H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Electoral rolls will soon be on web
Shimla, October 22
The Election Commission plans to put the electoral rolls for the entire country on the web for the convenience of the electorate in a phased manner.

CM behaving like losing gambler: Kaul Singh
Kulu, October 22
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal is behaving like a losing gambler and is using all tackles to win”, Mr Kaul Singh, former Vidhan Sabha Speaker and Congress leader, said yesterday while talking to mediapersons at Dhalpur here.

Narag valley, a picture of neglect
Chandigarh, October 22
It is a pity that even though Sarsu Peak is an important tourist and pilgrimage centre in Himachal Pradesh, this unique spot is a picture of woeful neglect, thanks to the insensitivity and lackadaisical attitude of the state government.

Youths addicted to expectorants
Shimla, October 22
Youths of the Sanjauli area are hooked on phensydryl and corex expectorants. Empty bottles of corex and phensydryl are seen as one visits restaurants and dhabas there. Residents of the area say youths visit these places, order sugary tea and gulp down phensydryl and corex from bottles with three or four cups of tea. Thereafter they put empty bottles under chairs and walk away.

Employees of schools defer strike
Kangra, October 22
More than 1,200 employees of 54 government recognised and 95 per cent aided schools today deferred their proposed state-level strike from October 25 to 30 following an assurance to their delegation by the Chief Minister Prof P.K. Dhumal, during his visit to Una, that their demands, accepted by the government in writing during a meeting with the representatives of the union on March 7 would be implemented in letter and spirit.

Students burn Togadia’s effigy
Shimla, October 22
Members of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) today burnt the effigy of Mr Parveen Togadia, VHP general secretary, near the Deputy Commissioner’s office. Kewal Singh Pathania, president of the state unit of the NSUI, said the remarks of Mr Togadia against Ms Sonia Gandhi were disgraceful. He said the NSUI would launch a countrywide agitation if the remarks were not withdrawn.

Hamirpur NIT reopens
Hamirpur, October 22
The local NIT, which had been closed indefinitely, reopened today without any untoward incident. Only first and second-year students resumed their studies today, while students of the third and final years would resume their classes on October 28 and November 5 respectively.

Governor lauds role of Red Cross
Hamirpur, October 22
Himachal Pradesh Governor suraj Bhan today lauded the role of the Red Cross. He said though the Red Cross was formed to help soldiers during wartime, its role had now increased manifold. He said this at a rally here today.

• CM inaugurates hospital

Electoral rolls will soon be on web
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 22
The Election Commission plans to put the electoral rolls for the entire country on the web for the convenience of the electorate in a phased manner.

Stating this here today, Mr T.S. Krishnamurthy, member of the commission who is in the state to review the arrangements for the coming Assembly poll, said the electoral rolls would be put statewise on the website of the commission with a provision for the voters to file their claims and objections and submission of application for the registration as a voter online.

He said the task had been assigned to a Pune-based autonomous documentation centre which had started work on the project. The voters list, along with other relevant information, would be made available in Hindi, English and the local language.

This along with the use of EVMs would help reduce the cost of conducting elections considerably.

The commission had acquired over 3.5 lakh EVMs and to conduct the Lok Sabha poll in the country a minimum of eight lakh machines would be required. Hence it would take some more time for switching over to electronic voting.

He said the EVMs would be used in Himachal for the first time during these elections. The commission had already supplied 8000 EVMs. There were 39,89,124 voters in the state as on January 31, 2002. The member would increase following the summary revision of voters list to include all those who had become eligible to vote up to January 1, 2003. The final electoral rolls would be published on January 6, 2003.

The Election Commission would soon take a decision on holding the Assembly poll in Gujarat. “The situation is being monitored and any decision about holding the Assembly poll in the state will be taken shortly,” Mr Krishnamurthy said, as per a PTI report.

CM behaving like losing gambler: Kaul Singh
Our Correspondent

Kulu, October 22
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal is behaving like a losing gambler and is using all tackles to win”, Mr Kaul Singh, former Vidhan Sabha Speaker and Congress leader, said yesterday while talking to mediapersons at Dhalpur here.

He alleged that the Dhumal government wanted to implicate his rivals, particularly the Congress. He claimed that the BJP would be wiped out in Himachal Pradesh like in Jammu and Kashmir.

