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The challenge ahead
Boasting
of one of the highest literacy levels in the country, the high dropout rate at the secondary and high school level has sent alarm bells ringing. The increase is almost three times that at the elementary and high school level. Worse still, the dropout rate is very high among SC students
and girls.
According to the latest National Human Development Report released by the Planning Commission, the dropout rate among girls in higher classes has increased. But why? THE reasons are multiple, faraway schools being the main for girls. Besides, domestic chores leave girls little time to do their homework, forcing them to abandon higher education. Poverty, child labour, and the quantum of homework do their bit. Uninteresting and often irrelevant school curriculum and dated teaching methods also contribute. Dismal figures Hurrah! Now for some much-needed good news. The state has managed to reduce dropout rate at the elementary level claiming 99 per cent retention. THE report says that the dropout rate among SCs is as high as 21.54 % for classes I to V, 25.23 % for VI to VIII and 23.53 % for class IX and X. ST students recorded a dropout rate of 11.69, 13.34 and 12.93 % for classes I to V, VI to VIII and IX and X, respectively. The situation is equally worrisome for girls where an average 13.45, 18.03 and 15.50 % girls dropped out in classes I to V, VI to VIII and IX and X, respectively. New schools THE report lauds the government’s role in increasing the number of schools. Himachal has achieved the prescribed norm of having a primary school every 1km in most districts, barring areas with scattered habitations like Kullu, Chamba, Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti. The average distance from middle schools was 2.36 km, which was also less than the government norm of 3 km. The distance norm prescribed by the Centre does not reflect the actual picture in the hilly terrain, as the real distance covered in hilly areas is much more, as habitations are scattered. Unlike plains, traversing one-three km in the hills often means climbing down one ridge and up another and or crossing a rivulet. All this twice a day is not easy for young children, the report notes. Few teachers THE state has the lowest teacher-pupil ratio at the primary level — for every 100 primary students, there are 30 teachers level. In neighbouring Haryana and Punjab, there are 47 and 40 teachers per 100 students, respectively. The situation is still bad for the upper primary classes (VI to VIII) where this ratio is as low as 18. The situation is better at the secondary level where this ratio stands at 30 teachers per 100
students. The report, however, rates this ratio as satisfactory at all levels though it notes that regional variations exist. The ratio is worst in Kullu (I:39), followed by Una (1:38) at the primary level and worst in Bilaspur and Una at the secondary level. Lahaul & Spiti has the highest number of teachers. Accepting the geographical reality, multi-grade and multi-level teaching continues to challenge the quality of learning. These measures are slated to further improve the educational standards in Himachal.
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Weather plays spoilsport, Pre-world Cup Paragliding Cup cancelled yet again
The weather has once again played spoilsport as the Pre-world Cup Paragliding Competition scheduled from November 14 at Bir Billing has been postponed till next year.
With winter setting in early this year, it is found that the temperature is not sufficiently high for thermal lifting, which is an essential for the adventure sport. The timing has always been in October, when climatic conditions are ideal for the sport. Another reason being cited by top officials of the tourism department for the postponement of the competition is the lukewarm response from pilots. Organisers say it was decided to postpone the event, as there would not be enough thermal lifting at the height of almost 13,000 feet from where the pilots take off. Aero Club of India, Federation Aeronautical International and Paragliding World Cup Association, who are also associated with this event, had been intimated about this. The organisers are also disappointed that not too many top ranking pilots are coming forward to participate in the event. “There were hardly any pilots with top world ranking came forward to participate. So, we thought it was better to postpone it till next year,” confessed tourism officials. Though there have been many queries by foreigners and a 22-member-group from the US in fact arrived in India on October 27, but the organisers have decided to call it off. They are keen that rather than just performing a formality they would hold a mega event next year. They want that next year full preparations should go in for holding the event and advertisements are placed in foreign magazines. The competition would be held in October so that ideal weather conditions prevailed at Bir-Billing, which has emerged as one of the world’s finest sites for paragliding. Large number of foreign pilots, including some big names in the sport, have enjoyed flying off from Billing, overseeing the snow-capped majestic Dhauladhar ranges. In 2002, Norman Lauch, an American pilot ranked number five in the world, had taken part in the competition. Though hang-gliding competitive events were held at Bir-Billing way back in 1984 for the first time but the sport did not pick up in a big way. Ever since events were held at irregular intervals in 1988, 1992, 1995 and 1998 but since 2002 the pre-world cup has been held successfully in a row. Though the organisers say with better preparations they will bid for the world cup next year rather than settling for pre-world cup, but the fact remains that there has been a break in the continuity which had been maintained in recent years.
