progress of development works under way in his assembly constituency of Rudraprayag.

The minister also said that around 3,000 projects had been sanctioned in the last couple of years by the Forest Department in Uttarakhand.

The nodal officer, Rajender Mahajan, who was present at the review meeting chaired by Rawat, said out of the 3,000 projects, the construction of 1,600 roads had been cleared by the Department of Forests.

“Though standard operating procedures and guidelines had been issued to the departments to be followed while applying for the sanction of projects, the guidelines were not being adhered too. As a result, there were delays,” said Mahajan.

He said several projects requiring clearance from the Department of Forests in Rudraprayag had been cleared. A total of 94 roads had been sanctioned and 30 water schemes, five irrigation projects and construction of six schools cleared.

Further, he said an agreement in principle had been given for the construction of 18 roads, two water schemes and five other schemes in Rudraprayag. He said that only 28 projects were pending.

Eco-sensitive zone in Uttarkashi
Bahuguna urges Centre to reconsider decision
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 5
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has called for speedy construction of roads in the areas bordering China and Nepal in Uttarakhand.

Participating in the conference of the Chief Ministers on internal security at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, Bahuguna urged the Union Government to reconsider the decision to declare eco-sensitive zone in Uttarkashi which would have an adverse impact on the construction of road activity on the China border.

He said local residents were protesting against the creation of the eco-sensitive zone in Uttarkashi. He said there was a need to repair and improve roads on the Char Dham yatra route which was under the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

The Chief Minister said border roads in the state needed to be constructed soon, keeping in mind the infrastructure development being done by China. He said the priority should be given to improve Char Dham yatra routes.

Bahuguna said such projects should be brought to Uttarakhand which would hasten its development. He supported the NCTC and said there was a need for such an agency against terrorism. He suggested that instead of imprisoning the person arrested by the agency, the person should first be presented before a magistrate.

He said the Centre should give aid in 90:10 ratio for the modernisation of police in the state. He said Rs 30 crore should be given to the state for this purpose every year.

The Chief Minister said the Revenue Police which played an important role in the state should also be included in this modernisation scheme. He said a lot of improvement had been brought in the state police and intelligence branch. A modern forensic science lab was set up in Dehradun, a regional forensic science lab in Rudrapur and a mobile forensic unit each in Almora and Srinagar.

He said 184 police locations in Uttarakhand would be covered under the crime and criminal tracking and networking system project of the Union Home Ministry. The project will be implemented in Uttarakhand by May 31, 2014. It will be launched as a pilot project in Dehradun and US Nagar districts by June 30, 2013.

A cyber police station is proposed to be set up in the state. A proposal of Rs 1.32 crore has been sent for 2013-14 to the home ministry for improving investigation in cyber crimes in the state.

He said 12 units of special operation taskforce are in Uttarakhand and to strengthen intelligence network on the Indo-Nepal border, 10 units of special branch and 6 units of local intelligence have been created.

He said a special women’s cell has been set up in PHQ Dehradun as well as in all other districts. A 24X7 women’s helpline (1090) has also been started.

SSP promises Rs 10,000 monthly aid to ex-policemen panel
Tribune News Service

Dehradun June 5
SSP Kewal Khurana has promised to grant a monthly assistance of Rs 10,000 to the Police Welfare Committee and a room in the old SSP office to run its day-to-day activities.

Khurana made this promise at a meeting with members of the committee here today. The committee comprises retired police personnel of the ranks of constables up to IGP. The chairman of committee and former DIG, BB Dass, represented the delegation.

Khurana said Rs 2 lakh was given to widows and dependents of members of the committee in year 2005-06. However, the members had been demanding higher monetary assistance.

He said since all of them had valuable experience to share they could give lectures at workshops being held on the subject of investigation in Police Lines every Sunday. They would also be paid for guest lectures as well.

Khurana asked the members of the committee to compile their experiences and interesting case studies to enable him to publish a book on them. Moreover, a three-monthly magazine would be published where they could give their inputs.

Allow vehicular movement over Tehri Dam: MP

Dehradun, June 5
Pauri Garhwal MP Satpal Maharaj has stressed the need for allowing vehicles to pass over the Tehri Dam.

Satpal Maharaj asked Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna to urge the Union Power Minister for permission to allow vehicles to pass over the Tehri Dam. He said nowadays traffic movement was allowed on big dams world over and thus there was no point in restricting the movement of vehicles over the Tehri Dam.