He said the state government had put undue burden on the exchequer. He said Prof Dhumal had come in a helicopter to lay the foundation stone of the Zonal Hospital here.

Narag valley, a picture of neglect
V.Eshwar Anand
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 22
It is a pity that even though Sarsu Peak is an important tourist and pilgrimage centre in Himachal Pradesh, this unique spot is a picture of woeful neglect, thanks to the insensitivity and lackadaisical attitude of the state government.

Situated at 5,250 feet in the Narag valley of Rajgarh subdivision in Sirmour district, this can be compared with any other beautiful hill station or resort in Europe or India. It presents a magnificent view of the entire Shivalik hills, the Sain Dhar mountain ranges, the Kasauli mountain top, Solan, the fastest growing district in the state, and the Nauni campus of Dr Y.S.Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry.

The importance of this centre can be gauged by the fact that tourists and pilgrims from as far as Gwalior, Agra, Delhi, Sonepat, Rohtak, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Dehra Dun visit the place from time to time for the darshan of Goddess Jwala Mata at the temple situated atop the hill, called the Sarsu Peak. The rush of pilgrims is particularly heavy during the holiday season. Notwithstanding its immense attraction, tourists find it difficult to reach the temple because of the lack of a road. One has to trek at least for 25 minutes from the main road at the bottom of the hill to reach Sarsu Peak. Of course, trekking in this narrow stretch itself is not so easy as one has to cross many hurdles en route to the temple. Huge boulders on the way are an attraction, but these, including the rocks, could pose problems for the inexperienced lot, especially the first-timers.

Principal Secretary (Tourism) Ashok Thakur is, no doubt, seized of the problem. He is in the process of implementing a comprehensive strategy that would help woo Delhi and Chandigarh tourists to unexplored tourist destinations in the state. He feels that as the regular tourists are tired of visiting Kasauli and Shimla, they should be provided with something new in the state. Unfortunately, even though he sees tremendous scope for improvement in this valley, he is apparently not able to pursue things to their logical conclusion because of the lack of political will to develop this valley.

Interestingly, Mr G.R.Musafir, MLA of Pachchad under whose constituency the Sarsu Peak falls, said at a public meeting at Sarsu on October 16 that he would prevail upon the state government to develop this valley and provide a helipad there for the benefit of tourists and pilgrims. But why speak of helipad when there is the dire need of a road?

If the tourists and pilgrims have a problem in reaching Sarsu Peak, it is a struggle for existence for the residents of Bhaji Bhanad village. The lack of a road has virtually alienated them from the mainstream. They face acute water and power crises. During summer, they do not get water for weeks. They are also deprived of power supply in the nights.

The villagers carry out activities like growing off-season vegetables. Ironically, they grow the best quality of potato, ginger and tomato in the entire region, but the village continues to remain backward and underdeveloped. A self-help group (SHG) comprising 14 local women has been collecting regular savings and inter-loaning it among the members of the group. It took a loan from the State Co-operative Bank.

Amazingly, the Zilla Panchayat has done little to ameliorate the sufferings of the villagers. According to Mr H.K.Sharma, Child Development Programme Officer, the village needs a holistic approach to development. Water and power crises should be tackled on a war footing. Steps should be taken to provide water supply to the village in summer. There is also the need for a transformer to tackle the power crisis.

There are three middle schools but there is no high school for the entire Sarsu area comprising 12 villages with a population of about 2,000. As a result, some students trek about 20 km to reach Narag where a senior secondary school is situated.

The government has reportedly released funds for the 10-km Narag-Sarsu road, but it is not clear whether the project will be executed in letter and spirit or will remain just a political stunt, with elections to the State Assembly round the corner.

Pragati, a non-government organisation, is doing its best to promote the valley. It has extended a helping hand to the Tourism Department to tap the unexplored tourist potential in the state. But will this be enough to help both villagers and tourists?

Pragati feels that if the government is sincerely committed to develop the valley as a tourist and pilgrim destination, it should provide the necessary infrastructural facilities. Speedy execution of the Narag-Sarsu road as also connecting the Sarsu Peak with a 2.5-km road link from Sarsu should necessarily receive the top priority of the state government.

