Uttarakhand the challenge ahead
The Tribune series on what needs to be done to rebuild the state
Build protection walls near towns on river banks: Koshiyari
B.D. Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, August 13
Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and BJP Rajya Sabha member Bhagat Singh Koshiyari has said that had the state government taken action in the past in building protection walls near the settlements on river banks, the loss of lives and properties could have been minimum.

“The government should identify the villages and towns situated on the banks of Himalayan rivers and make a project to build walls to protect them from any future floods,” said Koshiyari.

Koshiyari is of the opinion that reconstruction and renovation of Kedarnath town should be as per the traditional methods, taking into consideration local architecture and construction techniques. He said while reconstructing Kedarnath town, the seismic situation and existence of Chorabari Lake and glaciers above should be kept in mind. “The newly constructed town of Kedarnath should be seismically and geologically sustainable so that it could remain intact for centuries,” said Bhagat Singh Koshiyari.

The former Chief Minister has suggested that the people who are facing natural disasters in hill districts be shifted to the Terai region with immediate effect as they cannot be kept in such a situation in every monsoon.

He said that although rains are a regular features in the hills, a new trend has emerged in hill region which has witnessed rains even above 10,000 feet of elevation. It used to be considered as rains free alpine zone. “The heavy rain that struck the Kedarnath region was a repetition of what happened in the Leh and Ladakh region two years back. There is need to study this changing trend of weather and take lessons,” he said.

Koshiyari dismissed the argument that big dams are creating havoc of landslides in the upper hill region. He said that if it was so, all big dams would have created catastrophes in the country. "Dynamites and heavy machinery should not be used in making hill roads as they result in weakening of ground soil, thus triggering landslides in the hills,” said Koshiyari.

The BJP leader said we should learn from the methods of road construction adopted by the British a century ago and take clues from the roads they constructed at Mussoorie and Nainital, which are still intact and landslide-free. “The British could do so only because they did not use dynamites, but used traditional methods of giving sufficient support to the roads from beneath,” said the BJP leader.

Bhagat Singh Koshiyari was of the opinion that the hill portion of the state be settled, giving it a strong local economic base for which local economies should be strengthened. He said the people who used to rear goats, and cultivate local cash crops are gradually leaving their villages in border areas, which is not a healthy symptom for the future of the state. Koshiyari said if the state government really wants to renovate the state, it should modernise local trades and agricultural methods in these border villages and give people a good living. “The survival of local cottage industries is must for the people of these border areas to remain in their places as they are migrating from border regions due to the apathy of the government on these issues of sustenance,” said Koshiyari.

He said the border villages which are completely free from landslides should be given a strong economic base while the villages vulnerable to landslides and earthquake should be shifted from there. The new villages should be given all essential and modern facilities.

“The locals should be involved in reconstruction as outsiders have no knowledge of local geography and locality of the hill region,” said Koshiyari.

WHAT TO DO

• The newly constructed town of Kedarnath should be seismically and geologically sustainable
• People from hill districts should be shifted to the Terai region
• There is need to study the changing trend of weather in the region and take lessons
• Dynamites and heavy machinery should not be used in making hill roads
• Learn from the methods of road construction adopted by the British
• The government should help modernise local trades

Nanda Devi yatra cancelled as roads remain damaged
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 14
With things being far from normal in Chamoli where a large number of roads and bridges are still in a state of disrepair in the aftermath of the natural calamity that hit the state in mid-June, the Shri Nanda Devi Raj Jat Samiti today called off the Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra slated to take place from August 29 to September 16.

“Several villages that fall on the yatra route in the Pindar and Nandikini areas of Chamoli continue to be either cut off or are facing recurrent landslides which could pose problems for the smooth conduct of the yatra and safety of the pilgrims. After holding discussions with religious heads, representatives of the state government, representatives of the Kunwar dynasty and residents of Kaswan village in Chamoli, we have decided to cancel the yatra for this year,” said Kunwar Rakesh Singh, president of the Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra Samiti (Nauti), Chamoli.

He said after the mid-June calamity, the samiti had been receiving requests for cancellation of the yatra for this year.

“But we have requested the samitis to hold poojas on August 26 in the temples on all the 19 padavas from where Chatolis were to join the yatra. In the coming years, the date for the yatra would be announced after consulting the priests,” said Kunwar

Deputy Speaker of Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly and member of the Shri Nanda Devi Raj Jat Samiti said the decision had been taken in the interest of the pilgrims. “As the security and safety of the pilgrims is of paramount importance, the decision has been taken in their larger interest and I welcome the decision,” he said.

