Showing posts with label Uttarakhand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Uttarakhand. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

The Experience of Handling Banga Bhawan Control Room for Uttarakhand Floods

Today (3rd July 2013) I am back to my normal office duty after being a part of the " Banga Bhawan Control Room" from 19th June to 2nd July. This control room was set up at the "Banga Bhawan", West Bengal Govt's state guest house, to monitor the search and rescue operation of the tourists from West Bengal who were stranded in Uttarakhand. Some of us from the Office of the Resident Commissioner in New Delhi were handling the control room, while of number of other people, including our Principal Resident Commissioner Sir, had gone to Uttarakhand to handle the ground level situation there.

It was a first-of-its-kind experience for me to be a part of the control room, which I worked for while handling the VIP Protocol duties that came my way. It was a mixed experience. It was a touching and charming experience when I would call up somebody and told him that we could trace his relative/friend in Uttarakhand, and he would be so happy and elated, and would thank us so profusely. And at the same time I had the painful experience of answering the call of an anxious person only to tell him that there was still no news about his friend or relative.

The assignment was demanding, but I loved being a part of it. It was so different from my usual job profile of providing protocol service to dignitaries.

I congratulate from my heart those families who have got back their loved ones. And my heartfelt condolences for the families whose loved ones have fallen victims to the devastation that will haunt our nation as a nightmare for many years.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Uttarakhand Government’s Blatant Violation Of Indian Forests Protection Act

Uttarakhand’s Lachchiwala reserve forest area is witnessing shameless felling of lush green trees, with the number of felled trees having already crossed 300.

And this massacre of trees is being done at the behest of the state government itself. Reason? Well, it is being done for the development of a herbal garden that will be spread over 5 acres of the forest area. In fact, this herbal garden initiative is reportedly a dream project of the Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.

Unfortunately, the state government has completely overlooked (or given a damn to) this fact that this mindless felling of trees of kukat, kher, semal, sheesham, silver oak and kaju has completely violated the Indian Forests Protection Act of 1927.

Is the Uttarakhand government being run by ministers and bureaucrats who are not adequately aware of the laws of the country? Or is it so that they give a damn to those laws that cross the path of their own ideas and ideologies?

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Uttarakhand – The Abode Of God

Mountains, waterfalls, streams and jungles

Which place am I talking about, any guess?

Home for some interesting tribes, like Tharus, Vanrawats and Jaunsaris

And blessed with the Hindu pilgrimage of Kedar Vadri, where people flock in search of religious quest and mental peace.

A place that epitomizes natural beauty, and has had famous residents like Jim Corbett and Ruskin Bond

Yes, you are right, I am talking about the “Devbhumi” (Abode of God) named Uttarakhand.