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Radio Collars to track Swamp deers within Rajaji

By
Ashish Dobhal/Tania Saili
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0

Following the success of radio collars on tracking swamp deers in Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, in Assam, the same procedure is now being replicated within the Rajaji Tiger National Park on its swamp deer population.

These radio collars have been found successful in keeping a check on the population of many wild animals such as Deers and Elephants as well.

A few months ago, radio collars were mounted on Asiatic Elephants within Rajaji  Park that has aided in studying the habitat and progress of the pachyderms. Radio Collars are non-evasive and hence very safe and useful in tracking animals in the wild.

Range Officer Pradeep Uniyal said, “In 2005 the park just had 35 swamp deers but at present we have over 300.” A population on the rise which needs to be monitored closely.

The collars are being mounted on the swamp deers by a team of Scientists from the Wild Life Institute, Dehradun using Drive-Net method at the Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve.

The new technology is being considered as a right step toward conservation and preservation of the swamp deers, which are also a major tourist attraction in the park.

Wildlife Scientist Dr. Bivashpandav appraised the media saying, “These radio collars are the best technology that we have today to tract wildlife and are completely safe to be used on animals in the wild.”

The forgotten Kipling Road in Mussoorie

By
Tania Saili
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0

If you were to walk or drive near Bala Hisar, along what was the old bridle path to Rajpur, you find that the old stretch of Kipling Road, above Barlowganj looks like a war zone.  What was  essentially a lifeline, or an escape route to decongest traffic on the main roads in the summer months has been effectively cut off. In an ill-timed move, the only alternative escape route from Mussoorie is now a pile of mountain debris.

This stretch of road comes with glorious history. Long before Wynberg Allen School came into existence in 1888, above this stony crag was in 1840, home to Amir Dost Mohammed of Afghanistan, who after his surrender during the First Anglo-Afghan War was whisked away to the hills. For those twenty-four months, the seven-mile bridle path from Rajpur bristled with troops,up until the time, two years later, in 1842 when he was restored to the throne of Kabul.

Today, on the same spot stands Allen School’s Bahuguna Memorial Hall. It commemorates the memory of their alumni: two brothers, both valiant Army Officers, Harsh and Jai Bahuguna who perished on two separate ascents to Everest.

That this road had to be widened in undeniable, but it has been closed nigh close to three months. It would surely be in the fitness of things if all the clutter on the road was cleared at the earliest. Just a few rounds of a sturdy JCB is what it will take to restore this lifeline to Landour, Barlowganj and Jharipani once again and help ease off some of the infamous traffic jams for which Mussoorie has made onto  the headlines of all media houses.

Freak Storm: Boon and Bane to Uttarakhand

By
Lucky Singh/Tania Saili
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0

Last evening’s squall that lashed through the hill-state of Uttarakhand was seen both as a blessing as it helped in putting off raging forest fires plaguing the forests for the past 15 weeks, but then, the squall also brought in its wake a bane to hill-folks who especially lived in the interiors of Garhwal.

Tehri and Pauri districts witnessed incessant rainfall which within hours washed away three  animal shelters and turned lush-terrace farms into overflowing slush flowing into homes and shelter but fortunately there was no loss to life registered anywhere in the hill-state.

High wind, thunder, rain and hail swept through the hill-state bringing down temperatures, putting off the growing inferno which lapped up acres of green cover of Uttarakhand but also in its wake left behind landslides, road-blocks, overflowing canals and naals washing away animal shelters.

A few hours of heavy rainfall in the interiors of Garhwal region saw landslides and road-blocks riddling the hill-state bringing traffic on the roads to a stand-still for a few hours. Badri-kedar as well as Gangotri route along with Karnaprayag and Nainital highway, Chopta road were blocked due to minor landslips for a couple of hours. Uprooted trees and fallen electric poles plunged many areas in Dehradun District into darkness, abrupting traffic flow as well.

Director, State Met Department Vikram Singh  had already sounded an alert for yesterday’s freak storm and today talking to Newspost he updated saying, “As compared to yesterday, the weather today shall remain clear, though the possibility of a storm is there, but it wont be as strong as yesterday. We might have inclement weather from 5-6 June onwards.“

The storm was seen as a welcome break for the plains of Uttarakhand which had been simmering with temperatures close to 41 degrees and rising. The temperature in the State Capital Dehradun fell 5 degrees within a few hours of rain and high winds, which will be the trend over the next few days.

Registration for International Yoga Day begins today

By
newspost
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0

After Delhi, Chandigarh and Lucknow, Dehradun has been selected as the venue for hosting International Yoga Day. Preparations for the function to be held at from 6 am to 8 am on June 21 has started. Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Utpal Kumar Singh held a meeting in this regard at Secretariat.

The representatives of Patanjali Yogapeeth, Dev Sanskriti University, Art of Living, Parmarath Niketan, Bharat Swabhiman Trust, Lions Club, Ayurveda University, Institute of Water Conservation, AIIMS, Rishikesh, Wildlife Institute, Bharat Scouts and Guides, Ordnance Factory, Sanskrit University, Brahmakumaris, NIVH, BSNL, Army, ITBP and other organisations were invited to participate in the meeting.

