Joshi dedicates Rs 2 cr hospital to HP people
KAKIRA (Chamba), Nov 2 — The Union Human Resource Development Minister, Mr Murli Manohar Joshi, today dedicated a Rs 2 crore Sri Swami Harigiri Hospital and Research Centre constructed by the Swami Sri Harigiri Charitable Trust at Kakira to the people of Himachal.

Joshi dedicates Rs 2 cr hospital
to HP people
From Our Correspondent

KAKIRA (Chamba), Nov 2 — The Union Human Resource Development Minister, Mr Murli Manohar Joshi, today dedicated a Rs 2 crore Sri Swami Harigiri Hospital and Research Centre constructed by the Swami Sri Harigiri Charitable Trust at Kakira to the people of Himachal.

Addressing a large gathering on this occasion Mr Joshi said that located at Kakira village at an altitude of about 1500 metres in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, this hospital would cater health care needs for free of cost treatment in such a district region would help the poor.

The Human Resource Development Minister while lauding this noble task underlined the need for sacrifice and service for the welfare of human race.

The Union Minister stated that there was a need to prevent the invasion of western culture as it was polluting our cultural heritage. The minister underscored the need to fight against it and it give up for the sake of India's heritage. Existence of India lies in its own culture, said the Union Minister.

The Union Minister criticised these leaders who were opposing the move of introducing "Saraswati vandana", which was mooted in the recent national-level meeting of Education Ministers of states. He said to oppose Saraswati vandana was to attack our culture and alleged that those who were opposing the move wanted to keep the country illiterate.

The Minister made it clear that Saraswati was a symbol of knowledge and appealed the people to pledge making the country fully literate. He emphasised the need of atomic development and thereby strengthening the unity of the nation but he said that it could be possible only if our country was literate.

Speaking on this occasion, the Himachal Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, announced that the expenses for the installation of electricity and water supply arrangements for this Charitable hospital would be borne by the state government. The Chief Minister assured to extend all help to this noble task of the hospital. He said that it was one of the unique charitable hospitals in Himachal which would provide free health services to the people of this hilly region of Himachal with a team of physicians and specialists available here.

The Chief Minister said the Himachal Government itself was spending Rs 558 crore on the social services, including pensions to old-age, widows, handicapped, during the current year. He said Rs 164.57 crore had been provided for the constructional roads in the state during this year besides Rs 10 crore for the repair of roads.

Mr Dhumal said work on the 300 MW Chamera Hydel Project on Ravi in Chamba district was underway while the Parvati Hydel Project would be undertaken in the near future.

The Chief Minister said the state government would provide financial assistance of Rs 10,000 to each of the 1000 poor but intelligent students of the state every year. He said the government had also decided to strengthen the network of health services.

The Member of Parliament Mr Shanta Kumar, on this occasion announced Rs 10 lakh for the construction of Charitable hospital from the MP's funds.

Mr Kishori Lal, Himachal Industries Minister, Mr Ashok Singhal Acting President of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Sri Swami Rajeshwarananda also spoke on this occasion. The others who were present on this occasion Mr Mohan Lal Ayurveda Minister, Mr Mohan Lal, Punjab Forest Minister.

Bahuguna foresees world water shortage
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, Nov 2 — Noted environmentalist Sundar Lal Bahuguna said that the emerging international scenario of shortage of water, could lead to a Third World War early in the 21st century.

Mr Bahuguna who was the chief guest at the annual function of the local Uttarakhand Bhratri Mandal, said the worldwide acceptance of affluence as the index of progress, had led to overexploitation of natural resources, particularly the forests.

Even countries like that of ours, where the trees had been long venerated as giver of food, water and pure air in addition to many other benefits, forests had been dwindling at an alarming rate, causing decreased flow of water in the country's waterways; lowering of water table in plains and environmental imbalance in the hills.

Similar situations existed elsewhere in large parts of the world. Someday some powerful country, starved of water, would want to divert sources of water to their advantage which could spark a world war as no form of life could exist without water.

"The time has come when each one of us must act towards not only the conservation of existing forest resources but also to use our knowledge, resources and power for expanding the green cover."

Emphasising the importance of people's participation in the management of forests, Mr Bahuguna said that the youth could play a decisive role in the battle for reclaiming lost forests by undertaking "padyatras" (foot marches) for enlightening masses. Efforts should be made to persuade each able-bodied person to plant at least 12 trees every year.

