CII delegation visits industries in Pantnagar

Dehradun, June 8
The Uttarakhand State Council of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) took an 18-member delegation to TATA Motors Ltd, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd, Minda Corporation Ltd and Delphi-TVS Diesel Systems Ltd at the Pantnagar industrial complex today. The key objective of the visit was to learn the best manufacturing practices these companies were adopting that had made them leaders in their respective areas of work.

Nitin B Tilak, DGM, (Plant and Utility), shared the vision of the TATA group highlighting its values and ethics and briefed the visiting delegation on the high safety standards being adopted by the company to protect environment and people in and around the manufacturing facilities.

Tilak also talked about the good manufacturing practices adopted for excellence in manufacturing. He apprised the delegation about the Taikisha Paint Shop, which was the single largest paint shop in Asia. Ashutosh Varman, AGM, Administration and Corporate Social Responsibility, briefed the delegates on the TATA Motors Vendor Park at Pantnagar and how it was mutually beneficial for the vendors and the company. He said the vendor park on 337 acres and 66 vendors was the largest in the Indian auto industry.

At Mahindra and Mahindra, SK Dubey, plant head, talked about the values and vision of the Mahindra group. He spoke about the measures adopted by the plant to improve the overall productivity. Ashok Singh, DGM, Manufacturing, spoke about the lean organisation structure of the plant with all activities of production under one roof. He said the company strived to build and promote innovation culture at the plant by active employee engagement at all levels.

Sumit Doseja, plant head at Minda Corporation, gave an overview of the best manufacturing practices. He also apprised the delegates of how the company created value for all stakeholders through the Total Employee, Supplier and Customer Involvement programme.

Sudesh Sud, plant head at Delphi-TVS, spoke about the manufacturing processes of the company and how they had moved towards adopting the TPM approach that was helping them enhance production quality.

During the visit of delegation to each of these companies, ideas and thoughts were exchanged on all aspects of better management practices and systems.

A total of 17 delegates from Titan Industries, Dehradun; Ashok Leyland Nissan, Chennai; International SOS Services, New Delhi; Mitsu Chem, Mumbai; Electro Equipments, Roorkee; Sunex Air Tools, New Delhi; Edurables, Dehradun; Jindal Polymers, Kashipur; Crane-Bel International, Ghaziabad; and Ganges International, Pondicherry, were part of the delegation. 

‘Management systems required for rivers’

Dehradun, June 8
Himmotthan Society, Dehradun, in assistance with International Rivers, USA, and the WWF-India, organised a workshop on ‘Environmental Flows’ in Dehradun today.

Welcoming the participants, Dr Malavika Chauhan, Executive Director, Himmotthan Society, said the workshop had been organised to understand the science and politics of environmental flows, because it is being currently used in environmental decision making on rivers in the country.

Dr Ravi Chopra of the People’s Science Institute, Dehradun, began by examining the history of river conservation through Kashyap’s principles. Dr Latha Anantha, River Research Centre, Kerala, spoke about the necessity of environmental flows. She exhorted the participants to consider the cumulative aspect of the many interventions planned across the rivers of India. Parineeta Dandekar from South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP), spoke of the various environmental flow assessment methods in vogue today. She suggested that free-flowing rivers and controlled rivers require separate management systems.

The World Wildlife Fund for Nature-India (WWF) conducted an environmental flows assessment of the upper stretch of the Ganga. This experience was shared by Nitin Kaushal and Suresh Babu of the WWF. They explained the method used, the recommendations, and the lessons learnt from that process.

The post-lunch session included discussions on the impacts of dams in the Himalayas. Himanshu Thakkar of SANDRP explained that the cumulative impact of a stretch of dams is more that the sum of the impact of each dam taken singly. When impact assessments are done for individual dams, citizens lose sight of the fact that taken together, all the dams imply the death of the basins they are located in. However, the cumulative impact assessments as done today do not solve the problem, Thakkar pointed out.

Dr Bharat Jhunjhunwala discussed the cumulative impact assessment of aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity in Alakananda and Bhagirathi basins conducted by Wild Life Institute of India. The difference between a true cumulative impact assessment that looks at the basin as a whole, and a joint report of a series of individual project reports was also highlighted.

