H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Bee-keeping catches on in HP
Shimla, October 14
Apiculture is being promoted as cottage industry in the hill state. With the average land holding less than 2 hectare, growing cereals is not enough for the farmers to earn a decent livelihood.

Rs 147 cr released for Tanda college
Kangra, October 14
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal has said the work on the hospital building of Dr R.P. Government Medical College, Tanda will start soon as the government has released Rs 147 crore for the construction of the 500-bedded hospital and for buying medical equipments.

Media training workshop ends
Shimla, October 14
A three-week-long media training workshop organised by the Himachal Pradesh University and Panchnad Shodh Sansthan concluded here today.

Seminar on Khajjiar
Khajjiar (Chamba), October 14
Mr Shanta Kumar, Union Minister for Rural Development has directed the authorities of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest to work out a development project for the town and its environs.

Buffaloes sacrificed at temple
Shimla, October 14
Two dozen buffaloes were sacrificed today at the historic Kamaksha Devi temple at Karsog, about 70 km from here, to please Kamaksha Devi.

• Govt declares holiday on Oct 25

Bee-keeping catches on in HP
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 14
Apiculture is being promoted as cottage industry in the hill state. With the average land holding less than 2 hectare, growing cereals is not enough for the farmers to earn a decent livelihood. Keeping this in view the government has been making efforts to engage the farmers in allied activities like bee-keeping, by providing various incentives, besides marketing and processing facilities. As many as 49 departmental bee-keeping stations have been set up across the states which serve as nodal centre for dissemination of technical know how and supply of bee colonies and other required inputs.

The number of bee colonies has shot up from a meagre 580 in 1971 to 25,778 in 2002. Likewise, the production of honey has increased from 12 tonnes to 655 tonnes over the period.

Apiculture really picked up only after the introduction of Italian honey bee Apis-mellifera in 1962. The bee-keeping research station of Nagrota Bagwan in district Kangra successfully multiplied and acclimatised the bee.

The Horticulture Department had also established two Ag Marking and grading laboratories at Hatkoti in Shimla district and Chhetru in Kangra district. The state Agro-Industries Corporation has established a honey processing plant at Kandrori in Kangra district with an annual processing capacity of 120 tonnes. The Horticulture Department is also providing necessary inputs, like beehives, comb foundation sheets and other equipments besides bee colonies on subsidised rates to the farmers. During the last four years Rs 70.25 lakh was spent under the various government schemes on providing benefits and concession to bee keeper. At present about 929 persons were engaged in beekeeping as a part-time or a full time avocation as a measure of self-employment.

An estimated about two lakh bee colonies are required for efficient pollination in agriculture and horticultural crops being grown in the state. Bee colonies are being privately managed by fruit growers for pollination at the rate of Rs 300 per colony.

The department has so far registered seven bee breeders in the entire state which have been assigned the responsibility for the multiplication honey bee colonies. A financial assistance of Rs 7.75 lakh has been provided to them for the creation of necessary infrastructure required for bee multiplication programme. So far 6,896 bee-colonies have been produced.

To impart training to the farmers, unemployed youth, ex-servicemen and commercial bee keepers, an amount of Rs 2,41,764 was spent during 2001-2002. In all eight training camps were organised at Chambaghat, Jole, Delphine Lodge, Hatkoti, Sundernagar and Chhetru in which 103 persons participated.

With a view to providing further impetus to apiculture the horticulture department has formulated a Rs 83.60 lakh proposal to be financed by the government of India.

Rs 147 cr released for Tanda college
Our Correspondent

Kangra, October 14
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal has said the work on the hospital building of Dr R.P. Government Medical College, Tanda will start soon as the government has released Rs 147 crore for the construction of the 500-bedded hospital and for buying medical equipments.

Mr Dhumal was addressing mediapersons of the Trigarth Press Club in the state capital yesterday. He said funds had been released and the tender for purchasing medical equipment has already been released.

He lambasted the Congress for their baseless criticism regarding the decision to have a second capital of the state at Dharamsala and described it as a “political gimmick”.

He said “The Congress was creating as issue out of a non-issue to make their presence felt.” He further said his government had given full attention to the development of Kangra district by spending Rs 176 crore on Shahnehar and Sidala medium irrigation project, besides spending Rs 70 lakh for creating a consumer forum court at Dharamsala. He said Rs 27.63 crore were spent on the sewerage schemes of Dharamsala and Jawalamukhi. In order to provide better healthcare land worth Rs 15 crore was provided to Vivekananda Hospital at Palampur.

He said the state had received a nod from the Central Government to set up 68 industrial training institution (ITI) and the formalities would be started shortly in this regard.

Media training workshop ends
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 14
A three-week-long media training workshop organised by the Himachal Pradesh University and Panchnad Shodh Sansthan concluded here today.

Dr Narinder Sharda, Pro-Vice Chancellor, who was the chief guest at the valedictory function, underlined the role of the media in providing the right direction to the effort to ensure speedy upliftment to the downtrodden and the needy.

He lamented that the profession of journalism, which was a mission before Independence, had gradually degenerated into an industry. The issue of development did not figure in its priorities.

Presiding over the function Mr B.K. Kuthiala, Dean of Mass Communications, Guru Jambeshwar University, Hisar, said journalism was a challenging profession and if the media failed to perform its duties diligently society would suffer.

Mr Ajay Srivastav, coordinator of the workshop, said besides technical aspects of journalism, the participants were sensitised about important issues like human rights, environment and blood donation.

As many as 25 persons from Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh participated in the workshop.

A blood donation camp was also organised.

Seminar on Khajjiar
Our Correspondent

Khajjiar (Chamba), October 14
Mr Shanta Kumar, Union Minister for Rural Development has directed the authorities of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest to work out a development project for the town and its environs.

He said this at a seminar held at the PWD Rest House here last evening. Meanwhile, Dr S. Kaul Director, Union Ministry of Environment and Forest advised the local officials to take preventive measures with the participation of local people. He advised for check dams around the lake.

Mr Rahul Anand, Deputy Commissioner, Chamba, Chairman, Special Area Development Authority, Khajjiar, said the SADA would consider the induction of locals in the authority.

Buffaloes sacrificed at temple
Our Correspondent

Shimla, October 14
Two dozen buffaloes were sacrificed today at the historic Kamaksha Devi temple at Karsog, about 70 km from here, to please Kamaksha Devi.

Thousands of devotees thronged the temple and offered prayers on the occasion of the Navratras. The devotees whose wishes are fulfilled offer a buffalo as a sacrifice to the Devi.

Local residents say about 25 years ago, no buffalo was offered to Kamaksha Devi and as a result there was an outbreak of diseases in the area. They say the Devi was annoyed. The residents now sacrifice buffaloes every year to appease the Devi and say their area has witnessed prosperity ever since.

Govt declares holiday on Oct 25
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 14
The Himachal Government has declared holiday on October 25 for women employees due to Karva Chauth.

It will also be a gazetted holiday for women employees of various other institutions under the Negotiable Instruments Act.

The women employees working on daily wage basis will also have a holiday on the day.