After the natural disaster, apprehensions had been raised about the Nanda Devi Raj Yatra and even the government had asked the people not to make a the yatra a grand affair.

The Uttarakhand government had sanctioned Rs 150 crore for constructing roads, providing water connections, pathways and other amenities for the pilgrims. Out of this, Rs 75 crore had been spent.

The Nanda Devi Raj religious yatra is said to have started in the ninth century and is held every 12 years.

BJP councillors seek MNA’s removal over non-release of funds
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 14
The BJP councillors today demanded removal of Mukhya Nagar Adhikari Ashok Kumar from office. Councillors are miffed with the alleged apathy of Kumar in carrying out development works in wards and distributing streetlight equipment to the wards. They demanded better quality streetlights today and asked not to be treated low in comparison to MLAs when it came to distribution of lighting equipment.

Ashok Kumar did not come to the office today. When Mayor Vinod Chamoli called him up to clear the issues, he expressed his displeasure at the attitude of the councillors.

Yesterday, the BJP councillors had confronted Mukhya Nagar Adhikari (MNA) of Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) for neither releasing funds to undertake development works nor sanctioning light equipment for each ward. Some councillors Amita Singh, Satish Kashyap, Ajay Khanna and many others reached MNA Ashok Kumar's office and began making demands before him.

He left the room and got into the official car. But the councillors halted the car and compelled him to come out .

The MNA announced five streetlights for each ward but councillors created a ruckus again and demanded 20 lights.

Amita Singh said, ''The MNA has removed all barring three chairs in his office. It shows he does not want councillors to come to office with their problems. In future, not only will we sit on the floor in his office but will also make him to sit with us.''

Councillors Satish Kashyap said that Ashok Kumar neither cleared mutation related files nor released funds for development projects. He said, ''The roads are broken and drains are damaged. He has got the consignment of electrical equipment, but he is not releasing the material. On insistence, he agreed to give 5 streetlights to us, which is nothing.''

MNA Ashok Kumar said, ''It is of no use to carry out repair work in the rainy season. I have assured the councillors that soon we will get funds from the government and I will be able to sanction them a part of it as per their demands.''

RLEK schools to have trained Irish teachers
Tribune News service

Dehradun, August 14
Realising the need to build the capabilities of the teachers in the schools being run by Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK) in reading, writing and spoken English, the organisation has been involved in an exchange programme in which trained English teachers from Ireland teach the teachers.

Since the past 10 years, under a unique capacity development programme, a team of voluntary teachers from Ireland, who are considered to be the best teachers the world over, conduct a two-week training programme for the teachers to hone their skills in English, mathematics, science and other co-curricular activities that is uniquely designed to blend with the cultural fabric of the state.

This year's the teacher training programme started on August 3 and will conclude on August 17, 2013. Ten persons comprising senior teachers and headmasters led by Rutger Kortenhorst and team members Stephen Dunne, Aidan O' Doherty, Aideen O'Doherty, Brendan Allister, Mary Kennedy, Mary McCarthy, Marie Treacey, Dolores Fullam and Frances McDonnell are imparting inspiring and motivating trainings that include reading schemes, games, role plays, poems, songs, etc.

The main thrust is given on the accent of spoken English, voice training and correct pronunciation.

The rural educational programme conceived by RLEK is based upon the philosophy of ''Reaching the unreached and inclusion of the excluded,'' taking education to unreached areas to deliver quality education to the marginalised communities. RLEK is running 17 schools in the remote areas of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh for the children of freed bonded labourers, poor nomadic Muslim Van Gujjar minorities and children born in red light areas.

The attempt is to provide high quality education to the children of these deprived families located in the Himalayan region, where mountainous terrain is tough, harsh climate with accessibility a challenge, where no government agencies had bothered to impart quality education and to ensure that the children join the mainstream development to be able to make an informed choice.

Based upon the unique innovative idea of Public-Private Partnership, where the community/ local self government donated the land for the school and the individual donors/organisations contributed for the school infrastructure, which yielded successful and desirable results as well.

Since the parents of these marginalised communities cannot afford the fees, no fee is charged from any child. More than half the seats are reserved for the girl child. Women self help groups (SHGs) are entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring and managing the functioning of the school.

All the schools are recognised by the government of Uttarakhand with no financial support.

ONGC Day observed with homage to martyrs
Tribune News service

Dehradun, August 14
The edifice of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) stands on the commitment, dedication and sacrifice made by ONGCians over its journey of 57 years. The hazardous operations of the energy company has not deterred its soldiers from toiling in adverse conditions to provide energy security to the country. In the call of duty, there have been occasions when ONGCians have laid down 
their lives.