Recruit 90 Tiger Guards: Chief Secy

Dehradun, June 5
Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain, during a review meeting of the Forest Department, has directed department officials to recruit 90 “Tiger Guards” out of which 27 should be from the Gujjar community to prevent poaching. He also directed for regular raids, vigilance and patrolling to prevent poaching.
Jain instructed them to identify places where there was necessary to depute the Special Task Force (STF). He said all requisite weapons and equipment would be provided. He also asked them to impart quality training to members of the Wildlife wing.
The Chief Secretary stressed on spreading awareness towards forest fires and directed the department to take effective measures to prevent forest fires. He said even schoolchildren ought to be told about the forest fires and its prevention. He asked the officials to ensure the involvement of local communities and take help from Van Panchayats and Gram
Panchayats. He also instructed them to set up fodder banks.
Principal Chief Forest Conservator Dr RBS Rawat said 38 Master Control Rooms and 1,131 Crew Stations had been established. He said cases had been filed against 22 persons guilty of forest fire and 7 had been sent to jail so far.
Principal Wildlife Warden GD Sharma said 9 infrared cameras had been installed in the 1,288 sq km area of Corbett Park. He claimed that not a single case of poaching had been reported this year. As far as death of three tigers were concerned, he said one had died natural death, another died in a conflict and third one was a suspected to be a poaching case. This case was being investigated, he said.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary Forest M Ramaswamy, Additional Secretary Forest Sushant Patnaik and other senior officers.

World Environment Day in Uttarakhand

Save trees, save environment, says Governor  

Dehradun, June 5
Uttarakhand Governor Aziz Qureshi said here today that it was alarming that environment, once the protector of mankind, was itself endangered and required protection.
Speaking at a function organised at the Raj Bhavan here to mark the World Environment Day today, the Governor said that the Chipko movement of Uttarakhand had created awareness about environment protection all over the world.
He said that every person must resolve to save trees that were being felled or were burning in forest fires.
He said that the issue of nature and environment conservation was the most important issue that needed to be deliberated upon globally.
Addressing the children present on the occasion, the Governor said that protecting the environment was ones' moral responsibility.
The programme was organised by the G.B.Pant High Altitude Zoo, Nainital.
Students of 17 schools of Nainital participated in the painting competition organised on the occasion.
The Governor gave away prizes to 18 winners of the contest.The competition had three categories -one from classes 3 to 5, the second from classes 6 to 8 and the third from classes 9 to 12. In the first category,Chandraprakash of Bharatiya Shaheed Sainik School, in the second Vijaykant of Mohan Lal Shah Bal Vidya Mandir and in the third Khushbu Rawat of Mohan Lal Shah Balika Vidya Mandir won the first prize.
The judges of the competition, A.N.Singh and B.M.Joshi, were also honoured by the Governor.
The Governor also inaugurated, on the occasion, the fernery created by the Forest Department in the Raj Bhavan campus.
210 children take part in skating rally

Dehradun, June 5
As part of World Environment Day, a skating rally was organised in the campus of Forest Research Institute, Dehradun. Director, FRI, Dr PP Bhojvaid, and Uttarakhand Principal Chief Conservator of Forests RBS Rawat flagged off the rally. A total of 210 skaters in the age group of 5-16 participated in the 2.5 km-long rally.
Skaters also displayed posters and slogans on the subject of environment.
Later, a quiz on environment was conducted for the participants of the skating rally. 
Take precautions to check forest fires, says samiti

