CM launches novel afforestation scheme
CHAIL (Solan), Dec 25 — The Himachal Government today launched a novel scheme, described by Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal as a birthday gift to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to secure rapid afforestation of denuded terrains by seeking the active participation of the people.

Parbati hydel project
'anti-Himachal'
MANDI, Dec 25 — Former Vidhan Sabha Speaker and Congress leader Thakur Kaul Singh has charged the BJP government with the "complete sell-out" of the state's interests in the recent agreement with the National Hydel Power Corporation for the execution of the 20051 MW Parbati hydel project.

CM launches novel afforestation scheme
From Our Correspondent

CHAIL (Solan), Dec 25 — The Himachal Government today launched a novel scheme, described by Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal as a birthday gift to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to secure rapid afforestation of denuded terrains by seeking the active participation of the people.

Mr Dhumal, who addressed a press conference here, said the scheme named as "sanjhi van yojna'' would help the state discharge its national duty of preserving Himalayan ecology effectively.

He said past experience had shown that no worthwhile progress could be achieved in the field of afforestation without the active involvement of the people. Despite massive funds, the total green cover in the state was a mere 22.6 per cent.

The new scheme envisaged the setting up of village forest development societies which would evolve their own micro afforestation plans under the guidance of the state Forest Department. The micro plans would be incorporated in the forest working plans of each division. Thise bodies would exercise full control on the planting of trees and extraction of forest produce. Modalities would be devolved to avoid any clash caused by the dual control inherent in the plan, between the Forest Department and the societies.

Howerver, each society would have to adopt the universally acclaimed "USUFRUCT" system of extracting produce without endangering trees. A state-level committee, headed by the Principal Chief conservator of Forests, would soon be formed for monitoring the working of the societies and every year suitable units would be honoured with "sarvshreshtha van samiti" award.

Mr Dhumal announced a grant of Rs 10 crore for the scheme for the current year. This amount would largely be spent on organising workshops and seminars at village, panchayat, district and state levels for importing necessary technical know-how to villagers. As much as 60 per cent of all grants would be earmarked for the biological upgradation of forest areas and the remaining 40 per cent on providing infrastructure like roads, irrigation and housing needs.

Later, addressing a public meeting at Chail Chowk, the Chief Minister said Chail would soon have a flower garden and a parking place. He also announced a grant of Rs df1 lakh each for the Tanghil, Tundal and Basha link roads. The Government Middle School at Janedghat, near here, would be upgraded in April.

Addressing a public meeting at Sadhopul, he said a lake would be created there by erecting a 5.5-m-high barrage on the Asni Khud.

Parbati hydel project 'anti-Himachal'
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Dec 25 — Former Vidhan Sabha Speaker and Congress leader Thakur Kaul Singh has charged the BJP government with the "complete sell-out" of the state's interests in the recent agreement with the National Hydel Power Corporation for the execution of the 20051 MW Parbati hydel project.

He said the very fact that Himachal Pradesh had not been given any share in the project spoke volumes about sacrificing of its interests.

Mr Singh, talking to mediapersons here today, said the perpetual surrendering of the hydle resources was suicidal for the state, which had already been exploited in the BSL and Bhakra Dam projects where Himachal had no share while Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan were beneficiaries. He described the Parbati agreement as "anti-Himachal".

He said the past experience with the National Hydel Power Corporation had been "bitter" as it had delayed the execution of projects, resulting in higher costs of generation. In this context the clause in the agreement about 18 per cent power at generation cost did not carry any weight, he said.

He warned the BJP government against sacrificing the interests of the state and said the Congress would strongly oppose any such decision.

He said as many as 4,500 posts of high class teacher and 3,350 of JBT teacher were lying vacant.

He expressed concern over the neglect of primary education. He said 300 posts of JBT teacher in Mandi and 200 in Kulu district were lying vacant.

Donating blood 110 times
From Balkrishan Prashar

CHAMBA: Fortified by the motto: 'Let no patient die for want of blood', the 53-year-old Mr Vasu Dev Kuthiala has donated blood 110 times so far. Working at present as Principal of Government College here, he has become a legend in his life time and a rare example for others.

He feels joy whenever he gets a chance to donate blood. He has himself organised more than 300 blood donation camps in different parts of Himachal Pradesh and other regions of the country while serving in the state Education Department and the Navy, respectively.

Mr Kuthiala was honoured by the Himachal Governor, Mrs VS Rama Devi, on November 12 this year in recognition of his blood donation activities and to mark the completion of 110 donation by him.

Earlier, Mr Kuthiala was honoured by the Himachal Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, on June 24, 1998, on completing 108 donations and by Mrs Pratibha Singh, wife of a former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, on completing 105 donations on November 24 last year. He has also been honoured by a former Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Mr Gulsher Ahed Khan.