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Commercialising local art?
The commercialisation of melas and traditional bazaars that once belonged to the local artisans and served as a platform for them to sell their products are now leaving the artisans suffering. The mela committees have transformed traditional bazaars like Kullu Dussehra, Shivratri of Mandi, Lavi of Rampur and Minjar of Chamba and the like, into commercial ventures over the years. And, the weeklong Dussehra celebrations that concluded last Saturday at Dhalpur Maidan too brought with it hard times for artisans, weavers, blacksmiths, basket makers, village-based cooperatives and bajantris (musicians of the devtas).
The artisans, blacksmiths and chunals blame the one sole commercial agenda of the mela committee for their suffering. The market share for cottage-based products like bamboo baskets, agricultural implements and other products too has fallen over time. The village and cattle farmers who would earlier sell their products through village-based cooperatives have also faced tough times from the Kullu Dussehra Committee (KDC) over the years. “Mela belongs to local people, be it artisans, farmers, cattle breeders or handicrafts and handlooms makers. Then, why has the committee been increasing stall charges over the years?” question the localities. Radha Kishan Handloom and Handicrafts Society’s Puran Chand says, “The Kullu Dussehra fair hardly offers any benefits for local artisans and small entrepreneurs. They are required to pay Rs 2,700 as rent for the stall, along with a token fee of Rs 300 that has been introduced from this year.” Sarabjit Thakur from Choparse Bunkar Sahkari Sabha Daklighat, Lug valley adds,” The committee should charge a nominal fee of Rs 500 from us and stalls should be made available for free to artisans from Kullu.” Further, to ensure that the local artisans get a better deal they recommend an exclusive Kullu handlooms and handicrafts bazaar at Dhalpur Maidan. “The mobile service providers who can afford to pay high rents are allotted stalls right in the middle of the ground. They run their loudspeakers from there, making it difficult for us to even talk to the customers,” rue the artisans. “The mela committee has no policy for allotment of plots,” said Mamta Chander, who is promoting village products through her NGO- Jagriti. The cooperative societies too are suffering, for they can no longer market their products at the Dussehra fair in Kullu, Shivratri celebration at Mandi or Minjar of Chamba. “The mela committee has snatched our rights. We should be allotted stalls at nominal fees, after all the society belongs to farmers, who have no other platform to sell their products”, says Prem Chand from Cooperative Seabuck Thorn Society, Lahaul-Spiti. “We have paid Rs 5,800 as rent already and will have to pay extra for other charges and electricity,” says Subash Chand, secretary, Him Honey and Agri Products Association, Gupt Ganga, Jogipur, and Kangra. The association supports 80 families who make honey. Chand adds, “We can’t compete with big companies to sell our products, the melas are our only platform.” Another area of concern is that easy priced second-hand products are now fast replacing local handlooms and handicrafts. Eighty per cent of the stalls in Dhalpur Madain are run by these traders from Chandni Chowk-Delhi and Saharanpur. The artisans complained that the traders continued to run their stalls even after 15 days of Dussehra and also that the poor artisans were allotted stalls along the drains of the maidan. The stall charges too have increased from Rs 500 to Rs 1,200 this year. In light of the plastic products being promoted in melas, products like baskets, kita or shup carved out of wood are finding it difficult to survive. Convener Indian Peoples Theatre Association (IPTA) Lwan Thakur says,“ We had met DC-Kullu and requested him to spend 60 per cent of the budget on devtas and banjantris, who form the traditional backbone of the festival.” The traditional folk musicians accompany the 200 devtas each year and Thakur feels that now only serious steps can help in preserving this folk art.
