Solid waste treatment plant at Sheeshambada
Govt approves construction sans green clearance
Parwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 11
Despite the non-issuance of clearance certificate from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), the state government has given the go-ahead to the construction and functioning of the state’s first solid waste treatment plant at Sheeshambada.

The estimated cost of the project was stated to be Rs 12 crore and it will be run by the SPML, a private player involved in the door-to-door collection and disposal of garbage.

The Dehradun Municipal Corporation clearly stated during a meeting chaired by Principal Secretary (Urban Development) MH Khan, that it had decided to construct and make the plant functional within next few months.

The decision was taken on the basis of recommendation given by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), formed by MoEF, in June this year. The EAC after conducting the site inspection and checking various other aspects had recommended the construction of solid waste disposal plant and landfill site at Sheeshambada.

Speaking to The Tribune, Sidharth Jain, director of the SPML said they had already constructed the boundary wall of 8.23 hectares of land that would serve as the landfill site and house treatment plant.

It may be mentioned here that in a similar incident at the Bramhawala site, where the transport station was to be set up by the DVWM, a person claimed that the land belonged to him, filed a PIL.

That time too the DMC and the state government had given the go ahead to the construction, 80 per cent of which was completed, without giving the necessary clearance certificate.

“As far as the construction of the treatment plant is concerned we will not go ahead until the DMC or the state government pays us the cost for construction. We have already burnt our hands once during the Bramhawala incident where we had to shell out Rs 1.60 crore on the construction,” said Jain.

“We have clearly told the DMC that either give us the clearance certificate from the MoEF or provide us with the construction cost. We will then start the project at Sheeshambada,” he added.

The Sheeshambada plant will be the first in the state to treat the waste and produce compost, RDF (refused drive fuel, a substitute for coal) and recycling plastic.

As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, only 75 per cent of the collected garbage could be recycled or legally sold. The remaining was to taken as landfill. The site will have a transfer station, composting plant, workshop facility and landfill facility.

Having an enhanced capacity of processing 300 tonnes of waste daily, the DVWM was also eyeing the nearby districts and areas of Dehradun.

world mountain day
Documentary ‘Himalayan Tsunami’ screened
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 11
A socio-cultural organisation, Dhaad, today observed World Mountain Day. During a function held at Dehradun Municipal Auditorium, Arjun awardee Dr Harshvanti Bisht, who was the chief guest on the occasion, spoke at length on the challenges being faced by people in hilly areas.

She said, “Recent Kedarnath disaster has resulted into fear psychosis among the resident of hill areas. They are now forced to migrate to plain areas.”

Environment specialist and convener Kashi Nath Vajpayee gave a scientific presentation on the reasons and repercussions of the disaster.

Dr Suneet Naithani from the Doon University gave a lecture on “the role of community participation in prevention of disaster and adaptation of earthquake proof measure as a model for building of houses in the eco-sensitive areas of Uttarakhand”.

Dr Rachna Nautiyal and Ved Vilas Uniyal were other prominent speakers present on the ocassion. The speakers also discussed on the problems faced by the people residing in the remote areas of Uttarakhand. A book “Dekhi Peer Pahad Ki” by Ved Vilas Uniyal Dhaad was also released on the occasion. A documentary, ‘Himalyan Tsunami’, by Jai Parkash Panwar was also screened. The local residents who had participated in the rescue operation at Kedarnath were also honoured.

UCOST holds youth parliament

As part of the World Mountain Day, the Uttarakhand Council of Science and Technology (UCOST) convened a youth parliament of hill children here today.

Addressing the participants at Government Inter College Maldevta, Vijay Kumar Dhoundiyal, Director General of UCOST, said the children should love mountains and work for its conservation.

“We belong to hills and thus it our foremost duty to work for its conservation and well being,” he said.

Dhoundiyal patiently heard the concerns rose by the children and asked them to take up their studies seriously so as to excel in academics and shape up a bright career.

