66 Indian Forest Service probationers pass out
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 24
Director-General of Forests and Special Secretary, Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, K. Jude Sekar today exhorted the Indian Forest Service probationers to be mentally prepared to face new challenges of the service which, he said, they may encounter in the form of some people threatening them or humiliation by political bosses.

Addressing the Annual Convocation 2011-13 course of IFS officers trainees at Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Sekar said the IFS today faced a new set of challenges. "You may have to go to serve in extremism infested areas and you may even face threat to your lives. Similarly, there may be times you will face humiliation despite working with sincerity. During such times, you need will and deep faith in God," Jude Sekar pointed out.

He advised the young probationers to work with sincerity and devotion and to always keep an open mind and innovate while dealing the issues concerning the livelihood of the forest-dependent poor people. By their efforts, they could contribute significantly to the inclusive development and reach the remotely located countrymen. Their compassionate attitude towards the local communities would help them win the hearts of important stake-holders for the protection and conservation of forests.

On the rising man-animal conflict in the country, Jude Sekar even said it was wrong to blame wildlife for increasing man animal conflict. "Today, we have coined words like monkey menace, elephant menace or blue bull menace, whereas I think humans are more responsible for such menace rather than the poor animals," he said while expressing concern over their shrinking habitat of wildlife.

R K Goel, Director, Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, informed the gathering about the history of Indian Forest College, now renamed Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy.

The 2011-13 batch, that passed out today includes 66 IFS officers, including 14 women probationers and two foreign trainees from Bhutan.

All those who have successfully completed the training were awarded the Associate of Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy Diploma that was presented by Jude Sekar.

At the ceremony, the officers who had shown outstanding achievements were also awarded the prizes and awards. Monali Sen of the Himachal Pradesh cadre was the topper of the 2011-13 training course and Adarsh Kumar of Uttar Pradesh cadre bagged the Best All Round Forester Award.

Sekar also released an IGNFA souvenir, linked to forestry on the occasion.

Uttarakhand Principal Chief Conservator of Forests RBS Rawat, Director-General of the Forest Survey of India AK Wahal and former IGNFA Director Vinod Rishi were also present on the occasion.

Govt failed to resume stalled yatras: Nishank
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 24
Former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has questioned the competence of the Vijay Bahuguna government in helping the state recover from the natural calamity. He said even two months after the tragedy the inept government had failed to take steps to resume stalled pilgrimages.

“The government has not taken any steps to resume pilgrimage to Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri, which provides livelihood to a large number of people,” said Nishank while speaking to mediapersons here yesterday.

He said even the Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra had also been suspended and the Bahuguna government had failed to convey to the country that several areas in the state had remained unaffected by the natural calamity. “The failure of the government in propagating the message will cost people dear. I am afraid it will take several years for the government to encourage tourists to return to the state,” said Nishank.

He lambasted the government for poor relief work and asked it to issue a White Paper on the steps taken in the aftermath of the natural calamity. “The government should issue a White Paper detailing measures taken by it before and after the natural calamity. Besides, details about the activities of the ministers, who were missing in action after the natural disaster struck, should also be highlighted,” said Nishank.

He said several villages were still cut off even after two months of the natural calamity. “The Bahuguna government has failed to provide relief to the residents of 300 affected villages,” he added. 

The government has not taken any steps to resume pilgrimage to Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri, which provides livelihood to a large number of people. The Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra has also been suspended and the Bahuguna government has failed to convey to the country that several areas in the state had remained unaffected by the natural calamity.
— Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, former Chief Minister

Hypertension, diabetes gripping Kumaon reigon
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, August 24
The Kumaon region is gradually coming into the grip of diabetes and hypertension, which hitherto was considered out of the region as the hard life style of the hill region did not permit these diseases to flourish here. These facts have come into light in a project, being run by National Non-Communicable Diseases in two districts of Almora and Nainital.

According to the survey, out of 70,000 people screened in Almora district, over 3,000 were found infected by these diseases. “This is only one third of our screening target in the district we have still to screen two third population of the district under the programme.” said Dr PK Upreti, Nodal Officer.

Dr Upreti said this year, of over 32,709 persons who undertook the test, 1,105 were found suffering from blood sugar and 1,347 from hypertension. “The cause of concern is that even village youths are suffering from these diseases,” he said.