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Modernity invades Lavi
Then & Now
Until three decades ago, the fair continued for almost an entire month, but now the main fair has been reduced to three days. It is officially held from November 11 to 14 during which cultural nights are also organised. Nevertheless, Lavi continues to be an important trade fair, evident from the fact that the government has accorded it the status of an international fair. The origin of the fair is linked to the historic treaty between Bushahr State and Tibet during the rule of Raja Kehri Singh (1636-96 AD) in 1681. The treaty allowed traders from both sides to carry on business without paying tax. With a variety of modern goods invading Lavi, the oldest and largest trade fair of the northern region, is fast losing its traditional character. The fair which is held every year at Rampur has been famous for its raw wool, pashmina shawls, woollen handmade coats and caps, spices, jewellery, dry fruits, farm implements, horses, yaks and sheep. However, in recent years these traditional items have quietly given way to readymade garments, electronic gadgets, fridges, television sets, motor vehicles and cheap plastic goods. The traditional items have now been confined to only a small corner called the Kinnauri market. The main traders –tribals from Kinnaur and Spiti - have now been replaced by traders from lower hills of the state and neighbouring states. Sellers have turned buyers and this change is a reflection of the transformation the life of tribals has undergone of late. The network of roads has penetrated deep and business activities have spread far and wide right down to the remotest pocket. Earlier, the requirement for the entire year was procured at one go at the fair through barter system. But now everything is available round the year in the markets that have come up in every town and village. Besides, the tribals are no longer dependent on traditional avocations for livelihood, as a result of which the production of raw wool, dry fruits, hand woven woollens, spices, jewellery and livestock is decreasing with each passing year. Rampur Bushahr was once a major trading centre on the old silk route of Kinnaur, Tibet, Ladhakh and Afganistan. Buyers from all over the country flocked to Rampur Bushahr to purchase wool, pashmina and chilgoza, which have a ready market even in foreign countries. The traders from Kinnaur come to the fair along with their families and stay in the mela ground. The traders from northern Indian plains and lower hills bring general merchandise to have a brisk trade before the onset of winter. The volume of trade runs into crores. It attracts thousands of rural folk from Kinnaur, Lahaul Spiti, Kullu, Mandi and Shimla districts. Lavi fair still has a deep social and cultural impact as it provides opportunities to the rural people to strengthen their cultural and social bonds. Inspite the spread of education, better communication and improved socio-economic conditions the people strive to maintain their rich cultural traditions. Livestock fair Trading at the fair starts with the livestock fair held in the first week of November. It is being held from November 4 to 6 this year. Spiti’s Chamurthi horses, which are famous for their surefootedness in the treacherous hill terrain, continue to be the main attraction. Lavi literally means wool. And heaps of raw and spun wool are still sold at the fair though in smaller volumes. After brisk trading during the day, huge bonfires are lit in the evening, and singing, dancing and merrymaking continues past midnight.
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Army school meet concludes
Expressing concern over the mounting communalism in the country, participants from eight teams expressed their views on the topic- ‘Secularism in India is the rootcause of all strife’- held at Army Public School, Degshai.
Participants from Army Schools and Army Public Schools participated in the debate. Army School, Patiala, won the competition whereas Army Public School, Dagshai, stood second and Army School, Ambala came in third. In the overall positions, Army School, Patiala, Army Public School, Dagshai and Army School, Ambala bagged the first three positions respectively. Individual positions were bagged by Jasleen of Army School, Ambala, Vikramjit Attri of Army School, Patiala and Sandhya Kanwar of Army Public School, Dagshai. Jagti from Army School, Ambala, was declared the best interjector. The second day of the three-day contest saw 16 speakers expressing their views in Hindi. Army School, Dehradun, won the competition. Individual positions were bagged by Deepak Ramola of Army School, Dehradun, Manisha Verma of Army School, Ambala, and Sushmita Gaur of Army School, Ambala. Ankur Rawat of Army School, Ambala, was declared the best interjector. The first three school positions were bagged by Army School, Dehradun, Army School, Ambala and Army Public School, Dagshai respectively. The last event was a quiz contest conducted by quizmaster Ravi Sharma. Hosts Army Public School, Dagshai, bagged the first position.
