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July 4, 2018

Dehradun, A meeting presided by Uttarakhand Sports and Youth Welfare minister Arvind Pandey to discuss successfully organising the “Khel Mahkumbh 2018” was held at Secretariat. Officials from Education, Sports and Youth Welfare Department were present on the occasion. He directed the officials to provide better environment for the block, district and state level sports competitions and ensure the participation of the sportspersons from the remote areas of the state. He said that the selection of the state level sportspersons should be done before the assigned dates of the national sports events.

He asked officials to coordinate with School Games Federation of India and Youth Welfare Department to complete the registration and selection process on time. He directed the officials to conduct the sports event at Nyay Panchayat, Block and District level as per the calendar and publicize the event as much as possible. He said that the open competition should be held in various categories and then the sports persons should be selected and registered.

He directed to double the sum of cash award to the sports persons and enquired about the progress of 7500 sports persons registered last year. He said that football was the popular sports of the state and directed to conduct a grand football event and ensure adequate food and stay of the sportspersons involved in such event.

He also discussed the ways to provide attractive prizes for the talented sportspersons so that more are attracted towards sports.

Administration on alert as heavy rains predicted to lash State

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July 4, 2018

SDRF teams stationed at 31 places in the state
Leaves of field employees cancelled till September 15
74 satellite telephones are being used in disaster management
Amit Negi, Secretary, Disaster management provides information at a press conference

Amit Negi, Secretary, Disaster Management informed all present at the Secretariat here that the administration was on alert in view of heavy rains in the state. However, the situation is normal.

He said that the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary are continuously reviewing all the necessary preparations. Several roads which are sensitive from view point of landslides have been identified and JCB, Polk-land machines and manpower have been deployed at such places so that in case of landslides, the blocked roads could be opened immediately.

Telephone numbers of junior engineers, assistant engineers and driver of JCB machines have been made available to the disaster management centres and concerned tehsil headquarters. In view of heavy rains, the leaves of field staff has been cancelled till September 15.

All concerned officers and employees associated with disaster management have been put on alert. Coordination has been established with army, ITBP,BRO and other agencies. Alternate track routes have been made at places on the national highway which are identified as chronic landslides zones so that vehicles on both sides on any such landslides could be arranged for transshipment of passengers.

Shelter points have been identified on the ‘Char Dham Yatra’ route where pilgrims could be stopped safely in case of any emergency. Required safety equipment for disaster relief are available in sufficient number at the tehsil level.

Pilgrims enroute to Kailash Mansarovar yatra were safe. He said that, “effort of the state government that communication and information system work under any circumstances. Uttarakhand is one of the state where largest number of satellite telephones are being used.” Adding, “We have 74 satellite telephones which are provided to District Magistrates. We have arranged for two helicopters one each for Garhwal and Kumoan regions.”

The necessary stock of rations and other essentials commodities for three months have already been arranged in the remote areas. The SDRF teams have been deployed at 31 places in the state. A total of 7500 policemen deployed in far off posts have been provided training in disaster management and volunteers have also been activated.

Keeping alive the memory of George Everest

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July 3, 2018

Mussoorie, For two hundred years and more there has been no doubt about Sir George Everest’s birthday. One struggles to understand the knee jerk, last minute, frenetic efforts by the Uttarakhand Tourism Department’s efforts to celebrate the famous Surveyor-General’s entry into this world.

A two day celebration is being organised in Mussoorie’s Park Estate and other sprawling venues in town that includes lots of entertainment: from Heritage Walk to Cycling, Mountain Biking, food and handicraft stalls, screening of a movie based on the life of the Great Man, as well as local musical bands, story telling sessions, traditional dance performances and a photo exhibition are just some of the events that hope to attract not only locals but tourists too.

Today i.e. on the 3rd of July, the first day of the two day event, an interesting insight into the stupendous achievement of completing the calculations of the Great Meridian Arc will be highlighted by famous authors Stephen Alter and Ganesh Saili, at the Savoy Hotel Mussoorie.