Chief Secretary said, “the function is being held to make people aware about yoga, more and more people should participate to make the programme a success.” He appealed to Institutes asking them to send their yoga instructors for 15 days of free Yoga training, and also for institutes and organisations to appoint nodal officers for the event.

Secretary Ayush R.K. Sudhanshu informed everyone, “Ayush ministry of the union government and Ayush Department of Uttarakhand government are jointly organizing the event. He said that any suggestions regarding the programme can be sent on email- ID-[email protected].”  The online and offline registration for the event will start from today i.e. 2nd June, Saturday. Arrangements have been made to provide 15 days free Yoga training at Haridwar and Dehradun.

Shahid and Shradhha Kapoor begin filming in Dehradun

By
Tania Saili
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0

Shahid Kapoor and Shradhha Kapoor are back in Dehradun to complete the shoot of “Batti Gul, Meter Chaalu.” A day long sequence of the film were shot on location at the Bread factory situated in Patelnagar. Hundreds of fans poured on to the streets to catch a glimpse of their favourite stars.

From being a mere backdrop, the hill-state is fast becoming a part of the script for big Bollywood banners with film-units making a beeline to its exotic, picturesque locations.  Prior shifting base to Dehradun, the film unit shot extensively in and around Tehri in the month of March.

If sources are to be believed, then Shahid Kapoor plays the role of the owner of a bread-factory in the day long sequence shoot which shows factory workers carrying boxes of bread in and out of the store. ‘Batti Gul, Meter Chaalu’ was also shot on location at the Vasant Vihar Electricity Office but Shahid and Shraddha Kapoor weren’t part of the sequence.

Today, the film unit moved to Devprayag for the remaining shoot of the film. ‘Batti Gul, Meter Chaalu,’ is being Directed by Shree Narayan Singh and is due to be released by the end of this year.

Dehradun bids farewell to its hero

By
Tania Saili
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Dehradun, Uttarakhand’s first Kirti Chakra awardee Retired Lt. Colonel Inder Singh Rawat left for his heavenly abode yesterday at the ripe age of 104. A resident of Dehradun, Race Course since his retirement in 1970, Lt. Col Rawat was a name to reckon with.

Lt. Col Rawat was born on 30th January 1915, in Bageli in Pauri District, to a humble family. Despite limited provisions, the young lad went to a primary school 4 kms away from his village. In the year 1934 he passed his Metric and joined Garhwal Rifles  as a cadet in Landsdowne.  After completing his rigorous recruit training, Inder Singh Rawat went on to complete his further education at the Army Education School, Belgaon. In 1944 he passed out as a young officer of the Indian Army from the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun .

Inder Singh Rawat fought the 1947-48 Indo-Pak war, and post-war joined the Assam Rifles on deputation. In 1957, Rawat was decorated with the Kirti Chakra by the country’s first President Dr. Rajendra Prasad for squashing the Naga Uprising in Nagaland.

In the year 1962, he was given the command of the first battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and then the 2nd Battalion of the ITBP was raised in Gwaldham under his watchful eyes and able command.

After giving 37 years to the service of the Nation, Lt. Col Rawat retired in 1970 making Dehradun his home. Hundreds of people poured onto the streets of Dehradun to pay homage to this valiant hero as the news of Lt. Col Rawat passing away spread.

Today Indra Singh Rawat leaves behind his two sons, both Brigadiers in the Indian Army,  Rajendra Rawat and Commander Harendar Singh Rawat along with his three daughters Amba, Rajeshwari and Vijaylakshmi.

The 11th Garhwal Rifles Battalion bid farewell with the last salute to one of their own sons with state honours.

BJP retains Tharali in Uttarakhand

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newspost
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0

Bhartiya Janta Party has managed to retain the Uttarakhand Tharali bypoll seat. In what was being seen as a direct fight between BJP’s Munni Devi and Congress candidate Jeetram, the former finished a nail biting end led to an easy win with a margin of over 1900 against her closest contender Congress’s Prof Jeetram.

The Tharali seat was seen as hot-seat for the two leading political parties, with the BJP wooing its voters by highlighting the achievements of the Trivendra Singh Rawat run government and the Congress close at it heals counter-attacking their claims.

The Tharali seat was left vacant after the passing away of BJP’s Tharali MLA Maganlal. Munni Devi, wife of late Maganlal was chosen as a BJP candidate for the seat and 2017 candidate for Congress Professor Jeetram was a repeat candidate this time around too.

Both political parties had marathon rallies by Senior leaders for this much-coveted seat, including the Chief Minister and his Cabinet as well as former Chief Minister Harish Rawat and senior Congress leaders gathering support for Jeetram. A total of 53,048 voters voted on 28th May to decide the fate of the contestants.

With counting over, and BJP retaining the seat, this win will definitely give that much awaited shot in the arm to the Trivendra Singh Rawat led government and also to the Centre which can take some consolation after a dismissal performance in by-poll results from other States.

Uttarakhand’s first Private Nature Reserve goes up in flames

By
Tania Saili
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0

“Dear friends of JNR. It is with great sadness that we have to inform you about a major forest fire that has affected almost 80% of the Reserve. The team fought valiantly to control it but it was just too severe to manage.”

