Forest cover under threat
Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 11
The large-scale outbreak of forest diseases in the hills is causing concern to the environmentalists, who fear that the process, if not checked, could spell doom for the fast depleting forest resources which are already under strain due to increasing pressure of population.

Until recently forest diseases were virtually unknown in the Himalayan region, particularly, Himachal Pradesh. However, over the past five years a number of diseases have been reported in the region giving sleepless nights to the foresters. Their concern is understandable as the state Forest Department does not have the necessary infrastructure to detect and manage such diseases.

First it was a fungal disease which inflicted a patch of deodar trees in Chail. The disease caused by phytophthora cinnamomi, a deadly fungus known for its destructive potential the world over, led to the drying up of about 900 trees. Fortunately, it was a localised infection and was detected in time with the help of Himalayan Research Group, a non-government organisation engaged in forestry research.

Thereafter, it was the turn of sheesham, which grows in the lower hills of the state. Almost 40 per cent of the trees have been affected by the twin attack of fusarium and genoderma fungi. The disease has assumed epidemic proportions and other states in the northern region have also been affected. Sheesham trees are slowly wilting under the onslaught of the disease in Bilaspur, Una, Hamirpur and Kangra.

Sturdy confess like blue pine, botanically pinus wallichiana, which grow in the cool climes of hills, have also come under pest attack. Over the past two years hundreds of trees have dried in Shimla district in patches. Identified as pityogenes scitus blanford by scientists of Himalayan Forest Research Institute, the pest devours the sapwood, rendering the stem hollow.

In the mid hills infestation of fomes fungus has been detected in some area. Even the landlocked Lahaul-Spiti area, which is known for its disease-free environment, has not escaped. Over the past three years a large number of salix trees have dried in the cold desert area.

Scientists hold climatic changes, which have taken place over the past 50 years, responsible for the large-scale outbreak of forest diseases in northern India. The rise in average temperature due to global warming, particularly in the hills, has made conditions conducive to the growth of pathogens. Dr Lal Singh, scientist in charge, Himalayan Research Group, warns that Himalayan forests would be subjected to increased onslaughts of disease-causing organisms in future. The Forest Department must come out with a comprehensive plan to tackle the situation, failing which it might find it difficult to protect the forests which are increasingly becoming susceptible to diseases.

Department gears up to fight forest fires
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 11
The state Forest Department is all geared up to check forest fires, which usually break out when the mercury starts soaring towards the middle of May.

Every summer fires affect thousands of hectares of forest land in the state, wiping out rich flora and fauna. Besides, the columns of smoke that rise from blazing forests also cause air pollution.

Out of the total geographical area of 55,673 sq km, the forest cover is spread over an area of 37,032 sq km of which more than 8,267 km is prone to fires. Continuous dry spells have been one of the major causes of forest fires. Out of the total 163 forest ranges, 65 are fire-prone. Likewise, out of the total 486 forest blocks, as many as 248 are fire-prone and of the 1526 forest beats, 896 are considered vulnerable to fire hazard.

Past experience shows that most of the forest areas in Kangra, Nahan, Bilaspur and lower areas of Chamba and Solan districts are prone to fire. On an average, 500 to 600 incidents of fire are reported every summer. Fires are mostly caused due to the negligence of people who throw smouldering cigarettes in the jungle. At times the fire spreads to jungle from “ghasnis”. The pine forests are the most vulnerable to fires.

Every year the department takes various preventive measures. These include control-burning in fire-prone areas, preparation and clearance of fire lines, construction of fire watch towers, gang huts and water harvesting structures.

Over the years wireless network had been set up to facilitate quick communication during the fire season. The prevention and control of forest fires is also carried out with the help of villages forest development societies. According to reports, some societies, like the one in Heb village near Thural and Gwali and Ropa in Jogindernagar, have taken adequate steps for the prevention and control of fires.

The department has deployed fire watchers, forest workers and forest guards apart from deputy rangers to control forest fires with the help of locals. “Rakhas” and forest workers have also been deployed to keep a close vigil on the forest fires. The Department of Forest Farming and Conservation is spending around Rs 1 crore annually on the prevention and control of forest fires. Of late, the help of even non-government organisations (NGOs) is being taken to fight the fire menace.