He also planted a tree sapling at the Maldevta Inter College.

Dr Arun Kuksal, senior UCOST scientist, coordinated the proceedings and Kalayan Singh Rawat of Maiti environment conservation movement, accorded vote of thanks.

Global warming hits snow pattern: Research
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, December 11
Global warming has started affecting Himalayan region in a big way. It has not only pushed ahead snowfall period during winter months, but also reduced the time of the snowfall.

According to scientists at the Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Almora and International Centre of Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Katmandu, there was snowfall for an average 30 days before 2000, which nowadays had gone down to a mere 10 days.

“The snow-less vision of the higher Himalayan peaks in the mid region during mid December is reflection of the change in the weather pattern of the Himalayas from last 10 years due to global warming, as the snowfall period has shifted from October to mid January in this decade,” said, Dr Kirit Kumar, a scientist at the GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development.

Dr Kumar, quoting a recent research done by the ICIMOD at Kathmandu, said this changed trend of snowfall in the region would not only affect the ecology of the area, but also glacial lakes in the higher reaches.

“Due to affects of global warming, the peaks of Panchchuli, Nanda Devi and Trishul in the mid-Himalayan region, which used to be covered with snow in November and December are now naked.

Even the remaining snow on these peaks is melting rapidly due to global warming,” said Dr Kumar.

“Now the period of snowfall starts from January. Due to increase in temperature, the snow on the peaks does not last for a longer time,” said scientists.

BJP working hard to make Modi’s rally a success
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 11
The state unit of the BJP has sent its workers to different parts of the state to bring in men and women to attend its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s Sunday rally in Dehradun and make it a success.

Still sailing on the BJP’s success in the recently concluded Assembly elections, the BJP is not ready to rest on its laurels and is using the opportunity to mobilise its cadres well ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Though Uttarakhand accounts for only four seats in the Lok Sabha, the state continues to hold importance for the BJP.

A band of dedicated BJP party workers has been activated at the booth level. They have covered most of the districts. They are personally extending invitations to the party members for the rally. The rally is being seen as a dress rehearsal for the 2014 General Election. “The party will get a fair idea of its weaknesses and will have enough time to work upon them before the elections,”€� said BJP state chief Teerath Singh Rawat.

More than 1,000 workers have personally invited the party members and more than 50 impromptu meetings have been held in different districts.

All the details regarding hiring of buses for workers who would be coming from Garhwal and Kumaon are being compiled at the state level. “We are hiring 500 big buses and 2,000 small buses for this purpose. These buses will ferry people to Dehradun,” said Suman Kant Dhyani, BJP spokesperson. “It is not difficult to motivate people to attend Modi’s rally. Weather and poor road connectivity after the disaster may pose problems in attracting people. For this reason, we have hired buses to bring in men and women,”€� said Dhyani.

Publicity raths flagged off

The state unit of the BJP on Wednesday flagged off two publicity raths that will go around the city publicising the Sunday rally.

The raths are equipped with musical sound system singing a paean of praise.

Party workers have been tasked with making announcements and exhorting people to attend the rally.

The raths were flagged off by BJP leaders, including Teerath Singh Rawat and Mayor Vinod Chamoli.

DM reviews arrangements

To oversee arrangements for Modi’s rally at Parade Ground, a meeting was organised by Dehradun District Magistrate BVRC Purshottam at the Collectorate here on Wednesday.

The District Magistrate, instructing officials to thoroughly check security and other arrangements, said managing traffic would be the most important task during the rally. “A large number of vehicles are expected to arrive on Sunday and therefore the places that had been earmarked as parking lots should be checked,” he said.

Police officials informed the DM that the department had set up four screens across the city on which live feed of the rally would be telecast for the convenience of the people.

The District Magistrate also instructed the Chief Medical Officer to make provisions for ambulances and brace them for any kind of medical eventuality. The power department, too, was asked to check the records of the contractor who has been given the task of providing the electricity at the event. “The workers of the contractor should have valid passes for the rally,”€� said the District Magistrate.