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vignettes
Simla
in Ragtime came out in 1913 and Ragtime in Simla in 2002. In the former Doz mixed his keen sense of observation with humour and offered delectable stories about the Shimla society of those days. One is, “The chances of daily newspaper in Simla are nil. What with Mrs. Antipon’s newsagents, and telephones, every item of news and scandal gets round sooner than any paper could hope to publish it. Unless a paper can anticipate news like some of the Paris journals, which tell you when a murder or robbery is going to take place, it would collapse in twenty-four hours. But then the Weather Department would chip in and object because ‘prophecy’ is its special subject…”
Barbara Cleverly, who is a young novelist from Suffolk, in her novel Ragtime in Simla goes back to Simla of 1922 and writes that from a place called Devil’s Elbow (Where is it?) near Tara Devi two murders took place in a span of one year when snipers pumped the bullets on their targets. Did she take cue from the Paris journal remark by Doz? Feodor Korsovsky, a Russian baritone, who was invited by Simla ADC to perform at the Gaiety Theatre, was one of the fatalities. The story begins at Kalka where, by chance, Feodor met Joseph or Joe Sandilands, a Scotland Yard detective, and both travelled together in a car specially sent to pick up Joe. People, then, used to come to Simla either by train or in tongas. Feodor accompanied Joe because of the dejected-looking tonga horses and the fear of spoiling the romance of reaching Simla by train-full of summer migrants, nor was he “Fifteen-year old Kim to walk the fifty miles! We could pass the long journey happily boring each other with quotations from Kipling,” Joe had said. Surely, Kipling’s works have opened Shimla for the English-speaking world. How did Shimla look to the travellers from Tara Devi? It was a sight Joe would never forget. “In the middle distance the town spilled, higgledy-piggledy, down from the wooded summit of a precipitous hill flanked by other thickly wooded dark slopes, and beyond and above it, the lines of the Himalayas shading from the green through to deepest blue…” (See photograph). It was here that Joe’s co-traveller Feodor was shot dead. The purpose of this article is not to reveal the story of the novel in which Joe solves the murder mystery, but to present Simla of 1922 as portrayed by Barbara Cleverly. “Three cars only were allowed to enter Simla: cars belonging to the Viceroy, the local Governor of Punjab and that of the Chief of Staff.” When Joe Sandilands begins his enquiry, he asks Charlie Carter (fictitious name?), the superintendent of police, as to who could have shot Feodor. “Who wouldn’t?” said Carter. “That’s our problem. Place is full of Dead Eye Dicks! Army, retired army, tiger hunters – even the women are crack shots!” Do you believe it, Shimlawallas? We, in Shimla, are proud of the architecture of the buildings and arrange organised heritage walks glorifying the architecture of yonder days. Barbara, through her characters, presents it differently. Joe makes a polite remark on “the quirkiness of the architecture of Simla, pointing ahead to the slopes of the lower bazaar, clinging like a swallow’s nest to the hill.” Sir George qualifying Simla as ‘a terrible place’ reflects the opinion of Edwin Lutyens, the architect who designed New Delhi, “If one were told that the monkeys had built it, one could only say – what clever monkeys! They must be shot in case they do it again!” Here is a description of The Mall of Simla, “He saw the bustle of European shoppers, Indian servants and street urchins. A Hindu holy man sat patiently opposite, cross-legged, with his begging bowl in front of him. Hesitating on the pavement’s edge, Carter waved away two rickshaws competing for their custom. Avoiding them, he stepped off the pavement into a puddle left over from a late night shower.” That was the prestigious Mall in 1922 under the British Raj. Are you kidding, Barbara? Tailpiece During the season, Simla lives in ragtime: and if it were told that the end of the world would come a week hence…the ADC would get up a special revue entitled - All of a sudden Doomsday.
— Doz
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Walk down memory lane
A gubernatorial assignment is indeed a rare privilege and honour. It could be an unforgettable experience if it happens to be the governorship of a beautiful hill state like Himachal Pradesh with the Raj Bhawan housed in a heritage structure like the Barnes Court.
