Tehri (Uttaranchal), 30 Dec 2004

Environmentalists in Tehri, home to the world’s fourth biggest dam project, fear for the safety of millions of residents saying that the highly seismic region could get active again.

After the Tsunamis killed thousands in Asia, people living near the Tehri Dam are worried about their lives, as the region is an earthquake prone region. Scientists fear the 260-metre high Tehri Dam is coming up in an earthquake-prone area and can endanger the lives of millions if damaged. Landslides occur frequently in this region.

Environmentalists, therefore, believe that the mountains will not be able to bear such a huge structure. “This is an indication for us because this is earthquake prone zone. People say this will not affect the dam but I doubt as these hills are very weak and these will fall into the dam,” said Sunder Lal Bahuguna, an eminent environmentalist.

Local people have been opposing the dam. Many scientists and environmentalists have pointed out the grave risks involved in building this dam in a highly earthquake-prone zone. But authorities dismiss these allegations of risk saying the project is really going to be beneficial for the people. “The inspection of the dam has been done. Our dam is safe there is no question about it. Dam is completed. Now we have to take benefits from this dam,” said S.C Sharma, director of the Tehri dam.

Tehri is situated in the highly active Himalayan Seismic Zone. It is designed to withstand earthquake of up to 7.2 on the Richter scale, although experts predict that earthquakes of magnitude 8.5 or more could strike this region.

The Tehri project was started in 1976 as a joint venture between the Centre and the state governments but has been mired by controversy ever since with fears of safety and compensation woes plaguing it. Estimated to be built at a cost of five billion rupees initially, the cost for the dam has since escalated by more than 10 times. Almost 42 billion rupees have been spent on the project which, when completed, will generate 2500 megawatt electricity. It will also control floods in the area and provide water to irrigate 270,000 hectares of land. (ANI)

News Source: http://athens-olympics-2004.newkerala.com

Chaupdiyal (Uttaranchal), 13 Dec 2004

Farmers in the upper reaches of Uttaranchal are a happier lot these days as their income from farming activity has almost doubled, thanks to new farming techniques.

Now, farmers don’t have to sit idle for half of the year when there is no sowing. They have switched to sowing of unseasonal vegetables.

The farmers plough their fields round the year irrespective of any season to get the best out of their lands. Kamleshwar, a farmer, who earlier used to earn only for six months by selling his regular yield, says his income has doubled with the sowing period doubled. “Since the time we have started sowing unseasonal vegetables our profit has doubled. We sow the regular season crops also but now have started sowing them and they are in great demand,” he added.

Farmers say that by rearing peas, cauliflower, cabbage, carrot among other vegetables, which was difficult to be sown in this climate, are now being sown with great ease due to the availability of good manure and latest farming techniques.

Kishan Dabral, a farmer, said that with new methods of crop growing, they were able to grow those vegetables that could be grown in winter season. “We have done this by using poly house.

Now, we are getting crops that could not be grown in the winter season. We have sown tomatoes, peas, cabbage and some for getting seeds. We are growing quite a few vegetables,” said Dabral.

A poly-house structure, essentially an open vent type half dome shaped with ultra-violet stabilised film as cover,is used for providing technological support to cultivation.

Another aspect of the new farming technique is that a greater number of farmers will now be employed throughout the year. (ANI)

News Source: http://news.newkerala.com

Dehradun, 13 Dec 2004

Senior Congress leader and Union Minister Oscar Fernandes today assured Congress workers that the Central Goverment would consider bringing a bill in parliament to change the name of Uttaranchal to Uttarakhand The assurance came during Fernandes’ meeting with the Congress workers here in the backdrop of the growing demand from the party’s state unit to change the name of Uttaranchal keeping in mind the public sentiments.

“The Central Government would consider the demands of Uttaranchal Congress sympathically,” the Union Programme and Implementation Minister said.

Fernandes, who was on a day’s visit to Dehra Dun, also assured the Congress workers that the Centre would consider their demand for a comprehensive economic package for the state.

Congress spokesman Surendra Kumar welcomed Fernandes’ promise and expressed the hope that the Centre would soon accept the demands of the state unit. PTI

News Source: http://www.teamindia.net

Dehradun, 12 Dec 2004

Uttaranchal is making strides in the sericulture sector with production level of bivoltine raw silk yarn touching 12 metric tonnes and that of silk fabrication 5400 metres.