The PWD officials were also instructed to take care of the necessary arrangements at helipad, main stage and repair the potholes on the roads leading to the main venue. Water tankers were also listed to be present at the venue. The Dehradun Municipal Corporation was asked to ensure a clean city for the day.

Tehri MP holds march to mobilise support
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, December 11
Tehri Garhwal MP Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah, along with party workers of the BJP women’s cell, today organised a march from Landour Bazaar to Gandhi Chowk to mobilise support for the "Shankhnad" rally of BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in Dehradun on December 15.

Women workers, raising slogans like “Bacha mange maa ki godi, desh mange Narendra Modi (a child wants mother’s lap, the country wants Narendra Modi) and "Har Har Modi", walked from Landour Bazaar to Gandhi Chowk and appealed to the people to attend the rally in large numbers.

Gujarat Police inspects Parade Ground

Dehradun, December 11
A team of the Gujarat Police reviewed security arrangements at the Parade Ground, Narendra Modi’s rally venue, here today.

Gujarat Police officials, along with intelligence sleuths and their Dehradun counterparts, conducted a search campaign in localities in the vicinity of the venue. They also surveyed the parking lot to ensure foolproof security arrangements. — TNS

Shiksha acharyas detained for clashing with police, released
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 11
Several shiksha acharyas were arrested for clashing with the police during their protest march here today.

Seeking their appoitment as regular teachers, the protesters took out a “Chetna march”.

They gathered at the Old Raipur bus stand in the morning, from where they proceeded forward.

However, they were stopped from marching ahead leading to minor skirmishes with the police.

The police detained several shiksha acharyas. They were taken to the Suddhowala jail and were released in the evening.

The protesters pledged to continue with their stir till their demand for appointment in government schools is fulfilled. Devendra Bisht, Veer Singh, Sarita, Vinay Dangwal, Suchitra and Beena Negi were prominent among the protesters.

Shiksha acharyas have been holding a dharna at the Old Raipur bus stand site for the past 557 days.

UltraTech to invest Rs 5,000 cr in state
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 11
UtlraTech Limited will invest Rs 5,000 crore in the state. This was stated by Additional Chief Secretary Rakesh Sharma while presenting consent letters to company director RM Gupta in New Delhi today.

Rakesh Sharma said the state government had allowed the company to install cement manufacturing plants at Tyuni in Dehradun and Someshwar in Almora district. The Tynui plant will manufacture 3.5 million tonne cement while the Someshwar plant will manufacture 2 million tonne cement every year.

He said the company would have to adhere to environmental conditions before signing an MoU with the state government.

He expressed hope that besides giving employment to local people, the company would also built public infrastructure as part of its corporate social responsibility in the state. Rakesh Sharma said the state government would also earn revenue from these plants.

Gupta said his company would install state-of-the-art technology giving special emphasis on providing employment to the local people. Senior state government officials were present on the occasion.

CM discusses road repair issue with Fernandes
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 11
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna held a meeting with Union Surface Transport Minister Oscar Fernandes in New Delhi today.

Bahuguna said the state wanted to take over the repair work of a few damaged roads from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

He said the repair work on some of the important damaged roads had not been started by the BRO yet. He said the condition of the Rudraprayag- Gaurikund road was bad and the state government had made a proposal to rebuild the road in consultation with the officials of the Union Surface Transport ministry at a cost of Rs 46 crore.

“The Union Surface Transport ministry has agreed to give the work to the state Public Works Department (PWD),” said Bahuguna.

He said repair of Narsan-Nepali Farm road, Nepali farm-Dehradun road, Bazpur-Sitarganj road and Rudrapur-Kathgodam road was needed urgently.

He also sought faster clearance for the construction of four flyovers in Dehradun city.

Oscar Fernandes said his ministry, Ministry of Defence, Border Roads Organisation (BRO) were committed to rebuild the damaged roads in the state. He said he would personally come to Dehradun to review the work of the repair work next week.