It is, thus, hardly surprising that former governor V. S. Rama Devi has been missing the salubrious environment of the hills, its simple, honest people and their rich culture, and of course the imperial grandeur of the Barnes Court. She travelled all the way from Hyderabad to attend the function organised to mark the 175 years of the historic building early this week. She was completely overwhelmed by nostalgia on the occasion while narrating anecdotes involving her interaction with common hill folks. She just had a two-and-a–half–year stint as the head of the state but this small period was enough to forge a lifelong bond with the state and its people. The memories of the days spent here lingered even after she went away to her home state and aroused her creative instincts, which manifested in the form of a book. Entitled Majlee, the work in Telugu with Himachal background, provides a vivid account of the life, people and culture of the hill state through fictitious characters. The book has been very well received by Telugu readers and many of them were inspired to visit Himachal after reading it and they were not disappointed, she says. She was impressed by the determination of the hill people to get their children educated. She recalls that during her tours across the state she never saw a child labour. This explains the success story of the state in the field of education and high level of literacy, which is next only Kerala. However, what impressed her most was the ingrained honesty and sense of discipline among the common people, which they did not compromise even in most trying times. She recalled an incident when she had gone to a cloudburst–ravaged village of Rampur to distribute relief material. She noticed that an aged women standing and presuming that she was too old to come down she tried to give her a tin of oil along and a sack of wheat. However, the women politely refused to accept stating that she had already taken her share. In other so-called developed states such situations usually witness stampeding. She was amazed to see that Himachalis took into their stride such calamities rather frequently, make friendship with nature and continue to live as if no untoward happening has taken place. It provides some measure of their resilience. The higher hill areas of the state are almost uninhabitable, yet they enjoy life with stoic courage. Another remarkable feature, she observed, was that the people were deeply rooted in their culture but at the same time very progressive as evident from their keenness to adopt family planning. She once asked women in a remote village if she was aware of the family planning programme and she was pleasantly surprised to hear a reply in the affirmative. Not only that the old women told her that she would like her son to have only two children as she had to toil hard to knit woollens for the kids. |
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Tibetan Children’s Village School turns 47
The Tibetan Children’s Village School celebrated its 47th founding anniversary last week amidst a festive function attended by thousands of people and children.
The anniversary celebrations were dedicated to the conferment of the US Congressional Gold Medal award to the Dalai Lama and the US honour bestowed on his endeavor in peace initiatives, said Tsewang Yeshi, president of the school. The school began as a nursery school with about 55 children in 1960 and has emerged as an integrated educational institution for the destitute Tibetan children in exile as well as for hundreds of those escaping from Tibet in recent years. Children of many Indian families are also studying in this school. Students of the school paid tributes to the Dalai Lama for his constant blessings and praised the unwavering support by the government of India, generous donors and staff members. The school has so far imparted education to as many as 49,376 students since its inception and presently 16,178 children are taking education from this institution. While addressing the occasion, chief guest Tsering Dhondup, education minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile lauded the school administration for providing education to the Tibetan children in exile for the past over four decades. In presence of the dignitaries of Central Tibetan administration, he lauded the school’s initiative in introducing Tibetan as the medium of instruction at the primary school level. Pema Jungney, member of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile urged the students to go in for both traditional and modern education to achieve the purpose of maintaining their national identity. He lauded the school administration in providing education to the children of poor and destitute families in exile community and particularly to thousands of children from Tibet who do not have the opportunity to study in Tibet. Cultural performances and calisthenics marked the anniversary celebrations. Opera performance by Choegyal Norsang of the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts thrilled all those present. A debate competition was also held.
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Traffic police set for revamp
With a view to ensure smooth and safe flow of traffic in the hills, the traffic wing of the HP Police is being reorganised to enable it to cope with the increasing vehicular traffic and tourist rush. The department is now reorganising the present railways and traffic wing, which would be henceforth named as Traffic Tourist and Railways Police. It would function as the nodal agency.
As per the new instructions of the department, the traffic and tourist wing would be groomed as a specialised agency to deal with traffic regulation, management and enforcement. The officials selected would be imparted a week’s training where these officials would interact with the officials of tourism and transport departments. The department has also made it mandatory to make the stay of a trained traffic police official at a place for a period of at least two years. While clearly setting guidelines for such officials, the department mentions that the selected officials should be under 45 years of age, possess good conversational skills with at least ten plus two qualification. They should also be smart, tall, slim without a paunch and be skilled drivers. The strength of the traffic police in the districts is proposed to be augmented by providing district reserves from the battalion. District SPs will have traffic and tourist police squads at district headquarters comprising of four to six personnel headed by a non- gazetted police officer.
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Shimla
Diary
A 36-member troupe presented traditional and classical dance forms from Kerala at the Kali Bari Hall as part of the inter-state cultural exchange programme of the Language, Art and Culture Department.