Forest corpn in the red
Our Correspondent

Palampur, May 11
The HP State Forest Corporation is in a serious financial crisis these days as there is no demand of timber in its depots following a large-scale flow of imported timber in Himachal Pradesh and the adjoining states. The total turnover of the corporation has come down by nearly 35 per cent in the past three years. It has become very difficult for the corporation to pay salaries of the staff. The annual budget of the corporation for salaries, etc, exceeds Rs 3 crore and it had a staff strength of 3,000 gazetted and non-gazetted officers.

Official sources said here today that timber worth crores of rupees was piling up at the Bhadroa, Baddi, Matroowala and Sundernagar depots of the corporation. In the absence of any buyer of timber, the state government is losing over Rs 75 crore by way of royalty and sales tax every year. Stocks were put to auction many times, but because of higher reserve prices and poor quality of timber, none came forward to buy it. Official sources reveal that following a glut of illegal and smuggled timber in the local markets, the sales in corporation depots have further come down by 50 per cent. Only last year the state government had seized illegal timber worth Rs 3 crore in different parts of the state.

Forest Minister Chander Kumar reviewed the situation two days ago and discussed the matter with senior officers at length. He directed the officer to find ways and means to dispose of the stocks piling up in its different depots. Senior officers of the corporation told the minister that because of flow of imported timber into Indian markets after the WTO agreement, the corporation was facing problems to clear its stocks since the imported timber was cheaper by about 40 per cent than the local timber. At present over 10 lakh cubic metres of imported timber is coming for sale in northern Indian markets.

The Forest Minister has decided to take up the matter with the board of directors of the corporation tomorrow so that permission could be availed to dispose of the old stocks which were facing decay. Mr Chander Kumar said that before the onset of the rainy season, the corporation must dispose of its old stocks in one way or another, otherwise the losses would be doubled.

500 cr project to improve quality of wool
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 11
The centre plans to set up a technology mission to improve productivity and quality of wool in the country.

Stating this at a press conference here today, Mr Kanshi Ram Rana, Union Minister for Textiles, said his ministry had already prepared a draft proposal for the technology mission on wool and it had been put up before the Planning Commission for approval. He said the basic objective of the mission was not only improve the yield and quality of wool but also ensure remunerative returns to the breeders. The project would involve an expenditure of about Rs 500 crore.

He said at present the quality of wool produced in the country was not suitable for making fabric. It was only used for making carpets, blankets and some other items. The country was importing quality wool from Australia and New Zealand for making garments.

He announced that the government would soon launch an insurance scheme for sheep breeders to provide them security. He said the total premium for an insurance cover of Rs 50,000 would Rs 200.

The insurance company would contribute Rs 100 and the Central Government Rs 60. The breeder would have to pay only Rs 40. During the 10th Plan period a target to insure one lakh sheep breeders had been set.

Earlier presiding over the 18th meeting of the central wool development board, Mr Rana said Himachal Pradesh was one of the few states which produced finer variety of wool and where projects for the development of Angora wool had been taken up widely. He said the centre had so far given Rs 3.26 crore to the state for sheep and wool development related activities.

He said Kulu was known for its shawls and other handloom products. The centre was keen to help improve the quality of the handloom and handicraft products so that the 20,000 families, which earned their livelihood through it, could earn more. He said his ministry would send experts to Kulu to prepare a scheme for improvement of handlooms products.

Central plan to boost textile exports
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 11
The Centre has drawn up a plan to increase textile exports from the present Rs 70,000 crore to Rs 2,50,000 crore by 2010.

This was stated by Mr Kanshi Ram Rana, Union Minister for Textiles, while presiding over a workshop on diversified jute products organised by the national centre for jute diversification here today. He said a textile policy had already been formulated and the process was on to set up a technology mission on jute, which had a vast scope for making a wide range of eco-friendly products.

Being biodegradable and renewable resources, jute was in an advantageous position over other materials. Jute products ranging from carry bags, soft luggage, fashion and travel accessories to highly aesthetically developed products like durries, carpets, curios and other handicrafts.

India was number one in jute production, but was at second position as far its export was concerned. The aim now was to make it the top jute-exporting country by improving product quality.

The minister said the role of non-governmental organisations was underlined in making the diversification programme a success as they formed a link with the weavers, jute growers and craftsmen. The National Centre for Jute Diversification (NCJD) had developed a variety of products like footwear and gift items of high quality board, jute blended cloth, floor covering and non-woven fabric. Besides, there were geo-jute applications which also had wide ranging use in checking soil erosion and metalling of roads.

