In a move aimed at harnessing India's geographical diversity for sporting glory, Bharatiya Janata Party's Member of Parliament from Garhwal, Anil Baluni, has initiated a significant push to develop high-altitude training facilities in his home state of Uttarakhand. The MP recently met with Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, to propose the establishment of a centre of sports excellence in Pauri.
Leveraging Uttarakhand's Topography for Athletic Excellence
The proposal capitalises on the unique topography of the hill state. Pauri already boasts the second-highest stadium in Asia, situated approximately 6,800 feet above sea level. Baluni's vision involves developing comprehensive facilities, including a swimming pool, around this existing infrastructure. The core scientific rationale behind this initiative is the advantage of training at high altitudes, where lower oxygen levels are known to significantly enhance the stamina and endurance of athletes.
During his discussion with Minister Mandaviya, Baluni highlighted that Indian swimmers and other athletes often travel to destinations in Europe for such specialised high-altitude training. Creating similar world-class facilities within Uttarakhand would not only reduce this dependency but also provide a consistent and accessible training ground for Indian sportspersons, potentially boosting their performance at international sporting events.
A Delhi Minister's Persistent Traffic Troubles
In a separate development highlighting administrative hurdles, a Delhi minister was forced to escalate a persistent civic issue to the highest levels of the city's police force. The minister, during a visit to his Assembly constituency, observed severe traffic congestion caused by unauthorised parking of commercial vehicles, encroachment by street vendors, and chaotic movement of e-rickshaws.
Despite repeatedly approaching the concerned traffic police inspector and sending multiple reminders, the minister's requests for prompt action to decongest the area went unheeded. Left with no alternative, the miffed minister directly approached Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golchha. In his communication, he urged the Commissioner to instruct the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) to take immediate steps to streamline traffic flow and submit a detailed action-taken report within a week.
On-the-Spot Redressal for Retired Doordarshan Employees
In a heartening instance of swift grievance resolution, two retired camerapersons from Doordarshan finally saw their long-pending financial issue settled after 26 years. The matter pertained to the correct implementation of Rule-8 of the CCS (Revised Pay) Rules, 1997, which entitled them to an additional increment during the transition to the 6th Pay Commission.
The resolution did not emerge from a formal cabinet decision but from a post-briefing interaction. Following a Cabinet briefing on Wednesday, one of the aggrieved former employees, Devendra Sharma, brought the issue to the notice of Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw. Demonstrating immediate concern, Minister Vaishnaw directed the officials present to address the matter on the spot. Consequently, the corrected pay orders for both retired camerapersons were issued within hours the same day, bringing a decisive end to their protracted wait.