The troupe enthralled audiences with various dance forms. It was a rare treat for classical dance aficionados as tiruvatirkali, mohiniattam, theam, tekkan, kariyatan and tayambaka were performed. Large number of locals as well as tourists, especially from West Bengal who are here on holidays enjoyed the programme named Keralium. The artists said despite the diversity in language and tradition of India there is a commonality in many aspects like the depiction of epics in various dance forms. BSP’s hopes dashed
The Bahujan Samaj Party’s (BSP) hopes of roping in senior Congress and Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leaders, who were denied party tickets for the assembly poll, have been dashed at least for the time being. Till the last minute, BSP did not announce its candidates for the three tribal seats of Kinnaur, Lahaul - Spiti and Bharmour, hoping that senior Congress and BJP leaders who were denied tickets would join them. Attempts were made by senior BSP leaders to get in touch with sitting Lahaul- Spiti Congress legislator Raghubir Singh who was denied
the ticket. After announcing that all options were open, Raghubir decided against contesting on the BSP ticket to oppose official Congress nominee Phunchuk Rai. Similarly the BSP’s hopes of wooing former BJP MLA Chet Ram from Kinnaur could also not be fulfilled. The BSP, which is making its presence felt in such a big way for the first time in Himachal, is still hopeful that after declaration of the Congress and the BJP’s 65-candidate list, for the second phase of elections on December 19, could bring some established leaders
their way. With hardly any established leaders joining the BSP so far, the party is waiting to welcome the disgruntled from the two main political parties with open arms. No relief for
cab owners
Having failed to get any relief from the Supreme Court regarding the meter taxi scheme being implemented by the state government cab owners are left with no option but to comply with government orders. The apex court declined to grant stay to the Dharamsala taxi operator’s union against the implementation of the scheme at Shimla and Dharamsala. Other taxi unions of the state which were considering moving court will also have to accept the scheme. The scheme is being implemented for the convenience of the tourists and locals on the direction of the High Court. The cab owners moved the Supreme Court after observing a complete strike during peak summer for several days. The transport authorities on the other hand are ensuring implementation of the scheme by constituting special teams and launching a drive to challan the defaulters. The transport officials reason that taxi owners have already been given enough time to install meters and now they would be challanned. It’s a different matter that the department is also getting thousands in revenue from the daily challans.
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The breaking point
The landslide points on the National Highway-22 in Kinnaur are constantly worrying engineers of the General Reserve Engineering Force (GREF), who take the task of keeping the highway open the year round.
The highway, popularly known as the Hindustan-Tibet road, is also strategically the most vital road on the Indo-Tibet border from the defence point of view, besides being the lifeline of the people of Kinnaur and Spiti. Most of the landslides in the area are induced by long periods of snow melting and rainwater, especially in the areas that have a limited period of intense monsoon. In recent years, particularly after flash floods in Sutej in 2000 and 2005, a landslide point at Powari has become a headache for the GREF, apart from the other long-established points at Pagal Nullah, near Tapri, and Malling Nullah, near Leo, and Nako villages. The landslide point at Powari is keeping the engineers of the Army on toes during monsoons and the snowfall season to pave the way for the flow of traffic between Shimla and Reckong Peo, the district headquarters of Kinnaur. According to a study ‘Investigation, Instrumentation and Monitoring of Landslides’ conducted by the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, the origin of this old landslide is situated near Kalpa, the former district headquarters of Kinnaur. This old landslide point is more than hundred years old but there is no documented record available with the district administration or the Army regarding the exact year during which this landslide first occurred. Deforestation, construction of a small stretch of road by the state government between Powari and Reckong Peo on a critically fragile slope, regular toe cutting by River Sutlej during the time of floods, unfavorable ground water conditions and scanty vegetation are the major reasons for landslides. This whole area is almost devoid of vegetation except for a few trees retained on the slopes and a few crop fields and orchards around them. At a distance of about 1300 mt above the NH-22, there is a perennial source of water at a height of about 3450 mt above the sea level. Snow accumulation and melting is a continuous process throughout the year. Water for irrigation, drinking and other purposes is being drawn by means of unlined and partially lined drains, which infiltrates down into the slope, thus making the slope saturated and susceptible to erosion. This natural source of water runs almost parallel to the Reckong Peo-Kalpa road. A huge quantity of excess water from these sources comes down to the affected slope and causes instability. Due to this reason, the surface drainage system of the area has been disturbed. The continuous seepage is also leading to debris flow and rock felling, making the task challenging for the engineers of
GREF.
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Australian researchers have shattered the myth that smoking helps in shedding fat. Researchers from the University of New South Wales and the University of Melbourne have found that smokers often give the appearance of being thinner because of the loss of muscle mass, but the fat indeed remains stored around their vital organs. Fiona Sharkie, the executive director of anti-smoking body called Quit, said that the study was a further warning about the dangers of smoking. — ANI
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