Harak Singh Rawat and senior officials of the state government were also present during the meeting.

CPI (ML) for cancellation of adventure car rally

Dehradun, December 11
Demanding the cancellation of the coming Uttarakhand Adventure Car Rally announced by the state government, the CPI (ML) said the rally would rub salt into wounds of the mid-June disaster victims.

Co-curricular activities help students hone their skills: MLA
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, December 11
Co-curricular activities help students hone their skills as well as contribute in their overall development. This was stated by Ranipur-BHEL legislator Aadesh Chauhan while presiding over the annual function of the Chinmaya College of Science here today.

Chauhan said the youth have emerged as a super power of the country and were excelling globally in all the filed.

Appreciating the social initiatives carried out by the college students and staff faculty, he said it helped in giving a better message to the society as well as inclined the students towards the social aspect.

City Mayor Manoj Garg urged the students to adhere to discipline as it would help them in their education, life and career.

Alok Sharma, principal, said since the formation of the college in 1989 by late Swami Chinmayanand Maharaj, it had been providing quality but affordable education to the students of the district and newer courses were being incorporated from time to time.

Alok Aggarwal, vice-principal, said the college had been following the Lyngdoh commission norms during the student union elections.

The students presented Garhwali folk dance, Punjabi giddha, sufi, bollywood, jazz, contemporary and Gujarati dance during the function.

Recitation of poem, stand-up comedy and religious songs were also presented by the students.

Hindi literati Dr Naresh Mohan, industrialist Sandeep Jain, BHEL HR manager Anil Kapur, R Upahdyaya, VK Mahajan, Vipul Dhandriyal, Anjana Tyagi, Shalu Nautiyal, Vidhi Gaur, Manisha Kala and Pooja Sharma were also present on the occasion.

Guv launches website on Khwaja Ahmad Abbas
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 11
Governor Aziz Qureshi launched the official website on Khwaja Ahmad Abbas at Uttarakhand Niwas in New Delhi today. Members of the Khwaja Ahmad Abbas Centenary Celebrations Committee were also present.

Launching the website, the Governor said, “The contribution of Khwaja Ahmad Abbas to the Indian literature and filmmaking should become known nationally and globally.”

The website is an initiative of the committee formed to observe the birth centenary celebrations of Khwaja Ahmad Abbas and to acquaint the future generation with the works and the personality of this great Indian.

The website will also function as a centre for the documentation, preservation of the legacy of Abbas.

Administration urged to check overloading of passenger vehicles
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, December 11
People from various walks of life have urged the district administration to keep tabs on overloading of passenger vehicles plying in the border regions of Munsiyari and Dharchula.

In the past one month, two accidents due to overloading have snuffed out 30 lives.

“The administration should take strict action against the drivers of overloaded vehicles," said Bhagwan Singh Rawat, convener of the Pithoragarh Lok Manch.

Manch members also submitted a memorandum to the district administration in this regard.

In the memorandum, they said there was no check on the plying of overloaded passenger vehicles in the area. As a result, their drivers continue to flout rules without caring for the lives of the passengers. Since most of the roads in the area were kuccha, accidents were a routine affair. “Only major accidents hog the limelight while minor go unnoticed," said Rawat

Yesterday also, 15 passengers lost their lives when a jeep fell into a deep gorge at Girgaon near Munsiyari town. The overloaded jeep was carrying 21 passengers.

Although Pithoragarh Magistrate Neeraj Khairwal has ordered a magistrate probe into the accident, prima facie, the mishap occurred due to overloading. “The actual reason will be known only after the inquiry is over" said the DM.

Dharchula MLA Harish Dhami said Chief Minister Vijay Bahaguna had announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh each for next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

Meanwhile, president of the Pithoragarh unit of the BJP Kishen Singh Bhandari has demanded immediate release of Rs 5 lakh each to next of kin of the dead. He accused the government of failing to check the menace of overloading of vehicles.