According to the doctors, the changing lifestyle of the people, consumption of fast food and pollution in the region are causing these symptoms among the youths and women. “The patients selected through these screening tests will be given medicine free of cost from the hospitals under this programme, being run by the Government of India.” said the Nodal Officer.

Illegal quarrying mafia threatens officers
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Sonika Meena, Joint Magistrate, Roorkee

Haridwar, August 24
With district administration trying to rein in the mass scale of illegal quarrying in the district, the illegal quarrying mafia have now targeted the administrative officers.

Joint Magistrate of Roorkee Sonika Meena along with her security guard and driver stopped a tractor trolley last evening out of suspicion, but the tractor trolley tried to raze them.

The incident occurred at Bhagwanpur block near Nanheda Anantpur village. IAS Sonika was on an official visit when she spotted a the quarrying material being loaded in the tractor trolley. The trolley driver Shahdab tried to flee from the spot.

This is second such incident when the quarrying mafia tried to attack an administrative officer.

Lakshar Tehsildar Dhan Prakash Sharma was also attacked when he tried to seize and arrest a person involved in the illegal quarrying in Lakshar tehsil, in Haridwar , two days ago.

Sharma along with his driver Pawan Tyagi were attacked when they had arrested a person during a raid, who was carrying out illegal quarrying.

Senior Superintendent of Haridwar Police Rajiv Swarup said the police had started a massive anti-illegal quarrying drive in the district with all the Station House Officers' of the police stations in the district being given directives to carry out impromptu raids to stop illegal quarrying in the district.

Sub Divisional Magistrate Uttam Singh Chauhan has sought substantial presence of police force while carrying out anti quarrying raids by Haridwar District Magistrate Nidhi Pandey.

Few sants from Haridwar join 85 Kos Parikrama
Tribune News Service

Baba Hatyogi

Haridwar, August 24
Only a few sants from Haridwar have gone for the 84 Kos Parikrama in Ayodhya, which the Uttar Pradesh government has banned citing a threat to communal harmony in the state.

The low participation of sants from Haridwar is due to the ongoing Chatur Mass of the Hindu calendar, which is not considered pious for any major religious ritual or pilgrimage.

Baba Hatyogi, national spokesperson for the All India Saint Committee, said except Swami Chinmayanand, a former Union Minister of State for Home, and a section of saints associated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the majority of the saints were in Haridwar.

He added that though this did not mean that they were opposing the yatra in Ayodhya or supporting the Uttar Pradesh government. Most of the akhada heads and revered religious and spiritual gurus in Haridwar have not left for Ayodhya.

Swami Chinmayanand Maharaj along with a few saints has left for Ayodhya. Saints close to the VHP have shown their willingness to join the 84 Kos Parikrama.

Meanwhile, Pithadeeshwar Mahant Surendra Nath Avdhoot, national chief of the Vishwa Sanatan Dharam Parishad, has warned Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav against playing with the religious sentiments of the people.

Mahant Avdhoot told Mulayam not to repeat the mistake of the 90’s or else the saints would be forced to launch a nationwide movement against his party government in Uttar Pradesh.

Akhada Parishad chief Mahant Gyan Das said Mulayam Singh and his son Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav were trying to disturb the peaceful religious environment of Uttar Pradesh by deliberately prohibiting the religious 84 Kos Parikrama in Ayodhya.

PHD chamber: Disaster made big dent in state's GDP
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 24
Uttarakhand has lost 11 per cent of its Gross State Domestic Product in terms of prospective tourism earnings in the current year due to the natural disaster.

According to the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry Research Bureau, flash floods have made a serious impact on the economy of the state and its growth trajectory is likely to be dented in almost all economic sectors, harming human and cattle lives, agriculture production, infrastructure and industries.

The PHD Chamber further revealed that in the next fiscal 2014-15, the anticipated revenue loss may exceed Rs 20,000 crore and more than Rs 25,000 crore in 2015-16 since the Char Dham yatra will not take place for the next two years as already declared by the state government.

Asserting that 14,000 small scale industries have suffered heavy losses due to the disaster, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry Research Bureau held that recent devastation is likely to hit the investments scenario in the state. Losses due to washing away of crops and agriculture lands have been pegged at Rs 90 crore.