While tasar silk is being produced in the hilly areas of Uttarkashi, Dehra Dun and Tarai areas are taking lead in mulberry sericulture, official sources said here today.

The annual turnover in silk business is all set to touch Rs one crore – thanks to active participation of farmers and private companies, they said.

In a bid to enter the world market, the state government has also roped in a Chinese company to produce world class silk.

The Yunnan Meiyu Sericulture Science and Technique company, producing high quality Iva silk, and farmers in Dehra Dun district are experimenting a new yield which experts say would be just like the Chinese silk.

Under the recently signed agreement between the two sides, the Chinese company would provide technical know-how for cocoon rearing to farmers, the sources said. PTI

News Source: http://www.teamindia.net

Dehradun, 11 Dec 2004

Uttaranchal government starts off with a unique project to uplift the living standards of its farmers.

Each farmer whose living standard is Below Poverty Line is being given Jatropha saplings for planting in their land.

“The main aim is to uplift BPL families and we want to uplift 50,000 BPL families to APL in four years time. And the biggest aimis to produce bio diesel,” said Atul Lohia, Secretary, Uttaranchal Biofuel Board.

Scientists in India had earlier extracted fuel grade oil, named as “Bio Diesel”, from Jatropha plants to prepare bio-diesel to run vehicles.

Sohan Singh, a farmer who has been given the saplings strongly believes that by cultivating Jatropha trees, which yield seeds that give one fourth weight of a processed oil equivalent to diesel, would help the farmers to overcome the financial crisis.

Also their barren land would become fertile.

“The farmers are facing two kinds of problems, one is that the soil which is not fertile can be made fertile, plus we are getting money both for sowing the seeds and also we get seventy percent will be ours after the plant bears fruit,” said Sohan Singh.

“Previously it was barren mountains only but now that I can plant Jatropha, we hope that we will be in a better position from then onwards,” said Mehar Singh, another farmer.

According to Nav Prabhat, Forest Minister “The planning Commission had made the project and the central government has decided that upto 25 percent of bio fuel will be mixed to our fuel by increasing the percentage by five to ten percent every year”.

The trees are very common in India and are easily grown in dry tracts in high altitude areas.

Researchers in this bio diesel have found that Jatropha seeds contain about 46-58 percent of oil, 30-35 percent of which can be extracted in a dry expeller.

Jatropha plant has also been found to reduce the CO2 content in the atmosphere and the new bio diesel would be environment friendly and help bring down pollution levels.

Scientists say that mass production is also feasible as Jatropha is an easy growing plant and can be mass bred even in a wasteland.

A substantial amount of the GDP is earmarked for the import of crude oil and petroleum based products.

Diesel accounts for about 40 percent of the refined products sold in India .

India imports 70 percent of its crude oil requirement for its 17 refineries that can process 2.3 million barrels per day.(ANI)

Src: http://news.newkerala.com

Dehradun, December 10, 2004

A glittering ceremony on Friday saw 546 cadets pass out of the Indian Military Academy (IMA) at Dehradun in Uttaranchal state.

The academy has a proud record of a large number of officers, decorated for gallantry, who have passed out from within its portals, and has the distinction of training Gentlemen Cadets from many friendly foreign countries.

The historic Chetwode Drill Square of the IMA resounded with booming commands and the thumping of young, determined heels as enthusiastic parents, friends and relatives of the cadets watched the young men being commissioned officers into the Indian Army.

The Prince of Malaysia was among 19 foreign cadets who passed out of the academy.

Located between the Shivalik and Himalayan foothills in the scenic and forested Doon valley, the campus of the academy covers an area of about 1,500 acres mid-way between the Ganges and the Yamuna rivers.

The IMA was established on October 1, 1932, with British Brigadier l.P.Collins as commandant. Till 1932 Indian officers used to be trained at the Royal Military Academy, andhurst, alongwith British officers.

Over the years IMA’s capacity has been raised to train 1,950 cadets annually.

In recent years, army officials have expressed concern over the decreasing number of youth opting for a career in the forces.

Till a decade ago, youngmen’s options were limited to jobs either in the Indian government or the army.

But with the liberalisation of economy which began in early 1990s and the boom in information technology sector, a career in private corporate sector has emerged one of the most attractive ptions for the graduates. (ANI)

News Source: http://netindia123.com