Seeking information
AIFF gets notice for violating CIC order
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 11
The All-India Football Federation (AIFF) will have to face the heat for ignoring the order of the Central Information Commission (CIC), on providing information to an applicant on the affairs of the Uttarakhand State Football Association.

A non-compliance notice had been issued on November 28, 2013, for violating the CIC instructions.

India’s first city football website, www.DehradunFootball.com, had filed an RTI in November 2012, requesting the All-India Football Federation to provide copy of the documents submitted by the Uttarakhand Football Association for obtaining its affiliation. After failing to get information, the applicant approached the Central Information Commission.

Acting on a complaint made by Raju Gusain, co-founder of the football website, the Central Information Commission directed the All-India Football Federation to provide documents and information about the Uttarakhand State Football Association to the applicant within three weeks.

The AIFF delayed the matter and failed to give the relevant information in time.

Even after twelve years, the Uttarakhand State Football Association has not conducted the State Football League so far. To clear the existing confusion, the co-founder of the website had filed an RTI application against the All-India Football Federation on November 9, 2012.

The AIFF provided a casual reply and failed to give information regarding the documents submitted by the Uttarakhand Football Association.

uttarakhand relief package
BJP for creation of all-party panel to oversee spending

Dehradun, December 11
The BJP has demanded the formation of an all-party monitoring committee to oversee the spending of Rs 7,346-crore package sanctioned by the Centre for the relief and rehabilitation of flood-hit Uttarakhand.

"An all-party monitoring committee is needed to prevent any embezzlement of funds meant for the rehabilitation of the mid-June disaster victims," said spokesperson for the state BJP Prakash Suman Dhyani, in a statement here yesterday.

The statement came amid allegations of irregularities in the distribution of relief levelled against government functionaries during the post disaster rehabilitation.

Besides a monitoring committee, concrete guidelines should also be issued to ensure transparency in the expenditure of the package, so that people get the maximum benefit out of it, Dhyani said.

He also demanded an additional package of Rs 5,000 crore for the creation of employment opportunities in the calamity-hit areas where thousands of people have been rendered jobless.

A Cabinet committee headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on December 9 sanctioned the package for the relief and rehabilitation of the flood-hit state.

Of the Rs 7,346 crore, Rs 1,885 will be given for Centre-aided schemes, Rs 1,200 crore for schemes under the National Disaster Relief Fund and Rs 1,100 crore will be given for special plan assistance.

Accusing the state government of being slow in reconstruction efforts, the BJP leader said despite nearly six months after the deluge, life was still waiting to get back to normal in the affected areas with a vast network of roads still damaged. — PTI

State lad makes it to Bengal Ranji team
Tribune News service

Dehradun, December 11
Eashwaran Abhimanyu, a local player of the Abhimanyu Cricket Academy, made it to the West Bengal Ranji Cricket team. He is the first player from the state to be selected for the Ranji team. The 18-year-old player will be making his Ranji debut for West Bengal against Uttar Pradesh at Eden Garden in Kolkota on December 14.

Abhimanyu started with professional coaching when he was in Class V. He had been residing in Bangaon on Indo-Bangladesh border in West Bengal since 2006. He had earlier represented Bengal in the Under-14, Under-16 and Under-19 categories.

He is also fortunate to have guidance from Rajdeep Kalsi, Himachal Pradesh Ranji Coach who monitor his practice sessions.

sports
Warriors subdue Energy XI in football tourney
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 11
In the Inter-department Football Tournament organised by the ONGC Karmchari Kalyan Samiti, Institutional Warriors and Blue Star emerged winners. In the first match of the day, Institutional Warriors beat Energy XI by 2-0. Ravi Sharma and KK Rana scored the goals for Institutional Warriors.

In the second match, Blue Star beat Corporate team by 7-0 in a one sided match. For Blue Star, a total of six goals were scored by Manish Kumar, while one goal was scored by Paramjeet.