It further held that tourism sector, the mainstay of the hill economy, has been the worst hit with disaster ruining around 60 per cent of total tourism prospects in the state. All those locals inked to tourism have been badly affected in process.

In its recommendations to the state government towards reviving Uttarakhand, PHD Chamber has stressed on reviving the tourism sector of the state. It said there has been a massive infrastructural loss in the state and large scale re construction is required to fill the gap. The PHD Chamber also supported diversion of tourism sector to overcome the seasonality factor and to create employment for year round tourism.

It also called for giving tax holidays to builders to ensure fast pace of reconstruction activity in the state. For encouraging steady flow of investments, PHD Chamber urged the state to focus on promotion of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the plain areas for the overall growth of the state's economy.

Ashish Mohan Wig, Chairman, Infrastructure Committee PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, disclosed that the industry was ready to extend its hand of cooperation in the rebuilding of Uttarakhand. He said Uttarakhand in the aftermath of rain disaster needs to revive its economy by initiating measures in the areas of employment generation, through promotion of MSMEs, boosting tourism, infrastructural development, encouraging service sector activities and facilitating agro and food processing industry. He said Uttarakhand government and industries must join hand and work for betterment of the state.

Badrinath-Gangotri road link likely by Sept 15: BRO
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 24
KK Razdan, Chief Engineer, Project Shivalik, Border Roads Organisation, has said he was hopeful of ensuring road connectivity to Badrinath and Gangotri by September 15. He, however, added it may take time to ensure road connectivity to Kedarnath as it involved construction of a mule track, which was to be done by the state authorities. A key Soneprayag Bridge was being constructed on a war footing.

Talking to The Tribune here, KK Razdan said comparing Chinese speedy road construction initiative in Tibet to India's snail pace efforts to build roads in its Himalayan region would not be proper, keeping in view altogether different motives of the two nations. He added while Chinese road construction efforts on the other side of Himalayas were meant a constant urge to strengthen its occupation over Tibet, India keeps no such sense of urgency as it was constructing roads in its very own territorial limits in the normal course of routine.

Razdan, who has been leading the reconstruction of key roads of rain-devastated Garhwal hills, said the BRO was undertaking complete reconstruction of 5 to 6 km stretch of the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway at Lambagad that was washed away in the recent rains.

He added the BRO had also identified "9 most trouble spots" on the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway that experiences frequent landslides and needs urgent remedial measures. A single-lane Bailey bridge was being constructed at Lambagad.

He said the BRO was adopting new technologies to ensure that there was proper realignment of roads and landslide-affected areas were at the best avoided. Favouring tunnelling to ensure a smooth and safe connectivity to the Char Dham routes, Razdan said earlier there was a notion that tunnels were only successful in hard rocks but now the hard layering done in tunnels from inside had made it successful even in soft mountains, and, thus, could be an effective means to ensure connectivity in Uttarakhand hills.

He said despite a mandate restricted to the construction of roads, the BRO in the aftermath of rain disaster also constructed four mule tracks in Garhwal hills to ensure proper relief and rescue initiatives.

He also welcome the participation of the private sector in road reconstruction in Uttarakhand. He admitted that the BRO had a limited manpower and, thus, had its limitations.

Razdan called for joint efforts of the Geological Survey of India, Central Water Commission, Central Road Research Institute, and Union Ministry for Road Transport and Highway towards the reconstruction of roads in the state.

German found dead in Haridwar hotel room
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, August 24
A foreigner was found dead in suspicious conditions at a hotel here today. Police officials said John Frederick, son of Vesal and resident of Germany, was found dead at Hotel Citizen.

Frederick was in Haridwar on a two-month visa. He was staying in room no 12 of the hotel for the past one month.

Circle Officer City Jodh Ram Joshi said the postmortem had been done of the deceased and the report was awaited.

The probability of death due to heart attack could not be ignored, he said.

Hotel manager Deewan Singh said Frederick was staying in hotel for more than a month now and he didn't used to talk much with anybody.

The probability of death due to heart attack cannot be ignored.
—Jodh Ram Joshi, Circle Officer City 

KMVN purchases apples from flood-hit farmers
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, August 24
The Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) has started purchasing apples from the farmers who were affected by the natural disaster in June and whose orchards remained out of routine markets' accessibility due to broken routes.