He said that local villagers would be benefited if the vehicular movement was permitted as it would reduce travelling distance and also save on fuel expenditure. — TNS

Exhibitions, functions mark World Environment Day
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 5
World Environment Day was celebrated and various programmes were held across Uttarakhand today.

In Dehradun, the Forest Research Institute organised an exhibition where a large number of posters and models linked to environment conservation were displayed. Director General, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dr VK Bahuguna and Director, FRI, Dr PP Bhojvaid jointly inaugurated the exhibition.

Bahuguna appealed to scientists to go for research that could help in environment conservation. The FRI opened its photo gallery on the Rangers College campus for the general public on the occasion. A large number of schoolchildren visited the photo gallery.

The Uttarakhand Council of Science and Technology (UCOST) in collaboration with the Sparsh Ganga Board celebrated World Environment Day in Bageshwar district. A seminar was organised at Government Girls Inter College, Bageshwar, where students were sensitised about the importance of environment conservation.

Director General, UCOST, Dr Rajendra Dobhal said, “Uttarakhand has been bestowed with rich biodiversity and thus it is the responsibility of every resident of the state, particularly the youths, to safeguard it.” A sapling plantation programme was also organised.

Deep Joshi, a lecturer at Government Girls Inter College, Bageshwar, said such programmes were important for school students in order to make them understand the significance of environment conservation.

The Doon Residents Welfare Front also organised an awareness meeting on Mohini Road in Dehradun. It issued an appeal to the people to shun the use of polythene bags. Rajpur Road MLA Rajkumar called upon the people to come forward and work for environment conservation.

Amarjeet Singh Bhatia from the Doon Sikh Welfare Society and KS Rawat from the Shastrinagar Jankalyan Samiti were among the prominent participants. Paper bags were also distributed among the participants.

Century Pulp and Paper Mills at Lalkuan in Nainital district also organized a function. Senior mill official JP Narayan planted a Gulmohar sapling. He stressed on conducting a plantation drive in the region. He also announced that eucalyptus saplings would be provided to farmers at a reduced rate.

Mussoorie: Several programmes were held in various schools here on Wednesday to mark World Environment Day. Students also participated in the celebrations along with local hotel employees and planted trees on the school premises. The employees also presented a play highlighting the importance of trees and the role they played in the preservation of the environment.

Students in Kumaon region spread message to save biodiversity
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, June 5
Eco-conservators were remembered and people resolved to save environment as schoolchildren marched in streets holding placards with a message to save the biodiversity of the Kumaon region on World Environment Day today.

“We are remembering people involved in environment activism including those who worked to save water, glaciers, plants, insects and other flora and fauna of the Himalayan region in past decades and are still continuing with their resolve,” said Dr Ashok Pant, scientific adviser to Pahal, an NGO that works for environment conservation in the hill region of the state.

At Kausani in Bageshwar district, Radha Behn, a well known Gandhian and president of the Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi, announced that from June 12 she would begin a padyatra to educate people to help in reviving the dying Kosi river. The padyatra would begin from Charaba village in Dehradun where a Coca Cola plant is proposed. “Our yatra will pass through Haridwar, Kashipur, Rudrapur, Almora, Dania, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar and reach Someshwar on June 19. People will be educated about and encouraged to save dying rivers and water sources in the state,” said Radha Behn.

“We are opposing hydroelectric projects on non-glacial fed rivers of the state as these rivers are gradually dying due to negligence on the part of the state government and people,” she said. Pithoragarh residents thanked Indira Gandhi Briksh Mitra award winner Damodar Rathor and eco-task force units which in combination had planted more than 1.4 crore plants in the last 19 years. “This huge plantation of eco-friendly plants has helped in raising moisture in the town which in turn has resulted in increased quantity of local rain in and around the district,” said Ramesh Garkoti, a journalist in Pithoragarh district.

Residents of Champawat district resolved to work towards maintaining the present condition of having 72 per cent of dense forests in the district. “The district attracts tourists only due to its dense forest cover. If the district administration ignores these forests, it will face resistance from the people,” said Rajendra Gahtori, an environment activist in the district.

Common ecology lovers in the region are also contributing to environment protection. While Basant Pandey, a cloth merchant in Champawat market, is feeding four chickens of a swallow that had made a nest in his shop but become prey to a cat, four times a day, Namik villagers take pride in having rare species of butterflies in their forests and natural water sources. “These species of butterflies are found in Himalayan states of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand only,” said Dr Sudhir Singh, a senior scientist at the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun.