Youths addicted to expectorants
Our Correspondent

Shimla, October 22
Youths of the Sanjauli area are hooked on phensydryl and corex expectorants. Empty bottles of corex and phensydryl are seen as one visits restaurants and dhabas there. Residents of the area say youths visit these places, order sugary tea and gulp down phensydryl and corex from bottles with three or four cups of tea. Thereafter they put empty bottles under chairs and walk away.

Chemists oblige youths for the sake of their profit. Youths visit chemist shops without doctors prescriptions and get the medicine. The modus operandi is simple. Chemists supply corex and phensydryl only to persons known to them and in turn they get a good amount. A bottle of phensydryl or corex, which sells for Rs 15 to Rs 30 in retail, is sold for Rs 60 to Rs 75 to youths.

Doctors of Indira Gandhi Medical College said youths were not aware of the harmful effects of corex and phensydryl. They take it to relieve stress as a cheaper substitute of alcohol. On the contrary, it lowers the heart rate, numbs senses and even leads to impotence. An overdose may cause death also.

Police officials say they keep on raiding chemist shops in the Sanjauli and Mashobra areas and seize the stocks from chemists. They alone cannot stop this menace. The police says a concerted effort is needed and the support of parents is a must. They say it is an addiction and de-addiction is the safest bet. Counselling can also help, they add. Drug inspectors say now corex and phensydryl addiction is negligible in the Sanjauli area. Two years ago it was of large-scale nature. They seek credit for reducing the addiction as they keep an eye on erring chemists and seize the stock. “To root out this menace, society’s help is a must”, they added.

Employees of schools defer strike
Our Correspondent

Kangra, October 22
More than 1,200 employees of 54 government recognised and 95 per cent aided schools today deferred their proposed state-level strike from October 25 to 30 following an assurance to their delegation by the Chief Minister Prof P.K. Dhumal, during his visit to Una, that their demands, accepted by the government in writing during a meeting with the representatives of the union on March 7 would be implemented in letter and spirit.

The spokesman for the HP Government Recognised and 95 per cent Aided School Employees Union, Mr Sanjeev Kapoor, told mediapersons here today that union took the decision to defer the strike yesterday at an emergency meeting at Una under the chairmanship of Mr Yeshwant Rana, state president of the Himachal Shikshak Mahasang.

Students burn Togadia’s effigy
Tribune Reporters

Shimla, October 22
Members of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) today burnt the effigy of Mr Parveen Togadia, VHP general secretary, near the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

Kewal Singh Pathania, president of the state unit of the NSUI, said the remarks of Mr Togadia against Ms Sonia Gandhi were disgraceful. He said the NSUI would launch a countrywide agitation if the remarks were not withdrawn.

DHARAMSALA: Protesting against the unparliamentary language used by VHP general secretary Praveen Togadia, Congress workers held a rally outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Tuesday. Later they burnt his effigy.

Ms Chandresh Kumari, president of the All-India Mahila Congress condemned the remarks.

Hamirpur NIT reopens
Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, October 22
The local NIT, which had been closed indefinitely, reopened today without any untoward incident. Only first and second-year students resumed their studies today, while students of the third and final years would resume their classes on October 28 and November 5 respectively.

Students of the first and second years had come to their hostels last night.

Though no official comments were available about the reopening of the institute, yet insiders told this correspondent that students attended their classes as usual.

Meanwhile, the Union HRD Ministry has reportedly decided to review the activities on the NIT campus and the Director of the institute has been asked to submit his report daily in this regard.

There are indications that the governing body of the institute is looking for a regular Director for the institute. 

Governor lauds role of Red Cross
Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, October 22
Himachal Pradesh Governor suraj Bhan today lauded the role of the Red Cross. He said though the Red Cross was formed to help soldiers during wartime, its role had now increased manifold. He said this at a rally here today.

Earlier, he inaugurated a Red Cross fair which attracted hundreds of people.

He said people should take active part in the activities of the Red Cross and make donations.

Children presented cultural programmes on the occasion.

The Governor also launched a vaccination campaign against rubella.

CM inaugurates hospital
Our Correspondent

Mandi, October 22
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has said efforts are being made to strengthen the network of health institutions in the state. Inaugurating a Rs 1.01-crore Civil Hospital building at Sundernagar today, he said Rs 5 crore had been provided in the Budget for the completion of a sewerage scheme for Sundernagar. More funds would be made available if required, he said.