Tomato farmers may get Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200 per quintal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 19
Farmers may fetch Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200 per quintal for their tomato produce in the forthcoming tomato season in November-December. This forecast has been made by scientists of Agricultural Economics Department of Pantnagar University under an NPMI project, ‘Network project on market intelligence’ of the department. The main objective of this project is to release price forecasts of select agricultural commodities before sowing and during harvesting.

The project team of Dr AN Shukla and Rojani Mishra of Pantnagar centre, under the supervision of Dr Anil Kumar, principal investigator of the project, conducted a market survey of Haldwani regulated market, a major market for tomato in Uttarakhand, and analysed the wholesale price data that prevailed for the last 13 years.

The econometric analysis indicated that the wholesale prices of tomato in Haldwani market would range between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,200 per quintal in November and December, 2014. This forecast is based on past data and model and the actual market price may not be the same as forecast. The farmers have been advised by scientists to take marketing and storage decisions of tomato according to price forecast.

The top 10 producers of tomato in the world are China, India, USA, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, Italy, Spain, Uzbekistan and Brazil. These together contribute about 76 per cent of the total production. India ranks second, contributing around 11.6 per cent of the world’s production. This crop is grown over 8 lakh hectares in India, getting the country to rank second among the countries having the maximum area under tomato cultivation.

The yield rate per hectare in India is quite low. It stands at 20 tonne per hectare as compared to 50-55 tonne per hectare in USA, Italy and Spain. Major tomato-growing states in India are Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu, which account for about 90 per cent of India’s tomato production.

Tomato is a major vegetable widely produced throughout Uttarakhand, where it is grown both in hills and in plains. Nainital, Dehradun, US Nagar and Haridwar are the four major districts producing tomato and make for about 65 per cent of the total production in the state.

Looking ahead

• The econometric analysis indicates that the wholesale prices of tomato in Haldwani market will range between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,200 per quintal in November and December
• This forecast is based on past data and model and the actual market price may not be the same
• The farmers have been advised by scientists to take marketing and storage decisions of tomato according to the price forecast.

Revenue police fail to check crime in Kumaon
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, October 19
The revenue police have failed to check rising crime in the Kumaon region. Most of the geographical area in the hills is covered by revenue police personnel, who are not even slightly trained in combating crimes by notorious criminals, who are making inroads into the hill region, says DIG, Kumaon, Ganesh Singh Martolia, who shared his views with mediapersons during his visit to the district today.

The DIG said the existence of a parallel policing system in the name of revenue police is another obstacle in modernising the police force in the state. “The Government of India has no funds to modernise revenue police and we cannot obtain funds for police modernisation from the Government of India, for the force that has been named as revenue police,” he said. “Even when Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, during his visit to the state last month, was informed about the existence of revenue police in the state, his reaction was — Which police is this?” said the DIG.

According to the DIG, the state police force could be trained in modern equipment and methodology when the state is able to do away with the dual system of police like in other states.

Talking to mediapersons, the DIG said as land mafia are increasing their activities in the region, the police department constitutes SIT to check their activities in the region. “We are increasing police presence for disaster mitigation by organising special training for police jawans at Almora,” said the DIG.

The Kumaon DIG has emphasised on checking smuggling across the Nepal border at spots adjoining the Nepal border. He said by cooperating with the SSB and other border policing forces, the state police is checking smuggling on priority.

NMC: State ignoring welfare of minorities
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 19
The members of the National Minorities Commission (NMC) have expressed dismay at the manner in which the Uttarakhand government has given little importance to the prime minister’s 15-point programme for the welfare of minorities by failing to hold regular meetings chaired by the Chief Secretary.

Here on a visit to the capital to evaluate the performance of the Central scheme for minorities under way in the state, members of the commission Ajaib Singh and Captain Praveen Davar said there was an excellent opportunity for the state to utilise the funds disbursed for building toilets, health facilities, ITIs etc in minority districts. “But these can only materialise if regular meetings are held under the 15-point programme. We have been told that the last meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary of the state under the 15-point programme was held in October last year. So many months have passed and not a single meeting has been held this year,” said Dr Ajaib Singh.