At present there were 89 manufacturing units in jute diversification assisted by the NCJD, which had with an investment of Rs 19 crore generated a capital investment of Rs 100 crore, he added.

NEWS ANALYSIS
Punjab, HP Govts pull in different directions
Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 11
Though Punjab and Himachal Pradesh have the Congress as the ruling party in common, policies and programmes being pursued by the two state governments look different. There may not be any diversion from the Guwahati and Mount Abu mandates given to the Congress-run states by the party high command, it has certainly been giving contradictory signals.

A couple of decisions taken by the Himachal Pradesh government during the past few weeks may go well both with politics and economics of the state but at the same time they have caused ripples in adjoining Punjab, also run by the Congress.

Needless to say that both Punjab and Himachal Pradesh are passing through a serious financial crisis and have been pursuing various proposals and plans to downsize the administrative setup. Both have taken certain steps in this direction.

For example, the Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to abolish seven posts of Assistant Advocate-General to reduce the effective strength of its law officers, both in the high court and the State Administrative Tribunal to 13, including that of the Advocate-General.

On the other hand, Punjab has almost 100 law officers against a sanctioned strength of 55. Not only that, a substantial number of these law officers have Haryana domicile with no roots in Punjab.

Punjab has been perhaps the only state which takes care of the unemployed of other states. So much so that even for re-employment, it considers outsiders. The previous SAD-BJP Government had brought in Justice V.K. Khanna to head the State Human Rights Commission. Now the Congress has followed suit. It has brought in Justice N.C. Jain and Justice A.S. Garg as chairmen of the State Human Rights Commission and the State Law Commission, respectively. Even a retired IAS officer of Haryana has been made a member of the State Human Rights Commission.

Himachal, too, had been following the same steps. For example, it had Justice Om Parkash Verma, both as the Lokayukta and the Chairman of the State Human Rights Commission. The previous BJP Government had in September last year abolished the State Human Rights Commission which has now been revived.

Employment generation is a priority item on the agenda of both Punjab and Himachal as the governments, which had been previously the biggest employer, are keen on developing entrepreneurial skills among the youth in an endeavour to create self-employment opportunities.

By yet another decision Himachal decided to raise the minimum wages of unskilled workers. Interestingly, Himachal has also said no to a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) while Punjab has decided to go ahead with it.

While power sector reforms are a major issue in Punjab, Himachal appears to be comfortably placed on this front. The new Electricity Bill though would be applicable to all states, irrespective of the ruling party there.

The PSEB employees are already up in arms against the privatisation move.

Understandably, there cannot be and should not be any comparison between two different sets of governments, though of the same party, yet examples of states doing well in different areas, say Andhra Pradesh in governance and Kerala in education, are often quoted.

Another decision that may have implications in Punjab has about the decision on user charges.

On May 5 the Himachal Pradesh Government decided to withdraw user charges on hospitals imposed by the previous BJP Government. The Congress had made the user charges a major issue in the recent Assembly elections and promised to withdraw these on coming to power.

On the other hand, the Punjab Government has been levying newer charges or hiking the existing ones. Himachal has increased the bus fare by 25 per cent while Punjab plans to increase them by 10 per cent on the lines of Jammu and Kashmir.

Besides, Punjab has also hiked college and university fees, water and sewer charges and withdrawn free water and power to the agricultural sector.

Culprits roaming free due to ‘political’ patronage
Our Correspondent

Jawali (Nurpur), May 11
The Jawali police has been unable to nab till now three suspects booked under Sections 332, 353 of the IPC and Section 41-1-64 of the Excise Act on April 19. It has been alleged that these suspects members of a local liquor mafia, have not been arrested due to the political patronage they enjoy.

The police had intercepted a jeep carrying illicit liquor at a naka near Jawali on the night of April 18. The police vehicle chased the jeep when it did not stop. The persons in the jeep started throwing bottles and pouches of liquor on the road resulting in an accident of the police and injuring members of the police party. Next day the police impounded the jeep and arrested Vijay Kumar, son of the jeep owner, but did not arrest other three accused named in the FIR.

The impounded jeep and one of the arrested accused have been released on bail.

The police inaction in curbing the menace of illicit liquor and narcotics in the area reportedly flourishing due to political patronage to the mafia has caused concern among the residents.

Mr Jaram Singh, DSP, Jawali, on contacted, said that the rest of the accused would be nabbed soon. He added that the Himachal Pradesh High Court had rejected the application moved by these accused for interim bail. But he refused to speak about the delay in arresting them.