Referring to the overall plight of the Himalayas and hill folk, the Chipko leader said that while the hills had started crumbling under the forces of erosion, the common hillman lived a life of poverty and deprivation from Afghanistan to Burma, except in the small state of Himachal Pradesh. In fact Himachal had emerged as a role model for the people of the hilly areas in the matter of development obliquely hinting that the establishment of smaller hill states carved from each of the states situated along the foot hills of the Himalayas possibly held the key to solving the hillmen's economic problems.

Mr Bahuguna said that hill people could help each other improve their lot by a regular exchange of cultural troupes, social workers and enlightened intellectuals, and urged the Himachal Government to help arrange such exchanges.

Mr Bhopal Singh Rawat, president of the Mandal, said that his organisation had been set up with the aim of preserving and promoting the culture of Uttarakhand for future generations of Uttarakhandi people, who had been forced to live in other states owing to economic compulsions.

A cultural programme of Uttarakhandi songs regaled the audience in the Municipal auditorium for three hours.

The Mandal Secretary, Mr Nathani announced a donation of Rs 5100 for Mr Bahuguna's environmentalist campaigns.

Virbhadra for relief to tribal areas
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 2 — The Congress Legislature Party leader, Himachal, Mr Virbhadra Singh, has demanded immediate relief measures in tribal villages near the Indo-Tibetan border where widespread devastation had been caused due to untimely snow and rains.

In a statement here today, Mr Virbhadra Singh said that the recent heavy rains and untimely snowing from October 17 to October 19 had caused largescale destruction in Kinnaur district specially in the upper area of Pooh sub-division causing three deaths and heavy losses to houses, private and public properties particularly in Sumra, Yangthan, Leo, Hango, Chulli Hango, Chulling and Ropa valley.

Valuable farm land has been washed away and apple and other fruit trees uprooted. Vehicular traffic in Pooh sub-division has come to a standstill causing great hardship to the local tribal peoples. The farmers are unable to export over 450 truckloads of apples and other farm produce due to road blockade. If the road is not opened immediately, economy of poor tribal people of Kinnaur residing near Indo-Tibetan border would be affected seriously, he added.

He said it is unfortunate that the district administration and the government had done nothing so far to mitigate suffering of the affected people. The administration appears to be busy in celebrating tribal festival at Rekong-Peo rather than pressing all resources and manpower into service to provide relief and succour to the affected people and to take immediate action to open roads and restore normal vehicular traffic.

He urged the government to take immediate action in this matter to provide relief to the affected people and take steps to restore vehicular traffic in the affected region devastating by heavy rains and untimely snow to ensure that apples and other farm produce of the farmers were not allowed to rot for lack of transport facilities.

5 booked for hoarding
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 2 — In a swoop on hoarders, district authorities here today sealed two unauthorised godowns and registered FIR against five traders.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ram Subhag Singh, said that 71 raids were made on the premises of traders by three teams set up for the purpose.

Departmental action has been taken against 39 traders to bring down prices.

He said that traders were made to sell onion for Rs 35 per kg in retail. Wholesale price of onion was Rs 30 per kg, but it was being sold for Rs 45 per kg in violation of the orders for charging a margin of 15 per cent. A team lead by the Additional District Magistrate made the vegetable sellers make available to consumers onion for Rs 35 per kg.

The Deputy Commissioner said that three teams were set up to ensure that traders did not indulge in profiteering.

One of the teams sealed two unauthorised godowns in which rice rice and atta worth about Rs two lakhs was stored.

He said that the police registered FIRs against three vegetable traders.

There was no scarcity of salt anywhere in the district he added.

Meanwhile the Congress party has accused the BJP-HVC combine government of having failed to curb the rising prices of essential commodities and indulging in spending spree on unproductive things.

The general secretary of the PCC, Mrs Asha Kumari, in a statement here lashed out at the state government for having failed to take corrective steps to curb rising prices of vegetables, pulses, edible oils and other commodities.

She accused the BJP governments at the Centre and in the state of being "puppets" in the hands of hoarders and traders. The BJP government has become a "tool for black marketeers and profitteers to loot the poor man by creating artificial shortage of essential commodities".

Mrs Asha Kumari said that instead of holding meetings, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee should ask the authorities to implement the existing laws against hoarding and profiteering to bring the situation under control.