He also said under the Minorities Sectoral Development Programme (MSDP) enough funds are available, but the state has been lagging behind in presenting proposals on time. “We can release the funds only on receiving proposals and in case the plan pertains to the construction of schools or ITI, the government has to ensure the land too is available,” stressed Dr Singh.

He said that the commission has received proposal for the construction of three new ITIs at Bhagwanpur in Haridwar, Kashipur in Udham Singh Nagar and in Vikasnagar, Dehradun, under the 13th finance commission for the year 2014-2015 from the state government. “These proposals are being examined and would be sanctioned once they fulfil the norms laid down under the MSDP,” said Singh.

Visually impaired students undertake cleanliness drive
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, October 19
Visually impaired students of Swami Azranand Blind High School today collected garbage along the school premises adjacent to the Ganga in Haridwar. The students collected garbage on the school premises and in surrounding areas, urging people to ensure cleanliness in the city.

The school manager Swami Swapyanand Maharaj said on knowing about the Clean Ganga drive being undertaken by various schools, colleges, educational institutes and social-political organisations, these students felt elated to be a part of it.

He said the school had been providing education to visually impaired children at Bhoopatwala and hoped their effort was able to make other people think about the condition of the Ganga Ghats and the pollution being inflicted on the river. School principal Amit Kumar said the message given by these differently abled students should be an inspiring one for the society. He expressed the hope that people would not put garbage, plastic and litter on or near Ganga ghats.

CM praises power engineers
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 19
Chief Minister Harish Rawat yesterday praised engineers of the state power corporation of not ever resorting to any strike to highlight their concerns, thereby revealing their commitment to betterment of general public.

Addressing a convention of the Uttarakhand Power Engineers Association, the Chief Minister said strike was never a solution and only hurts the general public. He said his government was equally concerned for the genuine demands of power engineers and would work in that direction.

He appealed to the Uttarakhand power corporation engineers that apart from making efforts to increase power generation, they should also take steps to save power in the state.

He said it was important for Uttarakhand to find new ways of revenue generation. Secretary Power Umakant Panwar and association’s national president Shailendra Dubey were prominent among those present on the occasion.

Surendar Pundir’s book released
Ajay Ramola
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, October 19
A book titled ‘Jaunpur ka Sanskritik evam Rajnitik Itihaas’ written by noted author from Mussoorie Surendar Pundir was released jointly by MLA Mussoorie Ganesh Joshi, Municipal Council president Manmohan Singh Mall, former MLA Mussoorie Jot Singh Gunsola and Steve Alter at a function organised by Joseph Alter at the Hanifle Centre of Woodstock School in Mussoorie today.

The book highlights the history of political, cultural and sociological aspects of the Yamuna valley region in Garhwal.

The audience at the Hanifle Centre was also treated to a unique form of traditional mask dance called Patra from Garhwal, wrapped with satire on contemporary issues. It was directed by DR Purohit, director of the Centre for Folk, Performing Arts and Culture at HNB Garhwal University in Srinagar.

The show began with the mythological sage Narada or Burhdeva, who is known to travel from one world to another listening to woes, ushering in various deities in front of the audience amid beating of traditional drums.

The character Narada, while introducing the deities, took a dig at contemporary socio-political issues being faced by the people in the hills, namely the practice of liquor consumption and environment protection. The invited guests from the political field, including Municipal Council president, had to face the brunt of the plainspeak of Narada as he did not fall short of mentioning the delay in construction of clock tower, traffic jams and narrow roads, major problems of the town.

Even American authors Joseph and Steve Alter were not spared by the sarcastic remarks on the occasion.

Dr Purohit, the brain behind the project, said considering the present socio-political condition, he thought of incorporating contemporary issues and problems being faced by the man on the street in the form of satire along with the traditional story attached to the dance-drama based on Narada.