Meanwhile, the robberies in the non-nationalised banks in the border areas of the sub-division by unidentified armed robbers have exposed the poor security arrangements by the bank managements. They have not posted their own security guards in the bordering areas, giving rise to a spate of robberies here. It was the second bank robbery in the Damtal area bordering Punjab in the subdivision when a gang of three armed robbers looted about Rs 6 lakh from GT Road Damtal branch of the Kangra Central Cooperative Bank on Thursday.

A few months ago armed robbers had targeted the Gramin Bank in Milwan adjoining Damtal and had looted Rs 4 lakh. Significantly, the robberies are being committed only in non-nationalised banks in this border area as these banks have no security guards of their own. The police has also failed to solve any bank robbery or nab the robbers. The police action remained merely of lodging FIRs.

CM for speedy completion of tribal area projects
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 11
The Himachal government is to consider hiring labourers in tribal areas for three months and not for one month keeping in view short season of work.

Mr Virbhadra Singh, Himachal Chief Minister, stated this at a public meeting at Sangla in Kinnaur district, last evening. He said this was essential for speedy completion of ongoing projects.

He said the single-line administration in tribal areas was introduced by the Congress government for fast completion of projects.

He said that the recommendations of the Himachal Power Committee constituted to review the Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) for the execution of various hydro-power projects signed by the previous government would be considered and interests of the people and the state would be safeguarded. He said that ensuring jobs to the local people would be one of the main objective of the review. He said that ongoing projects be completed well before the stipulated period.

The previous government had failed to safeguard the interests of the sate in hydro power projects, as it settled for 12 per cent royalty which was inadequate. He said that the Nathpa Jhakri Hydel Power project was started during congress regime and 25 per cent equity and 12 per cent free power had been ensured in it by the Congress government at that time. He said that equity participation should have been ensured in all the big hydel projects.

The Chief Minister said that the people of the state had given mandate to the Congress party to eradicate corruption from the public life. He said that the effective steps had been initiated and investigating agencies had been directed to look into cases of corruption so that guilty could be punished.

He announced that the posts in educational and health institutions would be filled on priority. He added that the government would also consider appointing local youths on contract to posts which remained vacant in absence of regular appointees.

Chief Justice stresses use of IT
Our Legal Correspondent

Shimla, May 11
Indispline and disintegrity would not be tolerated in the judicial system, said the Chief Justice, Mr Vinod Kumar Gupta, while addressing a conference of senior judicial officers of the state. Mr Justice Gupta today inaugurated the New High Court guest house here.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that the judicial system of the state was lacking in infrastructure and was far behind from other states in using information technology. Mr Justice Gupta said, “unless we have the basic infrastructure, we cannot work in a conducive manner and can not provide the effective results.”

He show dissatisfaction at the disposal rate of cases in H.P. and emphasised the need to provide speedy justice to the litigant despite the shortage of judicial officers in the state.

He said that it was unfortunate that the state was lacking behind in cesing information technology.

The judicial officers of the state were also provided with latest information and technology available to provide speedy justice, on the occasion. Mr Kamlesh Aggarwal of IIT Allahabad, delivered a lecture on this issue. Senior judicial officers explained the problem faced by them to the Chief Justice. On this occasion Mr Justice L.S. Panta, Mr Justice A.K. Goel and Mr Justice R.L. Khurana and other senior judicial officers of the state were present.

Industrialists await excise notification
Our Correspondent

Solan, May 11
Even as the Central Government announced its special industrial package for Himachal Pradesh on January 6, it is yet to notify the excise exemption delaying the process of investment. A number of big groups, including Lg, Colgate, Godrej, Hero Honda, Kelvinator, Alumbie, Samsung, Khaitan, etc are expected to invest in Solan district with frequent queries being received by officials of the Industries Department from these groups.

Not only this, a number of industries are contemplating expansion after the notification. The Central Government, which has announced a 100 per cent outright excise exemption for 10 years to the units from the date of commencement of the commercial production, is yet to notify this exemption. Presenting concern over this delay, the PHD Chambers of Commerce and Industry, at a recent meeting held at Parwanoo, felt that in the competitive business environment such delay denied the state economic benefits of the new investment.

Officials of the Industries Department, while agreeing to the concern of the industrialists, said that since the exercise involved a tedious process of getting the khasra numbers of the area notified for excise exemption duly processed the delay was imminent.