Jaberkhet Private Nature Reserve Facebook Page latest post, the Crown on the Queen of Hills, Mussoorie had grabbed attention from home and abroad. Students from Indian Universities and abroad used to get a first hand experience of a well-kept park. A ragging inferno has within hours reduced Uttarakhand’s one and only private nature reserve, known as the Jabarkhet Nature Reserve to ashes.

Spread over 110 acres Jabarkhet Nature Reserve, is the first of its kind in the hill-state. The park boasted of over half a dozen 3 kms well-marked hiking trails, guided nature walks. Bird watching along trails; water holes; pocket field nature guides of the flora and fauna were just a of its attractions. It welcomed the adventurous, becoming an instant hit with those who came to this treasure trove of nature, the only one left in the otherwise concrete forest that Mussoorie has now become.

“We will assess the damage and work hard towards the recovery of the forest and wildlife that we love… And pray for rain!! The post signed off. Instantly, hands of friendship have been offered from local communities and well-wishers.

Almost 15 weeks down the road and almost 4202.036 hectares of Uttarakhand’s green cover has been turned into ashes. The real enemy of Uttarakhand’s flora and fauna for now is not poachers or shikaris looking for an easy kill, but it’s the all-engulfing flames. Only the Rain God has the power to quench this thirst. Man’s efforts seem puny when the hungry tongues of fire lick up every single twig along their path. And in this instance, the Jaberkhet Nature Reserve.

Priyanka Meher Mashup 2018: A musical extravaganza

By
Tania Saili
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0

What happens when a group of talented singers, from different backgrounds come together onto a common platform? They create magic!

Priyanka Meher’s twenty four day old, 3 minute 26 second ‘Mashup 2018′ has already crossed nine lakh hits on Facebook and Youtube Channel with everyone hooked to the foot-tapping song. An interesting symphony of three young men and the lady with a soulful voice Priyanka, got together with a Mashup that has successfully caught the fancy of everyone age group, gender and community in Uttarakhand and beyond.

Priyanka and her team of young talented singers, Mayank Rawat, Mahender Singh Khattri and beat boxer Ankit Chamoli are no new-kids-on-the-block, each one has independently carved a niche for themselves when it comes to music and their coming together for Mashup2018 has become a recipe for instant hit with their fans.

Taking about the choice of songs, Priyanka tells Newspost, “Actually the songs that I have chosen are all hits in their respective languages, be it Kumaoni, Nepali or Garhwali.. they are also my personal favourites that I enjoy singing as well. I had a feeling that this Mashup would be well-received and we all are very happy with the end result.”

Not only the song but the 3 minute video too, shot within two hours on a Samsung 8 Phone has become viral overnight.

“The song brilliantly interconnects three regional languages of the hill-state such as Garhwali, Nepali, Kumaoni and English in this foot-tapping mashup. The video too has a natural feel to it as it was shot within two hours on a Samsung 8 phone in the outskirts of Khalanga forests, in Tapovan area of Dehradun,” adds Akshay Purohit, the artist manager.

At the moment, Priyanka and team is busy working on their own original song in Garhwali as well as doing their bit to take Garhwali music to Bollywood, and the way they are working on it, don’t be surprised if you get to hear a bollywood Garhwali block-buster song ruling the airways soon.

CS reviews preparations for International Yoga Day event

By
newspost
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0

Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Utpal kumar Singh reviewed the preparations for holding the national function of the ‘International Yoga Day’, here today. He said that for creating awareness about yoga, “ Run for Yoga” will be organized in the month of June.

Chairing the meeting held at Secretariat he formed various organizing committees for the event. An apex committee under Chief Secretary, law and order committee under ADG  Law and Order, Coordination Committee headed by Secretary, Ayush, Yoga committee under Vice-Chancellor of Ayurveda University, Organising Site committee under District Magistrate, Dehradun, Transport committee under Secretary, Transport,Media committee under Information, Secretary, Cleanliness committee under City Commissioner were formed. Besides all the concerned departments will nominate a nodal officer each. The online registration and passes will be looked after by ITDA. He instructed that trainees should be trained by able Yoga gurus. A control room has been establish to monitor the day to day progress of the preparations.

It has to be mentioned that in the presence of Prime Minister Modi a collective demonstration of Yoga will be done in Dehradun. The campus of Forest Research Institute (FRI) has been proposed to hold the event.  The government has chosen to hold national function of International yoga Day ( June 21) at Dehradun. A total of 60,000 participants will hold collective yoga show on June 21. Before the final show to be held between 7 am to 7.45 am, rehearsal will be done on  June 18 and a full rehearsal will be on June 19.

Members of Uttarakhand police, Army, para-military forces, NCC, NSS, Scouts and Guides, Yoga institutes, school, colleges, women and senior citizens organisations, youth clubs and Nehri Yuva Kendra, ASHA, ANM workers and other people will participate in the show. Yoga institutes will give training to the participants. Apart from national event in Uttarakhand, similar collective yoga display events will be organized in all the state capitals, districts, blocks and gram pachayats in the country.

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