Damodar Rathor, 79, has now started a plantation drive near natural water sources in his locality. “We began the process to plant eco-friendly plants today so that we could generate and preserve various varieties of ferns that help in increasing water generation from natural sources,” he said.

Aeri demands green bonus for Uttarakhand
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 5
The Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Aeri) celebrated World Environment Day on the party premises here today. Party president Kashi Singh Aeri said the party opposed restrictions imposed on the development of the Uttarkashi area by declaring it an eco-sensitive zone. He added if the Centre was really concerned about environment, it should issue green bonus to the state to compensate it for the revenue it had lost by withholding development activities in the forest area.

He said, “The state has 65 per cent of its area under forests. The state government must enforce effective policies to protect ‘jal, jungle and jameen’. Since people who live in hills are not permitted to cut trees for fuel, the state government must provide them 12 subsidised LPG cylinders in a year. It should also provide assistance to the farmers whose crops are damaged by wild animals.”

Aeri also opposed indiscriminate felling of trees in the city. “The way the green cover is receding in Dehradun city due to indiscriminate construction activities is a cause for worry. The government must ensure that trees are not unnecessarily felled. An awareness drive should be started to plant more trees.”

Need to promote ecological growth: Anil Joshi
Tribune News Service

r Anil Joshi, founder of HESCO, leads a Green March on World Environment Day in Dehradun on Wednesday

Dehradun, June 5
Youths led by environmentalist and patron of Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO) Dr Anil Joshi, today took out a green march to spread the message of ecological growth.

For several years now, Dr Joshi of HESCO, a voluntary organisation, has been advocating for an ecological growth rather than an economic growth. "On the World Environment Day, we again want to stress on the need to promote ecological growth. To put this concept into action, we need to come up with a growth indicator on the lines of the prevailing economic indicators," Dr Joshi said.

He also flayed the government for talking about inclusive growth without preparing the grounds for amalgamating the Departments of Environment, Health and Water which are crucial for the ecology.

The marchers, majority of who were youngsters, showed deep concern for the environment and even took a joint pledge to protect the environment without wasting time.

They patiently heard Dr Joshi who drew their attention towards the drying of rivers, felling of trees and water scarcity. "A resident of Rudraprayag or Tehri is being forced to buy water at Rs 50 and upwards because the local supply has dried," he said.

He stressed on the need to protect the environment in which the conscious citizens and the youth played a major role.

Earlier, the marchers, carrying green flags, gathered at the Venkateshwar wedding point and marched towards the Clock Tower and ended the march at the same venue. 

Efforts needed to preserve plants, trees
Tribune News service

Members of the DAV College Alumni Association release a souvenir at a function in Dehradun on Wednesday.

Dehradun, June 5
World Environment Day was celebrated by the DAV College Alumni Association here today.

Trivender Singh Rawat, who is a former BJP minister, was the chief guest, while Sushant Patnaik, IFS, was the guest of honour on the occasion. District Forest Officer, Dehradun, and all others dignitaries were also present. President of the association RK Bakshi welcomed the chief guest and other dignitaries.

Shiv Kumar, a head constable of the Uttarakhand Police, was honoured by the chief guest with a gold medal on behalf of the Alumni Association for his act of bravery and dedication to police service for saving the life of five persons and one minor from the clutches of a rapist in Deep Nagar.

Bakshi said efforts should be made to plant and preserve trees because trees were eternal friends of human beings without whom we cannot survive.

Dr S Farooq, patron of the association, said in the olden days, trees used to be planted on both sides of the road for providing shadow to travellers with free water and stay in the inns. Sushant Patnaik, DFO, Dehradun, said environment was not only trees, but hydroelectricity, healthy foods, plastics, eco-sensitive zones, forest management and wildlife management are several other functions which help in the management of environment.

He said 65 per cent of the area of Uttarakhand was covered with forests and Uttarakhand was ranked 10th in the management of environment.

Rawat emphasised on reducing noise pollution, which was a bigger challenge.

Dr Himmat Singh, secretary general, compered the programme and gave his views. Dr IP Pandey, secretary, proposed the vote of thanks. Dr Devender Bhasin, principal, DAV (PG) College, Dr IP Saxena, former principal, SP Kochhar, Raj Kanwar, Dr BB Raizada, Anil Verma, Dinesh Pratap, Promila Mahajan, Tej Veer Singh were some of the prominent executive members present on the occasion.