Haridwar, June 5
In view of the large number of incidents of forest fires in the entire Uttarakhand, a demand has been made to prohibit matchsticks, lighters and other inflammable materials in the forest range.
To highlight this aspect, on World Environment Day, activists of Uttarakhand Sanyukta Sangharsh Samiti, an organisation that played a positive role in the statehood movement, climbed on trees to propagate this message.
Founder of the samiti JP Pandey said that hundreds of hectares of forest and flora and fauna had been destroyed by forest fires this summer season alone, and this was the situation in every fire season.
"Preventive steps need to be taken, particularly prohibiting taking of matchsticks or lighters in the forests' green cover area. Forest officials, too, have pointed that tourists or even local people who come to hills leave behind burned matchsticks or buts of cigarettes, and even adventure tourists, trekkers leave dry burned wood sticks in the forests after using these for cooking purposes. These are the major source of forest fires," said Pandey, while climbing a tree on NH-58 adjacent to Ganga canal.
Dheerendra Pratap, Uttarakhand Congress spokesperson, gave the slogan of 'Saving Forests of Uttarakhand,' distributing awareness paper copies to passersby.
Urging Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna to take stringent steps in this regard, social activist Meera Raturi demanded stringent environmental laws in the state, particularly in forest areas and national parks.
Raturi cited temperatures in the hilly towns of Pauri, Srinagar, Garhwal and Tehri touching 40 degree C, which was alarming owing to degrading forest cover, forest fires and imbalance in local ecology.
Shivangi Gaud, an activist, urged people to plant as many trees as possible on the occasion and expressed concern over thousands of trees being cut for expansion of four lane NH-58.
Tibetans run to spread eco awareness  Mussoorie, June 5
Members of the Regional Tibetan Women’s Association (RTWA) along with the Tibetan community in exile organised a green marathon race here to educate people about conserving environment on the occasion World Environment Day today.
More than 50 participants from the Tibetan community, young and old, gathered at Library Bazaar early morning wearing homemade aprons bearing a message “care for your environment”.
President of the Mussoorie Municipal Council OP Uniyal, who was the chief guest on the occasion, flagged off the race. He commended the efforts of the Tibetan community, especially the RTWA, in sensitising the people towards preserving environment. He gave away citations and awards to the winners of the race.
The RTWA members presented a traditional scarf to Uniyal as a mark of respect. The president of the RTWA, Tsering Yangzom, said, “Environment has become an important issue and if we do not care for it now, the environment problems will worsen and the future generations will have to pay for them dearly.”
Yangzom used the opportunity to highlight the Tibetan issue and said it was also important to draw the attention of the international community towards the impact of climate change upon Tibet’s unique ecosystem and rampant exploitation of its natural resources by the Chinese government. Yangzom criticised the Chinese regime saying it was indiscriminately felling trees in the Tibetan plateau and dumping nuclear waste there. This was dangerous not only for Tibet but also for neighbouring countries as Tibet was a source to many rivers that passed through a large area of the Asian continent, she added.
The RTWA president requested the international community to pressure oppressive China to stop the continuous exploitation of environment in Tibet, which is considered as the Roof of the World.
CM favours ban on polybags

Dehradun, June 5
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has advocated banning polybags and setting up of an environment directorate in the state.
Speaking as the chief guest of a programme organised by the Forest Department and the Pollution Control Board to commemorate World Environment Day here today, Bahuguna expressed concern over forest fires and said at present there was 2, 500 km long fire line in the state. "We will try to increase it up to 9,000 km," he said. Stringent action would be taken against the persons found involved in forest fires.
Laying emphasis on general awareness towards environment conservation, the Chief Minister said special subject on environment ought to be included in the syllabus to connect the maximum youth with environment conservation.
He pointed out that economy and human lives of Uttarakhand was largely depended on environment. Asserting on the balance between environment and development, Bahuguna maintained that along with the preservation of environment, it would be ensured that basic facilities of local people were not adversely affected due to Acts related to environment. "We all have to put unified effort for green economy," he exhorted.
Bahuguna disclosed that financial assistance of Rs 80,000 had been sanctioned for environmentalist Rambabu "Junglee" who is admitted to CMI Hospital.
Also present on the occasion were MLA Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion, Mayor Vinod Chamoli, Principal Chief Forest Conservator Dr RBS Rawat, President of the CII Uttarakhand Chapter R Aggarwal, president of the Indian Medical Association Dr Rajesh Kalra and Member Secretary of the Environment Conservation & Control Board Jayraj.
Chief Minister Bahuguna also planted a sapling at his residence.
Environment Day observed as black day
Dehradun, June 5
Uttarakhand Janmanch members today observed World Environment Day as black day. Janmanch members staged protests in Dehradun, Srinagar and Chamba regions of the state. Janmanch in Dehradun held a protest at Uttarakhand Forest Department headquarters. Raising slogans against state Forest Department, the protesters alleged that Forest Conservation Act was proving a stumbling block in the development of the region.
Uttarakhand Janmanch Principal General Secretary Rajen Todaria said he will further intensify the agitation against the department in the days to come.
A rally was also staged in Srinagar and Chamba in support of hydropower projects in Uttarakhand. The protesters also burnt the effigy of Ganga River Basin Authority.
Sapling plantation drive on varsity campus  
Dehradun, June 5
HNB Garhwal University's Environment Science Department organised a tree sapling plantation drive at its Srinagar Garhwal campus. Vice Chancellor of the university SK Singh, who himself planted a sapling, said environment today was a major concern all across the globe. He said that it was the duty of every person to safeguard the environment.
He said it was a matter of extreme happiness that Uttarakhand had 65 per cent of it's geographical areas under forests and called upon the students to further enhance the forest cover in the state.
Environment Science Department head Ramesh Chandra Sharma spoke about World Environment Day. He referred to a Stockholm conference which was behind the beginning of World Environment Day.
Amla and jamun tree saplings were planted in large numbers by the students of the Environment Department on the occasion.
 
