Differences in HP BJP
come to fore
PALAMPUR, Sept 10 — Differences between two factions of the BJP came to the fore when members of the two groups clashed in the presence of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal at Baijnath last night.Slogans and counter-slogans were raised by members of the two factions.

• Apple growers 'not' overcharged
• Three injured in cylinder blast
• Move to open office resented
• Bail petition dismissed
• PCC meeting today
  

Differences in HP BJP come to fore
From Our Correspondent

PALAMPUR, Sept 10 — Differences between two factions of the BJP came to the fore when members of the two groups clashed in the presence of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal at Baijnath last night.

Slogans and counter-slogans were raised by members of the two factions.

The trouble started when Mr Dhumal went to attend a dinner at Paprola town. The Baijnath unit of the BJP had also arranged a separate dinner for Mr Dhumal. The party unit is dominated by former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar. Mr Dhumal however, did not attend the dinner.

Mr Dhumal had gone to Baijnath to assess the political situation in view of the forthcoming Baijnath Assembly byelection.

Mr Dulo Ram, a former MLA is a candidate sponsored by former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar. The Dhumal camp has been canvassing for Miss Indu Goswami, a Mahila Morcha activist.

Last night, when the Chief Minister arrived in Baijnath PWD Rest House, the angry supporters of Mr Dulo Ram raised slogans in favour of Mr Shanta Kumar and Dulo Ram, which irked the Chief Minister.

Mr J.P. Nadda, Health Minister, who was accompanying the Chief Minister, expressed his displeasure over the activities of supporters of Mr Dulo Ram and said that nobody could force the allotment of the party ticket to a particular candidate. The party would contest the byelection unitedly and its nominee would be announced soon, he added.

Steps to save snow leopard pay off
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 10 — Steps by the Himachal Forest Department for the preservation of snow leopard, which was on the verge of extinction a decade ago, have started showing results.

There has been marked increase in the population of the rare high altitude species in the state, thanks to the setting up of wild life sanctuaries and strict enforcement of ban on hunting. Population of the beautiful animal, which is persistently sought after and hunted for its valuable fur, had decreased to just six by 1989. The number increased to 27 in 1993 and to 32 last year as evident from the four-yearly cat census.

At present there are 33 snow leopards in the state in all. Not much is known about the breeding habits of the animal, which is found in the inaccessible high mountain ranges along the snowline. However, wild life experts say that increase in population was remarkable and a definite indication that the animal was profusely breeding in the snow-clad ranges of Chamba, Kulu, Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur.

This was further confirmed by the recovery of two cubs of snow leopard from Menh village in Lahaul valley this summer. The cubs, one of which died last week, probably came down alongwith their mother because of unseasonal snow. But could not return.

Wild life authorities plan to shift the other cub from Lahaul, where it is left in care of an exservicemen at the wild life park at Kufri, near here.

The ban on hunting has led to an increase in population of wild sheep, bharal ibex, goats, deer, hares, marmots and other high altitude animals on which snow leopards mainly prey.

The establishment of wild life sanctuaries has also helped. There are about six protected wild life areas like Sachu-Tuan Nallah, Kugti, Manali, Kannawar, Sangla and Rupi Babha and two national parks one in Kulu and the other in Lahaul Spiti, which provide ideal habitats for the endangered species.

The animal mostly lives beyond the tree line and the inaccessibility of its haunts makes observation and studies difficult. In the Himalayas it is found between the altitudinal limits of 3500 metres to 3900 metres but at times descends up to 2000 metres in winter.

Unknown disease hits apple crop

SHIMLA, Sept 10 (ANI) — The country is likely to have low apple production this season as the apple growers in Himachal, the biggest producer of apples in the country, battle an unknown disease.

Orchards in Himachal are loaded with apples, but growers say quality and production has suffered badly because of the disease.

Small size and premature dropping from branches are the main symptoms of the disease which also reduces the fruit's usefulness for juice extraction.

The state Horticulture Department initially projected a bumper yield of 25 million boxes but the estimates have now been slashed to less than 10 million boxes.

Apple growers claim that more and more trees have been inflicted with the disease in the past three years and say repeated reminders to the Horticulture Department and the state agricultural university have fallen on deaf ears.

