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Time of India
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘We are happy': 3 Uttarakhand forest villages to vote for 1st time since independence; 1,300 Tongias added to voter list
AI Image NAINITAL: More than 1,300 residents of Rampur, Leti and Chopra - three forest settlements in Uttarakhand's Nainital district - will vote for the first time in the upcoming panchayat elections, 77 years after Independence. Their names appeared on electoral rolls only recently, after the Uttarakhand govt granted revenue village status to these communities, inhabited by the long-excluded Tongia population. The decision followed a policy change aimed at regularising forest villages that had remained outside the administrative framework for decades. Decision after policy change to regularise forest villages With revenue recognition, the villagers are now entitled not just to vote, but also to access housing, roads, clean water, electricity and other welfare schemes under various govt programmes. Until this summer, these villages did not exist in the eyes of the state - not as units of administration, not on land records, and not as constituencies. Their absence was not accidental. It was the result of a legacy that began under British rule. The Tongia community traces its roots to a colonial-era forest plantation scheme introduced in Terai. Under the Tongia system, workers were permitted to cultivate land temporarily in exchange for planting trees in cleared forest zones. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tompok buat anda nampak tua 10 tahun! Minum ini dari Guardian URUHIME MOMOKO Undo As canopy matured, they were expected to leave. But many stayed, and generations grew up in settlements, often unaware of their legal invisibility. That invisibility was reinforced in 1980, when a national forest conservation law prohibited human habitation in reserved forests. No land titles were issued. No basic services followed. The villagers remained without schools, health centres or ration shops. They contributed to reforestation efforts, but were denied formal recognition, and with it, the vote. "It's for the first time that we'll be able to cast our vote," said one resident of Leti. "Earlier we did not have this right. Now, it seems that we are equal citizens." Others said they hoped the change would lead to development. The newly recognised Chopra gram panchayat now has 416 registered voters. Leti has 367 and Rampur 519. Rampur and Leti have been included in the Patkot gram sabha, which has 1,481 voters across two parts. Chopra has been granted its own area panchayat seat, giving the community greater representation. "For them, this election is not just a civic duty, it's the beginning of a new identity," said Narendra Sharma, a social worker who has long worked in the region and supported the community's demand for status recognition. Residents now speak of issues that have gone unaddressed - roads that stop short of their villages, electric poles with no wires, handpumps that run dry. Ramesh Chandra of Rampur said, "We are happy. If the village head is elected by us, it will truly benefit our people." Deep Chandra from Leti said their village had lived without schools or public services for generations. "Now development will reach here too," he said.
The Hindu
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
From The Hindu, July 7, 1975: Folk dance ensemble disbanded
New Delhi, July 8: The national folk dance ensemble, intended to be a show-window of India's rich folk dance tradition, has been disbanded. The ensemble had lived a precarious life for some months and was twice close to disaster. But protests from cultural circles prolonged its life. The Prime Minister's Secretariat, which had sponsored and fostered the ensemble, finally decided to close it a few days ago. A spokesman of the Secretariat, however, said the idea of an ensemble had not been finally buried. Discussions were under way to find out if it could be 'refashioned.' The ensemble was started with two objectives: to preserve folk dance tradition in its pristine purity and to present to audiences in India and abroad an image of the rich variety of Indian folk dance and music through suitable shows. What went wrong with the ensemble, the performances of which drew good reviews and unstinted praise from critics, music directors and choreographers alike? 'It was nobody's baby,' was the general complaint of the artistes who constituted it. Two ministries also wanted to have a finger in the pie. 'It took 27 years to bring folk dance to the active dance theatre. All this has been undone now because of bureaucratic apathy,' said Mr. Narendra Sharma, who was an ensemble instructor. Many artistes blamed the Sangeet Natak Akademi, which administered the affairs of the ensemble. It had failed to provide the ensemble with suitable premises even nine months after its inception, said Director Zohra Sehgal.