It was also learnt that since the state government was basing its claim on the basis of Khasra numbers instead of naming a particular area, it was a deliberate tactic of the Industries Department to draw maximum advantages from the central industrial package which was chiefly to promote industrial activity in new areas.

Water shortage in Hamirpur
Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, May 11
Almost all parts of Hamirpur district have been facing severe water crisis due to prolonged drought conditions and the failure of the Department of Irrigation-cum-Public Health to prepare itself to meet the situation. The situation has assumed such alarming proportions that even traditional water sources have started drying up. Men, women and children can be seen in search of water from "khuds", "bowlis" and wells.

Notwithstanding official claims about regular water supply in various parts of the district, water shortage persists. Reports of water crisis are daily pouring in here from almost all parts of the district including some pockets of Hamirpur town.

The worst affected are the Bamsan and Bhoranj areas, where people have started using "khatri" waters for their needs.

Mr R. N. Sharma, SE, Irrigation-cum-Public Health Department, said there was no water shortage in most parts of Hamirpur district except the Bhoranj area. He said the department was monitoring the situation and efforts were on to provide water in all parts of the district. All government water sources in the district had been cleaned and regular bleaching of these was being done.

Mr Sharma said that in many areas, the shortage was due to the increase in population and the misuse of tap water for construction and allied activities. Those misusing the tap water would be dealt with strongly, he warned. Mr K.D. Lakhanpal, ADM, Hamirpur, said the district administration had taken steps for providing water in the drought-affected areas through tankers.

Sources in the I&PH said here today that the discharge of water in nearly 74 water supply schemes of the district had gone down. There are 196 drinking water supply schemes in Hamirpur district. Source said that 29 of the 1,315 hand pumps had gone dry. Twentyone of these were repairable and eight were not serviceable. They said that the shortage was man-made as the augmentation and repair work of various schemes was not done on time. Huge purchases of non-essential items were made against these schemes only to benefit the contractors having links with the party leaders of the present or previous regime

Poor health care of women worries ABVP
Our Correspondent

Kangra, May 11
Ms Gita, national chief of the ABVP women's wing, today expressed concern over the increasing death rate of women in Himachal Pradesh for want of proper health care facilities for women in the state particularly in tribal and hilly areas.

Ms Gita was addressing a press conference here on the concluding day of the two-day state-level personality development camp for ABVP women activists. She said female foeticide was a serious problem the state was facing in both educated and uneducated sections of the society. She said in Kangra it was alarmingly increasing and was more common in educated and rich families and poverty was not a reason for this. She said it was a social problem to be addressed by people and doctors should adhere to the human ethics before indulging in such a crime. She said about 70 women met her at Sundernagar and sought her intervention in the matter.

Expressing concern Ms Gita said, “In Himachal Pradesh the women were earlier respected and had freedom but things are different now and needs a serious thinking over the issue of the women problems in this hill state”.

Ms Gita blamed both Congress and BJP Governments in different states in the country for ignoring the problems of women. She said there was no major difference in the two parties as for as the problems of women in the country were concerned.

National Technology Day celebrated
Our Correspondent

Dharamsala, May 11
The Institute of Himalayan Bio-resource Technology (IHBT), Holta, today celebrated the National Technology Day. Scientists from various institutions and school students were told about the recent achievements of the IHBT. Dr Tej Partap, Vice-Chancellor of Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University, Palampur, was the chief guest.

Delivering his lecture on “Mountain Societies and turning points”, Dr Tej Partap emphasised that given the political will and proper use of latest technologies, the changing ecology could be harnessed for better living standards in mountain areas.

He said that mountains the world over had the most difficult climatic conditions and least agricultural land but there were opportunities to be availed by using the available technologies. He added since mountains had fragile ecological system, advancement in science could show ways to utilise new developments for changing the life style of mountain people, who were becoming better educated and economically well off with the help of technology based on their needs and traditional wisdom. He also stressed the need for developing niche-based technology to benefit people of particular areas.

Welcoming the chief guest, Director of IHBT, the Dr P.S. Ahuja, said that the CSIR had been able to contribute in many ways in the nation-building programme in India.

On this occasion more than 100 students of local schools visited the IHBT complex and interacted with various scientists. Students from Sainik School, Sujanpur Tira and a group of students from Gujarat also visited the institution on the National Technology Day today.