She pointed out that the BJP had made a larger ministry although it had been accusing the previous Congress ministry of being of jumbo-sized.

She claimed that the state government had spent about Rs 10 lakh for purchasing a Mitsubishi Lancer luxury car for the Chief Minister while the state was reeling under severe financial crisis.

Mrs Asha Kumar said that the Chief Minister, Mr P K Dhumal, who had made a big hue and cry over the leasing of a helicopter by the former Virbhadra Singh government, has itself initiated steps to acquire a helicopter now.

She asked the BJP leaders to seek apology from Mr Virbhadra Singh for having unleashed a "false" propaganda against Mr Virbhadra Singh during the Congress regime on the issue of the helicopter.

Meanwhile, Mr Rakesh Singha, district secretary of the CPM, has said that the government had no political will to control rising prices.

He demanded that the government should make raids on wholesale dealers to unearth hoarded goods. The wages of daily wage earners should be linked with the price rise.

Monkey menace in Hamirpur
From Chander Shekhar

HAMIRPUR: People of the district, especially those living near forests, are highly upset over the losses being caused to their successive crops by monkeys every year. They say that the monkeys claim about 40 per cent of their total crops and in case of natural calamities, the loss is total.

The people erect high "machans" to protect their crops. They also resort to use of crackers, firing shots in the air and chase the wild animals and the monkeys away.

They say that since monkeys are worshipped by them, they cannot kill them. They are, however, annoyed with the state government for not helping them from the onslaught of the monkeys.

The monkey menace issue figured at a meeting of the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, during his recent visit to his home constituency of Bamsan where farmers demanded protection from the monkeys. The Chief Minister assured them that the state government would try its best to solve the problems.

* * *

The sudden rise in the prices of various essential commodities and item of daily use has caused resentment and frustration among the people. They are agitated over the prices of onion and potato.

People say that the onion and potato, which were considered the food of the common man, have now become the precious items in the kitchens of the high-ups only. The retail price of onion ranges from Rs 40 to Rs 50 per kg and that of potato between Rs 10 kg to Rs 12.

The failure of the government agencies to bring down the prices and to check the black-marketing of the various commodities has come under sharp criticism.

* * *

A recent step of the Department of Telecommunications to link Hamirpur district with various parts of the districts of Kangra, Una, Bilaspur and Mandi under the group dialling scheme has evoked mixed reaction among the people. The people in general have welcomed this facility but are upset over the failure of the system time and again. Under the scheme, any subscriber without having the STD facility can dial to the places covered under it. The people lament that this facility does not work whenever it is needed.

The department, however, attributes this to the pressure on the lines.

Private PCO holders are unhappy with the introduction of the group dialling scheme. They say that this system has harmed their business. They want introduction of at least Re 1 per call as service charge on the analogy of the STD calls in respect of the stations outside the district.

* * *

The decision of the HP State Electricity Board to enhance the power rates in respect of the commercial consumers has been criticised by the trading community. Under the new order, which came into force on September 1, the power rate has been raised from Rs 1.80 to Rs 2.10 for consumption up to 400 units of power. The new rate for power consumption from 401 to 1000 units would be Rs 2.50 per unit against Rs 2.25 per unit earlier. For those consuming power more than 1000 units, the rate has been fixed at Rs 2.80 against Rs 2.40 per unit.

According to HPSEB sources, the meter rent has also been raised from Rs 40 per kilowatt to Rs 50. A surcharge of 10 per cent will be levied along with an excise duty of 15 paise per unit.

* * *

The sale of rotten and spurious items like fruits, vegetables, toffees and sweets has been going on unabated in various parts of the district in the absence of a regular food inspector.

Presently, a food inspector comes from a nearby district and most of his time he is busy in courts in connection with old cases. As such, it is impossible for him to perform his normal duties.

People allege that there is no check on the activities of those dealing in spurious items. This has led to various types of throat and stomach ailments among school going children.

* * *

AIDS has virtually gripped various parts of Hamirpur district. At least 70 persons, including children and women, have fallen prey to this disease. Most of the HIV positive affected persons are taxi or lorry drivers and had worked at Bombay, Calcutta or Delhi.

The latest information gathered shows that of the 70 HIV positive cases, the total number of full blown AIDS cases in the district is 30. Fifteen of them have already lost their lives.

The failure of the state government to open a counselling cell at Hamirpur to make the people aware of the dreaded AIDS and other allied diseases is a matter of serious concern.