Perhaps it is in the fitness of things that the programme concludes with a Jagar rendition by Garhwali folksinger Preetam Bhartwan. It is hoped this ‘too little, too late’ makes the Tourism Department awaken from its slumber and pull up its proverbial socks. It doesn’t take a genius to put together an annual calendar, so that programmes can be scheduled way in advance and not become a parcel stuck together with gum and cell-o-tape.

That indeed would be a befitting tribute to a great soul who made his home in Mussoorie from 1832-1843 at the 600 acre Park Estate whose fate swings like a pendulum between various government agencies looking for a face-lift and little care, if not more.

Chief Secretary issues weather advisory for Kumaon districts

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July 2, 2018

The meteorological department has predicted heavy rainfall in Kumaon region on July 3, 2018. There could be heavy to very heavy rainfall at some places in Pithoragarh, Champawat, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar districts.

Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Utpal Kumar Singh has issued an advisory to the district magistrates of these districts to remain alert. The Mansarovar pilgrims have been specially advised to remain alert and coordinate with district administration. The District management and SDRF have also been instructed to be prepared for any disaster as a precautionary measure.

For the Love of Theatre: Kailash Kumar

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July 2, 2018

Pithoragarh. This is the journey of Kailash Kumar, a banker by qualification who today is a full-time theatre artist. It all started when, at an early age, Kailash was awe-struck by Hilljatra, a traditional mask-dance performed in his hometown.

Born in Pithoragarh but raised in New Delhi, Kumar worked as a banker for a few months, before he gave it all up at the age of 23 and took up theatre, his first love.

A diploma holder in theatre from Jaipur Natyakulam, Kailash received a two year scholarship in Theatre Art which further honed his theatrical skill. On his annual visit back home, Kailash painstakingly put together motley of like-minded artists and performed the first, but not the last Hilljatra in 2011-2012, and since then, he and his troupe has been on a roll.

Talking to Newspost, in between rehearsal breaks, Kailash tells us how he realized that, “if I had to take this dance forward, then I had to return to my roots.’ In 2015, the young lad took the long way home with bag and baggage to Pithoragarh to start what he set out to do and ‘haven’t regretted my decision one bit!’

Presently, Kailash is nurturing and reviving his rich cultural heritage by taking this dance-form out off the hills and spreading it far and wide. His troupe Bhaav Raag Taal Natya Academy which consists of over 25 people from 15 year old to 83 year old enthusiasts have performed not only Hilljatra but dances based on folklores along with Sanskrit plays too.

Telling us more about the dance form, he adds, “Hilljatra recreates scenes from when a farmer with oxen at his heals, works in his fields sowing crop as soon as monsoon rains come calling. The characters performing the jatra transform themselves into oxens, herders, sheperds, farmers wearing wooden masks and costumes singing songs to please the weather gods.”

A recipient of ‘Loknatya Ratna Samaan’ 2016, the coveted 2018 “Uttarakhand Gaurav Samaan” Award along with the ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage or ICH Fellowship’ for his hard-work and dedication for reviving a forgotten dance form. Yet, the biggest reward, Kailash feels is, “when I see the next generation turning out in large numbers to be part of the troupe, I know for sure that our rich culture and heritage is in safe hands, a heart-warming feeling.‘

47 dead and few grievously injured in Pauri Bus Accident

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July 1, 2018

Pauri, Residents of Pauri District woke up to what many claim to be a Black Sunday. 47 dead and a few seriously injured in a fatal bus accident that has sent shivers throughout the hill-state.

Tragedy struck around 8:45 a.m. today morning in Naini-danda block, on the Pipli-Bhaun road. A local 28-seater passenger bus number UK 12C 0159 was full beyond capacity. Close to 52 passengers were said to be on-board when the vehicle rolled off the hill close to Gwin Bridge, landing turtle in a deep ravine. The ill-fated bus is said to be heading from Bhaun to Ramnagar when eye-witnesses tell us that the bus driver lost control while negotiating a bed and went off the road, much to everyone’s horror.

