Shimla, December 18
The National Election Appeal Committee of the BJP has upheld the organisational polls in Sirmaur district and fixed dates for holding the election in Kullu.

Even as the decision to uphold the election in Sirmaur has come as a setback to the Dhumal faction, the directive to hold elections in Kullu could bring some relief to the group led by the former Chief Minister.

Elections in Kullu would now be held on December 20 and 21. However, it is being felt that these two decisions were not likely to affect the outcome of the state BJP chief poll as the high command wanted the elections to be unanimous.

Political analysts say the high command has tried to strike a balance by giving relief to the rival camps led by P.K. Dhumla and Shanta Kumar. Since the high command is not in favour of the election, it really wouldn't matter who had more delegates in their favour.

The Dhumal faction, including the MLA from Paonta Sahib, Mr Sukh Ram Chaudhary, had lodged a protest with the central leadership over the manner in which elections of Sirmaur BJP chief were held. They had alleged that the DRO, Mr Roop Das Kashyap, after making a formal announcement of the postponement of the election in Shillai, announced the results in Nahan without intimating anyone.

Infact, a delegation of leaders from Sirmaur had met central leaders apprising them of the unfair manner in which elections were held. They had demanded that if the Shanta faction had the numbers in their favour, they should have no problem if fresh elections were held.

During the parleys with the high command, including Sahib Singh Verma, in-charge party affairs Himachal, Mr Sanjay Joshi, national organisational secretary, and Mr O.P. Kohli, national election officer, the Dhumal camp had insisted on reholding of elections in Sirmaur. They had also demanded that party elections in Kullu be held before holding the state BJP chief poll.

In Kullu, former MP, Mr Maheshwar Singh, a strong contender for the state chief post had resigned from the state executive in protest of the manner in which the returning officers conducted the election. His younger brother, Mr Karan Singh, former education minister, had also resigned on similar grounds.

Nurpur, December 18
The Himachal Pradesh Petroleum Dealers Association has urged the state government to revise the value added tax (VAT) structure on diesel in the state at par with the neighbouring Punjab state.

Talking to the media persons here last evening, Mr Sukumar Singh, president of the association, held the present tax structure responsible for the annual revenue loss to the tune of over Rs 150 crore to the state exchequer. He pointed out that the rate of VAT on the sale of diesel in Himachal Pradesh was 14 per cent, whereas it was 8 per cent in Punjab. "As a result, consumers of the state, particularly of border areas, are purchasing diesel from Punjab, causing a direct loss to the state revenue and adversely affecting the sales of as many as 250 petroleum dealers in the state," he said.

He said the petroleum dealers of the state had been sharing 30 per cent of the total revenue being generated through VAT in Himachal Pradesh but the government was indifferent towards the genuine demand of the dealers for reducing VAT on diesel from 14 to 8 per cent. The association president also underlined the need to enforce a ban on the use of kerosene and LPG in vehicles effectively and also offered to the state government assistance in checking this menace in public interest. He suggested constitution of a high-power committee by the state government comprising some members of the association, which would check rampant misuse of petroleum products in the state.

Mandi, December 18
The “mahaseer" fish facing extinction in the Beas and the Ravi is all set to get a major boost as the Rs-2 crore Mahaseer fish farm coming up at Machial in the district will be country's major experiment in the direction for reviving once rich marine life in the fresh water Himalayan rivers in the state.

It is for the first time that the seed protection technology is being put to test at the Mahaseer fish farm at Machial, revealed fisheries officials. "If it turns out to be successful, it will revive Mahaseer in the Beas and the Ravi. The fish was eliminated from the rivers due to the dams on the rivers".

The Central government has allocated Rs. 1 crore this year to develop infrastructure, including lab and other facilities for novel fish farm, disclosed officials.

"But the farm would need another Rs. 3 crore to put all the facilities in place".

The major challenge is not only to put the new seed protection technology to practice at the farm, but also to stock the almost extinct mahaseer fish upstream in the Beas and the Ravi, the top officials said. "The seed will be developed at the farm and then released upstream in the river".

According to Dr. BL Sehgal report on fish in the cold water of the Himalayan water, the “mahaseer” fish has been pushed to brink by the construction of the Pandoh Dam near here and the Pong Dam and Thein Dam on the Beas. "These dams checked the movement of the mahaseer fish upstream over the decades. The river life, once rich with fish, contains a little marine life today".

The Director, Fisheries, Dr BD Sharma, said that Machial seed farm, "if all goes well", would be ready within two years' time.

Dr Sharma said seed protection technology was not standardised in the country so far. "But a private farm at Chamera in Chamba has produced seed worth Rs. 10 lakh last year and shows encouraging result. We are producing mahaseer in Bhakhra Dam, but challenge is how to revive it in the river waters of the Beas and Ravi".

Dr Sharma said seeds would be released upstream from Pandoh Dam and Pong Dam so that fish was revived in the now barren patches of Beas and its tributary, Servari river in Kulu district. "The mahaseer fish was migratory fish and promised a good source of income in tropic climate.