Indian Express
23-04-2025
- General
- Indian Express
ACC cement plant now complying with green norms; pollution board urges NGT to dismiss villager's plea
The Adani Group's ACC Ltd Cement Plant at Barmana in Himachal Pradesh is now complying with the prescribed environment norms, a committee, which inspected the unit, has informed the National Green Tribunal. The same committee had around three months ago found multiple breaches in pollution control measures as mandated by the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (HPSPCB). The committee submitted in NGT that the cement unit 'was found complying with ambient air quality norms for PM₁₀, SOx, and NOx parameters' as prescribed in the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) 'at six locations monitored between March 24 and 26, 2025'. The committee, comprising Dr Narendra Sharma, Scientist 'F', Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB); engineer Pawan Sharma, HPSPCB; and Bilaspur SDM Abhishek Kumar Garg, submitted the report before the NGT on April 15. The committee was originally constituted in response to a complaint lodged in September 2024 by Kashmir Singh of Khetad village near Barmana. During its initial inspection on January 18, the committee had identified three major shortcomings at the plant: inadequate dust control measures, the absence of a three-layer tree plantation, and deficiencies in the installed truck-tyre washing systems. The findings were submitted to the NGT in a report dated January 24. As per the supplementary report, the committee observed that Singh's residence is the only dwelling located along a 500-metre stretch of road used by both cement plant trucks and the villagers. While the cement unit had implemented intermittent water sprinkling on this route using tankers, the committee has now recommended installing permanent sprinklers to control dust generated by movement of trucks. In response to Singh's request, the committee arranged for the installation of an ambient air quality sampler at his residence. However, the location did not fully meet CPCB guidelines due to several technical constraints. Nevertheless, the committee proceeded with the sampling exercise at the complainant's insistence, while clearly documenting the non-compliance with standard monitoring protocols. In a separate affidavit, the HPSPCB prayed before the tribunal to dismiss the plea filed by Singh in light of the updated compliance status. 'In view of the submissions made…it is prayed that the petition may kindly be dismissed…any other order deemed fit and appropriate may be passed in the interest of justice,' the board stated. The committee also confirmed that emissions from five major stacks—including those attached to the cooler ESP, coal mill, and cement mills—were within permissible limits. ACC Ltd reported that it had undertaken a series of pollution control measures to address concerns raised in previous inspections. These include installation of mist fog guns and rain guns across critical locations, including around the boundary wall and internal roads, development of a three-layer plantation near the complainant's poultry farm and the packing section, with ongoing efforts to green vacant spaces within the premises, deployment of interconnected pollution control systems to prevent dust emissions beyond the plant boundary, coverage of clinker, ash, and cement silos with appropriate devices to minimize emissions. Other measures undertaken included the use of rain guns on fly ash bulkers, exit routes to control fugitive dust, installation of a 130-metre-long, nine-meter-high MS sheet barrier toward the complainant's property, with further extension underway, installation of two tyre-washing systems at the raw material and truck exit gates, and an oil and grease separation unit, laying of interlock tiles at the truck exit gate and upgradation of the clinker loading station with sliding doors, mist guns, and coverage of cement loading bays with GI sheets and transparent curtains.
Indian Express
22-04-2025
- General
- Indian Express
ACC cement plant in Himachal has complied with green norms; permanent sprinklers recommended to control dust, says joint panel
Nearly three months after highlighting various environmental issues at the ACC Ltd Cement Plant in Himachal Pradesh's Barmana, operated by the Adani Group, a joint committee has submitted a supplementary report to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), stating that the unit is now complying with previously noted observations. In its latest submission, the joint committee noted, 'M/s ACC Ltd was found complying with ambient air quality norms for PM₁₀, SOx, and NOx parameters as prescribed in the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) at six locations monitored between March 24 and 26, 2025.' The committee, comprising Dr Narendra Sharma, Scientist 'F', Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB); Engineer Pawan Sharma, Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (HPSPCB); and Bilaspur SDM Abhishek Kumar Garg, submitted its supplementary report before the Tribunal on April 15. The committee was originally constituted in response to a complaint lodged in September 2024 by Kashmir Singh of Khetad village near Barmana, where the cement plant is located. During its initial inspection on January 18, the committee had identified three major shortcomings at the plant: inadequate dust control measures, the absence of a three-layer tree plantation, and deficiencies in the installed truck-tyre washing systems. These findings were submitted to the NGT in a report dated January 24. As per the supplementary report, the committee observed that Singh's residence is the only dwelling located along a 500-metre stretch of road used by both cement plant trucks and local villagers. This stretch connects the plant's exit gate to a major district road. While ACC Ltd had implemented intermittent water sprinkling on this route using tankers, the committee has now recommended installing permanent water sprinklers to control dust generated by truck movement more effectively. In response to Singh's request, the committee arranged for the installation of an ambient air quality sampler at his residence. However, the selected location did not fully meet CPCB guidelines due to several technical constraints. These included insufficient distance from the roadside, improper inlet height, and airflow obstructions caused by nearby walls. Nevertheless, the committee proceeded with the sampling exercise at the complainant's insistence, while clearly documenting the non-compliance with standard monitoring protocols. In a separate affidavit, the HPSPCB prayed before the tribunal to dismiss the plea filed by Singh in light of the updated compliance status. 'In view of the submissions made hereinabove and the facts and circumstances of the case, it is respectfully prayed that the petition may kindly be dismissed qua the respondent board. Any other order deemed fit and appropriate may be passed in the interest of justice,' the board stated. The committee also confirmed that emissions from five major stacks—including those attached to the cooler ESP, coal mill, and cement mills—were within permissible limits. ACC Ltd reported that it had undertaken a series of pollution control measures to address concerns raised in previous inspections. These include installation of mist fog guns and rain guns across critical locations, including around the boundary wall and internal roads, development of a three-layer plantation near the complainant's poultry farm and the packing section, with ongoing efforts to green vacant spaces within the premises, deployment of interconnected pollution control systems to prevent dust emissions beyond the plant boundary, coverage of clinker, ash, and cement silos with appropriate devices to minimize emissions. Other measures undertaken included the use of rain guns on fly ash bulkers, exit routes to control fugitive dust, installation of a 130-metre-long, nine-meter-high MS sheet barrier toward the complainant's property, with further extension underway, installation of two tyre-washing systems at the raw material and truck exit gates, and an oil and grease separation unit, laying of interlock tiles at the truck exit gate and upgradation of the clinker loading station with sliding doors, mist guns, and coverage of cement loading bays with GI sheets and transparent curtains.