Locals from Quin Village were the first to reach the crash site and aid and assist the passengers of the ill-fated bus. Police and local administration along with SDRF team lost no time in reaching the spot to assist in relief and rescue. Sanjay Gunjiyal, IG SDRF speaking to Newspost said, “Presently there are close to 25-30 police personnel and another 10-12 SDRF personnel over-seeing relief and rescue, more are on their way. Rain and overcast weather has made it impossible to airlift and bring the injured from Dhumakot to Dehradun impossible. At present the injured are being treated at a Primary Health Centre, in Dhumakot.”

Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat expressed deep anguish at the unfortunate incident and has announced 2-2 lakh each to next to kin of those who lost their lives and 50-50 thousand each to those who have been injured. Chief Minister also instructed officials to make use of chopper services to evacuate the injured and bring them to Dehradun, if need be. A Magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident as well.

Youth of Jammu and Kashmir train as actors under FTII

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June 30, 2018

Baramulla, Youth of Jammu and Kashmir prepare for the day to train as Actors at the Foundation Course in screen acting conducted by FTII in association with Indian Army gets underway under the mentoring of Phonsok Ladakhi, Course Director.

46 RR with 79 Mountain Brigade of 19 Infantry Division are the nodal Army units for the FTII course. The area comes under 15 Corps, headquartered in Srinagar, J&K.

Phonsok Ladakhi (Acting,1975), is a veteran Screen Acting teacher. He has devised a unique teaching approach to acting; one that integrates the skills and practice of Yoga and Vipassana with Stanislavski’s method acting.

88 illegal encroachments demolished in Dehradun

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June 30, 2018

In pursuance of orders of honorable High court, Mussoorie- Dehradun Development Authority, Municipal Corporation, Dehradun and district administration has initiated action to demolish illegal encroachments and illegal constructions on footpaths, lanes and roads in Dehradun city. On Friday as part of the campaign, 88 illegal encroachments were demolished by 159 workers on Friday. A total of 199 encroached buildings were identified by 513 workers and sealing of 10 buildings were done by ten employees.

Additional Chief Secretary Om Parkash also reviewed the campaign to be followed to remove encroachments at a meeting held at Women Industrial Training Institute, RDT Auditorium at Survey Chowk on Friday.,

Additional Chief Secretary Om Parkash said that work of removing encroachments by buildings and on public spaces is being undertaken as per the orders of the honorable high court in Dehradun. He said that, “after the anti-encroachment drive, the work on widening and beautification of roads will be done so that general public is benefitted. Since there is less traffic on roads on Saturdays and Sundays so anti-encroachment drive will be undertaken more vigorously. An Anti-Encroachment task force has been formed for the purpose in which revenue administration, civil, criminal, additional secretary, justice, PWD and Municipal Corporation have been associated.

Workers, dozers and other equipment for anti-encroachment drive would be provided as per the requirement.

Ashish Shrivastava, Chief of Task Force Force to remove encroachments who is also vice-president of Mussoorie-Dehradun Development Authority informed Om Parkash that he is personally supervising the anti-encroachment drive on the ground daily.

He said that the administration has been trying to identify the people who are removing the marks put up on encroached buildings. Action would be taken to file FIRs for putting obstacles in government works against such persons.

S.A, Murugesan, Dehradun District Magistrate said that, “anti-encroachment drive is being undertaken as per rules. Appealing for cooperation in implementing the orders of the honorable high court. Owners of the buildings who have encroached public land should remove the encroachments themselves immediately otherwise government will ensure action against such encroachments.”

He said that if the encroachments are removed by the state government then the owners will be charged for such action as per land revenue rules. Chief City Commissioner Vijay Jogdande, Chief Engineer PWD Rajinder Goel, Secretary MDDA P.C. Dumka, Under Secretary Dinesh Kumar Punetha and officials connected with the anti-encroachment drive were present in the meeting.

Ranjana Rawat: Mushrooming in the hills

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June 29, 2018