4 die due to suffocation
Our Correspondent

Dalhousie, May 11
Four employees from Baroda (Gujarat) died due to suffocation in a hotel here last night according to reports received here today. Mr Jagroop Singh Rana, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Dalhousie said here today that the four cooks who died were identified as Munish (26), Ramesh Bhai (35), Dikha Ram (52) and Sambha whose bodies were brought out from a closed room in the morning when they did not wake up.

The bodies of the deceased were sent to their native places in Baroda in Gujarat after a post-mortem examination. A case had been registered in this connection, the SDM said. The SDM said that these cooks were accompanying a party of tourists belonging to Baroda (Gujarat), which was on way to Vaishno Devi by a bus.

No-parking zone
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 11
The Himachal Government, in consultation with the District Magistrate, Shimla, has declared the link road from Auckland House School to Lakkar Bazar as a “no-parking zone” with immediate effect.

The entry as well as loading and unloading of heavy goods vehicles on Cart Road, Shimla, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

The point adjacent to the approach road to subzi Mandi, opposite Ghora Hospital, has been earmarked for loading and unloading of goods between 8.00 p.m. to 8.00 a.m.

The government has also restricted driving of all kinds of heavy vehicles, including buses, mini-buses, trucks and light commercial vehicles, on the portion of road on the Shimla-Mandi state highway from military post (NH) to Boileauganj from 9.00 a.m, to 10.30 a.m and from Boileauganj to military post (NH) from 4.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.

HC notice to Himachal govt
Our Legal Correspondent

Shimla, May 11
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has issued notices to Secretary (Homes), Secretary (Finance) and Registrar General of the High Court, on a petition filed by a lawyer Mr Anil Chauhan, for directing the state government to implement the mandate as delivered by the Supreme Court in the All-India Judges Association case, and to provide proper accommodation, court building, library, and vehicles to officers of the subordinate judiciary.

Issuing notices a Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice Vinod Kumar Gupta and Ms Justice Arun Kumar Goel directed the state government to file the reply within seven weeks.

Neha best dancer
Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, May 11
Neha Sharma of Shimla was adjudged the best dancer of Himachal at the state-level solo dance competition organised by the Hamirpur Press Club last night. Sonia and Neelam of Hamirpur got the second and third prizes.

Neha was given a cash prize of Rs 5,000, a crown and a memento. Sonia got a cash prize of Rs 3,000 and Neelam Rs 2,000.

Thirtyfive dancers in the age group of under 15 from various parts of the state took part in the competition.

Ex-soldiers seek new pay panel
Our Correspondent

Dharamsala, May 11
President of the Bharatiya Samajik Uthan Sangh, Himachal Pradesh, and patron of Palampur unit of the Ex-Services League, Mr Charan Dev Singh Guleria, has demanded the immediate constitution of the Sixth Pay Commission so that anomalies created by the Fifth Pay Commission are redressed.

In a statement, Mr Guleria alleged that the last Pay Commission was bureaucrat-friendly as it had been dictated by them and it did injustice with other categories particularly defence personnel. He said while an IAS officer was benefited by about Rs 16000 per month, a soldier got only Rs 500 under the new scheme.

Employees urged to join stir
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 11
The All-India State Government Employees Federation and the Central Government Employees Confederation have called upon all state-level committees of the state employees and teachers and departmental associations to join the countrywide general strike on May 21.

The call for strike has been given against the policy of privatisation, downsizing the administration, retrenchment, freezing of dearness allowance and other economic benefits.

The main demands include immediate reversal of the policy of privatisation, corporatisation and downsizing of government departments and the state PSUs, restoration of full benefits of DA, bonus, LTC, filling of vacant posts and end to contract and fixed pay appointments. devolution of more funds to the states by the Centre without any condition, no change in the labour laws in favour of the employers and against the interest of the workers and restoration of 12 per cent interest on PF deposits.

Charas, khair wood seized
Our Correspondent

Nahan, May 11
The Sirmour police yesterday arrested Mohammad, alias Ileas Shekh, a resident of Jamalpur in Ahmedabad (Gujarat), and at present residing at Amargarh Puruwala village in Paonta tehsil on the charge of smuggling 900 gm of charas. The police also impounded his motor cycle, on which he was going from Shillai to Paonta.

In another incident, the police also intercepted a truck (HR-04-GA-1005) at the inter-state barrier Behral and seized khair wood. According to the police, the truck driver and two other persons, who belong to Naraingarh, had the permit to transport only 98 quintals of khair wood, while the truck was carrying over 124 quintals of wood. Three persons were taken into custody in this regard and a case registered.