The other border

The prevailing situation in neighbouring Nepal has not only forced political leaders fearing arrest to take refuge in Uttaranchal but has al...

The prevailing situation in neighbouring Nepal has not only forced political leaders fearing arrest to take refuge in Uttaranchal but has also had an adverse impact on border trade. Uttaranchal shares a long border of more than 240 km with Nepal and a large Nepali population resides in the state. More than a dozen markets on the border towns are largely dependent on Nepali buyers. According to traders of Banbassa, Jauljeebi, Jhulaghat, Balwakot and Dharchula, trade has dropped by 50 per cent since the King of Nepal imposed Emergency. The Uttaranchal government also declared a red alert in the districts bordering Nepal to keep a check on any infiltration bid by outlawed Maoist elements. On various bridges on the river Kali, which is the border between India and Nepal, the state government has deployed, Indo-Tibetan Border police (ITBP) and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel.

A district war

The fresh delimitation of Assembly segments according to the 2001 Census figures has made the three plains districts of Uttaranchal jubilant while the state government as well as the ruling Congress finds itself in a bind. The last delimitation done to facilitate the first ever election in the new state in 2002 was based on Census figures of 1971. A 70-member legislature with 45 seats for the 10 hill districts and 25 seats for three districts of the plains namely, Dehra Dun, Hardwar and Udham Singh Nagar, came into being after the first delimitation. From nearly 70 lakh population as per 1971 census the population of the state has risen to 84 lakhs in 2001 and most of it is concentrated in the three plains districts. Since delimitation is done on the basis of population, these three plains districts expect to get 10 more seats at the cost of the hill districts.

Take heart in the hills

In a state having dismal medical facilities, the Himalayan Hospital Trust set up by the late Swami Rama, a celebrated yogi, in the picturesque surroundings near Rishikesh has created another record. The trust hospital which caters to the medical needs of lakhs of people from Garhwal Himalayas has become the first hospital in the state to have a complete cardiology unit.

Snowfall, no windfall

Snowfall in the tourist resorts of Mussoorie and Nainital, after several years, has failed to attract tourists. After the first snowfall in January there was a deluge of visitors but mainly youngsters from the Doon valley. One reason was the snow melted in less than 24 hours. On the contrary, tourist resorts of Himachal Pradesh and J-K did get enough snow to attract tourists.

Compiled by S M A KAZMI