Cycle rally by ABVP
Dehradun, June 5
Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad activists today staged a cycle rally in Dehradun to observe World Environment Day.
Flagging off the rally from Subhash Road, Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli said environment today was a major concern globally and asserted that it was the responsibility of every citizen to work for its conservation.
The rally that started from Subhash Road took Behl Chowk-Rajpur Road route before culminating at Subhash Road itself. A large number of ABVP members participated in the rally.
Madhusudan, Uttarakhand organisational secretary of ABVP, coordinated the event.

Issue of Rudrapur riots

Cases against BJP legislator politically motivated: Bhatt 
Dehradun, June 5
The issue of a CID investigation against BJP MLA for his alleged role in fanning communal violence in Rudrapur (Udham Singh Nagar) on October 2 last year rocked the Uttarakhand Assembly today with the Opposition BJP MLAs demanding a discussion under rule 310 (adjournment motion).
Soon after question hour, the Leader of the Opposition, Ajay Bhatt, said the Speaker should concede to their demand of discussing the issue pertaining to BJP MLA Rajkumar Thukral under rule 310. “Why has the police slapped cases under Sections 302 and 304 against the MLA and recommended CID enquiry seven months after 39 people were sent to jail in the Rudrapur riots case? The move is politically motivated and smacks of political vendetta,” said Bhatt.
But the Speaker of the House, Govind Singh Kunjwal, accepted the demand under rule 58, which incensed the Opposition members, who trooped to the well of the House and accompanied by BJP MLA Rajkumar Thukral staged a sit-in dharna, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House twice.
The BJP MLA alleged the cases against him have been registered seven months after the violence at the behest of rural Congress. “They are keen to tarnish my image; my life is in danger,” said the MLA, who demanded security for himself.
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Indira Hriyadesh also tabled the fourth Annual Report (2008-2009) along with the action taken report (ATR) of Uttarakhand Information Commission.
Rawat seeks CBI probe into Rudrapur riots 
Dehradun, June 5
Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Food Processing and Parliamentary Affairs Harish Rawat has demanded a CBI probe into Rudrapur riots that took place in the Udham Singh Nagar district of the state last year.
In a letter written to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Food Processing and Parliamentary Affairs Harish Rawat said Uttarakhand government can set an example by ordering a CBI probe into the incident. He asserted Rudrapur riots were part of a planned conspiracy and pointed out that many Muslim organisations have met him and sought a CBI probe into the riots.
Rawat has also sought adequate compensation for those affected in the riots.

‘States should adopt forest certification’

Dehradun, June 5
Director General, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, today organised a workshop on forest certification on World Environment Day.
DG, ICFRE, Dr VK Bahuguna said the forest certification was a mechanism for forest monitoring, tracing and labelling timber, wood and pulp products and non-timber forest products against a series of agreed standards.
He said in order to meet the growing demand for certification in the global market, the forest industry had to look for certified forests and plantations to source their raw materials. So the forest certification was required to be adopted in different states of the country and the ICFRE and its institutes could play a key role in this.
He said in the international market, there was a lot of market for certified wood and the forest certification was increasingly becoming popular in European and Western countries and once it was adopted in India, the economic prospects for the forest industry and agro-forestry would improve.
Berty Van Hensbergen, Chairman, SSC Forestry Group Ltd, who has come from England to support the forest certification in India and to give training to officers and scientists of the ICFRE on the forest certification, participated in the inaugural session of the workshop.
Forest Research Institute Director Dr PP Bhojvaid was also present on the occasion.

Very few making use of RTI in Uttarakhand

Dehradun, June 5
The Uttarakhand Information Commission has pointed out that only a small population among the villagers is using the Right to Information (RTI). In it's annual report (2008-2009) tabled in the House today, the Uttarakhand Information Commission has expressed dismay at the inability of women and rural folk in taking recourse to Right to Information and has asked the state government to take notice of the issue.
"Despite the recommendation by the Information Commission asking the government to launch awareness programmes for these groups, no effort has been made so far by the government," the report states.
However, the government managed to take action on some of the suggestions made by the commission. These include resolving first appeals in all the departments.
The other suggestion that has been accepted by the government is providing training about handling appeals under Right to Information at the state and district level.
While ranking the 76 government departments on the RTI index, the office of the Principal Conservator of Forests (PCF) has emerged on top, followed by the Department of Women Empowerment and Child Development at the second spot, and Sericulture Department at the third spot.
The RTI ranking matrix comprised Uttarakhand Information Commission keeping a track of RTI compliance, including keeping RTI manual, annual report, maintenance of records etc.