In an interview, he told this correspondent, "I take blood donation as a religious activity. This is the only activity which does not involve any money transaction. All it takes is 10 minutes of our time but gives back million times in the form of satisfaction at having given a new lease of life to a dying heart, smiles to ones kin and evokes, in turn, grateful glances and an ecstatic feeling. I take blood donation as the most sacred duty and no other activity except teaching has any preference over it."

Mr Kuthiala was initiated into blood donation by chance in Cochin in 1962 at the age of 17, when he was in the Navy and a sailor's wife needed blood. He motivated a number of students and youths and introduced them to voluntary blood donation with the slogan; "Gift life and smiles".

He founded an Association of Voluntary Blood Donors in Himachal Pradesh in 1986 to organise voluntary blood donations and strengthen and regulate this movement all over the country. The association collected Rs 65,000 and bought equipment to establish a blood bank in Hamirpur hospital.

However, Mr Kuthiala is not satisfied with the working of the blood bank network in Himachal Pradesh. The government is doing little to promote voluntary blood donations, he feels, underscoring the need for encouraging donors and creating awareness about blood donation.

Malicious campaign against
Virbhadra, says Mahajan
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 25 — Mr Harsh Mahajan, MLA Vice-President of the Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) and whip of the Congress Legislature Party, today said the attempt of the BJP-HVC government to initiate a CBI inquiry on "flimsy grounds" against the former Chief Minister and CLP leader Virbhadra Singh, was a sinister design by the ruling combine to malign the image of the Congress leader who has a mass base in the state and a completely untarnished image.

In a statement, he alleged that the same forces had tried to indulge in mudslinging earlier also by making these allegations. These charges were rejected by various courts and the state's Lokayukta.

Mr Mahajan said that the motive of the BJP-HVC combine was to harm the interests of the Congress in Himachal Pradesh through this "malicious campaign" against Mr Virbhadra Singh. He said that the Congress would not take this attempt lying down and will galvanise the grassroots workers to stand solidly behind the Congress leader who has done a lot for the development of the hill state and its people on all fronts.

He said that Mr Virbhadra Singh was among those leaders in the country who enjoyed a clean image and was an able and accomplished administrator who remained Chief Minister of the state for over 12 years.

Mr Mahajan said that the time taken by the Dhumal Government in handing over cases to the CBI after the HVC submitted its charge sheet earlier this year proved that there was nothing in those allegations. He pointed out that the rumour about the CBI probe was being spread by a few overzealous junior officers in the Dhumal Government to malign Mr Virbhadra Singh by hook or by crook. He said that the CBI will not be able to find anything against him.

White X-mas eludes tourists
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 25 — It was a bright Christmas here today with a warm sunshine warming the festive spirit. The tourists, who had come to enjoy a white Christmas, were, however, disappointed.

A large number of tourists have reached here for the festival and to celebrate the New Year. The Ridge and the Mall were crowded with tourists basking in the sun.

Over the years snowfall on the Christmas eve has become uncertain and the New Year eve has also been going dry for the past few years.

The temperature these days is hovering around 7°C.

Churah wasteland partly restored
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Dec 25 — A Rs 2.81-crore Integrated Wasteland Development Project (IWDP), sponsored by the National Wasteland Board of the Union Ministry of Rural Development, for the hilly and backward Churah subdivision of the district has started yielding results.

Mr K. Sanjaymurti, Deputy Commisioner, said here yesterday that Chamba district was among the 146 districts of the country taken up by the National Wasteland Board under this project three years ago.

The DC said 422 hectares had been used for nurseries, 459 hectares brought under afforestation, 406 hectares used for silvi-pastoral development and 428 hectares had been given special treatment to check soil erosion and landslips under the project.

The project envisages reducing pressure on pastures due to excessive grazing, restoration of degraded wasteland and treatment of uncultivable land.

Residents resent road diversion
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 25 — Resentment prevails among residents of the Pahal panchayat in the district over the decision of the authorities to divert the alignment of the under construction Bhanoti-Pahal road.

A local lawyer, Mr Jia Lal Sharma, and the Vice-President of the Gram Panchayat, Mr Rup Chand Sharma alleged that the PWD had diverted the road because of political pressure.

They said that work on the 15 km road had been commenced in 1975, but pace of work was very slow. The authorities had diverted the alignment twice.

They pointed out that now when residents of the Pahal Panchayat were waiting for the completion of the road link it was diverted again about 3 km short of the panchayat headquarters.

They said because of this change residents of other villages, particularly students, would be deprived of bus services to Pahal where the senior secondary and primary schools were located. The students will now have to walk up to the school in absence of the link road.

Governor exchanges greetings
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 25 — Mrs V.S. Rama Devi, Governor of Himachal Pradesh visited the Christ Church and St Michael's Cathederal here today and exchanged greetings with Christians. She joined the prayer service at the Christ Church.

She said that the message of love, compassion and universal brotherhood given by Lord Christ was relevant even today. "We should have respect for all religions which would further strengthen the bonds of social amity, cultural harmony and secular fabric.