"The government is just not thinking about this disease. We have told various departments but no one has taken care of it. They do not even train us so that we can detect the disease ourselves", said Mr Hira Singh Dogra, an apple grower.

Although experts have failed to determine the reason for premature falling, poor quality fertilisers and pesticides provided by the state government are the cause, apple growers allege.

The state government says it will take all the necessary measures to check the spread of the disease.

"We have asked the Vice-Chancellor of the state’s horticulture university to visit the disease-affected areas with a team of scientists. We will give all possible assistance including medicines. We have overcome similar problems earlier and I think we will be able to overcome this dispose now also", said Mr Narendra Bragta, Himachal Pradesh’s Horticulture Minister.

Himachal has over 150,000 apple growers and a total land area of over 90,000 hectares under apple cultivation. Apples add nearly Rs 7,00 crore to the state economy annually.

BJP misusing IPR Dept: MLA
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 10 — Mr Harsh Mahajan, MLA and vice-president of the pradesh Congress, has alleged that the BJP-HVC combine government has converted the Information and Public Relations Department into a propaganda set-up of the BJP.

Mr Mahajan yesterday alleged that the department was being misused by the government for promoting the party prospects in the coming byelection for the Baijnath assembly seat.

He alleged that certain senior officers of the department were functioning as BJP agents. The department had published one lakh posters with the BJP flag printed over the photographs of the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister. The BJP flag had also been printed on another official folder.

Mr Mahajan alleged that the official weekly, Giriraj, was also being used as a party organ.

He demanded that the cost incurred on bringing out these publications should be charged from the BJP.

HPSEB engineers flay NJPC management
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 10 — The HPSEB Project Engineers Association has accused the management of the Nathpa-Jhakri Power Corporation (NJPC) of trying to create confusion and stall the process of resolving the long-pending demands of the staff on deputation by organising "gherao" of NJPC officers.

In a statement here yesterday, Mr KK Vaidya, president of the association, said the comparison drawn over the equivalence between HPSEB and NJPC engineers by the NJPC management was "totally misleading and contrary to the factual position".

He claimed that the promotion of staff in the NJPC was purely on the length of service while in the HPSEB promotions depended on the availability of vacancies.

PCC meeting today
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 10 — A meeting of the newly constituted Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) has been convened here on September 11.

The PCC is likely to plan its strategy in the meeting.

Move to open office resented
From Our Correspondent

NURPUR, Sept 10 — The move to open the office of the Chief Engineer of the Shah Nehar Irrigation project at Dharamsala has evoked a sharp reaction here and in Jawali subdivision.

According to information, the previous government had already spent crores of rupees on the construction of the project office and residential quarters at Nurpur.

Mr Ranjit Bakshi, former MLA, has urged Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal not to open the office at Dharamsala as it would be a misuse of government funds and would put a strain on the state exchequer.

Three injured in cylinder blast
From Our Correspondent

JWALAMUKHI, Sept 10 — Three persons were seriously injured when an LPG cylinder exploded in a shop here today.

The injured were identified as Roshan Lal, Munshi Ram and Suresh Chand. They were admitted to a local hospital.

Bail petition dismissed
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Sept 10 — Mr BS Chauhan, Sessions Judge, yesterday dismissed the bail petition of Hassandin, an accused in a case pertaining to the massacre of 35 persons on August 3 at Kala Ban and Satrundi of this district.

It is alleged that some of the militants were seen at his house a day prior to the carnage.

The Sessions Judge also refused the bail applications of Meer Bax and Ido, both residents of Dharpash in Jammu and Kashmir and Sorma and Bashir, residents of Dhar Langara in Chamba, who had been arrested in connection with the killing of four shepherds.

The accused are at present in judicial custody.

Apple growers 'not' overcharged
From Our Correspondent

KOTKHAI, Sept 10 — Mr Joginder Chauhan, spokesperson for the Kotkhai Truck Operators Union, has denied the allegation that apple growers were being overcharged.

He said the union paid compensation to the apple growers if their produce was affected.

The union was going by the freight chart released by the district administration, he said.