"We have purchased 160 quintals of apple from farmers in the Satbunga area of Nainital district at a cost of Rs 20 per kg. We will purchase all the 400 quintals of apple from the affected farmers in coming two or three days," said Shirish Kumar, general manager of the Nigam.

Kumar said the government has given them a sum of Rs 1 crore initially, to facilitate purchasing of the damaged or non accessible crops of apple and potato from the farmers of the Kumaon district this year.

"Apple farmers are happy with the scheme as they are able to sell their crops at Rs 7 per kg by some wholesale agents from nearby markets," added Kumar.

Informing about the initiative for purchasing potato from farmers situated at remote parts of the region, Kumar said as potato was not available in the area, the Nigam has started purchasing apples only.

"We will sell the purchase to the nearby mandi at market rates. The losses incurred in the process will be borne by the state government," he added.

Doon Hospital acquires physiotherapy machines
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 24
The patients suffering from cervical and lumber region would soon be able to access state of the art strengthening machines for relieving pain at the physiotherapy unit of Doon Hospital.

The hospital has acquired cervical, dorsal, lumber spine strengthening David machines through the Director General Health and Family Welfare for its physiotherapy unit. “Once rates for the machines are set by the hospital, they will be open for patients,” said Dr SK Tyagi physiotherapist, Doon Hospital. The machines, which are made in Germany, have been procured at a cost of Rs 60 lakh.

Meanwhile, the Department of Medical Health and Family Welfare is almost in the middle of finalising the private partner to run the physiotherapy unit at the Coronation Hospital under public-private partnership.

The department is in the process of finalising the bids after which the unit would go into private hands.

Already the Coronation Hospital is running the Cardiac Care Centre with the help of Fortis and the nephrology dialysis unit with the help of Apollo on public-private partnership. With the physiotherapy unit to be handed to a private partner, there would be three centres running under the PPP mode.

Long-pending child protection scheme to come into effect
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 24
After a delay of three years, the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) is expected to take formal shape by November. For this, the Centre has sanctioned Rs 3.21 lakh.

If the scheme was not implemented, the state government could not access funds meant for the welfare of children for setting up children homes.

The state government had signed an MoU with the Centre in 2011, but forgot about the scheme in the intervening years until persistent cajoling by the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Protection Commission (SCPCR).

But after the team from the Ministry of Woman and Child Development visited Uttarakhand to take stock of the situation post the natural calamity and the State Child Rights Protection Commission exerted pressure, the state government decided to swing into action.

“For the implementation of the scheme, a society will be created comprising two bodies — executive and general. It is expected to come into function from November,” said S Raju, principal secretary, social welfare.

The delay in the implementation of the scheme was a result of indecision on part of the government as to which department would run the scheme.

The scheme would comprise the general and executive body. The principal secretary, Department of Social Welfare, will be the chairperson of the society. While the Director of the ICPS will be the secretary of the society and officials from the Department of Education, Department of Health and Family Welfare and other departments concerned will be members of the society.

“Had the scheme been in place, we would have tackled the requirement of children homes for those hit by the calamity,” said Ajay Setia, chairperson, SCPCR.

Journalists seek death penalty for Mumbai gang rape culprits
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, August 24
Local mediapersons today protested against the gang rape of an intern with an English magazine in Mumbai. Journalists gathered in a large number on the Kutchery premises and held a protest carrying placards demanding the capital punishment for the perpetrators of the crime.

The protesters urged the government to take necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of journalists and common people.

Senior journalist Shoorvir Bhandari said the protest was organised to make the government realise that the public wanted strict rules to curb crimes against women.

The protesters submitted a memorandum addressed to the President at the SDM office demanding the death penalty for the culprits.

A journalist said the incidents of rape were on the rise in the country but the state and Central governments were not showing urgency to tackle the issue.

Ensure Security

The protesters urged the state government to take steps to ensure the safety and security of journalists.

Office-bearers elected
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, August 24
Chaman Prakash Nautiyal was elected president of the Thauldhar Maa Surkhanda Vikas Samiti, unanimously, at the annual meeting held here today.

Other office-bearers are: General secretary — Vijay Vidhwan; vice presidents — Mahavir Singh, Robin Singh and Bharat Singh Rana; convener — Labh Singh Panwar, Satya Singh Khilan and Bhuriya Singh.