Students from American universities also enjoyed the dance-drama thoroughly. Students from Garhwal English Medium School (GEMS) and several other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

A mythological sage

• The show began with the mythological sage Narada or Burhdeva, who is known to travel from one world to another listening to woes, ushering in various deities in front of the audience amid beating of traditional drums
• The character Narada, while introducing the deities, took a dig at contemporary socio-political issues being faced by the people in the hills, namely the practice of liquor consumption and environment protection.

Committee on power policies sought
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 19
Shailendra Dubey, chairman, All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF), has sought from the Centre constitution of a high-level committee comprising members of AIPEF for amendment of power-related policies. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should head the committee to revive the country’s power sector.

He said the power sector had huge potential to meet the country’s growing demand for energy, but the sector was bearing the brunt of wrong policies implemented during the Congress-led UPA regime.

Addressing mediapersons here yesterday, Shailendra Dubey, chairman, AIPEF, said that members of AIPEF and Employees National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers will stage a protest in front of the Parliament House during the session in December.

Dubey said that a memorandum would be submitted to President Pranab Mukherjee after the protest in order to re-amend the Electricity Act 2003.

He alleged that private power generation companies were blackmailing the government to increase tariff by giving threats that their power plants would be closed if their demands were not fulfilled. Dubey said the Centre should take concrete steps to keep a tab on private electricity generating companies of the country.

He said the government should take steps to fill various vacant posts of state power corporations in order to lower line loss and to provide the best service to consumers.

JMS Rauthan, YS Tomar, PP Sharma, Vinod Saxena, TM Bharadwaj and others were present.

POLITICAL DIARY
Cong leaders scramble for posts in government bodies
SMA Kazmi
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 19
The indications given by the Chief Minister Harish Rawat that senior Congress leaders would be given various positions in the boards, corporations, commissions and various other government bodies has created a lot of enthusiasm amongst the party rank and file.

The Chief Minister had indicated that Congress leaders would be given positions before Diwali. This has set off a scramble amongst the Congress leaders, particularly those belonging to the Harish Rawat camp, to lobby hard for such berths.

The Harish Rawat camp followers had been waiting since he assumed office on February 1, 2014, to get such positions that had been lying vacant for the past nearly two-and-a-half years. The Congress came to power in the state Assembly polls held in January 2012. Former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, who was under tremendous pressure from Harish Rawat camp who opposed his elevation as CM, appointed mostly legislators and a few other senior persons before quitting office in January.

Rawat, who took over as Chief Minister, also began on a cautious note and initially did not appoint any party leader to such positions. Gradually, he also appointed a few of his trusted persons on some key positions. However, most of the positions in the boards, corporations and commissions, remained vacant. It was his trusted lieutenant, the Uttarakhand Congress chief, who initiated the move. He stated that there has been resentment amongst the senior party leaders since half of the term of the state Congress government has already elapsed and most of them have not been “adjusted” during their own regime.

The CM, despite giving indications of such a move, is aware that such en masse appointment of leaders on government positions is not a wise political move and is looked down upon by the general public. He thus ruled out large-scale distribution of such positions, arguing that a poor state like Uttarakhand could not afford burden on the state exchequer brought by such appointments.

It was expected that the CM would appoint a few of his trusted Congress leaders on such positions. Already, the Opposition BJP has raked up the issue of appointment of parliamentary secretaries with ministerial ranks.

Treading cautiously

• When Harish Rawat took over as Chief Minister, he began on a cautious note and initially did not appoint any party leader to such positions. Gradually, he also appointed a few of his trusted persons on some key positions
• The Chief Minister is aware that en masse appointment of leaders on government positions is not a wise political move and is looked down upon by the general public
• It is expected that the Chief Minister will appoint a few of his trusted Congress leaders on such positions.

Festivities mark Ecole Globale founder’s day
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 19
Ecole Globale School celebrated its third founder’s day here yesterday. The school campus was abuzz with activities and students remained in a festive mood throughout the day.

The programme commenced with a prayer “Sangha Chadwam”, followed by the lighting of a lamp by Manoj Srivastava, Deputy Registrar and regional officer of the CBSE in Dehradun.