ONGC Day is one of the many occasions when the martyrs of the company are remembered and homage paid to them for their sacrifice.

The 58th ONGC Day at Dehradun was observed with Sudhir Vasudeva, CMD, ONGC, KS Jamestin, Director, Human Resource, AK Banerjee, Director, Finance, PK Borthakur, Director, Offshore, Shashi Shanker, Director, T&FS, NK Verma, Director, Exploration, K. Satyanarayana, OSD, Onshore, Directors from the ONGC group of companies, senior executives and ONGCians paying solemn homage to the ONGC martyrs.

After unfurling the ONGC flag, Vasudeva administered the pledge to a large gathering of ONGCians.

The choir gave a song presentation and touched the hearts of many through their words of encouragement.

To ensure a healthy and physically fit workforce, Vasudeva also flagged off the ‘Walk for Good Health’ walkathon, wherein ONGCians and their family members took part enthusiastically.

A painting competition was also organised at the Community Centre, wherein more than 350 school children expressed their artistic strokes on the theme, ‘Think, Eat, Save.’

The theme was selected keeping in mind the depleting state of natural resources, as well as elucidating upon ONGC’s environment friendly efforts.

On this historic moment the CMD launched the Facebook webpage of ONGC with a new look.

The launch programme was attended by the directors on the board of ONGC who gave their suggestions to make the ONGC Facebook presence vibrant and interactive.

With this ONGC aligns its brand image with the existing social media perceptions.

Heavy rains bring life to a halt in Kumaon region
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, August 14
Rains continue to play havoc in the Kumaon region. More than 30 families of Garur in Almora district were shifted to safer places after cracks appeared in their houses following heavy rains since Monday night.

With the water level of the Sharda river nearing the danger mark, the administration has sounded an alert in Tanakpur town and asked its residents to be ready to shift to safer places if required. Fertile land at several places in Garur and Chaukhutia in Almora district also swept away.

In Kulau village of Bageshwar district, two houses collapsed and 15 animals belonging to Harish Singh of the village perished following a landslide. The water of the swollen Gomti and Saryu rivers entered shops situated near the Saryu ghat.

In Dharchula subdivision, a large of vehicles are stranded on the Dharchula- Tawaghat road at Kulagar as the bridge at Ailagar swept away last night. Keshar Singh Duktal, a villager of Darma valley, said 50 residents of their village were stranded at Kulagar as the road to their village in Darma valley was blocked.

Water supply to 76 villages in Chaukhutia subdivision of Almora district has been hit due to a damage to the Naithana drinking water project. Awdhesh Kumar, an engineer with the Jal Sansthan, said the water supply to these villages could be restored only after the rains stopped.

In Tanakpur and Banbasa plains of Champawat district, the Sharda river is flowing above the danger mark. "People living near the river have been shifted to safer places," said JS Rathod, SDM, Tanakpur.

Destruction trail

• 30 families of Garur in Almora shifted to safer places
• Water level of the Sharda near the danger mark
• Fertile land at Garur and Chaukhutia swept away
• Two houses collapse in Bageshwar village following a landslide
• Water supply to 76 villages in Chaukhutia subdivision hit

Officer gets notice for failure to provide info on kids
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 14
After failing to provide information on children who were affected in the natural calamity that hit the state in mid-June, the State Child Rights Protection Commission (SCRPC) has issued a notice to the Secretary, Disaster Management, to appear before the Commission by August 20.

In its previous communiqué the commission had urged the Secretary, Disaster Management, to provide information on the number of children who died in the calamity, who went missing, survivors who were now handicapped, orphans and children who have either lost their father or mother. But the Disaster Management failed to provide the information, forcing the commission to issue a notice.

Further during the meeting of National Child Rights Commission in New Delhi on August 6, the issue of the natural calamity and the fate of the children was also discussed.

''Despite the National Child Rights Commission and Central Government taking interest in the matter, the state government has been slow to respond,'' said Ajay Setia.

Students burn effigy of Pak over killings
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 14
Students belonging to the K2 group of DAV PG College burnt the effigy of Pakistan against the killing of five Indian soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir here today. The students staged a protest and raised slogans against Pakistan and called the gruesome act as cowardice. They blamed the government for its soft policies towards Pakistan and demanded immediate action.

They also said the students would continue their struggle against the anti-people policies of the central government.

Members of the group present during the protest included Kuldeep Singh Negi, Ajendra Singh, Kailash Aswal and Ritesh Kumar.