During the event, the students were also given awards for excellence in sports, art and literary skills.

School principal Brinda Ghosh presented the annual report highlighting the achievements of the school in the last one year. She emphasised on integrating soft skills in the curriculum. The president of the school, Amarjeet Juneja, welcomed the chief guest and the parents.

Girl students presented a Korean song and dance performance. Grade XII students shared their experiences and fun moments at Ecole Globale and entertained the audience with a song.

A dance performance choreographed by the Shiamak Davar group, focusing on women empowerment, was the main event of the evening. It depicted the hardships and struggles of women in society and how they drew support, and strength from other women.

Students bring laurels to KV FRI

Dehradun, October 19
Students of Kendriya Vidhyalaya FRI brought laurels for the school after winning a number of events in the cluster-level social science exhibition held at KV OLF recently.

Hungarian artistes perform at RIMC, Oak Grove School
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 19
World famous Hungarian artistes presented folk dances and songs at Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) and Oak Grove School here yesterday. The programmes were organised by SPIC MACAY Dehradun in cooperation with the Hungarian Information and Cultural Centre, New Delhi. Seventeen artistes performed at both venues.

Sándor Timár, choreographer, and his wife Böske presented Hungarian folk dances which are popular in Hungary and Europe.

The Csillagszemûek, one of the Hungarian folk dances, presented is world’s most famous and is regularly performed at the Hungarian star-gala in opera houses.

Hungary’s Prima Primissima (best of the best) Prize was conferred on the duo in 2006.

108 services lifeline for poor, says bureaucrat
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 19
“Manage, Live and Lead,” a book by Venkat Changavalli, founder Chief Executive of EMRI, was released in Dehradun yesterday. Releasing the book at a ceremony organised by Uttarakhand Chapter of India Media Centre, bureaucrat Umakant Pawar lauded the role of Venkat Changavalli towards setting up EMRI 108 ambulances in the country.

He said these ambulances today are lifeline for the poor in many states of the country. He said youth needs to learn a lot from Venkat Changavalli. He hoped that the book “Manage, Live and Lead” will be a source of inspiration for them. An alumnus of Indian Institute of Management, Ahmadabad, Venkat Changavalli said the book had in totality his 37 years of experience of corporate world.

Char Dham Yatra in winter welcomed

Mussoorie, October 19
The business community of the town is elated at the announcement by the government to promote the Winter Char Dham Yatra and other activities like Winter Line Carnival to promote tourism.

President of Hotels and Restaurant Association of Uttarakhand (HRAU), Sandeep Sahni said tourism was the industry that was capable of providing mass scale employment in the state and the Winter Char Dham Yatra would help attain these goals and mitigate the problem of migration.

He hailed Chief Minister Harish Rawat’s decision as a historic one and in the interest of the poor population of the state. — TNS

Angling competition underway

Pithoragarh, October 19
The Eighth International Angling Competition began at Pancheswar in Champawat district yesterday. As many as 13 anglers from the country and abroad are taking part in the competition, said SK Das, organiser of the event.

The anglers compete for catching “golden mahshir” which is found especially in Himalayan glacial-fed rivers like the Kali and other rivers

Besides Indian anglers from Haryana, Gujarat, Manipur, Chennai, Mumbai, Assam and Delhi, two anglers from America are taking part in the competition.

According to the method of competition, the anglers catch fish and leave them into water after measuring their length and weight and the competitor, who catches fishes of maximum weight, wins the competition. — OC

FCI Delhi Football Club win tourney
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 19
FCI Delhi Football Club clinched the 3rd Narendra Singh Kharola Memorial All India Football Tournament, defeating Garhwal Heroes Club 1-0 in the final played at the Pavilion Ground here today.

Despite numerous attempts, both teams could not score in the first half of the match. In the second half, Mahendra scored a goal in the 80th minute for FCI Delhi and won the match for his team. Although Garhwal Heroes tried its best to score the equaliser in the last 10 minutes of the match, they could not penetrate the strong defence of FCI Delhi.